Cllr Maria Dollard welcomes Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme

The funding will allow Local Authorities to develop permanent long-term outdoor facilities

Cllr Maria Dollard has welcomed Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin TD’s announcement of a new €17million Scheme for developing outdoor dining capacity nationwide.

The Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme comprises two parts and will be delivered in partnership between Fáilte Ireland and Local Authorities across the country. Maria Dollard says sees opportunities for individual businesses in Kilkenny to avail of funding under Part One of the Scheme: “ I see huge potential for Kilkenny to gain from this funding and I encourage businesses to get involved in Part One. People need to reconnect with each other and we all know that outdoors is the safest space. They are also most accessible. Other European cities have done really well in developing an outdoor eating culture – why not Kilkenny, especially as we come into the summer?”

Funding allocated under Part Two will enable Local Authorities to develop permanent outdoor public dining spaces in towns and urban centres, similar to those that exist in various European cities. “I would love to hear from people in Kilkenny about their vision of how this funding could be used” says Maria.

The Minister for Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport, Gaeltacht and Media, Catherine Martin T.D. is today officially launching the Scheme, which opens for initial applications on 12 April 2021.

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Legislation to Cap Excess Profits for Energy Companies

By Maria Dollard • September 4, 2023

New bill to combat high electricity costs welcomed by Kilkenny Councillor by Liam Kelly O’Rourke Kilkenny People 01 Sep 2023 4:48 PM Kilkenny Green Party Councillor, Maria Dollard, has welcomed the publication of the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill. The Bill provides a cap on the market revenues genered by non-gas generators in the wholesale electricity market between December 2022 to June 2023. The estimated proceeds from the cap on market revenues are in the range €80 million to €150 million and these will now be retained and used in the electricity sector to provide financial supports to households and businesses affected by high energy prices. Cllr Dollard, commented: "This is good news for Kilkenny consumers who will see the money collected ring fenced to be returned to consumers who have been paying way too much for electricity for a long time now. We need to support those on the lowest incomes. There’s no doubt some people are being hit harder than others and without access to good insulation, bills can be very high for some, especially older people and people with reduced mobility." Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, claimed the move would 'ease the impact of high energy prices on electricity consumers' and stated he intends to bring this Bill through the Houses of the Oireachtas when the Dáil resumes after the summer recess. https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/local-news/1287190/new-bill-to-combat-high-electricity-costs-welcomed-by-kilkenny-councillor.html