Local Authority News Vol 35 No 3

FRONT COVER LAN June 2016 08/06/2016 11:23 Page 1

LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

• Launch Laun h of o the National N tional S.R. 54 Code of o Practice P actice for or the Energy Ene y Efficient ficient Ret etrofit ofit of o Dwellings D ellings • 141 amazing jewels je els on Ireland I eland beautiful coastline – An Taisce aisce announces 85 International Inte tional Blue Flag g and 56 National N tional Green een Coast Awards A ds for for Ireland I eland • Invasi I vasive e Alien Species Action Plan for or Dublin City

FRONT COVER LAN June 2016 08/06/2016 11:23 Page 2

CONTENTS VOL. 35 No 3

FEATURES LAUNCH OF THE NATIONAL S.R. 54 CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE ENERGY EFFICIENT 3 RETROFIT OF DWELLINGS RESPONDING TO THE HOUSING CRISIS IPA 7 CERTIFICATE IN HOUSING STUDIES Published by:

THE SMART WAY TO KEEP MORE HEAT IN 9 HOMES GILTRON LTD RIVERVIEW LODGE, DUBLIN ROAD, NAVAN, CO. MEATH. Tel: 00353 46 9072841 Email: info@localauthoritynews.ie Website: www.localauthoritynews.ie

Designed & produced by Donnelly Design & Print Ltd. Tel: 046 - 9091891

ISSN NO. 1393-0394 LAN is available FREE OF CHARGE to all Local and Central Government Bodies throughout Ireland.

Published bi-monthly it is disseminated to Local Authority Managers, Assistant Managers, County Secretaries, Finance Officers, Principal Officers, Department Heads, County Engineers, City Engineers, Chief Quantity Surveyors, Senior Architects, Plant Superintendents, Senior Executive Engineers, Town Clerks, Purchasing Officers, Administrative Officers, Inspectors, Park Superintendents, County Librarians, etc. in all Government Departments, County Councils, Corporations, Office of Public Works, Urban District Councils, StateSponsored and Development Bodies and Agencies.

NSAI, THE NATIONAL STANDARDS AUTHORITY OF IRELAND, CERTIFY SANBRA FYFFE’S INSTANTOR® PRESS SYSTEM TO 10 EN ISO 21003 ESRI PLANNING FOR GROWTH

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EXPERTISE & SUPPORT YOU CAN RELY 14 ON WITH XTRATHERM TOP MARKS FOR SANBRA FYFFE LTD

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CLARE IS HOME TO THE SOME OF THE MOST SCENIC, CLEANEST AND POPULAR BEACHES ON THE ISLAND OF IRELAND 17 AN TAISCE ANNOUNCES 85 INTERNATIONAL BLUE FLAG AND 56 NATIONAL GREEN COAST AWARDS FOR 19 IRELAND INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES ACTION PLAN 23 FOR DUBLIN CITY 93% OF IRISH BATHING WATERS MEET 25 MINIMUM EU STANDARDS ARKLOW LIBRARY & MUNICIPAL DISTRICT 29 OFFICE NEW PLAYGROUNDS OPENED IN NEWTOWNMOUNTKENNEDY AND RATHNEW

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REGULARS DEPARTMENT BREIFS

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PRODUCT INFO

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CLASSIFIEDS

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Launch of the National S.R. 54 Code of Practice for the Energy Efficient Retrofit of Dwellings

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rchitect and judge in the RTÉ series ʻHome of the Yearʼ Hugh Wallace officially launched the new national code of practice for the energy efficiency retrofit of dwellings, S.R. 54 Code of Practice, at the Energy Show, RDS, Dublin on April 6th 2016.

L-R: Michael Stone, President Construction Industry Federation, Maurice Buckley, CEO, NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland), Hugh Wallace, Architect and judge in the hit RTE series ʻHome of the Yearʼ

This free technical guide provides best practice information to all contractors involved in the renovation of homes, including architects, engineers, and insulation installers.

Many low energy retrofit measures used on Irish homes today are relatively new innovations and therefore a decision was made to develop this technical guide to ensure best practice is followed. The guide is the combined effort of NSAI, SEAI, Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

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To download the full report visit: http://www.ili.co.uk/en/S.R.54-2014.pdf

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L-R: Michael Stone, President Construction Industry Federation, Maurice Buckley, CEO, NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland), Hugh Wallace, Architect and judge in the hit RTE series ʻHome of the Yearʼ

Chief Executive of NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland) Maurice Buckley said he hopes S.R. 54 Code of Practice, will soon become the rule book or ʻbibleʼ for anyone involved in the renovation of homes.

“Itʼs difficult for any contractor to be an expert in all of the complex areas of retrofit renovations, as well as be able to recognise all the pitfalls. Developed with the Irish climate in mind, S.R. 54 Code of Practice acts as a checklist, providing technical best practice guidance on how each stage of the renovation should be completed, as well as highlighting potential obstacles to avoid,” said Mr. Buckley.

The document provides technical guidance in areas like building science, ventilation, planning a retrofit, heating and hot water systems, walls, roofs, residential lighting and floors.

Divided into 12 chapters, this 276 page guide is very comprehensive yet easy to use, with illustrations, checklists and case study examples.

Architect Bill Scott specialises in design and construction for low energy. He is one of the first practitioners in the country to use this standard. He said S.R. 54 Code of Practice provides great assistance and is very easy to use.

“Itʼs essential all practitioners have a best practice technical guide to refer to, especially if engaged in an area of work thatʼs new or unfamiliar to them,” said Mr Scott, of Scott + MacNeill Architects.

“Relying on intuition is unacceptable when it comes to the serious task of renovating a personʼs home.

S.R. 54 Code of Practice is a very comprehensive document, with case study examples, illustrations and most importantly a checklist of solid facts as to what you should do and what to look out for,” he added.

This standard is now a requirement when tendering for many state retrofit schemes, such as SEAIʼs Better Energy Homes and local authority upgrades.

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Responding to the Housing Crisis IPA Certificate in Housing Studies

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he Social Housing Strategy 2020 sets out ambitious targets around the supply and management of social housing.

Those working in local authorities require a solid understanding of the key issues in housing policy and delivery.

The Institute of Public Administration’s Certificate in Housing Studies provides housing practitioners, students of public policy and anyone with an interest in housing with a comprehensive introduction to housing services and policy in Ireland. A part-time, accredited programme, it responds to a palpable need among staff working in local authorities and in voluntary and co-operative housing organisations for a greater understanding of the major issues in public/social housing.

Audience The Certificate in Housing Studies will be of huge benefit to housing practitioners, in both generalist and technical positions, in local authorities and approved housing bodies. It provides a system-wide induction to public/social housing—an area of huge national importance—in a practical and applied manner. The programme will also appeal to anyone working in related areas who would like to understand the evolution of housing policy in Ireland and the work of those bodies responsible for the delivery of housing services.

Delivery and Assessment This programme is designed for adult students who want to obtain a third-level qualification while also attending to their professional and personal responsibilities. Students attend seven one-day seminars at the IPA in Dublin between September and March. These seminars consist of presentations on policy objectives and regulatory requirements and workshops on implementation and best practice. Between seminars, students study the course material provided.

Assessment is based on course work and a final exam.

Programme Content There are seven modules: 1.

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Housing Services: Planning and Housing Strategies Social Housing Support: Determining Need Housing Supply and the Social Housing Investment Programme Housing Administration (Allocation to Sales) Sustainable Communities: Local Authorities and Good Estate Management Regulation and Management of the Housing Sector Housing Policy: Future Directions

Accreditation The Certificate in Housing Studies is accredited by University College Dublin, of which the IPA is a recognised college.

For further information or to book a place, interested parties should contact: Undergraduate Office, Institute of Public Administration, 57-61 Lansdowne Road, Dublin 4

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The smart way to keep more heat in homes -Simply upgrade the glass!

Did you know that up to 26% of the heat escaping from houses is lost through windows?

Windows allow more heat to escape that any other building material. “Given the same window and wall area, the window will allow up to eight times more heat escape,” according to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The fact that the glass accounts for 90% of the area of a window it makes sense to ensure it is as efficient as possible.

Fitting new, high-performance glass such as Low-E-Plus into your existing frames will • save you money on your heating bills; • make your home more comfortable; • contribute towards lowering CO2 emissions.

Fitting our super-efficient double glazing into your existing frames is smart in other ways too: in most cases, there is little or no redecorating required and the work is normally completed in a day.

At ENERGLAZE, we have quickly established ourselves as Irelandʼs leading installers of energy-efficient glass. To date, we have retrofitted nearly 2,000 homes.

Our own research has shown that most homeowners think all double-glazing units are the same. In fact, there are significant differences in performance and the type of glass used is key.

Thatʼs why we use the best performing glazing on the market: • •

Low-E-Plus glass, which is up to 70% more energy efficient than standard double glazing and is suitable for use in uPVC, Aluminium and Timber frames.

