Rathcoole & Saggart News 18.03.19 by Newsgroup

18th March 2019

POVERTY AMONG LONE PARENTS WHO ARE WORKING HAS DOUBLED

A new report from the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP), entitled Working, Parenting and Struggling, has found that the rate of in-work poverty among lone parents more than doubled between 2012 and 2017. In 2012, 1-in-11 working lone parents were living below the poverty line, but by 2017 this increased to 1-in-5. SVP says that the analysis presented in the report reflects the experience of its members’ who are meeting more and more working families

struggling to make ends meet. The data also shows that the living standards of lone parents in Ireland are among the worst in Europe as they have the second highest rates of income poverty, persistent poverty and severe deprivation among EU-15 peer countries. SVP Social Policy Development

Officer and author of the report Dr Tricia Keilthy said “It is clear that Ireland is failing to protect lone parents and their children from the adverse affects of poverty. High housing

and childcare costs combined with low levels of income, mean that it is very difficult for many families with children to make ends meet. These factors significantly reduce the standard of living of working lone parents, who face additional challenges as both the primary earner and primary care-giver for their families. They also create additional barriers to employment for those who want to take up a job or increase their working hours”. The

report analyses data from the European Survey of Income and Living Conditions, the Labour Force Survey and Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection to build a comprehensive picture of the income, work and living conditions of one parent families in Ireland. Some of the main findings include: Lone parents in Ireland are almost 5 times more likely to experience in-work poverty than other households with children (20.8% compared to 4.2%), 84% of lone parents in Ireland were unable to meet unexpected expenses – compared to an EU-15 average of 58% and Childcare costs significantly reduce the returns from work, particularly for those employed in low paid work. SVP National President Kieran Stafford said “This year SVP is marking the 175th anniversary of our foundation in Ireland. Irish society has changed beyond recognition since the first SVP members began their work in

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POVERTY AMONG LONE PARENTS WHO ARE LOCAL CAMPAIGNER WELCOMES NEW LAW TO PROTECT CHILDREN ONLINE WORKING HAS DOUBLED .... CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Dublin in 1844, however, many of the same issues of poverty; low paid, precarious work and poor quality housing persist for the people we assist. Our members see the strain on working lone parents who are trying to combine spending time with their children and meeting their caring responsibilities with

jobs which can be inflexible and insecure, and often do not provide a sufficient income to meet all of the household needs”.

Dr Keilthy concluded “Budget 2019 included a number of welcome improvements in income supports for lone parents and the introduction of the Affordable Childcare

Scheme is a very positive development. But this report shows Ireland has a long way to go in creating pathways to sustainable, decent and family friendly employment which will address the growing issue of in-work poverty among lone parents.

We are hopeful that the forthcoming National Action Plan for Social Inclusion (2019-2025) will include ambitious targets for reducing poverty among one parent families, which are linked to supporting actions across Government particularly in the areas of housing, childcare and employment.”

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A new law is set to protect our children online, a Fine Gael Councillor who has held a series of local public meetings on online gaming and social media, has welcomed the law. Local Election candidate Emer Higgins said: “My colleague the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton T.D., has announced that he will introduce a new Online Safety Act to improve online safety and ensure that children can be protected online. This is something of huge concern to parents locally and I’m pleased to see progress.” “For the first time we will have a law setting a clear expectation for service providers to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the users of their service. The system will be overseen by an Online Safety Commissioner.

their users safe online. While there are many very good initatives going on across the government to promote online safety, particularily by WebWise, the Online Safety Commissioner can be a single online access point through which all available Online Safety resources can be accessed by parents, teachers and children. This could build on the government’s Be Safe Online portal. We need a media commission and two regulators to police these reassures,” explained Cllr. Emer Higgins. “A short six week public consultation is set to commence on the options and I encourage parents in particular to have their say,” concluded Cllr. Emer Higgins.

I held a series of meetings in Lucan, Clonadlkin, North Clondalkin and Rathcoole for parents who wanted more information on online gaming and social media and it was clear there’s a real need for better regulation,” said Cllr. Emer Higgins. “This is really good news for parents who seek to protect their children while they benefit from all that digital technology has to offer. The Online Safety Act will define categories of harmful online content and place requirements on operators to Operate an Online Safety Code, which would set out the steps they are taking to keep

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€2.6M HOUSING ADAPTATIONS GRANTS FOR OLDER PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY IN SOUTH DUBLIN

€2.595M has been made available to support home adaptations for older people, people with a disability and people with mobility issues in South Dublin Cllr. Emer Higgins has said. Cllr. Emer Higgins explained that the funding, which has been increased this year, will enable older people and people with disabilities to remain living independently in their own homes for longer and will also facilitate early return from hospital. Higgins said: “This allocation will continue to build on the progress made since the introduction of this scheme twelve years ago. I am also pleased that funding has been increasing year on year these past five years. These grants have an immense impact on the quality of life of the many

beneficiaries and play a vitally important role in helping people with a disability and people who are reaching an age in life when they are less mobile, to continue to live independently in their own homes.” Higgins continued: “Grants of up to €30,000 are available to assist people with a disability in carrying out necessary works to make a house more suitable for their needs, up to €8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out and up to €6,000 for mobility aids to address mobility problems for a member of the household.

Planning and Local Government, with 20% funding from South Dublin County Council. “The grants also create employment opportunities for builders and local

businesses and help reduce the dependency on our health services by supporting independent living for as long as possible,” concluded Cllr. Emer Higgins.

NEW NATIONAL CHILDCARE SCHEME

“The grants are 80% funded from the exchequer by the Department of Housing,

795 PUBLIC LITTER BINS MUST DOUBLE TO TACKLE INCREASE IN LITTER PLIGHT

Dublin FF Cllr Gilligan is calling for a double the number of litter bins in South Dublin Co Co. SDCC must encourage residents to do the right thing. An insufficient number of litter bins will encourage bad litter behaviour. The stats below outline the number of bins in

SDCC: Lucan 131 litter bins, Clondalkin 113 bins, Tallaght 208 bins, Rathfarnham 119 bins and Templeogue / Terenure 104 bins. The total of the above is 675 litter bins. In addition to this there are 120 litter bins in parks around the County.” “Tidy Towns

groups are continually requesting more bins in the area and I think this would go a long way to tackling the issue. Dublin Bus must also commit to increase the number of litter bins at their stops as well as extra bins on the buses.”

Sam Lafferty-Kivlehan (15-months) with Dublin South West Minister Katherine Zappone at the launch of the new National Childcare Scheme, An information campaign is under way to raise awareness ahead of the start of the scheme in October. Full details at www.ncs.gov.ie. Minister Zappone says the awareness campaign will be targeted at those local communities in South and West Dublin with the highest number of young families.

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BUSINESSES FACING CLOSURE DUE TO HIGHER INSURANCE COSTS

Dublin Mid-West T.D. John Curran is warning that businesses are facing closure because they can no longer afford significantly increased insurance premiums. “Small businesses are being hammered by rising insurance costs and some smaller family run companies say they may be forced to close if premiums continue to increase. I’ve been talking to some business owners who have seen their insurance costs double over the past five years. This level of increase is simply not sustainable”, said Deputy Curran. “We had an issue with motor insurance over the past number of years but this is now spreading out to public liability costs. It doesn’t matter where you are in the country, prices are rising across the board. “The Cost of Insurance Working Group was set up specifically to examine high premiums and to

bring them under control. However, the government has failed to act on its recommendations. “There is still no national claims database. The government promised that this would be up and running by the middle of last year. As it stands, it is unclear whether it will even be established by the end of this year. “The establishment of a dedicated Garda insurance fraud unit is another measure which needs to be brought in as a matter of urgency. Businesses have been active in voicing their support of this essential proposal. “This government has taken its eye off the ball on the issue of insurance and businesses up and down the country are paying the price. The Minister needs to wake up to the seriousness of the issue and step up to the mark in tackling insurance costs”, concluded Deputy Curran.

