2013

Wicklow Fine Gael TD, Andrew Doyle, has welcomed the approval given by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to give the go-ahead to the local authority to award a €2.87 million contract for water conservation in Wicklow. Contract 1 of the Wicklow Water Conservation Stage 3 Works Network Rehabilitation Project is to be awarded under the Water Services and Investment Programme 2010 – 2013.

Deputy Doyle said, “I’m delighted that Minister Hogan has approved this essential contract for County Wicklow. Water leakage throughout the county and the water network has long been identified as a real problem. To resolve this, a coordinated approach has been taken by the stakeholders to ensure this issue is tackled effectively.”

“This contract that has been approved will benefit the Arklow, Baltinglass, Dunlavin, Laragh, Annamoe, Stratford and Knockanarrigan areas. Within these areas, nearly 26 kilometres of pipes on the water network are to be replaced thanks to this investment. The level of unaccountable water leakage within the system is continually being tackled with this project, in order to see more sustainable levels of water go through the distribution network.”

“I am confident that this investment and funding from central government will result in an improvement of the quality of the water supply in County Wicklow, alongside improving the reliability of the service provided. The Water Services Investment Programme, which comes to an end later this year, has provided huge dividends to County Wicklow, with a number of multimillion euro contracts being provided through Wicklow County Council for large capital projects, creating jobs and improving local services.”

“I will continue to work with the Minister to ensure that Wicklow continues to receive additional funding to benefit and maintain capital and essential water infrastructure in the county”, concluded Deputy Doyle.

Fine Gael TD for Wicklow, Andrew Doyle, has said that the retention of the 9% VAT rate for tourism services will be a great boost to the tourism sector in County Wicklow. Deputy Doyle also warmly welcomed the scrapping of the air travel tax by the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD, as part of Budget 2014 delivered in the Dáil.

Deputy Doyle said, “I am delighted that Minister Noonan has decided to retain the lower VAT rate for tourism services, which has no doubt played a significant role in boosting visitor numbers here over the last two years.”

“The lower VAT rate has boosted Ireland’s reputation as a high quality, yet affordable destination for visitors from across the globe. The slashing of the air travel tax will no doubt help to open up more routes and make flights to and from Ireland more affordable.”

“The boost in tourism figures is having a direct impact on job creation. Employment in food and accommodation services is up by more than 13% since this Government took office, meaning thousands of additional jobs are being created in the tourism industry. This boost is estimated at 15,000 new jobs by the hospitality sector itself and I hope that this growth can be built upon in 2014.”

“Minister Noonan has clearly listened to those involved in the tourism sector, and has taken the pragmatic decision to extend the 9% VAT rate and slash the air travel tax. This will safeguard jobs in the sector and come as very welcome news to everyone involved in the tourism industry in County Wicklow”, concluded Deputy Doyle.