Tallaght News

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give credit unions a fighting chance

7TH DECEMBER 2015 TEL: 01 451 3822 / 01 451 9000 email: info@newsgroup.ie web: www.newsgroup.ie

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Minister set to sign new regulations in to law before Christmas

Fianna Fáil Senator Darragh O’Brien has described the Dáil debate on the future of credit unions as a last chance to ensure that the sector can operate on a level playing pitch against the interests of the big banks.

Senator O’Brien commented “As banks close branches and restrict in-branch services, credit unions provide important competition and choice to consumers. In many

parts of the country they are now the only local provider of financial services.

However, credit unions are now about to be hit by a wave of new restrictions on their activities before the end of the year.

The most serious of these is the impending €100,000 limit on savings. This is an unnecessary limitation on customer choice. It will send out the signal that credit unions are

less safe than financial competitor institutions.

Fianna Fáil has put down this motion to give the Dáil the opportunity to force the Minister for Finance to press the pause button on these new regulations which threaten the ability of credit unions to compete with the banks. It is our view that a working group involving representatives of the

industry should be initiated immediately to examine the appropriateness of the regulatory structure.

No further red tape should be imposed on credit unions until such time as this happens

These regulatory measures were conceived at a time when the Government was convinced that significant funds would be required to support and resolve the sector.

However a prediction

by Minister Noonan that there would be a cost of up to €1 billion to support the credit union sector has proven entirely inaccurate.

The measures can no

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give credit unions a fighting chance.....from page 1

longer be considered fit for purpose.

The Minister needs to go back to the drawing board on this issue.

Unfortunately the recommendations of the Commission on Credit Unions have only been selectively and half-heartedly implemented to date.

In particular recommendations of the Commission on Credit Unions relating to the growth of the sector have largely been ignored.

The current regulatory structure does not support credit unions developing additional products and services and not a single credit union has received approval for additional services since the banking crisis began.

The approval process for credit unions seeking to engage in services such as debit cards is unclear. Credit unions need to be able

to offers services such as debit cards if they are to be able to attract younger customers and compete with banks. They also need to be able to offer more products online.

We need to recognise that credit unions have improved massively their regulatory framework in recent years with professionally qualified people amongst its employed and voluntary staff. The sector has improved its overall reserve ratio without resorting to the type of tactics employed by commercial banks who raised interest rates and charges at the of their expense existing customers.

In other jurisdictions, the role and function of credit unions is clearly set out at a national policy level and credit unions have been able to develop and grow the products and

services that they offer members This government has failed to bring forward a strategy over the last four years to underpin and develop the credit union sector.

Now is time to unleash the huge potential of credit unions. Against a background of massive public concern about the housing shortage, it is worth remembering that there is up to € 8 billion in un-lent deposits held by credit unions which could be utilised to stimulate the domestic economy.

This is a vital moment in the history of credit unions in Ireland. The members have spoken loudly to their public representatives that they want their credit unions nurtured and It is supported. imperative that the Minister for Finance listens to them and calls a halt to imposing another layer of bureaucracy on them.”

new law is anti – credit union

In a statement by éamonn Maloney, Indepemdent TD, he said “Credit Unions in Ireland are respected and popular with close to 3 million members in 342 branches.

Not only is the Credit Union movement a substantial economic force but an important social movement. It has long been considered “the peoples bank”.

For many working families access to banks no longer exists. The fall-out since the recession has resulted in many people no longer having bank accounts.

Credit Unions have a proud record of assisting many, many families away from the claws of moneylenders and their excessive rates of interest.

We have learned from the collapse of the Celtic Tiger the need for regulation of all lending institutions, including Credit Unions.

But it should be remembered that Credit Unions were not responsible for the financial crash in Ireland.

Credit Unions are not opposed to regulation.

In fact, they welcome effective regulation.

But the decision by the Government to proceed with the remaining section of the Credit Union Act, 2012, (CP88), will stifle the viability of Credit Unions to compete with banks.

It is a decision which is anti-Credit Union and will place the movement at a disadvantage in relation to banks.

Deputy éamonn Maloney T.D. urged the Minister for Finance to set aside this regulation.

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huge Jump in children at risk of poverty

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Dublin South West representative Seán Crowe has described European statistics that show higher than average child poverty rates in Ireland and 33.9% of children here at risk of poverty as unacceptable. Crowe described the report as timely as it was another nail in the lie that the government peddle that the economic recovery is being felt across all sections of Irish society.

Deputy Seán Crowe said: “One in every three children in Ireland is at risk of poverty or social exclusion according to

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the latest figures published by Eurostat and Ireland is well above the European average when it comes to children at risk of poverty. The report Is timely as it was another nail in the lie that the Government peddle that the economic recovery is being felt across all sections of Irish society.

“Children growing up in poverty and social exclusion are less likely to do well in school, enjoy good health and realise their full potential later in life, and are at a higher risk of becoming unemployed, poor and

socially excluded.

Children living in poverty live life on the margins, excluded from opportunities and often unable to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

Studies also suggest that the longer a child is poor, the greater the deprivation they are likely to suffer in later life.

“Poverty also denies individuals what they need to flourish and denies Irish society the talents of those who never reach their full potential.

“The statistics for material severe

deprivation amongst children is also above average, with at least one in every eight children unable to access goods and services that would be considered ordinary or necessary by society.

“A child is considered deprived if they are denied access to a number of items including two pairs of properly fitting shoes, including a pair of allweather shoes; fresh fruits and vegetables daily, three meals a day; or one meal with meat, chicken, fish or vegetarian equivalent daily;

“In 2013, 12% of children in Ireland were living in consistent poverty, and given the continued cuts to social by spending Government and the ongoing housing crisis.

The rate of child poverty has doubled under the current Government, and

despite their talk of recovery it is clear that more and more families are finding themselves in real hardship and are struggling to cope.

“Anecdotally, we know that support services and charities are under extreme pressure. Close to 1500 children are living in emergency accommodation and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul say they are inundated with requests from families with children, who are experiencing poverty.

“Cuts to child benefit, to lone parent payments, to the health and in service education, have created untold hardship and deprivation and added to the burden facing many disadvantaged families.

“Ireland needs a fair and inclusive recovery an economy that puts the needs of children ahead of bankers,

speculators and politicians. These latest statistics are another reminder of the scale of

inequality that needs to be addressed if we are to bring about a more inclusive society.”

housing assistance payments and rent supplement

There was a typographical error in the copy of the SVP press release issued to Newsgroup and published on 26th November.

The release said that SVP are pleased with the increase in Housing Assistance Payments and Rent Supplement.

This should have been "housing AssistAnce PAyments ABove rent suPPlement.”

The SVP Press Officer has apologised for the error.

For clarity the details as published by the Department of the Environment says " Housing Assistance Payment limits are being increased in Cork, Galway, Kildare and Meath where flexibility allows for a 20% payment above rent supplement thresholds.

For families in emergency accommodation in Dublin City, HAP payments will be allowed for 50% above rent supplement levels.

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springboard training with innopharma labs results in 70%+ of participants back in employment in dublin within six months

One of the difficulties with being unemployed is that it can often be hard to know where to begin when trying to get back into the workforce. Most people are reluctant to invest time and money in training if they are uncertain of the outcome in terms of job opportunities.

Many feel that the longer they are out of the workforce, the less relevant their skills are. They may want to update their skills to improve their chances of getting a job, but they don’t know where to turn, or they may want to train in a different area with better job prospects.

Track Record of 70% student employment Innopharma Labs, headquartered in Sandyford, are helping people in the Dublin area overcome these real challenges.

Innopharma Labs have impressively high graduate employment success rates, with 70% of graduates from their previous Dublin-run courses securing employment within six months of completion of their Level 6 or Level 8 course. While many industry sectors have suffered in recent years with the downturn of the economy, the pharma/medical device/food industries have seen phenomenal growth. In recent times, there have been some major expansions by pharma/biotech companies in the greater Dublin area including Alexion (Blanchardstown), BMS (Cruiserath), Pfizer (Grange Castle) and Amgen (Dun Laoghaire).

Innopharma courses are tailored to upskill people to fill local needs in such pharma companies, by using their extensive local knowledge and network of contacts.

Course length relatively short and tailored and are free through Springboard initiative Innopharma are now enrolling for three courses in Dublin in January 2016. The Level 6 Pharmaceutical Operations and Devices Course, the Level 8 Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Manufacturing Course and also the Level 8 Food Science and Technology Course. Course length is relatively short, run over two semesters with all courses incorporating a module covering CV preparation and job search techniques. The Level 6 course requires commitment of two days a week, while the Level 8 requires the student to be available for three days a week. If a student gains employment during the course they can complete the course on-line. The course modules are run on a continuous assessment basis, with a final examination at the end.

Course Success Mary Jo Parker, Business Relationship Manager at Innopharma Labs, explains why their courses are so successful: “We survey a multitude of industries annually to sample where their skills and labour shortages lie and tailor our courses accordingly. Our Level 6 courses are open to anyone and it’s not necessary to have any previous experience or training in the pharmaceutical or medical device sectors”.

Over the years the staff at Innopharma have built strong relationships with local recruitment agencies, and they have a track record of providing qualified people who recruiters are happy to send to their client

companies for interview.

What do past students say about studying with Innopharma Labs?

backgrounds doing the course”. Gavan now works with Allergan in Clonshaugh as an environmental and sustainability specialist.

How can I sign up?

The courses which are now available in Dublin are offered free of charge as part of the Higher Education Authority’s Springboard initiative.

come along to the oPen dAy on tuesday 8th december to learn more and sign up – at 10am for the level 6 course and 2pm

Kristina Vushkarnik, now working in Servier, Dublin – “A great opportunity to build my career” Kristina Vushkarnik was unemployed for six months. She did a Innopharma Level 7 course. “Despite the intensity of this course, it was worth every minute of my attending it. The course offered me a variety of skills and would have been very difficult to find a suitable job without completing the course.”

Kristina believes that the Innopharma Labs course gave her the opportunity she needed to succeed. “As the pharmaceutical industry is growing in Ireland very fast, I would advise anyone to grab the opportunity and learn new skills and build on their existing career.”

for the level 8 in maldron hotel, tallaght. course places are limited.

Ideally candidates would have some existing transferable skills, and a motivation to succeed.

For further information please contact: Claire Mahon, Tel (01) 4853346 or Email: education@innopharmalabs.com For details of Innopharma’s success in education, check out www.innopharmalabs.com/education for more information.

limited sPAces For jAnuAry 2016 commencement

would you like to work in pharmaceutical / medical device / food industries Over 70% of our last Dublin based class are doing exactly that.

would you like the opportunity to train part-time for free and do so while retaining your benefits?

innopharma labs’ Free springboard-funded courses are designed with you in mind.

Specifically designed for those who are unemployed, our courses up-skill and equip people from diverse backgrounds with the knowledge and skills necessary to stand out and make an impact when searching and applying for jobs.

We are now accepting applications for Level 6 Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Operations, Level 8 Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Manufacturing and Level 8 Food Science and Technology courses, commencing in January 2016. Successful graduates would be suitable for roles in Quality, Manufacturing, Product Development, Regulatory Affairs and Maintenance.

oPen dAy

to learn more and sign up on tuesday 8th december maldron hotel, tallaght at 10am for those interested in level 6 course and 2pm for the level 8 courses.

Gavan Duffy, now working at Allergan (Forest Labs), “the lecturers are great” Gavan had been unemployed for a few months and was looking to build a new career in the pharma industry. He signed up to a Level 8 course with Innopharma Labs.

