theirishtimes--2020-07-06--Government in the North must support music industry – Bronagh Gallagher

The government in the North must “ step in ” and support those in the music industry who are facing financial ruin due to the coronavirus pandemic , the singer and actor Bronagh Gallagher has warned .
“ It is a matter of survival now , ” Ms Gallagher said .
She was among 150 artists who wrote to the Northern Ireland Executive calling for “ urgent financial support ” if the music industry is to survive .
The signatories included many of the North ’ s best-known musicians , including Van Morrison , Snow Patrol , Ash , Brian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent to the then minister for communities , Deirdre Hargey – who has responsibility for arts and culture – on May 12th , but has only recently become public .
In the letter , which has been seen by The Irish Times , the signatories explained that as a result of coronavirus , “ the work of many in the music sector has come to an end overnight ” and this had a far-reaching impact on the income and quality of many in the North ’ s music community .
“ We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – and the arts – must be protected and we need urgent financial support to survive in any recognisable form , ” they wrote .
They appealed for “ immediate help ” , saying “ swift action must be taken to safeguard and invest in the future of an industry , which has significant economic , cultural and social benefits for Northern Ireland .
” In this , they cite research by the Irish Music Rights Organisation ( IMRO ) which , in 2017 , found that music was worth €703m to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs .
In Northern Ireland , the music sector helped generate £90 million ( €99.6 million ) through music tourism , and was responsible for more than 1,000 full-time jobs .
On Monday it was announced that the Northern Executive is to receive £33m from the UK government to support arts and cultural venues affected by the coronavirus pandemic .
However it is not yet clear how this money will be spent , or who will benefit from it .
The communities minister , Carál Ní Chuilín , said it would be for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the argument for a comprehensive package of support to local musicians , freelancers , theatres , artists , museums and the heritage sector at a time when they are struggling to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic can not be overstated.
” It follows the commitment by the Executive last week to provide an additional £4 million ( €4.42 million ) to help the arts sector rebuild following Covid-19 .
Announcing the funding , Ms Ní Chuilín said “ this pandemic has exposed the financial vulnerability of our arts and cultural organisations , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As an immediate next step I intend to engage directly with organisations to agree the detail of how the funds might best be put to swift use.
” Speaking to The Irish Times , Ms Gallagher said the coronavirus pandemic had “ crippled a lot of young venues ” and would have a “ catastrophic effect ” on small or family-run initiatives .
She said she was asked to sign by Charlotte Dryden , the chief executive of the Oh Yeah music hub in Belfast , who she described as “ one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Making art and being an artist for so many of us is synonymous with financial struggle , ” said Ms Gallagher , “ unless you hit the big time , as they say , and you become very successful .
“ That ’ s not just north-south and east-west , this is a global problem , and I don ’ t know what way we ’ re going to be when we come out the other side of it but all we can do is try to support each other and try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had a number of gigs cancelled during lockdown , described the knock-on effect for not just herself but her band members and crew , as well as venues and their staff .
“ The live sector has been really affected by this , and it ’ s been really difficult.
” While the move to online performances was positive - “ people used the brilliant side of technology and social media and created a lot of revenue for charity – concerns remain about the length of time it might take for live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t know what platforms really will remain after this , and I think we ’ re still very much in a precarious place right now , ” says Ms Gallagher .
One practical way to support artists , she said , was to play Irish music on the radio .
“ That ’ s one way to generate revenue , for DJs to really utilise the music that ’ s available to them and play it because that ’ s revenue for all artists that are signed to IMRO and that is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no question , says Ms Gallagher , over what music and the arts contribute to Ireland , north and south , in terms of revenue and culture .
“ A lot of the time the arts are forgotten and the cuts are there before they are anywhere , ” she says .
“ But these are hugely important parts of our culture and , as always , we are the ones who suffer .
“ We have to take a very serious look at it now and try and salvage as much work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people as possible .
”

The government in the North must “step in” and support those in the music industry who are facing financial ruin due to the coronavirus pandemic, the singer and actor Bronagh Gallagher has warned. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
The government in the North must "step in" and support those in the music industry who are facing financial ruin due to the coronavirus pandemic, the singer and actor Bronagh Gallagher has warned.
“It is a matter of survival now,” Ms Gallagher said.
She was among 150 artists who wrote to the Northern Ireland Executive calling for "urgent financial support" if the music industry is to survive.
The signatories included many of the North's best-known musicians, including Van Morrison, Snow Patrol, Ash, Brian Kennedy and Neil Hannon.
READ MORE
It was sent to the then minister for communities, Deirdre Hargey – who has responsibility for arts and culture – on May 12th, but has only recently become public.
In the letter, which has been seen by The Irish Times, the signatories explained that as a result of coronavirus, “the work of many in the music sector has come to an end overnight” and this had a far-reaching impact on the income and quality of many in the North’s music community.
‘At risk’
“We have never been more at risk; music – and the arts – must be protected and we need urgent financial support to survive in any recognisable form,” they wrote.
They appealed for "immediate help", saying "swift action must be taken to safeguard and invest in the future of an industry, which has significant economic, cultural and social benefits for Northern Ireland. "
In this, they cite research by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) which, in 2017, found that music was worth €703m to the Irish economy and accounted for over 13,000 jobs.
In Northern Ireland, the music sector helped generate £90 million (€99.6 million) through music tourism, and was responsible for more than 1,000 full-time jobs.
On Monday it was announced that the Northern Executive is to receive £33m from the UK government to support arts and cultural venues affected by the coronavirus pandemic. However it is not yet clear how this money will be spent, or who will benefit from it.
The communities minister, Carál Ní Chuilín, said it would be for the Executive to decide, adding “the argument for a comprehensive package of support to local musicians, freelancers, theatres, artists, museums and the heritage sector at a time when they are struggling to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic cannot be overstated.”
Commitment
It follows the commitment by the Executive last week to provide an additional £4 million (€4.42 million) to help the arts sector rebuild following Covid-19.
Announcing the funding, Ms Ní Chuilín said “this pandemic has exposed the financial vulnerability of our arts and cultural organisations, many of whom are household names.
“As an immediate next step I intend to engage directly with organisations to agree the detail of how the funds might best be put to swift use.”
Speaking to The Irish Times, Ms Gallagher said the coronavirus pandemic had “crippled a lot of young venues” and would have a “catastrophic effect” on small or family-run initiatives.
She said she was asked to sign by Charlotte Dryden, the chief executive of the Oh Yeah music hub in Belfast, who she described as "one of the invaluable strengths behind this campaign."
“Making art and being an artist for so many of us is synonymous with financial struggle,” said Ms Gallagher, “unless you hit the big time, as they say, and you become very successful.
“That’s not just north-south and east-west, this is a global problem, and I don’t know what way we’re going to be when we come out the other side of it but all we can do is try to support each other and try to raise awareness.”
Ms Gallagher, who had a number of gigs cancelled during lockdown, described the knock-on effect for not just herself but her band members and crew, as well as venues and their staff. “The live sector has been really affected by this, and it’s been really difficult.”
Move
While the move to online performances was positive - “people used the brilliant side of technology and social media and created a lot of revenue for charity – concerns remain about the length of time it might take for live venues to reopen
“We don’t know what platforms really will remain after this, and I think we’re still very much in a precarious place right now,” says Ms Gallagher.
One practical way to support artists, she said, was to play Irish music on the radio. “That’s one way to generate revenue, for DJs to really utilise the music that’s available to them and play it because that’s revenue for all artists that are signed to IMRO and that is a vital lifeline for artists.”
There is no question, says Ms Gallagher, over what music and the arts contribute to Ireland, north and south, in terms of revenue and culture.
“A lot of the time the arts are forgotten and the cuts are there before they are anywhere,” she says.
“But these are hugely important parts of our culture and, as always, we are the ones who suffer.
“We have to take a very serious look at it now and try and salvage as much work and as much of their finances for people as possible.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-06--Covid-19: Minister warns pubs over social distancing guidelines

