Wicklow Voice 15-5-20

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May 01 901 5556/7, May28, 15,2015, 2020 t:wicklowvoice.ie e: info@wicklowvoice.ie t: 01 901 5565 e: info@wicklowvoice.ie

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Drones to track wild fire arsonists

Authorities are set to deploy drones in an effort to prevent wild fires and catch those setting them in the Wicklow uplands this summer.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Coillte have said the “state-ofthe-art technology” will see the drones become “firefighters’ eyes in the skies”.

The plan will be put into action in Wicklow, Dublin and the midland areas that are prone to burning during warm months.

“As well as having severe localised impact on flora and fauna, setting fires during this time of a national public health emergency is particularly reckless as it places unnecessary additional pressures on our emergency services whose services are critical to managing the Covid-19 pandemic,” Minister for Heritage Josepha Madigan told the Irish Times.

Ms Madigan urged the public, landowners and farmers “to act responsibly at all times, to

be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others, to be mindful of the need to protect property, both publicly owned and privately owned, and to appreciate the value of our natural heritage, particularly in our National Parks, Nature Reserves and designated lands”.

NPWS’s Wesley Atkinson added that caused “ huge environmental damage to protected habitats and wildlife. The drones will help us to establish fire outbreaks

and keep wild fires from spreading.”

Deborah Meghen of Coillte added: “Last year we used this technology for forest fire protection, which resulted in a significant reduction in forest fires with just over 50 reported, down from 150 in 2018.

“This represents a very good year in terms of forest damage with only 25 hectares affected, compared with over 600 hectares damaged in 2018.”

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Unit 5, Idea House, Killarney Road Business Park, Bray

Ciara Tomkins who took part in the ‘100,000 steps in less than 24hrs’ challenge which r aised more more than €12,000 going to the COVID Unit in Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital.

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

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

May 15, 2020

Stretching a helping hand

AN organisation that has been delivering fresh fruit and vegetables to disadvantaged families in Dublin has extended its operations nationwide.

The not-for-profit ‘Good Grub’ (volunteers pictured above) has raised more than €250,000 for the benefit of DEIS students while their schools are closed.

It has now re-set its fundraising target to €500,000 and is delivering to disadvantaged communities around Ireland.

More information and donations at www.goodgrub. ie or https://www.gofundme. com/f/9yuctw-Good-Grub The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP), meanwhile, has launched an urgent fundraising appeal as it expects calls for help to escalate. Last year SVP helped more than 160,000 people and families and it had expected that figure to rise by about 10% this year.

But SVP now believes that figure will be greatly exceeded as people lose their

jobs or have their incomes cut.With the SVP income drastically reduced by the closure of its 234 shops and the cancellation of churchgate and shopping centre collections, it is now making an urgent appeal for funds.

Donations can be made through www.svp.ie by calling 1818 176 176 or by post to Society of St Vincent de Paul, National Office, SVP House, 91-92 Sean McDermott Street, FREEPOST, FDN5235, Dublin 1. DO1WV38.

Proeprty values may fall by 12%

KBC Bank has estimated that property prices here will fall by up to 12% this year.

The prediction is contained in a document prepared for investors and analysts as part of the presentation of its first quarter results.

Peter Roebben, chief executive of KBC Bank Ireland, said the model reflects the correlation between GDP and house prices.

“Our house price drop is just what we would typically see in a 5% GDP drop across the board affecting house prices,” he said.

“The difficulty is of course that there are so many moving pieces in this particular crisis that models that are difficult to run at the best of times are extremely difficult to run now, particularly at the moment.”

The bank’s base case for property values this year is a 12% fall, with an 8% increase in 2021 and 5% rise in 2022.

But in a pessimistic scenario, it says the drop this year could be as much as 20%, with a further decrease of 5% next year, before a 3% recovery in 2022.

Scouting Ireland says sorry for abuse Scouting Ireland said sorry to victims and survivors of sexual abuse in the group which has stretched back over decades.

The chair of Scouting Ireland, Adrian Tennant, made the apology as the report by child protection consultant Ian Elliott on his investigations into abuse in the organisation was published.

Mr Tennant said that Mr Elliott’s learning review into historical sexual abuse, which was commissioned by Scouting Ireland, uncovered “shocking stories of sexual abuse in Scouting over many decades.”

“To date 356 victims and survivors have come forward to Scouting Ireland, to the Gardai, to the PSNI and to Tusla and Gateway to share their stories.

We know of 275 known or suspected perpetrators,” he added.

“Young people in Scouting were abused, sexually and physically, and sometimes violently.

Some alleged perpetrators were serial abusers with multiple victims. The alleged perpetrators were at all

levels within their organisations up to the most senior levels,” he stated. “There is evidence that very senior people knew of, and protected, alleged perpetrators within these organisations.

This ‘cronyism’ led to coverup or looking the other way.

