HSE Response re. Winter Vomitting Bug at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan

Visitor restrictions are in place at Our Lady's Hospital Navan  due to a suspected outbreak of Norovirus/Winter Vomiting Bug

Visiting is restricted in all areas of the hospital and is permitted only to very ill patients at the discretion of  the Ward Manager or their  deputy . As per the visiting policy there is strictly NO visiting permitted for children at anytime on the general wards.  

Visitors who have had vomiting and/or diarrhoea should not visit the hospital for 48 hours after symptoms have ceased and they are feeling well.  

All visitors are requested to clean their hands before and after visiting, by handwashing or using the alcohol gels available at the hospital.  

No fruit or flowers are allowed on wards during this suspected outbreak.

Job Vacancy - General Operative - Meath local Authorities

General Operative - 2 year Fixed Term Contract

Please note starting pay for new entrants will be at the minimum of the scale.  The rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

Closes Friday 20th January, 2012 at 5pm.

 General Operative - 2 year Fixed Term Contract - Application form doc, 201kb

 General Operative - 2 year Fixed Term Contract - Position Details doc, 57kb

Email this application to: humanresources@meathcoco.ie  

Alternatively, you can also post your application to the address below. 

JobBridge – The National Internship Scheme

The following positions are available with Meath County Council and are being advertised under JobBridge – The National Internship Scheme.

Landscape Gardener x 2 positions
Local History Research Assistant x 1 position
Research Assistant - Irish Language Collection x 1 position
Applications for the above 4 positions to be submitted by Wednesday 16th November, 2011

Heritage Education Research Officer x 1 position
Assistant Event Co-Ordinator x 1 position
Project Assistant - Reconciliation Analysis x 1 position
Applications for the above 3 positions to be submitted by Friday 18th November, 2011

Please refer to www.jobbridge.ie for details on each internship and applicants Eligibility Criteria.

All applications to be made by submitting a Curriculum Vitae to:

Human Resources Department,
Meath County Council,
Innovation House,
Railway Street,
Navan,
Co. Meath

or by email to humanresources@meathcoco.ie

Contact

Human Resources
Meath County Council
County Hall
Navan
County Meath

Tel: 046-9097044

Please state the name of the position you are applying for on the envelope.

FF’s criticism of local authority workers utterly unhelpful - Doherty

Minister intent on addressing deficiencies in local government with reform package to be announced in coming months 


Speaking on the Local Authority Public Administration Bill 2011 this morning (Friday) in the Dáil, Fine Gael Deputy for Meath East, Regina Doherty, said the Bill, introduced by Fianna Fáil, amounted to little more than public criticism of local authority workers and did little to address the issues facing local authorities. 

“Fianna Fáil’s attempt at local government reform clearly involves a lot of finger pointing in the direction of local authority workers, whose aim it is to deliver for their communities with, in some cases, seriously depleted resources, and little in the way of workable solutions to maximise resources. 

“Instead of seeking to address the issues facing local authorities and offering constructive suggestions, Fianna Fáil Deputies have today engaged in an unabashed attack on local authority workers who are attempting to do more with less. 

“In the case of Meath County Council, which is the most under resourced Council in the country per capita, public servants are successfully punching above their weight in terms of service provision and delivering for the people of Meath. This situation is being replicated right across the country. 

“Local authority workers are under considerable pressure which the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, is intent on addressing through his radical local government reform package to be announced in a matter of months. 

“Attempting to paint over the cracks in the way proposed by Fianna Fáil is less than helpful. We need to be inventive and look for reforms through the increased use of technology and shared services so that resources are freed up and workers are allowed to do the job they are paid to do. Furthermore, devolving more power to local authorities will give them control over how and where resources are utilised, allowing them to be used to maximum effect. 

“Local government reform is key to unlocking the full potential of all of our local authorities. Supporting local authority staff and boosting morale goes a long way too. After their spectacular mismanagement of our economy over the last decade, Fianna Fáil’s attack on public servants, in place of any practical or helpful proposals, is disingenuous and insulting.”   

Note on changes to Materials & Training Grants re CE Schemes

Community Employment schemes provide a very important and valued contribution to social employment, training and progression for unemployed people. Furthermore, many Community Employment schemes provide vital community services right across the country.

There are currently 1,143 CE schemes in operation nationally with 23,300 participants. The overall estimated budget stands at €315,194 million for 2012.

The Department of Social Protection has recently taken over full responsibility for Community Employment schemes as the previous FAS Employment Services division joined the Department of Social Protection with effect from 1 January.

CE schemes play an important role in our communities, in particular by providing services which have an intrinsic social value like helping the disabled to live independently or delivering meals on wheels to our older citizens.  This point sometimes gets lost in a purely economic analysis of CE schemes, which views them as not delivering sufficient progression into the labour market.

While it is true that many CE schemes do need to improve the manner in which they provide labour activation services, there will always be a role for schemes that are primarily directed towards the provision of crucial social services, often for disadvantaged communities who are in dire need of services like childcare, elderly care and drug treatment programmes.