Installing Low-E-Plus into existing uPVC frames will cost roughly 50% less than new windows.

ENERGLAZE offer a free no obligation survey and heat-loss demonstration. We operate on a nationwide basis and can be contacted on 01 9011635 or by emailing info@energlaze.ie. Further information is also available from our website www.energlaze.ie.

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NSAI, the National Standards Authority of Ireland, certify Sanbra Fyffeʼs INSTANTOR® PRESS SYSTEM to EN ISO 21003 anbra Fyffe Ltd, market leaders in the supply of plumbing and heating products in Ireland, is celebrating being the first Irish company to be awarded NSAIʼs Licence to use the Irish Standard Mark in connection with its new INSTANTOR® PEXAL-PEX Multilayer Pipe and INSTANTOR® Press Fittings range.

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With our NSAI Certification, Sanbra Fyffe can differentiate completely from the competition. The NSAI certificate provides proof for the Builder Providers, Plumbing and Heating Stores and the Plumbing Trade as a whole that Sanbra Fyffeʼs INSTANTOR® Press System conforms to the EN Standard while underscoring Sanbra Fyffes reputation as the market leading supplier of quality plumbing and heating products in Ireland.”

Noel also paid tribute to his Sanbra Fyffe colleagues involved in achieving the standard and thanked the NSAI for their cooperation with Sanbra Fyffe engineering and quality control staff during the testing and audit process.

The INSTANTOR® PRESS SYSTEM

INSTANTOR® PEX-AL-PEX (PExB/Al/PE-xB) is a multilayer pipe which combines all the advantages of metal and plastic pipe.

The pipe is constructed with a double inner and Pictured from Sanbra Fyffe are Deirdre Byrne, Assistant outer layer of Silane method Commercial Manager & Noel Conroy, Commercial Manager crosslinked polyethylene PE-xB, then bound by quality adhesive to a longitudinally TIG butt Awarded by the NSAI, this certification is a genuine welded 100% oxygen tight aluminium layer. It is this statement of quality and highlights Sanbra Fyffeʼs aluminium layer that allows the pipe to maintain its ongoing commitment to the manufacture and supply shape after bending. Total hygiene and high corrosion of superior plumbing fittings. It also verifies that resistance is ensured as fluids come in contact with Sanbra Fyffeʼs INSTANTOR® Press System the inner PE-xB layer only. Available in: Coils - 16mm conforms to EN ISO 21003, the defining standard and x 100M, 16 x 500M, 20mm x 100M, 26mm x 50M, benchmark manufacturers strive to achieve in 32mm x 50M multilayer piping and press systems.

Insulated Coils - 16mm x 100M, 20mm x 50M, 26mm x 25M, 32mm x 25M Following two years of intensive product development and testing, the INSTANTOR® Press System underwent a rigorous and thorough certification audit with the NSAI. The successful culmination resulted in the NSAI granting licence number 1.153.001 for International Standard EN ISO 21003 to Sanbra Fyffe.

Commenting on the success, Noel Conroy said: “This is a great achievement for the company. Sanbra Fyffe are the only Irish company to be awarded a licence for this standard by the NSAI. The industry has many similar product offerings that claim to be manufactured to the standard, but are not necessarily certified to the standard by a recognised Standards body.

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Sanbra Fyffe Ltd, part of the Northstone group, are committed to the supply of superior plumbing products hence the company motto is “Quality without compromise”

This is a more cost effective pipe system when compared with conventional piping systems in that it requires less fittings than traditional methods. The metal core within the pipe means it can maintain its rigidity under temperature when installed in hot water applications and with noticeably less expansion, an advantage when being used in exposed pipework in central heating systems.

The extensive range of plumbing and heating products provided by Sanbra Fyffe include other brands of note such as TUCSON® Pumps, Motorised Valves & Expansion Vessels, EIRLINE® Taps, IMMERTEC® Immersion Heaters, SANKEL® Central Heating Chemical Treatments, and LEISURE & RANGEMASTER sinks.

INSTANTOR® Press fittings are manufactured using the same high-grade CW617N brass as Sanbra Fyffeʼs market leading range of NSAI certified INSTANTOR® Brass Compression fittings. Each fitting features stainless steel sleeves and two EPDM ʻOʼ rings on each connection which, when pressed correctly, delivers a water-tight seal in seconds.

Quick to install in three simple steps – Cut, Calibrate & Press, saving on time and costs as less fittings are required when compared with traditional plumbing methods. INSTANTOR® Press fittings are designed for use in sanitary water supply and heating systems and are available in sizes 16mm, 20mm, 26mm and 32mm.

Sanbra Fyffe Ltd T: +353 1 842 6255 E: sales@sanbra.ie www.sanbra.ie

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Planning for growth

How Carlow County Council has used GIS to transform its planning application system and prepare for the much-anticipated revival of the building industry quantity of planning applications, more cost effectively, while also delivering a better quality customer service. Designed and delivered by Esri Ireland, the solution is based on Esriʼs ArcGIS platform, integrated seamlessly with the councilʼs iPlan planning administration database.

Known internally simply as ʻPlanning GISʼ, the new planning application system improves the efficiency of the councilʼs planning team by performing complex, automated analyses. ArcGIS automatically draws together all available information for an area, including data from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Office of Public Works and the Department of the Environment. Using these diverse data sets, it then automatically analyses the location of each planning application, detects potential conflicts, such as proximity to a designated special area of conservation, allowing planners to make better informed decisions.

reland is the fastest growing economy in the Eurozone, according to the European Commission.

Indeed, in its latest report, published just last month (May 2016), the organisation has upgraded the predicted growth forecast for Ireland to 4.9% for 2016. This is encouraging news for Irelandʼs beleaguered construction and property industries, as it gives them realistic grounds for hope of a robust economic upturn and an end to years of recession.

But if planning applications for commercial, residential and industrial properties do suddenly start to spike, are Irelandʼs local authorities ready and able to cope?

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Certainly, Carlow County Council is.

Over the last two years, this local authority has developed a fully integrated planning system, enabled by geographic information system (GIS) technology, which will enable it to process a larger

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Planning GIS provides clear, online visibility of the planning register easily access the information they need to prepare tenders for work. “By providing web access to our planning register, we can better support the construction industry in County Carlow and help local organisations to be successful,” says Barry.

Planning GIS also improves the quality of Carlow County Councilʼs planning decisions, by giving planners all the spatial information that they require, all in one place.

For instance, the solution incorporates scanned and geo-registered hardcopy planning maps that were previously deteriorating in filing cabinets. Planners can open these historic maps from within ArcGIS, turn them on and off, or layer them over up-to-date maps, to gain a clear perspective on land changes over time.

It is noteworthy that all employees within Carlow County Council – not just the planning team – have access to Planning GIS, which helps to improve cross-council collaboration. Specialists in the water services team or highways team, for instance, can check proposed housing developments to see what new infrastructure might be required and plan more effectively for the future.

As William Barry, IS Project Leader at Carlow County Council, explains, “Planners can see at a glance the planning history on a site and make the right decisions about necessary planning conditions.”

Without doubt, the investment in an advanced GISdriven planning application system has put Carlow County Council in a very strong position, at exactly the right time. “In 2015, Carlow County Council processed just over 400 planning applications, but based on the economic forecasts, this figure could quickly increase to pre-recession levels of 1,000 or more applications per year,” surmises Barry. “In a recovering economy, we will be better positioned to process a far larger volume of planning applications and deliver a service that is low in cost and high in quality.”

Importantly, Planning GIS enables Carlow County Council to deliver a higher quality of service for the individuals and corporations that submit planning applications, as well as the construction industry as a whole.

The solution includes an ArcGIS-based web service, enabling people to track the progress and up-to-date status of their planning applications online.

Developers and other professional organisations in the building industry can view planned schemes and

Interested to know more contact: mapsmakesense@esri-ireland.ie

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Expertise & Support you can rely on with Xtratherm is committed to developing resources to assist the construction industry in understanding the skills and knowledge required to improve the use of not only our products, but the whole concept of energy efficiency calculation and standards in Ireland.

We started this with our own staff, by taking the unique step of guiding each one of our technical team through BBA Accreditation to calculate U-values and condensation risk analysis to the standards written within our Building Regulation standards. These are European Standards, not just Irish; as our regulations converge our calculation methodologies have become common throughout Europe. EN6946 for U-

L Regulations? NZEB? Passive? What we in Xtratherm have done, by supporting our team through the competency schemes, is adhere to the calculation methodologies as set down within our own regulation standards and EN norms. These are the standards that we all must work to.

This summer, Xtratherm will be opening a state-ofthe-art permanent education resource, the Xi Interactive Exhibition Space and Training Academy.

