Eircodes Are On The Way To All Addresses In Ireland

No fee for repro - copyright Paul Sherwood Photography © 2015

Today marks the official launch of Eircode, Ireland’s new postcode system. Over the next two weeks, every residential and business address in Ireland will receive a letter in the post informing them of the new Eircode for that address. Members of the public are being encouraged to look out for the letter in the coming weeks and, when it arrives, memorise the Eircode and keep it somewhere handy.

WHITE WELCOMES SECOND ROUND OF DLR GRANTS

I warmly welcome the news that €93,469 has been allocated to a wide variety of community groups in Dublin Rathdown.  This funding will greatly support the largely voluntary efforts of local community groups.

71 per cent of small businesses expect to create more jobs after going online

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and I, along with my colleague Ged Nash, yesterday presented the 1000th Trading Online Voucher to small business owner, John Lawton from JL Intelligent Cooling Systems, a Kilkenny-based company that sells portable cooling and heating systems.

Local communities to benefit through improved buildings, lower bills and local jobs

Minister for Energy Alex White, TD, today (Wednesday) awarded grants worth a total of €18.6 million to 29 community energy efficiency initiatives. The projects will improve the energy efficiency of 2,435 homes and 400 public, private and community buildings. They are expected to deliver lifetime energy savings of €140 million in the localities concerned.”

Ireland’s Energy Transition - Dublin Castle speech

Good morning ladies and gentlemen and all our distinguished guests, and welcome to Dublin Castle. I want to thank Bernie Gray for chairing today’s proceedings. And I want to thank everyone who participated in the consultation process that has informed our thinking about the forthcoming energy White Paper.

White Welcomes Further Fall In Live Register Figures

Today (Thursday 21 May), I welcomed the news that the number of people on the live register has fallen below 10% for the first time in seven years.

Unveiling of SIRO - ESB - Vodafone Broadband Joint Venture

Housing Investment In Ballinteer

I warmly welcome the approval of the proposed housing development in Ballinteer by the Department for the Environment, Community and Local Government.  This development will see a significant investment of €5.1million in 21 new homes in our community and will provide much needed housing.

WHITE PUBLISHES RTE EFFICIENCY REVIEW

Today I informed Government of my intention to publish the results of an RTÉ efficiency review, which was conducted by NewERA, and a broadcasting advertising market review, carried out for his department by Indecon. The Cabinet noted my proposals to:

WHITE WELCOMES EIRGRID REVIEW OF GRID25 PROGRAMME

As Minister for Energy, I welcomed the publication of EirGrid’s consultation paper on Ireland’s grid development. The paper, which reviews the Grid Link, Grid West, and North-South Interconnecting Line projects, says Ireland’s energy transmission needs can be met with reduced new infrastructure build because of new technological developments and updated projections of future electricity demand.

Minister Alex White offers citizens a “genuine stake” in energy policy decision-making

Energy Minister Alex White today (Wednesday) said citizens must be given a genuine stake in energy policy decision-making if Ireland is to succeed in meeting its renewable energy targets. He said he would address this in a White Paper on energy policy, which is being prepared for publication later this year.

Major Increase in Energy Efficiency Grants to Householders

Today, I announced a boost in the level of grants available to householders who want to undertake energy efficiency improvements. The cash value of every grant available to householders under the Better Energy Homes Scheme has been increased by between 25-50%. In addition, a bonus payment has been introduced which will see householders receive bonus payments if they complete three or more energy efficiency improvements.

Number of Under-25s Signing Live Register in Dublin South Halved

I warmly welcome the latest CSO figures which show that since the formation of this Government in March 2011, the number of under-25s signing the live register at Nutgrove Social Welfare Office has been reduced by 50%.

Support for EU Commission Energy Union Package

As Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, attended the Council of Energy Ministers in Brussels recently (Thursday, 5 March). The agenda included discussions on the recently published EU Commission Energy Union Package.

Labour Is Committed To Enhanced and Expanded Apprenticeship System

The Government is fully committed to renewing and significantly expanding the apprenticeship system in Ireland - that was my message to the gathering today at ESB Networks Training Centre of Excellence in Portlaoise where the ESB announced plans to recruit 300 new apprentices in the coming years.

€150,000 Investment In Public Transport Projects for Dublin South

I warmly welcome the recent allocation of €150,000 in Government grants to sustainable transport projects in Dublin South.  €100,000 of this money will go towards the design of a primary cycle route from Hillcrest Road in Sandyford along the Drummartin/Clonskeagh Route to Dublin City, including connections to and through UCD Belfield.  Meanwhile, a further €50,000 will be spent on the completion of the design for improved pedestrian access into Dundrum Town Centre from Balally LUAS stop.  This will include improvements to Dundrum Road, and connections to Wychkam Way.

Council Argument on Pool Doesn’t Hold Water

Nearly 1,000 Jobs Announced In Dublin South in Last Four Months

I was happy to note this week that following on from Leopardstown-based ICON plc’s jobs development, confirmed last Friday, nearly 1,000 jobs have now been announced for the Dublin South constituency in the past four months alone

Public Consultation on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s Corporate Plan

This week, I welcomed the news that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is asking the public for their views on its plans for the next five years.

HSE Confirms Over 100 Beds Planned for Mount Carmel Hospital

Alex White TD pleased that Mount Carmel Hospital will provide over 100 Community Hospital beds

I welcome the news this week that when fully redeveloped Mount Carmel Hospital will provide over 100 community hospital beds.  The information came in a letter from HSE Director General, Tony O’Brien, after I requested clarification on plans for the hospital’s development.

National Broadband Coverage Map Published Today - A Significant Step Towards Bridging the Digital Divide

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Alex White, T.D., today published online national and county maps that identify the homes, businesses and schools where commercial providers will deliver high-speed broadband access by the end of 2016. Minister White said that the State would invest in all the remaining areas to ensure that every home, school and business in Ireland has access to high-speed broadband, regardless of where it is located.

Reformed Water Package

Here’s a short video of my speech yesterday in the Dáil on the water package reforms announced on Wednesday by Minister Kelly. These reforms bring simplicity, certainty and affordability to every family and individual in Ireland and represent a fair and reasonable approach to addressing our poor and deteriorating water and sewerage infrastructure.

Minister for Communications expresses sympathies on the death of Brian Farrell

I was very saddened to hear of the death of Brian Farrell, who was among the very best of Irish broadcasters. He had an exceptional insight into Irish politics and current affairs, and he will be remembered as a rigorous and fair analyst and interviewer. He will be very much missed and my thoughts today are with his family.

Broadband Developments will Transform Services in Towns Across Ireland

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Alex White, T.D., has welcomed two developments announced this week, which will see fibre-to-the-home delivered to at least 500,000 homes and businesses across Ireland.