Welcome Note

A chara,

I hope this email finds you, and those close to you, well. Another busy month, in particular, at my constituency office at Athenry.

This is the time of year when the closing date for grant applications coalesce with lots of applications closing looming in September, in particular the Sports Capital Grants and the ORIS (Outdoor Recreation Scheme).

If you or your community need any assistance in making an application, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I'm looking forward to working with you to make East Galway a better place to live, work and enjoy your recreation.

As always, if there is any issue you need help with, be it small or large, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office at (090) 9759695 or pop me an email to anne.rabbitte@oireachtas.

Anne

Constituency News

​

Government announces a further €16 million in funding for the upgrade works on rural roads and laneways with Galway Total LIS R2 €1,994,259

Galway has been allocated additional funding of €1,994,259 under the latest funding announced for repairs and improvement works on our rural roads and laneways. This is in addition to the total LIS R1 of €789,523 awarded earlier in the year.

• Galway Total €1,204,736
• Galway Total LIS R1 €789,523
• Galway Total LIS R2 €1,994,259

– Record investment to improve access to rural homes, farms and businesses
– Local authorities urged to use funding to clear backlog of applications
– Specific funding provided for LIS works on Galway Islands
– Brings total investment under Local Improvement Scheme this year to almost €30 million

The funding, under the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS), will support the continued improvement of non-public roads and lanes that are not normally maintained by local authorities.

The funding is more than double the allocation provided last year, and will allow local authorities to address the backlog of applications that they currently face. Today’s announcement means that almost €30 million has been allocated under the Local Improvement Scheme this year alone.

And almost €130 million has been invested through LIS since the scheme was re-introduced in 2017.

Galway receives funding totalling €71,800 under Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme, Galway Teleworks Living Bog Project in Galway East receiving €28,000

Led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme, encourages local initiatives for the conservation and revitalisation of raised and blanket bogs – particularly protected bogs and fens – and promotes public engagement with and awareness of our natural heritage and environment.

The focus of the scheme is on community-led projects and volunteer groups, who play a vital role in helping to promote and implement peatland conservation and restoration in Ireland.

The Galway Teleworks Living Bog Project receives €28,084 to maintain roadway, repair boardwalk and for educational tours on peatland and wetland conservation.

Forum Connamara FLG and Ciotóg Galway receive €40,000 and €3,771 respectively.

Over €62,000 funding for development and upgrading of East-Galway forests

The fund is part of a €3-million investment to develop and upgrade 300 forests, walking trails and outdoor amenities.
​
Furthermore, some €2 million will be invested in improving and maintaining 280 recreational facilities on Coillte-owned lands right across the country.

A further €1 million will be used to deliver 25 new outdoor projects such as walking trails, loops, boardwalks, ecotrails and carpark facilities.

Portumna Forest Park and Slieve Aughties will receive €17,280, Monivea and Kylebrack €5,670, Kilcornan €4608, Mountbellow and Woodlawn €3,456, Hymany Way and Kilchreest €2304. All allocated funds can be found here.

Co. Galway to receive €2,000,000 as part of a €150 million government funding to end long-term vacancy and dereliction

Galway city to receive €3,000,000

The government have announced details of a €150 million fund to end long-term vacancy and dereliction in towns and cities.

The fund can transform locations across the country and promote vibrant communities in our urban centres.

Announced as part of the quarterly Housing for All progress update, the funding will be available to local authorities for towns and cities eligible for the Urban Regeneration Development Fund (URDF).

Events and Occasions

Opening of Ahascragh Distillary in Ahascragh, Ballinsloe, Co. Galway

It was my pleasure to launch Ireland’s first zero-emissions whiskey and gin distillery, beautifully located in an old mill in Ahascragh, Ballinsloe.
​

Turning their passion for Irish whiskey into a family business, Gareth and Michelle McAllister's opened the doors of their characteristic distillery to the public on July 3rd.
​

Ahascragh Distillery is an authentic destination for whiskey and gin enthusiasts and anyone interested in the history, tradition and craftmanship of Irish whiskey and gin.

