Clondalkin News 14th Nov 22

Social media platform Instagram has introduced a new age verification tool that will help protect children from inappropriate and harmful content, a local TD has said.

Deputy Emer Higgins, Dublin Mid West TD and Fine Gael Spokesperson on social media, praised the platform’s decision to improve technology to help verify the age of users.

Deputy Higgins said, “This major safety update has been long

awaited by those of us campaigning for online safety. Now, any child who tries to edit their birthday on Instagram from under 18 to over 18 will be asked to verify their age by either ID or through age estimation technology.

“In an age where technology is getting more and more advanced, in theory it should be easier to police our children’s experience on social media. In reality, many parents feel like it’s getting harder and

harder to protect their kids online. “This is a really positive step and will protect young social media users and make their experience on Instagram a more age appropriate one, which can only be a good thing.

“I think we were all disgusted last year by revelations from the Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen that young people on Instagram were being targeted with harmful content promoting anorexia

among other things. It really highlighted how vulnerable young people are on social media. “Regulating the age of social media users is crucial to keeping children safe online and ensuring they don’t see content that is not appropriate for them.

“I am calling on other social media platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat to also adopt age verification tools to ensure a safer experience for young people. “I would also like to see this feature rolled out to all new sign-ups on social media apps and not just those with an account looking to edit their age. We have the technology and now it is time to start using it,” concluded Deputy Higgins.

LITIGATION

ROSE CURTIN NAMED NETWATCH DUBLIN FAMILY CARER OF THE YEAR

Family Carers Ireland, the national charity supporting Ireland’s family carers, is delighted to announce that the 2022 Netwatch Dublin Family Carer of the Year is Rose Curtin from Clondalkin. Rose cares for her adult son Daniel who has an intellectual disability, autism and intractable epilepsy. Her husband, Robin, has early onset dementia and now lives in a nursing home following a battle with leukaemia.

Alongside caring for their son, Rose visits Robin every day and has remained incredibly strong for her family. She was nominated by her friend, Moira Skelly, who says that Rose

completely dedicates her life to taking care of her loved ones and deserves recognition for her compassion, kindness and strength in the face of all her daily challenges.

Now in their 15th year, the Netwatch Family Carer of the Year Awards seek to recognise and shine a light on the remarkable contribution of the more than half a million people in Ireland who provide care at home to loved ones such as children or adults with additional needs, physical or intellectual disabilities, frail older people, those with palliative care needs or those living with chronic illnesses, mental health

challenges or addiction. The 19 million hours of unpaid care provided each week by family carers would cost the State €20bn a year to replace. Family carers often go unnoticed in the community despite the immense workload they take on and the significant commitment they show to those that they care for. This has particularly been the case during the pandemic with many left increasingly isolated.

Family Carers Ireland Community Support Manager for Dublin, Paula Kinsella said “Caring for a loved one at home can be rewarding but it can also be challenging, particularly in the absence of vital supports and services including respite. This can take a toll on a person’s physical, mental, financial and social wellbeing. Often, a person can find themselves taking on the role of a family carer with little or no warning. These are mums, dads, sons, daughters, siblings, relatives, friends and colleagues who sometimes don’t even see themselves

as family carers. They are doing extraordinary work that is too often unseen and undervalued. “These awards are an important event in our calendar every year as we seek to provide some small recognition to all of those who care at home for loved ones with additional needs and to ensure their stories are heard.

“As a charity, we want family carers to know that they are not alone and

that we are here to help them no matter where they find themselves on their caring journey. As a society, we must ensure that family carers are not only recognised for their immense contribution, but truly supported to care safely at home.”

Mick Galwey, Netwatch Brand Ambassador said “Family carers are the backbone of our local communities and the

Netwatch Family Carer of the Year Awards offer a chance to highlight their sheer tenacity, selflessness and resilience. We have learnt more than ever over the last two years just how important caring is. Family carers are ordinary people we know doing extraordinary work behind closed doors. It is only right that we champion their contribution and to be a part of that is very special to me and to Netwatch.”

Pictured left to right are Mick Godfrey, Regional Sales Manager, Netwatch; Rose Curtin, Netwatch Dublin Family Carer of the Year and Paula Kinsella, Community Support Manager for Dublin, Family Carers Ireland.

2022 EVOKE.IE FAI WOMEN’S CUP FINAL

AMBULANCE TRAFFIC JAM OUTSIDE TALLAGHT HOSPITAL SHOWS NEED FOR URGENT REFORM

TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has called for urgent action to relieve the pressures facing the ambulance services and our Accident and Emergency units after almost a dozen ambulances were left standing outside Tallaght Hospital recently, unable to transfer their patients and move on to other cases. Teachta Crowe said that this sort of log jam is going to cost lives.

Teachta Crowe said “There were 11 ambulances left standing outside Tallaght University Hospital recently. Rather than being able to discharge their patients into the care of the hospital, they were forced to wait because the A&E inside was stretched to the breaking point. “Dublin Fire Brigade perform an invaluable service to this city through the provision of ambulance services.

They do not have the vehicles or manpower to waste sitting on the tarmac outside Tallaght Hospital as

the staff inside try to treat an already overcrowded A&E Department.

“This sort of log jams that takes ambulances out of service for indefinite periods of time is going to cause lives in emergency situation. We must adhere to the golden hour principle whenever we can. That first hour of care is critical when dealing with stroke or cardiac arrest or a traumatic injury. We cannot have sick or injured patients spending it out in the car

park. “The staff in Tallaght Hospital do fantastic work but need more support from Government to do the jobs we all need them to do. This problem existed long before Covid and has been allowed to spiral out of control once again.

“The paramedics and frontline personnel want to ensure quality of care and patient safety but this cannot happen without further Government commitments in terms of enhanced resourcing and personnel being

followed through on. “The Government must urgently review the adequacy of National Ambulance Service resources. It is vital that we identify exactly what is needed to phase out the use of private services, reduce reliance on overtime, fill vacancies and expand staffing and the ambulance fleet. We also must provide more appropriate hospital beds to avoid patients being left in the back of ambulances and ensure that they are admitted to hospital and treated.”

BALLYCOTTON AT DAWN BY LOCAL CAMERA CLUB MEMBER

At Palmerstown Camera Club they hold a weekly meeting in person, every Wed from 8 pm to 10 pm in the Palmerstown Parish Hall. People interested in joining the club or even attending one or two meetings FREE of charge to see how their photography could benefit from being a member can do so by contacting secpcc@mail.com. Last month in Palmerstown Camera Club, they held a judging night for a themed competition “Open” and a winning image in the intermediate category “ Ballycotton at dawn “ is by Ciaran O’Rourke.

