Local Authority News Vol. 36 No. 6

FRONT COVER LAN 36 No 6 15/02/2018 11:27 Page 1

LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

• Regenerating Dublin by Anthony Flynn, Executive Manager, Housing Supply and Management, Dublin City Council

• Minister Ross Welcomes over €136m Funding for Multiple Road Safety Schemes and Road Projects • Building Houses, Building Communities

• ESRI Responding Effectively in Extreme Weather Events

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CONTENTS Vol 36. No 6.

FEATURES REGENERATING DUBLIN BY ANTHONY FLYNN, EXECUTIVE MANAGER, HOUSING SUPPLY AND MANAGEMENT, DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL 3

Published by:

GILTRON LTD RIVERVIEW LODGE, DUBLIN ROAD, NAVAN, CO. MEATH.

CO-OPERATIVE HOUSING, BUILDING HOUSES, BUILDING COMMUNITIES

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A LEGACY OF SUCCESS GRANT

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ESRI RESPONDING EFFECTIVELY IN EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

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IRISH CEMENT CELEBRATING 80 YEARS FROM 1938 TO 2018 17

Tel: 00353 46 9072841 Email: info@localauthoritynews.ie Website: www.localauthoritynews.ie

Designed & produced by Donnelly Design & Print Ltd. Tel: 046 - 9091891

ISSN NO. 1393-0394

LAN is available FREE OF CHARGE to all Local and Central Government Bodies throughout Ireland. Published bi-monthly it is disseminated to Local Authority Managers, Assistant Managers, County Secretaries, Finance Officers, Principal Officers, Department Heads, County Engineers, City Engineers, Chief Quantity Surveyors, Senior Architects, Plant Superintendents, Senior Executive Engineers, Town Clerks, Purchasing Officers, Administrative Officers, Inspectors, Park Superintendents, County Librarians, etc. in all Government Departments, County Councils, Corporations, Office of Public Works, Urban District Councils, State-Sponsored and Development Bodies and Agencies.

MINISTER ROSS WELCOMES OVER €136M FUNDING FOR MULTIPLE ROAD SAFETY SCHEMES AND ROAD PROJECTS 19

MINISTER ANNOUNCES ENHANCED ROADS INVESTMENT (€486M) FOLLOWING CAPITAL REVIEW 23 SECURED €6M OF FUNDING FOR GLANMIRE INFRASTRUCTURAL WORKS 26

VOKÈRA CONTINUES TO EVOLVE

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ENNIS IS ANNOUNCED AS CLEANEST TOWN IN 2017 IBAL ANTI-LITTER LEAGUE 29

REGULARS IRISH WATER UPDATES

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DEPARTMENT BREIFS

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PRODUCT INFO

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CLASSIFIEDS

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DH Contractors Ltd. are 25 years in business, specialising in turn key projects, refurbishments, new builds and extensions.

Pleased to be associate with DCC Specialist in the refurbishment and extensions for people with disabilities

8 Shackleton Village, Moone, Co Kildare E:dhcontractorsltd@gmail.com P: (01)4011871 Fax: (01)4011871 M: 087-2542138

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REGENERATING DUBLIN D

ublin City Council Housing and Community Department is providing management and maintenance services to over 25,000 properties of which 12,500 are flats. A significant amount of the Council's existing public housing is over 50 years old and will require upgrading and replacing in the coming years. The City Council has successfully regenerated Fatima Mansions (Herberton) and Tom Kelly House (Charlemont) using a Public-Private-Partnership model. The former flat complexes at O'Devaney Gardens, St. Michael's Estate, and St. Teresa's Gardens are all suitable for regeneration. O'Devaney Gardens and St. Michael's Estate are included in Dublin City Council’s Housing Land Initiative for the provision of a significant number of new mixed tenure homes.

The City Council proposes to evaluate all of its existing flats and revert to its elected members with options to upgrade, and in some cases, replace the existing flats. This is a significant undertaking as all of the existing stock is let to tenants of the City Council. It is anticipated that a report on the options for the existing stock will be available and presented to the Housing Strategic Policy Committee in March 2018.

The City Council has commenced regeneration works in Dolphin House, Croke Villas, St. Teresa's Gardens, Dolphin Park, and has collaborated with Approved Housing Bodies to redevlop St. Mary's Mansions, St. Agatha's Court, and Broome Lodge.

CHARLEMONT STREET The regeneration of Charlemont Street public housing is completed, with a plan to develop private residential and commercial lots on the five acre site of the old Tom Kelly flat complex.

The original complex was constructed between the 1940s and 1950s. One block was designed by the renowned architect, Michael Scott, known for designing BusĂĄras and the Abbey Theatre.

The original plan proposed the construction of 139 social-housing dwellings. However, in 2015 this was amended to 79 social-housing units, with the option for Dublin City Council to purchase further units at a later stage at a discounted rate.

37 of the original tenants are still living in this newly regenerated building. The remaining 42 homes have been allocated to people on the social-housing waiting list.

Picture credit J.J. Rhatigan & Company

DOLPHIN HOUSE Dolphin House is the largest public housing scheme under regeneration.

The Dolphin House regeneration scheme commenced April 2017. Phase 1 consists of regenerating 3 of the existing blocks to provide 63 refurbished apartments and the construction of 37 new-build units comprising of 28 apartments and nine houses, totalling 100 units.

These homes will be energy efficient through the insulation of the external walls in the blocks. Lifts will also be provided to ensure total accessibility to all homes for all residents.

Dublin City Council has partnered with Fold Housing to provide older person's housing on the lands to replace the Dolphin Park House. Works commenced in January 2018 and 43 new homes will be provided.

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DOMINICK STREET

Aerial view of Dominick Street site

The Dominick Street flat complex was built in the early 1960s and consisted of 198 units. 108 of these units were demolished between 2007 and 2012 leaving 90 remaining, with approximately 50 still occupied. The complex was one of the PPP projects which fell through during the property market collapse in 2008.

The project in Dominick Street is a mixed use development comprising basement car park, a mix of houses and apartments, commercial units, and a community building.

The current scheme plans the construction of 79 socialhousing units on the vacant eastern side of the site. 50 of these new-build homes are to be occupied by the original tenants of the older flat complex, allowing for the remaining homes to be used to house people from the social-housing waiting list. It is anticipated that the construction of the new development will commence summer 2018.

ST. TERESA’S GARDENS St. Teresa’s Gardens was constructed in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The process for the regeneration of St. Teresa’s Gardens was formally initiated in April 2013. Refurbishment works began on 60 apartments involving the installation of new kitchens, bathrooms, front doors, and heating systems. 23 properties were also amalgamated to provide 15 larger units.