GARDA YOUTH AWARDS DMR SOUTH 2019

The inaugural Garda Youth Awards – DMR (Dublin Metropolitan Region) South took place on February 28th in Tallaght Stadium. The awards celebrated outstanding young people from diverse backgrounds between 13 and 21 years of age. They recognised the excellent work being done by local young people in schools, voluntary organisations, and youth groups throughout the communities of DMR South.

The DMR South Garda Division includes Tallaght, Crumlin, and Terenure. These communities are served by the Luas Red Line and Transdev is committed to supporting these communities and encouraging the young people who live there, particularly those who face challenges, overcome adversity, and demonstrate leadership. These awards celebrate the close links between Luas, the Gardaí, and the communities we serve, recognising those young people who in their own unique ways are improving local communities for all.

On the night Chief Superintendent Kevin Gralton commented “All of the young people and groups nominated are winners.

Getting involved and contributing to your community by helping others or demonstrating leadership in a local initiative benefits everyoneskills are developed, friendships are formed, and voluntary and community groups are sustained. The work being done by these outstanding young people helps to keep

communities together and improves the overall quality of life for everyone”. Gralton continued – “The nominees are exceptional, and the competition was very high. The Garda DMR South division is enriched by your voluntary contributions and impressive leadership. On behalf of An Garda Síochána- thank you.”

Seamus Egan, MD, Transdev Dublin Light Rail Limited commented “Luas links communities and people together. Transporting over

110,000 people daily, we know the essential part a transport system plays in community life. We value the work and support of An Garda Síochána whom we work with every day”. “We are proud to support young people and community groups on the Red and Green Luas Lines. It’s inspiring to see young people develop themselves and their communities. We are a mobility company, and we are proud to support their personal development and social mobility”.

Pictured Individual Award Winner, Ciara Kavanagh, Volunteer at St. Mark’s Youth Club, “The Jokers”, Fettercairn, Tallaght.

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CASSIDY TRAVEL AGAIN NETS ITIA AWARD Leading travel agency Cassidy Travel, whose locations across Dublin include the Square in Tallaght, has been awarded the accolade of “Travel Agency of the Year” in the prestigious ITIA travel awards, which were held in the Mansion House in Dublin last month and attended by over 500 travel and tourism professionals from around the world. Cassidy Travel also won the award in 2017. The annual event is an initiative of the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) designed to showcase excellence within the industry. Judging the winners falls to an independent panel of judges, chaired by Bill Smith. Presenter and broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan was Master of Ceremonies on the night. Accepting the award, John Spollen of Cassidy Travel commented: ““There’s

always satisfaction in winning awards, in your work being acknowledged by peers or experts or customers. I’m mindful that in our business our staff are central to the value we provide, in the advice and service they offer to customers every day. That makes a recognition like this all the more pleasing. It is a tribute to everyone in the organisation.”

Established in 1985, Irish-owned Cassidy Travel is the country’s largest travel agent, with Travelshops in the Square, Liffey Street, the Ilac Centre, Liffey Valley, Dundrum, Talbot Street, Blanchardstown, Donaghmede and Swords and an online at cassidytravel.ie. Across its sun holiday, city break, cruise, sports and Classic Resorts long-haul divisions, it will cater for close on 100,000 Irish holidaymakers this year.

The team at Cassidy Travel celebrate their being awarded ITIA Travel Agency of the Year with MC Miriam OCallaghan

NEW OPERATOR FOR 2 EARLY YEAR FACILITIES Following a public procurement process SDCC selected Orchard House Ltd (Trading as Oakview at specific locations) to manage its Tallaght and Clondalkin onsite Early Years facilities on completion of statuary handover from the incumbent management company. The Early Years services will continue without interruption while the change of management takes place. SDCC welcomes Oakview Management to the Tallaght & Clondalkin county buildings and look forward to the continuation of an outstanding Early Years’ service. Orchard House Ltd with extensive facilities in Kerry, also operates the onsite Early Years’ Service at Dublin Technological University, Tallaght Campus. In 2008 the company launched Oakview Village Childcare, providing Tralee and surrounding areas with the highest standard of care and education, delivered by a team of qualified and experienced staff. In addition to the Early Years’ service, the company also operates an onsite Early Years Training Centre offering training programmes for both national and international future Early Years educators. In March 2016 Orchard House Ltd launched the Early Years Support Centre, offering Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Play Therapy, Music Therapy and Psychotherapy. The overall aim of the company is to offer families a holistic approach to children’s, care, learning and development, in partnership with families

and multi-disciplinary support teams. In August 2011 Oakview Village Childcare was awarded the All Ireland Centre of Excellence. This prestigious award is a coveted award in the national Early Years’ service sector. In November 2011 and November 2014 Oakview Village Childcare was chosen as ‘Best Private Crèche’ in Ireland at the annual Maternity and Infant award ceremony in Dublin. In May 2012, Oakview Village Childcare was chosen as the first Childcare Centre in Munster to receive the national An Taisce Green School’s award for encouraging environmental awareness in the children in our care and in May 2014 the facility was awarded a second Green Flag award. 2016 was a very successful year which saw Oakview Village Childcare and the Early Years Support Centre awarded with a Best Innovation in Business award, The Maternity & Infant Gold in Diversity & Equality as well as Bronze in The Indoor Learning Environment. According to Clódagh Moynihan, Managing Director of Orchard House Ltd; ‘We are delighted to have been successful in the public procurement process and look forward to transferring these standards of excellence to the Early Years’ service at Tallaght and Clondalkin over the coming years. Our overall aim of the service will be to offer local families a holistic approach to their child’s, care, learning and development.’

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FITZGERALD TO CONTEST EUROPEAN ELECTIONS Current local Dublin MidWest T.D. Frances Fitzgerald has been selected by Fine Gael to contest the upcoming European elections on May 24th. At the Fine Gael convention prior to the selection

announcement, Fitzgerald thanked Fine Gael branches and constituents for their support “I am here at this convention to ask you, the members, to give me the honour of standing to represent this great city and county of Dublin, which

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I dearly love, as your MEP. I want to thank the branches and the constituencies across Dublin, who have welcomed me in recent weeks - and who have nominated me. This is a time of huge uncertainty and extraordinary challenge. I want to continue the work, in the setting of the European Parliament, so ably done to date by the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister McEntee in representing Ireland’s interests and the challenges that we face in a new postBrexit scenario. We must work now to create new opportunities to ensure that the voices and views of smaller countries are heard in the reshaped post-Brexit EU. We must continue to proactively influence the EU agenda.” The Lucan and Clondalkin T.D. stated “The past challenges we faced required skill and influence in the European institutions and the European Parliament. We rose and overcame those - and I have no doubt we will also rise and overcome

the challenges and realise the opportunities presented by Brexit. We need experienced people to represent us in Europe where vital decisions occur every day, decisions that will profoundly influence the future of our country.

