Lucan News 18.02.19 by Newsgroup

18th February 2019

THOSE IN NEED OF HOME CARE PACKAGES ARE LET DOWN AGAIN

Seán Crowe T.D. has criticised the Government for its failure to provide provisions for much needed home care packages for families struggling to take care of a loved one in a home setting. The local TD was speaking after he raised the case of a 93 year old constituent who was approved for 21 hours of home care but the HSE informed her family that they didn’t have the finances to provide the home care package.

Deputy Seán Crowe: “A 93 year old constituent of mine was in hospital after a recent illness and the social worker said that 21 hours of home care would be awarded to this family. The family were then told there is currently no funding available for their loved one. “I raised the case in a parliamentary question with the Minister for Health and he said it was a matter for the HSE, but the HSE was not in a position to give me the information on these particular 21

hours. I feel sick to my stomach that someone is left in this situation, where the family are left helpless without supports and left to carry the financial burden on their own. “This is not an isolated case. There are more than 200 people in Dublin South West waiting for the HSE to provide the finances so they cannot get home care packages. “It does not make any economic sense to leave people in expensive acute or respite care

beds if the family wants to take them home. It is distressing for the patients and their families. It also puts the patient at greater risk of cross infection. “I raised the issue in the Dáil but the Government response was less than satisfactory and revealed that this is something that will not be dealt with any time soon. That translates into a situation where families are being asked to leave a loved one in a care setting where they are clearly distressed and worried. Ironically they are then viewed by officialdom as somehow being a bed blocker. “Clearly there is something wrong with a system that denies patient the opportunity to recover or spend their remaining days in the comfort of their home, where they have had so many happy memories surrounded by family, neighbours, and friends. There is plenty of money floating around Government these days, but the sick and vulnerable are unfortunately not on any priority or urgent list.”

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FURTHER DELAYS ON LUCAN SCHOOL EXTENSION John Curran T.D.has called on the Minister for Education to urgently move to deliver the much needed extension at Lucan Community College. Deputy Curran was speaking after receiving a reply recently to a Parliamentary Question on the matter, he said, “I am very disappointed to learn of yet another delay with this project.

The Minister has informed me that due to the resignation of the previous Design Team’s Quantity Surveyor, any progress that was planned will be delayed until March 2019, when a new Quantity Surveyor will be replaced. “Lucan has seen a

significant increase in population in recent years and the school’s facilities are almost 30 years old and are in need of urgent renovation to accommodate this increase. “To date the school has been forced to accommodate that increase with temporary accommodation and which does not meet the needs of a modern educational environment. “The promised renovation works are currently at stage 2 B and the target date for the extension and renovation to be completed was September 2018 yet development of the extension work at Lucan

Community College has been halted yet again.

“It continues to remain unclear as to when the project will receive approval to move to the next stage of development, never mind a completion date. This is very worrying for students, parents, staff and the entire school community at Lucan Community College.

approval for this project to proceed passed stage 2B. I will be further raising this

matter with the Minister to ensure that the young people in our community

receive the best quality of learning possible,” concluded Deputy Curran.

32ND DAFFODIL DAY LAUNCH

“Lucan Community College has a long-standing reputation throughout the community however; the school will no longer be in a position to meet demands in enrolment without provision of a suitable building. “The Minister must seriously prioritise this issue and give

Published by: Newsgroup, Unit 3 Floor 2 St. Dominics Shopping Centre, St. Dominics Road, Tallaght, Dublin, D24 HK49. Titles: Tallaght News, Clondalkin News, Lucan News and Rathcoole & Saggart News Distributed by: Local Post Co. Printed by: Meath Chronicle Contact Details: Website www.newsgroup.ie

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RTE Weather and National Lottery presenter Nuala Carey helped the Irish Cancer Society launch its 32nd Daffodil Day at an event in Dublin, where the charity revealed it needs to raise €4million this Daffodil Day to meet ever-increasing demands for support. Daffodil Day 2019, proudly supported by Boots Ireland, takes place on March 22nd. Members of the public are urged get involved now at www.cancer.ie. Pictured at the launch is Bernadette Lavery, MD, Boots Ireland, Sarah Murray and her son Séan, who was born following her cancer treatment and daughter Sadie (5), Nuala Carey and Averil Power, Chief Executive, Irish Cancer Society. Picture Andres Poveda

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€4MILLION IN FUNDING TO ASSIST THE REPAIR OF REGIONAL AND LOCAL ROADS

Over €4 million in funding has been allocated to assist the repair of regional and local roads in South Dublin, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Frances Fitzgerald said: “I warmly welcome the additional funding support of €4,018,000 to assist South Dublin County

Council in progressing repairs to regional and local roads. 2019 will see a further significant increase in grant funding

for regional and local roads, which I’m delighted to see. “Recent extreme weather events have had a major impact on the regional

EYE TESTS PROVIDED FOR LOCAL YOUTHREACH STUDENTS Specsavers Liffey Valley recently visited a group of young adults from the local Youthreach school in Leixlip to provide eye tests and expert advice. The staff at Specsavers Liffey Valley thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them, conducting check-ups and providing them with eye health information. Speaking about their visit to Leixlip Youthreach, store director at Specsavers Liffey Valley, Patrick Dennehy, says: ‘We were delighted to have visited the group of young adults in our local Leixlip Youthreach school. We carried out eye tests for the students to ensure that any potential vision issues would not hold them back on their educational journey. The importance of a child’s vision is critical in the development of their education and the team at Specsavers Liffey Valley were more than happy to help. This is hopefully the start of a great partnership between Specsavers and Leixlip Youthreach.’

“Fine Gael is determined to support the continued growth in our economy in the years to come by maintaining and renewing existing infrastructure. I know this funding will greatly assist in the repairs and ensure our

road network in Dublin is of the highest standard,” Fitzgerald concluded. Minister for Transport Shane Ross said: “Overall funding will increase by about 16% this year. This increase in funding should allow approximately 2,400kms of regional and local roads to be maintained and 2,150kms to be strengthened this year. “These grants are to supplement local authorities’ own resources and expenditure on regional and local road and are just part of the total investment in regional and local roads for this year.”

ADMINISTRATOR POSITION FOR NATIONAL FEDERATION OF ARCH CLUBS

Youthreach is a Department of Education and Skills official education, training and work experience programme for early school leavers aged 15–20. It offers young people the opportunity to identify options within adult life and provides them with opportunities to acquire certification. The staff at Specsavers Liffey Valley are healthcare professionals that pride themselves on providing the best possible healthcare service for eye and ear health to customers. If you have a community or social group which may want their eyes tested on site please do not hesitate to contact Specsavers Liffey Vally at Liffey Valley Shopping Centre call 01 6166006 or visit www.specsavers.ie/stores/dublinliffey-valley.

and local road network and this funding will see essential maintenance and improvements carried out. These events, combined with the extended period of reduced funding for road maintenance following the economic downturn, have left the road network much more vulnerable to damage.

Specsavers Liffey Valley store director, Patrick Dennehy visits local Leixlip Youthreach

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LIMITED NUMBER OF NEW HOMES REMAIN IN THIS CURRENT PHASE AT KILHEALE MANOR, KILL, CO. KILDARE

Cavan Developments invite you to view the last few remaining 3 & 4 bedroom concert built homes in this current phase at Kilheale Manor, Hartwell Road in Kill Village this Saturday and Sunday from 2.30pm. Nestled away nicely between Rathcoole and Naas, it is located a 15-minute drive from the Red Cow roundabout

and with the Luas line extending out as far as Citywest, it leaves another public transport artery available on route into the City Centre.

A new large modern primary school has opened in Kill catering for both boys and girls and secondary schools are easily accessible with private bus operators

servicing both Rathcoole & Naas schools also. These Homes are designed with the modern purchaser in mind, with features such as stylish fitted kitchens and all appliances included with extensive tiling. The option to choose a fireplace or a large LCD TV depending on taste and Master Bedrooms with En-Suites

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All houses come with front and back gardens, which have become a feature in themselves nowadays, the front gardens are finished off with cobblelock paving providing parking for up to 2 cars. There are also no management fees for the houses on this development which can come as a welcome relief to perspective purchasers in these current times. All houses are “A” rated with Photo Voltaic panels coming as standard reducing your overall energy bills considerably. Kitchen, Bathroom, EnSuite walls and floors all have extensive tiling with very high quality porcelain ceramic tiles coming as standard. High quality wardrobes and fireplaces also come as standard, with heated towel rail and shower in En-Suite, while the

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CALLS FOR ASSURANCES ON KEY HEALTH PROJECTS

Cllr Charlie O’Connor has called on the Minister for Health to guarantee that key funding for health projects in Tallaght Hospital will not be cut as a result of the massive Children’s Hospital overspend. The Cllr was commenting on the back of reports that €100m will need to be

found in 2019 alone, to plug the huge funding gap caused by the overspend. “As a member of the HSE Regional Health Forum for Dublin Mid-Leinster I have submitted questions seeking guarantees that vital projects earmarked for Tallaght University Hospital will not become casualties

of the massive overspend.

