Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Ireland Construction News Archive for January 2012
31/01/2012
Urban design in Derry took a step forward today with the publication of the Draft Design Guide for the Clarendon Street area of the city. Publishing the Guide for consultation today, Environment Minister Alex Attwood said: "The designation of Clarendon Street as a conservation area recognised the
31/01/2012
Phil Hogan, TD, Minister for the Environment, Community & Local Government has announced that he has given sanction to Avondhu/Blackwater Partnership Ltd to approve funding of up to €195,615.94 to "The Farm", Grenagh, Co Cork. This funding, provided under the Diversification measure of the Rural D
31/01/2012
Education Minister, John O'Dowd, has commented on the position of a potential capital building project for Bangor Central Integrated Primary School. Bangor Central Integrated Primary School is one of many schools hoping to secure funding for a new school building in the future. To facilitate this,
31/01/2012
Fine Gael Meath West TD, Ray Butler, has welcomed funding of more than €12 million for Co. Meath roads, which has been approved by the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar. Trim Town Council will receive a block grant of almost €200,000 as part of the funding. He said: "I am pleased to confirm that
31/01/2012
The SDLP has supported calls for a Tenancy Deposit Scheme to be set up to safeguard tenants’ deposits and the rights of landlords. SDLP Housing spokesperson Mr Mark H Durkan said: "At present many landlords are unwilling to return deposits at the end of a tenancy and students, particularly, are oft
31/01/2012
SIPTU members employed in local authority water services will meet on tomorrow, Wednesday 1st February in Liberty Hall, Dublin, to consider proposals contained in a Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government discussion document on the reform of the water sector. The SIPTU National Com
31/01/2012
Fine Gael Cork South Central Deputy has welcomed the 2012 road allocation grants for Cork City and County Councils. Deputy Jerry Buttimer confirmed that under the 2012 allocations, Cork City Council is being granted €4,293,795 and Cork County Council will receive €45,330,750 for road maintenance,
31/01/2012
The Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), today announced an allocation of €28 million under the OPW’s Flood Risk Management Programme to Bray Town Council for flood relief works to be carried out on the River Dargle, Bray, Co. Wicklow. Minister Brian H
30/01/2012
The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte TD, has announced the approval of the first two projects as part of the government-supported International Energy Research Centre. Contracts valued at a total of €1 million have been agreed between the International Energy
30/01/2012
SDLP East Derry MLA John Dallat has expressed concern after the Chief Superintendent responsible for the Limavady policing area told him that the police station in Dungiven has cost the taxpayer £51,961 in the last year despite the fact that not one single person visited the station. In his letter
30/01/2012
St John Ambulance (Northern Ireland) is urging construction firms to get off on the right foot in 2012 by ensuring their employees have the correct health and safety and first aid training. In the construction industry alone in Great Britain 2009/10, 52 people died due to fatal injuries. This is hi
30/01/2012
Fine Gael Waterford Deputy, Paudie Coffey, has welcomed news from the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, that over €10 million is being allocated to improve, maintain and make Waterford’s roads safer. He said: "This news is positive news for Waterford city and county and will
30/01/2012
KCC Architectural is pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Gaynor as General Operations Manager of their Southern Ireland offices. Tony has over 25 years experience in the construction industry. He is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor who started his career with Davis Langdon in the UK. After te
30/01/2012
The Minister of State has announced details of savings made by the Office of Public Works (OPW) on expenditure on State property and outlined plans for further savings to be made in 2012. Minister Brian Hayes TD said: "I am very encouraged to learn that the amount expended by the Office of Public W
30/01/2012
Housing Minister Nelson McCausland has said that a scheme to replace windows in North Belfast homes shows the Northern Ireland Executive is delivering for people. The Minister was speaking during a visit to the White City / Shore Crescent area where the Housing Executive is replacing windows in 225
30/01/2012
Andrew Best Construction Limited and Mr Andrew Maze (sole trader) have been sentenced at Downpatrick Crown Court for breaches of health and safety legislation after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing. The case was taken by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland. The case arose ou
27/01/2012
Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar has today announced €2 million in funding for the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road in Limerick, which will be a significant part of the Moyross regeneration programme. Minister Varadkar made the announcement during a visit to the region.
