“This so-called poll is not credible and has no basis in fact. The figures are not plausible and I have serious doubts about their reliability and the method used to produce them. If you’ll excuse the pun, I think it is a silly and deliberate attempt to ‘poleaxe’ me!, Bobby Aylward maintained.

He continued: “I’ve been doing an intensive canvass all over the county. I’m meeting real people with real problems and valid opinions about this Election and the candidates on offer. It is my honest experience that this poll bears absolutely no resemblance to reality and the warm reception I’m getting at the doors”.

“I’m running for re-election on my record of public service to everyone. I’m proud to say that I have given honest, dedicated work and I have always been loyal and true to the people I represent”.

“I believe we need experienced and skilled politicians who can see the bigger national picture and at the same time, remain close to the ideals of our local communities”.

“My approach to politics is honest and forthright. I’m well-known as a hard-working, straight-talker who is always accessible and approachable. I’ve been fearless in promoting the views and the values which sustain ordinary people in our everyday lives. I have done my level best for every person and every organisation whenever they contacted me with particular issues or problems and I’ve been steadfast in promoting the best interests of everyone, everywhere”.

“People deserve total integrity and trust in their politicians and that is what I am offering and what I have always offered”.

“I acknowledge that this is a very tough campaign and every vote is precious. However, there may be an element of wishful thinking in the poll findings at the weekend and I’m certain that I will prove them completely wrong”, Bobby Aylward ended.

“Given the tough demands on the public finances at present, I’m delighted that Minister Michael Finneran is providing such a generous level of funding for the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability. The amount to be made available to Kilkenny County Council this year is €1,867,500 which is very substantial and is a big increase on previous allocations”, Bobby Aylward said.

He continued: “These schemes are practical and so important and they are very popular. They help older people and disabled people to continue living in their own homes and parishes with the comfort and dignity that they deserve. The grants allow people to make modifications to their own homes which greatly improve their conditions, their safety and their overall quality of life”.

“Many people require only very modest adaptations to continue to live independently and close to their families and friends, provided their accommodation is safe and secure and suitable for their individual needs. These grants assist in improving the living standards and peace of mind within the home. If carers are involved, these works can also help to make lives so much easier and can lessen the sheer physical effort required in caring for older or disabled people in their own homes”.

Grants of up to €30,000 are available for improvement works and extensions to facilitate a person with a disability. Eligible works include the provision of level access showers, installation of stair lifts, grab rails, access ramps, and so on. The Mobility Aids Grant scheme is available to fast track grants of up to €6,000 to address the mobility problems of a family member. In the case of older people, a grant of up to €10,500 is available to assist householders to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out to their homes”.

“These works also provide much-need employment in the community at a time when so many builders are looking for gainful work and I welcome that”.

“This allocation takes account of commitments, applications on hand, and the amount of funding requested by Kilkenny County Council and it does not include expenditure on improving and extending their own social housing stock”, Bobby Aylward ended.

The Knockmoylan farmer, who was a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, is determined to stand up for the views of country people and the strong values and aspirations which sustain these communities.

“This constituency has a broad and vibrant agriculture base and the livelihoods of so many people are depending on a prosperous, successful agri-food industry. I believe the industry is set to play a very important role in the recovery of our economic fortunes. Our recovery will have to be driven by growth and by exports and it’s encouraging to see that exports of Irish food and drink grew by 11% last year to over €800 million and that accounted for two-thirds of all our exports by indigenous companies”, Bobby Aylward said.

He continued: “Politicians are always talking about the central role of our indigenous industry and far as I’m concerned, farming and the agri-food sector are the most precious indigenous industries we have with over a quarter of a million people depending on it in one way or another. This industry has achieved a massive recovery since 2009 with the CSO estimate showing an annual increase in the operating surplus of 46%. This is significant and very heartening given that a decrease of 31.1% was experienced by the sector in 2009”.

“As a farmer, I realise that we have to continue to support and invest in farming and the agri-industry if they are to have that integral role in our economy. There are over 160,000 employed in this business, directly and indirectly, and we have to secure their futures and generate more employment. As far as I’m concerned, the Budget, the Recovery Plan and the ambitious targets set out in Harvest 2020 all provide a sound blueprint for growth and prosperity in the industry. Fianna Fáil has been pragmatic in its continued support of the sector and is committed to increasing agri-food exports by one-third to €12 billion over the next decade. With that in mind, I’m glad to say we have maintained the payment levels for all the major Schemes this year”.