Abuse did happen, it was not responded to in a way that protected the young person or sought to hold the offender to account,” he said.

“Most shockingly of all, Mr Elliott states that based on emerging evidence, that senior volunteers, who were thought to be sex offenders, did share information with each other about their abuse and took steps to facilitate that abuse for each other,” he added.

In his apology, Mr Tennant said Scouting Ireland “unreservedly apologises to the victims and survivors of abuse in scouting who were failed.”

“We are sorry that adults in scouting harmed you. We are sorry that you were not protected. We are sorry that you were not listened to or were unable to tell your story at that time,” he said.

Why you can’t keep that dollar windfall

FIRST the good news: some former students in the county have received an unexpected cash boost from the US revenue department.

Now the bad: tax experts say they should give the money back.

The cash comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security scheme, a stimulus package which aims to support workers in the US, earning less than $75,000 per year, with a one-time payment of $1,200.

Many Irish visa holders who spent time in the US in 2018 or 2019 filed tax returns and did not close down their American bank accounts. The money, intended for US residents only, has been paid into those accounts.

But consultants, Taxback. com, have warned that holding onto the money could have ramifications for those looking to travel to the US in the future.

“People are finding funds in their US bank accounts and are questioning why they are there,” said Laura Mc Hugh of Taxback. “Anyone who finds themselves in this situation should act to rectify it in two ways – firstly, by sending an email to the IRS to flag receipt of the payment and by refunding the money to the IRS. Secondly these people should also amend their previous tax return to a ‘nonresident’ return.”

Taxback.com says there will be no consequences for anyone who takes corrective action now.

May 15, 2020

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May 15, 2020

‘Reduce school numbers’

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation has said it will be necessary to reduce the number of children attending at one time in almost all schools, given the current guidance around physical distancing.

In its submission to the Department to Education on reopening schools, it warns that this will pose what it said are “huge operational challenges” for schools and clear communication with parents will be necessary.

The organisation has outlined its contingency planning arrangements and key issues of concern for primary and special schools for this school year.

It said there is a clear acknowledgement that it is not possible to observe physical distancing in a primary or special school setting, as it is in shops or other workplaces - particularly among younger children and some children with special educational needs.

It said this is a matter which is of huge concern to their members. The INTO is seeking firm assurances that schools are not re-opened prematurely and then might face a second period of enforced closure.

Remote workers Food for thought: doing extra hours We turn to veg during lockdown

People who are working from home due to the coronavirus are clocking up an extra 38 hours per month - the equivalent of an additional working week - new research shows.

The research, commissioned

by LinkedIn, also revealed that 56% of respondents said they felt more anxious or stressed about work than before the Covid-19 lockdown was introduced.

LinkedIn’s research also found that men were more likely to feel anxious and stressed than women, with 61% of men saying they were

experiencing these feelings while working from home, compared to 54% of women.

The lockdown is also having a greater impact on the stress levels of younger workers, with over 70% of respondents under the age of 24 saying that they feel stressed or anxious as a result of working from home.

Over 63% of 25-34 year olds also reported higher stress and anxiety levels.

This compares to 41% of 45-54 year olds and 34% of those aged over-55.

Working from home has also resulted in 46% of over

55 year olds saying that they missed interacting with their colleagues - compared to just 24% of under-24 years olds.

21% also admitted to feeling lonely.

A total of 36% of remote workers also said the lockdown has affected their ability to focus and 27% said that they have found themselves being easily distracted by their home environment.

Meanwhile, the merging of home and work environments resulted in almost one-quarter of respondents struggling to switch off at the end of the day.

Shoppers cut spending on ready-made meals and bought more fruit and vegetables, turning to healthier eating during coronavirus lockdowns, preliminary results of a research project showed.

People at home also tried new recipes and threw away less food, the survey of 11,000 shoppers in 11 countries, including Ireland, found.

“Amid lockdowns people are eating healthier, are cooking their own food and are consuming more fruit and vegetables,” said Charlotte De Backer, who coordinated the study at the University of Antwerp in Belgium.

As they deserted offices and cooked at home, shoppers cut purchases of microwaveable food in all the countries surveyed – Ireland, Australia, Belgium, Chile, Uganda, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Greece, Canada, and Brazil.

In nearly half of the countries surveyed, shoppers bought fewer salty or sweet snacks, although overall sales remained stable. Consumption of salty,

fat and sweet products usually goes up when people are under stress, but during the pandemic this heightened craving has been fulfilled in many countries with home-baked delicacies, said Ms De Backer, who chairs FOOMS, a research group on food and media at the University of Antwerp.

Consumption of meat, fish and alcoholic drinks remained stable throughout the pandemic.

The survey, based on voluntary online responses from 17 April to 7 May, will be extended to consumers in about 25 countries with final results due by the end of June.

Ms De Backer said the preliminary findings showed clear trends that were unlikely to be modified by new data, as the pandemic has strengthened people’s attention to food and healthier options.

