Category Archives: Uncategorized

€501,815 in grants for Dun Laoghaire businesses from Local Enterprise Office

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Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has said that grants of €501,815 paid from the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) in 2014 are providing great support to local businesses in Dun Laoghaire. The Local Enterprise Offices are supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

“The new Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) were launched last year to deliver an improved system of local enterprise supports to start-ups and small businesses across the country.

“The LEOs provide a ‘first-stop-shop’ for all Government supports for small business in easily accessible locations across the country.

“The LEOs form part of the Government’s strategy to spread the recovery to all regions of the country. This comes alongside the Regional Action Plan for Jobs being launched by the Minister for Jobs, Richard Bruton.

“Previously some businesses were considered too large to access supports from City and County Enterprise Boards or as they were not exporting, they did not qualify for Enterprise Ireland supports and so fell between two stools. All categories of business are now benefitting from services provided by the LEOs.
“Fine Gael is committed to supporting small and medium businesses that are at the heart of rural communities. Fine Gael’s Standing Up for Small Business campaign engaged closely with small, local businesses while the Standing Up for Rural Ireland campaign which has just been launched, calls for continued investment in rural services, particularly broadband.

“The LEOs are a fantastic resource for sole traders, micro businesses and small and medium sized companies seeking information and support on starting or growing a business. The injection of€501,815 into local businesses in this area is a huge boost”.

Over 600 extra SNA posts to ensure children with care needs have access to support

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Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire Mary Mitchell O’Connor has welcomed the announcement today (Tuesday, 7th July) of 610 additional SNA posts nationwide from September 2015. This additional allocation reflects Government’s commitment to ensure that every child with an assessed need has access to a SNA. 

The additional 610 posts follow a significant increase in assessed need. The Department of Education and the NCSE is to now carry out a review to ensure the SNA scheme is sustainable in meeting its objectives.

Last year Government provided for an additional 220 SNA posts for 2015.  In advance of the school year starting in September the NCSE reviews the number of valid applications received and in recent weeks has reported an additional requirement of up to 610 posts above the October 2014 estimate.

Approximately 55% of the additional posts will be provided to support students in mainstream classes while 45% of posts will serve students in special classes in mainstream schools or in special schools.

Speaking on this announcement today, Mitchell O’Connor stated: “As a disability advocate, I am in complete support of the important decision taken by Government today to put in place 610 additional SNA posts.

“I very much welcome Government’s strong commitment to supporting children in the State with an assessed care need. Every single child with such a need will now receive access to SNA support, following today’s announcement.

“I also very much welcome the review of the SNA scheme which will be carried out to ensure that it is meeting its objectives and that best use is being made of the significant resources invested.

“From my experience in visiting schools across Dun Laoghaire and in speaking to parents, I am fully aware of the huge benefits which SNAs bring to the education experience of children in the classroom.

“Today’s announcement of additional SNA posts highlights their invaluable presence and impact on the education of children with an assessed care need,” concluded Mitchell O’Connor.

Leaders Questions broadcast through sign language for the first time

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Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor said today (Wednesday) that the broadcast of Leaders Questions in the Dáil through sign language is a very progressive step.

“This is an important development for the Deaf community in Ireland and one that could be replicated in other parts of Oireachtas broadcasting.

“There are over 90,000 people with deafness or a serious hearing impairment in Ireland who need support to help access crucial information about services, government support and other key issues. The decision to broadcast Leaders Questions in the Dáil through sign language is an important step in this process.

“The provision of sign language for Leaders Questions on Oireachtas TV is a pilot scheme, which is being carried out for six weeks. It comes after a Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children on Thursday, 28th May, at which I encouraged my colleagues to officially recognise Deafblindness as a disability. The Committee meeting was the first ever time that sign language interpreters were used in a Committee meeting. It was also the first time that simultaneous sign language was used in a broadcast to the deaf community.”

Mitchell O’Connor selected to run for Fine Gael in Dun Laoghaire

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Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD has been selected to represent Fine Gael in the constituency of Dun Laoghaire in the next General Election.

Deputy Mitchell O’Connor received the endorsement of Fine Gael members at the party’s convention held yesterday evening (Monday) in the Killiney Castle Hotel.

Mary Mitchell O’Connor was elected to the Dáil in February 2011. Prior to that, she served on Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, having been elected on her first attempt in June 2004 and subsequently re-elected in June 2009.

Deputy Mitchell O’Connor  was school principal in The Harold School Glasthule before being elected. Her commitment to the delivery of high quality education from pre-school level onwards remains steadfast, as is her support to local business and enterprise in Dun Laoghaire.

“I am honoured to have been selected by my Fine Gael colleagues to represent the party in the forthcoming General Election for Dun Laoghaire constituency,” Deputy Mitchell O’Connor stated. “The next General Election presents a challenge for Fine Gael to continue rebuilding our economy, reducing unemployment and educating our children to compete on the world stage”.  

Deputy Mitchell O’Connor added that, ”As we prepare to fight the next general election, our focus must be on an Ireland that tolerates diversity, respects age, nurtures its children, provides for the marginalised and sick and encourages the business leaders of the future”.

 

Receive €100 Water Conservation Grant

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How to get your €100 Grant Water Conservation Grant

You need to have registered with Irish Water by the 30th June 2015 at the latest, even if you are not an Irish Water customer. You can do this online at www.water.ie by phoning 1890 448 448, or by post.

You do not need to do anything else now.

The Department of Social Protection will then write to you in late-August or September telling you how to get your grant.

There is no need to contact the Department before then.

The Department will begin payments of the €100 grant in September 2015.

Further information is available on www.watergrant.ie.