27/01/2012
Lagan Valley Alliance MLA Trevor Lunn has welcomed news that planning approval has been given for a new hotel in Lisburn saying it underlines the strong economic potential of the area. The hotel which will contain around 100 bedrooms will be built in the Hillsborough Road area. Mr Lunn said: "This
27/01/2012
The Central Bank of Ireland has published new economic research on 'Variable Mortgage Rate Pricing in Ireland'. The research examines movements in the interest rates charged on variable rate mortgages over the last number of years. Variable rate mortgages, the most common of which is the Standard
27/01/2012
The Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has claimed he is unable to identify the cost of running any of the garda stations that he is now planning to shut down. In reply to Parliamentary Questions from Fianna Fáil Justice Spokesperson Dara Calleary, Minister Shatter said the costs are maintained at
27/01/2012
The Regional Development Minister has announced the approved road line for the A24, Ballynahinch bypass scheme. Following a public consultation and exhibition Roads Service has considered the views of the public and approved the preferred line of the bypass which will include a junction at the B7 C
27/01/2012
Almost 2600 people tested their homes for radon gas in the latter half of 2011 with 321 recording high levels, according to new figures released today by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII). The highest level found was in a home in the Castlegar area of Galway and had an average
27/01/2012
A Sinn Féin MLA has said the Housing Executive needs to explain the rationale behind their intention to establish a Belfast City Centre housing waiting list. The West Belfast Fra McCann MLA said: "I have asked the Housing Executive what was the reason behind this change in policy and how it would i
27/01/2012
SDLP Agriculture spokesperson Dolores Kelly has called on ministers and officials to look into developing the fish pass at Toome as a key site for kayaking. Speaking after meeting representatives of GROW and local supporters of a development project at the site, the Upper Bann MLA said: "The area a
26/01/2012
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson has responded to the publication of draft proposals on personal insolvency including mortgage debt, welcoming the publication but expressing concern that the proposals do not go far enough and fail to tackle the key issue of banks refusing to act reasonably. Justice Dara Ca
26/01/2012
Fine Gael Waterford Deputy, Paudie Coffey, has called on the Government to focus on the high levels of rent being paid by State Agencies. Deputy Coffey made the call as a result of information garnered through a series of Parliamentary Questions, which revealed that in the last four years Governme
26/01/2012
The provision of water is too important to be surrendered by the state to the private sector, according to a Sinn Féin Senator. Speaking in the Seanad, during statements on Irish Water and related reform, Senator David Cullinane highlighted how privatisation of water provision in other states had f
26/01/2012
Fianna Fáil Senator for East Meath has welcomed confirmation from Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar TD that if approval from Bord Pleanála is received then funds will be made available for the purchase of land for the N2 / Slane Bypass. Senator Byrne was commenting following receipt of communic
26/01/2012
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Environment, Community & Local Government, Brian Stanley TD, speaking during the Dáil debate demanded that the government, "go back to the drawing board on the septic tanks bill". Dáil Deputy Stanley claimed: "The government is on the run from this issue. They have ducked,
26/01/2012
The Minister for Health has officially opened two new centres in Newry for people with disabilities. Windsor Day Centre is a £3.7million purpose-built facility providing day care for 39 adults with learning disabilities. Carrickore Children's Respite Unit is a £2.5 million facility providing respi
26/01/2012
Vita Cortex workers brought the campaign to secure their agreed redundancy payments to the home of company shareholder Sean McHenry in Douglas, Cork, on Tuesday. Six of the 32 Vita Cortex workers, who are in the sixth week of their sit-in at the former foam manufacturing plant on Kinsale Road in Co
26/01/2012
Six new Daffodil Centres will be set up over the next year by the Irish Cancer Society. The charity confirmed it is investing €3.6 million in the centres, which will provide information and support to cancer sufferers and their families. The investment will see the roll-out of new centres at six h
25/01/2012
Residential property prices fell by 16.7% in the year to December, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO) Ireland. This compares with an annual rate of decline of 15.6% in November and a decline of 10.5% recorded in the year to December 2010. In Dublin residential property prices dropped
25/01/2012
Louth County Council has successfully prosecuted a further offender under environmental protection legislation. At Drogheda District Court on 12 January, Mr Martin Joyce, Primatestown, Ashbourne, Co Meath pleaded guilty to two charges under the Waste Management Acts 1996, relating to offences in Ma
25/01/2012
Planning permission has been granted for a new hotel development in Lisburn. The 100 bedroom hotel with health suite and functions rooms will be constructed on Hillsborough Road in the south of the city. Commenting on his decision to boost Lisburn’s tourism and job opportunities, Environment Minis
25/01/2012
A protest will take place in Dublin today against Eirgrid's plans to build powerlines, pylons and a substation in Co. Laois. Labour Senator John Whelan fully supports the protest by the Ratheniska Action Group which will take place at Leinster House. He said: "Eirgrid are coming to Buswell's Hotel
25/01/2012
J. Murphy & Sons Limited in Ireland has commenced the first of a series of water mains rehabilitation projects for Dublin City Council, valued in the region of €4 million. The award was for the rehabilitation of 20km of old cast iron water mains dating back to the 1920's which no longer support th
25/01/2012
The Environment Minister today recognised the sterling efforts made to reduce waste here when he presented awards to the Northern Ireland winners of the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR). Alex Attwood presented awards to six organisations in recognition of their innovation, good communicatio
25/01/2012