This will be an area which demonstrates best practice solutions, including detailing for new build housing, commercial fabric and refurbishment. It will also have a separate CPD theatre which will cater for up to 60 people, where we and other industry experts will share our experiences with Local Authority personnel, architects, engineers and installers in areas such as calculating and achieving efficient building fabric performance.

The definition of what constitutes an Ęťefficient fabricĘź is as we know, a matter of debate.

In general countries with different climates have varying definitions of energy efficient fabric, and they allow for variances in opinion.

However, throughout Europe each country has a consistent target for industry to achieve - The National Building Regulation Standards. As each geographical area improves their energy standards towards 2020, the more those regulations start to converge, with the emphasis increasingly being placed on achieving an Energy Efficient Building Fabric first. In England & Wales the fabric now has a separate target (FEES) to achieve in order to meet compliance. Indeed, this same strategy of prioritizing energy efficiency is taken by those advocating Passive Haus as their own target when building. It simply makes sense to minimise and conserve the amount of energy a building requires, whether or not that energy is derived from conventional or renewable sources. In Ireland the

Xi Centre in Navan

values, BS 5250 and EN13788 for condensation, EN10211 for thermal bridging. For the critical issue of Thermal Bridging, Xtratherm was successful in achieving accreditation under the NSAI Thermal Modeling scheme.

Why this commitment to competency? Because in Ireland we have seen a surge in the technical ability of those we deal with on a daily basis. Whether architects or self builders, the drive for ever efficient buildings is now a pre-requisite for all building projects in Ireland and the knowledge on the subject of energy efficiency is impressive in the Irish Construction sector. What isnĘźt quite as clear are the targets that we need to achieve, what to aim for. Part

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national building regulation standards do not differ greatly from passive targets (see table below).

Element Walls U-value < Roof < Floor < Thermal Bridging Air Tightness n50

Passive Haus Target (Irl)* 0.175 W/m2K 0.15 W/m2K 0.15 W/m2K 0.01W/mK (Ind PSI Value)+ < 0.06/air changes per hour

Part L Irl ** 0.14 W/m2K 0.12 W/m2K 0.15 W/m2K 0.05 W/m2K av (Total Bridging) 5m3/hr/m2

* Passive homes: ʻGUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF PASSIVE HOUSE DWELLINGS IN IRELAND SEAIʼ + Passive Haus asks for individual junctions to be measured externally resulting in a figure that appears much more efficient over EN standards used under Building Regulations Part L ** Regulatory Impact Analysis Conservation of Fuel and Energy in New Dwellings Proposed amendments to Building Regulations Part L and Technical Guidance Document L. 26 July 2010 Table 2

how we build in Ireland and comprise a set of standard details for every junction that must be addressed to improve methods of installing insulation, attain the target U-values and avoid condensation. The ACDs have been developed for many construction types including partial and full-fill insulation, framed walls and external or internal lining. Within each method, critical junctions are listed, detail drawings issued and calculated results provided. To use these details as the basis of educating site operatives as to how to put buildings together is fundamental in achieving better buildings in Ireland. The ACDs might not be exhaustive, but they cover the majority of junctions that experience heat loss – it is up to industry as a whole to expand on them. Xtratherm and other manufacturers, together with bodies such as the RIAI and

So targets have been set – on paper. The industry goal is now to deliver those targets both in calculation and on site, to ʻClose the Gapʼ between design and performance. This is where collaboration and education is key to achieving the goal of low energy design. Education needs to involve not just students but also designers, site operatives and manufacturers alike.

Homebond are already working on expanding the ACD offering and will be demonstrating such details at the Xi Centre in Navan Our support for students at second and third level in Ireland, along with other initiatives such as the CIOB student challenge (which incidentally has resulted in Irish colleges coming out at the top of UK and Irl regions on a number of occasions) is part of our commitment to up-skilling within the construction industry generally. Our leadership in calculation and practice has allowed Xtratherm to participate in some of the most ground-breaking, low energy build projects demonstrating Low and Zero Carbon Fabric attainment with traditional build methods, such as the AIMC4 project in the UK.

Xi CPD Theatre Navan

These standards for calculation are applicable to all involved in construction in Ireland. Through collaboration we can up-skill our industry to understand those same principles. It is imperative that all new and existing participants in house building and construction generally be trained with the necessary knowledge to understand and reduce the Performance Gap. Critically, this is particularly applicable to those actually working on sites, the installers who will put together our perfectly calculated and drawn designs. Again, the same regulations we calculate to, contain the guidelines on how insulation is installed and air tightness is achieved in the form of the Acceptable Details for Construction (ACDs). These details are based on

If you are interested in visiting us at the Xi Interactive Exhibition Space and Training Academy in Navan you can contact us on the number below; weʼd be delighted to show you around.

Xtratherm Phone: 046 906 6050 Links: http://www.aimc4.com/ www.xtratherm.ie

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Top marks for Sanbra Fyffe Ltd “Sanbra Fyffe are the only Irish company to be awarded this certificate by the NSAI for fittings up to and including 2” / 54mm. The industry has seen so many Irish importers in recent years offering fittings with a stamping reading EN 1254-2 on their products. With NSAI Certification up to 2” / 54mm Sanbra Fyffe can Pictured at the presentation of the NSAI Certificate were (from left) differentiate completely from Martin Wilson, Aidan Murphy, Sean Balfe, Director NSAI, certain competitors Noel Conroy, Commercial Manager Sanbra Fyffe Ltd and Philip Duffy. misleading claims. The NSAI anbra Fyffe Ltd, market leaders in the supply of certificate provides a confidence and reassurance for plumbing and heating products in Ireland, is the Builder Providers, Plumbing and Heating Stores celebrating the renewal of its licence to use and the Plumbing Trade as a whole that Sanbra Fyffe NSAIʼs Irish Standard Mark in the manufacture of its Instantor® products conform to the EN Standard Instantor® range of brass compression fittings. while endorsing Sanbra Fyffes reputation as the market leading supplier of quality plumbing and Awarded by the NSAI, this certification is a true heating products in Ireland.” statement of quality and highlights Sanbra Fyffeʼs commitment to the manufacture and supply of Noel paid tribute to his Sanbra Fyffe colleagues superior plumbing fittings and validates that involved in achieving the standard and thanked Sean Instantor® conforms to I.S. EN 1254-2.

Balfe and Martin English for their cooperation with Sanbra Fyffe engineering and quality control staff During September 2015, the Instantor® range of during the certification testing process. brass compression fittings underwent a rigorous and thorough certification audit with the NSAI to Sanbra Fyffe Ltd, part of the Northstone group, are International Standard EN 1254-2. The successful committed to the supply of superior plumbing outcome of this resulted in the renewal of Sanbra products hence the company motto is “Quality Fyffeʼs original licence number 1.8.1 in connection without compromise” with the manufacture of Instantor® fittings.

The extensive range of plumbing and heating Sanbra Fyffe is the ONLY Irish Supplier and the products provided by Sanbra Fyffe include other ONLY Irish Manufacturer to achieve the NSAI brands of note such as TUCSON® Pumps, standard on Compression Fittings up to and including Motorised 2”/54mm.

Valves & Expansion Vessels, EIRLINE® Taps, IMMERTEC® Immersion Heaters, SANKEL® The I.S. EN 1254-2 certificate was formally Central Heating Chemical Treatments, and LEISURE presented to Noel Conroy, Commercial Manager of & RANGEMASTER sinks.

Sanbra Fyffe by Sean Balfe, Director of Sustainability and Built Environment, NSAI at NSAI headquarters Sanbra Fyffe also provide OEM services as on 12th October 2015. specialists in the stamping, casting and machining of Commenting on the success, Noel Conroy said: brass and copper alloy components, Sanbra Fyffe “This is a great achievement for the company. Since manufacture both part and fully finished components the introduction of new building regulations, and a for many industries today. heightened awareness of standards and the importance of using quality products in construction, this certification serves to assure our customers of Instantorʼs quality, durability and total reliability. “

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Sanbra Fyffe Ltd T: +353 1 842 6255 E: sales@sanbra.ie www.sanbra.ie

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Clare is home to the some of the most scenic, cleanest and popular beaches on the island of Ireland.

The County is one of only five Local Authority areas to receive "Excellent" classifications for each of its bathing areas in the recent EPA Report on Bathing Water Quality around Ireland.

An Taisce has ALSO awarded the prestigious International Blue Flag to nine Clare beaches, including Whitestrand, Miltown Malbay, Ballycuggernan, Whitestrand Doonbeg, Mountshannon, Cappa, Fanore, Spanish Point, Kilkee and Lahinch. Green Coast Awards were also awarded to the beaches at Bishops Quarter (Ballyvaughan) and Seafield (Quilty).

The recent Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards, combined with the EPA Report, give ClareĘźs tourism interests and coastal communities the confidence to promote these quality beaches and bathing locations to the growing numbers of visitors to the County.

The Environment Section of Clare County Council and those living and working in the vicinity of Clare's bathing locations and beaches are committed to working together to ensure these excellent result can be maintained during 2016.

