McGuinness td John
Chair of the Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and Taoiseach Committee and TD for Carlow Kilkenny
ON YOUR SIDE Working with Councillors Deirdre Cullen, Andrew McGuinness, Pat Fitzpatrick, Joe Malone & Michael Delaney.
“The budget for the Fodder Support Scheme is €56 million with a payment rate of up to €100 per hectare. The scheme will be rolled out as a matter of urgency and I hope there will be strong uptake from farmers.” Minister Charlies McConalogue
FODDER SUPPORT €56 Million Fodder Support Scheme Deputy John McGuinness has welcomed the launch of the €56M Fodder Support Scheme stating that the scheme will be of great benefit to our farming community. The scheme, which was announced the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, aims to ease the burden on farming families caused by the disruptions due to the war in Ukraine. The scheme aims to help counteract the increase in agricultural input costs, in particular for chemical fertiliser and the impact that will have on the quantity of fodder produced and conserved for the coming winter “This is very welcome news at an extremely difficult time for Irish farmers who are experiencing huge increases
across the board that greatly impact on the overall cost of production,” said Deputy McGuinness. “We need to help farmers prepare for the Winter months, probably the most difficult in recent times, and I hope this scheme will go some way towards that,” said Deputy McGuinness. The Scheme aims to incentivise farmers, in particular dry stock farmers, to grow more fodder (silage and/or hay) for the coming winter to ensure Ireland does not have any animal welfare issue over the coming winter and next spring. Recent survey results by Teagasc show that half of all dry stock farmers have spread no chemical Nitrogen fertiliser at all on their silage ground.
John McGuinness TD | For Appointments Please Call - 056 77 70672
This is the latest support measure the Minister has put in place for farmers to deal with the impact of the war in Ukraine on input prices. In March, a €12 million Tillage Incentive Scheme was launched to encourage the growing of tillage crops as well as Red Clover and Multi-Species Sward. Two separate supports packages worth €20 million for the pig sector have delivered while a targeted package worth almost €3 million has been put in place for the horticulture and veg sector. The details of the scheme will be notified to the European Commission in accordance with the Temporary Crisis Framework (TCF) and approval of applications under the measure will be subject to Commission decision on the scheme. “The application system for the scheme will be “live” in the coming days and farmers wishing to apply can do so either themselves or through their advisor up to 2 August 2022. I will continue to work with Minister McConalogue on behalf of our farming community and welcome any views or concerns from our local farmers,” concluded Deputy McGuinness.
its reflective of what the people of Kilkenny want and what they outlined in their submissions,” said Deputy McGuinness.
ST CANICES HOSPITAL SITE
“Once we set out our ambitions for the site then it is up to us in Government to lobby our Ministers and Departments for funding. I strongly believe that there is an appetite there now in Government and in Government agencies to deliver on such plans in a standard that will show us as the leading city in Europe,” A public consultation process was carried out in July last year and all the submissions from locals on what they would like to happen on the campus on the Dublin Road are being considered.
PLAN FOR ST CANICES HOSPITAL SITE TO BE PUBLISHED. 50-ACRE SITE HUGELY IMPORTANT FOR KILKENNY A city centre site will be developed in the coming years and has the potential to show Kilkenny as a leading city in Europe, according to Deputy John McGuinness. The draft masterplan for the St Canice’s Hospital site in Kilkenny to be publicised in the coming months following an
extensive public consultation process carried out in July of last year. “This is a significant 50 acre site in the heart of Kilkenny. Its development is of huge importance to the future of Kilkenny City, and its particularly important for the local area and the greater St Johns Parish. Its important that we get it right and that
Kilkenny County Council and the HSE say that the draft will be available for public display in the coming months and will be formally adopted after the consultation process is completed. “I look forward to working with Kilkenny County Council, our local Councillors and all relevant stakeholders to help realise a vision for this site that is beneficial for Kilkenny long into the future,” concluded Deputy McGuinness.
ST COLUMBA’S EXTENSION
Extension of St Columba’s, Thomastown, to start by the end of this year An extension that will substantially increase the capacity of St Columba’s community nursing home in Thomastown will start by the end of this year according to local TD John McGuinness. The news was made public following a Parliamentary Question asked by Deputy McGuinness in the Dail recently. Confirmation of the plan has come from the ‘Capital & Estates’ division of the HSE and outlined in response to Deputy McGuinness. “This is very positive news as it will see the new community nursing unit (CNU) complete by the end of 2024. The new unit will see an increase to approximately 20 new rooms,” said Deputy McGuinness. Paul de Freine, HSE National Director, Capital & Estates, replied to Deputy McGuinness that the Thomastown
development will be part of “a bundle of CNUs expected to be delivered by way of public private partnership. “It is anticipated that subject to financial close and contract award, construction of the new community nursing unit in Thomastown will start in quarter four, 2022, with expected completion by the end of 2024.” When completed the new unit will have 95 bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and support accommodation. “I want to commend all of the staff at St Columba’s as they go above and beyond to help those they care for. This will come as great news for them and also for local Councillor Deirdre Cullen who has worked hard on this and has been in contact with me about it,” concluded Deputy McGuinness.