Pictured at Tallaght Stadium attending the 2022 Evoke. ie FAI Women’s Cup Final were Vera Pauw, the Manager of the Irish Women’s World Cup Team with Tallaght Councillors Mick Duff and Charlie O’Connor.

CALLS ON HEALTH MINISTER TO TAKE RADICAL ACTION TO TACKLE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ISSUES

People Before Profit representative Laura

South

is calling on the Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly TD, to take radical action

in order to fix the chronic problems in Ireland’s public health emergency

departments. Laura, called for the Minister to clearly state what new proposals he and his department have in order to address issues in emergency departments ahead of the winter period.

The call comes as reports in the Irish Examiner showed that over 27,000 people left Ireland’s emergency departments before receiving treatment between July and September of this year.

Laura, said that these figures were a disgrace and that the Minister and the Department of Health should hang their heads in shame. Laura said: “The reports that over 27,000 people left emergency departments in three months of this year without getting proper treatment is a disgrace. The Minister and the Department need to hang their heads in shame.

“The Minister now needs to come forward with new and radical proposals to fix the

crisis in our EDs. In People Before Profit, we believe that this must start with a mass recruitment and retention campaign for our public health service. “The

government needs to get real about capacity. We need to be adding 1,000 acute beds and 250 ICU beds in order to clear the waiting lists and backlogs.”

Gaskell for Tallaght

JOIN US THIS CHRISTMAS AT THE FOXHUNTER!

Come join us for our first Christmas extravaganza at The Foxhunter Lucan. The Foxhunter, Lucan’s muchloved pub, has reopened its doors after 10 years and have a jampacked Christmas schedule to suit the whole family. Grab your Christmas jumpers, pull on your Santa hats and get in the festive spirit with us here at The Foxhunter. Kickstarting our

Christmas activities on 24th November is the lighting of our Christmas tree at 7pm. This is a free event with family entertainment for all, including live music, carol singing, mince pies, mulled wines and much more!

Every Saturday from 8.30pm the one and only Irish radio broadcaster Adrian Kennedy

will be hosting weekly Musical Bingo. Music bingo is a fun and exciting take on the classic game of bingo. With songs replacing the numbers on a bingo card, this game will get everyone singing and feel merry.

On November 26th, we will be hosting a charity event for Our Lady’s Hospice. You’ll Never Walk Alone walk will take place in Phoenix Park, with the afters in The Foxhunter from 6pm. We will have Santa, live music, and a fantastic raffle on the day. Come along and be part of the magic and raise vital funds for Our Lady’s Hospice.

Looking for the perfect Christmas gift? Our Christmas Markets will be running every Sunday from November 27th - December 18th, showcasing the finest of Irish suppliersfull schedule of venders available on our website. With free admission, and

various craft makers and designers, you will not go home empty handed!

There is nothing like the a real Christmas tree lighting up the house, the scent of fresh pines creating the perfect festive feel to your home. Every weekend from December 3rd, The Foxhunter will be selling beautiful Christmas trees from 5ft – 12ft, with stands provided and fitted. You are sure to find the ideal tree that even Santa Claus himself would be proud of.

Looking for the perfect Christmas weekend activity for the full family? Every weekend from December 3rd, join us for a Santa Breakfast from 10am12noon in Elephant & Castle. Tickets are €15pp and include a brunch item and coffee for Mom and Dad, or a kids’ meal, drink, and a visit with Santa and a gift for the kids. On December 7th, Ann May Floristry will

be hosting a Wreath Making workshop. She will be using the freshest of Irish grown foliage, carefully chosen garnishes & beautiful luxury ribbons. Tickets are €90 and include live wreath making demonstration, all supplies needed and complimentary mulled wine. All you need to bring is your Christmas spirit and creative fun self!

Last but not least, on December 15th join us for an Irish whiskey

fireside chat with Jameson ambassador Mattthew Smyth, in The Foxhunter. We will be sampling a range of Jameson Irish Whiskey, so you are sure to leave with a greater knowledge and appreciate for whiskey.

For full schedule and timings check out our website foxhunter.ie and follow us on Instagram @ foxhunter_dublin to stay up to date with us over the festive period!

LAUNCH OF THE

AT BOLBROOK

Funding of €800,000 to support 400 Irish Men’s Sheds, will see local sheds receiving €2,000 grants to assist with running costs, a local TD has said.

Deputy Emer Higgins has welcomed the announcement that six local men’s sheds will benefit

from the €2,000 grants announced by Minister for Community and Local Development, Heather Humphreys. Deputy Higgins said: “Our local Men’s Sheds create an invaluable service in our communities, fostering friendship and companionship and tackling

isolation among men. “We are lucky to have so many brilliant Men’s Sheds in Dublin Mid West that provide a welcoming space for men to meet up, socialise and learn new skills and I’m delighted that six of our local Men’s Sheds will each receive a €2,000 grant to

assist with their running costs,” added Deputy Higgins. “The recipients will include the Men’s Shed Lucan, Clondalkin Men’s Shed, Clondalkin Traveller Men’s Shed, Rathcoole Men’s Shed and Slade Valley Men’s Shed.

Deputy Higgins continued: “As we enter the winter period, and as the cost of living continues to pose massive financial challenges and stresses for families and businesses, the supports that our Men’s Sheds provide are even more important and I’ve no doubt that these grants, which will be administered by the Irish Men’s Shed Association, will definitely be put to good use. “Men’s Sheds are an amazing movement that give many men a new lease of life and friendship and I’d encourage any man interested to pop down to their local Men’s Shed and see what it’s all about,” concluded Deputy Higgins.

Pictured at the launch of the Edge at Bolbrook, Tallaght were Mayor Emma Murphy, Tanaiste Leo Varadker TD and Councillor Charlie O’Connor

FUELLING CAR

PROBLEMS

Clondalkin said “During the month of October Sinn Féin conducted door knocks on 5 separate dates, engaging with residents in the existing parts of Castlegate and Adamstown long taken in charge by the council.

The homes we covered were constructed over a decade ago, with the continued Adamstown Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) construction, now giving rise to a rapidly increasing population and the demand for services such as GP’s, basic healthcare and childcare becoming acute. Lack of car parking space also featured prominently during conversations and in the context of infrastructural needs.

