Tallaght News 23.07.18

23rd July 2018

DEMAND GROWS

973 on waiting list for home support services as demand grows Seán Crowe T.D. has said that it is extremely worrying that over 6,000 of the most vulnerable people in our society, such as older people and those with disabilities, are waiting for home support services to allow them remain in their home setting.

The TD said that in the CHO area 7 which covers Kildare, West Wicklow, Dublin West and South West, 973 people are waiting for home support and this is creating a backlog in step down facilities and for Tallaght University

Hospital. Teachta Seán Crowe said: “Home support services such as home care packages and home help hours are some of the most vital services that the Health Service Executive (HSE) provide. Not only do they allow many older people to stay in their homes, but they are also incredibly important for those with serious impairments or disabilities.

“Care delivered in the home is the preferred option of care for most people.

“As a TD I have been continuously calling for more home help support services in order to meet the

clear need that exists.

My office in Tallaght is contacted on a weekly basis by constituents who are waiting for vital home supports for a loved one who feels trapped in a step down or a hospital bed. Many feel well enough to go home but are unable to so without supports.

“We know that demographics are changing and we have a growing older population, this is contributing to this growing demand.

By supporting more people to stay in a home setting there is the added benefit of reduced demand for residential care as a care option and another

practical reason why there should be more home supports.

“Unfortunately, this current Government has taken a lack lustre approach to funding this service to the point that there are now 6,118 people waiting for a home support service across the State.

“The CHO Area 7 which includes Kildare, West Wicklow, Dublin West and South West has a whopping 973 people waiting for home supports, which in turn is creating a backlog in step down facilities and for hospitals like Tallaght.

“Getting older or having a disability should not leave you feeling ignored, invisible, or abandoned.

To begin building a more inclusive society we need to start ensuring that older people and those who have a disability can live at home with respect, with dignity, and as independently as possible.

“We need to ensure that home support services are funded correctly in orderto meet the growing needs and requirement, particularly of all those older and more vulnerable people who increasingly need these vital services.”

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GREEN FLAGS AWARDED TO SOUTH DUBLIN PARKS

Published by: Newsgroup, Unit 3 Floor 2 St. Dominics Shopping Centre, St. Dominics Road, Tallaght, Dublin, D24 HK49.

Titles: Tallaght News, Clondalkin News, Lucan News and Rathcoole & Saggart News Printed by: Meath Chronicle Distributed by: Local Post Co. Contact Details: Email: info@newsgroup.ie Website www.newsgroup.ie www.facebook.com/newsgroup.ie Twitter @NewsgroupIRL www.linkedIn.com/company/newsgroup Registered in Ireland: 497158 Tax and VAT Registration: IE 3354179CH Advertising: Anthony Russell Sales Director anthony@newsgroup.ie Design & Editorial: John Russell john@newsgroup.ie Administration: Sarah Brooks Office Manager admin@newsgroup.ie

South Dublin County Council is delighted to announce that Sean Walsh Park has received the Green Flag award. This is the second Green Flag awarded in South Dublin County with Corkagh Park retaining its Green Flag for a second year.

The Green Flag is awarded in recognition of achieving quality standards for the presentation of Parks and recreation facilities. The awards are marked on eight criteria, including horticulture standards, cleanliness, sustainability and community involvement. It promotes high horticultural and environmental standards and a benchmark for

excellence in Park management based on acknowledged international best practice.

Corkagh Park has received the Green Flag award for the second year in a row, recognising the high level of management of the park’s many facilities and the ongoing development of the park.

the park. They make a real difference to the park.

Mayor of South Dublin County, Cllr. Mark Ward said “Parks are wonderful spaces where we can play sport, walk and enjoy nature.

They enhance our lives and in busy places provide an oasis of calm. I am delighted that South Dublin County Council’s Corkagh

The Council welcomes the Green Flag award for Sean Walsh Park. This award acknowledges the work of the staff of the park and a very active group of volunteers – the Litter Mugs. The Litter Mugs, who organise a monthly clean up of the park, look out for the birds and wild life and take on other projects in

Pic: John Moran, Maire Ni Dhomhnaill, Derek Hoey, Minister Damien English T.D.

Park and Sean Walsh Park have received the Green Flag award, a recognised international standard. I want to congratulate the staff and the community groups involved in the parks for this wonderful achievement” The raising of the Green Flags will be arranged later in the year.

IT TALLAGHT SHORT STORY COMPETITION

The ITT Short Story Competition is run by the Institute of Technology Tallaght, in conjunction with South Dublin County Council, and in association with the Red Line Book Festival, and is free to enter. Entries should be submitted via the online form between 14.00 GMT, on July 2nd, 2018 and 12.00 GMT on August 13th, 2018. Entries must be in short story format (a short work of fiction) between 1,500 and 2,000 words long, and should be completely the entrant’s own work written in English (high standard), original, unpublished.There is no restriction on theme or style, however the planned 2018 anthology will be called Stand Fast! and they are looking for strong stories that

(even loosely) reflect this title.

Contest Prizes: First Prize: €500 Second Prize: €250 Third Prize: €150 It is the intention of the organisers that the winning and short listed entries maybe published in an anthology, or other format. You must read the Rules, and Terms and Conditions and agree to these before you can submit your entry. Queries before submission should only relate to the contest rules or if there are difficulties in submission.

Queries should be sent via e-mail to ritt@ittdublin.ie.

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ITT PAVES WAY FOR TUDUBLIN WITH MAJOR FUNDING BOOST

A multi-million euro amalgamation of the Institute of Technology in Tallaght into the new Technology University Dublin (TUDublin) will ensure local students are

skilled for the jobs of the future, according to local Independent Minister, Katherine Zappone.

