News & Statements

Government outlines free allowance for water and funding for Irish Water

The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, T.D., has confirmed that the Government agreed at its meeting today (06 May 2014) that Irish Water’s subvention in 2015 and 2016 will be conditional on the average domestic water charge per household not exceeding €240 per year.

20% sugar should be the limit for all treats – Noone

Fine Gael Senator for Dublin, Catherine Noone, has today (Thursday) called for sugar levels in treats and fizzy drinks to be capped at 20%. Senator Noone proposed the measure following a World Health Organisation recommendation that no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar should be consumed in 24 hours.

National Spatial Strategy

I thank the Minister of State for remaining in the House for this matter which willbe of interest to her in her job in housing. I raise the matter because I am increasingly alarmed that we are launching into a period of construction with construction strategies, housing programmes and stimulus packages, and todaythere was an announcement of a strategic investment fund of nearly €7 billion,but that it is all happening in the absence of an overarching spatial strategy. Wehad a national spatial strategy from 2002, but it has largely been abandoned. The only one paying any attention to it now is An Bord Pleanála.