Education « Thurles Information

Decision To Follow EU Directive On Domestic Violence Welcomed.

Minister McEntee welcomes decision to opt into proposed EU Directive combating violence against women and domestic violence.

The Irish Minister for Justice Mrs Helen McEntee TD, yesterday, welcomed approval from the Oireachtas for Ireland to opt in to the first piece of EU legislation specifically addressing violence against women and domestic violence.

The European Commission has identified gaps in protection and support measures across the European Union, and with this proposal is seeking to align EU law with established international standards, most notably the Istanbul Convention.

The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention after the city in which it opened for signature 10 years ago, on May 11th 2011, is the most far-reaching international legal instrument to set out binding obligations to prevent and combat violence against women.

Under Protocol 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the Government requires the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas to opt in to the EU directive.

Minister McEntee said,
“We are looking forward to engaging with our EU partners to shape a progressive and effective approach to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence for the Union.
I will shortly publish our new national strategy to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and it is clear that DSGBV is an issue we need to tackle on all fronts – both domestically and at an EU level.
While this EU directive is a detailed and comprehensive measure, a lot of what is being proposed is not new for Ireland. But we can always strive to go further and encourage our EU partners to do likewise.
I believe that along with the publication of the new national Strategy, which is comprehensive and forward-thinking, Ireland can and will drive real progress in combatting these horrific crimes”.

This EU Commission proposal aims to ensure effective prevention of such violence, protection from violence, access to justice, victim support, and strengthened coordination across the Union.

It also aims to ensure that sexual harassment and cyber violence are addressed effectively.

While Ireland’s response can be said to be more developed that some other member states, it is felt that these type of crimes are unlikely to significantly decrease across the European Union without additional EU action and commitment to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

Funding Allocations For Youth Diversion Projects Announced.

Minister of State Mr James Browne announces funding allocations for Youth Diversion Projects for 2022.

Just under €6.7m in funding being allocated to over 50 projects around the country
Funding will go towards assisting projects with boundary extensions, appointing family support workers, working with harder-to-engage children and early intervention
Will contribute towards aim of providing YDP services in every county in Ireland

Minister of State with responsibility for Youth Justice, Mr James Browne T.D., is delighted to announce just under €6.7m in funding allocations for over 50 Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) nationwide.

YDPs engage with young people through a range of supports, including education, training and employment support, social enterprise initiatives, as well as personal development and supports such as mentoring, and personal development activities.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister Browne said:

“Having visited many Youth Diversion Projects across the country during my time as Minister of State, I have seen first-hand the positive impact they have on both the young people who they welcome through their doors and the wider communities in which they are based.

I am delighted to see such a significant allocation be dispersed to projects right across the country. This money will help some projects extend their work into neighbouring communities, it will help some projects to devote specific resources to harder-to-engage children and it will help some projects to appoint new or additional family support workers.

This announcement follows on from the publication of the Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 last year, which provides a developmental framework to address key ongoing challenges, as well as new and emerging issues, in the youth justice area.”

Minister Browne continued,

“One of the objectives of the Youth Justice Strategy is to have full YDP coverage in all parts of the country. This funding goes a long way to making that possible as it will allow for current YDPs to expand their boundaries and a further €780,000 is also being set aside for the establishment of new YDPs.

It is my and the Department’s stated ambition to ensure that the provision of YDP services is available to every child in the state who would benefit from it within the next two years.”

Over 1,600 People Attend Manufacturing Events In Mid-West Region.

More than 1,600 people attend the largest ever Irish-UK manufacturing collaboration events to be held in the Mid-West.

Organised by TUS and the GTMA the event took place over two days on TUS, Moylish Campus Limerick.
The British Ambassador to Ireland describes it as a perfect example of UK/Ireland collaboration.

More than 1,600 exhibitors, delegates, manufacturers and visitors from across Ireland and the UK travelled to TUS, Moylish Campus Limerick, to take part in one of the largest ever manufacturing collaboration events to be held in the Mid-West.

**President of TUS, Professor Vincent Cunnane and British Ambassador to Ireland Mr Paul Johnston**, **attending “Manufacturing Solutions Ireland 2022” event**.

Manufacturing Solutions Ireland 2022, organised jointly by the UK manufacturing supply chain trade association the GTMA and the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), encouraged businesses from both sides of the Irish Sea to share ideas about new technologies and precision tools, build strong working relationships, learn about developments in manufacturing, and do business.