In all surveyed countries people bought more fresh, canned or frozen fruit and vegetables throughout lockdowns, a change Ms DeBacker said could be explained by heightened health concerns.

The HSE has said it hopes to have tests returned within three days and improved contract tracing in the coming months.

HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid said almost 270,000 tests have been carried out so far, and outlined targets for the health service from next week.

Mr Reid said he had never seen “so much change” happen so quickly across the HSE as it responds to the crisis, however, he said it needs “to improve” further with testing and tracing.

“The time it takes from taking a swab from a person to get a result. The second is an end-toend turnaround time,” he said, adding that it is all driven by public health guidelines.

He said test results are currently running at around 3% positivity, and those who

test negative will receive their results within two days.

He said 90% of those who test positive will be contacted the following day, and their contacts also. The remainder, who he referred to as “complex”, who may be in nursing homes or intensive care units, will be followed up on in a lot more detail and will take longer.

He said a number of actions that are part of the HSE’s road map relate to “strengthening swabbing centres” with more staff and additional hours that they operate. Mr Reid said the time to get a test result from a lab to the contact tracing team had been 24 hours, but it is now done “in 90 minutes”.

He said most people tested will get their results by text

message, which speeds up the process, and added that automating the results will decrease the backlog.

In terms of lab tests, Mr Reid said they are ahead of the target set at 12,000, when they had a capacity to deliver 15,000.

He said for next week, targets are set to complete 15,000 swabs across the country.

He also outlined a big challenge for the HSE is to design and develop a “future method of operation” to deal with other pandemics.

He said that while the HSE has come under “understandable scrutiny and criticism” in the past, over the last few weeks there has been very “significant mobilisation” to deal with Covid-19, from acute hospitals to community organisations.

HSE hoping for tests back in three days

Special COVID-19 Edition

Message from the Wicklow County Council Chief Executive Some of the great people keeping Wicklow going during the pandemic

W

elcome to a COVID-19 special edition of Countywise magazine.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted severely on every part of our society and our economy and changed how we do business.

Council staff are working to ensure a continuity of service across our key operations.

The Council’s Crisis Management team meets regularly to monitor the situation as well as liaising with Government Departments and Agencies

across the Eastern Region.

Wicklow County Council lead in joining together local organisations to assist citizens during Covid-19 by setting up a dedicated a Covid-19 Community Response Forum.

The support helpline was established in Wicklow County Council to assist at risk members of the public in accessing non-emergency and non-medical supports and advice during the current public health emergency. .

I recognise the great work being done by the Council staff and the thousands of volunteers throughout the county, thank you.

Building on the fantastic community mobilisation that has taken place during

the COVID-19 pandemic, the Community Response Forum has developed the “Let’s Keep Wicklow Talking” initiative.

Together we can reduce the feeling of loneliness and isolation that some may be experiencing during the COVID-19 emergency.

Wicklow County Council has designated a number of locations around the five Municipal Districts for people who are aged 70 and over or who are medically vulnerable to exercise outdoors in a quiet space, should they wish to do so.

The continued protection of elderly people and those with underlying health conditions is hugely important to us all as we move through the various

phases of the Government’s five stage plan to ease the COVID-19 restrictions and reopen Ireland’s economy and society. It is hoped that by the Council introducing these small measures that it will assist to reduce the spread of the virus in the community particularly for the most vulnerable as they go outside for exercise and fresh air.

In the face of this, the biggest challenge we have encountered in decades, Wicklow people have stepped up to the plate and adhered to the strict guidelines put in place by the Government, following the advice of the National Public Health Emergency Response Team (NPHET). Because of this strict

adherence to the rules, we have all contributed to the progress that Wicklow has made in containing the spread of COVID-19 and, in so doing, we have saved lives.

Now, because of the progress made, we are beginning to move to the next phase in reducing the spread of the virus, while starting to gradually re-open our economy and our society.

In doing so, we still need to make sure that we adhere to the rules of the new way of living and working, so that we maintain the gains we have made, and continue to suppress the spread of the virus. Work is a key part of life and most of us want to return to our jobs as soon as possible.

But we need to get back to work safely.

I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for staying at home and heeding the advice of the Health Service Executive and National Government.

Thank you again to the volunteers throughout our communities and to the dedicated staff whose commitment to continuing the delivery of essential services to the people of County Wicklow is paramount.

We are stronger when we work together. #StaySafe and #HoldFirm Frank Curran Chief Executive, Wicklow County Council

A message from the Cathaoirleach Members of Wicklow Fire Service fighting gorse fires in the uplands in April

Cllr Irene Winters Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council We are very conscious of the challenges COVID-19 has presented for us all, individuals, families and communities and the impact it has had on our daily lives.

