Wicklow Voice 04-08-2020

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May 28, 04, 2015, t: 01 901 5556/7, August 2020 wicklowvoice.ie e: info@wicklowvoice.ie t: 01 901 5565 e: info@wicklowvoice.ie

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Anger as opening of Greystones Community College delayed just weeks before 70 students due to start There has been widespread anger amongst parents and students after it emerged this week that Greystones Community College will not open in September as planned.

First year students were due to start in the new school alongside the primary level students from Greystones Community National School next month.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said he is working with the Department of

Education to help find alternative accommodation for students of Greystones Community College.

“I know there is a lot of worry about the emerging issues with Greystones Community National School and Greystones Community College,” Minister Donnelly said.

“The new school building is, as I understand it, now not going to open in time for the new school year due to delays.

“I am liaising with both the school management and the Department of Education to find a speedy resolution to this problem.

“The priority now is to find alternative accommodation for the 70 students from GCC who are due to start in First Year next month.

“I know this must be an extremely stressful time for the parents and students affected but rest assured we will do everything we can to resolve this

issue as quickly as possible so both schools can get back on track”.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin TD John Brady has expressed deep concern at the news saying that: “the Department is currently engaging the contractor and there is no clarity as to how long the delay will be.

“The news that the new school will not be ready will come as a big blow for the children, teachers and everyone connected to both schools.”

John Glynn of the Gavin Glynn Foundation and Nicky Stewart ahead of the Virtual King Of Greystones Triathlon recently which raised €10,010. Pic: Aerial Media 360

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COVID-19 OUTBREAK Don’#t forget to wash your hands

COVID-19 OUTBREAK Don’#t forget to wash your hands

August 04, 2020

Copycat web scam targets Lock up your caravans! staycation bookings Service dog Max at the launch of Samaritans national awareness day on July 24. Pic: Maxwells

With staycations now becoming all the rage, campervans and caravans have become more attractive to criminals, so much so the county’s owners are being urged to take extra security with their mobile vehicles following a huge rise in thefts.

Since March of this year, 19 caravans or campervans have been stolen nationally and 43 in all since the start of 2019.

There has been a recent case of a theft in county Wicklow, with more again reported in neighbouring Wexford and Carlow.

And it is not just the theft of vans gardai are asking people

to be vigilant about.

More than €30 million worth of goods and equipment has been stolen from mobile holiday homes over the last four years.

In launching the Garda Park Smart appeal, Garda Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Ber Leetch appealed to caravan and campervan owners to take extra security measures.

“With ‘staycations’ expected to rise this year, and more people using caravans and campervans, there is a need to be extra vigilant with their security,” Officer Leetch said. “As a campervan owner myself, I always make sure

we have the hitch lock on when we are parked up for the evening or when it’s not in use. We have also invested in a tracking device, they can be purchased for around €150, so if our campervan was ever stolen there is a better chance of getting it back.

“A caravan or campervan can be a very expensive, and the items you have inside them could be irreplaceable if they hold a sentimental value.

“I would recommend that you keep valuables out of sight and make sure everything is locked when you go out.”

No cut to PUP pay if going overseas

PEOPLE on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) who travel to green list countries will still receive their payment in a climbdown by the Government.

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys “people who wish to travel on any of the countries on the green list can do so and continue to receive their payment”.

But she said people who travel to the countries not on the green list can only do so for “essential reasons”.

She pointed out that of the 2,500 people whose payments have been stopped, 90% were leaving the country permanently.

Controversy erupted after it emerged at the weekend that recipients of the €350 emergency payment were having the benefit docked for overseas travel.

The payment was introduced when the country was in lockdown, and Ms Humphreys said it was Government policy to restrict travel outside the country.

Holidaysmakers in the county are being urged to be aware of ‘staycation’ scams if they are booking holidays in Ireland online.

It comes in the wake of reports of a number of cloned sites being set up on social media offering special offers on hotels in Ireland.

In one incident, the Kilkenny Tourism agency’s social media account was cloned, and the cloned site was offering discounted rooms in a famous Kilkenny hotel.

The online fraudsters were asking people who clicked on the link to hand over their personal and banking details, and gardai have been made aware of this scam.

A new initiative has been set up in response to combat this type of crime and to make people more aware of online criminal activity.

FraudSMART has been set up by the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland and they are urging people to proceed with caution when booking staycations, as there has been an increased amount of incidents of fake sites, fake offers, and hoaxes regarding Irish tourism, as more and more people book holidays at home.

FraudSMART says people

should be aware of scams including copycat websites, fake emails and ads on social media offering holiday deals at bargain prices.

People are being urged to never click into a seller’s website via an email link or social media advert.

Some tips and checks when booking a staycation: • Thoroughly research any online offer.

• Check website/web address is genuine and only purchase through an official website.

• Avoid cheap on-line deals or ‘super deals’ you’ll find on social media ads.

• Check out whether the website offering the deal has been reviewed online across different trusted sources.

• Use a reputable company and make sure the web address for the reputable company is legitimate.

• Independently verify the property if possible by using Google maps/Street view.

• If renting private/selfcatering accommodation, call the owner or agent directly to ensure that it is a real listing • Pay particular attention to the ‘Terms and Conditions’ (T&C’s) and always read the small print.

Going abroad? Check with your insurer first

Insurance Ireland has said insurers will be covering travel to Green List countries, including Covid-19 related issues, but urged consumers to be cautious and check the situation with their providers before they travel.

Chief Executive Moyagh Murdock said insurers will be covering travel to Green List countries, including Covid-19 related issues, but urged consumers to be cautious and

check the situation with their providers before they travel.

Speaking on RTÉ, Ms Murdock said people should be careful about booking a trip.

