Rathcoole Saggart News 31st Oct 22

A&E WAITING TIMES ARE UNACCEPTABLE

TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has said that the latest HIQA reports into emergency department dysfunction across the State show that widespread investment in capacity as well as reform of patient care is urgently needed for patients who rely on Tallaght University Hospital for healthcare

Teachta Crowe said “Emergency department waits have continued in the wrong direction in the last year, and now stand at an average

of more than 20 hours in Tallaght University Hospital. This is very concerning for patients who need urgent access to care. It’s almost twice the statewide average of 12 hours. “Over 75’s face an average wait of 18 hours. This is entirely unacceptable and can only lead to greater distress and suffering for older people who are in need of medical assistance.

“There is also a severe knock on effect on our ambulance services who are often left idling

on the tarmac outside a hospital, unable to transfer patients to the hospital, which then results in the ambulance being pulled out of service for indefinite durations.

“We need significant investment in primary and community care, especially in training more general practice doctors and primary care nurses and allied health and social care professionals to move more care out of hospitals.

“Too many patients are being treated in the

wrong place, at the wrong time, leading to costly delays in their care. “Alternative care pathways and locations as well as additional step-down capacity, planned based on the health needs of communities on a local and regional basis, must be advanced. “We also need to see much greater investment in public diagnostic capacity, with direct access for GPs as well as a modernisation of acute hospital diagnostic capacity to increase efficiency. We know that many of the lengthy ED delays are due to patients waiting for scans and their results.

“The Minister for Health is reacting to crisis after crisis with short-term measures, but we need a serious, multi-annual plan which addresses long emergency department waits through a reorientation of care, investment in capacity and in particular bed capacity, and greater attention and investment in workforce planning.

“Regionalisation, integration of care, and investment in the

YOU HAVE A QUERY WHICH RELATES TO: LITIGATION

RATHFARNHAM CASTLE PARK GREEN FLAG

Rathfarnham Castle Park has been awarded the prestigious Green Flag for the third time in succession, Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Councillor

Emma Murphy raised the flag recently and said The Green Flag Award is an international benchmark that recognises and rewards high-quality parks and

green spaces. This year over 2,300 public sites in 16 countries around the World have achieved Green Flag or Green Flag Community Award status, the award scheme is managed in Ireland by An Taisce.

National Ambulance Service to provide better services as well as community-based services are all necessary components of such a plan.

“We will never reduce health waiting lists if we cannot get on top of the crisis in emergency departments, but this requires strategic multiannual planning which has not been forthcoming

from the Minister for Health. “Staff at Tallaght University Hospital are working extremely hard to do their best to give patients the high quality care that they deserve, but the government’s failure to invest and plan is making their work harder. Patients who rely on Tallaght University Hospital deserve high quality care without unnecessary delays.

It rates the management of parks by local authorities across criteria including

safety, cleanliness, conservation, sustainability, and community involvement. Rathfarnham Castle Park is one of 104 Green Flag sites in Ireland, this comprises of 85 formal public Green Flag Park sites, along with 19 volunteer run Green Community Sites. This award is a

huge honour for everyone in SDCC and park users, I believe the green flag demonstrates how much care and effort the Park’s staff put into maintaining the park and how much the local community use and appreciate the park. A special mention must go out to the local community

groups who play an active role in the park providing community participation, litter picks, and getting involved in engagement on new initiatives and park maintenance – all of this feeds into the green flag application and management programme for the park.

Pictured Cllr. Emma Murphy Mayor of South Dublin with Cllr Yvonne Collins, Cllr. Lyn Hagin Meade, Cllr Lynn McCrave and Helen Kaene (Rathfarnham Woods Residents Association) in Rathfarnham Castle Park to raise the 2022/23 Green Flag Rathfarnham Castle Park. Pic credit: Ben Ryan

SDCC COUNCILLOR AMONG 100 TENANTS FACING EVICTION

A People Before Profit Councillor is one of about 100 residents facing eviction from their apartments in the Kilmainham area.

The apartment block called Tathony House contains 35 apartments and all tenants were given Notices to Quit last Wednesday the 20th October. The owner is selling the building and is claiming exemption from the Tyrrellstown Amendment

which was introduced to stop mass evictions. Cllr Madeleine Johansson, who represents the North Clondalkin/Palmerstown area for People Before Profit, has been renting an apartment in the block with her husband since 2009 and is now facing becoming homeless in June next year.

She is now organising the tenants to take a case to the RTB and to call on Dublin

City Council to purchase the building. Cllr Johansson said: “It’s a very surreal situation to be in, I’m used to helping others fighting eviction and now I have to fight for myself.

“Me and my husband are the victims of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael’s failed housing policies. We were on the housing list for 6 years, then we changed jobs and got kicked off the list because our income was too high. Then my husband lost his job and we had to go back on the housing list.

We can’t qualify for a mortgage and we can’t afford to pay the rents that are being charged at the moment in Dublin. I know so many others who are in the same situation as us, and it makes me so angry.

“In other European countries we would have been able to access public housing and paid affordable

rent for good quality housing. “We are not going to give up without a fight. We believe that the block should be purchased by Dublin City Council or an Approved Housing Body, like

what happened in Leeside in Cork, so that all tenants can stay here and not have to face homelessness come June next year.

We have people from all

walks of life living here, single mothers, families and even pensioners.

Everyone deserves the right to a home and no one should be forced to leave.”

NATURE CAPTURED BY LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER

NO GET UP AND GO WITH NEW GO AHEAD BUS ROUTES

Issues with reliability and punctuality on local bus routes are causing a major headache for commuters using the L51 & L52 bus services, a local TD has said. Deputy Emer Higgins, TD for Dublin Mid West was speaking, following continued engagement with the National Transport Authority to highlight major issues with reliability on local routes.