I have a record of delivering change and progress in Dublin; driven by my love for the city and county where I grew up, went to school and college and raised my family; rooted in my social work in St. Ultan’s Children’s’ Hospital; the Mater Hospital and St. James’ Hospital - and for 10 years as a social worker in Ballymun; and honed during my political experience representing two Dublin constituencies over 18 years and driving reform as Tánaiste and as a Government Minister... where I established the Department for Children & Youth Affairs, and as, Minister for Justice and Equality, enacted 27 pieces of legislation.” Fitzgerald with many years experience in politics

concluded “I have the energy, the experience and the direction to make this happen. If I do receive the honour of representing Dublin in the European Parliament, I will carry forward the principle of inclusivity and a rightsbased approach that has always guided me - and fight for it at every level and on every issue. I stand for social progress that advances the rights of women and minorities. The European Union has always stood behind that cause and I can ensure that this continues.”

Frances Fitzgerald T.D

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ROLL OUT OF ENERGY RETROFIT SCHEME FOR SCHOOLS ANOTHER FAILURE TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE

John Curran T.D. was commenting after receiving a Parliamentary reply from the Minister on the

issue. “In the National Development Plan (20182027) €2.5bn is identified for the refurbishment and

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construction of schools. Part of this is intended for deep energy retrofit of schools built prior to 2008. However, the Minister is unable to provide me with any detail costings or accurate scale of the task at hand to retrofit all schools built prior to 2008. There are currently many schools waiting long periods

of time for extension and refurbishment works that are experiencing set-backs due to design and planning stages. The funding for Deep Energy Retrofits must be targeted funding and not part of the overall refurbishment and construction budget for schools. The Minister informed me that in the space of two

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years only 16 schools have been adequately retrofitted and he was unable to tell me how many schools are planned for energy retrofits in 2019. There is a serious lack of strategic planning and budgeting in operation here. Yet again the current Government displays severe incompetence to plan and

manage big projects and a serious lack of urgency to meet our Climate Change obligations. I am calling on the Minister to allocate targeted funding to specifically plan for the retrofit of schools built prior to 2008 and to set out the costings and plans for 2018 - 2027 immediately,” concluded Deputy Curran.

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LOCAL TEENAGE ENTREPRENEURS FROM TALLAGHT AND LUCAN

Local Enterprise Office (LEO) South Dublin confirms that winning teenage entrepreneurs from Tallaght, Walkinstown, Lucan and Rathfarnham will represent at National Final of Student Enterprise Programme.

8 teenage entrepreneurs from 3 local schools have won a place representing South Dublin at the Student Enterprise Programme National Finals on May 3rd. Each September through LEO South Dublin entrepreneurial secondary school students begin their business journey as they are encouraged to research, set-up and run their own real-world businesses.

The enterprise education initiative, funded by the Government through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 LEO’s in local authorities, is the most successful student enterprise programme of it’s kind. An estimated 26,000 students from 490 schools around the country begin their entrepreneurial journey each year with the help of teachers, student enterprise coordinators and LEO. The students were all competing at the South Dublin Final on March 8th which was held at the Technological University Dublin Tallaght Campus. An estimated 210 students from 12 schools took part in the annual

programme locally. In the Junior Category, the students representing at the National Finals in Croke Park are: Tomas O Mordha, Jake O Meachair and Marc Mac Aindreas from Cloigeanna Tamhlachta 18 at Coláiste De Híde, Tallaght. In the Intermediate Category, Karl Carew, Mason McNamara, KM Enterprise, Greenhills College. In the Senior Category of the competition will be Donal Monahan, Ryan O’ Dwyer and Jake Andrews, from Focail Bhega at Coláiste Éanna.

Speaking at the county final, Tom Rooney Head of LEO South Dublin congratulated the students, saying “We have a very successful student enterprise programme with over 210 students from 12 local schools taking part this year. Our national finalists are

excellent ambassadors for the programme and we wish them the very best of luck on May 3.” He continued: “What our students are learning from the programme is that with the right supports and encouragement, they can take an idea from the classroom and develop it into a real-life business. The skills they learn along the way, such as business planning, market research, selling and team-work, will help them become more entrepreneurial throughout their future careers”. The local students will be competing against hundreds of other student entrepreneurs from all over Ireland in Croke Park. For information see www.studententerprise.ie or by searching #studententerprise.

€95K NATIONAL LOTTERY GOOD CAUSES AWARDS

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“The National Lottery has recently announced funding of €95K available through its Good Causes Awards. Categories include Sport, Health & Wellness, Community, Youth, Arts & Culture & Heritage. Another special Award is the Irish Language award (which will only involve the National Final).” “Entries will be judged on the impact of the funding on a local community, group or service users. Category

winners will receive €10,000. The overall Good Cause of the Year will receive an additional €25,000. Deadline Friday March 29th. More info www.lottery.ie/goodcausesawards. This funding is a welcome addition to the community grants announced recently by SDCC. This funding will go a long way to supporting local, voluntary groups working tirelessly within the community.”

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FIVE YEAR HOUSING LIST BAN NEEDS TO BE SCRAPPED

Local TD Seán Crowe, has described the Minister for Housing’s plans to suspend housing lists applicants for five years for refusing two offers of council housing as cruel and out of touch. The Sinn Féin TD stated that this proposal needed to be scrapped. Deputy Crowe said: “The Minister for Housing, has informed the Dáil that he is planning to introduce a five year suspension from the housing list for applicants who refuse two offers of Council accommodation. “This proposal is cruel, out of touch, unnecessary, and should be scrapped. “Many housing list applicants refuse offers of accommodation for entirely legitimate reasons. What a housing official may deem a reasonable offer may not actually meet the needs of a family. “Access to schools, public transport, and

family support networks for childcare are the most common reasons for refusals. Some applicants also refuse offers in the small number of housing estates that have high levels of criminal and antisocial behaviour. Estates where they feel threatened, intimidated, or terrified of a particular family or individuals. Nobody should be penalised for refusing such inappropriate offers. “In fact, if all Local Authorities introduced Choice Based Lettings, the online system for allocating social housing operated by 16 Councils, then the problem the Minister believes supposedly exists would be dealt with without penalising anyone. “Choice Based Lettings gives housing applicants an element of choice over where they can live. It can also if run correctly dramatically

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reduces the time a property is vacant while the allocation process takes place. “I do not accept that there are large numbers of

Shauna Richmond (28) originally from Cushlawn in Tallaght has recently had her first book published. Shauna who now lives in Laois with her husband, has suffered from depression and anxiety for quite a long time. She added “Ive suffered from depression and anxiety for as long as I can remember. I went to the doctors multiple times about it from the age of 16. They kept telling me it was hormonal.” Shauna suffered a breakdown in November 2016 and then was finally diagnosed at the age of 26. While Shauna was out of work and trying to recover from the breakdown, her husband found a notebook she had been scribbling in since April that same year, and he encouraged Shauna to turn it into a short story or book while she was at home to help distract her.

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opinion he would be better using his time to increase the flow of housing, introducing an affordable housing scheme, putting a

price cap on development land, securing rental certainty and giving more people an opportunity to access a home.”

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people frivolously refusing appropriate offers of accommodation. Minister Murphy needs to scrap this latest proposal. “In my

Once she started writing the book, her husband encouraged Shauna to seek a publisher, Shauna commented “I found two publishers who took on new authors without a literary agent and one panic attack later I sent in what I had so far. A few

weeks later the letters came in I hid from them under the blankets as I was convinced they were rejections. My husband read them both to tell me both publishers loved it and sent me out a contract.”