He found the course really informative and helped him get up to speed with terminology used in pharmaceutical sector. “The lecturers are great, they realise that there are people with different

For further information please contact: claire mahon, tel (01) 4853346 or email: education@innopharmalabs.com details of our range of courses – check out www.innopharmalabs.com/education

6

doctors support irish vegan advertising campaign

Europe's first vegan advertising campaign was launched this November by Meath based Eden Farmed Animal Sanctuary. Posters appeared on buses, DARTS, billboards, bus shelters and bathrooms in colleges and universities throughout Ireland featuring farmed animals and the Go Vegan slogan. The campaign aims to connect people with the animals who are harmed unnecessarily by our use of them for food, clothing, entertainment and research.

It encourages the public to ask questions about the processes that other animals go through as they are

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transformed from feeling beings into objects for human use. The ultimate goal of the campaign is to abolish all use of other animals for human ends.

The posters advertise a Free Vegan Kit on how to live the non-violent lifestyle. The accompanying website govegan.ie provides information and resources on the suffering we inflict on other animals, as well as on the intersectional connection between animal use, world hunger, environmental destruction and climate change, violation of workers' rights and human health.

The campaign is endorsed The Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine.

inclusive ethos the key to success

by Lynda O’Donoghue Donnelly It was a proud day for the students, staff and parents of Citywest Educate Together National School as they opened the new wing recently.

Over the last three years the nondenominational school has experienced incredible growth – increasing the student population from just 21 in 2012 to more than 200 this year.

At the end of November the school held its official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of the wing in the presence of the whole school community.

Caitríona Principal Hand believes that the phenomenal growth of the school and its success to date is a direct result of the inclusive ethos at the school.

She said: “Our aim at Citywest Educate Together National School is to prepare our pupils to become caring

and active members of a culturally diverse society.

“We strive to provide a broad variety of educational experiences, both within the classroom and outside of it, so that our children gain a real understanding of the world and our community.”

The opening of the bright new wing coincides with the launch of a Special Class for children with ASD and will also include child-friendly classrooms, a shared learning area, a spacious PE hall and generous storage space.

Citywest ENT new wing

Community is of huge importance to the school and principal Caitríona believes in building strong connections throughout the area.

She said: “We take pride in our community initiatives. We are building strong relationships with the local GAA club, TLC nursing home, as well as the many amenities available to us within South Dublin County Council, including the Civic Theatre, Rua Red and Tallaght Library.

“In 2015 we took part in the Saggart/Rathcoole St. Patrick's Day parade for the first time. We

look forward to reaching out into the community even more now, with the addition of a Parents' Room in the new wing, where we plan to host language classes, craft circles, parenting seminars and more.”

Citywest Educate Together National School is currently preenrolling children for all classes for September 2016 and an Open Evening will be held on January 20th, when prospective parents will have an opportunity to take a tour of the school and meet the enthusiastic teachers.

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fashion fun in aid of barretstown

by Lynda Donnelly

O’Donoghue

Students from Firhouse Community College will strut their stuff on the catwalk this December to raise money for Barretstown.

The transition year students have spent the last two months putting together a very special Christmas Fashion event which will take place on Wednesday December 9th and Thursday December 10th.

The show has been described as an “eclectic blend of fashion, dance and entertainment” with lots of chances to win fabulous spot prizes and a best dressed competition.

Firhouse Community College teacher Martina O’Malley explained that the evening will be much more than just a fashion show.

She said: “It is a whole production with singing and dancing and different sections and costumes. We will have a cultural part of the show with Irish Dancing, there will also be a guest speaker, Peter Caulwell who is a former teacher at the school and now works with Barretstown.

“Some of the teachers will be doing a mock wedding, there will be a best dressed competition and we have lighting and sound coming in – it is all quite professional.”

More than 130 transition year students from Firhouse will be involved in the production which has been split into five sections Time-hop, including Culture, Sports, Formal and Winter.

Local shops such as Penneys in Dundrum and Rathmines, Lifestyle and Dublin Formal Wear have all donated

clothes for the evening.

All funds raised on the night will be donated to Barretstown and student tickets are priced just €5 while adult tickets are €10 and a family ticket for two adults and two children is €25.

Students and staff are hoping to raise as much money as possible for the worthy cause but have not set a fundraising target for the Fashion Event.

Tickets are limited and are currently available at the school with any remaining tickets on sale on the door on Wednesday and Thursday evening.

Doors will open at 7pm and the show will take place in the Main Hall of Firhouse Community College at 7.30pm sharp.

For ticket information or further details contact the school on 01 452 5807.

another year of christmas dinners thanks to mrs brown

Over 2,500 families in the greater Dublin area will have their turkey and ham on Christmas Day this year courtesy of Brendan O'Carroll.

The comedian and creator of the phenomenally successful Mrs Brown's Boys has donated vouchers for turkey and ham to the East Region of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) for distribution to families supported by the Society.

As a result many families who might have missed out on this traditional Christmas meal will not be disappointed.

For a number of years now Brendan O'Carroll has made a substantial donation to SVP to provide Christmas dinners.

Liam Casey, President of the

SVP East Region said, "The continuous generosity of Brendan is unbelievable. It is an imaginative yet practical way to help many families in need. Our

volunteers know that the families who benefit from his generosity not only appreciate his action but take extra pleasure in knowing that it comes with the compliments of Mrs Brown, an iconic and internationally famous

Dublin mother."

Calls for support to the SVP in the East Region are continuing to be received at record levels, despite the improvement in sections of the economy. This year the Region will have dealt with over 65,000 calls for help before the year is over.

"With such a level of calls our resources are fully stretched and we welcome all donations, whether financial or in the form of goods which can either be distributed directly to those in need or sold in our Vincent shops. The Irish public have been extremely generous to the SVP in the past and we are dependent on them to continue their support into the future." said Liam Casey.

irish consumers strike oil

As the Irish economy continues to recover, the Irish consumer is benefitting from a secondary bonus, oil prices are continuing to fall.

This means that everyone using oil as their primary source of heat will be spending a lot less of their hard earned money on home heating oil this Winter than they might have anticipated. Substantially less.

Over the last two years households, using home heating oil, have seen their payments for 1,000 litres drop from €850 in 2013 to well under €600 today.

Never has there been a better time to fill your tank and no one would have predicted such a dramatic fall in prices a few years ago.

“To be very specific, during

this time last year, November 2014, customers would be paying up to €750 for a 1,000 litres of our Quality Assured home heating oil, a saving of €100 since November 2013. Today our price has fallen towards €550, saving our customers €300 in just two years! This is an incredible saving when you consider that the prices of everything else continue to rise. We, at Top Oil, understand that plenty of our customers have had to, and continue to, endure difficult times and so we welcome the opportunity of being such a significant saving in their daily lives." said Martin Daly, Head of Sales & Marketing, Top Oil “I vividly the price everyone the price

remember when started to drop was saying that could never fall

below €900 for 1,000 litres, it did, then it could not fall under €800, it did, impossible to fall under €700, it did and now that the price for 1,000 litres of our Quality Assured home heating oil has fallen well under €600 everyone has stopped trying to predict how low the price of oil will go or when the lowest cents per litre(cpl) will be reached. Our message to our Top Oil customers is that home heating oil is fantastic value for money at the moment and that now is a great time to purchase because the price is so low, it is a month before all their Christmas expenses and when the weather starts to deteriorate, like it began to last weekend, the price starts to increase due to inevitable demand.” added Daly.

Over the last two years households, using home heating oil, have seen their payments for 1,000 litres drop from €850 in 2013 to well under €600 today.

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ireland second highest rate of rent and mortgage arrears across europe

Dublin South West representative Seán Crowe has said it is extremely frustrating and depressing, that a new European report into housing that found that Ireland comes second after Greece, for having the highest rate of rent and mortgage arrears in Europe, coming in at a whopping 20.2%.

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Crowe said the report is another indication of level of the extremes of inequality Ireland’s poorest are experiencing despite all the talk of a recovery.

Deputy Seán Crowe said: "Ireland is supposed to be in the middle of an economic recovery but people on lower incomes are clearly not seeing many of its benefits.

"A new report from the European housing organisation FEANTSA comes as another reminder of the abject failure of this government to deliver a comprehensive and

inclusive housing policy.

"The report called “An of Housing Overview Exclusion across Europe” reveals that rising housing costs are disproportionately affecting the poor: with a growing number of people experiencing housing deprivation, arrears on rent, over-crowding, fuel poverty and homelessness.

"In a league table of 28 European Union countries Ireland comes in second after Greece for low income tenants paying more for accommodation than those with a higher income with 49.2% of poorer households paying out more."Across Europe the report finds that poorer households are more exposed to price fluctuations and that the price of housing is rising faster than income levels.

"Ireland also has one of the highest rates of accommodation instability where those on low incomes believe that they’ll have to move in the next six

months.

“The FEANTSA report comes on the back of other data released by Daft.ie which showed that rents have risen faster in 2015 that at any time since the boom. In the month of September their data suggest that rents have risen across the state by 3.2%.

"The reports are a depressing read and extremely frustrating given the abject failure of the FG/Labour Government to respond in any meaningful way to the crisis.

training, rehabilitation training (including independent living skills and using a long cane), a large print, audio and Braille library. The organisation also has an online shop with

lots of practical solutions.

The new NCBI charity shop is urgently seeking donations of your unwanted clothing and other items.

Every bag is worth a great amount to the organisation.

"All these reports cut through the Government spin that suggests that conditions are getting better and a light is shining from the end of the tunnel.

"It’s clear from these reports that if your poor and on a low income you are very likely to be in a long way back in the dark in the queue to exit that fictional tunnel."

new charity shop helps to make dark day brighter

NCBI will tomorrow, has openec its newest charity shop in Lucan. The shop is located in Unit 3 in Lucan Village.

According to Area Manager Janet Kavanagh sight loss is increasing as our population ages and demand for NCBI’s services is on the increase.

“The work we do wouldn’t be possible without these important fundraising efforts. The new location has great access for people who are blind or vision impaired. And the shop offers great bargains in second hand clothes, books, bric-a-brac and lots more.”

The Lucan Village shop is managed by Paul Green who will be looking for a core group of volunteers to support the running of the shop.

NCBI must raise €4 out of every €10 it spends on services. Its 72 charity shops around the country make a vital contribution to its fundraising efforts. NCBI’s services include emotional support and counselling, low vision solutions like magnifiers, assistive technology advice and

The new NCBI shop in Lucan Village.

Inset Shows the interior of the shop.

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recruitment drive underway to fill 15 new positions Rathcoole-based Financial Service business Clear Financial will grow team significantly over next 12 months

Clear Financial, an insurance and investment broker based in Rathcoole, has announced plans to grow its staff numbers by over 1/3 in the next 12months. The financial services experts have experienced steady growth in the last few years and have consistently grown its workforce year on year – staff numbers currently stand at 20 people in 2015. A recruitment drive is now underway to fill a further 15 positions both in Dublin & nationwide.

Michael Bradley, Managing Director & Founder of Clear

Financial commented on the jobs announcement, “We have financial advisor & technical roles to fill immediately so we are actively seeking applicants. However, we’re going to take the same approach we always have – we need to ensure all new employees are a good fit for our team. We have developed a great workforce of people over the years – all with the same level of enthusiasm and same great work ethic – which makes coming to work every morning that bit easier for everyone! So we are looking for people with not just the necessary

experience but with the same ethos. Ireland boasts such a strong labour force – my experience to date has been that we have a country full of welland rounded well-educated individuals, so I am confident that over the next 12months we’ll add 15 more talented people to the Clear Financial team”.

The roles on offer are in the areas of financial advice, compliance, technical and backoffice support.