She said that if a person travels to a Green List country and the country’s status is changed during their stay, they will still be covered by insurance.

She said insurers have been paying out to those who booked holidays to now “red list” countries before the lockdown.

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August 04, 2020

Childcare Hang onto to your lockdown workers locks, Vikings TV wants you see wages decrease UP to one third of childcare workers are earning less than they did before Covid-19, according to the Federation of Childhood Providers and it warns that social distancing measures may force businesses to close as they will be less profitable.

Up to 29% of workers in the childcare sector say they are earning less now than they did before the pandemic.

A new SIPTU survey shows just under a third of childcare workers plan on leaving the sector within the next year.

The union says most early years professionals were earning below the Living Wage of €12.40 an hour before the pandemic hit.

The federation is calling for Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman to reintroduce the Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme to bring their earnings up.

This comes after the closure of 56 childcare providers across the country in recent weeks, leaving an estimated

Anyone in the county who has avoided a trip to the barbers or hairdressers since the lockdown lifted, don’t head off just yet.

Despite the film and TV industry having to go into Covid imposed hibernation, things are looking up for the country’s studios.

It appears preparation for a brand new Netflix series is ramping up and filming will

take place in county Wicklow.

A spin off of the hugely successful series Vikings, broadcast on the History Channel, is now looking for more extras to come forward for their upcoming filming.

The new show called ‘Vikings: Vahalla’ and Ashford Studios are now casting for extras as filming for the series will be up and running soon.

Retail sales bounce back with 38% jump

A spokesperson for Ashford Studios said: “Due to the current climate, we will not be running any more Extras open casting days so, for further information and application forms, please email ‘extras@vhproductions.ie’.

“The production will be based in Ireland. We are inclusive of people from all backgrounds,” the spokesperson concluded.

WE’RE back spending in the shops, latest figures from he Central Statistics Office (CSO) show.

The volume of retail sales bounced back by 38.4% in June compared to May - the largest monthly increase on record.

However, according to separate figures from Retail Ireland, sales fell by close to 30% during lockdown.

The representative body has published a report on retail sales for the first and second quarter of this year, which compiles data from 4,500 stores across the country, covering nineteen sectors of the retail industry.

The report found that clothing and footwear stores, and coffee shops were among the worst effected, with sales down over 75%, while the demand for groceries surged in March.

The CSO’s figures show the volume of retail sales was 3.5% higher in June compared to 2020 - the first annual increase since the coronavirus lockdown of the economy.

When car sales are excluded, the volume of sales was up

22.3% in June and 4.8% compared to a year ago.

The overall value of retail sales last month was the same as June of last year.

The rebound last month reflects the reopening of shops on June 8.

However, the CSO noted that the recovery was unevenly spread.

Compared to June of last year, bar sales are down 81%, while books, newspapers and stationary sales are down 40%.

Fuel sales are down 18%, while clothing, footwear and textiles are 16% lower.

But sales of food are up 19%, while electrical goods are up 14%. Sales of hardware, paint and glass are also up 30% compared to June of last year.

Online sales as a percentage of overall retail sales fell in June to 6.8% compared to 13.2% in May, the CSO said.

“Given the declines in April and May, a 3.5% increase in sales volumes is actually not a whole lot,” Goodbody Stockbrokers chief economist Dermot O’Leary said.

Pubs who flout rules brought in to fight Covid-19 should “feel the full force of the law”, the Vintners Federation of Ireland said.

It was reported this that a further 22 potential breaches of public health regulations were identified at licensed premises, with gardaí saying the majority related to a lack of evidence that food was being served or consumed.

This follows the closing of 26 pubs across the county in early July for breaking the rules, including several in this county.

The regulations include alcohol only being served alongside a “substantial meal” costing at least €9 with customers staying a maximum of one hour 45 minutes on the premises.

CEO of the Vintners Federation of Ireland Padraig Cribben said pubs should be allowed reopen fully as is currently planned on August

10. Speaking on RTÉ, he said there are many publicans in rural Ireland who rely on this time of the year to pay their bills through the winter, and the mental health and anguish they are under cannot be underestimated.

He said the Australian State of Victoria has kept pubs and restaurants open, despite a second wave of Covid-19.

Mr Cribben added that those who socialise at home are not socialising in the controlled environment that a pub would provide.

He said “a million and one things need to be done” in order to allow pubs reopen correctly and there is no reason why the guidelines should not be released soon.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said that while he would like to see pubs reopen on August 10, he cannot guarantee that will happen.

Mr Varadkar told the Dáil that

he hopes the Government will make a decision on the issue on August 7.

He said he agreed that pubs are important to Ireland’s social fabric.

The CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland said that restaurants are also subject to inspection by gardaí, and “rightly so”, because this gives confidence to the consumer.

Adrian Cummins said that while he expects every business to benefit from the ‘staycation’ voucher announced by the Government, a number of details still need to be worked out.

He said the RAI would have liked the initiative to be rolled out straight away, and that every citizen should be included in the scheme, as well as every business in the hospitality sector.

The sooner the details are made known, the better, he added.

Pubs who flout rules ‘should face full force of law’

August 04, 2020

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August 04, 2020

Food for thought: Deposits to tackle no-show diners

Restaurants are being forced to introduce a deposit system for future bookings following a sharp increase in no-show of diners following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions.

Dublin eaterie The Bank Bar on Dame Street has said that no shows and last minute

cancellations are costing them a packet in lost revenue.

Since it reopened on June 29, staff have said that no shows and last minute cancellations are “breaking” them and that they will taking a deposit with all bookings from now on.

Owners at the restaurant took

TV presenter Lucy Kennedy at Brennans Bakeries, launching its new sustainability campaign

to social media earlier this month, urging people to cancel their reservations ahead of time instead of deciding just not to show up.

