5 Louth Schools selected for major works in 2014

Labour Senator Mary Moran has welcomed the announcement by Minister Ruairí Quinn that 5 Louth schools have been selected for major works to be carried out in 2014. In total, 70 schools have been selected to have major works carried out in 2014 as part of a €2bn five year plan announced in 2012.
'I am delighted that 5 schools from Louth will benefit from major works in 2014. This is one of many announcements from Minister Quinn in recent times on investment in our education infrastructure. Most recently, the announcement that 75 primary schools in Louth are due to receive a grant to enable small-scale repairs as well as the re-opening of the Summer Works Scheme.
'The announcement that 2 new schools are to be built is very welcome as this will have a significant effect on the surrounding communities. I am delighted that St. Mary's College in Dundalk and Ardee Educate Together have been given the go-ahead to begin construction on new schools in 2014. Additionally, CBS Primary, St. Joseph's CBS and Scoíl Uí Muirí will all benefit from a new extension to their buildings.
'These school works will have a knock-on effect for the construction sector throughout the country with an estimated 3,200 jobs being created and 640 indirect jobs.
'I look forward to the positive effect these works will have in Co. Louth throughout 2014 for those in the construction sector and the educators and students that will benefit from the finalised project.'
All buildings works will go ahead in 2014 subject to planning permission.
ENDS
NOTE: Schools selected for works and type of work carried out.
CBS Primary Chapel Street, Dundalk Extension
Ardee Education Together Dundalk Rd, Ardee New School
St. Joseph's CBS Newfoundwell Rd, Drogheda Extension
St. Mary's College Dundalk New School
Scoíl Uí Mhuirí Barn Rd, Dunleer Extension

Important development for long-suffering symphysiotomy survivors

IMPORTANT DAY FOR LONG-SUFFERING SYMPHYSIOTOMY SURVIVORS - MORAN

Labour Senator Mary Moran has welcomed the announcement this week of the appointment of Yvonne Murphy as the Judge to liaise with survivors of symphysiotomy. Judge Murphy will now meet with the survivors to address the long-standing issues in this area.

“This is indeed an important day for these women and their families. Symphysiotomy is a surgical procedure in which the cartilage of the symphis pubis is severed to widen the pelvis allowing for easier childbirth. Many of the survivors of symphysiotomy have been left permanently disabled, incontinent and in constant pain. Many of these ladies are now in advanced years and in declining health. I am delighted that their plight is being acknowledged by the Government.

“Since entering the Seanad, I have worked alongside many wonderful people who have long campaigned for these women including Olivia Kearney, herself a symphysiotomy survivor and long-time activist for women who underwent a symphysiotomy.”

Dundalk and Drogheda selected for ABC programme for 2013-2016

Labour Senator Mary Moran has welcomed the announcement today that Dundalk and Drogheda have been selected as one of the additional nine areas to enter the design stage of the Area-Based Childhood (ABC) Programme 2013-2016.
“I sincerely welcome the decision to move the Louth proposal, The Genesis Programme, forward to the design stage of the ABC programme. The Genesis Programme proposal focuses on 74 small areas across Dundalk and Drogheda and will target deeply disadvantaged areas in these two towns. The proposal aims to build on the great work already taking place across the 8 primary schools in Dundalk and the 4 primary schools in Drogheda who currently implement Incredible Years.
“The Genesis Programme proposal was developed by the Louth Working Group which is comprised of primary school principals, parents, HSE representatives and community leaders. The group put in a substantial amount of work in their submission to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs which is evidenced by the great news that Dundalk and Drogheda have been chosen as one of the thirteen areas across the country.
“The ABC programme will target additional investment in evidence-based early interventions to improve the short, medium and long-term outcomes for children and families living in both towns. I have been in contact with the Louth Working Group on this proposal over the last six months and I believe they have compiled a very detailed submission and action plan while also joining up with all of the relevant partners in our area.
“Early intervention into the lives of children and families living in disadvantaged areas is key. At other sites around the country there have been significant improvements shown in reducing parental stress and improving parental well-being; improvements to school attendance and children's behaviour toward each other; and helping to deal with the early on-set of behavioural and emotional problems some children may experience.
“The Incredible Years in Dundalk and Drogheda is already producing great work and I look forward to committed members of the Louth proposal and their partners in building upon the successful work already in progress. Congratulations to all members of the Louth Working Group on moving to the draft stage of the ABC programme and I wish them every success.”

Help for students with disabilities or educational disadvantage when filling out CAO forms

It's getting to that time of year when students are  putting their minds to filling out CAO forms for college entry in 2014. For students with a disability or educational disadvantage there is the opportunity to apply for two schemes which could make a big difference to  them. These are the DARE or the HEAR schemes.

 

1) DARE Scheme

 DARE stands for Disability Access Route to Education and it is a scheme that allows students with disabilities or significant illnesses to apply for college places on reduced points. Students use their CAO form, either online or paper, to indicate their intention to apply.

 

Applicants will first be asked to indicate that they have a disability. By doing this, they are giving the institutions an indication that they may need extra support on enrolment. This will in no way prejudice the applicants. Next, students will be asked to indicate if they wish to apply for the DARE scheme. This needs to be done by February 1. DARE is aimed at school-leavers who have the ability to succeed in third-level education but who may not achieve the points for their desired course because of their disability. However, access to support in third-level for students with disabilities is not confined to those who enter via the DARE scheme.

