ANN PHELAN TD Delivering for Graig Making Recovery Local “Things don’t just happen, they are made to happen.”-JFK
ANN PHELAN TD SANCTIONS € 994,000 FUNDING FOR OUTDOOR TOURISM HUB AND ASTROTURF PITCH I sanctioned approval of funding to Kilkenny LEADER Partnership of €428,868 for Barrow Valley Community Development Ltd. to develop an Outdoor Activity Hub in Graiguenamanagh, Kilkenny. The proposal envisages an integrated and multiuse proposal for the site, integrating the following elements – with the development of multi-use buildings which will attract locals and visitors to this facility. “I am delighted that the Rural Development Programme is in a position to support in the development of this Outdoor Activity Hub, which has an estimated total project cost of over €571,825. The mission for the Hub is that it will drive tourism development in the area through a sustainable programme of outdoor recreation and environmental studies which benefits from and promotes this local natural resource”.
€125,000 FOR RURAL SECURING €785,000 FOR VILLAGE RENEWAL SCHEME ECONOMIC Over the last year we have seen the completion of the Village Renewal DEVELOPMENT Scheme for Graignamanagh which was worth over €785,000. Throughout my years as representative for the Thomastown Electoral PROJECTS FOR Area and as TD, I actively campaigned for Graig, to ensure it took a rightful place in the Local Development Plan for the County; and was no GRAIGNAMANAGH longer on the periphery of the County at risk of being forgotten about. I I announced €125,000 in funding from my own Department for Rural Economic Development Zone (REDZ) projects for Graignamanagh. The funding in question will support the further development of tourism, enterprise and create business opportunities for people living in the area. This funding is about community participation, boosting employment, tackling rural isolation and helping communities to identify the issues and also the solutions. The concept of a REDZ, which involves supporting communities to avail of opportunities to help themselves and their local areas is the essence of what a community led approach to rural development is all about. I am confident that these resources coupled with the €30million for the rural towns and villages renewal scheme, which I announced last week are just the beginning of a process of rural renewal regeneration.
have actively worked with the Graignamanagh Development Association on this Project and I am delighted to see it come to fruition The town has never looked as well and it certainly will go a long way in promoting a sense of place in our rural community, it will encourage tourism within the area and support local businesses. Traffic calming measures have been implemented, as well as street lighting, signage and pedestrian focused works.
€3,500 FOR ‘LOVE GRAIG’ COMMITTEE I secured €3,500 for the Love Graig Committee for the purpose of supporting their clean-up project for the town. This funding was secured from Kilkenny County Council and was for an urban enhancement project. I want to wish Love Graig every success with this and other projects they have coming down the track. You have done wonders for the town and our community since your formation and long may it continue.
RETURNING ABBEY HALL TO THE COMMUNITY On the 30th of October this year, I officially opened the Abbey Hall and Youth Cafe. This was a particularly emotive event for me as I have been a member of the Committee since 2003 and it has been a goal of mine since my initial election in 2004 onto Kilkenny County Council, to deliver this facility back into the hands of the Community. For many years it remained in a state of dilapidation and disrepair, virtually unusable but, through the continued hard work of the committee and I, with the aid of the residents within the town who supporting all fundraising events for the Hall, it has now been renovated and refurbished. I was delighted to play a role in securing the much needed funds for the Abbey Hall of up to €200,000 from LEADER and Kilkenny County Council, to make this a reality for the town. Happily, we also secured up to €40,000 for the refurbishment and upgrade of the Stage area which means our local drama groups such as Duiske Players and Sparks Productions and our local schools can once again hold their plays and concerts in the Abbey Hall.
€50,000 YOUTH CAFÉ I announced an allocation of €50,000 in Capital Funding for the provision of a Youth Café for Graignamanagh in December, 2013. I was delighted officially open this new facility recently. It is located in the Abbey Hall and is being presided over by Ossory Youth. Often Young People have a lack of communal space to meet their friends, however, with the establishment of a Youth Café, it provides a forum for young people to discuss issues of concern to them while also offering a fun environment to meet their people, instead of on the street corner.
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY FOR DUISKE ABBEY In 2012, in conjunction with Kilkenny Local Authority, agreement was attained, permitting the construction of Wheelchair access at the main entrance to Duiske Abbey. I had received numerous representations from concerned residents, and it was something that had been sought after for a substantial period of time.
DELIVERED A LOCAL PLAYGROUND FOR OUR CHILDREN As a local Cllr in 2007/2008, I secured over €160,000 from Kilkenny County Council for the purpose of building a long awaited Playground on the Fairgreen. Parents in Graignamanagh had been campaigning for over three years to get a purpose built playground in the centre of the town. And after much persuasion and lobbying, Kilkenny County Council finally agreed to the project. Since its construction, it has received a great deal of use and I think, most families will agree, it is a valued asset to the town.
