The Northside News 05042023

Thousands protest end of eviction ban

Thousands of demonstrators to the streets of dublin to protest the end of the eviction ban last week.

The protest came on the first day of the end of the no-fault eviction ban, which ended at midnight on March 31. The ban meant tenants could only be ejected over reasons like anti-social behaviour or damage to the property, but the Government has argued that extending the ban would decrease the available supply of housing.

In a dáil vote the Government defeated a sinn Féin Bill which attempted to extend the eviction ban until the end of January 2024.

Carrying signs reading “rent control now”, the crowd of demonstrators outside Leinster house called for “homes for people, not for profit”. disability and homelessness campaigner Kayleigh McKevitt said the rises in cost of living and housing prices have had a serious impact on her mental well-being.

“I knew from the get-go when I moved into independent living that I would have to be financially smart because as a person with a disability on disability allowance we don’t get very much,” she said.

“Even being financially smart isn’t cutting it any more.

“I can’t buy a full weekly shop because I can’t afford it.”

Ms McKevitt added: “This Government is sending me further into depression.”

she also questioned the Government’s will to help the

most vulnerable.

“When is this going to stop? Why does it have to keep falling on people who haven’t got the resources to change it for themselves?” she asked.

sinn Féin Td Louise o’Reilly spoke at the protest.

“We are here today because we know the reality – we know what is facing people who are terrified of having the only safety net taken away from them,” she said.

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Evan Murphy (10) at the Braille Reading Day, at Childvision, National Education Centre for Blind Children in Drumcondra. Pic: Julien Behal

Rooftop pool in Northside Shopping Centre to close Thousands protest end of ban on no fault evictions

Northside shopping Centre has been forced to close due to the costs of essential upgrades, which are said to be in the region of €5m.

dublin City Council (dCC) have been operating Coolock swimming Pool on the oscar traynor road for almost 50 years, however there are

significant upgrades needed to bring the facility up to modern standards.

The council said the pool is limited in its usage as it does not allow other sports and activities to be offered to the community.

it suggested relocating the swimming services to a new

swimming pool attached to the existing Kilmore recreation Centre at a cost of €10m.

The recreation centre is located about 300 metres from the Northside shopping Centre off the oscar traynor road.

dCC commissioned a report in 2022 to examine the works required to modernise the

facility, including replacement of the roof structure, significant upgrade of the pool and deck, new plant and electrical upgrades and the installation of new changing, staff and toilet facilities.

The report identified a cost in the region of €5m to carry out these upgrades.

“stand-alone pools were of their time, they are extremely expensive to run, and in particular energy costs are prohibitive and unsustainable,” said the local authority.

“The investment of €5 million in a service that will continue to be limited and confined by its location does not represent good value for public monies,” it added.

The new facility proposed at the Kilmore recreation Centre, would include the installation of a new 25 metre, six-lane pool with associated changing facilities, a new gym and studio and a new reception area to link the pool and existing facility.

As part of this development there would also be an option to install two all-weather playing fields which would be managed by dCC for use by the community.

The modern facility would reduce the environmental impact through the installation of energy saving measures.

The total cost of the new facility would cost €10m and the local authority is currently examining possible funding options.

if funding is secured, a planning application will be submitted some time in 2024.

Continued from previous page “Shame on this Government, shame on those independents who supported them, shame on every housing minister who has brought us to this point.”

Ms O’Reilly spoke of her own experience with homelessness in light of the ending of the eviction ban.

“I don’t know if anyone in the Government was ever evicted into homelessness, but I was,” she said.

“I felt ashamed because I couldn’t provide a house.”

She continued: “When I think about that now and I think about people who are facing eviction and facing homelessness, they should not feel any shame, the shame is not theirs, the shame is the Government’s.”

There are 11,742 people in emergency homeless accommodation as of last month, according to the Government’s official tally.

In a speech in the Dáil on Wednesday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the housing crisis is “one of the greatest political challenges of our time”.

Hunt is on for Bitcoin at St Anne’s

the dublin Bitcoiners group will host a unique treasure hunt event in st Anne’s Park to promote awareness of Bitcoin in a fun and interactive way. The treasure hunt requires participants to find 12 seed words that will unlock a Bitcoin wallet.

each seed word is protected by two riddles that participants must solve to access them.

st Anne’s Park is over 130 hectares of amenities, including walking trails, sports fields, a rose garden, a playground, and features and follies, so participants will need to become familiar with the park and its locations to have a chance of successfully completing the treasure hunt.

At 1 pm on April 29, the dublin Bitcoiners twitter account will post 12 location riddles numbered from 1 to 12.

Participants must solve these riddles to find different locations within the park where they will meet the riddlers.

The riddlers will present

participants with another riddle to solve, and the answer will be one of the 12 seed words needed to access the Bitcoin wallet. The riddlers will be wearing orange BtC t-shirts, making them easy to spot. to get a head start, participants can solve a location riddle that is posted on the group’s website dublinBitcoiners.com.

