Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Ireland Construction News Archive for February 2012
29/02/2012
Fianna Fáil TD for Longford Westmeath, Robert Troy, has expressed his huge disappointment with the fact that grants to improve or adapt the private homes of older people and people with a disability has fallen for the second year in a row. Westmeath County Council is set to receive €988,155 in thes
29/02/2012
The introduction of loan-to-value (LTV) limits on mortgages might help to prevent a repeat of Ireland's housing bubble, according to new research by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). An examination of the international evidence suggests that requiring house buyers to accumulate hig
29/02/2012
The Sinn Féin spokesperson on housing Dessie Ellis TD has called on the government to examine repossession policies for both home owners and local authority tenants. Deputy Ellis made his remarks following the Supreme Court ruling that Section 62 of the Housing Act which allowed local authorities t
29/02/2012
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Joe Byrne has welcomed the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development's announcement that residents of Beragh will be included in the process of establishing flood defences in the area. Mr Byrne had urged the Minister to expedite discussions with the Beragh community in ord
29/02/2012
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) welcomed An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD to their Headquarters in Ballina, Co. Mayo for a ceremony to mark the awarding of Quality, Environmental, and Health and Safety Management System certification to the RSA. The certifications recognise the efforts of the RSA to im
29/02/2012
SIPTU has criticised a decision by the management of Lagan Brick not to attend a Labour Court hearing aimed at resolving the dispute at the company's manufacturing plant in Kingscourt, Co. Cavan, is in breach of the Private Sector Protocol agreed by the social partners. The union's criticism follow
29/02/2012
Fine Gael Dublin South Central TD, Catherine Byrne, has welcomed the allocation of almost €11 million to Dublin City Council to improve or adapt the homes of older people and people with a disability. The funding is being made available as part of an overall national allocation of €67.75 million b
29/02/2012
The Department of Education has clarified the position regarding rental payments at Scoil an Droichid, an Irish-medium primary school in South Belfast. This follows a newspaper article reporting that the school was at risk of eviction as a consequence of a dispute between the Department and the lan
28/02/2012
53% of engineers believe funding for third-level education institutions should be performance-based, according to findings revealed by the body as part of Engineers Week 2012 (www.engineersweek.ie). The Engineers Ireland survey of over 1,200 engineers also found that 73% surveyed believe Ireland ne
28/02/2012
SIPTU has welcomed the decision of Dublin City Council to grant planning permission for the redevelopment of Liberty Hall subject to a number of conditions. The union's General Secretary, Joe O'Flynn, explained that SIPTU and its professional advisors will be considering the various conditions att
28/02/2012
Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, and Meath West Deputy, Damien English, have welcomed confirmation from the National Transport Authority (NTA) that work is progressing on the design and planning of the rail line extension from Pace to Navan. The NTA says the project has been postponed, not
28/02/2012
A Northern Ireland community organisation will be able to harness natural wind energy and cut the energy costs at its centre thanks to a grant from the Big Lottery Fund. St Joseph’s GAC, Craigbane, is one of 62 groups across Northern Ireland awarded grants totalling £621,268 from the Big Lottery
28/02/2012
SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has said that a seeming inertia in the European Commission with regard to the suspension of the Aggregates Levy Credit Scheme in Northern Ireland is threatening the local construction industry. Ms Ritchie said: "The suspension of the scheme was ordered by the Eur
28/02/2012
Kingspan, a provider of insulation and building envelope solutions, has reported a 30% increase in revenue to €1.55 billion. The Irish company's annual results for the year showed trading profit grew 33% from €72.0m to €95.7m, an increase of 24% excluding acquisitions. The acquisition and integrat
28/02/2012
The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has confirmed that the Government has taken no steps to implement the recommendation in the Keane report to establish an independent mortgage advice service with at least 100 professional advisors, according to Fianna Fáil Finance Spokesperson Michael M
28/02/2012
Sinn Féin Economy Spokesperson, Conor Murphy MP, MLA has called for the introduction of a uniform per litre price for home heating oil. Mr Murphy said: "Fuel poverty is affecting a growing number of people as family incomes fail to keep pace with increasing prices. It is unacceptable that those lea
27/02/2012
Northern Ireland was the only area of the UK to experience an increase in house purchase loans in the final quarter of 2011, according to new figures released today from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) in Northern Ireland. The 2,500 house purchase loans, worth £240 million, increased 4% by n
27/02/2012
Internationally renowned actor Cillian Murphy has sent a message of support to the Vita Cortex workers on the 70th day of their sit-in at the former foam manufacturing plant on the Kinsale Road in Cork. The Cork born star of several Hollywood films and the award winning Irish War of Independence fi
27/02/2012
A Northern Ireland university has bought-up a large plot of land to develop a multi-million pound development. The University of Ulster secured a land deal in Belfast's north inner city to house its new £250m campus. Detailed plans, which include a glass 10-storey building in York Street, will be
27/02/2012
Housing & Planning Minister Jan O’Sullivan today announced a capital provision of €67.75m for grants to improve or adapt the private homes of older people and people with a disability in 2012. Announcing the allocations, the Minister said: "The Government is determined that our scarce resources are
27/02/2012
Sinn Féin spokesperson on environment, community and local government Brian Stanley TD has welcomed Unite's decision to oppose the household charge. Speaking after Unite’s executive made its decision today Deputy Stanley said: "This is the second major union to come out publicly in the last week ag
27/02/2012
SDLP Derry City Cllr John Boyle has welcomed news that Roads Service is set to conduct traffic surveys on one of Derry's main thoroughfares. SDLP representatives have secured an undertaking that Roads Service are to carry out surveys on Northland Road and will be assessing the need to erect pedestr
27/02/2012
Fine Gael Dublin South East Senator, Catherine Noone, has hit out at the minimum standing charge being imposed by Electric Ireland, describing it as a grossly unfair attack on the poor. Senator Noone added that it is ludicrous that people are being charged more, for not using enough electricity.
