Tag Archives: Minister for Finance

THE possibility that a major public building has defective concrete blocks has been raised in the Dáil by a local TD, who said that if this proves to be the case, it will put Clare “to the top of the list” in terms of government support. Deputy Cathal Crowe made an impassioned plea for Clare homeowners affected by pyrite and/mica to be given equal access to redress scheme and a Local Property Tax (LPT) exemption, currently only available in Donegal and Mayo. Addressing the Minister for Finance, he was sharply critical of the scope of the existing Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme, which offers a maximum of 90% of remediation costs to homeowners in those two counties. “I am of the view that a major public building in a certain county has pyrite in it,” Deputy Crowe told the chamber. “Many people hope it does not. I hope it does for the simple reason it will advance the cause of …

A day after Enda Kenny stepped down as leader of Fine Gael, the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has announced that he will not be contesting the next General Election. A TD for Limerick City, Mr Noonan’s constituency exends into a small area of South East Clare. He is a former leader of Fine Gael. Labour TD Jan O’Sullivan, has paid tribute to her constituency colleague, saying, “Michael Noonan will be remembered for his contribution to the economic recovery of this country as Minister for Finance, working alongside Brendan Howlin as Minister for Public Expenditure. “He has also made a substantial contribution to Limerick, and as minister I found him to be a constructive and supportive colleague in Cabinet. Concluding, Deputy O’Sullivan said, “We worked together on many issues that matter to Limerick and its people over the years, and I wish Michael well in the future.”

A CLARE TD has proposed that the local authority should consider naming Doolin Pier in honour of the late Fianna Fáil Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan. The new €6 million pier at Doolin will be officially opened this Friday by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin. Deputy Timmy Dooley claimed it would be a fitting tribute to the former Fianna Fáil deputy leader, in view of Mr Lenihan’s family connections to North Clare and that “he allocated €6m for the development of the pier”. Labour TD Michael McNamara said he is “open to naming the pier after anyone” but added that “promises are one thing and delivery is another”. “There was a lot of promises made by previous governments but no money. There was a promise for a new primary school in Ennis and that only came about under a Labour minister for education, there was promises made for a new school in Tulla and that is only happening …

Milford Care Centre (MCC) is to build a new 34-bed specialist in-patient palliative care unit at Castletroy, County Limerick, to serve the Mid-West. In confirming the project, Finance Minister, Michael Noonan said the centre’s not-for-profit nursing home facility will also be expanded from 47 to 68 beds. The new hospice will cost an estimated €7.7m, and the JP McManus Benevolent Fund and the JP McManus Pro Am 2010 are to contribute €3.4m towards this project, Minister Noonan disclosed. The nursing home expansion will cost €0.8m, which is to be funded directly by the nursing home, bringing the total cost of the Milford developments to €8.5m. Both the new hospice in-patient unit and the upgraded nursing home will be configured entirely for single occupancy only and the full project is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has announced an increased tax relief measure to help families to look after an incapacitated elderly relative in their home by employing a nurse or carer. The new tax measure has the potential to free up beds in nursing homes and should also relieve pressure on hospitals by allowing some of the 800 delayed discharge patients to return home, according to Mr Noonan. The amendment to the Finance Act by Minister Noonan will raise the level of tax relief available to employ a professional nurse or carer in the home from €50,000 to €75,000 per annum. “This is a sensible and effective tax measure which will make a real difference to people’s lives. It’s nearly always preferable to care for an elderly relative in the home. That’s why the State provides tax relief for people to employ a nurse or carer in the home,” commented Health Minister, Leo Varadkar. His departmental colleague, Minister Kathleen Lynch said, “Tax …