Carey wants childcare support to be exempt from tax
CLARE Fine Gael General Election candidate Leonora Carey has said that childcare support provided by employers should be exempt from benefit in kind (BIK) tax. The Clarecastle woman explained that, under current regulations, childcare support offered by employers is treated as a taxable benefit in kind. Removing the tax liability would benefit workers, employers, and…
Four cost of living lump sum supports being paid this week
THE delivery of four Budget 2025 cost-of-living lump sum payments this week will provide a financial cushion for thousands of Clare families as they face the pressures of the winter months. That’s according to Fine Gael General election candidate Leonora Carey who said that this week’s payments are part of a broader package of ten…
Funding for refurbishment work at 17 Clare community centres
€318,245 has been awarded to support upgrade and refurbishment works to 17 community centres in Clare, Fine Gael General Election candidate Leonora Carey has confirmed. “The Community Centres Investment Fund was launched last June with grant aid up to €25,000 for minor works and up to €100,000 for larger works. The projects announced today are…
€3.2 million funding to upgrade Clare GAA Centre of Excellence
CLARE Fine Gael General Election candidate Leonora Carey has welcomed the allocation of €3.2 million from the Government’s Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) to enable the integration of GAA, camogie and ladies football activities at the Clare GAA Centre of Excellence at Caherlohan near Tulla. “With the total cost amounting to €4.9 million, Clare GAA…
Joe Cooney is third Fine Gael candidate
Welcoming the addition of Cllr Joe Cooney as the third Fine Gael candidate to contest the upcoming General Election in the Clare constituency, his running mate Leonora Carey said that his selection provided further strength to the party electoral prospects following the earlier addition of Dr Tom Nolan to the team. “Joe Cooney is a…
Dr Tom Nolan selected as General Election candidate
Welcoming Dr Tom Nolan’s selection as a candidate in the Clare constituency, Leonora Carey said she was looking forward to working with him in strengthening Fine Gael’s prospects in the upcoming election. “Not only is he well known throughout West Clare as a caring and compassionate doctor but he has also distinguished himself as a…
€59,000 grant support for Clare Tidy Towns groups
CLARE Fine Gael General Election candidate Leonora Carey has confirmed that 47 Tidy Towns groups in Clare will be eligible to apply for a total of €59,000 in government grants next year. The allocations, which are based on the population of each centre, will see 38 Clare groups qualifying for grants of €1,000 each. Sixmilebridge,…
Childcare facilities should be part of school building plans
Clare Fine Gael General election candidate Leonora Carey has said there is no reason why new childcare facilities shouldn’t be provided alongside new primary school buildings. Commenting on Taoiseach Simon Harris’ commitment to provide €200 childcare support per month per child if his party is returned to Government, Ms Carey said that, despite this undertaking…
Five Clare clubs benefit from sports fund appeals process
CLARE Fine Gael Local election candidate Leonora Carey has confirmed that five Clare clubs will benefit from the Community Sports Facilities Fund appeals process. More than €8 million was allocated to 84 Clare sports groups under the Community Sport Facilities Fund in September and, following successful appeals, an additional €240,197 was awarded to five clubs…
Allow airport passengers to bottle it for charity
Clare Fine Gael General Election candidate Leonora Carey has called for donation points to be provided at Irish airports to allow passengers the opportunity to give their bottle deposit returns to charity. “This would allow departing visitors to donate their bottles – and their unclaimed deposits – to charitable causes and sustainability efforts, following the…
Solar panels now a brighter idea for Clare schools
The extension of the ‘Solar for Schools’ programme will help all schools reduce their energy costs and carbon footprint, Clare Fine Gael General Election candidate Leonora Carey has said. The first phase of the programme was launched late last year benefitting more than 1,100 schools and is now being extended to all schools nationwide. School managers can…
Clare social enterprise could serve as example for European project
OBAIR, the Newmarket-on-Fergus community social enterprise, could serve as a blueprint for regional empowerment throughout the European Union. That’s the view of Clare Fine Gael General Election candidate Leonora Carey who is seeking enhanced EU funding to develop the range of services operated by the group. “Obair’s social enterprise service model is at the heart…
Clare farmers must be supported in climate action measures
