Irish Government unveils new job creation plan
The Government is to incentivise businesses to hire additional employees from the Live Register by funding 25 per cent of the costs of employing them.
As part of a new action plan for jobs unveiled today, the Government said the State would pay €1 of every €4 it costs an employer to recruit a long-term unemployed person.
The two-year JobsPlus scheme is one of seven “disruptive reform” measures designed to stimulate employment and boost the domestic economy.
The Government’s initiative contains 333 actions to be implemented in 2013 by 16 Government departments and 46 State agencies. The plan will see the IDA target 130 new investments in 2013, aimed at securing €500 million worth of foreign investment to help create 13,000 new jobs.
Enterprise Ireland will oversee a programme of supports for 155 “high potential and early-stage start-ups”.
The agency will also assist 300 companies develop new overseas markets through its new potential exporters division, and will support over 1,000 companies on management development program’s.
Two new Government finance schemes worth over €2 billion specifically designed to increase lending to small and medium-sized businesses are to be up and running by the end of 2013 as part of the plan which will also see the controversial pillar bank lending targets for 2013 increased to €4 billion.
The package of measures also provide for an new integrated licensing application system for retailers for up to 25 licences in the sector as well as steps to increase the number of businesses trading online.
Through Science Foundation Ireland, the Government will provide support to five new research centres of “major scale”, involving Government investment of over €150 million.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the Government’s top priority was to get Ireland working again. “The action plan for jobs 2013 is central to our job creation ambitions as we seek to increase the number of new jobs by 100,000 by 2016.”
Mr Kenny said the previous administration built an economy based on debt and property that collapsed like a house of cards. “We are rebuilding our economy brick-by-brick, making it stronger, ensuring that successes gained are here for the long term,” he said.
Other elements of the initiative include a plan to provide an additional 2,000 IT graduate level professionals in 2013. A new €70 million energy efficiency fund to support 20 major projects in 2013 and ultimately create 5,000 jobs is also to be established.
The Government also plans to appoint six senior industry figures with track records of developing businesses to oversee the reforms. These individuals will also join a newly reconfigured National Competitiveness Council.
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore the primary goal was to create jobs and tackle unemployment. “Creating jobs for our people and equipping the unemployed to move into employment will remain top priorities for this Government.”
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton said: “The Action Plan for Jobs is aimed at supporting the transition from the old, failed economy reliant on property, banking and debt to a new, sustainable, jobs-rich economy based on enterprise, exports and innovation.”
Employers’ group Ibec broadly welcomed the measures, saying they contained a wide range of initiatives that will help Irish businesses grow and create much-needed employment.
“The reform of employment supports through the JobsPlus Initiative is very welcome and will better meet the needs of employers,” said chief executive Danny McCoy. “It is a much simpler and more transparent model and should encourage more companies to hire people off the Live Register.”
ICT Ireland and the Irish Software Association welcomed the announcement of visa reforms making it easier for firms to recruit specialists from abroad, which, they said, would support growth in the flourishing Irish tech sector.
David Fitzsimons of Retail Excellence Ireland said: “While we welcome the measures announced today such as an integrated licensing application system and steps to increase the number of businesses trading online, the Government must develop further practical measures to aid our struggling retail industry.
“Over the past few weeks, we have seen businesses fail and many jobs lost, the sector still remains very fragile and Government need to tackle this before we see further failure in the coming months,”
Avine McNally of the Small Firms Association said the plan recognised the key role that small firms play in the economy by focusing on initiatives to assist start ups and indigenous business to grow. “The proposed Government lending schemes and increasing the lending targets for the pillar banks, will assist firms accessing credit and financing facilities to support expansion and cash flow,” she added.
HSE has no social workers for 500 vulnerable Irish children in 2012?
More than 500 vulnerable Irish children who were in the care of the State were without an allocated social worker at the end of last year.
Of the 6,332 children who were being looked after in HSE residential homes or in foster families, just 5,816 had a social worker to look after their individual needs.
Figures reveal that some areas were particularly badly hit.
One in four children in north Tipperary were without an allocated social worker and the numbers were also low in west Clare and Dun Laoghaire.
Nearly four in 10 children in state care in some areas of the country were also without a written care plan at the end of last year.
