Paul Hopkins

The Fact OfThe Matter

PAUL HOPKINS PAUL HOPKINS Bogged down in dealing with rising fuel poverty

ere I was, barely knee-high, struggling to put on my underpants on a bitterly cold winter’s morn, crouched down over the one-bar electric re. And then walking to school, in short trousers, my knees exposed and eventually chapped. at was the norm back then.

At night my dear mother threw her only, and very old, fur coat over the bed I shared with my younger brother. e frost on the windows come morning seeped into my bones as once more I crouched over the one-bar electric thingy. I was grown and long left home before my parents got oil- red central heating installed. e winter just gone, mild as it was, I paid 70% more for my kerosene that in previous winters. It irked me to have to fork out that much but, thankfully, I could a ord it. Which cannot be said of every soul on this island.

Revised regulations over the cultivating and selling of turf, a la dingbat Eamon Ryan’s proposals, are “weeks away”, the Government has admitted, despite political pressure to resolve the controversy quickly. Even when drafted, the new regulations will go to the three Government party leaders, then the Cabinet and then to the European Commission. ere will be a new beltand-braces approach to safeguarding rights and the sale, distribution and gifting of turf in small-scale settings. Besides exempting geographical areas, there is expected to be explicit exclusion of turf-consumption in domestic settings. e pandemic fall-out on the global economy had seen fuel prices — and, indeed, food prices — rise as far back as October but then the onslaught on Ukraine saw fuel prices, what with EU dependance on Russian supply, go through the roof and they will continue to do so, with a now forecasted protracted war in Europe.

e mantra for many has become ‘eat or heat’.

A household is considered ‘energy poor’, when that family or person living alone is unable to achieve an adequate, that is comfortable and safe, standard of warmth and energy services at an a ordable cost. Energy or fuel poverty is a signi cant multi-dimensional socio-economic challenge. It is, alas, only now, what with Covid, Ukraine, climate change challenges, and the turf wars, that we are having any decent conversation on the subject.

Research by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) in October 2020, ‘Carbon Taxes, Poverty and Compensation Options’, estimates a measure of ‘core’ energy poverty at 17.5% of households (roughly 297,500 households).

Undeniably, energy poverty has signi cant implications for a person’s quality of life, as well as physical and, sadly, mental health and is considered by various agencies as a standalone indicator of deprivation distinct from poverty in general. e causes of energy poverty can be attributed to three key factors: the characteristics of a dwelling (including appliances), the price of energy and the consumption habits or needs of the household. ose factors and, now with the cost of living going up and up, also the average weekly household disposable income.

I am in no doubt that future levels of fuel poverty in Ireland are likely to be exacerbated by several domestic factors which may increase the vulnerability of ‘at risk’ people. What comes to mind is Ireland’s changing energy context and the prospective increase in indoor air pollutants resulting from incomplete combustion of wood-based fuels. Also, Ireland’s transition to a lowcarbon economy whereby the use of fossil fuels in the primary energy mix is switched to renewable options.

We must consider also Ireland’s existing commitments to renewable energy e ciency targets and climate action responsibilities following the publication of the Government’s Climate Action Plan last year. Our changing demographics and ageing must also be taken into account.

More than two decades ago, agencies sat in their coats in the EHB boardroom in Dublin, rubbing their hands to get warm. e thermometer registered 52 degrees, ie. danger of hypothermia. e heating had been turned o to bring home to those gathered what fuel poverty felt like.

Let’s not mince words. Research here has shown that people aged over 65 are seven times more likely to be hospitalised as a result of frigid temperatures, compared with those aged 18 to 44. And hospitalisations in poorer communities due to cold weather are 2.5 times more common than in the more a uent neighbourhoods.

On average, allegedly 2,800 die in Ireland every year from hypothermia, although this writer could not con rm this gure from Age Action.

And we’re bogged down in talking about turf.

For peat’s sake... I need to lie down. Again.

The mantra for many has become ‘eat or heat’...

Revealed: 400 UFO sightings and 11 'near misses'

US military aircraft have had 11 near-misses with UFOs, a top Pentagon intelligence official has told Congress.

In the first public hearing of its kind for more than half a century, intelligence chiefs revealed they have recorded about 400 UFO sightings in total.

That includes a flood of reports in the past year as reduced stigma led to military personnel coming forward about historical incidents.

Senior Pentagon officials said no evidence of extraterrestrial origins had been discovered so far, but they vowed to "go wherever the data take us" in an "all hands on deck" approach.

Scott Bray, the deputy director of Naval intelligence, told the hearing there were sightings he "can't explain" due to the "flight characteristics" or radar readings from the objects.

He showed a video of one such incident, in which a fleeting, shiny, spherical object zipped past the cockpit window of an F-18 jet.

Mr Bray said: "I do not have an explanation for what this specific object is."

Asked if there had been any collisions between "US assets" and UFOs, he said: "We have not had a collision, we've had at least 11 near misses though."

He said Pentagon investigators had managed to explain one of the most famous UFO sightings ever. In July 2019, green pyramidshaped objects were spotted above the USS Russell warship near California and 18 seconds of footage was leaked, becoming a fascination for UFO hunters.