The book, The Wrath of Raghnall was published on the 31st of January 2019. Shauna concluded “I want to show people who like me suffer from their mental health that they can do whatever they set their mind to doing in spite of their illness.”

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LIVE REGISTER DROPS BY 55% IN TALLAGHT

Cllr. Lawlor said: “The latest CSO figures show that numbers on the Live Register in Tallaght has decreased by 18.5% in the last year. Since the Action Plan for Jobs was

launched in 2012 there has been a 55% decrease. Fine Gael is ambitious to build upon the gains we have made in recent years and to ensure people enjoy higher

Cllr. Brian Lawlor pictured with Minister for Employment and Social Protection, Regina Doherty

standards of living and quality of life now, and into the future.” “Over 154,000 jobs have now been created in Ireland since 2016. Only a strong economy supporting people at work can provide the public services needed to deliver the kind of society we all want to live in. As we approach full employment it is now time to shift our focus. It is no longer just a question of more jobs, instead we must focus on growing highly productive and skilled people creating and working in highly productive and sustainable businesses.”

“The Government is ambitious to build upon the gains we have made in recent years. “Future Jobs Ireland is a new whole-of Government plan to secure Ireland’s economic success. It complements Project Ireland 2040 and Global Ireland 2025 as whole-ofGovernment strategies charting an ambitious course for Ireland’s future development. Future Jobs Ireland is about supporting business but also investing

in the development of people. The world of work is changing. Advancing technology means society is always ‘on’,” said Cllr.

Lawlor “People have worked hard over the last eight years and should be proud of how far they have taken our country. We need

to continue to build on that progress and ensure that we’re supporting people to work and making work pay,” concluded Cllr. Lawlor.

TREE PRUNING CAUSING CONCERN

Cllr Sarah Holland has spoken out to allay fears in some neighbourhoods about tree removals. Tree felling has been a hot topic recently, with rumours abounding that some county councils were removing healthy trees without consultation, with widespread speculation as to the reasons.

Cllr Holland said “South Dublin County Council put a lot of research into their tree management policy, which I launched in 2015. Tree pruning/ removal/planting requests are one of the top issues for county councillors. Cllrs. have added to the available budget year-on-year in an effort to manage the some 60,000 trees we have. The trees have so many benefits for our communities, not least the pleasures of living in leafy suburbs. They also require maintenance. It’s important to note that trees are only removed if they are dangerous, diseased or blocking services.” She added; “Rumours and conspiracy theories about trees being removed for insurance reasons or for 5G are spreading

a mild panic among householders, especially following photos of a tree cull in another council area. South Dublin tree crews and staff are qualified tree surgeons and never remove healthy trees for the craic. The trees in my own estate were pruned last year, and the “baldness” of the street was shocking at first, but we soon got used to it. The pruning will help the trees reach their full potential.” South Dublin County Council’s “Living With Trees” policy plans for the continuity and renewal of tree stock from 2015 - 2020. Many areas such as Rathfarnham and Clondalkin have ageing and mature tree populations where tree maintenance is required in order to sustain the health and viability of these trees into the future. Cllr Holland said “Unfortunately, trees will sometimes have to be removed. I will be working with other councillors and staff to ensure that replanting is carried out as soon as is practical, using species suitable for growing in estates.”

KIP’S TIPS TO HELP YOUR CHILD EXCEL AT ESSAY WRITING Writing an essay can be a demanding process that feels like an uphill battle for most students. Usually, however, this is caused by an attempt to rush the process. Doing the necessary preparations can help to make essay writing a much easier process. This short guide outlines important things to consider when preparing to write an essay. Understand the essay question Breaking down an essay question should always be the first process completed when writing one. Missing important information provided within the question is common and can lead to unnecessary rewriting. Make sure enough time is allotted to digest and create a simple essay plan before you begin. Try this! – Ask your child to reframe their essay question in the way they would propose it to you. This will help to highlight any areas they’re unsure about and will require a deeper understanding of the questions objectives to complete effectively. Complete meaningful research Almost all types of essays require significant amounts of research in order to be effective. Before your child writes an essay, they should be well informed on the chosen subject. Good research can inform the rest of the writing process, allowing your child to map out how the essay is going to look before they’ve even begun. Part of performing good research is knowing how to navigate search engines and asking them the right questions. It’s also vital to check the validity of the information your child is using. Whilst textbooks obtained from a library are generally a reliable source, if you’re using the internet remember to always check the validity of your information. Try this! Ask your child to see if they can track a piece of information to its origin. Un-cited sources are common on the internet, which can easily mislead. Stay organised It’s impossible to remember everything you want to include in your essay, or all the information you’ve gathered from research. Having somewhere to collate that information provides a valuable resource to reference back to if you get stuck. Give these free applications a go! Google Docs (Online writing tool), Mindmeister (Powerful mind mapping tool), Pinterest (Create inspiration boards) Does your child need help with their essay writing? Our excellent English tutors can help. Kip McGrath runs an industry leading, private tuition centre in Rathfarnham, providing fantastic results.

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MAYNOOTH UNIVERSITY AND INTEL IRELAND SIGN MOU CREATING STRATEGIC RESEARCH AND INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP

Maynooth University and Intel Ireland have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic partnership for research and innovation, and to nurture future talent. Building on already strong relationships between Intel and Maynooth, the MoU will establish a more comprehensive and structured format for creative collaborations in key areas of research. The agreement was signed by Maynooth University President, Professor Philip Nolan, and Eamonn Sinnott, General Manager of Intel Ireland and Vice President Technology Manufacturing Group, marking a new chapter in the relationship between Ireland’s fastest growing university and the global leader in manufacturing and technology. As a commitment to developing the relationship between two major employers and contributors to enterprise, research and education policy, the MoU offers the potential for Intel and Maynooth to enhance their strategic presence in the fastest growing demographic region of Ireland by working in a more comprehensive and structured format.

programmes careers.

and

STEM

Welcoming the MoU, the President of Maynooth University, Prof Philip Nolan, said: “As neighbouring institutions in the fastest growing region within the fastest growing economy in Europe, it is fitting to put in place a framework for how Maynooth University and Intel can grow our partnership into the future. Whether it be matching regional skills needs to our expanding set of course offerings at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, or bringing together industry and academics to work on the latest in drone technology, partnering simply makes sense. I’m delighted that this announcement will enable our long partnership to grow in a formal way, and I’m excited to see where it leads.” Remarking on the potential of this new partnership, Eamonn Sinnott, General Manager of Intel Ireland and Vice President of Intel’s Technology Manufacturing Group, said: “Since

officially becoming the modern university that we know today in 1997, Maynooth has adopted a strong focus on research, innovation and on creating learning environments that are considerate of a dynamic and ever-changing society. The University’s multi-disciplinary approach to how it conducts research and its emphasis on preparing students to be future-ready are just some of the reasons that we at Intel were so keen to formalise our relationship with the University and to look for further ways for our two organisations to work together.

