Travel & Leisure

WHAT would make you want to come back to a place that’s so much more than a piece of paradise? A place with almost eternal sunshine, beauty and utter tranquility with some of the best cuisine and the nest wines known to man, and rated by readers of Condé Nast Traveller as the Top Hotel in Africa and the Middle East?

Champagne — that’s what.

Or Methode Cap Classique, (MCC), as they call it in South Africa. ree years ago I had stayed at the splendid Steenberg Hotel, in the Western Cape, just 40 minutes out of Cape Town airport, where I had been waited upon hand and foot and wrapped in a sway of ne dining and wonderful wine. South Africa’s mother city o ers many secret corners to explore, but my rst visit to Steenberg a orded me yet another breathtaking outlook on the Western Cape and had left me, the sel sh traveller that I am, wanting more.

Not wishing to push my luck, I needed an excuse to return to this splendid spot by the foot of the Stone Mountain.

Champagne o ered me an excuse, with the opening of the Steenberg Hotel’s aptlynamed Gorgeous Bubbly Bar by Graham Beck.

A long-held ambition of renowned wine maker Graham Beck, Gorgeous (the debonair gentleman’s greeting to the ladies), is a stylish and delightful den, tastefully draped in Vivienne Westwood interiors.

And it’s the latest attraction at the estate in Cape Town’s Constantia, adjacent to Catharina’s restaurant where, naturally, we later found ourselves.

Complimented by delectable canapés created by Catharina’s celebrated chef, the diminutive and charming Garth Almazan, yours truly made his wanton way through a tasting of vintage and non-vintage champagnes, which, with one exception, epitomised elegance, nesse and subtle sophistication.

It is not every day that your wine is chosen by one of the world’s most famous men to mark a moment in history. Twice, in fact.

In 1994 Graham Beck’s Brut NV was chosen as the celebratory drink at the inauguration of South Africa’s rst democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela.

And it was the same nonvintage, with its crisp apple on the nose, that Barack Obama chose to celebrate his declaration to run for president, privately, with his wife Michelle, at the Blue Bird in Chicago.

Small wonder, though, as Steenberg holds the distinction of being the oldest farm in the Constantia Valley, regarded as one of South Africa’s nest wine-growing regions.

It has to do with its sea-facing slopes and great granite ridges and has led Steenberg, since Graham Beck acquired it in 2005, to garner a worldwide reputation. e 62 hectares, sloping along the east side of the mountain, has a history going back to 1682 when the land was rst in the hands of Catharina Ras, a feisty German woman who got through no less than ve husbands in her lifetime. e rst wine was made here in 1695, and the cellars are still producing award-winning bottles today.

Graham Beck added the striking metallic sculptures of Edoardo Villa (the Henry Moore of South Africa) to the property but otherwise the buildings of the original farm and wine estate remain intact and have been converted into the luxury hotel, with rooms in the old manor house and surrounding buildings.

Catharina’s Restaurant has the ‘wow’ factor: the proportions are grand while the furniture is an arty blend of contemporary African with cosmopolitan style without compromising on the Cape traditions that underpin this estate.

For dinner I chose the Springbok tartare followed by Warthog. e springbok was infused with black tru es and was good, but the warthog was a taste sensation: pinkcentred soft llet medallions on a slither of slow roasted underbelly, grilled prawns, exotic mushrooms with a red wine reduction.

No surprise then that Catharina’s has received both the American Express and Diners Club Award for Excellence.

For more relaxed and less ne fare there’s the open planned and high-ceilinged Bistro Sixteen 82 that’s ideal for lunch.

Staying here, you really do feel privileged and pampered, a combination of bygone pleasures with contemporary luxury. ey seem to have the balance just right, with their Cape Dutch antiques, old master paintings and tapestries.

My premier room was classically decorated; spacious, with two rooms, a minibar, patio with mountain view and a large bathroom and all manner of modern communications from Wi-Fi to an iPod docking station. e Heritage Suites o er views to False Bay, while the Manor House rooms have their own lounges and all are furnished individually in a style reminiscent of the 17th century.

And there are spacious family suites for two adults and two children under 12, which o er great value e gardens are an invitation to stroll, a haven of havens, minutes from the Cape Town but miles from the world.

ere is much to o er at Steenberg and in the surrounding countryside. For a day at the beach, check out Camp’s Bay with the trendiest beach strip on the peninsula or go visit the penguin colony at Boulders Beach, Simon’s Town. Or go walking along the Alphen Trail, one of the most popular of the green belt walks of the Constantia Valley. e trail winds along the Diep River to the Constantiaberg Mountain and in places allows one to walk on either side of the river, with a number of bridge crossings.

