Westmeath & Longford students face uncertainty over grants ahead of first round of college offers – Troy

Posted by Robert Troy TD 16/08/2012

• Westmeath & Longford students face uncertainty over grants ahead of first round of college offers – Troy
  
  
  Longford-Westmeath Fianna Fail TD Robert Troy has said that it is “hugely unfair that a large number of leaving certificate students and their families in Westmeath and Longford continue to face huge uncertainty over changes to third level grants only a few days before they are expected to make a decision on college offers.”
  
  Deputy Troy said: “On Monday leaving cert students will receive their first round of CAO offers. Students from farming and self-employed families in the midlands will be expected to make a decision on whether to accept a college place despite not knowing if they will qualify for grants for the duration of their time in college due to the continuing uncertainty over Minister Quinn’s planned changes to the third level grants system.
  
  “Minister Quinn’s agenda in this regard was made quite clear again this week when figures were released by the HEA showing that 40% of farmers and close to 50% of self employed people secured a college grant for their children. However, what is not mentioned in these figures is that the average farm income continues to be €24,000.
  
  “Minister Quinn’s plan to include capital assets in means testing for grants is wrong. If he proceeds with this it is another attack on farm families and small business owners in Longford and Westmeath who want the opportunity for their son or daughter to go to college. The true test of whether someone is eligible for a grant has to be their income not their assets. Students can’t be expected to make a decision on a college offer when they have no idea if they will qualify for a grant and be able to afford to complete their third level qualification.
  
  “Minister Quinn has already put postgraduate education out of reach for thousands of people from don’t have the financial means to pay for it. Unfortunately, we now face a situation where a large number of young people in the midlands and across the country will also be denied access to undergraduate education. With college offers due on Monday, Minister Quinn needs to immediately make clear what his intentions are in regard to third level grants. At an absolute minimum, the Minister needs to give an assurance in the next few days to this year’s leaving cert students now awaiting CAO offers that they will not be facing into a situation whereby they could lose a grant which is essential to maintaining them in education after just one year at third level.”

NAMA must explain role in closure of Harvey Norman, Mullingar – Troy

Posted by Robert Troy TD 15/08/2012

• NAMA must explain role in closure of Harvey Norman, Mullingar – Troy

  
  Jobs lost as agency refuses to budge on high rent
  
  
  Longford-Westmeath Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy has described NAMA’s refusal to negotiate with Harvey Norman on the rent at its outlet in the Lakepoint retail park in Mullingar as “disgraceful.”
  
  Deputy Troy met Blaine Callard, Chief Executive Officer of Harvey Norman Trading (Ireland) Ltd. at its Mullingar store (Monday, 13 August) following its closure on Sunday with the loss of 22 jobs.
  
  Deputy Troy said: “I was astonished to find out that Harvey Norman had made efforts to put five concrete proposals to renegotiate the rent on its building, initially to the developer and subsequently to NAMA which has the retail park among its portfolio. It is disgraceful that NAMA refused to engage with the company. The rent is almost €200,000 a year. Instead of keeping a major retailer in the property at a lower rent NAMA has now lumbered itself with another vacant property.
  
  “Harvey Norman’s lease on its Mullingar store contains an ‘upward only’ rent clause. Fine Gael committed to banning upward only rent reviews in the election last year, a promise it has since abandoned to the frustration of retailers across the country. While rent is not the only difficulty for the company as there has been a fall-off in sales, it has been made it clear to me that if there had been some relief on its rent it could have reinvested the money saved in marketing and other activities in order to prevent closure.
  
  “Where is NAMA’s long-term vision for the future of the retail park? There are already two vacant premises in the park and now it has lost one of its anchor tenants. These empty units are leading to reduced foot-fall and more pressure on the businesses remaining. The Government is supposedly committed to job creation but at the same time a major agency with enormous power has stood idly by while jobs that could have been retained were lost. I met the staff at the store and they were very loyal and committed to the company. I sought assurances from the chief executive that the staff would be accommodated and received them at the meeting. The company has offered redeployment to its store in Blanchardstown but the commuting costs have put this option beyond the reach of many. The solution was for NAMA to be proactive and engage with the company at an early stage.
  
  “If NAMA is going to continue to act in this way with tenants who are warning of closures and job losses because of unsustainable rents then the Government must intervene to ensure jobs are protected. It is not the remit of NAMA to put people out of work. I cannot see how having another vacant property on its books and no rent coming in is in the best interests of NAMA or the taxpayer.”

TROY URGES GOVT TO CONSIDER FF PLANS ON TACKLING YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

Posted by Robert Troy TD 09/08/2012

• Troy urges Govt to consider FF plans on tackling youth unemployment
  
  
  Longford-Westmeath Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy has called on the Government to seriously consider Fianna Fáil's proposals on tackling youth unemployment. It comes after the CSO revealed last week that the rate of unemployment among under 25s reached nearly 40% last year.
  
  
  Fianna Fáil published a detailed strategy on tackling youth unemployment in May. The proposals included an ICT training scheme for 100,000 young job seekers, a new IFSC internship scheme for 1,000 young job seekers, the addition of 5,000 more graduate places on JobBridge, and dramatic reform of education, welfare and employment services including the introduction of education and training vouchers for under 25s.
  
  Deputy Troy said: “We now have a situation where nearly half of young people in some parts of the country are unemployed. In Longford there are just over 1,000 people under 25 are on the Live Register and almost double that in Westmeath (see table) and we know that the extent of the problem nationwide is being masked by the number of people emigrating for work or staying on in education. We urgently need an ambitious plan to deal with this crisis.
  
  Social Welfare Office Jul-2012 (U-25s)
  Longford County total 1005
  Westmeath County total 1997
  Westmeath breakdown:
  Athlone 799
  Castlepollard 218
  Mullingar 980
  Source: Central Statistics Office
  
  “The latest CSO figures must act as a wake-up call for the Government. Their various jobs plans have all failed to address the specific issue of youth unemployment, and have completely underestimated the extent of the problem. We need to show young people that there will be opportunities and that there is a future for them here, and that specific targeted measures are being introduced to support them in getting on the career ladder.
  
  Deputy Troy concluded: “Fianna Fáil’s proposals are realistic and affordable and I am urging the Government to give them serious and urgent consideration. We estimate that the plan will require an initial investment of €52 million but the cost of not taking any action is far greater.”