“Investment in on-farm infrastructure, in strategic R&D, in solid capital supports for processing and marketing are all crucial if farmers are to improve competitiveness and to reach the potential which I know we can. As I said, our growth and our recovery will be largely driven by exports and we have to identify and penetrate new markets abroad for our high-quality produce which does enjoy a reputation that is second to none worldwide”.

“The on-going C.A.P. negotiations will present a particular challenge for farmers and among the priorities for me is to defend the direct payments to farmers and to continue the de-coupled payments.

“Farming is a traditional way of life but it’s also a modern, sophisticated business nowadays. And, in the right environment, it’s a business that is viable and can and will grow and continue to be an attractive enterprise for young men and women. I love the land and I have a passion for farming and for the rural communities and I feel we need a strident and informed voice to represent our best interests, our demands, our values and our views at every level. The agri-industry is too important, it is too valuable to us and we have to take every opportunity to make it dynamic and to promote it as an enterprise which is successful and which can be a catalyst towards improving our economic situation by creating more and more opportunities and jobs. That’s what we need desperately at this time”, Bobby Aylward ended.

“In order to ensure that grant assistance will flow to the successful applicants, the €8 million available under the Scheme will be paid out in a series of tranches, the first of which will run until 31 January, 2011 and €1.148 million will be available for this part”, Deputy Aylward confirmed.

He continued: “The Department of Agriculture will use a series of selection criteria to decide on the successful applications and importance will attach to the size of the breeding flock and with priority to be given to farmers in accordance with a marking sheet which is available on request from the Department’s Office in Johnstown Castle or on the Department’s website”.

“The percentage of production units derived from sheep will also be considered in assessing applications as will the proposed cost of the project as set out in the application form and applicants whose proposed costs are lower than the Department’s Reference Costs will be given preference”.

“Priority will be given to farmers who are between their 18th and 35th birthday on the date of application and also to participants in a Sheep Ireland sheep breed improvement programme at the time of application. Applicants, whose holding or any part of it, is owned or leased is in less favoured areas will also get priority when the application is being considered”.

“Items such as mobile spraying equipment and handling units, including footbaths, will be eligible for grant-aid as will mobile weighing facilities and roll-over crates. Also included are mobile ‘batch’ footbaths, penning gates, up to a maximum of 75 metres as part of a handling unit, and fencing but excluding gates”.

“Substantial funding of €8 million has been allocated to this Scheme. Under the terms of the Rural Development Programme, grant-aid is limited and a standard grant-rate of 40 per cent will apply in all cases up to a maximum eligible investment ceiling of €10,000, so that means a maximum grant of €4,000”.

“This is one of several initiatives aimed at supporting the sheep sector which is worth about €250 million to the Irish economy”, Deputy Aylward said. “The industry is a very valuable export-orientated part of the Irish agri-food sector and over two-thirds of the product is exported to supply high quality produce to consumers throughout Europe. Annual exports to almost 20 markets around the world are now worth approximately €165 million.”

“I’m confident that sheep farmers will get a badly-needed boost with this Scheme. This sector has been vulnerable and it has been distressed and so the Scheme is designed to give them practical support and to help them in reducing labour costs in an industry that has been under severe pressure on a number of fronts in the past few years. It will complement the €7 million Uplands Sheep Scheme which was launched in 2009, together with the €54 million Grassland Sheep Scheme which was introduced earlier this year”.

“Farmers can get more details about the terms and conditions of this new Scheme on the Department’s website at www.agriculture.gov.ie, Deputy Aylward ended.

“I was delighted to host a deputation which met with Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan, T.D., while she was in Kilkenny last week (7 September, 2010). Representatives from the Coláiste and the V.E.C. made a very persuasive, very convincing case for funding to the Minister. I’m glad to say that she was impressed with the strength of the arguments and she agreed to take the matter up immediately with the responsible officials in her Department. The Minister said her officials would contact Rodger Curran, CEO of the V.E.C., in the coming weeks to discuss the matter and to explore the options for Departmental funding for this initiative”, Deputy Aylward said.

He continued: “For some time now, Coláiste Pobail Osraí has been considering a move to a new green-field site. While the present facilities at Ormonde Road are modern and up-to-date, the space they occupy is becoming confined. Long-term, the Coláiste is seeking to meet the growing demand for places in the school. The level of interest in the Irish language and education through the medium of Irish is enjoying a big increase in Kilkenny. This is evidenced by the popularity and huge success of the local Gaelscoil. I believe pupils should have the opportunity to continue their studies through Irish at second-level and increased capacity in the Coláiste would cater for that”.