With the latest report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showing that the agricultural sector is playing a significant role in cutting the level of greenhouse gas emissions, it is clear that Clare farmers have taken the call to action seriously and are delivering for climate action. That’s the view of Fine Gael General Election…
Clare business owners urged to apply for €4000 Power Up Grant
CLARE Fine Gael General election candidate Leonora Carey has called on local retail and hospitality businesses to register for the newly launched Power Up grant, which will provide a €4,000 tax free cash payment before Christmas. “The €170 million fund was announced in the recent budget and is aimed at supporting small local cafés, restaurants,…
Clare pensioners and carers benefit from October bonus payment
ALMOST 60,000 Clare people will benefit from the October bonus payment to pensioners, carers and people with disabilities, according to Clare Fine Gael General Election candidate Leonora Carey. “It’s the first of ten lump sum payments to help with the cost of living over the coming weeks which include a €300 payment for those in receipt…
Funding to spur physical activity in Clare communities
€120,000 has been allocated to the Clare Local Sports Partnership for the provision of permanent sport infrastructure in Killaloe, Shannon, Parteen, Kilrush, Ennis and North Clare. Clare Fine Gael General Election candidate Leonora Carey explained that the money, which comes from the Participation Nation Outdoor Fund, is to defray the cost of permanent equipment that can be…
Heritage scheme could bring new purpose to the home of famous Ennis actress
THE promoters of a major initiative to select one of the 117 protected structures in Ennis Town Centre and repurpose it for community use are open to the possibility of extending their shortlist to include a 17th century house that was the childhood home of an internationally renowned actress. The Town Centre First Heritage Revival…
More opportunities for Clare healthcare students
€130 million in funding from the National Training Fund to provide more third level courses will support the growth of the healthcare sector in the Mid West region, according to Clare General Election candidate Leonora Carey. ”The increase in third level places will come from the creation of six new programmes which will provide greater opportunities for…
€50,000 to support Christmas events in Ennis
THE provision of contemporary lighting along O’Connell Street and a projector screening festive images are among the projects selected by Clare County Council to benefit from a €50,000 grant to support Christmas events in the Ennis area. The allocation from the Department of Planning and Local Government follows a call from Minister of State Alan…
Council initiative to increase diversity in local government
GOVERNMENT support is being provided to Clare County Council as part of a nationwide campaign to encourage more women and people from diverse backgrounds to seek election to local government. Initial funding of €9,000 has been allocated to the council to provide a range of initiatives to increase diversity at local government level and Clare…
Welcome progress in treatment of menopause
GOVERNMENT approval for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) products to be free of charge to women experiencing menopause has been welcomed by Clare Fine Gael General Election candidate Leonora Carey who described it as a sign of the significant progress in improving menopause care over recent years. Speaking ahead of World Menopause Day on this Friday, October…
Council funding to refurbish up to 500 vacant properties in Clare
FUNDING to transform up to 500 vacant and derelict properties into permanent homes has been approved by Clare County Council over the past two years, according to Fine Gael General Election candidate Leonora Carey. And she says that a major relaxation of the qualifying criteria will result in even more property owners throughout the county…
Uisce Éireann delays expose Clare as pollution blackspot
CLARE has been unfairly exposed as one of the worst counties for wastewater pollution because of Uisce Éireann’s failure to deliver essential upgrades to treatment plants in four of its top tourism destinations. Responding to a critical report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Clare Fine Gael General Election candidate Leonora Carey said that delays in dealing…
New funding to drive energy efficiency in Clare schools
CLARE Fine Gael General Election candidate Leonora Carey has confirmed that €580,000 has been allocated to the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board to help it meet its 2030 sustainability targets set out in the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate. The Green Devolved Capital Grant will help the board make essential improvements to their…