Thurles Information

Awareness Campaign – Support For Victims Of Domestic Violence Launched.

New Awareness Campaign For Supports For The Victims Of Domestic, Sexual & Gender Based Violence Launched.

‘Always Here’ aims to increase awareness of pathways to safety and supports available.
Builds on the strength of the ‘Still Here’ campaign that ran during the Covid pandemic.
New website alwayshere.ie, launched with comprehensive information on supports and pathways to safety for victims of DSGBV.

The Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee TD, has today launched a campaign to raise awareness on pathways to safety and supports, available for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

**Domestic, Sexual & Gender Based Violence**.

The ‘Always Here’ campaign – which will run on TV, local and national radio, digital and social media, and elsewhere – seeks to highlight and signpost victims and wider society to the available support services, while encouraging them to reach out for help and to report what has happened or is happening to them.

The campaign is being launched just before Christmas, a time when reports of domestic abuse in particular can escalate.

Minister McEntee said, “Sadly, the risk of domestic violence can increase over the Christmas period, and I am conscious for people in abusive situations that the worry of reduced availability of trusted professionals and support services can cause increased stress.
I want to assure victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence that they are not alone. Help and support is always available, including during the Christmas period.
An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service and other services, including the vital supports provided by our community and voluntary sector, are always here for you, including during Christmas, and when you ask for help, you will be heard.”

The campaign follows on from the well-received ‘Still Here’ campaign which was focused on telling victims that help and support remained available during the Covid pandemic, despite the various restrictions on travel and social contacts.

The ‘Always Here’ assets produced for the campaign seek to empower victims by reassuring them that they will be believed, that the issue will be taken seriously, that there are organisations ready to support them, and that the wider Irish society stands with them and condemns the behaviour of perpetrators.

A new website, alwayshere.ie, has also been launched which provides advice and information on available supports to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. It explains the various manifestations of domestic violence and coercive control, including targeted advice and information for young people who are concerned about domestic abuse.

Minister McEntee added, “The development of this campaign has included significant input from those on the frontline supporting victims of these heinous crimes, including state and non-state organisations.
What has come through loud and clear in those discussions is that we, as a society, are determined that that there is zero tolerance for domestic and sexual violence and we, as a society, stand with the victims of these awful crimes. There will be no let-up in our efforts to tackle domestic and sexual violence, and to see justice served to perpetrators and for victims.”

The ‘Always Here’ campaign fulfils an action under the Third National Strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. This burst of the campaign will continue until late January, while messaging primarily targeting victims of sexual violence will be developed later in 2024.

Free Walk-in Clinics for Children to Receive Nasal Flu Vaccine.

Due to a significant increase in flu cases, the Health Service Executive (HSE) are offering free walk-in clinics to administer the nasal flu vaccine for children aged between 2 years-17 years.
Clinics will be available from December 27th to 29th.
Recent data has indicated a surge in influenza cases across all age groups, with children being twice as likely to contract the virus when compared to adults.

Dr. Aparna Keegan, (Consultant in Public Health Medicine at the HSE National Immunisation Office), emphasizes the importance of parents getting their children vaccinated. The vaccine not only protects young children from the effects of the flu, but also helps prevent the spread of the virus within families and communities.

The nasal flu vaccine can still be obtained from GP practices and pharmacies participating. Additionally, the HSE continues to provide the free nasal spray flu vaccine to children in Senior Infants and all children in Primary Age Special Schools.

According to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), the number of confirmed influenza cases notified to HPSC has increased in the past week, with 283 confirmed influenza cases notified in week 49 (week ending December 10th) and 170 cases reported in week 48 (week ending December 3rd).
During week 49, 2023, influenza increased in almost all age groups but mainly in those aged 0-4 years.

The common symptoms of flu in children include high temperature, muscle pains, headache, and extreme tiredness.

The locations of the clinics are as follows:

Tipperary—Thurles Primary Care Centre, Mitchell Street, Thurles on December 28th, from 11:00am – 3:00pm.
Limerick—Great National South Court Hotel, Raheen Gardens, Raheen, Limerick on December 27th, from 11:00am – 4:00pm.
Clare—Ennis Primary Care Centre, Station Road, Ennis on December 28th, from 10:00am – 2:00pm.

For a list of participating pharmacies, please visit the Flu Finder website.

