Today’s (21st February) data published by the CSO in the Quarterly National Household Survey show that employment has increased at an annual rate of 65,000 in the final quarter of last year. Reacting to these positive employment figures, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan T.D. stated:

Minister of State Joe McHugh has announced a €3.8M water scheme in Gortahork which will deliver quality supplies to 5,000 people by the end of the year. The Donegal TD cut the sod today on the new water treatment plant at Ardsbeg. It is part of €6.3M in infrastructure contracts being signed off by Minister McHugh today with the formal signing for the Cockhill Bridge in Buncrana later today.

I am very pleased to be with you all today at this, the second Plenary meeting of the All Island Civic Dialogue on Brexit. When we started this process last November, I spoke of the importance of having the widest possible conversation on the implications of Brexit for this island, North and South.

Attending the announcement of a 600 job expansion by Microsoft in Leopardstown this morning (Friday), locally based Fine Gael Senator, Neale Richmond had said the expansion is a big win.

“Extra capital funding nationally totaling €2.6 billion has been put forward for projects throughout the country and my immediate response was to lobby Minister Harris for funding for our community hospitals,” McHugh said. “I have asked for funding for the community hospitals to upgrade them and bring them up to the required standard which will enhance them well into the future.

As we gather here today, our country is at a crossroads. As we approach the second century of our State, we are entering a new era of our history. We are being buffeted by strong external forces – of politics, of economics and of technology.

“It’s no secret at this stage that the issue of a new bridge at Cockhill has been raised for decades and I am delighted as TD for Donegal and as a Government Minister that we were able to deliver it,” said McHugh. “I’ve been informed today by Donegal County Council that the contracts have been signed and the contractors plan to be on site beginning work within weeks.

Donegal TD Joe McHugh has met Gaeltacht Minister Sean Kyne with a delegation from Falcarragh in Dublin today to lobby for funding for a new community hall for the town. In his previous portfolio covering the Gaeltacht brief, Minister McHugh sanctioned €31,600 in funding towards hiring advisors for the construction of a proposed new centre. Minister McHugh said he was very happy to continue in his engagement with representatives of the Falcarragh community to take the project to the next phase.

Schools not included this year do have a right to the data used by the Deparment in their assessment, said McHugh. Schools may seek verification of the data submitted by their school which has been used in the identification process by e-mailing a request to: social_inclusion@education.gov.ie.