“Really sorry to say we will now be taking deposits with all bookings, the no shows and last minute cancellations are breaking us,” they said on Twitter. “We definitely still accept walk-ins, the city centre is a struggle but we really appreciate all of your custom and support.”

It seems that precious few have heeded their pleas though as the team has revealed that they will be forced to charge a

deposit with all bookings going forward.

This comes after staff revealed that a number of tables - which confirmed their bookings on the day - failed to show up or cancelled on the spot when called to follow up.

Fellow city-centre haunt Hugo’s commiserated with the team, saying that it was “an absolute fair call” given that “every seat is vital to survival”.

Speaking on Newstalk’s Moncrieff, Gina Murphy, the owner of Hugo’s Restaurant on Merrion Row said ‘no-shows’ are a growing problem around the city.

“It is really disappointing because this new reality that we are working in and the conditions we are working under are very difficult for any small business – whether it is a restaurant or a coffee shop or a bar,” she said.

She said the restrictions mean restaurants have to book people in to “really, really tight” schedules.

“I have come back with like 12 out of my 26 staff,” she said. “Every seat right now is precious because we have got reduced capacity because of social distancing.

“Therefore, we are only

ordering the food that we need, so when somebody books a table that they don’t turn up for, A) they are costing the business because we are losing potential revenue which is vital right now and B) they are costing us on a different level because we have staffed up to cater for them.

“They are putting people’s jobs at risk which is very meanspirited on a normal day but right now, when everybody is to the pin of their collar, it is really shocking and it is not a nice trait.”

She said Hugo’s has also introduced a deposit system to combat the problem.

The system takes a credit card number form the person making the booking and charges €20 per person for no-shows.

It can also charge for late cancellations and significant changes in the number of people coming in.

She said the system is a last resort and the restaurant makes the final decision on whether to charge someone.

Las Tapas de Lola on Wexford Street in Dublin and Oliver Dunne of Bon Appetit in Malahide all complained recently about customers who failed to show up.

August 04, 2020

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August 04, 2020

opinion&comment

Would you clap hands for Linfield?

L

oyalist supporters of Linfield football club caused serious trouble in Dundalk during and after a European Cup match in 1979 .

The rioting opened a wound in Irish soccer that hadn’t fully healed 25 years later when Shelbourne were drawn against Glentoran, Linfield’s arch rivals from equally loyalist east Belfast.

Violence was feared and steps were taken to bus the Glentoran fans directly home from Tolka Park.

On the night-desk of the Irish Independent we got word that some of the Belfast contingent had escaped the cordon and were drinking in a pub frequented by Shelbourne fans.

We dispatched a reporter and photographer but they came back with the news that there was no trouble. Both sets of supporters were getting on well and the Shels’ fans were singing a song the Glens’ followers had taught them: “If you hate Linfield wankers clap your hands”.

The rioting of 1979 put paid to

Sandartist Mia Huntington at work during the Tramore Beach Yogafest 2020. Pic: John Power

Michael Wolsey tentative plans for an all-Ireland football league but the goodwill shown by the Glentoran and Shelbourne supporters revived the prospect and the proposal has surfaced regularly ever since.

The latest plan is the most hopeful I can recall, because it has the support of all the senior clubs in the League of Ireland and all but two of the clubs in its northern equivalent, the Irish League.

Crucially, the clubs in favour include Linfield. Oddly, one of the two opposing the plan are Cliftonville, a north Belfast side with a mainly nationalist following who I would have expected to be all in favour of any league with a cross-border

element. But it is Linfield who matter most, since they are by some way the biggest and most influential club in Northern Ireland.

They have a sad and woeful record of sectarianism, modelling themselves on Glasgow Rangers, with fans who wave the Union Jack as though it were the club flag and chant

about being ‘up to our knees in Fenian blood’. Fifty years ago, when I was growing up in Belfast, it was Linfield’s unofficial policy never to even have a Catholic on the team. That has all changed and Linfield most certainly have Catholics players, although I doubt if there are any Catholics among their supporters.

The ‘no taigs’ taboo had already been broken by 1994 when Pat Fenlon joined the club. Pat is Dubliner who has played and managed at Waterford, Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne and Bohs. I know nothing about his religious beliefs, but it is safe to say he is not a Free Presbyterian.

He became something of a hero at Windsor Park and was the star of an open-top bus ride along the Shankill Road after he scored goals which clinched a cup and league double for Linfield. “It was a fantastic dressing room and team to be part of,” he recalls.

Fenlon, who is back with Linfield as their general manager, is interested in the new all-Ireland proposal. “It would be good to explore it,” he told an interviewer last week. “It is about discussion. Nobody gets hurt in a discussion.”

Which, of course, could not be said of Linfield’s infamous visit to Dundalk in 1979. But the sides met two years ago and there was no trouble.

Nobody can guarantee that meetings of clubs from north and south will always be peace-

ful but the same could be said of clashes between Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians or Drogheda and Dundalk.

Always there will be slagging, sometimes it will be nasty and, occasionally, it will slide into lawlessness.

If that happens, the forces of the law must intervene. An allIreland league does not threaten them with anything they can’t control.

The league plan comes after three years of work by Kerry entrepreneur Kieran Lucid and a lengthy consultation process overseen by Dutch consultants, Hypercube.

It has a complicated formula, with parallel leagues continuing to operate and the top sides then joining in a joint tournament.

The FAI has given the plan its backing. The North’s IFA is being cautious but the northern clubs see it as a route to salvation for a domestic game that is dying on its feet. As Pat Fenlon says, it’s an idea that should be explored.

For, as the Linfield motto (which is in Latin!) declares: Audaces Fortuna Juvat ...