It is truly a delight to see the transformation of a derelict 250 year old mill into a state-of-art eco distillery.
Nothing was left to chance in creating this enterprise in East Galway with state of art technology in brewing and distilling and renewable energy and consultant Dr Jack O'Shea, Master Distiller.

Local construction firm McCormicks Construction restored the mill with laudable workmanship.Over three years 60 people will be working here with spin off jobs close to 150 jobs.

I have to commend Gareth and Michelle McAllister who secured the investment, had the vision to transform this mill and perhaps light the ambition in other investors in other East Galway towns to come and visit Ahascragh and see for themselves what can be achieved with passion, drive and desire.

For more information and to book guided tours, visit https://ahascraghdistillery.com/
​

Link to Launch Video: https://annerabbitte.ie/minister-rabbitte-launches-ahascragh-distillery-in-east-galway/​

How to Build a Boat by Elaine Feeney

​
Congratulations to Athenry native, Elaine Feeney on being included in the prestigious Booker Long List recently announced.

The Irish nominees - making up a third of the long-list for the first time - are Paul Murray for The Bee Sting, Elaine Feeney for How to Build a Boat, Sebastian Barry for Old God’s Time and Paul Lynch for Prophet Song.

Jamie O’Neill stands apart from other kids his age in Emory, a fictional town in the west of Ireland.

A lifelong reader of Edgar Allan Poe, he nevertheless favours the symmetries of mathematics over fiction, revering the work of the late Iranian Fields medallist Maryam Mirzakhani.

On his first day at Christ’s College, the local all-boys secondary school, he knows exactly how many steps it will take him to walk there from home (2,816).

And he wants to build a perpetual motion machine so that, by some complex logic that only he understands, he can reconnect with his mother who died giving birth to him.

Jamie is the singular centre of Elaine Feeney’s second novel – after As You Were, winner of the Kate O’Brien award in 2021 – though he shares the narrative with Tess Mahon, an additional needs teacher whose life is in the grip of the kind of chaos that Jamie abhors.

Trying for a child on IVF, she finds herself increasingly estranged from her self-satisfied banker husband, Paul.

She feels out of place, too, at Christ’s College, whose headmaster Father Faulks is fostering a culture of intolerance against anyone different.

When she connects with Jamie, bullied on his first morning, it’s uncertain whether she is throwing him a lifeline or vice versa.

Both of Elaine Feeney's books are set in Feeney’s native County Galway – and so are the prejudices and secret shames that fester beneath the surface.

Meeting with Rehabcare, Wednesday 12th July

​Rehabcare is a wonderful voluntary organisation that provides services and support for people with disabilities, enabling them to become more independent, participate in society and pursue opportunities and goals.

In Other News....

​

Addition of fixed track hoists to Housing Adaptation Grants

I wholeheartedly welcome the signing of new regulations which will bring fixed track hoists within the scope of the Housing Adaptation Grants for People with a Disability and Older Persons.

Grants of up to €30,000 are available to assist people with a disability in carrying out necessary works to make a house more suitable for their needs. Additionally, grants of up to €6,000 are available for mobility aids. These schemes can now be used to cover the cost of installing a fixed track hoist.

Funding of over €83 million is being made available by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for these grants in 2023.

I’ve been highlighting with my colleague Darragh O’Brien, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, how important it was for hoists to be added as they can play such an important role for people with disabilities and mobility issues, so this is a really great development.

Minister O’Brien could see the common sense of having hoists included in the Grants so I’m so pleased to see this being signed into the regulations for the schemes.

Quite simply, this will be a game changer for so many individuals and families not just in Galway but around the country.

It will ensure people are able to make their homes even more accessible and allow for greater independence within one’s home.