Those who solve it will receive all 12 location riddles before they’re posted on twitter and can meet the organisers at the edge of the park at 12:30 pm once participants have solved all 24 riddles and have all 12 seed words in order, they will need to restore a Bitcoin wallet and then send the Bitcoin to a wallet that only they can access.

The treasure currently stands at 1.3 million sats (sats are bits of a Bitcoin think, dollars and cents) about €350, and will continue to grow until the day of the hunt.

To find out more visit www. dublinbitcoiners.com or twitter page @dublinbitcoiner.

Tiny forests take root at Tolka Valley

THE Tolka River Project has been chosen as the location for the first ‘Tiny Forest’ initiative in Ireland, a community-based rehabilitation programme led by Earthwatch.

As part of the programme, close to 600 indigenous trees will be planted in a 195m2 space — which is almost the same size as a tennis court.

The aim of this partnership with Earthwatch is to raise awareness for local environmental projects and strengthen community bonds. Green spaces provide a place where people can learn about nature as well as exercise, relax and reduce stress levels and is the reason why the Tolka River Project centre was chosen as an ideal location to kickstart the programme in Ireland.

‘Tiny Forests’ are remarkable and very robust, due to their enormous efficiency in a smallspaces where they are allowed to grow in a completely natural way.

The result: up to 30pc more density, up to 10 times faster

growth and up to 30 times better absorption of carbon dioxide.

This, in turn, will attract more than 500 animal and plant species over the next three years and transform the ‘Tiny Forest’ into an accessible miniecosystem.

A range of locally sourced indigenous trees are being used in the project including, Silver birch, Alder, Hazel, Hawthorn and Gorse. This mixture of different native trees will grow to create the natural layers of a forest.

Commenting on the potential for the area to be transformed in the years to come, Gerry Ryan, Service Manager at Tolka River Project, sad: “This Tiny Forest symbolically shows that recovery is something that needs to be looked after, the growth of this forest and the requirement of looking after it is symbolic in nature to recovery.

“This Tiny Forest symbolically shows that recovery is something that needs to be

looked after, the growth of this forest and the requirement of looking after is symbolic in nature to recovery.

“We plan on using this space to develop Recovery based programmes such as Mindfulness, yoga in addition to using it as a social space so we are grateful for the collaboration with MINI Ireland and Earthwatch,” he added, And discussing the benefits to the community, Tiny Forest Officer at Earthwatch Europe, Louise Hartley said: “Tiny Forests provide rich opportunities for connecting young and old alike with the environment and sustainability. It’s vital that we give people the knowledge and skills to protect our natural world and inspire them to take positive action.” Earthwatch will collect a lot of data in the ‘Tiny Forest’ over the coming years to learn more about topics such as carbon absorption, thermal comfort, biodiversity, and the social benefits of such green spaces in an urban area.

Keeping an eye on elderly of our town

THE elderly people of Balbriggan have been urged to ‘reconnect’, thanks to a project spearheaded by the local branch of Specsavers and the local GAA community. As part of the initiative, Specsavers Balbriggan provided a €500 bursary fund to O’Dwyer’s GAA club to organise a trip to the Dublin versus Laois Allianz League game at Parnell Park recently.

The initiative was to give people who may have fallen out of the habit of going to GAA games in recent years the opportunity to enjoy a day out watching their favourite sport.

David Rooney, Club Development & Planning Officer at O’Dwyer’s GAA club, said: “I would like to thank all the staff at Specsavers Balbriggan for organising a great day trip to Parnell Park.

“It was a great day out and one which our community members will remember,” he added.

Specsavers Balbriggan Store Director, Brian Brodigan, said the community was important to the branch and the excursion was a way to “help those who may have been shielding during the pandemic and to encourage them to re-connect with the wider society”.

Dr Daniel Hayhow, Senior Research Lead at Tiny Forest; Jack Chambers, Minister of State at the Department of Transport; Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Children and and Youth and Julie Bothwell, Head of Sales and Marketing at Mini Ireland.

Wild Youth to battle the odds

Ireland faces more eurovision heartache this year, according to the latest odds with Boylesports, which makes dublin band Wild Youth 66/1 outsiders to put an end to a barren run in the competition.

The four-piece have promised a “big and bold” performance when the event heads to liverpool in May , but Ireland has only qualified twice for the final since 2013 and now

the betting trends suggest this year’s representatives will have to pull out all the stops.

Ireland remains at the top of the all-time eurovision records with seven victories, but they could have company by the time the curtain comes down on the final on May 13th as Sweden have now been backed into odds-on favourites.

We are One, written by Wild Youth’s prolific keyboard player

Travel in capital is still too expensive

dUBlIn is one of the most costly cities for public transport, with other Irish cities faring better according to recent research.

ecommerce platform Picodi. com checked the public transport fares in 45 cities worldwide and juxtaposed the transport expenses with local average wages. dublin is among the most expensive cities to travel in, it emerged, where a monthly pass costs €155 — 5.2% of the average net wage in dublin. This result is better than in london (7.4%) but worse than in Melbourne (5.1%). Cork and limerick are much more affordable (€68 and €60 respectively).