Last year Clear Financial moved to a bigger office location to facilitate the planned growth. The premises is

also home to Solar 21 and Greenroom Investments – two separate initiatives set up by Michael Bradley in recent years.

Michael went on to say, “Thankfully, we were able to ride the storm of the economic downturn and come out bigger and better on the other side. We have successfully increased our client base in recent years. This was achieved in no small

part by some key appointments in the areas of Compliance, Operations, Finance, Sales and Marketing. In the last 24 months we have also introduced new technology and IT support structures”.

Michael concluded, “We are all working towards the same goal for 2016 – to be recognised as the leading life & pension brokerage in Ireland”.

to advertise in any of our publications

tel: 01 451 3822

independent senator katherine Zappone calls for housing crisis to be declared ‘national emergency’

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Senator Katherine Zappone introduced her policy at a public meeting in Tallaght which she called to discuss solutions to the housing crisis. At the meeting, Sr. Stan of Focus Ireland and Noeline Blackwell of FLAC joined Senator Zappone to discuss the unprecedented and accelerating Housing crisis in Ireland, and what can and should be done to alleviate it.

Independent Senator Zappone again called for the housing crisis to be declared a national emergency, stating that: “It is evident from the evictions, social housing waiting lists that are becoming longer and longer, more and more families becoming homeless, epidemic mortgage arrears, repossessions and growing share of young families unable to afford to buy a home that we are in the midst of an extremely serious crisis. We cannot afford to pretend this is not happening.”

At the meeting, Senator

Zappone introduced her proposal to end the housing and homelessness crisis in a fair and balanced way.

Senator Zappone, an Independent candidate for Dublin South West, stressed the need for immediate action on the issue: “The solution to the unsustainable housing situation needs to consider all parties fairly while making sure, those who are most vulnerable remain a priority. The Government infighting of recent weeks has done little to ease the genuine fears of people I am meeting on the doorsteps, in the shopping centres and at community events in Dublin South West. This is a crisis which is touching every family in the constituency – and has people lying awake in their beds fearing a knock on the door.”

The public meeting was held in Tallaght where 8,600 people are currently on the social housing waiting list.

The social housing lists were also addressed by Focus

Ireland founder Sr Stanislaus Kennedy who spoke about the worsening homelessness crisis: “The level of homelessness is increasing right across the country, not just in cities but in towns too. Focus Ireland supported over 11,500 customers in 2014 an increase of 15% from the 10,000 we supported in 2013.”

At the meeting Sr. Stan appealed to An Taoiseach Enda Kenny: “I am making a direct appeal to Taoiseach Enda Kenny to knock heads together- including Nama, developers, Local Authorities etc as well as his Ministers and top civil set up an servants, emergency task force to replace rhetoric with real actions.

By showing leadership now we can offer some hope to those facing desperation.”

Dr. Noeline Blackwell, General Director of Free Legal Advice Centres spoke on the issue of the mortgage arrears crisis:

“While we don’t have a right to housing in our constitution, and while we should, Ireland still has an obligation to provide an adequate standard of living for every person living in this country, and key to an adequate standard of living is a right to housing.”

Having gathered members of local community to discuss her Fairness in Housing proposal and listened to the stories of distressed and concerned residents, Senator Zappone

will now move to introduce these measure to the

Oireachtas in a bill before Christmas.

At the meeting, Sr. Stan of Focus Ireland and Noeline Blackwell of FLAC joined Senator Zappone

new on-line resource to develop early literacy skills launched

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Minister for Education and Skills, Jan has O’Sullivan, launched a new on-line resource, which aims to support teachers in developing the literacy skills of young primary school pupils. The

Balanced Approach to Literacy Development in the Early Years has been researched and developed by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of the Department of

Education and Skills (DES).

O’Sullivan Minister referred to the priority which is being afforded by her Department under the National Literacy Strategy in relation to the raising of the reading standards of pupils in our schools and said that the resource was a significant addition to the resources already available within schools. The Balanced Approach to Literacy Development in the Early Years will also complement the soonto-be-published NCCA Language Curriculum for children from Junior Infants to 2nd Class.

International research on best practice has demonstrated that a highly-focused, broadbased early intervention approach improves literacy

tamara restraurant belgard sq. tallaght dublin 24

standards across the board and helps prevent the emergence of literacy difficulties.

The Balanced Approach Literacy to Development in the Early Years is the product of a collaborative project undertaken by educational psychologists in NEPS along with five national schools in Limerick, Clare, Tipperary and Waterford which brings together in one resource a comprehensive guide to literacy support.

It highlights best practice from within the Irish system and internationally.

Support and assistance were also provided by a number of other agencies including the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST),

Limerick Education Centre and the Libraries Development Service.

The resource can be used by class teachers working with children from Junior Infants to First Class. It may also be helpful to schools who want to improve reading standards in a systematic way.

Parents too will find useful guidance about how to support their young children to

develop literacy skills.

It is freely available on the DES website on the NEPS Resources page.

Minister O’Sullivan commended the joint work between NEPS and the Professional Development Service for Teachers and the inspiring collaboration between NEPS and the Limerick library services. She preserved special thanks for the staff, parents and students of the five

participating schools, who generously allowed their practice to be captured and shared on video. The video clips have already been found by teachers in other schools to be inspiring and motivating.

The Minister marked the occasion by presenting certificates to each school in recognition of their contribution to this project and their generosity in sharing their practice.

claim your home carer tax refund

There is a 4-year time limit for claiming tax refunds. That means if your have a claim for home care fees for 2011, you must claim your refund by 31 December 2015. It was recently announced in Budget 2016 that the Home Carer's Tax Credit will increase from €810 to €1,000 in 2016. The home carer’s income threshold will also increase from €5,080 to €7,200.

“Being a carer can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Caregivers

often feel overwhelmed by the work and the demands of those receiving their care. It is therefore important for family carers to be aware of relevant allowances and entitlements to support them in making home care available for loved ones”, advises Hugh McGauran of Home Instead Senior Care in Nutgrove.

For information and advice on home care visit HomeInstead.ie.

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greyhound recycling

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I wish to comment on your article on alleged pollution resulting from the Greyhound plan in Clondalkin. This was a highly one sided piece, based on unscientific 'hearsay' from Sinn Fein, which caused serious reputational damage to Greyhound. No effort was made to seek Greyhound's side of the story or use the news issued to local media. I would statement appreciate if you would run the statement below in full in your next edition to ensure that the imbalance is corrected.

Conor Quinn, Greyhound Communications "while we are very sensitive to the opinions and concerns of local residents, we would seriously question the accuracy of this survey which lacks any basis in science or fact. we employed the services of a leading pest control company over the summer months to establish if there was a problem with flies. to ensure benchmarking and objectivity, we asked them to also randomly test an area on the northside and the city centre. they found there was no discernible problem with flies in the areas outlined in the survey. henry street, in

FLASHBACK! The news item on Greyhound Recycling which we carried in our last editions fact, had a far higher fly population. in relation to odours, the company has over the past two years invested almost €1m in odour abatement technology and processes . our monitoring shows huge improvement in this area. we would welcome an opportunity to engage with local residents to assuage any concerns they might have”

Fianna Fáil candidate for Dublin Mid-West John Curran has accused the Government of washing its hands of families at risk of home repossession in Dublin.

John Curran made the comments after it was revealed that there has been a surge in the number of homes in the country that the banks are attempting to repossess.

“The recently published mortgage repossession figures are another indication that the Government is ignoring the escalating home repossession crisis.

So far in 2015 there have been a shocking 849 repossession orders lodged in Dublin.

“Nationally there have been 4,440 repossession orders lodged in the courts. In the period July to September this year 188 Homes were repossessed.

This is nearly double the number of homes repossessed on the same period in 2013.

Meanwhile the Government has sat by without taking any meaningful action to help distressed mortgage holders,” added Curran.

“More than 15% of mortgage accounts for family homes in Ireland are now in arrears, which is more than three times higher than the figure at the end of December 2010. The country is potentially facing 25,000 home repossessions next year alone,” he warned.

“The Government introduced the Mortgage-toRent scheme with the view to keeping people in their homes. However this scheme has been a total failure. Only 27 people in Dublin were actually successful in getting on to the scheme despite 660 people applying for it. The Government has designed the scheme as a bureaucratic nightmare to discourage people from applying.

“In March, Fianna Fáil put forward legislation which would have removed the banks’ veto on restructuring arrangements involving a mortgage on a family home. Unfortunately, the government rejected this solution wholesale and has refused to take action to forestall the wave of repossessions that are taking place in 2015.”

banks seek to repossess 849 dublin homes in 2015 alone

calls for working group to ‘revitalise clondalkin village’

Sinn Féin Councillor Eoin Ó Broin has called for a working group to be established to revitalise Clondalkin Village. The call was made in light of the growing number of vacant shop units in the area.

Cllr Ó Broin said: “Clondalkin Village is a vibrant place with a strong sense of community and a hard working business sector. However it has been hit hard by the recession. A growing number of shop units in the Village are vacant.

Impending commercial developments in Liffey Valley pose further challenges for the small business sector in the Village.

“South Dublin County Council has been involved with a number of important initiatives supporting small businesses in recent years such as the business improvement grant and the shop front signage initiative.

“However a lot more could be done, particularly by coordinating the various stakeholders. We need to provide our micro businesses with greater support.

“While the economy is starting to grow the majority of that growth is from the large export sector. It is crucial that local micro businesses are not left behind.

“A working group for Clondalkin Village could make a real contribution to the revitalisation of the village particularly in the context of the upcoming Local Economic and Social Plan.

However to achieve this, a dedicated focus on our village is urgently required.”

unemployment rate moves below 9% for the first time since 2008 17

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Fine Gael General Election candidate, Councillor Anne-Marie Dermody, has welcomed the latest official employment figures from the Central Statistics Office, which show that 135,800 extra jobs have been created since the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs was launched at the beginning of 2012.

This latest report also shows:

• The unemployment rate has hit 8.9%, the lowest rate since the end of 2008, and down from a high of 15.1% in February 2012 • The total number of people unemployed has moved below 200,000 for the first time since the end of 2008 • Jobs have grown in all 8 regions since the Action Plan was launched, with strongest percentage

increases not in Dublin or Cork, but in the South East (14.4%), the Midlands (13.8%), and the Border (12%) • 56,000 extra jobs were created in the past 12 months • The number of people in part-time employment fell in the past 12 months, meaning that the numbers in full-time employment actually increased by 59,400 • Employment grew in 12 out of 14 economic sectors, with largest increases in construction and industry • The number of people long-term unemployed has declined from 204,300 at the beginning of 2012, to 109,800 today, representing a decrease of 46% “Since the Government was formed in 2011, the single biggest focus has

been on job creation,” Dermody stated. “The Government set a target to reduce the unemployment rate to under 9% by the end of 2015 and I am pleased that that target has been reached one month ahead of schedule.”

“It is also good news that the long-term unemployment rate has fallen from 6.4% to 5% in the past year, but I still want to see that figure reduced further.

It’s imperative that those who have been out of work for over a year receive support to upskill, so they can return to the workforce with confidence and optimism.”

“We are not fully where we intend to be just yet, but we are moving in the right direction and today’s report proves that the

Government’s policies are working and will continue to bear fruit.”

This is positive news for the County of Dublin South.

POSITIVE NEWS: Councillor Anne-Marie Dermody, Fine Gael General Election candidate for Dublin South-West, at the Intreo Centre Tallaght (local Social Welfare Office) welcoming the unemployment figures from the CSO unemployment rate in Ireland has hit under 9%, the lowest rate since the end of 2008.