V isit Clar e â&#x20AC;&#x201C; home of 9 blue flag beaches and excellent quality bathing water in 2016

The Environment Section of Clare County Council and those living and working in the vicinity of Clare's bathing locations are committed to working together to ensure a clean environment.

Clare County Council Promoting a Greener Clare

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Louth may be Ireland's smallest county but it is justifiably proud of its diverse coastline, which stretches from the mouth of the River Boyne to the Cooley Mountains. Great swathes of sand, grassy dunes, muddy bays and estuaries define the Wee County's coast.

Louth has three Blue Flag Beaches - Clogherhead and Port to the south and Templetown close to its northern border. All three beaches are classified as achieving Excellent Water Quality.

They offer great opportunities for water sports, bird watching and family fun.

Louth has seen exponential growth in the level of tourism in recent years. This has been founded on the stunning scenery of the Cooley Mountains and the rich heritage of the towns of Drogheda, Dundalk and Carlingford. Louth also has a proud maritime history and hosts the award winning Irish Maritime Festival in Drogheda on 9th/10th July.

It is hoped to direct visitors to take in the 90km of stunning coast which includes its three Blue Flag beaches.

Kilgreaney Plastic Products Irelands Number one Ringbouy Manufacturers

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141 amazing jewels on Ireland beautiful coastline – An Taisce announces 85 International Blue Flag and 56 National Green Coast Awards for Ireland

n Taisce announced the International Blue Flag Award and the National Green Coast Award recipients for 2016 at an event in Portmanock on May 26th. A total of 141 awards were presented by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Simon Coveney T.D at an awards ceremony.

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Speaking at the awards ceremony Minister Coveney said, “In Ireland, we are particularly fortunate to have a varied and beautiful coastline with many pristine beaches that are open to the public to enjoy. “ He added that: “However, we cannot rest on our laurels and must continue to make strident efforts to protect and improve our waters. This will ensure that we, and future generations, can continue to enjoy this wonderful resource”.

Mayor Fingal Cllr David O'Connor, Ind, Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government Simon Coveney TD and Michael John OʼMahony, Director, An Taisceʼs Education Unit

The Blue Flag is one of the worldʼs most recognised eco-labels. 79 beaches and 6 marinas were awarded this prestigious accolade. As a pre-requisite, the bathing water at Blue Flag beaches must meet the highest standards of bathing water quality. The overall Blue Flags in Ireland this year is down only one on 2015. Whilst a few beaches failed to retian Blue Flag status ,the Blue Flag will be raised for the first time at Ballymoney North Beach in Wexford and Brittas Bay North regains Blue Flag status lost for the 2015 bathing season. Fenit Marina in Kerry has also been awarded a Blue Flag this year whilst all of the marinas awarded last year have retained Blue Flag status for the coming season.

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Mr Ian Diamond, Coastal Programmes Manager said “I would like to pay tribute to the Local Authorities and marina operators here today for all their efforts in ensuring that the sites being awarded for the 2016 bathing season have achieved the excellent standards required by the Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards.”

Visit www.blueflagireland.org for more on the Blue Flag programme in Ireland The Green Coast Awards were presented back in 2003 to four beaches in County Wexford. Since then, the award has gone from strength to strength recognising beaches for their clean environment, excellent water quality and natural beauty with 56 beaches receiving the Green Coast Award. Boatstrand in Waterford is being awarded for the Green Coast Award for the first time since 2010, whilst Red Strand in Cork has regained the award due in part to improved water quality.

An important aspect of the Green Coast Awards is the involvement of Clean Coast groups of which there are approximately 500 and comprise of thousands of volunteers. Mr Diamond paid tribute to these groups stating that: “I would also like to commend the many thousands of Clean Coasts volunteers who participate in community clean-ups and coastal enhancement projects in their local areas throughout the year. It is their work that ensures that Ireland’s fantastic beaches remain clean and safe for everyone”.

Swimmers at Seapoint, Co. Dublin Visit www.cleancoasts.org for more on the Green Coast Awards programme The Blue Flag is administered in Ireland by An Taisce on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education and funded by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. The Green Coast Award is funded by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and is also sponsored by Fáilte Ireland and Coca-Cola.

#2minutebeachclean: The #2minutebeachclean is an initiative to get people out and cleaning their beaches. It is as the name suggests a beach clean that happens over two minutes. These #2minutebeachclean stations act to raise public awareness of the marine litter on our coastline and how all beach users can make a positive impact in just 2 minutes. #2minutebeachclean campaign has the added incentive of sharing your beach clean which includes you into a beach clean community on instagram/twitter/facebook with the hashtags #2minutebeachclean and #cleancoasts. Itʼs as easy as that!

The initiative was developed in the UK by author and Colm O Regan, comedian and ʻirishmammiesʼ author ocean lover Martin Dorey and is being run in Ireland by Clean Coasts sponsored by Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. It is now part of the Blue Flag criteria in Ireland that every Blue Flag beach will have a #2minutebeachclean board. This summer will see over 100 #2minutebeachclean boards on beaches around the country.

Speaking about the #2minutebeachclean, Sinead McCoy, Clean Coasts Manager said, “The #2minutebeachclean idea is simple and inspiring. You just pick up a few bits of litter when you go to the beach, take a picture of the litter and post on social media, then put it in the bin, itʼs as simple as that.

Every piece of litter removed from the marine environment is a piece of litter that wonʼt pollute our oceans or be ingested by marine life.”

This year Clean Coasts have teamed up with Colm OʼRegan, comedian and ʻirishmammiesʼ author to help promote this initiative. Speaking about the #2minutebeachclean, Colm said, “I really love this initiative, itʼs just something small we can all do but if you add up all the 2 minutes we can have a incredibly positive effect on our beaches.”

To find out more information on this campaign Please visit www.cleancoasts.org

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Sligo‘s Clean Coast ligo County Council was delighted to hear An Taisceʼs announcement that Sligo was to be awarded with prestigious Blue Flag and Green Coast beach awards for 2016.

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Rosses Point is to retain its Blue Flag status with Green Coast Awards going to Dunmoran, Streedagh, Mullaghmore and Rosses Point. Achieving these internationally recognised awards of excellence is a result of meeting stringent criteria which includes excellent water quality, environmental management, safety and services and the provision of

environmental education information.

Maintenance of Blue Flag and Green Coast beaches involves the ongoing commitment from the Councilʼs Environmental Services staff to ensure that the strict award criteria are met. A rigorous programme of monitoring and review of beach management protocols is followed.

A high level of cooperation across various Council departments is also required along with working in partnership with other agencies such as An Taisce and the local communities, in particular Clean Coast Groups.

The Council also works continuously to bring some of its other beautiful beaches up to award standard.

Come visit Sligo and experience it for yourself.

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“Irelandʼs specialist in controlling Japanese Knotweed & other IAPS” INVASIVE PLANT SOLUTIONS have been addressing the spread of invasive alien plant species across Ireland since 2012

Bridging the Ecological & Engineering Divide

We offer site specific assessments and a tailored suite of environmentally sensitive treatment solutions such as:

• Herbicide control including stem injection, stem filling, cut & stump treat, drill & inject, spot spraying & leaf wiping

Rivus is a unique team of Irish environmental and engineering specialists who provide innovative techniques, materials and methodologies to provide sustainable solutions in environmentally sensitive sites.

• Physical control including bund solutions, underground cells, root barriers, soil screening, deep burial & off–site disposal

Our services include: • Riverbank Revetment

• Habitat Restoration

• Fish Passes

• Weirs & Rock Ramps

• Invasive Species Survey

• Appropriate Assessments

• Management and Treatment

• Ecological Impact Assessment

The Stationhouse, Station Road, Dundrum,Co. Tipperary, Ireland.

Mobile: +353 (0)86-2621443 Tel. / Fax: +353 (0)62-71589 Email: info@knotweed.ie

Rivus House 7E Gurtnafleur Business Park, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary Tel: +353 (0)52 612811 • Mobile: +353 (0)86 2389588

www.knotweed.ie

Email: info@rivus.ie web: www.rivus.ie

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Invasive Alien Species Action Plan for Dublin City Maryann Harris, Senior Executive Parks Superintendent

ublin City Council is the first Local Authority in Ireland to produce an Invasive Alien Species Action Plan (2016-2020) under new legislation. Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are animals and plants that are introduced accidently or deliberately into a natural environment where they are not normally found, with serious negative consequences for their new environment. Strategies for control of IAS have been in place in Dublin City to deal with certain species since 2007.

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Volunteers from Dodder Action Group and Ericsson remove Himalayan balsam from the River Dodder

The impacts of IAS are wide ranging and destructive from economic, social, health and ecological viewpoints, and it is estimated that they currently cost the economy of the island of Ireland over â&#x201A;Ź200 million per year. Ireland has listed designated invasive plants and animals in the European Communities (Birds and Habitats) Regulations (2011). Dublin City Council has assessed the risks based on known records of these species within its administrative area. The European Union passed new IAS Regulations in 2014, which have clarified our requirements in dealing with these species.

