Good News For Clare In Stimulus Package
In case you missed this last week, here's an overview of how Clare stands to benefit from the stimilus package announced last week.
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A replacement school for St. Joseph’s in Tulla and a proposal to commission a Primary Care Centre in Ennis are among the projects included in the Package. Meanwhile, the green light also has been given for the construction of the N17/N18 PPP Gort to Tuam motorway.
According to Senator Mulcahy: “I am delighted the Department of Education and Skills has sanctioned the replacement of the existing St Joseph's Secondary Tulla school building . This project has been brought forward by two years and is only one of six new schools to be included in the Stimulus Package. The school has served the community well over the years but it is time to provide staff, pupils and the wider community with more modern surroundings.”
He added: “Tulla, like many other areas throughout Clare, has experienced an increase in its population during the past decade. In the last five years alone, the population of the town has increased by approximately 3-4%. This population increase has inevitably put pressure on class sizes at the local Secondary School. The provision of new accommodation will help to alleviate this problem and ensure that the second level education needs of Tulla are catered for well into the future.”
Senator Mulcahy has also welcomed the inclusion of Ennis and Gort among 35 locations nationwide identified by Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly, T.D., for the commissioning of a Primary Care Centre. He stated: “Minister Reilly has informed me that twenty of the 35 proposed locations will be commissioned subject to agreement between the local GPs and the HSE on active local GP involvement in the centres.
Meanwhile, Senator Mulcahy said the Department of Transport has given the go ahead for the construction of the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam PPP, which consists of 57 kilometres of motorway providing bypasses of Clarinbridge, Claregalway and Tuam.
He noted that the project been given the green light because of its strong potential to stimulate economic growth in the wider region. “The scheme has statutory approval, the land is acquired and there is a preferred tenderer in place. EIB have already indicated approval in principle for debt funding for the scheme. Arrangements to finalise the full funding mechanism can now be progressed as a result of today’s announcement. “The road scheme forms part of the Atlantic Road Corridor and the Trans European Road Network, while it is a strategic component of the national primary route network providing a high quality link between Dublin and the western region. It will offer direct benefits for the people of Galway and Clare by reducing journey times and more importantly by providing a safer route.
“The new scheme will especially make a big difference to those living in Claregalway, Ardrahan, Kilcolgan, Clarinbridge and the other towns and villages that will be bypassed by the road scheme. On completed the scheme will further improve connectivity to Shannon Airport for people in Galway and Mayo in particular, which will prove invaluable as the facility develops into the future,” Senator Mulcahy concluded.
