Local Authority News Vol.33 No.6

LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS Vol 33 No 6 2014

CONTENTS VOL. 33. No.6

FEATURES €2.2 BILLION SECURED FOR MAJOR SOCIAL HOUSING INVESTMENT 3

Published by: GILTRON LTD RIVERVIEW LODGE, DUBLIN ROAD,

83 COMMUNITIES TO BENEFIT FROM €28 MILLION BETTER ENERGY GRANTS 7

NAVAN, CO. MEATH. Tel: 00353 46 9072841 Email: info@localauthoritynews.ie Website: www.localauthoritynews.ie

Designed & produced by Donnelly Design & Print Ltd.

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.

EPA REPORTS ON 2013 AIR QUALITY AND INDUSTRIAL AIR EMISSIONS 11 LIMERICK CITY AND COUNTY COUNCIL WINS LOCAL AUTHORITY OF THE YEAR 14 BURREN CLEANS UP AT ANNUAL GREEN AWARDS

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IRISH WATER HAS PUBLISHED ITS PROPOSED CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN FOR 2014 TO 2016

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REGULARS DEPARTMENT BREIFS

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PRODUCT INFORMATION

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CLASSIFIEDS LAN LOCAL AUTHORITY NEWS

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€2.2 BILLION SECURED FOR MAJOR SOCIAL HOUSING INVESTMENT– MINISTERS KELLY & COFFEY - Housing Funding up by 40% to €800m - 7,500 new homes in 2015

address the rising housing need. This is just year one, shortly I intend to announce a plan to deliver up to 30,000 social houses in the coming years.

- Local Authority Construction & Acquisition of Housing Units to more than quadruple in 2015

Almost 70% of our Departmentʼs 2015 budget will go directly to support a range of housing programmes.

An expanded housing construction and acquisition programme will meet the twin objectives of tackling rising housing need and supporting jobs in the construction sector.”

This Government has today demonstrated our long term commitment to increase social housing stock and this evidenced by the commitment to spend €2.2billion over the next 3 years.”

- Homelessness service spend to increase by over 20% to €55 million The Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Alan Kelly T.D., & Minister of State Mr Paudie Coffey T.D. today (14 October 2014) said 2015 will see Government aggressively tackling the housing crisis with a major investment of €800 million for a range of housing initiatives coupled with longterm committed funding of €2.2billion.

The Departmentʼs Vote for 2015 is some €1.157 billion - €578m Capital and €579m Current. This compares to a total of €817m in 2014 - an increase of €340m or nearly 42%. Over €230m of the increase will go to Housing programmes.

Speaking in the immediate aftermath of Budget 2015, Minister Kelly said: “The issue of social housing is an absolute priority for this Government and myself and Minister Paudie Coffey are pleased to welcome the fact that investment in new housing infrastructure has been given priority in this Budget and that over 7,500 new homes will be provided under a range of housing initiatives in 2015.

Welcoming the increase in Departmental Funding Minister Coffey said: “Social Housing provision is one the key targets of the Construction 2020 Strategy and I am pleased that this challenge is being tackled by Government in a serious way. The provision of good, sustainable housing is something that myself and Minister Kelly are committed to and the significant increase in funding will greatly assist in delivering housing where it is most needed.

“The delivery of the Construction 2020 strategy is key to addressing the housing need, in particular in the Dublin Region. The measures contained will support the recovery of the construction sector to sustainable levels and ensure that housing demand is met; without returning to the boom and bust economic model of the past.

The housing capital spend will come to €453m in 2015, up from €273 million this year; €180m extra capital spending. This will see the acceleration of local authority direct build and acquisition of properties. The number of housing units delivered through this mechanism will more than quadruple going from 200 to 946 units. The number of units direct units delivered through voluntary housing bodies and co-operatives will rise from 275 to 440.The additional capital programme will also allow for 1,000 extra vacant housing units to be brought back into use.

Just under €800m will be spent on housing – an increase of over €230m on last year which will bring about an increase of 40% on the 2014 housing budget. We will see a major acceleration of local authority direct construction and acquisition which will more than quadruple the amount of social housing units delivered through this mechanism – rising from 200 in 2014 to 946 in 2015.

I believe it was a mistake in the past that local authorities effectively got out of direct house building and we need to return to that model in order to

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Funding will continue to be made available to support a range of initiatives in the community and voluntary sector, including support to strengthen and foster volunteerism and philanthropy as well as funding for seniors alert, which supports the provision of monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence. Overall, community and voluntary supports will be up by €1.5 million to €12.3 million.

Minister Kelly said that, in allocating resources, he was particularly conscious of the need to support funding levels for the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) and its successor, SICAP.

Current spending on housing will grow by €52m to €345m which will be used to finance increased local authority housing services, including through the Rental Accommodation Scheme and the new Housing Assistance Payment.

Some 10,000 people who are distanced from the labour market will receive direct one-to-one labour market training and supports through the LCDP which will draw to a close in Q1 2015. Its successor, SICAP, which will take account of the new aligned local authority/local development structures will support a further 30,000 people in 2015.

In total, 7,536 additional housing units will be delivered from a range of measures which, combined with a target of 8,000 for transfers from Rent Supplement to the Housing Assistance Payment, will deliver a total of 15,925 housing units in 2015.