Common cordgrass (Spartina anglica) growing in protected habitats of North Dublin Bay stands out for its bright green colour

The objectives of the City Council Plan are to control and reduce the spread of existing IAS, and to prevent any new IAS from establishing in the City. A coordinated approach between a variety of public bodies and organisations is necessary to achieve these.

Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), a relative of 'busy lizzies', looks attractive, but contributes to erosion of river banks.

The City Council Plan includes specific responsibilities for contractors working in Dublin City and for Council staff. There are also requirements for planning consent, and DCC has been including specific planning conditions for IAS management plans since 2011.

The CouncilĘźs plan will be available through its website: http://www.dublincity.ie/sites/default/files/content/RecreationandCulture/DublinCityParks /Biodiversity/Documents/18741_DCCo_IAS_ActionPlanV3.pdf

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Zap the Jap!

by P.Larkin Msc., Enviraculture Group Limited.

Enviraculture provides a professional hand held weeder based upon new innovative technology. This system uses electricity to boil weeds from tip to root without damaging surrounding plants or soil. The complete root system is destroyed. It also very effective on annuals, biennials, perennials and all invasive weeds.

Benefits include: · A highly effective CHEMICAL FREE control solution for sensitive water catchment, water treatment and fishery areas. · Root structures INSTANTLY killed with no disturbance of surrounding soil adjacent to Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed etc.

· Will treat and control ALL species of weeds including deep-rooted and tall weeds.

Restricted to authorized and trained operatives only using biometric finger print technology.

An electric Japanese Knotweed control demonstration is planned in Castlerea, Co. Roscommon in August this year.

Dates as yet to be confirmed. We are open to offers from other demonstration sites, for alien weed control other than Japanese knotweed. During the day, we will present to demonstrate the technology on a variety of weeds and answer your questions. Interested parties please let us know and we will include you on our invitation list.

We have had a long-standing interest in this exciting new technology as a more effective solution to invasive species control. It is likely that electric weeding will become a vital environmentally friendly tool. As in the future the battle against invasive alien weed species, due to the ever-increasing restrictions being placed on chemical usage.

Please contact P. Larkin for more details. Email: Mail@enviraculture.com or Mobile 086 2508805 We have had a long standing interest in this exciting new technology as a more effective solution to invasive plant species control Visit : http://www.enviraculture.com

We offer comprehensive package for invasive weed treatment including: • Site assessment • Programme of works • Follow up treatments and monitoring • Traffic Management

Positive Coverage of Positive Achievements

Our staff are trained in the use of specialised treatment methods including direct injection and have successfully treated the following Invasive weeds species: • Japanese Knotweed • Himalayan Baylsam • Giant Hogweed

GILTRON LTD Tel/Fax: 00 353 46 9072841 Email: carmel@giltron.ie

Shaffrey Landscaping Ltd Shancarnan, Moynalty, Kells, Co. Meath T: 046-9244330 E: info@shaffreylandscaping.ie W: www.shaffreylandscaping.ie

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93% of Irish bathing waters meet minimum EU Standards Three quarters of bathing waters continue to be of ʻExcellentʼ quality for the second year running. Irelandʼs bathing waters continue to be of a very high standard, with 93.4 per cent of identified bathing waters (128 of 137) meeting minimum EU standards.

Three quarters of all identified bathing waters (101 of 137) were classed as being of ʻExcellentʼ quality – the same as in 2014 – with a further 13 classed as ʻGoodʼ quality.

Six coastal bathing waters failed to meet the minimum mandatory standard and were classified as being of ʻPoorʼ quality.

Four of these (Youghal, Duncannon, Rush South beach, and Ballyloughane) were first classified as ʻPoorʼ in 2014 but showed noticeable improvements in quality in 2015.

Merrion Strand and Loughshinny were newly classified as being of ʻPoorʼ quality.

Assessment of water quality in 2015 was undertaken using data covering the 2012-2015 bathing seasons.

“Despite a cool and, at times, wet and windy summer, the overall quality of Irelandʼs bathing waters continues to be extremely good with the stricter standards providing a high level of protection for bathers,” said Dr Matt Crowe, Director of the EPAʼs Office of Evidence and Assessment when launching the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report Bathing Water Quality in Ireland – A Report for the Year 2015.

Dr Crowe continued, “Disappointingly, six bathing waters were classed as ʻPoorʼ quality. Four of these, Youghal Front Strand, Duncannon, Rush South beach, and Ballyloughane, were first classified as ʻPoorʼ in 2014. All showed marked improvements in quality in 2015 but the 4 year assessment means their classification is influenced by poorer results from 20122014 bathing seasons. The relevant local authorities, in conjunction with Irish Water, have management plans in place to tackle the main pollution risks at these beaches and these plans are designed to return these beaches to at least ʻSufficientʼ quality in the next year or two”.

The 137 identified bathing waters are coastal or inland waters widely used by the public for bathing which are monitored, managed and assessed under the requirements of the 2008 Bathing Water Quality Regulations.

Peter Webster, EPA Senior Scientific Officer said, “Ireland has many lovely beaches with excellent water quality. In addition to the 137 EU identified bathing waters assessed in this report, we have also included details of other waters where bathing occurs which are monitored by local authorities. While they do not come under the legal framework of the Bathing Water Regulations it is important to let the public know about their quality and we would like to see many of them included in the national programme in the future.”

Commenting on the ʻPoorʼ quality waters Mr Webster said; “Ardmore and Clifden were classified as ʻPoorʼ in 2014 but showed significant improvements in 2015 due to investment in sewage infrastructure. While it is too early to say how Clifden will fair in the long term it is very encouraging that all of the samples taken in 2015

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were of ʻExcellentʼ quality. At Lilliput (L. Ennel) a pollution pressure has been removed by the off-site treatment of wastewater. Both Duncannon and Youghal Front Strand showed very good performance in 2015 and could reasonably be expected to meet at least ʻsufficientʼ standard in 2016.

Disappointingly, two bathing waters were newly classified as ʻPoorʼ in 2015 – Merrion Strand and Loughshinny. In the case of Merrion Strand the problem is complex and has been developing for several years with impacts from nearby streams and from an increasing number of seabirds causing microbiological pollution. In the case of Loughshinny, a single sample taken in 2014 after very heavy rainfall coupled with slightly poorer quality in 2015 caused it to fail the standard.”

2015 Report Findings In 2015, 93.4% of bathing waters (128 of the 137 bathing areas) complied with EU minimum standards and were classified as achieving at least ʻSufficientʼ water quality status.

Three quarters of bathing waters (101 of 137, 74%) were classified as being of ʻExcellentʼ water quality.

A further 13 (9%) were classified as being of ʻGoodʼ water quality.

14 bathing areas (10%) classified as being of ʻSufficientʼ water quality. These waters remain at risk of episodic pollution events.

2 bathing waters (Lilliput and Clifden) improved significantly and were classed as ʻChangesʼ until sufficient samples are available for full classification 6 bathing waters (4.4%) failed to meet the minimum required standard and were classified as being of ʻPoorʼ quality.

Youghal (Front Strand) - Cork County Council Duncannon - Wexford County Council Rush (South beach) - Fingal County Council Ballyloughane - Galway City Council Merrion Strand - Dublin City Council Loughshinny - Fingal County Council Asked whether or not it was safe to bathe at these sites Mr. Webster said; “The fact that any bathing water has been classified as ʻPoorʼ means that there is a risk of periodic microbiological pollution. Under the Bathing Water Regulations, local authorities are required to put in place notifications for the entire bathing season advising the public against bathing which could include a bathing prohibition if a serious pollution incident occurs.

Throughout the season, current water quality information and details of any incidents affecting bathing waters is displayed on the national bathing water website, Splash, Bathers visiting these waters are advised to check the website and their local beach notice boards for information on current water quality."

More Information The summary report Bathing Water Quality in Ireland – A Report for the Year 2015 and Map of the quality of Irelandʼs bathing water sites .

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Congratulations to Wicklow County Council and County Librarian Brendan Martin and his team on the opening of the new Arklow Library and municipal offices.

Congratulations to Brendan Martin, his staff and Wicklow County Council on the opening of Arklow Public Library.

This wonderful state of the art facility is a development of which all Wicklow people can be justly proud. Very Best Wishes from John, Caroline, Jonathan and all the staff at I.E.S.Ltd.

The Open Book Company Library Services Limited Email: bbannigan@openbook.ie Website: www.openbook.ie

Ireland's Leading School and Library Supplier • Best Discounts • Best Service• Best Quality • Best Advice International Education Services (Trading as I.E.S.Ltd) Weston Industrial Estate, Salmon Leap, Leixlip, Co.Kildare

Tel +353 18463715 / Fax: 353 1 8463661 9 Kinsealy Business Park, Kinsealy, County Dublin

Telephone: 01 6210 310 Fax: 01 6210 188 e-mail: info@iesltd.ie Website: www.iesltd.ie

Louth County Council in partnership with communities throughout the county.