“A new renal unit, an increase in bed capacity and an extension to the intensive care unit are just some of the key developments promised to Tallaght University Hospital.

I have long fought for action on the orthodontic waiting list and for measures to be taken to alleviate the immense pressure on the emergency department. To think that any of these critical health care developments or resources

would lose out as a result of the overspend is simply unacceptable.

“As a result of Fine Gael’s complete mismanagement of the Children’s Hospital budget we are now hearing talk of postponing projects

and trimming budgets. The ramifications of this will be felt well beyond 2019 and that is why I am seeking assurances now that Tallaght University Hospital will not be caught up in the fallout”, concluded Cllr O’Connor.

Robert Dowds has been selected by the Labour Party to run for the 2019 local elections in the Clondalkin Local Election Ward which also includes the rapidly expanding villages of Saggart, Rathcoole and Newcastle. He comes to this contest with much experience, having served as a councillor, mayor and TD in the past. Dowds said he was very honoured to be selected to run. His two big priorities as a candidate will be the delivery of housing, both private and social, along with greatly improved public transport. Much improved public transport is needed to make it easier for people to move about and, also to reduce our carbon footprint. Dowds has a record of

public service which goes back to 1999. For him it was an honour, with the help of others, to deliver many important pieces of infrastructure to the area such as housing, new schools especially in Saggart, Rathcoole and Newcastle as well as changing rooms in Corkagh Park and the Brú Chrónáin Heritage Centre at Clondalkin’s Round Tower. Dowds paid tribute to the retiring Labour councillor, Breeda Bonner, who has played a most positive and dynamic role as a councillor since 2011. Breeda was instrumental in setting up the Tidy Towns organisation in Clondalkin Village and elsewhere, as well as getting the heritage centre at the Round Tower completed to focus on two

of her many achievements. It is a matter of real regret that she’s hanging up her boots according to Dowds. The candidate has continued to be very active in his local community. He is the current chair of the Clondalkin Tidy Towns and

serves on the board of Tower Credit Union. He also acts as a volunteer teacher in the Clondalkin Inter-Cultural Centre and as a volunteer in the Brú Chrónáin Heritage Centre. Chomh maith le sin, tá Gaeilge aige agus is breá leis í a úsáid.

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CALL FOR FREE ONE-OFF WASTE COLLECTION SERVICE John Curran T.D. has called on the Government to allocate additional funding to local authorities to tackle the surge in illegal dumping across the country by introducing new initiatives. Speaking recently on the

issue; Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the new initiatives and projects planned for 2019 to combat illegal dumping.

Cllr. Charlie O’Connor PC Living in Tallaght ...Working for Tallaght

WEEKLY ADVICE CLINICS Dominic’s Community Centre MONDAY AT NOON Fettercairn Community Centre TUESDAY 7PM Aherne’s, Old Bawn Road SATURDAY 11AM Trustus, Tallaght Village, SATURDAY AT NOON Firhouse Community Centre SATURDAY 2 PM

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mobile 087 2982079 THE FIANNA FAIL TEAM IN DUBLIN SOUTH WEST John Lahart TD, Councillors Paul Foley, Emma Murphy, Charlie O’Connor & Declan Burke

“Since the introduction of domestic waste charges, the incidence of illegal dumping has increased. It is a blight on the landscape in our towns and villages, urban and rural. “As it is a uniform problem in most parts of the country, it is time the Minister of State’s Dept looked at an initiative to support local authorities in dealing with this problem. “There should be initiatives to provide greater flexibility for local authorities to offer free services. I refer to civic amenities available for one-off use. Local authorities used to collect large household items once a year, but that has largely been done away with in many parts of the country. Initiatives of that type need to be reintroduced if we are to prevent largescale illegal dumping. “Rather than paying for the clean-up afterwards, there should be a proactive programme, as part of which local authorities would provide that service,” concluded Deputy Curran.

UNDERFUNDING IS AT THE CRUX OF THE ISSUE AT THE ABBEY

Sinn Féin Seanad spokesperson on Culture Senator Fintan Warfield has commended the parties involved in the Abbey Theatre dispute for appearing and presenting to the Joint Committee on Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Senator Warfield notes that all parties at the committee agreed that stronger funding of the arts would go a long way to resolving these issues. Senator Warfield said: “The discussion at the

committee was insightful and the witnesses should be commended for presenting their concerns. “There is an onus on all sides to engage in a constructive and meaningful discussion on the Abbey Theatre and its future direction. “While these parties will meet in private on Friday in order to resolve this dispute, there was broad agreement amongst all of the witnesses that increased funding would allow these issues to have been averted. “This should act as a wake

call up to the government and Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan who has been silent on the issue. “We already knew that artists were earning 3.5% less income than in 2013 according to the CSO. “The parties, in my view, had a clear message today that the government must end the chronic underfunding of the arts and return vitality to our national culture and that this must lead to increase pay for artists.”

CALL FOR ELECTION POSTER BAN

“Cllr Trevor Gilligan has called on all candidates in forthcoming European & Local Elections to refrain from erecting posters in specific towns and villages throughout South Dublin.”

“There is currently a poster ban in Clondalkin Village which was initially proposed by Clondalkin Tidy Towns a number of years ago. I and others have supported this ban. I think it has worked well and feel it should be extended to other areas in the county. Election posters and more specifically cable ties, are the

bane of people’s lives. They don’t help towards Tidy Towns competitions either! Whilst SDCC cannot enforce any bans on posters - I think candidates & politicians should do what is right and refrain from erecting posters in towns and villages particularly where there is an active Tidy Towns Group.” “I’m not requesting a complete ban. There are plenty of areas where posters can still be erected throughout the county. With social media, emails and the internet, I don’t think it would do any harm to have a reduction in print materials.”

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SOLIDARITY DUBLIN SOUTH WEST LAUNCHES LARGEST EVER LOCAL ELECTION CHALLENGE l HUGE VICTORIES ACHIEVED ON WATER CHARGES, MARRIAGE EQUALITY AND REPEAL l PLATFORM TO BUILD MOVEMENT ON HOUSING, FOR A REAL RECOVERY

Solidarity in Dublin South West has selected six candidates to challenge across the four wards in the constituency for next May’s Local Elections. The candidates represent a strong team made up of existing Councillors and new candidates who are experienced campaigners. They reflect the key struggles of recent years - with Repeal campaigners standing alongside anti-water charges activists, together with housing and trade union activists. Solidarity’s campaign will be focusing on the need for the Councils to take action to resolve the housing crisis - centrally based on building public homes being built on public land. Our elected Councillors will continue to use the Council as a platform to fight for socialist policies, including fighting for full separation of church and state and democratic public ownership of the key sections of the economy, necessary to deliver the kind of society that people want. In Tallaght Central, Councillors Kieran Mahon and Mick Murphy are aiming to defend the seats they won in 2014 as Anti-Austerity Alliance candidates. Both were defendants in the Jobstown trial and campaigned to defend the right to protest. On the Council, together with South Tallaght Councillor Brian Leech, they have been to the fore in putting forward proposals for the Council to take action to resolve the housing crisis - from campaigning for public homes on public land at Kilcarbery to seeking to introduce a new “Top 2%” rates on the top 120 corporations to fund the building of

social and genuinely affordable homes. In Tallaght South, sitting Councillor Brian Leech will be standing alongside Sandra Fay - a General Election candidate in 2016 and a teacher in St. Marks Community School. Brian has been consistent in standing up for communities in West Tallaght. Sandra has been a key activist during the recent Repeal victory and is an ASTI trade union activist. Solidarity will also be aiming to break new ground with candidates in the Terenure/ Rathfarnham ward and in the Bohernabreena / Firhouse ward. In Terenure / Rathfarnham, Stephen Nugent will be fighting for a seat. From Greenhills and still living in the area, Stephen is a senior member of the National Bus & Rail Union (NBRU) committee. He has led Bus Eireann workers in strike action against pay cuts and a drive to privatisation of public transport. He is a very active campaigner against the BusConnects proposal - arguing for investment in an properly resourced, integrated public transport service instead. In Bohernabreena / Firhouse, Solidarity aims to challenge for a seat with our candidate, Jess Spear. Jess is a former climate scientist and long-time environmental activist from America, and was the Organising Director of the $15 Now movement in Seattle, which saw the winning of a $15 an hour minimum wage. Since coming to Ireland she has been active in the campaign for abortion rights as being an activist in SIPTU. Solidarity TD for Dublin South West Paul Murphy said:

“After five years of a so-called Progressive Alliance on South Dublin County Council, what difference has it made to people’s lives? Zero homes were built last year in South Dublin County Council. The majority of the Council outrageously agreed to effectively privatise 70% of public land at Kilcarbery, rather than using it for public homes. Solidarity Councillors will argue for

the Council to use its powers to tackle the housing crisis, if the government continues to refuse to invest in building public housing. The more Solidarity Councillors elected, the bigger platform we will have to build an active left and socialist movement on housing, healthcare, climate change, against women’s oppression and for separation of church and state.”