“This is an issue that is regularly raised with me by residents, and I have conveyed these concerns to the Council. In response, SDCC reference the National Transport Authority’s strategic plan for the greater Dublin area and parking provision guidelines of applying car parking space based upon the level of public transport accessibility. “The County Development Plan (CDP) states that Adamstown

has a layout which allows for sustainable forms of transport and therefore the provision of parking spaces is appropriate.

An ‘objective’ of the SDZ is that Adamstown be designed to accommodate, but not be dominated by the car. This is a planning principle that I support and recognise, if we are serious about climate awareness and our environment.

“Whilst I accept and even support much of the content as guided by council policy, our own county development plan and recommendations by the NTA, car parking space shortages generally are becoming more acute in the Adamstown SDZ. This in my view, is because of the delay in essential services being realised in real time, such as nearby childcare, new road openings, absence of bus routes arriving alongside new development becoming occupied, overstretched

train/carriages numbers at peak hours and the demand for planned new school places now, sending children further afield to surrounding schools. This is being compounded by the current housing crisis, that is resulting in larger tenancy numbers in many dwellings, all bringing with it more cars and car dependency.

“Lucan West has a large working population with many young families. We know that there are a lot of healthcare workers living locally, working shift hours, and often arriving home late and unable to get parking. In some instances, this has led to tensions and disputes between neighbours. If we are to ever achieve the modal shift from private car to public transport that we all aspire to, then we need to address the immediate service needs, changing dynamics and challenges of new communities as they emerge.”

We are back this year at our new home “KidsZone” Tallaght Whitestown, Tallaght Business Park.

Our visits to Santa will be a one-on-one experience that includes the full walkthrough meeting different characters, (Includes visit to the North Pole to meet Santa, spin on the CocaCola Trucks, a gift & a photo with Santa) Plus 20 mins play in Kidszone while you wait for your photos Visit Santa at his grotto Check out the Elf’s workshop.

Bring your letter and send it by Elf express to Santa at our post box. Help light the Christmas tree Take a Spin on The Coca-Cola Trucks (Kiddie Ride) Have a snowball fight with Frosty, make sure you keep an eye out for the grumpy Grinch. New Scenes with surprise characters plus much more.

Get your very own picture taken with the man himself

to bring home. Please be aware weekends are busy so there could be waiting time and booking in slots are only a way of controlling the numbers attending. Fuel your child’s remarkable and unique imagination by visiting The North Pole Experience with hot and cold food, Refreshments, tea/coffee, etc are available on-site in Kidszone.

This event is outdoors but covered so there is no need to worry about the weather, but do wrap up as it could be cold as it is the North Pole.

Email northpoleexperience@ gmail.com for large group bookings to avoid disappointment.

Opening Times: Wed - Fri: 3 pm-7 pm & Sat -Sun: 11 am-6 pm Runs from Sat 26th of Nov till the 23rd Dec 2022

(Advance Booking Only)

Pricing: PARENTS FREE!! On Wednesdays and Thursdays ONLY (Max 2)

Child €20 + BF (Included: Walk Through Experience / Santa Visit /Photo & Gift / Spin on Cocacola Truck (Kiddie Ride), 20 Mins Play in Kidzone).

Adult €10 +BF (MAX Two adults per family/booking)

Baby under 1 year of age €10 payable at the door (Walkthrough and Photo with Santa Only)

TICKETS / BOOKINGS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE AND NON TRANSFERABLE and T&C’s apply.

Our kiddie ride “the CocaCola trucks” is only suitable for children of 2 years and up (No Adults)

ACCOMMODATION: Contact The Maldron Hotel Tallaght.

GRIFFITH COLLEGE GRADUATION CEREMONY

Pictured at Griffith College Dublin’s graduation ceremony is Professor Wallace Ewart, who received the College’s Distinguished Fellowship Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to higher education. The Distinguished Fellowship is awarded each year to individuals who have made a significant contribution nationally and internationally. Previous recipients include John Hume, Joe Schmidt and Seamus Heaney.

LUCAN NATIVE AWARDED FIRST-EVER ‘NATIONAL APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR’

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, TD presented the awards to 12 exceptional finalists, out of 187 nominees from every county in Ireland. The inaugural Apprentice of the Year Awards ceremony was held on Tuesday October 25th 2022 in the Round Room of the Mansion House in Dublin. 500 guests from across the apprenticeship system, including employers, educators, apprentices and their families, attended to celebrate the outstanding contributions and achievements made by Ireland’s 25,000-strong apprentice community. Three Dubliners have received a finalist’s award in recognition of the outstanding contributions they have made as outstanding apprentices. Apprentices were nominated by their employer or educational partner, and judged on four essential categories - leadership, teamwork, creativity, and problem solving.

Lucan local Brian Riordan, 4th-year Electrical apprentice at the Designer group, beat fierce competition across the country, to take home the top national title as ‘Apprentice of the Year’ from 187 entries. Dubliners Dean Doyle, Motor Mechanic at Frank Keane Motors, and Gary Mullen, Plumbing Apprentice at Tritech Electrical scooped one of the top finalist prizes on the night, for their exceptional

talent. Apprentice of the Year Brian Riordan says of his win, “I’m absolutely delighted to win the Inaugural Apprentice of the Year! And I’m thrilled, absolutely thrilled, and lost for words, honoured and humbled by winning this. I work for Designer Group. They gave me the opportunity to restart my career, which I’m very grateful for. I was made redundant from my last job, and I was suffering stress and stuff from that. And this gave me the opportunity to change. No matter where you are in life or whatever, there’s options open and once you choose to do something there’s always some way to do it.

I went a completely different pathway and then in the last few years, decided to change and I found that it really worked for me and the earn while you learn bit is what made all the difference.” Award winner Gareth Mullen, Plumbing apprentice at Tritech Electrical said: “I was on the team completing essential works in Dublin Airport during the pandemic. It was the extension of the immigration hall to deal with the increase of non EU passengers following Brexit. It was on this job that I learned the skills to push me forward and I developed a love for my trade and a sense of pride in my work. This helped me achieve my nomination for apprentice of the year with Tritech and I am delighted and honoured to have secured a category win the Generation Apprenticeship Apprentice

of the Year competition.”

