Christmas image drawn by 7. Jack & Ellie McGuinness, both age
A chara,
pandemic has had a devastating recedented times. The Covid 19 unp and ging llen cha in g livin so much. Our local economy has There is no doubt that we are children who have missed out on our rse cou of and rly elde our guidelines. impact on all of us, particularly order to adhere to Government ers have made huge sacrifices in own s ines bus and tly, grea ered suff ps and businesses throughout the ses by simply shopping local. Sho ines bus l loca our t por sup to r a safe shopping experience It is now more important than eve g the relevant measures to ensure vidin pro of s term in ond bey and you can shop local online too. city and county have went above e for them. Please remember that ther be to turn our now is it us; for all. They have been there for that has been seen throughout together – the community spirit ple peo g brin can s crisi a that e done our best to get through It is certainly true when they say there for one another and we hav n bee e hav we ce, e lien resi wn much. I want to thank our front-lin Kilkenny is inspiring. We have sho so little, together we can do so do can we e Alon at lth out. hea side t for putting your own this crisis while keeping our bes our guards, nurses and doctors, cashiers and refuse collectors, to p sho from , them of all , kers wor us. risk for the benefit of the rest of y e with family around us and enjo bt. However, we can still celebrat dou no is e ther that of hter r, brig othe to e ard with hop Christmas this year will be like no of our efforts and we can look forw look back on 2020 and be proud can We gs. ever, we should not let thin nt How el. orta imp tunn t the mos of the there is light at the end and n soo e labl avai be will ine onal responsibility for our own days in 2021. Fortunately, a vacc health guidelines and assume pers lic pub the to ere adh to e tinu our guard down and we must con us. health and that of those around od as a distant memory. will look back on this difficult peri we that nt fide con am I and Together we will get through this my team of staff, remain at your ency office at O’Loughlin Road and stitu con our ges, llen cha the arise. Our way of doing business I want you to know, that despite munity with whatever issues may com r you or ily fam r you , you at all times. service and dedicated to helping es but we are still available to help arily to suit public health guidelin por tem pted ada n bee e hav may 1 with hope and optimism. istmas as we look forward to 202 Chr safe and py hap very a ily I want to wish you and your fam tinue to protect one another. Stay Safe, Stay Local and let’s con
John McGuinness TD
mittee Chairman of the Finance Com
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JOHN MCGUINNESS TD €77K FOR TWO LOCAL PROJECTS Deputy John McGuinness has welcomed positive news for two County Kilkenny projects that are to receive funding under the Clar Scheme for rural schools and communities. • •
€50,000.00 for Muckalee Community Creche, St Brendan’s N.S, Muckalee for the Completion of Car park and associated works €27,000.00 for Coolagh Church and Community Hall for Safety measures and access improvement.
“This is very positive news for two communities in County Kilkenny with €77,000 allocated between both projects. Its great recognition of the local community groups who have put in huge work. Im delighted to see these allocations, said Deputy John McGuinness.
MCGUINNESS WELCOMES COMMENCEMENT OF COMERS NEW PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE Site investigation works have commenced for the construction of the new two span footbridge over the River Dinin adjacent to the existing N78, Castlecomer Bridge. The new pedestrian bridge will link the town of Castlecomer to the popular Discovery Park while also helping to deal with safety issues associated with the poor pedestrian access on the existing bridge. Deputy John McGuinness recently visited the site along with Chairman of Kilkenny County Council, Andrew McGuinness, and local Councillor Pat Fitzpatrick. “I’m delighted to see this project come into fruition as it will help to address much needed safety measures for the local community and visitors alike. The €900,000 Castlecomer Pedestrian Bridge is also a great connection between the town centre and the Discovery Park and will take pedestrians off the main N78 road, acting as a safe pedestrian link from the town to the park,” said Deputy John McGuinness. Local Councillor, Pat Fitzpatrick, said, “Im very happy with the progress as it is of huge benefit to the local community who have crying out to have these issues dealt with for years. As a local councillor, Im very much looking forward to this project being finished,” he said.
Site visit at the new bridge in Castlecomer with Chairman of Kilkenny County Council Andrew McGuinness and Local Councillor Pat Fitzpatrick.
€1,109,308 FOR ICT GRANT FUNDING FOR KILKENNY PRIMARY AND POST-PRIMARY Deputy John McGuinness has welcomed over one million Euro in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Grants for local primary and post-primary schools to be paid in early December, 2020.
the purchase of laptops/iPads to loan to students and teachers, software, essential learning platforms and other ICT solutions as determined by the needs of the individual school,” he said.
The funding comes as part of a €50 million investment announced by Minister Norma Foley. The funding includes €40m ICT Grant funding issued to all eligible schools in line with previous years, to support the embedding of the use of digital technologies in teaching and learning and €10m for measures to provide for the continuity of teaching and learning using digital technology.
The Department’s capital budget was increased in 2020 to facilitate the payment of these grants in December 2020.
