Latest news with #AlbertDolan
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
The red tape that stalled farm loans — and the road back for Microfinance Ireland
Administrative arrangements with Microfinance Ireland to allow them to recommence lending to farmers are currently being finalised with the Department of Agriculture. Over 10 years since 2013, Microfinance Ireland has made 182 loans to Irish farmers, totalling €3,252,368. But this valuable source of credit for Irish farmers is cut off since 2023, until Microfinance Ireland complies with new EU agriculture state aid requirements, including new legal arrangements for data sharing between Microfinance Ireland and the Department of Agriculture. This has been the case since the EU's Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework ceased in December 2023, and Microfinance Ireland had to change over to providing loans under the newly applicable State Aid Framework, which is the De Minimis Regulation. Now, agriculture minister Martin Heydon has told the Dáil a statutory instrument to allow the sharing of data between third-party agri-loan providers and his department has been finalised. It was signed into law on April 4 last, completing the first step to allow Microfinance Ireland to recommence lending to farmers. The minister was answering a Dáil question from Fianna Fáil TD Albert Dolan. Microfinance Ireland was set up by the government to help micro-enterprises that cannot get funding from the main banks. It is a not-for-profit organisation that does not compete with the main banks, and predominantly supports start-ups, with loans at low interest rate charges relative to the credit risk. Microfinance Ireland provides loans from €2,000 up to €50,000 to businesses that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by commercial lenders. Since 2023, it has continued lending to non-agriculture businesses. Microfinance Ireland assists businesses with fewer than 10 employees to meet payments for stock, working capital requirements, and other overhead expenses. In September 2024, Microfinance Ireland increased the permitted loan limit from €25,000 to €50,000. The loan term is typically three years for working capital purposes, and can be extended to five years for capital expenditures. Loan records indicate the main farming enterprises supported up to the end of 2023 were dairy and cattle farms, taking out 34 loans totalling €642,749, and 28 loans totalling €455,900, respectively. There were 21 loans totalling €344,000 for mixed farming, 14 loans totalling €214,999 to support activities for animal production, 13 loans totalling €171,074 to horticultural growers, and 12 loans totalling €197,499 for poultry production. Microfinance Ireland made 41 loans to farmers in 2020, totalling €950,600; 29 loans in 2021, totalling €558,300; 14 loans in 2022, totalling €255,024; and 14 loans in 2023, totalling €225,000. There were zero loans in 2024 and 2025 to agriculture. Where Microfinance Ireland offers loans to farmers, it must ensure such loans comply with relevant EU state aid regulations. Read More State aid fix to unlock farm loans from Microfinance Ireland
Irish Independent
04-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Galway schools chosen for pilot application system aimed at fairer enrolment process
It will begin with primary schools in five towns: Athenry, Celbridge, Clonakilty, Greystones, and Tullamore. Galway's Albert Dolan TD called the plan a 'hugely positive step forward' to offer a unified online application system for placements in the 2026-2027 academic school year for families in the Athenry area. 'I'm particularly pleased that this initiative recognises the importance of timely and transparent access to special education placements, and that Athenry has been selected as one of the pilot areas. This speaks to the town's strong and growing educational infrastructure, including the excellent work being done in Presentation College, Clarin College, and Coláiste an Eachréidh.' Parents can apply to participating schools using a single online form and schools will begin to process the applications within defined timelines simplifying the entrance process. Other key benefits include: •A simplified and transparent application process •Reduced stress for families and children •Better data for school and departmental planning •A streamlined approach to managing special class placements •Reduced administrative overhead for schools The pilot is introduced in efforts to develop a common system that supports long-term planning, equitable access, and inclusive education. Deputy Dolan said: 'I have long advocated for a more equitable school admissions system that works for all families. This pilot is a major step in that direction, and I look forward to engaging with local schools, parents, and the Department to ensure its success here in Galway East.' Further information will be available to parents and guardian in September 2025 and applications will officially open October 1, 2025 for school placements the following September. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Florida man caught impersonating law enforcement officer for fourth time: affidavit
WINDERMERE, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida man was arrested, again, for impersonating a law enforcement officer and attempting to pull a victim over, according to an affidavit. On Monday, a victim called 911 to report a vehicle attempting to initiate a traffic stop on him with yellow lights, near a shopping plaza in Windermere. 'No good secrets': 13 arrested in Tampa Bay Latin Kings drug trafficking operation The victim told deputies with the Orange County Sheriff's Office that the 'officer' in a black vehicle with a push bar on the grill began flashing amber lights and closely following behind him for a mile. Believing the vehicle to be an unmarked patrol car, the victim pulled over. A man, identified as 60-year-old Albert Dolan, approached the victim's vehicle and asked for his license. However, the victim insisted on seeing Dolan's badge or an ID, which he could not provide, and instead refused, the affidavit said. Dolan told the victim he had other people to get to and drove off in his vehicle. According to the report, the victim then followed Dolan in his car, pulled up next to his window asking for an ID and got his license plate. Based on the information obtained from the victim, Orange County deputies tracked down Dolan's home. A dark-colored Ford Explorer was discovered, with visible light bars alongside the windshield and side windows and a push bar. Florida man arrested after abandoning child said 'he did not deserve to eat': deputies During Dolan's arrest, he 'spontaneously uttered that he did not impersonate one of us (deputies),' the affidavit said. Dolan was arrested for falsely impersonating an officer. The sheriff's office told that this is his fourth arrest for impersonating a cop, with previous arrests in 1994, 2017 and 2018. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Orange County man with history of impersonating police arrested again
A man is in the Orange County jail on charges of impersonating a law enforcement officer. And it's not the first time. Deputies arrested Albert Dolan, 60, of Ocoee, on Monday after a man reported that a Ford Explorer modified to resemble a police car pulled him over on Stoney Brook Parkway. According to the arrest affidavit, the man said Dolan started following him in a dark-colored Explorer with flashing amber lights and a push bar on the grill. He said he eventually stopped, thinking it was a real officer in an unmarked police vehicle. The man said the vehicle's driver, identified as Dolan, said he was speeding and asked for his license. He said when he in turn asked to see Dolan's ID or badge, Dolan walked back to his vehicle then returned and told him he could go. The man said he again asked to see a police identification, but Dolan allegedly refused, saying he had other people to get to. The man said he followed the Explorer, called 911 and gave a description of the vehicle and license plate. Deputies quickly identified Dolan and confronted him at his home. They said they found the vehicle with light bars on front and rear windshields, as well as the side windows. It also had a push bar similar to what law enforcement uses. Dolan was questioned then charged with falsely impersonating an officer. The affidavit states Dolan insisted he did not impersonate a deputy. Investigators noted that Dolan has a history of buying former police vehicles with lights and sirens still attached. The affidavit also noted he has previously impersonated law enforcement. Court records show he was arrested in September 2017 after driving a car with flashing police lights and tried to tell the Winter Garden officers who arrested him that he was a state trooper and DEA agent. He was convicted and sentenced to jail time served and probation. He was arrested again in January 2018 by Orlando police who said he was again driving with flashing red and blue lights, this time saying he was looking for a suspect. He again received brief jail time with credit served. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