External improvements are to include hard and soft landscaping, the provision of parking, private gardens, CCTV, and public lighting.

Phase 2 will consist of the demolition of six flat blocks to allow for the construction of approximately 54 new-build residential Picture credit Damien Eagers properties. These residential units will comprise of 2 and 3 storey housing which will have private, secure front and rear gardens, and 3 and 5 storey apartment blocks with balconies and a shared courtyard. There will also be a multi-use community area. The balance of the lands will be developed for circa 500 mixed use residential homes and a landmark public park.

CROKE VILLAS Dublin City Council is working with the GAA to regenerate the Ballybough Road/Croke Villas/Sackville Gardens area. Approximately 72 homes are to be constructed across four development blocks. The regeneration of this site will be completed in four phases. This will involve the refurbishment of a terrace of houses on Ballybough Road into multi unit dwellings, an infill housing development on Sackville Avenue.

There will be a new primary roadway into Croke Park Stadium on Sackville Avenue and the construction of a housing development on the site of the old Croke Villas flat complex.

Artist’s Impression of Croke Villas

The GAA is developing an international handball facility adjacent to the Cusack Stand on Sackville Avenue.

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Anthony Flynn, Executive Manager, Housing Supply and Management, Dublin City Council

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Would you like to reduce the administrative burden of compliance with FOI and AIE? Then our courses are for you!

Sinéad Byrne, our Trainer, is an expert in the application of the FOI Act 2014 and her training provides practical, step by step, advice for responding to your requests. By implementing the process she outlines, FOI bodies can dramatically reduce the time staff spend collating records and responding to FOI requests. We run a number of courses to meet the needs of all the staff involved in the process, from beginners to advanced; full details of the course are available on our website at www.alloneltd.ie under the heading “Courses”.

She has also taken her experience of the FOI Act and used it to create a detailed training programme for Access to Information on the Environment (AIE). If you are struggling with an increase in volume of AIE requests, Sinéad has lots of helpful and practical hints and tips for reducing the scope of requests, applying fees, working with the requester, applying exemptions and effectively using the provisions of the Regulations.

If you would like to book a place or talk to us about running any of our courses inhouse, please call Sinéad on 087 6828733 or email her on sinead@alloneltd.ie

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BUILDING HOUSES, BUILDING COMMUNITIES o-operative Housing Ireland, the national organisation representing, promoting and developing co-operative housing in Ireland, expects to launch a range of new housing developments in Dublin in 2018.

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Orchard Meadows in Cherry Orchard, Dublin 10, a 72-unit development comprising 3-bedroom family homes, is being developed in partnership with Dublin City Council and has received the support of several local politicians. Nominated social housing tenants will be welcomed to the development in early summer.

Towards the end of the year, Co-operative Housing Ireland will complete another development on Richmond Road in Drumcondra, in association with Dublin City Council. The development will include a range of 39 1, 2 and 3-bedroomed homes, with a large green open space to the rear of the properties which will form part of a future riverside walk proposed

by Dublin City Council.

Both developments have been designed in collaboration with Donal Walsh Architects, with funding secured through the Housing Finance Agency and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

Commenting on the projects, Kieron Brennan, CEO of Co-operative Housing Ireland, stated, ‘We are looking forward to the completion of these projects in Cherry Orchard and Drumcondra in 2018. The provision of decent, sustainable and affordable housing for families in Dublin is sorely needed, with numbers on housing waiting lists soaring to record levels.

The collaborative approach and close partnership of Dublin City Council in developing these projects has been key to their success.’

Also in the pipeline for Co-operative Housing Ireland is a 10-unit development on Amien Street, a 33-unit development in Clonsilla, as well as a new build on North King Street. It is hoped that completion on these projects will be achieved within the next 12 to 18 months.

Co-operative Housing Ireland is an Approved Housing Body (AHB) and works closely with various stakeholders in the housing sector, including Local Authorities, Government, aspiring home owners, tenants and developers, to provide high quality social-rented and home ownership co-operative homes across the country. Since its foundation in 1973, the organisation has provided over 5,500 homes through home-ownership, shared ownership and social rented co-operatives. With its membership of democratically controlled local co-operatives, Co-operative Housing Ireland manages more than 2,200 homes across Ireland as well as providing a network of childcare services in their communities

Co-operative Housing Ireland Co-operative House, 33 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Tel: +353 1 661 2877 Fax: +353 1 661 4462 admin@cooperativehousing.ie • www.cooperativehousing.ie LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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A Legacy of Success This year is one of great significance for Grant as it marks 40 years of manufacturing excellence for the company in the plumbing and heating industry. Since its establishment in 1978, Grant has earned a trusted and well-respected reputation for providing homeowners across Ireland with innovative and reliable home heating solutions that are manufactured to the highest quality.

Over the last four decades, Grant has successfully created and launched 15 versatile and efficient heating products to the marketplace, all with their own unique offerings that have made them firm favourites with both installers and homeowners. Such products include Grant’s award-winning range of Vortex condensing oil boilers which offer customers some of the most efficient outputs on the market today, and the revolutionary Grant VortexAir Hybrid which provides homeowners with an advanced way to heat their home whilst being environmentally friendly.

Grant Founder, Stephen Grant

As one of Grant’s most popular products, the range of Vortex condensing oil boilers were the first to feature Grant’s patented condensing technology which helps capture energy normally lost during the combustion process in traditional boilers. The Vortex range boasts up to 97% efficiency ratings and can help homeowners make savings of up to 30%* on their annual heating bills. Designed with flexibility and versatility in mind, the range contains an assortment of internal, external, wall hung, boiler house and combi models suited for any situation. Reinforcing its popularity, the entire range received a coveted Which? Best Buy Oil Boilers 2017, resulting in an impressive 63 Which? Best Buys for Grant.

Reflecting on the increasing demand for eco-friendly heating products, Grant also devoted significant research and investment into the development of the Grant VortexAir Hybrid which was launched in autumn 2016 and was the first of its kind to offer homeowners an innovative and greener way to heat their home. The Hybrid combines the patented Grant Vortex oil condensing technology with the environmentally friendly benefits of the Aerona3 inverter driven air source heat pump (ASHP). The combination of these two heat sources provides the best of both worlds whilst maximising efficiency and enabling households to safeguard against unknown future energy costs.

In addition, the Hybrid is also an excellent choice for those seeking to meet part L compliance for new build projects along with the Aerona3 6, 10 and 16kW inverter range of air source heat pumps.