Further restrictions on reopenings may be imposed if businesses continue to flaunt social distancing guidelines , Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has said .
The Minister was speaking following reports of pubs and customers failing to abide by measures introduced to prevent a resurgence of coronavirus which causes the disease Covid-19 .
The Garda has submitted a report to Government ahead of today ’ s cabinet meeting on what it observed over the weekend in licensed premises across the country .
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said gardaí carried out about 6,000 inspections of licensed premises over the weekend under Operation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to be in compliance .
In some cases pub owners in breach of the guidelines agreed to clear out their pubs .
In others gardaí used public order legislation , he said .
Speaking at Slane Garda station in Meath following her first official meeting Mr Harris since being appointed Minister for Justice , Ms McEntee said the restrictions are “ obviously something we need to continuously review.
” She said the “ vast majority ” of businesses are doing their best to protect staff and customers but that “ of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weekend that were maybe disappointing .
“ I would ask and urge everybody to comply with public health regulations .
We have come so far and made such great progress.
” “ What we don ’ t want is to have to re-implement these measures which have been relaxed over the past while .
But certainly it is an issue and will be kept under review.
” Ms McEntee said officials will engage with premises to help them comply with the rules .
“ If that does not happen , if certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further measures will have to be taken.
” Mr Harris said large crowds of drinkers gathered on Dame Lane in Dublin over the weekend , images of which were shared widely on social media , were dealt with by gardaí using public order legislation .
He said it was an isolated incident and that the “ broader picture was one of compliance .
People are doing their best.
” The gardaí need to intervene to stop large groups drinking on the streets and ignoring Covid-19 physical distancing rules , the chief executive of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donall O ’ Keeffe has said .
Mr O ’ Keeffe said the images and videos posted on social media over the weekend of large crowds of people drinking on Dublin city centre streets were “ shocking ” .
“ We ’ re hugely concerned that an irresponsible few could damage the entire industry -– it ’ s very damaging for the reputation of pubs in Dublin , what ’ s going on , it ’ s very damaging for the image of the city , ” he told RTÉ radio ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s unacceptable that people are allowed to drink alcohol on streets and laneways , in public places in or around the city centre .
“ We are calling on the gardaí to try and deal with this situation .
It ’ s really concerning from a public health perspective and it ’ s really concerning for the recovery of our business.
” Mr O ’ Keeffe said it appeared that at the weekend a number of pubs were selling draught beer through windows , and some people were buying their alcohol in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s a shocking situation .
It ’ s disgraceful business .
This should not be happening .
But selling alcohol , pints out through a window or a hatch , is actually legal so that ’ s the weakness in the legislation .
“ It was inconceivable three months ago that pubs would be involved in this type of business .
We always want our customers to come to the premises , have use of the facilities , our staff , our service .
This situation was never contemplated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems in town now.
” Mr O ’ Keeffe said the issue on on-street drinking was separate from the reopening of pubs adhering to the new Fáilte Ireland guidelines .
“ This is a separate issue of on-street drinking .
It ’ s been there forever at a low level , but has reached very serious , very worrying , very dangerous proportions over the last days .
“ The gardaí need to deal with that .
The law is clear – if alcohol is sold for takeaway , it can not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s difficult for pubs to enforce , but they should , ” he said .
“ The pubs that are knowingly allowing that alcohol to be consumed on public streets and laneways around our pubs should stop that business .
The gardaí must intervene now to deal with this.
” The chief executive of the Vintners Federation of Ireland ( VFI ) Pádraig Cribben said gardaí should make it clear to pubs not observing Covid-19 health guidelines that there will be “ significant objections ” when it comes time to renew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publicans were acting responsibly , he told RTÉ radio ’ s Today with Sarah McInerney show .
Mr Cribben said it was a “ small minority ” who were not following the guidelines .
He said they should be called out and their premises closed .
Mr Cribben said if gardaí told publicans , who were not following the guidelines , there would be objections when their licences needed to be renewed that would “ bring them to order.
” Mr Cribben also said if all pubs had been reopened at the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there would not have been the crowding seen at the weekend .
He said “ takeaway ” drinks , which appear to have been a big factor in the scenes in Dublin ’ s Dame Lane on Saturday night , needed to be stopped .
‘ People were on top of each other ’ Consultant Dr Laura Durcan , who had witnessed the crowds in Dame Lane at the weekend , also called for a change in the rules with regard to take-out drinks .
“ These people were on top of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
“ Pubs need to take responsibility , they need to stop take out drinks.
” Dr Durcan said there was a need for “ a strong national voice on what is acceptable and appropriate behaviour.
” She said she was concerned was for what would happen in the next nine to 14 days when people began to manifest symptoms or being asymptomatic and unknowingly spreading the virus .
Public Health expert Prof Joe Barry said the problem was predictable because of the weakness in the current legislation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sympathy for pubs as the Fáilte Ireland guidelines were very difficult to enforce .
“ It says if people go to pubs and get drink ordered , and have it even on the premises , they ’ ve got to give their contact details because the only way our public health colleagues will be able to follow up outbreaks , ” Prof Barry said .
He said he ’ s observed that most young people don ’ t observe social distancing while “ lots of members of the population are taking it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pubs.
” Prof Barry said there were two things that needed to be done to stop a resurgence of coronavirus .
“ I hear that gardaí and the HSA are going to be inputting into the review of what ’ s working and not , ” he said .
“ I think public health people need to be involved in that review today with the Cabinet , because at the end of the day we all want an orderly return to normality .
“ What happened last night will probably happen again .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ system , which was inevitable .
Unfortunately it is going to lead to more spikes and that is something that none of us in the country want .
”

