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The Kilkenny Observer Friday 5 May 2023
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Your drug prescription soon accessible with barcode You will soon be able to get your medical scripts via scannable barcodes – modelled on the successful Covid vaccination certificate system. Junior Minister Responsible for Technology Ossian Smyth said the health services had shown considerable technological ability and ambition in swiftly rolling out the Covid vaccine certs. He said this showed the
same thing could happen very soon with prescription medicines. He hoped it could become a reality by the end of this year, allowing people to access prescriptions via a mobile phone, tablet or laptop. The Green Party TD said he was frustrated at the time lags being spoken about for getting transferable personal health records on computer
systems any time before 2030. “We have been looking at how to get elements of health records available online much sooner,” he said. “Doctors often say among the most helpful item that could be provided is a record of current medications a person is taking – and that’s where online prescriptions could be most helpful.” He was now engaging with
doctors and pharmacists, along with the HSE, the Department of Health and other agencies, to see how this can be organised quickly. Meanwhile, the Government are examining proposals that would allow for pharmacists to assess and treat minor illnesses. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said that the proposed scheme would allow
people to bypass attending their GP to get a prescription, allowing pharmacists to directly provide medication for certain illnesses. In a response to a Parliamentary Question from Fianna Fáil TD James O’Connor, Minister Donnelly said his department was currently examining proposals to establish the scheme. “The intention is to enable
eligible patients to attend their local community pharmacist for assessment and treatment for a number of identified ailments rather than initially having to attend the GP to obtain a prescription,” Mr Donnelly said. “Work is progressing and the Department has begun discussions with the HSE on the range of conditions to be included in such a scheme.”
Young farmer schemes and tax breaks ‘will be protected’ Young farmer schemes and tax breaks will be fully protected, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar promised ahead of a planned meeting with Macra na Feirme after their march to Dublin. Members of the young farmers association marched through the night from Athy to Government Buildings recently in order to raise awareness on a number of issues affecting youth in rural Ireland. “One thing I can assure young farmers who are on their way to Dublin at the moment is so long as this Government is in office, all of the schemes, all of the tax breaks that exist for young farmers will be protected,” the Taoiseach told the Dáil. “They don’t have that guarantee from a left-led Government.” Leader of the Social Democrats, Holly Cairns, described young farmers as “an endangered species” and asked the Taoiseach “when will the Government take the issues facing rural Ireland seriously?” The Taoiseach replied: “We need more young farmers. There are lots of farmers in Ireland who are in their 60s and 70s, often because they don’t have a successor. I am interested to hear from Macra what ideas they have to improve succession. “We’re about to enter a decade of major change in ag-
riculture and land use, and we need young farmers to lead that.” Sinn Féin’s new spokesperson on agriculture and rural affairs, Claire Kerrane, told the Taoiseach that “clearly rural Ireland has been let down and if it wasn’t, then Macra wouldn’t be doing what they’re doing today and yesterday”. The Taoiseach confirmed he would be meeting with Macra na Feirme, alongside Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue and Minister of State Martin Heydon. “Deputy, in the round, rural Ireland is doing OK. Why do I say that? The Census. Numbers only out in the last couple of months,” the Taoiseach said. “The population in every county in Ireland is increasing. Not a single county is now seeing a population decrease. That is important and it goes against the false narrative that you try to put across regularly. “We know from the CSO figures that unemployment in Ireland, in every county in Ireland, is close to an all-time low.” Macra president-elect Elaine Houlihan described the march as “taking steps for our future, to ensure young people, families, can live and prosper in Rural Ireland as the youth are the backbone of these communities”.
Gardai examine threat letter sent to hurling referee Gardaí are investigating a threatening letter sent to a referee following a recent minor hurling league game in Kilkenny. The anonymous, hand-written letter described the referee in question as a “solid disgrace” after he took charge of the game between Erin’s Own and Thomastown last month.
According to local radio station KCLR, the letter added: “You won’t get away with this… we know where you live (and) all about your family… may you die roaring with cancer.” The letter has led to Kilkenny referees withdrawing their services in support of their fellow-match official. Investigations are continuing.
New high voltage systems to power the future Ireland’s first dedicated High Voltage Electrical Systems programme was fittingly launched in the ‘industrial heartland’ of the country – the South East, according to Sean Downey, Director of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF). In partnership with CIF, South East Technological University (SETU) and Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) co-developed and co-delivered the innovative 60 credit Level 6 programme to meet the changing needs of the industry. The new programme was officially launched in SETU last week, in the presence of well-known industry experts. Mr Downey said that some of the best companies in the region came together to assist in delivering this programme, which is designed to upskill electricians and electrical engineers in the highly specialised area of High Voltage. The programme aims to develop competence in areas such as High Voltage electrical installations, grid connections, substation maintenance and switching facilities.
Ireland’s electricity grid infrastructure has grown dramatically in recent years with the increase of large consumers of energy including large industry, data centres and the substantial growth in renewable energy provision. Edmond Connolly, South East Regional Skills Forum Manager, said: “The specialised electrical contractors involved in the construction of such facilities acknowledged that they needed further specialised training for their staff working on high voltage electrical installations. “This new qualification will help companies build their capacity to construct and manage high voltage facilities and also enable them to win new contracts abroad.” Key to the development of the new programme was the involvement of the Construction Industry Federation’s Specialist Contraction Association which brought together Ireland’s leading electrical engineering firms who contributed to the design of the programme. Head of Faculty at SETU and Project Manager for the programme Dr Frances Hardiman said: “It has
been a valuable experience working with a strong industry consortium and TUS to co-develop and deliver a bespoke workbased learning programme that utilises specialist skills in High Voltage from multiple sources, demonstrating the need for collaboration to deliver on the future skills agenda in engineering.” Head of Department of Engineering Technology at SETU Austin Coffey spoke of the benefits of the programme for employers in the industry. “This programme demonstrates what can be achieved for addressing immediate and future industry skills needs by a common goal with multiple industrial stakeholders and university partnership. I believe that this will be the first of many collaborations in joint programme development between SETU and TUS and other technological universities in Ireland,” he said. Paul Cremmins, former Director of Suir Engineering, jumped at the chance to get involved, saying Ireland must prepare itself for the future. “This is a course that is being set by the contractors in col-
laboration with SETU and TUS. They have designed a course around our wants and needs,” he said. The programme is jointly delivered by SETU and TUS in a part-time, blended learning mode over one year - summer to summer. It utilises a work-based model and will have 30% of credits achieved in the participants’ place of work. The programme commences in May 2023 with 16 employees from industry, who will attend one day per week at SETU Waterford during the first semester and TUS Limerick during the second semester. * Pictured above from left, are Alan Horan, Mercury Engineering, Maria Kyne Faculty, Engineering and Built Environment, TUS Limerick, Joe Colleran, HV Commissioning Manager, Suir Engineering, David Quinlan, HV Commissioning Lead Kirby Engineering, Frances Hardiman, Faculty of Engineering, SETU, Paul Cremmins, Solas and Edmond Connolly, Regional Skills Forum Photo: Patrick Browne