SDLP's Social Development Spokesperson has said action must be taken within the Programme for Government to assist struggling home owners. After tabling an Assembly Question to the Social Development Minister, it was revealed to Mark H Durkan MLA that house repossessions have almost trebled between
25/01/2012
Sinn Féin's Housing Spokesperson has said he is concerned at DSD Minister Nelson McCausland's decision to increase Housing Executive rents by 1% above the rate of inflation. Fra McCann MLA said: "This seems to go against the trend of inflation-only-increases of previous ministers and comes at a tim
24/01/2012
National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Vice President Barry McCall has called for an investigation by the Director of Corporate Enforcement into the circumstances which allowed the majority shareholder of Vita Cortex to avoid his obligations to the redundant workers at the company. Moving a motion of
24/01/2012
SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has backed calls for the Executive to introduce measures to protect the ecosystems on Strangford Lough while ensuring that those who derive their income from the Lough do not suffer. Speaking following an Assembly debate on the issue, Ms Ritchie, who has long cam
24/01/2012
Fianna Fáil Councillors on Dublin City Council raised serious concerns at a special council meeting and succeed in getting a number of motions passed, including one that requires that homeowners in the city must be provided with at least the same level of waste collection service that they had previ
24/01/2012
Environment Minister Alex Attwood today cleared the way for a new rugby stadium at Ravenhill when he announced his agreement to planning permission for ground improvements, including three new stands. Sports Minister, Carál Ní Chuilín described the announcement as a key milestone in the development
24/01/2012
Minister Phil Hogan, T.D., has issued a work programme setting out the steps and milestones for the development of national climate policy and legislation. The programme of work was also sent to the Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht as part
23/01/2012
Work recently got underway on another GRAHAM bridge across the River Liffey in Dublin. Following on from the award winning Samuel Beckett Bridge, Dublin City Council have awarded a €6M contract to GRAHAM to build a new bridge in Dublin City Centre, just downstream of O'Connell Bridge. The Marlboro
23/01/2012
Fianna Fáil Senator, Thomas Byrne has welcomed the decision of workers and management at Lagan Brick, Kingscourt to accept proposals aimed at bringing the industrial dispute at the plant. "Many Meath families are being greatly affected by this issue and I am delighted to see that progress is being
23/01/2012
Environment Minister Alex Attwood today raised the cap on grant-aid for listed buildings from £50,000 to £150,000. This will come as a significant boost for owners of listed buildings and it will open up the opportunity for many more listed buildings to get improvement works. The Minister has been
23/01/2012
Fine Gael Waterford Deputy, Paudie Coffey, has welcomed news from the Minister for Education and Skills that the criteria for technological universities will be published in 'the relatively near future'. Deputy Coffey revealed this information by way of a Parliamentary Question last week. "There
23/01/2012
Former Gunnebo man, Patrick Doyle, a seasoned management professional in the lifting sector, has become the majority shareholder and Managing Director of WH Scott Lifting (Dublin). Founded in 1887 and the oldest and most respected lifting company in Ireland, WH Scott now has one of the most experie
23/01/2012
The Minister of State for Trade and Development, Joe Costello T.D., begins a five-day visit to Ethiopia today to see the impact of Ireland's development programme. Minister Costello will visit schools, health centres and agriculture projects which are supported by Ireland and targeted at the poore
23/01/2012
Jimmy Deenihan, T.D., Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, has welcomed the opening night of the Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield Dublin. He said the re-opening of the landmark cinema was a credit to the determination of the new operators, Element Films, NAMA, and the Cultural Cinema Cons
23/01/2012
A historic building at risk in Caledon was saved when it was awarded a grant of £30,000 to help with its restoration. The grant, awarded under the Historic Buildings Grant-Aid Scheme, has supported extensive repair and maintenance work, which has restored this former derelict Grade B listed proper
20/01/2012
The Green Party is calling on the Minister for the Environment , Community and Local Government, Mr Phil Hogan to hold a public enquiry in to the application to grant a license to Providence Resources' PLC to carry out a site survey and drill an exploration well in the Dalkey Island Block on the Kis
20/01/2012
Labour T.D., Robert Dowds has today called for the introduction of a progressive property tax which would be based on the value and size of a house. He said: "The property tax must be fair, and those with the largest and more valuable houses must pay more. If supported by a reliable valuation syste
20/01/2012
Commenting on a visit to the Medite Europe plant in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Minister of State Shane McEntee TD, stated that he was impressed with the company’s innovation in developing new MDF Products, adding that Medite "is a real example of what can be achieved with consistent commitment to antic
20/01/2012
Fianna Fail Senator Marc Mac Sharry has called for emergency funding to be provided to address the unfolding coastal erosion disaster at Strandhill, Co. Sligo. Mac Sharry said: "Despite certain funds being made available last year and the on going preparation of a report by Coastal Process experts
20/01/2012
SDLP Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee members Dominic Bradley MLA and Karen McKevitt MLA have given their support to the Newry/Portadown branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland in their attempt to have the Newry Canal included under the remit of Waterways Ireland. Speaking after a
20/01/2012
Sinn Féin's spokesperson on Environment, Community & Local Governmenthas challenged the government to provide assistance for 9,000 families in arrears with their local authority mortgages. Deputy Brian Stanley TD was speaking after a he received information in a reply to a Dáil Parliamentary Questi
20/01/2012
Ulster Unionist MLA for North Antrim, Robin Swann, has commented following the January monitoring round which exposed a £2 million shortfall in the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure due to the failure to secure a buyer for the former Public Records Office at Balmoral Avenue in South Belfast.