“ As the economy emerges from recession, SICAP is well placed to create opportunities and provide supports to ease the transition into meaningful employment for the harder to reach in the most disadvantaged areas in society. €46 million will be invested in 2015 to increase access to formal and informal educational activities and resources, and to increase peopleʼs work readiness and employment prospects.” Minister Kelly said.

In 2015, 400 new housing units will be provided for people with specific needs and up to 150 new homes in the community will be provided for people with disabilities leaving institutional care. Some 7,600 housing adaptation grants will assist older people and people with disabilities to continue living in their own homes.

“I am conscious of the need for immediate action to address the scourge of homelessness; I am allocating a further €10.5 million for this purpose to bring the total to €55.5 million in 2015. The availability and supply of secure, affordable and adequate housing is essential in ensuring sustainable tenancies and ending long-term homelessness.”

Minister Kelly added.

The LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme, which will receive €45m funding in 2015, assist projects that improve quality of life and promote growth and diversification of the rural economy.

“LEADER is addressing many of the challenges facing rural communities, including through increasing economic activity and generating employment. It is a key multi-annual programme which will continue to be supported in 2015 as the present programme draws to a close and is replaced by a new LEADER programme. “, the Minister said.

The Ministers stated that they will shortly be publishing a new Social Housing Strategy which will further expand Social Housing provision. The Strategy will harness new funding streams to underpin additional investment in housing.

Significant resources are also being made available through the Departmentʼs Vote to support the development of strong and vibrant local communities; environmental protection; and local government services.

An additional €10m is being made available to recoup investment made by local authorities following damage caused by severe storms earlier this year. €71m will be paid to the Local Government Fund in respect of Irish Water subvention. Other areas of Department spend in 2015 include Water Services (€28m); the North/South Peace Programme (€10m); Landfill Remediation (€8.5m); and Fire Services capital investment (€8m).

Some €133m will be invested in Community programmes in 2015, including €46m for the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and €45 million for LEADER.

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83 communities to benefit from €28 million Better Energy grants Dr Brian Motherway, CEO, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland said: “Energy retrofitting is really important for Ireland reducing expensive imports of fossil fuel and providing much needed employment.

Community projects involve people and organisations working together, having a real effect on peopleʼs lives, with the benefits staying locally.”

inister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, has announced that 83 community energy projects will receive €28m in financial support, resulting in substantial improvements in homes, community buildings, local authority premises and sports facilities throughout

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This yearʼs programme has prompted some very novel collaboration between private and public organisations including: Nationwide: Musgrave and GAA working on 37 retail stores and 34 sports clubs. This is in addition to the 24 retail stores and 22 sports clubs upgraded through the programme last year.

Donegal: Donegal County Council have partnered with St Vincent de Paul among others to upgrade 14 homes power as well as a local waste water treatment plant.

Ireland.

The Minister was speaking at the Dublin Simon Community Shop in Camden Street Dublin. One of the successful applicants, the Dublin Simon Community will receive grant aid towards energy upgrades to a number of their apartments, a training and support centre, along with the purchase of five electric vehicles for the outreach team who work to reduce homelessness.

Last year, the Dublin Simon Community Energy Retrofit Programme greatly improved the working and living conditions of almost 300 residents, staff and volunteers across five of its homeless services.

The programme achieved annual energy saving of over 850,000 kilowatt hours per annum and generated much needed cost savings which have been channelled back throughout the organisation.

Mr Sam McGuinness of the Dublin Simon Community said; “Building on the success of 2013, we are delighted to be given the opportunity to further develop the Better Energy Community Project in partnership with SEAI. The savings made through last yearʼs programme were channelled back into the organisation in order to provide the best possible care, accommodation and support for people experiencing homelessness and those at risk. Not only this, through delivering energy improvements across our buildings, we simultaneously created and increased awareness of energy efficiency throughout the entire organisation.”

The Minister said: “This year the Better Energy programme will provide almost €60m for retrofitting, more than in 2013. Organisations around the country like the Dublin Simon Community are alert to the high cost of energy in their facilities and that every euro saved can be diverted back into valuable services for the community. Todayʼs announcement signals this Governmentʼs continued commitment to energy retrofitting.”

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Simple Insulation Solutions Getting It Right Before We Enter the Site Insulation has always been seen as the poor relation when designing and constructing family homes and commercial buildings in Ireland.

There are thousands of recently built family homes and commercial building across Ireland hemorrhaging expensive energy due to poor insulation standards and poor choice of insulation and associated building materials.

The lack of joined up thinking, poorly written insulation and associated building material specifications, common sense basic training and almost nonexistent building inspections are in my opinion the main reasons behind many insulation failures. By this I mean there is not enough focus and consideration given to the selection of the insulation type and suitability along with the associated building materials such as the vapour permeiable roof and wall membranes and the airtight/vapour control membranes at design stage.

The idea of what we did in the past works for me must change and quickly if we are to truly build good quality energy efficient buildings in the future.

To Insulate is to PROTECT Radon barriers, damp proof membranes, thermal insulation, acoustic insulation, fire safe insulation, vapour control membranes, vapour permeiable membranes and ventilation systems are all inextricably linked to the protection and comfort of the home owner and the office worker.

