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kilkennyobserver.ie
The Kilkenny Observer Friday 10 June 2022
News
Free days for remote work Three free days in any remoteworking hub are to be offered to workers by the Government as an incentive to stay out of the office for a few days a week and work in their communities. The new scheme is aimed at encouraging more use of the hundreds of remoteworking centres that have been set up around the country,
particularly in the wake of the pandemic. Local TD John Paul Phelan has welcomed the new voucher scheme to give remote workers free access to their local hub. There are three such hubs in Kilkenny City – including Kilkenny Office Suites, Kilkenny Enterprise Centre and New Work Junction.
People will have to register as remote workers and can then attend their local hub to redeem their free days. The scheme could save them up to €75, depending on the rate charged. The three free sessions will also follow the worker, meaning they can avail of the days in another part of the
country if they are on holiday in Ireland. At least 10,000 hot-desk sessions will be provided to existing hub users and those using the facilities for the first time, but this may be increased if the scheme proves to be popular with people living in rural parts of the country. It was initially envisaged that
a loyalty points system, such as in coffee shops, would be introduced, giving people a free day after they had paid for a set number. However, this proposal was ditched in favour of offering workers three free days at the hub of their choice. Rural Affairs Minister Heather Humphreys has
ann- ounce details of the new initiative, along with a series of other measures aimed at promoting the use of remote working hubs. Hub users and those thinking about it should set up a profile on the website Connectedhubs. ie to take advantage of the free places which are avilable intil the end of August.
Delay for 500,000 switchers as banks argue over moves Up to 500,000 people being forced to look for a new bank have been given conflicting information about how to switch accounts. The Central Bank and the banks’ lobby group, the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland, are offering different advice about how the process for switching current accounts works. This has prompted accusations that the banks are deliberately undermining the current account switching code code in a bid to restrict competition in this market. It comes as more than 500,000 customers of departing Ulster Bank and KBC Bank Ireland are being forced to close their current accounts amid a scramble to find new providers. The representative body for banks has been accused by TD Pearse Doherty of failing to understand just how the
switching code works and deliberately trying to ensure it does not work. The code is supposed to make the job of switching banks much easier, with the new bank doing all the work of switching customers’ direct debits, standing orders and other orders. However, CEO of the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland, Brian Hayes, told the Dáil’s finance committee last month that the switching process set out in the code “is paper-based, manually intensive and volume sensitive”. He said it required banks to write physical letters to switch direct debits when moving accounts. This has now been contradicted by the Central Bank, which has confirmed that communication between banks and direct debit originators can be automated or electronic.
Two in three unaware how to make food hygiene complaint Almost two-thirds (61%) of adults in Ireland do not know how to make a complaint to authorities regarding unfit food or poor hygiene practices. The news comes as the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) launches a new awareness campaign, See Something, Say Something, which stresses to consumers their right to safe food. The campaign is supported by a robust online presence and includes several videos, each encouraging consumers to make a complaint if they experience unfit food or poor hygiene practices when buying food or eating out. Reporting a concern is easy and can be done via the FSAI website by completing a simple online complaint form to report a food business or food product. New research commissioned by the FSAI, also shows
disparities across generations when it comes to lodging complaints regarding unfit food or poor hygiene practices, with those aged 54 and over the group least likely to have ever done so. Meanwhile, when faced with a concern, Millennials (those aged 23-37) are least likely to know how to submit a complaint. ‘Safer Food, Better Health’ was the theme of this year’s World Food Safety Day which highlighted the role that safe, nutritional food plays in ensuring good human health and well-being. Jointly facilitated by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the day focuses on collaboration with UN Member States and other stakeholders to bring the message of food safety to communities worldwide.
Holding out for a community hero ... GIY and Energia are on the search for Leinster’s ‘Get Ireland Growing Community Hero’ as they invite communities across Ireland to take part in Energia Get Ireland Growing Day on Saturday, July 2. Get Ireland Growing Day is part of the Energia initiative, in partnership with GIY. This year the initiative is aiming to sow the seed of community food growing nationwide by encouraging and supporting as many individuals and groups to come together for community food growing projects of all shapes and sizes. Ahead of July 2, Kilkenny people have the opportunity to nominate someone going above and beyond to support others to grow
and for them to be named their province’s ‘Get Ireland Growing Community Hero’. Previous winners have included those leading a community garden project, bringing food growing into schools or simply motivating their neighbours to give growing a go. Earlier this year the Energia Get Ireland Growing initiative announced the giveaway of 300 community growing starter kits across Ireland worth €42,500. Using these kits, communities across Ireland are encouraged to come together to become more sustainable and connected through growing food together. For those that missed out on the kits, there are still great prizes to be won for any community group
hosting a local gathering on Get Ireland Growing Day, with free resources available at getirelandgrowing.ie or by downloading the GIY app. On Get Ireland Growing Day, it is also time for participants to submit their entries to be in with the chance of winning a range of prizes. To enter, participants are asked to post a picture of their community growing projects on any social media channel and tag @EnergiaGIG while also using the hashtag #GetIrelandGrowing. The 2022 prize categories and prizes include, a ‘Community Hero’ with one hero awarded per province and the winners awarded a GIY annual subscription. The ‘Best Energia Get
Ireland Growing Day’ is an award for the most impressive gathering hosted on the day, with a prize of a GIY voucher worth €500. Finally, the ‘Best Transformation’ is up for grabs for a group that has transformed a space, with a €1000 cash prize. Get Ireland Growing Winners will be announced on Saturday, July 16 For further details please see www.getirelandgrowing. ie * Our photo shows budding GIY’ers twoyear-old Rian Foley and his Grandfather John Foley with four-year-old Tom McKenna who are encouraging GIY’ers across the country to join them for the Get Ireland Growing Day