This initiative by the HSE aims to combat the rising flu cases and ensure the well-being of children during this flu season. Getting vaccinated remains the most effective way to protect against the flu virus.

University Hospital Limerick Most overcrowded In Country This Year.

University Hospital Limerick (UHL), serving the medical needs of North Co. Tipperary, has continued to be the most overcrowded hospital in the country, so far this year, in what the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has described as the “worst year on record for hospital overcrowding”.

According to the group’s trolley watch figures, over 121,526 patients nationally have gone without a hospital bed in the year 2023 to date; the highest portion of which, 21,141, were in University Hospital, Limerick.

Across the country some 3,450 children have also been on trolleys so far this year, representing an increase of 24% on the previous year.

This morning, Tuesday December 19th, there were 517 people waiting for beds; again forced to remain on trolleys in hospitals across the country.

The five most overcrowded hospitals in 2023, in Ireland to date were:

University Hospital Limerick with 21,141 patients,
Cork University Hospital with 12,487 patients,
University Hospital Galway with 8,914 patients,
Sligo University Hospital with 8,094 patients,
St. Vincent’s University Hospital with 6,555 patients.

This overcrowding comes at a time when the HSE have decided to implement a staffing recruitment freeze, which will further demoralise an already exhausted workforce.
The HSE themselves have acknowledged that wait times are far too high for those on trolleys in emergency departments.

Compared to the HSE figures which only count patients who are physically in the emergency department, the INMO figures published on their website weekly, from Monday to Friday, give a more accurate depiction of how many people are on trolleys and chairs right throughout our public hospitals.

The highest level of overcrowding recorded by the INMO was 760 patients record on January 6th 2020.

Death Of Michael Carney, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Monday 18th December 2023, of Mr Michael Carney, No. 5, St. Kevin’s Park, Littleton, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, and formerly of Harrow, London UK.

Pre-deceased by his brothers Ralph, Peter and Brian, his sister Doreen; Mr Carney passed away peacefully after a long illness, while under the care of staff of St. Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny City, Co. Kilkenny.

His passing is most deeply regretted and sadly missed by his loving family; wife Jennie (Janie, née Croke, Ballytarsna, Cashel), daughter Jayne, grandchildren Shay, Hannah and Ciara, brother Roy, sisters Pam, Yvonne and Jill, nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, former colleagues in Kodak Rugby Club Harrow, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The remains of Mr Carney will repose at his place of residence (E41 WF74) on Thursday afternoon, December 21st, from 4:00pm until 7:00pm.
A Cremation Service will be held on Friday morning, December 22nd, at 11:00am, in Shannon Crematorium, Illaunmanagh, Shannon, Co. Clare, (V14 PV30).

For those persons who are unable to attend the Cremation Service for Mr Carney, same can be viewed streamed live online HERE, 10 minutes before the scheduled service takes place.

The extended Carney family 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.

EU Commission Proposals Regarding Refresher Courses For Elderly Drivers Shelved.

New proposals suggested by the European Commission that, if implemented, could result in drivers over 70 years of age having to undergo driving refresher courses, will not be implemented here in Ireland.

**Just one small section of unravelled** **roadway on Kickham Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary ignored by local elected councillors and Thurles Municipal District officials.**

It has been confirmed that there are no plans by the Irish government to change the current age from over 75 years old to 70 years. Thus drivers under 75 years will not have to supply a medical report confirming their fitness to drive, unless they are specifically identified as someone who has a specific illness and therefore required to do so by law.

The European Commission’s proposals were centred around some motorists having to undergo regular medical tests and refresher courses in order to renew their driving licence. These proposals also suggest mandatory training for professional van drivers, as well as allowing children, as young as 16 years, to drive cars that have been fitted with a governor, thus limiting the top speed of their vehicles.

The new EU proposed directives, which are seen by some as being ageist, unfair, ineffective and harmful, will not be made mandatory for individual member states. While intended to improve road safety, same would be seen as being unjust to those drivers residing in rural areas, that have limited access to other alternative forms of public transport.

According to a European Transport Safety Council report, over 5,400 people aged over 65 years were killed on EU roads in 2021; a third of which were pedestrians.

Here in rural Co. Tipperary, an effort to provide and invest in local road improvements, would be identified as being much more beneficial to the elderly driver, than undergoing driving refresher courses, as anyone who has driven around the streets of Thurles town will most surely confirm.