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SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL SCOOPS TWO AWARDS

South Dublin County Council (SDCC) scooped two awards at this year’s All Ireland Community and Council Awards presented by IPB Insurance and LAMA on the 9th of February. The All Ireland Community and Council Awards ceremony took place in Croke Park Stadium to celebrate the very best in Local Government in Ireland.

The Council was named the Best Connected Council (Communications and Digital Marketing) category for the mydoorstep. ie web portal and won the Best Community Health Initiative for the MedEx Health Programme. MyDoorStep is a walk-in service centre at its headquarters at County Hall, Tallaght, Dublin 24, which is replicated online at www.mydoorstep.ie. This digital information platform provides buyers with all of the detail needed to make the most informed decision possible when purchasing a home. MyDoorStepcombines

information on current and planned housing developments in any location in South Dublin County with detail on childcare, education, health, recreation, retail and sporting facilities across the County. The MedEx Health Programme is a community based chronic illness rehabilitation programme that offers structured and supervised exercise classes to enable people with a diverse range of illnesses to exercise in a safe environment in order to maintain or gain fitness during or after treatment. The aim of the programme is to transform the lives of people with chronic illness through physical activity based rehabilitation.

being developed by the Council to address major issues in our society today. I would like to congratulate everyone involved with these projects.”

Now in its 13th year, the 2019 All Ireland Community and Council Awards presented by IPB Insurance and LAMA recognise and celebrate community and councils working together. They provide a great opportunity to highlight and celebrate the work done within our communities, and to recognise the phenomenal contribution they’ve made to our lives. Town, Borough, City

and County Councillors across the island of Ireland nominate projects across more than 20 categories that demonstrate the work implemented through unique projects that enhance their local area for the good of the community. Nominees for South Dublin County were Best Business Working with the Community - Sherry Fitzgerald Group, Best Community Health Initiative - MEDEX programme, Best Community Sports Team/Club - Kick Ass Adventures and Best Connected Council (Communication & Digital Marketing) mydoorstep.ie

Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Cllr Mark Ward, said “I am delighted at the news that SDCC were recognised at this year’s LAMA Awards with wins in two categories. These awards highlight just some of the forward thinking initiatives

PARKING CHARGES INCOME DOWN IN 2018 In 2018 the South Dublin County Council Parking Charges income totaled €689,399.16 which is down 5% on 2017. “Whilst the figures are down on last year, what is noticeable is that the number of fines has gone up to €266K. This is a staggering amount of fees to take in. These figures represents the entire South Dublin area. I am calling on all councils to make sure that motorists are fully aware of any

parking charges, grace periods, pay for parking times so that motorists are not caught unaware of any fees or fines and that there is clear signage where there is pay for parking. Motorists should be aware that if they feel they have wrongly been fined, that they can appeal such notices within 28 days with any proof that they have been wrongly fined.” stated Cllr. Trevor Gilligan.

Greg Straton of Healthy Ireland, Cllr. Deirdre O’Donovan and Cllr. Vicky Casserly, Cllr. Mags Murray, Chairperson of LAMA Executive and Cllr. Gus O’Connell representing the MEDEX Programme.

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NTA AGREE TO LIAISE WITH SDCC ON UPGRADE OF N4

John Curran T.D. has called for the urgent need for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and South Dublin County Council to begin liaising in order to provide a grade separated upgrade at the N4 / Kennelsfort Road / Palmerstown Intersection.

Deputy Curran was commenting after receiving a reply from the NTA and the Minister for Transport on the matter; “The Bus

Connects - Lucan to City Centre Bus Corridor - is currently going through a public consultation process and I have made my views very clear that this intersection needs a separation upgrade in order to alleviate traffic on the N4 and the Palmerstown Area and to provide the high frequency, quality bus corridor that is promised through Bus Connects. In light of the significant

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Capital Expenditure that is available for the Lucan to City Centre Core Bus Corridor, as part of Dublin Bus Connects Project, it makes complete sense that the NTA and South Dublin County Council would come together and liaise on this issue at this time.

The local TD concluded; “In the NTA’s reply to me they have said that while proposals in respect of the Lucan Core Bus Corridor do not provide for the grade separation of the Kennelsfort Road Junction, the proposals do not preclude if from happening and that they would liaise with South Dublin County Council. I have continued

to raise this issue for many years now, and this is the first time they said they would liaise with South Dublin County Council on the matter, this is a welcome development and I am urging both parties to not delay. Residents in Palmerstown have had serious traffic congestion at this junction for a long time; this junction is also the cause of long delays for commuters on the N4. I particularly welcome the NTA’s response to my Parliamentary Question in agreeing to liaise with South Dublin County Council on this matter. I will continue to follow up on this.”

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VOLUNTEERS FOR ICS SURVIVOR SUPPORT PROGRAMME NEEDED The Irish Cancer Society (ICS) is looking for new volunteers in Dublin for its Survivor Support programme. Survivor Support is a phone based, one to one peer support programme where volunteers who have had cancer provide emotional and practical support to others going through cancer. Speaking about the programme Deirdre Murphy, Survivor Support and Volunteer Coordinator with the Irish Cancer Society said, “Being diagnosed with cancer is one of the most difficult things that a person can go through. Our Survivor Support programme is really important to us because it means that newly diagnosed patients have someone to talk to about the emotional, physical and practical impact of their diagnosis. “Having someone that knows what getting that news is like is so valuable, and it means that patients who are facing a possible

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CHECK OUT ALL OF OUR SWIMMING LESSON OPTIONS - TEL: 4515105 / 4515882

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Griffith College presents cheque to St. John’s De La Salle Monday 4th February saw Griffith College present St. John’s De La Salle with a €5,000 cheque having been chosen as the college’s overall winners of its STEAM Bursary Initiative. A panel of Griffith judges including; Ciara Browne, John Molohan, Claire Aston and Waseem Ahktar deliberated over a plethora of applications to choose one overall winner and four runners-up. Griffith

College

President

Diarmuid

Hegarty presented the school with a cheque on behalf of the college to be used to improve STEAM related equipment. National institution Griffith College has been shortlisted for “Best Outreach Initiative” by the Education Awards 2019 for its STEAM Bursary Initiative. The Initiative began with the intention of increasing the uptake of STEAM subjects at Second Level. Runner-up schools include; Kylemore, Ballyfermot and Loreto, Crumlin

Diarmuid Hegarty presents St John’s De La Salle Principal with cheque. Accompanied by St John’s students, Griffith College judging panel including Siobhan O Shea from CPL

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ADULT & FURTHER EDUCATION OPEN DAY (FULL & PART TIME COURSES AVAILABLE) An Open Day will be held in Collinstown Park Community College on Thursday 28th February from 9.30am – 1.30pm and from 7.00pm – 8.30pm for all those interested in attending a full or part time Adult / Further Education or Post Leaving Certificate course. Collinstown Park Community College is located on the Neilstown Road in Rowlagh, Clondalkin about five minutes from the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre. The college has been successfully providing further education to adults for more than 20 years. Courses are available on a full time and part time basis and are open to students who have just completed their Leaving Certificate and adult students of all ages. The college welcomes mature students, including those with no formal qualifications, who wish to

increase their skills and gain qualifications or progress to Third Level College.

and Universities through the Higher Education Links Scheme.

Courses are available in Health Care Support, Nursing Studies, Social and Community Care Early Childhood Care & Education Levels 5 & 6, Special Needs Assistant, Hairdressing & Beauty Studies, Beauty Therapy, Reception & Office Administration, Business Studies with Computers, FIT I.T. Support Technician & FIT IT Network Support & Administration with CISCO CCNA, ECDL, Return to Learning, English for Speakers of Other Languages.

Part time courses offer a flexible option to students to study at a pace that suits, allowing them to complete a QQI Major Award over two years.