Fortune Favours the Bold.

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August 04, 2020

opinion&comment

It is a true honour to serve as Minister Stephen Donnelly Minister For Health

It has been just over one month since I was handed the extraordinary honour of being made Minister for Health.

I was thrilled to be asked as it was a chance to make good on the reason I entered politics almost a decade ago - to be able to help people and implement meaningful change. However, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t accept my seal of office knowing we face some major challenges

in health. Before Covid-19 our health service was struggling to cope with demand.

We had the longest waiting lists in Europe while there were over 100,000 people on trolleys last year.

Now since Covid arrived on our shores we have seen our bed capacity of 11,000 reduced by 20%, in a system that ordinary operates at close to 100% .

Some of our surgical procedures are expected to reduce by 50% while in-patient and day case waiting lists have gone up by close to a third.

Our health service is now ef-

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly launches the Covid-19 tracker app recently

fectively facing what are war time conditions the likes of which the country has never previously faced.

But as the Greek philosopher Plato said “necessity is the mother of invention” which in our case means we simply must now start to do things differently.

We have to source short-term

capacity from outside the public system, reduce waiting lists by providing additional funding to the National Treatment Purchase Fund and expand its remit to include things like mental health and diagnostics.

We also need to work hand in glove with our clinicians, who it’s important to point out are amongst the most highly skilled

in the world, to look at ways to open the diagnostic suites longer and running the operating theatres for longer.

The good news is in just four weeks we have already established a significant beachhead.

•Building work has resumed on the Children’s Hospital while face masks on public transport are now mandatory and soon will be in shops.

• Earlier this month the National Screening Service thankfully begun a phased resumption of its screening programmes starting with Cervical Check.

• The Covid app has been downloaded over 1.4 million times and is being copied by Governments around the world.

To date over 100 people have already been notified they were in close contact with a coronavirus case thanks to the remarkable take up by the public.

• We are continually improving our tracking and tracing capacity as well as working with our counterparts in Northern Ireland on developing an all island approach to dealing with Covid.

• The R number, which measures the rate of infection between people, is down as a direct result of the difficult decision to slow down the rate at which we were opening up the country.

• It was also my privilege to be able to introduce a retrospective compensation package for the families of healthcare workers who died from Covid-19 while carrying out their duties.

Our selfless health workers put themselves at risk every day to keep us safe so it is the least we can do to support their loved ones.

•I also introduced the Health Bill which will see free GP care phased in for all primary school children and increases the income limits for medical card assessments for the over 70s.

• In Opposition I had strongly opposed the €20million cuts to the disability sector and promised I would stop them if I got into office.

It was extremely satisfying when I was able to deliver upon that promise this week.

• Similarly, I’m excited about the work we are doing to forge closer links between our health and housing services in order to better protect the homeless.

I’m currently collaborating with my colleague Minister Darragh O’Brien in the Department of Housing on how to create dedicated mental health supports for homeless people with complex needs.

Like I said the war is still nowhere near won but we are starting to gather momentum by wining some important battles.

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August 04, 2020

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River Slaney (Enniscorthy) Drainage Scheme Public Consultation Notice Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA) - Public Consultation Notice under the Arterial Drainage Acts, 1945 and 1995, and Statutory Instrument No. 472 of 2019 European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Arterial Drainage) Regulations 2019 and (Birds and Natural Habitats Regulations 2011 (S.I. No.477 of 2011).

River Slaney (Enniscorthy) Drainage Scheme (Scheme Reference: DPE63-15-2020) The River Slaney (Enniscorthy) Drainage Scheme is being progressed by Wexford County Council on behalf of the Commissioners of Public Works as a scheme under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995. A preliminary Design for the Scheme was developed and exhibited for pubic consultation in 2009. In response to feedback from the public the design was amended and the scheme went on display in 2012 and again in 2018. The developed scheme was then presented at the Public Exhibition in Enniscorthy Library from 17th May to 18th June 2019.

Pursuant to Section 7(1) (c) of the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995, the Commissioners of Public Works submitted the River Slaney (Enniscorthy) Drainage Scheme to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for confirmation in March 2020. An Environmental Impact Assessment Report has been prepared by Mott MacDonald on behalf of the Commissioners for Public Works in respect of the proposed Drainage Scheme. A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has also been prepared as part of the AA process to ascertain if the scheme could significantly impact on any site designated for conservation.

Before the Minister can confirm the scheme, he must first determine if the scheme is likely to have A)

a significant effect on the environment or

B)

have an impact on the integrity of a Natura 2000 Site (Sites)

Public consultation is now being carried out as part of the confirmation process, and members of the public are invited to make a written submission with respect to 1.

the likely effects on the environment of the scheme

2.

the scheme’s impact on Natura 2000 Site (Sites)

Submissions can be made in writing at any time during the period of 30 days concluding on Thursday 27th August 2020 by one of the following methods: By e-mail to: enniscorthyschemeconsultation@per.gov.ie By post to: OPW Vote Section (Room -1.07), Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Government Buildings, Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2, D02 R583 All submissions should include your name, contact address, contact details (including telephone number and e-mail address) and details of any organisation being represented.

Description of Works: The fundamental objective of the scheme is to address the very serious flooding and associated damage experienced in the town of Enniscorthy on numerous occasions most notably in the year 2000 and most recently in 2018.

