Update 6th July

Senator Murphy secures Rural and Community Affairs portfolio in Seanad Eireann

 

Fianna Fáil Senator Eugene Murphy has accepted a request from Taoiseach Michéal Martin to take on the role of the Rural and Community Affairs portfolio in Seanad Eireann. The Senator who is the sole Government representative in County Roscommon said he was delighted to take on this important role.

“I received a phone call from An Taoiseach Michéal Martin on Saturday evening requested me to take on the Rural and Community Affairs portfolio in Seanad Eireann. I was delighted to accept the offer and I assured the Taoiseach I would put my best effort into this area. The Taoiseach spoke about the importance of delivering the programme for Government to the people and as the sole Government representative in County Roscommon and one of only two Government representatives in Roscommon/Galway, I will endeavour to use every opportunity to work and deliver to rural communities but also acknowledging the fact that my role is also to deliver to the wider region,” said Senator Murphy.

The Fianna Fáil Senator went on to say that he would be working closely with Social Protection, Community and Rural Development Minister Heather Humphreys and the Government Chief Whip Dara Calleary to make sure that there was a specific emphasis on economic recovery in the West in the aftermath of the Covid19 fallout. “The West in particular will bear the brunt of the fallout in the aftermath of Covid19 and it is vital that the July jobs stimulus package places particular emphasis on recovery for this region,” said Senator Murphy.

The Fianna Fáil Senator welcomed the fact that work had begun already on a significant July jobs stimulus package which could include bolstering SMEs, improving grants for businesses and credit lines while targeting thousands of young unemployed people.

“One of my first priorities will be meeting with Minister Catherine Martin to ensure a speedier delivery of broadband to rural localities and to ensure the quick establishment of broadband hubs,” said Senator Murphy.

“So many sectors of society need help including the SME sector and farming community. Housing will also be a top priority along with getting the country back to work,” concluded Senator Murphy

45,000 people nationally waiting for driving test

Over 45,000 people nationally waiting for driving test with up to three month waiting period in Roscommon/Galway- Murphy

No driver tester headquartered in Carrick-on-Shannon

Fianna Fáil TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy has highlighted the fact that a total of 45,425 people nationally are waiting to sit their driving tests in centres throughout the country with some drivers left waiting over four months in some areas. It has also emerged that there is currently no driver tester employed in County Leitrim and only one tester in County Roscommon.

Deputy Murphy recently tabled a parliamentary question on the matter with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross.  Figures from the Road Safety Authority were provided which provides the data relating to driving test waiting periods throughout the country.

“Figures from the Road Safety Authority indicate that there are currently a total of 45,425 people to sit their driving test in centres around the country. A breakdown of the figures show that there are over 900 people waiting for a test appointment in County Galway where the average waiting time is over ten weeks. There are 331 people waiting for a test appointment in County Roscommon where drivers are waiting an average of 11.5 weeks or almost three months. Waiting figures in County Leitrim are at 435, County Longford 300 and Sligo 599 and Athlone waiting figures are at 354.

“Alarmingly it has also emerged that there is currently no driver tester in County Leitrim which is simply not good enough. In response to my parliamentary question the Road Safety Authority outlined that they will review the need to headquarter a driver tester in Carrick-on-Shannon and I am calling on Minister Ross to appoint a driver tester in County Leitrim. There is also only one driver tester in County Roscommon where people are waiting up to three months for a test so there is a need for an additional driver tester in the county.

 “These type of waiting lists and waiting periods are simply unacceptable as many people are left in limbo land for up to three and four months. Many of these people may be waiting for a full licence for employment purposes or a job application may be hinging on them having a full licence while other drivers are paying exorbitant levels of car insurance for provisional licences and they are being left waiting long periods to sit their driving test.

“More driver testers need to be appointed to tackle this issue,” concluded Deputy Murphy.