€1.1M FIRE STATION FOR GRAIG I was very pleased to be able to grant the approval for a new two-bay fire station in Graignamanagh. The existing fire station dates from the 1950s and no longer meets the requirements of Kilkenny Fire Service. I am delighted to be in a position to deliver on this much needed facility not only for the community of Graignamanagh/Tinnahinch, but also for the wider communities serviced by this particular Fire Station, which is extensive. Since my election, this has always been one of my priorities to deliver an up-to-date modern day facility that caters for the demands placed on our emergency services. Thankfully, on foot of this announcement, works will commence quite quickly. I know first-hand, as does the wider community of Graig, just how important our emergency services are, the level of work undertaken by our Fire Officers and the significant contribution which fire services continue to make each day in safeguarding our communities.
SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS MAINSTREAM CLASSROOM AND ASD UNIT I announced €125,000 in funding from my own Department for Rural Economic Development Zone (REDZ) projects for Graignamanagh. The funding in question will support the further development of tourism, enterprise and create business opportunities for people living in the area. This funding is about community participation, boosting employment, tackling rural isolation and helping communities to identify the issues and also the solutions. The concept of a REDZ, which involves supporting communities to avail of opportunities to help themselves and their local areas is the essence of what a community led approach to rural development is all about. I am confident that these resources coupled with the €30million for the rural towns and villages renewal scheme, which I announced last week are just the beginning of a process of rural renewal regeneration.
ADDITIONAL TEACHER FOR BOYS NATIONAL SCHOOL I recently worked closely with the Principal and staff of the Boys National School and made strong representations on their behalf to the Minister for Education and to the Appeals Office to secure the necessary additional teacher to cater for the growing number of pupils in the school. The appeal was successful and it is now a 4 teacher school.
FREE SCHOOL MEALSBOYS NATIONAL SCHOOL AND SCOIL MHUIRE GAN SMAL
ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION FOR DUISKE COLLEGE In 2013, I lobbied the Minister for Education and Skills and was successful in attaining funding for additional accommodation as part of the School Buildings Programme for Duiske College which was much needed. The funding catered for the provision of one mainstream classroom and PLC Art Room/Store for Duiske College. This was a very welcome announcement, particularly, when funding at the time was so constrained.
Both the Boys National School and Scoil Mhuire gan Smal were granted Free School Meals as part of the School Meals Programme administered by the Department of Social Protection. I am delighted to have been able to play a part in securing this for both I was also delighted to announce that Scoil Mhuire were schools as both played such an important role in both successful in attaining funding under the 2015 Summer Works my children’s lives and my own through the years, and; Scheme for environmental works on the school grounds. equally so, will go on to be as influential on my grandchildren’s.
SUMMER WORKS SCHEME
SECURING 3 LIBRARIANS FOR GRAIG LIBRARY Through work with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, I secured three librarian posts for Graig Library in 2013, at the time the Library was being forced to close one day per week due to shortage in manpower hours. Thankfully this was resolved and normal service then resumed.
GRAIGNAMANAGH BOATHOUSE “TIGH TED” I worked with the late Ted Duff and the Regatta Committee on the expansion and upgrade of the Boathouse area in Graig. Funding was secured of up to €250,000 for this project which is now called “Tigh Ted”. A lot of activities take place all around these essential facilities, most notably the annual Regatta competition, which is one the oldest inland regattas in the country.
DELIVERING FOR OUR LOCAL CLUBS
SILAIRE WOODLAND PROJECT
€45,000 FOR GRAIG GAA PITCH + €40,000 FOR GRAIG ROWING CLUB In July 2014, I secured funding of €45,000 for Graig GAA Pitch for the purpose of building a retaining wall to complete the car park area. I also secured funding of €40,000 for Graig Rowing Club, to allow for the purchase of new equipment for the club. I was delighted to be in a position to secure such funds for our local clubs which continue to go from strength to strength.
I worked very closely with the Silaire Wood Committee to ensure the development of the wood which saw the construction of an 800m board walk along the river bank. Other amenities that have been developed include, a looped walk with picnic and seating areas, signage and an upgraded car-park. It now provides a year-round amenity and is now regularly used by the people of Graig and beyond. I was delighted to be in a position to support this project to ensure that Silaire Wood was once again accessible to the people of Graig and beyond.
E-FIBRE BROADBAND FOR GRAIG ROAD WORKS ■ June 2015 - New Ramps for Fairview Housing Estate ■ January 2013 - I secured and delivered €251,000 for
the R703 at Coppenagh Cross for Improvement works.
Following a number of queries that I received in relation to broadband and specifically, E-fibre broadband for the Graignamanagh area, I subsequently contacted Eircom who have confirmed that E-Fibre Broadband will be available in Graig by the end of 2015. This delivers speeds of up to 100mb and is currently being rolled out around the country. It will result in good quality, high speed broadband and if you are already a customer of Eircom, you will automatically be upgraded for free.
Ann Phelan TD @AnnPhelanTD Ann Phelan
18 Patrick Street, Kilkenny Phone: 056 7756000 Mobile: 086 3294420 Email: ann.phelan@oir.ie