The areas under worst pressure were west Mayo, south Dublin city and west Dublin.
Other areas where large numbers of children were without a written plan included Kildare, west Wicklow, Laois and Offaly.
The ongoing failure to ensure vulnerable children in state care are protected through these key measures comes in the wake of a damning report into foster-care services in north-west Dublin last October.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) inspectors said they were not assured about the safety of the 368 children in foster families after uncovering a range of failings including the placement of 38 young people with carers who could have been a safety risk.
Staffing
A HSE spokeswoman told the Irish Independent yesterday that based on an internal census there were 1,438 social workers working in the area of children and family services.
She said: “It is not possible to provide a comparable figure for social-work numbers at end 2011 due to the different staffing census process that is now in place.
“Previously social work staffing numbers were accounted for within the wider HSE staffing census which included mental health, disability, acute hospital care and other services.
“There is now a separate census process for children and family services in the context of the establishment of the Child and Family Support Agency.”
The spokesperson added: “Where there are immediate operational difficulties in assigning one social worker to a child, social workers are assigned based upon a needs assessment and prioritisation.
“Some of these cases relate to children in very stable fostering placements, provided, perhaps, by a relative.
“Where a social worker is not assigned for a period, practice has been to support foster placements through the regular social work duty system.
“It is also important to note that cases are subject to ongoing review and, where appropriate, the level and nature of the support being provided to foster carers and children in care will change depending upon the needs of the child.”
Ryan Dolan writes & sings a shot at Eurovision for Ireland
Ryan Dolan has been chosen to represent Ireland in the 2013 Eurovision song contest to be held in Malmo, Sweden, in May.
Dolan, who wrote and performed the winning song Only Love Survives, won a competition to select Ireland’s entry on RTÉ’s Late Late Show last night.
The winning entry was chosen using a combination of public vote and regional jury vote. The four other acts in the competition were Kasey, Inchequin, Aimée Fitzpatrick and Zoë Alexis Bohorquez
Each act was chosen by a mentor with proven experience in the Irish music industry. Ryan Dolan was mentored by director of Spotlight Productions Stuart O’Connor.
Irish Government will force banks to deal with mortgage arrears
Labour under fire over election campaign The Tánaiste has vowed the coalition will force banks into dealing with the tens of thousands of people in mortgage arrears.
Eamon Gilmore also says this government will be the one that stands by people in mortgage distress.
He has come under fire in the Dáil from Sinn Féin after 2 years ago in the election campaign Labour promised “peace of mind” to struggling homeowners.
Eamon Gilmore also says this government will be the one that stands by people in mortgage distress.
He has come under fire in the Dáil from Sinn Féin after 2 years ago in the election campaign Labour promised “peace of mind” to struggling homeowners.
Mr. Gilmore says banks will be made deal with this crisis. “We are not satisfied with the speed and the urgency with which the banks are dealing with the mortgage issue” he said.
“You may be in no doubt but that we will deal with that issue effectively with the banks”.
“That is the approach that we’re taking, that approach is being effective – that is the approach which is in the interests of the people who are in mortgage distress” he added.
Pearse Doherty of Sinn Féin questioned the Tánaiste in the Dáil.
“That is the approach that we’re taking, that approach is being effective – that is the approach which is in the interests of the people who are in mortgage distress” he added.
Pearse Doherty of Sinn Féin questioned the Tánaiste in the Dáil.
Irish economy to grow faster than rest of euro zone, European Commission predicts
Recession in the eurozone will last longer than expected, the EU Commission predicts
The Irish economy will grow faster than anywhere else in the euro zone this year and next bar Malta, the European Commission forecast today.
The economy will expand 1.1pc this year and 2.2pc next year, the Commission added.
The economy will expand 1.1pc this year and 2.2pc next year, the Commission added.
While the news for Ireland is good, the situation elsewhere is gloomy.
The Commission now believes that euro zone will not return to growth until 2014, reversing its prediction for an end to recession this year and blaming a lack of bank lending and record joblessness for delaying the recovery.
The 17-nation bloc’s economy, which generates nearly a fifth of global output, will shrink 0.3pc in 2013, the Commission said, meaning the euro zone will remain in its second recession since 2009 for a year longer than originally foreseen.