Full time courses give students the opportunity to gain a QQI Major Award over one year. Students can then progress to employment in their chosen area. Students who have completed a QQI Level 5 course successfully may use their results to apply for a course in Institutes of Technology

Many of our graduates have progressed to complete degrees in a variety of disciplines including Nursing, Social Studies and Computer Engineering. Graduates have also gained employment with large and small companies, multi nationals, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, beauty salons and as hairdressers. At Collinstown Park Community College we aim to ensure that our courses are affordable. Social Protection recipients may be eligible to return to education under various schemes including VTOS/ BTEA/BTEI. These schemes allow eligible adults return

to education without losing their benefits. Our part-time courses are funded under the Back to Education Initiative (BTEI). Courses may be provided free of charge to eligible students in receipt of Social Protection payments/ Medical Card holders or early school leavers. Childcare assistance is available on a limited basis for certain eligible students. The Open Day on the 28th of February will give all those with an interest in studying at Collinstown Park Community College a chance to find out more about individual course content and talk to the course Tutors.

More information is available on the College website www.collinstownpark. ie or by contacting the school at 01 4572300.

A great range of courses are available including Health Care Support and Hairdressing & Beauty Studies

ADULT & FURTHER EDUCATION OPEN DAY FULL & PART TIME COURSES AVAILABLE Open Day Thursday 28th February 9.30am – 1.30pm. & 7.00pm – 8.30pm Courses are open to Post Leaving Cert students and mature students of all ages. Social Protection recipients may be eligible to return to education under VTOS/BTEA/BTEI. All our courses will commence in late August/early September 2019.

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Health Care Support : QQI Level 5 Nursing Studies : QQI Level 5 Social and Community Care : QQI Level 5 Business Studies with Computers : QQI Level 5 Business Studies with Medical Administration QQI Level 5 Hairdressing & Beauty Studies : QQI Level 5 Beauty Therapy Specialist QQI Level 5 I.T. Support Technician: CompTIA+ & QQI Level 5 I.T. Network Support & Administration: CISCO CCNA & QQI Level 6

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Health Care Support : QQI Level 5: Nursing Studies : QQI Level 5: Social and Community Care : QQI Level 5: Early Childhood Care and Education : QQI Level 5: Early Childhood Care and Education : QQI Level 6 Special Needs Assisting : QQI Level 5: Beauty Therapy : QQI Level 5: Reception & Office Administration : QQI Level 5: E.C.D.L. with Reception Skills Return to Learning : QQI Level 4 English for Speakers of Other Languages with Computer Skills : QQI Level 4

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LOCAL ENTERPRISE WEEK 2019

Kip’s Tips For Supporting Your Child With Their Reading Comprehension Skills First and foremost, the key to good reading comprehension is being an active reader. Whilst you may not be reading to your child as you would have done at a younger age, encouraging your child to read independently will always provide the strongest foundation for solid reading comprehension skills. A fantastic way to get children to engage and listen to stories is using Audiobooks. Read on for some of our favourite tips for improving reading comprehension. Always ask questions: Whether reading for fun or for a test, ask questions helps to gain a deeper understanding of the text. When your child is next reading encourage them to ask questions of the writing. Why did a character behave the way they did? Why did the author use the words they chose? Questions like this won’t just allow you to create your own thoughts and answers. They also help to make your child more aware of any answers that are presented in the text. This technique can be applied to academic reading too. The questions you ask may even mirror those in the test! Look for connections: Similarly to asking questions of a piece of text, looking for connections can be equally valuable. Connections can be between pieces of the text, providing you deeper insight into its meaning. Likewise, however, the connection could be personal. A personal connection to a piece of text can not only provide the opportunity for you to use your own life experience to understand a piece of writing better but can also be used to help you memorise a passage more clearly, through association. Understanding what’s important and what’s not: Whilst you’ll likely not want to skip a single word when reading for pleasure, reading for comprehension sometimes requires reading around the lines to find key information fast. Likewise organising that information to be used later is just as important. Some texts may do this job for you. Non-fiction books for example often have contents, glossary and chapter pages, this makes finding key information much easier. This isn’t the case for the majority of fictional writing. Can your child remember key details about their favourite character? Being able to read between the lines and retain this kind of information is a highly valuable reading comprehension skill, so it should be practised. At Kip McGrath, our highly qualified tutors provide in-depth learning and development programmes to suit your child’s requirements. Each of our students benefits from a free assessment, which sets you on the right track to reaching your educational goals. Get in touch today for more information.

World’s leading mentalist and mind hacker Keith Barry will help take small businesses to a new level this Local Enterprise Week in March. World renowned mind hacker and expert of the mystery arts, Keith Barry, will participate in a keynote workshop on Wednesday 6 March to an audience of promising entrepreneurs and business owners, as part of LEO South Dublin’s Local Enterprise Week 2019 Programme. The highly anticipated workshop reveals to the audience how to unleash their subconscious potential to break through barriers and exceed expectations in both their business and professional lives and ends with a group visualisation exercise. This will be followed by the presentation of South Dublin’s Local Enterprise Awards, in Tallaght Stadium.

The announcement came from South Dublin Local Enterprise Office (LEO), as part of the release of a jam-packed schedule of events between 4 and 8 March, for Local Enterprise Week 2019. The purpose of Local Enterprise Week is to highlight the range of services and supports available to existing and potential entrepreneurs and micro and small enterprises. Over 14,500 small businesses are expected to attend more than 380 events throughout the country during the week. Highlights of LEO South Dublin’s Local Enterprise Week include presentations and workshops for Smart Video Content Creation, How to Tell Your Brand Story -The Power of Storytelling, Influences of New Technologies on New Businesses as well as Leadership Lessons from a Sporting Giant. Local Enterprise Week also includes clinics and advice on interviewing skills, social media and vlogging and how to Brexit-proof your business, amongst many. Throughout the course of the week, entrepreneurs of all ages will have the opportunity to book a place to participate in both paid and free of charge group sessions and one-to-one mentoring. Tom Rooney, Head of Enterprise, LEO South

Dublin said that Local Enterprise Week was the ultimate Open Day for small businesses and start-ups to familiarise themselves with the services their local LEO provide by way of support and education.

It also gives entrepreneurs and owner managers the opportunity to network and learn not only from experts and speakers but

also from each other. “Local Enterprise Week is a collaboration between local and Government support groups, with a common goal to help small and micro businesses to exceed in today’s competitive marketplace, to expand job opportunities and strengthen the backbone of our local economy. Our

exciting

program

of events is designed to inspire and motivate hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs to follow their dreams,”commented Mr. Rooney. The full programme, venues and ticket prices are available at www.localenterprise.ie/ southdublin and LEO South Dublin is strongly advising businesses to book their place in advance to avoid disappointment.

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FIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES SHORTLISTED DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION

Five South Dublin Education programmes have been shortlisted for an AONTAS STAR Award. The STAR Awards (Showcasing Teamwork, Awarding Recognition) are an awards initiative organised by the national adult learning organisation, AONTAS, to recognise and celebrate the achievements of adult learning initiatives throughout Ireland. The shortlisted programmes include: The Preparation for College Programme, run in partnership between South Dublin County Partnership (SDCP) and TU Dublin (Tallaght Campus), is a ten week course that aims to provide a step towards third level and a taste of college life and academic work for learners. Students receive oneto-one and group support in study skills, academic English and a range of other taster subjects culminating in a Special Purpose Award (NQF Level 6). The programme is shortlisted in the category, ‘Adult Learning Initiatives that Promote Third Level Access and Engagement’.

Secret Street Tours, based on Windmill Lane is a unique initiative that offers street tours of Dublin by guides who have experienced or been affected by homelessness. The tours are developed in partnership with guides who share their story with those on the tour as they explore landmarks of their local area. The project aims to empower guides with skills and confidence to take the next step

toward independent living. It is shortlisted in the category, ‘Adult Learning Initiatives that Promote Sustainable Employment’. The Health & Wellbeing Services at Dublin Simon Community aid people experiencing homelessness and addiction, to regain control over their health and wellbeing through education and participation. The service runs Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) education courses, a gym, a football team, and health promotion classes for all in-house respite, detox and recovery clients. It is shortlisted in the category, ‘Adult Learning Initiatives that Promote Health and Wellbeing’.

The Participation and Development Service at Dublin Simon Community is dedicated to improving wellbeing, self-esteem, socialisation and independence for adults experiencing homelessness. The Service coordinates activities including literacy tuition, Mental Health groups, computers, art, gardening, music, creative writing and client volunteer programmes. It is shortlisted in the category, ‘Adult Learning Initiatives that Promote Social Inclusion’. And finally an Cosán Virtual Community College (VCC) enables people across the country to access education through a blended learning approach, regardless of location or personal circumstances. VCC collaborates with community education partners and offers accredited courses through IT Carlow,

with a special focus on community development, leadership and drug addiction studies. It is shortlisted in the category, ‘Adult Learning Initiatives that Promote Third Level Access and Engagement’.