The findings come just after the Central Statistics Office released figures to show that public transport have risen in recent weeks.

The number of bus journeys in dublin for week 8 (week beginning 20 February 2023) was 10% higher compared with the number of journeys in the same week in 2019.

The number of bus journeys outside dublin in week 8 of 2023 exceeded 2019 figures by 31%.

The number of new cars licensed in February 2023 fell by 359 vehicles (-3%) compared with February 2022.

last april, the Government actually reduced public transport fares by 20pc.

Conor O’donohoe, is the bands submission to be Ireland’s entry into eurovision which takes place in liverpool from the 9th-13th May.

2022 was a busy year for Wild Youth, touring europe with lewis Capaldi and Westlife as well as selling out their own tour.

It was also a busy on for the band’s singer/songwriter Conor O’donohoe, who wrote 10 top

40 songs as well as a string of number ones for other artists.

Conor says of We are One: “It’s an uplifting anthem about the power of shared experiences and I think that is such a huge part of the eurovision.

“It’s a phenomenon and myself and the guys would be honoured to represent Ireland in May in the city that is often referred to as the ‘second capital of Ireland’.”

Schools face crisis over lack of places

ParentS of children living in Howth and donaghmede — particularly the Belmayne, Clongriffin and Parkside estates — are having “serious problems” finding schools for September, the dail heard.

The Fianna Fail td for dublin Bay north td, Sean Haughey, told Minister for education norma Foley that additional primary school places are needed across suburban areas of north dublin to meet a growing increase in population.

He said the two schools of Belmayne educate together

national School and St Francis of assisi Primary School have been particularly badly affected by a lack of available places.

“They [parents] have been told by the schools that they cannot accommodate any more pupils and that their children will be put on waiting lists,” said Mr Haughey.

“These parents have also applied to other primary schools in the area as well as schools in adjacent school planning areas and catchment areas, including Portmarnock and Malahide, but to no avail.”

He said parents in the Killester, raheny and Clontarf school planning area and in the Beaumont, Coolock area have also made contact about difficulties in sourcing school places.

In response, Minister Foley said “significant additional primary capacity is already being delivered in the area”, including two recently established primary schools. a new 16-classroom building for the Stapolin educate together national School is currently under way.

a project to deliver eight new school classrooms for Colaiste Gaelscoil Ghráinne Mhaol in donaghmede is now at stage one.

“There are further projects providing additional capacity at Holy trinity Senior [in donahgmede] and a recent project at Howth national School provided for new classrooms,” she added.

Ms Foley said the department would keep the requirements for school places in the donaghmede and Howth area under “ongoing review”.

WORKING FOR YOU

We are all facing into tough times with challenges in a lot of areas. There has been a continued fall in living standards for households, figures released by the CSO at the end of 2022 showed an increased decline reflecting a continued fall in Irish living standards compared to other European countries over the past ten years.

This reflects the impact the cost-ofliving crisis has had and continues to have on households. Workers and families were facing high costs long before the energy crisis and many are really struggling. Irish living standards have fallen further behind other European countries over the past decade and are now 10% below the European average and in the bottom half of the EU. This is a reflection of successive bad governments who have failed in improving prospects for Irish households – the current government has failed in areas like housing and healthcare, costs have risen and services are more difficult to access.

Housing Sinn Féin is committed to ensuring that we deliver affordable homes to rent or buy for people on ordinary incomes. There are many families in Fingal who

have grown up kids who cannot move out and cannot move on with their lives and they are the generation who have been locked out. We need to build communities that have the necessary infrastructures in place and homes for residents that are affordable to rent or buy. People should decide what type of housing suits their needs, public, private or owner occupied but it needs to be affordable. We’ve seen too many government housing policies that aren’t delivering homes for our residents.

Working in the Community

Myself and Deputy Louise O’Reilly TD work closely together and with resident’s groups and individuals in our community to deal with local and personal issues. We listen to people’s concerns and do everything in our power to ensure that their interests are met, locally through Fingal County Council and through the Dáil, and through our constituency offices in Swords and Balbriggan.

I also work closely with Dessie Ellis TD on issues affecting the Santry area that falls within the Swords boundary and with community groups and individuals in this area.

We support our communities on many campaigns and issues that affect their daily lives.

Sustainable Transport

With delays to Metro North I have called for and had a motion passed which calls for a Town Bus for Swords to facilitate those areas that have no direct access. Sinn Féin has supported residents who will be affected by the works in relation to the Metro.