The Commission now believes that euro zone will not return to growth until 2014, reversing its prediction for an end to recession this year and blaming a lack of bank lending and record joblessness for delaying the recovery.
The 17-nation bloc’s economy, which generates nearly a fifth of global output, will shrink 0.3pc in 2013, the Commission said, meaning the euro zone will remain in its second recession since 2009 for a year longer than originally foreseen.
The Commission, the EU executive, late last year forecast 0.1pc growth in the euro zone’s economy for 2012, but now says tight lending conditions for companies and households, job cuts and frozen investment have delayed an expected recovery.
The Commission sees the euro zone economy growing 1.4pc in 2014, with a figure of -0.6pc for 2012.
The Commission sees the euro zone economy growing 1.4pc in 2014, with a figure of -0.6pc for 2012.
“The improved financial market situation contrasts with the absence of credit growth and the weakness of the near-term outlook for economic activity,” said Marco Buti, the commission’s director-general for economic and monetary affairs. “The labour market… is a serious concern,” he said, in a preamble to the Commission’s latest forecasts.
The European Central Bank’s promise last year to do what it takes to defend its common currency has removed the risk of a break-up of the euro zone, and member countries’ borrowing costs have come down from unsustainable levels.
But the damage from the 2008/2009 global financial crisis and the ensuing euro zone debt crisis has been greater than expected on the real economy, with global demand for euro zone exports one of the few saviours in terms of generating growth.
Laya to increase Irish health insurance prices by up to 16.5%
The price increases will range from just over 6 per cent to 16.5 %, with the company putting the average increase at 10.8 %.
Laya is to increase the cost of its health insurance premiums by up to 16.5 per cent from the beginning of April in a move which will see some households worse off by more than €200 a year Announcing the price increases yesterday, the company insisted they were necessary and blamed Government policy for driving premiums
higher.
The price increases will range from just over 6 per cent to 16.5 per cent, with the company putting the average increase at 10.8 per cent.
It is the second price hike announced by Laya in just three months. At the beginning of December, it increased the cost of policies by between 4 and 13 per cent.
Laya is to increase the cost of its health insurance premiums by up to 16.5 per cent from the beginning of April in a move which will see some households worse off by more than €200 a year Announcing the price increases yesterday, the company insisted they were necessary and blamed Government policy for driving premiums
higher.
The price increases will range from just over 6 per cent to 16.5 per cent, with the company putting the average increase at 10.8 per cent.
It is the second price hike announced by Laya in just three months. At the beginning of December, it increased the cost of policies by between 4 and 13 per cent.
“We are very conscious of the impact this increase may have on our members,” the company’s managing director Dónal Clancy said yesterday.
He said “cost variables in the market which are outside of our control” were behind the latest increases.
“These are primarily the increases to the Government health levy, which VHI continues to benefit from, and the rising cost of providing medical treatments for our customers,” Mr Clancy said.
He said “cost variables in the market which are outside of our control” were behind the latest increases.
“These are primarily the increases to the Government health levy, which VHI continues to benefit from, and the rising cost of providing medical treatments for our customers,” Mr Clancy said.
Mr Clancy pointed to an increase in the Government health levy from €285 to €350 per adult, and from €95 to €120 per child from March 31st and he noted that since its introduction as an interim solution to risk equalisation in 2009, the health levy had gone up by 119 per cent per adult and 126 per cent per child.
He claimed it would cost the company about €60m this year, an increase of €14m on 2012.
He claimed it would cost the company about €60m this year, an increase of €14m on 2012.
The rising cost of providing advanced medical treatments for customers, particularly in the high demand areas of oncology,
orthopaedics and cardiac care, was also increasing. Laya’s spend on claims relating to cardiac treatment for 2012 was up 26 per cent on 2011 while the cost of claims relating to orthopaedic treatment last year was up 14 per cent on the previous year.
orthopaedics and cardiac care, was also increasing. Laya’s spend on claims relating to cardiac treatment for 2012 was up 26 per cent on 2011 while the cost of claims relating to orthopaedic treatment last year was up 14 per cent on the previous year.
