Archive for June 2011
Proposed Local Authority Programme under the 2011 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Capital Programme
The Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme 2011 which was approved by the Minister on 5th May has made provision for funding of €1 million for a Local Authority Programme.
| Castletownbere | a) Travaud. Upgrade of slipway, mooring rings, ladders, safety signage b) Travara. As last but including parking, sea wall works c) Traanimod. As above. | In-shore fishing, aquaculture and leisure. All three designated leisure hubs in strategy. | €90,500 | €67,875 |
Single Farm Payments to be brought forward from December to October
Fine Gael Cork South West TD, Noel Harrington, has strongly welcomed the decision by the EU Commission to bring forward the awarding of the Single Farm Payment (SFP), following representations made to the EU Commission by the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney.
Farmers will now be able to draw down 50% of their SFP from 16th October instead of having to wait until December as previously intended.
Students urged to apply as soon as possible for Student Grant Scheme
The Department of Education and Skills has announced details of the further and higher education Student Grant Scheme for the 2011/12 academic year.
Up until now, there were four grant schemes. In the first major step to overhaul the student grant system, the four schemes have been replaced by a single unified scheme this year. This will make it far easier for students to apply for a grant.
Almost 38,000 students, well over half of the expected number of applications, will be able to apply online for their grant this year.
The grantsonline facility has been rolled out to an extra 24 grant awarding bodies giving a total of 35 in all now using the system. The system is available through studentfinance.ie.
This facility will be available to all students next year when a single grant awarding authority will become operational. The CDVEC was recently announced as that authority after a competitive process.
With the Leaving Certificate finished, the Department is urging students who may qualify to apply as quickly as possible for a grant and to ensure that forms are correctly completed
This will prevent log jams in the system or delays to decisions. Previously, those who wait until very late in the process, frequently only after a CAO offer, faced delayed decisions.
In addition, up to 60% of applications in some areas have to be returned because they are not fully completed, they are inaccurately completed or don’t have the necessary supporting documentation. Again, this contributes significantly to delays.
The grantsonline system will play an important role in reducing application completion errors because the system is intelligent to the information being input. Read the rest of this entry »
Permanently extend summertime being closely monitored
Progress of House of Commons Bill to permanently extend summertime being closely monitored – Harrington
Deputy Harrington questioned the Minister for Justice on the issue, by means of a Parliamentary Question, and is satisfied that the matter is being kept under review.