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 Parkinson’s Association Golf Classic The Tipperary Branch of the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland are to hold a Golf Classic at Thurles Golf Club.
Local correspondent Mr Gerry Bowe reports:-
The Parkinson’s Association of Ireland (Tipperary Branch) was established some 12 years ago and today continue to provides continued services and supports to people affected by the disease both here in county Tipperary and indeed nationally.
The Tipperary Branch of the Parkinson’ Association of Ireland will hold a Golf Classic at Thurles Golf Club on Monday August 1st next. To this end supporters are being invited to sponsor a “Tee box” at a cost of just €50. Of course donations, no matter how small, are also most welcome and further details can be had by contacting one of the following locally: Mr John Hackett, Mrs Peggy Kirby or Mr Stevie Smee.
Parkinson’s is a disorder of our body’s nervous system, which directly impacts upon one in every 500 people and currently approximately 8,000 people in the Republic of Ireland have been diagnosed as suffering from this progressive neurological condition. People suffering with Parkinson’s require regular inputs from Specialists who deal with this condition from diagnosis and onwards; so as to ensure that symptoms are managed effectively and greater quality of life is maintained.
Yours sponsorship and any future support in hosting this event, as always, will be very much appreciated.
 Following a meeting of Cabinet in Leinster House, it has been decided that new first time elected members of Dáil Éireann will sign up to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, under the provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) acts, necessarily introduced in 2009 and imposed on public servants.
In a public statement issued by Cabinet on Thursday last, the government stated that it did not wish to be seen by the general public as acting unfairly in any future dealings, in particular with Secondary School Teachers, who share less holiday time, and the drastically reduced membership of An Garda Síochána, latter who put their lives on the line protecting Irish TD’s from death threats for a mere €23,500 per annum. Readers will be aware for the most part that both these said groups are refusing to participate in this aforementioned agreement.
To this end, as and from July 1st 2016 some 52 new Teachtaí Dála (TD’s) elected to the Lower House of the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament – Dáil Éireann), for the first time, following the General Election held on February 26th last, will now be subjected to a considerable reductions in both pay and expenses.
New first time elected TD’s will now only receive approximately €46,000 in salary during the life time of this present government, instead of their €87,258 salary as is the present case. The perk of granting new mobile phones; purchased to the maximum cost of €750 in any 18-month period, and previously allowed to all new TD’s; has also been removed.
In relation to mileage expenses, those residing 15.5 miles from Dáil Éireann will also no longer receive the customary untaxed €25,295 extra for turning up to work on their average of 3 days or less each week, regardless.
A full list of all Parliamentary Standard Allowances (PSA’s) will be published on the Houses of the Oireachtas Website later this coming week, with similar reductions expected to affect Seanad Éireann, latter the Upper House of the Oireachtas .
Water Conservation
Meanwhile the Minister for the Environment is understood to be looking into the possibility of running an educational campaign to encourage water conservation in the home.
According to the Irish Environmental Protection Agency, flushing toilets accounts for around 25% of Irish people’s waters usage, with a standard toilet using 1.8 gallons of water or more per flush.
The Minister is now suggesting that people should take their first pee of the day, while taking their morning shower. Such practise would see around 0.880 gallons of water only leave your shower head in the 22 seconds it takes for a human being to finish peeing; unless you possibly have been ‘on the p..s’ the night previously. Regardless this practise, if encouraged in every home, would lead to considerably less water wastage than used with a standard toilet flush.
Good news also for those of you who insist on wiping after peeing in the toilet; a huge saving can also be made in the weekly purchase of toilet rolls. With an average of 400 squares of paper currently found on most toilet rolls, peeing in the shower would in fact eradicate the wastage of up to 5 squares per roll on any standard wipe.
The Health Service Executive (HSE), are also supporting this initiative, based on the proven fact that hard-working household servants in Victorian times steeped their feet in urine, to ensure relaxed, soft, flexible foot skin.
Meanwhile strong opposition is expected to these proposed regulations from Irish Supermarkets and the manufactures of foot care products, including foot orthotics and insoles; both claiming hundreds of jobs will be lost to industry if these new rules come into force.
OK – If you believe the above, you would believe anything. However the solution given to those tired, callused and toughened areas of skin on your feet is absolutely true. Try steeping your feet in your urine for 15 minutes every night and after a week note the massive difference to your ‘trotters’.
 Independent TD Michael Lowry has welcomed the recent added financial investment in the Irish health sector, and in particular the €40m announced for home care services. Same investment comes as part of an extra €500 million funding which has been added to our already overall Health Service Budget nationally for 2016, by Minister for Health Mr Simon Harris.
However Lowry warned, “Despite this new welcome allocation, serious challenges still continue to remain within the service, with demands for home help and home care packages continuing to grow.”