The technical team at Grant provide free of charge heat loss calculations to help customers select the best heating option for their project – to avail of this service email the plans and xml file of your project to heatpump@grantengineering.ie. *Savings depend on age and make of boiler

For further product information visit www.grant.eu LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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Responding effectively in extreme weather events

How Cork County Council has used a hosted, online geographic information system (GIS) to help it respond effectively to the challenges of severe weather.

Winter storms are becoming more frequent and more destructive – and every time an extreme weather event occurs, large numbers of roads can become blocked by fallen trees, floods or heavy snowfall in a very short period of time. Local authorities need to be able to quickly plan their response to the situation, prioritise the allocation of their resources and act fast to protect the public.

Cork County Council has significantly improved its ability to respond to such emergencies, by creating an online Severe Weather Map that highlights issues on the roads, in near real-time. During storms, teams in the council’s Emergency Incident Room, roads department and other service areas can all view this Severe Weather Map to see a clear picture of the extent of road disruption right across the county. The map refreshes automatically every minute, highlighting new issues as they are reported by field-based employees via a textbased messaging system that automatically updates the map and also alerts subscribers to the Cork County Alerts system.

Built on Esri’s ArcGIS Online platform, the Severe Weather Map provides Cork County Council with a single version of the truth during an emergency situation, as all council employees can see the same, accurate, up-to-date information. Managers can use the information presented in the map to make faster, well-informed decisions about how best to allocate resources to clear fallen trees at the earliest opportunity following the storm. Similarly, if managers can see that both major roads to West Cork are flooded, for example, the council’s emergency team can direct field-based teams to the area as a priority to erect signs to warn the public of the potential danger.

“With the frequency and severity of storms increasing, councils need to be prepared for dealing with them. This system has certainly assisted us with this.”

Mr Tim Lucey, Chief Executive, Cork County Council

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The availability of the ‘current situation’ version of Cork County Council’s Severe Weather Map can be communicated to the general public and emergency responders, via Twitter, Facebook, SMS and other media channels, to keep people aware of potential hazards and obstructions on the roads. By directing local citizens to the map with all the latest information, the council can help them make better choices about whether to make non-essential journeys and which routes to take. Emergency responders, such as the fire and ambulance service, can also refer to the map to see the latest status and make better decisions about the best routes to reach people in dire need.

A second version of the map is available to internal staff, enabling them to view and analyse historical data from past events.

ArcGIS Server’s time slider function allows employees to look back in time to see hot spots where the same issues have occurred in sequential extreme weather events.

They can therefore better understand the impacts of past events and use this insight to prioritise road improvements that could help to minimise disruption in the future. “You can never know for certain what the next storm will bring,” commented Mr Lucey, Chief Executive, Cork County Council. “But, this historic information enables us to look back at previous severe weather events and learn from the past.”

As ArcGIS Online is a hosted solution, it offers high availability, even in the worst of storms, which is a significant advantage for Cork County Council. “If our offices in Cork are flooded and our in-house IT systems go down, or if senior managers cannot travel into work, we can view the ArcGIS Online map from a temporary emergency centre or from home,” said Judith Vonhof, IS Project Leader at Cork County Council. “In crisis situations, it’s reassuring to know that Esri Ireland has the resources to keep our Severe Weather Map available 24/7.”

Summing up, Mr Lucey said, “With the frequency and severity of storms increasing, councils need to be prepared for dealing with them. This system has certainly assisted us with this.”

Cork County Councils’ Severe Weather Map, which supports emergency planning and decision making during and after extreme weather events

For more information contact Esri Ireland at mapsmakesense@esri-ireland.ie LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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IRISH CEMENT CELEBRATING 80 YEARS FROM 1938 TO 2018 Life in Ireland has changed dramatically over the past eighty years. In 1938 the Irish population was less than three million. Just half the population was connected to the electricity network, and less than one in ten households had radio licenses.

Cars were still a rare sight on the roads, with bicycles instead the more common form of transport, back then a new bicycle cost £5! 1938 was a significant year for the fledgling Irish state, with Ireland’s first president, Douglas Hyde inaugurated in June and the 20,000 seat Cusack Stand opened in Croke Park in August.

It was also a significant year for Irish Cement as on 23rd May 1938, Sean Lemass, then Minister for Industry and Commerce, officially opened the cement factories in Drogheda and Limerick.

Autolab in Platin

That was the culmination of a concerted effort to develop an indigenous cement industry. In 1933 the Cement Act was established, which provided the legal framework for the formation of a cement industry in Ireland. In 1934, the State approved the first cement licence and in May 1936, Cement Limited was registered as a Limited Liability Company and the two cement factories were established in Limerick and Drogheda in 1938.

Cement Limited and Roadstone Limited merged in 1970 to form CRH plc. In December 1978, the name ‘Cement Limited’ was changed to ‘Irish Cement Limited’ to reflect the long history of indigenous cement manufacture at the two factories and to more appropriately brand the Company and its products as being 100% Irish.

Irish Cement today has a skilled workforce, operating two modern energy-efficient cement factories in Platin and Limerick which manufacture high quality cement for the construction sector both in Ireland and in export markets. The company continues to modernise and adapt both factories to reflect best practice and technology to meet customer demand for high quality products and ensure the long-term sustainability of the operations.

The importance placed by Irish Cement on continuous improvement over eighty years has resulted in products of the highest quality and consistency. Irish Cement products, long regarded as the benchmark for quality in Ireland, are also considered market leaders in high profile UK and mainland European construction markets.

Dedicated, expert technical support to customers and the broader industry has been a feature of Irish Cement’s service since the early days of the company. As construction techniques evolve and technical requirements become increasingly sophisticated, this expert technical support is more important than ever.

The development of our modern way of life in Ireland is closely linked to the improvements in housing, transport and infrastructure, where cement and concrete continue to play a vital role. Irish Cement rightly remains proud of this close association over the past eighty years with the development of our modern Irish economy; not many products can claim to have formed the foundation of our nation! Generations of construction workers have relied on the tried and trusted performance of Irish Cement products.

Now eighty years on Irish Cement is well positioned to continue providing the construction market with high quality cement and technical support as Ireland builds its future.

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Transpor t & Haulage Road Construction & Drainage Crushing & Aggregates Plant Hire & Ear thworks

Tur loughmore, Athenr y, Co. Galway P:+353 91 797750 M:+353 87 267 7842 e: dar renos@statcroft.ie w: www.statcroft.ie

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Minister announces enhanced Roads investment (€486m) following Capital Review inister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross TD, has announced a significantly enhanced road investment programme for the period 2018 to 2021. The announcement is following the conclusion of the Capital Plan Review process from October. Overall an additional €486 million was secured for roads over that 4 year period bringing total roads investment for the period to €4.26 billion.