For these reasons I believe the insulation and associated building materials specification should be produced as a separate document clearly identifying the construction layers for each application, roof, wall and floors.

Prior to building works commencement the architect, design team the building contractor and sub contractors should meet and discuss the issues surrounding the energy efficiency package. Many insulation and associated building material failures are simply down to lack of understanding.

Why copy and paste is simply not good enough Huge numbers of building specifications are copy and pasted from previous works and a lot of the time they omit important associated building material descriptions and in many cases do not suit the building project. To ensure we purchase and apply the correct insulation and associated building materials to achieve the best energy performance possible it is essential we identify the insulation characteristics, thermal, acoustic, firesafe etc, lambda values and thickness at design stage. If we do not understand the relationship between building physics and the insulation and associated building materials we will continue to have rising fuel bills, mould growth and uncomfortable buildings into the future.

The insulation and associated building material package should always be identified as high priority.

If we do not inspect the application process - Do not expect the best results.

The images on the opposite page are typical findings in new homes and commercial buildings across Ireland.

To reduce and or eliminate thermal bridging, increase energy performance and comfort levels in future buildings we must educate using a common sense approach and stop chasing the lowest U VALUES.

THINK - SPECIFY - APPLY - INSPECT

Dermot Kearns

Independent Insulation Advisor

Mobile: 00353-87-0526909 E-Mail: dermot.kearns@simpleinsulationsolutions.ie

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Simple Insulation Solutions Image 1: Is a new school - Date 2014 The cavity wall insulation is incorrectly applied leading to poor energy efficiency of the external wall.

Mortar droppings on the wall ties lead to high risk water penetration across the cavity.

Image 2: New house - Date 2014 - The Radon barrier is damaged.

If we continue to insist on high levels of airtightness for every project we must ensure we ventilate correctly and the radon barrier is protected during the construction phase. Radon gas is a killerÍ™ 1.

2.

Image 3: New build 2011 - The image shows the reverse side of a plasterboard layer to external wall.

A vapour control membrane is designed to protect against mould growth only when all joints, abutments, penetrations and overlaps are sealed. In this case there was none applied?

Image 4: The image shows ZERO fire protection to wall penetrations in office buildings. Local authority building: New build 2002 - Fire stopping should be applied by certified, reregistered contractors only. The safety of the building occupants relies of the quality of the workmanship not a paper exercise that is the fire safety certificate.

3.

4.

GET IT RIGHT BEFORE WE ENTER THE SITE Dermot Kearns

Independent Insulation Advisor

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EPA Reports on 2013 Air Quality and Industrial Air Emissions EPA releases two air reports: • Dioxin levels compare favourably with previous EPA studies and other EU countries.

• Air Quality in Ireland 2013 – Key Indicators of Ambient Air Quality; • EPA Licensed Sites – 2013 Report on Air Emissions.

The EPA report EPA Licensed Sites – 2013 Report on Air Emissions, released , shows high compliance rates with air pollutant emission limits specified in industrial and waste management licences. A small number of licensed sites (12) are associated with the majority of odour complaints to the EPA from the general public.

The number of sites causing such complaint has reduced year on year.

A second report released by the EPA, Air Quality in Ireland 2013 – Key Indicators of Ambient Air Quality, indicates that while Irelandʼs air quality is currently among the best in Europe, air quality remains at risk from emissions generated from driving, particularly in the larger urban areas, and from the burning of domestic solid fuel for home heating, particularly in small towns and villages not covered by smoky coal bans.

The 2013 reports show: • Ireland continues to enjoy good air quality, relative to other EU member states; • Independent spot-checks on air emissions at EPA licensed industrial sites indicate a 96 per cent compliance rate with the specified limits; • The majority of odour complaints received by the EPA in 2013 related to 12 sites - the number of sites causing such complaint has reduced year on year; • Five prosecutions were taken by the EPA in 2013 in relation to air emissions from EPA licensed sites; • Local air quality is significantly impacted by solid fuel heating (coal/peat), particularly in small towns without a ʻsmokyʼ coal ban; • Road traffic emissions contribute to poor air quality in urban areas;

Commenting on these reports, Gerard OʼLeary, Director EPA said, The enforcement activities of the EPA over the last 20 years have resulted in robust and mature compliance regime for industrial activities, and we are pleased with the high rates of compliance with air emissions limits in 2013. We need to be vigilant to maintain these compliance levels and to continue to target sites where problems have been identified.

The findings of the report on wider air quality are also very encouraging. I would urge people, however, to consider air quality when making choices about home heating and transport as both of these activities can have a negative impact on air quality.

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NVMʼs philosophy is simple: to provide customers with quality environmental and geotechnical monitoring products at competitive prices with the best possible service, technical support and aftercare. We promise to ensure you find the best solution for each specific project requirement – and to get it delivered when you need it. To date, this attitude has been reflected with NVM being involved in the majority of Irelandʼs largest projects over the past decade.

