Latest news with #MichaelMoynihan
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Cork North-West TD and Minister Michael Moynihan vastly outspent rivals in General Election campaign
Unsuccesful Aontú candidate Becky Kealy was the second biggest spender as she sought to challenge the Civil War parties Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State Michael Moynihan was the candidate who spent most in an effort to be elected to Cork North-West in General Election 2024. Minister Moynihan spent close to €23,000 in advance of getting elected to the constituency for a seventh consecutive time last November. Related topics Jack Joy
The Journal
5 days ago
- Business
- The Journal
Locals unhappy as council approves lithium battery farm in scenic Co Cork town
LOCALS IN NEWMARKET have decried Cork County Council's approval of a lithium battery farm in the 'heart' of the rural town. An environmental group in the town has condemned the council's decision, saying that the facility is 'completely unsuitable' for the environment in the location where it has been given permission to build. A lithium battery farm is a facility where large capacity lithium-ion batteries can store and manage electricity. The development is described as a 'ten-year planning permission and a 35-year operational life for an energy storage facility', with the facility comprising 'energy storage containers installed on concrete plinths; electrical inverters and transformers; underground electrical and communications cabling, alongside security measures such as gates and cameras.' The development has been proposed by Neoen Renewables Ireland Limited, the Irish branch of a French renewable energy group. It first lodged a planning application in 2023, and won an appeal last week to proceed with the development. The Newmarket Environmental Protection Group, which is against the development, said that the facility will impact the local environment and farming life. It added that the site where the facility has been approved to be developed is featured in Alice Taylor's memoir To School Through the Fields, believed to be the best-selling book ever published in Ireland . The site sits above the town, beside a 1,000-year-old graveyard, and a few hundred metres away from the Dalua river, a designated Blue Flag river. The original application was met with fierce opposition locally. Numerous letters against the development were submitted to the council, including by now-Minister of State Michael Moynihan, and a number of local representatives. Advertisement One letter written by a local man who said he lives 1.8 km away from the site highlighted the environmental impacts of such facilities, and continued: 'We just have to wait in hope that this particular facility behaves itself, and carry on regardless while others reap the rewards… Surely there has to be some common sense left in the planning department.' The end of a letter written to the council against the development of the facility. Spokesperson for the local group leading condemnation of the approval of the facility, Maura Cronin O'Connor, said that the facility is 'completely out of place in a rural, residential, and agricultural setting like this'. Then local councillor, now TD for the area John Paul O'Shea opposed the development in a written observation alongside fellow councillor Trish Murphy last August. Last week, he told The Journal he still supports the main objective of the Newmarket Environmental Protection Group. 'We're disappointed that it has been granted, because I suppose there were additional concerns there from the community, and I don't think they're addressed by the company,' he said. O'Shea added that he would be supportive of the local group's efforts to face down the development. 'We're not against renewable energy,' he said, 'it's just the location where this was proposed.' He stressed the site's proximity to local housing and amenities. The Newmarket Environmental Protection group said that the site is also near a primary school, a health centre, and a nursing home. There is narrow rural access to these local facilities, it said, and stated that locals fear emergency services may not be able to reach the site quickly if a fire or chemical incident occurred. Cronin O'Connor said that the group would not be giving up. A public meeting will be held next Tuesday at 8pm in the Cultúrlann, Newmarket, in Co Cork to update the community and organise next steps, she said. She added that this is not against the use of renewable energy, but that this is the 'wrong project in the wrong place'. The PR firm representing Neoen Ireland told The Journal that they had asked the company if it would like to comment on the opposition to the development. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
31-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Planning sought for new wastewater plant in Cork village
Uisce Éireann lodged planning permission to Cork County Council for the WWTP in Castlemagner. Minister for Special Education and Inclusion and Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North-West, Michael Moynihan, has welcomed the planning by saying: 'I have been a keen advocate for the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Castlemagner for several years so it's very welcome to see the planning application now submitted to Cork County Council. 'Having engaged with the relevant ministers and Irish Water (Uisce Éireann), we had already secured Castlemagner's inclusion in Irish Water's Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme, a critical step that prioritised the development of this much-needed infrastructure,' Mr Moynihan explained. The construction of the facility is seen as a significant step for the village's future development and will play a huge role in increasing the number of houses in the area. "The submission of this planning application is a testament to the hard work and collaboration that has gone into pushing this vital project forward for Castlemagner. 'It's well recognised that water infrastructure is one of the key enablers for housing and this new wastewater treatment plant is absolutely essential for the sustainable growth of the community, enabling much needed housing development and improving local infrastructure. 'With a decision due from the [Cork] County Council mid-August, I am committed to ensuring the project advances as swiftly as possible, and will continue to engage with all stakeholders to expedite the delivery of this critical infrastructure for the people of Castlemagner,' Mr Moynihan concluded.