It’s a beautiful walk lled with lush grass, trees, beautiful skies and the Le Sueur Meadow on the far end, towards Hohenort.

Stop o , and browse for that special ‘ nd’ at the popular Alphen Antiques Fair, which takes place at the Alphen Centre (opposite Constantia Village Shopping Centre) on the second and fourth Sunday of every month between 10am and 4pm.

A variety of items including jewellery, glass, ceramics, silver, toys, books, and paintings will be on sale.

But, back to being spoilt at Steenberg — there’s golf of course, where the 18hole championship course meanders through the vineyards, pine forests and gentle waterways.

With three di erent tees, the course can be enjoyed by champion and novice alike. e par-three, not-so-short 14th hole, by the way, features the largest green in Africa at 76 metres in length.

Steenberg’s Golf Academy Package o ers players a 4-night escape and three professional golf lessons on the course during your stay.

And for the ladies, there’s the Ginkgo Spa at Steenberg, with its earthy and relaxing ambience and ve beautifully tted rooms o ering a soothing indulgence with an energising vigour.

I’ll be back ... again!

Simply Gorgeous

Paul Hopkins, a Satoa Travel Writer of the Year recipient — awarded for writings on Africa, Asia and the Indian Ocean — describes a visit to the luxury Steenberg Hotel

All aboard for these travel tips from Irish Ferries

BY FIONN DAVENPORT

THESE tips from Irish Ferries will help you settle on board and make the most of your time on a ferry!

1. You can always make room

Use vacuum pack bags. Put all your clothes in them, so you can double the amount without taking up too much space. Luckily there are no weight restrictions on board! something small that reminds them of comfort. is can be a favourite blanket or teddy to help them feel at home.

3. Enjoy the journey

Don’t forget the journey is as exciting as the trip itself. Celebrate the travelling and things to do onboard. e journey isn’t just a means to an end – it’s a stop along the way.

4. Take time to relax

Make sure to download a few episodes of your favourite TV show on your phone or tablet to watch. You can relax for a while and it will make the crossing go by in no time at all!

5. Extra bene ts

Whatever reason for travel, upgrade yourself to Club Class lounges on board for extra bene ts including priority boarding and complimentary drinks and snacks and drinks.

Yulefest - Christmas in Kilkenny is back!

YULEFEST is back for Christmas 2021! Celebrate Christmas in Kilkenny with a wide range of events from live music to markets, movies and more. Working alongside our partners providing festive fun, activity and entertainment to locals and visitors alike, there is something for everyone in Kilkenny this Christmas season. e Elves are busy working away on a full programme of events, which will be announced over the next few weeks. Expect festive fun and cheer from mid-November till early January. Yulefest will begin with the most important event of all – Santa’s arrival and the turning on of the Christmas Tree lights. On November 27th you can join Santa as he takes the scenic route to the city by boat and by bike. Line the banks of the river Nore to see our environmentally conscious Santa and his elves arrive at the Canal Square at 2.30pm. ‘Bling your bike’ and join Santa for the second part of his journey and take part in Santa’s City Cycle. Finally Santa, his elves and everyone else will land on the beautifully lit Parade; here there will be live music, street performers and lots more as we turn on the Christmas Tree lights and launch Yulefest 2021 with Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny county Council Cllr Fidelis Doherty and Mayor Andrew McGuinness. Put on your Christmas jumpers and Santa hats, decorate your bike and come join Santa on his journey. Festivities on the Parade will continue into the evening and all the way up until Christmas. Brought to you by Kilkenny County Council, keep an eye on @YulefestKilkenny for more programme announcements, start dreaming up ideas to decorate your bike, and don’t forget to sign your Christmas tree up for the Christmas Tree Festival at St. Canice’s Cathedral. en invite friends and family and enjoy Christmas right here in Kilkenny.

Artesan Cheese House

New to Friary Street Kilkenny!

Students from the Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Culinary Arts Waterford Institute of Technology studying Media and Visual Arts: writing about food. Pictured at Artesan Cheese House, Unit 2, Regency Court, Friary St, Kilkenny.

Who is Kilkenny’s Adult Learning STAR?

AONTAS, the National Adult Learning Organisation is seeking nominations from adult learning projects in Kilkenny for the STAR Awards 2022. e STAR Awards recognise outstanding work in adult learning and give projects the opportunity to promote their excellent work and bring national recognition to learners, sta and organisations.

