Cllr John Clendennen, Fine Gael candidate in the upcoming general election, today warmly welcomed the decision by Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment to revise and update the guidelines for stress testing the effect of new or updated legislation on SMEs.
The SME test is an impact assessment tool that has been designed to assist policymakers consider the effect any new legislation will have on SMEs.
Cllr Clendennen stated “I have been calling for a re-assessment of these guidelines for some time as I felt they were not fully fit for purpose. I am glad to see that, under the new guidelines, all primary and secondary legislative proposals, new policies and strategies will need to carry out a strict SME test.”.
“Many pieces of legislation are designed to cover big corporations, and the smaller SMEs lack the resources to keep pace with the requirements, thus creating an unfair burden”.
“While this development is welcome, I want the process to go one step further and ensure there is direct SME participation and input in the process, rather than merely a cross-government internal process. This process must be carried out in good faith, with the sector, to ensure no surprises and no unintended consequences ” Cllr Clendennen concluded.
At the May monthly meeting of Offaly County Council, it was agreed that a project be undertaken in collaboration with a number of other County Councils to upgrade all public street lighting across Offaly and the Eastern region to LED lighting.
A similar motion was first proposed by Cllr John Clendennen in February 2015, and since then Offaly County Council have upgraded approximately 3,000 of its circa 8,000 lights to LED. It is currently estimated that it will cost approximately €3.5 Million to upgrade the remaining 5,000 public street lights in Offaly to LED.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland are responsible for approximately a further 1,000 units, most of which are upgraded to LED, or will be this year.
The meeting was told by Director of Services, Tom Shanahan, ‘the energy consumption for LED lighting is 50% of that of conventional street lighting and this regional approach will involve nine local authorities, Offaly, Carlow, Louth, Meath, Westmeath, Longford, Kildare Tipperary and Kilkenny acting at the Lead Authority for the region’.
According to Cllr Clendennen, ‘this initiative is a major step forward in maximising the efficiency of public street lighting across the county, which will result in reduced maintenance and energy costs, whilst improving the quality of public street lighting. It is estimated that savings will amount to €3.8 Million over ten years, with the project essentially paying for itself which is an important factor and contributing to fewer carbon emissions for the county’.
The Birr District Councillor continued by calling on ‘Offaly County Council to conduct a full study of the lighting stock across the county and use this opportunity to ensure areas inadequately served by public street lighting at present would see improvements’.
The upgrade of the remaining public Street Lighting stock to LED is one of the objectives of the Offaly Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, and the energy savings will also significantly contribute to achieving the energy efficient targets set for the Local Government Sector.
Cllr Clendennen concluded his remarks, with a proposal to the Council Executive ‘that once the public street lighting upgrades be paid for that the annual savings would be ring-fenced for community focused initiatives’. The upgrade initiative is expected to commence once the project has been agreed by all County Councils across the region.
Fine Gael Councillor, John Clendennen, is encouraging local groups in Offaly to apply for the Government’s 2020 Clár Programmme, which has a total fund of €5 million and is designed to help rural communities respond to the challenge of COVID-19.
Councillor Clendennen said, “The Clár Programme can be used for small scale infrastructural projects in rural communities where there has been significant levels of population decline. This year it has been tailored to help such communities to respond to COVID-19 and the areas in Offaly include Dunkerrin, Templeharry, Barna, Cangort, Ballincor, Ettagh, Gorteen, Aghancon, Roscomroe, Tulla, Killyon, Eglish, Mounterin, Derryad, Broughal, Clonmacnoise Hinds, Kilclonfert, Croghan and Knockdrin.
The details of the 2020 Clár programme were announced today by the Minister for Rural & Community Development Michael Ring TD, and I encourage local community groups in Offaly to apply. All the details they will need, including the application forms, are available at https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/91ba52-clar/.”
Councillor Clendennen continued, “Since Fine Gael reopened the Clár Programme in 2016, it has been a significant support to communities in some of the remotest parts of Offaly”.
Clár is one element of a €30 million package of co-ordinated and complementary supports that is being launched by the Minister this week as part of his Department’s Rural Development Investment Programme. The other elements of the programme to be opened later this week will be the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. The Rural Development Investment Programme is funded under Project Ireland 2040.
“It’s great to see the Clár Programme being adapted this year to help rural communities respond to new challenges as a result of COVID-19. For example, the Schools and Community Safety Measure, which funds items such as pedestrian crossings and footpaths to provide safe access to schools, has been broadened to allow additional investments to adapt areas around schools and community facilities to help meet new public health requirements arising from COVID-19”.