Working together to protect & enhance our environment.

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Arklow Library & Municipal District Office Wicklow County Council has opened the new library and Municipal Offices on Arklowʼs Main Street. The building is located right in the heart of the town and comprises 1,400 square metres over three floors.

At the official opening on April 1, Cathaoirleach of Arklow Municipal Council, Sylvester Burke said: “This building is in an ideal location close to shops and parking areas. By placing the building in this prominent location, in the heart of the town, it reinforces the function of the building, and, very importantly in these times, serves to regenerate the Main Street”.

The project is on the site of the former Dunnes Stores building. While working around the former structure was initially considered, feasibility studies showed that only a minimal increase in costs would be required if that building was demolished and rebuilt from a blank canvas. This was the line adopted and the benefits of this are now apparent. Both the library and Municipal offices have their own entrance at either end of the building, the library from the Main Street and the Municipal District Office from the south with a sunny plaza. The library is on the lower and upper ground floors, while the Municipal offices are on the upper ground floor and first floor. The top floor has also been fitted with a roof garden with panoramic views over the town and coast.

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The library element comprises approximately 850 square metres. The lower ground floor is primarily the stock and lending area. There are dedicated areas for children, adults and teenagers. Self-service technology ensures that queues can be avoided and discretion can be assured.

The upper ground floor emphasizes the educational and services element in four separate sections: • • • •

Study / reference area with 30 study desks IT + relaxation area with public access computers, magazines and newspapers Art exhibition area Community room for talks / author visits or for use by local community groups

Wi-fi is available throughout the building.

There are also a number of online services available, including e-books, downloadable audio books, e-magazines/newspapers and e-languages.

It is envisaged that the facility will be recognized as a major resource for selfeducation and life-long learning in Arklow and south county Wicklow.

Director of Services with Wicklow County Council, Michael Nicholson expressed his delight with the way the new Library and District office has re-vitalised Arklowʼs main street and he hopes that it will encourage the refurbishment of other vacant buildings in the town. He added that the old adage “build it and they will come” has never been more true than with this new library in Arklow which has seen 9000 visitors in its first month of operation. The former library had around 2000 visitors per month.

Since the library opened on April 4, over 3,000 people registered in the first eight weeks. The latter is split almost 50/50 between new borrowers and people renewing who had not used the former service for a number of years.

Innovatively, the new Library has a separate stock of Polish books, to reflect the large Polish population in the town. This was made possible by a substantial donation from the Polish Embassy, and the Polish Ambassador attended the official opening of the Library in April.

Wicklow County Council in partnership with Music Generation Wicklow will also have a stock of musical instruments in the new library, which can be borrowed by those wishing to learn music.

Arklow has a very proud tradition in music, with the long running Arklow Music festival , growing each year.

Arklow Library and Municipal Offices has also been recognised in the recent 2016 Irish Building & Design Awards, with Coady Architects scooping the award for the Cultural Project of the Year

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Dublin Cityʼs Parks are alive with biodiversity, throughout the summer Dublin City Council will host bug hunts, pond-dipping, nature trails, wildlife workshops, citizen science surveys, walks, talks and much more, in collaboration with the Irish Wildlife Trust, OWLS Childrenʼs Nature Charity, Birdwatch Ireland, Bat Conservation Ireland, Coastwatch, The Herpetological Society Of Ireland and others. Our pièce de résistance, however, will be the Biodiversity Village at St. Anneʼs Park Rose Festival, where you can learn all about the good life and wildlife of Dublin City, and meet all our partners in biodiversity.

To find out more, visit our website at www.dublincity.ie

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NEW PLAYGROUNDS OPENED IN NEWTOWNMOUNTKENNEDY AND RATHNEW wo new playgrounds – at Newtownmountkennedy and Rathnew – were officially opened by Wicklow County Council in March 2016.

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Amongst the facilities provided for children in Newtownmountkennedy are zip wire, trampoline, swings, tunnel and playhouse while in Rathnew along with swings and a storytelling chair there is a Teen Area with kickabout, basketball, skate and BMX park, parkour and a hangout shelter.

Performing the opening in Newtownmountkenned, the Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr John Ryan, wished the children and the whole community many happy days in the playground.

He added: “There was a time that children were to be seen and not heard and Iʼm glad to see that those times have changed. It is clear from the numbers here today that this facility is well loved already by the local children and it is great to see the children playing outside in a fun, safe environment.”

He thanked Michael Lane and the Playground4Newtown committee who had worked tirelessly over the past number of years to ensure that a playground was developed for their children. For the Council, it had been a pleasure working with them and they looked forward to continuing this partnership.

Cllr Ryan said that In addition to playgrounds, Wicklow County Council was committed to making Wicklow a more child-friendly county by working to ensure that children can move and play in their neighbourhoods as safely as possible.

“In this sense, communities everywhere have a part to play in enabling childrenʼs play not only in the provision of playgrounds but in making sure that children can play in their neighbourhoods, by making the safety, mobility and play needs of children a priority,” he stated.

Cllr Ryan also thanked his fellow councilors for their foresight in adopting the Special Development Levy Contribution Scheme, through which funding for the project was provided.

Mr Des OʼBrien, Deputy Chief Executive, Wicklow County Council, said the playground in Newtownmountkennedy was the result of an approach made to the Council in 2011 by a local committee, Playground4Newtown, chaired by Michael Lane.

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The Council purchased the land from the Diocese and gained the full cooperation of the Board of Management of the National Schools for the project.

The Playground4Newtown Committee, he said, was made up of a dynamic group of local people who work tirelessly on behalf of their community.

“It is inspiring to see the number of people who work so hard in a voluntary capacity to improve the quality of life in their community. It is a proud day for you today,” he added.

Mr OʼBrien also paid tribute to the contractor, Brian McKee and All Play Ltd, for delivering such a fantastic facility and said that Mr McKee had contributed money for the local committee to host a Family Fun Day in the playground later in the year.

He also thanked the Councilʼs Strategic Policy Committee for Community Cultural and Social Development, chaired by Councillor Jim Ruttle, and also Director of Service, Michael Nicholson and the staff of Community, Cultural & Social Development section.

Performing the opening of the new playground and teen recreational facility in Rathnew, Cllr Ryan said the playground was a very practical expression of the Councilʼs recognition of the importance of play in the lives of children.

“Play is a natural way to support developmental learning in young children; to improve their cognitive and physical skills; and to help them learn how to co-operate with one another - how to take turns, to be part of a team and to make friends,” he said.

Wicklow County Councilʼs Play Policy and the playground development programme had come about as result of children making their voices heard and the fact that politicians and policymakers are listening to what they have to say.

Particular emphasis, he said, was given to progression of play in the Rathnew facility which caters not only for the younger children but the teenagers also with the addition of the fine BMX/skatepark, parkour elements and teenage hangout shelter.

Mr Des OʼBrien, Deputy Chief Executive, said the Council was committed to the development of healthy communities in which children could play, grow and learn in safe environments adding: “We need to see playgrounds and other recreational centres as organic parts of our environment and to promote continuous improvements in their design.”

Paying tribute to the contractor, Ronnie McKee and his team at Play and Leisure Services Ltd, for their work he announced that Mr McKee had contributed money for the local committee to host a Family Fun Day in the playground later in the year.

He said he had no doubt that the facility would provide plenty of fun and enjoyment for the children and teenagers of Rathnew and surrounding areas for many years to come.

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At Allplay it has been both our business and our pleasure to design and build play spaces and recreation areas for 20 years now.

Our clients range from private individuals to large local authorities and education boards, and our aim is always to provide a high quality, stimulating, energetic and unique play area with the wishes and dreams of the client foremost.

Alongside this we also give much consideration to safety and budget, working with our clients for the best outcome for everyone.

At Newtownmountkennedy, the brief was for a natural approach, so the design includes bridges, tunnels, sand play, a willow tunnel and 'fossils'! As well as the much loved basket swing, multiplay unit, nest high tower and seesaw.

This fun area is for both Toddler and Junior age groups!

12 Crabtree Road, Ballynahinch, Co Down. BT24 8RH Telephone: +44 (0) 28 9756 5129 • Fax: +44 (0) 28 9756 1915 • Email: General – info@all-play.com

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ibrary Capital Investment Programme 2016-2021

The recent announcement of the roll-out of a new Library Capital Investment Programme for the period 2016-2021. The programme will see a contribution of some 22m euro by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in some 16 library capital developments and the mainstreaming of the Open Libraries initiative.