Normal life as we knew it has temporarily ceased to exist and the impact on the more vulnerable in our society has been even greater. I would like to thank everyone for their efforts in minimising the risk of spreading COVID-19 and for their co-operation adhering to National advice. I would especially like to thank those who potentially put themselves in harms way daily

LET’S KEEP WICKLOW TALKING DURING COVID19 ‘Let’s Keep Wicklow Talking’ and together we can reduce the feeling of loneliness and isolation that some may be experiencing during the COVID-19 emergency, according to the County Wicklow Community Response Forum.

Community groups and individuals can reach out and: • T - Take the time to chat – together we can get through this • A - Ask your neighbour how they are doing • L - Let your neighbour have your contact details • K - Keep in regular contact by

telephone or video call

• I - Initiate conversations with a friendly wave or smile • N - Never feel alone – Wicklow Community Call Helpline is here to help you • G - Get talking – Its good for you and your community County Wicklow Community Response Forum want to build on the fantastic community mobilisation that has taken place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

All over the county volunteers have been helping people to stay safe by collecting and delivering

their shopping, medication, newspapers, walking their dogs and a myriad of other requests for assistance that have been answered. As the restrictions continue it is important that people continue to stay safe.

Therefore, the County Wicklow Community Response Forum is launching this campaign to Keep Wicklow Talking to encourage people to smile, have a chat (at a safe distance), let them know your contact details so that you can chat about the GAA glory days or who should have won “Strictly Come Dancing” this year.

Remember that some people find it difficult to ask for help so

an encouraging smile or wave can make that vital connection.

Friends, neighbours, family and community groups – we can all play a part in reducing loneliness and keeping Wicklow connected.

County Wicklow Community Response Forum also want to remind people that anyone who needs help or is experiencing loneliness can call 1800 868 399 or text 087 245 6874 or email covidsupport@wicklowcoco.ie 8am-8pm seven days a week, or you can call the ALONE National Helpline 0818 222 024.

Other supports can be found at YourMentalHealth.ie or gove.ie/ together.

in the delivery of services, retail staff, postal workers, community volunteers and all the frontline workers.

This has been a very unusual year as Cathaoirleach, locked down for the best part of 3 months. Myself and my fellow councillors have been working away in our elective roles behind the scenes embracing technologies such as Zoom to conduct district & committee meetings. The impact of this pandemic is going to affect the delivery of services within Wicklow County Council. Loss of rates and revenue will have a knock-on effect in next years budgets. Time has been lost on repairs, roadworks etc. The last number of weeks would have been ideal for the usually planned outdoor works, but we will do our best to meet the needs of the communities.

Government has issued their Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business and sets out how the COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted. It will be a strange time for all, but I hope we can pull together and get through this safely.

Almost €80,000 allocated to 50 community groups

Almost €80,000 has been distributed by Wicklow County Council to 50 groups who are supporting their communities across the county during the COVID-19 emergency.

Each county in the country received a grant from the Department of rural and Community Development to assist Community and Voluntary groups involved in the delivery of COVID -19 community response efforts.

Amongst those sharing the grant in Wicklow are: 9 groups providing meals to those in need 8 sporting organisations aiding 9 groups supplying face masks for frontline staff 5 groups offering technology support 4 groups providing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) The other groups involved provide a mix of assistance such as transport, financial advice etc.

Wicklow libraries still serving patrons during the lockdown Wicklow County Council Library Service has responded to the Lockdown by finding new ways to service its thousands of users.

All of the libraries closed to the public on March 13th, but the staff wanted to remain as relevant as possible to patrons during this time.

“Spring Into Storytime” is part of the “Right To Read” campaign and usually the month of April is dedicated to emphasising the importance of storytime sessions for children and parents.

With the buildings closed to the public, library staff have recorded themselves reading picture and chapter books and making simple crafts in their own homes or from their back gardens.

The stories have been delivered in Irish, French and English and so far have been collectively viewed almost 8,000 times on Facebook during the month of April.

Staff have also linked up with local pre-schools and set up Zoom Story Times: an arrangement between the preschool operators and the librarian.

Other activities delivered virtually have included the wildlife illustrator Aga Grandowicz giving a live demonstration on how to draw a frog.

Music Generation Wicklow produced podcasts have been shared on Facebook where people can learn to sing and play popular tunes. This is proving very popular with people cocooning or just at home due to the restrictions who have been practising or learning to play an instrument.

The Borrowbox Book Club

Freya Brhanavan (6) from Wicklow pictured unleashing some creative talents for Cruinniú na nÓg

Emilie Jost, librarian at Ballywaltrim Library, delivering an online story-telling session facility is also very popular.

This has been set up using title on the library’s ebook and audiobook resource where multiple copies of titles have been made available.

Patrons download the book in either format and engage in a discussion via Zoom and the librarian.

Borrowbox is a resource in use for many years by the library service but the pandemic restrictions have seen a huge increase in usage – Wicklow County Library Service has seen an almost tripling in usage since mid-March with almost 5,000 people actively using

these resources. An invitation to compose a limerick and submit it be viewed on Facebook was hugely popular with adults and children alike – and a month later the library service is still getting submissions.

