Chamber to seek urgent meeting with Minister

ENNISCORTHY and District Chamber of Commerce is asking for an urgent meeting with the new Minister of State in the Office of Public Works, Deputy Patrick Donovan, to establish the present position regarding the ring fencing of funding for the town’s Flood Relief Programme.

Because of new EU regulations, the start date for the scheme has been extended once again and the Chamber of Commerce is anxious to determine if this delay will affect funding for the project in any way.

In last October’s budget, a figure of €52 million was set aside for the project on the basis it was to start in 2020 and concerns are now being raised that because of the delay – which is unlikely to see the project get under way before 2021 – that money may no longer be available. The deputation, when arranged, will seek an assurance that the money is still in place and that it is ring-fenced for the purpose intended.

The delay in starting the long overdue scheme has resulted in the Flood Relief Programme dropping down the priority list scale. It has now been overtaken by two County Cork based projects and the fear is that when the project is finally given the green light, money may not be there to complete or even start the development.

The concerns of the Chamber in respect of the scheme will also figure highly on the agenda of a planned meeting with Wexford County Council’s Chief Executive, Tom Enright. Vice-President, Barbara Anne Murphy, a member of the local authority, is arranging the meeting which, hopefully, will take place in the coming weeks.

The Chamber is anxious to discuss a number of issues with Mr Enright, including the future use of the 1798 Rebellion Centre and a proposed tourist initiative for Enniscorthy which, when implemented, will have the potential of bringing upwards of 150,000 visitors/tourists into the town each year.

In the meantime, Enniscorthy’s three Oireachtas based members, Paul Kehoe, James Browne and Johnny Mythen, will meet with local hoteliers and hospitality interests this week to discuss matters of concern in the wake of the Coronavirus lockdown.

The planned talks will be broad based and will include the need for rate supports and grant aid for an industry badly hit by Government restrictions particularly in relation to social distancing. The meeting has been arranged by the Chamber of Commerce and all three Oireachtas members are expected to adopt a sympathetic approach to the problems confronting the hospitality industry.

The first meeting of the Board of the Chamber since the Government-imposed lockdown in March took place on Wednesday night last and was attended by all Board members. Enniscorthy Town and District Manager, Ger Mackey, gave a detailed analysis of the work being done to re-open Enniscorthy after restrictions were lifted and also fully briefed members on works being undertaken in and around the town with a view to improving the overall appearance of Enniscorthy.

Board Director, Michael Bennett detailed progress on the planned Technology Park at Killagoley and members were pleased to learn that construction on the site is expected to resume within the coming weeks.

A detailed progress report on the workings of the Chamber was submitted by Development Officer, Jimmy Gahan, and approved by the Board, while President Maree Lyng chaired proceedings.