The proposed works involves: •

River Widening and Dredging

•

Construction of a permanent deposition zone

•

Construction of a sediment and debris trap

•

Construction of flood defence walls to include some glass viewing panels

•

Road and ground level raising

•

Construction of storm water pumping stations and attendant works

•

Foundation rehabilitation works to Enniscorthy old bride and railway bridge

•

Removal of existing Seamus Rafter bridge and replacement a short distance downstream with a newly constructed road bridge

•

Construction of a new pedestrian bridge in the town centre

•

Restoration of North Island back Channel

Scheme Details The management and delivery of the scheme is being led by Wexford County Council (WCC) on behalf of the Office of Public Works (OPW). WCC is the Contracting Authority for the scheme with funding provided by the OPW. A copy of the scheme and the environmental reports (Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Natura Impact Statement) relating to the Scheme will be available for inspection at Wexford County Council, County Hall, Carricklawn, Wexford, Y35 WY93 from Wednesday 29th July 2020 until Thursday 27th August 2020 from 9.00am – 5.00pm subject to current Covid restrictions regarding social distancing and the wearing of face coverings etc.

Scheme details are available on www.enniscorthyfds.ie Decision on Scheme: Following the expiry of the consultation period and taking into account submissions made, it is open to the Minister to: A)

make an order confirming the scheme,

B)

refuse to confirm the scheme, or

C)

refer the scheme back to the Commissioners for revision in specified aspects.

It is intended to publish, on the Government’s website, the final outcome of the Minister’s decision.

It should also be noted that submissions received are subject to the Freedom of Information Acts and may be accessed on foot of third party consultations.

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August 04, 2020

insideback

WatchLOI kicks off online service

T

he announcement of the new streaming platform for the SSE Airtricity League last week was a hugely positive development.

The games are back this week, but with only small numbers of fans being able to attend and only selected games being broadcast live on RTE and Eir Sport, something else needed to be done.

WatchLOI surpassed expectations and making every game available through a streaming platform was a brave and innovative move.

It was also a move that put the fans first. The price - €55 in Ireland and €69 overseas – is more than reasonable. All involved are to be congratulated.

The service has been launched by the FAI and RTE, in conjunction with GAAGO. With these stakeholders on board it is to be hoped that the product – which will be available in HD across all devices – will be of a high quality.

Some Extra.ie FAI Cup games will also be available as part of the package, in case it wasn’t

good-enough value already!

Nobody knows what the takeup rate is going to be like with WatchLOI. That is what makes the move a brave one.

Something needed to be done and this was the perfect solution.

If we look back in a few months and see that the take-up rate has been huge, then a winning formula has been found.

If we discover a low takeup rate then it will be a case of nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Why hasn’t something like this been done before? Possibly because the collective will, need and impetus to design and deliver it wasn’t there pre-Civid-19.

Possibly because there was a fear that exploring this avenue would lead to a decline in attendances at the stadiums - a real and understandable concern, but one that dissolves into thin air when people aren’t allowed come to the stadiums.

There is potential in the endeavour for the league to be brought to a whole new audience.

The Irish diaspora abroad with

Swimmers take part in the King Of Greystones triathlon in aid of the Gavin Glynn Foundation. Pic: Aerial Media 360

an interest in the league have up to now only been able to follow games broadcast live on RTE and Eir Sport, but now have unlimited access. Perhaps they will introduce friends to the platform.

A whole new field of viewers.

Nobody knows what will be happening in our communities beyond 2020. Hopefully we have a vaccine, herd immunity or some other solution to Covid-19 that will allow us to fully return to normal.

For the SSE Airtricity League, normal means being able to attend the games in regular numbers. If this doesn’t come to pass then we have the streaming platform in place.

Even if we do return to normal there will still be a place for the streaming service going forward. I attend much less games than I would like, because of work and other commitments.

A streaming service will allow me to take in games I’d like to see but couldn’t otherwise get to.

Now, can something be sorted out for the First Division?!

- Brian Quigley

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August 04, 2020

WILDLIFE

ninenottomiss

Beautiful Butterflies

book of the week

with Justin Ivory

Last weekend half of the East Coast flocked to Bray to see the annual spectacle of the Bray Air Display. Well with the glorious weather we have had of late we are currently being treated to spectacular air displays anywhere there are a few flowers.

These displays are more about beauty and grace rather than speed and power.

Of course I am referring to our beautiful butterflies. Ireland has 32 resident and 3 common migrant butterfly species.

Below is a selection of some that are on the wing at the moment. So take the time to go out and see these little beauties and even better report your sightings to the National Biodiversity Data Centre. Enjoy!

tv show of the week

HOROSCOPES

film of the week

making ryan ‘s daughter

by Paul Benedict Rowan

The Young Offenders BBC One 9.30pm and RTE One 9.35pm, Fridays

Saint Frances Selected cinemas

Painstakingly researched over fifteen years, with in-depth, one-on-one interviews with major cast and crew members, Making Ryan’s Daughter charts the tumultuous filming of one of Ireland’s most iconic pieces of cinema.

A crew of 200 colonised the Dingle peninsula for the making of David Lean’s film in 1969, while the director took over the newly-built Skellig Hotel, which was largely empty during the winter months. This book recounts their exploits and egos in considerable detai.

The new season of The Young Offenders which is based here in Cork, of course - is back and it is as bonkers as ever. The first episode aired on Friday night and saw Jock and Conor involved in a heist with a baby on board adding to the mayhem. Over the years we’ve seen the partners in crime jump into the River Lee, tell Roy Keane to F off and wee on their principal Barry Walsh aka PJ Gallagher. With the arrival of baby Star at the end of Season Two, fans were wondering will parenthood change Jock for the better.

A quiet comic drama about a woman going through a mid-thirties crisis while working as a nanny, Alex Thompson’s film could have built an entire story from formulas seen in other American indies. Instead it pays fresh attention to reality. Bridget, the well-adjusted but aimless protagonist (played by Kelly O’Sullivan, the film’s writer), has an abortion, and her feelings about this are a credible mixture. The film understands some of life’s particular challenges, and its awareness that these problems don’t have easy solutions is poignant, rather than being a glib cop-out.

