With the start of the new school year only days away, and many more late applications expected, the Health Service Executive (HSE) admit that a massive 33,192 crucial back-to-school payment forms currently lie unopened nationally.
Parents are being forced to take out Credit Union loans in their efforts to help meet the costs of required new uniforms and school shoes.
The HSE has confirmed that some families would now not receive payments until after many schools re-open, however some of these affected were parents whose application arrived late.
The North Tipperary region is amongst the countries worst defaulters, where no final decision has been made on almost half of all applications applied for under this grant aid.
Many low-income and lone parents depend on the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to send their children back to school.
RATES OF PAYMENT
A. €200 in respect of children aged 2 to 11 on the 30th September 2010; B. €305 in respect of children aged 12 to 17 on the 30th September 2010; C. €305 in respect of children aged 18 to 22 on the 30th September 2010 who are in full time education. D. As a special measure introduced in Budget 2009, an additional amount of €215 is payable for children aged 18 ONLY in respect of whom compensatory Child Benefit is in payment.Total payment in respect of eligible children aged 18 is €520.
Irish Leaving Certificate Students got their long awaited results last week.
Helplines were very busy over the past few days as nervous students and their parents called to consult with guidance counsellors manning telephones and offering future hope and assistance.
Per reports approximately 4,000 ordinary level student callers have failed mathamatics. This has left them with very limited college options in 2010.
Another huge issue of concern for many other callers was the level of points needed for all hoped for courses next Monday. Points are set to increase for many courses, particularly in the medical and other related areas. But points are also set to fall for courses linked to the building industry, for architecture and for law.
However for many, an anxious few days lie ahead, as they await the publications of the college place offers from the CAO,expected next Monday morning at six o’clock.
For those of you who are anxious or feeling let down by life take a look at this video.
Sometimes, in life, it is necessary for a man with no shoes to meet a man with no feet.
So if you don’t attain, immediatly, your hoped-for expectations, don’t worry, pick yourself up and give it another go.
You will succeed if you follow that which you hold passionate, so dream big.
Interviews will shortly be held for the post of Head Librarian at St Patrick’s College, Thurles.
St Patrick’s College is a centre of educational excellence, primarily specialising at undergraduate level in preparing students to teach in post-primary schools. The College Library always seeks to provide an outstanding service to staff and students of St. Patrick’s College and to respond creatively to changes in the world of learning.
Applicants must be graduates and hold a recognised qualification in Library and Information Studies. Significant experience is required and a good working knowledge of Irish is desirable.
The appointment will be for an initial period of three years and the salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
An application form and a description of duties can be downloaded here.
The completed form should be returned, accompanied by a CV and cover letter by post or email (including the words “Head Librarian” in the subject line) to: Rev Thomas Fogarty, President, St. Patrick’s College, Cathedral St., Thurles, County Tipperary.
Fine Gael Leader, Enda Kenny, has questioned the Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, regarding the number of applications being processed and the length of time being taken for such processing, by the Garda Central Vetting Unit.
In 2009, the Garda Vetting Unit, which is based here in Thurles, dealt with some 246,194 applications, however at present it is taking between 10 to 12 weeks to process current applications.
Garda vetting, for the Youth Work Sector, was formally introduced in September 2006, following protracted negotiations and a campaign seeking such vetting for these organisations. The Garda Commissioner approved a policy whereby An Garda Siochana should conduct Garda vetting in respect of all persons, 16 years of age and over, who had substantial and unsupervised access to children and vulnerable adults.
Deputy Kenny stated:
“The waiting period of 10 to 12 weeks is having an impact on many constituents throughout the country, where they may urgently require their application to be approved in a more timely fashion. A significant number of parents are quite concerned that many Summer Camps this year, who cover a wide variety of interests, are being operated without personnel having been suitably vetted before gaining access to children. This is now an area that requires immediate priority, in the interests of children’s welfare.”
The prize winning pupils in the Agri-Aware’s nationwide Incredible Edibles competition gathered in Dublin Zoo yesterday to receive prizes worth over €5,000 to help them develop school gardens.
Monastery Primary School (Scoil na mBriathre 3rd class) in Tipperary town was the nationwide winner out of thousands of primary schools which took part in the competition to grow their own potatoes, onions, baby carrots, lettuce, spinach and strawberries .
Agri Aware’s Mairead Lavery stated:
“The competition has given tens of thousands of children the thrill of growing their own food and understanding from whence their food is derived. They also understand how important it is for their health and the effort it takes to actually grow their own ‘five-a-day’.”
Visiting County Tipperary on Monday last, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Barry Andrews, T.D., opened a new childcare facility in Ballingarry, Thurles and a Youth Centre in Tipperary Town.
The Brightsparks childcare facility in Ballingarry opened for business in February and provides a current service to 34 children. The building has capacity for 50 children and is participating in the free pre-school year. Approximately, €32 million has been spent on childcare facilities in Co. Tipperary over the past ten years.
