Doherty welcomes expanded remit for children’s Ombudsman

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty, has today (Thursday) welcomed the announcement that the Ombudsman for Children’s remit will be expanded at the end of this month to include a wide range of State bodies that were previously outside the investigatory remit of the Ombudsman’s office.

“I warmly welcome today’s announcement which will expand the remit of the Ombudsman for Children to include a number of State bodies which previously did not fall under its remit, under the Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 2012. It also means that public bodies that are established or reconstituted in the future will be automatically included under the Ombudsman’s remit.

“This is another important step forward in ensuring our children receive all the protection and assistance that they need to get the challenges they face in life. There are many parents across the country who have been struggling for years trying to have issues relating to their children investigated by an independent body, but because the agencies they were dealing with did not fall within the remit of the children’s Ombudsman, their cries were falling on deaf ears.

“I would particularly like to acknowledge the inclusion of the National Council for Special Education under the Ombudsman for Children. This is a matter close to my heart and I am delighted that parents will now have recourse for issues relating to their children with special needs.”

Housing Grants Schemes Closing date

The final date for receipt of applications for Mobility Aids Grant, Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability and Housing Aid for Older People Grant will be FRIDAY, 12th APRIL 2013.

Meath County Council
Housing Grants Scheme
Mobility Aids Grant
Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability
Housing Aid for Older People Grant 

Due to reduction in central funding for 2013, Meath County Council hereby gives notice that the final date for receipt of applications under the above scheme will be FRIDAY, 12^th APRIL  2013. 

Meath County Council will endeavour to approve as many applications as possible from those on hand at Friday, 12^th April 2013 and will prioritise such applications on the basis of medical need and / or works requirement, as appropriate. 

N.B.     APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE CLOSING DATE OF FRIDAY, 12^TH APRIL 2013 WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED AND WILL BE RETURNED TO THE APPLICANT/S

Introducing Helen McEntee, Meath East Bye Election Candidate

Helen McEntee selected as FG’s candidate for Meath East Bye-election

Helen McEntee, daughter of the late TD, Shane McEntee, has tonight (Thursday) been selected as Fine Gael’s candidate for the Meath East Bye-election. Helen was chosen unopposed as the Party’s candidate at a selection convention in Kells.

 

Speaking following her selection, Helen said: ‘I am delighted to have been chosen by Fine Gael to run in the Bye-election to fill the seat left vacant in Meath East by the death of my father. I want to continue his good work by dealing with the issues that matter most to the people of Meath East’.
 

“I could never hope to fill my father’s shoes. But I can promise to work just as hard as he did. He was an incredible man with a passionate determination to serve his community. For the last two and a half years, I have been working with Dad to help address the challenges facing people in Meath East. I will continue this work with the same level of commitment and determination if elected to Dáil Eireann.

 

“I’m looking forward to meeting as many people as possible over the next three weeks right across the constituency. I’ll be kick starting my campaign first thing in the morning and I can’t wait to get it underway.”

 

Director of Elections, Frances Fitzgerald TD, said: ‘Helen is an impressive and committed candidate. I have no doubt she will be extremely dedicated TD if elected to Dáil Eireann. She has first-hand experience on the real issues facing families and all the people in this community. The entire Fine Gael organisation – including YFG, Councillors, Senators, TDs and Ministers - will be involved in campaigning for a No. 1 vote for Helen McEntee on March 27th’.
 

Campaign Manager and Meath West TD, Damien English, said: ‘Helen has the experience, the academic credentials and the dedication to make a great TD. She has worked with her Dad over the last two and a half years on a range of issues facing Meath East from pyrite to pylons, and the challenges facing small businesses. Fine Gael will be running a vigorous campaign between now and March 27^th to secure a great result for Helen and the people of Meath East’.

Constitution Convention Seeking Submissions on Same Sex Marriage in Advance of Next Meeting

The Chairperson of the Constitutional Convention, Mr Tom Arnold, has today urged people to submit any suggestions, proposals or comments they have regarding the issue of same sex marriage ahead of the Convention’s examination of the issue at its next meeting on the 13^th April.

Tom Arnold said:
“One of the central principles of the Convention is that it is a citizens' forum, so I am calling for people to engage with the Convention by making their views known on what is a very important subject for many in Irish society today.

We are keen that the Convention’s deliberations and subsequent decisions are properly informed. Therefore, we want to hear from all sides of the debate regarding the proposal to make a constitutional provision for same-sex marriage.