I have met a number of families over the past few years who highlighted the importance and need for having the hoists included in the Grant as otherwise, for many people, the cost would be prohibitive.

These schemes are so important for so many people and this extension of the scheme will improve the daily life of each recipient, without a doubt.

Significant third level expansion for key healthcare and therapy areas

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD have announced a significant increase in the number of third level places available in healthcare courses, including therapy places to support disability services.

From September, this will include:

• An increase of 100 places in the undergraduate intake in key therapies, including 50 places available in Northern Ireland;
• The roll-out of Post-Leaving Cert courses to train speech and language therapist assistants in five Education and Training Boards, with an estimated 120 students expected on these programmes.
• The provision of 665 additional places in medicine, nursing, pharmacy and other key healthcare courses, including 200 places in nursing in Northern Ireland.

The increase in places being made available at further and higher level is very much welcome, and in the context of disability services specifically, this is the first of many steps to improve the future of the workforce in the sector.

The cornerstone of our disability services is our staff, whether that’s in adult services or through the delivery of therapies on our Children’s Disability Network Teams around the country.

By adding these places to those already available shows the government is actively working to widen the potential pool of staff available in these key therapies.

It’s important that we have a clear pipeline of appropriately qualified people and today’s announcement demonstrates how we’re going in the right direction to bolster the potential staff available to support people.

Over the months ahead, I will be chairing a cross departmental group on workforce planning in the disability sector specifically and look forward to working with my ministerial colleagues in Health and Further and Higher Education specifically to ensure the government is doing all it can to attract staff into a career in the disability sector.

Improved access for students with an intellectual disability through launch of €9 million funding

​

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris launched a €9 million fund for higher education institutions to improve access to higher education for students with an intellectual disability.

​

Applications and Closing Dates

Sports Capital & Equipment Programme 2023 announced with increased thresholds for local and regional projects

​

• The SCEP is the Government’s primary vehicle for providing support to sports clubs and communities to develop sports infrastructure around the country.
• Applicants for local projects can now apply for up to €200,000, increased from the previous maximum grant of €150,000. The regional project maximum grant has increased from €300,000 to €500,000
• Specific focus on climate action, sustainability and gender equality
• Application is open from July 17 to September 8
• Find more information and apply via gov.ie/sportscapital​
• Link to all my resources: https://annerabbitte.ie/sports-capital-equipment-programme-2023-announced-with-increased-thresholds-for-local-and-regional-projects/​

Outdoor Recreation

Small scale repair/development/promotion and marketing Funding of up to €30,000 at a 90% rate of aid Maximum of 7 applications can be submitted by each Local Authority Maximum of 3 applications can be submitted by each Local Development Company Maximum of 2 applications per State body CLOSED FOR APPLICATIONS

Time line for completion of Project – 24 months Medium scale repair/upgrade and new trail/amenity development Funding of up to €200,000 at a 90% rate of aid Maximum of 3 applications can be submitted by each local authority Maximum of 1 application may be submitted per State body Closing date: 1st September 2023 Learn more

Timeline for completion of Project – 24 Months Large scale repair/upgrade and new strategic trail/amenity development Funding of up to €500,000 at a 90% rate of aid Local authorities and State bodies can submit 1 application each under this Measure Closing date: 1st September 2023 ​ Learn more

​

Portraits - A Stunning A stunning artistic interpretation of Hidden Pain unveiled in Rome

PORTRAITS was born as a project to showcase multiple sclerosis, an often invisible disease that affects about 140,000 people in Italy, 9,000 people in Ireland and about 3 million people in the world.

PortrAIts goal is to showcase the invisible symptoms of multiple sclerosis with the help of an artificial intelligence so that those affected do not feel invisible anymore.

More than 9,000 people are living with Multiple Sclerosis in Ireland.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS), meaning ‘many scars’, is the most common disabling neurological disease affecting young adults in Ireland.

​

Sports Capital Grant Applications closing in:

​

​