To highlight the diverse range of quality adult learning initiatives taking place across the country, AONTAS encourages STAR Award nominations in ve categories for 2022: Health and Wellbeing, Learner Voice, Social Inclusion, Sustainable Development through Education, ird-level Access and Engagement.

Two Special Awards will be given for Mitigating Educational Disadvantage through Innovation (during Covid-19), and a European Social Fund Special Recognition Award.

Dr Niamh O’Reilly, CEO of AONTAS said, “Adult learning programmes have been responsive in meeting the needs of learners and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. e outstanding level of support that groups have provided to their communities has continued to support participation in adult learning.”

“ e STAR Awards recognise this innovation and celebrates learners, educators and sta across the sector. As we look to address the educational inequalities that have been exacerbated during COVID-19, it is so important that we have a space to champion the work of adult learning projects across the island of Ireland.”

To nominate an adult learning initiative, visit: www. aontas.com. e deadline is Monday, 22nd November 22, 2021. Winners will be announced at the STAR Awards ceremony during the Adult Learners’ Festival 2022, from March 7-11, 2022.

Children’s storybook teaches tools for life

BENNETTSBRIDGE-based author, Lizzy Shortall, debuts her rst children’s book, ‘Joy’s Playground’, tomorrow at Khans Books, Kilkenny. e storybook aims to help young children learn how to navigate the stresses and strains of daily life as they follow the adventures of a little girl - Joy - and her animal friends, Jumpit the frog, Torti the tortoise and others, who are having a very bad day. ey all work together to help their friends overcome the challenges they face through gratitude, mindfulness and self-belief.

Now, more than ever, it’s important that we help our little ones learn how to manage anxiety, stress and change and Lizzy, a resilience trainer and former social worker, wrote the book in response to that

Daughters, Chloe and Amy are the inspiration for Lizzy Shortall’s latest book need.

“My eldest daughter, Chloe, is in Senior Class and like all children, has been in and out of school during the Covid lockdowns. Each time she went back to school, it was like starting all over again. She was experiencing a kind of separation anxiety over and over again, because during the lockdowns she naturally became used to being at home with me, her Daddy and little sister, Amy.

“Children are like mini adults; they get stressed, anxious and they worry and that’s all normal. But it’s so impor-

Kilkenny students should Bin It! for virtual roadshow

THE annual nationwide Bin It! programme has launched its new virtual Bin It! Hit Record Show, which is being rolled out to secondary schools across Kilkenny in a bid to educate and raise awareness of issues surrounding litter and the impact it can have on communities.

Bin It! Hit Record replaces the annual Bin It! programme national roadshow, which has been postponed in 2021 to ensure adherence to Covid-19 guidelines. e new virtual show and adaptable teaching resource is being launched to 16 Secondary schools across the county. e new teaching resource will enable teachers to provide lessons that focus on the science behind littering, the behaviour of littering, and what can be done to change people’s attitudes towards litter.

Bin It! is entirely funded and supported by the Gum Litter Taskforce (GLT).

Central to the free teaching resource is a series of short videos which follows main characters Doc and Taylor who will look at four key areas of littering. Students will also have the opportunity to conduct practical experiments from the roadshow and experience what it is like to be a key decision maker when it comes to managing litter. e Bin It! campaign has toured across the country since 2006, visiting 580 schools and engaging 64,092 students through actor-led workshops that educated and encouraged students around correct gum disposal. Last year, the campaign was postponed due to Covid-19.

Lizzy Shortall, from Benettsbridge, author of ‘Joy’s Playground’.

tant to teach them the tools to cope. As parents, we need to acknowledge what’s happening to them and to help them learn the skills to deal with what they’re feeling.

“ e story’s characters learn these tools, and as a family we use them to help Chloe, and Amy, through their moments of stress.” e book is a real family affair. Chloe and Amy (four) helped Lizzy write the book. “ ey picked the characters’ names and helped with the storyline. e characters have become household names at home, which is lovely!”

e book, which is beautifully illustrated by artist, Roberto Cruz, is written in a light hearted way with characters like Mike, the mixed-up monkey, who learns about mindfulness, Sasha the scared squirrel who learns about self-belief, and Geraldine the grumpy gira e who learns about gratitude.

Lizzy’s husband, Connor is from Kilkenny and is the reason Dubliner Lizzy settled in the Marble county. Her rst novel, ‘ e Lotus and the Tiger’ was published in July. Writing it was a cathartic exercise she said, which helped her process the unresolved grief associated with the sudden death of her brother, Lar.