DLR COUNCIL GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINE APPROACHING

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The deadline of the Council’s second round of grants for 2015 is this Friday (5th June) before 4pm.
The funding is divided into four categories;

                       *  Arts – Arts Access for Youth Projects only (Maximum Amount €2,500)

                       * Business Area Promotion

                       * Community Grants – Including Sporting Equipment, Community Projects/Organisation, Newsletters, etc.

                       * Sports – Major Sporting Events only

                       * Winter Festival Grants

The guidelines and forms can be downloaded here; www.dlrcoco.ie/aboutus/councildepartments/environment/findit/grantschemes/

If you have any specific questions regarding the grants, please call Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Council (Grant Section) 01 204 7024 or email grantschemes@dlrcoco.ie

Finally, if I can be of any assistance to you or your organisation on this or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact me at my Blackrock Constituency Office on 01 210 9161.

Mitchell O’Connor calls for regulation of hearing aid providers

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Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has called for the regulation of hearing aid suppliers. Deputy Mitchell O’Connor was speaking at the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children today (Thursday), which she chaired.

“Currently hearing aids are advertised on the basis of price, with little reference to the quality of the product or its suitability for the consumer. Often hearing aids are fitted very badly and this causes distress to the patient. Today at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, it was stressed that hearing aids available through HSE must be of a high quality, especially for people with a dual disability of hearing and sight loss.

“I understand from the Department of Health that the Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists (ISHAA) is the professional body for Hearing Aid Audiologists and registration with this body requires a minimum qualification of a Foundation Degree in Audiology.

“However I believe we must now consider regulations for private audiologists in the best interests of consumers.”

Use your vote this Friday

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Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has urged people to use their vote this Friday. Tens of thousands of new voters have registered ahead of polling day.

“This has been a remarkable campaign. I am amazed at the amount of young people who have taken this campaign to their hearts by both campaigning and registering to vote for the first time. Decisions are made by people who turn up so my appeal on the day before polling is p really encourage all those people who have registered to get out and vote.

“There are a few things people need to remember before casting their votes.

“Polling stations are open between 7am and 10pm. People don’t need polling cards but do need an ID, like a passport or driving license.

“There will be two ballot papers, the white one is the one for the Marriage Equality referendum. Only put an X in the Yes box. Anything else could spoil a vote. And remember no selfies in the voting booth.

“The most important thing is to vote. The next most important thing is to get family, friends and colleagues to go vote too.

“I’ll be voting yes because I believe we should all have the right to marry the person we love. Marriage equality will ensure that gay family members, friends and colleagues are treated the same as everyone else.”

New Mortgage Arrears Measures Will Help Struggling Home Owners

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Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire Mary Mitchell O’Connor has said the Government’s new measures to support mortgage holders in arrears will increase the supports available to people in Dún Laoghaire.

“The Government has agreed a number of new measures to support mortgage holders who are in arrears.   These measures build on the action already taken and aim to increase the supports available to people in arrears and to increase the numbers of people availing of them.

“In a major reform of the Personal Insolvency framework, the Government has agreed to give Courts the power to review and, where appropriate, to approve insolvency deals that have been rejected by banks.  The Government will legislate to give effect to this change before the end of the summer.

“This move will protect distressed mortgage-holders from any unfair lack of cooperation from their banks when it comes to seeking to agree a personal insolvency solution.

“This is expected to see more cases processed to a successful outcome through the Personal Insolvency framework. The process seeks to ensure that fair and sustainable deals are upheld for struggling borrowers willing to work their way out of difficulties with a view to keeping their family home.

“The Mortgage-to-Rent scheme will be expanded, including increasing the property value thresholds that apply.  The new thresholds make the scheme more flexible and accessible.

“The Government has also agreed that the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) will play a greater role in offering information, advice and assistance to borrowers in arrears.  This will ensure that borrowers have access to information on the range of supports and options available, advice on the ones most suited to their needs, and assistance in pursuing such options, where necessary.  MABS will be working closely with the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI).

“Fine Gael in Government is absolutely committed to helping people in arrears to reach sustainable solutions. We want to help more people to access the supports, options and solutions available and, in particular to support mortgage holders in long term arrears.”

Local Diaspora Engagement Fund Now Accessible to Community Groups and Organizations in Dún Laoghaire

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Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire, welcomes the Minister for Diaspora Affairs’, Mr Jimmy Deenihan TD, announcement of the Local Diaspora Engagement Fund.

Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Mr Jimmy Deenihan TD, today invited applications for funding from local and community groups and organisations based in Ireland for local diaspora engagement projects and initiatives.

The purpose of the newly created Local Diaspora Engagement Fund is to promote diaspora engagement at a county, local and community level.

Speaking today, the Minister said: “The Local Diaspora Engagement Fund is fully in line with the objectives of Global Irish:  Ireland’s Diaspora Policy which I published along with my colleagues in Government earlier this year.  The Diaspora Policy acknowledges the importance of a sense of place to the members of the Irish Diaspora.  There is great potential for communities and counties in Ireland to connect with their own diaspora and build relationships that can work for mutual benefit”.

Funding of €200,000 has been made available under this grant scheme and the closing date is Friday, 29 May.  Full details and the application form can be accessed at http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Publications/Publications_2015/Minister_for_Diaspora_Affairs_Mr_Jimmy_Deenihan_TD_on_announcement_of_the_Local_Diaspora_Engagement_Fund.html

Mary Mitchell O’Connor stated: “The Local Diaspora Activation Fund will enable the Dún Laoghaire community to support projects and initiatives to reconnect with their diasporas across the globe. I hope many people take the time to review and submit an application.”