Funding will be provided under a new measure for community recreational areas where friends and families can socialise outdoors in safe, accessible, community spaces while respecting public health guidelines. This measure will include support for items such as picnic benches/tables, outdoor covered seating or BBQ areas, public lighting, bicycle stands, bandstand/stage areas, etc. These recreational areas will be particularly important for community social interaction in the coming months, in line with the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business.
“Community organisations providing meals on wheels and other community services will also be supported to purchase kitchen or food delivery equipment. They can also access funds for any adaptations that may be necessary to their existing vehicles as a result of new public health guidelines.
I was also pleased to hear Minister Ring confirm that we will separately continue to fund vehicles for those vital voluntary organisations that provide free transport for people with mobility issues and for those attending cancer treatments.”
Minister Ring added, “I have introduced a standard grant rate of up to 90% of the total cost of projects across all of the Clár Measures this year. This should ensure that the requirement on communities or Local Authorities to source match funding is kept to a minimum.
With the introduction of these new Measures, my Department will play its part in helping rural communities adapt their local spaces and support their interactions with one another in a safe but inclusive way. I will be announcing further complementary supports in the coming days under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme as part of my Department’s Rural Development Investment Programme”.
At the February Meeting of Offaly County Council, a motion regarding the future of Shannonbridge Power Station was put forward by Cllr. John Clendennen of the Birr Electoral Area.
As part of the transition from carbon fuel to green renewable energy, Shannonbridge power station is expected to be decommissioned and demolished under its planning conditions, once it ceases to operate as a electricity power station.
Cllr. Clendennen called on ‘Offaly County Council Executive to collaborate with the Just Transition Commissioner and the ESB to maintain Shannonbridge Power Station in its entirety once it ceases to generate electricity, whilst identifying and developing opportunities to utilise the facility for tourism, remote working, cultural and educational purposes that will benefit the village of Shannonbridge and the surrounding area of West Offaly’.
In his remarks at the meeting, Cllr. Clendennen highlighted ‘the new reality facing the county and the region with the cessation of carbon fuel dependency and the onus on Offaly County Council to lead the way in providing innovative and sustainable alternatives’. Cllr. Clendennen outlined a number of potential opportunities which he envisages could bring sustainable economic benefit and job creation to Shannonbridge and West Offaly.
Cllr. Clendennen referred to the power station facility costing over €200 million to construct, and deemed that the demolishment of the site in it’s entirety would be wasteful, and emphasised that ‘he was not looking for a fast tracking to cease electricity generation in Shannonbridge, but that the planning to re-occupy the site once it does cease must start now to ensure as seamless a transition as possible’.
He concluded his marks calling for ‘Shannonbridge Power Station site to be saved with new purposes identified that will benefit the village of Shannonbridge and West Offaly.
The motion was unanimously supported by Offaly County Council.
Following a series of discussions with senior members of the Fine Gael party in recent weeks, I have reached the decision to withdraw my name from contesting the forthcoming General Election.
Despite three candidates being chosen at last years selection convention, it has become clear to me that the best strategy is for two Fine Gael candidates in Laois/Offaly constituency. Therefore, I have taken the decision to sacrifice my own aspirations in a bid to ensure two seats for Fine Gael in the next General Election.
I am fully committed to my role on Offaly County Council and will continue to seek progress on projects I have worked tirelessly to advance. These include the Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trails, investment and development of local infrastructure, tourism promotion, supports for small and medium sized enterprises, community involvement & engagement, and establishing Offaly and the region as a great place to live, work, visit and invest.
My dedication to Offaly remains with the objective of achieving further growth in visitor numbers to the area, realising greater opportunity in the tourism sector and further job creation.
My father Percy and I have been privileged to receive the support of Fine Gael members and the people of the Birr Electoral Area, in so many different ways, for almost fifty years. I will continue working for Offaly and would like to reassure my supporters wholeheartedly that my desire to be elected to Dáil Éireann remains unequivocal. But at this moment, my commitment lies with maintaining our current two seats in the constituency.
I want to conclude by expressing my sincere gratitude to my family and everyone at both a local and national level, that have provided advice, encouragement, friendship and support throughout my time to date in politics, which I hope will continue long into the future.
Thank you.
County Councillor for the Birr Electoral Area, John Clendennen, officially launched his Local Election Campaign last week at Giltraps Pub Kinnitty.