In particular Lowry pointed out, “Patients who are medically ready for hospital discharge continue to remain waiting in much needed hospital beds, due to our inability to access and put in place home supports.”
“More access to home supports”, stated Lowry, “could see patients living at home; instead of remaining in long-term residential care, should these appropriate services be made more readily available. This said problems are also arising in the number of older people already in receipt of home care, who have been identified as not receiving the number of help hours needed.
It is readily acknowledged that many more patients could be at home”, continued Lowry, “where they themselves want to be; where their families want them to be; and where Government policy says they should be. However we are simply not providing these necessary homecare supports and this present situation goes completely against Governmental stated objectives of caring for individuals within our communities.
In particular over the past number of years Health Care in its entirety across Tipperary has faced utter devastation through serious financial cuts, e.g. South Tipp General Hospital, Our Lady’s hospital Cashel, Dean Maxwell Roscrea, Mount Sion Tipperary, the effects of which can only be described as terrifying and a gross burden on our most vulnerable. To this end I will now be seeking an assurance from Minister Harris that a fair share of this much needed new funding will be made available to Co. Tipperary.
This new investment in our community care services is indeed a most positive development, however we now need to put in place a system that provides for more appropriate homecare services and packages. This will enable many more of our citizens to return to live in their own homes under a more tailored care plan, which in turn will be one step closer to solving our current hospital overcrowding”, concluded Lowry.
 Viral rash indicating a possible attack of ‘Shingles’. “There is no doubt there are major problems in our health service, of which we are not even aware”, Paddy confirmed to me over a pint, down in Hickey’s Pub, Cathedral Street, Thurles, last night. Paddy was relating to me details of a rather embarrassing incident which had happened to a mate of his, early yesterday morning.
According to Paddy, his mate Mick, a local lorry driver; latter well known as holding a somewhat easy-going, composed and obliging personality, had paid a rather unscheduled visit to a doctor.
Mick had walked into the new Primary Care Centre, located in Carrick-on-Suir. “Sure you know the place”, said Paddy, “Set up under a Public Private Partnership by the European Investment Bank, in yet another attempt to privatise our Irish health service and further promote our existing two tier health system.”
According to Paddy, Mick approached the reception desk and a young lady queried as to his problem. ‘Shingles’, said Mick. The receptionist, knowledgeable enough to know it was not possible to catch shingles from someone else with that condition, then asked him a load of personal questions. She sought his name; his address; his private telephone number and (the all important question), whether or not he held private Medical Insurance. Having received positive answers to all questions, she then invited him to have a seat in the public waiting room.
Some fifteen minutes later a nurse’s aide arrived; calling him by name, she again asked him what was his particular problem?. ‘Shingles’, said Mike. The nurse’s aide measured his height; took details of his weight; asked if he ever had chickenpox in the past and then told him to remain seated in the examination room.
A half hour later a registered nurse came along and asked Mike yet again what was his problem. ‘Shingles’, said Mike. So the nurse took his blood pressure, a blood sample test, gave him an electrocardiogram (ECG), before asking him to remove all his clothing in preparation for a full examination by the doctor; whom would be along shortly.
An hour later the doctor arrived and found Mike sitting patiently, in his birthday suit. He again enquired as to Mike’s problem. ‘Shingles’, said a now somewhat agitated Mike. The doctor asked, ‘Where?’ Mike said, ‘Outside on me truck. I was just wondering where you would like me to unload ’em?.’
Thurles Community Garda Officer Mr Chris Verling, reports:-
 Beltaine or Beltane, the Anglicised name for the Gaelic Festival of Bealtaine (Irish for the month of May), takes place this month; marking the halfway period between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice.
To celebrate ‘Bealtaine’, while simultaneously helping elderly people to achieve their optimum physical, cognitive and mental health, as well as maximising their engagement in life; on Wednesday next, May 4th 2016 a “Tea Dance” will take place at an event run and organized by the local charity “Successful Ageing Thurles”.
This “Bealtaine Tea Dance” will take place at the Anner Hotel, Dublin Road, Thurles, from 2.00pm – 5.00pm and all elderly people in our community, wishing to attend, are being asked to please R.S.V.P. Thurles Library Tel: (0504) – 29720 or Mr Michael Wright Mobile Tel: (083) 3581304. (R.S.V.P required solely to ensure there is tea and a biscuit for everyone.)
Note: Admission to all elderly members within our community is totally free, including the music and light refreshments being provided during the course of this most enjoyable of annual Thurles events.
So all you young people out there, inform and check with your elderly parents, elderly friends, relatives not forgetting elderly neighbours. Help to assist them in sending their R.S.V.P.’s; latter indicating their intention to attend, shake that leg, meet, greet, laugh, chat or limply listen to the music, while sharing in this most pleasurable of ‘Bealtaine Festival’ afternoon events.
Remember Wednesday next, May 4th 2016.
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