Employer Frank Keane Motor says of Dean: “Dean is an excellent apprentice who has become an integral part of our fast-moving retail technical team at our Naas Road workshop. He will always endeavour to “think outside of the box” when faced with a difficult fault or customer situation. Dean is a huge team player who works extremely well with Senior technicians. Dean has quickly progressed to be a trusted individual who our frontline service advisors and parts advisors rely upon for technical advice. A good demonstration of Dean’s team spirit is most recently, when he recognised that another technician in our used vehicle preparation workshop was unsure of the operation of an electronic steering rack preload gauge and Dean travelled to this workshop to assist the technician and demonstrate the use of this gauge as he had used this gauge many times previously.”

Tritech Electrical says of Gary: “I would say that teamwork is one of Gareth’s strongest traits. Gareth enjoys working in a team environment, he has been involved in numerous largescale projects with Tritech. Gareth is quietly confident and takes direction really well, he very rarely raises his voice but always gives valuable input which makes him an ideal team player. When we come across inevitable issues on site, Gareth will probe, ask questions, and give suggestions to try to resolve the problem regardless of whether they come to fruition or not. It is this lack of fear that leads him to produce solutions to problems on a regular basis.”

Minister Harris said, “I want to congratulate everyone involved and nominated in the Apprentice of the Year Awards, and particularly to Brian as Apprentice of the Year, and to Dean and Gary on their finalist’s award, and congratulations to all on their hard work and commitment to their apprenticeship. I’d also like to thank their employers, educators and families for their ongoing support. I look forward to many more years of celebrating success through the Apprentice of

the Year Awards.”

He added, “Apprenticeship is a vital lever for the continued economic prosperity of this countryit not only unlocks the skills and expertise necessary for leading Irish businesses, but also will help us to achieve critical aims in the Programme for Government, including on housing. This is a really exciting time for apprenticeships and tonight is a chance to celebrate our apprentices and the businesses who have taken them on. I would encourage anyone to consider an apprenticeship. This is third-level education and you can earn as you learn. It is time to get involved and help us build the next generation of apprentices.”

Dr Mary-Liz Trant, Director of the National Apprenticeship Office, said, “It is clear from the many, many talented and

dynamic nominees in the first ever Apprentice of the Year Awards tonight that the conversation around apprenticeship is changing. Apprenticeship is a pathway into a great career, and a choice that both apprentices and businesses

can be very proud of taking. I’d like to thank all of the apprentices, businesses and families here this evening - and also thank our independent expert judging panel for all their hard work in making some very tough choices.”

Apprentice of the Year Award

Recipient Brian

Riordan Minister Simon Harris TD

Minister Harris with Dean Doyle

€3.4MILLION INVESTED IN ACTIVE CITIES FOR AN ACTIVE FUTURE

A major, new national campaign has been launched to get as many people exercising and participating in physical activity as possible in our biggest urban cities. The Sport Ireland ‘Active Cities’ project calls on everyone across Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Waterford to come together to create more opportunities for participation in sport and physical activity through collaboration, partnership, and planning.

Sport Ireland officially unveils Active Cities, a project based on the World Health Organisation’s Global Action Plan on Physical Activity (GAPPA) Framework, which focuses on increasing physical activity amongst those who are least active in

society. Active Cities prioritises physical activity and sport for all and is underpinned by four key pillars - Active Systems, Active Environments, Active Societies, and Active People. To date €3.4m has been invested to engage with communities across the five cities, creating change for those who are economically, socially or educationally disadvantaged or those who have a disability.

With ambitious aims for Irish cities to be among the most physically active and healthy places in the world, it is vital that a multi-sectoral approach is taken to delivering the project. When it comes to being physically active, only 42% of adults and only 13% of children met the recommended

national guidelines as per the 2021 Irish Sports Monitor. With over 33% of the population living across the 5 cities, physical inactivity is negatively impacting the health, economy, environment, and community of our cities.

Active Cities is about creating opportunities so that all citizens can lead healthier lifestyles in the context of sport and physical activity. The vision of Active Cities is to engage, increase and maintain the number of citizens regardless of age or ability participating in sport and physical activity in their city. Collaborative and partnership-based by nature, Active Cities is being led locally by the eight (8) LSPs across Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.

It is not just the responsibility of people working in sport and physical activity to address this. Active Cities is about all stakeholders, who directly and indirectly impact on physical activity, collectively driving change through collaboration, partnership, and planning.

Highlighting the importance of raising awareness Sport Ireland CEO, Dr Una May added “Sport Ireland are proud to support a wonderful initiative such as Active Cities. Communication and promotion will be central to the success and impact of Active Cities. Research has highlighted the importance of identifying and connecting with trusted local community leaders, willing to promote opportunities

within their locality. This initiative will provide a fantastic opportunity for Active Cities to generate a sense of community and togetherness, while bringing sport and physical activity to people’s lives”.

A recent “Active Cities Marketing Communications Research Report”, identified preferences on engaging individuals from targeted groups (i.e., from socially, economically, or educationally disadvantaged areas or people with disabilities) to establish their preferences around the promotion of physical activity.

Speaking at the launch Partnerships Manager, Oisin Foley commented “Active Cities is about creating opportunities and increasing the number of active spaces throughout cities across Ireland. We want physical activity to become a social norm, naturally and habitually built into people’s home, work and community lives. I would like to encourage as many people to get involved with your local Active City and take part in the wonderful events being rolled out through the initiative” So many stakeholders have a pivotal role to play in the

success of Active Cities and in prioritising physical activity for ALL which is reflected in the four guiding pillars; Active Systems, Active Environments, Active Societies and Active People. With all five cities aligned nationally to impact positive change, the pillars also give each city the individual pathway for implementation at a local level through local partnership and collaboration. Active Cities is about creating an environment where city residents can be more active, with more choice, more opportunity and lead healthier lives in the context of sport and physical activity. Be part of the #ActiveCities movement. You can find tips on how to get active through your Local Sports Partnership website, check out SportIreland.ie or ask your doctor/ physician/ OT for information on how best to get active.

Be part of the Active Cities conversation using the hashtag #ActiveCities and tagging @sportireland, your Local Sports Partnership and any stakeholder you see as having the potential to influence and impact physical activity opportunities.

OVER 1,700 PROJECTS ENTERED INTO BT YOUNG SCIENTIST & TECHNOLOGY EXHIBITION

Second-level students have demonstrated their amazing ingenuity in tackling science, engineering and technology challenges as over 1,700 projects were entered for the upcoming BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) 2023. Health, new technologies, agriculture, sport science, and environment are among the key trends which have emerged from the entries. After closing for entries earlier this month, the BTYSTE judges selected the 550 projects which will be showcased at the exhibition taking place from January 11th -14th 2023.