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Speaking Minister Ross said; “I was delighted to secure such an increased allocation during the Capital review process, the largest at the time. With this increase we are able to commence additional roads projects, such as; the Sligo Western distributor road, the Tralee northern relief road and the Killaloe bypass and R494 upgrade. The commencement of the main contract for the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor road in Limerick will also be undertaken and will be critical to the consolidation and regeneration of the Moyross area.

In addition a package of extra measures can now be implemented including the improved management of the M50 through the use of variable speed limits, reduced energy usage for route lighting, minor improvement works and community involvement programmes together with the assessment of potential future projects.”

The original capital plan projects remain a top priority and these projects continue to be advanced and a construction schedule is in place for the projects with planning permission. Construction has already started on the M7 Naas to Newbridge motorway widening, Sallins By-Pass and Osberstown Interchange scheme together with the Grange Castle Business park approach roads (Adamstown & Nangor road upgrades). The implementation of the rolling programme of improvements on the N56 in Donegal is also continuing. These projects are all to be welcomed as we try to maintain growth across the country.”

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Under the Capital Plan Review the following additional projects/programmes are due to be commenced: Projects • Sligo Western Distributor road • Tralee Northern Relief Road • R498 Realignment at Latteragh • Killaloe Bypass/R494 Upgrade • Coonagh to Knockalisheen- Main construction contract • Listowel Bypass Programmes/Planning/Other • M50 Variable Speed Limits to improve safety and protect capacity • Energy Reduction Programme in respect of public lighting across the national road network • Package of resilience and community involvement measures on regional & local roads • M11 Capacity Enhancement works on a phased basis • Minor realignment works programme to improve safety • Cork to Limerick -planning/design • Appraisal & prioritisation of various major projects • Contribute to the first phase (from New Buildings in Derry to North of Strabane) of the A5 upgrade

Over the next few years other projects included in the Capital Plan will move to construction on a phased basis. Such projects include: • N4 Colloney to Castlebaldwin • N8 Dunkettle Interchange • N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom • N5 Westport to Turlough • N59 Moycullen Bypass • Shannon Crossing Bridge at Killaloe • Athy Southern Distributor Road • Bettystown to Laytown Link Road • Sligo Eastern Garavogue Link Road • Portlaoise Southern Relief Road • Dingle Relief Road - Phase 4 Design/planning work is also continuing on the following projects which need planning approval: • N28 Cork to Ringaskiddy • N2 Slane Bypass • N6 Galway City Ring Road • N21/N69 Adare to Foynes • N20 Mallow Relief Road

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VOKÈRA CONTINUES TO EVOLVE okèra by Riello, the leading heating manufacturer, has recently launched a completely new range of ultra-efficient, high performance boilers. Neil Gaffney, Managing Director of Vokèra Ireland, takes a closer look at the new ‘evolve’ series and explains why it could be ideal for local authorities.

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The new evolve combines Vokèra’s extensive knowledge of appliance design, performance and servicing to deliver a superior and cutting-edge boiler range. The feature-rich evolve family comprises both combi and system boilers, with a variety of outputs to suit virtually all domestic application. It offers features and functionality that are focussed on appealing to both landlords and tenants alike.

One of evolve’s key attributes is that it is extremely easy to use. At the heart of evolve is the REC10 liquid crystal display user interface. The full text menu driven control enables the landlord and tenant to quickly navigate through the parameters and settings, including programming the heating on and off times as desired.

The display will also provide excellent diagnostics in the event of a fault.

Another advantage for local authorities is the speed and simplicity of installation. A reduced height flue bend and a rear-flue option offer time and space saving advantages and a pre-fixing jig is supplied as standard with a built-in filling loop on combi versions. This ensures that the boiler can be quickly and easily fitted after first fix and pre-plumbing of services has been completed.

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The footprint of the evolve 24 and 28 combi models is especially shallow, making it ideal for a discreet cupboard fit. It also includes an embedded time clock, integral frost protection, concealed service valves and pump kick function. The boiler can be adjusted to operate with either NG or LPG and no extra kit is needed, so in off-grid areas evolve can prove an attractive option.

We add value with evolve in other areas too. As an added safety feature, the boilers incorporate an excess CO Alarm, which will monitor the level of CO being produced and will fail-safe if or when excessive CO is being emitted.

The entire evolve range is ErP A rated and models feature a space heating efficiency of 94%. By adding Vokèra’s BeSMART Internet connected thermostat to the system, then you will be providing homebuyers with an A+ heating package under ErP. As the OpenTherm protocol is embedded in the evolve range, BeSMART will act as a Class VI control adding 4% to the heating system efficiency.

Simple to use controls are a must on any boiler – and can also help improve the performance of the heating system for your tenants, without costing the earth – this is where BeSMART is ideal. This smart thermostat allows them to change and adapt their heating systems at their convenience through the BeSMART App. As a result, they can programme individual settings, manage different zones and even control the heating remotely using the app on their phone. The App is available on both iOS and Android and works on a smartphone, tablet or desktop computer via an Internet browser. Users can adjust the temperature, programme in settings and even check the boiler operating conditions.

This remote monitoring is also useful for external monitoring and control of the heating in retirement dwellings and social housing applications.

The evolve combi boilers also have a ‘comparative hot water efficiency’ of 77% under SAP, making hot water production highly efficient and an attractive option for new build projects and thanks to the development of our next generation plate heat exchanger technology, the evolve operates in condensing mode during the production of hot water, and also boast exceptional domestic hot water flow rates.

In order to emphasise and underline the efficiency of the evolve, Vokèra has also incorporated an efficiency Indicator on the LCD display whenever the screensaver is active. This visual scrolling banner displays 'High' or 'Optimal' efficiency, according to the appliance’s current operating condition and temperature.

The appliances have ACC (Active Combustion Control), which means they can adapt to the air/gas mix according to the gas quality available. Meanwhile, the pressure transducer enables system pressure to be displayed electronically via the display and also monitored remotely via BeSMART. Fundamentally, this evolve delivers warmth, comfort and efficiency as well as ease of specification and installation benefits with long-term reliability. The boilers are extremely efficient and offer what we believe is class leading performance, with a range of new and exciting specification features.

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Blanchardstown Regional Drainage Scheme progressing to help protect the environment in the Tolka Valley Approximately €50 million will be invested to upgrade sewer network rish Water is submitting a compulsory purchase order to An Bord Pleanála to acquire the necessary lands to upgrade the existing sewer network serving Blanchardstown and surrounding catchment areas in Mulhuddart and Castleknock in Dublin, in Dunboyne, Clonee, Ashbourne and Ratoath in County Meath and in Kildare. The proposed project will be located along the Tolka River Valley in Blanchardstown between Parslickstown and Mill Road and a new pumping station will be constructed at Waterville close to Mill Road.

