Thurles Information

Irish Mainland Confirms 10,573 New Cases Of Covid-19 Today.

In the Republic of Ireland, over the past 24 hours, the Department of Health has confirmed 4,033 PCR test- cases of coronavirus, plus in addition, 4,304 people have registered a positive antigen test; bringing the complete total number of cases to 8,337

There were 670 patients with Covid in our Republic’s hospitals this Friday morning, with 43 of these, in our hospital intensive care units across the country.

In Northern Ireland over the past 24 hours, 2,236 cases of coronavirus were confirmed, down from 2,408 cases confirmed yesterday.

Today, there were 484 patients with Covid-19 in northern hospitals, up 1 on yesterday, with of these 3 Covid patients remaining in intensive care units; down from 5 confirmed yesterday.

Sadly, 3 more Covid-19-related deaths have also been reported in Northern Ireland today, bringing the total number of deaths linked to the virus, since the start of the pandemic, to 3,223.

TUS LSAD Students Win ‘First Frame’ Best Documentary.

Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) [who have educational centres locations in Thurles, Clonmel, Limerick City, Ennis, and Athlone], congratulate their Limerick School of Art and Design Students on wining the ‘First Frame’ Best Documentary award for a second year in a row.

Pictured L to R:- Ms Tania Notaro, *(VMDIFF First Frame Programmer)*; Mr Mark Griffin, (Lecturer, Creative Broadcast and Media Production LSAD); Ms Muireann de Barra, *(Co-Programme Leader & Lecturer, Creative Broadcast and Media Production LSAD)*; Ms Gráinne Humphreys, *(Festival Director, Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival (VMDIFF)* and Ms Jennifer Kimber, *(Warner Media)*, **at the ‘First Frame’ Best Documentary** event in Dublin’s Lighthouse Cinema .

President of TUS Professor Mr Vincent Cunnane has congratulated the second year TUS LSAD (Limerick School of Art and Design) Creative Broadcast and Film Production students, latter who won the ‘First Frame’ Best Documentary award at the Virgin Media Dublin, International Film Festival 2022. This year is the second year in a row that students from the acclaimed TUS LSAD have won this national award.

Directed by Corinne Gibbons and Shane Joyce, the winning documentary “Underground Éire” tells the story of three underground Limerick musicians who each struggle with their personal identities and relationships with being artists.

The film producers Jordan Guerin and Corinne Gibbons, Sound Mixer and Boom Operator Heather Curtin and runner Zach O’Donnell were also recognised as part of the winning TUS LSAD team.

Congratulating the winners Professor Cunnane said, “We at TUS are very proud of what Corinne, Shane, Jordan, Heather and Zach have achieved at the First Frame Awards. I would also like to acknowledge the work and dedication of the Creative Broadcast and Media Production staff who have encouraged and supported this creativity, and ensured the students have the skillset and training that not only allows them to make award winning films, but ensures they are work ready for the broadcast industry on graduating from TUS LSAD.”

Professor Cunnane also congratulated fourth year student Marta di Giovanni whose film “Tatiana” was also shortlisted for the competition and screened as part of the film festival.

‘First Frame’, brings together students from 17 film courses, universities and further education institutions from across Ireland, as part of an international film event.

Speaking following the ceremony in Dublin’s Lighthouse Cinema, Muireann de Barra, Joint Programme Leader Creative Broadcast and Film Production Programme said she was thrilled for the TUS LSAD students, describing the win as a richly deserved recognition of their work, among a high calibre of submissions from across the country.

“This documentary adds a trio of fresh, new and authentic voices to the wealth of talent at the heart of Limerick’s multicultural music scene. We couldn’t be prouder of the Creative Broadcasting and Film Production students for capturing their stories and are delighted to see it receive national recognition at the VMDIFF First Frame awards, with thanks to the jury members. Returning to in-person film screening events was a welcome change and this award really is the icing on the cake,” she added.

In a joint statement, directors Shane Joyce and Corinne Gibbons, said, “Winning this award is an honour. We are so grateful to have had the opportunity and trust to capture the stories presented in the film. Now to be sharing these stories in front of audiences and hearing the connection people are having with them is just sensational. Being a part of the Dublin International Film Festival has been fantastic and we couldn’t be happier with our award and screening of Underground Éire.”

The documentary has also been accepted into First Cut! Youth Film Festival in Youghal, Co. Cork – (9th – 12th March), and The Catalyst International Film Festival in Limerick in April 2022, which prioritises stories and storytellers, currently under-represented, both on screen and behind the camera.

Covid-19 Cases Increase By 1,095 On Irish Mainland In Past 24 Hours.

In the Republic of Ireland, our Department of Health has reported 4,042 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 4,746 positive antigen tests, same registered through the HSE portal; a total, in all, of 8,788, same up 1,094 cases on yesterdays reported figures.