Deputy Higgins said: “Since the reconfiguration of local bus routes and the move to Go Ahead for some services, I have certainly noticed an increase in complaints around the reliability and punctuality of some routes, particularly the L51 and L52 routes which provide a service from Adamstown Station via Dodsboro to Lucan Village and on to either Liffey Valley (L51) or Blanchardstown (L52).

impact on people, particularly older people who are just choosing not to go out in the evening for fear they won’t have any way of getting home.

“Locals will know that these services were introduced as part of the new Bus Connects rollout and the issues with punctuality and reliability just fuel the anger of those already dissatisfied with the changes in the first place, particularly the older population who have been disadvantaged by the loss of the 25 bus route. “I raised this issue with the NTA and I was informed that the L51 has a recent punctuality rate of 80.4% while the L52 has a punctuality rate of 69.8% and the target for bus operators to meet is 80% so this certainly shows that the L52 has a particular issue with turning up on time while the L51 is just making the grade,” Deputy Higgins added.

said Deputy Higgins.

“For the first six months of the year, Dublin Bus were fined €1.5m by the NTA for cancellations and delays and Go-Ahead were fined €1.17m. Comparatively, Dublin Bus operate 119 routes, while Go Ahead has 30, so it would appear that Go Ahead is experiencing sizable issues with delays and cancellations considering the smaller number of routes they operate in Dublin. “As with a lot of industries, bus operators are experiencing significant challenges in recruiting qualified staff in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the NTA tell me that they are in regular contact with Go Ahead, who are making every attempt to recruit more drivers so that all services can run as scheduled.

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.

Recently in Palmerstown Camera Club, they had the judging night for a themed competition “Nature” and the featured winning image “Fungi” is by Aoife Tierney.

“Unfortunately, local commuters are reporting to me that buses are not arriving on time or being cancelled all together, leaving commuters stuck with no alternative way to get to work, school or appointments on time. “Local people looking to use the routes to get home in the evenings after being in their local pub or maybe socialising with friends or family are also now increasingly finding that the last bus of the evening is not turning up and this can have a very isolating

“Perhaps more concerning is the level of reliability or cancellations on these routes which is measured as a percentage of scheduled kilometres against the kilometres actually travelled by the buses and for both the L51 and L52 they are falling short in this regard. “Bus operators should lose a maximum of 2% of kilometres on their routes but in the first quarter of 2022, the L51 lost 5.9% of kilometres on the route while the L52 lost 7.8%,”

“They have undertaken extensive driver recruitment campaigns in recent months and significant numbers of additional drivers are expected to become available once their required training and tests are complete and licences are issued by the Road Safety Authority, a process which the NTA are doing their best to expedite. “These delays and cancellations are a massive headache for commuters and I will be continuing to raise the issue with the NTA until it is addressed,” concluded Deputy Higgins.

UPCOMING WEDDING FAIR AT THE SPRINGFIELD HOTEL LEIXLIP

We are a 58-bedroomed modern hotel situated 15km from our vibrant capital city of Dublin and have excellent transport links. We are also 5 minutes’ walk to the historical town of Leixlip.

Springfield Hotel is perfectly suited for your family or business requirements with a perfect wedding venue, private dining and 4 equipped meeting rooms. All of us are very proud that we are a friendly, family owned and run hotel with a longstanding team and when guests return they know we will make them feel welcome and at home. We understand that planning for the most important day

of your life means selecting a wedding venue with 50 years wedding experience, that offers nothing but the best, so be assured that our dedicated wedding management team will be on hand throughout the day delivering a professional and efficient service with meticulous attention to detail

Our ballroom the Anna Liffey Suite is the perfect place for that magical occasion, with its beautiful chandeliers & oak beams it is a stunning room. The Anna Liffey can cater from numbers of 70 to 220. With just one wedding a day policy, the focus of our attention is solely on your special day, so you and

your guests can completely relax and thoroughly enjoy the occasion.

Our inclusive wedding packages start from €62 per person. Pre-and postwedding dinners, lunches, barbecue celebrations, buffets may be arranged on request to ensure a truly unique experience for you and your guests. We are delighted to provide all our couples with full complimentary access to Moposa online wedding service. Moposa enables you to share more of the wedding with family and friends, simplify the planning process and save time and money along the way.

The Springfield Hotel is a licensed civil wedding venue, which means that as well as holding your wedding reception with us, you can also have your marriage ceremony here so you can enjoy a stress-free wedding with the ceremony and celebrations in one location. Whatever you choose; a small intimate gathering in one of our private rooms or a larger and more stylish affair in our Anna Liffey Suite, we offer full wedding packages or we can tailor one that will suit your requirements for your memorable day. Combining delightful surroundings with impeccable service we

have welcomed many happy couples, their families and friends in the past and our experience can help

make your dreams of the perfect day come true To view our wedding facilities and discuss your wedding

plans contact our Wedding Team at 01 - 4581100 or email banqueting@ springfieldhotel.ie

ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR CELEBRATES SCHOOL REGENERATION INITIATIVE WITH TALLAGHT CNS

John Lahart TD, and Francis Duffy TD met with students at Tallaght Community National School to celebrate the completion of a school regeneration initiative spearheaded by Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Highlighting its involvement in the communities it operates in, Enterprise embarked on a community relations project with Tallaght CNS, to repaint the school interiors and build a covered outdoor teaching area.

Speaking of the project, Principal of Tallaght CNS, Conor McCarthy said, “This has been a brilliant initiative in improving the lives of our students and the quality of their learning. The outdoor teaching space will allow students to bring the classroom outside and enjoy the fresh air, no matter the weather.

“Through this, Enterprise has demonstrated its commitment to our community, and the value

they place on education, and supporting the young people of Ireland.”

Last year, Enterprise worked closely with Tallaght CNS through its ROAD Forward initiative in partnership with Children’s Books Ireland, where 1,900 copies of Why the Moon Travels by Oein DeBhairduin were given to children at 64 schools across Ireland. The book donations illustrate Enterprise’s support for childhood literacy and through the work of DeBhairduin, it brings an authentic voice of Ireland’s Traveller community to a broader audience.