Increase of VAT rates on hotel sector will cost numerous job losses

August 9th, 2018

Increase of VAT rates on hotel sector will cost numerous job losses in rural Ireland

Any attempts by the Government to raise the VAT rate on the hotel sector will cost numerous job losses in rural Ireland warns Fianna Fáil TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy.

Deputy Murphy warned that any moves by the Government to apply an increase in the special lower VAT rates for hotels would be a detrimental move for the industry.

“Hotels currently enjoy a special lower 9 per cent VAT rate however I would be fearful that the Government may move to increase this to the full 13.5 per cent VAT rate to hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfasts.

“Many rural hotels which are without doubt doing better now because of the improving economy do not have the same footfall as major hotels in urban areas and these rural hotels and the industry in general will face  tighter margins if the Government change the goalposts. It’s also important to point out that in many rural areas hotels and guest houses are very reliant on seasonal business. It also worth noting that many hotels are facing extra service charges. Rates paid on hotels etc have in many cases increased significantly under this Government and indeed the last FG/Labour Government. Insurance costs have sky rocketed with many hotels having  to pay insurance costs on monthly Direct Debits in order to manage payment of their bills,” said Deputy Murphy.

The Fianna Fáil TD has called on Minister Pascal Donohue not to increase the VAT rate to 13.5 per cent as it would be most unfair to some hotels.

“If there is a justification to claw extra tax back from some of the bigger hotels in the main urban areas I have no doubt the Minister and officials can easily come up with a scheme.

"I would urge the Minister to consider the negative impact which a rise in VAT rates would have for the hotel industry particularly in rural Ireland where many small to medium businesses are already struggling for survival,” concluded Deputy Murphy.

Deputy Murphy is available for further comment or interview on 087 166 8775.  

€300,000 in rural development funding in counties Roscommon & Galway still unspent

Almost €300,000 in rural development funding in counties Roscommon & Galway still unspent by Local Authorities - Murphy

Fianna Fáil TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy has hit out at Minister Michael Ring for not insisting that all of the money paid out to local authorities in rural development funding is spent efficiently.

Following a PQ reply to Fianna Fáil it emerged that €3.5m in funding paid out to local authorities at the end of 2016 has still not been spent.

Around €28m was paid to local authorities in 2016 to deliver a number of schemes including CLÁR, the Rural Recreation Scheme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the REDZ scheme.  However, in reply to a Parliamentary Question, to Fianna Fáil Minister Michael Ring, admitted that €3.5m has still not been spent by councils.

“The figures reveal that in County Galway over €186,000 in rural development funding had not been spent up to April 2018. A breakdown of that figure shows that over €44,000 has been unspent by the Local Authority in County Galway in relation to the REDZ scheme up to April 2018 while over €18,000 was unspent in relation  to the Town and Village Renewal Scheme; over €28,000 unspent in relation to CLAR and over €96,000 unspent in County Galway in relation to the Rural Recreation Scheme,” said Deputy Murphy.

The Fianna Fáil TD went on to explain that the figures also showed that a sum of over €113,000 in rural development funding allocated to County Roscommon was unspent by April 2018.

“A sum of €59,668 was unspent in County Roscommon in relation to the Town and Village scheme while €54,055 was unspent in the county in relation to CLAR funding by the end of April 2018,” said Deputy Murphy.

“Communities across the country are crying out for investment, but this government is failing to ensure delivery of important projects.  Once again we see a hands-off approach from the Minister, which is leaving these very communities in the lurch.

“Minister Ring should be liaising with the local authorities and insisting that this money is spent or demand that it is returned to the Department so that it can be redistributed to other areas.

“Many rural communities are struggling for survival and it is a shame to see this level of underspending when there is such a vital need for investment in rural communities, “concluded Deputy Murphy. by Local Authorities - Murphy

Fianna Fáil TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy has hit out at Minister Michael Ring for not insisting that all of the money paid out to local authorities in rural development funding is spent efficiently.

Following a PQ reply to Fianna Fáil it emerged that €3.5m in funding paid out to local authorities at the end of 2016 has still not been spent.