LVA chief executive Donall O’Keefe said it is ‘unacceptable’ that people are allowed to drink alcohol on streets. File photograph: iStock
Further restrictions on reopenings may be imposed if businesses continue to flaunt social distancing guidelines, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has said.
The Minister was speaking following reports of pubs and customers failing to abide by measures introduced to prevent a resurgence of coronavirus which causes the disease Covid-19.
The Garda has submitted a report to Government ahead of today’s cabinet meeting on what it observed over the weekend in licensed premises across the country.
Gardai walking around the streets in Dublin City Centre to make sure pubs are not breaking the guidelines on social distancing, serving food or time limits etc
Yet this is allowed on Dame Lane..... pic.twitter.com/4inEgsY2Rm — Barry Whyte (@BarryWhyte85) July 4, 2020
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said gardaí carried out about 6,000 inspections of licensed premises over the weekend under Operation Navigation and found the “vast majority” to be in compliance.
READ MORE
In some cases pub owners in breach of the guidelines agreed to clear out their pubs. In others gardaí used public order legislation, he said.
Speaking at Slane Garda station in Meath following her first official meeting Mr Harris since being appointed Minister for Justice, Ms McEntee said the restrictions are “obviously something we need to continuously review.”
She said the “vast majority” of businesses are doing their best to protect staff and customers but that “of course we’ve seen some scenes over the weekend that were maybe disappointing.
“I would ask and urge everybody to comply with public health regulations. We have come so far and made such great progress.”
“What we don’t want is to have to re-implement these measures which have been relaxed over the past while. But certainly it is an issue and will be kept under review.”
Ms McEntee said officials will engage with premises to help them comply with the rules. “If that does not happen, if certain premises continue to disregard regulations then obviously further measures will have to be taken.”
Mr Harris said large crowds of drinkers gathered on Dame Lane in Dublin over the weekend, images of which were shared widely on social media, were dealt with by gardaí using public order legislation.
He said it was an isolated incident and that the “broader picture was one of compliance. People are doing their best.”
The gardaí need to intervene to stop large groups drinking on the streets and ignoring Covid-19 physical distancing rules, the chief executive of the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) Donall O'Keeffe has said.
Mr O’ Keeffe said the images and videos posted on social media over the weekend of large crowds of people drinking on Dublin city centre streets were “shocking”.
"We're hugely concerned that an irresponsible few could damage the entire industry -– it's very damaging for the reputation of pubs in Dublin, what's going on, it's very damaging for the image of the city," he told RTÉ radio's Morning Ireland on Monday.
“It’s unacceptable that people are allowed to drink alcohol on streets and laneways, in public places in or around the city centre.
“We are calling on the gardaí to try and deal with this situation. It’s really concerning from a public health perspective and it’s really concerning for the recovery of our business.”
Mr O’Keeffe said it appeared that at the weekend a number of pubs were selling draught beer through windows, and some people were buying their alcohol in advance and then arriving in the area.
“It’s a shocking situation. It’s disgraceful business. This should not be happening. But selling alcohol, pints out through a window or a hatch, is actually legal so that’s the weakness in the legislation.
“It was inconceivable three months ago that pubs would be involved in this type of business. We always want our customers to come to the premises, have use of the facilities, our staff, our service. This situation was never contemplated, but it’s causing huge problems in town now.”
Mr O'Keeffe said the issue on on-street drinking was separate from the reopening of pubs adhering to the new Fáilte Ireland guidelines.
“This is a separate issue of on-street drinking. It’s been there forever at a low level, but has reached very serious, very worrying, very dangerous proportions over the last days.
“The gardaí need to deal with that. The law is clear – if alcohol is sold for takeaway, it cannot be consumed within 100m of the premises – that’s difficult for pubs to enforce, but they should,” he said.
“ The pubs that are knowingly allowing that alcohol to be consumed on public streets and laneways around our pubs should stop that business. The gardaí must intervene now to deal with this.”
Premises should close
The chief executive of the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) Pádraig Cribben said gardaí should make it clear to pubs not observing Covid-19 health guidelines that there will be “significant objections” when it comes time to renew their licences.
The overwhelming majority of publicans were acting responsibly, he told RTÉ radio’s Today with Sarah McInerney show. Mr Cribben said it was a “small minority” who were not following the guidelines. He said they should be called out and their premises closed.
Mr Cribben said if gardaí told publicans, who were not following the guidelines, there would be objections when their licences needed to be renewed that would “bring them to order.”
Mr Cribben also said if all pubs had been reopened at the same time, not just 45 per cent, there would not have been the crowding seen at the weekend.
He said “takeaway” drinks, which appear to have been a big factor in the scenes in Dublin’s Dame Lane on Saturday night, needed to be stopped.
‘People were on top of each other’
Consultant Dr Laura Durcan, who had witnessed the crowds in Dame Lane at the weekend, also called for a change in the rules with regard to take-out drinks.
“These people were on top of each other (on Dame Lane),” she said. “Pubs need to take responsibility, they need to stop take out drinks.”
Dr Durcan said there was a need for “a strong national voice on what is acceptable and appropriate behaviour.” She said she was concerned was for what would happen in the next nine to 14 days when people began to manifest symptoms or being asymptomatic and unknowingly spreading the virus.
Rules difficult to enforce
Public Health expert Prof Joe Barry said the problem was predictable because of the weakness in the current legislation. He said he had a certain amount of sympathy for pubs as the Fáilte Ireland guidelines were very difficult to enforce.
“It says if people go to pubs and get drink ordered, and have it even on the premises, they’ve got to give their contact details because the only way our public health colleagues will be able to follow up outbreaks ,” Prof Barry said.
He said he’s observed that most young people don’t observe social distancing while “lots of members of the population are taking it very seriously and are staying away from pubs.”
Prof Barry said there were two things that needed to be done to stop a resurgence of coronavirus.
“I hear that gardaí and the HSA are going to be inputting into the review of what’s working and not,” he said.
“I think public health people need to be involved in that review today with the Cabinet, because at the end of the day we all want an orderly return to normality.
“What happened last night will probably happen again. There are lots of weaknesses in the system, which was inevitable. Unfortunately it is going to lead to more spikes and that is something that none of us in the country want.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-06--Man rescues seagull ‘impaled’ on a Dublin city centre lamppost

Seagulls generally get a bad press being regarded as a noisy bird with a piercing shriek , and an aggressive pilferer of chips , ice cream and sandwiches .
They are especially active this time of year when more people are dining al fresco and there ’ s a lot more rubbish around .
Yet a stricken seagull elicited a lot of public sympathy when the bird became impaled on a lamppost in central Dublin .
A large crowd of onlookers gathered around the seagull , but were unable to help .
Three gardaí arrived from Pearse Street .
Photographer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The seagull was impaled on the metal grate on the top of the lamp and the side of his wing had become caught it , ” he said .
“ He was fluttering around for a while and making a lot of noise .
There was about four or five people hanging around , but they couldn ’ t get a ladder.
” Eventually a Romanian cleaner , who was nearby , took the bird down from the lamppost , but not before he gave his rescuer a few painful pecks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it could not fly away and his left wing was badly damaged .
The seagull was placed a box and taken to the School of Veterinary Medicine in UCD for treatment .