Officially opening the facility, Minister Andrews paid tribute to the voluntary management board and in particular, Sr Patricia Wall, who was a major driving force in developing the project.
Minister Andrews stated:
“The local community here in Ballingarry has provided real leadership and support for parents and children in providing a state of the art childcare facility with a wide range of services. South Tipperary County Council and the County Childcare Committee have come together to support this local initiative. I am particularly delighted that the Ballingarry facility is participating in the free pre-school year, which is in its first year of operation”.
Once again, Anyone 4 Science, the fun, hands-on science education organisation, are running their Summer Camp for 7 – 12 year olds in the Tipperary Institute here in Thurles this Summer – from July 5th – 8th inc.
At this camp the children will learn about Botany, Ploymers, Plastics and Recycling, Balance, Levers and Pulleys and Food Science.
They will grow their own seeds, synthesise their own plastic, make a model draw bridge and find our if there really is a difference between Coca-Cola and other brand cola drinks and lots, lots more.
This is fun learning at its best and an organised break for the working Mum.
If you want more information about this popular educational event contact Christine Campbell, Tel: 0404-40563, Mobile087-6749608, Email christine@anyone4science.com or click here to visit the Anyone 4 Science website.
The Irish State Examinations Commission have admitted that a series of embarrassing errors may have marred the exams of many students being examined his year.
The most serious incident to effect Tipperary Junior Cert business students, was their inability, through no fault of their own, to correctly work out a cash-flow question on the higher-level business paper. This was due to incorrect figures being provided on the scheduled exam paper.
According to teachers, some confused students wasted over half an hour trying to reconcile these incorrect figures provided in Part B of Question 6 on the ‘Higher Level – Paper Two’, test sheet.
Serious questions are now being raised as to the quality of proof readers used by the Commission and pressure is growing for a rescheduling of the exam from the business teacher fraternity.
However, the Commission state that there is no question of the Junior Certificate business studies exam being rescheduled, despite three errors on this afternoon exam sheet. The Commission also state that while they regret the mistake, the impact of the error will be taken into account when the marking of the examination is undertaken.
It is now understood that the State Examinations Commission have issued a further alert to Exam Superintendents regarding a further error in next Monday’s Leaving Cert Higher Accounting exam paper. This error will now be corrected by supervisors when the exam papers are distributed on Monday next.
The State Examinations Commission is responsible for the development, assessment, accreditation and certification of the second-level examinations of the Irish state: the Junior Certificate and the Leaving Certificate. The State Examinations Commission is a non-departmental public body under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills.
In general, Teachers say many Leaving Cert papers were much tougher and less predictable this year over previous years.
Approximately 116,334 students are sitting exams at almost 4,700 examination centres, countywide, this year.
The future of the Tipperary Institute (third level college), which was under threat of closure, now looks reasonably secure.
The Minister for Education Mary Coughlan is expected to make a full statement shortly following a proposal from the newly formed alliance between the Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) and the Tipperary Institute.
The so-called ‘Bord Snip’ report which was compiled by economist Colm McCarthy last year, recommended that this campus, which consists of the Tipperary Institute here in Thurles and in also Clonmel, should be closed down and auctioned off as part of an overall package of national government cost saving measures.
It would appear that the Government will now give their full approval to the proposal, agreed by both third level colleges, to merge under the flag of the Limerick Institute of Technology. This move will create a significantly enlarged Institute of Technology serving counties Limerick, Clare and both Ridings of Tipperary.
The amalgamation once fully agreed, will be is expected to be fully implemented by September 2011.
LIT currently has two campuses in Limerick city with the main campus at Moylish Park and the Limerick School of Art and Design at George’s Quay and Clare Street, in Limerick City.
Under this proposal both Tipperary Campuses will in future be known as LIT Thurles and LIT Clonmel and this alliance will lead to an expanded range of courses and student services in future years.
Student numbers are expected to rise considerably by 2015.
Tomorrow is DDay for thousands of students the length and breadth of this country as they prepare to sit English Paper 1 in both the Junior and Leaving Certificate.
It’s a very stressful “make or break” time for every student involved and on behalf of everyone here at Thurles.info, we want to wish each and every one of you out there, the very best of luck in your examinations.
We all know that participation in exams can be pretty depressing for all involved, so hopefully this video hereunder of 2FM DJ Jim – Jim’s ‘I Got Me Leaving’ will help you crack a smile.
It’s the tune of the Black Eyed Peas Super hit ‘I Got a Feeling’ set to new Leaving Cert Lyrics, to which I think we can all relate.
Best of luck to the Junior and Leaving Certs of 2010. I got a feeling your all going to be just fine.
Remember, if things do not work out, you can always take up a career in politics. It is still one of the few jobs where educational qualifications and C.V’s. are not necessarily required.
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