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 The ‘Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance’ (BSCFA), has been increased. This allowance is designed to help parents/guardians to meet the cost of uniforms and footwear for primary and secondary school children, returning to school during the coming year, 2017/18.
The allowance has seen a rise from €100 to €125 for children aged 4-11 years, and up by €50 to €250 for children over 12 years. Nationally some 108,000 Irish families look set to benefit from this small increase.
Those who frequent supermarket chains like Dunnes, Marks and Spencers etc; will all be aware that back to school clothing is already on display in anticipation of the coming school year.
To avail, of the BSCFA, parents or guardians must be getting certain social welfare payments or taking part in training, employment or adult education schemes. Their siblings must be aged between 4 and 17 years of age, on or before September 30th, of the year for which you apply. If still in second-level education, siblings must be aged between 18 and 22 years of age on or before the same date.
The BSCFA scheme for 2017 opening date was on June 1st last 2017, and the closing date for such applications remains strictly September 30th 2017.
As is usual, the Dept. of Social Protection pay BSCFA automatically to many parents / guardians, meaning simply that same do not have to apply for this payment. Should you qualify automatically, you should be notified of your entitlements on or before June 23rd 2017 and receive correspondence stating when and how the allowance will be delivered. Payments are expected to be made available during this month, ending July 14th 2017.
Note: Parents / Guardians not automatically notified, may still be eligible for such allowances, subject to completing a means assessment, and you can find out more information on the rules and income limits affecting BSCFA by simply clicking HERE.
 Rev. Prof. Michael Mullaney, Thurles. It has been confirmed that the Trustees of Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare; latter a Pontifical University and Ireland’s main Roman Catholic seminary, have appointed Thurles priest, Professor Michael Mullaney as the President of the College, for the next three years; beginning with effect from September 1st, 2017.
Son of Mattie and Sally Mullaney; Professor Fr. Mullaney is currently attached to the parish of Holycross and Ballycahill, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Professor Fr. Mullaney was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Cashel and Emly in 1992. He received his Doctorate in Canon Law with specialization in Rotal Jurisprudence, Gregorian University, Rome, in 2000. He was a Lecturer in Canon Law at St Patrick’s College, Thurles from 1998-2003; Milltown Institute, Dublin from 1999-2005, and St Patrick’s College, Maynooth since 1999. He was Registrar of the Pontifical University, Maynooth since 2005 to present time and Chair of the Faculty of Theology Quality Review Committee during the period 2006-2007. Judge of the National Marriage Appeals Tribunal of Ireland since 2006 to present day. Professor Fr. Mullaney is also a member of the Canon Law Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
In welcoming this appointment; Archbishop Eamon Martin, Chairman of the Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth Trustees stated: “I warmly congratulate and send my prayerful good wishes to Father Michael Mullaney on his appointment to the role of President of Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth. Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth is not only home to our national seminary, but its Pontifical University offers courses to almost one thousand students – women and men, full time and part time, resident and non-resident, seminarians and religious from all over the country. The Trustees are firmly committed to the College as a key contributor to the future of the Church in Ireland as it prepares both clergy and lay people to fully exercise their baptismal calling and bring their gifts to the service of God’s people”.
We wish Professor Fr. Michael every success in all future undertakings.
 Nationally some €884,000 in funding has been approved for County Councils to run public awareness and education campaigns in an effort to tackle illegal dumping.
This latest grant aid brings to nearly 15 million the total funding provided under this scheme in the past 10 years; which taxpayers would agree could have been used to better purpose; were the general public behaving responsibly.
Earlier this month Environment Minister Mr Denis Naughten spoke of his support for the use of overt and covert surveillance equipment, drones and other technology to increase detection levels and deter people from disposing of waste illegally. Initiatives to tackle illegal dumping will involve hidden CCTV cameras in litter black spots, as well as the use of drones to capture the extent of the issue.
Under this Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme, Tipperary County Council are expected to receive some €42,000 to carry out these announced public awareness and education campaigns targeting litter, dog fouling and graffiti.
High risk or problem areas will also be identified, with coordinated clean ups to be followed by enhanced enforcement measures.
 June 1st 2017 has arrived and with it the Summer holiday season.
Gardaí are advising people who intend to holiday away from home to refrain from posting on social media while they are away, as such actions alert potential burglars to the fact that their home is possibly unguarded and vacant.
Save all the details of your itinerary, holiday pictures, comments etc. until you are back home and if you do decide to ignore this excellent advice, at least have the good sense to not tag other people, who are also on holiday, perhaps in your company; in your photographs.
New Garda crime figures show that burglaries are most likely to occur between 12.20am and 4.00am, and between 12.30pm and 3.00pm, with one in every four unlawful entries or housebreaks, occurring between the months of June 1st and August 31st, and all resulting from an unsecured door or window.
Speaking at the “Supporting Safer Communities Campaign” at Bloom in the Park, Gardaí also draw attention to the future consideration of “defensive planting” or the planting of prickly shrubs to help deter uninvited guests. Easy to care for shrubs, recommended as deterrent barriers to thieves, could include, ‘Shrub (Seafoam) Roses‘ for wall covering or ‘Purple Japanese Barberry‘ for hedging, to name but a few; but best to discuss this with your local garden centre.
Speaking of gardening; Hedges and shrubs in your front gardens should be kept to a height of no more than three feet, thus removing the cover, which allows burglars to conceal their true activity.
With children due to take the long break from school, remember to secure bicycles, gardening equipment, tools etc. as these are most likely to be stolen by thieves during the coming Summer months.
Last Sunday week the newest Tobacco Products Directive came into force, however experts are somewhat concerned that these latest regulations will force prices of e-cigs to greatly increase, thus putting smokers off switching from regular tobacco cigarettes to the electronic variety.
Vaping is the process of smoking e-cigarettes, which allows a person to inhale nicotine without most of the other toxic chemicals and harmful substances (See hereunder) contained in tobacco and cigarette smoke.
 Contents of Cigarette Smoke Retailers had been given good time, until May 20th 2017, to sell all stock not in compliance with the newest labelling and product composition requirements of the previous 2016 regulations.
New rules now in force will result in an overhaul of product features and e-liquid flavours, but the main regulations and restrictions that must be complied with will include:-
(A) Maximum tank capacity of 2ml. (Previously a typical tank size was 5ml.)
(B) Liquids sold will require that each ingredient is thoroughly tested prior to sale, with additives banned to include colouring, caffeine and taurine.
(C) Maximum refill containers can not exceed 10ml.
(D) A maximum nicotine strength of 20mg.
(E) E-cigarette advertisements on TV, radio, in newspapers and magazines will be banned. Sponsorship will be tightly controlled and packaging must include a health warning that covers 30% of the surface.
(F) Unless registered as a medicine, e-liquids cannot have a nicotine strength of more than 20mg/ml.
Smoking in Ireland is reckoned to cost the Irish health service €460 million annually, while tobacco smoking remains a major cause of addiction, ill health and death. An estimated 840,000 of our population, aged from 15 years and over, are addicted to tobacco. It is estimated that approximately 6,000 people die every year from tobacco related illnesses.
Keep in mind that one pack of 20 cigarettes purchased each day represents €11.50 per day – €80.50 per week – €322.00 per month, – €3864.00 per year, so if we all quit we could afford to buy a second house.
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