Irish Times page one photograph of a man rescuing the injured seagull in Dublin on Sunday.Photograph: Tom Hon/ The Irish Times
Seagulls generally get a bad press being regarded as a noisy bird with a piercing shriek, and an aggressive pilferer of chips, ice cream and sandwiches.
They are especially active this time of year when more people are dining al fresco and there’s a lot more rubbish around.
Yet a stricken seagull elicited a lot of public sympathy when the bird became impaled on a lamppost in central Dublin.
A large crowd of onlookers gathered around the seagull, but were unable to help. Three gardaí arrived from Pearse Street.
READ MORE
Photographer Tom Honan was quickly on the scene. “The seagull was impaled on the metal grate on the top of the lamp and the side of his wing had become caught it,” he said.
STANDALONE5/7/2020South William Street ,Dublin.A man tried to rescue the injured Seagull.Photo: Tom Honan for The Irish Times.
“He was fluttering around for a while and making a lot of noise. There was about four or five people hanging around, but they couldn’t get a ladder.”
Eventually a Romanian cleaner, who was nearby, took the bird down from the lamppost, but not before he gave his rescuer a few painful pecks.
Gardaí from Pearse St Garda Station with rescued seagull.(L to R) Garda Tara Brennan , Garda Neil Carberry and Garda Robert Kennedy. Photograph: Tom Honan/ The Irish Times.
The bird was clearly badly injured as it could not fly away and his left wing was badly damaged.
The seagull was placed a box and taken to the School of Veterinary Medicine in UCD for treatment.


theirishtimes--2020-07-06--Appeal continues for Jasmine Arshad missing from Ballaghaderreen

Gardaí are continuing their appeal for help in locating a 23-month-old girl who went missing from her home in Ballaghaderreen @ @ @ @ @ afternoon .
Jasmine Arshad , who is nearly two years old , was reported missing @ @ @ @ @ July 3rd .
Gardaí believe the little girl is with her 38-year-old father Arshad Shiraz @ @ @ @ @ .
A statement from gardaí said the force was “ satisfied ” that Jasmine and @ @ @ @ @ to Dublin using public transport at around 1.35pm on Friday .
They arrived and disembarked @ @ @ @ @ centre at around 4.30pm , said the statement .
Gardaí are no longer aware of @ @ @ @ @ s whereabouts and have appealed for anyone with information on the father and daughter to @ @ @ @ @ 094 962 1630 , the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda @ @ @ @ @ appealed to Arshad Shiraz , Jasmine ’ s father , to contact gardaí urgently .

Gardaí are continuing their appeal for help in locating a 23-month-old girl who went missing from her home in Ballaghaderreen in Co Roscommon on Friday afternoon.
Jasmine Arshad, who is nearly two years old, was reported missing at 5.30pm on Friday, July 3rd. Gardaí believe the little girl is with her 38-year-old father Arshad Shiraz who also disappeared on Friday.
A statement from gardaí said the force was “satisfied” that Jasmine and Arshad had travelled from Ballaghaderreen to Dublin using public transport at around 1.35pm on Friday. They arrived and disembarked in Dublin’s city centre at around 4.30pm, said the statement.
Arshad Shiraz
Gardaí are no longer aware of Jasmine or her father's whereabouts and have appealed for anyone with information on the father and daughter to contact Castlerea Garda station on 094 962 1630, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
READ MORE
They have also appealed to Arshad Shiraz, Jasmine’s father, to contact gardaí urgently.


theirishtimes--2020-07-06--High costs of taking over Dún Laoghaire harbour hits council’s finances

The costs of taking over Dún Laoghaire Harbour have already had a significant negative impact on the financial resources of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council , according to the authority ’ s accounts for 2019 .
Members of the local authority will be told on Monday the cost of initial emergency repairs and transfer of control has already run to more than €2 million , with multiples of that yet to come .
The cost of assimilating the staff and pension payments of the former Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company has added to the burden .
The council ’ s draft @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full year of the authority ’ s control of the harbour – notes “ local economic conditions remained robust during 2019.
” Yet it also notes that due to immediate spending of more than €2million on the harbour , the council ’ s Revenue Account had a deficit of more than €1.05 million “ the first time for many years that there has been a reported deficit on the Revenue Account ” .
“ The deficit arose due to the transfer of Dún Laoghaire Harbour to the council , ” the draft annual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philomena Poole and senior management will tell councillors at Monday ’ s meeting : “ For some time prior to its transfer to the council , Dún Laoghaire Harbour did not operate on a commercial basis and was primarily a tourism and leisure amenity ” .
The management report says the former Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company did not have the cashflow capacity to survive independently beyond January 2019 and could not therefore transfer to the council as a going concern ” .
While notes to the draft accounts said the council “ greatly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it imposed a significant additional financial burden during 2019 ” .
Costs associated with the transfer included works , which were under way at the time of the transfer to repair the damage caused to the piers during Storm Emma .
The last Government transferred the harbour to the council after a series of schemes to make the harbour pay came to nothing .
These included a floating swimming pool , an urban beach on the east pier , development of the Carlisle Pier to include a national marine life centre , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and leisure uses .
The council ’ s director of services Therese Langan has previously told councillors the cost of “ immediate works ” could bring immediate costs to €10 million .
A consultant ’ s report found the longer term costs could be as high as €30million .
Local Fianna Fáil TD Cormac Devlin said it was ” extremely disappointing ” the transfer of the harbour to the council “ didn ’ t come with some form of funding ” .
Mr Devlin told The Irish Times a “ business case ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and apply for State grants for ventureswas needed .
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown ’ s 2019 expenditure budget amounted to €183,887,800 and the outturn included in the draft financial statement to be approved by councillors on Monday is for €190,572,884 , reflecting an overspend of €6,685,084 .

The costs of taking over Dún Laoghaire Harbour have already had a significant negative impact on the financial resources of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, according to the authority’s accounts for 2019.
Members of the local authority will be told on Monday the cost of initial emergency repairs and transfer of control has already run to more than €2 million, with multiples of that yet to come.
The cost of assimilating the staff and pension payments of the former Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company has added to the burden.
The council’s draft financial statement for 2019 – the first full year of the authority’s control of the harbour – notes “local economic conditions remained robust during 2019.”
READ MORE
Yet it also notes that due to immediate spending of more than €2million on the harbour, the council’s Revenue Account had a deficit of more than €1.05 million “the first time for many years that there has been a reported deficit on the Revenue Account”.
“The deficit arose due to the transfer of Dún Laoghaire Harbour to the council,” the draft annual financial statement said.
Council chief executive Philomena Poole and senior management will tell councillors at Monday’s meeting: “For some time prior to its transfer to the council, Dún Laoghaire Harbour did not operate on a commercial basis and was primarily a tourism and leisure amenity”.
The management report says the former Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company did not have the cashflow capacity to survive independently beyond January 2019 and could not therefore transfer to the council as a going concern”.
While notes to the draft accounts said the council “greatly welcomed the transfer of this spectacular amenity, it imposed a significant additional financial burden during 2019”.
Costs associated with the transfer included works, which were under way at the time of the transfer to repair the damage caused to the piers during Storm Emma.
The last Government transferred the harbour to the council after a series of schemes to make the harbour pay came to nothing. These included a floating swimming pool, an urban beach on the east pier, development of the Carlisle Pier to include a national marine life centre, a hotel and apartments, and retail and leisure uses.
The council’s director of services Therese Langan has previously told councillors the cost of “immediate works” could bring immediate costs to €10 million. A consultant’s report found the longer term costs could be as high as €30million.
Local Fianna Fáil TD Cormac Devlin said it was”extremely disappointing” the transfer of the harbour to the council “didn’t come with some form of funding”. Mr Devlin told The Irish Times a “business case” to chart a future for the harbour and apply for State grants for ventureswas needed.
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown’s 2019 expenditure budget amounted to €183,887,800 and the outturn included in the draft financial statement to be approved by councillors on Monday is for €190,572,884, reflecting an overspend of €6,685,084.