This year, as Intel celebrates 30 years of operations, we are delighted to sign this MoU to ensure that the long and rich partnership which we have enjoyed over many years with Maynooth University is put onto a sustainable and structured footing into what we hope will be a very exciting future.” Maynooth University is Ireland’s fastest growing university, and is recognised among the top 400 universities in the world, the top 200 European

Universities, and as one of the top 200 universities for international connections and outlook. MU alumni who are employed by Intel have studied across a wide range of disciplines, including Geography, Business, Electronic Engineering, Maths, Computer Science, Experimental Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Design Innovation and Psychology. One such alumnus, Robert O’Connor, who is an engineer on the Manufacturing Information Technology team at Intel, earned his MSc in Design Innovation at Maynooth University. He noted a key experience from his studies was to cultivate an innovation mind-set for analysing and developing user-centred solutions. “I now see problems differently and have an increased toolset to analyse, understand and develop user-centred solutions. I ran a project to apply this mind-set to the everyday tasks my team performs. We were able to analyse the work we do and automate solutions to free up our time for more important work,” he said.

The two organisations will co-operate to identify, optimise and nurture research and innovation in areas of growth potential, such as Maynooth’s U-Flyte project on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (cofunded by SFI and industry partners), artificial intelligence, design and innovation. The partnership also will seek to explore ways to work together on topics such as emerging skills and talent needs, and extending diversity in education, including the representation of women in STEM- related education

NEED YOUR LEAFLETS DELIVERED IN DUBLIN ? CONTACT LOCAL POST CO. TODAY! VISIT www.localpost.ie TELEPHONE 01 451 9000 EMAIL leaflets@localpost.ie

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GRIFFITH COLLEGE OFFER LEAVING CERTIFICATE STUDENTS FREE MATHS REVISION COURSES

As tens of thousands of students prepare for their Leaving Certificate, Griffith College is once again delighted to provide free revision course in ordinary and higher level mathematics to answer any last minute questions students may have. Dublin dates will take place Saturday 23 March for Ordinary level and Sunday 24 March for Higher level. In 2018 over 1,000 students from

across the country registered for the free maths revision courses in three of Griffith’s four locations. Director of Academic Programmes at Griffith College Tomás Mac Eochagáin, is the presenter of the course. He has over 25 years of experience teaching mathematics and securing excellent exam results for students. All sessions from each centre will be recorded on video and made available

online to all participants until after the examinations in June. On the day, students will be expected to be on location no later than 9.15 and will be given two breaks throughout the day. Students must bring their own maths equipment such as calculators, pen and paper. Given the demand for the free revision courses, advance online booking is required, which can be done through schools@griffith.ie or 01-4150418.

ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE OPEN NIGHT

Archways are seeking to recruit an Area Based Childhood Programme: Community Development Worker The Community Development Worker will be responsible for: - Establishing contact with individuals and groups in local communities especially disadvantaged communities within the Blue Skies Initiative catchment area, namely in particular Adamstown, Lucan. - Supporting the local community in Adamstown in collective action to address local issues by promoting the programme available through the Blue Skies Initiative - Linking individuals and groups in disadvantaged communities to resources and supports available through Blue Skies Initiatives and other service providers - Promoting social inclusion in local communities through effective use of community development principles and practice Please see job description: - It is essential that the applicant hold a relevant third level qualification in some or any of the following: Community Development, Youth Work, Social Sciences, Education or a related field and have a minimum of three years’ experience in community development.

The Lucan school had a very successful Open Night recently. The large attendance was very encouraging and it was lovely to meet so many future pupils and their parents. They are very proud of all of their students who were superb ambassadors for their school on the night. All subjects were represented, by teachers and students. The young visitors really enjoyed their visit and they look forward to welcoming new students into the school in the coming years. A lovely evening and well done to all involved!

01-4150418 or schools@griffith.ie

The post is full-time (35 hours per week) for a fixed period of 1 year The closing date for receipt of applications 5pm 25th March 2019 Applications by CV should be sent to info@archways.ie

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CITYWEST EMPLOYER HAILED AS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK AT 2019 AWARDS CEREMONY

AbbVie, the global biopharmaceutical company which has a commercial headquarters in Dublin, has been listed among the Best Large Workplaces in Ireland for the sixth successive year. The announcement was made at the Great Place to Work Awards. AbbVie was listed as the No. 2 Best Large Workplace in Ireland 2019 at the workplace awards ceremony. It remains the highest placed company in the biopharmaceutical/pharmaceutical industry across all categories. Caroline McClafferty, Director of Business Human Resources for Manufacturing Engineering Services with AbbVie, was also the recipient of the 2019 ‘Great Place to Work Ambassador’ award. AbbVie employs more than 700 people at five manufacturing and commercial sites across Ireland. Colleagues located in the company’s manufacturing sites in Sligo and Cork entered into the Great Place to Work evaluation process with a combined submission with employees from the commercial sites located in Dublin.

colleagues. This honour reflects the massive contribution, dedication and drive of our dedicated HR and Communications teams, culture and engagement groups, our leadership teams and, most of all, our 700 team members across our sites in Ireland, who have believed in the importance of building a strong and vibrant company culture, and have helped to drive so many important culture programmes since our formation in 2013.” The Great Place to Work Institute also recognised AbbVie as a Best Workplace for Women at the awards event. This is the first time the Institute has awarded the accreditation to businesses in Ireland and AbbVie is one of only 13 companies to receive the prestigious honour. The programme recognises top organisations which, while providing a great work environment for everyone in general, are also creating positive and supportive workplaces for women in particular.

The Great Place to Work Institute assesses the policies and practices in place in organisations under nine key areas, including employee development, hiring practices, recognition and communication. It then benchmarks these against other organisations in each country. AbbVie scored exceptionally highly across all areas at its sites in Dublin, Cork and Sligo.

AbbVie’s Associate Director of HR in Ireland, Samantha Commons said the second place ranking and individual awards represented a strong endorsement of the company’s commitment to continually investing in the on-going development of its employees. In 2018, a particular focus was placed on talent-development, diversity and inclusion, health and well-being and providing employees with opportunities to engage with their local communities.

“I am incredibly proud to be recognised as the Great Place to Work 2019 Culture Ambassador, but accept the award on behalf of a very large team of wonderful

“To be named as a Great Place to Work six years in a row is a tremendous achievement. The on-going recognition we have received from the Great Place to Work Institute

has further strengthened our commitment to create the best working environment possible for our people, enabling them to thrive, develop and grow as individuals.” CEO of Great Place to Work, John Ryan paid tribute to all companies recognised this year. “Securing a place on the list of Best Workplaces in Ireland is a greater achievement than ever before. Even though we’re dealing with an unprecedented level of economic and political uncertainty, these

Irish organisations are ready to deal with the challenges: they have built agility and plasticity into the core of their workplaces, developing the high levels of trust that are critical for adaptability. “Today’s workplace is a partnership, creating the future in tandem. It’s inclusive and has diversity at its core. I’d like to congratulate each and every organisation that has achieved the goal of creating truly sustainable, high trust workplaces all across Ireland,” he added.

Employees from AbbVie’s site across Ireland, including Citywest Dublin, are pictured celebrating the company’s No.2 Best Large Workplace in Ireland ranking and Ireland’s Best Workplaces for Women and Great Place to Work ambassador award wins at the recent Great Place to Work Awards 2019 ceremony

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INCREASES IN BUS CAPACITY FOR LUCAN COMMUTERS WELCOMED

Route 25a will benefit from an additional 46 departures per week and the 25b will gain a total of 32 extra trips. Dublin Mid-West T.D. John Curran has welcomed the news from Dublin Bus that commuters in Lucan are set for much improved services on the 25a and 25b.

in recent months and in order to alleviate the capacity issues for Lucan commuters, I am delighted to report that I have received news that Lucan’s 25a and 25b will benefit from enhanced services, resulting in an overall enhanced timetable, particularly on week days and Saturdays.