Wicklow poetry lovers are feeling a bit deprived because of the shutdown.

To bridge this gap, Wicklow Libraries have partnered with Poetry Ireland and been given permission to publish archived work by Irish poets on social media, thus giving enthusiast, as well as general public, access to this valuable material.

Cruinniú na nÓg: Colourful, Creative, and now, VIRTUAL Wicklow County Council has announced its Cruinniú na nÓg line up for 2020 as part of the Creative Ireland Programme, supported

by RTÉ. This is the third year of Cruinniú na nÓg and there are hundreds of free creative activities taking place throughout Ireland for young people under 18 within the Government and NPHET guidelines of social distancing and staying safe.

All competitions are FREE and open to young people under 18 years with fantastic prizes including iPads and much more.

To see the full programme and find details of how to sign up for any of the initiatives see www.wicklow.ie The closing date for entries is Tuesday June 2nd 2020 at 4pm giving people three full weeks to unleash their creative talents.

Clean, green and Keen to help the comunity

Wicklow County Council have redeployed one of the fully electric GOcars to be used by Wicklow Civil Defence. Our Civil Defence volunteers are very busy assisting people in the communities during this pandemic.

Special times & locations for the over 7O’s and vulnerable to exercise outdoors From 11th May the following locations have been designated and will operate between the hours of 9am and 11am for the next couple of months.

The promenade from the pier to the playground, Wicklow town Burnaby Park, Mill Road, Greystones Tinahely Railway Walk Baltinglass Park Shillelagh Park The Riverwalk, Arklow Bray Promenade (not restricting access to the beach area) People’s Park Bray

#StaySafe #InThisTogether

County sees sharp spike in dumping Wicklow County Council, along with local authorities throughout the country, has recorded a significant increase in illegal dumping and fly tipping since people were asked to stay at home as a result of COVID-19.

All domestic waste services are showing increases in waste generated at home as we spend more time there and do all our eating and consumption in our own homes.

Staying at home has been linked to an increase in DIY and many people are taking the opportunity to declutter.

Online deliveries have grown generating extra packaging waste.

The increase in dumping is most noticeably in the form of small-scale fly tipping with individual items dumped or small quantities of household waste by individuals.

The dumping is occurring more locally with offenders travelling short distances.

The number of bulky items being dumped, such as

mattresses, has also grown.

In one day recently Wicklow County Council picked up mattresses from eight different locations.

Street bins have seen big increases in volume even when few people are out and about.

As we eat and drink at home the amount of waste we generate in our households has increased dramatically.

Food waste is up by 25 per cent while glass waste has also increased dramatically.

The bottle bank network has been under significant pressure.

Large quantities of glass and cans with packaging and other items have been left on the ground littering the sites.

Glassco who service the banks have increased collections but are limited by staff availability in how much extra they can do.

Where bottle banks are full Wicklow County Council are asking the public to bring their glass home and store it for a later visit to a bottle bank or recycling centre.

Wicklow County Council has worked to keep all recycling centres open, maintain street cleaning and servicing of all street bins in our towns.

The Council is appealing to the public to help protect staff still working by using all centres and its bin network fairly and correctly. Staff should not be asked to handle other peoples waste in an unsafe and unnecessary manner particularly during this crisis.

The Council’s waste enforcement team is operating at full capacity and investigating reports of dumping, removing dumped waste as quickly as possible while an increasing use is being made of CCTV in order to catch and prosecute more offenders.

The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment has provided funding for extra CCTV. Better practice with waste management will help to protect all of us from COVID-19.

CHINESE COMMUNITY HELP the FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 “Showing love to our second hometown”, declared Summi Wong of the Southside Chinese Residents Association about their incredible gift to Wicklow.

Summi and the many Chinese people that have settled in Bray and surrounding areas met recently to figure out how they could contribute to the COVID-19 emergency locally.

They wanted to show their solidarity with the people of Ireland and particularly of their hometown, Bray.

After some thought they decided to source masks from China. They raised the money and bought over 25,000 three-layer disposable masks and shipped them here.

With the help of local Gardai, 15,000 of these masks have now been distributed to local nursing homes in the Bray and Greystones area, at no cost.

A further 10,000 are being sent to

local not-for-profits with the help of the County Wicklow Volunteer Centre. These organisations include Sunbeam House Services, Bray Home Care Service and Wicklow Community Carers.

All were delighted as sourcing masks is difficult and expensive, so to get masks free was a huge gift.

Summi explained that her Association was a small but very active group which wanted to “give back to the community”.

When the call went out to fundraise for the PPE equipment they were surprised and delighted with the generous response with even children emptying their piggy banks to donate.

We would like to thank the members of the Southside Chinese Residents Association, the Gardai and all the frontline workers caring for the most vulnerable in our society for their amazing response to this crisis.