27/02/2012
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton TD today announced that Eli Lilly and Company, a global leader in biopharmaceuticals, is to invest €330 million in a brand-new facility at its Kinsale campus in Cork. The investment will expand the Kinsale site's existing biopharmaceutica
24/02/2012
Dublin based solar cell manufacturing design company, Nines Photovoltaics, today announced the closing of a €750,000 round of funding. The round of funding was led by Irish clean tech investor, Simple.ie, through its Green Employment & Investment Incentive (EII) Fund and was supported by a number
24/02/2012
Microsoft has announced it will create over 450 jobs in a $130m investment to expand its data centre in west Dublin. 400 construction jobs and over another 50 positions are expected to be created. The centre will be located on the firm's campus at Grange Castle in west Dublin. It is part of the g
24/02/2012
Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill has said that renewable energy technologies offer those in the land-based rural sectors with opportunities to reduce energy costs. The Minister was speaking after she attended the Practical On-farm Renewable Energy event at College of Food, Agriculture and Rura
24/02/2012
Fianna Fáil has proposed an emergency amendment to the legislation on critical infrastructure that would allow the National Children's Hospital to proceed as planned. Speaking during Leaders Questions in the Dáil this morning, Fianna Fáil Deputy Leader Éamon Ó Cuív called on the Government to make
24/02/2012
SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has said the British government's proposed Housing Benefit reforms will cause untold misery for many families in Derry. The government's so-called "bedroom tax" will reduce the amount of housing benefit support that can be given to tenants by introducing new size criteria
24/02/2012
Sinn Féin Representative Raymond McCartney MLA has called on Derry City Council Chief Executive to seek an urgent meeting with the IFA to secure funding for the Brandywell redevelopment. Mr McCartney said: "The announcement tonight that the IFA and Linfield Football Club have come to agreement on t
23/02/2012
An Bord Pleanála has rejected planning permission for the proposed National Children's Hospital in Dublin. The board said the proposed development "constitute overdevelopment" and would result in "a dominant visually incongruous structure". The board also said it would have a profound negative imp
23/02/2012
MLA David Ford has welcomed the decision by Planning Service to withdraw two contentious planning applications from the meeting with Antrim Council. They concerned plans for a waste facility and a landfill at Parkgate Quarry. David Ford said: "Working alongside people in the area, Cllr Alan Lawther
23/02/2012
SDLP Mayor of Lisburn Cllr Brian Heading has expressed concern about the potential loss of open space in Dunmurry to developers. Cllr Heading was speaking after news broke of a proposed planning application for 68 apartments in Lagmore Glen, which would remove an open space currently used by the co
23/02/2012
The Wind Turbines Bill 2012 has been introduced by the Labour Senators' Group and debated during private members' time. This Bill would restrict the placing of wind turbines near people's homes. There has been great public support for this Bill, as wind turbines placed too close homes may cause di
23/02/2012
The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Energy, Martin Ferris TD has criticised the decision by the Government to sell off part of Bord Gáis. Deputy Ferris said: "Unfortunately the information I received last week in relation to selling off the Bord Gáis retail operation has been confirmed. This will allow o
23/02/2012
Fianna Fáil Transport Spokesperson Timmy Dooley has described the Government’s decision in favour of selling the state's remaining shareholding in Aer Lingus "when market conditions are favourable" as extremely worrying in the absence of a plan to protect the strategic important landing slot at Heat
22/02/2012
South Dublin County Council, in collaboration with Engineers Ireland, presents the launch of Engineers Week 27 Feb - 4 March by Mayor Caitríona Jones in the presence of Brian Hayes T.D., Minister of State for Public Service Reform and the Office of Public Works at RUA RED South Dublin Arts Centre Ta
22/02/2012
Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Dessie Ellis TD has called on the Minister for Environment to intervene to support the mediation process to resolve the health and safety issues which has called a halt to the regeneration of St Michaels Estate Inchicore. Deputy Ellis made his comments last night in t
22/02/2012
SIPTU members at Vita Cortex have reacted with disgust to the attack on their characters contained in a letter sent to the media by a director of the company. In a letter sent to newspapers the company director and shareholder, Sean McHenry, accused the Vita Cortex workers of "blackmail designed t
22/02/2012
Universities Ireland, which promotes collaboration between universities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and the Electricity Supply Board (ESB), the largest energy company on the island of Ireland, are offering five scholarships to students undertaking a recognised Master's or the fi
22/02/2012
The public needs to be engaged from the start on the issues of oil exploration in Dublin Bay, overhead power lines in the North East, and 'Fracking' in Counties Leitrim, Roscommon and Clare, according to the Green Party in Ireland. Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said: "The Government should establis