The Minister for Social Protection has stated that she is determined to ensure that the contribution of such schemes is recognised in any future decisions on the future operation, funding and role of community employment.

As this area has only recently come under the Department of Social Protection, Minister Burton has asked for an initial review of the financial resources of all schemes to be completed in March 2012. Standard templates have been developed and issued to the employment officers involved. The review will be carried out between local CE sponsors and the Departmental employment officer responsible for the scheme under local management.

The discussion that will be undertaken with schemes will be conducted in an enabling manner and all support possible will be provided to help the schemes to remain viable.  Employment officers are currently making initial contact with schemes. In addition to these local discussions, discussion and consultation with the main representative bodies and stakeholders involved in schemes will take place over the coming weeks in relation to funding.

Separately the former FÁS Research unit has been asked to complete a strategic value for money review of a number of schemes administered by the Department. Community Employment will be reviewed as part of this exercise. This outcome of this review will guide future policy development and is expected to be completed by the end of March.

Minister Burton has announced that she will engage in a stakeholder consultation event in order to better understand the role that Community Employment schemes play across the entire country and to obtain the views and feedback of scheme sponsors, supervisors and participants.

The outcome of these reviews will inform the overall approach to be taken by the Department of Social Protection in relation to how to secure the best outcomes for the schemes and for their participants taking account both of the large amount of money we spend on CE schemes and the valuable contribution that many of them make to their communities.

The purpose of the review by the former FÁS Research unit is to examine the income and funding of sponsoring organisations in terms of their ability to continue deliver the programme.  It is also being carried out in the context that there are community and voluntary sponsoring organisations that receive funding from a multiplicity of state agencies. Alternative sources of support will be examined, particularly with reference to funding from other state agencies to avoid duplication.

The review will also seek to establish if income is generated by scheme activity and the potential for utilisation of these funds to cover project costs.

This is a listening government and the Government has been listening carefully to the concerns raised by the community and voluntary sector about the impact that changes to the training and material grant could have on Community Employment Schemes pending the outcome of the review. Following on from changes to the training and materials grant for Community Employment schemes announced in Budget 2012 Minister Burton made a commitment that no Community Employment Scheme would close pending the completion of this review.

The Government has been clear that in the event that the changes in the training and material grant announced in the Budget create financial difficulties for schemes, the Department of Social Protection will continue to provide funding for those schemes and funding has been made available in this context.

Community employment participants can continue to avail of education and training programmes that are available to them free of charge from existing State funded providers. This facility will also form part of the arrangements that will be developed as part of the establishment of SOLAS.

Road closure - L-22091 (Raynestown Lane) from its junction with the R147 (old N3) at Powderloug

Meath County Council has made an order to temporarily close the following road: 

• The L-22091 (Raynestown Lane) from its junction with the R147 (old N3) at Powderlough to its junction with the L-2209 at Rathregan.

This closure is necessary to facilitate Eirgrid’s East West Interconnector Project.

Duration:The intended road closure is from 2^nd February 2012 to 15^th March 2012.

Alternative Routes:The diversion routes are as follows:

Traffic normally travelling south on L22091: Continue south-east along the R147 (old N3) for approximately 4.3km, then take the third exit at the Black Bull roundabout at the junction with the R154. Continue north-west along the R154 for approximately 4.7km and then turn right onto the L2209 to arrive at the south end of the L22091.

Traffic normally travelling north on L22091: Continue south-east along the R154 for approximately 4.7km, then take the first exit at the Black Bull roundabout at the junction with the R147 (old N3). Continue north-west along the R147 (old N3) for approximately 4.3km to arrive at the north end of the L22091.

Diversion signs will be in place.

Local Access:Access for residents and property holders will be facilitated throughout the closure period.

Operation Transformation Walk in Meath

RTE Cameras to film Operation Transformation Walk this Saturday in Trim

Join us on

Saturday 14th January 2012 at Trim Castle at 12pm

 Meath LSP will host a 3.7km walk on the Trim Sli na Sláinte route. 

This is a great chance to get active with family and friends.
All ages and abilities welcome 

New Year – NEW YOU! Start your New Year’s transformation with us!

 We welcome all ages and abilities along on the day and particularly would like to see families getting involved.

The event is ideal for beginners to come out and give it a go and remember no matter what age you are it is never too late to change your thinking on physical activity.

Come on! Let`s show the nation what Meath can do!!

Meath Local Sports PartnershipPh: 046-9067337 Email: mlsp@meathcoco.ie Web: www.meathsports.ie

List of unfinished housing estates in Meath

According to www.householdcharge.ie the following is the list on unfinished housing estates in Meath

Even if your property is exempt from the household charge you are still required to register your property

Doherty pays tribute to pioneering work of journalist Mary Raftery

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has expressed her sympathy at the death of journalist Mary Raftery and paid tribute to her pioneering work.

“It was with great sadness that I learnt of the death of Mary Raftery this morning. Her work as a journalist is unparalleled in this country, and I believe we all owe her a great service for making us face the most difficult and disturbing facts about who we are as a society, and how we treat our most vulnerable members.