Minister Zappone says the go-ahead for ITT to

join IT Blanchardstown and the Dublin Institute of Technology in forming the new multi-campus university makes sense and will deliver better education and training

PALMERSTOWN CAMERA CLUB ANNUAL OUTING TO LOCH OWL IN MULLINGAR

The club are taking advantage of beautiful summer evenings and are capturing some scenery images and sunsets. Weekly club meetings will recommence in September in Palmerstown Parish Hall. During the Summer months they meet every Wednesday between 7pm and 7.30pm outside the Ulster Bank in Palmerstown. For more information visit www. palmerstowncameraclub.com. Image Credit: Angela Dennis

for all. The Independent Minister is confirming that an extra €4.4m is being made available to turn TUDublin into a reality – bringing total Government investment to €9.3m.

Minister Zappone added: “After years of preparation TUDublin is now becoming a reality with the campus in Tallaght set to be the centre of some very exciting developments.The alliance which has formed between the three former Institutes of Technology to form Ireland’s first Technology University has made each of the campuses better – they will have greater focus, be more efficient and more effective.

This is particularly good news for students who will be depending on the campus in Tallaght, and those in other parts of Dublin, to continue providing the education, training and skills for the jobs of the future. It is my hope that under the TUDublin banner better and stronger partnerships will be formed, not just with other places of learning but

also with employers.

The campus in Tallaght is a huge resource. It has greater potential to under-take research and development and this can expanded with the new funding being made available.

TUDublin is Ireland’s largest university with almost 28,000 students and

3,000 staff. The fact that it has a home in our communities is another big step towards achieving the goal of establishing Tallaght as a smart city of the future.

As an Independent Minister I will be working to ensure that the Tallaght campus continues to expand under its new name.”

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RHSI RUSSBOROUGH GARDEN SHOW ‘18

The RHSI Russborough Garden Show will take place against a backdrop of fine architecture and beautiful west Wicklow parkland on Sunday, 29th July from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Highlights include:

• Top-quality plants, labour saving tools and garden accessories for sale • RHSI Walled Garden: tours, advice and new Rose Display • In the Hippodrome, a lively line up of speakers & demonstrators will feature: • Fionnuala Fallon and Britta Baranowsky ‘Growing cut-flowers in Ireland’ • Nicky Kyle – ‘The Polytunnel Potager – A productive, beautiful and wildlife friendly space’ • Karen Robinson & Maria Watchorn –

‘Bringing your garden flowers indoors’ • Yvonne O’Conor – ‘The Victorian Walled Garden’ • The Irish Society of Botanical Artists will hold an open studio in the Walled Garden • The Bee Keepers of North Kildare will have a display in the Walled Garden • Free car parking •Admission: Adults €10 and children are free • Proceeds from the show will support the charitable work of the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland (RHSI) and the gardens and demesne at Russborough.

For more information or to arrange a photo opportunity, please contact Sara Waldburg at shows@rhsi.ie or 087 989 8111.

THE AHMADIYYA MUSLIM ASSOCIATION IRELAND HOLDS ITS 17TH JALSA SALANA

Organisers of the 17th Jalsa Salana On Sunday 1st July the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association held its 17th Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention) in Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth. This year 347 Ahmadi Muslim men, women and children from all over Ireland gathered in order to reaffirm their rejection of violence and extremism, as the community is totally committed to eradicate all forms of extremism that is furthermore evident in its motto of ‘LOVE FOR ALL, HATRED FOR NONE’.

BILL TO ALLOW PARENTS TO SHARE MATERNITY LEAVE WELCOMED

Fianna Fáil has introduced a Bill in the Dáil which will allow parents to share maternity leave. It’s hoped the legislation will give parents the flexibility to decide how to make their maternity leave work best for them. John Curran TD has welcomed the Shared Maternity Leave and Benefit Bill 2018.

Deputy Curran explained, “The current maternity leave mechanism is very restrictive, entitling mothers to the full 26 weeks of paid leave, while fathers are only permitted to two weeks paternity leave. This leaves no scope for the father to extend his leave unless he takes it out of his annual leave allocation.

“In some cases, it may make more sense for parents to split the maternity leave more evenly. Some companies may allow for more generous maternity leave arrangements than others, in which case, it may be more financially beneficial for the father to take the leave. Similarly,

certain jobs may lend themselves better to taking periods of leave, and it cases where one of the parents is self-employed, it may make more sense for the other to take the bulk of the maternity leave”.

Deputy Curran added, “Our Bill allows both parents of a child to share this 26 week period of paid maternity leave between them. It won’t place any additional cost on the Exchequer as it does not extend the current timeframe that already exists. It also won’t affect

the two shared weeks of paternity leave that are already in place.

“This legislation is about maximising flexibility for parents. They are the best judges of what works best for them and their baby.

It also allows for greater involvement by both parents in their children’s lives, while facilitating greater gender equality.

“We look forward to debating this Bill in the autumn, where hopefully it will secure all party support”.

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MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES FOR SCHOOLS WELCOMED

Frances Fitzgerald T.D., has welcomed two significant mental health initiatives for schools announced by Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton TD.

This announcement is part of the Minister’s broader focus on supporting student wellbeing in all schools as part of his ambition to make Ireland’s Education System the best in Europe by 2026.

“Schools are at the frontline of youth mental health; they are where our children

spend most of their time and face challenges from exams, building friendships and coming into their own in their teenage years.

Therefore it is necessary to give schools and teachers the tools to recognise mental health issues and provide appropriate assistance and intervention.

“The SafeTALK programme has already been introduced to a number of schools in order to help teachers to have safe conversations

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around suicide and suicidal risks. The internationally recognised programme allows people to identify persons at risk and how to keep them safe while challenging taboos that inhibit open talk about suicide. A model of the programme specifically targeted at teachers and other school personnel was developed by the Department and the National Office of Suicide Prevention. This training commenced in the 2017/18 school year in 6 Education Centres. Today the Minister announced that the course will be available in a further 6 Education Centres from the start of the new school year. Schools in the area of each Education Centre will be invited to send two relevant members of staff to participate in

the SafeTALK training,” confirmed Fitzgerald.