Dublin Airport – Noise

The current situation with Dublin Airport ignoring noise regulations and agreed flight paths is a significant concern. Sinn Féin have met with groups campaigning against these breaches and I was happy to stand with residents in a recent protest. I’ve raised the matter with FCC and continue to do so. Along with Deputy O’Reilly we have met with the DAA and the IAA, and continue to meet with residents groups in affected aeas. The DAA ignoring noise regulations and agreed flight paths is unacceptable we will continue to raise this with FCC, ANCA (noise regulator) and in the Dáil.

Health

The current crisis in the health services is not new, despite promises by gov-

ernment the additional beds have not all been delivered and the numbers on trollies and the delay times for treatments and surgeries is not acceptable. Swords needs a primary care centre, I was delighted to get a motion passed to facilitate this as part of the Fingal Development Plan and we will be working closely with the HSE and the Department of Health to ensure this is delivered.

There must be greater collaboration between community healthcare and acute hospitals to ensure that recovery and transitional care beds are available in the community for speedy discharges and the provision of care outside of hospitals where appropriate.

Crime

We need to tackle the growing crime and anti-social behaviour. This is a real problem– and there has been a lack of focus on making communities safe for everyone. As a member of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) in Fingal, I have called for additional resources, community policing to be prioritised and for a local task force to deal with crime. The additional number of com-

munity Gardaí have had a positive impact in areas in Swords, but realistically the Garda station is not sufficient to meet the needs of a growing community and the resources needed to police the growth in population. This needs to be addressed as a priority to ensure the safety of our residents.

Environment

I’m a member of the Swords Woodland Association formed with the aim of maintenance of the green belt within the wider Swords area and promoting ways to ensure a greater appreciation of green spaces and promoting the planting of trees – one tree can absorb as much carbon in a year as a car produces driving 20K miles.

I also worked closely with the Save Swords Greenbelt group on their campaign to ensure that our environment is protected not just for current but for future generations to come.

Representing our Community

The Local Property Tax for Fingal was set at a 7.5% deduction, although Sinn Féin asked Councillors to support my motion seeking the full 15% reduction.

In 2022 thousands of people took to the streets of Dublin protesting the

rising cost of living including members from other political parties. Alleviating hardship is what the council should be striving to do, and not adding to it. The highest number of people who replied to public consultation on LPT requested a figure of 11-15%, and that’s what the people in Fingal wanted, however Sinn Féin were the only party who voted against the lower deduction. Sinn Féin Councillors have worked hard on the Development Plan, representing interests of our communities in areas that will most benefit them. As we come to the final stage we will continue to make our decisions based on what is best for the people we represent. I have worked hard to represent residents since my election in 2019 and before that as a community activist and will continue to do so. I have always worked in the heart of our communities and am available to meet with groups and/or individuals to provide any support or assistance that I can.

Since Covid rather than formal clinic times, I have found that pre-arranged meetings work best for people. Please contact me if I can be of any assistance.

Wild Youth, who head to Liverpool in May

Airport ‘under threat from terror attack’

TRANSPORT Minister Eamon Ryan has been warned of potential security threats at Dublin Airport.

It comes after an exclusive report was published by the Irish Independent, in which a whistleblower at Dublin Airport made the allegation regarding a possible terrorist threat at the airport to the minister.

The claim is reportedly now part of an investigation by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA).

In the whistleblower’s protected disclosure, which has been seen by the Irish Independent, it is alleged screening at the airport is in a “critical situation” which leaves possible gaps for explosive devices to slip through and on board flights.

The disclosure was handed to Transport Minister Eamon Ryan in the Dáil chamber last June.

It says the Minister is allowing a “roll of the dice” each morning and hoping “that nothing happens”.

A lapse in standards of staff training has led to “below par” security screening at the airport,

where “vulnerabilities” could be “exploited”. It says these may even lead to terrorist attacks on a par with Lockerbie, the deadliest terrorist attack in the history of the UK. The IAA has launched a formal investigation into the protected disclosure, as it has found “prima facie” evidence that “wrongdoing may have occurred”.

The whistleblower is currently in dispute with their employer over a pay review and a report arising from their accusations of bullying.

In a statement, the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), said that for “obvious reasons” it does not comment on security matters, adding that the authority fully engages with “stringent security requirements.”

“Dublin Airport is subject to regular, independent, national and international oversight of our compliance with stringent security requirements,” it added.

“DAA is fully engaged continuously to ensure that the appropriate safety and security

standards are always in place at Dublin Airport.

“Due process must be followed, and we will cooperate fully with any investigation that may follow, but any allegations under a protected disclosure should remain to be allegations only, until such claims are fully investigated and ultimately resolved.”

The statement added that the “DAA will not be making any further comment on this until any such investigation has been finalised.”

The Department of Transport said it does not comment on issues which relate to “aviation security operations” or protected disclosures given to the Minister.

A spokesperson said the IAA is responsible for receiving disclosures “of relevant wrongdoings on all matters relating to the management of Irish controlled airspace, the safety regulation of Irish civil aviation and the oversight of civil aviation security in the State.”

