Every Friday, we bring you the top five Government news stories of the week. Catch up on what you might have missed here. Click on the headlines to read the full story.
Taoiseach in Davos
Taoiseach Enda Kenny flew to Davos this week to participate in the annual World Economic Forum being hosted at the Swiss resort.
The Taoiseach participated in a number of events on the programme dealing with the global economy including a live panel debate to discuss global growth trends and the role that Governments can play in stimulating growth. He also met individually with leaders of several major multinational firms from a variety of fields, including high-tech, pharmaceuticals and financial services.
Minister Fitzgerald launches second national strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence 2016-2021
Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald launched the second national strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence 2016-2021 during the week.
The strategy envisages a range of actions to be implemented by State, voluntary and community sector organisations aimed at preventing and responding to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
ERDF Grant Assistance to Local Authority Capital Works
The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government announced the proposed local authority capital projects around Ireland that have been approved for European Regional Development Fund grants for sustainable urban development under the Designated Urban Centres Grants Scheme 2014 – 2020.
Funding under the Scheme will enable project investments in Irish urban centres of the order of €127 million over the period to 2020 of which €40 million will be funded from the ERDF with matching funding from the relevant local authorities.
Government launches Action Plan for Jobs
During the week, the Government launched the Action Plan for Jobs 2016 aimed at creating 200,000 extra jobs by 2020. The plan is the first in a new phase for the Action Plan for Jobs after the original target of 100,000 jobs by 2016 was met last year. The plan outlines 304 actions which will be implemented by 16 departments and over 60 agencies to bring the number of people at work to 2.18million by 2020.
Government publishes report on the future of post offices
Communications Minister Alex White has published the final report of the Post Office Network Business Development Group, which was chaired by businessman Bobby Kerr.
The Minister also announced that the Government had agreed:
- *To support the introduction and roll-out, by An Post, of an ‘ePayment Account’ in 2016. The Kerr report identifies this as essential to enhance post office activity in financial services.
- *Consistent with the Kerr report, to establish the feasibility of offering motor tax services in post offices.
Have a look at more photos from this week over on our Flickr
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