Mr Bray said: "We are [now] reasonably confident these relate to unmanned aerial systems [drones] in the area."

He said the triangle shapes resulted from "light passing through night vision goggles and then being recorded by a single-lens reflex camera. [It was] some type of drone".

Kilkenny can now join free youth mental health seminar

Turn2Me, a national mental health charity, has secured funding from the Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund, to deliver 20 mental health seminars for secondary students in schools in Kilkenny, Cork, Dublin, Donegal, Limerick, and Galway.

The seminars will last for one hour and can be done in person via Zoom. The seminar will give students tips and tools on how to deal with anxiety, depression and exam pressures. Afterwards, the schools will be given posters and brochures which they can print out and put around the schools, and can email to their students.

As these seminars will be covered by the grant, it will be totally free for schools, teachers and students.

“We were delighted to secure this funding from the VHI Health and Wellbeing Fund,” Fiona O’Malley, CEO of Turn2Me, said. “Already, there is a good interest in this project. We are delighted to be able to reach students and help them deal with anxiety, depression and tips on how to deal with exam pressures. Any schools interested in this project should reach out to us as soon as possible to book their slots.”

Irish Youth Foundation CEO, Lucy Masterson said: "We know that good mental and emotional health are essential in order for young people to thrive, yet the last two years have been especially difficult for them. Helping young people to strengthen their resilience and assist them in managing their anxiety is key to counteracting this."

Brighid Smyth, VHI said: “Our mission is to help our customers live longer, stronger, healthier lives but we also want our local communities to have the opportunity to achieve this goal too. Through the VHI Health and Wellbeing Fund we wanted to support young people and help the organisations they engage with to provide the supports that are so critical at the moment to help them navigate this period, strengthen their resilience and manage their anxiety."

Places will be given on a first come, first served basis, to schools in the aforementioned areas. If places for these seminars are filled, Turn2Me will create a waiting list.

Should any teacher in Kilkenny wish to avail of these free mental health seminars, they can email Turn2Me’s Clinical Manager, Suzanne Ennis, on suzanne@Turn2Me.org to book their place.

Let's hold the new course, and have another...

Kilkenny publicans have been urged to sign up to the rst ever apprenticeship to train a new generation of bar managers, launched to tackle the crippling shortage of hospitality sta . e three-year degree course, backed by State and employer funding, has been o cially unveiled. e Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) and Gri th College, with the support of Solas, the state agency for further education, have joined forces to reverse the pub sector’s post-Covid struggle to retain sta .

A Fáilte Ireland survey released in February indicated that as many as nine out of ten hospitality businesses have problems recruiting sta , with shortages due to a lack of training.

Top Celebs to entertain at Mount Juliet

Leona Maguire will participate in Horizon Irish Open Pro-Am for the rst time when the fun- lled curtain raiser for the island of Ireland’s national open tees o at Mount Juliet Estate next month.

Maguire etched her name in gol ng history earlier this year when the 27-yearold became the rst Irishwoman to capture an LPGA Tour title, winning the LPGA Drive-On Championship by a three stroke margin.

She will join her fellow Irish golf heroes Shane Lowry, Pádraig Harrington and Séamus Power on the pristine fairways at the Kilkenny venue, as well as a host of celebrities from the sports and entertainment world. ey include former Ireland and Manchester United footballer John O’Shea, TV personality and entrepreneur Spencer Matthews, actor James Nesbitt, rugby star Rob Kearney, Olympian Greg O’Shea and popular Today FM broadcaster Dermot Whelan, with more names to be revealed in the coming weeks. e celebrities will all take to the course at Mount Juliet Estate on Wednesday June 29 as they participate in this year’s Horizon Irish Open Pro-Am, the traditional curtain-raiser for the main event. e historic tournament takes place at Mount Juliet Estate for the second time, but for the rst time with full capacity crowds, from June 30 to July 3.

Greg O’Shea, who rose to fame on Love Island, said: “I’m so excited to be taking part in this year’s Horizon Irish Open Pro-Am. I’ve been an avid golf fan for years so I’m looking forward to teeing o beside some legends of the game. My dad will be my caddie on the day and my mum and sister will also come along so it’ll be a great family day out.”

A week of entertainment for the whole family is promised with a mix of music and golf on site at Mount Juliet Estate. As well as music on the Wednesday, Limerick band Hermitage Green will kick o the weekend with a performance on Saturday, July 2. Taking to the main stage on Sunday July 3 is 17-year-old Cork singer Allie Sherlock. Both acts will take to the stage as soon as the nal putt drops each evening.

Let's plant the seeds and grow ourselves!

Grow It Yourself (GIY) and Energia are calling on 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. is 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.

In April 2022 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. Speaking of the upcoming day of celebration, Founder of GIY Michael Kelly said: “We are encouraging seed exchanges, doing a pollinator walk, a forage with friends, getting together to tackle the ‘big job’ in the garden, sharing some of the food you have grown or simply a cup of tea to get to know your own food growing community better. "It is a chance to get together and realise the power of communal vision and e ort.” e sponsorship manager for Energia, Lorna Danaher, said: " e success of last year laid an amazing foundation for us to be able to further engage and build growing communities."

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.