September 23, 2020 / Last updated : September 23, 2020 Brendan News

2 housing estates in Kerry will benefit from €401,588 in funding for water services – Griffin 2 housing estates in Kerry will benefit from €401,588 in funding for water services, Deputy Government Chief Whip, Brendan Griffin TD has said. Deputy Griffin said: “The Multi-Annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme is focused on housing estates which are not taken-in-charge by Kerry County Council and do not have their water services connected to the public water services network. These estates have relying on infrastructure, often temporary in nature, which was provided by developers. “With €401,588 of investment, 2 housing estates in Killarney will benefit from this capital investment programme. They are Old Killarney Village and Birch Hill Estates in Killarney “This funding will benefit many families in Kerry who have been relying on substandard developer provided wastewater or drinking water treatment plants. “Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien has confirmed that the focus of this first multi annual programme is on estates in towns and villages where the resolution is to connect their water services to the public networks. The programme will also support a number of pilot projects where connection is not feasible in the immediate future. These pilot projects, together with a major study to be undertaken by Irish Water, will inform future policy on resolving sub-standard developer provided infrastructure in such areas. “The Department is also re-engaging with local authorities to see if there are additional estates which could be connected to the public network, and which could be included within the programme. “The allocation of this funding marks the first step in the taking-in-charge of these estates by Kerry County Council and so the work is due to take place as speedily as possible.” ENDS For further information please contact Brendan on 087-6528841 Table 1 – DPI projects/estates funded under the Multi-Annual Programme County Estate Name Location Estimated Cost (€) Approved Funding (€) Kerry Birch Hill Killarney 205,479 154,109 Kerry Old Killarney Village Killarney 329,972 247,479

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€2.6 Million for Active Travel and Climate Change Adaptation Measures in Kerry – Griffin A total of €2,606,000 has been allocated for Active Travel and Climate Change Adaption measures in Kerry, Deputy Government Chief Whip, Brendan Griffin TD has said. Deputy Griffin said the funding has been made available under the Government’s July Jobs Stimulus Plan and is part of the overall €115 million package for sustainable transport and the renewal of our transport infrastructure. Deputy Griffin said: “The Active Travel grant scheme is a very positive initiative which will see communities across Kerry benefiting from improved and more accessible walking and cycling infrastructure as well as stimulating local employment. “The projects included – Kerry County Council Road Number Location Description of Works LA Allocation R551 Tralee Town Centre Extension of pedestrian zone at The Mall. € 400,000 R876 Killarney Town Centre Improvement and widening of pedestrian facilities at Rock road (eastern side), which is the primary access route from large housing developments at Ballydribeen (north of the Killarney By-Pass) to the schools on New Road Killarney. Will also improve linkage from bus park on Rock Road to schools. € 210,000 L-3905 Killarney Town New Cycleway connecting Muckross Road to Ross road – existing footpath on this section of Muckross Road is substandard and road widths restrict development of cycling facilities. € 450,000 L-6728 Tralee Town Centre Construction of new pedestrian and cycling facilities through Island of Geese site from the junction of the R874 (Matt Talbot Road) and Strand Street to the town centre. THis is the main access route from the Marina Bus and Car Park to the town centre. € 350,000 R876, L3902, L3910 Killarney Town Design of an interconnected network of cycleway in Killarney town € 150,000 Killarney Town Provision of Cycle Parking facilities € 20,000 L-4102 Dingle / Daingean Uí Chúis Town Centre Widen existing footpath on the Northern side of Strand Street where temporary bollards have been provided to ensure adequate social distancing. € 130,500 R-553 Listowel Town Centre Improved crossing facilities in towns and villages including raised surfaces, zebra crossings and signalised crossings on Charles Street € 20,000 L-2035 Castleisland Town Feasibility Study a & design of pedestrian facility on Barrack Street to provide safe access to amenities, where existing bridge is very narrow € 40,000 L-4052-15 Kenmare Town Provision of new or widened footpaths to link Housing Estates to schools and to promote active travel measures € 10,000 R-551 Ballybunion Town Provision of new or widened footpaths or cycle tracks. € 47,000 R-551 Ballylongford Town Design work in respect of the provision of a future pedestrian / cycle bridge to provide safe access across the river Aghanagran River in the centre of Ballylongford Village. € 20,000 WAW Ballyheigue & Ballybunion Provision of cycle parking facilities € 30,000 R569 Kilgarvan Village Extension of footpath for vulnerable pedestrians in a Care facility and to provide access to local sporting amenities € 30,000 Total 14 € 1,907,500 “A total of €698,500 is being made available for climate change adaptation measures under the Department’s regional and local road maintenance and renewal grant programme Circular RW 09/2020 – Climate Change Adaptation Allocations 2020 Kerry County Council Road Number Location Description of Works LA Allocation R569 Morley’s Bridge Remedial Works to road embankment € 40,000 L-7539 Gortnamackanee, Waterville (Glenmore Road) A full bridge replacement is required on this road due to the existing structure collapsing as a result of the floods of 29th / 30th July 2020. € 20,000 L3024 Gort Road, Kilgarvan Replacement of Bridge damaged by flash flood on 15th August 2015 € 100,000 L-1023 Kilmorna Bridge Works at bridges to take account of increased hydraulic loads causing scour damage and undermining the bridge structure € 75,000 L-1021 Knockanure Works at bridges to take account of increased hydraulic loads causing scour damage and undermining the bridge structure € 60,000 R551 Dromkeen Bridge, Causeway Works at bridges to take account of increased hydraulic loads causing scour damage and undermining the bridge structure € 20,000 L11185 Gortlahard Road Remedial Works to road € 37,500 L11186 Coomoughla Road Remedial Works to Road € 75,000 L8036 Lispole Remedial works, the road was significantly damaged by severe weather events in August 2020. € 60,000 L3024 – 43 Inchees Road Remedial Works to Road € 50,000 L-10483 Carrahane, Ardfert, Tralee Repair Works; Sluice and embankment damaged during Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis in February 2020. Embankment protects residential property and extensive road network. Roads have been subject to prolonged and frequent flooding, impacting on access to Ballyheighue and surrounding area. € 80,000 L-4059-0 Ardea Tousist Remedial works where roads have been significantly damaged by recent severe weather events € 4,500 L-7050 Gortahoosh, Killarney Altering the level of the road to mitigate flooding and reduce road closure frequency € 30,000 R551/ L10583 Castlecountess, Tralee Works: Replacement of 2 (of 3) submersible pumps located along the main stormwater main serving the Castlecountess, Princes Quay area. € 41,500 L-3025 Flynns Forge, Killarney Preventative works such as drainage works to prevent flooding € 5,000 Total 15 € 698,500 “The recent severe weather has again highlighted the challenges presented by climate change on our road infrastructure. The Climate Change Adaptation grants now being provided will help Kerry County Council to deal with the essential repairs needed in the aftermath of the severe weather but also to take steps towards making their road networks more resilient in the longer term. Minister of State, Hildegarde Naughton TD, said: “Families and businesses in our villages, towns and cities right across the country will benefit from these important ‘shovel ready’ projects as soon as November this year. The funding being announced today will go a long way in facilitating a secure environment for our children in their daily commute to school as part of our work on the Safe Routes to School initiative.” ENDS For further information please contact Brendan on 087-6528841