‘No plans’ for tolls to hit travellers ... yet

THE operator of Dublin Airport (DAA) said it has “no current plans” to bring in a charge for drivers dropping or collecting passengers, despite having been given the goahead by An Bord Pleanála. Reports emerged recently that planning permission was granted to DAA by Fingal County Council to develop

new, tolled drop-off and pickup zones at the airport.

However, in a statement, the DAA said: “Dublin Airport has no current plans to introduce drop-off or pick-up charges.”

But Fine Gael Senator Emer Currie told Newstalk that the statement could be taken to mean anything.

“It could mean that they are holding it in their back pocket until a later stage or it could mean they’re going ahead introducing tolling infrastructure but not actually charging people. So it isn’t clear and I think people have been very clear about the fact they don’t want it and they want the DAA to scrap it.”

DAA CEO Kenny Jacobs and airport team members, Michael Reilly, Wioleta Lykowska and Dermot Smyth at the launch of Dublin Airport Ready For Summer TakeOff 15-point plan to improve standards for passengers this summer. Pic: Jason Clarke

I now declare you man and wife ... and bankrupt

MICHAEL WOLSEY

TOP up your Revolut account, clear off your credit card and, if your bank will give you an overdraft, go get it now. The season of the super-spend is upon us. The demands are dropping through the door.

I’m not talking about bills; few companies send those in the post any more. The requests that will drive us into debt are sent by friends who want our company: invitations to weddings that will mean booking hotel rooms, possibly air tickets. and buying several sets of clothes – for afternoon and evening events, a ceremony in rainy Ireland and a party in sunny Cyprus.

When I got married, some 50 years ago, the traditional wedding breakfast had moved to lunch time and was called dinner. The height of glamour was a ‘sherry reception’ – that is to say, all the guests were handed a glass of sherry when they arrived. There was wine at the table. After that the guests bought their own drink and danced to music from a keyboard player and a guy with a guitar. Many of them stayed late into the evening, chatting

to people they hadn’t seen in a while – but not to us; my new wife and I had left to start our honeymoon, in a B&B on the Antrim coast.

That’s pretty much how all Irish weddings were back then, except for those of the super rich. Today they involve a scale and expense that we used to associate with bar mitzvahs

and giant Indian marriage ceremonies.

I know of a recent wedding before which the bride had two hen parties. One, which she called the ‘home hen’, was supposed to be for close friends and family, but actually involved about 30 women. And it wasn’t at her home, which is in Dublin, but at a hotel and

other venues in Kilkenny. The ‘away hen’ was on one of the Canary Islands. The groom confined himself to just one stag party. But that wasn’t the model of restraint it might seem – the stag was held in Malta. The wedding itself was in Cyprus, which I’m told is very popular with Irish couples. It was a three-day affair, with

pre-wedding parties and afterwedding parties. The whole thing, from ‘hen do’ to ‘I do’, stretched across several months.

The bride and groom in question have reasonably well-paid jobs but, even so, it will surely take them several years to pay for the excess of their wedding. Well, that’s their business. But what about their

friends? They had to fork out for trips around Ireland, flights across Europe, hotel bills, appropriate clothes – and were still expected to stump up for a wedding present.

Age protects me from getting too many of these invitations but for young people it has become a real problem. A niece tells me she hates the wedding season. She can’t afford it and has run out of excuses. Last year she received invitations to four weddings in August alone. And that, remember, was when we were coming out of Covid. She shudders to think what this year will bring.

Modern Irish weddings often span a weekend and can sometimes last a whole week, so working couples are having to sacrifice annual leave time to attend. I know of one couple who have abandoned their own holiday plans, to give them time and money to attend the wedding of a relative, on an island they don’t particularly like, requiring a four-hour flight they will like even less. A survey has shown that, on average, Irish couples will spend between €25,000 and €36,000 on their wedding.

The big variation depends on whether the cost includes the bride’s dress (average price €1,725), wedding rings (€1,511) and engagement rings (€3,106). The photographer will set you back, on average €1,779 and if you want a video as well you can add €1,443 to the bill.

Optional extras include a selfie mirror (???) at €428 and €414 for botox and tanning. A wedding planner will set you back €1,956. Thankfully, we didn’t need one of those for our sherry reception.

“R.556 Bank of Ireland & Trinity College, Dublin.” It was posted from Dublin to Antrim in 1943. The original photograph, however, was most likely taken before the outbreak of WWII in 1939. Clearly shown are a No. 54 Bus as well as 19, 16, and 24 Trams. Visible advertisements include Clery’s, Shaw’s and Cairnes. The postcard comes from the collections of the Old Dublin Society. If you would like a free digital copy please send an email to olddublinsociety@gmail.com

Free books to be rolled out for all primary schools

THE Government is introducing free schoolbooks to primary school students in their efforts to combat the cost of living crisis.

And Education Minister Norma Foley has warned schools that they are prohibited from asking parents to pay any money for school books under the guise of a higher voluntary contribution.