theirishtimes--2020-07-06--Coronavirus: Target of 15,000 tests per day never hit by Irish labs

Irish laboratories never hit the health service ’ s target of 15,000 coronavirus tests per day , even during the height of the pandemic , new figures show .
The early weeks of the coronavirus outbreak were dominated by failures in the testing system , which led to a large backlog and delays of up to two weeks for results .
Public health experts have warned a robust testing system to quickly identify and then isolate confirmed cases of Covid-19 is essential to preventing a second wave of the virus .
The most coronavirus tests processed by Irish laboratories in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , followed by 10,374 the day before .
The figures do not include tests processed by German laboratories contracted to assist the Health Service Executive ( HSE ) , which were instrumental in clearing the large early backlog of tests .
From the March 13th onwards Irish laboratories were processing more than 1,000 tests a day , only dropping below this level in late June .
The HSE did not reach a stated target of 100,000 tests per week by the third week of May , with Irish laboratories only processing 28,625 tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 in the community began to fall during the national lockdown , the demand for testing also declined .
A HSE spokeswoman said there is capacity to deliver 100,000 tests a week , although demand did not reach that level .
“ It was hoped that the public health measures would prevent the requirement to ever undertake 100,000 tests in a week .
Thankfully this has been borne out , ” she said .
“ The demand for our available capacity has been lower in recent weeks .
However , we must keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opening up , we may see a demand for increased capacity once again , ” she said .
The figures on the daily number of tests processed were obtained by Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall in response to a parliamentary question .
Ms Shortall said despite ramping up testing capacity to meet demand , “ very little testing has been done so far for potential asymptomatic carriers.
” “ There is an opportunity now to scale this up , especially among those working in high-risk settings .
That should be taken full advantage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of this virus and prevent a second wave , ” she said .
The figures show from February 7th to June 26th more than 414,500 tests were conducted by Irish laboratories with the majority ( 308,993 ) were processed in Dublin .
There is capacity in more than 40 laboratories to conduct coronavirus tests , including the UCD National Virus Reference Laboratory , acute hospitals , Enfer , and a Department of Agriculture facility .
Nearly 26,000 tests were conducted in the last seven days up to Friday , with turnaround times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracing in 90 per cent of cases .
The average length of time between a swab being taken and a laboratory result is currently 1.2 days .
Delays processing tests for residents and staff was one factor behind the spread of the virus in the nursing home sector , which has seen more than half of the country ’ s Covid-19 fatalities .
Following an initial surge in demand for tests the criteria for referral was restricted , while global shortages of testing reagent also contributed to strain on the system .

Public health experts have warned a robust testing system to quickly identify and then isolate confirmed cases of Covid-19 is essential to preventing a second wave of the virus.
Irish laboratories never hit the health service’s target of 15,000 coronavirus tests per day, even during the height of the pandemic, new figures show.
The early weeks of the coronavirus outbreak were dominated by failures in the testing system, which led to a large backlog and delays of up to two weeks for results.
Public health experts have warned a robust testing system to quickly identify and then isolate confirmed cases of Covid-19 is essential to preventing a second wave of the virus.
The most coronavirus tests processed by Irish laboratories in one day was 11,504 on April 29th, followed by 10,374 the day before.
READ MORE
The figures do not include tests processed by German laboratories contracted to assist the Health Service Executive (HSE), which were instrumental in clearing the large early backlog of tests.
From the March 13th onwards Irish laboratories were processing more than 1,000 tests a day, only dropping below this level in late June.
The HSE did not reach a stated target of 100,000 tests per week by the third week of May, with Irish laboratories only processing 28,625 tests that week. As the incidence of Covid-19 in the community began to fall during the national lockdown, the demand for testing also declined.
A HSE spokeswoman said there is capacity to deliver 100,000 tests a week, although demand did not reach that level.
“It was hoped that the public health measures would prevent the requirement to ever undertake 100,000 tests in a week. Thankfully this has been borne out,” she said.
“The demand for our available capacity has been lower in recent weeks. However, we must keep in mind that as the country is opening up, we may see a demand for increased capacity once again,” she said.
The figures on the daily number of tests processed were obtained by Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall in response to a parliamentary question.
Ms Shortall said despite ramping up testing capacity to meet demand, “very little testing has been done so far for potential asymptomatic carriers.”
“There is an opportunity now to scale this up, especially among those working in high-risk settings. That should be taken full advantage of to get firmly ahead of the spread of this virus and prevent a second wave,” she said.
The figures show from February 7th to June 26th more than 414,500 tests were conducted by Irish laboratories with the majority (308,993) were processed in Dublin.
There is capacity in more than 40 laboratories to conduct coronavirus tests, including the UCD National Virus Reference Laboratory, acute hospitals, Enfer, and a Department of Agriculture facility.
Nearly 26,000 tests were conducted in the last seven days up to Friday, with turnaround times within three days from referral to contact tracing in 90 per cent of cases. The average length of time between a swab being taken and a laboratory result is currently 1.2 days.
Delays processing tests for residents and staff was one factor behind the spread of the virus in the nursing home sector, which has seen more than half of the country’s Covid-19 fatalities.
Following an initial surge in demand for tests the criteria for referral was restricted, while global shortages of testing reagent also contributed to strain on the system.


theirishtimes--2020-07-06--US can learn from Garda reform, says policing commission chief

