Donies Ireland daily news BLOG Friday

Irish State to sell off 20 vacant Garda stations

   

Audit will determine if closed stations can be used by community groups The State is to begin disposing of Garda stations that have been closed since the rationalisation of the network began in 2011, with the first 20 stations to be put on the market by the summer.

Minister of State Brian Hayes, who is responsible for the Office of Public Works (OPW) which owns the stations, has said all 139 closed stations will first be examined to determine if the State has any use for them or if they could be used by community or voluntary groups.

“Clearly these stations are surplus to requirements and their disposal will make savings for the taxpayer on utilities, maintenance and ongoing security costs,” Mr Hayes said. “The last thing we want to see are former Garda stations in a derelict condition.”

The 139 stations, of an original network of 705, were closed under a plan by Minister for Justice Alan Shatter, who believes the size of the network is too large for the Republic.

In 2011 Mr Shatter requested Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan examine the network and identify which stations could be closed.

In December 2011 some 39 closures were announced, with a further 100 station closures outlined 12 months later. All but four have now been closed and further closures have not been ruled out.

The moves have been opposed by many within the Garda and the station closure programme is likely to generate debate at the annual delegate conference in Sligo next week of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors.

Mr Hayes said the audit of the vacant stations had already begun in an effort to determine which might be sold and what stations could be put to other State or community use. However, he had “made it quite clear” that the first 20 stations to be sold were to be on the market by summer to generate funds for the State.

“I want to make it clear that where a business case is made on behalf of a local group to take on the responsibility of managing a former station for the benefit of the community, the OPW will seriously consider this request.”

He added submissions would be treated seriously once they came from organisations with a proven track record of providing services to the community. Already about 20 voluntary, community and sports groups had expressed interest in acquiring a closed station.

Some 17 of the stations have communication masts that generate licence fees for the State of about €200,000 annually. It is unclear what arrangements will be made with those mobile phone networks currently renting the masts.

Stephen Smith from Celbridge was brushing his teeth when his wife noticed one of his nipples was inverted. Five days later the 43-year-old father of two was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Phil Hogan Minister accused of ‘sinking to new low’ about fair tax

         

Environment Minister Phil Hogan.

Minister have rallied around embattled Phil Hogan to claim that the property tax is being administered “fairly”.    

Despite the fact that the Department of Environment has wiped 38,000 ghost estate households off their maps, the Coalition is adamant that they are correct.

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte said local authorities had examined each unfinished estate “one-by-one” to assess if they had access to services such as street lighting, pavements and sewage connections.

He said this was the reason the number of exemptions had dropped from 43,000 to 5,100 households.

Housing Minister Jan O’Sullivan said the figures used to calculate the number of homes exempt from the household charge were inaccurate.

She says that considerable progress has been made in fixing estates that were previously considered as unfinished.

And Ms O’Sullivan said that estates which have the potential to be improved by local authorities will not be exempt.

“They have things to be addressed. They are not exempted and they will be taken in charge by the local authorities in time,” she said.

Furious

But there was a furious reaction from Opposition parties who say the Government is targeting people living in seriously sub-standard developments.

Overall, 64 estates across Dublin city and county were exempt from last year’s household charge. Just one of these – Priory Hall – will now be exempt from the property tax. Fianna Fail Senator Darragh O’Brien accused Fine Gael of “stooping to a new low in what was already a deeply unfair plan to tax the family home”.

“Many residents of these estates paid way over the odds for what is now a seriously devalued home and they are living in unfinished surroundings with no realistic commitment to completion in sight. And yet, Phil Hogan and his Fine Gael colleagues now want to tax their homes,” he said.

In the Dail, Sinn Fein deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said people living in unfinished ghost estate and “building sites” had suffered significant stress.

“You have certainly failed the fairness test,” she said.

Independent TD Mattie McGrath said many households would be unable to pay, adding: “1913 was the Lockout and 2013 will be the “kick-out”.

The locations of the exempt estates are available on the websites of the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of the Environment and councils.