Since the ROAD Forward initiative, Enterprise has remained involved in the schools and communities that received the books, and this summer they embarked on a mission to carry out improvements to Tallaght CNS. Enterprise fundraised the money for improvements with their

local business partners and vendors and got volunteers from their local branches to help create an outdoor classroom.

Enterprise Group Vice President General Manager Brendan Grieve, said, “Enterprise employees were encouraged to utilise our ‘my purpose, my time’ initiative whereby they take a paid day out of the business to volunteer in the local community. “Our teams raised the €5,000 required to paint and create a covered, outdoor teaching space, with the work taking place during a scorching hot week in early August, with 12 Enterprise volunteers.”

Enterprise currently has 30 branches across Ireland and is fully committed to the communities it operates within through its emphasis on sustainable forms of transport. Enterprise has a growing fleet of hybrid and electric vehicles across the business and is

a signatory of the Business in the Community Low Carbon Pledge. Enterprise

is also a founding member of Mobility Partnership Ireland which helps drive

sustainability mobility solutions across the wider industry.

Pictured Left to right Thomas Kinch, Brendan Grieve, Leslie O’Loughlin, Naitik Kumar, Kiril Bortnikov, Jayda Amaraoui, Kate Spencer

PARAMEDIC CALLS ON HEALTH MINISTER TO DELIVER PROMISED PANDEMIC PAYMENT

Firefighter, paramedic and Workers’ Party representative David Gardiner has called on Minister Stephen Donnelly to finally deliver the Pandemic Special Recognition Payment to Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics. Gardiner said “Back in January, healthcare workers were promised a payment of €1,000 to recognise our role in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. We are coming towards the end of the year now, and Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics are still yet to receive this payment.”

“We had the job of transporting people from homes and nursing homes into the hospital. Especially in the early days of the pandemic when the virus wasn’t entirely understood, this could be a stressful and worrying task. This was made worse by the level of understaffing in Dublin Fire Brigade. “Not only did we risk catching the virus

ourselves, but we risked passing it on to our loved ones at home. With that said, we knew what our job was and we carried it out in service to the people of Dublin.”

“What is not acceptable to us, however, is the level of disrespect that we have been shown by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly. Like many others, we worked a tough job during the pandemic, and yet we have only been met with empty words in relation to the delivery of this recognition payment.”

“It is worth noting that this has all occurred during a cost-of-living crisis. If we were to account for inflation between when the payment was announced and now, we would actually be looking at a figure of €1,067.54.”

“Stephen Donnelly not only owes us €1,000, but he also owes us an explanation as to what has taken him so long to deliver on his promise.”

GOVERNMENT MUST SCRAP FLAWED CONCRETE BLOCK LEVY PLAN

TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has urged the government to scrap their concrete block levy plans altogether, amid media reports today that they will ‘go back to the drawing board’ with the flawed proposals.

Teachta Crowe said “I have repeatedly called on the government to scrap their flawed concrete levy plans, which I fear will risk pushing up house prices in South Dublin even further due to the badly designed nature of the proposals. Sinn Féin brought forward a motion in the Dáil recently ago outlining these flaws and urging the government to drop the plan.

“The scheme is badly designed and will mean that people living in homes with defects and first time buyers will see their house prices soar. It is totally unacceptable that these homeowners and buyers should be expected to foot

the bill for the concrete blocks scandal. “We cannot allow this proposal to hit ordinary people’s pockets, at a time when they are already struggling with sky high housing costs due to this government’s failure to tackle the growing housing crisis. “I am very concerned that, despite the

flaws being outlined to the government by Sinn Féin repeatedly, media reports that they are ‘going back to the drawing board’ rather than scrap these proposals altogether.

I am again urging the government to put a stop to this now, give people and the industry certainty,

and make plain their intentions. The Government TDs in Dublin South West must come forward and give clarity about what is going on. People need to know that the government won’t insist on pushing this poorly thought out proposal through and risk making the housing crisis even worse.”

NEW PARKRUN IN DODDER VALLEY LAUNCH

South Dublin County Sports Partnership, in partnership with the HSE, announce the launch of their new weekly Parkrun event in Dodder Valley Park following the upgrade of the park walkways by South Dublin County Council. Launching with its first run on 5 November 2022, this FREE weekly Parkrun event will work to serve the local neighbourhoods like Firhouse, Knocklyon, and Tallaght as well helping to create a better community for all in the wider South Dublin County community.

Parkruns are free weekly 5k runs held Saturday mornings in local parks around South Dublin and Ireland. These events aim to develop runner confidence in a safe and friendly community-based way while

also being great social outlets. Established in the Republic of Ireland in 2012, Parkrun has continued to grow in popularity now boasting 104 locations and 218,820 race finishers. Dodder Valley Park has seen lots of investment and upgrades to its 100 hectares in recent years. In addition to a new a changing pavilion, new tennis / basketball courts and playing pitches, the park is connected by a new modern greenway, which when completed, will link the Dublin Mountains to Dublin City. The addition of this new event is a wonderful extra to the park.

To register for the new Dodder Valley Park Parkrun, or for more information on a Parkrun near you, visit www.parkrun.ie

COMMUNITY CENTRES IN PALMERSTOWN AND CLONDALKIN TO RECEIVE FUNDING OF €69,000

Three community centres across Palmerstown and Clondalkin will receive combined funding of €68,858 to upgrade facilities which will benefit users of all ages, according to TD for Dublin Mid West, Deputy Emer Higgins. Deputy Higgins was speaking after Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys announced the successful projects under Category 1 of the Community Centres Investment Fund.

