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NEWS
Battle to eliminate drug misuse OUTSIDE of natural causes there are three main reasons why people pass away in Ireland: road and workplace deaths, suicide and drug overdose. We are only too well aware that the death toll on our roads this year is far in excess of what it was this time last year. This is to be regretted as great progress has been made in this area of tragedy over the last decade or so, especially when we believe that many of these deaths could be avoided by taking greater care. The number of people taking their own lives has also grown very considerably over the last decades particularly in the younger age groups and reached an all-time high in 2011 at 554 persons and we now have the fourth highest rate of youth suicide in Europe. Thankfully, through the sterling work of voluntary organisations and the official agencies, the casualty numbers have been falling, but there is much to be done in the area of education, counselling and support for those who suffer from mental illness. The other great tragedy in this country is the misuse of drugs, not just of the illicit kind sold by unscrupulous dealers, but also the misuse of drugs prescribed for illness. According to the Health Research Board (HRB) the drug-related death toll in Ireland in 2014 outstripped the numbers killed on the roads by more than three to one. The Board’s statistics show that almost two people died each day in Ireland during 2014 as a result of poisoning, trauma or medical causes linked to drug use. A total of 697 people died in 2014 compared to 431 in 2004 – this represents an increase of 62. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the Gardai and other official agencies, the illicit drug trade continues to wreak havoc. With the kind of profits made in this black economy, stamping it out will always be difficult. According to Dr Graham Love, Chief Executive at the
Incorp. Munster Industrial Advocate Health Research Board, it is not just illicit drugs that are resulting in death. There is also a rise in the number of deaths involving prescription drugs and cocktails of different drugs. Alcohol is also implicated in one in three deaths. Mixing drugs increases the risk of death, which is clearly reflected in these figures, the Board reports. Drugs misuse is a scourge of our time with a continually rising death rate. All the authorities can do is to try to educate the people from the earliest ages and keep the problem before the country as much as they can. Drug misuse will not be eliminated overnight, or perhaps not at all, but we must all join the battle to keep it at bay, reduce it where possible and prevent any further spread of the deadly activity.
Christmas in Dungarvan WITH little more than a week to go, it is certainly not the weather which is signalling the imminent arrival of Christmas as the present high temperatures and largely dry conditions are anything but seasonal. It is difficult to remember the last mid-December when we had 13 degrees Celsius as people bustled around the shops without the normal heavy coats and jackets. With that in mind, many shoppers have come out early to avoid the later crowds in the shops and the retail traders are reporting a very good season so far. This is very welcome in light of the lengthy disruption to the business centre of the town through the lengthy upgrade of Grattan Square for almost all of 2016. It will now be written off as a bad memory. It was feared that some shoppers would lose the habit
Dungarvan Observer | Friday, 16 December, 2016
of coming to Dungarvan as they took their business to other towns around during the disruption. Thankfully, that is in the past now and, with Dungarvan decidedly Aglow it is full steam ahead for at least a busy if not actual bumper Christmas season in the shops. The Christmas lights initiative seems to have delivered a major dividend to the town and congratulations and appreciation are due to those who promoted it. The businesses have been playing their part with good promotions, advertising, decorations and special offers. They have some catching up to do, but early indications are positive. Last Saturday was acknowledged as a particularly good business day and there is every indication that this trend will last. The Chamber also reports positive trends and will look to their retail voucher initiative to retain business in the town and also generate additional turnover. This was worth a very impressive €300,000 last year and there is no reason to believe that this year cannot better that. The Christmas shows and concerts are in full swing mainly raising funds for worthy causes. We should not forget the less well off and the disadvantaged at this time of year particularly and, in addition to what relief we might give personally, we should also support the traditional organisations who have the knowledge and expertise to bring the most effective relief. As we get nearer to what a majority of people still regard as the Holy Season of Christmas, the various churches will commemorate the event in appropriate fashion with church celebrations on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. While it is becoming fashionable to sidestep the spiritual side of Christmas – preserve us from Happy Holidays – most people will make a special effort to attend one of the celebrations at least. In the spirit of goodwill over the next two weeks, we exhort people to express that goodwill in a practical way by taking care on our roads so that we cause no one to have a sad and lonely Christmas through our careless road-use. For someone, that would make the happiest Christmas of all.
Reg. in GPO as a Newspaper • Shandon, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford • 058-41205/42042 • www.dungarvanobserver.ie • news@dungarvanobserver.ie
Audit finds no safety concerns at Carrick Road roundabout A SAFETY audit carried out on the Carrick Road roundabout at Kilmeaden by the private company which operates the Waterford bypass motorway and toll, did not find any safety issues. Cllr. Ray Murphy had raised concerns on previous occasions about the roundabout saying there had been several ‘near misses’ over a period of time and suggested the lanes in the roundabout needed arrows to direct motorists. He sought an update about his concerns at the recent meeting of Comeragh Municipal District Council. District Engineer, Eamon
Lonergan, said the Council wrote to the company which is responsible for the maintenance of the motorway and the toll bridge. “They carried out safety audits and did not identify any issues,” said Mr. Lonergan. “The company is willing to talk to us again about it and monitor it for us, but they don’t see any issue with it as there haven’t been any safety or accident reports.” Mr. Lonergan suggested that the issue should be raised at a scheduled meeting between a delegation of Councillors and representatives of TII.
Greenway Schools in anti-litter workshops By Christy Parker
Sean Ryan, Knockacoola, Ballymacarbry, son of John and Helen Ryan, who graduated at WIT with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.
FOUR west Waterford schools residing near the Greenway are participating in Waterford Council’s ‘Leave No Trace’ antilitter workshops. The schools are St. Joseph’s Primary School, Scoil Garrabháin, Garranbane NS and Abbeyside NS. The Leave No Trace programme is curriculum linked and aimed at supporting sustainable use of the outdoors, through respect for the environment and
appropriate disposal of waste. The programme operates on seven principles, namely Plan Ahead Prepare; Be Considerate of Others; Respect Farm Animals and wildlife;Travel and Camp on Durable Ground; Leave What You Found; Dispose of Waste Properly and Minimise the Effects of Fire. Each category is subdivided into bullet points that inform and advise on ethical behaviour towards responsible environmental sustainability. See www.leavenotraceireland.org
Pictured is Elizabeth Morrissey, daughter of Barry and Dearbhla Morrissey, Abbeyside, who graduated recently from UCC with BSc (Hons) Nursing Intellectual Disability Degree.