Archive for February 2013
Landmark €300m investment in research will lead to high-end jobs in Cork – Harrington
Fine Gael Cork South West Deputy, Noel Harrington, has said the landmark investment being made by Government and private industry into seven world-class research centres, represents the largest investment of its kind in the State which will lead to high-end jobs being created in Cork and across the country.
“The investment of €300 million into seven world-class Research Centres is the largest ever State/industry co-funding research ever made in Ireland. Two hundred million euro is to be provided by the State, with a one hundred million euro co-investment by more than 150 industry partners, including Cisco, Hewlett Packard, GSK, Pfizer and Eli Lilly.
Subsidised Cargo Service for Islands in West Cork
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael TD for Cork South West, has today (Thursday Feb. 21st ) welcomed the announcement by The Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley TD, that his Department has come to an agreement with Comharchumann Chléire Teo. regarding the provision of a subsidised heavy cargo service for islands in West Cork. The islands in question are Cléire, Sherkin Island, Inishodriscol, and Long Island.
The 50-day service will run over the period of a year from 1st February 2013 to 31 January 2014 at a cost of €67,000. The service will be provided by Carbery Isle Ferries Ltd.
Deputy Harrington added “that this agreement will ensure that the islands in West Cork will have a cargo service on which they can rely, which will be of great assistance to the population of those islands”.
ENDS
€2,632,600 in funding for Cork harbours – Harrington
Making money available for safety and remedial works recognises the importance of our harbours
Fine Gael Cork South West Deputy, Noel Harrington, has welcomed the announcement of €2,632,000 in funding which is being made available for the maintenance and upgrade of a number of Cork harbours, as part of the agreement which sees the ownership of such transferred to local authorities. This funding, previously agreed under the dissolution package, clarifies where the monies is to be spent.
The funding is part of a broader package of €7,400,000 which is being made available for safety and remedial harbour works nationally.
“The transfer of our regional harbours from the Department of Transport to local authorities is something that has been ongoing for a number of
years. As part of this process there was a number of safety concerns that needed to be addressed which the Department agreed to fund. This funding is now being released to bring these harbours up to standard.
“As part of the package, Baltimore, Skibbereen, Kinsale and Bantry Bay are in line to receive funds. Baltimore, Skibbereen are set to receive €1,165,000 which will be used to provide safer access to the ferry pier along the Western Approach Road and Inner harbour Pontoon, as well as for works to harbour buildings to facilitate harbour users.
“Kinsale will receive €1,467,500 which will be used to pay down monies on existing contracts, foreshore fees and improvements to Fisherman’s Pontoon and an extension to the pier, which will cost €1,100,000, which will allow for safer berthing of commercial vessels.
“Bantry Bay Harbour is currently the only remaining harbour operating under the Harbours Act, 1946, and it hoped that agreement will be reached soon enough on the future of the harbour. In the meantime, €100,000 is being provided for remedial works.
“Ensuring the proper maintenance of our harbours allows all those who use them to carry out their work safely and efficiently, enabling them to continue to contribute to the economy. The transfer of our harbours to relevant local authorities allows them to be governed locally by the people who are best placed to manage them. This funding will be extremely welcome and I thank the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar TD, for making it available, despite the challenge financial conditions in which we find ourselves.”
Ends
Government funded conversion programmes at CIT
In recognition of the skills shortages that continue to exist for people with high-level ICT skills, a second phase of the ICT Skills Programme (http://www.hea.ie/ictskills) is now being rolled-out by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). As part of this initiative CIT is offering two programmes which will start in early April 2013. If you wish to apply for a place on one of these programes please click the “Apply Now” button now.
Sixty students from last year’s Cloud Computing programmes graduated at the end of January 2013, 85% have entered internships or received full-time employment. This figure will grow over the coming weeks and I expect to see close on 100% in employment within the next few months. This is a huge success and this government funded programme has provided a fresh start for people who had little hope of gaining employment this time last year.