There were 661 Covid patients in our Republic’s hospitals; up 8 on yesterday, with 46 in ICU, at 8:00am this morning; latter same figure as reported yesterday.

Across Northern Ireland, a further 2,408 cases of coronavirus were reported today, up 1 on the from 2,407 cases reported on yesterday.

Today there were 483 patients with Covid-19 in hospitals in Northern Ireland, up from 477 reported yesterday.

Of these Covid patients, 5 remain in intensive care units, the same number also as reported yesterday.

Sadly, a further 3 more Covid-19-related deaths have been reported in Northern Ireland over the past 24 hours.

15 Ambulances Queued Outside ED At University Hospital Limerick Yesterday.

Surely, Tipperary politicians could find at least one of their highly paid personal assistants, working from home, with the ability to write even a short paragraph, highlighting the current major difficulties being experienced at University Hospital Limerick.

For example, this would allow Teachtaí Dála, like Mr J. Cahill or Mr M. Lowry to communicate their characteristic explosive spitting and choking noises in Dáil Éireann, in the weeks ahead, and more importantly be caught on TV.

I say this in the knowledge that sources within the ambulance service, confirm that at least 15 ambulances were queued-up outside the Emergency Department (ED) at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon.

Same delays, we understand, were due to high levels of patient overcrowding. Yesterday also, there were 81 patients waiting for a bed in the hospital serving North Tipperary, recorded in daily figures published by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

All 24-hour Emergency department services in the Midwest Region were in the past reconfigured into University Hospital Limerick and yesterday sources confirmed that there were not enough trolleys to allow incoming patients to be handed over to hospital staff.

It is widely acknowledged that pressure in UHL could be greatly reduced if 24-hour emergency departments in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, in Ennis, Co. Clare and St. John’s in Limerick city were re-opened.
UHL has a current catchment area containing over 400,000 people and is almost daily, consistently the most overcrowded hospital within the Irish State.

Last month the INMO called on the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) to investigate overcrowding at the medical facility.

On January 25th, the nurses’ union confirmed it recorded 97 patients without a bed at the hospital, latter the highest number recorded in any Irish hospital since the union began compiling trolley figures.

EPA Enforcement Efforts Targeted Unauthorised Peat Extraction, Waste Management & Water Quality.

The EPA carried out 1,295 inspections at EPA licensed sites during the year, a 19% increase, compared with 2020.
The EPA carried out a number of targeted enforcement campaigns in 2021.
48 inspections at unauthorised peat extraction sites.
41 inspections at waste licensed sites, with a focus on improving fire risk management.
The removal of 14 sites from the EPA’s Water Framework Directive Significant Pressure list.
Eleven sites were identified as National Priority Sites in 2021, a decrease from the twelve sites in 2020. Eight of these 11 National Priority Sites were from the Food & Drink and Intensive Agriculture sectors.

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its annual summary report on the enforcement activities carried out in 2021, along with the list of sites which were designated a National Priority Site during the year.

**The full list of National Priority Sites for 2021**.

This report shows that, despite the ongoing significant challenges and impact of Covid-19, the EPA increased their enforcement activities at industrial and waste licences at the 840 licenced installations throughout Ireland.

The report published today highlights the main issues at licensed activities during 2021 and outlines what actions the EPA took to enforce environmental conditions at these activities.

Individuals or companies who operate either without an EPA licence or breach that licence, were targeted by the EPA for enforcement.
The role of the public in reporting non-compliant or illegal operations to the EPA is a vital tool in helping us to address the environmental issues that may result and we encourage the public to report any concerns to the EPA.

Commenting on the publication of the annual summary report, Dr. Tom Ryan, Director, EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement said:
“The EPA focused its enforcement efforts in 2021 on tackling unauthorised extraction of peat, improving water quality downstream of licenced sites and the safe and appropriate management of waste.
Our enforcement activities are risk based and are targeted at sites that are not complying with their EPA licence requirements. We carried out almost 1,300 inspections of industrial and waste licensed activities and a further 55 inspections of unauthorised activities which require a licence or must cease operation.”

The EPA has also published the latest National Priority Sites List for 2021. The number of National Priority Sites in 2021 (11) was down slightly when compared with 2020 (12).
The EPA will continue to focus its resources where they are most needed and to ensure compliance at all sites.

Commenting on the publication, Mr. Darragh Page, Programme Manager, EPA Office of Environmental Enforcement said:
“The eleven sites on the National Priority Sites List in 2021 were the subject of targeted enforcement action. This represents around one per cent of the total sites licensed by the EPA. Sites from the food and drink and intensive agriculture sector made up almost three quarters of the sites on the National Priority Sites List during 2021.
These sectors must improve if Ireland is to support its green image of sustainable food and drink production.
Our enforcement objective is to ensure these sites resolve the environmental issues and for the sites to return to compliance.”

The report ‘Industrial and Waste Licence Enforcement Summary 2021’ is now available on the EPA HERE.