Judging of the STAR Awards comprises two stages: In the first stage, nominated projects are shortlisted by an independent judging panel, whose membership is drawn from key stakeholders in the education sectors. The second stage gives staff and learners from the shortlisted projects the opportunity to meet with the judging panel before they make their final decision. Learners and staff from shortlisted programmes will invited to the AONTAS STAR Award ceremony on Monday, 4th March in the Pillar Room at the Rotunda Hospital, when the STAR Award winners will be announced. As AONTAS celebrates its 50th anniversary, the theme is #EveryDayImLearning, recognising the diverse range of everyday learning opportunities that take place in community settings throughout Ireland. The STAR Awards is proudly sponsored by the European Social Fund (ESF), the Open University in Ireland, The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) and the Open College Network Northern Ireland (OCN NI). Sponsors will be offering special prizes to 2019 STAR Award winners.

Pictured in the County Library, Tallaght, at the launch of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library were Rosena Hand Tallaght Senior Executive Librarian, Councillor Charlie O’Connor and Marian Quinn the CEO of Childhood Development Initiative

Who Do YOU Want to

Be?

... Take the next step ... Come along to our Futher Education Open Day Thursday 7th March 2019 from 2:00pm - 6:30pm Find out all about our college, what courses we offer and how you can apply www.deansrathcommunitycollege.ie

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ANSWERS NEEDED ON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OVERSPEND Seán Crowe T.D. has called the published terms of reference for the independent review into the rising costs of the National Children’s Hospital outrageous, because they will stop short of determining the culpability of the overspend at an

individual level. Deputy Seán Crowe TD stated:

“The overrun at the National Children’s Hospital has been a catastrophic failure to date and people are rightly demanding answer into why there is such an enormous overspend. We need to

find out why it happened, how it happened, and who is responsible. “It is beyond comprehension that this Government have essentially instructed those who are conducting the independent review into the rising costs of the National Children’s Hospital

PAID DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LEAVE Lynn Boylan MEP says Ireland should introduce paid Domestic Violence Leave. The MEP for Dublin Lynn Boylan has commended South Ayrshire Council in Scotland for being the first Council in Europe to introduce paid domestic violence leave for its employees. The Dublin MEP said; “In 2016, my report for the EU Committee on Employment and Social Affairs called for EU Member States to introduce paid domestic violence leave. This was the first time such a call was made and endorsed by the EU Parliament. “Financial security is critical for survivors of domestic violence and surveys in Britain have shown that workers have lost employment as a result of domestic violence. “In the North of Ireland, another study showed 53% of abused women miss at least three days of work a month. By introducing paid leave, it facilitates the attendance of medical appointments, court hearings and viewings of alternative accommodation. “New Zealand and parts of Canada have

already introduced this leave and it would be great to see Ireland lead the way and become the first EU Member State to do it. “The same study from the North showed that 75% of abused women are targeted at work. Over the coming months, my office is producing a document for all workplaces that show how they can create safe environments for their employees who are experiencing domestic violence. “Paid leave is a really progressive step but there are also other almost cost neutral measures that workplaces can do that really help make a difference. “These measures can include changing an employees telephone number or email address, creating a workplace safety plan and integrating Domestic Violence counselling services into the employee assistance programmes. “Even just raising awareness of the supports that are out there and ensuring that employees feel supported to confide in work colleagues and employers can make a huge difference.”

to stop short of determining culpability at an individual level, via the terms of reference they have drafted for the investigation. “Quite frankly this is bonkers. Nobody should be above scrutiny when it comes to the investigation into Children’s Hospital overspend, including all the former and current Ministers for Health during the

lifetime of this project, as well as Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform. “The hundreds of millions in overspend need to be accounted for and explained in detail. “Those responsible have to be identified and there has to be consequences, if not, this review is just going through the motions and will end up an expensive

whitewash. “The terms of reference for the review into the overrun at the Children’s Hospital must be re-written, and crucially, those who are tasked with investigating this matter must have the freedom and independence to carry out their inquiries to ultimately determine any culpability, regardless of whose door that leads them to.”

BONNER NOT SEEKING RE-ELECTION Clondalkin Cllr Breeda Bonner will not seek re-election to South Dublin County Council in the forthcoming local elections. The Cllr commented “I have served on South Dublin County Council since March 2012 and it has been an honour to serve my community during this time. I am proud of my work to see the establishment of Brú Chrónáin, the Round Tower Heritage Centre, by the council in Clondalkin. My work with residents groups and environmental groups such as Clondalkin Tidy Towns and Friends of the Camac has been at the core of my efforts to improve the quality of life in the Clondalkin area. I have also worked to advance the campaign to have Líonra Ghaeilge status awarded to Clondalkin.” Cllr Bonner continued “The work of a local councillor is multi-faceted and in order to do the job properly and to effectively represent the people there is a big

commitment of time and energy required. While it is nominally a part time post, the workload demands more than full time hours. I feel I am no longer able to make the commitment of time and energy that is involved so have decided not to contest the next elections. I wish to thank my Labour Party colleagues in Clondalkin who have supported and assisted me. I am happy that my colleague Robert Dowds has agreed to let his name go forward for selection as candidate for the Labour Party in the next local election. His record of public service is unparalleled and his experience and honesty will make him a great asset to the next council. I would like to thank the people of Clondalkin who have supported me and encouraged me in my work as a councillor. I intend to continue to work in the community on a voluntary basis.”

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JUNK FOOD MARKETING MOTION PASSED BY SDCC

Cllr Sarah Holland called on the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to stretch the watershed on junkfood marketing from 6pm to 9pm,

in a bid to shield kids from marketing of high fat, salt and sugar foods. The motion was passed unanimously without debate, and a

letter was issued to the BAI.

Cllr Holland said “We have regulations on advertising these unhealthy foods

EDUCATION & AWARENESS NEEDED TO IMPROVE ANIMAL WELFARE

147 horses were seized by SDCC in 2018 while over 100 were euthanised in South Dublin. Seizing neglected and unattended horses cost taxpayers €212,000 last year.

Cllr. Charlie O’Connor has said educating young horse owners is central to reducing the number of horses that are neglected and mistreated in some parts of the county. O’Connor, who is also a General Election Candidate in Dublin South West, raised the matter with the Local Authority’s Chief Executive recently. He said, “Keeping horses on open, green public space is still proving to be an issue despite great work being done by a number of local

equine centres such as Ballyown and charities such as My Lovely Horse Rescue.

“Over 70% of the number of horses that were seized by the Local Authority in 2018 had to be euthanised at a sizable cost to the taxpayer. Whatever about the more useful; ways to spend that money in the community, residents don’t like seeing defenceless animals being abandoned on their doorstep. “Majority of the time it is left to welfare charity volunteers and those working with Dublin Fire Brigade to rescue yearlings, foals or horses being that have been left unattended in our area. “Horse Aware Week has just wrapped up in Cherry

Orchard recently and was a very useful initiative aimed to educate young people about responsible horse ownership and the needs of horses in an urban setting. “We need to teach children from a very young age that being cruel towards any animal is unacceptable and that there is punishment for that kind of poor behaviour. What’s more, educating teenagers that might be interested in taking on a horse about the level of care and upkeep that’s required; it’s no easy task. “Horses should not be needlessly let suffer neglect and should be kept in a safe environment even from the general public’s perspective in terms of safety,” he concluded.

to kids, but they aren’t working. Children as young as two can recognise the brands they want, and show preferences for them.

There are clear links between the advertising and consumption of these foods. There are some frightening facts presenting themselves about our childrens health, with Safefood research estimating that 55,056 children currently living in the Republic of Ireland and 85,688 on the whole island will die prematurely due to overweight and obesity.” Research from the Irish

Heart Foundation, which was backed up by the World Health Organisation, called for two actions - closing loopholes in tv advertising, and setting up online regulation of the marketing of high fat, salt and sugar foods. Cllr Holland said “Our children and young people are more susceptible to online targeting and television marketing. We must do what we can to limit their intake of these foods, and part of that is restricting the marketing of them. I welcome the

cross-party support for this motion, which was a common sense move. The BAI responded in writing this month. Their letter confirmed that they would be reviewing the guidelines and opening a public consultation on the matter, a move that was welcomed by Cllr Holland. She said “Here is a chance for the public to make our voices heard on this. We can urge the BAI to move the watershed to 9pm, so that our children aren’t bombarded with junk food advertisements.”