22/02/2012
The Sinn Féin President and Louth TD Gerry Adams has called on the Taoiseach to axe the Household Charge following the publication of figures which show that less than 7% of households have paid. The Louth TD also called on the government to put in place a Plan B to ensure that local councils are a
22/02/2012
Social Development Minister, Nelson McCausland, today announced plans to invest over £1.1 million for the redevelopment of housing in the Kilcooley Estate in Bangor. The redevelopment will see 24 flats at Kilclief Gardens demolished and replaced by a more sustainable mix of new accommodation. The f
21/02/2012
The Tourism Minister today welcomed the decision to grant permission for a golf resort at Runkerry on the North Antrim coast. The new Bushmills Dunes Golf Resort and Spa, will be located close to neighbouring Royal Portrush golf club where the Irish Open will take place this summer. Arlene Foster
21/02/2012
Electric Ireland has announced that it has secured a €400,000 contract with the National Aquatic Centre to service the centre’s strategic energy requirements over the next year. The National Aquatic Centre had a record year for visitors in 2011. The Centre broke the 800,000 mark for the first time a
21/02/2012
A leading provider of biomass heat and power solutions has moved to the North West after completing its latest round of fundraising with investment from The North West Fund for Energy and Environmental (NWF4EE) and the Environmental Infrastructure Development Company (EIDC). Imperative Energy, whic
21/02/2012
Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland, has announced the appointment of local company McAdam Design to develop proposals for the public areas around Belfast City Hall. The estimated cost of this design contract is £900,000. Minister McCausland said: "Today's announcement starts the proces
21/02/2012
SIPTU representatives met with the management of Balfour Beatty CLG Limited to discuss a proposal by the construction company to implement up to 76 redundancies. SIPTU Organiser John Regan said: "The meeting with the management of Balfour Beatty CLG Limited was constructive and both sides are commi
21/02/2012
North Antrim Sinn Féin MLA Daithí McKay has welcomed the decision to approve a planning application for a new £100 millon golf resort on the North Antrim coast. Mr McKay said it was a key piece of tourism infrastructure for the area that would lead to further investment and more events coming to t
21/02/2012
Extraspace Solutions are delighted to announce that the Government Procurement Services have awarded Extraspace Solutions a framework agreement in the areas of Health, Education and General Steel Framed Modular Buildings, under the general Framework Category of Modular Building Systems. The Governm
20/02/2012
SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has supported calls for an Office of Fair Trading investigation into the transparent pricing of fuel in Northern Ireland and secured a Westminster Hall debate on the topic this week. The UK Parliamentary debate, which takes place on Wednesday, will look at the co
20/02/2012
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has announced a major initiative to help local construction and civil engineering companies win business from the new £15 billion. The Minister was speaking at the first in a series of events being planned by Invest Northern Ireland to enable local companies to dev
20/02/2012
More needs to be done to make Northern Ireland's large public sector estate more efficient and sustainable, and greater priority needs to be placed on creating a shared future, are some of the key messages of a review from the local head of a major professional body. Michael Hannaway, Chairman of t
20/02/2012
Speaking following an emergency meeting of the St. Michael’s Regeneration Board, which was held after the building contractors at St. Michael’s Estate were asked to leave the site due to health and safety issues, Fine Gael Councillor, Clare Byrne, said the situation is very disappointing and that th
20/02/2012
Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), has announced funding for two areas that have been badly hit by flooding in County Kerry, Cromane and Kenmare. Speaking in County Kerry this morning, Minister Brian Hayes said: "I am pleased to announce that my off
20/02/2012
The National Executive Council (NEC) of SIPTU has called on the Government to suspend the proposed Household Charge on the basis that it is unfair and regressive. At its monthly meeting the NEC unanimously supported a motion stating that: "The Household Charge as currently proposed by the Governmen
20/02/2012
The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Energy, Martin Ferris TD has claimed that the awarding of a Bord Gáis maintenance and safety contract to British firm Balfour Beatty is already costing jobs among former contractors and employees. Deputy Ferris was responding to information he received that Balfour Be
17/02/2012
SIPTU representatives will meet with management at Balfour Beatty CLG Limited on Monday following the announcement that the company intends to restructure the business with the possibility of up to 76 job losses. SIPTU Organiser, John Regan said: The announcement by Balfour Beatty CLG Limited that
17/02/2012
The Fianna Fáil Leader has strongly urged the management at Lagan Brick to enter talks with unions at the Labour Court as a matter of urgency. Deputy Micheál Martin visited Lagan Brick in Kingscourt Co Cavan this week. He met with the workers and pledged his support to their campaign for better re
17/02/2012