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The project represents an investment of approximately €50 million by Irish Water. The investment will expand the existing capacity of the wastewater network in the area to facilitate existing and future residential and commercial growth. The project will also benefit the environment as the increased sewer capacity will reduce the frequency and volume of overflows of untreated wastewater from the network into the River Tolka and will support the future economic and social development in Blanchardstown and surrounding areas in Meath and Kildare.

Construction of approximately 3.2kms of new sewer pipelines using trenchless tunnelling techniques The proposed project will include the construction of approximately 3.2kms of new sewer pipelines using trenchless tunnelling techniques alongside the existing sewer network between Parslickstown and Mill Road in Blanchardstown. The construction of underground flow balancing storage tanks with a total combined capacity of approximately 30,000m³. A new below ground pumping station with above ground control room will be constructed on the site of the existing Tolka Valley Park Pumping Station at Waterville near the Mill Road.

A new control building to house all electrical switchgear, control equipment, an odour control unit, a generator room and ESB sub-station.

During the project local sewer and utility diversions will be carried out to facilitate construction of the flow balancing storage tanks and Tolka Valley Park Pumping Station. Once the proposed project is complete the area will be fully reinstated to match the original condition and associated site works.

Existing network does not have capacity to serve growing population The existing sewer network (9C sewer) was originally constructed in the Tolka Valley in the 1970s to serve Blanchardstown, Mulhuddart and Castleknock. Since its construction the catchment area has undergone significant growth and as a result the sewer now serves Blanchardstown and a number of additional towns in County Meath including Dunboyne, Clonee, Ashbourne and Ratoath. The existing sewer network does not have the capacity to serve the needs of this fast growing population and is subject to flows which results in untreated wastewater overflows from the sewer network to the River Tolka.

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Irish Water carried out site investigation works in Autumn 2016 on the proposed route, which have informed the design, construction methods and contributed to the Environmental Impact Statement. Following the submission of a planning application in May 2017, the scheme was granted planning permission in July 2017 subject to 14 planning conditions.

Commenting on the project John Joyce, Wastewater Infrastructure Programme Regional Lead at Irish Water, said “Irish Water is pleased to be progressing this important project for Blanchardstown and the surrounding areas in Dublin, Meath and Kildare. The proposed project will expand the existing capacity of the sewer network in the area to facilitate existing and future residential and commercial growth. Irish Water is committed to investing in the sewer treatment infrastructure in Blanchardstown to support the needs of this fast growing population. The investment will benefit the environment as once completed there will be fewer overflows of untreated water to the River Tolka.”

For more information, please visit our page on the Blanchardstown Regional Drainage Scheme.

If you have further queries or comments about this project, you can email our Project Team at BRDS9CSewer@water.ie.

Decision welcomed from An Bord Pleanála for covered reservoir at Stillorgan Plan will secure drinking water supply for 200,000 people rish Water welcomes the decision from An Bord Pleanála for the new covered reservoir at Stillorgan. The Stillorgan Reservoir site has supplied drinking water to the community for 150 years. A new covered reservoir is essential to safeguard the quality of the drinking water for 200,000 customers. The development includes the draining of one of the reservoirs and the construction of a new covered reservoir. Once the new covered reservoir is operational, the other two open reservoirs will be decommissioned, and landscaping of the site will take place. The new covered reservoir will have the capacity to support future growth to 2031. The remainder of the site will be retained for future water services infrastructure to secure the long-term supply of drinking water for the community.

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Irish Water has already invested €3.4 million to improve the disinfection of drinking water stored in the Stillorgan Reservoir enabling the removal of the Stillorgan Reservoir from the EPA’s Remedial Action List.

The investment in a new covered reservoir is a significant additional measure to protect and upgrade the water quality in the reservoir, and the EPA and HSE support the need to implement this longer term solution for the benefit of the community. The site will remain an active treated water storage area and consequently public access will not be permitted. It is anticipated that construction will commence in 2018 and take approximately two years to complete.

Unacceptable contamination risk to public health The existing Stillorgan site is one of the last remaining open service reservoirs of treated drinking water of its kind in Europe. Treated drinking water exposed to the environment presents an unacceptable contamination risk to public health as the water supply is vulnerable to contaminated from wildlife, animal waste, airborne material and pollutants entering the supply from people accessing the water. Irish Water lodged a planning application to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council following a six week non-statutory public consultation undertaken by Irish Water in relation to the proposed new covered reservoir, where members of the public and interested stakeholders came along to the events to meet the project team who were on hand to answer any questions on the project. The points raised in the consultation were taken into account by Irish Water in the preparation of the planning application. This included landscaping of the site which incorporates a green roof on the reservoir and full landscaping of all decommissioned areas.

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Planning permission was granted by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council on 1 June 2017 for the construction of a new covered reservoir, subject to the temporary provision of publicly accessible open space on an area of landscaped lands at the Stillorgan Reservoir site. Irish Water appealed the planning condition as the locations of the decommissioned reservoirs need to be maintained for future water services infrastructure to secure drinking water for the community and Irish Water is pleased that An Bord Pleanála has approved the planning application to ensure that the Utility will retain the entire site for this future development.

Committed to safeguarding the water supply for the community John Prendeville, Project Manager with Irish Water, said “Irish Water is pleased that An Bord Pleanála has granted planning permission for the new covered reservoir at the existing Stillorgan Reservoir site. The locations of the decommissioned reservoirs will be maintained for future water services infrastructure to secure drinking water for the community and Irish Water needs to retain the entire site for this future development.

Irish Water is committed to safeguarding the water supply for the community and providing a long-term solution for the safe and sustainable management of the water supply for the next 15 years. We will engage fully with all stakeholders as we continue to work to progress this priority project. We are committed to investing approximately €80 million to ensure the upgrade to the reservoir provides the long term solution that is required to secure the water supply. The Stillorgan Reservoir has served the community for over 150 years and this project will ensure it continues to do so”.

Water network upgrade in Rathgormack to ensure a more reliable and secure supply Irish Water, in partnership with Waterford City and County Council, has begun a project to upgrade the water supply network in the Rathgormack area which will result in much improved water supply for people in the area.

This project includes the installation of 9.5km of new water main and the upgrade of the Rathgormack water treatment plant as well as the decommissioning of five older water treatment plants in the area which are no longer fit for purpose.