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The Legal Column

by Romaine Scally

Romaine Scally is the principal in the firm of ROMAINE SCALLY AND COMPANY SOLICITORS Main Street Tallaght, Dublin 24 TEL 4599506 FAX 4599510 email: legal@scally.ie

IN THIS MONTH’S EDITION OF THE LOCAL PAPER ROMAINE SCALLY SOLICITOR OF ROMAINE SCALLY & COMPANY, SOLICITORS, MAIN STREET, TALLAGHT, DUBLIN 24 ANSWERS SOME GENERAL QUERIES IN RELATION TO WILLS AND PROBATE ISSUES.

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 am just wondering whether or not there have been any changes in the rates of capital Acquisition tax in the recent Budget. i keep an eye on these things because i like to make sure that my will is tax efficient and does not result in my children having to pay too much tax, or any at all.

A. The Budget did not bring as many changes to taxes relating to Probate taxes as in previous years but, there are some changes. The group (A) threshold which generally applies to benefits taken from parents was increased from €225,000.00 to €280,000.00. This new threshold will apply in respect of gifts or inheritances taken on or before 14th October 2015. It had been hoped that the threshold would be raised more but, nevertheless, the increase in the Group A threshold is €55,000.00 which, at the current rate of Capital Acquisitions Tax at 33%, results in a potential tax saving of up to €18,150.00 to each beneficiary in the Tax A Class, which is of some value.

Unusually, there was no announcement in relation to the Group (B) and Group (C) threshold in Budget 2016. Hopefully this will improve over the following years as it is particularly punitive for people without children hoping to benefit nieces or nephews whose tax-free threshold remains the same at €30,150 for Group (B) and €15,075 for Group (C).

Q. my sister and i inherited from our late father on his death some three years ago. we held on to the family home but, now that prices are increasing, we are thinking of selling it. we did not pay any tax on the property when we inherited it as prices were very low in 2012. would we be liable for tax now? the property has increased in value by some 30% A. It is true to say that, in the last couple of years, property prices have begun to recover. A recent report on Irish

Property indicates that the lowest point nationally for Dublin was reached in the second quarter of 2012 and prices have risen by an average of 37% since then.

From a Capital Taxes point of view, any rise in value in a property, previously the subject of an inheritance, does potentially give rise to a claim for Capital Gains Tax but it will depend on the value submitted with the Inland Revenue Affidavit at the date of death. The starting point for Estate Capital Gains Tax is the date of death value of the property, as this is the value that was set as the base cost for CGT purposes on a subsequent sale. Remember that Revenue do have access to the Inland Revenue Affidavit (IRA) submitted for the purposes of applying for a Grant of Probate so the value in the IRA will generally be the starting point for the Estate’s CGT computation. The baseline therefore for the value of your property has already been set and you should refer back to the Inland Revenue Affidavit to assess what that value was. In previous years, there may have been a tendency to include a valuation at the lower end of the range of a property’s value for Probate purposes to limit the Capital Acquisition Tax payable by a beneficiary. However, given the increase in property prices, such conservative valuations are resulting in significant CGT liabilities for the Estate. If a lower valuation was submitted to Revenue for the property in the Form CA24 (Inland Revenue Affidavit) and on any subsequent sale, the sale proceeds are well above what was anticipated then, a gain may arise.

Remember however, that if you have not used up all your Class A Taxfree Threshold on an inheritance from a parent, then the balance of the threshold will still be available to you but a return will nonetheless have to be made to Revenue as CGT is of course a self-assessment tax and you should be able to work out what tax, if any, you are liable to pay. There may be some exceptions in circumstances where one of the siblings is living in the house and has converted it into their Principle Private Residence but, if it is still an Inheritance and an Investment Property and not the Principle Private Residence of the beneficiary then, a CGT liability may arise, depending on the date of death valuation.

I hope that the above has been helpful.

Q. my father died about one year ago now and appointed our brother as his executor. he has done very little yet in relation to the administration of the estate. my father had previously given my brother some land adjoining his farm and now my brother is saying that there is no need to administer the estate as the land adjoining the two farms was his anyway by Adverse Possession. the terms of the will however make it clear that everything is to be divided equally between the four children. it is true that my Father had given some land to my brother to build a house many years previously but the rest of us were never made aware that he intended to give him the rest of the land and this is not reflected in the will. is there anything we can do?

A. This question raises important issues about the duties of an Administrator of an Estate and, in particular circumstances, when it is appropriate to have an Administrator removed on the grounds of a conflict of interest. There is recent caselaw on this and in the relevant case, a beneficiary made an application to the High Court under Section 27(2) of the Succession Act 1965 in relation to revoking a Grant and the removal of a Legal Personal Representative on the grounds of conflict.

In that particular case, the conflict arose as the Legal Personal Representative acquired the bulk of the assets of the deceased and said that they were his by Possessory Title, which would in fact defeat the interests of the Beneficiaries. In his Judgment in that case, Mr. Justice Cregan said that such an obvious conflict of interest made it “difficult to see on what basis the Legal Personal Representative sought to defend his position” and pointed out that such a “serious, obvious, and indefensible conflict of interest” is a serious, special circumstance which justified the Legal Personal Representative’s removal as Administrator within the terms of the Supreme Court decision in Dunne –v- Heffernan. This case is very relevant in that it sets out the grounds for the potential removal of a Personal Legal Representative and defines what is meant by “conflict of interest” between the interests of the Beneficiaries of the Estate and those of the Legal Personal Representative. From your letter, it seems clear that you need to take urgent legal advice in relation to this matter, as your Brother cannot act in his own best interests, to the detriment of the other Beneficiaries of the Estate.

Might we suggest that you consult a Solicitor with your other siblings and decide on an appropriate course of action to ensure that you benefit from your Father’s Will as he would have expected.

Q. About two years ago, my mother’s Alzheimer’s became such that she was no longer able to manage her own affairs. she had previously done a Power of Attorney appointing one of my sisters as her Attorney. i feel however, that she is not using my mother’s money appropriately and would like her to account for all the spending. is there anything that i can do?

A. Presumably, when your Mother executed the Enduring Power of Attorney, she was in sound mind. Assuming also that the Power of Attorney has been registered and a Certificate of Registration has issued then, the procedures are assumed to have been correct throughout and your sister has been appropriately appointed as your Mother’s Attorney, based on whatever her wishes were in her original Deed.

Firstly, it has to be said that Attorneys in these circumstances are Agents for the Donor, and not Trustees. Power of Attorney is not akin to Wardship. The distinction is that a Trustee acts on behalf of another and does not act in the shoes of that person and

is not an Agent. A Trustee acts within the confines of the power vested under the Trust Instrument and in the light of the Trust purpose, but does not act as the Principal or under the direction of the Beneficiary and is accountable to the Donor of that Power.

An Agent on the other hand acts as another person or in place of another person or in the shoes of that other person. The Agent takes the role of acting as the person who is now incapacitated and takes responsibility for making decisions and taking actions as that person would have done, rather than on behalf of that person.

There is an important distinction as an Agent has the authority to make decisions entirely on behalf of the Donor and this power would have been explained to your Mother at the time when the Power was being executed. Basically, your sister can do anything which your Mother could lawfully have done herself. The role of the Attorney acting under an Enduring Power of Attorney is not, as a matter of law, akin to a role of a Committee acting in Wardship and, for the roles to be identical or broadly similar would be to ignore the fact that the legislature created in 1996 did not intend the two to be the same.

The Attorney of a Power is not AnswerABle to other FAmily memBers in the PerFormAnce oF his or her Functions. In addition, it must be noted that the Law as it presently stands does not involve an automatic supervision by the High Court of the exercise by the Donee of an Enduring Power of his or her authority.

There is for example no requirement that annual accounts be filed in the High Court.

Certainly, accounts should be maintained by the Attorneys but there is no Law stating that they should be produced or filed.

Therefore, unless there are sufficient grounds to raise serious concerns about the appropriate use of your Mother’s funds then, there is nothing you can do. There would have to be serious evidence of a departure from a previous manner of dealing with the Donor’s financial affairs.

Perhaps a change in the pattern of expenditures of monies, other than one which is explained by the increasing need for nursing care or inpatient nursing home costs. Perhaps also a sale of a property when it could arguably be stated that such sale was at an undervalue to a person related to or business associate of the Attorney. If there are reasons for serious concern, you might consider consulting with a Solicitor to discuss the matter further but, ultimately, if a complaint is made to the High Court, it will be the High Court who might agree to oversee the affairs but other family members are not obliged to be involved in the decision making of the chosen Attorney or to the scrutiny of the High Court, should this become necessary.

I would emphasise however, that there would need to be clear and good reason showing evidence of a significant departure from the usual spending patterns to justify any interference in the application of the Power of Attorney.

In contentious business a Solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement

eircode an expensive address claims crowe 21

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Dublin South West TD Seán Crowe has described the new Eircode the address locator as an expensive experiment that’s clearly not delivering for households, businesses and key state services like An Garda Síochána, the Ambulance and Fire Services.

Crowe believes that there are serious questions still remaining about the effectiveness of the new Eircode system claiming that very few people use or even know their own code.

Deputy Seán Crowe said: “Reports in the media suggest that some emergency services are describing the new Eircode system as worse than useless.

“It is still not clear what benefits if any will be achieved as a result of the implementation of Eircode.

“What seems blatantly obvious is that since its implementation it is not being taken up even by the very groups and individuals that it was supposed to benefit.

know and certainly don’t use their new code when giving their location or address on many official documents.

“Currently it is not being used by key state services such as An Garda Síochána, the Ambulance or Fire Fighting Services all of whom are dependent on getting access to an accurate address system “The Department of Environment have confirmed for instance that there is no system currently in place for Eircode to be used by

fire services.

“Surely questions must now be asked of Government as to why they spent approximately €38 million on a system that not being used by its own Departments.

Local Property Tax register.

“What is becoming increasingly evident is that even though there

is or was no public demand for the Eircode expensive system, hard pressed Irish tax payers are

being lumbered with having to pay for it regardless of their opinions on its use or its worth.”

“Improved data collecting and matching was expected to be the main public sector benefit for the project, but a Revenue spokesperson is quoted as saying that this had largely been achieved through other developments, the including introduction of the

usi welcomes the new law protecting lgbt teachers and medics “Many people still don’t

The Union of Students in Ireland said the amendment to the Employment Equality Bill is progressive in equality, dignity and inclusion. Before the 2nd December, teachers and medics at religious institutions could be dismissed if their sexuality conflicted with the religious ethos of the school or hospital.

The Employment Equality Bill (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2013,

the new law to amend the Section 37 controversial provisions, came into effect yesterday on the 2nd December, meaning teachers and medical staff won’t fear adverse treatment as a result of being open about their sexuality in the workplace.

“USI welcomes the amendment to section 37.1 of the Employment Equality Act.”

Union of Students in Ireland president, Kevin Donoghue, said, “Putting anyone in a position where they feel they need to conceal their sexuality to keep their job compromises their dignity, equality and inclusion.

The amendment to section 37.1 strengthens employment protection for teachers and medical staff in the LGBT community.”

Beannachtaí na Féile

low public awareness of climate change

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The release today of a study by the Energy Sustainable Authority of Ireland (SEAI) that claimed just 49% of respondents believe climate change is a ‘serious problem’ appears to highlight the gap that exists in Irish society between the undisputed reality of climate change and public awareness and engagement on this grave global emergency.

According to the fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), “Continued emission of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and long-lasting changes in all components of the climate system, increasing the likelihood of severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and

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ecosystems”. The IPCC goes on to warn that “The risks of abrupt or irreversible changes increase as the magnitude of the warming increases.”