The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Energy, Martin Ferris TD has called on Minister Pat Rabbitte to comment on reports that the government will shortly announce the selling off of Bord Gáis of its retail gas and electricity sales section be sold off to private companies. Deputy Ferris said: "Given that t
17/02/2012
SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has expressed concern at a new Anglo-French agreement pledging co-operation on civil nuclear power. Ms Ritchie said: "This new agreement is very alarming to us in the SDLP. "We are long-term opponents of the extension of nuclear power having seen the negative im
17/02/2012
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has congratulated County Down construction firm Graham on winning a £19million contract to design and build a new port facility in England. The contract is for a roll-on/roll-off terminal used for the import and export of cars and will involve building two jetties,
17/02/2012
The Peace Bridge and Ebrington Square in Derry have won both the prestigious Place Making Award and the Overall Planning Award at the Irish Planning Institutes National Planning Awards 2011. Speaking at the event, Planning Minister Alex Attwood, in offering his congratulations said: "Ebrington Squ
17/02/2012
Sligo North Leitrim Senator has called on Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte TD to come to the Seanad to debate the prospect of hydraulic fracturing (fracking). Senator O'Keeffe hosted a briefing given by Tamboran Resources to members of the Oireachtas. The brief
17/02/2012
Environment Spokesperson for Alliance, Anna Lo MLA, believes that an independent Environmental Protection Agency must be created in Northern Ireland in order to combat pollution and help prevent infraction fines being imposed by the EU. Anna Lo MLA said: "Northern Ireland needs an independent Envir
16/02/2012
The Minister of State for Research & Innovation has officially opened the new School of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin. Representing a €21million investment by the Department of Education and Skills, the project involved the construction of new, state of the art facilities. It will provide lec
16/02/2012
Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has announced that work is due to start on a £400,000 Public Realm scheme in Londonderry. The appointed contractor, Whitemountain, is due to begin work on Queens Quay later this month. Nelson McCausland said: "The riverfront in Londonderry is one of t
16/02/2012
The local housing market is set to get a kick-start for 2012 with the help of a major campaign by Ulster Bank to stimulate and support demand. As the post-Christmas period, when housing market activity is generally lower, comes to an end, the bank announces that it is removing arrangement fees acr
16/02/2012
Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty has called on the Government to respond to the charge that Irish money is being used to drive the British economy. Doherty made the charge after discovering that NAMA will be advancing €568.2 million to construction activity outside of Ireland. Of this €
16/02/2012
Government plans for the Green economy amount to nothing except some more planning, the Green Party claims. Green Party Enterprise Spokesperson Cllr Marianne Butler said: "The Jobs Plan launched shows up a lack of vision in the Government and contains few practical actions to get our economy workin
16/02/2012
From now on, it will be even easier for customers to receive and find information from Husqvarna Construction thanks to the launch of a new mobile website. Husqvarna Construction continues to move forward in the field of digital communication and now further increases its availability for customer
15/02/2012
The Finance Minister today met with representatives of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) to discuss the Executive’s capital investment plans. Issues discussed included capital investment funding, the Executive's capital investment priorities and the role of private finance in delivering i
15/02/2012
A nationwide campaign to resist an attempt by the Construction Industry Federation to slash workers' wages by up to 40% and down to the level of the minimum wage will begin within days. The campaign, which will include general meetings on building sites across the country, will be co-coordinated by
15/02/2012
Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD has described Environment, Community and Local Government Minister Phil Hogan's attempts to wash his hands of the impending waste crisis in Dublin city as "brazen". The Dublin Central TD said: "The transferring of household waste collection from Dublin C
15/02/2012
Fine Gael TD for Donegal North East, Joe McHugh, has welcomed the announcement that £330 million will be spent over the next four years on upgrading sections of the A5 from Newbuildings to Strabane, and from Omagh to Ballygawley. The Irish Government is contributing £50 million to this project. "
15/02/2012
The Department of the Environment (DOE) has served an Urgent Works Notice on the owner of 119 - 121 Main St, Dundrum, a pair of listed buildings on a key tourist route to the Mournes. This pair of conjoined urban vernacular buildings are key constituent parts of the heritage of Dundrum and, despit
15/02/2012
Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy has secured almost £500million investment in road infrastructure, balanced across Northern Ireland, with the potential to create an estimated 2,500 jobs over four years. The revised budget means that over the next four years Roads Service can bring forwar
14/02/2012