As a result of this €750,000 investment, residents and businesses in Rathgormack, Monadiha, Clonea Power, Whitestown and the surrounding areas will see a marked improvement in both the quality and reliability of their water supply. In recent years there have been frequent disruptions to supply in these areas caused by leaks and burst pipes due to the age and poor condition of the existing network, which this project will address.

The water treatment plants that will be decommissioned are at Monadiha, Feddans, Clonea Power, Clonea O’Sullivan and Whitestown. By taking these old plants out of service and improving the water mains network in the area it will be possible to serve all these areas from the Rathgormack treatment plant, which will be upgraded as part of this project.

David Sharry, Capital Programmes Regional Lead with Irish Water, said: “There have been problems with the water supply in this area for some time due to the age of the network and the poor condition of much of the infrastructure. By removing these outmoded treatment plants from service and upgrading the supply network, we will be able to supply the entire area from one treatment plant. This is much more efficient and cost-effective and will ensure that local residents and businesses have a much more reliable water supply. It will also mean that the network has the capacity to accommodate future growth and development.”

“Irish Water would like to thank local residents and businesses in advance for their patience while this essential work is being carried out, particularly in areas where temporary road closures are necessary.”

Construction work will get underway on January 3 and is estimated that it will take approximately seven months to complete. During that time, the project team will work closely with the local communities to minimise any disruption to customers.

The work sections will be limited to short sections and traffic management arrangements will be put in place to minimise impact on customers. The works may involve some short-term water shut offs and the project team will ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48 hours prior notice of any planned water shut offs.

For more information, please see our service & supply section or contact the Irish Water customer service line at 1850 278 278.

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Upgrade to Tinure Wastewater Treatment Plant, Co. Louth Upgrade will benefit the environment by reducing overflows to White River On Monday, 22 January, Irish Water will commence work to upgrade the Tinure Wastewater Treatment Plant in Co. Louth. The €260,000 investment includes the construction of a new storm water holding tank and pumping station and the installation of new inlet screening at the wastewater treatment plant. These works will ensure that there is more efficient treatment at the plant. The new storm water tank will increase the capacity at the plant and reduce the risk of overflows at times of storms and heavy rainfall. This will benefit the environment as the investment will reduce the risk of overflows to the White River. The contract was awarded to EMR and work is expected to be completed in summer 2018.

Commenting on the project Peter Flood, Capital Programmes Lead, East and Midlands Region said “Our investment in the Tinure Wastewater Treatment plant will increase the efficiency of the plant and reduced the risk of overflows at times of heavy rainfall. This investment will benefit the environment as the risk to overflows into the White River will be reduced. Irish Water is committed to investing in Ireland’s wastewater infrastructure to protect the environment by improving the quality of the treated discharge water from our wastewater treatment plants.”

Protecting our coasts Irish Water collects wastewater from over 1,000 separate communities connected to the wastewater network and treats around 1,600 million litres of wastewater daily before discharging it back into our rivers, harbours and coastal areas. By 2021, as outlined in the Irish Water Business Plan, we plan to have all discharges to our rivers and seas treated before being released. Our programme of work will include not only improving capacity to ensure Irish Water can facilitate the growth of the new homes and industry but also protecting our coasts, which has a huge impact on tourism and local businesses.

Sligo Water Mains and Sewer Rehabilitation project ahead of schedule Project will ensure improved supply to all customers Irish Water can confirm that over 86% of the Sligo Water Mains and Sewer Rehabilitation project is complete. All pipe laying works are ahead of schedule and forecast to finish by end of March 2018 in advance of the original contract dates.

Working in partnership with Sligo County Council and Contractors Ward & Burke Ltd, we would again like to thank the businesses, residents and shoppers in Sligo City for their continued patience and co-operation while the project progresses.

The water main rehabilitation contract works represent a €6.8 million investment by Irish Water in Sligo and will ensure an improved supply to all customers by reducing leakage and bursts. The project will also deliver financial savings over the medium and long term through reduced maintenance costs associated with the upgraded pipeline.

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Completion of pipe laying works During the months of November and December, pipe laying works were completed in further areas including Old Market Street, Connelly Street, Union Street, Lower Quay Street, Holborn Hill, Cemetery Road, Bridge Street, Stephen Street while Quay Street was completed in the first weeks of January.

Pipe laying works are currently progressing along Fatima Avenue, Wine Street (night works), Hyde Bridge and Lower Knox Street (due for completion by mid-February). Pipe laying works on Stephen Street car park are also expected to be completed by February.

This will bring to a conclusion all pipe laying works under the Ward & Burke contract.

Between now and the end of March, minor works will be ongoing across the city and resurfacing works will begin mid-February to the end of March, weather dependant. These will take place on Wine Street (night works), Stephen Street (night works) and Fatima Avenue. Road closures will be in place for resurfacing works.

Sligo County Council along with the contractor will continue to liaise with An Garda Siochána to implement traffic management plans so as to minimise traffic disruption.

The overall project involves the replacement and rehabilitation of approximately 8.7km of ageing water mains.

It also includes the installation of 1.5km of foul and storm sewers in the Pearse Road area and the replacement of all service connections including any lead services encountered.

Reducing network leakage to less than 38% by 2021 We are committed to reducing network leakage to less than 38% by 2021 and this investment will help us meet this target. In relation to other investments in the Sligo Urban area, we are also pleased to announce that the separate O’Connell Street Sewer Re-Lining Project, undertaken by Carty Contractors Ltd., is complete.

Works have just commenced by contractors McGovern Plant Ltd. in the Ballytivnan/Holborn Hill area to replace a defective 1km stretch of ageing water main along which there have been frequent bursts over the last couple of years.

Source Civil Ltd. was appointed the contractor for the Kilsellagh to Ballinode Cast Iron Watermains Replacement project. These works are programmed to commence in February and will continue until July. The works represent a further €1.1 million investment by Irish Water in Sligo and will ensure an improved supply to all customers by improving water quality, reducing leakage and bursts.

Irish Water investment plan All of these projects in Sligo form part of Irish Water’s investment plan. Works have been prioritised to address the most critical issues in line with commitments outlined in Irish Water’s Business Plan. Delivery of the business plan will involve a €5.5 billion investment in capital spending on drinking water and wastewater quality and capacity and new infrastructure up to 2021.

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Statement By Minister Eoghan Murphy TD on Affordable Homes Initiative Affordable Homes When I was appointed as Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, I made a commitment that housing affordability would be a central focus of my work.

We are determined as a Government to increase the stock of social housing by 50,000 homes by 2021 under Rebuilding Ireland, with money securely ring-fenced to do this. After our first 18 months of work, we are ahead of target. Yet there are people in our communities who are not eligible for social housing, but who also cannot afford to rent or buy their own home.