“We are operating in a fundamentally unstable market which needs radical reform in order to stem the tide of rising costs,” Mr Clancy said. “Our experience shows that the solution will need to be industry-led and benefit consumers equitably, providing a standard healthcare product, with a core set of benefits, for all.”
To balance rising costs and to help customers, the company was “protecting some of our most popular schemes”, he said. From the beginning of April, there will be a price reduction on the company’s Essential Plus schemes and it is also freezing the price of its Health Smart and Health Smart Family schemes.
Medical driver Irish guidelines published
Gardai man a driver checkpoint. The Road Safety Authority says drivers have nothing to fear from new medical gudielines.
The medical profession says new guidelines on medical fitness to drive will help clarify issues for doctors.
The 73-page report entitled Sláinte agus Tiomáint – Medical Fitness to Drive Guidelines aims to give clear guidance to medical professionals in implementing medical fitness to drive policies in Ireland.
It addresses such conditions as eye disease, epilepsy, cancer, strokes, amnesia, depression, pregnancy and deep vein thrombosis.
It addresses such conditions as eye disease, epilepsy, cancer, strokes, amnesia, depression, pregnancy and deep vein thrombosis.
It also gives advice on how to handle the situation if drivers react badly to being told that they can no longer drive up to and including violence.
Road Safety Authority chief executive Noel Brett said drivers had “nothing to fear” from the new guidelines. He maintained their purpose was not to stop driver mobility but to facilitate drivers to the greatest degree to ensure they can stay on the road. He said that
medical doctors had little structured advice before now in relation to driver fitness and this would make a welcome change.
“The guidelines will enable medical professionals to give advice and support to drivers who may have concerns about any condition or disease. Indeed the whole ethos of the work in putting together the medical guidelines is to enable driver mobility to the greatest possible degree consistent with safety on our roads,” he said.
Road Safety Authority chief executive Noel Brett said drivers had “nothing to fear” from the new guidelines. He maintained their purpose was not to stop driver mobility but to facilitate drivers to the greatest degree to ensure they can stay on the road. He said that
medical doctors had little structured advice before now in relation to driver fitness and this would make a welcome change.
“The guidelines will enable medical professionals to give advice and support to drivers who may have concerns about any condition or disease. Indeed the whole ethos of the work in putting together the medical guidelines is to enable driver mobility to the greatest possible degree consistent with safety on our roads,” he said.
Gerontologist Professor Desmond O’Neill said previous guidelines were about those who shouldn’t drive, but the new ones were an “enabling supportive philosophy” for both doctors and patients. He instanced sleep apnoea, where drivers have twice the risk of a crash, but that risk disappears if the condition is treated.
He said he would envisage no change to the number of drivers prevented from driving by their medical condition. “My gut instinct is no significant change. Now there is educational material for the doctors and there is educational material inbuilt in the guidelines. I don’t see more people being put off the roads.”
He said he would envisage no change to the number of drivers prevented from driving by their medical condition. “My gut instinct is no significant change. Now there is educational material for the doctors and there is educational material inbuilt in the guidelines. I don’t see more people being put off the roads.”
Patricia Logan, the President of the Irish College of Ophthalmologists, said it will make it easier for eye doctors in general to make decisions and discuss issues with patients. “It has not been clear as to who they should be advising and what they should be advising,” she said.
She acknowledged that telling patients that they were no longer fit to drive was a “huge call” to have to make, especially for those living in rural Ireland. “To say to them you are off the road is a very difficult thing,” she said, “what we are hoping is that we enable patients to get new treatments and modifications rather than taking them off the road.”
She acknowledged that telling patients that they were no longer fit to drive was a “huge call” to have to make, especially for those living in rural Ireland. “To say to them you are off the road is a very difficult thing,” she said, “what we are hoping is that we enable patients to get new treatments and modifications rather than taking them off the road.”
Health news topic:
Avocado addicts likely to be healthier
Avocado addicts are likely to have a healthier diet and slimmer waistlines than the rest of the population, according to new research.
They also have better cholesterol readings and are less at risk of heart disease, strokes and diabetes, it is claimed.
The findings, published in the Nutrition Journal, emerge from a large US health and diet survey.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the study was funded by the Hass Avocado Board, which promotes avocado consumption.
