Tag Archives: Alan Kelly

AUTHOR, campaigner and advocate Vicky Phelan has paid tribute to a Clare man for his generosity in helping her to access her ongoing cancer treatment during the Covid-19 crisis. Pat Keogh has operated an executive chauffeur service for the last three decades and described his journey to Dublin with Vicky as one of the most rewarding experience of his career. The Newmarket-on-Fergus resident heard a radio interview in which Vicky discussed her difficulties in getting to the capital for cancer treatment and her concerns over contracting Coronavirus. The Limerick woman has been self-isolating since early March and is continuing to travel for treatment for terminal cancer. She told RTÉ’s Bryan Dobson about her how daunting that prospect was in the context of the pandemic. “I would normally have a very early start in the mornings, but since the travel restrictions I have more time for a lie-in,” Pat said. “I got to hear Morning Ireland and I was really moved …

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly has today (Tuesday) asked people to take a last opportunity to check that they are included in the register of electors for the general election. “Even at this late stage there is an opportunity to be included in the register and to have your say about the future direction of our country,” the Minister said. Application forms for inclusion in the supplement to the register are available from your city, county or city and county council and on-line at www.checktheregister.ie. Completed forms must be received by the registration authority for the area in which you reside no later than this evening. To be registered, you must be an Irish or a British citizen, aged 18 years or over on polling day and ordinarily resident at the address at which you want to register. There is still time to register, or to have your details corrected if you are already registered. …

Kilrush and Trim, County Meath have both won Gold Medal Awards at the European Entente Florale Competition. Extending congratulations to the winning towns, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly said both Trim and Kilrush should be immensely proud of their achievement. The results of the European Entente Florale competition were announced at a special awards ceremony in Bristol, over the weekend, much to the delight of the Kilrush and Trim contingent present. Nine European countries participated in the competition, with Ireland the only country to win two gold medals. The candidates are generally chosen from among the top performers in the relevant categories in national competitions. The competition is judged on all aspects of the towns and villages under inspection, from the quality of road surfaces to the colour schemes of houses and from the planting of open spaces to the standard of public amenities.

It has been confirmed that a new €80 million scheme aimed at rejuvenating urban and village centres is soon to be rolled out. Deputy Joe Carey received confirmation of these plans in reply to a recent parliamentary question, which he tabled to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly. The Fine Gael TD said, “There is a clear need in my view to provide funding to improve streetscapes and public space infrastructure similar to that previously provided for under the Urban & Village Renewal Scheme. “Many town and village centres, streets and recreational areas throughout County Clare are screaming out for an injection of funding. The introduction of this scheme is welcome news. I look forward to Clare County Council identifying appropriate projects and to successfully drawing down much needed funding to improve our town and village public space infrastructure.”

A new €2 million stimulus package is being invested to progress the objectives of the new five-year Lough Derg marketing plan. Environment Minister Alan Kelly has announced this funding will be spent on implementing some of the key recommendations of the “Roadmap for Experience Development and Destination Marketing Plan 2014-2017” for Lough Derg, which was launched earlier this year. Minister Kelly made the announcement at the launch of a brand new website dedicated exclusively to the promotion of the Lakelands Lough Derg region. Tourism attractions in Clare will be marketed in a more coordinated fashion with the help of a new website, which is designed to make a big splash for Lough Derg. Visitors to the region with information on places to visit, events, accommodation providers and restaurants, special offers, and land and water based activities by visiting www.discoverloughderg.ie. The website is one of a number of marketing initiatives being rolled out over the coming months and during 2015 to …