20/01/2012
The Department of Environment (DoE) has served an Urgent Works Notice on the owner of 20 Crawford Square, a listed building in the Clarendon Street Conservation Area of Derry. This tall, late Victorian building is on the Built Heritage at Risk in Northern Ireland (BHARNI) register and, despite rep
19/01/2012
The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Energy Martin Ferris TD has questioned the awarding of a €400 million contract to a British company. He also drew attention to the fact that the chairperson of the sub-committee which awarded the contract acts for the company in question, and the fact that there is po
19/01/2012
The Regional Development Minister has welcomed the additional £10 million funding for roads and transport in the Executive's January Monitoring round. Danny Kennedy said: "I welcome the additional allocations of £7 million for roads and £3m for transport. This will allow us to take forward addition
19/01/2012
The provisional Northern Ireland Municipal Waste Management Statistics, July - September 2011, published today shows that almost 56% of municipal waste was sent to landfill during the second quarter of the year. This is an improvement of almost four percentage points compared to the second quarter
19/01/2012
The Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government has announced during the Select Sub-Committee on Environment, Community and Local Government there will be a period of public consultation on septic tanks performance standards following the legislation being enacted next week. Speaking a
19/01/2012
Fine Gael Cork North Central Deputy, Dara Murphy, has said the announcement by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, that no new tolls are to be introduced is extremely welcome as it means that the proposed tolls for the Cork/ Limerick road and the Jack Lynch Tunnel will not n
19/01/2012
Talks aimed at bringing a just resolution to the Vita Cortex dispute will resume at the Labour Relations Commission on Friday 20th January. On Tuesday the workers' SIPTU representatives and Vita Cortex management attended an initial LRC meeting at the Carrigaline Court Hotel, Cork. The SIPTU deleg
19/01/2012
SDLP Fermanagh District Councillor Brendan Gallagher has had his call for a ban on hydraulic fracturing in the county passed by council. Cllr Gallagher also proposed that the Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster, place a moratorium on the fracking licence granted to Tamboran resources. Speaking afte
19/01/2012
Labour TD for Galway West has welcomed the news that work is to begin on the former laundry plant in Rahoon for US software giant ZeniMax Online Studios - with the creation of 200 jobs. Derek Nolan said he was delighted to hear that the company was granted permission for the conversion of the site
19/01/2012
CoolSky in Newtownards has been assisted by Invest Northern Ireland to develop an innovative control system for solar thermal heating which it is now marketing abroad for both commercial and residential users. The company used an Invest NI Innovation Voucher to develop and test a new controller tha
18/01/2012
The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr Phil Hogan, T.D., and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr Brendan Howlin, T.D., today jointly launched Ireland's first Green Public Procurement Action Plan, Green Tenders. The overall objective of Green Tenders is t
18/01/2012
Sinn Féin Junior Minister has welcomed the announced changes to Contract Management Procedures in the Procurement process by Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson. Martina Anderson MLA (Foyle) said: "Over two years ago I called for stringent new measures to ensure that small businesses got access to gover
18/01/2012
A tidal energy turbine at Strangford Lough in County Down has been given the environmental all-clear, the owners of Marine Current Turbines Ltd said. Commercial tidal energy generator, SeaGen, has had no major impact on the marine life. Environment Minister Alex Attwood said: "Marine Current Turbi
18/01/2012
SDLP Leader and South Belfast MP said the so-called ‘Peace Walls’ are a concrete and steel indictment of the failure of Sinn Fein and the DUP to live up to the most basic concepts of the Good Friday Agreement. Welcoming a £2 million initiative by the International Fund for Ireland to help bring abo
18/01/2012
Global renewable energy developer, Mainstream Renewable Power, has successfully raised €40 million in loan notes in what was one of Ireland's largest private fundraisings of 2011. The three year loan notes were raised by Dolmen Stockbrokers from Irish high-net-worth individuals and institutions. I
18/01/2012
One of Northern Ireland's most successful social enterprises, The Workspace Group, has acquired Manchester-based energy-saving technology specialist Therm Tech Limited, bolstering its UK-wide reach and its ability to win even more business in the growing energy-saving sector, it has been announced.