Researchers analysed data on more than 17,500 individuals who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the study was funded by the Hass Avocado Board, which promotes avocado consumption.
Researchers analysed data on more than 17,500 individuals who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Nutrients.
They focused on 347 adults, half of them women, who reported eating any amount of avocados. Average consumption was about half a medium-sized avocado a day.
These participants were found to have significantly better nutrient intake levels and health indicators than those who avoided the fruits.
They focused on 347 adults, half of them women, who reported eating any amount of avocados. Average consumption was about half a medium-sized avocado a day.
These participants were found to have significantly better nutrient intake levels and health indicators than those who avoided the fruits.
According to the study, avocado eaters had generally healthier diets rich in essential vitamins and minerals. Their fibre intake was 36pc higher, and they consumed 23pc more vitamin E, 13pc more magnesium, 16pc more potassium and 48pc more vitamin K. Avocados eaters also had significantly higher levels of “good” fats in the blood that those who did not, despite consuming the same number of calories.
World news item:
China acknowledges increased pollution & as a result ‘cancer villages’
China has witnessed growing public anger over pollution caused by industrial development China’s environment ministry appears to have acknowledged the
existence of so-called “cancer villages” after years of public speculation about the impact of pollution in certain areas.
existence of so-called “cancer villages” after years of public speculation about the impact of pollution in certain areas.
For years campaigners have said cancer rates in some villages near factories and polluted waterways has shot up.
But the term “cancer village” has no technical definition and the ministry’s report did not elaborate on it.
There have been many calls for China to be more transparent on pollution.
But the term “cancer village” has no technical definition and the ministry’s report did not elaborate on it.
There have been many calls for China to be more transparent on pollution.
The latest report from the environment ministry is entitled “Guard against and control risks presented by chemicals to the environment during the 12th Five-Year period (2011-2015)”.
It says that the widespread production and consumption of harmful chemicals forbidden in many developed nations are still found in China.
“The toxic chemicals have caused many environmental emergencies linked to water and air pollution,” it said.
“The toxic chemicals have caused many environmental emergencies linked to water and air pollution,” it said.
The report goes on to acknowledge that such chemicals could pose a long-term risk to human health, making a direct link to the so-called “cancer villages”.
“There are even some serious cases of health and social problems like the emergence of cancer villages in individual regions,” it said.
Beijing smog.
The BBC’s Martin Patience in Beijing says that as China has experienced rapid development, stories about so-called cancer villages have become more frequent.
And China has witnessed growing public anger over air pollution and industrial waste caused by industrial development.
The BBC’s Martin Patience in Beijing says that as China has experienced rapid development, stories about so-called cancer villages have become more frequent.
And China has witnessed growing public anger over air pollution and industrial waste caused by industrial development.
Media coverage of conditions in these so-called “cancer villages” has been widespread. In 2009, one Chinese journalist published a map identifying dozens of apparently affected villages.
In 2007 the BBC visited the small hamlet of Shangba in southern China where one scientist was studying the cause and effects of pollution on the village.
He found high levels of poisonous heavy metals in the water and believed there was a direct connection between incidences of cancer and mining in the area.
In 2007 the BBC visited the small hamlet of Shangba in southern China where one scientist was studying the cause and effects of pollution on the village.
He found high levels of poisonous heavy metals in the water and believed there was a direct connection between incidences of cancer and mining in the area.
Until now, there has been little comment from the government on such allegations.
Environmental lawyer Wang Canfa, who runs a pollution aid centre in Beijing, told the AFP news agency that it was the first time the “cancer village” phrase had appeared in a ministry document.
Last month – Beijing – and several other cities – were blanketed in smog that soared past levels considered hazardous by the World Health Organisation.
The choking pollution provoked a public outcry and led to a highly charged debate about the costs of the country’s rapid economic development, our correspondent says.
Environmental lawyer Wang Canfa, who runs a pollution aid centre in Beijing, told the AFP news agency that it was the first time the “cancer village” phrase had appeared in a ministry document.
Last month – Beijing – and several other cities – were blanketed in smog that soared past levels considered hazardous by the World Health Organisation.
The choking pollution provoked a public outcry and led to a highly charged debate about the costs of the country’s rapid economic development, our correspondent says.
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