Health has come out as a top issue for students this year as 24% of projects delve into this area.

Projects ranged from cancer research, allergy remedies, diet and nutrition, to ways to improve our sleep and cardiovascular health.

The students also looked at new applications and technology-based solutions to improve everyday life for those living with a variety of illnesses and conditions.

The environment remains a key focus for young people taking part in the exhibition. This year 20% of the projects entered tackled

environmental issues across all STEM categories. For some students, finding solutions to coastal erosion and improving recycling methods are the main objectives, while others focus on exploring new ways to reduce carbon emissions. Students didn’t only turn their enquiring minds to the earth’s environment, but went beyond into space, with projects looking at how meteorites, the atmosphere and space travel impact our world.

Over 10% of projects featured new technologies, applications or devices with students exploring topical areas such as road and water safety, sustainable energy usage, along with a variety of other novel ways that technology can assist and improve our daily lives. Meanwhile, sportbased projects examining the science behind physical activity, tactics, nutrition and results feature in over 10% of projects. A further 10% of projects look at how we learn, and new ways to improve cognitive processing of information.

Minister for Education, Norma Foley commented, “Every year, students across the country showcase their ingenuity and creativity

by entering the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition - it’s encouraging to see so many of our young people finding new ways to solve issues in areas of importance. “STEM education holds endless opportunities for our young people and that’s why the Department is proud to support the exhibition. I look forward to learning more about the student’s projects at the exhibition in January.”

Speaking of the trends on show this year in the BTYSTE entries, Co-founder and Judge Tony Scott said, “I am so impressed by how young minds are engaged with such a staggering array of STEM topics and seeking to find ways to improve the way we live. It’s encouraging to see such a focus on the issues affecting our daily life in preparing their projects for the BTYSTE 2023.

We’re seeing trends that show these students are engaged, thinking critically, and getting excited by the endless opportunities that STEM presents in our world. “It’s fantastic to have the BTYSTE returning in person in January, where we can meet the young people when they exhibit and learn

more about their creative projects!”

Mari Cahalane, Head of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition said, “We are so excited to welcome back students, teachers and schools as well as the general public to our festival of science and curiosity the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. The large volume of entries showcases the ambition, creativity and dedication of students across Ireland.

“The BTYSTE is an inspiring way to start the year, and we can’t wait to meet all the students, teachers, and visitors, at the exhibition and enjoy the amazing

projects and exciting programme of activities taking place.”

After two years as a virtual exhibition, the BTYSTE is back with a bang for the 59th annual event, which will be held in-person this January 11th – 14th 2023. Thousands of visitors are set to walk through the doors of the RDS where the brightest minds from across the island of Ireland will be showcasing their brilliant projects in a celebration of science and technology.

Spectacular acts will also provide entertainment and interactive installations will allow you to immerse yourself in the world of STEM. The student finalists will be interviewed by an

eminent panel of over 80 judges. For participants and teachers, the Exhibition offers a chance to win one of over 200 prizes with a prize fund of over €35,000. The overall winner(s) will take home the top prize of €7,500 and go on to represent Ireland at the prestigious European Union Contest for Young Scientists in Brussels, where Ireland has a strong history of taking home the prize for first place, with 17 wins over the past 33 years.

For more information on this fantastic family event, visit www.btyoungscientist. com, or follow @BTYSTE on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube or Snapchat (username: BTYSTE).

THE PURE MILE GALA EVENING AWARDS

After a two-year absence, The Pure Mile Gala Evening Awards was back on this year in the Brooklodge Hotel on the 27th October, to celebrate the hard work and achievements of all the Pure Mile Volunteers in Cleaning Up The Wicklow/ Dublin Uplands. The Pure Mile is an environmental, community, heritage initiative, established by the Pure Project, which encourages communities and groups living in rural areas of Wicklow, South Dublin and Dun-Laoghaire, to adopt a mile of road, or miles of road, in their local area, or in the Wicklow/ Dublin Uplands and organise litter picks, clean-ups, anti-dumping campaigns, research information about their local wildflowers, plants, trees, animals, and the built, cultural, and social heritage of an area.

The Gala Evening is an opportunity for all of the Pure Mile Groups to meet for one night, in one room, and celebrate all of their hard work and achievements in Cleaning Up The Wicklow/ Dublin Uplands, and for Pure to thank them all.

Certificates of Participation were presented to all Pure Mile Groups on the night by the Mayor of South Dublin, Cllr. Emma Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr. Tommy Annesley, and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, T.D., Simon Harris.

2022 was the thirteenth year of the Pure Mile,

with the largest number of groups and volunteers involved in the project since it was established in 2009. In the first year the Pure Mile had 6 miles of road (9.6 kilometres), and over the years the project has grown extensively to involve communities, groups, individuals, scouts, beavers, schools, walking groups, cycling groups, running groups, hiking groups, businesses and organisations, who have collectively improved and enhanced over 850 miles (1,368 kilometres), of road, mountains, woodlands, valleys, forestries, upland amenities, car parks, and even some coastal areas, with the removal of tonnes of illegal dumping and litter from the Wicklow/ Dublin Uplands. Over 1,600 litter picks and clean-ups were organised in 2022 and additional projects included, natural heritage, built heritage, community, biodiversity, and education.

On the night, Mayor of South Dublin, Cllr Emma Murphy, commented, ‘The Pure Mile project plays a vital part in protecting our rural communities. As Mayor of South Dublin, I am especially proud of the opportunity which Pure Mile affords local communities and community groups in South Dublin, empowering them to make positive contributions in their communities, assisting them to enhance their local environments and taking pride of place in our beautiful rural landscapes. Recognising the work of

these groups involved in the Pure Mile Project is important – it provides an opportunity to showcase good practice and the brilliant work being done in our communities. Congratulations to all nominated groups and communities.’