Most recently, NVM has acquired the sole Irish distribution for the Gilian air sampling pump product range. These instruments are known throughout the air monitoring industry for their dependability, reliability and ease of use. With a strong hold in the United States and the UK, the Gilian range is now set to be launched in Ireland as the new industry standard.

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The EPA continually monitors air quality across Ireland. It provides the air quality index for health and real-time results on its website. Results are updated hourly on the website and can be accessed at any time to check whether the current air quality in a locality is good, fair or poor.

According to Patrick Kenny, EPA Air Quality Manager: Ireland met all EU standards for air quality in 2013 but values for particulate matter, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and ozone were above the World Health Organisation air quality guidelines. To meet these more stringent guidelines in the longer term will require collaboration across a range of policy areas including transport, energy and spatial planning.

The choices we make as consumers about how we heat our homes and travel to work and school will also affect our local air quality.

In addition to monitoring air quality, the EPA is responsible for the environmental licensing and enforcement of more than 800 large industrial and waste management activities in Ireland, including the setting of limits on emissions of various air pollutants from these sites. Independent monitoring of emissions from these sites indicates that 96 per cent of tests were compliant with the requirements specified in the licences.

Complaints from members of the public in relation to odour from EPA licensed sites are the major source of complaints received by the EPA. In 2013, 877 complaints in relation to odour from licensed sites were received, with 12 individual sites responsible for 697 (80%) of these complaints.

Four sites were prosecuted in 2013 in relation to odour nuisance.

Commenting on the air emissions report, Dr Ian Marnane, EPA Senior Inspector said, Our report indicates that there is a high level of compliance with the limits specified for emissions to air at EPA licensed sites. We are pleased to see that, importantly, the rates of compliance are improving year-on-year. Addressing issues at the small number of sites which are giving rise to a significant number of odour complaints is a priority for the EPA.

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Limerick City and County Council wins Local Authority of the Year

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Government award. Our aim is to transform peopleʼs travel behaviour and connect the four key hubs of Limerick City and suburbs by the development and promotion of sustainable modes of transport for those living, working and studying in these areas. Itʼs a great boost for us to be recognised for those achievements.”

imerick City and County Council has won the

overall award of Local Authority of the Year at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards.

The local authority which was established following the merger of Limerick City and County Councils in June of this year was named overall winner at the event in Ballsbridge, Dublin judged by a panel of experts working in the field of Local Government.

Congratulating Limerick City and County Council, Ian Talbot, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive said, “While 2014 has been a year of hugely challenging change and transformation for local government, local authorities have embraced this opportunity to innovate and develop new approaches to sustaining and supporting their communities.

Weʼre delighted to award Limerick City and County Council the overall Local Authority of the Year award to recognise the transformational change that the organisation has undergone through the merger.

Thereʼs a lot of hard work that goes on at the heart of communities on a daily basis by local authorities and I want to particularly congratulate the staff in Limerick who make all these projects and activities happen.”

Staff from Limerick City and County Council celebrate winning Local Authority of the Year with Cathaoirleach Kevin Sheahan and Chief Executive Conn Murray

Limerick City and County Council also took home two other awards at the event including one for Limerick Smarter Travel which won the ʻSmarter Travel categoryʼ and the amalgamation of Limerick City and County Councils which won the ʻLocal Authority Innovation' award.

Cllr. Kevin Sheahan, Cathaoirleach of Limerick City and County Council said: “I am delighted that Limerick took home three awards including the overall prize and Iʼm particularly proud of the staff of Limerick City and County Council who have worked tremendously hard to make the amalgamation of both local authorities a success throughout the change process over the last number of years.

Miriam O'Donoghue, Limerick Smarter Travel, Pat O'Neill, Limerick Smarter Travel, Conn Murray, Chief Executive, Limerick City and County Council, Cathaoirleach Cllr Kevin Sheahan and Carmel Kirby, Change Management

He continued: “This was the biggest change to have occurred in the history of local government in Limerick and the largest merger of its kind ever undertaken in the Republic of Ireland. I am delighted that Limerick has proven itself to be innovative in how it has handled the transformation and how it joined up processes, systems and technology across our 500 services to prepare for a new Council.”

Pat O'Neill, Project Manager, Limerick Smarter Travel said:“On behalf of Limerick Smarter Travel, weʼre delighted to win an Excellence in Local

The Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards are held annually in association with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and sponsored by AECOM, EirGrid, The European Recycling Platform, Fáilte Ireland and Tipperary Crystal.

The awards were first held in 2004 to acknowledge and encourage best practice and constructive initiatives by local authorities and also to enhance the positive relationships that already exist between chambers, businesses and their respective local authorities.

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The New System for the Republic of Ireland

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nnovative is delighted to announce its contract awarding by the Republic of Ireland to provide the first nationwide system for all public libraries. Bringing together the collections of the 30 separate systems is a major undertaking but one that Innovative is confident will deliver a great new service for library users across Ireland.

Innovative has a wide range of experience delivering large-scale projects of this nature. The Sierra platform has been implemented in some of the busiest and most complex public library networks around the world, including New York Public Library, the Auckland Public Library network in New Zealand, the four public libraries in the Helsinki metropolitan area (Helsinki, Esboo, Vantaa and Kauniainen), and the libraries across the state of Saskatchewan in Canada. Innovative has implemented single systems to deliver efficient services to the public and to improve backroom processes across these networks.

