Thirty local Tidy Towns groups to share €50,000
THIRTY TIDY TOWNS committees around the county will share €50,000 allocated to Wicklow under a special scheme to mark the 60th anniversary of the national competition.
The funding is part of a €1.4 million national grant scheme announced by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, at this year’s Tidy Towns results were announced on September 24.
Figures shared by Minister of State Andrew Doyle last week reveal that Bray and Greystones committees will both receive €4,000, while €3,000 has been allocated to Arklow, Blessington and Wicklow town.
Grants of €2,000 have been awarded to Ashford, Aughrim, Carnew, Delgany, Kilcoole, Newtownmountkennedy, Rathdrum and Tinahely, while the villages of Avoca, Ballycoog, Coolboy, Donard, Dunlavin, Glenealy, Grangecon, Hollywood, Kiltegan, Knockananna, Lacken, Laragh and Glendalough, Newcastle, Rathdangan, Roundwood, Shillelagh and Stratford-on-Slaney will each receive €1,000.
Minister Doyle said that Tidy Towns volunteers are ‘a credit to our community’.
‘I have no doubt that towns and villages across Wicklow will benefit hugely from this investment. Wherever you have active Tidy Towns committees, it gives the place a real boost and creates the environment for tourism,’ said Minister Doyle.
Minister for Health Simon Harris joined him in praising the work of the various Tidy Towns committees.
‘ This investment by the Government will directly support the local Tidy Towns groups here in our county,’ said Minister Harris.
‘ These volunteer-led community initiatives bring out the best in our towns and villages. Our local committees put in incredible work to keep our county looking beautiful.’
2018 was a landmark year for the SuperValu TidyTowns competition, with close to 900 committees entering and 12 new committees getting involved for the first time, including Lacken.
LEGISLATION to establish a Social Welfare Commission to examine the minimum income required by different household types in receipt of social welfare to develop a minimum essential standard of living for these citizens was introduced in the Dáil by Sinn Féin Deputy John Brady.
‘The Commission would make associated annual recommendations to the Oireachtas for adjustments to social welfare rates ahead of Budget time,’ he said. ‘The Commission would build on the evidence-based consensus budgeting model developed by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice and its membership would include representation from those impacted by budgetary decisions.’
The Government did not oppose the Bill at First Stage.