(All photos Justin Ivory)

STAYCATION of the week BUSINESS of the week

family film of the week

Peacock

TaurusReview your reserves, and determine financial priorities and strategies to keep your boat afloat. Get support from your partner.

GeminiClarify details in a collaborative project. It’s easy for things to fall through the cracks. Manage practical priorities first.

CancerThere’s plenty of work.

Postpone what you can, and stick to practical objectives.

Maintain your fitness and health practices.

LeoClear communications can save you from a tangled mess. Make sure to loop in everyone involved. Keep things respectful to work out roles and responsibilities.

Red Admiral

Silver-washed Fritillary

AriesTravel and education have your attention. Focus on practical details. Avoid emotional spending.

Fantasies are ephemeral.

Dublin www.visitdublin.com

maxizoo xxxx

The Call of the Wild Streaming on demand

Head off for the day on a walk along the beach, stop for a quick dip at The Forty Foot and grab lunch in a seaside café: Dublin is open again and now’s the time to rediscover our capital city. Explore hidden corners of the city centre and discover stories you never knew existed.

Get to know the beating heart of Dublin in The Liberties and pop across to Stoneybatter to see a new Dublin emerging. Watch as historic memorials and museums meet towering glass buildings and urban breweries in the Docklands.

Maxi Zoo is Ireland’s largest pet retailer and part of the Fressnapf Group with over 1,500 stores across Europe. We have over 8,000 products in our range, with everything for your pet! Their fully trained staff in stores are always on hand to give customers in depth consultations on the best products for their pet. All of their staff are specially trained and hired specifically for their personal interest in animals. “We love animals, and we believe in putting the customer first. Our staff are here to talk to adults and children who want to learn more about how to care for their pet,” they say.

Adapted from the beloved literary classic, The Call Of The Wild vividly brings to the screen the story of Buck, a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life is turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Alaskan Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. As the newest rookie on a mail delivery dog sled team--and later its leader-Buck experiences the adventure of a lifetime, ultimately finding his true place in the world and becoming his own master.

Tribute of the week

family idea of the week documentary of the week

VirgoGet your family to clarify the domestic improvements desired. Work out what expenses and actions to prioritize. Determine your budget, colors and style.

LibraRomantic fantasies can dissipate. Share your feelings directly with the one who stirs them, rather than hoping they get your smoke signals.

ScorpioThe money’s good if you prioritize profitable tasks from distractions. A mirage could lead you in the wrong direction.

Sagittarius-

Focus on a personal project, and keep your feet firmly on the ground. Handle practical matters. Don’t get carried away by a fantasy.

Comma

The Small Tortoiseshell

Green-veined White

Big Jack in the Little Museum! littlemuseum.ie or ring 661 1000

Waterford Suir Valley Railway www.wsvrailway.ie/

Unsolved Mysteries Netflix

This summer, a new exhibition in the Little Museum of Dublin celebrates Jack Charlton and the Irish soccer team that made it to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 1990. When Big Jack died in July, the deluge of tributes that poured forth on either side of the Irish Sea spoke to a life and a personality whose appeal transcended class, borders and traditional enmities. Charlton was often described as Ireland’s favourite Englishman. That he presided over an era of unprecedented Irish succes in soccer accounted for much of it.

Waterford Suir Valley Railway Company CLG was established to preserve and promote Waterford’s rich railway heritage. The aim to develop and operate a 10km section of the abandoned Waterford to Dungarvan Railway line from Kilmeadan Station to Bilberry, Waterford City as a tourist attraction.

Located just outside the village of Kilmeadan, a restored mark 2 railway carriage serves as the ticket office and shop. Light refreshments can be purchased, with indoor and outdoor seating available at the station.

Armchair sleuths now have a greater caseload than ever before, though perhaps more time than usual these days to crack investigations that have stumped real detectives. The producers of Stranger Things now present this retooling of the 1980s series and six events that invite untold speculation due to the advertised lack of conclusion. Five of the six stories are true crime, and all horrific, with one straying into territory Mulder and Scully would illuminate with weak torchlight — a UFO sighting.

CapricornA confusing situation only gets worse until you determine what you really want. Once you choose, everything gets easier.

AquariusCarefully research the methods and steps to take.

Your group could get lost in distractions and pitfalls.

Keep things moving.

PiscesMake sure that the career opportunity you’re pursuing is solid. Get terms in writing before contributing time or money.

14 |

Rise in drink driving

There has been a worrying increase in the number of people found driving under the influence of drink or drugs in county Wicklow in the first six months of 2020 despite the lockdown.

Figures published by the Irish Times reveal there was a 2% increase in detections in the Wicklow Garda Division between January and June this year when compared to the same period in 2019.

Wicklow was one of 11 areas out of the 28 Garda divisions nationally to record an increase in drug and drink detections in the first six months of the year.

This increase is surprising given the fact that traffic volumes nationally fell by up to 90% during the early weeks of the Covid-19 lockdown.

According to the report, a total of 109 drivers were found to be driving under the influence of drink or drugs in the Wicklow Garda division this year up until June 30.

That is an increase from 107 detections for the same period in 2019.

wicklowvoice.ie August 04, 2020

Developers look for more time to build 600 houses

A former €2 billion development consisting of huge commercial space and more than 600 residential units, slated to be built on the site of a former golf course in county Wicklow are still on track after the new developers who bought the site applied to the local authority to extend it period of planning.

Shankill Property Investments Ltd recently went back to Wicklow County Council looking for a five- year extension to the planning permission granted to the massive development at the former Industrial Yarn lands and former Bray Golf Course site, approved back in 2008.

