Deputy Brendan Smith has welcomed the publication by his party colleague, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, of a plan to retain Ireland’s nitrates derogation post 2025.

The Cavan-Monaghan TD said the plan outlines the collaborative approach that is being taken on water quality between farmers, government and the wider agri-food sector and relevant state agencies, led by Minister McConalogue.

He said: “Fianna Fáil is absolutely committed to securing a nitrates derogation post 2025 and I welcome the publication of this plan by Minister McConalogue as it outlines how he is leading a national effort to secure the derogation through collaborative action.

“The plan recognises the work that has already been done by Fianna Fáil in government, such as the €60 million euro innovation programme put in place to financially support actions by farmers and the 50 water quality advisors paid for by government and industry, providing a free service to farmers to improve water quality in priority areas.

“The plan details how all stakeholders including farmers, government, the wider agri-food sector and relevant state agencies can work together to secure the derogation post 2025.

“The derogation is crucial to our national farming system. I am committed to doing everything I can to help see our national water quality improved and our derogation retained.”

Local Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has welcomed a commitment by Transport Infrastructure Ireland to the development of a Bus Stop/Park and Ride strategy for the N3.  This comes as part of the Road Safety Inspection analysis in co-ordination with Meath County Council and Cavan County Council.

Deputy Brendan Smith states that this strategy will include a number of Park and Ride facilities at bus stops along the N3 as well as a Park and Ride/Share facility at an adjacent section of the N3 just over the border in Co. Meath.

“I have also asked TII and the County Council to implement interim measures pending longer term solutions coinciding with the Virginia By-Pass.  This is essential to improve road safety on that route”, stated Brendan Smith TD.

Concluding on the matter Deputy Smith said: “Road safety is of paramount importance to Fianna Fáil in government, and I look forward to further consultation with the TII and the County Council on road safety in Cavan.”

Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has welcomed an increase in the mandatory retirement age for Defence Force members, firefighters and prison officers to 62 years of age.

The increased mandatory retirement age follows the recent enactment of the Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024. The increase took effect on Monday, August 19, 2024.

The provisions to facilitate an increased mandatory retirement age for Gardaí will follow shortly, and in the meantime existing retention arrangements in An Garda Síochána will continue to apply, ensuring that those who may reach retirement age in the interim period will be able to benefit from these changes once they are commenced.

Deputy Smith said: “I’m delighted that Defence Force members, firefighters and prison officers will now be able to work until they are 62 years of age. This worthwhile move will enhance options available to uniformed services members while retaining valuable expertise. 

“The Defence Forces, firefighters and prison officers across the country perform a vital role in our communities. Now they will be able to remain in service for longer if they so choose.

“This increase in mandatory retirement age makes sense. People are now living longer and healthier lives so our uniformed public servants should be allowed to work longer. I hope it makes a difference to many people’s lives.”

Part 11 of the Act implements changes that were previously agreed by Government to facilitate an increase in the mandatory retirement age for uniformed public servants to 62 years, within the context of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform’s fast accrual pension policy framework.

Under this framework, fast accrual pension terms will be facilitated until age 60. If an individual remains in employment beyond that age, their pension accrual reverts to a standard basis from that point until their retirement.

Deputy Brendan Smith has welcomed reports that his party colleagues Minister Jack Chambers, Minister Darragh O’Brien and Minister Charlie McConalogue are working to exclude active farmland from Residential Zoned Land Tax in the upcoming Budget.

The Cavan-Monaghan TD said the pausing and deferral of RZLT by another 12 months, as well as the design of a new RZLT system that excludes active farmland, will give certainty to farmers.

He said: “The RZLT was due to come into effect for farm families from next February and had been causing stress and anxiety among those who were to be impacted.

“The reports that a Budget priority for my party colleague, Minister Chambers, is the exclusion of active farmland from RZLT and the pausing and deferral of the rollout of RZLT for a further 12 months is hugely welcome.

“There is work underway to design a new RZLT system by Minister Chambers, Minister O’Brien and Minister McConalogue that excludes active farmers. This shows that Fianna Fail in government will protect farmland and food production.

“In government, we place a top priority on supporting farming livelihoods and we are committed to supporting the farming sector tackle the challenges they face and protect the viability of farm families and farming livelihoods.”

Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has said plans for a 40% increase in healthcare college places in Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy over the next two academic years will help tackle delays for assessments of need for services and follow up therapies.

Deputy Smith’s party colleague, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD, last week brought a memo to Cabinet outlining a 20% increase in Physiotherapy college places, a 40% increase in Occupational Therapy places and a 28% increase in Speech & Language places between now and 2026.

“I’m pleased to see my party colleague Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD announce a major increase in the number of healthcare college places in vital disciplines such as Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy,” Deputy Smith said.

“This will contribute to delivering an expansion in the region of up to 40% in college places in these important disciplines over the next two years.

“There have been well documented delays in accessing these much needed therapies. I’m particularly pleased to learn of these additional places as I’ve highlighted in the Dáil on a number of occasions the long wait times some local families have had to endure.  

“This move will go a long way towards addressing the delays in accessing services and follow up therapies in these disciplines.”

Local Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has said he was pleased to receive confirmation from his party colleague and Minister of State for Trade Promotion Dara Calleary TD, that 1,985 businesses in Cavan and 2,022 in Monaghan have been paid a combined total of more than €5.9m under the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) scheme.