A recent review of over 12,000 climate science papers found a 97% consensus among papers taking a position on the cause of global warming in the peerreviewed literature that humans are responsible.

The World Bank president, Jim Yong Kim added: “Lack of action on climate change threatens to make the world our children inherit a completely different world than we are living in today.

Climate change is one of the single biggest challenges facing development, and we need to assume the moral responsibility to

take action on behalf of future generations, especially the poorest”.

“Taken at face value, the SEAI finding that only one in two Irish people is aware of the profound environmental crisis that threatens all our futures is both a wakeup call for Ireland and also an indictment of a collective failure to grasp the scale and gravity of the threats posed by climate change to our way of life”, said An Taisce climate change spokesman, John Gibbons.

He cautioned, however, that a comprehensive EU ‘Eurobarometer study on attitudes to climate change, carried out in May/June 2015, contradicted the SEAI’s findings: “Almost nine out of ten people surveyed in Ireland

(88%) think that climate change is a serious problem, with 59% saying it is a "very serious" problem”, according to the Eurobarometer research.

Lower public awareness of the risks of climate change may also be explained by the fact that the intensity of coverage in the Irish media is among the lowest in Europe regarding climate change. DCU research found that, in 2014, Irish media coverage of climate change stood at 10.6 stories per title per month, compared with 58.4 per month in the rest of Europe.

Our national broadcaster has also struggled with environmental coverage. Its flagship current affairs programme,

PrimeTime, framed its entire segment on change climate (3/12/2015) in terms of the possible costs of taking action, while the ignoring international evidence that far greater costs will accrue to societies and economies who fail to act on climate change.

The influential Stern Review on the economics of climate change for the UK government confirmed that the costs of inaction hugely outweigh the costs associated with addressing climate change, yet at no point in the PrimeTime report was this framing even alluded to. In the words of Lord Stern, “it is already very clear that the economic risks of inaction in the face of climate change are very severe”.

local property tax rates to be maintained until 2019

Fine Gael TD for Dublin Mid-West, Keating, has welcomed the news that the revaluation date for Local Property Tax (LPT) rates has been postponed until 2019.

“The Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, has published the Local Property Bill 2015 which postpones the date for revaluation of LPT from 2016 to 2019.

“This means that home owners in Dublin MidWest will not face significant increases in their LPT in 2017 as a result of increased property values.

“This Bill also allows for exemptions from LPT for property owners with pyrite issues and introduces reliefs from LPT for properties occupied by someone with a disability.

“The extra time before revaluation will allow for other recommendations from the LPT review to be considered.

“Fine Gael has a long term plan to keep the recovery going and part of that plan is to implement affordable, sustainable improvements in services using the resources from growing employment.

“It is vital that affordable LPT rates are set that take into consideration increases in property values. This is particularly relevant in commuter areas like Lucan, Palmerstown and other parts of Dublin Mid-West.

“The introduction of this Bill is very much to be welcomed, but it is important that we continue to work hard and ensure more people feel the benefits of a recovering economy.”

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weekly earnings have increased by 2.7% Flanagan & Little your free local newspaper

Dublin Senator Catherine Noone, has welcomed recent data from the CSO showing average weekly earnings have increased by 2.7%.

“This is the highest rate of wage growth since 2008. Across the economic sectors average weekly earnings increased in 11 of the 13 sectors and average hourly earnings increased by 2.1%. I was particularly encouraged by the fact that weekly wages in the private sector increased by 3.6%.

"Most Irish workers took a substantial hit to their wages during

the recession. Although relatively small, this increase shows that we are on the right trajectory.

“Thanks to the Irish people we are seeing economic progress, with 135,000 more people at work, and it is very positive to see that we are also seeing an increase in the take-home-pay of Irish employees.

“Fine Gael’s top priority is to keep the recovery going and it is crucial for our society and economy that we ensure that we make work pay.”

Solicitors

children paint a bright future with dublin bus

Forty eight pieces of colourful paintings were on display today at a special exhibition to launch the Dublin Bus Children’s Art Calendar 2016.

The pieces, created by primary school children from 25 schools across the Greater Dublin Area, are the result of the annual Children’s Art Competition run by Dublin Bus.

As part of the Dublin Bus Community Spirit Initiative, dedicated School Co-ordinators visit primary and secondary schools across Dublin and use different techniques to communicate how to

use and respect public transport in their area including talks, exhibiting antisocial behaviour DVDs and on CCTV bus demonstrations.

passengers and creates awareness of the

negative impact of antisocial behaviour on

buses for the local community itself.

LocaL SoLicitorS For aLL your LegaL needS

As part of this programme, Dublin Bus holds an annual Children’s Art Competition in national schools. This year, over 2,000 children from the 25 schools entered the competition.

A selection of the winning entries was chosen to be displayed in this year’s calendar.

The competition promotes the value of public transport in local communities to younger

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christmas tips for moving and mindset

meditate.

Emotional eating to make ourselves feel better when we’re sad or anxious can interfere with weight loss goals. But meditation—using techniques like muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and mindfulness—can help binge eaters become aware of how they turn to food to deal with emotions. This is especially important at parties where there’s a ton of food on display.

set realistic goals.

Come New Year’s resolution season, it’s easy to set lofty goals about weight loss (i.e. drop three dress sizes by February!).

Since impractical targets can slow down long-term weight-loss, it’s important to address those goals before making any health and fitness changes. Write down your goals—keep them specific and attainable—and post them somewhere highly visible, like the fridge door.

If your goal is “stick to two biscuits at every holiday party” seeing it periodically may help you commit.

stay positive.

Many of us demonize certain foods and even punish ourselves for indulgences.

Instead, positive messages like “I can control my eating” or “I’m proud that I ate responsibly today” can reframe our relationship with food. Research shows positive expectations are associated with weight loss.

Even if it feels a little silly, try telling yourself at least one positive affirmation per day.

de-stress.

The holiday season is full of cheer, but it can also be stressful keeping up with family get-togethers and paying for all those gifts.

Unfortunately, a lot of stress can trigger increased eating and cravings, especially for sugary carbohydrates. If family time (or being away from family during the holidays) has you feeling overwhelmed, try out one of these ways to reduce stress before downing hot

chocolate and biscuits. let go of limitations.

No, we’re not talking about unbuttoning your pants at the dinner table. Before hitting up holiday parties, remember that a good workout isn’t limited to a gym or the track. It's easy to use your bodyweight—even in small spaces—to work up a sweat. get functional.

Functional exercise has been shown to increase

By Seán Corr

strength and balance and reduce risk of injury, all while working multiple muscle groups at the same time. It also means you can squeeze in an effective midChristmas-movie-marathon workout in a shorter amount of time. All that movement promotes muscle gain, and over time, that can increase metabolism.

Sleep smart.

Though there’s likely no stopping the urge to wake up early on Christmas morning, getting enough sleep can help shave off some pounds, since sleep loss is linked to changes in appetite. Getting enough sleep has also been associated with less weight gain. Practice good sleep hygiene, like turning off electronics in the bedroom and avoiding high-fat foods at night.

Partner up.

Research suggests we perform better on aerobic tasks like running and cycling when exercising with a partner. If you’re home for the holidays, call up a friend or family member for a gym date or a home workout with our favorite partner exercises, including medicine ball lunge-to-chest passes, and clapping pushups.

move it and lose it.

A simple phrase for losing weight is to move more and eat less. The secret here— like we said before—is that moving doesn’t just mean hitting the road or going to the gym. Make a conscious decision to get more steps into the day by taking the stairs or parking the car far away from the shopping centre entrance.

ining and group For information on Personal tra ebook page Fac classes contact me via my or contact me orr www.facebook.com/seanPtc 6.

824

by Phone 085103

sport can be a key player in academic success, improving brain function, memory and employability

Being involved in sports at college can greatly improve your academic success, by improving brain function, memory and even employability, according to the Union of Students in Ireland, who are urging students to get involved in exercise. Sports at college can improve your future by refining employer-friendly skills like teambuilding, communications, interpersonal skills and goalsetting. More training also means less drinking and less alcohol-related diseases, and endorphins are a great natural way to tackle stress

Move it and lose it.

and focus on studies.

“There are plenty of good reasons to be physically active at college.” Kevin Donoghue, President of the Union of Students in Ireland, said, “Apart from reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, lowering blood pressure and preventing depression by endorphins, exercise changes the brain in ways that protect memory and thinking. Studies suggest that parts of the brain which control memory and thinking (the prefrontal cortex and medial temporal

cortex) have greater volume in people who exercise, versus people who don’t.”

“Engaging in a program of regular exercise of moderate intensity over six months or a year is associated with an increase in the volume of selected brain regions,” said Dr. Scott McGinnis, a neurologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an instructor in neurology at Harvard Medical School.

26.5% of Irish girls and 16% of Irish boys under the age of 20 are classed as

overweight or obese. The European average is 24.2%.

“Being involved in sport can not only improve your physical well-being but it can also have a positive impact on your mental health.” Ursula Jacob, who works in the Sport Department at Waterford IT and is an All Star camogie player, “Taking time out from your study to train or play sport can release positive endorphins and allows you to de-stress from your studies. Along with that, it encourages positive interactions with your peers

while also allowing you to communicate and engage with a wide variety of people. This can have a knock on effect; not only on your daily life but also it can help you with your career path because many businesses and corporations recognise the important presence sport and physical activity can have in people’s lives.

Furthermore, the presence of participating in sport and physical activity particularly in 3rd level Institutions ensures that these students are not actively engaging in

continuous alcohol related activities. This is mainly due to the fact that these students are committed and dedicated to their training and recognise the importance of getting a healthy balance between their studies and sport rather than spending all their free time consuming alcohol.“

The top ten most popular Irish sports, according to GoIreland, are Gaelic, hurling, rugby, soccer, golf, horse racing, showjumping, camogie, boxing and greyhound racing.

Hypnosis with the internationally renowned Clinical Hypnotherapist Tom Ryan is a highly successful way to enable people to stop smoking and become permanent nonsmokers. He will be in Dublin and Tallaght next week only.

People are trying to stop smoking with everything including prescription drugs with life threatening side effects. E-cigarettes may be even more dangerous than regular cigarettes. The nicotine inside is addictive.

When you stop using it, you can get withdrawal symptoms including feeling irritable, depressed, restless and anxious. It can be dangerous for people with heart problems. It may also harm your arteries. Ecigarettes contain up to 10 times more cancer-causing agents than regular cigarettes according to a recent study commissioned by the Japan's Health Ministry.

Those methods offer so little success that people generally end up frustrated. In many instances they end up smoking more than ever. Every time they try to stop smoking they sabotage themselves,” says Tom Ryan.

“Now there is a solution for all those people who have been experiencing one

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disappointment after another.

The key to success is in people’s minds. The subconscious mind contains the smoking habit or programme and is the key to resolve the problem once and for all.”

The University of Iowa says the following about Hypnosis. It is “the most effective treatment for smoking cessation compared to all known other techniques.”

Researchers Schmidt and Viswesvaran combined the results of more than 600 studies covering approximately 72,000 people who underwent different smoking cessation

techniques. They found that hypnosis had the highest success rate. This was reported in the New Scientist which stated that “Stop Smoking Hypnosis” was the most effective way to give up.

The

American Journal of Clinical Hypnotherapy published a report that showed 94% of patients stopped with the help of hypnosis and were still not smoking 18 months later.

Hypnosis helps people stop smoking in a safe and gentle way.

Tom Ryan says people can become nonsmokers after a one hour private session.

