News Letter August 2020

COLM

BROPHYTD Thank you!

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora

Dear Resident, Many thanks for your support in the recent General Election. It all seems so far away now. Who would have thought that our caretaker government would have to make such huge decisions to try to keep people safe through this frightening Covid crisis?

The whole community has really pulled together. We owe a huge debt to those on the front line.

The crisis made it essential to form a government to continue with this challenging task.

I am honoured to be appointed the Minister for State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora.

This is an exciting challenge which I very much look forward to.

As always, should there ever be anything I can do to be of assistance to you please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Minister Colm Brophy TD

TO ALL OF OUR FRONTLINE WORKERS WHO CONTINUE TO PROTECT US

Supporting Families During Covid COVID-19 UPDATE Over the past few months every effort has been focused on tackling the Covid-19 pandemic. Sadly over 1,700 people have lost their lives from the virus including some people in our community. I would like to express my condolences to the families and friends of all those who have died from Covid 19.

By pulling together we have ensured that many lives were saved. Our Health service was not put in a position where it could not cope with demand. But we are not through this pandemic yet and we must continue to follow public health advice. While enforcement has a role, it is the choices we make and how we work together that will ultimately decide what course this disease takes, and how safe our communities will be.

So far almost €24 billion has been spent on supports to help people to adapt safely. The reopening of crèches and schools are vital milestones to ensure children can get on with their lives.

A huge number of voluntary organisations have tried to ensure a helping hand for anyone who feels vulnerable during this crisis. Alone provides practical help 0818 222024 for shopping or transport. An Post can call by, Samaritans (116 123) will talk or text (086 1800280), Advice on Domestic Violence (1800 341900). Your Mental Health (1800 111888) have a crisis and a freephone information service on how to access 1,000 HSE funded services.

Minister Colm Brophy TD Dáil Éireann, Leinster House, Kildare St, D02 A272 colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie @brophytalks

01-6183196 ColmBrophyFineGael

Appointed Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs Colm Brophy has been appointed as Minister of State with responsibility for Ireland’s international aid programme and for the Irish diaspora.

Irish Aid Minister Brophy meeting members of the Irish Diaspora and Irish Aid supported organisations around the world using Video Conferencing technology.

Tackling our Climate Emergency

In June last year, the Government published a Climate Action Plan which aims to end all carbon emissions by 2050 with strict Carbon Budgets in that journey. For 2030, policies are being put in place which will deliver:-

• 4 times the amount of renewable electricity

• 10 times the amount of home retrofitting

• Better Farm Practices

• 25 times the penetration of Electric Vehicles • Half the food and plastic waste • 500,000 commuters switching to public or active transport

The new Programme for Government builds on this plan, setting a new target of halving emissions by 2030.

Minister Brophy and Minister Coveney at an event organised

by South Dublin Chamber discussing Brexit

Ireland’s international development programme, Irish Aid, is held in very high regard. The aim of Ireland’s aid programme is to reduce poverty, hunger and humanitarian need, with a particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa. By supporting long term development and providing humanitarian assistance in over eighty countries, on behalf of the Irish people, we are helping to build better futures for some of the world’s poorest communities. For more information visit www.irishaid.ie

Global Irish Strengthening Ireland’s connections with Irish citizens abroad, people of Irish ancestry around the world and all those who have a connection with Ireland, is a key objective of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Global Irish – Ireland’s Diaspora Policy sets out an ambitious vision for ‘a vibrant, diverse Global Irish community, connected to Ireland and to each other’. These Irish communities are made up of Irish emigrants, their descendants and those living abroad who share and celebrate an Irish identity and value their links with Ireland. For more information visit www.dfa.ie/global-irishprogramme

Developing a Childcare Sector that Works for Families The vital importance of Childcare has been underlined by the Covid crisis. To help parents special measures included: • an extension of parental leave from 2 to 5 weeks for each parent for a child born since 1st November 2019

The New Programme for Government The Covid crisis requires us to reassess our priorities. While the challenges we now face are enormous, there is a new sense of our interdependence as a community and a recognition that by working together so much more can be achieved. The present three party coalition is determined to lead change in a sensitive way.

The new Programme places an improved quality of life at its centre. Notable innovations include: - Priority for Affordable Housing actively driven by the new Land Development Agency - A Green New Deal embracing Emission Reduction, Waste Management, and Biodiversity

- A New Social Contract, where many new sources of stress are addressed like online safety, family caring, access to upskilling, flexible working, and fair play from powerful institutions

- Priority for Preventative Health and Mental Health as wider access under Sláintecare is delivered

- Delivering Equality of Opportunity in the workplace, in Education and in disadvantaged communities.

MINISTER COLM BROPHY TD -

• the extension of Wage Support to Childcare providers without having to prove a fall in turnover • €75m in grants to support the cost of reopening A major review of Childcare has also been launched with a view to establishing a Childcare Development Agency next year. This is an important opportunity to address the many needs of the sector which range from early assessment for children, developing a good career path for workers in the sector, and high standards at affordable cost for parents.

Please contact me at any time

€7.4 Billion Job Stimulus The July Stimulus package brings to €24 billion the total value of new programmes that seek to protect normal life in the face of Covid 19.

Help for Business to Protect Jobs Restart grants are ✔ From 1st Sept, a new

being increased to a max of

Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme will replace the present “ Temporary” scheme. It will run until 31.3.2021, and cover all employees earning at least €150/ week. The subsidy will be €203/week for those earning at least €203/week and €150/ week earning less than that. The qualifying condition is that your turnover is down at least 30% in the second half of this year.

€25,000

✔ Local Authority Rates are being waived for the period March-September for businesses impacted by Covid

✔ Restart Grants from your Local Authority

are being increased to equal your rates bill for last year subject to a minimum €4,000 and a maximum €25,000. Many businesses will be able to apply again. B&Bs can now qualify.