“If it is to expand and to provide a range of additional amenities, the Coláiste will have to find an alternative site and develop a state-of-the-art campus close to the city. The CEO of the V.E.C. and the Príomhoide, together with the Board of Management and the Parents’ Council, have now identified a number of suitable sites and are currently looking for funding for their ambitious project”.

“Based on our meeting with the Minister, I am very hopeful that funding can be made available. This is a very worthy project and I want to compliment Rodger Curran and the Principal of the Coláiste, Cathnia Ó Muircheartaigh, and their entire team, on their single-minded determination in pursuing their plans”, Bobby Aylward, T.D., ended.

Commenting on the meeting with Minister Coughlan, Mr. Cathnia Ó Muircheartaigh, Principal of Coláiste Pobail Osraí, said “I am greatly encouraged by the positive and enthusiastic response we received from the Minister. I’m also very grateful to Bobby Aylward for facilitating the meeting and for his dedicated support to us. I believe we made good progress on our plans for re-location and I’m looking forward to continued headway when we present our proposals to the Department. There is a clear need for us to expand; we have a surge in interest in our school and we will out-grow our present site very shortly. That is why we are advancing our plans and I hope, with the support of Bobby Aylward and the Department of Education, that we can acquire an appropriate, convenient site and bring our plans to an early fruition”.

Coláiste Pobail Osraí was established in 1991 and is an independent entity under the auspices of the V.E.C.

“I got a call from the Minister for Education, Mary Coughlan, T.D., on Friday last (2 July, 2010) to inform me that she had just approved a grant of €300,000 for a new, state-of-the-art sports and leisure facility which will be located at Grennan College in Thomastown”, Deputy Aylward announced.

“Naturally, I’m absolutely thrilled with this development. The campaign to provide this much-needed amenity in Thomastown has been going on for over ten years now and I’m delighted that all the efforts of those involved have finally come to fruition. Now that that this substantial funding is available, this ambitious and very worthy project can proceed to the next phase”, according to Bobby Aylward.

He continued: “There is a pressing need in Thomastown to provide a good indoor, cross-community sports and leisure centre both for the students of Grennan College and the community as a whole. There is ever-increasing demand for this type of recreational facility in the locality and I want to salute all the local activists who have worked long and hard and who have been instrumental in advancing the high-quality project to this stage”.

“The key players include Grennan College and the V.E.C., the G.A.A., the soccer club and the local Community Council. They came together to form a unique cross-community group called GC Leisure and they put a successful strategy in place to get finance from various sources for the proposed sports centre”.

“The V.E.C. has provided a suitable site for the facility on its lands which are adjacent to Grennan College. The complex will include a modern sports centre, car parking and all the other necessary ancillary facilities. The National Lottery has agreed to provide €180,000 and Kilkenny County Council has committed a further €100,000 in finance to the project which will cost close to €1 million to complete”.

“I have to compliment the Trojan efforts of everyone in Thomastown who has invested so much of their energy and expertise in pursuing this fantastic initiative for the people of the area. Personally, I’m delighted to be associated with Rodger Curran of the V.E.C., with Willie Norton, the Principal of Grennan College, and with all those who have lobbied long and hard on behalf of the local community”.

“Cllr. Sean Treacy and I have been active in lobbying for a number of years now and I do want to pay special tribute to the previous Minister for Education, Batt O’Keeffe, T.D., who recognised the value of this project as a joint school and community effort and who took a special interest in it when he met with our delegation last year. We then took up the cudgels with Minister Mary Coughlan and I am so pleased that she has now agreed to provide this generous funding both for Grennan College and for the people of Thomastown generally. There are nearly 400 students in the College and GC Leisure represents nearly fifteen clubs and societies in the Thomastown area so the new centre will be a popular and valuable addition to the entire community”.

“I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all the fine efforts and to wish GC Leisure well as it goes on to the next phase of its work on this exciting project”, Deputy Aylward ended.

Welcoming the announcement from Bobby Aylward, T.D., Mr. Willie Norton, Principal of Grennan College and one of the major instigators of the new sports and leisure facility, said “this confirmation of funding from the Department of Education and Skills is absolutely wonderful news. Combined with the grant-aid already committed by the Sports Capital Programme and by Kilkenny County Council, it means that the project can now proceed to construction. We look forward to the not too distant future when the students of Grennan College and the community of Thomastown and the surrounding areas can enjoy the benefits of a multi-purpose sports and community facility. I would like, once again, to thank all those who have contributed so much to making this project a reality: it’s a facility which I know will be appreciated by future generations”.