Route 25a will benefit from an additional 46 departures per week and the 25b will gain a total of 32 extra trips. Deputy Curran was commenting after receiving the news from Dublin Bus, he said: “After making representations to Dublin Bus and bringing this issue to the floor of the Dáil

Dublin Bus have informed me that the route will also benefit from earlier departure times on Sunday, improving the journey between Lucan and the City Centre. Many residents in Lucan have contacted my office in relation to the difficulties they experience on their daily commute from

CASSERLY BRINGS DRIVE SAFER FOR LONGER ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN TO LUCAN

Councillor Vicki Casserly secured unanimous support for her Council Motion calling on the County’s Chief Executive to engage

with the Road Safety Authority and provide a half day event in support of the Drive Safer for Longer Road Safety Campaign. “The aim of the initiative is to assist in affording older drivers who value their independence the opportunity to attend a half day training event where the Local Authority Road Safety Officer, along with the Gardaí, an optometrist, a physiotherapist and approved RSA Driving Instructor addresses the driver,” explained Cllr. Casserly. The Council

agreed that the physical environment and Rules of the Road have undoubtedly changed for older drivers since beginning their driving journey. “As a result of my motion, I’m pleased to say that South Dublin County Council will explore the possibility of partnering with the RSA and neighbouring Local Authorities to deliver a Drive Safer for Longer Campaign aimed at older drivers across South Dublin, including here in Lucan,” concluded Cllr. Vicki Casserly.

Lucan. There have been significant gaps in existing services in Lucan on the 25A and 25B services. From times as early as 6.30am the 25A and 25B are overcrowded and not stopping for commuters. This is simply not good enough for residents

in Lucan who get up early in the morning to make their way to work to face this chaos on their commute. I trust that this announcement by Dublin Bus will go some way to alleviate the pressure in Lucan”, concluded Deputy Curran.

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HOUSING MOTION PASSED BY COUNCILS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

A motion calling on the Government to act on a motion which received cross-party support in the Daíl in October was passed at the recent Council meeting in South Dublin. People Before Profit councillor Madeleine Johansson proposed the motion which calls on the

Government to declare a housing and homeless emergency, prioritise public and affordable housing on public land and establish a legal right to housing. The Daíl motion has not yet been acted upon by the Minister for Housing who continue to claim

that Rebuilding Ireland is working while homelessness continue to increase. A similar motion was also passed by Cork City Council and Dun LaoghaireRathdown County Council on the same day. Cllr Johansson commented: “It was reported recently that South Dublin met its

Rebuilding Ireland social housing targets for 2018, however this is not in any way a measure of success. We are continuing to see an increase in rents across the county which have become completely unaffordable for the vast majority of people. We have 10 000 homeless people in Ireland, including

over 3000 children who are living in deplorable conditions in emergency accommodation.” “Rebuilding Ireland is not working. In 2018 only 26 home loans were drawn down in South Dublin through the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme,

which was heralded by the Minister as the new affordable housing scheme for families who can’t go on the social housing waiting list. Rebuilding Ireland needs to be scrapped and a new emergency plan produced by the Government to end this crisis.”

HAND KNITTED HATS RECEIVED BY CMRF CRUMLIN FOR PREMATURE BABIES

If anyone needs a smile today, here’s something that will restore your faith in humanity - A very kind person sent a bag of hand knitted hats to the CMRF Crumlin office for the premature babies in Crumlin hospital. “We are overhwelmed by this lovely gesture!” Fiona O’Malley, Head of Communications at CMRF Crumlin said, “The kindness of strangers is amazing. People who want to help us support some of Ireland’s sickest children can donate directly on our website at cmrf.org/donate. We have the most amazing supporters who do great fundraisers for us including abseils, mini marathons, cake sales, fundraiser cycles or by arranging a crazy hair day or no uniform day in their schools. There are so many ways that people give back and help us fund life-saving equipment, ground-breaking medical research and wraparound support services. Every so often, we see something like this and it really make us smile in the office. We don’t know anything about the person who sent in these hats, but we all want to thank them from the bottom of our hearts!” The hand knitted hats are just 2 inches tall.

The note sent in with them reads - ‘Enclosed find hats for premi-babies that my Mam knit. I hope you can make use of them, regards, Marie’. For more information on CMRF Crumlin please go to https://cmrf.org/.

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SOUTH DUBLIN LAUNCHES COMBAT PERIOD POVERTY CAMPAIGN

South Dublin County Council launched a pilot scheme to tackle period poverty by providing sanitary products in public buildings. This initiative led by Mayor of South Dublin, Cllr Mark Ward in partnership

with Claire Hunt from The Homeless Period Ireland. The launch took place in County Hall Tallaght to mark International Womens Day. Speaking prior to the launch Mayor Mark Ward said: “I first heard of the

Homeless Period Ireland last year and I was intrigued. I did a bit of research and contacted them and asked to talk to me about period poverty. Claire Hunt from the Homeless Period Ireland was brilliant in informing me of the situations that affect women regularly” “I also spoke with some of the groups that work with women and I soon found out that the issue of period poverty is very evident so with the Homeless Period Ireland we decided to see if we could launch something in South Dublin”

“In December I had a motion passed unanimously at the full Council meeting calling on South Dublin to provide free sanitary products for women in County Hall Tallaght and also the Clondalkin Civic Offices” “I want to thank South Dublin County Council for their support with this. I was pushing on an open door once they realised the extent of the issue” “A Plan Ireland survey of 1,000 girls in Ireland found that 50% of young girls struggle to pay for sanitary products and 55% are embarrassed to talk about their period. Providing free sanitary products helps to restore dignity to women. It also helps to break down stigma around periods.”

Mayor of South Dublin, Cllr Mark Ward

“The provision of sanitary products in public buildings is a recognition that the products are a necessity and not a luxury.” “There are many community centres and family resource centres who already provide the products because they identified the need a long time prototype vending machine for sanitary products with Homeless Period Ireland.” “We decided in South Dublin not

to use a vending machine but to instead just have the products freely available in the public toilets. This will allow women and girls who need these products to avail of them in a dignified manner” “Homeless period Ireland have been at the forefront of this campaign. They are a completely voluntary organisation that provides sanitary products to homeless women, women in refuges and women in Direct Provision.” “Because Direct Provision centres are run privately, it was down to chance whether or not the products were supplied as it was not included in the tendering process “Homeless Period Ireland relies on the generosity of the public. They have drop off points around the country. “A team of voluntary drivers then collect them and drop them off to Direct Provision centres, refuges, and homeless services.” “Providing free sanitary products helps to restore dignity to women. It also helps to break down the stigma around periods. The provision of sanitary products in public buildings is a recognition that the products are a necessity and not a luxury. I am delighted that South Dublin County Council are teaming up with Homeless Period Ireland to supply free sanitary products in County Hall Tallaght and the Clondalkin Civic Offices. This is a project I have worked on for some time and I am thrilled to able to launch it on International Women’s Day”

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IN THIS MONTH’S EDITION OF THE LOCAL PAPER ROMAINE SCALLY SOLICITOR OF ROMAINE SCALLY & COMPANY, SOLICITORS, MAIN STREET, TALLAGHT, DUBLIN 24 ANSWERS MORE READERS’ LEGAL QUERIES. THIS MONTH THEY CENTRE AROUND VARIOUS TYPES OF PERSONAL INJURIES AND WHETHER OR NOT CLAIMS ARISE THEREFROM. WE HOPE YOU FIND THEM HELPFUL. FURTHER QUERIES CAN BE DIRECTED TO: ROMAINE SCALLY & CO. SOLICITORS, MAIN STREET, TALLAGHT, DUBLIN 24 TEL: 01 45 99 506 FAX: 01 45 99 510 EMAIL: legal@scally.ie WEB: www.romainescally.ie