Lizzy will be at Khans Books, James Street, Kilkenny tomorrow (Saturday) between 2.30pm and 4.30pm for the launch of ‘Joy’s Playground’ and will be signing copies of both her books. You can also nd both titles on most online bookshops.

A skilled mindfulness teacher, Lizzy provides one-to-one training to adults along with online Visionboard workshops. Visit: www.themindfulplayground.com for more information.

Calling all Kilkenny sports clubs

COUNTY Kilkenny sports clubs should register their intent to apply for Texaco Support for Sport funding as soon as possible, organisers urge.

If your club is intending to apply for funding don’t let it miss out on the chance by being late to the game. Your club needs to register intent to apply ahead of the final December 31st application deadline.

Open to properly constituted and officially registered clubs throughout Ireland, the Texaco Support for Sport scheme sets aside a €130,000 fund to be divided and distributed on a county-bycounty basis in twenty-six equal amounts of €5,000 to each successful club. Its intended benefit will be shared amongst those clubs that put forward the most convincing rationale, the most deserving plan for its use.

Last year, the first year of the scheme, the successful Co. Kilkenny applicant to receive a €5,000 award was Kilkenny Hockey Club who used it to purchase sports equipment for new starters.

Leading the adjudication process is Texaco Support for Sport ambassador, Irish rugby international and radio and TV broadcaster, Donncha O’Callaghan.

Applications to the Texaco Support for Sport initiative are also welcomed from clubs who may have been unsuccessful last year. Further information regarding the programme can be viewed on: www. texacosupportforsport. com.

THIS WEEK, in our look at the recently published book of poetry and prose by e Kilkenny Involvement Centre and e Recovery College, we feature the work of Paul Cli ord and Bridget Cody. anks to T.A.S.K and jbs for photos.

Much More Than Words

If ever a book deserved the award for ‘ e Perfect Title’ surely that accolade must go to a new compilation of poetry Much More an Words. Indeed its very title describes comprehensively the diversity of the treasures to be discovered within its covers. is volume of carefully crafted poems, interspersed with prose and enhanced with well-chosen images, is the second collection produced by e Involvement Centre Kilkenny and the rst in a joint venture with e Recovery College. e Kilkenny Observer Newspaper is delighted to promote the work of e Involvement Centre and e Recovery College, and so, will publish a selection of their work over the coming months. ‘Much More Than Words’ can

be purchased at the following Kilkenny outlets: Bargain Books, The Butterslip Khans Bookshop, James’ Street & The Book Centre, High Street. Price: €10

Bridget Cody

e Snow in its Becoming

On a wide expanse of frosted elements, January dawns Hiding secrets in the hardened earth. I move through the ice-wind And part the whispering air, seeking. A slow piercing of the snow in its becoming. A river by my side is all crystals and whistles and Vanishing bridges of leaping light. e Salmon of Knowledge emerging. Trees bend to that river, prayerful, eir branches, whining. I am put in mind of crouched washerwomen Singing ancient secrets on the riverbank. But their voices are veiled in silence, Hung at every turn of the head; A lace curtain hooked to a silver sky Concealing and revealing truths As it wimples in the frozen air. A great, white longing opens inside of me. Prompted by the ghostly grass, Each blade dawn-lit and breathing I lean my head backwards and exhale the entire sky. Melodies, unheard, resound. Truth drones in the distance.

Bridget Cody

Paul Cli ord

Where Hope is a brighter future for all

ere was a time when I had little hope or, dare I say it, no hope at all. e world I lived in seemed cold and uncaring. It left me with a feeling of being unlovable and unwanted. ose thoughts and emotions felt very real and they were real to me. It was only my perception of the world. e experiences that happened in my life had nally caught up with me, the pain the shame, the self doubt, the hurts. All the hurts, all the pain and hurt and anger over the years were starting to win the battle. It brought a dark cloud over me. It fed me the negative messages and I devoured them all up like a beast. e more I fed on these messages the more and more my perception or my reality was changing. I was feeding o the negativity and could pick out events and back it all up by the experiences in my life. I felt hopeless. It was through people who truly cared for me and supported me that I made huge changes in my life. It was a slow journey but with the compassion, care and love of others for me that hard shell that had surrounded my heart and my mind started to crack. I embraced the cracks. Every crack let in the light, let in the love and eventually I was overwhelmed with love and positive emotions. Now anytime I hear someone say ‘I’m cracking up’ I smile to myself. For me cracking up is beautiful, it’s letting the light in. e darkness left me through watery drops owing down my face. A release, a beautiful release. At times it was uncontrollable but beautiful when complete. A BEAUTIFUL RELEASE making room for the love and the life - the new life. e hope is my life. e hope is my love. Sometimes I think there is little di erence between love and hope. For me they are two of the greatest gifts one could have. A life full of love and hope seems an extraordinary adventure and a life ful lled. People carried the hope for me when I had none. Please let me carry the hope for you. ere is a saying when you return to work or back in control you are ‘back in the saddle’. Well, just like that old song says, ‘Do you think I would leave you crying when there’s room on my horse for two’. ere is room in my heart for two. ere is room in my heart for you. ere is room in all our hearts to carry one another’s hope. Hope is a better and brighter future for us all.