In addition to these examples, more than 2,500 other libraries around the World, including Trinity College, Dublin, University College Cork and QueenĘźs University Belfast, use Sierra.

The new Irish public library system will be based on a single software installation hosted at a data centre in Ireland. The simple fact that the libraries will be moving from each maintaining their own individual systems to a single software instance will bring cost benefits for all of the libraries. The sharing of a single bibliographic record for each title across all libraries will also deliver a significant benefit, both in terms of costs and in terms of the public service – making it simple for library users to locate the material they are looking for, wherever it is held in the country.

The open architecture of the Sierra application will make close integration with third-party products such as RFID systems, Library Apps and PC booking systems very straightforward and will enable the libraries to expand the range of services that they offer in the future.

Innovative is working closely with the LGMA Project Board to draw up the detailed implementation plans for the full roll out of the new system. The first group of libraries will switch to the new system during the first half of 2015, with all libraries making the switchover by the end of 2016.

Launching an operational new system is only the first step in this new partnership. Innovative sees many opportunities to explore around co-operation with the further and higher education sectors (many of these institutions use Innovative solutions for their libraries); closer collaboration with museums, galleries and other cultural institutions of Ireland; and the integration of the diverse digital resources that are managed by various organisations across Ireland.

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Burren cleans up at annual Green awards T

he Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark and Burren Ecotourism Network are the big winners in this year's Responsible Travel & Tourism Awards, the Irish hospitality sectorʼs only environmental accreditation programme.

Ecotourism Network was named "Best Green Group". There was also success for individual Burren Ecotourism Network members including Doolin Hostel ('Responsible Accommodation' and 'Energy Management'), Boghill Centre ('Carbon

The winners were announced by Paschal Donohoe TD, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport at the Green Hospitality Programme (GHP) National Conference in Dublin.

Reduction' and 'Customer Awareness'), Hotel Doolin (Green Procurement Award), and Hotel Doolin / The Armada Hotel (Member of the Year Award). Doolin-based Seaview House B&B meanwhile, received an Honourable Mention.

Network members and the Geopark itself claimed the overall prize in 9 of 24 categories in the competition, which is designed to identify and celebrate businesses that are committed to implementing responsible business practices to reduce their environmental impact. The awards, which were judged by a panel of experts led by GHP Chairperson Duncan Stewart, were open to any business that operates within the Travel, Tourism and Hospitality industry.

The Burren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark claimed the "Best Destination" and "Best Responsible Travel & Tourism Business" Awards while The Burren

Carol Gleeson, Project Manager, Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark described the awards success as a "vote of confidence" in the work ongoing throughout the Burren to reduce the impact of tourism on the environment through sustainable business practices. She added that the awards also "give credibility" to the Geopark Sustainable Code of Practice for Tourism programme.

“Since 2008, Clare County Council has been working in the Burren to develop a truly sustainable tourism destination that gives direct benefits to the local community, promotes and celebrates local

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culture and produce, preserves the environment and provides a great experience for our visitors.

This has been achieved with great support and partnership from local communities and businesses and agencies responsible for tourism and conservation and local development," Ms. Gleeson added.

She continued: “This work includes establishing the Burren Ecotourism Network, achieving UNESCO recognised Global Geopark status in 2011 and providing environmental and business training, developing a destination brand, promoting certification, and importantly linking high responsible tourism standards with economic benefit to the area. The Geopark has also attracted â‚Ź2.2m funding through the EU Life programme to develop an international sustainable tourism destination model."

One of the other big winners on the night was Hotel Doolin, a member of the Burren Ecotourism Network.

Hotel Manager, Donal Minihane said: "Our sustainable approach has led to a consequential reduction in operating costs at both hotels and in doing so has enabled us to offer the best possible value to locals and tourists, which is critical in order to compete in the current marketplace."

Mr. Minihane added: "As well as reducing our carbon footprint and landfill waste levels, we have developed a social responsibility approach to more local issues like how we contribute to local charitable and voluntary causes, and the support we show for local food suppliers. Collectively, these initiatives have resulted in a more localised

experience for our guests as well as having contributed to the local economy and the environment."

Katherine Webster, Director of the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience said: "Our Green Team is adding creative ways to increase our sustainability such as switching to memory sticks instead of brochures for promotional activity, distributing portable ashtrays to smokers onsite and increasing our local supply chain especially in the restaurant where, through our use of local suppliers, we now offer a true taste of Clare to Cliffs of Moher visitors.�

Cari Ryan of The Boghill Centre, a residential ecovenue based in Kilfenora, commented: "In recent years, we have significantly reduced our carbon footprint by installing a wood gasification system, replacing our two oil boilers and sourcing sustainably produced timber. As a result of these changes and the installation of zoned heating control, we have made annual savings of 5000 euro on our energy costs."

As a member of the Burren Ecotourism Network, we have committed ourselves to promoting sustainable tourism practices at our facility. We have made our customers aware of our eco policies and practices, as well as other sustainable eco tourist attractions throughout the Burren region. Our ethos is about using the resources that we have to enhance the customers' local experience. We are grateful to Clare Local Development Company for providing financial assistance to help us reduce our carbon footprint and promote sustainable tourism," Ms. Ryan concluded.