Speaking at the launch of the new programme at Tallaght Library in South Dublin, the Minister said he was “delighted to be in a position to announce the new round of investment in libraries, which is one of the key pillars of Opportunities for All: A Strategy for Public Libraries, the Departmentʼs public library policy document”. The Minister stressed the importance of continued investment in the library service and reaffirmed the Governmentʼs commitment in this regard. The Minister said “the new programme underpins mine and the Governmentʼs commitment to the Library Service in Ireland. The public purse still faces significant challenges, but it is a measure of our commitment to securing a good and consistent standard of library infrastructure across all local authority areas that I can make an announcement of this scale today”.

The Minister highlighted the importance of Open Libraries describing it as “an exciting development that will improve the link between communities and a key local authority service, the local library. It represents a commitment to good quality library services by both central and local government. Based on the feedback from the Open Library pilots and the degree of interest from local authorities in rolling-out the initiative further, I believe it is an extension of the library service that will prove hugely popular and successful in the years to come.”

In concluding, the Minister thanked those in the library service who contributed to the development programme and who will be key to its successful implementation. In particular, the Minister thanked the staff of every local library “for their continued professionalism, dedication and enthusiasm and their continued commitment to providing a high quality service to all sections of the community.”

As key element of the investment programme is the allocation of 2.3m euro for the mainstream roll-out of the Departmentʼs Open Libraries initiative, which will offer seven-day opening from 8am–10pm.

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Programme of Investment under the Library Capital Investment Programme

Local Authority Open Libraries Dublin City Kildare Laois Wicklow Sth. Co. Dublin Tipperary Clare Offaly Cavan Kilkenny Monaghan Mayo Limerick Longford Tipperary Wexford Kerry Total

Library Project

Kevin Street Athy Portlaoise Wicklow Town North Clondalkin Carrick-on-Suir Ennis Edenderry Virginia Kilkenny City Monaghan Town Westport Limerick City Edgeworthstown Schools Mobile Library Mobile Library Mobile Library

DECLG Allocation 2.3m euro 1m euro 1.65m euro 1.65m euro 1m euro 1m euro 0.15m euro 3m euro 1.7m euro 0.85m euro 2.45m euro 1m euro 1.1m euro 2m euro 1.25m euro 0.1m euro 0.25m euro 0.25m euro 22.7 euro

- See more at: http://www.environ.ie/local-government/community-services/publiclibraries/minister-alan-kelly-announces-new-library#sthash.RPUBLnN5.dpuf

Statement by Minister Coveney on the introduction of pay by weight charging Minister Coveney welcomed the launch of the Pay by Weight Awareness Campaign concerning the collection of household waste. “The introduction of Pay by Weight will mean that the majority of households will be charged in a new, fairer and more transparent way for the collection of their waste” noted the Minister.

Minister Coveney, following close consultation with Minister Naughten, stated that he had decided to remove the mandatory minimum pay by weight charge for the collection of recyclate (or “green bin”) waste as part of the new household waste collection regime. Recognising that there is a cost to collecting and managing recyclable household waste, the change will allow collectors the maximum flexibility to charge for this waste stream on a pay by weight basis or alternatively to absorb that cost in another part of their pricing structure. “I will be amending the relevant Statutory Instrument accordingly in the very near future” concluded the Minister.

The Minister highlighted the potential of this new charging structure to incentivise the prevention of waste and divert material from landfill, to give families more control over their waste management costs and to further drive increases in recycling rates. “Pay by weight charging should provide better value for households who minimize their waste and segregate correctly. It will help Ireland achieve current and future EU recycling and landfill waste targets, and will also result in further job creation, due to the processing of more recyclable and organic waste.”

- See more at: http://www.environ.ie/environment/waste/statementminister-coveney-introduction-pay-weightcharging#sthash.QSeeIcS0.dpuf

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New Initiative and Funds to Speed-up the Taking in Charge Process for Estates going to keep street lights operating and maintained, fixing roads and footpaths and maintaining water services”.

Minister Kelly continued stating that:

inister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, has announced a new national initiative and pilot scheme funding to speed up the ʻtaking in chargeʼ process of estates across the country.

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“Many of the developers have disappeared or gone bust. Government has made great progress in tackling over 2,000 unfinished estates and this is the

Normally, once estates are completed to standard, developers or residents apply to local authorities to take over future maintenance of roads and footpaths, street lights and other services but where proper standards are not met, the process can be delayed. There are over 1,500 estates where these applications are outstanding.

More widely, new data collated by the Department of the Environment and to be published shortly shows that because of the major increase in urban development across the country over the past 15 years and the 2000 former unfinished developments that have now been resolved under the Governmentʼs action programme on unfinished housing developments, there are now over 5,600 completed housing developments which have not been taken in charge including the 1,500 applications on hand.

next step in tackling the legacy of the financial and construction collapse Minister Kelly stated that he believed that every resident in housing estates should have certainty about who is ultimately responsible for maintenance of roads, streetlights, footpaths and water services outside their door but pointed out that:

Government signed off on a proposal from Minister Kelly to put in place a €10m pilot scheme speed up the taking in charge process through demonstration projects to improve co-ordination between local authorities, Irish Water and other stakeholders, address infrastructural deficits and bring in additional funding from bonds and other sources.

“Unfortunately, due to the crash, residents currently have no timetable for when their estate is going to be taken in charge or even if it is on a list. I want to repeat the success of the national programme on unfinished developments and that is why I am pleased the Government has signed off on this initiative to build a proper national program, to speed up the process of resolving yet another legacy from the crash and clear the backlog.

Minister Kelly pointed out that the €10 million starts a process which will help local authorities to speed up the taking in charge of these estates highlighting that:

Local authorities are being briefed on the initiative and will draw down funds later in 2016.

“Over 5,600 estates across the country need to be taken in charge on a progressive basis to clear up uncertainty for residents concerned about who is

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ELEVEN DROWN IN IRELAND EVERY MONTH Wise up at iws.ie There are 135 drownings in Ireland every year - that's more than eleven per month.

The risk of drowning increases at this time of year as many people take to seasonal water based activities for the first time. Stranding, falling in and entanglement are just some of the scenarios that lead to drownings that can be easily prevented: • Always wear a Lifejacket when on water and ensure that it has a correctly fitted crotch strap.

• Walkers and anglers should stay away from edges and avoid walking where you risk being stranded by incoming tides or risk being caught unawares by Atlantic swells.

• Ensure that you are fully trained and competent for your aquatic activity. If not, seek training through www.safetyzone.ie • Children are curious about water and constant supervision is the safest way to avoid tragedy. Parents of primary school children should check if their local school has yet introduced Irish Water Safety's PAWS programme • Primary Aquatics Water Safety, which teaches children all about staying safe around water and is a component part of the physical education strand of the primary school curriculum. Now is the time to instill good habits in time for the summer months ahead.

Roger Sweeney, Marketing Manager & Deputy CEO, • Swimmers should swim parallel and close to the shore and be aware Irish Water Safety,The Long Walk,Galway, H91 F602, Ireland. that water is still too cold for extended swims.

Direct Dial: 00.353.(0)91-53.49.76; Mobile:00.353.(0)87-678.9601; • Ensure that the condition of your boat is fit for purpose and well Fax: 00.353.(0)91-56.47.00; maintained throughout the season.

Skype: rogersweeney; loc8code: LTD-81-4KN. • Alcohol should be avoided before or during any aquatic activity. On Web: www.iws.ie; www.aquaattack.ie; average, a third of drowning victims had consumed alcohol. www.ringbuoys.ie; www.iwsmembership.ie; http://www.iwsmemberinsurance.com; • In emergency situations, never hesitate to call 112 and ask for the http://www.safetyzone.ie CoastGuard.

Rivus is a unique Irish company that combines decades of ecological experience with innovative engineering techniques to provide a wide range of services for the protection and enhancement of our environment. Rivus advises, designs and provides solutions for river and canal bank repair and revetment, fish passes and specialist dredging.

Rivus advises and develops hydroelectic schemes, fish counters and rock ramps. Rivus has skilled ecological staff to complete detailed surveys and assessments.

Rivus has wide experience in surveying, treating and managing invasive species, including knotweeds, Gunnera and Himalayan balsam.

Based in Clonemel, Rivus is 100% Irish-owned and is staffed by ecologists, engineers and environmental scientists with unrivalled experience in projects of all scales.

The Rivus team have experience in national infrastructure projects including motorways, rail and canal. They have worked on all of Irelandʼs major rivers. They have worked under licence on designated Natura sites and can design specific solutions for the most sensitive environments

Rivus House 7E Gurtnafleur Business Park, Powerstown, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary Tel: +353 (0)21 4778538 Mobile: +353 (0)86 2389588 Email: info@rivus.ie

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Root Barrier C3 is a tough, flexible and puncture resistant barrier which is highly resistant to root penetration and designed to protect structures and services from tree root damage, as well as controlling the spread of invasive plants (Such as Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed, Mares Tail and Bamboo).