Primary school students will be able to avail of schoolbooks, alongside workbooks and copies, free of charge from September onwards.

The scheme is being introduced to ease the financial burdens facing families at the beginning of the school year. The schoolbooks will be the property of the school and will have to be returned at the end of the school year. Parents will therefore be reminded of the need to keep books in good condition.

While books will be free, there may be a requirement for parents to buy some additional items for their children for use at schools.

The grant being paid

to schools to assist with implementation of the scheme can be used to employ someone to carry out the associated administrative work.

Ms Foley said it was a permanent measure that would ease some of the financial burden facing families with the back-to-school costs.

Primary schools are to receive €96 per pupil to buy schoolbooks and copybooks which they may purchase from any bookshop under guidance due to issue to schools later this week.

It follows a Government announcement in Budget 2023 of a package of free schoolbooks for more than 500,000 primary school pupils from September 2023 at a cost of about €54m. However, it is likely to prompt complaints from book publishers who say the allocation will not be enough to cover the full cost of books, workbooks and e-learning resources.

There have been conflicting estimates over the real cost of schoolbooks from different organisations, the Irish Times

reported. It quotes figures compiled by the Irish League of Credit Unions put the average cost of books at primary level at €110 per pupil, while education publishers have placed the figure at a significantly higher level.

Sources say the Department of Education figure of €96 per child is based on an analysis of the costs across a sample of schools, as well as engagement with school management bodies, unions, parents’ groups, booksellers, publishers and charities.

Publishers have warned, privately, that any shortfall in funding would results in schools seeking to make up the difference through voluntary contributions from parents. There have also been concerns from independent bookshops about whether they will lose out on sales due to the changes. While schools will have freedom to decide where they purchase their books, many currently have relationships with their local bookshops as part of an existing school book rental scheme.

Do you know an unsung hero in your area?

Why not nominate them as a Community Champion in the 2023

An bhfuil aithne agat ar laoch neamhaitheanta i do cheantar?

Cad faoi iad a ainmniú mar Laoch an Phobail i

Mayor’s Awards

Mayor’s Awards

We want to recognise, celebrate and honour the efforts of people across Fingal who are making a real difference for others.

Scan our QR code to access the nomination form

www.fingal.ie/mayors-awards-2023

*Deadline for nominations: 5pm 20 April 2023

nGradaim an Mhéara

nGradaim an Mhéara

Is mian linn iarrachtaí na ndaoine ar fud Fhine Gall atá ag déanamh fíordhifríochta do dhaoine eile a aithint, a cheiliúradh agus onóir a bhronnadh orthu.

Scanáil ár gcód QR chun teacht ar an bhfoirm ainmniúcháin

www.fingal.ie/ga/gradaim-mheara-2023

*An dáta deiridh a nglacfar le hainmniúcháin ná 5pm 20 Aibreán 2023

A selection of children at NCH Primary Ensemble Project Finale Concert supported by Walkers and The Royal Irish Academy of Music. The Primary Ensemble Project is aimed at developing key areas of early ensemble playing in a vibrant and holistic programme with participating schools. Pix: Julien Behal

your stars

m aria h arte’s cookbook for mums www.mariaharte.com/free-ebook

TV chef Maria harte says she wanted “to do something for the mums” after her journey with postnatal depression and ADhD. The chef on Virgin Media’s Six O’Clock Show has launched a free eBook targeted at new and expecting parents filled with over 20 freezer-friendly recipes. She hopes to help expecting parents by taking away the stress of cooking during the weeks and months after the baby arrives. Maria decided she wanted to create easy, nutritious meals for new parents who find it difficult to find the time to eat. The book is available for free to download from the link above.

AriesBegin a new physical health and fitness phase upon reaching a barrier or obstacle. Review and revamp skills and practices.

TAurusChange directions with a romance, passion or creative endeavor. Express your heart, imagination and artistry.

GeminiMake repairs. Renovate, remodel and tend your garden. Domestic changes require adaptation. Begin a new home and family phase.

C A n C er-

A turning point arises around income and finances. You can find profitable opportunities. Generate positive cash flow.

Leo-

A new two-week phase in communications, connection and intellectual discovery dawns. Shift the direction of your research.

Vir G o-

A challenge redirects you and illuminates a new personal direction. Expand your boundaries. Turn toward an inspiring possibility.

unstable Netflix

Libr AReview priorities privately. Balance old responsibilities with new. Meditate on dreams past and future. Begin an introspective phase.

sCorpioOne door closes and another opens. Friends come and go in your community. Share appreciations, goodbyes and greetings.

sAG i TTA riusFinish a project before beginning another professional phase. Focus on current passions. Don’t reveal unfinished plans.

C A pri CornAn exploration changes. . Experiment with concepts. Travel expands your view. Learn from a master.

