🇪🇺 #EuropeDay 🇪🇺

From the largest of cities to our islands, #EuropeMatters .

The EU has its faults but it has transformed 🇮🇪. We need to build on its successes. Fianna Fáil is proudly pro-European party.

Give me your No. 1 to let me continue to be Ireland’s Strong Voice!

The situation in Lough Funshinagh is deeply distressing and it is a priority for me to see it resolved.

I have again raised the flooding of Lough Funshinagh with the Minister for Public Works, Kieran O‘Donnell TD. This has become a humanitarian issue and needs immediate and drastic action. independent.ie/irish-news/pol…

I welcomed the opportunity today to discuss public transport in Roscommon/East Galway with Conor O’Donovan from National Transport Authority.

📣Funding of up to €120m via the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund, which opens for applications today.
Assessment of applications, for funding of between €600,000 - €30m, will consider population, sustainability, reducing administrative costs & gender equality.

Encouraging all eligible business owners to apply for the Increased Cost of Business grant worth €5,000 before May 1 deadline.

This scheme is designed to help those businesses who need it most to meet their increased costs. The grants are available through local authorities.

A record €40m allocation to upgrade rural laneways:

✅ To improve access to homes & farms in rural areas
✅ Highest ever allocation for the Local Improvement Scheme
✅ Ring-fenced funding for roads on offshore islands
✅ Only 1 herd number now required for a valid application

✅ 900 additional primary schools offering hot school meals from April 2024
✅ 150,000 children will benefit from expansion
✅ Hot School Meals Programme grows from 30 schools to over 2,000 schools
✅ Remaining schools can now apply to receive Hot School Meals from September

Looking forward to a great day on Sunday 🐣

Welcome news today of Government investment of one million euro to support 122 Agricultural Shows right across the country.

Each show will receive a grant of €6,000-€11,000 depending on their size.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Many thanks to Theresa Beirne, Governor Castlerea Prison, and Mark Walsh, Chief Officer for Work and Training, for the gift of Shamrock grown in the prison ☘️☘️ #láféilepádraig Castlerea.ie

Delighted to meet up with my Senate colleague Martin Conway at Suck Valley Confeeence,Hannon's Hotel, Roscommon Town.

Fianna Fáil selected 2 candidates in the Boyle Electoral Area to fight this year’s Local Elections - Aidan Sampey and Sean Moylan.
A huge crowd attended last night's Convention at the Percy French Hotel Strokestown which I was delighted to Chair.

Happy International Women’s Day!

Today is a celebration of the achievements of women and an opportunity to focus on equality, inclusion and well-being.

I am proud that this government has sought to support women by allocating unprecedented funding to women’s health.

👩🏼 #iwd

Some positive news re housing irishexaminer.com/property/devel…

Strokestown has been named as one of the next 26 Town Centre First Plans. The plans were developed with local communities and include redeveloping derelict sites, creating community parks/walkways, helping SME and tourism potential, & protecting historical landmarks.

An Post has said that they will seek a partner Postmaster to run the Roscommon office in the coming days.

I am very happy with this positive outcome and I would like to thank Minister Jack Chambers and all my political colleagues for their assistance with this matter.

The allocation of €72,720,412 for National Roads and Greenways in Roscommon will include 63,000,000 towards the construction of the N5 Ballaghaderreen Bypass.
 
The funding, announced today, is part of over €500 million allocated to National Roads and Greenways nationwide.

Over 21 million in funding has been granted for improving and maintaining Roscommon roads - part of a €658m package nationwide for restoring the network. This is essential for social and economic connectivity, linking people and places across the country as safely as possible.

Welcome news that €290m in funding has been allocated to local authorities for walking and cycling infrastructure in 2024. This will include €3,050,000 for County Roscommon. The Active Travel Investment Programme will fund new and existing Active Travel projects.