Tree Pits: Lining the sides of planting pits with Root Barrier C3controls sideways spread of roots into the surrounding area where they can cause damage to property, pavements and services.

Foundations: Installing a buried perimeter sheet wall of Root Barrier C3 can prevent roots undermining foundations and control subsidence from ground shrinkage caused by trees drawing moisture out of the soil.

Service Channels: Encasing new service trenches with Root Barrier C3 protects pipes from root fracture and provides a physical warning during any subsequent excavations.

Japanese Knotweed Root Barrier C3 is also used extensively for containment cells, or as a horizontal or vertical barrier, to protect clean soil, structures, hard surfaces and services fromthe spread of Japanese Knotweed. The fabric conforms to all the criteria required by the Environment Agency code of practice and offers a cost effective and quick alternative to the excavation and transportation off site of soil infested with this invasive weed. Root Barrier C3 is used in a variety of ways to contain Japanese Knotweed: vertically to prevent the lateral spread of rhizome - protecting services and preventing ingress from neighbouring sites, and/or as horizontal capping to protect buildings and paved or tarmac surfaces. While, to avoid the expensive process of transportation to a licensed tip, contaminated excavated soil can be buried onsite, totally encapsulated within a Root Barrier C3 membrane cell under buildings, within cellar voids or in other places that will not be disturbed (for

example a landscaped area or car park).In the past, such sites infested with Japanese Knotweed could only be developed after 3 to 4 years of herbicide control, and even then there was often a risk Japanese Knotweed couldre-occur during excavations. Installing Root Barrier C3 can make construction sites immediately available for use with no risk to structures, roads or drains. Root Barrier C3 has a life expectancy of over 50 years which is an important recommended requirement by the Environment Agency - as Japanese knotweed rhizome can remain dormant for at least 20 years.

Kindly note, containment cells should be buried at least 2.00m below ground to afford someprotection against small mammals, or deeper if badges or rabbits are present.

Features: Root Barrier C3 is a sophisticated composite membrane consisting of triple coating and twin reinforcing layers thermally bonded together to produce an extremely tough, durable and puncture resistant impermeable, flexible barrier against root penetration. The fabric has passed the Resistance to Roots test (DD CEN/TS 14416:2005) and is also UVstabilised and highly resistant to natural acids, alkalis, bacteria and fungi.

Furthermore, Root Barrier C3 can be supplied in rolls up to 4.00m x 100.00m long to reducelaps and the membrane can be site welded to form larger sheets with improved joint integrity.

Unit 243, Block A, Blanchardstown Corprate Park 2, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

Tel: 01 8855555 / 01 8855559 Web: www.ssienvironmental.ie

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A PROFESSIONAL NATIONWIDE SERVICE FOR THE CONTROL OF JAPANESE KNOTWEED & OTHER IAPS INVASIVE PLANT SOLUTIONS was established in 2012 to address the spread of alien invasive plant species across Ireland.

These plants can now be found in every county, are threatening our sensitive habitats, and are undermining our native biodiversity.

The greatest offenders, and the most aggressive of these species, are Japanese Knotweed and its various hybrids, Giant Rhubarb, Giant Hogweed, Himalayan Balsam and Rhododendron. If habitat destruction and irreversible biodiversity impairment are to be avoided we need to take urgent action and deploy effective management and control strategies across both individual locations & the broader environment.

Himalayan Knotweed - Stem injection in mixed hedgegrow

Knotweed root crown injection

Gunnera stump treatment

INVASIVE PLANT SOLUTIONS have been addressing the spread of land based invasive plants in Ireland since 2012 and have been implementing control and eradication programmes since then. We offer a suite of environmentally sensitive treatment solutions, tailored to satisfy specific site requirements and which fully comply with the strict legislative and environmental controls in this field. We utilise the most up to date innovations in equipment and chemical treatment techniques, and apply best practice principles to all our processes, based on established Codes of Practice and Environmental Legislation.

Our treatments include STEM INJECTION, CUT & STEM FILL, CUT & STUMP TREAT, DRILL & INJECT, SOIL REMEDIATION, & ON & OFF SITE BUND SOLUTIONS

INVASIVE PLANT SOLUTIONS partner with environmental and ecological consultants, State Agencies, Local Authorities, General and Civil Engineering Contractors, and the commercial private sector. We offer a comprehensive turnkey service, ranging from ecological screening and preliminary site assessment through to the delivery of multi annual control programmes, site remediation services and the secure disposal of plant material and contaminated soil. We provide a fully insured nationwide service, founded on sustainable ecological principles, utilising trained and qualified personnel, specialist treatment equipment, and in compliance with all relevant legislation.

Shredding plant material

Biosecurity measures

TO FIND OUT MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.KNOTWEED.IE OR CONTACT US DIRECTLY BY EMAIL OR PHONE THE STATIONHOUSE, STATION ROAD, DUNDRUM, CO. TIPPERARY • E34 EK83 M: 086 2621443 • T : 062 71589 • E: info@knotweed.ie

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Creating recreational spaces for the whole community...

Play and Leisure Services are competitive suppliers/installers of childrenʼs play spaces; adult exercise areas; MUGAs; Parkour ; skate parks; Safety Surfacing and Resin Bound surfacing. Our in-house team have extensive experience having completed over 850 projects since 1987.

We represent a variety of long-established companies and offer clients equipment guarantees of up to 30 years. We started business and continue to work with SMP Playgrounds (now HAGS/SMP) who have 68 years experience in design/manufacture of play equipment. We became distributors for Fresh Air Fitness in 2003, installing over 400 units throughout Ireland. We also represent Benito – a Spanish company who supply street furniture and now also provide revolutionary LED street lighting and stainless steel play equipment which we will launch in June 2016.

A background in construction enables us to offer bespoke cast in-situ concrete skate parks and Parkour facilities with the most recent installation at Rathnew, Co. Wicklow.

31 Carrowdore Road, Greyabbey, Co.Down, Northern Ireland, BT22 2LU Tel: +44 (0)28 42 788702 Shaffrey Landscaping Ltd is an ISO registered company and a full member of the Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland (ALCI). We offer a complete professional landscape package to both the public and private sectors. Established in 1992, we have successfully completed a wide range of landscaping contracts from €1,000-€1,000,000, throughout the country.

Our management team have many years of experience in the landscape industry, which enables us to bring a high degree of expertise and practical knowledge to every contract. Our commitment to quality has helped us establish and maintain a wide range of public and private clients.

We offer comprehensive package for invasive weed treatment including: • Site assessment • Programme of works • Follow up treatments and monitoring • Traffic Management Our staff are trained in the use of specialised treatment methods including direct injection and have successfully treated the following Invasive weeds species: • Japanese Knotweed • Himalayan Baylsam • Giant Hogweed Shaffrey Landscaping Ltd Shancarnan, Moynalty, Kells Co. Meath T: 046-9244330 E: info@shaffreylandscaping.ie W: www.shaffreylandscaping.ie Old Mellifont Abbey.

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Temporary Pumping ʻAll hands to the pumpsʼ is a navy saying which conveys urgency and attention.

The image is of sailors desperately stroking pumps to stay afloat. No doubt they were grateful for the pumps.

Temporary pumping can be managed efficiently provided time & resources are available. Excessive localised rainfall, pumping station failure, are examples of events which afford little time for a normal managed response. In such circumstances, unlike our navy example, the pumping infrastructure may not even exist.

Where a temporary pumping project is unforeseen and volumes to be delivered are high ʻplan bʼ can be the only option. Here what happens is a function of whatever equipment & skills are available at very short notice. But we can look to improve results with contingency planning and widening our scope of supply to include specialist, temporary pumping, equipment suppliers.

The reason is the type of equipment available from regular suppliers is unlikely to suit the unforeseen and exceptional circumstance. Pumps, control equipment, and suitable large diameter hardware & pipework which are needed for high output performance are not stock items of regular suppliers.

It is also important to note is there are differences between the business models of various specialist pump companies. Some are geared toward serving permanent installations others towards short term work. These are different emphasis & differing skillsets and each have different equipment & expertise to offer.

Contingency planning for unforeseen pumping should include developing relations with specialist suppliers which have a short term, or temporary pumping, focus. It will allowaccess to the most suitable equipment, experience, & skills. It will deliver better solutions.

At Pump Supplies we offer the largest range of temporary pumping systems available in the Ireland & the UK.

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Sales, installation and maintenance of top quality outdoor fitness equipment, to local authorities, hospitals, sports clubs, schools etc. Ireland's longest established dedicated outdoor gym supply company.

Tel: 094-9381088 / Mob: 086-2147236

Email: info@outfit.ie / Web: www.outfit.ie

SHELTERS

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Bicycle Shelters & Stands Bus Shelters Kiosks

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CHEMICAL STORAGE

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BUNDS

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CHEMICAL STORES

Ph: 061 225005 sales@safetystorage.ie www.safetystorage.ie

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