North coast of Ireland scenic railway line to reopen

The reopening of the North Coast railway will help strengthen the economy of Londonderry and the North West

One of Northern Ireland’s most scenic railway lines is reopening ahead of schedule following a £30 million upgrade.

Safety and engineering work on the spectacular route along the Atlantic-facing North Coast from Coleraine to Londonderry – the UK City of Culture – halted train services for almost eight months.

The rails pass miles of almost empty beaches and rolling breakers. Broadcaster and travel writer Michael Palin and former Conservative cabinet minister Michael Portillo are among those who have experienced a 47-minute trip featured on the BBC’s Great British Railway Journeys.

Mr Palin said: “I am delighted to hear about the reopening of the railway line between Coleraine and the city of Derry-Londonderry. Good sense has prevailed; I’m sure it will be of great benefit to local people and also tourists visiting this particularly beautiful part of Northern Ireland.”

Lobbyists campaigned to save the service after government funding for the overhaul was in danger of delay. Stormont gave the go-ahead for the work in 2011.

Friday a special train departs Belfast to mark the inaugural passenger journey to Londonderry, picking up civic dignitaries and community representatives along the route between Northern Ireland’s two largest cities.

Mr Portillo said: “It’s great news that the Coleraine to Derry-Londonderry line has been improved. As I was able to see for myself it is one of the most beautiful rail journeys in these islands and now regular travellers and tourists can look forward to a smoother ride and better schedules. I wish I could be there to enjoy that lovely scenery again on the inaugural run.”

The North Coast is renowned as a destination for surfers, golfers and holiday makers, drawn to beaches like the award-winning Downhill Strand at the end of 11km of sand, much of it adjacent to the train line. The area also features the World Heritage site of the Giant’s Causeway, near Portrush and a short drive from the station in Coleraine.

Transport company Translink chief executive Catherine Mason said: “This project will secure the long-term future and sustainability of the Northern corridor rail link which provides vital connections to jobs, colleges, universities, shops, businesses and local attractions. Its revival will help strengthen the economic landscape in the North West and will also mean that the train is an attractive way to reach the UK City of Culture to join the celebrations planned for the months ahead.”

New rail weighing 5,600 tonnes was laid and a bridge over the Bann River in Coleraine completely refurbished. Another span was replaced. The work is expected to secure the future of the route for more than 30 years. The normal day return adult fare from Coleraine to Londonderry is £13, with children half price, or £8.70 for those travelling off peak. Travel time has reduced to 42 minutes.

What to do when someone tells you they have cancer

        

“I was shocked,” says Stephen. “But once the doctors told me it was very treatable I relaxed. I am an engineer so when people tell me they can fix something I believe them.”

But even though Stephen managed to take the news in his stride, things changed when it came to telling his family and friends, even though their support would be crucial to his recovery.

“That is when things suddenly became difficult,” says Stephen, who has now recovered from his cancer. “It was the day after I had been told, but when you have to tell others it really brings it home.

“I think when people hear you have cancer they don’t know what to do to help you. But some were very good at giving really practical help. Things like making dinner for the family so it is one less thing you have to worry about when you arrive home from getting treatment. Everyone who suffers from cancer has a journey to go on and it is important they have the support to help them.”

In fact, this is such an important element when it comes to recovery that the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) has just issued 10 tips on how to best help someone when they are diagnosed with cancer, in the run up to the Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Day, which takes place this Friday.

“The research in this area offers really valuable and sometimes surprising guidance,” says Dr Paul D’Alton, head and clinical lead of the department of psycho-oncology at St Vincent’s University Hospital. “Perhaps the two most important things to remember are that emotions will not follow in neat stages and that over-emphasising being positive can actually be an additional burden to the person diagnosed with cancer.”

With over 200 different types of cancer and one in three Irish people affected, the PSI hopes these tips will not only heighten the awareness of cancer but the importance of how best to help and support someone who has just been diagnosed.

Here are 10 practical ways to help.

