Irish Water and Donegal County Council today (Friday, April 28) marked the start of construction on the €4 million investment by the national utility in a new water treatment plant at Owenteskna to benefit almost 4,000 consumers in the South West Donegal area.

SN na Carraige in Carrick has been given funding to carry out electrical works at the school. Funding is also being released to St Peter’s National School in Mountcharles to carry out external environmental improvements.

“The fire services are unique in that they are run by the Local Authorities of the country and aren’t a national organisation in the same way as the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána,” said Minister McHugh. “I think this has been an oversight and rather than relying on Local Authorities to recognise the role of the fire service during the 2016 commemorative year in their area, I believe there should also be a national award.

The Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, today announced that the Government has approved the investment required to enable the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board to award the construction contracts for the building of the main children’s hospital on the St James’s Hospital campus and the two Paediatric Outpatients and Urgent Care Centres on the Tallaght and Connolly Hospitals campuses.

Donegal TD Joe McHugh has said that the newly announced framework for Town Centre renewal will be of enormous benefit to towns and villages throughout Donegal. The framework aims to address the need for greater collaboration and support for town centre renewal across the country, with a particular emphasis on the role that the business community can play in collaboration with Local Authorities and other key stakeholders in setting a town on a sustainable path towards vitality and vibrancy.

Donegal TD Joe McHugh has welcomed new funding for two local pipe bands. Raphoe Pipe Band and Manorcunningham Pipe Band will receive the money through the Music Capital Scheme, supported by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and managed by Music Network. The Raphoe band is set to receive €13,695 and Manorcunningham band will receive €8,556.

“My Fine Gael colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, Leo Varadkar, has confirmed that people in receipt of Disability Allowance will keep their free travel pass for five years if they take up employment, and will also be given a guarantee that they will be re-instated on welfare if a trial of work doesn’t work out for them. “In addition, my colleague the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, has confirmed that his Department is committed to addressing what the Make Work Pay Report finds is the single most significant barrier for people with disabilities; people’s fear of losing supports.

A West Cork TD has drafted legislation that will entitle all full time carers to a respite period at least once every month. If enacted, Jim Daly’s new legislation will, for the first time ever, place respite services on a statutory footing, and compel the Health Service Executive to provide the care.

Fine Gael Senator, Michelle Mulherin, believes that new Government reforms to commercial rates will be good news for businesses and our local authorities.

Fergus O'Dowd, Fine Gael TD for Louth and East Meath, is again calling on the Government to consider the urgent implementation of a Vacant Home Tax in Rent Pressure Zones (RPZ).