Paul Cli ord

One day with the Romanian Ambassador in Kilkenny

On the 4th of November 2021 Twilight Community Group was the host of H.E. Laurentiu-Mihai STEFAN the Ambassador of Romania in Ireland, and his wife Georgeta Bratu.

ON the 4th of November 2021 Twilight Community Group was the host of H.E. Laurentiu-Mihai STEFAN the Ambassador of Romania in Ireland, and his wife Georgeta Bratu.

For the rst time in history, Kilkenny city was hosting a high rank o cial from Romania. is didn’t just happen. Friday 1st of October 2021 Twilight Community Group was invited to meet the ambassador at the Embassy on 7th of October 2021. A delegation from Twilight Community Group hit the road to Dublin and went to present respect and to promote the community from Kilkenny to the Romanian o cials at the Embassy of Romania on Waterloo Road. After two hours of conversation the meeting concluded with ambassador’s strong desire to come and visit Kilkenny. e delegation successfully convinced them that there is a strong community in Kilkenny with great initiatives under TCG’s motto: “Communities are stronger working together”. It was a memorable encounter. e Ambassador was impressed by the Twilight Community Group’s achievements. ey arrived at Twilight Community Group’s International Cultural House at10.00am. After the appropriate introduction to the members of TCG the Ambassador and his wife met with the other guest: Colm Ahern the President and John Hurley the Chief Executive of the Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce, Emma Murtagh - European programme Manager e Wheel, Betty Dewberry - Chairperson of the Older People Council, Bortha Maria Woudsma-Public Participation Network, Salena Grace Manageress - Kilkenny Volunteer Centre.

Also present the past President of Areological Society Brendan Neary, who has a strong connection with Romania, spending much time there. Stefan D’Oyle a Romanian born, Irish adopted with his wife and adoptive parents were in the company of Ileana Conni Baiescu the founder of ‘ e never forgotten Romanian children’, and Kilkenny Garda o cer Laura Dragoi. ere were connections made and strong links were established between all the parties present.

Stefan Cardare from e House of Pretzels o ered the guests fresh from the oven Romania Pretzels (Covrigi) and Moldova shop had sent a beautiful selection of teas and cakes.

After interviews, conversations, and friendly encounters the moment of taking pictures next to the Irish, European and Romanian Flags was a fantastic moment. To see so much desire to be part of the mix and to see so many happy faces was an unimaginable site a few years ago. But there we were all under the same roof of Twilight Communities Group International Cultural House. What an achievement… at was not all, the day was about to take a turn to more diversity after the ambassador and his wife went to Langton’s House Hotel where they were accommodated. After lunch in Langton’s the ambassador and his wife stopped for a co ee and chat at e Burger Factory and more, visited Butler Gallery, Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny Salt erapy and e House of Pretzels. At, the invitation of the Florin Sima the owner of e Grapevine we stopped for supper and that was impressive and abundant. e evening came to an end with a Jazz Concert where a Dublin based Romanian musician performed at Billy Byrne’s.

On returning to Dublin on Friday after an early morning meeting with Junior Minister Malcolm Noonan Minister for Heritage & Electoral Reform the Ambassador put the following comments out on the embassy’s website and Facebook page through his o cials

“Kilkenny was a remarkable experience. You can see how an open society works here, in which Romanians, Poles, Moroccans, Bengali & the African nations are well received, supported, and encouraged to set up their own business along the Irish people.” As ambassador, Laurentiu Stefan was very impressed with Kilkenny’s Twilight Community Group, an association that focuses on diversity and promotes the social integration of those who seek a better life, far from their country, in Ireland. He met Martin Brennan again, the founder and soul of this association and his colleagues and many of those he collaborates with, such as those at Kilkenny Volunteer Centre. ere was also a good discussion with Colin Ahern and John Hurley, from the leadership of Kilkenny Chamber A great joy was to meet Laura Dr goi, who works in the An Garda Síochána, Ileana Conni B iescu who helps those who were adopted by Irish families in the 1990s to nd their natural family. is is what happened to Stefan J Doyle O cial, star today at XFactor, adopted in 1990 from Satu Mare by an Irish family.