Deputy Higgins said: “I am delighted that my colleague Minister Humphreys has made this funding available to Dublin Mid West community centres given the vital work that staff and volunteers there do and the invaluable services they provide. “Fine Gael is working to build stronger safer communities and today’s funding allocation is the latest in a long line

of initiatives and supports aimed at making our towns, villages and cities more attractive places to live and visit,” said Deputy Higgins.

“The Community Centres Investment Fund was launched by Minister Humphreys in April 2022 with funding of €15m available under three categories. The key theme of the fund is to support community groups with the upgrade and development of their Community Centre facilities. “Community centres which will receive funding include; Palmerstown Community Council (€24,585.00), the Parochial House Palmerstown (€19,273.33) and the Bawnogue Youth and Community Centre (€25,000.00),” added Deputy Higgins.

“Our community centres are valued shared spaces and are very much at the heart

of the towns and villages in place like Palmerstown and Clondalkin. I hope this funding assists in making them even better in the provision of services to people all across Dublin Mid West,” concluded Deputy Higgins.

Minister Humphreys said: Through ‘Our Rural Future’, I want to support locally led, ground-up projects in local communities across the country. This funding is all about giving a helping hand to our local groups and clubs, which have continued to serve their community.

“I also want to congratulate the successful projects and to thank them for the vital work they do in providing services in their local communities. This funding will deliver high quality capital projects for community facilities that bring benefit to the local community.”

ST MARK’S PARISH 50TH CELEBRATIONS

Pictured in Springfield at the 50th Celebration of St Mark’s Parish were Archbishop Dermot Farrell with Jennifer Scanlon who was the first baby christened in the Parish and Charlie O’Connor who was among the first residents in the Estate.

TRANSPORT CHIEFS MUST APPEAR BEFORE OIREACHTAS COMMITTEE

The National Transport Authority (NTA) and Dublin Bus must come before the Oireachtas Transport Committee over a new Dublin bus route that has been riddled with delays and cancelled services, Senator Mary Seery Kearney has said.

Senator Seery Kearney,

who represents Dublin South Central, said: “On 16th October, Dublin Bus commenced the longawaited changes that saw the 79, 79A and 40 bus routes replaced by the G1, G2 and Route 60.

The new buses mainly serve Ballyfermot, Liffey Valley, Inchicore, Clondalkin,

Cherry Orchard and Sir John Rogerson’s Quay and are operated by Dublin Bus. “However just over a week since it’s commencement and I am receiving calls and emails of buses not showing up, of locals not knowing where their new bus stops are, and of a total disconnect between the real time app, the

digital read-outs at the bus stops and the arrival of buses. “Several locals have complained to me that even when buses are arriving on time, they are not stopping because they are already at capacity.

“On a recent Friday, the 16:30 and 17:30 60 bus services were unable to

operate due to a staffing issue on the route. This is unacceptable for commuters particularly during rush hour when people are trying to get home from work and school.

“The communication of these changes has also been a total mess, with posters placed on bus stops that are illegible, an example of this would be the notice at the bus stop in College Green. It cannot be read by a person standing at the bus stop.

“Changes should not be introduced without adequate notice to the public and ensuring that there is adequate staffing and bus vehicles to actually deliver the changes on the ground. “At a time when we are trying to encourage the use of public transport it is absolutely unacceptable that bus capacity if anything appears to be reduced,

communication with the public is woeful and consequently there is an erosion of confidence that service users will actually get to their destination on time, meaning they are more likely to revert to a car.

“The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including BusConnects Dublin. “I have written to the Oireachtas Transport Committee to urgently seek a meeting to review this utter shambles. I am also of the view that officials from the NTA and Dublin Bus should come before the Committee to explain the rationale for the changes and concerns over the frequency of the new Route 60.”

The Fianna Fail Team is Barry Andrews M.E.P, John Lahart TD, Cllrs Yvonne Collins, Teresa Costello, Emma Murphy, Charlie O’Connor & Deirdre O’Donovan

REPORTS INTO EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT DYSFUNCTION SHOW NEED FOR INVESTMENT AND REFORM

TD for Dublin Mid-West Mark Ward TD has said that the latest HIQA reports into emergency department dysfunction across the State show that widespread investment in capacity as well as reform of patient care is urgently needed for patients in Dublin MidWest. Teachta Ward said “Emergency department waits have continued in the wrong direction in the last year, and now stand at 20.3 hours in Tallaght University Hospital. This is very concerning for patients in Dublin Mid-West who need urgent access to care.

“We need significant investment in primary and community care, especially in training more general practice doctors and primary care nurses and

allied health and social care professionals to move more care out of hospitals. “Too many patients are being treated in the wrong place, at the wrong time, leading to costly delays in their care. “Alternative care pathways and locations as well as additional stepdown capacity, planned based on the health needs of communities on a local and regional basis, must be advanced.

“We also need to see much greater investment in public diagnostic capacity, with direct access for GPs as well as a modernisation of acute hospital diagnostic capacity to increase efficiency. We know that many ED delays are due to waits for scans.

“The Minister for Health is reacting to crisis after crisis

with short-term measures, but we need a serious, multi-annual plan which addresses long emergency department waits through a reorientation of care, investment in capacity, and investment in workforce planning.

“Regionalisation, integration of care, and investment in the National Ambulance Service to provide better services as well as community-based services are all necessary components of such a plan.

“We will never reduce health waiting lists if we cannot get on top of the crisis in emergency departments, but this requires strategic multiannual planning which has not been forthcoming from the Minister for

LOCAL PROPERTY TAX REDUCED BY 15% IN SOUTH DUBLIN

South Dublin County Councillors voted at the October Council meeting to reduce the Local Property Tax by 15%. This will keep the tax at the same rate in 2023 as in 2022. Councillors spoke about the rising cost of living and how it is impacting people’s lives. They also noted the increase in the number of submissions for the public consultation this year.

People Before Profit Councillor Madeleine Johansson commented: “As councillors there is very little we can do for ordinary people in this cost of living crisis, but keeping the maximum 15% reduction in the Local Property Tax is one thing.