CLONDALKIN GRAND MARSHAL NAMED Cllr Timmons is very proud to announce that this year’s Clondalkin St Patricks Day Parade Grand Marshal is a local couple Gemma and Philip Carr. The Clondalkin Cllr. added “they received the most amount of nominations and I am delighted they have accepted the honour, they follow in the footsteps of Mary Dardis, Colm Gavin and Mary Kennedy. They are a much loved and respected couple who have given so much back to the people of Clondalkin, 100s of people have wished them well on social media and the

comments have been very supportive on social media, the committee also extends its congratulations to the couple.” So far 17 groups have signed up for the parade. If your group/business wants to sign up please see www. clondalkinstpatricksfestival.ie/ participate/ Gemma and Philip Carr concluded “We are very grateful to those who put our names forward. We are thankful and will be honoured to be Grand Marshalls this year. Looking forward to a great day.”

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SERIOUS DOUBT OVER ROWLAGH PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTRE

Every effort must be made now to ensure that the HSE fulfil its commitment to this centre and allow the people

of North Clondalkin access to essential Health Care. Local TD John Curran has criticised the Government’s

failure to commit to the promised and planned delivery of Rowlagh Primary Health Care

LOCAL LADY FUNDRAISING FOR LAURA LYNN

Centre in North Clondalkin in 2019. Deputy Curran was commenting after receiving a Parliamentary reply from the Health Minister regarding available funding in 2019 to ensure work commences on the primary health care centre at Rowlagh in Clondalkin in view of the budgetary overrun on the national children’s hospital.

Deputy Curran received information from the HSE in August 2018 that construction of this Health Centre was to commence in early 2019 with an expected completion in Q3 2020. “This was a very welcome development by the HSE; after years of inaction, planning permission was finally granted in July 2018 to deliver primary health care to the people of North Clondalkin.

Dublin South West TD Sean Crowe, and local Killinardan woman, Eileen McCelland, with a cheque for €750 that was fundraised for the Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice.

It’s over 6 years since the Rowlagh Primary Care Centre was first announced under the infrastructure

stimulus package with a planned completion date of late 2016. 3 Ministers for Health later and finally the project had planning permission and a commitment from the HSE to begin construction early this year.

I have continued to follow up on this matter with the HSE so that this project is delivered in North Clondalkin in a timely manner, however in my most recent reply from the HSE in relation to Rowlagh Primary Care Centre, recently, it is very unsettling to read that the HSE have not yet developed its Capital Plan for 2019. The HSE Capital Plan will determine the projects that can proceed in 2019 and I am urging the Health Service Executive to continue with its progress on the much needed Rowlagh Primary Care Centre. “The proposed development in Rowlagh when operational will be a

significant and substantial health service facility in our community; this is something that I have been campaigning for a long time now. “The centre is to employ 36 staff and provide a substantial range of primary care services including a GP Clinic, a Nurse managed Clinic, suites for speech & language therapy, occupational and physiotherapy therapy, a dental Clinic, a paediatrics suite and a Mental Health Suite from 9am-6pm every weekday and some out of hour GP services. “Every effort must be made now to ensure that the HSE fulfil its commitment to this centre in 2019 and allow the people of North Clondalkin access to essential Health Care by 2020. “I will persist in highlighting the need for this centre to be completed and operational as soon as possible and that they encounter no unnecessary delays,” he concluded.

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ILLEGAL DUMPING IS TAINTING SOUTH DUBLIN LANDSCAPE South Dublin County Cllr Charlie O’Connor has said that illegal dumping across the county has reached such an acute level that more stringent measures are required to crackdown on those responsible. O’Connor who is also a General Election candidate in Dublin South West was commenting following receipt of information from the Local Authority Chief Executive which reveals that €20,000 was spent in 2018 towards responding to over 200 complaints of dumping in the South Dublin uplands. “Every single week I hear from locals concerned about the rise in illegal littering and fly tipping on streets and in the mountains in South County Dublin. In one housing estate in Tallaght, Mac Uilliam has to be cleaned up on a regular basis by Public Realm staff,” he said. “Not only is the cost of dealing with other people’s waste draining resources away from important public services in our area, it’s also polluting our own communities that we should

be taking pride in. We are fortunate to have such a picturesque landscape on our doorstep including the popular Hellfire Club – it beggars belief as to why people would consciously choose to destroy that. “The installation of CCTV cameras has helped in the last number of years but enhancing the penalties for dumping is the only way to truly deter those who are content with illegally dumping their rubbish. “The PURE environmental project does excellent work in collaboration with SDCC to manage incidents of fly tipping in the uplands but their workload should only be supported by the community not further added to. It’s disappointing that some are happy to dispose of their waste so poorly and to make it someone else’s problem to deal with. “The fact that taxpayers forked out roughly €6 million since 2016 on picking up other people’s rubbish means that holding illegal dumpers to account is very important,” he concluded.

LICENCING THESE KINDS OF VEHICLES SHOULD BE MANDATORY

TD for Dublin Mid-West has said preparing legislation to extend the powers of An Garda Síochána to effectively combat the scourge of scramblers and quads in residential areas and on public space is imperative. John Curran TD has begun preparing the Bill with Dublin SouthWest TD, John Lahart and expects it to be completed in the coming weeks and later introduced in the Dáil. He said, “Over the past two years the illegal and reckless use of scramblers and quad bikes has caused homeowners and tenants untold degree of stress and disruption.

“It’s clear that since this problem has only continued to worsen and the prevalence of these dangerous vehicles has only risen, that a cross-agency taskforce is not the answer. “Gardaí deployed on the ground require a number of powers to bring this scourge under control. For instance, the power to entry people’s property for the purpose of seizure and confiscation of

these vehicles where legally appropriate and making it an offence to use these vehicles in an irresponsible manner. “To date, Gardaí have experienced serious difficulties from an enforcement perspective when attempting to apprehend those that are causing danger in the area. There should be a legal requirement to register and

licence these mechanically propelled vehicles in order for Gardaí to be able to trace their ownership. “The Government is of the view that the existing Road Traffic Act provides adequate penalties but this is just not the case. Across Dublin there are endless complaints and reports of the dangerous use of scramblers. In one

area alone, Kingswood in Tallaght, 400 residents have signed a petition urging immediate action. “Equipping the Gardaí with the powers they require to prosecute offenders without having to engage in potentially dangerous interception exercises, is absolutely necessary. Our Bill aims to address that,” he concluded.

MARY POPPINS COMES TO FIRHOUSE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Transition Year Students from Firhouse Community College recently performed their musical Mary Poppins. There was great excitement building for the show. The show night had three successful nights back in January! Show attendees had a ‘supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ time.

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MASSIVE SALE

GREAT SAVINGS ON A WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS

& ECO INFORMATION DAY FRIDAY 1ST & SATURDAY 2ND MARCH

CLEARANCE SALE NOW ON NEW LINES ON DISPLAY

ECO INFORMATION DAY FRIDAY 1ST MARCH 2PM - 8PM & SATURDAY 2ND MARCH 11AM - 5PM Company representatives will be in attendance

4 DELIVERY & FITTING SERVICE AVAILABLE 4 CHECK OUT OR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR MORE SPECIAL OFFERS & PACKAGE DEALS

Mullagh, Kilcock Co. Meath, Eircode W23 WDX8

On the R125 between Kilcock & Dunshaughlin

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 9am - 6pm & Sat 9am - 4pm

Phone: 01 -628 7563 / 01 628 7890

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SARAH KIELY FROM SADIE’S KITCHEN DISCUSSES IBYE

The closing date for applications for the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition is March 15th. The competition is open to anyone aged 18-35 who has a great business idea or is already running their own business. Run by the Local Enterprise Office South Dublin, it is a brilliant opportunity for young entrepreneurs to learn from business mentors, network with other young business people and possibly to win valuable investment in their

business. Recently they talked to Sarah Kiely of Sadie’s Kitchen from South Dublin who took part in the competition in 2018.

Tell us about your business: Sadie’s Kitchen is an award-winning health food company specialising in nutritious bone broths that can be used as a cooking liquid or enjoyed as a comforting hot drink. All our broths are 100% natural, free from added salt, gluten, dairy and sugar

and are a natural source of collagen too. Where did you hear about the IBYE competition? Through my Local Enterprise Office in South Dublin. Why did you enter the competition? To challenge myself and improve my business through the bootcamp process and also to raise funding for scale. There’s great PR to be gained from IBYE and it puts you and your business on the map on a national level to potential investors and new customers alike.

What surprised you most about the competition? I was surprised by the level of support from fellow entrepreneurs, I made some great friends through IBYE and you really do bond at the bootcamp and help one another to grow. I was also taken aback at how helpful the pitching process was, I have done a lot in my time but I found the mentoring excellent and great at pushing you out of your comfort zone.