This year’s event extended its offerings over two days (Wednesday 15th & Thursday 16th June 2022) to include a multi-million euro Manufacturing Technology Zone, the IDEAM Digitalisation of Manufacturing Conference, Meet the Manufacturer and the successful manufacturing supply trade exhibition.

The British Ambassador to Ireland Mr Paul Johnston, who attended the second day of the event, described it as a perfect example of UK/Ireland collaboration.

He stated, “Manufacturing Solutions is a perfect example of UK/Ireland collaboration, enabling businesses from across these islands to form new relationships and display the latest innovation in manufacturing technologies and engineering solutions. Further demonstrating strong UK/Ireland connections, the event is jointly organised by a UK trade association and an Irish university and has the involvement and support from both the Irish and UK Governments alongside InterTradeIreland and Enterprise Ireland.
These events display practical, business and technology-focussed UK/Ireland collaboration in action here in Limerick, and I and my team are proud to be involved and give our support”.

Speaking about the success of the annual event GTMA Chief Executive Officer, Ms Julia Moore said, “Manufacturing Solutions Ireland which began in 2016 as a conduit for opening up new possibilities within the supply chain to customers and suppliers from both Ireland and the UK, has resulted in advancing stronger trading relationships between both”.

President of TUS, Professor Vincent Cunnane explained that the collaborative event reflects TUS’s ethos of working with industry to research and develop new technologies, share new ideas and educate highly skilled work ready graduates.

Professor Cunnane stated, “We are delighted to welcome Manufacturing Solutions Ireland 2022 back to the TUS, Moylish campus, this year. The partnership between TUS and the GTMA supported by the PTMA, and the resulting extended two-day event, is reflective of the Irish and UK manufacturing industry’s determination to work together, share ideas and trade. At the core of this event is the sharing of those new ideas, processes and advance technologies in the newly added Manufacturing Technology Zone, in the Digitalisation of Manufacturing Conference and throughout the TUS Moylish campus”.

The newly added Digitalisation of Manufacturing Conference welcomed SME business clusters, such as Manufacturing Northern Ireland, to Limerick to take part in joint workshops and work collaboratively with the TUS based IDEAM national industry cluster, as well as encouraging movement towards digitalisation of manufacturing among SMEs and providing access to relevant funding.

Meanwhile advance technologies and machines, many never before seen in Ireland and the UK have been on display in the new multi-million euro Manufacturing Technology Zone.

GTMA CEO Ms Julia Moore said, “Each year we see new ideas, new technologies, materials and processes on display, but none more so than this year; through both the 150 trade exhibits and the Manufacturing Technology Zone . The event’s progression to knowledge sharing and doing business is testament to the relationships built over the years. Manufacturing Solutions Ireland continues also to shine a light on the innovation and skills of our SME engineering community, and support them as they remain responsive, fast, flexible competitive in a global market”.

Temporary Traffic Management On R-659, At Cabragh, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

**Cabragh Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary**

Temporary Traffic Management will be in place on the R 659, Cabragh, Thurles, Co. Tipperary from 7:00am on Wednesday morning next, June 15th, to 7:00pm on Friday evening, June 19th next, 2022 due to road resurfacing.

Temporary traffic management and diversions will be in place for the duration of the works with local access only.

Thurles exam students, normally using this route, should make special note, in case of unforeseen delays.

Thurles Ursuline Student Wins Special Merit Award In 68th Texaco Children’s Art Competition.

A Thurles student, studying at the Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles, Co. Tipperary has been included in the top prizes in this year’s 68th Texaco Children’s Art Competition.

Ms Holly Keane, aged 14 years, is the winner of a ‘Special Merit Award’, while being acknowledged for displaying a high level of skill and creativity for her work; latter a coloured pencil portrait entitled ‘Jack!’.

Close to some 20,000 artworks were received for this year’s competition, with Final Adjudicator, Professor Gary Graville supported in the judging process by a group of preliminary judges; same including Dr. Denise Ferran (artist, art historian and former president of the Royal Ulster Academy); Mr Eoin Butler (Artist and lecturer); Seán Kissane (Curator) and Ms Marie Connole (A previous Texaco Children’s Art Competition winner).

The top 126 artworks of this year’s competition are currently being showcased at Belfast’s Royal Ulster Academy of Arts until June 30th next, with the display open from Tuesday to Thursday each week, from 9:00am-5:00pm each day.

For those visiting the exhibition, admission is free.