“In a country like Ireland,

with a high level of home ownership and an inadequate public housing policy, the Local Property Tax is an unfair tax on working class people. Working class people were encouraged by successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments to buy their own homes and they are being penalised through this tax.

“This year there were 15 submissions for the public consultation, 13 of which were asking councillors to reduce the tax. Usually there is only about 2 or 3 submissions, so this shows that people are really feeling the pinch at the moment.

“The Local Property Tax should be abolished and

we should be increasing taxes and rates for the big corporations that are making massive profits at the moment.

People Before Profit and Solidarity councillors will be making proposals to increase rates for big businesses in the upcoming council budget for 2023.”

Health. “Staff at Tallaght University Hospital are working extremely hard to do their best to give

patients the high-quality care that they deserve, but the government’s failure to invest and plan is making

their work harder. Patients in Dublin Mid-West deserve high quality care without unnecessary delays.

RED LINE BOOK FESTIVAL 2022

10,344 STUDENTS IN DUBLIN TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL STUDENT GRANT REPAYMENT REDUCTION

Students from Dublin receiving grants will have additional payments in December, a local TD has said. TD for Dublin Mid West Deputy Emer Higgins was speaking about the package secured by Minister Simon Harris which will see all maintenance recipients receiving an additional payment on December 16th. This will mean an additional €679 for some students before the end of the year.

Deputy Higgins said, “We have taken crucial steps to address the cost of education for families in Budget 2023. This additional student grant payment will mean more money back in people’s pockets by the end of the year. “This will benefit almost 50,000 students across the country. Effective from January, we will permanently increase grants by between 10 and 14pc ensuring students

will receive the help they need and deserve. To further recognise the cost of living crisis people are facing, Minister Harris also announced a once off contribution of €1,000 towards the student contribution paid by each free fees eligible student in academic year 2022/23.

This requires no action from students and will reduce the amount payable by free fees eligible students to their institution from €3,000 to €2,000 in academic year 2022/23. Deputy Higgins continued, “Students who paid their 2022/23 student contribution in full will receive a refund from the HEI attended. The HEI will begin contacting eligible students this week and seek the necessary account details to process a refund. “Individual students who have been contacted by the HEI and asked to

provide account details to facilitate a refund, are required to provide those relevant details by the 30th November 2022.

“Students eligible for a 50% student contribution grant support as paid by SUSI will benefit proportionally and will receive a €500 credit (from €1,500 to €1,000) in the value of the student contribution they are due to pay,” Deputy Higgins concluded.

Minister Simon Harris added, “These are practical measures to help students and families with the cost of education and the costof-living more generally. “If you have not paid your fee, it will be knocked off your bill and if you have, your college will be in touch to ensure you get your money back and if you have a grant you will receive that additional support before Christmas.”

Pictured at the Red Line Festival 2022 Event in Tallaght Stadium were (L to R) Councillor Charlie O’Connor, Gareth Maher author of “Away Days” and RTE broadcaster George Hamilton.

LOCAL STUDENTS ATTEND GOOGLE’S PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT WITH CODEPLUS

Google Ireland has announced a partnership with CodePlus, a programme that aims to help address the gender imbalance in thirdlevel computer science. The announcement was made recently at Google’s EMEA HQ in Dublin. Founded in Trinity College Dublin (TCD) the CodePlus programme aims to support female students, helping them to make more informed decisions about further education courses in tech and ultimately to consider a career in computer science. This announcement sees a funding commitment by Google of €100,000 to the Trinity Foundation, as TCD serves as the lead institution for the project. To date the CodePlus programme has reached over 10,000 students and last year, building on the success of the initiative, CodePlus was scaled to include NUI Galway and the University of Limerick.

Jessica McCarthy, Head of Engineering at Google, said “We are delighted to announce our partnership with CodePlus. We know that there are meaningful and rewarding career opportunities in this space but sadly, we continue to see disproportionately lower numbers of women participating at both third level and professional

junctures. “The CodePlus programme is an excellent way for young women to learn about computer science, coding and opportunities in the tech space at a point in their lives when they make decisions that can often impact their future career choices. We are encouraging teachers and students to sign up for the programme so that more young women can avail of the opportunities a career in computer science provides, and so that computer science can benefit from having more women in the field.”

Also supported by Science Foundation Ireland and Bank of America, the CodePlus programme includes a series of intensive 20-hour, hands-on coding workshops for female secondary school students delivered on university campuses in Ireland. Participating students also have access to industry webinars, site visits and career talks from ICT professionals, role models and mentors.

Linda Doyle, Provost and President, Trinity College Dublin, said “Programmes such as CodePlus have a huge role to play in addressing the gender gap that still exists in the ICT profession. The statistics tell us that not enough women consider

ICT to be a viable career prospect. Research shows that CodePlus is effective at changing students’ impressions, particularly when it comes to considering a career in computer science or the IT profession. This announcement is a further endorsement of the excellent work being done by CodePlus and I want to congratulate everyone who has been involved in this programme. We are delighted to welcome our new partner Google as we continue to reach more and more of tomorrow’s female ICT professionals and engineers.” CodePlus programme coordinators have invited any teachers, pupils and schools interested in the CodePlus programme visit codeplusireland.ie for more information.

Eva Doherty, Naomi Tesfamichael & Helen Maisuradze from Coláiste Bríde Clondalkin. Pic

Credit: Maxwells

Twin sisters Ashlee and Aimee Keogh from Tallaght Community School. Pic Credit: Maxwells

PARTNER SOUGHT FOR EXCITING 1,400 SQ. METRE HOSPITALITY / LIFESTYLE DEVELOPMENT ON THE GROUNDS OF RATHFARNHAM CASTLE

South Dublin County Council recently announced they are seeking expressions of interest from businesses within the hospitality, food, retail and lifestyle sectors to work with the Council to create an exemplar development at Rathfarnham Castle and Park, which will play an important role as a key tourism and local destination amenity. The project offers a unique opportunity of working with the Council on the development of the stateof-the-art, mixed-use hospitality/retail/lifestyle offering while also helping to shape the vision for the development and bringing the concept to reality, which is unique in such a setting and sector.

