Search Results for 'Minister of State'

By Frances Toner

Dr Ciara Smyth, Director of the Doctoral Programme in the School of Law, NUI Galway, has been appointed to the government’s Working Group on Asylum.

Hotel Westport has been awarded, by public vote, this year’s Best Family Friendly Hotel in the Hotel and Catering Review Gold Medal Awards. The awards recognise and reward excellence in hotels, guest-houses, restaurants, spas, clubs, and catering operations across the island of Ireland. The awards were presented at a gala ceremony in the Double Tree Hilton Hotel, (formerly the Burlington Hotel), last week. The finalists were judged by a panel of industry experts, who carried out rigorous site inspections at each premises to determine the winners.

Mayo Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary says the Taoiseach must sideline the spin and honour the commitments he made about Ireland West Airport Knock.  Enda Kenny made a promise before the 2011 General Election that he would ‘do whatever he needed for Knock’ if he became Taoiseach. Deputy Calleary commented this week: “The time for talking is long gone and what we need to see from the Taoiseach is action, and a follow through on the commitments he gave to airport officials before he assumed office.  Ireland West Airport Knock needs a cash injection in the upcoming Budget in order to secure its survival and it is up to the Taoiseach and Minister Paschal Donohoe to deliver on pre-election promises. This airport proves its worth on a daily basis.  It employs over 100 people and has seen more than 700,000 passengers pass through its doors this year alone. It brings millions of euro into the local economy and its benefits are felt right across the west and north west. It is a vital part of the tourism infrastructure in the region and its future must be secured.”

Progress on the River Clare drainage scheme in the Claregalway area is being delayed due to the uncertainty surrounding new legislation passed to comply with EU Directives.

The Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, yesterday announced that funding of approximately €257,000 is being made available to Mayo County Council for remedial works at all the county’s Wild Atlantic Way Discovery Points, totalling 30 sites in all, along the Mayo coast.

Last Monday Westport once again claimed a major national prize in the SuperValu Tidy Towns competition, when it was announced one of Ireland’s Tidiest Large Towns at the awards ceremony in the Helix in Dublin. Westport previously won the overall prize in 2001, 2006, and 2008. It has also taken the Tidiest Large Town prize in 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, and in 2012. Welcoming the news Minister of State, Michael Ring, said: “This award is richly deserved following the endless work and dedication involved in keeping Westport tidy. I wish to take this opportunity to highly commend the chairperson of Westport Tidy Towns, Ms Rhona Chambers, the committee itself, and the large number of volunteers”. He continued: "The people of Westport take huge pride in the appearance of the town and it is wonderful to see their work in this regard being rewarded.”

The long awaited Castlebar skate park has twice missed out on funding because both applications from the former Castlebar Town Council were “deemed invalid”.

St Louis Community School, Kiltimagh, has been approved funding for five new classrooms.

St Louis Community School, Kiltimagh, has been approved funding for five new classrooms.