The United States should use the reform process An Garda Síochána has undergone as a template for rebuilding its police forces in the wake of the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement , according to former police chief and head of the Irish Commission on the Future of Policing ( CFP ) , Kathleen O ’ Toole .
Ms O ’ Toole has led reform of the Garda since 2006 , first in her role as chief inspector of the Garda Inspectorate and then as chairwoman of the CFP which in 2018 recommended the greatest reorganisation of the force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Massachusetts native has also served as chief of police in Seattle and Boston .
She is currently advising on police reform in several US cities and states , including on behalf of the Department of Justice , in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and the associated crisis in American policing .
One of the states she is advising is Minnesota , where George Floyd died in May after a white police officer , Derek Chauvin , knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes , triggering nationwide protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get back to good , strong democratic policing principles in this country , ” Ms O ’ Toole said of the US .
“ I think we ’ ve really veered off course for several decades.
” Ms O ’ Toole said one of the key lessons US police forces could learn from the Garda is “ community involvement ” .
“ In the Republic of Ireland police never lost sight of the importance of community involvement .
Even during difficult times , they ’ ve maintained good , strong links to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ findings of the CFP ’ s report was that the Garda ’ s greatest strength was in community policing and that it should refocus efforts in that area .
“ Unfortunately , I think here in the States , we lost sight of the importance of that quite some time ago .
Early in my career we were trained to go out and fight the war on crime .
And it was really the police versus the community , as opposed to police working with the community , ” Ms O ’ Toole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policing relating to use of force and targeting of minorities differ significantly from those in Ireland , the principles of reform are the same , she said .
“ Accountability is a huge piece of the puzzle , ” said Ms O ’ Toole , who was also a member of the Patten commission in Northern Ireland which established the PSNI following the Belfast Agreement .
“ In Northern Ireland first and then later in the Republic of Ireland , accountability structures were created through the Policing Authority and ombudsman and the independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Definitely Ireland is ahead of most US jurisdictions in that respect.
” Ms O ’ Toole said one of the main challenges in reforming US police practices is the sheer number of police departments , currently standing at about 18,000 .
“ And while a lot of some of them have worked really hard to modernise and reform , I ’ d say the vast majority have not because there hasn ’ t been that sense of urgency .
“ So my hope is that this current crisis will create that sense of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She said it was crucial reform came from the “ bottom up rather than from the top down ” and that it “ reflects the specific needs of communities ” .
Ms O ’ Toole added she was “ really pleased ” with the Garda ’ s response to the coronavirus pandemic , particularly its focus on helping vulnerable members of the community .
“ That ’ s really what democratic policing is all about .
”

The United States should use the reform process An Garda Síochána has undergone as a template for rebuilding its police forces in the wake of the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement, according to former police chief and head of the Irish Commission on the Future of Policing (CFP), Kathleen O'Toole.
Ms O’Toole has led reform of the Garda since 2006, first in her role as chief inspector of the Garda Inspectorate and then as chairwoman of the CFP which in 2018 recommended the greatest reorganisation of the force since its foundation nearly a century ago.
The Massachusetts native has also served as chief of police in Seattle and Boston. She is currently advising on police reform in several US cities and states, including on behalf of the Department of Justice, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and the associated crisis in American policing.
Commission on the Future of Policing chairperson Kathleen O’Toole said that in the Republic police had “never lost sight of the importance of community involvement”. Photograph: Maxwell’s
One of the states she is advising is Minnesota, where George Floyd died in May after a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes, triggering nationwide protests.
READ MORE
“We’ve been struggling to get back to good, strong democratic policing principles in this country,” Ms O’Toole said of the US. “I think we’ve really veered off course for several decades.”
Ms O’Toole said one of the key lessons US police forces could learn from the Garda is “community involvement”.
"In the Republic of Ireland police never lost sight of the importance of community involvement. Even during difficult times, they've maintained good, strong links to the community."
Community policing
One of the main findings of the CFP’s report was that the Garda’s greatest strength was in community policing and that it should refocus efforts in that area.
“Unfortunately, I think here in the States, we lost sight of the importance of that quite some time ago. Early in my career we were trained to go out and fight the war on crime. And it was really the police versus the community, as opposed to police working with the community,” Ms O’Toole said.
Though the problems in American policing relating to use of force and targeting of minorities differ significantly from those in Ireland, the principles of reform are the same, she said.
"Accountability is a huge piece of the puzzle," said Ms O'Toole, who was also a member of the Patten commission in Northern Ireland which established the PSNI following the Belfast Agreement.
"In Northern Ireland first and then later in the Republic of Ireland, accountability structures were created through the Policing Authority and ombudsman and the independent inspectorate," she said. "Definitely Ireland is ahead of most US jurisdictions in that respect."
Ms O’Toole said one of the main challenges in reforming US police practices is the sheer number of police departments, currently standing at about 18,000.
“And while a lot of some of them have worked really hard to modernise and reform, I’d say the vast majority have not because there hasn’t been that sense of urgency.
“So my hope is that this current crisis will create that sense of urgency for agencies across the country.” She said it was crucial reform came from the “bottom up rather than from the top down” and that it “reflects the specific needs of communities”.
Ms O’Toole added she was “really pleased” with the Garda’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, particularly its focus on helping vulnerable members of the community. “That’s really what democratic policing is all about.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-06--Covid-19: Tragedy of ‘terrible dimensions’  as woman loses husband and son

