The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and local Fingal TD, Darragh O’Brien has welcomed confirmation that both Swords Celtic and Portmarnock AFC have been successful in their appeals under the Sports Capital Grant Programme.
Swords Celtic will receive €39,779 for performance equipment and refurbishment works to their clubhouse while Portmarnock AFC will receive €56,049 for an irrigation project.
 
Commenting Minister O’Brien said, “Back in February record funding was allocated to sports clubs all across North County Dublin under the Sports Capital Grant Programme.
 
“Sports clubs and community groups put huge effort into their applications and the overwhelming majority of them were successful. Of course some were unsuccessful at the time but a very important appeals mechanism has been built into the programme with the Department of Sport providing great assistance to those wishing to appeal a decision.
 
“I am particularly pleased to see today that Portmarnock AFC and Swords Celtic have been successful in their appeals.
 
“We’ve seen clearly through the years that investment in communities through the programme has been hugely successful and of great benefit to the greater Fingal area. Anybody involved in sport at local level knows just how important sports capital grants are for the development of sports and recreation facilities and for the purchase of sports equipment benefitting both clubs and their members,” he concluded.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Local Fingal TD, Darragh O’Brien has welcomed the news that Portmarnock’s Velvet Strand, Rush South Beach and Balcarrick Beach in Donabate have all been awarded a Blue Flag.
Commenting Minister O’Brien said, “The Blue Flag is an international award for beach excellence and is operating in Ireland by An Taisce, with support from my Department for 35 years now. The award is presented to beaches and marinas which have excellent water quality and which achieve high standards across a wide range of other criteria including environmental education, management of the environment, safety and other services.
“Winning a Blue Flag award is a collective effort with local authorities, An Taisce, local coastal communities and other volunteers on the ground all playing their part. There are many strong advocates for each of these beaches in our community over the past number of years and we know that these awards are a fantastic vote of confidence for both the residents and visitors who enjoy these beaches.
“My Department and indeed the wider Government is committed to supporting programmes such as the Blue Flag and Green Coast Award and to building on them to achieve positive changes in environmental behaviour countrywide,” he concluded.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and local Fingal TD, Darragh O’Brien has welcomed the reduction in public transport fares for Fingal commuters from this week.
 
For the first time in 75 years fares are being reduced in an effort to help reduce the rising cost of living and to encourage more sustainable travel.
 
As of May 9th fares on Dublin Bus, Luas, Go Ahead Ireland and Irish Rail's DART and commuter services in the Greater Dublin Area will drop by 20% for the remainder of 2022.
 
Those aged between 19 and 23 will also receive a 50% reduction in fares on all subsidised public transport when they use an existing Student Leap card or a new Young Adult Leap card.
 
Commenting Minister O’Brien said, “Government are very conscious of the pressures on households at present as the cost of living continues to rise. The war in Ukraine is adding significantly to that burden and we know that people are feeling it. The reduction in fares from this week will go some way to easing some of the financial strain that households are experiencing.
 
“As TD for North Dublin I am fully aware of the importance of the train service to the local communities and that the stations at Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush/Lusk and Donabate continue to experience high demand. I have long advocated for the Dart+ Coastal North project and look forward to it progressing further this year. At the heart of the project is the need to increase passenger capacity and train frequency to cope with our increasing population here in Fingal.
 
“We hope that the reduction in public transport fares announced this week will also encourage more people to take the sustainable option and leave the car behind where possible,” he concluded.