18/01/2012
The Minister for Energy has brought to Government and published the report on the International Expert Commission which he had established in July 2011 to "review and report, within six months, on a case for, and cost of, undergrounding (all or part of) Meath-Tyrone 400KV power lines". Announcing t
18/01/2012
Local Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen has welcomed the announcement that the Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar TD has allocated €26m towards the construction phase of the new Edenderry-Enfield road. Deputy Cowen said: "I am delighted that the Minister has adhered to and honoured the commitment of the
18/01/2012
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, TD, has announced an extension to the closing date for applications under the 2012 Bioenergy Scheme. The closing date for submission of applications for pre-planting approval is now extended until Friday 27th January 2012. Announci
18/01/2012
Roads Service are implementing further measures on the A4 dual carriageway, near Dungannon, to help prevent 'wrong way' driving. Since the A4 dual carriageway, between the M1 motorway and Ballygawley, opened in November 2010 there have been over 20 reports of vehicles travelling in the wrong direct
17/01/2012
Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, stated today that the water reforms the Government has planned will create 2,000 construction related jobs in the economy on an ongoing basis. This will be achieved through the planned roll-out of a universal programme
17/01/2012
SDLP Mid-Ulster MLA has said the construction industry has a crucial part to play in helping Northern Ireland break free of the recession. Patsy McGlone, who is the chairman of the Assembly's All-Party Group on construction, was speaking ahead of a major meeting between industry representatives, me
17/01/2012
Donegal North East Fianna Fáil TD has hit out at the Government for falsely claiming that Ireland will be fined €26,000 a day if the controversial Septic Tank Bill is not enacted by the start of February. Deputy Charlie McConalogue explained: "The Government is forcing the Septic Tank Bill through
17/01/2012
The Finance Minister has met with the Ballyclare Chamber of Trade to hear their views on changes to commercial rates and their concerns for the future. In December the Executive agreed to the expansion of the small business rate relief scheme, to be funded from a large retail levy. This will provid
17/01/2012
University College Cork (UCC) and the Munster Agricultural Society (MAS) have jointly acquired 125 acres of land on the western outskirts of the City at Curraheen. The site is strategically located within a short distance of the Curraheen interchange on the N25 Ballincollig by-pass with significa
17/01/2012
Local environmental charities will receive nearly £250,000 from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to carry out projects over the next three months. Over 40 projects will receive funding of up to £10,000 each to carry out work to benefit Northern Ireland’s people and wildlife. Bats in Londo
17/01/2012
Work to install safety netting to the rock face at Garron Point, on the A2 Coast Road, in Larne, will start next Monday 23 January. Department for Regional Development Roads Service (DRD) has engaged a specialist contractor to undertake this £130,000 scheme, at the southerly end of Garron Point. Th
17/01/2012
The Fermanagh Trust has been conducting research into the onshore wind industry's relationship with local communities across Northern Ireland and comparing this with other countries. The research report includes an in-depth examination of good practice models and partnership arrangements between t
17/01/2012
Over 400 people attended a demonstration in support of the Vita Cortex workers campaign to secure their agreed redundancy payments on Saturday 14th January in Cork. The afternoon protest, organised by the Cork Council of Trade Unions, was held at the company’s plant on the Kinsale Road where 32 wor
17/01/2012
Labour T.D., Sean Kenny has welcomed news that the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, is to make €100 million available for the upgrading of roads across the country. "As a member of the Dail's Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport, I am delighted to hear this news. The spending
16/01/2012
Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, and Fergus O’Dowd, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for NewERA has announced, starting today, a six week public consultation on a suite of fundamental reforms of the water sector which the Government are plan
16/01/2012
Minister of State for Trade and Development has welcomed news that the Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield is to reopen. Joe Costello, T.D. said: "This announcement is brilliant news not only for the Irish film industry but also for the local Smithfield area. I commend the work done by Minister for Art
16/01/2012
Fine Gael TD for Dublin South Central, Catherine Byrne, is calling on An Post to facilitate the payment of the household charge through its network of post offices free of charge. "I find it shocking that An Post, a semi -State body, will not facilitate the payment of the household charge through i
16/01/2012
Fianna Fáil Senator has again called for substantive action on the mortgage crisis which is impacting thousands of families across the country. Senator Marc Mac Sharry said: "Two Bills dealing with mortgage arrears have been introduced by Fianna Fáil which offered tangible solutions to the problem
16/01/2012
Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport has announced €100 million worth of funding for new road safety and upgrading projects at locations across the country in 2012. Minister Leo Varadkar said he was very happy to be able to make the announcement at a time when funding is so constrained: "This fu
16/01/2012
A construction-related family owned business from Mid Ulster has managed to defy national business performance trends by posting an increase in turnover for the past 12 months of 50%. Bellaghy based Premier Electrics, which handles commercial electrical installations for a range of large retailers
13/01/2012
SDLP Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has reacted to news that the Planning Service have authorised the demolition of the old Hamiltons Factory overlooking Foyle Road due to safety concerns. Mr Ramsey said: "I raised this issue in May last year due to falling debris from the building and the high risk it posed
13/01/2012
Fine Gael TD for Dublin South Central, Catherine Byrne, has welcomed the announcement from Diageo that it is to make a capital investment of €153 million in a brewing centre of excellence at St James's Gate, Dublin. "It's great news for the South Inner City that Diageo has decided to expand its Gui