The groups ranged from all over South Dublin, Wicklow, and Dun-Laoghaire and each one received a Pure Mile Certificate of Participation, native Irish trees, and all will be included in the popular Pure Mile Calendar, which will also be launched this year. There were a number of Certificates of Recognition presented on the night with cash prizes reaching over €6,000 distributed to groups which will further assist them in their local projects to improve and enhance the Wicklow/Dublin Uplands.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, T.D., Simon Harris, spoke about the success of the Pure Mile and mentioned, ‘This has been the biggest year to date but the challenge has never been bigger either. Tonight, is an important chance to recognise and thank volunteers across Wicklow and South Dublin, keeping our county and our community cleaner and safer. It is a testament to each and every one of our volunteers that give up their spare time to make Wicklow and South Dublin a better place for the people who live, work and visit our county.’ A number of walking

groups were recognised on the night for their work to ‘Clean-Up The South Dublin Uplands’ with regular litter picks and clean-ups of South Dublin Upland Roads, Mountain Trails, Woodlands and Forest Entrances. Several litter picks / clean-ups were organised throughout the year and areas covered included, Glenasmole Road, Cunard Road, Piperstown Road, Glassamucky Road, Castle Kelly Road, Ballymorefinn, Kilakee Car Park, The White Road, and all sections of the R115 Military Road.

Certificates of Recognition and cheques for €250 were presented to, The Bog Trotters Hill Walking Group, Trekkers Walking Group, Wayfarers Walking Group, Átha Cliath Clean Up the Uplands Team, Glencree Walking Group, Gunny Hill Pure Mile Group, Cruagh Pure Mile Group Reservoir Cogs Pure Mile, Irish Mountain Running Association.

Brendan Giffney, a member of the Bog Trotters Walking Group Walking Group, who received a Certificate of Recognition and a cheque for €250, commented on why their group got involved in the Pure Mile, ‘The Bogtrotters are a small friendly hill walking club based in South County Dublin. We walk every

weekend in the Dublin/ Wicklow mountains. We are very fortunate and appreciative to have such beauty on our doorstep, however we are saddened and appalled by the amount of litter and dumping we come across on a regular basis. As a result of this we as a club have decided to adopt areas as part of the Pure Mile in the South Dublin mountains and remove as much litter and rubbish as possible.’

The Pure Mile is the perfect opportunity for communities and groups who want to make a positive contribution to their locality and environment, and assists people in improving and enhancing the place they live in, or recreate in. Special interest groups such as, walking groups, cycling groups, scout groups, businesses, and organisations, adopt a mile, or miles of road, in the Wicklow/Dublin Uplands and help Pure to Clean Up The Uplands. Pure provide all groups with Pure Mile signage, Pure Mile bags, gloves, litter pickers and Pure Mile high-vis vests, and they also remove all of the rubbish collected by the groups.

Ian Davis, Pure Project Manager commented on the success and growth of the 2022 Pure Mile in South

Dublin, ‘The Pure Mile has grown every year and we now have thousands of volunteers many of whom are adopting areas in the South Dublin Uplands. This year we saw some largescale clean-ups and litter picks which resulted in the removal of approximately 4,000 bags of rubbish and illegal dumping from the Wicklow/Dublin Uplands. Over the years the Pure Mile Volunteers have removed tonnes of litter and illegal dumping from South Dublin upland roads, verges, hedges, and drains, and they have made a huge difference to the South Dublin Uplands.’

If any groups, communities, individuals, schools, walking groups, cycling groups, scouts, businesses, ANYONE, want to get involved in Pure Mile, they can contact Pure at info@pureproject.ie or download an application from www.pureproject. ie/what-we-do/the-puremile/. You can also write to; Pure Project, Unit 6 B, Riverside Business Centre, Tinahely, Co Wicklow, Y14 R978, and they will post out all the information, or request an application form and information pack by phoning Pure on 0402 28662.

Further information on Pure can be found on www. pureproject.ie

TU DUBLIN LAUNCHES ENTERPRISE ACADEMY FOR TALENT DEVELOPMENT

Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) announced the launch of the Enterprise Academy, a new business unit to support Irish-based enterprise in their talent development efforts and long-term skills strategy. The Enterprise Academy team, an accomplished group of sector-facing business professionals, academics and domain experts, will offer consulting and partnership resources for enterprise and facilitate the co-development of flexible, accredited talent development solutions across TU Dublin’s five faculties: Computing, Digital & Data; Engineering & the Built Environment; Sciences and Health; Business; and Arts & Humanities.

As Ireland’s largest Technological University, TU Dublin is forging a new path in Irish higher education. Underpinned by the University’s strategic pillars of People, Planet and Partnership, enterprise engagement is embedded in the University’s culture. The Enterprise Academy is the product of two years of piloting and scaling collaboration models as part of Convene, a Human Capital Initiative project designed to transform university-enterprise engagement led by TU Dublin in partnership with UCD. Through Convene, TU Dublin’s Enterprise Academy and UCD’s Innovation Academy will continue to collaborate in a shared commitment to improving higher education for all.

“The Enterprise Academy builds on our deep history of enterprise engagement and research-informed, practice-based learning and reinforces our commitment to being one of the most flexible universities in meeting the needs of our stakeholders,” said Professor David FitzPatrick, President of TU Dublin.

“The Enterprise Academy will develop and enhance how TU Dublin and its enterprise partners work together – streamlining collaboration between enterprise, faculty,

professional services, research and innovation, as well as policymakers and the broader academic community, to create a new co-learning system for talent development.”

The Enterprise Academy responds to a series of a national calls including the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 and Ireland’s National Skills Strategy 2025 for a singleentry point for enterprise to access the skills ecosystem within higher education, a response to growth in the need for lifelong learning and mechanisms to ensure a two-way exchange of knowledge between academia and enterprise. Through Convene, initiatives to establish flexible, scalable solutions to key areas including transversal skills, digital transformation and sustainability are already underway.

“Convene was awarded funding under the Human Capital Initiative’s Pillar III – Innovation and Agility – and it is fantastic to see TU Dublin supporting the project by creating a longterm structure to transform their engagement with enterprise,” said Vivienne Patterson, Head of Skills and Engagement at the Higher Education Authority. “It’s essential to the future of universities that they not just collaborate with industry, but that enterprise partnerships are strong, inclusive and enduring and inform a culture of lifelong learning for our society,” she added.

The Enterprise Academy’s accredited talent development partnership model includes a wide mix of flexible delivery mechanisms – from Level 6 to Level 10 of the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), including microcredentials that can be stacked as pathways to larger awards. Enterprise can also take advantage of TU Dublin’s Linked and Collaborative Provider models, which support enterprises to design, accredit and run their own courses within a supportive, research-informed

and quality-assured environment.