 

The applicant will be asked to give information about their disability or illness and how it has impacted on their learning. This information will be filled out on-line and must be completed by March 1. Finally, applicants will be asked to send evidence of their disability from their consultant, psychologist or relevant professional. This may take some time.

This evidence, along with an academic reference completed by the school, must be with the CAO by April 1. For more information see www.accesscollege.ie.

 

 

2) HEAR scheme

 HEAR stands for Higher Education Access Route and this scheme allows students who are considered educationally disadvantaged to enter third level on reduced points.

It is not intended for students or families who may be experiencing shortterm financial difficulty and the grant may be more appropriate for these families.

There is a bit of work involved in this application so it is important to begin the process as early as possible.

Applicants who are in the care of the state will automatically qualify but still must complete the online form.

To be eligible for HEAR you must meet certain indicators or criteria related to your financial, social and economic circumstances.

You must also be under 23 years of age on 1 January of the year the course starts.

Indicators

• Financial (for entry autumn 2014):

• 1. Income: Your total family income for the year 2012    was within the HEAR income limits (see table below)
• 2. Medical card: You, your parent(s) or guardian(s) hold a medical card or GP visit card on 31 December 2012
• 3. Social welfare: Your parent(s) or guardian(s) were getting a means-tested social assistance payment for at least 26 weeks in 2012

• Social and cultural:

• 4. Group: You come from a socio-economic group that is under-represented in higher education, for example: non-manual workers; semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers; agricultural workers
• 5. School: You have completed 5 years of second-level education at a school in the DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) programme
• 6. Area: You are living in an area of concentrated disadvantage and social exclusion with, for example, high unemployment and poverty and few community facilities

HEAR income limits 2013

Number of dependent children* in your family	Family income in 2011
Fewer than 4	€48,811
4-7	€53,637
More than 8	€58,230

Add €4,980 to the total income for every sibling/parent enrolled in a full-time college, university or Post-Leaving Certificate further education course.

Fulfilling the indicator requirement

Of the 6 indicators above you must meet the low income indicator 1 and a combination of 2 other indicators.

What HEAR is not?
HEAR is not a maintenance grant, it is an admissions scheme to help students who may not traditionally go on to third level.
The maintenance grant, or Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) as it is now known, is the main source of financial help available from the Irish State for students in full time post leaving certificate cources (PLC's) and full time education undergraduate and post graduate courses.
If you apply to HEAR you should also apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) for the higher education maintenance grant if you think you may be eligible. For more information on this you can log onto: http://www.studentfinance.ie/mp7232/maintenance-grant/index.html.

Applicants must indicate their intention to apply for the HEAR scheme though the CAO by February 1. The online application form must be completed by March 1.

Once this section is completed, applicants will receive a personalised list of supporting documents which must be sent to the CAO by April 1. Application advice clinics will be held nationwide on January 11, 2014.

Applicants who intend to apply to the HEAR or DARE schemes may bring their information to these clinics where they can receive advice.

Further information available at www.accesscollege.ie

Students should consult with their school guidance counsellors for advice and assistance on applying to the CAO.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Ardee public information event focuses on safety in the home

The HSE’s Ardee Primary Care Team is hosting a health promotion day, focusing on safety in the home in Lanney’s Supervalu, Ardee on Friday 29^th November from 10:00am – 1pm.

The aim of this event is to inform members of the public, in particular older people about safety in the home. HSE primary care staff and health promotion personnel will be on hand to offer advice and information on the steps people can take to improve their personal safety at home, including falls prevention. Representatives from Garda Liaison, St. Vincent de Paul and Good Morning Louth will also be available to give advice and leaflets on the day in relation to fire safety, personal alarms, smoke and heat alarms and crime prevention.

Members of the public are encouraged to pop along to this free public information event.

C'Mon The Town by Jim Murphy launched in the Lilywhite

The much anticipated launch of the new book by Jim Murphy – “C’Mon The Town: A Dundalk FC Miscellany” was launched on Friday night. The book is currently on sale from the Dundalk FC Stand in the Marshes.

The culmination of years of work  - this stunning book is a celebration of one of the League OF Ireland’s most successful clubs, comprising photographs, statistics, memorabilia, profiles and stories, covering the club’s first 88 seasons in the National League that will consist in the main of previously unpublished material.

Beautifully printed on gloss paper, this is a full colour publication containing more than 360 A4 pages and will become a must buy for every Dundalk supporter and an ideal Christmas gift.

Compiled by Jim Murphy, author of ‘The History of Dundalk FC..The First 100 Years’, the proceeds are entirely for the benefit of the club!

Man Up campaign receives full support from Dundalk Women's Aid

Women's Aid Dundalk say they are proud to be part of the MAN UP campaign which is raising awareness about domestic violence. While the majority of men are appalled by violence inflicted on women and children in the home, unfortunately there are still many instances of domestic abuse.
The campaign is based on Irish research which shows that long-term abuse activates a "freeze mechanism". This can prevent the woman from taking in the messages and information that are designed to help them find safety. It is only when something out of the ordinary happens that she may find herself able to recognise and access the support services that are there.
For further information and to see the video go to SafeIreland.ie/manup

You can contact Women's Aid Dundalk on 042-9333245
In 2012 Women's Aid Dundalk responded to 978 Helpline calls. There were 104 admissions to refuge, 84 women and 99 children.