Home ownership is an important aspiration in a Republic of Opportunity. Opportunity is also about choice, and the Government recognises that some people want and need the flexibility that renting can bring. When more and more of a person’s or a household’s disposable income is going towards paying their rent or saving for a mortgage, or both, their opportunities are limited.

As tens of thousands of new homes are built across the country over the coming years, we have to ensure that they are affordable. At the moment we are doing this by removing costs for builders and developers so they can deliver more affordable homes. Some of the actions we’ve taken to do this include: • a new fast-track planning process for large developments and apartments to speed up decisions and provide greater certainty for developers; • a dedicated infrastructure fund to open up land for development more quickly and enable developers to offer homes at reduced prices; • new apartment guidelines that will allow more homes to be built on a site, while also removing unnecessary costs such as expensive-to-provide car parking spaces where they are not needed; and • a new State funded bank to provide competitive loans for builders, keeping their costs low.

Each of these innovations will facilitate the construction of thousands of new homes across the country at more affordable prices. Still, as a Government we recognise that we have to do more; we have to guarantee that homes are affordable for the buyer and renter.

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We are doing this in three ways: 1 Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan 2. Affordable Purchase Scheme 3. Affordable Rental Scheme Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is a new Government-backed mortgage for first-time buyers.

It will be available nationwide from local authorities from Thursday, 1 February 2018.

The loan can be used both for new and secondhand properties, or to build your own home. In line with Central Bank rules, a person or couple can borrow up to 90% of the market value of the property. Under the loan, they can choose a fixed rate of 2%-2.25% interest for 25 - 30 years, so they will have absolute certainty of their repayments over the lifetime of the loan.

What this means essentially is that a person or couple can purchase a home, while ensuring that they can still keep their monthly repayments to one third of their net disposable income – with no risk of their mortgage rate rising and so no threat to their ability to afford repayments, giving them certainty and security.

To avail of the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, your annual gross income cannot exceed €50,000 as a single applicant, or €75,000 for joint applicants. There’s also a cap on the value of the home you can buy. In the Greater Dublin Area, Cork and Galway, the maximum market value is €320,000. In the rest of the country, it is €250,000.

So, for example, a person earning €40,000 a year and living in Mayo could afford to buy a house worth €224,920, provided they had the deposit of €22,400. They could then borrow €198,000 from their local authority and their monthly repayments would be in the region of €858 a month, or 33% of their Net Disposable Income.

As a second example, a couple earning €75,000 and living in Dublin could afford to buy a house worth €320,000, provided they had €32,000 as a deposit between them. They could then borrow €288,000 from their local authority and their monthly repayments would be €1,221, or 24% of their Net Disposable Income.

Up to the end of October of last year, we saw that two-thirds (or over 5,300 homes) of the overall number of houses purchased by first-time buyers in the Greater Dublin Area, Cork and Galway were purchased for less than €320,000. Across the rest of the country, we saw that just over 90% (or 3,380 homes) of the overall number of houses purchased by first-time buyers were purchased for less than €250,000.

Other eligibility criteria apply, for instance, you must meet prudential lending analysis (i.e. must demonstrate that you are able to afford the loan repayments) and that you have had two insufficient offers or refusals for a mortgage from two lending institutions. A Home Loan Calculator is available on www.rebuildingirelandhomeloan.ie (link is external) so you can get an idea of how much you could borrow and what the repayment rates might be. This website is now live.

Affordable Purchase Scheme A new Affordable Purchase Scheme is a national scheme that will see affordable homes built initially on State land, in co-operation with local authorities.

The same income limits as under the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan will apply for applicants to be eligible to purchase homes under the scheme – your annual gross income cannot exceed €50,000 as a single applicant, or €75,000 for joint applicants. Further qualifying criteria will be determined in consultation with the Housing Agency, the Oireachtas, local authorities and other stakeholders, and will be reflected in the regulations to launch the scheme next month.

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The purpose of this scheme is to enable people to get a home of their own, supported by and in partnership with the State. With local authorities providing the land at reduced or no cost to facilitate affordable homes, the price of the affordable house will be discounted and the State will retain an equity share in the house, relative to the discount from the full price. So for example, a house that costs €250,000 may be made available to purchase at €200,000. The equity share can be paid off, interest free, by the purchaser at a later date. Or if the owner wants to sell early, the State can take that portion back at the time of sale.

Initial sites and finance have already been provided for affordable housing, through the €25m serviced sites fund announced in Budget 2018, and the €200m LIHAF infrastructural investment fund, which was extended in Budget 2018; as well as through projects of scale underway in places like O’Devaney Gardens in Dublin City Centre, to give one example. We have four major ready-to-go sites in Dublin being advanced through procurement with construction likely to start before year-end. Currently, the potential for more than 3,000 new homes has been projected under this scheme. Our ambition is for at least 10,000.

We are working to increase the ambition of this programme to see more affordable homes from State-owned sites and I have asked local authorities to come back to me with ambitious proposals for an affordable programme on their lands.

Funds built up from the equity retained in the affordable homes will be used to invest in building more affordable homes. The Government will also use its new Residential Land Management and Development Group, led by Minister of State Damien English, to monitor and accelerate the delivery of more affordable housing.

Affordable Rental Scheme While house prices are still well off their peak nationally, at 71% of what they were in 2007, rents in places like Dublin have surpassed their 2007 peak by 14%. To tackle this, the Government has: • •

introduced Rent Pressure Zones, to effectively cap rent increases at 4% a year where the zones apply; and introduced new ‘Build to Rent’ and ‘co-living’ guidelines to encourage development and investment in more rental accommodation at more affordable rents.

Still, we recognise that we can do more, and so a further way of addressing affordability of homes is through an Affordable Rental Scheme. This will be done using a cost rental model. Cost rental means that the rent paid covers the cost of building the property, together with ongoing management and maintenance charges, but with a minimal profit margin included. This provides greater certainty around the rent, regardless of what is happening in the market.

A pilot project on this initiative is currently being progressed in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, in conjunction with the Housing Agency and an Approved Housing Body, using publicly-owned land. We expect this pilot to go to the market later this year to secure a development partner and the best value for the State and prospective renters.

Our ambition is to make this a major part of our housing system, though this will take time to deliver. Currently, discussions are ongoing with the European Investment Bank about cost rental and other affordable models that could work in Ireland. This work will progress in tandem with the first pilot.

Other affordable rental models are being examined for delivery through the infrastructural investment fund. For example, in the South Docks project in Cork, an affordable rental model is currently being developed which would see the Local Authority taking a proportion of the units in a Build to Rent development as affordable units for a period of 25 years.