How did you and your business benefit from being involved in IBYE? The business benefitted through the ongoing mentoring and support the competition had to offer, this made me a better business owner and promoter. The funding was a great resource to help us scale and buffer the strain start-ups have on their cash flow during that growth stage. Why do you think a young entrepreneur should enter this competition? I think it makes you a better business owner. You refine your idea, business or plans for scale based on the indepth training and judging

process. It forces you to expose your business and have it analysed by some of the top entrepreneurs in the country. The leanings are invaluable as are the connections you’ll make. And finally, what piece of advice would you give to anyone thinking of entering this competition?Get the application in and don’t delay in doing so. Go into bootcamp with an open mind and willingness to engage with everyone and share experiences and ideas. Use that time to perfect your pitch and ultimately go on to win your category. The competition is ferocious but a lot of fun too.

Encouraging young entrepreneurs from South Dublin to enter the competition, Head of Enterprise, Tom Rooney explained “Now is the time for anyone aged 18-35 to log on to www.ibye.ie and enter the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition. It’s simple, it’s free and it takes about 15 minutes. If you have any problems with the application, staff in the

Local Enterprise Office are happy to help and can be reached on 01-4149000. We have a €50,000 investment fund to share between the winners in South Dublin. This competition is a brilliant experience for young entrepreneurs and you never know where it will take you.” Closing date for applications is Friday 15th March. Enter now on www.ibye.ie.

Sarah Kiely of Sadie’s Kitchen IBYE past participant

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Visit www.newsgroup.ie Q. I work in a factory which deals with the distribution of Industrial Chemicals. I received an eye burn recently as a result of exposure to chemicals and I am wondering whether or not I might have a claim. A. This was an unfortunate injury and one from which you will hopefully go on to make a full recovery shortly. With regard to a claim against your Employers, it is important to ascertain whether or not your Employer is in breach of their obligation to provide a safe working environment. The main legislation providing for the Health & Safety of people in the workplace are set out in the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Acts, 2005 – 2010. They apply to all Employers, Employees and Self-Employed people in their own workplaces. The Acts also set out the rights and obligations of both Employers and Employees and provides for substantial fines and penalties for breaches of the Health & Safety Legislation. Under Section 8 of the Act, the Employer has a duty to ensure the Employee’s safety, health and welfare at work as far as is reasonably practicable. In order to prevent workplace injuries and ill health, the Employer is required, among other things to: a) Provide and maintain a safe work place which uses safe plant and equipment; b) Prevent risk from use of any article or substance and in exposure to physical agents, noise and vibration; c) Prevent any improper conduct or behaviour likely to put the safety, health and welfare of Employees at risk; d) Provide instruction and training to Employees on health and safety; e) Provide protective clothing and equipment to Employees; f) Appoint a competent person as the Organisations’ Safety Officer. Employees also have duties and those duties while at work are set out in Section 13 of the Act. These include the following: -

a) To take reasonable care to protect the health and safety of themselves and other people in the workplace; b) Not to engage in improper behaviour that will endanger themselves or others at work; c) Not to be under the influence of drink or drugs in the workplace; d) To undergo any reasonable medical or other assessment if requested to do so by the Employer; e) To report any defects in the place of work or equipment which might be a danger to health and safety. Under the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act, 2005, every Employer is required to carry out a Risk Assessment for the workplace which should identify any hazards present in the workplace, assess the risks arising from such hazards and identify the steps to be taken to deal with any risks. The Employer must also prepare a Safety Statement which is based on the Risk Assessment. The Statement should also contain the details of people in the workforce who are responsible for safety issues. Employees should be given access to this Statement and Employees should review this on a regular basis. The Employer should tell Employees about any risks that require the wearing of protective equipment. The Employer must provide protective equipment such as protective clothing, headgear, footwear, eyewear and gloves, together with training on how to use it when necessary. An Employee is also under a duty to take reasonable care for his or her own safety and to use any protective equipment supplied. The protective equipment should be supplied free of charge to Employees if it is intended for use at the workplace only. The question arises as to whether or not you were provided with protective equipment and, if so, if you were wearing it at the time. We would suggest that you arrange for a consultation with a Solicitor to determine whether or not there are breaches by the Employer in relation to the provision of safety equipment and, in so doing, in exposing Employees in general and you in particular to a risk of injury. We suggest an early consultation with a Solicitor.

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NOVENAS NOVENAS NOVENAS NOVENAS NOVENAS NOVENAS

MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible. Never known to fail. Special mention to the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary for great favour witness received. G.L MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible. Never known to fail. S.B Novena to the Holy Spirit You who solve all problems, who lights all roads so I can obtain my goal. You who give me the divine gift to forgive and to forget all evil against me and that in all instances of my life, you are with me. I want in this short prayer to thank you for all things and to confirm that I never want to be separated from you even and in spite of all material illusion. I wish to be with you in eternal glory. Thank you for your mercy towards me and mine (mention favours). This prayer must be said 3 consecutive days and published immediately. After 3 days the favour requested will be granted even though it may appear difficult. This prayer must

be published immediately and after 3 days the favour will be granted. M.H Novena TO ST. JUDE Most holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of hope. Please intercede on my behalf. Make use of that particular privilege given to you to bring hope, comfort, and help where they are needed most. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven as I work with my challenges, particularly (here make your request). I praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, to always honor you as my special and powerful patron and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen. M.H Novena TO ST. JUDE Most holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of hope. Please intercede on my behalf. Make use of that particular privilege given to you to bring hope, comfort, and help where they are needed most. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven as I work with my challenges, particularly (here make your request). I praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, to always honor you as my special and powerful patron and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen. M.H Prayer for healing Heavenly Father, I call on you right now in a very

Northside 01 5133142 Southside 01 9036789 Mobile 085 2139466

special way. It is through your power that I was created. Every breath I take, every morning that I wake, and every moment of every hour, I live under your power. Father, I ask you now to touch me with that same power. For if you created me from nothing you can certainly recreate me. Fill me with the healing power of your spirit. Cast out anything that should not be in me. Mend what is broken. Root out any damaged cells. Open any blocked arteries or veins and rebuild any damaged areas. Remove all inflammation and cleanse any infection. Let the warmth of your healing pass through my body to make new any unhealthy areas so that my body will function the way

you created it to function. And Father, restore me to full health in mind and body so that I may serve you the rest of my life. I ask this through Christ Our Lord Amen.I.O.B

As our regular readers will know we have asked for your generosity in supporting very worthy charities over the years. Going forward, we are delighted to support Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice. LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice provides palliative care to children with life-limiting conditions and their families, from the point of diagnosis to end of life, and throughout bereavement. Our holistic approach ensures we support the

whole family through a unique care plan that may include: symptom management; planned short hospice stays (respite); unplanned hospice stays (emergency care); end of life care; music & play therapy; psychological & bereavement support; Social Work and Chaplaincy. All care is provided free to families. Care can be availed of in the hospice, at hospital, in the community, or in the family home, depending on the child and family’s preference. It costs €5.2million to keep LauraLynn’s Children’s Hospice open, €3.5million of which must be generated each year through fundraised

income.

Since opening in 2011, LauraLynn has cared for more than 325 children and their families and provided more than 265,000 hours of short stay care provided to children in LauraLynn Hospice. For further information please visit lauralynn.ie. If you would like a Novena published please send a postal order or cheque made out to Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice, along with your Novena to: NEWSGROUP, Unit 3 Floor 2 St Dominics Shopping Centre, St Dominics Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24. If you require any further information please call 01 45 19 000 or email info@newsgroup.ie.

TEXACO CHILDREN’S ART COMPETITION

Dublin teachers in primary and second level schools, whose pupils take part in the annual Texaco Children’s Art Competition, are reminded that the closing date for receipt of entries this year is Thursday, 28th February next. Last year over 5,000 pupils from schools in Co. Dublin submitted entries to the Competition.

