Author: Mr Alan Joseph Shatter[Irish lawyer, author and former politician who served as Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, (March 2011 – 7 May 2014) ].
Anyone In Charge?
Helter skelter. Bicycle shelter. Construction complete. A real belter!
Security Hut. Door kept shut. Architecturally sound. No short cuts.
Cost irrelevant. OPW white elephants. Government shocked. Cos it can’t blame an emigrant!
Person in charge. Still at large. Nowhere to be found. Gone to ground.
Taoiseach bemused. Tanaiste taken aback. No one responsible. Sure governings great crack!
Here in the Mid-west region, which includes North Tipperary, there have been considerable complaints about the current state of our health services.
This in mind, Thurles.Info set up cameras, covertly, within the reception area of one of our medical establishment, (Facility shall remain nameless); in an effort to try and understand the problems within our health service, particularly regarding the situation where the number of individuals or objects occupying a particular space exceeds its intended or optimal capacity.
This video, shown above, will now be sent to the area dealing with health complaints procedures, and forwarded to the Minister Mr Stephen Donnelly TD, in the hope that the sending of same is not over complicated and hopefully will not causes adverse frustration within the service itself.
Provide training, guidance and other support to the Local Community Safety Partnerships, including assistance in formulating Local Community Safety Strategies and Action Plans.
Foster inter-agency collaboration and cross-sectoral coordination.
Provide national communication regarding community safety.
Yesterday, Monday September 23rd 2024 it was announced that Ms Gráinne Berrill had been designated as the first Director of the National Office for Community Safety.
This office newly established is expected to be a game changer for community safety in Ireland and will lead on the establishment of the new Community Safety Partnerships, enabling communities to develop their own local community safety plans.
Ms Berrill brings with her a wealth of experience in the public and Community & Voluntary sectors, having held several senior roles, including most recently as the Coordinator of the Drogheda Implementation Board; a cross agency, cross sectoral response to rising concerns regarding crime and fear of crime in the area.
As Director, Ms Berrill will oversee the management and administration of the National Office for Community Safety, which will be established under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, when the Act is commenced by the Minister later this year.
The National Office will play a central role in the rollout of the Government’s ambitious new strategy for improving community safety. Working closely with Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs), the Office will be responsible for providing support, training, and guidance to local authorities to enhance community safety across Ireland. This initiative represents a key component of the Government’s broader efforts to promote inter-agency collaboration and inclusive community engagement at the local level.
The National Office will build on the work of the LCSP pilot partnerships which have been running in Longford, Waterford and Dublin’s North Inner City for the last number of years. Each has developed and published a local community safety plan and through independent monitoring and evaluation has helped inform best practice for this forthcoming national roll out.
The National Office for Community Safety will have the following functions:
Provide support to public service bodies in the implementation of the national strategy and to foster collaboration between those bodies in the provision of services to improve community safety.
Prepare annual programmes of work to support the implementation of the national strategy.
Provide training, guidance and support to LCSPs in their operation and in the performance of their functions.
Monitor the implementation of the national strategy.
Monitor the implementation of Local Community Safety Plans (which will be published by each LCSP).
Conduct or commission research and evaluations relating to any of the functions of the National Office and the operation of LCSPs.
Promote public awareness of issues affecting community safety and the work of the National Office.
Provide such information and reports as are requested by the Minister, the Steering Group and the designated committee of the Government.
Provide such other support as the Steering Group may require to perform its functions.
3,600 new Irish citizens will attend at Citizenship Ceremonies in the Convention Centre, Dublin.
3,600 new Irish citizens will be granted Irish citizenship in three ceremonies all taking place today, Monday September 16th, at the Convention Centre in Dublin. The Ceremonies will see applicants from 143 countries around the world, who are residing across 32 counties on the island of Ireland, being conferred as Irish citizens.
This follows 14 such ceremonies held so far this year, with a total of 11,417 people attending and being conferred with Irish Citizenship. The Presiding Officer at the ceremonies is retired Justice Mr Paddy McMahon, who will administer the “Declaration of Fidelity” to the Irish Nation and Loyalty to the Irish State.
The Citizenship Division have introduced significant changes to speed up the applications process for applicants, including the introduction of an online digital application, online payments, and eVetting.
Over the last 2 years the Citizenship Division has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year, to processing over 20,000 applications in 2023. Already in 2024 nearly 16,000 decisions have been made in the first half of this year.
Last year, the Citizenship Division more than doubled the number of ceremonies available to applicants, with 15 held over the course of the year. This was a significant increase on 6 Citizenship Ceremonies held in 2022.
Including today, September 16th, the total number of Ceremonies held so far this year is 17, surpassing the number of ceremonies hosted in 2023. Further Ceremonies are being planned for later in the year.
New Irish citizens will undertake to faithfully observe the laws of the Irish State and to respect its democratic values. These new Irish citizens are contributing to a diverse and inclusive workforce, bringing a range of skills and talents that enhance the overall capabilities of the labour market and the Irish economy.
Politics: From the words Poli (Meaning ‘Many’) and Tics (Meaning ‘Blood Sucking Parasites’).
The Thurles Roofless Bicycle Shed.
A newly erected bicycle shed to house eighteen bikes at Leinster House, latter the seat of the Oireachtas, the parliament of Ireland has cost more than €335,000. The above expenditure could have purchased a 4 bed, 3 bath, 138 m² detached house, or 3 semi-detached council houses each with 3 Bedrooms, and 1 Bath, here in urban Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Initially hailed by Transport Minister Mr Eamon Ryan TD, as an excellent example of public sector climate action, this shelter, required archaeological advice, to make sure it fitted into the parliamentary complex, at a cost to the taxpayer of €2,952.
We are advised that over 600 civil service staff support the functioning of the Oireachtas in Leinster House. Add this number to the 160 TDs attending for 3 days each working week, [Note: 124 men and 36 women (latter only 22.5%)]; one hopes that this “18 Space Bicycle Shed” can be easily expanded.
Then again many may be working from home or using “The Dart” (“The Dort”, for the benefit of those commuting from Sandymount and Foxrock)“, or (God forbid) these rainy days, using other public transport. One thing we do know, the vast majority of these 760 workers and their bosses are not arriving on bicycles, but then again we never get to see what is parked around the back of that formidable structure and are the great unwashed permitted to mix with nobility?
We further learn, courtesy of the Office of Public Works, that a high-quality structure was needed because of the building’s sensitive location.
Note: Off the record, and keep tight lipped on this, Thurles does not have even one Bus Shelter, and when Tipperary Co. Council learn of the above costs of an 18 Space Bicycle Shed, local commuters had better continue to carry their parasols and hope for non-windy conditions.
According to numerous press outlets, other breakdown costs; provided by the Office of Public Works, shows that €322,282 was spent on the main construction and finished installation; while €10,816 was paid for quantity surveying services and contract administration services.
However, asked for a copy of the business case for this project, the OPW confirmed that none had been required. On a more positive note: unlike roofless Thurles Bicycle stalls on Liberty Square, Thurles, shown above, at least the 18 cyclists in Leinster House won’t have to ride home on wet saddles or come out to find someone has reversed into their “High Nelly” .
Looks like Tipperary Co. Council are not the only wasters of taxpayer funding.
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