That decision was then appealed to An Bord Pleanála, who in July 2010 eventually approved the development for the previous owners of the site, Pizarro Developments Limited.

The proposed mixed use development, muted to cost somewhere in the region of €2 billion euro, comprised of the construction of 603 no residential units, 57,967 sq mts of gross retail floor area (excluding stor-

participants ahead of the King Of Greystones triathlon in aid of the Gavin Glynn Foundation. Pic: Aerial Media 360 age), 5,797 sq mts of office space, an eight screen cinema with floor area of 5,237 sq mts, and a 103 bedroom hotel.

The residential units would consists of 90 number one-bedroom apartments, 292 number two-bedroom apartments, 192

number three-bedroom apartments, 24 number two-bedroom duplex units, five number threebedroom duplex units.

The financial crash put pay to the massive development, which was being headed up by developer Paddy Kelly, at that

time. But now tentative plans are in place for another stab at the project.

Wicklow County Council has received an application to extend the planning permission period for five-years, with developers saying the entire proj-

ect would be finished by 2025.

A decision from the council is due by September 8. Just 859 dwellings were added to Wicklow’s residential building stock in twelve months to June 2020 a new report has revealed.

The latest GeoView Residential Buildings Report released by GeoDirectory and EY-DKM shows there are 750 residential buildings currently under construction in Wicklow, while the percentage of unoccupied residential units in the county stands at 2.9%, much lower than the national average of 4.5%.

The report also found that there were 1,506 residential property transactions in Wicklow in the twelve months to May 2020, of which a staggering 31.3% were new builds. This meant the average house price in Wicklow over that period was €369,057.

Wicklow was one of only three counties that recorded average property prices above the State average (€296,758), the others were Dublin at €441,205 and Kildare at €314,046.

COMHAIRLE CHONTAE CHILL MHANTÁIN WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCIL

NOTICE OF CONSIDERATION OF SETTING A LOCAL ADJUSTMENT FACTOR The Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 (as amended), makes specific provision that elected members of a local authority may pass a formal resolution to vary the basic rate of the Local Property Tax for their administrative area by a percentage known as the local adjustment factor. At the meeting set by Wicklow County Council to consider this matter, the members may set a local adjustment factor within the range of +/- 15% of the basic rate, or, may decide, not to adjust the basic rate.

Wicklow County Council will meet on 21st September 2020 to consider the setting of a local adjustment factor.

Wicklow County Council welcomes written submissions from the public on this matter specifically covering the potential effects of varying the basic rate of the Local Property Tax on businesses, individuals and on local authority services.

Submissions must be received by 12 noon on 21st August 2020 and be sent to: LPT Consultation, c/o Finance Department, Wicklow County Council, County Buildings, Wicklow Town Or lptconsult@wicklowcoco.ie Frank Curran Chief Executive Wicklow County Council

8th July 2020

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August 04, 2020

WASTE PREVENTION GRANT SCHEME Tenders

Pier and Wexford Harbour.

Wexford County Council invites appliThe draft bye-laws will be available for public inspection for a cants for the following posts: Water Services Inspector period commencing on Tuesday 7th July, 2020 until Monday 10th Water & Wastewater Caretaker Grade III August, 2020 during normal working hours at the following WexThe following tender Prevention competitions are currently If you 2020 ford County Council Offices; Selection for all posts will be by means of interview and candiLocal Waste Grantactive.

Scheme wish to obtain further information and make a submission for any Wexford County Council including Rosslare Municipal District dates may be shortlisted based on applications submitted. Panels are visit nowwww.etenders.gov.ie. invited from Tidy Towns groups, community and other Offices, groups County Hall, Carricklawn, Wexford of Applications the tenders please may be formed from which future vacancies may be filled. voluntary groups for the local waste prevention grant scheme.

This scheme to Gorey/Klimuckridge Municipal DisWexford County aims Council, Qualifications, application forms and further particulars for these posts are available from: trict Offices, Civicactivities Square, The ID support Description Reference Tender to Closing Date communities take steps on waste prevention, re-use and repair in Avenue, Gorey.

Notice is herebyDistrict given Ofthat Wexford County Council to extend the CarrickMunicipal Customer Service (Blockhas F), decided Wexford County Council, Wexford County Council, Enniscorthy 25/SP/2020 Hook Lighthouse – Traffic, Envi172399 their local areas. road closure listed hereunderlawn, to vehicular Wexford. traffic from Monday 29 June to Monday ronmental & Related Engineering Services 17/08/2020 fices, Courthouse, Court Street, Enniscorthy 13Municipal July 2020District to facilitate remedial works to 26 Main Street, Phone 053 919 6000 or visit our Enniscorthy. website at www.wexfordcoco.ie 173033 28/HS/2020 Proposed construction County Council, New Ross Offices, Eligible projects that could be funded, but of area single not limitedWexford to, include: storey dwelling at Marconi Park, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

The Tholsel, New Ross Closing date for receipt of completed application forms is: 17/08/2020 The draft bye-laws and maps will beRoad available to view and down5.00 (L2504-1) pm on Thursday 20th August, with 2020 Main Street to Closure: Irish Street from its junction • Repair skills workshops load from Wexford County Council’s website at www.wexfordWexford County Council isat anDunnes Equal Opportunities Employer its junction with Barrack Street Stores.

• Upcycling Workshops If you would like training in how to tender please contact Angie coco.ie/council-and-democracy/public-consultations during the • Elimination of 6022 single-use items Malone on 053 919 or angie.malone@leo.wexfordcoco.ie. public inspection period. Paper copiesAlternative of the draft bye-laws be Main Street to Castle Street to Castle Hill to Abbey Route: willFrom • Food waste prevention available on request for a fee of €2. Submissions or observations Square to Abbey Quay to Island Road to Barrack Street via with regard to the draft bye-laws should be made in writing to the New Ross Library the R702, R744, R772 and the L6513.