Around €28m was paid to local authorities in 2016 to deliver a number of schemes including CLÁR, the Rural Recreation Scheme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the REDZ scheme.  However, in reply to a Parliamentary Question, to Fianna Fáil Minister Michael Ring, admitted that €3.5m has still not been spent by councils.

“The figures reveal that in County Galway over €186,000 in rural development funding had not been spent up to April 2018. A breakdown of that figure shows that over €44,000 has been unspent by the Local Authority in County Galway in relation to the REDZ scheme up to April 2018 while over €18,000 was unspent in relation  to the Town and Village Renewal Scheme; over €28,000 unspent in relation to CLAR and over €96,000 unspent in County Galway in relation to the Rural Recreation Scheme,” said Deputy Murphy.

The Fianna Fáil TD went on to explain that the figures also showed that a sum of over €113,000 in rural development funding allocated to County Roscommon was unspent by April 2018.

“A sum of €59,668 was unspent in County Roscommon in relation to the Town and Village scheme while €54,055 was unspent in the county in relation to CLAR funding by the end of April 2018,” said Deputy Murphy.

“Communities across the country are crying out for investment, but this government is failing to ensure delivery of important projects.  Once again we see a hands-off approach from the Minister, which is leaving these very communities in the lurch.

“Minister Ring should be liaising with the local authorities and insisting that this money is spent or demand that it is returned to the Department so that it can be redistributed to other areas.

“Many rural communities are struggling for survival and it is a shame to see this level of underspending when there is such a vital need for investment in rural communities, “concluded Deputy Murphy.

State intervention to secure future of quality journalism

Fianna Fáil TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy has welcomed his party's wide ranging and radical series of proposals to secure the future of Irish print journalism.

“Quality journalism, the bedrock upon which people are informed in order to make decisions for themselves is currently jeopardized by a significant downturn in revenues for news publishers in Ireland. The figures are stark. National newspaper circulation is down 50% over the past 10 years, and down 35% for local newspapers.

“Fianna Fáil is proposing to expand the role of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and to establish a Print Journalism Unit and I must commend my party colleague Communications Spokesperson, Timmy Dooley for all his work on this issue . Its remit would be to deliver innovative schemes to support the work of print journalists at both national and local level. The unit will also disperse grant aid to support newspaper publishers in providing public service content.

“We believe that a single Government Minister must have oversight over all aspects of the Irish media, and in the next Fianna Fáil government, authority over print, digital and broadcast media will be vested in a single Department.

“Many print newspapers see their work being shared widely and freely on digital platforms. They receive no payment for this content, and this needs fixing. Newspaper journalists research and fact check – this costs money. Those reusing their work must pay for that, otherwise we risk seeing newspapers go bust.

“The work of the Print Journalism Unit could be funded in two ways; by ring fencing current Exchequer VAT receipts from newspaper sales, c. €27 million or a new 6% digital advertising levy. Based on 2018 sales, it would realise c. €30 million per annum.

“Our proposals will secure the future of quality print journalism in the country for generations to come. Many of our EU colleagues are already investing in print journalism. In France, for example, €262 million was made available to newspapers in direct support for distribution, home delivery and modernization and innovation in 2016.

"If we want independent quality journalism, we need to invest. Out citizens deserve open, honest and compelling journalism, and Fianna Fáil will protect its future,” concluded Murphy.

Deputy Murphy is available for further comment or interview on 087 1668775. 

Provision of rural broadband falls into chaos

Enet plans for high speed fibre network in Ballinasloe and Roscommon Town collapse as provision of rural broadband falls into chaos

A major investment by enet to bring high-speed fibre networks to a number of towns including Ballinasloe and Roscommon Town have now also collapsed according to Fianna Fáil TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy.

“This Government’s attitude to rural Ireland has been laid bare for all to see with the latest disaster to befall the National Broadband Plan and promises which were made to hundreds of thousands of citizens living in rural Ireland that it would roll out a National Broadband Plan have ended in abject failure.

