merrion street

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD today, Friday, Jan 29th joined Ministers Michael Noonan and Jan O’Sullivan in Limerick to highlight the benefits of the Government’s capital investment programme, Building on Recovery, for the Mid West region. Ministers Alan Kelly and Tom Hayes also attended the event in Limerick City & County Council HQ.
Speaking at the event, the Taoiseach said:
“Investing in the regions and supporting local job creation is central to our Long Term Economic Plan to keep the recovery going. This Capital Plan does just that and represents a €42billion infrastructure investment plan in Ireland in the period to 2021. Building on Recovery has been carefully designed to meet the needs of a growing economy and to ensure no region is left behind. The new investments outlined today are aimed at addressing the priority needs of the Mid West region. So that means investment to remove bottlenecks in the road network, spending on schools to meet growing demand, providing increased social housing, improving vital health infrastructure and initiatives to protect communities from the devastation caused by flooding.”
The Minister for Finance, Limerick City Deputy, Michael Noonan told the event the capital plan was a sensible and responsible plan to strengthen economic growth, saying:
“In order to keep the recovery going, we need to keep economic growth and job creation strong. Investing in infrastructure allows us to create an environment where this can happen as well as improving people’s quality of life with better services. I’m delighted that the Building on Recovery plan contains vital road projects like the Adare Bypass, the upgrade of the N69 to Foynes and the Shannon Bridge crossing at Killaloe. Limerick health services are undergoing a massive investment at University Hospital Limerick including construction of the Medical Assessment Unit and Renal Dialysis Unit, which are expected to be completed towards the end of this year, and this is on top of new services in the community in the form of new Primary Care Centres in Limerick City. Limerick Maternity Hospital will also be relocated to the University Hospital under the capital plan. The Government is determined to support strong policing in our communities and this commitment is shown by the refurbishment of the Newcastlewest and Henry Street Garda Stations, a new courthouse for Limerick and 46 new Garda vehicles for Limerick since 2012.”
The Minister for Education & Skills, Limerick City Deputy, Jan O’Sullivan said capital investment is vital to improve the services that really matter in people’s lives, saying:
“I am particularly pleased to say that 29 major construction projects for schools in the Mid West are included in this plan with 13 of these in Limerick. Minister Kathleen Lynch has announced a landmark €43 million investment in public nursing home facilities nationwide, and this includes St Ita’s Community Hospital and St Camillus’ Community Hospital in Limerick. The housing element of the capital plan provides funding of €57.8 million to provide 753 social homes in Limerick by 2017. This Government is using the fruits of our economic recovery to improve the services that really matter in people’s lives. As our economic recovery continues it is imperative that we also invest in social recovery. Better schools, smarter transport, cherishing our heritage and encouraging our arts and cultural communities are vital to building the interdependent, modern, thriving communities we all want to see.”
The Minister for Environment, Community & Local Government, Tipperary Deputy, Alan Kelly said the plan prioritises spending on those areas of greatest need as the economy continues its strong recovery:
“Over €140 million is included in this plan to provide over 2,000 social homes in the Mid West region by 2017, with €57 million of this going to provide 832 homes in County Tipperary. Irish Water’s investment in water supply and waste water treatment will be in excess of €73 million for the Mid West Region with €46 million of this being invested in Tipperary. Health services in Tipperary are also seeing vital Government investment coming in with a new Primary Care Centre under way in Borrisokane, and a ward block extension and refurbishment programme at Nenagh Hospital, which is due for completion next year. The Government’s recent announcement on nursing home investment includes St Conlon’s Community Nursing Unit in Nenagh and Dean Maxell Community Nursing Unit in Roscrea. I am also delighted that the major capital investment in schools announced by Minister Jan O’Sullivan includes projects at 5 Tipperary schools. Sensibly and rightly, the Government is prioritising those areas of greatest need for investment now that the country is strongly recovering.”
The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine, Tipperary Deputy, Tom Hayes said capital investment is vital to rural Ireland:
“ People in my constituency will welcome the Government’s extra spending on tackling crime. When the previous Government closed Templemore to recruitment it was a crushing blow and I’m proud that it was reopened by this Government. Under the Building on Recovery plan, it is also scheduled for refurbishment works as it welcomes new recruits, including 600 next year. A new Garda Station in Clonmel will also be delivered under the plan and County Tipperary has seen 40 new Garda vehicles on the road since 2012. Also so vital in our communities, Primary Care Centres are under way in Carrick-on-Suir and Tipperary Town, and the radiology department in South Tipperary General Hospital is being extended with the completion date expected to be mid next year. Many people in rural Ireland are not yet feeling the recovery but this kind of capital investment is vital to ensure that recovery keeps going and spreads to every region and home in the country.”
See also :
Building on Recovery
http://www.merrionstreet.ie/en/ImageLibrary/20160129_BOR_Cap_Plan_Mid_West.pdf

Capital Plan Mid West video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xxciVjQo5g
Map graphic:
http://www.merrionstreet.ie/en/ImageLibrary/20160129BORMWMap.jpeg