1. Being ‘positive’ doesn’t always help. Trying too hard to be positive can end up making people miserable. Facing up to uncertainty and insecurity may be painful, but it can be much more helpful to manage the ups and down of a cancer diagnosis.
2. Don’t be afraid to say, ‘I don’t know what to say.’ Learn to just listen. Everyone’s response to a cancer diagnosis is unique.
3. Don’t expect emotions to progress along in neat stages. This experience will unfold as a process and there will be many ups and downs where their needs change on a day-to-day (or sometimes hour-to-hour) basis.
4. Avoid advice giving. This can be unhelpful and make people feel they should be ‘doing a better job’ at coping than they are. Advising people to keep positive and battle on is not helpful for everyone.
5. Try not to personalise. Try to remember that your partner or friend or family member may be angry at the situation and not at you.
6. Eat well, exercise and get enough sleep. By taking care of yourself you are in a much better position to care for others.
7. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and say ‘no’ when you need to. If you are supporting a loved one with cancer it’s important to know your own limits. Now is a good time to call in favours by letting others help you and acknowledging what you can’t do.
8. Be practical. Avoid vague offers and instead be specific and practical about how you might be able to help. ‘I can collect the kids on Tuesdays and Thursdays’ or ‘I can bring you to the hospital on Fridays’ are clear, solid offers that you’re more likely to be taken up on.
9. One of the surprising ways to manage stress is by trying to stop wanting things to be different from how they are right now. We can cause ourselves additional suffering simply by wanting things to be different.
10. Try to focus on today and the moment at hand, rather than yesterday or the future. A diagnosis like cancer propels our minds into the future or back to the past. It is important to concentrate on the here and now.

For more information on dealing with cancer call the National Cancer Helpline on Freefone 1800 200 700 or visithttp://www.cancer.ie

Over 12,000 people sign school climate change petition started by a 15-year-old

   

Esha Marwaha from west London says she is outraged that climate change has been scaled back in national curriculum

Over 12,000 people have signed a petition started by a 15-year-old girl to keep climate change in the national curriculum for under 14-year-olds. Esha Marwaha from Hounslow in west London said she was outraged that the draft key stage 3 geography curriculum for English schools had vastly scaled back discussion of the phenomenon.

“Climate change is the most pressing and threatening issue to modern-day society. Through lack of understanding from generations before us, we are having to fix it. And how can we do this without education?” she wrote in a Guardian blog on Tuesday, which echoed the petition to the education secretary, Michael Gove, on the website change.org.

“Our government, part of the generation who bear much of the responsibility for this problem, intends to not only fail to act on climate change themselves but to obscure the truth from children and young people. It is outrageous that Michael Gove can even consider the elimination of climate change education for under-14s. We must keep climate change in the curriculum in order for young people take on this challenge of tackling the threat posed by our changing climate,” Marwaha wrote.

The petition, which was earlier gathering over 500 signatures an hour, has been signed by teachers, pupils and lecturers. One Leeds teacher commented: “I teach undergraduates and study for my PhD in a geography department. Like Esha, me and my students owe our passion for researching, understanding, preventing climate change – the defining challenge of our generation – to lessons first learned in school. The government wouldn’t dream of letting young people leave school without a modicum of skills for economic survival. It smacks of hypocrisy that learning about sustainability and building a skill and knowledge base for our longevity as a species is of such a low priority by comparison.”

A further 2,000 people from student network group People and Planethave emailed Gove in the last two days to try to persuade him to put climate change in the curriculum. “Our experience working in schools and colleges has shown us that teaching about climate change is crucial to ensuring a new generation of young people who understand and are able to be leaders on climate change, taking action to protect the environment and human life. Without knowledge and understanding of the social, economic and environmental impacts of climate change, how can we expect young people to be ready to deal with the impacts and help find the solutions to climate change that will play such a huge role in their futures?” said a spokesman for the group, which is active in most universities and colleges.

Students, members of the UK Youth Climate Coalition and others plan to approach academics, universities and schools to take part in the formal consultation around the plans, which closes on 16 April.