Tag Archives: Environment Minister Alan Kelly

Environment Minister Alan Kelly has reminded the public of today’s (Tuesday) deadline for registering with Irish Water to be eligible for the Government’s €100 Water Conservation Grant. Households have until midnight tonight, Tuesday, June 30, to register with Irish Water. Speaking this morning, Minister Kelly said, “Whether you are an Irish Water customer, are on a group water scheme or have your own private well and have a septic tank, you are entitled to apply for the €100 grant. The first step is registering with Irish Water; without registering, a household cannot be eligible to apply. I urge everyone who hasn’t registered to do so before the deadline.” Minister Kelly continued, “One of the main objectives of the Government’s water sector reforms has been to increase conservation including through reducing leakage. Some 6% of all water Irish Water produces is lost through leakage in customers’ homes. All households can play their part in conserving water. “As well as funding Irish …

With the lambing season well under way, Environment Minister Alan Kelly and Comhairle Na Tuaithe are highlighting the responsibility of dog owners and the vulnerability of sheep to dog attacks. ”Dog owners must be mindful that with ownership comes responsibility,” said Minister Kelly. ”Owning a dog means that you have to feed, house and care for your pet. However you must also remember that you have to keep them under control at all times. Never let your dog out unsupervised, especially at night,” he added. ”Any dog, large or small, may become involved in attacking sheep – make sure he doesn’t get the chance,” Minister Kelly said. One of the key principles of the Leave No Trace programme states, “When taking part in any recreation activities in the countryside, care should always be taken to avoid disturbing farm animals and wildlife.” Up to 2.5m lambs are born across the country at this time of year. Sheep flocks are very vulnerable …

AN extra €1 million will be needed to improve roads around Ennis to ensure the county town can properly showcase what it can offer tourists during the 2016 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. That’s according to Ennis Mayor Johnny Flynn, who made the plea for additional funding at a recent special meeting of the Ennis Municipal District. Councillors emphasised the urgent need to resurface sections of footpaths and some of the main streets in the county town before it hosts the biggest Irish traditional music festival in the world in August 2016. Councillor Flynn requested Clare County Council to make an official written request to Environment Minister Alan Kelly for an extra €1m under the specific improvement scheme. This would help provide funding to complete the long-awaited roundabouts at Oakleigh Wood on the Tulla Road and the Gort Road, as well as improving sections of the Ballybeg Road that have fallen into serious disrepair. Councillor Flynn said the Government should also …

A new €250 million Rural Development Programme has been lauched today (Monday) by Environment Minister Alan Kelly and Minister of State for Rural Affairs, Ann Phelan. The funding, which will support the delivery of the LEADER programme to rural areas out to 2020, will focus on tackling rural isolation, generating employment and stimulating village renewal. Each local area will have to develop a strategy on how best to apply this funding for rural areas and expressions of interest in how to spend the funding are being sought from local LEADER companies and others from today. Ireland will conduct a two stage selection process that will seek to secure high quality Local Development Strategies that will complement the economic development work being carried out by local authorities. The first stage is an open call for expressions of interest from any group that can show broad local and community participation and wishes to be considered as a Local Action Group for the …