Thousands of new homes are being built every year. In 2017, over 17,500 new homes commenced construction, three times as many as in 2016. A huge amount of effort and resources are already being invested in the construction of new social homes to help those who need our help the most. The Government recognises the need to broaden its focus and priorities to bridge the affordability gap that has arisen for many households. We see these initiatives as important additional steps in building capacity and ambition within the housing system to create a more affordable and sustainable housing sector and ease the financial burden and uncertainty on many people.

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Ireland’s premier Passive Fire Protection Specialist – Introducing Flame Stop Ltd. lame Stop Ltd commenced in business in 2014, with a bold vision to become Ireland’s premier installer of passive fire protection systems. We are a young vibrant company dedicated to providing passive fire protection solutions (also known as Fire Stopping), meeting the needs of any project, regardless of size. In addition to our fire stopping service we are qualified to act as PSCS (project supervisor construction stage) on contracts.

With experience in each sector of the construction industry, our team strives to provide clients with a professional, reliable, cost effective and efficient service.

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We already have a proven track record of building lasting business relationships. Routinely going to great lengths to ensure that our clients receive an unrivalled service. We provide Fire Stopping services in The Greater Dublin Area and throughout Ireland Flame Stop Ltd – Management Team Our management team is comprised of managerial and technical experts with substantial industry experience, supported by fully trained site technicians. We are committed and qualified in providing a professional service to fulfil project/ client deadlines, specifications and budget requirements.

Administration We have qualified personnel with many years or experience in company management, financial management and quality management (ISO 9001:2015) providing a structured, procedure driven system to address all aspects of company and project management.

Technical Expertise We have qualified, industry specific fire engineers with an in-depth knowledge of the service and the ability to provide bespoke solutions in all areas of passive fire protection.

Cost Effective Solutions We have qualified quantity surveyors and contract managers, with many years of experience in the construction industry, capable of providing cost effective quotations and completion of projects within budget.

Site Technicians We have fully trained and experienced technicians on site (Fire Stoppers) who are committed to providing an efficient service, which is supervised and inspected by our qualified fire engineers, ensuring a high quality of service and a smooth and efficient hand over to the client.

Systems We have industry specific software systems that enable management to monitor contracts on an ongoing basis and control productivity and budgets. We offer our clients access to our online system providing a fully traceable, recorded and photographic evidence for all works completed Accreditation: We are members of ASFP and are accredited by Firas and, BM Trada and ISO 9001: 2015.

Flamestop Ltd for Intumescent Paint We consider ourselves to be Ireland’s best provider of Intumescent paint and painting services. Painting a structure with Intumescent paint is often the best way to create a lasting fire seal. We have the expertise and manpower to manage intumescent painting projects of any scale.

Flamestop Ltd for Fire Doors Flame Stop Ltd are an Accredited Fire Door installer in The Republic of Ireland (Accredited by BMTRADA). We carry out surveys of existing doors and report on compliance of all aspects of the door i.e. ironmongery, vision panels, seals etc. We offer solutions to upgrade the existing doors or recommendations to replace doors to ensure compliance with legislation.

Flamestop Ltd for Fire Dampers Services Flame Stop Ltd will survey existing dampers and issue a report providing bespoke fire damper solutions for specific locations.

We also have the expertise to recommend solutions for the installation of new damper where required.

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CHAINSAW TRAINING – A CONTINUATION OF SERVICE THROUGH A REPUTABLE PROVIDER FRS Training are delighted to announce the official launch of their Essential Chainsaw Training courses to continue and expand the services that you have grown accustomed to in previous years.

Spear headed by Eugene Doyle – Business Development Manager with 25 years’ experience as former head of Coillte Training & Safety Services, the range of courses will provide a choice of certification from City and Guilds, LANTRA and QQI. FRS Training have announced that in response to the more frequent inclement weather conditions now prevailing in Ireland, which is resulting in the increase in incidents of individual windblown trees down on public roads throughout the country, that it can now offer customers Emergency Tree Works Courses tailored specifically towards operatives who must deal with these type of incidents.

FRS Training is now in a position to become your chainsaw training partner and invites you to make contact with Eugene to get your training on track.

FRS Training chainsaw courses range from Beginners and Intermediate to Advanced and Specialised.

Courses offered: Basic Chainsaw Training: This Training covers the following modules: Chainsaw Maintenance Chainsaw Crosscutting Chainsaw felling up to 380mm Candidates will learn the skill of maintenance, crosscutting and felling small trees with the highest safety techniques available.

Advanced Chainsaw Training: This Training covers the following modules: Chainsaw Felling over 380mm Severing of Uprooted or Windblown Trees Candidates will learn the skill of dealing with medium and large trees. Also dealing with individual and multiple windblown trees Specialist Chainsaw Training: This Training covers the following module Emergency Tree Work Operations

The FRS Training Chainsaw Team ready to provide certified City & Guilds, LANTRA and QQI Chainsaw Courses around the Country.

Back Row L-R: Vincent Nally, Tom Duffy, Seamus O’ Riann, Noel Fitzgibbon.

Front row L-R: Kevin O’Connor, Seamus Whelan, Geraldine Carroll, Eugene Doyle, Jim Dockery.

Candidates will learn the skill of dealing with a blown tree, partially blocking roadway and public areas with emphasis on Health and Safety techniques. This module is particularly ideal for Local Authorities operatives who deal with more and more windblow trees due to the ever changing Irish weather.

Why use FRS Training for Chainsaw Training?

• Specialised dedicated training co-ordinators with 25 years + experience • Expert Instructors with 25 years + experience • Fully co-ordinated customised training • Choice of awarding bodies • Advice on Personal Protective Equipment • Convenient local training sites • Expert health and safety course providers

Contact: Eugene Doyle, FRS Training Business Development Manager on (086) 8117986 or Linda Crampton on (0505) 31578 LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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PRODUCT PRODUCTinfo info

Moloney & Associates is an Occupational Hygiene Training Association (OHTA) Approved Training Provider and offers a range of international OHTA courses. We are also an Institute of Acoustics Accredited Training Centre.

Our international courses are 5-day taught programmes that provide practical, hands-on training by experienced tutors. The examinations and awards are administered by the BOHS and include: • • • •

W501 - Measurement of Hazardous Substances W503 - Noise – Measurement and Effects W507 - Health Effects of Hazardous Substances W201 - Fundamentals of Occupational Hygiene Courses are arranged at dedicated training centres and at clients’ sites.

Details of these and other courses may be had by contacting Valerie at 021 4374333

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FRONT COVER LAN 36 No 6 15/02/2018 11:27 Page 3

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