Another measure announced

by Minister Bruton is a two year programme to train teachers in every postprimary school on how to respond when a critical incident occurs in their school community.

Detailing this initiative, Deputy Fitzgerald said: “Schools can also become a key part of helping young people deal with a significant event that effects the wider community.

Over the next two years, teachers in every secondary school in the country will be given training in how to respond when a ‘critical incident’ affects their school community.

“A critical incident is defined as an incident or series of

events that overwhelms the normal coping mechanism of the school, for example, a suicide or the sudden death of a fellow pupil.

Training on responding to critical incidents will be delivered by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), who are also allocated to schools where critical incidents take place.”

“These two announcements form part of a larger picture. An emphasis is being put on prevention and promoting mental health resilience across all age groups. Campaigns such as #littlethings, awareness campaigns such as the Green Ribbon and Darkness Into Light, all help to empower us all to look after our mental health on a daily basis, in the same way as we are encouraged to look after our physical health. In our schools, there are health and wellbeing weeks as well as the work underway on the new Junior Cycle Wellbeing Programme. We also have fantastic outreach services locally such as our Youth Services and Jigsaw

who give young people a space to be open about emotional difficulties they may be going through.

“While this work on prevention is welcome, unfortunately a need for urgent responses to emerging issues will sometimes take place.

Recently we have seen examples of where critical incident protocols have been activated following the loss of a young person.

From a schools perspective, we need to make sure teachers feel supported and able to respond to pupils needs in these situations as well as transition them back into normal school routines.

“Teachers already have the experience, ability and skillset to help young people in times of distress. I hope the expansion of SafeTALK and Critical Incident training gives them further confidence to deal with challenges that arise in the course of their work while also giving young people access to important mental health interventions,” concluded Fitzgerald.

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STUDENT ACCOMMODATION CRISIS DEEPENS Fianna Fáil TD John Curran has criticised the Government over its failure to deliver affordable student accommodation.

Deputy Curran said, “The recently published Government report on student accommodation amounts to little more than a whitewash. It claims that progress is being made in providing student accommodation.

This is despite the fact that an increasing number of students are unable to meet basic accommodation costs.

“The reality is that much of the new student accommodation is being built privately and rented out at exorbitant rates.

The average going rate for student accommodation is now €1,400. Such rents are not affordable for a person working, let alone a student who has a much reduced income.

“Students have been hit with massive rent increases for next year in many parts of the country, with rates increasing by 50% in parts of Dublin. These

rates have resulted in many families questioning whether they can afford to return their child to college in September and this is unacceptable.

“The

Government

has

rejected proposals put forward by Fianna Fáil to prevent unreasonable rental increases for students. We have put forward a Bill to extend Rent Pressure Zones to student accommodation.

The Government should

accept this proposal instead of clapping itself on the back for presiding over a situation where students are being forced out of accommodation due to exorbitant rent increases,” concluded Deputy Curran.

CLONDALKIN VILLAGE FESTIVAL PLAYGROUND POP UP

Clodagh Keegan (5) and Naoise Keegan (3) from Clondalkin at the Pop Up Playground with Vikings Beaga Children’s activities at Clondalkin Village Festival on Sunday 1st of July.

Pic: Paul Keegan

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SDCC PUBLIC HOUSING PLANS CANNOT KEEP AT PACE WITH RISING DEMAND

Low targets combined with emerging trends mean the housing crisis is worsening in South Dublin

Cllr. Charlie O’Connor has said that South Dublin County Council’s housing plans must be urgently reviewed in light of the latest figures on the number of public housing units needed in the area. O’Connor received confirmation recently from the Chief Executive of South Dublin County that some 717 new public housing applications were made in the first 6 months of this year. There are now over 17,000 people including 8,304 children on the public housing waiting list in the county.

Cllr O’Connor said, “The severe shortage of social and affordable homes in South County Dublin is forcing countless children and families into overcrowded, unsuitable and insecure accommodation.

“According to the Council’s schedule I received last December, we were told

to expect the delivery of 127 social housing units this year, and just 27 in 2019.

“There are already more than 17,000 people on the social housing waiting list in South County Dublin. That means that less than 1% of the public housing that’s urgently required will be provided this year.

“This is made even worse by the fact that a further 717 applications for housing have been received over the past 6 months. The already low rate of public housing construction t cannot possible keep at pace with this level of demand from people in great need of a place to call home. “Sites for future social housing developments should be up for consideration. While quick solutions to the homelessness crisis must be found, it’s crucial that the Council properly engage in meaningful consultation with the public regarding proposed locations for construction.

“We may be in the midst of a crisis but we cannot make

for the provision of shoddy standard or unsuitable developments either.

“The Council’s programme was not designed for or aimed at dealing

with another 700 plus applications.

It must be reviewed now to incorporate this increase in housing demand in our area.”

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PROPOSED GENDER PAY GAP LEGISLATION WELCOMED

Frances Fitzgerald T.D., has welcomed the recent announcement of the General Scheme of the Gender Pay Gap Information Bill.

Deputy Fitzgerald welcomed the legislation, stating: “I have dedicated most of my adult life to tackling inequality, especially gender inequality. Prior to serving as a TD, I was Chair of the National Women’s Council of Ireland and, as well as my own experiences of being a working mother, I am keenly aware of the need to improve gender equality in the workplace.

“As Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I stated my intentions to deal with this issue and to have published audits of gender pay in businesses with over 50 people. Last August, I launched a survey along with my colleagues Minister Flanagan and Minister for State Stanton in the Department of Justice, to gauge the level of inequalities faced by

women in the workplace, as well as to get a more accurate reflection of the gender pay gap in Ireland.

“The information collected as part of that initiative has fed into this new legislation. The Gender Pay Gap Information Bill when passed will compel employers with a certain number of employees to publish information on the gender pay gap in their firm.