A big thank you to Liviu Iftime, the main organizer of our ambassador trip through Kilkenny, where he met also Mihaela Radu, the team of the manager of Langton House Hotel in Kilkenny.

We want also to bring to your attention to the business of tefan Cadare the owner of e House Of Pretzels (pretzels are a tradition in Romania), Ionu Manole, who opened Burger factories & more in Ireland on the main street, and Florin Sima, who tried his luck (and succeeded) with a very popular Spanish restaurant called e Grapevine. Finally, Adina Dascalescu and Oana Oana slowly imposed in Kilkenny the healthy salt therapy (a part brought from Romania, from Praid) in their “saline” from Kilkenny Salt erapy. e evening was completed by a jazz concert of the band of the Irish bassist Ronan Guilfoyle. And again, Romanians make us proud. Aleka Potinga, a cellist from Romania, a music teacher at schools and universities in Dublin, is also the vocalist of Ronan Guilfoyle’s band. ank you, Romanians from Kilkenny & Carlow”

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STAR BUY

What are our entitlements?

MANY citizens of the state do not realise the entitlements that they may be missing out on. Sometimes we must go and nd out what it is we can claim now we are over 66. e Department of Social Protection administers a group of allowances to which many people over 66 years are entitled. is week we will highlight the entitlements we may be able to claim in our senior years.

Below is a list of the main entitlements for older people:

e Household Bene ts

Package You qualify for the Household Bene ts Package if you are aged 70 or over. You may qualify for this at a younger age if you satisfy certain conditions. You should enquire about this to get further information. Allowance 1 - e Electricity Allowance or Natural Gas Allowance or Cash Electricity Allowance or Cash Gas Allowance. Allowance 2 - e Free Television Licence.

Telephone Support Al-

lowance – e Telephone Support Allowance (TSA) is an extra weekly payment for people on certain social welfare payments who are also getting both the Living Alone Increase and the Fuel Allowance. National Fuel Scheme – A Fuel Allowance is paid to people who are dependent on long-term social welfare payments and who are unable to provide for their own heating needs. Medical Card – is is a means tested bene t unless you automatically qualify. is is administered by the HSE. Free Travel – o ered to all Irish residents, aged 66 or over. Some people may qualify for this at a younger age, if they are in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment.

Carers Allowance and

Carers Bene t – if a person is receiving full-time care, their carer may qualify for a Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Bene t. Carer’s Allowance is a means-tested payment, whereas Carer’s Bene t is based on PRSI contributions.

Treatment Bene t Scheme

– e Treatment Bene t Scheme is run by the Department of Social Protection and provides dental, optical, and aural services to quali ed people.

Living Alone Allowance –

o ered to those receiving qualifying social welfare payments living alone and 66 years or over. It is also available to people under age 66 who are receiving allowances such as disability allowance and who live alone.

Supplementary Welfare

Allowance – Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people who do not have enough income to meet their needs and those of their families.

Health services for older

people - Older and most young chronically sick people can continue to live at home with HSE and family support. Information is available on moving from home to long stay care, should it become necessary or desirable.

Illness in your retire-

ment- ere are a range of payments and services available to support older people who become ill or acquire a disability. Information is available on income supports, health care, housing, taxation and caring for someone else. Home Support Service- e Home Support Service helps older people to continue living in their own homes when they need support to do so. Fair Deal Scheme - People who move into registered nursing homes may receive nancial support from the HSE under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme.

Regulation of residential

care for older people - National quality standards are enforced in both public and private nursing homes by HIQA, the Health Information and Quality Authority. Inspection reports are available from them.

Tax relief on nursing home fees and for dependent

relatives - Tax relief is available on fees paid for nursing homes and for dependent relatives. Information on tax credits and how to apply for tax relief is available.

Boarding out of older

people - Some Health Service Executive (HSE) Areas in Ireland operate a scheme where older people are boarded out in private homes. Find out about the rules that apply to these arrangements and how to apply.

Hopefully the above list is a help to our readers. You can get all information on your entitlements from the Citizens Information Centre.