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Ludicrous Salary Increases
“But I would prefer if those at that level were not being paid that type of salary - I believe that it should be far less.” He says the increase of up to 15% “is ludicrous” and will now see similar calls from other workers. “I think that the increases will now fuel the demand on Government to increase salaries all round for public servants and civil servants. “That has to be resisted in the context of the senior levels of both of those organisations.
“We need to concentrate on the lower paid, on those that are not taking home enough to live on in the context of cost of living changes and so on.
Deputy John McGuinness, Chairman of the Oireachtas Finance Committee, has slammed salary increases for senior public servants calling the pay rises ‘ludicrous’. The Kilkenny TD was referring to public servants who are earning more than €150,000 per year and are now due to receive pay restorations of up to 15%, at a time when the country is experiencing rising inflation and increased cost of living. This is the last round of an unwinding of pay cuts imposed on public servants during the financial crisis. Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast recently, Deputy McGuinness said, “I think it’s a clear sign that the folly of increasing senior public servants’ salary over the years is now coming home to roost. “I think that the legislation of 2017 obviously has to be followed through, it is the law.
“The discussions around this with the unions is very, very serious for the country - and the Government have to resist the extreme demands that are being made.” “The increase of up to 15% is now clearly showing the public that there are those that can expect increases that are enormous sums of money. “Then there are those that will not get any increase, and then there are those that are on the lower end of the scale - that are rarely considered and are poorly paid - and they’re finding it difficult with the cost of living”. “We need to be strategic in terms of how we deal with public pay, we need to protect the public purse. “And at the same time, we need to balance out those that are on the lower end of the scale. “The private sector is now looking at this: and you don’t want that ripple effect, in terms of pay increases, running across the private sector and getting out of hand,” concluded Deputy McGuinness.
Boost for Kilkenny’s Agricultural Shows Four Kilkenny agricultural shows and one in Carlow will benefit from government funding under the Our Rural Future programme and Leader according to Deputy John McGuinness. A total of €700,000 is being provided to support the return of agricultural shows after a long break due to Covid 19. “This is very positive news as it will help these fantastic shows to get back on their feet and to welcome the back great crowds that have enjoyed these shows for so many years. The shows we have seen in Piltown every year and around the county in areas like Ballyfoyle, Thomastown and Mullinavat, are a credit to the organising committees in each location but also to the agricultural community in general,” said Deputy McGuinness. “Individual allocations of up to €6,000 will be given to 119 agricultural shows taking place this summer. I’m delighted that four in Kilkenny and one in Carlow will benefit from this. Shows in Ballyfoyle, Thomastown, Castlegannon and Piltown along with Tullow in Carlow will each receive funding,” he said. “These shows are of huge importance to rural communities, not only for the economic benefit they create and the fact that they help to showcase our local produce, but also for the positive community spirit they create and the fun enjoyed by all who attend. I warmly welcome this news and thank the Minister for listening to me when making a case for these great groups,” concluded Deputy McGuinness.
John McGuinness TD | For Appointments Please Call - 056 77 70672
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Castlecomer Monthly Walk-In Clinic Resumed
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The First Saturday of Each Month @ 7:30pm (After Mass) Castlecomer Drop In Centre
Supporting Whistleblowers Pictured with Shane Kavanagh and Peter Behan outside Leinster House on World Whistleblowers Day.
Bobby Aylward RIP - It is with great sadness that we say farewell to our colleague Bobby Aylward who passed away on July 14th. Bobby was a fantastic public representative, a hard working farmer and a tireless activist for the communities he represented in South Kilkenny and beyond. Thoughts and prayers with his wife Helena, daughter Triona, sons Bob and Mark, Bobbys grandchildren and his brothers, sisters, extended family, friends and supporters. Bobby will be sadly missed. May he RIP
Meeting with Justice Minister Helen McEntee
New gates for the residents at St Johns Church Grounds. Thanks to Fr Dan, local residents and Superintendent Derek Hughes.
Best of luck to Peter Wilson, newly appointed Manager of the Avalon Hotel, Castlecomer.
John McGuinness TD 0612
Constituency Office O’Loughlin Road Kilkenny Co. Kilkenny 056 77 70672 john@johnmcguinness.ie
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