Q. I attended a Cosmetic Surgery Clinic about a year ago and had liposuction. I have waited a long time to see if the outcome might be better for me. However, I believe that I have gotten worse and now have very lumpy legs which I never had before. Unfortunately, the Cosmetic Clinic where the operation was performed has gone out of business. Is there anything I can do? A. This is where you will need good legal advice. I assume that you consulted with a surgeon attached to the Clinic before you underwent your surgery. Generally speaking, these Consultants have separate insurance to that of the Clinic. Therefore, despite the fact that the Clinic may not be operating, you may well still have a cause of action against the Surgeon. This however will depend on the facts of the case and the outcome. If for example, the poor outcome was in some way as a result of the nursing care then, this would not be covered by the insurance for the Surgeon. If however the outcome was directly attributable to some action, or inaction, on the part of the Surgeon himself then, your claim would be covered by his or her insurance which is generally separate to that of the clinic itself. Our advice is to consult with a Solicitor as soon as possible to discuss what further action needs to be taken. Q. I had an accident at work some time ago and was out sick for two months. I am back at work now and although I am not recovered, I am nervous about taking a claim as I am afraid that I might lose my job. I have been in the job for over six years. Could I lose my job if I take a claim? A. As you have been with your employers for such a long period of time, then, any attempt to dismiss you could be construed as an unfair dismissal which in itself would give rise to a claim for compensation. This is quite separate and apart from any claim for personal injuries. Your employer will undoubtedly have recorded the accident and may already have notified the details of same to it’s insurance company. As such, a claim may well be anticipated. You do not go into any detail regarding the circumstances of your accident and you would need to discuss same in some detail with your solicitor. However, assuming that this was an accident which should not have happened within the workplace and has caused you personal injuries then, you do have the right to claim against your employer. You must initiate the claim within two years from the date of the accident and it is important to allow your solicitor plenty of time to take details and obtain an initial medical report. It would be unusual if your employer decided to dismiss you simply because you initiated a claim. You are protected by the law and if your employer takes legal advice they will be so informed. Our advice therefore is to go to your solicitor and give particulars and commence an action for personal injuries arising out of your accident at work.

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MOTORING LIFE WITH THE ALL NEW AUDI A6 By Breda Corrigan The new Audi A6 was launched in Ireland in late 2018, and is available in traditional four-door saloon and A6 Avant (estate) guises. From its striking lights with distinctive light signature to its sculptured rear end, the Audi A6 is an ambassador of a revolutionary language of design, carrying classic quattro genes at the same time. Specially designed headlights beam out from underneath the impressive bonnet, flanked at the sides by powerful sills. The result is a look that promises pure dynamics, rounded off with breathtaking performance. Drivers of the new Audi A6 can enjoy uncompromising sportiness, without sacrificing comfort or efficiency. When designing the new A6, Audi encorporated many of the features of its bigger sibling, the A8. Technology such as 12-Volt or 48-Volt mild hybrid systems aim to keep down emissions. This works by switching off the engine and allowing the A6 to freewheel when you lift off the accelerator between 54km/h and 158km/h. It stays silent and un-polluting for up to 40 seconds on the 48-volt models, or 10 seconds with the 12-volt system fitted to the entry-level diesel. Engines & Transmissions; The engine line-up in the new A6 consists of two turbo-diesels – a 2.0-litre (badged 40TDI) with 204bhp, and a 3.0-litre with either 231bhp (badged 45TDI) or 286bhp (badged 50TDI). The 40TDI model is available in front-wheel-drive only, while Audi’s famous Quattro (four-wheel-drive) system is standard in the 45TDI and 50TDI models. Choose the 40TDI model and it will come with a standard ‘S-Tronic’ 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, while the 45TDI and 50TDI models are fitted with a standard ‘Tiptronic’ 8-speed automatic gearbox. Trim Levels; Trim levels in the new Audi A6 are limited to two well specified models – ‘SE’ and ‘S Line’, while an extensive range of packages, and upgrades, are available

for the ultimate in individualisation. Both trims offer the kind of hi-tech luxury that executive car buyers are accustomed to when upgrading to a new model. Test Car; My test car was an Audi A6 ‘S Line’, S-Tronic (7-speed automatic) 2.0TDi finished in stunning ‘Daytona Grey’ pearlescent paintwork. Standard ‘S-Line’ specification includes 19” twin-spoke alloy wheels, alarm system, Audi Connect (with a 3-year subscription included), Audi Active Lane Assist, Audi Emergency Call & Breakdown Assist, Audi Pre-Sense City, Audi Smartphone Interface, Audi sound system, chrome exterior pack, deluxe air-conditioning, front, side & rear airbags, front & rear parking sensors, front sports seats with embossed ‘S’ logo, glove compartment cooling system, headlining in black cloth, heated front seats, ISOFIX child seat anchorage points x 2, leather multi-function steering wheel, Matrix LED headlights, LED interior ambient lighting, LED rear lights with dynamic indicators, leather & alcantara upholstery, MMI Nav with MMI Touch Response, S-Line sports suspension, type pressure monitoring system, start/stop function with recouperation system, and a platinum grey front spoiler lip and diffuser insert. Optional extras fitted to my test car included a ‘Tech Pack’, ‘Tour Assist Pack’, ‘Comfort & Sound Pack’, ‘Black Styling Pack’, ‘Audi Pre-Sense Basic’ and privacy glass. The 2.0TDi engine in my test car produces 204bhp, and a healthy 400Nm of torque, for swift forward motion. The 0-100km/h sprint can be completed in just 8.1-seconds, while a top speed of 245km/h is possible (where permitted). Thanks to the ultra-modern engine technology employed by Audi in the new A6, fuel consumption as low as 4.5l/100km is possible on an extra-urban driving cycle. With a 73-litre fuel tank fitted as standard, the need for frequent visits to a filling station is dramatically reduced. A low emission figure of 117g/km from my

test car equates to annual road tax of just €270. Excellent Composure; On the road, the new A6 offers excellent ride comfort and composure. The previous generation A6 felt rather uncomfortable over bumps, jolting occupants when driven over anything other than perfect road surfaces. Audi has taken this criticism on board with the new model, which performs with a new-found elegance and refinement. The addition of a generous amount of sound insulation in the new A6 make it a relaxing and serene place to spend time. Cabin & Interior Space; In the cabin, there is even more inspiration from the A8, with a plush interior packed with hi-tech delights. There’s the latest version of Audi’s MMI interface that controls all the cabin functions. This comprises a pair of touchscreens with haptic feedback, which means they mimic physical buttons by clicking and vibrating when a function is pressed. Interior space is greater than that on offer in the previous generation A6. In addition, a stiffer bodyshell, extra sound deadening and a sharper driving experience mean

the A6 is still a strong contender in the class. The market segment that the new Audi A6 is competing in is packed with such talented rivals as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5-Series, Jaguar XF, Lexus ES and Volvo S90, but the distinctive, and unmistakable, new A6 has ruffled the feathers of its competitors once again. Latest Technology; There’s a host of driving aids that put the A6 at the cutting edge of assisted driving technology, too. Add all the safety options available, and you will get five radar sensors, five cameras, twelve ultrasonic sensors and a laser scanner. These combine to equip the A6 with adaptive cruise control, active lane assistance and self-parking, while an advanced city braking system is designed to scan for obstacles crossing the car’s path in urban environments. Pricing; Ex-works prices for the new Audi A6 start at €50,800 for the four-door saloon in SE 40TDI specification, while the Avant (estate) version attracts a premium of €3,035. S Line models start at €55,605 (exworks). Overall, the new Audi A6 conveys passion at the very first glance.