Irish Independent
17-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
New special school for North Cork
The timeline for making applications to the new special school closed earlier this month and the Cork Education and Training Board is now making offers of places. A principal and deputy principal have been recruited and the recruitment of teaching staff and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) is in progress. Capacity is also being expanded at two other special schools in Cork. The East Cork Community Special School in Carrigtwohill will have an extra 24 places for the coming school year, using accommodation at Fota Business Park. Rochestown Community Special School will have 18 extra places. The scope of works has been completed there and a contractor has commenced on site. Education Minister Helen McEntee and Minister for Special Education and Youth Michael Moynihan brought a memo to Cabinet this week announcing 407 additional special classes in schools across the country for the coming school year, including 56 across Cork. Special schools support students with more severe and/or complex special educational needs in cases where a full-time mainstream placement would not be in the student's best interest.
Irish Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Disabled children suffered higher rates of sexual abuse, Dáil hears during debate on historical abuse
Children with disabilities experienced sexual abuse at a much higher rate than children without a disability, the Dáil heard as it debated historical child sexual abuse in day and boarding schools. Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion Michael Moynihan said the scoping inquiry leading to the newly established Commission of Investigation revealed the records of religious orders showed 'some 528 allegations of historical child sexual abuse across 17 special schools in respect of 190 alleged abusers'. The initial scoping inquiry was told of some 2,395 allegations of historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders. It was told it involved 884 alleged abusers in 308 schools countrywide between 1927 to 2013. The Minister of State said 'many families entrusted the care of their children into these communities' and 'this is unlikely to be the full extent of the historical abuse in special schools'. READ MORE It was 'truly appalling that the additional vulnerabilities of children in special schools could be so exploited and there has to be accountability', Mr Moynihan said. He was speaking during a debate on the motion to approve the draft order on the Commission of Investigation on the handling of historical child sexual abuse in day and boarding schools. [ Government will 'pursue all levers' to make religious orders pay redress to victims of school sex abuse Opens in new window ] Sinn Féin TD Pat Buckley said he had lost many friends who had been abused and it took more than 20 years to find out what happened. 'I lost two friends in primary school where the abuse started and I wasn't aware of it.' He said 'people ran away from school, came back, qualified as solicitors and everything, and unfortunately ended their lives'. He said some of the people who are responsible 'are still alive, some of the principals and vice-principals, Christian Brothers and lay teachers'. Labour's Ciarán Ahern said the Government and other institutions of power 'have excelled in the past at covering up the reality of child sexual abuse'. 'We need only look at the Carrigan report in 1931 to see the DNA of denial that blighted child protection in Ireland from the State's foundation'. The Dublin South-West TD said the Carrigan committee was appointed in 1930 and held 17 sessions. One witness, the police commissioner of the time, 'highlighted an alarming amount of sexual crime, increasing yearly, a feature of which was the large number of cases of criminal interference with girls and children from 16 years and downwards, many children under 10 years of age'. He said the police commissioner believed that less than 15 per cent of sexual crime was being prosecuted but government chose not to publish the report. Minister for Education Helen McEntee thanked 'every single survivor for their bravery, whether they were in a position to come forward or not'. She also thanked the late Mark Ryan and his brother David who came forward for the RTÉ documentary Blackrock Boys, after which the Government established a scoping inquiry. In an address to survivors she said: 'I am truly sorry for what was done to you and the devastating impacts it had on your lives, but I want to thank each and every person for their bravery.'
