Swords GAZET TE FREE
YOUR COMMUNITY • YOUR PAPER
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January nu ua y 19, 2012
INSIDE: The Fingal Dublin Chamber’s COLLEGE OPTIONS: Our essential Christmas lunch P10 guide to further study choices P19-29
Prizewinners: Students shine with top project Football: St Margaret’s set for Under-12 final at home Page 40
DEIRDRE Harford and Coleen Kelly, from Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, had plenty of reason to smile as their project, A Search for Genes Associated with Drought Resistance in Potatoes, won them the runners-up prize at the annual BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. Almost 1,200 students from 221 schools with 550 projects competed for the coveted title this year. Full Story on Page 3
Basketball: Swords miss out on National final place in UL Page 38
ALSOINSIDE: FITNESS ........................15 TRAVEL..........................16 ENTERTAINMENT ......... 18 BUSINESS ................... 30 MOTORS ....................... 32 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 34
HSE cuts to hit 49 at learning centre Rehab Group is dismayed over training allowance
Q MIMI MURRAY
FORTY nine people, who attend the National Learning Network Centre in Swords, are to be directly affected by a cut made by the HSE in the rehabilitative training allowance for people with disabilities. The Rehab Group has expressed its dismay at a deci-
sion by the HSE to cut the training allowance provided to people with disabilities undertaking its rehabilitative training courses by 37%, from €31.80 per week to €20 in 2012. “Rehab Group has sought urgent meetings with the HSE and with Minister Kathleen Lynch to ask that the allowance be restored, and we are
awaiting a response. A reduction in the payment made to those taking part in rehabilitative training may significantly reduce their ability to participate in training and, therefore, in gaining independence,” said Angela Kerins, chief executive of the Rehab Group. Full Story on Page 8