13/01/2012
The Government is to force its controversial Septic Tank Bill through Committee stage next week, without allowing adequate time for questions or debate about inspection standards and costs. Fianna Fáil Environment Spokesperson Niall Collins has expressed his outrage at the Environment Minister’s
13/01/2012
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster today helped turn the first sod, marking the start of construction of a new aircraft hangar at Enniskillen's St Angelo Airport. The £1.38 million workspace development project, which has been financed with assistance from the EU INTERREG IVA Programme, will see the
13/01/2012
The leader of the Green Party in Ireland has said the Government should proceed with the Green Financial Services Centre that has been planned for the last three years. Eamon Ryan said: "The initiative has gone through the most detailed assessment. It would require seed funding of €6.7 million but
13/01/2012
A Mallusk man was fined a total of £2,250 plus court costs of £37 at Laganside Magistrates' Court in Belfast for waste offences. Mr Stephen Moran of Grange Lane, Mallusk admitted operating a Waste Transfer Station at an address on Seven Mile Straight, Crumlin, Co Antrim as part of his skip hire bus
13/01/2012
Over 300 people gathered outside Dáil Eireann yesterday to support the campaign by the Vita Cortex workers for their agreed redundancy payments. The crowd gave a rapturous welcome to 14 Vita Cortex workers who travelled from Cork to attend the demonstration. Their 18 colleagues remained at the comp
12/01/2012
Fianna Fáil Senator Darragh O’Brien has called on James Reilly to deliver on his promise to ensure the Reclaim Fingal Alliance could meet Environment Minister Phil Hogan on proposals to locate a monster sewerage plant in North Dublin. Senator O'Brien said: "Minister Reilly has failed to deliver on
12/01/2012
Louth Fianna Fáil T.D. has said the latest incident of diesel sludge dumping in Co Louth is further evidence of the need for strong measures to tackle to illegal sale of diesel. Deputy Seamus Kirk was commenting after 48,000 litres of toxic diesel sludge was found dumped on the M1 motorway south of
12/01/2012
SIPTU Sector Organiser, Michael Wall, told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht that handing over water services to the private sector would be a 'fundamental mistake'. He also highlighted the threat to water services from attempts by a group of civil
12/01/2012
Following a Government meeting, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has announced plans for the disposal of the State's electronic voting equipment. A Request for Tenders is to be published before the end of January 2012 seeking proposals for either the purchase of the
12/01/2012
A major resurfacing scheme on the Ravenhill Road, Belfast is due to commence on Monday 16 January 2012 between Albertbridge Road and Delaware Street. To help minimise any inconvenience to the travelling public and local businesses the majority of this work is programmed to be completed using off-pe
12/01/2012
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has welcomed the confirmation that the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) and has invited both parties to the dispute at the Vita Cortex factory to meet in Cork next Tuesday to clarify the facts of the situation and to explore with the parties the pote
12/01/2012
The Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín has officially opened the Falls Road Library. This follows the recent official opening of the Shankill library in December. The £770,000 Falls refurbishment marked the beginning of the capital investment promised for the Belfast area after the recent Strategic
11/01/2012
Almac has opened a new £3m building at its Craigavon headquarters from which staff will provide services to customers in over 100 countries around the world. Around 150 staff who work for Almac’s Clinical Services Business Unit have just moved to the new 30,000 sq ft building to consolidate its ser
11/01/2012
Electric Ireland and Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) have today released full anonymised data sets from the recent Smart Metering trials for electricity customers. The Smart Metering Trials took place during 2009 and 2010 with over 5,000 Irish homes and businesses participating. The
11/01/2012
The Vita Cortex workers struggle for justice is continuing to gather support as they prepare to travel to Dublin to take part in a lunchtime protest outside Dáil Eireann on Thursday, 12th January, at 1.00pm. On Monday, 9th January, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin visited the 32 workers to offer h
11/01/2012
Fingal County Council's Finance Director has stated that the proposed Household Tax will be of "no benefit" to local councils as it goes "straight into the Local Government Fund". The categorical statement from Mr Pat Keane came when presenting Fingal's Annual Budget and directly contradicts Minis
11/01/2012
Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson has called on the DSD Minister Nelson McCausland to state when the Housing Executive will award the 20 extra points for people on the housing waiting lists who are living in temporary private rented accommodation. Fra McCann MLA said: "In October 2010 Sinn Féin called
11/01/2012
Greening our public spaces the best low cost solution to making our cities work, according to the leader of the Green Party. Eamon Ryan said: "With the Government having abandoned new rail lines we will need to promote other sustainable transport systems if our cities are going to work. Bus transp
11/01/2012
SDLP Belfast City Councillor has welcomed a positive response from the Roads Service to complaints he raised on behalf of residents in the Ormeau Road/Sunnyside Street area of his ward who were affected by poor street maintenance. Pat McCarthy said: "I am pleased to have received a positive respons
10/01/2012
Capital Reinforcing (Ireland) Ltd was fined a total of £12,500 plus £1,000 costs after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing at Laganside Crown Court to three breaches of health and safety legislation. The case against the company was brought by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland
10/01/2012
SDLP Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has said he is concerned that Lecky Road residents are being discriminated against by energy companies after gas companies offered a supply to some houses but not others in the area. Mr Ramsey said: "I intend to raise with the relevant company the issues behind what seems
10/01/2012
Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has visited Carrickfergus to see the plans for the new £2.5 million public realm scheme. The scheme was designed in partnership with the Department for Regional Development and Carrickfergus Borough Council. The appointed contractors FP McCann Ltd are d
10/01/2012
Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Labour Party TD for Dublin North Central, has called for strict adherence to the guidelines laid down by the Commission for Energy Regulation in order to protect home-owners from intimidation by service providers and financial institutions in relation to payment arrears. "
10/01/2012
A Strangford construction contractor who falsely used the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and National House Building Council (NHBC) logos was fined £750 plus £25 costs at Downpatrick Magistrates' Court. The company, Sloan Construction Ltd, used the logos on letterheads which implied that it w
10/01/2012
The Sinn Féin spokesperson on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Peadar Tóibín today met with Minister Brian Hayes to discuss the excessive rents paid by the Office of Public Works to private landlords. Following the meeting Deputy Tóibín said: "The government pays out €98.5 million per year for the r
10/01/2012
A new streamlined planning complaints procedure was launched by Environment Minister Alex Attwood. The procedure, designed to make the process of complaining easier and more user friendly, is now operational. The main change is to reduce the number of steps from three to two. Mr Attwood said: "Pl
10/01/2012
The nationwide outpouring of support for the Vita Cortex workers has continued to grow after they outlined their struggle for justice on RTE’s Late Late Show on Friday 6th January. Vita Cortex worker Helen Crowley, who worked for the company for over 26 years, told Late Late Show host, Ryan Tubridy
09/01/2012
The Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry, has launched the 2012 Apprentice of the Year awards. The competition, now in its eleventh year aims to recognise the talent, excellence and determination of local apprentices. It has become the highlight of the year for many of those involved
09/01/2012
The SDLP spokesperson on the Environment John Dallat has called for immediate action to appoint a regulator for the oil industry. The East Derry MLA said: "The announcement that oil heating prices are to rise by 3.5 per cent at a time when demand has fallen by 15 per cent has caused uproar among ma
09/01/2012
Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire TD, Mary Mitchell O'Connor, has warmly welcomed the news that funding has been approved for the €18 million upgrade of Pottery Road, Deansgrange. Deputy Mitchell O'Connor added that the works will make a huge difference to people who use the road on a daily basis. "For years
09/01/2012
The Department of Social Protection needs to conduct a rigorous assessment of the claim by Vita Cortex that it is unable to pay the redundancy due to the 32 former workers at the Cork plant, according to Fianna Fáil Finance Spokesperson and Cork South Central TD Michael McGrath. Deputy McGrath sta
09/01/2012
Sinn Féin Dublin City Councillor Mícheál Mac Donncha has confirmed that an offer of €50,000 per Priory Hall apartment was a draft proposal from Dublin City Council management. He called on Environment, Community and Local Government Minister Phil Hogan to meet the residents. Cllr Mac Donncha said
09/01/2012
A new streamlined planning complaints procedure was launched today by Environment Minister Alex Attwood. The procedure, designed to make the process of complaining easier and more user friendly, is now operational. The main change is to reduce the number of steps from three to two. Mr Attwood sai
09/01/2012
Responding to new figures from the Health and Safety Authority showing a 28% increase in workplace deaths between 2009 and 2011, Labour MEP Proinsias De Rossa has called on the Minister for Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton T.D., to redouble efforts to reduce the number of workplace dea
06/01/2012
The Portlaoise Main Drainage scheme in County Laois, Ireland, has been voted Environmental Infrastructure Project of the Year in the 2011 Engineers Ireland Excellence Awards. The multi-million euro project comprised a new collection system, upgraded wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and sludge trea
06/01/2012
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD has announced that Cook Medical, the largest privately owned medical device company in the world, is to invest up to €16.5m over four years creating highly skilled positions in Research and Development activities at its Limerick site, wi
06/01/2012
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD has expressed his concern at the continuing situation at the Vita Cortex factory in Cork which has involved workers at the plant engaging in a sit-in arising from a dispute with their employer over redundancy payments. The Minister
06/01/2012
Sinn Féin MLA Micky Brady said recent speculation that there was to be another increase in the price of home-heating oil emphasised the need for a more robust regulation of the industry. The Newry & Armagh MLA said: "It is ironic that we had a milder holiday period compared to last year’s big freez
06/01/2012
DUP North Antrim MLA and Chair of the Agriculture Committee has outlined the party's response to a DARD review of the Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland. Commenting Mr Frew said: "In recognition of the need to encourage people to stay and work in their rural communities, the Agricultural
06/01/2012
A tough 12 months for the UK’s construction sector have kept confidence at low levels, with around one in ten employers fearing that their business won’t survive the recession, new research reveals. In the Employer Attitudes and Motivations report by Sector Skills Council and Industry Training Boa
06/01/2012
Sinn Féin Cavan-Monaghan TD, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin met with the protesting workers at Lagan Brick in Kingscourt, Co Cavan. He called on the firm's owners to engage with the workers at the Labour Relations Commission and expressed solidarity with the workers’ protest at what he called their "disgrac
05/01/2012
The Department for Regional Development will start work on a number of junction improvements in Belfast city centre next week. The improvements on Grosvenor Road/Durham Street and Hope Street/Great Victoria Street are part of the Belfast On The Move Transport Masterplan which will give higher prior
05/01/2012
SDLP Derry City Cllr Martin Reilly has said some residents in the Waterside area of Derry are extremely frustrated after lead was stolen from the roof of homes in Broighter Court. He said: "Those responsible for stealing lead from houses should be ashamed of themselves. Householders across Northern