Nationwide payments under the ICOB Scheme have surpassed €205 million. 

Welcoming this significant boost for local businesses Deputy Smith said: “The ICOB grant was designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the increased costs associated with running a business and is doing just that. 

 “In Cavan, a total of €2,843,631 worth of payments were issued to businesses in the county. Some 1269 businesses received €1,747,375 in the first tranche of payments and 716 businesses received €1,096,256 in the second round of payments.

“In Monaghan, a total of €3,127,547 worth of payments were issued to businesses in the county. Some 1359 businesses received €1,976,717 in the first tranche of payments and 663 businesses received €1,150,830 in the second round of payments.

“Fianna Fáil in Government is committed to continuing to support the long term viability of SME’s. I understand that a total of €257 million is available under the scheme and further payments continue be made on a daily basis.”

TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Brendan Smith, has said that Fianna Fáil is ensuring that patients who find themselves attending GP appointments for common ailments will save money due the expansion of the role of community pharmacists and will also reduce pressures on GP surgeries.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has today published the final report of the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy. 

The report lists eight common conditions that community pharmacists, after undergoing training, can offer advice and supply medicines for.

Deputy Smith said: “In government Fianna Fáil in working to make healthcare accessible and affordable to all and the expansion of the role of community pharmacists is key to this.

“As outlined by this expert report, pharmacists will be given the opportunity to undertake training so they can offer self-care advice, supply over the counter (OTC) and prescribe prescription medicines for allergic rhinitis, cold sores, conjunctivitis, impetigo, oral thrush, shingles, uncomplicated UTI/cystitis and vulvoginal thrush. This list of conditions can be extended over time as the service evolves. 

“Patients with these conditions, instead of paying for a GP appointment, will be able to instead get the advice and medicine they need from their local pharmacy.

“Community pharmacists already provide advice to people every day on their medication and this expansion is an extension of what they are already doing.

“Expanding the role of community pharmacists increases the range of options available to people.

“Patients being able to seek care and advice for simple, common ailments from their community pharmacist will save them money on GP appointments and will free up capacity in our healthcare system where needed for more complex ailments.”

“I welcome the allocation of €322,000 government funding towards improvement works and new facilities at forest parks in Cavan and Monaghan. 

€200,000 is being allocated for the design and construction of a new car park entrance to Deerpark Forest Park, Virginia.  €49,000 is being provided towards the installation of new toilets and associated works in Rossmore Forest Park, Monaghan. 

General maintenance works this year at forest parks in Co Cavan will have an expenditure of €45,268 and €27,443 will be spent on such works in forest parks throughout Co Monaghan.

I welcome this investment which is being provided under the government’s National Outdoor Recreation Strategy and is contributing significantly to the enhancement of existing recreational amenities and provision of new visitor attractions.  Our forest parks are a key tourism amenity as well as a great outdoor resource for local communities.

I compliment Coillte on making the forest parks accessible to the public at large and, over the years, there has been significant government and Coillte investment in upgrading and maintaining these important and attractive recreational facilities.  Fortunately we have a great range of Coillte Parks throughout Cavan and Monaghan benefitting local residents and visitors to our region.  They are an important part of our tourism offering and ongoing government investment reflects the importance of these parks” stated Brendan Smith TD.

Local Fianna Fáil Deputy Brendan Smith has welcomed the eligibility for up to 15 Centres in Counties Cavan and Monaghan to apply for funding for older persons Day Centre and Meals on Wheels Community Care services.

This scheme is being introduced by my Fianna Fáil colleagues, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and Minister for Older People Mary Butler and will be available to support around 400 Section 39 community organisations across the country by providing extra financial support of up to €25,000 per organisation. The funding is designed to support improvements to the physical premises for Day Centres and Meals on Wheels services. It can be used to upgrade kitchens and other facilities, and to purchase equipment.

Since its establishment, the Meals on Wheels service has been vital to many communities across the country, providing approximately 2.7 million meals last year.

Speaking on the availability of this funding, Deputy Brendan Smith said: “I am delighted that so many community organisations are eligible to apply for this funding. This funding can go towards improving many Day Centres who may need upgrades to their facilities and will help these centres cater for the needs of people who avail of their services.”

“Older person Day Centres and Meals on Wheels services are such a vital service for so many, and many people rely on it. They offer a safe and welcoming environment where people can access these essential services as well as allowing people to engage in social activities.”

“People want to be able to live at home for longer, and that doesn’t always mean care in their home. For people to have access to these Day Centres and essential services, it gives them a sense of purpose, social interaction, and a safe environment to meet friends.”

“Fianna Fáil in government have almost doubled funding for the national Meals on Wheels service from over €3 million in 2022 to over €6 million this year. I would encourage all 15 eligible centres in Cavan/Monaghan to apply for this funding”, concluded Brendan Smith TD.

ENDS

I welcome the allocation of government funding for the upgrading of local amenities in Cavan and Monaghan.

This funding is being allocated under the government’s Community Recognition Fund and supports local groups and local authorities in enhancing local facilities benefiting local residents and visitors to the area.

It is extremely important that the work of community groups is supported by government as these amenities contribute so much in ensuring that there is a good range of recreational and sporting facilities for all age groups throughout Cavan and Monaghan.

I compliment Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council and the local voluntary groups on submitting successful applications.

02/08/2024