“I have today written to Fine Gael Leader, Enda Kenny asking him to create a specific Front Bench portfolio for Dublin and to commit Fine Gael in Government to appointing a Minister with specific responsibility for the Dublin region. This is not a new proposal, Brian Hayes was previously Fine Gael Front Bench spokesperson for Dublin from 2002 – 2007 while it is an idea that has been raised by numerous academics such as Conor Skehan of DIT.

The figures released today to Leo Varadkar TD hint that Dublin may not be getting its fair share of public spending and investment. Parts of Dublin benefit from LUAS and the DART and Dublin is home to many of our national institutions, international facilities and universities.

“However, Dublin also suffers most from overcrowded school classrooms and choked up hospitals and A&E Departments. It is home to many of the most disadvantaged communities in the country and the highest levels of crime. Public spending in Ireland is incremental with existing services getting an increase (or decrease) every year based on the allocation they got the previous year. This system does not reflect shifts in population that have occurred in the last few decades.

“It is a bit rich that the Gaeltacht region with such a small population has its own Minister when Dublin is ignored by this Government. If we are to rebuild Ireland as a strong entity we must focus first on renewing Dublin. Dublin is the social and economic driving force for this country, it deserves recognition of this as opposed to a watered down, directly elected Mayor as is proposed by the Green Party.

“Put simply, it is time for a Minister for Dublin”

Supporting information includes:

The figures show the tax take broken down by county or ‘bailiwick’ for income-tax (PAYE and non-PAYE), VAT, Corporation Tax and Capital Gains for the year 2002 to 2008 inclusive. In total, the Government raised €31.76 billion from these taxes in 2008 with €16.769 or 52% of that coming from Dublin.

A breakdown of figures shows that:

Income Tax (PAYE):
• Dublin paid 50.6% of all PAYE in 2008 raising more than €5 billion for the Government. This works out at €4,441 per inhabitant.
• Cork came next providing 8% or €1,722 per person.
• Westmeath provided 5.4% or €7,025 per person, Galway 4.5% or €2,046 per person, followed by Kerry (3.5% or €2,571 per person), Limerick (3.3% or €1,881 per person) and Kildare (3% or €1,668 per person).
• All other counties provided less than 2% to the pot.
• The average is €2,449 per person.

Income Tax (Non-PAYE):
Dublin paid 38.8% followed by Cork at 11%, Galway 4.5%, Kildare 4%, Limerick 3.9%, Meath 3.5%, Wicklow 3.4% and Tipperary 3.0%

VAT:
Dublin contributed 55.6% of all VAT, followed by Cork at 8.8% and Kildare 3.4%. All other counties accounted for less than 3% of the VAT take individually.

Corporation Tax:
Dublin-based companies paid 62.4% of all Corporation Profit Tax yielding €3.2bn out of a total tax of €5.1bn in 2008. Cork provided 7.7% and Limerick 4.3%

Capital Gains Tax:
Dublin paid 41% of all Capital Gains Tax with Cork on 7.6%, Kildare on 5.1%, Galway on 4.6%, Wicklow on 4%, Meath 3.5% and Sligo 3%

Note: Of course, there are caveats to these figures. Income Tax is collected at the place where an employee is paid rather than where they live and Corporation Tax is collated based on the county address of the company’s office or relevant branch at which contact is established for tax purposes.

All the figures were received through parliamentary questions, tables showing a county-by-county breakdown of the total amount of tax taken, the amount taken per capita and the percentage of the over all take can be found here. http://is.gd/dtd3e
An explanatory memorandum can be found here: http://is.gd/dtcWL

Slate Cabin Lane will be closed from Tuesday, 3^rd August to Friday, 27^th August 2010. The purpose of the closure is to facilitate the re-surfacing of the roadway and for drainage works. 

Local access will be maintained at all times.

The proposed diversion route will be via Woodside Road, Blackglen Road and Enniskerry Road and vice versa. 

A Traffic Management Plan will be in operation and the diversion will be clearly signposted. 

Any interested parties may lodge an objection in writing with the Senior Engineer, Traffic Section, Transportation Department, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, County Hall, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin not later than noon on Tuesday 27^th July 2010.

MAINTENANCE GRANT

The maintenance grant is the main source of financial assistance available to students in full-time third level education. This grant scheme is operated by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and Co. Dublin VEC. If you are attending a Further Education College you apply to the VEC for the grant and if you are attending a University or an Institute of Technology you apply to the County Council. If you are ensure of which category your college fits into it is best to check with the college before applying to ensure you make your application to the correct body.

Family and/or personal income is a key factor that will be assessed when you apply for a maintenance grant but there are also some other conditions. To receive a grant application form and a document outlining the various conditions you need to meet for a grant please contact Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council or Co. Dublin VEC directly.