Home-school supports The COVID-19 restrictions have not prevented the Wicklow County Council library service from seeking ways of serving the community, including home-schooling.

Staff are making two online supports available to parents who want to help their child improve their reading, writing, spelling and comprehension.

These supports are TTRS of Touch, Type, Read and Spell and Lexia. Both programmes are recommended by educational psychologists as resources for children who may be a bit delayed or struggling with their reading.

These resources are free - just please email libraryoutreach@wicklowcoco.ie.

Community Call: 1800 868 399

Essential Services While Wicklow County Council’s public buildings may be closed to the public, essential services are still being carried out behind closed doors. Please contact us on 0404 20100 Monday – Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm.

Outdoor staff have been busy getting our public areas ready to help you keep your distance while out exercising

Housing tenants can contact us if in difficulty we’re to help you Wicklow County Council understands that this is a very difficult time for all and that some Council and HAP/RAS tenants will be experiencing reduction in income, which will impact on their ability to keep up with household bills, including rent.

If you have experienced such a reduction, please do not hesitate to submit your details, (by email, photo, scan, given the current restrictions) and

your rent will be reviewed in this context.

Every effort should be made to pay current rent to avoid build-up of arrears for the future.

You should note that delays in recalculating your rent should be expected given current staff pressures, however any adjustment will be backdated accordingly.

Please attach as much documentation & information

to the relevant email below.

• ras@wicklowcoco.ie (RAS, Rental Accommodation Scheme) • hap@wicklowcoco.ie (HAP, Housing Assistance Payments) • rentreview2019@ wicklowcoco.ie (All Local Authority Housing) Wicklow County Council will continue to work with you to do everything possible to assist you through these changing times.

Community Call: 1800 868 399

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May 15, 2020

WILDLIFE

with Justin Ivory

Welcome to the Cub

ninenottomiss book of the week

seven letters

by Sinéad Moriarty

Fox Cub (Photo Justin Ivory) May is a great month to see foxes as the young cubs born earlier in the spring begin to emerge above ground for the first time.

Breeding in foxes usually takes place over the winter from late November to early February.

Female foxes, vixens, are typically pregnant for 7 to 8 weeks before giving birth to anywhere from 2 to 5 cubs, between February and April.

Only one family (litter) is produced per year.

The vixen gives birth in an underground breeding den known as an ‘earth’. This breeding den is very spartan with no bedding material or other luxuries. The cubs are born on to the bare ground trampled smooth by the adult.

Fox cubs are born blind and deaf and have a dark, chocolate coloured coat and lovely blue eyes. They vixen remains in the earth with her cubs for the first few weeks and the male (dog) fox brings her food.

When they are about 3 weeks old, and particularly if the weather is warm, the cubs will venture outside the earth with their mother and eventually on their own as she goes further afield to hunt.

At four weeks their eyes will start to change colour from blue to amber. The cub in the photo above taken in Dublin at the weekend still has blue eyes so is probably 3 to 4 weeks old.

Cubs start to take solid food from about 4 weeks and will start trying to catch their own food from about 6 weeks.

Typically the vixen will provide them with milk up to 7 weeks old but they will continue to pester her to suckle for long after that if they can get away with it!

As May progresses into June the cubs will spend longer periods outside the earth and further afield during daylight hours.

Playing rough and tumble with each other and practicing hunting and pouncing.

All the skills they will need to survive when they have to go their own way come winter.

Sarah loves being a mother - it defines her.

Every year she writes a birthday letter of love to her adored daughter, Izzy, now seven. And after she falls pregnant, she promises Izzy that the arrival of a baby brother will make their family complete. So when she collapses a few months later, the safe happy life Izzy knows is shattered. With Sarah’s future, and the future of her pregnancy, in their hands, her husband and sister disagree fiercely about her treatment.

Can those who love Sarah get beyond the fog of grief to figure out what’s for the best?

charity of the week

tv show of the week

Marty & Bernard - On The Road Again RTÉ One, Wednesdays, 9.35pm Marty Morrissey and Bernard O’Shea are back for a second run of their road trip TV show. In this brand new three part series, Marty and Bernard meet various people from different communities, who do remarkable things for their community. Each week they will meet a new group, with whom they will set a challenge in order to fundraise for that group.

In the first episode , they meet a group of women from Ballybough in Dublin.

game of the week

HOROSCOPES

film of the week

uncut gems Netflix With his debts mounting and angry collectors closing in, a fast-talking New York City jeweler risks everything in hopes of staying afloat and alive. Returning to the screen with a pulsepounding crime comedy, Josh and Benny Safdie (Good Time, Heaven Knows What) tell the story of Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), a charismatic and slippery jeweller. Howard is determined to prove himself a champion in his day-to-day life. Sandler commands the screen with such a nuanced performance that it’s like Howard has been sewn into his skin.

kids film of the week

Aries- This week is a 7 Consider the excellent advice of someone who loves you. You could struggle to achieve goals.