I am strongly encouraging organisations, citizens and the diaspora to make their voices heard.�€

Submissions, proposals and comments must be received by 19^th March, 2013. To make a submission or to find out additional details on the Convention’s work go to www.constitution.ie

The meetings of the Convention will be broadcast live on line.

NATIONAL TREE WEEK 2013

NATIONAL TREE WEEK 2013 - "Seachtain Náisiúnta na gCrann” “A Feast of Trees” “Féile Na gCrann” National Tree Week will take place from 3rd to 9th March 2013.

Meath County Council will be distributing bare root saplings to community groups, voluntary groups, schools, etc.(not suitable for most housing estates). to mark the occasion. These include beech, rowan, alder and oak.

If you would like some of these saplings, please contact Peter Brady, Environmental Awareness Officer in Meath County Council at pbrady@meathcoco.ie to register your interest.

The saplings will be distributed on Tuesday March 5th 2013 at Kells Recycling Centre, Lloyd Business Park from 11am – 1pm.

You might consider taking a walk in one of the many amenities in Meath during this week and enjoy the many varieties of trees----Balrath Woods (near Kentstown), Dalgan Park (Navan), Littlewoods in Slane (on Collon Road), Ramparts in Navan, Loughcrew Gardens in Oldcastle, Canal Walk in Enfield.

Two guided walks will take place in Dalgan Park, Navan on Saturday 9th March, 2013 hosted by Mr. Gerard Clarke (Columban Fathers and Crann Ireland). Walks will be at 11.00 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. Light Refreshments after walks.

Slane Tidy Towns pub quiz, Friday, 8th of March, at The Village Inn

Constitutional convention

Pictured at last Saturdays Constitutional convention, Senator Jim Darcy, Deputy Charlie Flagan TD and I

Doherty welcomes inclusion of pyrite property tax waiver in Finance Bill

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has today (Wednesday) welcomed the inclusion in the Finance Bill of a waiver for the Local Property Tax for pyrite homes. Deputy Doherty previously raised concerns with the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD, on the matter.

“This waiver will come as a welcome relief to pyrite homeowners, who have suffered unduly in recent years. It would be unjust to force these homeowners to pay a property tax on properties that are essentially worthless.

“When the Finance Bill was published in December, it did not contain any specific reference to pyrite homes. I expressed concerns and the time, and received assurances from Minister Noonan. I am very glad to have this concerns officially addressed with the publication of the Finance Bill today, which states that a waiver of at least three years will apply.

“This doesn’t solve the problems facing people living in homes affected by pyrite, but it will come as a relief that they won’t have to pay a property tax when their houses are still in need of significant repairs. In some cases, homes are uninhabitable. I would like to commend Minister Noonan and the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan TD, for taking a pragmatic approach to this matter.

“We still need further progress for pyrite homeowners. I have stated previously that action has not been as swift as I would like on the testing and categorisation of homes, which must be carried out before remediation works can be carried out. Minister Hogan has taken a number of steps to ensure the responsible stakeholders work with homeowners to provide satisfactory long term solutions for homeowners.

“I will continue to represent the concerns and plight facing pyrite homeowners at a national level, as we move the resolution process forward.”

Doherty pushes for youth café in Ashbourne

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has today (Tuesday) said that she is pushing the case for a youth caf é to be opened in Ashbourne. Deputy Doherty has established a founding committee to help make the project a reality.

“I’ve set up this founding committee because I think the opening of a youth café should be a priority for Ashbourne, and I’m calling on people across the community to get involved and help make this project a reality.

“I was involved in the project to set up a youth café in Ratoath; the Pulse café is now an established success story in the village, offering youth facilities for 13 to 18 year olds throughout the week and all weekend. We need to deliver a similar success for Ashbourne.

“The case for a youth café in Ashbourne is clear; it has the second highest number of teenagers in the country after Ratoath. We need to ensure these teens have a safe place to go to meet their friends and spend their spare time.

“I would appeal to the better nature of owners of vacant business premises in the town to consider whether any of their properties would be suitable for a café, and how they might be able to help with the project.

“The Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald TD, announced more than €2.25 million in funding for youth cafés and other youth projects in November. I will be making the case for Ashbourne in the coming months to ensure it benefits from the next round of funding.

“Anyone wishing to join the founding committee or help out can contact me on 018257204.”