Higher Education Grants Section
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council
County Hall
Marine Road
Dun Laoghaire
Co. Dublin

Grants and Scholarship Section
Co. Dublin VEC
1 Tuansgate
Belgard Square East
Tallaght
Dublin 24

FUND FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

The Fund for Students with Disabilities allocates funding to further and higher education colleges for the provision of services and supports to full-time students with disabilities. The Fund aims to ensure that students can participate fully in their academic programmes and are not disadvantaged by reason of a disability. Eligible students can receive assistance from the Fund from PLC level right up to doctoral level. You do not have to be in first year of a course to be eligible to apply for the Fund. Students cannot apply directly for assistance from this fund – the application must be made by the college. Colleges are also responsible for the management of the funding approved for eligible students. Applicants to this fund are not means-test. However, they must meet a number of conditions.

STUDENT ASSISTANCE FUND

The Student Assistance Fund provides financial assistance for full-time higher education students who are experiencing financial difficulties whilst attending college. This scheme is not available in further education/PLC colleges. Each year, publicly-funded colleges are allocated funds from the State to provide additional financial assistance for students in need of some help with a temporary or ongoing financial issue. You can apply for assistance from this fund directly from your college. Each college will have an application form for this assistance.

BACK TO EDUCATION ALLOWANCE

The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) allows people in receipt of certain social welfare payments to retain those payments whilst participating in approved full-time courses in further and higher education.

The BTEA allows qualifying persons to return to full-time education in approved courses while continuing to get income support. Approved programmes range from foundation courses to postgraduate courses.

From this September, students entering a new course who are in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance will no longer be eligible for a maintenance grant. Such students can, however, apply under the relevant maintenance grant scheme to have the student services charge and any tuition fees payable for the course paid on their behalf.

The BTEA is administered by the Social Welfare Office. For more information and an application form you can visit visit www.welfare.ie or contact:

Nutgrove Social Welfare Office
Nutgrove Shopping Centre
Rathfarnham
Dublin 14

01 4069010

TAX RELIEF FOR TUITION FEES

If you find yourself in a position whereby you have to pay tuition fees – for example, if you are attending a private college – you may be eligible for tax relief. For more information on this contact the Revenue Commissioners – www.revenue.ie

“These grants were awarded as part of a Fine Gael/Labour initiative passed in last year’s budget and saw recognised business groups provided with funds to help with promotion and marketing activities.

“I am delighted to see that the innovative proposals put forward by Sandyford Business Estates Association have been awarded funding and I am sure they will go along way to reviving commerce in this, the engine of commerce in the County.

“The Business Promotion Fund has allocated grants worth €124,250 and a second round of applications for funds will be opened in early August.”

Please see Grant details below.

Application Ref. No.: BSG/03/2010

Applicant: Sandyford Business Estates Association

Project Description: Development of the SBEA website to include B2B capabilities and an interactive and creative platform for the business community in the Sandyford Business District

Amount applied for: €15,000

Assessment: The project meets the criteria to promote the business area of

Sandyford through the further development of the existing SBEA website to include additional functionality for B2B communication. The grant funding however cannot cover maintenance and other on-going costs associated with sustaining the project.

Recommendation: Approve a grant of €4,000 for the redevelopment of the SBEA website only.

Application Ref. No.: BSG/04/2010

Applicant: Sandyford Business Estates Association

Project Description: “Destination Sandyford” Marketing Initiative by home ware and furnishing retailers in the Sandyford Business District

Amount applied for: €5,384.50

Assessment: The project meets the criteria to promote the business area of

Sandyford, in particular, to promote Sandyford as a retail destination for a range of home ware and furnishings. The costing provided however amounts to €9,300 and hence a 50% contribution will be €4,650. The Committee resolved that the grouping of 33 businesses will have to clarify their commitment and intentions with the “Destination Sandyford” website. If for example, it is part of a current marketing initiative and will go dormant thereafter, it will be important that the IP is designated to a broader business grouping such as SBEA.

Recommendation: Approve a grant of €4,650 on condition of clarification of the intentions with and commitment to the proposed website.

Application Ref. No.: BSG/05/2010

Applicant: Sandyford Business Estates Association

Project Description: Sandyford Business District Communication and PR campaign aimed at repositioning Sandyford from an Industrial Estate to a Business District

Amount applied for: €9,075.00

Assessment: The project meets the criteria to promote the business district of Sandyford. The changing of perceptions of Sandyford from that of a former industrial estate to that of a diversified mixed-use business district will require multiple initiatives of which this PR campaign can only be one.

Recommendation: Approve a grant of €9,075.00.

Leas-Chathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Cllr Neale Richmond pictured congratulating Jim O’Dea sfter his selection by Dublin South Fine Gael to replace Jim O’Leary as a Councillor for the Dundrum Ward of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.