I hope that the publication of such data will influence individuals in their career choices and serve as a visible annual reminder to Government and business alike of the work needed to improve the working environment for women.

“Pay is just one area where gender inequalities remain.

Other issues such as gender stereotypes, cultural attitudes, parental leave and childcare are more pervasive and require a multi-disciplinary approach.

Actions in these areas are being pursued in the framework of the National

Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020.

More information can be found on www.genderequality.ie.”

FRANCES FITZGERALD T.D. AT LAUNCH OF STRATEGY FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS 2017- 2020

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STRICTER CHECKS TO BE CARRIED OUT ON NONEU CITIZENS COMING INTO THE EU

Recently the European Parliament voted on a new information gathering system, which aims to more accurately identify any potential security risks posed by non-EU citizens who wish to enter any

country within the European Union.

There are 62 countries who are not in the European Union (EU) whose citizens can enter the EU Schengen Zone without needing a

visa. Citizens of these countries are allowed to go into countries in the Schengen Zone for business or travel purposes for up to 90 days. During these 90 days, these visitors are not allowed to work or study,

but can engage in business and tourism activities.

“While the existing border management information systems do address some of the information gaps concerning non-EU citizens coming into the EU, there is a lack of information related to visa-exempt third-country nationals arriving at the Schengen external borders,” said Brian Hayes MEP. “The European Commission is proposing to set up an automated system that would gather information on visa-exempt travellers prior to their arrival, in order to determine any irregular migration, security or public-health

risks associated with them.

“The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will undergo a detailed security check of each applicant to determine whether they can be allowed to enter any Schengen Zone country and follows similar models already existing in the USA, Canada and Australia.

“Besides making travelling more secure, the ETIAS authorization will also assist the EU countries and all travellers in the following ways: ·Reduce procedures application times

and

· Improve the management

of EU country borders

· Assist in detecting and decreasing crime and terrorism · Impede irregular migration ·Reinforce the visa liberalization policy of the EU “This system was formally adopted by a vote this week and is expected to be fully operational by 2020.

“Strengthening the EU’s external borders is key to ensuring internal security and to preserving freedom of movement in the Schengen area and this system further safeguards that,” concluded MEP Hayes.

TALLAGHT HOSPITAL ENTRANCE PROGRESS WELCOMED

Local Councillor, Charlie O’Connor, has welcomed confirmation from Tallaght University Hospital of arrangements with regard to the opening of the new entrance from the Luas Hospital stop which has been the subject of many enquiries from the local community.

He has previously shared concerns of those in the community at the delay in dealing with the matter but is pleased that progress is now being reported.

Charlie O’Connor has received the following communication from David Slevin, the CEO of Tallaght University Hospital “I am pleased to announce that the new LUAS entrance will be opening on Wednesday 11th July. Opening hours will be

from 6.00am to 9.00pm subject to review.

The current back gate that is open between the two Luas stops will then be closed.

The official route for all staff and visitors is to follow the signs and enter the building at Pastoral Care and then make your way internally to your required location in the hospital.

When the Decant and Crèche building is open in October there will be a new external pedestrian route in place from this new Luas entrance to the Decant & Crèche building, Staff Restaurant, CLD and Trinity.”

According to Charlie O’Connor he will continue to monitor the situation and hopes that the news will be pleasing to the community.

CLONDALKIN HANDCRAFT AND HORTICULTURAL SHOW ‘18

Cllr Timmons chair of the show said “Clondalkin Handcraft and Horticultural show 2018 was a huge success and will be even bigger in 2019, I would like to thank the committee, sponsors, participants and everyone involved this year. This show helps preserve a rich heritage and history of crafts and food in our county that still

exists to the present day and this was very evident by the huge standard of entries this year, it is a huge honour for me to be the chairperson of a show I entered when I was a child. It was great to have visitors from all over Ireland and further afield in attendance.”

Pictured: 2018 CHHS Floral Winners

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7% FUNDING CUT TO IRISH MEN’S SHEDS ASSOCIATION WILL HAMPER OUTREACH TO MEN

John Curran TD has said that a 7% cut to funding to the Irish Men’s Sheds Association will severely hamper the organisation’s ability to support men.

Deputy Curran was commenting after Fianna Fáil received a parliamentary reply to a question asked following concerns raised with by a number of men’s sheds bodies.“The HSE has informed that a cut of €18,700 has been ordered following a decision of the Government to apply cuts to Section 39 Grant Aid Funding and to the Health and Wellbeing Division.“This will have an impact on the ability of the national association to support local men’s sheds clubs across the country, and here in Clondalkin.

“Enhanced funding had been secured for 2017 but the cut to its 2018 budget is really damaging as it scuppers the ability of the organisation to plan for expansion.

“Men’s Sheds play a really important role in reaching out to men who might not normally come into contact with services that offer services in public and mental health support.

“Anything we can do to reach this highly vulnerable

group of people that all too often are do not discuss challenges they face must not be limited by funding cuts.

“It’s disappointing that cuts made by Fine Gael in government are seeing

reductions which will inhibit the ability of great organisations such as the Men’s Sheds Association.

They must be reversed if we are to properly deal with isolation amongst the most vulnerable in our country,” concluded Curran.

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CLONDALKIN WILL NOT BE SERVICED BY A ‘SUPER-FREQUENT SPINE’ ROUTE IN PROPOSED PLAN

Concern that Clondalkin will be left behind by Major changes to Bus Network

Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin Mid-West, John Curran says he has concerns that Clondalkin will be left behind by the proposed major changes to the Bus Network, with the Government’s proposed Bus Connects plan. Deputy Curran was commenting after its public consultation report was published this week, he said; “The announcement made today by the National Transport Authority represents a complete redesign of the Dublin Bus network. It’s clear to all passengers that changes to the network are needed to help meet growing demand and to ease congestion

in the city centre. The proposals put forward by the NTA represent an opportunity to tackle these issues and improve public transport services.