OceanEnergy Limited, Ireland's leading wave energy company, has landed a major landmark deal to provide the world’s largest grid connected offshore marine energy test site, Wave Hub in Cornwall, with its first multi-million euro energy device. Cork-based OceanEnergy expects to deploy its first full
14/02/2012
Sinn Féin MLA For West Belfast, Fra McCann, has welcomed the move to develop a housing strategy for the north. The MLA said departmental officials delivered a presentation on a proposed housing strategy. Mr McCann said he hoped this strategy would not go the same way that previous attempts to deve
14/02/2012
The Energy Minister has welcomed the beginning of a two-week publicity campaign to highlight the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. Pat Rabitte said: "I am very pleased to see that good advice on this silent killer is being given to the public in such a high-profile manner. I am particularly ple
14/02/2012
A Co Fermanagh farmer pleaded guilty and was fined £5,000 at Enniskillen Magistrates' Court. William Ritchie, of Cara Road, Newtownbutler, Co Fermanagh, was fined for making a polluting discharge to the Lackey River, a tributary of the Finn River, Upper Lough Erne. On 15 June 2011, Water Quality I
14/02/2012
Dublin North East Labour T.D, Seán Kenny, today called on Bank of Ireland (BOI) to agree to the request by Priory Hall homeowners for a moratorium on their Bank of Ireland mortgages, while the residents are out of the homes by order of Dublin City Council, and forced to rent alternative accommodatio
14/02/2012
Speaking following the launch of a domestic violence awareness campaign by Sonas Housing and Meath Women's Refuge to highlight the impact of verbal abuse, Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire Deputy, Mary Mitchell O'Connor, called on NAMA to make housing available to victims of domestic abuse to enable them to l
13/02/2012
Fine Gael TD for Dublin South Central, Catherine Byrne, has expressed her shock and disappointment at the news that the new contractor recently selected to complete building work at Inchicore National School has pulled out of the project. She said: "This is shocking news for the school, and the loc
13/02/2012
Tourism Minister Arlene Foster was joined by UK Tourism Minister John Penrose MP as they visited the Titanic Quarter to see the final preparations ahead of the opening of Titanic Belfast on 31 March. A series of events will mark the opening of this iconic building which will accommodate nine galle
13/02/2012
Kildare South Fianna Fáil TD Seán Ó Fearghaíl has called a public information meeting for this Thursday, February 16th, to discuss the Government's plans for inspections and charges for households with Septic Tanks. Deputy Ó Fearghaíl said: "The legislation being brought in by the Government will h
13/02/2012
Abbott plans to invest €85 million at its pharmaceutical manufacturing operation in Sligo. The investment will result in the creation of up to approximately 175 highly skilled jobs. The expansion of the facility will be completed in 2014. The investment is supported by the Irish Government through
13/02/2012
Cork city centre came to a halt on Saturday afternoon as over 5,000 people marched in solidarity with the Vita Cortex workers. The march began outside the SIPTU offices at Connolly Hall, Lapps Quay, at 2.00 p.m., and was described by Gardaí as the largest protest in Cork in recent years. The peop
13/02/2012
Fianna Fáil Seanad Spokesperson on Education has questioned how the Government can find €20 million overnight to subsidise septic tank registrations, but still hasn’t found a way to reverse the cuts to DEIS schools. The contrast showed up how little priority the Government actually attaches to di
10/02/2012
Labour Party TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has called on the Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to proactively engage with Dublin City Council and NAMA with the aim of finding a new, more appropriate and iconic site for the Dublin City Library. The Dublin North Central Deputy believes that gi
10/02/2012
The Housing Minister has welcomed the announcement from the Housing Executive that it is to install 40,000 carbon monoxide detectors in its homes. Minister Nelson McCausland said: "Safety in the home has to be a primary concern for any landlord and I have previously raised the issue of carbon monox
10/02/2012
Underground cables have been hit by Northern Ireland workmen over 700 times in the last year leading to contractors calling for more accuracy in regard to underground mapping. Despite efforts to avoid hitting the cabling workers repairing roads and footpaths continue to accidentally hit them. This
10/02/2012
Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown Deputy, Mary Mitchell O'Connor, today said the provisions contained in the Finance Bill 2012, on changes to the Universal Social Charge and mortgage interest relief, are aimed at alleviating the pressure on those most in need and rebalancing the scales in favour of
10/02/2012
SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has secured a Westminster Hall debate in an attempt to urge the Treasury to provide some relief on fuel prices in NI in the forthcoming budget. Presently Northern Ireland motorists are facing higher fuel prices than their counterparts in England, Scotland and Wal
10/02/2012
The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has expressed their disappointment at the negative response by the construction group of unions within the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) to the necessary adjustment of the Registered Employment Agreement (REA) terms. Speaking in reaction to the un