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MOTORING LIFE WITH ‘ESTATE OF GRACE’ – NEW MERCEDES-BENZ C-CLASS. By Breda Corrigan The sense of forward momentum in the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate is plain to see. State-of-the-art, full-LED headlamps are more accurate, brighter and intelligent than ever before. They are just the beginning, and are immediately followed by new engines with optimal figures for efficiency. A fully digital cockpit, and the latest-generation assistance systems, bring the new C-Class Estate right up to date. New Engines & Technology; The C-Class was recently face-lifted, with new technical highlights added along with some new engines to keep it competitive. Although it plays second fiddle to the saloon from a popularity perspective, the Estate is still a hugely important member of the C-Class family – which also includes a sleek Coupe and a stunning Cabriolet. The German manufacturing giant’s focus with this recent facelift goes further than just skin deep. Design changes are relatively minimal, with the recognisable updates limited to a set of new headlights and subtly restyled bumpers. Instead, new technology and infotainment systems grab the headlines, alongside a host of new and improved engines. Engine & Transmission Line-Up; Engine choices comprise of petrol (from 1.5-litres to 4.0-litres in capacity and from 129bhp to 510bhp) and diesel (a 1.6-litre with 122bhp & 160bhp, and a 2.0-litre with 150bhp, 194bhp or 245bhp). A six speed manual gearbox is available in the smaller capacity petrol and diesel engines, with a 9-speed (G-TRONIC) automatic gearbox standard from 2.0-litre engine size upwards. All models in the new C-Class Estate are rear-wheel-drive, but 4MATIC four-wheel-drive is optional – depending on the engine chosen. Trim & Specification Levels; Trim levels in the new C-Class Estate are limited to just two – Avantgarde and AMG-Line. While the new C-Class Estate in Avantgarde specification is an extraordinarily expressive vehicle

offering dynamism, comfort and safety, the dramatic styling of the AMG-Line lends the exterior of the C-Class a sporty, exclusive touch. As such you can make a clear statement for powerful design. On top of this, the technical features give you profoundly more fun at the wheel, since the agile configuration of the suspension with Sports Direct-Steer results in markedly dynamic handling. The AMG-Line interior adds to the vehicles sportiness, both visibly and tangibly. Test Car; My test car was the new Mercedes-Benz C200d Estate Automatic in AMG-Line specification and was finished in Brilliant Blue metallic paint for maximum impact. The 1950cc turbo-diesel engine fitted to C200d produces 150bhp and a hefty 360Nm of torque, allowing the car to sprint from 0-100km/h in just 8.4-seconds, on its way to a top speed of 216km/h (where permitted). Fuel economy is teriffic, with my test car consuming as little as 4.7-litres of diesel for every 100kms driven on an extra-urban driving cycle. Thanks to an impressive Co2 emission figure of 132g/ km, annual road tax is just €280. Standard specification across the new C-Class Estate range is impressive, with my AMG-Line test car coming with such standard features as sports seats in ARTICO upholstery with a Seat Comfort package, heated front seats, high-resolution media system with a 7” display, LED highperformance headlights, KEYLESS-GO starting function with turbine-look start/ stop button, folding rear seat backrests, 3-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel in black nappa leather with a flattened lower section, reversing camera, light aluminium instrument panel trim elements, interior light package, AMG sports pedals, AMG bodystyling consisting of an AMG front apron with sporty air intakes and chrome trim elements, AMG diffuser-look rear apron with AMG side sill panels, diamond radiator grille with pins in chrome with an integrated Mercedes star, sports suspension with Sports Direct-Steer function, black fabric roof lining, black

floor mats with AMG inscription, boot lid release switch in driver’s door (remote & electrically operated), perforated front brake discs, and front brake calipers with Mercedes-Benz lettering. Driving Dynamics; From behind the wheel, there’s little tangible difference between the saloon and the slightly heavier estate when it comes to dynamics. The C-Class is a safe, solid and direct car to drive with good body control. The new C-Class is more comfort-orientated than sporty, prioritising the ability to cover long distances in a relaxed manner, but it’s still sure-footed and composed enough to be entertaining on a quiet back-road run. The C-Class Estate’s suspension set up works really well, filtering out even the worst bumps and potholes, while providing a marked improvement in agility. A good driving position is easy to achieve too, thanks to excellent seat and steering wheel adjustment options.

Cabin & Boot Space; Cabin space in the new C-Class is impressive, with ample head, elbow and legroom allowing up to 5 adult occupants to travel in comfort. Boot space is equally impressive, with 490-litres available when the back seat rests are in place, and 1,510-litres when the split-folding rear seats are folded flat. The load bay is accessed through a wide-opening tailgate, while the electrically operated tailgate door adds a huge dose of practicality to the mix. Pricing & Verdict; The new C-Class Estate is an easy car to recommend, thanks to its classy cabin, comfortable driving manners, effortless desirability and a good range of powerfulyet-efficient petrol and diesel engines - all of which makes it an excellent all-rounder. Ex-works prices for the new MercedesBenz C-Class Estate start at just €39,630, while my test car specification is priced at €45,710.

FACT BOX: 1) REVISED, STYLISH PREMIUM ESTATE 2) NEW ENGINES & TECHNOLOGY 3) TWO TRIM LEVELS 4) PETROL OR DIESEL ENGINES 5) PRICED FROM €39,630 (EX-WORKS)

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PEUGEOT HIGHEST MARKET SHARE IN OVER A DECADE

Registration figures released for the critical January new vehicle market, have seen the PEUGEOT brand deliver a combined passenger car and light commercial vehicle market share of 5.4% (+7.4% year-on-year), the highest share the lionbrand has recorded in any January in Ireland since 2005. Following a strong sales performance in 2018, PEUGEOT now retains its Top Ten passenger car market share in January 2019, whilst moving up to fourth place in the light commercial van market (+28% year-on-year) to command almost 9% of van sales in Ireland.

LPD

Des Cannon, Managing Director at Gowan Distributors Limited, PEUGEOT Importer in Ireland, said: “In a weakened market (-13%), we have delivered the highest volume growth in Ireland, for cars and light commercial vehicles combined, to reach our highest market share in over 10 years. Clearly, continued appetite for our 2008, 3008 and 5008 SUV range has contributed to this growth, whilst demand for our new Partner van, just launched and already crowned International Van of the Year 2019, has already driven us up to a number four ranking in the

van sales league.” He continued: “Unmistakeably, the contraction in the market place is a very serious concern. Brexit uncertainty, UK imports and waning consumer confidence, will present continued headwinds for the Irish Motor Industry for the remainder of the critical first quarter of 2019. Nonetheless, the arrival of the new 508 fastback and the Rifter MPV, together with our current, vibrant range, will ensure the PEUGEOT brand is very well placed to continue to outperform the market for the remainder of 2019.” The new PEUGEOT 508 fastback, which was presented the Grand Prix award for Most Beautiful Car of the Year 2018 at the 34th International Automobile Festival in Paris in January, and the Rifter MPV, Autobest’s 2019 Best Buy Car of Europe, have landed in showrooms and are now available to test drive at your local PEUGEOT Dealer.

AXA ROADSAFE ROADSHOW 2019 Recently the AXA Roadsafe Roadshow in partnership with South Dublin County Council delivered a hard-hitting road safety message to 650 Transition Year students from South Dublin. The AXA Roadsafe Roadshow is aimed primarily at Transition Year students in Secondary Schools and is based on an award-winning format and depicts graphically how a night out can end in tragedy. Using a backdrop of contemporary music, video clips and television advertisements; the story was told by Garda David Barron, Paramedic Tony Kelly and Fire Officer Trevor Hunt. The show culminated in a presentation by a local father Leo Lieghio who lost his daughter Marsia, twelve years ago in a hit and run in Clondalkin. Marsia was sixteen years old at the time and was knocked down at a set of pedestrian lights. Leo told the students about the raw grief he and his family have had to suffer since that terrible day. Antoinette McDonald, Director, Partner

and Customer Experience Director at AXA Insurance commented: “As one of the largest insurance companies in Ireland, we deal with hundreds of claims every week as a result of traffic collisions. The effects are well documented - too many people are being killed on our roads or are being injured for life. These are real life stories of people who deal with the needless carnage caused by speed, drink and drugs on Irish roads and the show brings home the pain caused by unnecessary road crashes and the impact on people and how it has changed their lives forever. The way they are presented will

help young novice drivers and other young road users understand why, for everyone’s sake, it is better to be alive and late, rather than dead on time” In 2018, 149 people lost their lives on our roads and 1,000 were left seriously injured. Almost two thirds of fatalities have been drivers or passengers, and one fifth of these were not wearing seat belts at time of the accidents. In South Dublin alone one person lost their life in 2018. This year, 18 people have lost their lives on our roads, this is an increase of two fatalities for this time last year. Every road death is one too many.

Tony Kelly, Garda Dave Barron, Leo Lieghio, Cllr. Mark Ward, Willie Sparkes and Trevor Hunt. Pic Credit: Colm Mahady / Fennells

CARS AND COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

5A Old Bawn Rd, Tallaght, Dublin 24 We are the biggest used commercial vehicle dealer in South Dublin with averaging over 200 vehicles at any one time. We stock and supply vans, cars and 4x4 pick up box body. We can arrange finance and credit card payments are accepted. With over 20 years experience in the motor trade our friendly staff would be more than happier to assist you with any queries you may have.

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