However, I have some concerns that I hope to raise throughout this public consultation process as it would appear that Clondalkin will not be serviced by a ‘SuperFrequent Spine’ route.

These proposed lines are very frequent lines. With a bus coming every 4 to 8 minutes all day, and even more frequently at peak hours, there is always a bus coming soon.

In the proposed plan areas such as Clongriffan, Swords, Ballymun, Finglas, Blanchardstown, Lucan, Ballyfermot, Crumlin, Kimmage, Terenure,

Deansgrange are all proposed to benefit from a ‘Super-Frequent Spine’ route, there is a gaping hole for the area of Clondalkin that has a population of over 46,000.

While there is the Luas Red Line at the Red Cow roundabout, this is not easy to get to for many local people in Clondalkin and this has been a serious issue for Clondalkin residents for many years now, as a feeder bus to the Luas Red Cow from Clondalkin village never developed.

“The proposed overhaul of the Dublin Bus network needs to be carefully considered and the public must be given the opportunity to have their views heard through the consultation process.

“It’s important members of the public are given an opportunity to air their concerns during the consultation process. Some areas will lose direct city centre services as a result of these changes, but the NTA insists that passengers living in these areas will see journey times drop and an increase in service reliability. This needs to be expanded on further during the consultation process to ensure this is actually the case.

“I have some concerns surrounding the ability of Dublin Bus to provide the additional services envisaged under this plan considering the company is already struggling to meet demand. The increase in capacity in recent years has lagged behind the increase

in demand. It is becoming increasingly common for passengers to be left at bus stops while numerous full buses pass them by, especially in the Lucan area.“We need to ensure that the necessary resources are in place to allow Dublin Bus deliver a fully functioning service on the re-designed network. The plan itself acknowledges that for it to succeed, there must be key improvements to the existing transport network, including a new interchange at Liffey Valley and expansions at other interchanges, including those in Tallaght and Blanchardstown.

These resources need to be in place before the network changes begin.

“Dublin Bus could require considerable funding to deliver these changes.

Minister Ross needs to clarify when this money will become available.

“This also represents an opportunity to begin the overhaul of the Dublin Bus fleet. It’s shocking that there isn’t a single hybrid or electric vehicle operating at present in the fleet. This needs to change and a move towards hybrid and electric vehicles must get underway immediately,” concluded Deputy Curran.

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CERTAINTY OVER INTERCULTURAL CENTRE FUNDING WELCOMED

Frances Fitzgerald T.D. has welcomed certainty regarding the funding of Clondalkin and Tallaght Intercultural Centres.

“There has been much concern locally about the future of both Clondalkin and Tallaght Intercultural Centres after their application for funding under the National Integration Funding

Programme (NIFP) was unsuccessful.

“I am delighted that South Dublin County Partnership has now signed a two year service level agreement with the Department of Justice to fund the retention of these two centres.

“When their CEO Larry O’Neill contacted me about this I made representations to my colleague, Minister

with responsibility for immigration and integration, David Stanton.

David listened to the case made by the Partnership and the Intercultural Centres which ultimately led to this agreement being signed. From my work with David in the Department of Justice, I have always appreciated his commitment to finding solutions and taking time to

consult on issues.

“The agreement reached with the Department of Justice funds the vast majority of the costs associated with the running of both centres and South Dublin County Partnership is confident that they have additional funds that can meet other needs that arise. This will ensure that both Clondalkin and Tallaght Centres will operate five days a week.

“The Intercultural Centre in Clondalkin acts as a link for migrants as well as promoting integration and celebrating the culture of all residents in Clondalkin.

I would like to pay tribute to the work of the Centre staff and volunteers and the dedication of South Dublin County Partnership to ensuring the needs of minority groups are met.

“I look forward to seeing the progress of the Intercultural Centre and wish them every success with the work ahead.”

GENDER RECOGNITION REVIEW WELCOMED

Sinn Féin spokesperson for the arts, youth affairs and LGBTQI rights, Senator Fintan Warfield, has welcomed the publication of the review of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 which has recommended a number of measures including extending gender recognition rights for trans youth and non-binary persons.

Senator Warfield said: “I am pleased with the report which is ambitious in its recommendations but absolutely necessary as the law progresses to a place that embraces LGBTQI identities.

recommendations such as extension of gender recognition to Irish citizens born in the north and recognition for intersex persons.

“I commend those who took part in the review group and call on Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty to bring forward legislation in the autumn that encompasses all of the recommendations outlined in the report.”

“The primary recommendations were also a core tenant of the Gender Recognition (Amendment) Bill 2017 which I tabled in the Seanad and unanimously passed second stage in March last year and I am glad that this legislation formed a framework for the Gender Recognition Review.

“I am also satisfied to see some ancillary

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MOTORING LIFE WITH ‘PLUG-IN’ TO TOYOTA’S WONDERFUL PRIUS PHV

By Breda Corrigan There has never been a better time to consider buying a ‘Plug-In Hybrid’ car, with rising fuel prices, reduced toll road charges (when your plug-in hybrid is registered with the toll provider) and priority (and discounted) parking spaces for such vehicles in Q-Park car parks across the country.

and rear pillar design, black upper front grille and lower front grille, body coloured bumpers, door handles & mirror casings and an engine immobilizer. The Prius PlugIn is also available in ‘Standard’ and ‘Solar’ specification levels too.

Toyota launched its first generation Prius Hybrid in Japan in December 1997 and Worldwide by the year 2000. By 2017, the Toyota Prius had gone on to be ranked the ‘World’s Best-Selling Hybrid Car’ with almost 4-million units sold. Not a company to rest on its laurels, Toyota made several improvements to the Prius over the years, with the car now available in standard Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid (PHV) editions.

The Prius Plug-In Hybrid is blessed with head-turning good looks, thanks to its low nose, large glass area, sharp body creases, angular front & rear lights, and fluid design language. The cars drag factor is just 0.25, allowing the car to flow through the air with the minimum of wind noise, making the cabin of the new Prius Plug-In Hybrid a very calm and pleasant place to be.