New Incentives for Families ✔ Stay and Spend A 20% tax credit

against income tax or USC can be obtained on receipts for over €25 in value, for expenditure of up to €625(single),€1,250(couple) on accommodation and food (excl alcoholic drink) spent between 1.10.2020 and 30.04.2021. An App for real time claims will be available.

✔ Help to Buy The refund of

income tax and DIRT tax paid in the past 4 years when a first time buyer buys a new home with contract signed between 23.7.2020 and 31.12.2020 can now be up to 10% of the value of the home up to €500,000, or €30,000 whichever is greater.

20%

✔ Bike to Work Permitted

spending on a new bike is increased to €1,250, and e-bikes are now covered up to €1,500 in this scheme under which participating employers purchase the bike and employees pay back, over 12 months with no income tax, PRSI or USC. A new purchase is permitted every 4 years.

✔ The 23% VAT Rate

has been reduced for 6 months from 1st September.

FROM

1

78% ER SEPTEMB

Vat Rate Reduced

✔ An extra €100m in funding

for Retrofitting for Energy Efficiency will bring new opportunities to communities and householders.

✔ Loans on good terms from Microfinance Ireland, Strategic Bank Corporation of Ireland (including a payment holiday for the first 12 months) and from a new €2bn Credit Guarantee Scheme.

✔ Tax Warehousing allows VAT and PAYE to be

deferred without penalty, and anticipated losses in the current tax year can be brought forward for an early tax refund.

✔ Special Sectoral Supports for Tourism, Arts,

Skillnet Training and a Green Fund for initiatives to better manage waste and material use.

✔ An immediate subsidy of €2,000 for any employer who takes on an Apprentice from 31.3.2020 to 31.12.2020, and a further €1,000 after 12 months.

Helping People Get Back to Work The Pandemic Unemployment Payment will close for new applicants on 17.9.2020, but payment will continue until 31.3.2021. From 17th Sept the payment will be reduced to €300(where people previously earned over €300), €250(previously earned €200-300) and €203(previously under €200).

A further reduction toward the Jobseekers rate will be made in Feb. A major plan for 80,000 new career opportunities will come on stream over this time.

✔ 19,000 in short term training

opportunities under Skills to Compete

✔ 8,000 on Jobsplus, a €7,500 subsidy

to employers to recruit any unemployed person aged under 30 with no waiting time, 10,000 in Work Experience programmes and 3,000 extra on Community Employment

Springboard, Post Graduate, Apprenticeships, Back to Education and Skillnet

View all my previous leaflets in PDF format on ISSUU.COM by searching Colm Brophy.

Final day of campaigning in General Election 2020.

Dáil Éireann, Leinster House, Kildare St, D02 A272 colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie @brophytalks

✔ 35,000 in longer courses,

01-6183196 ColmBrophyFineGael

Affordable Housing

Support for EVs

New measures will put top priority on Affordable Housing

Electric Vehicles have the potential to reduce the carbon impact of a family car by 3 tonnes. In January alone 1,500 new sales of EVs were made. This was just 1 in 20 of new car sales, but the target for 2025 is 4 in every 20 and rapid growth from then on. The supports for EV include: - Up to €5,000 purchase grant - Up to €5,000 relief in VRT (€2,500 for PHEV) - 50% off tolls (25% PHEV) - Lowest €120 rate of Motor Tax - €600 towards a home charger The number of public chargers is set to double in the next twelve months.

- Every development will have to include a quota of Affordable Housing similar to the 10% now for Social Homes - The Land Development Agency will have new powers to develop sites for Affordable Purchase and Cost Rental - The terms for qualifying for Affordable Purchase will be published in the autumn after a review. The strict income cap used €50,000 (single) & €75,000 (couple) will be increased in Dublin.

Minister Brophy on a recent visit to the EPIC museum in Dublin.

Tenancy Rights A number of improvements in tenants' rights have now been introduced: The standard lease has been extended from 4 to 6 years and the 4% rent cap extended.

Future legislation will provide for tenancies of indefinite duration.

• The period of notice which a landlord must give has been increased to 120 days if you have at least one year and 196 days if you have at least 3 years.

• The grounds for ending a tenancy have been tightened and abuse of this system has been made an offence.

•

Minister Colm BROPHY TD Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora

Dáil Éireann, Leinster House, Kildare St, D02 A272. 01-6183196 colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie @brophytalks ColmBrophyFineGael

YOUR FINE GAEL TEAM IN DUBLIN SOUTH WEST TALLAGHT SOUTH

FIRHOUSE-BOHERNABREENA

Cllr. Baby Pereppadan

Cllr Brian Lawlor

087 2930719 bPereppadan@cllrs.sdublincoco.ie

087 6445472 blawlor@cllrs.sdublincoco.ie

RATHFARNHAM-TEMPLEOGUE

Frances Fitzgerald MEP

Cllr. David McManus 085 1045044 dmcmanus@cllrs.sdublincoco.ie

FOR DUBLIN 0032 2 28 45533 frances.fitzgerald@europarl.europa.eu

Working witThD Colm Brophy

0612

• For tenants in difficulty due to Covid 19 no evictions for non-payment of rents and no rent increases can occur before 11th Jan 2021.

• To avail of these protections eligible tenants must notify the RTB and the landlord in writing (email) that he/she is unable to pay rent and is at risk of losing the tenancy. To be eligible a tenant must be out of work due to Covid, on the Wage Subsidy or Pandemic Payment, or Covid Rent Supplement • Such tenants must also be given 28 days to pay before a longer 90 day notice period starts.

• In future any notice of termination for non-payment of rent must also be sent to the RTB who will notify the tenant of dispute resolution services and MABS supports.