Saturday news Ireland Blog by Donie

€60m savings to be made by moving Ireland’s motor tax services to the Post Office 

‘A new report says’

     

A report on the future of the Post Office network in Ireland has recommended that moving motor taxation services to make them payable at Post Offices could generate savings of €60.6m.

Extension of the banking services available at Post Offices, and payment of household charges and hospital charges are also identified as desirable in the report, which was compiled by financial advisors Grant Thornton.

The review concluded that transferring these services to Post Offices would result in additional savings for the Exchequer of more than €24.3m.

In February the general secretary of the Irish Postmaster’s Union Brian McGann  and said the Post Offices can administrate motor tax renewal “faster and cheaper” and that it would make the the service more accessible to communities around the country.

He also recommended that other “payments and transaction-type services”  should addressed the Joint Committee on Communications, National Resources and Agriculture be moved to the Post Office such as driving licence renewal. local authority payments, credit union lodgement and withdrawals and increased social welfare services.

McGann told TheJournal.ie that the Joint Oireachtas Committee was unanimous in its support of the ideas put forward, but that there had been some confusion on the part of the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, which said that the legislation does not exist for Post Offices to issue tax discs.

However McGann said that the Post Office taking over the administration of the motor tax services would not have any legislative implications, as they would simply be acting as a link between those who don’t renew their motor tax online and the system in Shannon. McGann said the Post Offices would:

…act as the home computer for those who don’t have a computer.

McGann has also said that in March Post Offices were inundated with people who thought they could pay the Household Charge over the counter.

He maintains that the significant number of people who still haven’t paid that charge means that the requirement is still there, and said that members of the public should be able to pay the forthcoming household tax at the Post Office.

The report has been presented to Minister Phil Hogan who is said to be ‘delighted’ that the independent research has been undertaken and is set to take a more detailed look at it.

Two dead after AH3 flu bug strikes in Roscommon nursing home

  

Two patients have died at a nursing home after an outbreak of flu.

The HSE confirmed that there had been an outbreak of influenza AH3 in the Drumderrig private nursing home in Boyle, Co Roscommon.

A total of 42 of the 76 residents were affected, it said.

It is understood that tests are ongoing to establish if the deaths were caused by the flu.

The same virus resulted in the deaths of seven people at Nazareth House nursing home in Fahan, Buncrana, Co Donegal, earlier this year.

“The recommended infection control measures have been put in place by the private nursing home, which is providing full assistance to the relevant authorities. The HSE West Public Health team is working with the nursing home to ensure that all appropriate infection control measures are in place.

“They will continue to manage and closely monitor the situation in line with best practice,” the HSE said. The nursing home has stopped admissions and visitor restrictions are also in place.

Serious: All sick patients have been treated with the antiviral Tamiflu and all other patients have been put on preventive medicine unless clinically inappropriate, it added.

The spokesperson said it was important for people know that while flu was usually a relatively mild infection it could be a very serious illness among the elderly.

It advised that people should take simple measures to reduce the risk of infection.

These include covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough and sneeze, disposing of the tissue as soon as possible and wash your hands with soap and water afterwards.

People visiting older residents of nursing homes and all healthcare staff should ensure that their vaccinations for influenza are up to date.

More than 10% of babies worldwide are born prematurely

   

Fifteen million babies, one in 10 births, are born prematurely every year, a global project suggests.

One million of these babies die soon after birth. The joint report, led by the WHO, says three quarters of deaths could be prevented with basic care.

For the first time premature birth rates have been estimated by country, with the highest risk being in Africa.

Three FF councillors in Galway join Eamon Ó Cuív in support of NO campaign & opposition to the treaty 

Three Fianna Fáil members of Galway County Council have joined Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív in his opposition to the EU fiscal treaty in its present form.

Seán Ó Tuairisg and Seamus Walsh in Mr Ó Cuív’s constituency and Tomás Mannion, whose base is in Galway East, have all indicated they are opposing the treaty.

However, former Fianna Fáil senator Nicholas O’Connor does not support the stance of Mr Ó Cuív. He said the treaty should be supported to get the country back on its feet.

Mr Ó Tuairisg told Raidió na Gaeltachta yesterday: “I believe it is a bad bargain for this country. I believe that this Government – Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore – should make an effort to get a better deal on the treaty before it is put before the people of Ireland.” They should tell our EU partners that there was not much chance of the treaty being passed “unless we get a better deal”.

This meant a reduction in the debts and taxes Irish people were paying and in the cuts and “hardship” they were facing.

“There are plenty in Fianna Fáil who are not saying it publicly, but I think they are not very happy with the treaty. It is a pity that we are focusing here on personalities such as Eamon Ó Cuív and Micheál Martin.”

The Galway West constituency council of the party has not yet adopted a position on the treaty. Senior party figures in the constituency said they had not yet received any written directions from headquarters.