My test car was a Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid e-CVT (automatic) 2WD in rangetopping ‘Luxury’ specification and finished in striking ‘Spirited Aqua’ metallic paint.

Standard specification is hugely impressive and includes 15” Bi-Tone grey & silver alloy wheels, front & rear parking sensors, rear camera, ‘Simple Intelligent Parking Assistance’ with auto braking, JBL premium sound system with 10 speakers, satellite navigation, black leather seating with rear arm rest, shark-fin antenna, follow-mehome headlights, auto lights and wipers, electrically operated and power-folding exterior mirrors, heated door mirrors, remote central locking, smart entry & start system, pitch & bounce control, comfort suspension, drive mode selector, precollision system with pedestrian detection, adaptive front LED light system, autoleveling headlamps, front fog lamps, LED daytime driving lights, cornering lights, adaptive auto high beam, blind spot monitor, ABS, EBD, emergency brake light signal, LED rear combination lights, adjustable speed limiter, adaptive cruise control with ‘Full Stop Functionality’, road sign assist, lane departure alert with steering control, vehicle stability control, traction control, hill start assist control, tyre pressure warning system, rear cross traffic alert, head-up display, piano black centre pillar

As has been the norm for many years now, the Toyota Prius is only available in a 5-door (lift-back) body style, with the Plug-In Hybrid having 4 seats as opposed to the standard Prius Hybrid having 5. The Plug-In Hybrid has the middle rear seat removed because the space is needed for the hightech electrical circuitry. The biggest difference between this Plug-In model and the normal Prius comes in zero-emission EV (fully electric) mode. The Plug-In’s extra battery capacity combines with a modified gearbox to allow the car to use its two electric motors to drive the car forwards, whereas the normal Prius can use only one.

This means the Plug-In builds speed much more quickly, taking off the instant you press the accelerator pedal.

Plug-in hybrid vehicles have come a long way in the past few years, but the fact remains that you’ll need regular access to a charging point to get close to Toyota’s fuel economy claims. Keep the batteries charged and you could, potentially, run the Prius Plug-In without ever filling up with petrol. The 50km EV range is double what it was before, and the various drive modes allow you to minimise the drain on the battery by ramping up the regenerative braking. When the cars batteries run dry, the quiet 1.8-litre, four-cylinder fuel injected petrol engine kicks in without

interruption. With combined petrol and electric power of 122bhp and 142Nm of torque, the Prius Plug-In can sprint from 0-100km/h in just 11.1-seconds on its way to a top speed of 162km/h (where permitted).

An outstanding fuel consumption figure as low as 1.2l/100km is possible when the car is driven in the way it was designed to be driven and will make the Prius Plug-In a very easy car to live with on a daily basis.

The Prius Plug-In has a generous overall length of 4,645mm, which provides some extra space over the standard Prius for the 8.8kWh battery under the boot floor. This battery provides high capacity, high power, high durability and high heat resistance and is connected to a high efficiency power-split device. With the standard tonneau cover in place, boot space is 191-litres, while 359-litres of space is available from boot floor to roof. With the 60:40 split rear seats dropped, this space can be dramatically increased for larger loads when the need arises. The car’s charging cable is stored in a compartment at the rearmost edge of the boot floor, so you’d be unlikely to cover it with bags or cases and it is out of harms way 100 per cent of the time. The Prius Plug-In has its charging facility at the driver-side rear of the car and it is so easy to use, that charging the car at an ever increasing number of charging points will never be a chore.

Like the regular Prius, the Plug-In has an interior that’s quite striking. The layout of the dashboard is unconventional, doing away with traditional instruments directly in front of the driver. Instead, there is a pair

of 4.2-inch colour screens that sit at the top of the dash, slightly to the left of your sight line. The right-hand screen covers basics such as speed and fuel level, while the left shows secondary data, including a highly detailed fuel economy analysis. My test car came with a standard Head-Up Display (HUD), which projects speed and other useful information onto the windscreen.

Lower down, an 8.0-inch touchscreen operates the infotainment system and is flanked by supplementary, touch-sensitive, control panels, which I found to be very easy to use.

On the move, the Prius Plug-In is extremely easy to maneuver, thanks to a short, dashmounted, gear knob, which requires a simple tap up for reverse and tap down for forward motion. A foot-operated parking brake is simple to engage and disengage, while parking sensors front & rear, along with a reverse camera, makes parking a doddle.

The new Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid attracts a Government/ SEAI grant of €5,000 and a VRT reduction of €2,500. Inclusive of these reductions, the Prius Plug-In Hybrid retails at €37,125 (ex-works) in entry-level specification, €39,550 (ex-works) in ‘Solar’ specification and €40,390 (ex-works) in ‘Luxury’ specification. Annual road tax is just €170 across the range.

The new Prius Plug-In Hybrid comes with Toyota’s standard 3-year /100,000km warranty, along with Toyota Euro Care roadside assistance for the full 3 years for total peace of mind motoring.

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MY LOVELY HORSE RESCUE A WEEK IN A VOLUNTEERS LIFE

Recently, My Lovely Horse Rescue shed light on a week in the life of the volunteerrun organisation.

The current spell of hot weather has boosted the mood of many people around the country. After a day in the office, some of us look forward to heading out to the coast or even into the back garden to soak up the sun.

For the volunteers with My Lovely Horse Rescue (MLHR), however, these balmy evenings are spent fielding calls about abused horses in the greater Dublin area and beyond. In late June/ early July alone the volunteers rescued one young pony from the Bluebell area of Dublin; spent more than six hours at the side of a mare with spinal damage who was found collapsed – and paralysed – in Rathfarnham; and have spent hours carrying, by hand, hundreds of litres of water to horses left to fend for themselves in fields without food or water.