05/01/2012
ESB Networks will today, 5 January, be deploying 22 Network Technician crews and support staff to assist Scottish & Southern Electricity (SSE) and Scottish Power in their electricity supply restoration efforts following damage brought about by severe storm weather there in recent days. Having succe
05/01/2012
Kathleen Lynch T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Equality, Mental Health & Older People, today welcomed the earlier than expected reopening of Unit 3B in St Brendan's Hospital, Grangegorman. Temporary arrangements were put in place at the hospital over the Christmas period
05/01/2012
The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., has stated that the Household Charge website adheres to the required data protection and privacy standards. He stated: "I would like to reassure users of www.householdcharge.ie that the information they provide
05/01/2012
The Children's Right Alliance is calling on Government to urgently review its decision to postpone the new detention centre for teenage boys in Oberstown, Dublin. Chief Executive, Tanya Ward, said: "It is of utmost importance that the same creative energies, used to find funding for the new childre
05/01/2012
Ireland's leading housing charity has welcomed the announcement by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and NAMA that 2,000 housing units will be made available in 2012 for social housing purposes. Respond! Housing Association believes it is a step in the right directi
05/01/2012
Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has announced that he has given sanction to Laois Community and Enterprise Development to approve funding of up to €187,500 to the Rathdowney Playground Group for the development of a playground and multi use games area i
04/01/2012
The largest Nordex wind farm in Ireland to date is to be installed as of August 2012. The project is called "Garracummer" located in county Tipperary and is to go on grid with 17 N90/2500 machines. The customer is the state-owned utility Bord Gais Energy. Bord Gais have engaged Nordex to build the
04/01/2012
Ground-breaking research into the use of renewable gas at University College Cork's Environmental Research Institute (ERI) received a €0.25m boost for 2012. The initiative which involves minority funding from Bord Gáis Networks (BGN) will enable the Institute to develop its research beyond the ac
04/01/2012
The Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) the umbrella body of 300 non-profit housing associations has welcomed plans to have 2000 properties within the NAMA portfolio to be released for social housing in 2012. "While progress has previously been slow in encouraging individual owners and their fi
04/01/2012
Some 2,000 people have registered to pay the controversial Household Charge, according to the board managing the scheme on Wednesday. The Household Charge Project Board says over 2,000 have already paid by credit card or debit card and hundreds more have set up direct debits. The system to make t
04/01/2012
The Association for Project Management (APM) has recognised the first Northern Ireland recipients of its new APM Registered Project Professional (RPP) designation. Local APM members, Leslie Warren, Paul Cooke and John Arbuckle were professionally certified after demonstrating their capability of b
04/01/2012
Fianna Fáil Seanad Spokesperson on Finance Senator Darragh O'Brien has called on the Government to set a date for the implementing an action plan to help struggling mortgage holders. Senator O'Brien commented: "It is now nearly three months since the Keane report on mortgage arrears was published,
04/01/2012
Phil Hogan, TD, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has announced that he has given sanction to Forum Connemara to approve funding of up to €175,676.47 to Brigit’s Garden for the further development of a sustainable garden inspired by Celtic folklore in Rossachill, Co Galway
04/01/2012
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has expressed his concern at the continuing situation at the Vita Cortex factory in Cork which has involved workers at the plant engaging in a sit-in arising from a dispute with their employer over redundancy payments. Minister Richard Bruton TD stat
03/01/2012
At a full meeting of workers at the Vita Cortex plant in Cork a decision was taken to escalate the dispute in order to achieve a just outcome for the workers and their families. Vita Cortex manufactures flexible polyether foams, polyester fibre fillings and aircraft seating products. The meeting w
03/01/2012
Irish house prices continued to drop in the fourth quarter according to property website Daft.ie. The latest Daft House Price Report shows that asking prices for houses fell by 18 per cent in 2011. The average asking price for homes is now €175,000. Ronan Lyons, economist with Daft.ie, said: "It
03/01/2012
The Northern Ireland Planning Second Quarterly Development Management Statistical Bulletin 2011/12 provisional figures have been published. The figures reveal that the number of planning applications being submitted in Northern Ireland for domestic alterations and extensions is still falling, down
03/01/2012
The Green Party Spokesperson for Transport, Tourism and Sport has offered a cautious welcome to today’s decision by the European Court of Justice to force all airlines operating within the EU to pay to offset their carbon emissions. Adam Douglas said: "The Global interconnectedness of modern
03/01/2012
Environment Minister Alex Attwood has revealed that the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) deals with 10 reported pollution incidents every day. This was highlighted when he launched the NIEA's first Compliance and Enforcement Report. The report highlights robust action to address the probl
03/01/2012
Brian Hayes, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) has announced that the OPW will be hosting a series of events throughout 2012 to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the establishment of the Phoenix
03/01/2012
The Finance Minister has visited Temple Quarry in Lisburn to discuss issues affecting the quarry industry. Whitemountain Quarries Ltd is the quarry materials division of Lagan, one of Ireland's most successful construction-related groups of companies in Northern Ireland, and a market leader in quar
03/01/2012
Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has announced that he has given sanction to Forum Connemara to approve funding of up to €171,345 to Diamond Hill Housing Association for the development of an all weather Astro Turf Pitch in Letterfrack, Co Galway. This
