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The graduation of 123 Prison Officers took place yesterday at the Print Works, Dublin Castle.
The new officers have now completed their Higher Certificate of Arts in Custodial Care (HCCC), developed and delivered jointly by the Irish Prison Service and South East Technological University (SETU).
This graduating class form part of the Irish Prison Service’s latest recruitment drive. They have already been allocated tn prisons throughout the State, including the Operational Support Group and the Prison Service Escort Corp.
This week’s graduation ceremony marks the formal recognition of the new officers’ academic achievement.
Recognising the crucial role played by prison officers in delivering an important public service, President of SETU, Professor Veronica Campbell emphasised the need to provide a high standard of training and education to support them:- “In light of this, the Irish Prison Service and SETU have created a collaborative work-based programme that develops the reflective, theoretical and practical skills of the Recruit Prison Officer. With over 900 Recruit Prison Officers having successfully completed the programme since 2017, including the 123 graduates who were awarded a Higher Certificate of Arts in Custodial Care at Dublin Castle this evening, SETU’s partnership with the Irish Prison Service is a prime example of our connectivity with our region, firmly aligned with our strategic goals in the provision of educational experiences that are student centred and responsive to learner needs.
I extend my sincere congratulations to this year’s graduates on their academic achievements. This milestone is a testament to the hard work you have invested in earning your qualification.”
The Higher Certificate in Custodial Care is a two-year part-time programme designed to develop the professional competencies of Prison Service staff in working with prisoners. The HCCC is intended to facilitate a greater understanding of how officers can confront challenges through the exploration of different subjects including, Resilience, Mental Health, Social Psychology and Human Rights.
After initial training, RPOs are appropriated to a prison, with assignments based on the security and operational needs of each individual prison.
A Tipperary man has been jailed for 10 years, with a one-year post-release supervision order, for the rape of a female acquaintance whom he had collected from hospital, in the early hours of the morning.
The victim had been out socialising on the night in question and had fallen, before being conveyed to hospital by ambulance for observation.
Mr Padraic Troy, aged 29 years, of Golden Gardens, Dundrum Co. Tipperary, was convicted following a trial at the Central Criminal Court, of two counts of rape, anal rape and two sexual assaults of the woman back in 2021.
While at the hospital, the victim had telephoned several people, including contacting Mr Troy, seeking assistance. Mr Troy had arrived at the hospital after 3:00am, and she had accepted transport in his company and in the company of another male.
The first sexual assault by Mr Troy occurred while in the car. It was there that he began kissing her, leaving the victim feeling disgusted, while she impressed on him her willingness only to return home.
On returning home the victim was assisted inside. The second male left, leaving her on her own with Mr Troy, who then raped her, anally raped and sexually assaulted her in her bedroom.
On the following day, the victim reported on what had happened to the Gardaí, before being examined at a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit. A DNA profile matching Mr Troy was identified from her under garments.
Mr Troy, when interviewed later by Gardaí, claimed he had been involved in consensual sex only with the victim.
Passing sentence, Ms Justice Melanie Greally stated that the multiplicity of distinct violations and the degree of physical force used; the victims vulnerability at the time of the incident and the overall impact on the victim were among the most aggravating of the factors in the case.
Mr Troy already had 20 previous convictions; these included theft, public order offences, assault and road traffic offences.
The court also heard that the victim wished for Mr Troy to be publicly named, while the victim herself, wished to maintain her anonymity.
Ms Justice Greally wished the victim well for the future and expressed the court’s hope that her continued recovery, from this experience, would endure.
EPA announces funding of €6.6million for targeted new research projects to address environmental, climate and sustainability challenges.
- The EPA today announces funding of €6.6million for new research that will address environmental, climate and sustainability challenges in Ireland.
- Funding will support targeted research projects that address specific needs from across the policy community, with a focus on shorter projects to provide timely outputs.
- Proposals are invited under 29 individual topics, including how we can enhance the reuse of water in Ireland, assessing methane emissions and exploring the impact of global megatrends on achieving environmental objectives.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced research funding of up to €6.6 million for new environmental research. The EPA is inviting proposals from the research community for innovative projects under 29 topics that will contribute to the development and implementation of environmental policies in Ireland.
Announcing the EPA funding call, Dr Eimear Cotter, (Director of the EPA’s Office of Evidence and Assessment) said: “The EPA’s continued investment in research underscores its critical role in addressing knowledge gaps and supporting effective policy responses to the challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation. In 2024, we were delighted to see an 80 per cent increase in applications to the EPA research call, highlighting the significant opportunity that researchers see for their work to contribute to environmental and climate policy development, and we hope to see a similarly strong response to our 2025 call.”
- Research topics to be funded include:
- assessing the performance of policies on achieving our climate targets;
- examining how Ireland’s infrastructure can be resilient to population growth and climate change in the future;
- exploring the impact of global megatrends such as artificial intelligence on environmental objectives;
- how we can enhance the reuse of water in Ireland, and
- analysing methane emissions from natural sources and human activities in Ireland.
Dr Darragh O’Neill, (EPA Research Manager”), stated, “The EPA is inviting proposals across 29 topics to address specific knowledge gaps. To strengthen the connection between research and policy, the EPA will support the successful research teams in working closely with the policy community to deliver impactful research outcomes. We particularly encourage early career researchers to apply and to consider the relevance of their research to the environment, climate and sustainability.”
The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative, funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Applications are accepted from across the island of Ireland, including from higher education institutions, research performing organisations, private companies and non-governmental organisations. Under this year’s call, the EPA is delighted to be partnering with Met Éireann, the Office of Public Works and the National Parks and Wildlife Service to co-fund projects in areas of mutual interest.
Further details about the 2025 EPA Research Call and how to apply for funding is available on the EPA Website.
Thurles Municipal District Enhancement and Painting Grant 2025.
Thurles Municipal District Council, is seeking to improve the streetscape and public realm of Thurles Town, Templemore Town and Roscrea Town, through supporting owners of buildings in improving and enhancing their properties and public areas generally, by such means as, but not limited to:-
- Removal of inappropriate contemporary signage, fittings, and general clutter and replacement with shop fascia signage (with an emphasis on hand-painted signage).
- Painting and general improvements to the frontages of commercial and residential buildings.
- Erection of planters, floral hanging baskets, or other environmental improvements.
Application Forms: Same can be obtained by email to una.osullivan@tipperarycoco.ie.
Further Information: Telephone: +353 (0)818 06 5000, during hours 9:30am to 4:30pm.
It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, on Tuesday 25th February 2025 of Mrs Patricia (Pat) Nelder (née O’Halloran), Canvey Island, Essex, England and formerly of Rathclough South, Dualla, Cashel, Co. Tipperary.
In her 90th year and pre-deceased by her parents Dermot and Elsie O’Halloran (nee Barrett) and sister Rose (Nelder) and Joan (Husbands); Mrs Nelder passed away peacefully at Basildon University Hospital, Nether Mayne, Basildon SS16 5NL, United Kingdom.
Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving husband Ronnie, daughters Teresa, Angela and Julie; sons Michael, Graham and Ronnie, brother John, sister-in-law Phyllis, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements.
A Service of Cremation, for Mrs Nelder, will take place at Basildon Crematorium, Church Rd, Bowers Gifford, Basildon SS13 2HG, United Kingdom, on Monday afternoon April 7th 2025, at 12:30pm.
The extended Nelder and O’Halloran families wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
In ár gcroíthe go deo.
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