Repay debts.

Taurus- This week is a 7 Technical difficulty could disrupt your communications. Practical demands have your attention.

Gemini- This week is a 7 Avoid jealousies, controversy or conflicting interests. Keep things simple. Meet or beat the budget. Hold out for the best deal, and make a firm offer.

Cancer- This week is an 8 Focus on immediate priorities. A mess requires personal attention. Avoid excess. Postpone nonessential matters.

Leo- This week is a 5 Review and revise your plans. Recent changes require adaptation. Lay low, and stay close to home.

Avoid crowds and chaos.

ISPCC Childline www.Childline.ie

jenga www.monopoly.hasbro.com

The Princess Bride Streaming online

ISPCC Childline is Ireland’s 24-hour active listening service for children. The service is confidential, non-judgmental and free to contact from anywhere in Ireland. Children and young people up to the age of 18 can contact Childline at any time, about any issue which may be on their mind. Childline’s online, phone and text services are all accessible to children and young people 24 hours a day, every day.

Children and young people can reach Childline in the following ways: Chat online at Childline. ie, Call 1800 66 66 66, Text to 50101

Players build motor skills, strategy, and patience while competing with friends. The goal of the game is to pull out a block without letting the stack fall apart — because once the tower falls, it’s game over. Players take turns removing one block at a time from a tower constructed of 54 blocks. Each block removed is then placed on top of the tower, creating a progressively more unstable structure.

Rob Reiner’s beloved classic offers up an alternative fairy tale realm in which nothing is quite as you’d expect, like a Walt Disney yarn filtered through a postmodern prism.

William Goldman’s script is playful and filled with quotable dialogue (“My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die”) and kids will love its zest, energy and rollicking sword fights. Stardust and others have aped it but the idea of anything matching it is, well, inconceivable.

replay of the week

podcast of the week

documentary of the week

Virgo- This week is a 7 Things could get chaotic in a group situation. Even if you make mistakes, you’re charming. Share diplomacy and tact. Find the underlying humor.

Libra- This week is an 8 Focus on a professional project. Choose private over public engagements. Hunt for efficiencies. Discipline is required.

Scorpio- This week is a 7 Discover enchantments in your own backyard. You may experience delays with long-distance travel and shipping. Studies could get fruitful.

Sagittarius- This week is a 6

You could have an unexpected draw on your finances. Stick to your budget. Don’t buy toys, and convince others to wait.

Marty’s Magical Eurovision Moments Saturday, from 6.55pm, RTE and RTEPlayer Eurovision commentary stalwart, Marty Whelan, says his upcoming Eurovision special will be “looking at some of the mad stuff that goes on in Eurovision”, while “giving a sense” of his own feel of the much-loved annual singing competition. With no Eurovision Song Contest being staged this year, Marty will instead take viewers through the highs and lows of Eurovisions past. From Ireland’s coveted title of most-wins to other stand-out winners like Dana International, the special hour-long show is set to revisit the Eurovision’s magic moments.

The Laughs Of Your Life with Doireann Garrihy podcasts.apple.com/ie The Laughs of your Life is a podcast with Doireann Garrihy at helm. In this series, Doireann aims to delve into the beauty of having a laugh, speaking to guests from all walks of life. From first memories of laughter to being laughed at to “if I didn’t laugh I’d cry” moments, these markers will shape the interviews, bringing out the best in some of Ireland’s most influential people.

Free Solo Disney+ If your friend told you they had decided to free solo climb up the 3,000-foot granite El Capitan wall in Yosemite, California, with no rope, you’d think they had gone barking mad.

But that’s exactly what Alex Honnold set out to do back in 2017. Honnold’s quest to climb the vertical wall was documented by his two director friends Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin as he took on the ascent to become the world’s first person to free climb El Capitan. The won the Academy Award for Best Documentary last year.

Capricorn- This week is a 7 You’re especially attracted and attractive. Collaboration could get messy. Reinforce basic foundational structures.

Aquarius-This week is a 7 Focus your physical and health practices toward strengthening core and basic fundamentals. Don’t force or overdo things.

Pisces- This week is an 8 Have fun with people and activities that you love.

Avoid expense or fuss.

Resolve misunderstandings as they occur.

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NCT set to be off road for months

The Minister for Transport Shane Ross has said because of public health guidelines around social distancing, NCT tests will not be resuming any time soon.

He said the situation was similar for driving tests and that it would “probably be fairly late in the day” when they can resume.

Testing of cars under the National Car Testing programme was suspended on March 28. Driving tests were suspended on April 17 under measures to stop the spread of Covid-19.

In response to questions from Independent TDs Danny and Michael Healy-Rae in the Dáil, the minister said driving tests would be difficult to carry out because of the closeness of people in cars.