Rathfarnham Castle is a popular visitor attraction in South Dublin. Four historic stable courtyards adjoin the Castle in a beautiful parkland setting. South Dublin County Council intends to develop two of these courtyards as a retail, food and leisure destination. The Council will design and construct a high-quality flexible building of architectural merit to an area up to 1,400 sq. metres, complete with outdoor courtyard areas. An extension to the current car parking provision will also

be undertaken by South Dublin County Council

South Dublin County Council has committed to a significant investment in the provision of a new facility at this location that will deliver a highquality experience which will serve to complement Rathfarnham Castle and Demesne as a key tourism and local amenity. Due to its incredibly close proximity to Rathfarnham Castle along with the 7-hectare public park and playground and Rathfarnham village, and being within touching distance of the evolving Dodder Greenway, South Dublin County Council are looking to compliment the overall heritage experience for the area with a partner business who will help progress and compliment the project.

The Council is looking for a business who, through requisite experience and capacity, will bring forward an exciting and diverse retail, lifestyle and hospitality proposal at this location. The business will design, fund and deliver the fit-out of the new building and its courtyards. The completed facility will operate under a lease or license to be agreed.

Daniel McLoughlin, Chief

Executive of South Dublin County Council said of the project “We are looking to partner with a dynamic business, currently operating within the relevant sectors, which sees the unique opportunity to develop the offering at this high-quality location in the heart of Rathfarnham. Our partner will help refine our vision, including involvement in the design of the building and associated outdoor spaces to bring this concept to reality. The Castle Stables and Courtyard at Rathfarnham project is part of up to €50m of potential investment in tourism and development projects across South Dublin County until 2025 planned by South Dublin County Council. With over 35,000 people living within 1km of the location, and the overall investment made by South Dublin County Council, we believe there is a significant opportunity here at Rathfarnham for the right business”.

Lisney Estate Agents have been engaged by South Dublin County Council to help manage the three stage process which will begin with a selection criteria questionnaire/expression of interest. This will be followed by an invitation to participate in open dialogue before finishing with a final

tender submission. Speaking about the project Emma Coffey, Director of Lisney said “We are pleased to be advisers to SDCC in the selection of occupiers for this exciting and important Retail / F&B / Lifestyle initiative. It will become an important draw of custom to the village, the Castle, the Dodder Greenway, local shops and businesses, and an attraction for the catchment population and visitors alike. The adjoining roads carry large volumes of passing vehicular traffic to and from the city and the location offers easy access for public transport users, cyclists, and pedestrians. It is rare for retailers to have

the opportunity to engage in the early stages of such an important project and for them to be able to influence the new structure and future use of the premises and existing courtyards.

I have no doubt that the announcement of the development will be welcomed by existing businesses and Retail, Food and Beverage and Lifestyle operators who have long sought a retailing opportunity of significance in this busy area”. Interested parties are invited to submit a response to a selection criteria questionnaire via the e-tenders platform to be considered to participate

in dialogue. The Selection Criteria Questionnaire will seek information on the interested party’s trackrecord of performance, financial capacity, and the technical resources to manage, and operate a viable commercial offering. The Council will then score the responses, with the top 3 scoring applicants invited to participate in a competitive dialogue process.

Full details on the terms and conditions on the development opportunity at The Castle Stables and Courtyard at Rathfarnham are available on www.sdcc. ie/courtyards

THREE TALLAGHT STUDENTS RECEIVE FITZGERALD FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Three Tallaght students have been awarded educational scholarships through a communitybased initiative organised by An Cosán community education centre in Jobstown and sponsored by Sherry FitzGerald estate agents. The students, who successfully completed their Leaving Certificate exams this summer and are now settling into third level education, were presented with the FitzGerald Family Scholarship Awards at a special ceremony held recently in An Cosán.

Festos Okoh, Chloe Geoghegan and Matthew Hanley were presented with their awards by Ciara FitzGerald, granddaughter of the late Garret and Joan FitzGerald. They were joined at the celebration

by proud family members and representatives of the students’ former schools. Also in attendance were Will Moore, Regional Director, and Dealbha Prendergast, HR Director, of Sherry FitzGerald. An Cosán set up the scholarship (originally known as the Joan FitzGerald Award) in 2004 in memory of Joan FitzGerald, wife of the late Dr Garret FitzGerald, former Taoiseach of Ireland. The award scheme strives to break down barriers, creating equal access opportunities to third-level education.

Festos Okoh, who attended Killinarden Community School, is now pursuing a Level 8 degree in Mechanical Engineering in Technological University Dublin Tallaght. Festos was nominated for

the award by his former school in acknowledgement of how “hard-working and committed to his studies” he was during his second level career and how he went out of his way to support his fellow students, including organising afterschool study sessions. Festos is the eldest of a family of seven and says the scholarship will take the financial burden off his family by enabling him to purchase a laptop and other equipment he will need for the course. Coincidentally, Festos attended An Cosán’s early years’ service as a young child while his mother engaged in various An Cosán programmes.

Chloe Geoghegan, who attended St Aidan’s Community School, Brookfield, was nominated

for the award by her former school in recognition of how “hard-working, selfmotivated and diligent” she was in her approach to her studies. Also, because she was an excellent role model for younger students, especially in the responsible and enthusiastic manner in which she carried out the role of first year peer mentor.

Chloe, who gave 100% to the programmes in which she participated after being selected for the ACE Programme in conjunction with TU Tallaght and the UCD Future You Mentoring Programme, is now studying Business in the National College of Ireland. She says the scholarship will enable her to purchase a laptop and books that she will need for her course.

