February 16, 2021 / Last updated : February 16, 2021 Brendan News

€29,546,648 for maintenance and renewal of road network in Kerry – Griffin Some €29,546,648 has been allocated for the maintenance and renewal of the road network in Kerry, Deputy Government Chief Whip Brendan Griffin TD has said. Deputy Griffin said: “This funding will cover routine maintenance to safeguard our infrastructure, ensure that our roads are resilient against the deteriorating effects of climate change and also contains provisions for walking and cycling infrastructure and safety schemes. Kerry County Council Restoration Improvement €12,166,500 Restoration Maintenance €2,036,000 Supplementary Restoration Maintenance €1,454,000 Discretionary Grant €3,960,000 Bridge Rehabilitation €580,000 Specific Imp. Grants €3,180,000 Strategic Regional and Local Roads €1,500,000 Speed Limits €9,250 Safety Improvement Works €470,000 €44,400 Cycle Signs Training Grant €105,000 Drainage Works €952,829 PSCI: Survey Support €34,000 Active Travel €1,571,767 Climate Adaption €343,502 Former National Roads €274,400 Improvement Scheme €865,000 Total Allocation €29,546,648 Further details attached Deputy Griffin continued: “Maintaining our regional and local road network in Kerry is not only important for connectivity, but crucial to ensuring safety on our roads, reducing road collisions and protecting lives. “Funding for the roll out of a signage programme relating to lower speed limits in housing areas as well as ‘safe passing’ signs for cyclists will also be provided for as part of today’s allocations. “Routine maintenance works are fundamental to safeguarding our road infrastructure and keeping the network in a good condition “All strategic road improvement investment schemes will include provisions for walking and cycling infrastructure to take account of the needs of all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians. “I commend my colleagues Minister Eamon Ryan and Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton for this critically important investment. I know it will make a huge difference to our road network in Kerry .” ENDS Note to Editor: These grants supplement local authorities’ own resources expenditure on regional and local road projects and do not represent the total investment in regional and local roads for this year.

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New COVID Business Aid Scheme (CBAS) will provide welcome boost for struggling businesses in Kerry – Griffin A new nationwide €60 million COVID Business Aid Scheme (CBAS) will provide a welcome boost for struggling businesses in Kerry, Deputy Government Chief Whip Brendan Griffin TD has said. Deputy Griffin said the funding for the COVID Business Aid Scheme (CBAS) was secured by the Tánaiste at cabinet this week and Kerry County Council will be responsible for administering the scheme. Deputy Griffin said: “The scheme will support rateable businesses that were not eligible for the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) payment nor the recently announced Fáilte Ireland scheme, ‘Survive to Thrive’. “It will be a €60m fund offering a payment of €8,000 for eligible businesses, in two instalments of €4,000 for January-March and April-June. “Wholesalers, suppliers, caterers & events companies down 75% or more in turnover – and which have a rateable premises – will benefit. “Not everyone will be eligible, but it will provide a boost to 7,500 small and medium sized businesses who were not eligible for CRSS or the Fáilte Ireland scheme. “Business should be able to apply by the end of February through Kerry County Council. The Scheme will be back-dated to the start of this year, to ensure businesses are able to get help in covering the fixed costs they have incurred since then. “This new scheme is in addition to the wide range of existing Government schemes such as wage subsidies, the PUP, the CRSS and commercial rates waivers. “We hoped that businesses would no longer need such levels of support well into 2021. Unfortunately, the pandemic continues to have devastating consequences and the Government remains committed to helping businesses for as long as they need it.” ENDS Note for editor The Covid-19 Business Aid Scheme is intended to target those business that do not qualify for CRSS and as such the eligibility criteria between the two schemes should be similar. The main difference will be the requirement for the public to have access to a business premises. The Scheme also needs to align with the new Fáilte Ireland Business Continuity grant assistance. The proposed eligibility criteria for the Covid-19 Business Aid Scheme are: 1. the scheme will be available to companies, self-employed, sole traders or partnerships; 2. minimum turnover of €50,000; 3. Are not owned and operated by a public body; 4. the business is not eligible for CRSS or Fáilte Ireland Business Continuity Scheme; 5. they are in receipt of a rates bill from their local authority for business which operates from a building, or similar fixed physical structure on which business rates are payable (mobile premises, or premises which are not permanently fixed in place, do not meet the definition of business premises nor do premises on which no rates are payable); 6. the business must have a current eTax Clearance Certificate from the Revenue Commissioners; 7. the turnover of the business over the claim period is estimated to be no more than 25% of the: – average weekly turnover of the business in 2019; or – the projected average weekly turnover of the business for 1st January to 30th June 2021 for businesses that commenced after 1st November 2019; and 8. the business intends to resume trading in full once Government restrictions are eased. For further information please contact Brendan on 087-6528841

February 10, 2021

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Funding Injection for 2 Kerry Trails • Welcome funding of €400K for Dingle Way upgrade to Cloghane & Extension of Ballyseedy Trail Statement by Brendan Griffin TD (FG) Kerry Thursday, March 4th, 2021 Kerry Fine Gael TD and Deputy Government Chief Whip, Brendan Griffin, is this morning (Thursday) welcoming a Government funding injection of €400,000 for two Kerry walking trails. Allocated under Strand 2 of the “Outdoor Recreation and Infrastructure Scheme” (ORIS) by the Department of Social Protection and Rural Affairs, €200,000 of the funding will go towards upgrading the Dingle Way at Más an Tiompáin, Cloghane, and €200,000 will go towards connecting the Ballyseedy Amenity Trail with a new walk by the River Lee in Tralee. Deputy Griffin says the funding is very important to the continued success of both trails and is a welcome addition to money already invested by the Government in numerous trails and greenways in Kerry during his years in the Department of Tourism. In a debate in the Dáil in December with Minister for Rural Affairs, Heather Humphreys, Deputy Griffin raised the importance of continued funding for Kerry under the ORIS Scheme and highlighted the cumulative impact of regular funding injections for rural areas from this and other schemes such as Clár, Town & Village, Rural Regeneration and Leader. Deputy Griffin says he will continue to lobby on behalf of all Kerry walking and cycling infrastructure applications for funding from Central Government and believes that further investment in Kerry will provide numerous benefits for local communities and the exchequer. ENDSNew!!

March 5, 2021