“The Enterprise Academy weaves together enterprise, academia, innovation, and research to deliver unique educational models,” said Dr Claire Mc Bride, Convene Project Lead. “Through Convene, we have developed flexible models that can be applied and scaled to target sectors and business types, as well as developing nextpractice frameworks for mentoring, transversal

skills, work-based learning and micro-credentials.

The Enterprise Academy is ‘open for business’ and we look forward to supporting enterprise, our academic community and our students in a spirit of openness and collaboration,” she added.

The Enterprise Academy aims to bring enterprise closer to TU Dublin and will promote engagement between ‘talent developers’ in enterprise and academia and with TU Dublin’s existing community of more than

30,000 students. Ongoing collaborations will serve as a feedback loop to refine and accelerate engagement processes, inform programme development, pioneer new learning technologies and tackle barriers to collaboration.

“For enterprise, universities can be an untapped resource as it can be hard to navigate the complex structures and processes,” said Simon McKeever, Chief Executive of the Irish Exporter’s Association. “Enterprises

know that to thrive in a world facing climate change, supply chain disruption and other crises, they need to be active participants in the talent development pipeline and learning ecosystem. The Enterprise Academy will make that process easier and more productive, and we are excited to partner with TU Dublin on this initiative.”

For more information, visit www.tudublin.ie/ enterprise-academy

MOTORING LIFE WITH NEW OPEL GRANDLAND – NEW DESIGN, NEW APPEAL

By Breda Corrigan

The new Grandland mid-size family SUV is an important car for the Opel brand, and it is crucial to the German manufacturer’s fortunes under the Stellantis umbrella. Formerly known as the Grandland X, the new model has dropped the ‘X’ from its name, as is the case with the smaller Crossland SUV. There is nothing typical about the new Opel Grandland, with its bold new design, iconic ‘Vizor’ flush front grille, spacious interior with an all-digital Pure Panel display, state-of-the-art petrol and diesel engines, and innovative features such as Night Vision and IntelliLux LED Pixel Lights.

Trim Grades and Engine Options.

The new Opel Grandland model line-up consists of three grades – SC, SRI and Elite – all of which come with more standard equipment than ever before. Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) options in the new Grandland consist of a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol unit with 130bhp, and a 1.5-litre turbodiesel that also produces 130bhp, both of which come with Stop Start technology as standard. The petrol engine is available with a six-speed manual transmission across all three trim grades, with an eightspeed automatic transmission reserved for SRI and Elite trim grades, while the diesel engine is only available with the automatic transmission as standard.

The new Grandland is based on the same EMP2 platform that underpinned its predecessor, so there is also a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant on the horizon. The new Grandland plug-in electric hybrid 225bhp 2WD version will arrive later in 2022 (31g

Terrific Road Presence.

Measuring in at just under 4.5 metres in length, and 1.63 metres tall, the new Grandland commands terrific road presence from every angle, while a wheelbase of 2.68 metres ensures excellent interior space too. Families looking for expansive cargo space will be suitably impressed by the 514-litre capacity under the luggage compartment cover with the rear seats in their upright position. However, this increases to 1,652-litres when the rear seat backs are folded flat. There is no loading lip, with a moveable boot floor that is flush with the bumper when set in its higher position.

Test Car Details.

My test car was a new Grandland 1.2-litre 130bhp (petrol) in top-spec Elite trim, and it attracted lots of admiration in its striking Vertigo Blue metallic paintwork and contrasting black roof, door mirrors and roof rails. Key standard ‘Elite’ specification includes: 19” bi-colour diamond-cut multispoke alloy wheels, black roof with high gloss black roof rails, full LED Pixel Matrix AFL front headlamps with High Beam Assist, automatic headlamps and wipers, rear privacy glass, front and rear parking sensors, rear view camera, handsfree electric tailgate, 60/40 split-folding rear seat back, Jet Black Nappa leather upholstery, front centre armrest with hidden storage and 2 cupholders, DAB radio, wireless phone

charger, USB connectivity in the front console and second row, 12” digital driver instrument cluster, 10” colour touchscreen with navigation, Apple CarPlay™ & Android Auto™, driver and front passenger sports AGR seats, heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel, heated windscreen, and automatic dual-zone climate control, along with many more comfort and convenience features. Standard safety equipment includes Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), Electronic Braking Distribution (EBD), Active Lane Keep Assist, Active Emergency Braking System, cruise control with speed limiter, enhanced traffic sign recognition, ultrasonic side blind spot alert, and hill start assist, while an array of airbags are also fitted.

On The Road.

The new Grandland feels solid and predictable on the road, and body roll through corners is well controlled thanks to the car’s firmer suspension set-up. Around town, the Grandland has good visibility, and it is easy to get comfortable behind the reach & rake-adjustable steering wheel too. The six-speed manual transmission has a positive shift action, while the light steering makes the Grandland very easy to drive and manoeuvrable in tight spots. Refinement is another strong point, with only the faintest grumble from under the bonnet when accelerating hard. The 1.2-litre Turbo engine produces 130bhp and 230Nm of torque for a 0-100km/h sprint time of 10.4-seconds, on the way to a top speed of 188km/h (where permitted). Claimed fuel consumption as low as

6.2l/100km on a WLTP combined driving cycle should be achievable in real-world driving, as I managed to record a figure of 6.5l/100km on a motorway journey I made in my Grandland test car.

Upmarket Cabin.

Material quality within the cabin of the new Grandland is good, with black softtouch plastics used throughout to make the interior a nice place to spend time. All of the main controls are within easy reach of the driver, with shortcut buttons for the infotainment, volume and air-conditioning proving easier to find than the touchscreenbased controls found in some of the Grandland’s rivals. Infotainment screen graphics are clear and the system is fast enough in its operation, but many drivers will more likely than not use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto as their preferred source of content.

Verdict, Pricing & Warranty.

I feel that the new Opel Grandland range represents better value than ever, while the design updates and new infotainment tech make it more appealing. Opel’s refreshed mid-size SUV is comfortable, practical, well equipped and an affordable all-rounder that benefits from greatly improved safety tech too. The new Opel Grandland is priced from €37,395 (excluding delivery-related charges). A 3-year/100,000km warranty comes as standard, along with roadside assistance for the duration of the warranty. The new Opel Grandland is on sale at Opel dealerships nationwide now.

CO2 combined), with a 300bhp AWD version to follow.