September 9, 2020

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Tourism Industry will benefit from VAT rate reduction, business supports and investment in airports – Griffin The tourism industry will benefit from budgetary measures including a cut to the VAT rate, investment in our airports and new business supports, Deputy Government Chief Whip Brendan Griffin TD has said. Deputy Griffin said, “The Government has recognised the unprecedented challenges facing the tourism and hospitality sector as a result of the pandemic and I am pleased that Budget 2021 contains measures to assist Kerry businesses, in addition to providing investment in our aviation industry. “The VAT rate for hospitality and tourism sector will be reduced from 13.5 to 9% from 1st November 2020. “This temporary measure is being put in place to provide support to the sector, where many Kerry businesses remain closed and those that are open are operating at significantly reduced capacity. The reduced rate will apply until 31 December 2021. “If passed through, the measure will reduce the cost of restaurant supplies, tourist accommodation, cinemas, theatres, museums, historic houses, open farms, amusement parks, and hairdressing. “It is also important to ensure we continue to invest in infrastructure to ensure Ireland has a viable tourism sector once the world opens up again after the pandemic. “Budget 2021 provides exchequer support of €31.3m to our regional airports. €21.3m is provided under the Regional Airports Programme and, separately, for the first time, in recognition of the devastating effects of Covid, Shannon and Cork Airports will have access to capital funding under a separate €10m Exchequer-funded programme. “Many people have lost out financially due to the cancellation of travel plans during COVID-19. Additional funding of €15m has been allocated to ensure customers of insolvent travel agents and tour operators may be refunded in full or repatriated from abroad. “I would like to commend by colleague, Minister of State with responsibility for international and road travel and logistics, Hildegarde Naughton, TD, for securing the supports announced for the tourism and aviation industry in Budget 2021. “The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on tourism and Fine Gael in Government is committed to supporting the sector through this challenging period through restoring jobs and promoting the industry. “In addition to existing interventions to support businesses in Kerry , An Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe also secured the new Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) as part of Budget 2021. “The new Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) is aimed at Kerry businesses which have either been prohibited in operating or only been able to trade at significantly reduced levels as a result of restrictions imposed on them in response to Covid-19. “It will offer a targeted, timely and temporary sector-specific support to affected businesses in Kerry. Generally, it will operate when Level 3 or higher of the Plan for Living with Covid-19 is in operation. “Qualifying businesses in Kerry can apply to Revenue for a cash payment for the period of restrictions. Payments will be calculated on the basis of 10pc of the first €1m in turnover and 5pc on further turnover up to €4m, based on average (VAT exclusive) turnover for 2019. “I hope that the supports outlined above will go some way towards supporting businesses in the hospitality and tourism sector, whose operations have been impacted more severely by the requirement for public health restrictions, Deputy Griffin concluded. ENDS For further information please contact Brendan on 087-6528841

October 14, 2020