The Kinnitty based Councillor recognised the sharp contrast in campaigning five years ago in comparison to this campaign, acknowledging that the buoyancy in the economy and reduction in unemployment as key factors, whilst stating that there are still challenges. He highlighted the need to influence National Government but that this election is about what Local Councillors can do to improve the local area.
Cllr. Clendennen informed those gathered of his key priorities if re-elected to Offaly County Council, which amongst others include Local Health Services, Climate Change, Tourism Development and Road Improvements.
He believes that it is vital that we retain the highest standards of safe and accessible local healthcare services, across all our towns and villages, through health centres and community care such as Home Help services provision, identifying that Medical Cards must remain easily accessible for those who apply and qualify through the new online system www.medicalcard.ie. ‘It’s beyond belief that candidates, sitting Councillors and parties that rejected a €7 Million investment in Birr Primary Care Centre and Sporting Facilities that local GP’s were crying out for, would campaign for a MIDOC Service that the local GP’s have flatly rejected due to increased Clinical Risk’, according to Clendennen. We need best practice healthcare and that is a network of Primary Care Centre in locations such as Birr & Banagher serving South & West Offaly. I’ve been working with all stakeholders in recent months to advance the concept of Birr Primary Care Centre once again and if I am successfully re-elected to Offaly County Council I will make it a top priority’, emphasised Clendennen.
In relation to Climate Change, Clendennen highlighted the need for action to curb the imminent threat and preserve the planet for future generations, recognising that it will initially see job losses at Bord Na Mona as renewable energy comes into sharp focus. ‘I am fully supportive and will work with Bord Na Mona and associated stakeholders to ensure the company continues to be an integral part of life in Offaly’ stated Clendennen.
Continuing to highlight several objectives that must be achieved; working in conjunction with the national transition group which has been established to deliver key economic drivers for the region, whilst also seeking National Park status for Lough Boora and beyond, establish Offaly as a Centre of Renewable Energy Research and Generation, and explore the feasibility of a National Outdoor Events Centre in Offaly following the success of Tullamore Show and National Ploughing Championships.
Cllr. Clendennen recognised the great strides and multi-million euro investment made in Tourism Development in recent years with the establishment of a Tourism Committee for the county and the development of Slieve Bloom Bike Trails and Greenways, along with recent success at key attractions such as Birr Castle and Lough Boora. ‘I predict that Tourism will be a cornerstone of Offaly’s future success and economic growth, countywide greenway development must be prioritised, endeavouring to connect all of our towns and villages to create economic opportunity, whilst collaborating with respective state agencies to promote Offaly as a recreational tourism destination with national and international appeal’, affirmed Clendennen.
Other areas that Clendennen recognises as key for the county include the continued increased investment in Roads standing at €14 Million this year alone, support for the Agricultural sector, Rural Crime Prevention, Consistent & Sufficient Internet Speeds and vacant premises in Towns & Villages converted to Housing. Clendennen concluded his address by showing his appreciation for all in attendance and commented that the previous 5 years serving on Offaly County Council, following in the footsteps of his father Percy, have been rewarding and he looks forward to working for Offaly if successfully re-elected and asked for the number one vote in the Local Elections on Friday May 24th.
The phase one development of the Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trails is nearing completion, with almost €2 Million investment and the addition of 35 kilometres of off-road, cross-country, mountain bike trails, expected to open in early 2019.
It is critical that the local community maximises the economic opportunity presented by the development and with a Development Group already established in Kinnitty Village and progress being made in Laois, this is a project that will transform the Slieve Blooms.
It was extremely disappointing that the state of the art Primary Care Centre and sporting facilities proposed for Birr town were denied planning permission.
This is a project which I am wholeheartedly supportive of and 100% committed to delivering for the town. The decision on the planning application is currently being appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
Concurrently, I am also working with the respective stakeholders to identify alternative suitable sites as a contingency, ensuring this much needed project and enhancement to community health services for the town of Birr and surrounding area is delivered as soon as possible.
It is both an honour and a privilege to have been recently selected to contest the next general election in Laois/Offaly constituency.
In advance of a General Election, it is my intention to meet with as many people as possible across all corners of the constituency, and I am fully committed to continuing my ongoing work to ensure better services and added investment across the constituency.
At the General Election Selection Convention, I outlined my primary objectives for the constituency which included community focused health services, investment in rural Ireland services and stakeholders, tourism development and the 2040 National Planning Framework.
As a strong and fresh voice for Laois / Offaly constituency, I firmly believe I can influence change and betterment for people in their everyday lives.