FOODCLOUD WINS CHARITY OF THE YEAR 2022 AT THE CHARITY EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2022

Charities Institute Ireland’s (CII) Charity Excellence Awards 2022, proudly sponsored by Ecclesiastical Insurance, showcased the best in class across the charity sector in Ireland. Ecclesiastical Insurance was delighted to play a role in bringing to life these awards in which FoodCloud was awarded this year’s top prize of Charity of the Year.

FoodCloud has a longstanding commitment to the community and showcases an ability to assist those most deprived by redistributing 100 million meals to its network of community groups and charity partners across Ireland and the UK. CII’s Charity Excellence Awards, sponsored by Ecclesiastical Insurance Ireland, took place at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road earlier this month. The event saw representatives from leading organisations and community groups come together to celebrate and recognise the charity sector’s contribution to Irish society over the past year.

FoodCloud won the Charity of The Year Award, as the organisation had a truly exceptional year, and its recent achievements have attracted admiration from peers in the sector. Commenting on the Award, Iseult Ward, CEO and CoFounder, FoodCloud said “We are honoured to have received this year’s Charity of the Year award from the Charities Institute Ireland. This is a huge

accomplishment, after a challenging two years where we saw a massive increase in demand for our services to provide surplus food to charities, and a true testament to all the work our team and partners have done in coming together in support of local communities. This recognition is more important than ever as we meet further challenges in the coming winter months, with the rising cost of living and climate crisis.”

Trócaire won Fundraising Team of The Year for its recognisable success over the past year. In 2021 this fundraising team achieved its best income performance in decades. Trócaire also won the Finance Team of the Year award. Rehab & Mr Price won one of the most meaningful awards this year - the People’s Choice Award, which reflects the voice of the entire charity community. Other winners on the night included Belong To - LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland (Charity Board of the Year); basis.point (Fundraising Campaign of the Year - under €1m); Irish Cancer Society (Fundraising Campaign of the Year - over €1m); Teen-Turn & MSD Ireland (Best Corporate Charity Partnership); National Council for the Blind of Ireland (Digital Transformation); Emma Archbold - Children’s Rights Alliance (Emerging Leader); Lorraine Toner - Irish Community Air Ambulance (Outstanding Fundraiser of the Year); and John-Mark

McCafferty of Threshold (Excellence in Charity Leadership).

Speaking of the Awards, David Lane, Managing Director at Ecclesiastical Insurance said “At Ecclesiastical Insurance we have a long history of fostering community and supporting causes, so it is really important for us to be part of the Charity Excellence Awards this year. We are delighted to be able to acknowledge the strong presence and sense of charity in Irish society and the action that is behind it all. And we are proud to be giving back to those who give so much to our society. The Charity Excellence Awards is an opportunity to create awareness of the great work the charity sector is doing and how we can contribute towards building a better society. It was great to see such an amazing group of people coming together to celebrate those giving back to the community, and I am delighted to see FoodCloud receive Charity of the Year, it is well deserved.”

Áine Myler, Chief Executive Officer at Charities Institute Ireland, said “We are thrilled to partner with our sponsor Ecclesiastical for the 2022 Charity Excellence Awards. The Awards offer an opportunity to celebrate the fantastic work being done by charities in Ireland and we are so pleased to be able to recognise and celebrate these achievements. All of the charities nominated in each of the categories

worked tirelessly day in, day out to enrich and improve the lives of so many and

make a huge difference to thousands of lives.” To find out more information about

the Charity Excellence Awards 2022, visit www. charitiesinstituteireland.ie

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS AT THE PAKMAN AWARDS ‘22

Two Dublin businesses, Panda Green and Rebox have been named as the winners of the ‘Waste Recovery Operator –Household and Commercial’ and ‘Innovation in Waste Resource Products or Services’ categories in this year’s Pakman Awards. At the centre of the circular economy, Panda Green processes and manages three million tonnes of packaging waste a year. Fully committed to the ‘zero-landfill’ mission, Panda recycles and repurposes waste, compost biodegradable waste, reuses and recovers steel and wool, as well as implements ‘wash-andreturn’ facilities to help reuse plastic food trays. Rebox has helped companies all over the country in their carbon reduction journeys. Rebox’s mission is to collect reusable cardboard all over Ireland to create reusable packaging. This process has helped many different companies to reduce

their carbon footprint dramatically.

Another highlight of this year’s awards saw seven charities or community organisations, each nominated by an attendee who had a ticket assigned to them pulled from a charity draw on the night, receive a €1,000 donation each. The charities that received donations from the Pakman Awards were Skerries Tidy Towns, Skerries Autism Friendly Towns, St. Francis Hospice, Pieta House, Simon Community, My Canine Companion and Sejare House Limerick. The Pakman Awards, powered by Repak, is held annually and seeks to find and celebrate Ireland’s recycling and waste management champions.

Winning a Pakman Award is one of the highest accolades an organisation, company, community group or individual can receive for their environmental

and sustainability efforts. Minister of State for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Public Procurement, eGovernment with special responsibility for Communications and Circular Economy, Ossian Smyth TD commented ‘Since last year’s Pakman Awards, Government has published Ireland’s first Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy and enacted the first Circular Economy Act. The pace of change is remarkable. The Pakman awards don’t just recognise the marvelous achievements of individual companies but will further inspire and energise us all to reach Ireland’s potential to become a leader in the circular economy.’

Speaking at the 2022 Pakman Awards, Séamus Clancy, CEO of Repak said ‘We are delighted to be celebrating many environmental champions at this year’s awards, who

are leading by example in implementing excellent recycling and waste management practices over the last twelve months.

This year saw some of the highest entries from companies, businesses, community groups and individuals to the Pakman Awards, a reflection of the commitment of many industries in Ireland to help reach our future EU recycling targets and protect our planet for future generations.

The standard of this year’s

entries was not only exceptional but served as inspiration for others in how to deliver exemplary environmental practices. I would like to thank our sponsors, congratulate all the winners and finalists and extend a special congratulations to Co. Dublin businesses, Rebox as the winner of the Innovation in Waste Resource Products or Services award, and Panda Green on winning the Waste Recovery Operator –Household and Commercial award.’

Brendan Keane from the

Irish Waste Management Association (IWMA) concluded ‘The 2022 Pakman entries saw Irish businesses both large and small take a major step forward in the innovative reduction and recycling of precious natural resources. In particular we saw smaller organisations, communities and individuals doubling down on their impacts to yield both cost and resource savings which gives us clear hope for the future in Ireland as a nation, committing to and striving for a circular economy’.