10/02/2012
Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, is encouraging local residents in Ratoath and others from across Co. Meath to pick up their household charge forms at her office, if they have not already registered for the charge. "You have until the end of March to register your details and pay for the ho
10/02/2012
Fianna Fáil Defence Spokesperson Dara Calleary has said he is baffled that the Department of Defence is now looking for army premises Cavan, Mullingar, Clonmel and Castlebar after announcing plans to shut down the barracks in each of these towns. The Minister for Defence Alan Shatter confirmed yest
10/02/2012
Dublin City Council is calling on owners of vacant properties in the city to see if they are interested in registering their empty buildings on a register of suitable vacant spaces for individuals and organisations who require space for creative, cultural, and craft uses to rent for one to six month
10/02/2012
The average house prices in Northern Ireland are continuing to fall. According to the University of Ulster’s Quarterly House price Index the average cost of a house is down 11% on this time last year. The average house in Northern Ireland now rests at £137,000. The sharpest decline in prices has
09/02/2012
Ederney based L J McGrath Building Contractor is one of twenty-eight local companies awarded with the prestigious Investors in People (IiP) accreditation at a ceremony held at Hillsborough Castle. Speaking at a celebration event held at Hillsborough Castle to congratulate the organisations, Stephen
09/02/2012
Ocean Energy Limited, one of Ireland's leading wave energy companies, is working with Wave Hub, the world's largest grid connected offshore marine energy test site, to deploy its technology at the site later this year. Cork-based Ocean Energy, in collaboration with its partner Dresser-Rand, one of
09/02/2012
Aspect Systems is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Nolan as Managing Director. Kevin has 20 years experience in the construction industry in both Ireland and the UK, specialising in major projects, including Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport and Enniskillen Hospital. Kevin joins Aspect Sys
09/02/2012
Fine Gael TD for Kildare North, Anthony Lawlor, has praised the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, for including in the Finance Bill the provision that all first time buyers who bought in 2008 will be entitled to mortgage interest relief, even if they did not start paying interest on their loan u
09/02/2012
SDLP Derry City Councillor Angela Dobbins has welcomed the news that fuel allowances of up to £100 are to be issued by the Social Security Agency by the week commencing 20 February 2012. Cllr Dobbins said: "It will come as a great relief to many people that these fuel payments are going to be made
09/02/2012
Findings of a Report investigating the impact of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) on air quality have been presented to Northern Ireland district councils. PAHs are carcinogenic pollutants and modelling work undertaken as part of the research suggests that there are higher levels of these sub
09/02/2012
Determined to keep distressed mortgage holders in their homes, Labour's Minister Jan O'Sullivan has concluded the first transaction under a new mortgage-to-rent scheme. Ciarán Lynch TD said: "The family, living in West Dublin will now rent their home from the housing body Cluid, rather than face t
08/02/2012
In a first for any government department in Northern Ireland, Environment Minister Alex Attwood has set up a partnership with Crimestoppers to crack down on waste crime. Crimestoppers is a registered charity working with the police to enable the public to report crime anonymously. Mr Attwood said:
08/02/2012
SIPTU is to seek the intervention of the Labour Court in a dispute concerning the payment of redundancy terms at the Lagan Brick manufacturing plant in Kingscourt, county Cavan. The union's move follows the breakdown of talks with Lagan Brick management at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) wit
08/02/2012
Two Northern Ireland based construction companies have been fined a total of £65,000 after a man was killed when a steel beam weighing more than a tonne fell on him while it was being unloaded from a lorry. Fisher Engineering Ltd and CM Structural Services Ltd had pleaded guilty at an earlier heari
08/02/2012
Speaking in the Seanad today, Senator Kathryn Reilly called on the Minister for Defence to come to the House to address the fact that the Department of Defence is looking for a premises to rent in Cavan to accommodate Reserve Defence Force training, while simultaneously closing and selling the exist
08/02/2012
Digital Realty Trust, a leading global provider of data centre solutions, announced that it has acquired a 10-acre development site in Dublin, Ireland. The property is located in Profile Park, approximately 15 miles southwest of Dublin International Airport. The site is capable of supporting the p
08/02/2012
The Sinn Féin spokesperson on jobs, enterprise and innovation met with representatives of household insulation firms and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Speaking after the meeting Deputy Peadar Tóibín TD said: "Following Budget 2012 the Minister agreed changes to the grants to h
08/02/2012
A proposal by Leitrim Fianna Fáil Senator Paschal Mooney to invite Tamboran Resources to appear in front of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has been approved unanimously. Tamboran is an Australian mining company that is seeking to mine a gas field on t