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NEW MERCEDES-BENZ B-CLASS ARRIVES

Mercedes-Benz is giving added emphasis to its goal of attracting a younger generation of motorists with the arrival of its new B-Class - the good news for Irish buyers being that a number of models within the mix that will be promoted here will launch at prices lower than those of the models they replace.

Noting that MercedesBenz is continuing to offer increased levels of standard specification while maintaining or reducing their new model pricing, their sales manager Ciaran Allen said: ‘consistent with our on-going product offensive, we are fully focused on delivering best value with the first model to benefit from this being a B180 petrol which comes on the market at €32,745 (ex works) – a four-digit reduction on the previous model’. Down the line, a B160 version will launch at similarly reduced prices. On models where reductions may not be possible, Ciaran Allen assures customers that

LPD

prices will be kept ‘as close to the bone’ as possible. With first versions arriving in dealer showrooms over the coming weeks, the new B-Class is amongst fifteen new or facelifted models the luxury carmaker will introduce here this year. It arrives fresh from a ‘bonnetto-boot’ makeover that lifts it into an altogether higher league in terms of its design, specifications and all-round attractiveness. Straddling the divide between A-Class and C-Class, this new version leaves behind the shadow of its two glamorous stablemates, emerging into the limelight oozing with eye appeal and fitted with latest technology and highvalue features that combine to give it a distinctly individual character. Committed B-Class owners (of whom there are over 1.5m since its introduction in 2005) will notice its more sporty appearance, reflected in design changes that bring it into closer visual harmony with the wider generation of Mercedes-

Benz models. Particularly evident from the outside is its more squat, agile, and appealingly youthful design - achieved whilst retaining all of its interior spaciousness and luggage carrying capacity.

Like a host of other recent introductions from Mercedes-Benz, its many high-tech features include all of the safety, online and touch screen connectivity, infotainment, and voice activated driver assistance elements now appealing to an increasingly tech-savvy generation of motorists. These include MercedesBenz’s acclaimed MBUX and ‘Mercedes me’ systems. Five engine variants make up the new range, all compliant with new Euro 6d-TEMP regulations mandatory from next year. They include two petrol and three diesel variants. Now raised to being a true frontline competitor in Mercedes-Benz’s quest to expand ownership, Ciaran Allen added ‘designers have squared-the-circle

by creating a more sporty, more spacious, more

youthful design without having to sacrifice anything

in terms of its practicality, comfort or capacity.’

LEARNER DRIVERS IN TALLAGHT LEFT IN LIMBO WITH LENGTHENING DRIVING TEST WAITING TIMES By Cathy Lee Dublin South West Sinn Fein TD Seán Crowe has described the time people are waiting for driving tests as “unfortunate”, as recent figures revealed that the Tallaght test centre now has the highest amount of awaiting applicants, with over 2,500 people waiting for a test. Mr Crowe is calling for action to tackle the issue of lengthy local driving test wait times, particularly felt in Tallaght and Churchtown Driving Test Centres. Mr Crowe said that “the main culprit behind these long delays is the lack of testers”, adding that he sees the solution in the hiring of more testers to meet demand, as his party see these figures as highlighting “the unacceptable reality”. One Tallaght resident, due to take her test at the end of the month, originally booked a test in July 2018 and has had a number of scheduled tests cancelled over the last couple of months. She told Newsgroup that she intends to complain to the RSA about her ordeal after she takes her test. In Churchtown test centre, over 1,800 people are currently waiting to be scheduled for a test date and applicants wait an average of 14 weeks.

Although the Road Safety Authority (RSA) aims to have the national average waiting time to be no more than 10 weeks, over half of the test centres do not meet the target. Mr Crowe said that “The current recruitment process has been painfully slow and is simply not delivering enough testers”, adding that recent legislation aimed particularly at learner drivers which imposes new restrictions and penalties has “undoubtedly prompted an increase in those seeking to obtain a full licence”. The pass rate at Tallaght Driving Test Centre is just under 50%, while the pass rate in Churchtown Driving Test Centre is just over 44%. According to the RSA, it “can usually facilitate” those who need to take a test urgently, once the applicant makes the desire known for a short notice cancellation clear on their application, having completed the mandatory 12 EDT lessons. Speaking to Newsgroup, a Dublin driving instructor advised not to forget about an application once it’s put through. He said not to “just leave the application sit there”, rather “always follow up” with an email or phone call and push for it as much as possible.

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UNUSUAL DISPARITY IN HOME SUPPORT SERVICES

- Home care support provision not sufficient to meet demand in Dublin Mid-West with 50% increase in people waiting -

■ Re Latting, Re Felting & Re Slating

John Curran T.D. has criticised the lack of appetite on the part of the Government to provide adequate home support services in Dublin MidWest. Deputy Curran was commenting as Minister of State for Older People, Jim Daly, confirmed to him that the Government will not meet the demand for home care support in 2019. Deputy Curran raised the issue in Dáil Éireann and said, “I am very disappointed with what I can only describe as an uninspiring and lacklustre response from the Minister of State.

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In 2018 many people across Ireland had significant difficulties in accessing home support services. What I learned from the Minister is that there will

be little or no change to that in 2019. “In CHO 7 which covers Dublin MidWest, in March 2018 there were 724 people waiting for home care support. Less than five months later that figure had risen to over 1,100. This is an increase of over 50%. That is totally out of kilter with figures for each of the other CHO areas and I have asked the Minister to investigate what he acknowledged was an ‘unusual disparity’. “The Minister categorically acknowledged that the demand for home help will not be met this year. He must examine other avenues and consider how things are done. In a recent Parliamentary response I was told that the number of direct employees of the

HSE providing this type of service is reducing, which means the dependency on agencies to provide the care is increasing. “Surely the best value for money is in having direct employees and not agency services which have over the past year increased their rates by up to 20%. Tax payers need to know they are getting the best value for their money. We must remember that in the next 30 years, the number of people in Ireland aged over 65 will double and the number aged over 85 will almost quadruple. If we do not put in place the adequate resources now, it will be our elderly and most vulnerable who will suffer”, concluded Deputy Curran.

SPINRAZA FOR TWO LOCAL BOYS

NOVENAS FOR LAURA LYNN 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. P.D

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. S.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. 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 (Minimum of €10 per prayer) 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 or email info@newsgroup.ie.

Cllr Timmons with Sam and the Bailey family Clondalkin Cllr Francis Timmons recently stated “I was very honoured to stand with the families calling on the Minister and the HSE to allow access to Spinraza for those living with SMA, Sam from Rathcoole and Glen from Clondalkin deserve better, while the government, the HSE and the Pharmaceutical companies drag their heels, we have people’s health deteriorating. This is a life changing drug I have had several motions on this agreed by South Dublin County Council. This drug has been used since 2016, about 1 in 11,000 are born with SMA, these families deserve the best treatment available and more importantly the people living with SMA deserve the best available medication.”

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