Search Results for 'Alan Dillon'

St. Anthony’s Special School in Castlebar is growing and expanding with the provision of a brand new two-classroom extension due to open in September 2022.

The campaign for a Family and Community Resource Centre in Erris continues to go from strength to strength and on Tuesday, May 24, an online meeting took place between steering committee members of FRC for Erris and Mayo TDs - Rose Conway Walsh, Dara Calleary and Alan Dillon.

Almost €5 million in capital funding for Mayo University Hospital and other healthcare facilities in Mayo was announced yesterday.

Mayo TD Alan Dillon has welcomed good news on N60 Balla to Claremorris Road Realignment at Heathlawn that has now moved to tender. Deputy Dillon said: "This is an important step forward for all road users who use the N60 and especially this busy section of road which has seen a large increase in traffic flow since the Tuam bypass has opened. The project comprises the construction of approximately 3.6km of mainly online upgrade of national secondary road on a section of road commencing 1.5km east of Balla village. The realigned road will improve the capacity, overall consistency and efficiency of the N60, providing more reliable journey times, thereby enhancing the prospect for future development and growth within the region. There is no doubt, the lives of the residents living along this stretch of road will be greatly enhanced; it will provide all road-users with a safer environment into the area. I want to acknowledge the work of my colleague Cllr Cyril Burke who has raised this matter with me on multiple occasions and has liaised with Mayo County Council road design team to see this development proceed to tender," concluded Deputy Dillon.

Affordability of housing in Mayo is now at a crisis point, Mayo Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon highlighted during ministerial questioning in the Dáil. Deputy Dillon expressed disappointment that Mayo County Council has been excluded from the national affordable housing five-year delivery targets despite the problems that exist. At present no scheme has been approved to provide affordable housing in the county and this is having a negative impact on future economic development in the county. "There is a shortage of affordable homes to rent or purchase in parts of the county, especially in towns such as Westport, Castlebar and Ballina." Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien explained an identified level of affordable housing need arises where, of the projected housing need in the county, more than five per cent of new households would not qualify. "The level of affordability constrained need in Mayo is assessed at below five per cent. I understand there are localised affordability issues, particularly in Westport and also potentially in Ballina. We are happy to consider those issues. Where local authorities have localised affordability measures, as is the case in the two towns in question, they can still apply to the Department for funding to develop affordable housing schemes if they can demonstrate that an affordable scheme is needed to address those localised affordability challenges and they can meet the criteria for the fund. I am confident that can be done. As regards Mayo in particular, in June 2021 a scheme was submitted for 25 homes in Westport under the previous fund, namely, the Serviced Sites Fund. We have told Mayo County Council that it can resubmit that to the new fund and I understand work is ongoing between my Department and the council on that." Minister O’Brien informed Deputy Dillon of KPMG’s ongoing work for Mayo County Council on the future analytics side, to prove the affordability constraint in pressure areas within Mayo, and following the conclusion of KPMG work this month his Department has agreed to meet with Mayo County Council in June. Deputy Dillon said Mayo has the fourth-lowest market house price in the country but that is certainly not reflective of the open market price of new-build homes in areas such as Westport, Castlebar and Ballina. Some of these A-rated new premises are on the market for between €270,000 and €350,000. He said: "I am delighted to see Mayo County Council has been proactive. It reached out to the public in Mayo, seeking information to understand better the demand for affordable housing, including locations of choice and the affordability constraints of potential applicants. The threshold for social housing in Mayo is €25,000. Many people are above that threshold but caught within the squeezed-middle bracket. It is important that we respond to these pressure areas. Mayo has significant issues in respect of vacancy and dereliction. Increasing housing supply in the area would be an important step forward."

Mayo Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon has outlined that applications are now open for a new fund which will see the proceeds of crime re-invested in local projects to improve community safety.

Mayo Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon is demanding that action be taken on a stretch of road at Castlehill on the R315 between Crossmolina and Lahardane.

What were your politicans talking about this week?

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, has designated Dr Orla Flynn as the first president of the new Atlantic Technological University, which will be established on April 1. Dr Flynn is the current president of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.