An application can now be submitted on line by logging onto Thursday 6th August @ 10.30am - Outdoor Event: Environment Section, Wexford County Council, New County Hall, www.wexfordcoco.ie/localwastepreventiongrant2020 Carricklawn, Wexford (emails to environment@wexfordcoco.ie) Toddler & Baby Storytime in Library Park Alternative routes will be signposted.

WEXFORD COUNTY COUNCIL PUBLIC NOTICE before 5.00 p.m. on Monday 24th August, 2020. Telephone enquiBabies, toddlers & parents, join Patricia in Library Park for this special No Vehicular Access will be facilitated.

Any queries Section (053) 9196684 ries to Customer Service on 053 9196000.

Draft Wexford please County phone Council Environment Harbours & Piers Bye-Laws 2020 outdoor story & rhymetime. This outdoor event is weather permitting. Social distancing measures will in place as per government guidelines. NumCarolyne Godkin, Wexford to make is bye-laws in accorClosingCounty date forCouncil receiptproposes of applications 5 p.m. Friday 26th June 2020.

Director of Services, bers are very limited and booking is essential, phone: 051 421877. dance with Part 19 of the Local Government Act 2001 and Section Housing, Community, Libraries, Arts, Emergency Services, Envi89 of the Harbours Act 1996 to regulate the use of Piers, Harbours Should you require any supports to fully participate in this event, please and Car Parking Areas under its custody and control at: ronment and Climate Action. contact the Librarian.

Arthurstown Slipway, Barrystown Slipway, Ballyhack Harbour, Saturday 8th August @ 3.00pm - Outdoor Event: Cahore Pier, Carne Pier, Courtown Harbour, Duncannon Harbour, Dance Workshop with Becci Whelan Join dance teacher and artistic director of 2 Many Dance Moves Youth Dance School, Becci Whelan, for this Fethard Harbour, Kilmore Quay Harbour, New Ross Marina & outdoor children’s dance workshop.

Town Quay, Rosslare Strand Moorings, Slade Harbour, St. Helen’s

ROADS

SECTION 75 OF ROADS ACT 1993 TEMPORARY CLOSING OF ROADS

Libraries

Public notices

PLANTING GRANT SCHEME

HOUSING

Planting Grant 2020

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR THE SUPPLY OF SOCIAL HOUSING

Wexfor d County Council

Important notice for all voluntary community groups, Tidy Towns, resident associations and schools interested in planting projects for public areas

Wexford County Council is currently prioritising housing programmes for delivery. As part of a range of housing solutions, the housing authority is currently seeking expressions of interest from private developers, building contractors and land owners.

Anti-Dumping Initiative 2020

Applications for Planting Grants are now invited from Voluntary Community Groups, Tidy Towns, Resident Associations and schools for Planting Projects in public areas.

MATTRESS AMNESTY

An application form can now be submitted by logging onto www.wexfordcoco.ie/plantinggrants

Interested parties should be capable of delivering social housing units within the County and have housing proposals or turnkey developments available.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5 p.m. Friday 26th June 2020

Current housing demand is prioritised within the urban areas of Wexford and Gorey, which address current demand in these zoned areas. Developments of 5 social housing units or greater will be considered. Further expressions of interest for other areas will be called in the future as demand arises.

If you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact the Environment Section at (053) 9196684.

Holmestown Recycling Facility, Barntown, Co. Wexford

TuesdaySCHEME 21st July to Friday 18th September SHOP FRONT IMPROVEMENT In particular Wexford County Council is seeking in order of priority:Every Tuesday to Friday weekly in above period

New Ross Shop Front Improvement / 08.15 Street Furniture Grant Scheme 2020

is a fixed price lump sum, on completion of a development, within an agreed 12.00 & 13.00 - 16.00 timeframe.

• Turnkey developments. Acquisitions are on a turnkey basis; potential payment

No Mattresses Accepted on Saturdays • Mixed development schemes where social residential components could be incorporated into them.

Entrance Fee of €2 applies

New Ross Municipal District has a scheme available to assist Business Owners / Operators to carry out works which will improve the exterior appearance of their business premises. This scheme will also provide support to the hospitality sector with a grant towards the cost of equipment in providing additional outdoor seating and accessories in reopening post Covid-19.

All developments and associated works must be fully compliant with the

Please note the Recycling Facility is closed onofSundays & Mondays Department Housing, Planning and Local Government guidelines and standards.

Maximum of 5 mattresses and 1 visit per vehicle Households Only - No Commercial Customers Clean Dry Mattresses

Any business premises located in New Ross town is eligible to apply under the scheme.

Funding is restricted to a maximum grant of 50% of the eligible costs of the works, and is subject to a maximum grant of €1000.

Tel 051 421284 or email david.lee@wexfordcoco.ie

COVID-19 requirements regard to social The closing date for receipt of completed applicationswith is 24th July 2020.

Mick McCormack District Manager

A formal pre-planning discussion with Wexford County Council’s Planning section will need to have been held prior to proposal being submitted to the Housing Department.

A preliminary proposal via the official application form will need to be submitted along with required documentation regarding the development proposed.

Application forms must be received in by 5pm on Friday 31st July 2020, in order to allow for consideration of all proposals received. Application forms should be by phoningcough 053 919 etiquette 6501. distancing,requested hand cleansing, etc. will apply.

Wexford County Council is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014.

For further information, please contact the Environment Section, Wexford County Council on 053-9196000 or environment@wexfordcoco.ie

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wicklowvoice.ie August 04, 2020