08/02/2012
Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy is open to improving the process for adopting roads in new housing developments. In the Assembly the Minster welcomed the opportunity to debate the issue of surety bonds, which are legally binding agreements that guarantees funding for the provision of co
07/02/2012
Immediate refusal of a public enquiry on Dublin Bay oil exploration shows a lack of respect for the public consultation process claim the Green Party. The Party reiterated it's calls on the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr Phil Hogan to hold a public enquiry in to th
07/02/2012
A new 100 bed Community Nursing Unit in Ballincollig, Co. Cork was officially opened by Dr James Reilly TD, Minister for Health. Ballincollig Community Nursing Unit (CNU) is a new €20 million HSE purpose built facility providing 100 additional public beds for older people in Cork city. The Unit,
07/02/2012
SDLP Social Development Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has urged the Housing Minister to bring forward and implement an Empty Homes Strategy to address the chronic lack of social housing available to those most in need. It was revealed to the Foyle MLA, through an Assembly Question to the Minister of S
07/02/2012
Minister Rabbitte has opened the Energy Action poverty Conference in Dublin Castle on 6th-7th Feb 2012. The event builds on the recent launch of the Affordable Energy Strategy and will provide a forum for those working in the area to share key information, experience and perspectives so as to iden
07/02/2012
Labour T.D., for Cork South-West Michael McCarthy has welcomed an announcement by Minister Phil Hogan, which confirms that the septic tank charge will be €5 for people who register within the first three months of the scheme going live, and not the €50 charge initially mooted. Mr McCarthy said: "Th
07/02/2012
Environment Minister Alex Attwood today pledged that he would continue to clear up the backlog of decisions on major planning applications. At present there are 50 'Article 31s' and the Minister has pledged to reduce these by up to two thirds by the end of June. These large scale applications rel
06/02/2012
Sinn Féin are calling for the introduction of legislation to regulate the home heating oil market bringing a motion to the Assembly on Monday. Speaking ahead of the debate, the party's energy Spokesperson Phil Flanagan MLA (Fermanagh & South Tyrone) said: "It is clear that there is widespread mark
06/02/2012
A range of scientific resources and handbooks to facilitate better coastal planning will be launched at a national seminar in NUI Galway on Tuesday, February 21. The resources are the result of a three-year, €1.9 million project, funded by the EU which has assessed the extent to which coastal risks
06/02/2012
West Kerry Community Hospital in Dingle has been officially opened by the Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly TD. The new Hospital, built at a cost of €16.4 million is designed to provide residential care for people in the region as well as a wide range of community supports, including convalescen
06/02/2012
A Sinn Féin Housing Spokesperson has welcomed the introduction of the Family Home Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill to the Dáil. Dessie Ellis TD described the Bill as conservative in terms of the overall package of measures required to deal with home repossessions, negative equity and arre
06/02/2012
The Minister for Housing and Planning, Jan O'Sullivan, has announced a new dedicated Office for Regeneration to replace the current structure comprising the Regeneration Agencies and Limerick City Council. "This amalgamation will accelerate the delivery of regeneration. All of the key decision make
03/02/2012
ConstructionSkills has released its latest Construction Skills Network (CSN) forecasts for the 2012-2016 period. The Sector Skills Council (SSC) highlights that whilst the Northern Ireland construction industry has continued to underperform compared to the rest of the UK, there is a slight growth
03/02/2012
SDLP Regional Development spokesman Joe Byrne MLA has welcomed the decision of the Regional Development Committee to hold an inquiry into unadopted roads. A consultation process is underway, with submissions due in before March 12th. The inquiry is expected to conclude on May 28th. The West Tyrone
03/02/2012
The Transport Minister has launched a £1.3million investment project in Ballymoney that will benefit cyclists, pedestrians and rail users. The project will see the construction of a new, fully accessible, traffic-free bridge at Ballymoney Train Station that will provide a new safe and direct link b
03/02/2012
Public & Commuter Transport Minister, Alan Kelly, has announced the results of a major new sustainable transport investment programme - the Smarter Travel Demonstration Areas. Limerick City, Dungarvan and Westport have officially become Ireland's Smarter Travel Demonstration Areas 2012-2016 represe
03/02/2012
Housing Minister Nelson McCausland is urging homeowners and heating installers to submit installer forms for the Department's Boiler Replacement Scheme as soon as possible. The Minister issued the reminder during a visit to Portadown where he met pensioner Mildred Cooper who has had a new oil boile
03/02/2012
The Fianna Fáil Senator for Meath East has welcomed the announcement by the Department of Transport that an allocation of €400,000 has been made to Meath County Council in respect of the R153 road in Balrath, Navan as part of the Specific Improvement Grant Allocations for 2012. Thomas Byrne said:
03/02/2012