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Irish Water has published its Proposed Capital Investment Plan for 2014 to 2016.

Investment is prioritised where it can deliver the most urgently needed improvements in drinking water quality, leakage, water availability, wastewater compliance, efficiencies and customer service. It is proposed to deliver/progress over 380 projects under the Plan which has been submitted to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) for consideration.

Irish Water estimates that €1.77 billion will be required to deliver on the objectives of the 2014-2016 Capital Investment Plan (CIP). The current indicative funding available to Irish Water is €1.2bn which includes the additional €200m announced by the Government. This brings funding up from current levels of €310m in 2014 to €410m in 2015 and 2016.

6. Increasing wastewater treatment capacity and improving environmental compliance 7. Better Control and Monitoring 8. Improving existing plants John Tierney, Managing Director of Irish Water, commented, “Our approach to capital investment will ensure that we deliver improvements where they are needed most.

The Plan sets out the programme of water and waste water projects that we believe are urgently required to improve the service to our customers. A number of the projects in the Capital Investment Plan have already commenced. However Irish Water is introducing a new approach involving comprehensive asset management. We will look at every opportunity to extend the life of an asset where we can improve performance and at the same time reduce the level of major capital investment – thereby providing better value for the customer and ensuring we can deliver more with limited resources.”

Some examples of the types of improvement the Irish Water Capital Investment Plan will deliver include:

The Plan involves a rolling programme so should there be a funding shortfall it can roll over into 2017 but every effort will be made to reduce the gap by avoiding/reducing cost through its asset management approach and by seeking to raise additional funding.

Irish Water priorities for delivery under the Capital Investment Plan include; 1. Eliminating Boil Water Notices in Roscommon 2. Providing more water and in particular reducing disruption to supply in the Dublin area 3. Improving Water Quality 4. Investing for economic development

1. Eliminating Boil Water Notices in Roscommon: Irish Water is prioritising drinking water quality and aims to lift the majority of all long-term Boil Water Notices in Roscommon in early 2015.

2. Provision of more water and reducing disruption to supply in the Dublin area By investing in the completion of the work to existing treatment plants at Ballymore Eustace and Leixlip, an extra 60 million litres of water a day will be supplied to Dublin – the equivalent of a new treatment plant. Irish Water will also increase the interconnectivity between Ballymore Eustace and Leixlip, an extra 60 million litres of water a day will be supplied to Dublin – the equivalent of a new treatment plant. Irish Water will also increase the interconnectivity between Ballymore Eustace and Leixlip, thereby minimising future water disruptions to the Greater Dublin Area by allowing homes and businesses access to more than one source of water.

5. Tackling leakage

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3. Improving Water Quality A number of schemes which have inadequate water treatment systems are being delivered/progressed in order to ensure they meet water quality standards e.g. Letterkenny in Donegal, Kerry Central and Burncourt/Fethard in Tipperary.

4. Investing for Economic Development Additional water supplies will facilitate industrial, commercial and housing developments – developments which may have been delayed in recent times due to restricted water and wastewater services infrastructure. For example – the investment proposed by Irish Water to supply water and wastewater infrastructure for the Docklands Strategic Development Zone in Dublin will be critical to facilitate the creation of 30,000 jobs in this area.

Irish Water is also progressing the upgrade of the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant as an urgent priority. This will provide additional wastewater treatment capacity to enable on-going development and employment creation in the Dublin Region. It will support the on-going investment in water quality improvement in the Lower Liffey Estuary and Dublin Bay. An alternative project strategy developed by Irish Water in conjunction with Dublin City Council is expected to result in capital cost savings in the order of €170 million.

5. Tackling Leaks Irish Water is proposing to spend €150 million to accelerate leakage reduction and is moving to a much more proactive approach on leakage, with the long-term objective of reducing public and customer side leakage nationally by 50%. €51 million will be available as a result of the Government announcement last week to assist home owners to fix leaks which may occur on their own property. This is estimated to yield a saving of 40 million litres of water every day which can be put to more productive use in the system.

7. Better Control and Monitoring Irish Water will focus on reducing the running costs of providing water services. The company will invest in a modern telemetry system to ensure that adequate control, monitoring and alarm systems are in place to allow for early detection of any issues and to target where key investment is needed. By the end of 2016, Irish Water will have the core systems in place to monitor water and wastewater systems serving approximately 80% of the population.

8. Improve Existing Plants Irish Water will invest over €100 million in muchneeded targeted upgrades to plants around the country to improve performance, environmental compliance, health & safety and energy efficiency.

6. Improvement in Wastewater Treatment Irish Water will significantly improve wastewater compliance for an estimated 400,000 population equivalent (as identified by the EPA in their ʻFocus on Urban Waste Water Treatment in 2010ʼ as having inadequate or no waste water treatment).

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VERDE LED have recently completed a large scale lighting retrofit in Gorey Community School, Irelandʼs largest secondary school.

warranties and our ability to deliver large quantities and a turnkey solution in a fast and efficient manner” Vice-Principal of Gorey Community School, Frank Duke, outlined “Gorey Community School are delighted with the energy savings achieving a metered 65% saving on lighting and a 30% overall energy saving within the facility.

