Search Results for 'Brendan Howlin'

A decision on releasing the balance of the money for the €7.1 million Clare River flood relief scheme is to be made in the coming weeks by the Minister for Public Expenditure, Brendan Howlin.

Work is set to begin on the €7.1-million Claregalway Flood Relief Scheme as the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, is due to sign off on a review of environmental assessments.

Fine Gael Mayo TD for Mayo Michelle Mulherin has received confirmation from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, that stipulations can be made to ensure that local workers are prioritised during construction phase in public contracts. Deputy Mulherin has called for this stipulation to applied in the case of the construction of the State’s largest wind energy farm at Oweninny. “I have received confirmation from Minister Howlin in response to a parliamentary question I submitted that there is a mechanism available which could be utilised to give priority to local workers in public construction contracts. I believe this can and should be applied in the case of the wind energy farm at Oweninny,” she said. “In response to my initial proposal that local people be prioritised for employment in the construction of the wind farm at Oweninny, Bord na Móna and Coillte stated that they are prohibited from prioritising local staff because of EU procurement rules. However Minister Howlin’s statement confirms that this is not the case. However Minister Howlin has confirmed to me that the European Commission issued guidance in 2010 that in pursuance of certain social objectives the public procurement process can be used to prioritise employment and training opportunities for young unemployed or long-term unemployed, in a contract for services awarded by these state companies. In the case of the wind farm at Oweninny, it is my contention that such a clause should be used and a derogation sought to provide work for locals who are long term unemployed and for training and apprenticeship opportunities for young people.”

Under radical cost-cutting measures within the public service announced yesterday by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, the plan to relocate the Office of Public Works to Claremorris has now been shelved while plans to develop a new build in Charlestown have also been scrapped.

Local councillor Mick Dollard has said he believes Columb Barracks in Mullingar would be a more appropriate home for the 4th Western Brigade than its current headquarters in Athlone’s Custume Barracks.

The revelations over Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue’s expenses have to be the most sickening and disgusting symbol of this Government’s wasteful attitude and lack of engagement with reality.