Constituency News
Fianna Fáil’s focus on Green Enterprise will provide significant opportunities for job creation according to Wexford Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State, Seán Connick.
“Fianna Fáil has credible plans that will ensure that as many jobs as possible will be created to help those who are unemployed get work.”
“Under our Recovery Plan, we will use monies from the national pension reserve fund for projects such as retrofitting. Fianna Fáil will proceed with the new National Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme. This innovative idea will boost energy efficiency and has huge employment potential. It will enable energy efficiency improvements in thousands of homes nationwide, while also supporting 5,000 jobs and conferring significant comfort, health and environmental benefits.”
“Between April 2009 when the Scheme commenced and September 2010 the number of people that have availed of the Home Energy Savings (HES) Scheme through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) was in excess of 1,000 per week.”
“However there are over 2,500 contacts per week to SEAI relating to energy upgrade schemes which shows that a substantial amount of people are not avail of this scheme indicating real potential for growth.”
“There are in the region of 900,000 homes (over 50% of entire housing stock) that were built prior to 1990 when the Building Control Act, the precursor to our current building regulation was introduced.”
“At the current rate of 50,000 homes per annum under the HES scheme, it will take in the region of twenty years to upgrade this level of housing stock so it is evident that the rate of retrofitting must increase.”
“By establishing a multi-annual support programme for retrofitting of homes, Fianna Fáil is creating a new sector to employ many who have lost their jobs in construction. I am confident that many Wexford construction workers and firms could benefit from our Plan,” concluded Minister Connick.
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Fianna Fáil’s Tourism Plan that was launched by the Party Leader, Micheál Martin will lead to more jobs in the sector in Wexford according to local Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State, Sean Connick.
“Tourism is a labour intensive sector and it will provide local job opportunities and foreign revenue as the economy recovers.”
“We have seen in New Ross the positive effects of investment in the sector with the Dunbrody Famine Ship and Centre, the proposed development of the Kennedy Homestead among other projects.”
“Fianna Fáil’s objective is to increase visitor numbers to 8 million by 2015 which will have the potential to create up to 15,000 extra jobs in the sector. I am confident that Wexford would benefit from this plan.”
“Some of the strategies in our plan include maximising overseas visitors through competitive airport and port charges, competitive and tourist friendly immigration and visa arrangements, and cooperative marketing support programmes with air and sea carriers.”
“We plan to continue to seek opportunities to deliver better value for money through marketing Ireland at home and abroad using innovative programmes including e-marketing.”
“A vital part of the plan is also helping businesses to reduce their cost bases and get access to credit.”
“A strong and thriving arts and cultural sector is a vital part of our support for the tourism sector. Much of our arts and culture is what makes us a unique destination and to this end Fianna Fáil will ensure that the arts and culture sector continues to be represented at the Cabinet table; increase visitor numbers to museums, galleries and cultural centres and build on the work of Culture Ireland especially in the United States.”
“A strong plan for tourism has the potential to create and sustain local jobs, particularly in rural areas. This is why it is so important for Wexford,” concluded Minister Connick.
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