We found VERDE LED to be efficient, professional and dependable and their electricians worked diligently to deliver a large scale project on time and without fuss. In dealing with Verde we found them to be very reasonable and flexible which is extremely important when working in a school environment”

The project, supported by Heatonʼs and the SEAI, was retrofitted and commissioned within a two week period generating a 65% saving on lighting costs for the client.

Director of VERDE LED Paul Martin outlined “VERDE LED are delighted to have been part of this project. VERDE has made a big push with public sector projects in 2014 completing works with Cork, Longford, Laois, Leitrim and Kilkenny Local Authorities and schools in Limerick, Wexford and Dublin”.

“There has been a large shift in the perception of LED lighting over the past 18 months. Prices are now almost in line with more inefficient conventional lighting enabling LED Lighting to be the lighting of choice in almost all environments from office, educational, streetlight, industrial and sports facilities”. “What makes VERDE LED different from competitors is the robustness, reliability and efficiency of our product range coupled with the industry leading

VERDE LED have an aggressive expansion plan in the public sector in 2015 targeting projects in 15 local Authroties and 20 primary and secondary schools.

For more information contact info@verdeled.com Tel: 021 4861577

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M inister Alan Kelly approves €218k under the LEADER elements of the RDP for the development of a community pitch at Claddaghduff, Connemara, Co. Galway.

Alan Kelly, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, announced that he has given sanction to Forum Connemara Ltd. to approve funding of €217,512 to Claddaghduff Community Pitch Ltd. to develop a community pitch in the village of Claddaghduff, Connemara, which will service the numerous clubs and activities in the general area. The project includes the provision of car parking and perimeter fencing as well as the development of the playing surface. The funding is being provided under the Basic Services for the Economy and Rural Population measure of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.

Announcing the funding Minister Kelly said: “I am delighted that the Rural Development Programme is in a position to support Claddaghduff Community Pitch Ltd. in the development of this community facility, which has an estimated total project cost of over €290,000. Such facilities are critical to the development and maintenance of sustainable rural communities and enhance the social attractiveness of these communities”.

The LEADER elements of the Programme offer many

challenges and opportunities in terms of addressing the needs of improving the quality of life in rural areas and providing greater opportunities for farm diversification. It is focused on the development of micro-enterprises, rural services, rural recreation and rural tourism. It is hoped that, by focusing on these services, the Programme will lead to sustainable development, which in turn will ensure prosperity for the rural areas.

The Minister added: “This project will now go back to the Board of Forum Connemara Ltd. for final approval. This is in line with the EUʼs ʻʼbottom-upʼʼ approach to rural developmentʼʼ.

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Minister Kelly announces recipients of grants under the 2014 Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund r Alan Kelly T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, announced the recipients of grant funding under the 2014 Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund. This grant scheme promotes sustainable development by assisting small scale, non-profit environmental

being funded through this yearʼs scheme, and this will help communities to make a real difference to their local environment.”

projects at a local level.

The projects are being co-funded by the Department and local authorities; with close to €400,000 being provided by the Department and a similar amount by the local authorities. In total €796,000 is being provided under this yearʼs scheme to 697 projects throughout the country. In addition to the funding provided by the Department and the local authorities, the successful applicants have also raised additional funds locally, bringing the total shared partnership investment to over €1.4 million.

to a wide range of local initiatives; including awareness and education projects, community gardens, waste reduction projects and biodiversity projects.

M

Announcing the recipients of this yearʼs fund ing the Minister stated: “This scheme is an important contributor to local small scale environmental projects. Iʼm delighted that my Department, in conjunction with the local authorities, can help to make these projects happen and can assist the good work that is being done in communities right across the country. Almost 700 environmental projects are

Projects are selected for funding by local authorities, following an open call for applications. Funding goes

A full list of this yearʼs successful projects is now available on the Departmentʼs website www.environ.ie

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PRODUCT PRODUCTinfo info

The new MUV Electric Wheelbarrow, or minidumper, from Nu-Star Material Handling not only allows operators to transport heavy loads with ease, it eliminates the unnecessary ergonomic challenges and production halts associated with traditional wheelbarrow solutions.

Furthermore, the savings made in reduced labour and enhanced efficiency ensure rapid return on investment in sectors that include construction, industrial, agriculture, horticulture, landscaping and gardening.

Demanding industries such as construction call for increased profitability and efficiency, while at the same time protecting workers from over-exertion. The MUV Electric Wheelbarrow eliminates the pushing and pulling required when using a conventional manual wheelbarrow and, since it has a push-button operated electric dump (capable of tipping loads up to 350kg), it also removes the lifting effort required when emptying/dumping a wheelbarrow.

With a choice of either 800W or 1,200W DC electric drive motors, the MUV Electric Wheelbarrow is virtually noise free in its operation, making it ideal for internal use and in areas where noise-pollution is a concern for local residents.

Power comes from two 12V, 90AHr batteries, each is sealed-for-life and maintenance free. The waterproof battery charger is fitted on-board and may be connected to either a 220V or 110V power supply. The batteries and battery charger are matched to enable opportunity charging, at any point in the charging cycle, thereby considerably extending run-time. A coloured, LED batterycharge indicator gauge on the control panel clearly shows the battery state.