Matthew Hanley, who has just started studying Computer Science and Software Engineering at Maynooth University, was selected for the award by his former school, St Mark’s Community School, Tallaght, because he was “a huge asset” to the school during his time there. He was a hardworking and unassuming young man. Matthew has a long daily commute from Tallaght to Maynooth and the scholarship will take the financial burden off his

family by helping him with transport costs and purchasing materials needed for his course.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, An Cosán’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Anne Genockey, said, “The co- founders of An Cosán, Drs Ann Louise Gilligan and Katherine Zappone, had the privilege of knowing Joan in her later years and described her as an inspiration to their work in West Tallaght. They spoke of the many conversations they had with Joan about life, learning, family, women and theology, and how her comments and questions were always filled with insight and challenge.

“Joan’s love of learning and her passion for justice were the seedbed of her extraordinary wisdom. Joan was committed to the advancement and empowerment of women and to an Irish society characterised by justice.

“In 2004, to honour Joan and to keep the memory of her spirit alive, An Cosán initiated the Joan FitzGerald Award. Over the past 18 years this award has been presented to local students, who were nominated by their schools, and going on to study at third level institutes. The awards, which are now

funded by Sherry FitzGerald were at first presented by the late Dr Garret FitzGerald and, after he passed away in 2011, by one of his three childrenJohn, Mary or Mark – and, more recently, by one of his grandchildren.”

Ciara FitzGerald said it was a privilege to present the scholarships to three such deserving students. “They should all be very proud of themselves and I wish them every success in the future,” she said. “I am here as a granddaughter of Joan FitzGerald to present this award in her name. To tell you a little about my grandmother, she got involved in An Cosán with Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan. It probably struck a chord with her as she was raised by a single mother without a career and, only by the generosity of an aunt, was she able to go to third level education. She really understood what a privilege that was and wanted to help others achieve the same.”

An Cosán offers a wide range of services, including adult community education courses from basic to BA degree level, Early Years’ education and care, parenting support and counselling. To find out more, see www.ancosan.ie

Pictured at the FitzGerald Scholarship Awards ceremony in An Cosán are from left: Ciara FitzGerald, granddaughter of the late Dr Garret and Joan FitzGerald; awardees Matthew Hanley and Chloe Geoghan; Dealbha Prendergast, HR Director, Sherry FitzGerald; Will Moore, Regional Director, Sherry FitzGerald; Imelda Hanratty, Outreach Coordinator, An Cosán; Anne Genockey, Deputy CEO, An Cosán; and awardee Festos Oskoh

MOTORING LIFE WITH NEW AUDI Q3 TFSI-E SPORTBACK –TRULY STYLISH PLUG-IN

With the new Audi Q3 TFSI-e it is possible to experience the dynamic combination of an electric drive and a combustion engine. A combined system power output of 245bhp, along with a thumping 400Nm of torque, enables the Q3 TFSI-e to accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 7.3-seconds thanks to the availability of an engine boost function. When the accelerator pedal is fully depressed, the electric motor is activated for a brief period thereby providing a boost in power – the availability and repetition of this function depends on various factors, such as the battery’s state of charge, and the temperature of the drive components.

Outstanding Energy Consumption.

With a full charge, the Q3 TFSI-e always starts in all-electric EV mode, using the combustion engine only when needed. Ingeniously, by entering a destination in the navigation system (where fitted) the vehicle will switch to hybrid mode. Using a wealth of route data, the vehicle manages the interplay of the two drives to allow the driver to complete as many trips as possible in all-electric mode. The MMI lets the driver choose from additional driving modes: complete everyday short trips in all-electric EV mode, or use the combustion engine as the primary source of power to conserve battery charge for a future electric drive (Hold mode) or increase it (Charge mode). When used in an optimum manner, it

is possible to achieve a combined fuel consumption figure as low as 1.6l/100km (176.5mpg), along with projected power consumption as low as 14.4kWh/100km on a combined driving cycle.

Trim & Bodystyle Options.

Now in its third generation, the new Audi Q3 delivers the usual SUV attributes: taller driving position, better vision around the car, and a higher ‘hip-point’, making it easier to get in and out of than a traditional hatchback. There is a choice of two trim variants: SE and S Line, both of which are powered by a 4-cylinder 1.4-litre petrol/ electric plug-in hybrid powerplant (badged 45 TFSI e). Power is supplied to the front wheels via a standard slick-shifting S-tronic automatic transmission that combines the efficiency and sportiness of a conventional manual gearbox with the convenience of a modern automatic. The dual-clutch gearbox enables rapid shifting with almost no noticeable interruption in the power flow.

In addition to a traditional SUV bodystyle, the new Q3 is also available in a sporty coupé-styled Sportback variant, both of which offer terrific practicality, outstanding build quality and distinctive style.

Test Car Details.

My Audi Q3 Sportback 45 TFSI-e S Line test car looked very appealing in its Mythos

Black metallic paintwork with stylish 19” 5-arm matte black alloy wheels (optional). Standard S Line specification includes LED headlights with dynamic rear indicators, dynamic headlight range control (selfadjusting while driving), sporty S Linespecific bumpers, sports seats in front, cloth and artificial leather upholstery, 3-spoke leather multi-function steering wheel, stainless steel foot pedals and foot rest, ambient lighting, rear spoiler, roof rails in anodised aluminium, dual-zone automatic climate control, Audi virtual cockpit, Audi Connect (infotainment, emergency call & more), Audi Smartphone interface, voice control, cruise control, hill descent control, hold assist, lane departure warning, front & rear parking sensors, Audi drive select, progressive steering, start-stop system with brake recuperation, black headlining material, and sports suspension, along with a host of advanced safety features.