“Anyone who watched Mary Raftery’s pioneering documentary Cardinal Secrets on its first broadcast will remember being stopped in their tracks. The country was brought to a halt by the programme’s devastating revelations. For the first time we were presented with the horrendous realities of how our children in State and Church run institutions were abused, and how this abuse went unchecked and unreported for decades.

“The States of Fear series led to the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry into Child Abuse, which has carried out some of the most important investigations in the history of this State. Mary Raftery’s work shone a light upon Irish society and forced all of us to consider how we view many of the institutions which were previously held at an untouchable remove.

“It is impossible to measure where we would be as a society without the work of Mary Raftery. Through her journalism, survivors of abuse were given a voice and a legitimacy that was previously denied to them. And through the establishment of the Commissions of Inquiry, perpetrators were held accountable and the public was exposed to the harrowing details of the abuse they carried out. Thanks to the work carried out by the Inquiries, this Government has placed the protection of children central to its agenda and this year will we see major advances in the areas of child protection.

“Mary Raftery’s colleagues and peers have described her as tireless and unrelenting. These qualities were at all times evident in her work, which, despite its damning content, was always presented in a considered and calm manner. Her death has left a chasm on the landscape of Irish journalism. She will be remembered for her incredible journalistic legacy and the great service she carried out to the benefit of Irish society.”

Bruton Delivers on Employment Rights and Industrial Relations Reform

Mr. Richard Bruton, T.D. Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation announced today [Friday] that as part of his overall plans to reform and consolidate the five existing employment rights institutions into two simplified and streamlined bodies, significant progress has been achieved to date. New initiatives, which have been delivered on time, include the introduction of a single complaint form, a single point of contact and a new website.

An interim Website (www.workplacerelations.ie) will provide information on employment, equality and industrial relations legislation and associated public services.

• A Single Complaint Form for all first instance individual complaints and referals to the Rights Commissioner Service, the Employment Appeals Tribunal, National Employment Rights Authority, the Equality Tribunal and the Labour Court. This new form will replace 30 existing complaint forms that currently accommodate over 80 specific complaint types.
• A Single Point of Contact, to be called the Workplace Relations Customer Services of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, will have the responsibility for:
  • information provision in relation to employment, equality and
    industrial relations rights and obligations
  • the receipt and registration of all first instance complaints currently referred to the five workplace relations bodies
  • dealing with enquiries concerning the status of complaints and associated procedures and processes

Minister Bruton said: “This is an important step in the delivery of a world-class workplace relations service that is simpler, faster and cheaper.

“My plan will streamline the existing structures, procedures and mechanisms. My overall objective is to encourage early resolution of disputes, the vindication of employee rights and minimisation of the costs for employees, employers and Government, in terms of money, time and workplace productivity.

“A range of further structural and procedural reforms are planned for 2012. These will include the establishment of a Workplace Relations Early Resolution Service, the objective of which will be to seek resolution of complaints as an alternative to a formal adjudication hearing or an inspection. Work is currently underway on the design and implementation of a Pilot Early Resolution Service to commence in the first quarter of 2012.

“I am more determined than ever to proceed to a two tier structure i.e. a single Workplace Relations Commission of first instance and a separate appeals body. This will mean effecting changes to bring about the ultimate merger of the existing five institutions into two. In parallel with the ambitious administrative reforms which are being delivered, my Department is developing the legislative proposals necessary to establish the new structure on a statutory footing.

“I would also like to recognise the leadership and commitment of the current heads of the institutions (and their Boards, where such exist) to effect meaningful change in this area” Minister Bruton concluded.

Doherty urges concerned pensioners to get in touch with Revenue

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has urged any pensioners who are concerned about their tax liabilities to get in touch with the Revenue Commissioners on their specially extended helpline, which is open to take calls tomorrow. Deputy Doherty also moved to reassure elderly people that the vast majority of pensioners are tax compliant, and have nothing to worry about.

“Thousands of elderly people are understandably concerned and confused after receiving letters from the Revenue Commissioners regarding their tax liabilities. This is not about a witch hunt; it is simply about ensuring that everyone is tax complaint. It’s worth pointing out that the vast majority (80%) of pensioners that were analysed by Revenue are paying the right amount of tax.

“It’s also important to add that those affected are people in receipt of a private pension, as well as the State pension, and it’s the additional income that means they will have to pay some extra tax. Many of the 115,000 people who have been underpaying tax will have to make a very small adjustment, so we are only taking about modest sums of money in most cases here. In other instances, where people have much bigger pensions, larger sums will be involved.

“Now is the time for any uncertainty on this issue to be cleared up. The Revenue Commissioners is opening a helpline this weekend, and I would urge anyone who is concerned to get in touch. Revenue have said today that there will be no general arrears programme, so most people shouldn’t be worried that they will be pursued for years of back tax. The Commissioners are focussed on making these adjustments from this year onwards.

“While it is essential to ensure that everyone is tax complaint, I think there are certainly lessons to be learnt from this episode. It can be very unsettling for an elderly person, who is possibly living alone, to receive an unexpected letter in the post about their financial affairs. I would urge Revenue to consider the methods they use in the future when they have such important information to impart to a large section of the public.”