Featuring a highly manoeuvrable design, the MUV Electric Wheelbarrow is operated using an infinitely variable, twistgrip throttle on the right handle in conjunction with a forwards/backwards direction switch on the control panel.

Maximum speed is up to 4.6km/h for the 800W version and up to 6km/h for 1,200W version. An additional ʻtortoiseʼ mode switch on the control panel reduces maximum speed by 50% to enable inch-perfect positioning when activating the electric-tip and to help achieve a graduated release of the wheelbarrow contents.

The front drive wheels and rear swivelling castor are fitted with industrial foam-filled tyres, making them punctureproof and impervious to the nails/screws and sharp objects often found on littering construction sites. In addition to regenerative braking provided by the 125Amp motor controller, there is a 6Nm electromagnetic brake for holding the wheelbarrow when on slopes and when in transit between locations.

Typical uses for the MUV Electric Wheelbarrow include: - Small internal and external construction projects - Barrowing concrete from roadside delivery lorries - Crop harvesting in glasshouses and poly-tunnels - External landscaping projects - Moving feedstuffs in stables and ʻmucking outʼ No driving licence is required to use the MUV, which may be loaded quickly into a van or onto a trailer using three scaffold planks, a tail-lift or ramp.

The MUV Electric Wheelbarrow is now available for both sale and hire, direct from the OEM.

Since there are no handle-bar vibrations to cause HandArm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) or ʻdead fingerʼ the Electric Wheelbarrow may be used without having to assess this potential risk to the operator (http://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/hav/advicetoemploy ers/assessrisks.htm).

Nu-Star will be displaying the MUV Electric Wheelbarrow on stand X46 at The Executive Hire Show, taking place on the 11th and 12th February 2015 at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry.

The MUV Electric Wheelbarrow is available with both moulded industrial plastic and galvanized steel tubs, which may be interchanged by removing locking detent pins on the sub-frame. Other attachments, such as a flat-bed for transporting bricks, tiles and blocks are also available.

Further information is available on request to: Nu-Star Material Handling Ltd, Lakeside, Ednaston Business Centre, Ednaston, Derbyshire DE6 3AE Telephone: 0115 880 0070 Fax: 0115 880 0071 E-mail: enquiries@nu-starmhl.com Web: www.nu-starmhl.com

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PRODUCT PRODUCTinfo info

their health effects; from mild irritation in sensitive individuals to cancer, from benzene exposure for example. VOCs also damage the environment, causing harm to most forms of life and contributing to photochemical ozone pollution.

uantitech (Milton Keynes GB) has announced the launch of the FROG-4000™, a rugged, portable instrument capable of analysing trace levels of individual volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air, soil and water. “With this technology, operators will be able to conduct fast on-site analysis in a range of environmental, health and safety applications,” says Quantitechʼs Dr Andrew Hobson. “The ability to analyse VOCs quickly, on-site, is a major benefit; partly, because samples containing volatiles are notoriously difficult to transport, but also because many applications require instant data. For example, land remediation companies need to know which soil is contaminated so that they can either store or treat it, and they need to know if treatment was successful.

They may also need to test liquid effluent against a discharge permit.

Q

There are four key components of the FROG-4000. A heated micro pre-concentrator dramatically increases sensitivity – down to single figure ppb. A miniature gas chromatograph (GC) enables speciation of multiple compounds and a micro photoionisation detector (PID) provides an accurate reliable response to almost all VOCs. The fourth important component is a 5ml sample sparger that is used to extract gaseous samples from water or solid materials.

Portable PID instruments are commonly employed to detect chemical leaks or contaminated soil, but they respond in different ways to different compounds. For example, most PIDs are around 20 times less sensitive to ethanol than they are to benzene or toluene. This means that it is NOT possible to quantify levels of sample VOCs when there is a possibility of more than one VOC being present, UNLESS a GC is employed to separate the individual compounds.

Weighing less than 2.5Kg and running for up to 6 hours on an internal battery, the FROG-4000 has been designed for field use. Typical analysis time is 5 minutes and results can be stored on an SD card or transferred directly to a laptop/PC.

“Analysis in an accredited laboratory is often required for a small number of samples, but the advantage of a field-use device is that a large number of tests can be undertaken in order to characterise a site and identify hot-spots.”

Summarising, Dr Hobson says: “Last year we launched a portable GC/MS, so the addition of a PID GC to our range is a major advantage because it significantly lowers the cost of analysis for those that only need to analyse VOCs. However, the main advantage of these portable field-use technologies is the same – faster results.”

VOCs are an important group of pollutants because they are very common in old contaminated industrial sites and they are also key components in modern materials such as paint, coatings, cleaners, adhesives, petrochemicals and a wide variety of household and building products. They vary greatly in

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For further information, please contact: Quantitech Ltd Unit 3 Old Wolverton Road , Milton Keynes UK MK12 5NP T. +44 0 1908 227722 F. +44 0 1908 227733 Email sales@quantitech.co.uk Website: www.quantitech.co.uk

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