Sinn Féin spokesperson on environment, community & local government Brian Stanley TD has revealed that only three per cent have paid the Household Charge. Deputy Stanley called on the government to scrap the charge. Deputy Stanley said: "In response to a parliamentary question I put to Minister H
03/02/2012
A £150 million investment package aimed at boosting the local economy has been unveiled by Belfast City Council. The initiative has been led and developed by all six leaders of the council's political parties, including Councillor Jim McVeigh (Sinn Fein), Alderman Robin Newton (DUP), Councillor Tim
02/02/2012
Energy company Tamboran Resources has announced that initial studies have confirmed that a substantial natural gas field is present in southwest County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. A gas exploration project for Northern Ireland could create 600 full time jobs, up to 2,400 indirect jobs and deliv
02/02/2012
Fine Gael Dublin Mid-West TD, Derek Keating, is calling for a special six-month Garda operation to be set up to specifically target fuel smugglers. Deputy Keating made his call after he received confirmation from the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, that enforcement is considered to be the mo
02/02/2012
The Health Minister has inspected the ongoing construction of Northern Ireland's new state-of-the-art hospital and saw for himself how patient care will be delivered using the very latest technology. During a visit to the Enniskillen site, Mr Edwin Poots also confirmed that the new facility will be
02/02/2012
The Minister for the Environment, Community & Local Government, has published a plan for the implementation of the recommendations of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Review Group. The independent Review Group, established in February 2010 to review the scope, mandate, structure and perfor
02/02/2012
A Sinn Féin welfare spokesperson has welcomed the confirmation that the winter fuel allowance payment will be made later this month. Mr Mickey Brady MLA said: "Sinn Féin has campaigned to have the Winter Fuel Payment extended to include previously excluded vulnerable members of the community. "Th
02/02/2012
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Children Charlie McConalogue has strongly condemned the Government’s attack on small schools and has called on Government TDs in the North West to stand up against the closure of their local school. Under the Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn's plans, rural schools, C
02/02/2012
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin TD for Sligo-North Leitrim, has criticised proposed plans for the use of hydraulic fracturing or fracking as a means of gas extraction in the Lough Allen Basin. Deputy Colreavy highlighted the fact that there are real concerns about the use of fracking, both for the heal
02/02/2012
Wexford firm Aircon Mech is celebrating €4.8 million contract towork on a multimillion euro-development in London. Under the terms of the deal with Tyrone's McAleer & Rushe, the company will provide mechanical services during the construction and fit-out of a £90 million retail and office developme
01/02/2012
The statutory planning guidelines for local authorities on 'Spatial Planning and National Roads' has been jointly published. The Guidelines are aimed at ensuring that local authorities, in their planning and transport roles work pro-actively with the National Roads Authority ensuring that transport
01/02/2012
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster and UK Business Secretary Vince Cable today officially opened The Northern Ireland Advanced Composites & Engineering Centre (NIACE) on Airport Road, Belfast. Funding to build the £6 million centre was announced in February last year and included financing from the
01/02/2012
Electric Ireland has launched its 'Office Energy Expert', which is an innovative first to market tool designed to help business customers to save money by using energy more efficiently. By adopting a managed approach to eliminate waste of electricity, with a few simple steps, users can reduce thei
01/02/2012
Lisburn Alliance Councillor Stephen Martin has welcomed Department of Regional Development's announcement inviting applications from rural businesses seeking funding towards capital investment programmes. Cllr Martin stated: "If there is investment potential that we can bring to Lisburn then we, as
01/02/2012
Education Minister, John O’Dowd, has turned down a development proposal for the establishment of a 26 full-time place statutory nursery unit at Gaelscoil na Móna, Belfast. Explaining the reasons for his decision, Mr O’Dowd commented: "I take my statutory duties in relation to Irish- medium educatio
01/02/2012
After taking part in an Invest Northern Ireland environmental workshop, Portadown company, ReCon Waste Management has diverted almost 2,000 tonnes of contaminated soil from landfill resulting in significant cost savings for the company. The workshop was part of Invest NI's support for businesses th
01/02/2012
Rental portal Citylets.co.uk has published strong results for 2011 with visitor traffic up 22% on 2010 and enquiries to agents up by 21%. The performance cements the Scottish-based company’s position as the UK’s most visited dedicated residential lettings site. The continued growth means Citylets
01/02/2012
Health Minister Edwin Poots has met with local GPs to discuss innovative plans for the Lurgan area. The Minister heard from local doctors about a proposed development scheme for a new Health and Care Centre (HCC) in Lurgan, which is being developed by a third party developer. Speaking after the me