Mr Ross said it would be reasonable to speculate that it “will probably be fairly late in the day. The reality is that driving tests will be very, very difficult to introduce under social distancing, and it would be because the distance between people when they’re in cars together is so close… similar with NCT tests.”

May 15, 2020

Under presure: Locals told to conserve water

People in the county are being urged to conserve water as much as possible as fears rise of a water shortage as we enter summer and more and more people return to work.

Irish Water has confirmed that there has been a significant increase in household water usage, with people adhering to government advice and staying at home since mid-March in response to the Covid-19 crisis.

New domestic metering data has revealed that households are using an additional 24 litres of water per person per day, a 20% increase from February.

But to offset this, non-domestic water usage has decreased with many businesses, construction sites, schools, colleges, gyms, hotels, bars and restaurants temporarily closed.

Irish Water is worried that when Government restrictions are lifted, many commercial premises will need to use extra water to clean and flush their plumbing systems, while water usage in homes will continue

Enjoying the sunshine recently were Robbie Freija, Robbie, Nina and Emily May Morris

to remain higher than normal which could put pressure on the water supplies.

As water treatment plants are already working to their maximum capacity, Irish Water is ap-

pealing to the public to conserve water now where they can, so that together we can meet the increased demands on our network when restrictions are relaxed for businesses.

Speaking about the need to conserve water, Irish Water’s Managing Director Niall Gleeson said: “It is really important that everyone follows the HSE guidance on hand-

washing, however, there are some ways to conserve water that will not impact on hygiene.

“We can see a significant change in water usage patterns in commuter belt towns and rural areas where significant numbers of people would usually be out of the house for long periods during the day.

“We are also conscious that we have had an extremely dry spell so we are continually monitoring our water sources for any signs of drought.

“There are some simple measures that the public can take including stopping the use of powerwashers at home; using a watering can rather than a hose in the garden; taking showers over baths; and fix any dripping taps where it is possible to do so,” Mr Gleeson concluded.

Irish Water has published advice and guidance for homes, businesses and farms regarding water conservation, and can be found at www.water.ie/ conservation.

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May 15, 2020

opinion&comment

Better no sport than no crowds

I

miss televised sport a lot. And that’s a surprise because, if, before the Covid-19 crisis, you had asked me about my sports viewing, I would have said it amounted to very little.

I am a Liverpool fan and have always watched them play and I would tune in at weekends to the Sunday Game.

And that was about it, I would have said.

Well, that and the Champions League. I mean, everybody watches the Champions League, don’t they? And the FA Cup. And I had forgotten about the League Cup, whatever it’s called nowadays. And the League of Ireland matches RTE used to show on Friday nights.

And the Saturday games in the GAA’s football championship.

And the hurling.

But, really, I hardly ever watched sport, especially a mad sport like tennis. Although I would sometimes take a peak at Wimbledon. And maybe the French Open.

I’d draw the line at golf, of

Michael Wolsey

course. A good walk spoiled, as Mark Twain said. But if it was the Irish Open, now, or a Major, and an Irish golfer was in with a chance, well, sure, I’d have to watch that. More news than sport, really.

And, of course, there was the Six Nations. And the Heineken Cup. And this was to have been the year of the Olympics and we had medal hopes in rowing and sailing and women’s hockey.

I know little about hockey, less about sailing and nothing at all about rowing. But I was looking forward to it all the same. Yes, I hardly watched sport at all. But I certainly miss it.

However, for all that I would love to see live sport back on our screens, I can’t go along with the Taoiseach’s idea that the GAA championships might be played behind closed doors, for television consumption only.

Big inter-county matches are not just about the players. It is the loyalty and rivalry of the

supporters that turns them into great occasions. An All-Ireland final would count for very little without the roar of the crowd from a packed Croke Park.

It is a different, matter, for, say, the Premier League in England. Its season is almost over and if it takes a few closed-door games to tidy up the business (and give the title to Liverpool!)

then, so be it. There may also be financial considerations for English soccer, although I’m not sure if that often-repeated theory is, in fact, correct. The television companies have already paid for the viewing rights and I don’t think they are likely to pay a second time just because of the present strange circumstances.

Whatever about paying the clubs, we should be talking about whether Sky, and the other big companies, are prepared to refund subsrcribers like me who are paying for a service we no longer receive. But that is beside the point. Even if closeddoor games could spin a profit for English football the same would not apply to the GAA. The Association makes its money from what used to be called gate receipts - ticket money, paying-punters and its share of the cash changing hands at the cafés, bars and shops that are a key part of every good ground and every big match.

So if spectators can’t attend championship games, the GAA should forget about them. Formally call the whole thing off and give both players and fans a bit of certainty. We’ll look forward all the more to the 2021 tournaments.

The Olympics and Wimbledon have bowed to the inevitable and so should the GAA. Not that it really bothers me.

I hardly watch any televised sport.

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wicklowvoice.ie May 15, 2020