Additional packs and individual optional features are available for buyers who wish to tailor the specification to their own personal needs. On the road the Q3 is relatively quiet and refined, with a wellcontrolled suspension set-up ensuring that road imperfections and speed ramps are tackled with ease. The steering is light, precise, and impressively responsive in its operation, and this makes it easy to manoeuvre the Q3 at low speeds and when parking. The vehicle accelerates

smoothly and dynamically, with the S-tronic transmission proving itself to be an ideal match for the punchy 1395cc petrol engine. The Lithium-ion battery that powers the electric motor has a gross capacity of 13kWh, with a 10.4 kWh usable capacity on offer, and this allows the Audi Q3 TFSI-e to drive up to 51kms in all-electric mode while producing zero emissions in the process.

As with all offerings from the Audi stable, the interior of the new Q3 is extremely practical, with large door pockets front and rear, and a decent size glovebox too. The Q3 is one of the roomiest vehicles in its market segment, both in terms of back seat space (where there is ample foot room under the front seats) and the cargo area, which offers a class-leading 530-litres of space.

Verdict & Pricing.

Overall, the new Audi Q3 Sportback PHEV is yet another outstanding SUV from the German premium car manufacturer. It is an impressive and well-rounded family SUV, with all of the benefits that come with plug-in hybrid ownership.

Pricing for the electrifying new Q3 plug-in hybrid starts at €49,430 (SUV bodystyle) with the Sportback bodystyle priced from €51,365 – both prices include dealerrelated delivery charges. Annual road tax is just €140.

By Breda Corrigan

WINTER BAN ON EVICTIONS INTO HOMELESSNESS NEEDED NOW

TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has called on the government to introduce a winter ban on evictions now. Teachta Crowe said “The government must introduce a winter ban on evictions now. This must happen urgently, without delay. “I am concerned by some reports suggesting that a ban, if introduced, would not take effect until December.

“Any delay in the introduction of the eviction ban will result in more adults and children being forced into homelessness. “We

know that a temporary ban on evictions will not solve the core problem, which is the government’s failure to deliver an adequate supply of social and genuinely affordable homes. “Minister O’Brien must accompany any ban on evictions with a package of measures to accelerate and increase the delivery of public housing to meet social and affordable housing need.

“Any such package must do more to bring vacant units back into stock. It must include the delivery of high quality permanent modular

homes. It must increase the purchase of private rental homes with HAP and RAS tenants in place and at risk of eviction. And it must cut the red tape and bureaucracy that is slowing down the delivery of much needed social homes.

“It is clear that the government’s approach to the housing crisis to date has failed. The government must respond with greater urgency if a winter catastrophe is to be averted. “Every day, people in south Dublin are paying the price of the

NOEL LEMASS COMMEMORATION HELD RECENTLY

government’s failure to tackle the housing crisis and it isn’t good enough. Too

many people here are stuck paying sky high rents or in cramped accommodation

while they are priced out of ever owning their own home.

Pictured at the Noel Lemass Commemoration on the site at Military Road, Rathfarnham with Taoiseach Micheàl Martin TD were Cllr. Yvonne Collins, Cllr. Charlie O’Connor, local activist Brian Mahon and Mayor Emma Murphy.

TÁNAISTE LEO VARADKAR GOES BEHIND THE SCENES AT AMAZON IN BALDONNEL

The Amazon fulfilment centre in Baldonnel received a visit recently from Leo Varadkar TD, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, for a behind-the-scenes tour of the new facility.

The Tánaiste also unveiled a plaque to mark the opening of the new 630,000 square foot fulfilment centre. During his visit, the Tánaiste who was accompanied by Emer Higgins TD, toured the fulfilment centre in Baldonnell Business Park, met with some of the team working at the site and followed the journey of a parcel to see firsthand what happens when a customer clicks ‘buy’ on the Amazon website.

The centre, which opened in August, is Amazon’s first fulfilment centre in Ireland. It provides faster delivery for customers across the country, including one-day delivery on hundreds of thousands of items. The

centre has created 500 new jobs across a wide range of roles, including engineers, HR and IT professionals through to health & safety and finance specialists and operations managers as well as employees who perform the crucial role of picking, packing and shipping customer orders. The fulfilment centre tour, led by General Manager Darragh Kelly, also provided the Tánaiste with an insight into the many career development programmes and opportunities for employees at Amazon, including the Amazon Career Choice programme.

Amazon Career Choice is an innovative programme which pre-pays 95% of tuition for courses in high-demand fields, up to €12,000 over four years, regardless of whether the skills are relevant to a career at Amazon.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said: “The opening of Amazon’s

first fulfilment centre in Ireland has created 500 new jobs, and is a really important investment in our country. There are jobs available at all level including many highskilled jobs in engineering and IT among others. This investment indicates a strong commitment to Ireland by Amazon. It was great to meet the enthusiastic team in person and to see at first-hand how orders are fulfilled for customers across the country.”

Amazon Dublin fulfilment centre General Manager Darragh Kelly said: “It was great to welcome Tánaiste Leo Varadkar for a tour of our new fulfilment centre in Dublin. It was a pleasure to introduce him to our fantastic team who process orders for customers in Ireland. I hope the Tánaiste enjoyed his visit and I look forward to welcoming him back to our fulfilment centre in the future.” Amazon also

provides opportunities to improve existing skills or learn new ones through internal career progression opportunities such as crosstraining, transferring to a different department and promotion into a managerial role.

The team at Amazon’s new

Dublin fulfilment centre marked the site’s opening by donating €20,000 to four Irish family support charities. Donations of €5,000 were made to Cliona’s Foundation, Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation, LauraLynn Children’s Hospice and Barretstown by the charity

committee at the new Amazon fulfilment centre as part of the company’s community support programme.

Anyone can find out more about what it’s like to work at an Amazon fulfilment centre by signing up for a tour at amazonfctours.com.

Pictured Tanaiste, Leo Varadkar with from left, Darragh Kelly, General Manager Amazon Fulfilment Ireland, Lucy Cronin Amazon Vice President EU Public Policy, Emer Higgins TD and Catherine Slowey IDA. Picture Credit: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin