30 minute read
Paul Hopkins
The Fact Of The Matter
PAUL HOPKINS
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My Father: like some sort of unsung hero...
I only ever saw my Father cry once. And that was when his own father died and the word came through with a messenger from the local newsagent, the only ones in the area with a phone in those days. And he sat down at the top of the stairs, his face still half-caked in shaving cream, and bawled his eyes out.
I was seven at the time and the sight of my Dad, a big, grown man weeping, unnerved me and puzzled me as to what was this thing called Death that could reduce this man to such babbling behaviour.
Dads in those days were strong and self-assured, went out to work — clean-shaven and on a bicycle — and came back at the end of the day with the bread and bacon and were never given to whimpering, or wailing like my aunts who gathered in my house upon news of my grandfather’s death.
Such attributes were the remit of women, looking after the sick and dressing the dead and even bringing life into the world, for when my Father was goaded by his brother into telling my grandmother of my expected arrival into this world, the eldest of three, he returned from the scullery, where she was elbow-deep in white flower, his face glowing with embarrassment.
“Well,’’ inquired my Uncle Paddy. “Did you tell her the good news?’’
“I did,’’ said my Father.
“And ...?’’ said my uncle.
“And nothing,’’ said my Father. “She said, ‘Kevin Hopkins, that has nothing to do with you ...’.’’
I reckon my Father there and then must have resigned himself to being stoic and upstanding thereafter. For it was only many years later that I saw another side to him.
It was a brief glance, but exquisite. It was the Millennium year, about a week before he died — 21 years ago this month — and he in his 80th year and convalescing with me after his second heart attack. We sat on an old bench, badly in need of a paint job, looking out to the distant mountains. It was, perhaps, a chance to mend bridges but, in truth, there were few, if there were ever any, to mend.
There was an eerie but acceptable silence between us for words now offered little consolation for what we both now knew, and doctors concurred, were his last days among us.
And then he turned to me, his eyes still baby-blue in the puckered and pale parchment of his face, and said, matterof-factly: “You know son, I’ve always loved you. And I’m proud of you.’’
“I know,’’ I said, “me too ...’’
And we embraced briefly and moved away to avoid the awkward moment.
It was the one and only time I can remember my Father telling me he loved me, let alone that he was proud of me. But sure, that didn’t matter for I had always known that he did. After all, had he not gone out to work and brought home the bacon, bought me my first watch and my first guitar and introduced me to Dylan and Yeats and Shakespeare and Dickens. Not bad for a guy who left school at 14, as was typical then. He also taught me to shave and had sung Panis Angelicas so beautifully on the day I wed. That and the myriad other things that dads do daily for their children that often go unacknowledged, like some sort of unsung hero.
Love, as he might have said himself, didn’t come into it. It was a deeper thing than that.
And, so after I wed, I went on to have my own three children. And I the different boyo, the New Man. At all the births, always tactile with them, taking them more places and doing more things with them than my Old Man had done with me, seeing as he had been busy bringing home the bacon and being stoic.
And, grown-up and all as they are now, I still give them bear hugs, pandemic permitting, and never lose an opportunity to tell them I love them. I see a lot of my Dad in my youngest son. The gene is assured. I like to think too that I have passed on the two best lessons my Father taught me — respect yourself and respect others, and never be afraid to seek a helping hand in standing like a man.
Diets do not work
ANDREW MCDONALD HYPNOTHERAPIST
THE four words in the title above will come like a hammer blow for some and perhaps as a relief for many others. There are a great many reasons why dieting does not result in achieving body goals. What may be surprising is that a great deal of those reasons are founded in scientific fact, research and evidence.
The first thing to consider is do you really want to lose weight? The second is why? Shedding the pounds and keeping them off are not easy. This doesn’t mean you can’t do it but it does mean you need to know what is driving you. Most people aren’t successful because, deep down, they’re quietly satisfied with how they look. In reality we should be applauding those people. The media likes to portray how being very thin should be an aspiration but very few doctors would concur. Undoubtedly, being very underweight is equally as risky to health as being very overweight. A little either side, not so much.
Research into why diets fail has a very long history. Researchers have also studied the stigma attached to being overweight. The scientific truth however is some people were born to be bigger, some smaller, just like with height. In a fight between dieting and nature, there’s only going to be one winner. However, that stigma means people very often begin dieting from a position of low confidence. Not a great, or particularly fair, starting block.
Also, dieting is in its very essence deeply negative. It is based on denial and a black or white frame of mind when it comes to success or failure. You slip up, you eat something you shouldn’t or you eat too much of something you should eat in a smaller amount and your brain goes into overdrive: “I can’t do this, there’s no point in trying, I’m not going to bother anymore, I’m a failure”. The diet fails.
Denial is also extremely difficult. Imagine day one, you’re not hungry and you see a chocolate bar which you can or cannot eat depending on your fancy. Now, on day two, you’re still not hungry and you see a chocolate bar which you absolutely must not eat under any circumstances! Which day was it easier to walk past the chocolate bar and forget about it? Denial is extremely difficult. Another reason why diets fail.
Next week we will take a look at things you can do instead of dieting and which have a proven track record of far higher success rates. By all means, if you are one of the lucky few for whom diets work, congratulations, you don’t need to read next week’s article. If you are one of the many who find diets impossible, the secrets that will be revealed in seven days’ time may very well set you on a path to a new life!
97% of LBGTI+ young struggling with anxiety
A NATIONAL BeLonG To Youth Services survey has revealed the consequences of the pandemic on the mental health of local LGBTI+ young people.
Perhaps the most startling statistic is that nearly all members of the young LGBTI+ community (97%) are currently struggling with anxiety, stress or depression.
Other key findings from the survey reveal that during COVID-19: * 63% of LGBTI+ young people are struggling with suicide ideation (2020: 55%). * 50% of LGBTI+ young people are struggling with selfharm (2020: 45%). * 83% of young people are feeling acute loneliness throughout the pandemic (2020: 60%). *58% of young people described their mental health as “bad” or “very bad” (2020: 48%).
More than half (56%) of LGBTI+ young people surveyed this year in 2021 said they were not fully accepted in their home environment.
Family rejection, feeling unaccepted, and a denial of identity can result in loneliness, stress, anxiety, and more complex mental health challenges.
CEO of BeLonG To Youth Services, Moninne Griffith, explains that support for LGBTI+ young people, especially now, is integral to positive mental health outcomes.
“The past 12 months have been extremely difficult for LGBTI+ young people, as clear from our research,” she said.
“Levels of self-harm and suicide ideation are rising as LGBTI+ young people experience unique mental health challenges. Many formal and informal safety nets, supports, and services have been unavailable because of lockdowns and increased social isolation.
Work life balance a reason to switch job
AS a result of the pandemic, work life balance is now the standout reason candidates will be attracted to a potential new employer, according to a report conducted by search firm HRM. Of the 1,882 people surveyed, nine in ten (97%) respondents said a work life balance is influential in their decision on whether to engage with a new employer.
When deciding on whether to engage in an interview process with a new employer, seven in ten (72%) said a better work life balance would be top of their agenda. Six in ten (67%) said they would accept an offer if the workplace allowed flexibility and over half (54%) of respondents would like to commute less. Only one in ten (10%) respondents want to return to their offices or sites full time.
The experience candidates have with an organisation during the hiring process, is the number one factor determining whether they continue with a process with nine in ten (96%) describing it as influential. Main deterrents during a selection phase included 8 in 10 (89%) referring to a lack of rapport with the hiring manager during the hiring process.
In terms of reasons for refusing an offer, six in ten (67%) citied ‘lack of flexibility offered’. Four in ten (44%) said they would refuse a job if the company didn’t offer any remote working. Employees have raised the bar on standards of behaviour they expect from their organisations. Seven in ten (78%) said adverse publicity would impact their decision on whether to interview with or join a firm. A public scandal involving a senior executive of a firm would influence six in ten (63%) candidates for the same decision.
Court appearances after young locals murdered in Wales and Australia
A FUND has been set up to assist the loved-ones of a man who has family in Kilkenny and is believed to have been murdered in Wales.
Police attending a report of a serious assault in Newport recently found Ryan O’Connor unconscious and unresponsive with paramedics subsequently pronouncing him dead.
Five teenagers have been charged with the murder and robbery of the 26-year-old father of one. All have appeared initially before court and were due to reappear.
Mr O’Connor has cousins in Callan who told KCLR News he was “a gem”.
A a Go Fund Me page has been set up.
Elsewhere, two of three men charged with the murder of a Carlow Town native in Australia are due to re-appear in court.
Cian English, who was 19 at the time and originally from Bullock Park, was living in Brisbane when he suffered fatal injuries after falling from a fourth-floor balcony in the early hours of May 23 last year.
It’s understood he was trying to escape being robbed at knifepoint following an apartment party.
Two of the three accused men are due to appear before Southport Magistrates Court with a third male due on September 30.
There are also two female minors who are also charged with the teenager’s murder but a court has yet to be set..
On your skates ...
With the Riverside Garden and Skatepark now completed at the Abbey Quarter, Kilkenny County Council was delighted to announce the official opening of this amenity by the Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council and Mayor of Kilkenny Municipal District on Wednesday, 9th Pictured above are former and Current Elected Members of Kilkenny County Council and Kilkenny Borough Council.
Opening the door into our National Heritage Week
NATIONAL Heritage Week Culture looms and heritage groups, communities, families and individuals throughout the county are being asked to come on board and celebrate and share heritage for National Heritage Week 2021.
‘Open the door to heritage’ is the message from the Heritage Council as it launches the week, which will run from August 14-22 and has become one of Ireland’s largest cultural events.
The launch was attended by Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan TD.
“My department and I are pleased to support this year’s National Heritage Week, which focuses on encouraging the inclusion of as many people as possible in exploring, sharing and enjoying Ireland’s diverse heritage,” he said.
“I especially welcome the heritage newcomers approach taken this year, which is an invitation to those who are new to heritage to get involved. During lockdowns many of us have had more time to explore our local or personal heritage. National Heritage Week may be the perfect opportunity to showcase what you have discovered, or to dig deeper and find out more.
“Whatever aspect of heritage is chosen, I wish the very best to all those taking part and look forward to seeing the end results in August,” Minister Noonan said.
The Chairman of the Heritage Council, Michael Parsons, said: “I strongly encourage all project organisers to think meaningfully on how they might include new members of their communities in their projects, and explore aspects of heritage that may have been overlooked in the past.”
Plan for 40 homes finally gets go-ahead
A PLAN for family homes rejected by the national planning authority for being “unco-ordinated and piecemeal” has been approved by Kilkenny County Council after changes were made to the plans.
Developer Bluelime Homes has finally been granted permission to build 40 homes on a site at Loughmacask, Lousybush on the Tullaroan Road following a long, drawn out application process.
The local authority originally granted planning permission to Bluelime Homes for 30 three-bedroom houses, six four-bed houses and four five-bed homes in December 2019.
That decision was subsequently appealed to An Bord Pleanála who last September rejected the proposals.
In its ruling, the planning authority said the plan “would result in an unplanned and disorderly approach to the expansion of Kilkenny city”.
Bluelime last month returned to the council with changes to its original plans, replacing three detached houses and two semi-detached houses with six semi- detached houses.
Update on second Covid jab revealed
AROUND 450,000 people who are awaiting a second dose of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine will receive it within the next five weeks, the HSE chief executive has confirmed.
Paul Reid this evening confirmed that the wait time for a second AstraZeneca dose is being gradually reduced from 12 weeks to eight following advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).
“We started the process this week of giving people the second dose of AstraZeneca, that we will work through over the next five weeks,” Reid said, speaking to Virgin Media News.
Reid said it is planned that the second doses of AstraZeneca will be completed by July 19.
“So, 450,000 people over the course of the next five weeks will receive their second dose of AstraZeneca,” he said.
“Overall, it’s really important that people do come forward for their second dose vaccine. You don’t have your fullest protection until you have your second dose vaccine,” Reid added.
The HSE chief said the rollout of the second dose of AstraZeneca would not delay the vaccination rollout for those in younger age cohorts. He also confirmed people who do not wish to receive the second dose of AstraZeneca would not be offered an mRNA vaccine in its place.
Meanwhile, people who are not fully vaccinated and are travelling from Britain to Ireland will have to self-quarantine for 14 days after they arrive, the Cabinet has agreed.
The new travel restrictions take effect immediately. The 14-day self-quarantine is a legal requirement, even if the person has travelled into Ireland via Northern Ireland.
This period can be reduced to 10 days, if they receive two negative PCR tests taken on day 5 and day 10 after arriving in Ireland. These tests can be availed of free of charge.
Fully vaccinated people who are travelling from Britain to Ireland will still have to selfquarantine for five days, and if they test negative for Covid-19 through PCR testing on their fifth day since their arrival, their quarantine period will end.
It had been expected that fully vaccinated people travelling from Britain wouldn’t need to quarantine at all upon arrival in Ireland – however, Cabinet agreed to require them to selfquarantine for at least five days.
At present, passengers arriving here from Britain are requested to quarantine at a home address for 14 days, but can end this self-quarantine with a negative Covid-19 PCR test result after five days. This now only applies to fully vaccinated people from GB.
Mother & Babies report ‘a disgrace’
THE report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission cannot stand and must be repudiated, Sinn Fein TD Kathleen Funchion has said.
She warned that the commissioners have treated survivors with “absolute contempt” following their refusal to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Children.
Ms Funchion, who is chair of the Oireachtas Committee, said: “It is clear that the Mother and Baby Homes report cannot stand and must be repudiated. The commissioners’ work has been severely undermined by their recent actions and survivors no longer have confidence in their work.
“Last week I wrote to the commissioners and invited them to come before the committee to answer vital questions about the way in which the report was handled. This followed my previous invitation in January which they had declined.
“As I outlined to the commissioners, it is not unreasonable for survivors to get answers to questions they have about a report which has such profound implications for their lives,” she said.
“I was shocked to hear through media that this invitation has been declined.
“By declining my invitation, the commissioners are missing an opportunity to be open and transparent. I am appalled and disgusted at how survivors have been treated throughout.”
She said the commissioners had treated survivors with absolute contempt instead of the respect they deserve. “I am appalled and disgusted at how survivors have been treated throughout this process. They came forward and bravely told the truth, often at huge personal cost, because they believed in exposing the reality of what happening in these institutions.”
She said it was now clear that the report could not stand and must be repudiated.
Honouring our Healthcare Heroes at St Lukes
AS part of its ‘Healthcare Heroes’ campaign, Peter Mark recently made a surprise delivery of gift bags to St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny to thank the hospital team for its work during COVID-19.
Healthcare Heroes is a nationwide campaign by the renowned hair stylist to show its appreciation for healthcare workers by donating gift bags with hair and beauty products to local hospitals. Peter Mark has delivered 4,512 bags to local healthcare workers all over Ireland.
The campaign is the brainchild of celebrity stylist Adee Phelan who at the beginning of lockdown in the UK in March 2020 had an idea that he would like to give something back to the hardworking staff of the NHS.
Following on from the success of the campaign in the UK, Adee teamed up with Peter Mark to bring the campaign to Ireland.
Peter O’Rourke, CEO, Peter Mark said the hairdressing group was keen to get involved and provide support in any way they can. “It has been a challenging year for everyone but in particular the healthcare workers who are working so hard in extremely challenging circumstances. The Healthcare Heroes campaign is our way of showing our appreciation and saying a small thank you to them for everything that they do.”
Delivery of world-class transport infrastructure vital to South-East
IBEC, the group that represents Irish business, has said that as the economy gradually reopens and restrictions ease, decades of chronic underinvestment in key infrastructure including transport is threatening to undermine the prospects for economic recovery. The group is calling on Government to ensure that the National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland (NIFTI) supports the delivery of an enhanced National Development Plan (NDP), underpinned by an ambitious programme of world class public services and infrastructure development.
Ibec Regional Policy Executive George Gill said: “NIFTI can play a central role in ensuring the delivery of an enhanced ‘NDP Plus’ programme of investment to support better lives and better business in the South-East region. It must ensure transport infrastructure investment supports greater ambition in the revised NDP.”
Here’s a great opportunity for school leavers
KILKENNY students have been encouraged to apply for a national accounting technician apprenticeship programme which will create jobs in the region as part of 125 positions nationally.
And local employers have been encouraged to sign up for the scheme to avail of a Government annual base grant per-registered apprentice from early 2022.
The Accounting Technicians Ireland Apprenticeship is a funded, workbased learning programme in which locally-placed apprentices earn at least €19,890 a-year.
Applications for the apprenticeship, which will be based in Waterford, Dublin, Wicklow, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Monaghan, are now open.
School leavers, Leaving Cert students, career changers, and mature learners can all apply for the programme through Accounting Technicians Ireland.
The Accounting Technicians Ireland Apprenticeship provides a real alternative for school leavers who prefer practical training to a full-time college programme, or those who embarked on a college course and found it did not suit them.
Large firms and smaller practices, as well as industry and the public sector have all embraced the programme.
This is the third year of the National Gallery of Ireland’s participation in the programme, and according to Mary Leane, its head of finance, it is a great way to upskill.
For more details see accountingtechniciansireland. ie.
Some 60,000 students are about to find thier Leaving Cert, a mix of exams and assessment. Their results will be issued on September 3.
Third school raises concerns on student safety
TWO schools in Kilkenny have expressed their safety concerns in a letter to the county council regarding the building of a new school nearby.
In April, Kilkenny CBS, one of the largest schools in the county, made an application to the county council seeking to build a state-of-the-art building on a greenfield site in Lousybush on the Dunningstown Road.
Funding for the part threestorey, part two-storey 37-classroom school building was approved in October of last year.
However, two schools already in that area, Loreto Secondary School and St Canice’s Co-Educational National School. have made submissions to the council over the safety of their students.
Both schools have major fears concerning traffic in the area a body of more than 700 more students and 70 staff members would bring to the Grange Road.
Both are calling on the council to make provisions for cycleways, foothpaths, pedestrian crossings and signage upgrades to ensure the safe delivery of students to all the school.
Other submissions received by the council also make reference to the expected greater volume of traffic in the area and want these issues addressed by the council.
Kilkenny CBS’s planned 37-classroom school building will have a total floor area of 10,564 sqm incorporating support teaching spaces, offices and meeting rooms.
The plans also include provision for a multi-use hall, library, staff rooms and all ancillary accommodation, including photovoltaic panels and green roofs.
Externally, the new school grounds will consist of the provision of six ball courts, outdoor seating and breakout areas, a sensory garden, and a covered tech yard.
A decision on Kilkenny CBS’s application is expected from the local authority by the end of the month.
Business welcomes statutory sick pay
Ibec, the organisation that represents Irish business, hasacknowledged the announcement of details by the Tánaiste of the proposed Statutory Sick Pay scheme.
Ibec Director of Employer Relations Maeve McElwee said: “The phased introduction of Statutory Sick Pay, together with a service requirement for eligibility are important factors in the development of this new legislation. However, for many businesses the next 12 months will be a critical trading period and additional costs in 2021 will have a heavy impact for those still recovering from COVID-19 and Brexit impacts.
‘This will also be a significant cost for businesses who have a sick pay scheme in place, eliminating as the Scheme proposes, waiting days and the incorporation of illness benefit in existing policies.”
Employers already have in the last five years had to absorb the costs of extended parents, parental and paternity as well as enhanced maternity leaves. The move to seven paid sick days in 2023 is set to coincide with the introduction of pensions autoenrolment which will present further significant costs for many employers.
With gender pay gap reporting, the Directive on Work Life Balance to be introduced next year and legislation proposed legislation to give a right to request remote working, greater coordination of the labour market legislative agenda is urgently required.
For businesses, particularly small and medium sized enterprises the sheer scale of recent and proposed employment regulation is actually driving down opportunities for employers to offer flexibility and significantly driving up costs.
Bula bas for our Clodagh, aged 10
TG4 are celebrating Cruinniú na nÓg 2021 with a new creative series for children entitled ‘Cruthaím’.
Cruthaím highlights the talent of young Irish speakers across the country and in Gaeltacht areas and their unique creative processes.
One young Irish speaker from each county and a representative from the diaspora of Irish speakers showcase their creativity in the series of videos that are broadcast on Cúla4’s YouTube channel.
Representing Kilkenny is Clodagh Ní Cheallacháin who is 10= years-old and from Kilkenny City.
Clodagh loves to run and play football and she also loves to bake cakes.
The series allows young people to be given a voice and a unique opportunity to show what creativity is to them and is being run in partnership with the Creative Ireland Programme of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
Knitters unite: Sheila Jordan (left) and Deirdre Southey (from the #KnittedTogether2 project
A community needs to knit together
KILKENNY County Council’s Arts Office has launched the Knitted Together 2 project and is calling for people throughout Kilkenny to join in the community project. Knitted Together 2 aims to foster community spirit and connection across the county, to mitigate against the effects of social isolation throughout the pandemic, whilst creating some beautiful handmade blankets to donate to local charities.
Knitters and crocheters of all abilities are invited to participate. If you are a crochetwhizz, knitting master or complete novice everyone can get involved by logging on to www.kilkennyartsoffice. ie to register today. As part of the 2021 project Kilkenny Arts Office has organised a schedule of tutorials with textile artists, Jacqui Kelleher and online get-togethers with artist Carrie Lynam for anyone who wants to chat or to learn from other makers. The successful 2020 Knitted Together project saw over 180 groups and individuals create 75 of beautiful knitted and crocheted blankets for charities. In the same spirit, this year’s blankets will be donated to Kilkenny based charities and charity shops to help supplement their fundraising which has been affected by the Pandemic.
Kilkenny Arts Office Mary Butler said: “We received thousands of knitted and crocheted squares in 2020 and we were just blown away by the level of engagement and quality of the work in the project. This year we have added some interactive online tutorials and get-togethers to further connect with our knitters.
“We want to promote a sense of community in Kilkenny and encourage people from every walk of life to pick up their knitting needles or crochet hooks and join in the fun.”
Those who wish to participate can register online on www.kilkennyartsoffice. ie, call 056 7794938 or email Bernadette Roberts, at the Arts Office on bernadette. roberts@kilkennycoco.ie.
750 more home carers in next 18 month
IRISH HomeCare will double its workforce by creating 750 new jobs in the next 18 months, after experiencing a “significant surge” in demand for services.
Most of the care roles are being recruited in the east of the country, with 370 available in Leinster, in particular Kilkenny and Carlow where HomeCare says the demand is currently greatest.
Of the new jobs, 700 will go to flexible home carers who will work in elderly care, reablement, palliative and specialist support.
Recruitment for the jobs will begin immediately, with HomeCare aiming to double its work force to 1,500 .
The remaining 50 roles are full time positions which include nurses, tutors, operational managers and supervisors, and other administrative and support staff.
The care roles are being recruited for nationwide with 24 counties in demand.
We are back ! But we need to plan ahead
THE sun is shining, heat is back, and we are winning the fight against the pandemic. Our seniors are stepping back into the sunlight and greeting the family and friends in small pods. The restaurants are open for outdoor business and the future is bright.
After a winter of darkness, we can now, hopefully plan for a family summer. We still must be aware that some of our seniors are still nervous to re-engage and we must encourage and offer activities that can reassure everyone is involved in our ‘Build back better’ endeavours. Bingo nights, or one of Twilight’s ambitions is to have a senior’s café. A place where seniors can drop in. The daily newspaper is available, activities of interest devised by the seniors, for the seniors. Access to IT technology training, and free units on site for easy internet access. Our Community Group’s Cultural House does not have the space in its 2000 sq. foot complex. The group have proposed, and are pursuing the possibility of a joint initiative with a local willing business. Unfortunately, our institutions do seem to tell citizens groups ,” This is what you need” rather than asking the end user “what it is you want?” During the lockdown, the Gran pad / Acorn tablets for seniors to interact online were introduced. We believe in the introduction of such products and the education of how to use this new technology. The sun maybe shining now but unfortunately it won’t be too long before we are publishing out ‘Get Winter Ready’ campaign. We must raise our hands here and say from the onset of this programme, we believed it was too expensive for our seniors to purchase. €400 a unit is awfully expensive for a household on the state pension.
The European Union are now beginning to realise, or should we say wake up as the penny dropped, that many of the initiatives introduced seem to forget the disposable income of the end user. This is not just with the units in question but the majority of the ‘green deal’ drives. Let us all buy electric cars, change city buses to electric, change our light bulbs etc. Well, now the commission is beginning to be lobbied and made aware that only the affluent households can take advantage of these initiatives. Therefore, where do all the non-green products end up?, in the less affluent communities and households.
The Gran pad & Acorn Pad , though great products when the powers that be, or did the manufacture see the seniors as a cash cow and a way to increase a company’s profit, consider the disposal income of most senior’s households . If you have a company pension plus the state pension or a pension at 55 from your stint in the public service, € 400 might now be as expensive for those who have just, the state pension, €243.80 per week. Most of this demographic worked all their life just to make ends meet, keep the family home warm, all fed and to give their children the opportunities they did not have as they just seem to live to work and dreamed of the work life balance now the new buzz word. The gran pad now as the up-take drops and the initial unit that were purchased at the top rate of €400 have been returned by the seniors who were introduced to them as a pilot are being sent to the Family Resource Centre’s to rent to the users at €25 a month. Will they get out into the community, will the rent be collected, where does the rent go?, back to the purchasing organisation of the initial costs? Or as we fear and highlighted, end up on a shelf, in a box and someone will open the drawer, press, and say, “great name but query stuff that never worked”.
Can we cut this off at the pass as ‘Big Jake’ John Wayne might say? Think outside the box. When most of us retire at 66, and not 55 like others, the government give a telephone allowance that now can be used for the mobile phone as the landline is now another luxury taken out of the households due to the rental and VAT costs. Could we introduce a ‘free’ unit on retirement to all our senior citizens, look at the weekly amount and adjust accordingly for the rental cost of the unit? , which includes phone calls on the unit, which is selling point , or, does the purchasers know that internet phone calls are of better quality and can have a landline which includes your TV stations, radio stations, a lot more for the outlay then is been offered at present. All it needs it outside the box thinking. But we must be honest with ourselves, the American Company Consumer Cellular has been using innovative technologies to focus on the caregiving demographic for 26 years and has had a focus on retirees since they started in 1995. If their directors heard that the Irish Government was going to get involved their eyes would light up with $$$ signs. The consultancy group hired to do a feasibility study; its directors will become Ireland’s next Millionaires. In Kilkenny we can all still remember the alleged Fieldcrest fiasco.
With a bit of the use of the grey matter of our college and university graduates, educated by the struggles of the aforementioned, their hard working now retired parents, this is an issue we could solve cheaply, and for the benefit of seniors. Remem ber every pr oblem has a solution. If this is an issue that we really want to, we can solve. or maybe buy a standard
I Pad for between € 50 to € 150 or laptop for just € 200, get your 6-year-old grandchild to download just apps you want, use what’s app for your phone calls, and, since it was one of your grandchildren that set it up for you , you can still call it your Gran ( Child) Pad.