“Following on from this disastrous announcement this week I made enquires as to the status of a separate multi million euro investment which was announced by enet last year

“I met with representatives of enet last year in Ballinasloe to discuss the multi million infrastructure investment of high speed broadband in a number of towns as part of the fibre direct initiative. The meeting took in Ballinasloe in September 2017. Ballinasloe, Manorhamilton and Roscommon Town were included in the initiative.

“Following the withdrawal of SSE from the National Broadband Plan I sought clarification as to whether the investment for Ballinasloe, Manorhamilton and Roscommon Town would still be proceeding as planned.

“However I have been informed that this investment was “paused in January 2018 following a commercial review” and a spokesperson for enet said this week that this project was not linked to the delivery of the NBP but it is simply outrageous- the provision of high speed broadband for rural living is coming apart at the seams.

“We appalling broadband connectivity in County Roscommon -A recent reply to my PQ to Minister Naughten shows that there are over 38,500 premises in County Roscommon of which almost half or 47% of premises are relying on the State led Intervention under the NBP.  Some 12% of Roscommon premises are still due to receive high speed broadband under eir’s ongoing planned rural deployment. Figures for Galway show that there are over 134,000 premises in County Galway of which 29% of premises (c. 39,000) are relying on the NBP.  The remaining 71% of premises (c. 95,000) will be served by commercial operators. 11% of Galway premises are still due to receive high speed broadband under eir’s planned rural deployment.

“Accessing quality broadband is a core requirement for small and medium sized businesses across the country. Let’s be clear the provision of quality broadband for rural Ireland is not a luxury, it is a matter of necessity for survival.

“The wheels have come off the entire National Broadband Plan. Since Minister Naughten took office in 2016, every façade of the Plan has been diminished and downgraded, and any opportunity to reduce the State’s involvement has been taken.

“How many years will it take to connect the 540,000 households and businesses?

A fully independent review of the Broadband Plan to date as was voted for by the Dáil last February needs to be delivered by Minister Naughten,” concluded Murphy

Collapse of National Broadband Plan no surprise- Murphy

Collapse of National Broadband Plan no surprise- Murphy

Fianna Fáil TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy has expressed his frustration at the virtual collapse of the National Broadband Plan as the only remaining provider SSE withdraws from the tender process.

“The withdrawal of SSE from the tender process comes at no surprise but is a huge blow for rural Ireland. I am calling on the Minister and the Government to reveal the Plan B that the Minister has referred to in the past in the event of the withdrawal of all interested parties who were participating in the tender process”

“Communities up and down the country simply don’t believe what the Government is saying about its broadband plans because every commitment to date has been broken. We have had nothing but delay after delay with hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses still waiting to be connected to the network.

“We also have appalling broadband connectivity in County Roscommon -A recent reply to my PQ to Minister Naughten shows that there are over 38,500 premises in County Roscommon of which almost half or 47% of premises are relying on the State led Intervention under the NBP.  Some 12% of Roscommon premises are still due to receive high speed broadband under eir’s ongoing planned rural deployment. Figures for Galway show that there are over 134,000 premises in County Galway of which 29% of premises (c. 39,000) are relying on the NBP.  The remaining 71% of premises (c. 95,000) will be served by commercial operators. 11% of Galway premises are still due to receive high speed broadband under eir’s planned rural deployment.

“Accessing quality broadband is a core requirement for small and medium sized businesses across the country. Let’s be clear the provision of quality broadband for rural Ireland is not a luxury, it is a matter of necessity for survival. Farmers cannot complete online applications for payments, schools are unable to access educational aids and businesses are unable to operate fully functional online services.

“I am sure that the Minister and the Government have to realise that the delivery of a National Broadband Plan is crucial and yes there is a cost factor, but not unlike the electricity roll out from 1946 it was a worthwhile investment in our country’s infrastructure. So I am calling on the Minister to go back to the companies who already have the infrastructure in place such as the ESB and Eir and give them a financial incentive to undertake this work and get the job done. Said Deputy Murphy