Harvey is the name given to a young pony (between 1 1/2 and 2 years old) who was

seized by the Garda with assistance from MLHR from the side from the Grand Canal in Inchicore Bluebell on 28th June.

Harvey’s rescue follows on from an initial call to MLHR from a member of the public late in May, who saw a young pony on along the banks of the Grand Canal at Bluebell with serious wounds on each of his legs and on his head and wearing a rug in very warm weather. As the authority responsible for enforcing the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) was contacted and an inspector sent out the next day to review Harvey’s condition.

The pony was not seized on this occasion, however.

A week later, Harvey was seen again on the side of the Grand Canal, this time by an MLHR volunteer who observed he was still in poor health and his condition had not improved. The pony still had open wounds on his legs and there was no sign of wounds being treated.

Gardaí at Kilmainham were notified that evening

and Gardaí contacted the DCC horse pound contractor.

However, Harvey was observed again by members of the public towards the end of June being ridden roughly by a group of teenage boys.

On 28th June, an MLHR volunteer observed Harvey along the side of the road near the canal, contacted Gardaí who authorised his seizure and for him to be transferred into the care of MLHR. Harvey – as he is now called – was diagnosed by the MLHR vet with ragwort poisoning, a condition the results in extreme sensitivity to light.

The condition affects nonpigmented areas of skin and produced the open wounds seen on all four of the pony’s legs (see image above). According to the vet who treated Harvey at the MLHR farm, the condition also results in excruciating pain. Harvey is now on painkillers for the pain associated with the ragwort poisoning. Harvey’s spine also showing signs of damage caused by being ridden roughly and while too young (note: horses and

ponies should not be ridden before the age of 4).

In the same week that Harvey was seized by Gardaí with MLHR at Bluebell, another young pony was rescued from the same area of the Grand Canal

by Dublin City Council’s horse pound contractor.

Witnesses reported seeing a very sick animal, with open wounds and blood and pus pouring from its neck, being ridden along the canal by teenage boys, often two at a time. Boys were also seen throwing stones at the animal, who was reported as being very weak to the extent that it was having difficulty remaining standing.

The pony is suspected to have been suffering from strangles, an infectious disease that produces symptoms akin to flu or

‘strep throat’ in humans.

And again in the same week, around 10.30 PM, an MLHR volunteer happened across a collapsed mare near Stocking Lane in Rathfarnham, Dublin. MLHR contacted Gardaí and a vet and volunteers stayed with the mare for more than six hours until a vet arrived to examine her. The mare was diagnosed with spinal damage, associated with being ridden badly, and her hind quarters were paralysed. She was euthanised on the spot.

What to do if you see a horse in distress:

Take a photo, make a video, record the time and location of the incident. Call the Department of Agriculture animal welfare hotline: Call Save: 0761 064408 / Phone: 01 6072379 / animalwelfare@agriculture.

gov.ie and leave a voicemail if the call is not answered.

Also contact the DSPCA: 01499 4700 (if in Dublin) or the ISPCA for outside Dublin 1890 515 515 / 043 33 25035 / info@ispca.ie and your local Garda station to report the incident/leave a message.

Also contact My Lovely Horse Rescue on info@ mylovelyhorserescue.com.

My Lovely Horse Rescue is a run not-for-profit voluntary organisation.

MLHR regularly assist the Garda and Department of Agriculture in moving equines and donkeys to a place of safety. MLHR rehabilitate and re-home rescued and surrendered animals or horses transferred from Local Authority horse pounds.

SUPERMAC’S LATEST FAST FOOD OUTLET TO BAN PLASTIC STRAWS AND CUPS

South County Dublin should lead Ireland in cutting plastic use. South Dublin County Council should lead by example and become the first local authority area to end the use of straws in all fast-food outlets, bars and restaurants, according to local Independent Minister, Katherine Zappone.

Minister Zappone has welcomed an announcement that the local Supermac’s on Tallaght Road is to stop using plastic straws, cups and burger wrapping, following a similar decision

by McDonalds in the Square.

The Minister says she is working with cabinet colleague, Denis Naughten to examine other ways in which single-use plastics can be phased out – including coffee cup lids,

balloon holders and cutlery.

Minister Zappone said:“The evidence that plastic is making its way into our waterways, seas and the food chain is now overwhelming. A response is urgently needed.

I welcome the decision of Supermac’s to end plastic use in its restaurants – including the one on the Tallaght Road. It follows a similar announcement by McDonalds where straws are to be replaced with biodegradable options. Now others must follow suit. I am in direct contact with fellow Independent Minister Denis Naughten, who leads Ireland’s response to environmental challenges.

It is my hope that our communities could take a lead on this. The South

Dublin County Council area is impacted by illegal dumping much of which is plastic. This can end up in the water supply and through eating fish even into the food chain.

Concrete and practical measures such as removing plastic straws, cups and cutlery from the hospitality sector are needed.

In my own Department we have also ended the practice of using plastic cups and redoubled our recycling efforts. These are steps I would like to see taken across all parts of our communities, in schools, family resource centres and businesses.Together we can protect the environment.

The steps we take locally can have a national or even a global impact.”

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Miriam O’Shea Slimming World St. Annes’s GAA Club Bohernabreena, Tallaght, Dublin 24 Times: Tuesday Mornings 9:30am & 11:30am.

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MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible.

Never known to fail. In greateful thanks to the Sacred Heart and Our Holy Mother for many favours and blessings received. Ann MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible. Never known to fail. M.D MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible. Never known to fail.J.D MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the past

I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible.

Never known to fail. In greateful thanks to the Sacred Heart and Our Holy Mother for many favours and blessings received. R.P MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible.

Never known to fail. In greateful thanks to the Sacred Heart and Our Holy Mother for many favours and blessings received. Jennifer MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible. Never known to fail. P.M

MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible. Never known to fail. P.M MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible.

Never known to fail. In greateful thanks to the Sacred Heart and Our Holy Mother for many favours and blessings received. P.M As our regular readers will know we have asked for your generosity in supporting very worthy charities over the years. Going forward, we are delighted to support Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice.

LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice provides palliative care to children with life-limiting conditions and their families, from the point of diagnosis to end of life, and throughout bereavement.Our holistic approach ensures we support the whole family through a unique care plan

that may include: symptom management; planned short hospice stays (respite); unplanned hospice stays (emergency care); end of life care; music & play therapy; psychological & bereavement support; Social Work and Chaplaincy.

All care is provided free to families. Care can be availed of in the hospice, at hospital, in the community, or in the family home, depending on the child and family’s preference. It costs €5.2million to keep LauraLynn’s Children’s Hospice open, €3.5million of which must be generated each year through fundraised income.

Since opening in 2011, LauraLynn has cared for more than 325 children and their families and provided more than 265,000 hours of short stay care provided to children in LauraLynn Hospice.

For further information please visit lauralynn.ie.

If you would like a Novena published please send a postal order or cheque made out to Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice, along with your Novena to: NEWSGROUP, Unit 3 Floor 2 St Dominics Shopping Centre, St Dominics Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24.

If you require any further information please call 01 4519000 or email info@ newsgroup.ie.

EMPLOYMENT LESS ATTRACTIVE TO LONE PARENTS

ESRI report shows changes resulted in income losses for lone parents who work Fianna Fáil Chairperson for the Employment Affairs and Social Protection Committee John Curran TD has said that changes introduced by Fine Gael and Labour during the last Government hindered rather than helped lone parents.

Curran made his comments on foot of a report from the ESRI which showed that changes to the One Parent Family Payment resulted in small income losses of between 1 and 2 per cent for employed lone parents compared to the benefits previously available.

The net result of these changes has been to make employment less attractive to lone parents.

“The changes made to the One Parent Family Payment

by Fine Gael and Labour during the last Government had a negative impact on lone parents. The reality is that it was the wrong policy at the wrong time and it was introduced when there

were insufficient childcare supports in place.

“Lone parents and their children continue to be particularly vulnerable to poverty and social exclusion; 24.6 % of lone parents are in consistent poverty whilst 50.1% of lone parent households are experiencing deprivation.

“Fianna Fáil wants of course to facilitate and support lone parents to take up employment where possible, but we also want and will push for a more flexible social welfare system that recognises that lone parents are parenting alone and need additional supports.

“If we don’t address the many barriers facing lone parent households they will always be at the margins of society and this is simply unacceptable.

The Government must now learn from reports such as this and introduce changes and increase supports that will have a positive impact on lone parents and their children,” concluded Curran

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Question – My mother has had a stroke and is being assessed for long term residential care. However she is not capable of signing any forms or indeed making any decisions herself. She did not execute an Enduring Power of Attorney and we are wondering how we will be able to facilitate the process. Could you please advise?

A – We are sorry to hear about your mother’s ill health and hope that her situation will improve over time. To answer your question, where a person may need care, and because of ill health, a physical disability or a mental condition, is unable to make an application for a Care Needs Assessment, a “Specified Person” may apply for a Care Needs Assessment on their behalf. Where a person has reduced ability to make decisions (diminished mental capacity) the Specified Person may also make the application for State Support on their behalf. Under the Fair Deal Scheme, a specified person is described as:(a) If you are a Ward of Court; (b) A person appointed under a valid registered Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA); (c) A care representative appointed under the Nursing Home Support Scheme Act, 2009; (d) The spouse or partner of the applicant; (e) A relative of the applicant who is over eighteen years of age; (f) A “Next Friend” appointed by a Court; (g) A legal representative or; (h) A registered medical practitioner, nurse or social worker.

The people listed at (a) – (c) have first priority over those listed at (d) – (h). This means that they have the right to act as a Specified Person ahead of the other categories. However, the people listed at (a) – (c) may consent in writing to a person with lesser priority acting as a Specified Person. In other words, your mother is not restricted by the absence of having completed and registered an Enduring Power of Attorney. Assuming that she is also not a Ward of Court then, you can apply to have yourself appointed as a care representative under the Scheme. We would refer you to the social worker attached to your mother’s case who will guide you in this regard to the relevant forms with a view to making a necessary application. We wish you the very best of luck.

Question – Could you explain what the Nursing Home Loan entails under the Nursing Home Support Scheme Act 2009? My father is applying for long term residential care and mention has been made of a Nursing Home Loan but we are unclear as to what this means. Could you please advise?

A – Where the assets of any applicant include land and property, the contribution payable by the applicant may be deferred until after the death of the applicant. If you are approved for The Nursing Home Loan, the HSE will pay the money to the Nursing Home on your behalf and it will be collected after your death. In certain circumstances, the payment may be deferred for a longer period, for example, if a spouse or partner of your former carer is still living in your principal private residence. You can apply for the loan when you first apply for the Nursing Home Support Scheme or at any stage while resident in the nursing home. In order to apply for the Nursing Home Loan, you must provide written consent to having a “Charging Order” registered against your assets. If you are part of a couple, your spouse/partner must also provide written consent.

The Charging Order is a simple type of mortgage which secures the money loaned by the HSE. Subject to your consent, the HSE is responsible for making the Charging Order, registering it against your asset and making Nursing Home Loan payments on your behalf. You will not need to do anything (although the HSE may need to check with you about the information in your application). If a person does not have the capacity to consent to the Nursing Home Loan and the Charging Order, a care representative will need to be appointed to act on his or her behalf. The legislation setting out this Scheme does give specific timeframe for repayment of the loan. If the applicant passes on, the repayment must be made within twelve months from the date of death of the applicant or six months if the property is sold at any stage or transferred during the lifetime of the applicant. If the loan is repaid within these timeframes, then no interest will apply. If however, repayment is not made within the specified timeframes, interest will apply and the HSE will apply the consumer price index to the loan to take account of inflation since the loan was made. We hope that this has been helpful.

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