25

“I am a now non-smoker, thank to Tom’s method. I was a 30 a day smoker and considered it to be my only way to “destress” at work. I am now able to let go of stress without smoking. It is easy. I don’t even think about cigarettes any more. I can even have a drink without thinking of smoking.” says Julie McGowan from Dundalk.

Tom Ryan is a prodigious talent in the world of Hypnosis, NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) and personal development. A leader in his field Tom is an author, a motivational speaker, therapist, consultant and trainer of hypnosis, NLP, Personal Development and human potential.

Tom has worked with thousands of individuals, has featured in national and local media including television. His sharp wit and contagious enthusiasm permeates all of his work and inspires all who experience it.

For more information on how anyone can successfully stop smoking in a healthy way, visit http://www.totalminddynamics.com or call for an appointment now on 0871917840.

26

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barnardos launches christmas toy appeal in dublin supported by gls parcelshops

Barnardos launched its annual Christmas Toy Appeal, supported by GLS ParcelShops, today. The children’s charity is asking shoppers in Dublin to add the Barnardos Christmas Toy Appeal to their shopping lists this festive season and help make a child’s Christmas.

Every Christmas Barnardos needs gifts for children of all ages, from babies through to teenagers. The charity asks that all gifts are new and unwrapped and has a handy gift guide available on its website, www.barnardos.ie, to help shoppers choose ageappropriate toys and gifts.

For the sixth year, GLS ParcelShops are supporting the Barnardos Toy Appeal.

Drop your gift off at any of their 160 GLS ParcelShops nationwide by Wednesday 16 December and it will be delivered to Barnardos in time for Christmas. To find your local GLS ParcelShops visit www.barnardos.ie/toyappe al.

The GLS ParcelShops in

Make a Child’s Christmas by Donating a Gift to Barnardos

Dublin are located in: CPC Corporate PC's, PC & Laptop Repairs, 1 Rathgar Road Bookworms, 75 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1 Linked Internet Cafe, 1A Lower Fairview Avenue, Fairview Easons of Nassau Street, 2025 Nassau Street, Dublin 2 Number 8 Newsagents, 8 Upper Baggot Street, Dublin 2 Mcnallys Newsagent, 14 Great Denmark Street, Dublin 1 Camelot Stores, 8 Berkely Street, Dublin 7 The Classic Group, 3 Clanwilliam Terrace, Dublin 2 Spar, 9 Cardiffsbridge Road, Finglas The Abbey Newsagent, 155 Drimnagh Road, Walkinstown Nine One One, Oak Court, Oak Road Sarahs XL, 1 Shanliss Road, Santry Castle Gate Internet Shop, Unit 1 Lord Edward Street, Dublin 2 Jeffs Palmerstown, 14 Lower Kennelsfort Road, Palmerstown

Newsspot, 78 A Talbot Street, Dublin 1 Rathgar Drycleaners, 7 Orwell Road, Rathgar Quality Dry Cleaners, Leopardstown Shopping Centre, Ballyogan Road Expert Hardware, Unit 20 , Goldenbridge Ind Est, Inchicore Decwells DIY, 60 South Georges Street, Great Dublin 2 Expert Hardware, 91 Ranelagh Village, Dublin 6 Expert Hardware, Crumlin Village, Crumlin Bolands Expert Hardware, 349 Ballyfermot Road, Ballyfermot Expert Hardware, 12a West Pier, Howth Expert Hardware Baldoyle, Brookstone Road, Baldoyle Kellyprint, Greencastle Parade, Malahide Road Costello's Hardware, 9 Patrick Street, Dun Laoghaire Mannions Newsagents, 4 Castle Way, Clondalkin The Paperweight, 2 Main Street, Malahide Village hardware, 437 B Howth Road, Raheny Computers R Us, 8a the mall, Lucan Village, Lucan

Expert Hardware, Unit 11 Donnybrook Mall, Donnybrook Expert Hardware, 9 Sundrive Road, Kimmage Points & Plugs , Unit 1 park Shopping Centre, Prussia Street, D 7 Business Ser Centre, 3 Mary Street, Dublin 1 Speaking at the launch, Barnardos CEO Fergus Finlay said, “For most of us, Christmas brings up happy memories. But for many of the children we work with in Barnardos, it’s the opposite. Thousands of

children and families are facing hardships every day across the country – and we see first-hand the extra burden that they come under at Christmas time.

“We are truly grateful that, for the sixth year running, GLS ParcelShops will make sure that every child we work with receives a Christmas gift. Thanks to GLS ParcelShops and all those who so generously give gifts to the Toy Appeal each year, we can make sure that the children and families we work with

experience the magic of Christmas.”

Tomasz Kroll, Region Manager, GLS Ireland, said: “We are thrilled to support the Barnardos Christmas Toy Appeal for the sixth year running. It is a really important cause for all the team in GLS – every member of our staff is dedicated to making sure that the toys are delivered in time for Christmas. We are delighted to bring a little magic to the children and families Barnardos works with this Christmas.”

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mayor holland launches glenasmole field names proJect

Mayor of South Dublin County, Cllr Sarah Holland, launched the Glenasmole Field Names Project last in Glenasmole night Community Centre.

The project was born out of the research of local resident Pat Lee, who spent years recording the field names before South Dublin County Heritage Office stepped in to help organise and digitise the records.

The field names could relate to the function of a

field, or could refer to a historical or mythological event said to have occurred there. They are a vital part of the folk memory of the area.

Mr Lee said:

“If my generation did not record field and place names they would be forgotten forever”.

The names have been added to a map, which is colour coded by townland and is available to view both in the county library and in

Community Glenasmole Centre.

Cllr Holland said: “This project is the culmination of years of research into local folk history and includes contributions from the entire community. It’s a project to be proud of and contains information which paints a picture of the rich history of the area.

"We here in South Dublin are very proud of our rural heritage and this project was a celebration of that.”

o’connor calls for continued action at tymon park

Local Councillor Charlie O’Connor has called on South Dublin County Council to continue to pay attention to the concerns of local residents, who have contacted him, regarding a Rat Infestation problem at Tymon Park.

Council Management informed Charlie O’Connor that following his representations “Tymon

Park was inspected by the HSE Pest Control Unit in relation to this complaint over the Summer Months.

Following on from this inspection the HSE Pest Control operatives have laid bait in the vicinity of the lakes and Tymon Lane in the park in order to control rodent populations there.

The area continues to be monitored on a regular basis

in relation to this matter.”

According to Charlie O’Connor he has also called on the Council to ensure that the public is fully aware that these bait traps have been laid because it is important that children and family pets are not exposed to the poison.

He undertakes to continue to represent these concerns.

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win win win with newsgroup and pat egan management

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TWEET OF THE WEEK

by Lynda O’Donoghue Donnelly

It is finally back on air – Christmas FM made a return to the airwaves this week much to the delight of absolutely everyone who is embracing the festive cheer.

The charity radio station will be raising money for the Make A Wish Foundation this

year with all donations going to the very worthy cause.

To donate just text XMAS followed by a space then your message or song request to 50300.

Texts cost €2 and all proceeds will go to the charity which grants wishes to children aged 3 to 17 with life-threatening medical conditions across Ireland.

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. m.mcc.

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. A.j.l.

the duBlin legends Formerly oF the duBliners THE DUBLIN LEGENDS, Sean Cannon, Eamonn Campbell, Paul Watchorn & Gerry O’Connor, have over 60 years of performing with The Dubliners between them and will continue to play all the classic songs and ballads known the world over. Earlier this year the great Jim McCann, a former member of The Dubliners, sadly passed away after a long illness. Every December Jim would come to Vicar St to see his old pals and to introduce the band on stage. This December The Dublin Legends will pay a special tribute to Jim and the songs. The Dublin Legends play Vicar St, Dublin on December 28th.

Tickets are on sale now priced €36.50 (incl booking fees) from Ticketmaster Outlets Nationwide.

Phone: 0818 719 300 www.ticketmaster.ie

to win a table of 4 tickets, simply answer our question ‘in what year did the dubliners celebrate 50 years?’. email your answer to lynda@newsgroup.ie with ‘dublin legends’ by 16th of december.

win win win A FAmily PAss For the mAgicAl wonderlAnd. Win a family pass to Magical Wonderland taking place at Citywest Hotel till the 3rd of January! Magical Wonderland will boast a 800m2 real ice rink, unique Santa experience with live reindeer, traditional fun fair rides, Bavarian food village and so much more.

To enter simply answer When does Magical Wonderland run till?

Email info@newsgroup.ie with ‘Magical Wonderland Competition’ in the subject line.

Entries close on the 16th of December 2015.

charity in Ireland (Charity Number: 5992), and for over 40 years the Trust has been travelling on pilgrimage/holiday to Lourdes with young people with special needs, from all over Ireland.

The Trust has over 1100 people travelling at Easter time and it is divided into small groups of approx 10 young people and 12 volunteer carers who stay in one of the many Hotels in Lourdes.

In June we bring a group of 110 people to Hosanna House in Lourdes for what is a unique experience both Carer and Guest.

We have two facilities in Kilcuan, Co. Galway and Cois Cuain, Co. Wexford each offering different opportunities.

Both facilities provide Friendship weeks during the Summer.

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. A.j.l.

As our regular readers will know we have asked for your generosity in supporting very worthy charities over the last few years including ncBi solas centre in clondalkin, tir na nog (cheeverstown house) and laura lynn children’s hospice . these charities have all been involved in providing vital services to children with special needs and their families. we would like to thank all readers who have supported our chosen charities to date and while we will still be supporting laura lynn children’s hospice going forward, we are delighted to support the irish PilgrimAge trust.

We are appealing to you our loyal newspaper readers to show your generosity in helping us to support an equally worthy charity, the irish PilgrimAge trust. the irish PilgrimAge trust is a registered

Application forms are available from our office at 091 796622.

For more information on the Irish Pilgrimage Trust please contact us at 091 796622 or Email info@irishpilgrimagetrust.com or visit our web page on http://www.irishpilgrimagetrust.com for more information..

if you would like a novena published please send a postal order or cheque made payable to the irish PilgrimAge trust and send it, along with your novena to: newsgrouP, unit 3, Floor 2, st. dominic's shoPPing centre, st dominic's roAd, tAllAght, duBlin 24 if you require any further information call us on 087 6535443.

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saud QaZi from dublin is announced to represent ireland in the eurocosplay championships 2016.

Eirtakon, Ireland’s largest anime convention, hosted the Irish qualifier for the annual EuroCosplay Championships where the winner Saud Qazi from Dublin was announced as the person to be Ireland's representative at the EuroCosplay Championships at the London MCM Comic Con in October 2016.

The EuroCosplay Championship is held at the London MCM Comic Con and has entries from nearly thirty countries in Europe. This competition looks at the craftsmanship of creating consumes and the bringing to life of a character through a short performance. Saud Qazi who is to represent Ireland in 2016 made his own costume of the character ‘Sauron’ from the iconic Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Dark Lord intent on ruling Middle Earth.

Cosplay Cosplay is the art of dressing up as a character from a film, book, video game, and Japanese anime or manga. The EuroCosplay Championships is a competition where a Cosplay is judged by the craftsman ship of a costume and performance of a character. EuroCosplay seeks to raise the profile of cosplay across Europe and inspire current and future cosplayers to strengthen the cosplay community.

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recycle it : free pre-christmas community electrical and electronic recycling drop off day

Recycle IT is pleased to announce that this year it will operate free pre –Christmas and New Year recycling Drop off Days.

People can recycle electrical and electronic devices which includes TVs, computer equipment, stereos, large and small household appliances, really anything with a plug or a battery.

the Pre-christmas drop off days is planned for saturday december 12th 2015 from 10am until 2pm.