“This is positive news for schools in Kilkenny City and County. It will enable the use of digital technologies within schools and also provide for remote learning which is hugely important under current circumstances,” said Deputy McGuinness. “Local primary schools will be funded with €564,973 and €544,335 for post primary. Funding can be used for
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JOHN MCGUINNESS TD TOWN & VILLAGE RENEWAL FUNDING • A number of projects around the county have today been granted funding under the Governments Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The funding is to support towns and villages to respond and adapt to COVID-19. Welcoming the funding Deputy John McGuinness said, “I’m delighted to welcome the news that a number of projects around the county have been approved for funding for local projects that will help with measures we have to take due to COVID-19.“ “The focus of the funding is on measures and interventions that help towns and villages to adapt to social distancing requirements and to provide safe environments that encourage people into towns and villages to shop and socialise,” he said. “Local businesses and villages throughout the county need all the support we can get and so this comes as positive news at a critical time. The allocations are: • €39,600.00 - County Wide Motorhome Bays Provision and installation of 12 motorhome bays with electrical points and facilities • County Wide Christmas Lights - Provision of new LED Christmas lights - €39,600.00 • County Wide Shop Kilkenny - Development of a #shopkilkenny – keep it in the county – campaign €22,500.00 • Ballyhale - Outdoor seating with tables and chairs with a covered canopy/awning to create a meeting and eating area outdoors in the village centre €25,000.00 • Freshford - Enhancement of the square/green area and provision of seating, street furniture, cycling bays and repair to parking area making it more accessible - €22,500.00
€50 MILLION ONCE-OFF COVID PAYMENT SCHEME FOR THIRD LEVEL STUDENTS
• • •
•
• •
Piltown - Installation of 6 outdoor seating areas €25,000.00 Graiguenamanagh - €36,000 - Production of a tourist audio guide, relocation of parking spaces to make way for footpath widening. Kilmacow - €22,500 - Provision of outdoor seating & tables with temporary canopy and provision of bicycle parking and a signed cycle route Mooncoin - €22,500 - Provision of outdoor seating with table and temporary canopy to provide covered meeting area in village centre, including enhancements to car park, landscaping and plant screening. Kilkenny - County Wide - €40,000 - The provision of a mobile festival/cinema kit that will be available to community festivals and event providers throughout Co Kilkenny. Mullinavat - €22,500 - Provision of outdoor seating, tables and plant screening to provide outdoor meeting area with bicycle parking. Callan, Castlecomer, Graiguenamanagh and Thomastown - €22,500 - Deep cleaning, signage and minor public realm improvements in Callan, Castlecomer, Graiguenamanagh and Thomastown.
Deputy McGuinness meeting with the local IFA representatives
Deputy John McGuinness has welcomed a top up for third level students that will be paid to them before Christmas. The funding will offer financial assistance to all EU full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students in recognition of the significant upheaval they have experienced due to Covid-19 pandemic. “This is positive news for third level students during very difficult times. The scheme will ensure students who avail of the SUSI grant will receive €250 top-up in their grant before Christmas, while students who do not avail of the grant can reduce by €250 any outstanding contribution fee payments or receive a €250 credit note for their institution. In a small number of cases, alternative arrangements will be made for the payment of the monies to students,” said Deputy John McGuinness. “Students have faced a very different scenario due to Covid. The new academic year has meant little or no on-campus time and education moved online. This scheme will help John McGuinness with Cllr with the new financial challenges students are faced with and go towards purchasing Deputy Michael Delaney and Chairman new equipment needed for home learning,” concluded Deputy McGuinness Andrew McGuinness at the opening Also welcoming the news, Chairman of Kilkenny County Council, Andrew McGuinness of Butler Gallery said, “Unfortunately, students have missed out a great deal this year in terms of experiencing third level education in its fullest. I hope today’s announcement will be some help and I’m happy to see a continued commitment to help students through the pandemic along with acknowledging how much they are missing out.”
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JOHN MCGUINNESS TD
Thank you! To everyone who helped me, encouraged me, canvassed for me and voted for me in the 2020 General Election, I want to say how much I value your support and the confidence you placed in me. Thank you. To all of the people of Carlow/Kilkenny, including those who did not vote for me, I want to say thank you for the courtesy extended to me at your doors. I know how difficult it was in the circumstances. I understand and greatly appreciate the fact that you judged me on my record and listened to what I had to say, even if you strongly disagreed. I am proud to represent you, all of you, and very grateful to those who stood up for me on election day. I return to the Dรกil determined to continue standing up for you and what I believe in. Both locally and nationally I will continue to do my best. Locally, my Constituency Office will continue to support, advise and represent all those seeking help with a genuine case. At national level, I will continue to be a strong voice for change, accountability and transparency.
Supporting Cystic Fibrosis awareness
I will also be a strong voice within Fianna Fรกil, insisting that the party reconnect with the values which under DeValera, Lemass and Lynch made it great. It must reconnect with its supporters, and the country, by defining and explaining its core values and by demonstrating that it has the determination, conviction and policies to be a powerful, positive voice in Government. Thanks to the people, politics in this country has changed forever. Fianna Fรกil must meet that challenge too.
John
0612
John McGuinness T.D.
Tel: (056) 77 70672 Email: john@johnmcguinness.ie
Working with
Cllr. Andrew McGuinness
Tel:086 870 5811 Email: cllrandrewmcguinness@gmail.com
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