AquA rius-

The stakes could seem high. Shift directions with shared finances over the next few weeks. Work out the next phase together.

p is C esReach a turning point with a partnership. Compromise and collaborate for shared commitments. Adjust to a change in plans.

emerald park reopens www.emeraldpark.ie

ONE of ireland’s most loved destinations — Emerald Park (formerly Tayto Park) — has reopened, with the new name over the entrance at Kilbrew, two new junior rides, as well as some new arrivals to the zoo, including one of the world’s most endangered species of big cat. The Junior Zone, for young adventurers aged 3+, has also expanded to include with two brand new rides, Balloon Chase and Crazy Bus. The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation is the chosen charity of Emerald Park for 2023. All Access tickets are €39 and Junior zone tickets are €35 (pre-book online).

ellie goulding higher Than heaven

ThE British singer-songwriter has racked up scores of hits over the years, defined by big beats, infectious synths and her signature smoky vocals. her fifth album, higher Than heaven is a collection of even more upbeat and musically expansive tracks which is a departure from Goulding’s previous effort, Brightest Blue, which was built on quiet subtlety and had a more introspective feeling. Energy and exuberance in spades.

STRUGGliNG dad Ellis Dragon (Rob lowe) is a — wait for this — universally admired, eccentric, narcissist-adjacent biotech entrepreneur working to make the world a better place. he’s also in emotional free-fall. his son Jackson Dragon (John Owen lowe) is basically none of the above. Can Jackson save Ellis and his company and salvage their estranged relationship while also doing what may actually be impossible: escaping the shadow of his larger-than-life father? if you’re into quick-witted father-son banter, dramatic tech company politics and jokes about ‘butts’ then this is for you.

What’s Hot this week

marlowe

Cinemas Nationwide

Philli P Marlowe (liam Neeson) is hired by a beautiful and wealthy heiress (Diane Kruger) to investigate the disappearance of her lover (Francois Arnaud). When Marlowe quickly discovers that he died outside an exclusive club with a host of unsavoury members (Danny huston, Alan Cumming), Marlowe must navigate the elite of Bay City and the darkness underneath it. Based on John Banville’s ‘The Black-Eyed Blonde’, there’s a labyrinthine noir plot at play here that will lose some viewers. But it is still a wonderful return to form for Neil Jordan.

FAiR City and reallife couple Bryan Murray and Una Crawford-O’Brien are calling on the people of Dublin to host an Alzheimer’s Tea Day and have the most powerful cup of tea of the year on Thursday, May 4th. Bryan, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease three years ago, and Una have teamed up with The Alzheimer Society of ireland (The ASi) to invite everyone to come together for a cuppa to help raise vital funds for families living with dementia nationwide. SiGN UP on www.teaday.ie or call (01) 207 3800, and they will send your Tea Day pack.

beyond black: amy winehouse exhibition

Open now at Newbridge Silverware

FREYA O’Dwyer (styled as legendary singer Amy Winehouse) is pictured at The Museum of Style icons at Newbridge Silverware in Newbridge, Co Kildare where she helped launch an exhibition dedicated to the life and style of Amy Winehouse. The exhibition, ‘Beyond Black – Celebrating the Career and Style of Amy Winehouse’ incorporates several original garments and property once owned and worn by the legendary singer including some never-before-seen dresses designed by her personal stylist and close friend, Naomi Parry. The free to enter exhibition is now open to the public every day and runs until the 7th of May 2023.

children’s health foundation

To buy the fleeces: www. 4tharq.com/ Chil DREN’S health Foundation ambassador, Rosie Connolly has announced the upcoming launch of a limited-edition children’s half-zip collection from her hugely popular leisurewear brand, 4Th ARQ in aid of Children’s health Foundation. With the help of some incredible Children’s health ireland patients, River (3), sisters - Annie (2.5) and Éabha (4) and sisters - Beth (10) and Ella (8), who beautifully modelled the range. The limited-edition range of half-zip fleeces for children will be on sale for €35. All proceeds from the sale will be donated to Children’s health Foundation.

Schools free to ‘borrow a bike’

FAMILIES are going to get the chance to try out a cargo bike for their daily commute to and from school, as part of a new partnership between the National Transport Authority and University College Dublin, which will see the introduction of 20 new ‘Bike Libraries’ at primary schools across Dublin city.

The project will give families the opportunity to borrow an e-bike, cargo bike or foldable bike for a set period during the school term, at no charge. This will allow them to “try before you buy”, and to experience using these bikes before having to decide to purchase one.

The aim of the project is to encourage families to make a permanent modal shift to sustainable travel for their daily commutes.

Ten schools will take part in the project in the spring/ summer term this year, including Assumption Senior GNS, Walkinstown; Assumption Junior School, Sisters of Charity, Walkinstown; John Scotus Primary School, Ballsbridge; and Scoil Íde Girls’ National School, Coolock.

TD creates a stink over inner city air pollution Take part in biggest volunteer clean-up

ThE air around Phibsboro is “riddled” with air pollution, the Dáil has been told.

Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said air pollution in the inner city has reached a state of “urgency”, with limits going way beyond EU directives.

“It isn’t an exaggeration to say that Phibsboro junction [Doyle’s Corner] in my constituency is riddled with air pollution,” he told the Dáil.

“Locals say the smell and heaviness of the air is inescapable and so too are the negative effects it has on one’s body. Some in the area, businesses included, feel as though they are forced to keep their windows closed, as what they allow in when opened is the furthest thing from clean,” he added.

The Dublin Central TD said the air pollution in residential areas is violating EU air quality limits.

Under EU Air Quality Directives, countries have an air pollution limit of below 40 μg/ m3 of nitrogen dioxide an hour on average over a year.

“We now have statistics which paint a dire picture,” said Mr Gannon. “Phibsboro junction has now reached a monumental and unacceptable 60 μg/m3 at times. Mr Gannon said other areas, such as Amiens Street,

the Quays and East Wall, “suffer the same fate, while areas like Stoneybatter, Drumcondra and Cabra are “wondering will they be next”.

he also requested a monitoring station to be installed in Phibsboro.

In response, the Green Party’s Junior Minister Ossian Smyth said the results of the Google Air Smart Dublin study shows overall air quality is “generally good”, but there are localised issues of concern.

“It’s important to note that

Condé Nast’s top 15 eateries

CONDé Nast Traveller has revealed their pick of the 15 best restaurants in Dublin for 2023.

Along with some established venues, the editors of the highly reputable publication highlighted some new additions to the Dublin food scene — such as the stylish Nomo Ramen, which specialises in soupy bowls of ramen and imports its noodles from the same supplier as David Chang’s US Momofuku chain.

Richard Corrigan’s new venture, The Park Café, also gets a mention, particularly for its seafood and “la jammet kebab”, an homage to Dublin’s legendary, now-closed Jammet restaurant.

The full list is as follows:

• Uno Mas

• The Park Café

• Bread 41

• Mamó

• Forest Avenue

• PI Pizzas

• Daddy’s Café

• Chapter One

• Nomo Ramen

• Cavistons

• Volpe Nera

• Liath

• Fish Shop

• Bunsen

• Pickle

the measurements taken as part of this project provide useful insights and indicative data, but they are not of the frequency, quality or accuracy required under EU legislation for comparison to current EU limits.”

DUBLIN’s Four Local Authorities, together with Clean Coasts, National Spring Clean, the Local Authority Waters Programme, Waterways Ireland, Dublin City Canals, Dodder Action and a whole host of community volunteers are coming together for Dublin’s largest clean-up event, which will run on 22nd April.

April is also Ireland’s National Spring Clean month, and groups in Dublin will mark the occasion with a community call-to-action. In 2022, the Dublin Community Clean-up took place in September and over 80 groups registered to carry out clean-ups all across Dublin.

This year would mark the 4th year of the initiative, which was first created in 2019. The organisers are asking volunteers around Dublin to join forces to make this Dublin’s biggest clean-up event ever. To register, visit www. dublincommunitycleanup.ie.

Sinn Fein ‘has voted down 12,000 homes’

SINN has objected to, voted against, or attempted to hinder almost 12,000 homes from being built in Dublin city since 2018, new figures have revealed.

Fine Gael’s Peter Burke has hit out at the party, voicing his frustration over the opposition to housing projects in the capital and across the country.

An analysis of planning applications submitted to Dublin City Council alone, reveals Sinn Féin representatives, including TDs and councillors, had objections or expressed concern about 5,741 homes from 2020 to 2022.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who represents Dublin Central, expressed concern about three developments which would deliver a combined total of 2,052 homes in her constituency.

“These included proposals for 321 shared living units at the site of Phibsborough Shopping Centre and for 1,614 build to rent apartments at the former

holy Cross College on Clonliffe Road. Planning applications for both projects were subsequently granted by An Bord Pleanála. She successfully objected to 117 build to rent units in Cabra,” Minister Burke said. “This is utter hypocrisy by the Sinn Féin leader,” he added.

A previous Fine Gael report of Sinn Féin’s voting record on housing developments in South Dublin, Dublin City and Fingal County Councils from 2018 to 2021 shows the party’s councillors objected to almost 6,000 homes across Dublin.

“What Sinn Féin don’t want you to know about is their own ideological strategy of voting against or lodging objections to projects that would deliver badly needed homes,” Minister Burke said.

“The duplicitousness of the party’s approach as revealed in the Dublin City Council planning records is breathtaking and cannot be explained away with disingenuous excuses that the State alone can solve the housing crisis.”

Chenjing Wong at the NCH Primary Ensemble Project Finale Concert at the National Concert Hall. Pic: Julien Behal

We take a look back at extracts from old newspapers to see what was in the news this month in years gone by

Freemans Jrn 30/04/1839

Freemans Jrn 30/04/1825