Una Lavelle, manager with Recycle IT appreciates it’s sometimes difficult for people to find time to recycle electrical equipment.

Una says “this free drop off service offers residents and community groups an additional opportunity over a weekend, to clear out in preparation for Christmas gifts and New Year resolutions”.

facility in Clondalkin between 10am and 2pm on the day their team will be available to take your appliance for recycling.

They will also plan to open early in the New Year for anyone wanting to declutter for 2016 The New Year dates are • Saturday January 9th 2016 from 10am • Saturday February 13th 2016 from 10am

The Recycle IT recycling facility is located at Unit 14/2 Crag Terrace, Clondalkin Industrial Estate, Clondalkin Dublin D22 TK37 Tel: 01 4578321, email: info@recycleit.ie or visit our website www.recycleit.ie

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telephone 01 451 3822

fort motor group opens new kia dealerships in tallaght and blanchardstown Picture shows Saud Qazi, Ireland's EuroCosplay Qualifier. (Photographer: Kieran Broderick)

The Fort Motor Group has extended its footprint in the capital with the opening of two new Kia dealerships this month. Fort Motors Kia will serve the West Dublin area from a premises close to the Blanchardstown Centre, while Airton Kia opens on Airton Road in Tallaght.

Airton Kia is situated in an impressive 45,000 sq foot facility off the Greenhills Road with an accredited state-ofthe-art service and bodyshop operation.

Fort Motors Kia, meanwhile, will operate from a modern 25,000 sq ft premises in Coolmine Industrial Estate in Blanchardstown, within easy reach of the many shoppers coming to the area.

Staff are currently being recruited to supplement the experienced sales and service teams in both outlets. The expansion will bring the Group’s workforce to almost 100.

According to dealer principals Cyril and Paul Molloy, adding the Kia franchise to the group makes strategic sense at a time when car sales are predicted to keep rising. “On the one hand, Kia is clearly a brand on an upward curve in a buoyant marketplace for car sales. At the same time the Kia range very much complements our existing line-up of models.

We are delighted to be able to provide a fuller suite of vehicles to our customers, to meet the greater diversity we are seeing in car buying.”

“Geographically we are excited to have two dealerships straddling both sides of the city, both in areas with lots of potential for the Kia brand.”

James Brooks, Managing Director of Kia Ireland, commented “We are delighted to add the Fort Motor Group to our growing dealer network .Our growth strategy is qualitative and the Fort Motor Group, with its proven sales and

Once you arrive at the recycling

customer service record, is exactly the type of partner we require in driving our ambition to become one of Ireland’s leading brands based on a reputation of quality, design, engineering and customer care “

Founded over 50 years ago, Fort Motor Group is one of the largest and longest established in Dublin. A newly opened commercial centre In Tallaght brings the Group’s total number of outlets in the capital to five.

Airton Kia is situated in an impressive 45,000 sq foot facility off the Greenhills Road with an accredited state-of-the-art service and bodyshop operation.

Inset: Cyril Molloy and Paul Molloy, Directors of Airton Kia at a contract signing with Luke Messitt, Head of Network Development Kia motors Ireland, left, and James Brooks, right, Managing Director Kia Motors Ireland, Tallaght Ford, Airton Road, Tallaght, Dublin.

(Picture Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE)

30

dermody welcomes launch of new national anti-bullying website

Cllr Anne-Marie Dermody has welcomed the launch of a national anti-bullying website, www.tacklebullying.ie.

Speaking about the launch of this new initiative Cllr Dermody said “This website is a fantastic tool in the fight against bullying in our schools and in our daily lives.

“This website is a great source of information, support and advice on how to recognise and deal with bullying behaviour not only for young people but for parents and teachers alike.”

The website, part of the Government’s Action Plan on Bullying, was launched by the Minister for Education recently and was developed by the National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre (ABC) at Dublin City University.

The Government’s Action Plan on Bullying, sets out twelve actions to help prevent and

tackle bullying in primary and post primary schools with the launch of this website being part of the final phase of implementation.

“Bullying can have a devastating effect on a child and can lead to depression, anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and often loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy. “

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“As a mother, and a public representative, I often hear of stories from worried parents concerned for their children’s welfare.”

“Bullying is not limited to physical and verbal, but has increasingly moved online in recent years, which is why this website will play an even greater role as a source of information and support for our young people.”

Concluded Cllr AnneMarie Dermody.

Councillor Anne-Marie Dermody, Fine Gael General Election candidate for Dublin South-West, welcoming the launch of the national anti-bullying website, www.tacklebullying.ie

93% of student nurses considering emigrating when they Qualify as a nurse

The Union of Students in Ireland released new survey information which showed that 93% of student nurses have considered emigrating when they finish college.

Over 600 student nurses were surveyed across the country and 564 (92.5%) said they have thought about emigrating when they qualify as a nurse.

”If the vast majority of student nurses emigrate Ireland once they qualify, Ireland will be deporting

I wonder did it occur to Jack Fagan and William Doran when they founded the Club in 1970 that such enhancements were possible. I think they would approve!!!

Local Councillor Charlie O’Connor has raised with Council Management the recent reports of Pollution of the River Poddle and has sought assurances that action is being taken.

In its response to his representations the Council has informed Charlie O’Connor as follows: “At 10.40am on the 18th November, SDCC were notified of the petroleum product contamination in the stream located between Airton Road and IT Tallaght. The river was checked and it was found that the release of pollutant had ceased. Booms and pads were placed immediately at three locations downstream to absorb any residual

Join us and get away from the pressures of modern life. Refresh yourself in the natural

beauty that awaits as you challenge yourself on our Par 70 course for Men and 72 for Ladies. You will experience a welcome second to none from our members and staff and you can enjoy the '19th hole' in comfort with good food in our beautiful club house.

With Slade in its 46th year we are planning ahead for our 50th Annversay.

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Niall and Catherine Dunne Captains 2016

The 7th fairway in Slade Valley. (Picture courtesy of Kevin Markham)

Organisation General Secretary Liam Doran spoke about how the hospital overcrowding situation is affected by the amount of staff. Mr Doran said that the INMO wants extra beds to be opened but the hospital does not have adequate staff to deal with the current beds and cannot open the beds without new additional staff to service them.

“Many student nurses feel a better life awaits them abroad.” USI President Kevin

Donoghue said “Countries with a huge shortage of nurses such as England, America and Australia are actively recruiting Irish nurses - some are even offering them positions before they’ve finished their final year. If the Irish government fail to educate and maintain their health professionals, it risks repeating the mistakes of the 1990’s when past generations of newly qualified nurses had no option but to emigrate.”

update on pollution of the river poddle

the secret is out about slade valley golf course!!!

Membership is on the rise with newcomers and longstanding members alike enthralled with its pristine greens and maginficent fairways.

The golfing experience is enhanced by the addition in 2007 of three new holes, from which the breathtaking views reinforce your 'back to nature' experience.

essential skills, talent and finance,” Kevin Donoghue, USI President, said. “It’s easy to see why so many student nurses have considered emigrating once they’re qualified. A lot of those who move to England to start their careers have their flights, first month’s and accommodation postgraduate paid for.”

More than 1,000 nurses are set to retire from the health service by next June. Irish Nurses and Midwives

contamination. We carried an extensive search and the exact source of the pollution could not be determined but it was definitely from Cookstown Industrial Estate. We closely monitored the situation over the next 3 days and found that no further release of contaminant occurred. The incident was a relatively minor one and there were negligible consequences. No contamination was detected in the downstream Poddle lakes.”

According to Charlie O’Connor it is important that the Council remains vigilant to these matters and he intends to continue to give his particular attention to this important issue.

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by Lynda O'Donoghue Donnelly TOP FIVE FILMS – Romance

Love – the thing that everyone wants in their life, the theme of almost every song, poem and so many movies.

We have sifted through the schmaltz to bring you our Top Five Films – Romance to get your heart beating faster, give you butterflies in your tummy and make you smile from ear-to-ear.

We are turning on the charm in our quest for the best films about love and there are some real diamonds amongst the bunch.

So if you fancy a romantic night in with your nearest and dearest get out and grab one of these brilliant movies to put you in the mood…

1. the Proposal – What starts out as a rather abrasive boss/employee relationship turns into an exceptionally funny, heartfelt romantic comedy.

The chemistry between Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds is fantastic but it

is their comic timing that makes The Proposal standout in this hugely overcrowded genre. There are some over-the-top moments but this is a great film about two people falling in love.

2. going the distance – Another unlikely love story which starts out as a fling and develops into the perfect romance. Erin and Garrett fall for each other and try to keep their relationship going despite living on opposite sides of the country. The obvious chemistry between former real-life flames Drew Barrymore and Justin Long makes the movie sizzle and the hilarious Christina Applegate, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day are brilliant in supporting roles. The soundtrack is also outstanding.

3. Brokeback mountain – This Oscar winning movie works on so many levels.

Knockout performances from Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal make this film so compelling. They star as two cowboys who embark on a secret affair which

neither of them know how to deal with. Both men marry women and have families but cannot give up the connection and deep attachment they have to each other. A sad but beautiful story about love and acceptance.

4. notting hill – An ordinary bloke finds himself in the middle of a media storm when he accidentally bumps into a Hollywood movie star in the street. Despite not knowing how famous the woman is there is an instant attraction between the two.

With such different lives a relationship would never work, would it? A brilliant love story with hilarious moments that will have you rooting for the underdog.

5. city of Angels – The concept of the movie is brilliantly innovative and will have you laughing, crying and wondering what life is all about. Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan star in this interesting and funny 1998 movie about literally choosing to ‘fall’ in love.

Cage plays an angel who feels no pain and watches over the city while Ryan is a surgeon who is coasting through life. If they want to be together Cage must ‘fall’. It is much better than it sounds. And the music is brilliant.

These movies are sure to give you that warm fuzzy feeling inside so whether you are looking to fall in love, hoping to pop the question or simply trying to get over a heartbreak there is something here for everyone.

FIND YOUR CHRISTMAS CHEER

Tis the season to be jolly, gather together with family and enjoy the festivities that Christmas has to offer.

There is plenty to do right across Dublin in the run up to December 25th so why not head out and about with family and friends to celebrate the season.

Pantomimes are very popular this time of year and there is something for all the family no matter

which show you see.

Tallaght’s funniest export Al Porter stars in Freezin at the Olympia Theatre from December 18th to January 10th.

This year Little Red Riding Hood is the Gaiety panto while the Tivoli Theatre will show Beauty and the Beast starring TV3 presenter Alan Hughes.

This year the Civic Theatre in Tallaght will be staging

Aladdin from December 20th to January 3rd.

There is plenty to see in the Civic throughout December with performances from Phil Coulter and Dickie Rock as well as a very special show, O Holy Night with Red Hurley, on December 13th.

Meanwhile ABBA Forever will take place at Draiocht in Blanchardstown on December 10th.

If it is the outdoors you

want to explain during the festive season then Luggwoods has a Christmas experience to delight the whole family.

The magical Christmas train journey is suitable for people of all ages – taking the whole family to Santa’s Hidden Grotto high above Dublin with a special woodland adventure and sightings of the Grinch.

If you really want to get into the swing of things visit I Believe in Christmas which

is open right now at Custom House Quarter on the Red Luas line.

The Christmas village offers a food and craft market, Aprés Ski Scandinavian themed bar, visits with Santa and a 50 foot Christmas tree.

One walk around the village with all its twinkling lights and festive atmosphere will have you singing Christmas tunes all the way home.

The Magical Wonderland at Citywest also offers great

fun-filled family moments with ice-skating, fun fair rides and a magical Santa experience with live reindeer.

There are also plenty of local fairs, markets, pantos and school shows around this time of year.

This Christmas there is lots of choice for fantastic family outings, magical memories and wonderful fun so get out there and explore what your city has to offer.

Adele’s new album, 25, is not just one of the most eagerly anticipated records of the year – it is one of the most unexpected releases.

The most bankable pop star in the world has not released any music in the last three years and kept the impending arrival of her newest album under wraps.

She announced three weeks ago that 25 would debut at the end of November to the delight of the music world.

6. water under the Bridge – An example of this different sound for Adele, slightly more upbeat than we have come to know from the songstress. A catchy chorus which is most definitely a grower 3/5 7. river lea – An almost reverent song which has an old skool feel and pays homage to Adele’s upbringing 2/5 8. love in the dark – As the title suggests this a darker type of love/heartbreak song. This Adele doing what Adele does best. Radiofriendly, catchy and loaded with emotion this already has ‘smash-hit’ written all over it 5/5 9. million years Ago – Bordering on folk, this track is unlike anything else from Adele but is impressive in its ability to draw the listener in. There is a timeless feel about this track. Beautiful 5/5 10. All i Ask – Another

heartfelt track which shows the best of Adele’s voice.

Storytelling lyrics which create an emotional attachment, yet again managing to get right to the heart of the matter 4/5 11. sweetest devotion – A happier track to finish off the album. A sort of statement about how far the singer has come since the heart-breaking tracks on 19 and 21. A song about how love changes everything 4/5 This album is undoubtedly one of the releases of the year and copies of 25 will fly off the shelves in the run up to Christmas.

Fans of Adele will absolutely be happy with this latest offering and those who are unfamiliar with the singer will be heading out to get the previous two albums immediately.

Another smash hit from the brilliant singer/songwriter; if you don’t have this album already go get it.

MUSIC TO OUR EARS – Say hello to Adele all over again

Here we give you the inside track on how the follow-up to 19 and 21 fares…

1. hello – The first single is already a smash hit after just two weeks of airplay. It is a cracking track which showcases the best of Adele’s voice. A great opening to the album 5/5 2. send my love (To Your New Lover) – This track is a slow burner and not one of the most convincing on the album. The first indication of the new direction Adele’s music is taking with 25, a more upbeat sound 3/5 3. i miss you – Unlikely to be a standout single, this song is an album track and runs on a little long. However, Adele’s unmistakeable vocal is flawless 2/5 4. when we were young – A fantastic track with the quiet lyrical brilliance that we have come to expect from Adele. A contender for the best song on the album 5/5 5. remedy – Another super track which is a definite throwback to earlier music from the musician. A vocal masterclass with beautiful piano melodies 5/5

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conferring ceremony takes place at an cosán, tallaght your free local newspaper

42 Degrees Conferred by IT Carlow in Collaborative Educational Partnership

42 graduates were conferred with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Jobstown via a collaborative partnership between An Cosán centre of learning in Tallaght and Institute of Technology Carlow (IT Carlow).

Eight students were conferred with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Applied Addiction Studies and Community Development.

34 graduates were awarded Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care. A further 20

students were presented with Certificates in Transformative Community Education.

The conferring ceremony was attended by the President of IT Carlow, Dr. Patricia Mulcahy who presented each graduate with their scroll.

During the conferring ceremony, three awards were presented for outstanding academic achievement. Laura Jordan from Dublin, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Early Childhood

Education and Care, received the An Cosán Student of the Year Award at Level 8. Laurence Moloney, from Dublin, who received a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Addiction Studies and Community Development, was presented with the Accenture Student of the Year Award at Level 7 and Deirdre Keating, holder of a Certificate in Transformative Community Education, received the ESB Student of the Year Award at Certificate Level.

A centre of learning,

leadership and social enterprise, An Cosán facilitates over 600 students annually to access part-time education programmes, from basic literacy to honours degrees and special purpose awards. Since 2007, a collaborative partnership with IT Carlow and An Cosán has resulted in the delivery of high quality education to students, underpinned by a shared ethos in supporting equitable educational access at third level.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Mulcahy commented on

December 10 will help us in sustaining the great level of care at Our Lady's Children's Hospital plus support groundbreaking paediatric medical research through the National Children's Research Centre."

10th, a sell out performance would help us raise €10,000."

paced and packed with brilliant jokes. The script is so funny even the cast can’t stop laughing," said Niall.

the huge contribution that An Cosán continues to make in empowering communities through education. “An Cosán is to be congratulated on the important role it plays in providing access to quality higher education opportunities for many people who would otherwise be denied such an opportunity. In doing so, it transforms lives through education. I congratulate each and every graduate here today on their success and achievement”, commented Dr. Mulcahy.

The conferring was one of eleven such ceremonies during November, where 2,200 graduates have been conferred across the Institute of Technology Carlow campuses and locations in Carlow, Wexford, Wicklow and Dublin.

IT Carlow currently ranks as the 4th largest of Ireland’s 14 Institutes with almost 7,000 enrolments.

helix panto magic to raise €10,000 for crumlin hospital kids

Dublin’s panto goers have the chance to help raise up to €10,000 to aid sick children at Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin by buying tickets for a special performance of The Helix Pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk.

The panto runs from now to January 10 but the performance on Thursday, December 10 is dedicated to helping the young patients at Ireland's largest paediatric hospital.

"We are absolutely delighted that not only are The Helix giving our sick children and their families the chance to see the best panto in the country,but have dedicated the sales of a special show to our hospital," said Crumlin's fundraising manager Rachel Daly.

"The Panto performance on

A group of 20 young Crumlin patients and their families set the panto fundraising ball rolling at a special Santa's day in The Helix Theatre, Dublin.

"Everyone had a wonderful time, Santa read Christmas stories, the Panto cast made us all laugh and then we all enjoyed viewing the movie The Polar Express, it was a thoroughly enjoyable day," said Rachel.

"Now we are asking people to help the hospital by buying tickets for Jack and the Beanstalk on December

Jack and the Beanstalk stars West End heartthrob Niall Sheehy whose gorgeous good looks and stunning voice have won him starring roles in Les Miserables, Wicked and Miss Saigon among others.

Crumlin staff and parents are asking the public to show their support for the hospital by buying tickets for the show on December 10th, priced €26 for adults, €22 for children and family tickets from €74.

Star Niall Sheehy is looking forward to creating some real panto magic for the Crumlin kids.

"Jack and the Beanstalk is really fun, it's very fast-

Picture shows all graduates from An Cosan with the lecturing staff

Set in Ballybrutal, a town on its uppers, The Helix Beanstalk takes a rollicking contemporary twist on the magical fairytale and boasts a cast of pantomime favourites with Liam Butler as Dame Lola, the lovely Orla Jennings as Jill and wickedly funny Eoin Cannon as Professor Plonceur.

Produced by TheatreworX and co-written by Karl Harpur and Claire Tighe, whose pantomimes are renowned for their blow your socks off vocals, crafty comic timing and raucous family fun, Jack and the Beanstalk promises to deliver the very best of family entertainment this festive season.

Pictured are Crumlin Hospital parents Carol Long and Natalie Long with tot Zoe Lonergan and the panto cast including star Niall Sheehy as Jack, Orla Jennings as Jill, Liam Butler as Dame Lola and Eoin Cannon as dastardly Professor Plonceur.

(Photo by Jass Foley)

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the moving crib is now open your free local newspaper

The Moving Crib, in the heart of Dublin City, 42 Parnell Square, has been entertaining Dublin children for almost six decades (The Moving Crib is 60 years old next year) – This Christmas sees the unveiling of the lovingly restored, extended and refurbished Crib, which has undergone three months painstaking refurbishment by a team of carpenters and craftsmen, one of whom made some of the original Crib scenes in 1956!

One hundred and fifty litres of the finest oil gloss paints, One hundred and five 3D animated characters, Ninety metres of wood Forty five panelling, metres of animated walkway and the eighteen different scenes, all go to ensure this city attraction is a charming one for all the family.

Virtually every character in the scenes is a moving one – And many historical fables are portrayed, one of which got

- after a 3 month makeover! the overhaul in 2015 is a twenty foot ‘ Noah’s Ark’, complete with a plethora of four legged friends – So this Dublin landmark is as captivating today as it was when it first opened its doors.

That’s not all, St. Martin Apostolate Oratory and Shop have also been lovingly renovated and both now sit together at ground floor level making these bright, areas more spacious accessible for everybody whether you’re visiting for one of our two daily masses or just browsing.

‘We were conscious that families are always looking for a different Christmas experience and we listened to what visitors said last year about the Moving Crib.

We feel very happy we’ve combined old world charm with educational tools and animation to cater for all audiences visiting Dublin this December’ said Darragh Murphy - who was in charge of the project.

During the renovation and extension we rediscovered a Mini Ark that had been donated to St. Martin Apostolate in the early 70’s.

This miniature Ark was lovingly handcrafted together with about 100 individual wooden animals circa 1850. This Ark is now proudly displayed in our Moving Crib.

‘A number of the original craftsmen are still with us and they were delighted to be asked to assist with the redesign of the Moving Crib after all these years’ he added.

The only one of its kind built in Ireland (if not the world), the Moving Crib is an historical and entertaining experience, that winds its way downstairs in the stunning Georgian building at 42 Parnell Square. Once downstairs, you are greeted with a montage of many historical / fun stories, including Noah’s Ark, The Wise Men and many more.

These scenes, competitions,

an illusion wall and a little touch of magic are all sure to engage your little ones on their journey through to the Crib.

Don’t forget to visit ‘Fred the Hero Dog’ (our stuffed Dog). He is purported to have saved the lives of three people by diving into the River Liffey to rescue them from drowning. He

deserves a place in history.

Children can draw a Leaf, cut out the shape and bring their prayer with them so that it can be placed in our Garden of Eden forever.

Add to all of this the fact that the Dominican Order is celebrating 800 years in existence during 2016. The achievements of the Order are momentous and will be

celebrated throughout the coming year.

This free Dublin attraction is a must see for families and, of course, the man in red is there too!

OPEN NOW to January 10th, 2016 @ 42 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1.

See www.stmartin.ie/crib for details

The Mini Ark that had been donated to St. Martin Apostolate in the early 70’s

goodfellasbarberstallaght

all week - all cuts €10 father & son all week €18 oap’s all week €8 we now offer colouring

A huge welcome to our newest barber caroline, (formally of rico's). meagan and caroline will be in goodfellas for the christmas season and onto the new year, so get over and get freshened up by the newest hottest and freshest team in tallaght.

xbox available for our clients!

Christmas Gift Vouchers

Now Available

ST. DOMINIC’S SHOPPING CENTRE (UPSTAIRS), TALLAGHT. TEL: 085 169 2505 OPENING HOURS: MONDAY TO SATURDAY 9.00AM - 6.00PM

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the super hamper

special

i tin of foxes fabulous i mcvities victoria 4 medium siZe cadbury selection boxes 1 x 18 pack king crisps i x 18 pack tayto crisps 2 x 10kg roosters 24 cans of orange 2 tins emerald sweets

all this for only

€50.

2 tins of irish colleen 2 x 1kg sugar 6 x 2 litre smack (5 flavours) 1 x 750gr tub of rowentree sweets 3 x 400gr toblerone bars (milk, white and dark) 2 boxes tea cakes 2 boxes of snowballs 2 x 80’s lyons green tea bags

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BREATHNACH’S BARGAINS

DOMINIC’S SHOPPING CENTRE

TALLAGHT DUBLIN

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terms & conditions apply. all special offers subject to availability. see instore for details