On May 14th , Mary Bartley Meehan was permitted to visit her husband , Ultan Meehan ( 79 ) , outside Kilbrew Nursing Home in Ashbourne , Co Meath .
The visit was specially arranged during lockdown on seats outside because she had lost her son and Ultan ’ s stepson , Adrian Bartley ( 52 ) , who also lived at Kilbrew , to coronavirus just six weeks earlier .
Adrian had Down ’ s syndrome and dementia .
Mary was “ deeply shocked ” at the “ horrific ” condition of her husband , who also suffered from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tumours on his face .
“ I don ’ t think I will ever forget it , ” she told The Irish Times at her home near Navan .
Her husband was wearing a jumper belonging to her late son – the two men had shared a room at Kilbrew – and somebody else ’ s shoes .
The side of his face was black with congealed blood .
His nails were long and black from picking at his facial tumours , which had become an open wound and infected .
She would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she said .
Wearing full protective clothing to guard against Covid-19 , she felt compelled to take off her gloves and cut his nails herself ; her requests to the home had gone ignored , she said “ I know I shouldn ’ t have done it but I couldn ’ t leave him with those long nails scraping the wound that was bleeding , ” she said .
Visiting restrictions at nursing homes from early March meant Mary had been unable to bring her son and husband home at weekends since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her husband , and cleaned his wound .
She knew how to calm him ; she gave him a sweet and put on some music .
On May 29th , two weeks after Mary visited and following sustained pressure from Mary , her advocate and a HSE social worker to have Ultan seen by a local GP , he was assessed .
A doctor referred him immediately to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown , Dublin , the location where Adrian had died two months earlier .
Medical records from May 29th – the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing home was “ unable to manage ” the wound on Ultan ’ s face and that it had become infested with maggots .
On June 15th , with her husband ’ s health deteriorating rapidly , Mary was permitted to spend an hour with him .
By then , his wound was bandaged and he had been shaved .
“ His face was spotless clean , ” she said .
He died later that day .
A medical certificate put sepsis as the cause of death but also listed “ Covid in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underlying health conditions .
On March 27th , the day Adrian was rushed from Kilbrew to hospital with severe breathing difficulties , a doctor at the hospital called the nursing home and directed that Ultan be tested immediately for Covid-19 given that the two men shared a room .
Ultan was a risk to others because , like many with dementia , he liked to wander around .
It took 17 days for the result to come back ; he was positive but had no symptoms .
Adrian tested positive for Covid-19 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as his condition deteriorated , Mary said her goodbyes to her son on a video call with two nurses .
“ I kept saying to him that he was going to see his daddy , ” she said , referring to her late first husband .
He died two hours later .
The story of Mary , her husband and her son has shocked those who tried to help them .
Mary ’ s advocate , Maureen Finlay , who works with Sage Advocacy , a support group for vulnerable adults , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Ultan be transferred to a hospital or hospice care went ignored ; the home said they were taking care of him , she said .
“ This is one of the worst and most horrific cases I have ever come across and I have dealt with some very difficult ones .
I was shocked .
I spent the night crying after seeing the pictures of Ultan , ” said Ms Finlay .
From April 1st , the day after Adrian ’ s death , to June 2nd , shortly after Ultan ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four “ notices of concern ” to the HSE and the health service regulator , the Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) , about Kilbrew Nursing Home .
On June 10th , Sage ’ s executive director , Mervyn Taylor , escalated matters , writing to then minister for health Simon Harris asking him to investigate the Co Meath home .
“ At a care level , it is probably as bad as I have seen .
The tragedy for Mary is just awful because she has lost a son and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a personal tragedy of terrible dimensions , ” Mr Taylor said .
The minister ’ s private secretary , Matthew O ’ Gorman , responded to Sage by email on June 26th , saying that the Department of Health had brought the group ’ s concerns about Ultan Meehan to the attention of the HSE , which had referred the case to the local safeguarding team .
Mr O ’ Gorman said Hiqa “ has no legal role in examining individual complaints ” but that it does take into account all information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when carrying out inspections and this information informs “ a risk-based approach to regulation ” .
The HSE said it had “ no governance or oversight ” over private nursing homes as they were private organisations but that its safeguarding team had “ limited authority to provide oversight or to intervene in private nursing homes ” .
It directed any further queries to Hiqa .
Hiqa told The Irish Times in early June , prior to Ultan ’ s death , that it was aware of Sage ’ s concerns and had engaged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in relation to his care .
Fine Gael TD Fergus O ’ Dowd , who was made aware of details of the case , expressed concern about the lack of care and proper medical overview of Ultan .
“ How often did they look at his case ?
To have maggots in his wound is something you would see in the 18th century , not in Ireland today , not in a nursing home today , ” Mr O ’ Dowd said .
Hiqa carried out an inspection of Kilbrew on June 4th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Keeling , chief executive of Kilbrew Nursing Home , said it had submitted a report to the regulator and “ awaited the outcome of a further review by Hiqa ” .
Mr Keeling declined to answer questions about Ultan ’ s medical condition during his wife ’ s visit on May 14th or why it took two weeks for him to be transferred to hospital .
“ It is not appropriate to go into clinical detail relating to any resident or their treatment , ” he said .
“ At all times , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care to every resident , who each have a dedicated GP assigned to them.
” Mr Keeling , in his written responses , referred to the toll taken on Kilbrew from coronavirus .
Internal HSE figures in late May indicated there had been 15 confirmed or probable Covid-19 deaths at the home .
Kilbrew also lost nursing and care staff to illness and self-isolation .
The home had 59 residents in July 2019 and has a capacity for a maximum of 74 .
“ Kilbrew Nursing Home , like many others , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic , and its managers and staff have and continue to work extremely hard to deliver best in care for all of its residents , ” Mr Keeling said .
Mary said the Covid-19 pandemic could not be used to explain the state she found her husband in when she last visited him at his nursing home .
“ That ’ s no excuse , ” she said .

Mary Bartley Meehan lost both her husband, pictured left, Ultan Meehan, and her son Adrian Bartley, pictured right, within 10 weeks of each other. They shared a room in Kilbrew Nursing Home in Ashbourne. Photograph: Alan Betson
On May 14th, Mary Bartley Meehan was permitted to visit her husband, Ultan Meehan (79), outside Kilbrew Nursing Home in Ashbourne, Co Meath.
The visit was specially arranged during lockdown on seats outside because she had lost her son and Ultan's stepson, Adrian Bartley (52), who also lived at Kilbrew, to coronavirus just six weeks earlier. Adrian had Down's syndrome and dementia.
Mary was “deeply shocked” at the “horrific” condition of her husband, who also suffered from dementia and was terminally ill with cancerous tumours on his face.
“I don’t think I will ever forget it,” she told The Irish Times at her home near Navan.
READ MORE
Her husband was wearing a jumper belonging to her late son – the two men had shared a room at Kilbrew – and somebody else’s shoes.
The side of his face was black with congealed blood. His nails were long and black from picking at his facial tumours, which had become an open wound and infected.
She would never forget the smell from the wound, she said.
Wearing full protective clothing to guard against Covid-19, she felt compelled to take off her gloves and cut his nails herself; her requests to the home had gone ignored, she said
“I know I shouldn’t have done it but I couldn’t leave him with those long nails scraping the wound that was bleeding,” she said.
Visiting restrictions at nursing homes from early March meant Mary had been unable to bring her son and husband home at weekends since February. Most weekends, she bathed her husband, and cleaned his wound. She knew how to calm him; she gave him a sweet and put on some music.
Doctor assessment
On May 29th, two weeks after Mary visited and following sustained pressure from Mary, her advocate and a HSE social worker to have Ultan seen by a local GP, he was assessed.
A doctor referred him immediately to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, Dublin, the location where Adrian had died two months earlier.
Medical records from May 29th – the day that he was admitted – say the nursing home was “unable to manage” the wound on Ultan’s face and that it had become infested with maggots.
On June 15th, with her husband’s health deteriorating rapidly, Mary was permitted to spend an hour with him. By then, his wound was bandaged and he had been shaved.
“His face was spotless clean,” she said.
He died later that day.
A medical certificate put sepsis as the cause of death but also listed “Covid in April 2020” as one of several underlying health conditions.
On March 27th, the day Adrian was rushed from Kilbrew to hospital with severe breathing difficulties, a doctor at the hospital called the nursing home and directed that Ultan be tested immediately for Covid-19 given that the two men shared a room.
Ultan was a risk to others because, like many with dementia, he liked to wander around. It took 17 days for the result to come back; he was positive but had no symptoms.
Kilbrew Nursing Home in Ashbourne. Photograph: Alan Betson
Adrian tested positive for Covid-19 in Connolly Hospital. On March 31st, as his condition deteriorated, Mary said her goodbyes to her son on a video call with two nurses.
“I kept saying to him that he was going to see his daddy,” she said, referring to her late first husband.
He died two hours later.
Shock
The story of Mary, her husband and her son has shocked those who tried to help them.
Mary's advocate, Maureen Finlay, who works with Sage Advocacy, a support group for vulnerable adults, said that calls to Kilbrew in May requesting that Ultan be transferred to a hospital or hospice care went ignored; the home said they were taking care of him, she said.
“This is one of the worst and most horrific cases I have ever come across and I have dealt with some very difficult ones. I was shocked. I spent the night crying after seeing the pictures of Ultan,” said Ms Finlay.
From April 1st, the day after Adrian’s death, to June 2nd, shortly after Ultan’s admission to hospital, Sage issued four “notices of concern” to the HSE and the health service regulator, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), about Kilbrew Nursing Home.
On June 10th, Sage's executive director, Mervyn Taylor, escalated matters, writing to then minister for health Simon Harris asking him to investigate the Co Meath home.
“At a care level, it is probably as bad as I have seen. The tragedy for Mary is just awful because she has lost a son and a husband in 10 weeks. It is a personal tragedy of terrible dimensions,” Mr Taylor said.
Safeguarding team
The minister’s private secretary, Matthew O’Gorman, responded to Sage by email on June 26th, saying that the Department of Health had brought the group’s concerns about Ultan Meehan to the attention of the HSE, which had referred the case to the local safeguarding team.
Mr O’Gorman said Hiqa “has no legal role in examining individual complaints” but that it does take into account all information it receives including complaints from the public when carrying out inspections and this information informs “a risk-based approach to regulation”.
The HSE said it had “no governance or oversight” over private nursing homes as they were private organisations but that its safeguarding team had “limited authority to provide oversight or to intervene in private nursing homes”. It directed any further queries to Hiqa.
Hiqa told The Irish Times in early June, prior to Ultan’s death, that it was aware of Sage’s concerns and had engaged with Kilbrew and staff in Connolly Hospital in relation to his care.
Fine Gael TD Fergus O'Dowd, who was made aware of details of the case, expressed concern about the lack of care and proper medical overview of Ultan.
"How often did they look at his case? To have maggots in his wound is something you would see in the 18th century, not in Ireland today, not in a nursing home today," Mr O'Dowd said.
Hiqa carried out an inspection of Kilbrew on June 4th and is compiling a report.
Further review
James Keeling, chief executive of Kilbrew Nursing Home, said it had submitted a report to the regulator and “awaited the outcome of a further review by Hiqa”.
Mr Keeling declined to answer questions about Ultan’s medical condition during his wife’s visit on May 14th or why it took two weeks for him to be transferred to hospital.
“It is not appropriate to go into clinical detail relating to any resident or their treatment,” he said.
“At all times, we work to provide the best of care to every resident, who each have a dedicated GP assigned to them.”
Mr Keeling, in his written responses, referred to the toll taken on Kilbrew from coronavirus.
Internal HSE figures in late May indicated there had been 15 confirmed or probable Covid-19 deaths at the home. Kilbrew also lost nursing and care staff to illness and self-isolation. The home had 59 residents in July 2019 and has a capacity for a maximum of 74.
“Kilbrew Nursing Home, like many others, has been under acute pressure in the midst of the pandemic, and its managers and staff have and continue to work extremely hard to deliver best in care for all of its residents,” Mr Keeling said.
Mary said the Covid-19 pandemic could not be used to explain the state she found her husband in when she last visited him at his nursing home.
“That’s no excuse,” she said.


theirishtimes--2020-07-06--Call for inquiry into death of Meath nursing home resident

A Co Meath nursing home resident died two weeks after being admitted to hospital with an infestation of maggots in a facial wound that the care facility was unable to manage .
Sage Advocacy , a support group for vulnerable adults , said it was “ deeply disappointing and worrying ” that former minister for health Simon Harris did not launch an investigation into the care of Ultan Meehan ( 79 ) at Kilbrew Nursing Home in Ashbourne .
Mr Meehan was brought to hospital on May 29th , two weeks after his wife , Mary Bartley Meehan , raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband in during a May 14th visit .
She had discovered that the Co Meath man , who suffered from dementia and terminal cancer , appeared to have scratched facial tumours into an open wound .
When he was eventually transferred to Connolly Hospital in Dublin , medics found his wound infested with maggots and that the nursing home had been “ unable to manage ” him or his wound .
Mr Meehan died of sepsis on June 15th , 10 weeks after his step-son Adrian Bartley , Mrs Bartley Meehan ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and dementia , died in the same hospital of Covid-19 .
The two men had shared a room at Kilbrew .
Mr Meehan had tested positive for Covid-19 in mid-April and it was listed as a “ significant ” condition contributing to his death .
Mervyn Taylor , executive director of Sage , said the group had sent four “ notices of concern ” about the care of the men to nursing homes regulator Hiqa and the HSE between April and June .
A spokeswoman for Mr Harris said he was “ very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sage in the case and that his department made Hiqa and the HSE aware of them and “ was assured both were following up with the family ” .
Kilbrew chief executive James Keeling said the home worked to provide “ the best of care to every resident ” and that , like other homes , it was “ under acute pressure in the midst of the pandemic ” .
Hiqa is completing a report following a June 4th inspection at Kilbrew .
The Department of Health told Mr Taylor the HSE had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safeguarding team .

A Co Meath nursing home resident died two weeks after being admitted to hospital with an infestation of maggots in a facial wound that the care facility was unable to manage.
Sage Advocacy, a support group for vulnerable adults, said it was "deeply disappointing and worrying" that former minister for health Simon Harris did not launch an investigation into the care of Ultan Meehan (79) at Kilbrew Nursing Home in Ashbourne.
Mr Meehan was brought to hospital on May 29th, two weeks after his wife, Mary Bartley Meehan, raised concerns about the condition she found her husband in during a May 14th visit.
Mary Bartley Meehan lost both her husband, pictured left, Ultan Meehan, and son Adrian Bartley (pictured right). They were both residents in Kilbrew Nursing Home in Ashbourne. Photograph: Alan Betson
She had discovered that the Co Meath man, who suffered from dementia and terminal cancer, appeared to have scratched facial tumours into an open wound.
READ MORE
When he was eventually transferred to Connolly Hospital in Dublin, medics found his wound infested with maggots and that the nursing home had been “unable to manage” him or his wound.
Mr Meehan died of sepsis on June 15th, 10 weeks after his step-son Adrian Bartley, Mrs Bartley Meehan’s son who had Down’s syndrome and dementia, died in the same hospital of Covid-19.
The two men had shared a room at Kilbrew. Mr Meehan had tested positive for Covid-19 in mid-April and it was listed as a “significant” condition contributing to his death.
‘Notices of concern’
Mervyn Taylor, executive director of Sage, said the group had sent four "notices of concern" about the care of the men to nursing homes regulator Hiqa and the HSE between April and June.
A spokeswoman for Mr Harris said he was “very concerned” about the issues raised by Sage in the case and that his department made Hiqa and the HSE aware of them and “was assured both were following up with the family”.
Kilbrew chief executive James Keeling said the home worked to provide "the best of care to every resident" and that, like other homes, it was "under acute pressure in the midst of the pandemic".
Hiqa is completing a report following a June 4th inspection at Kilbrew. The Department of Health told Mr Taylor the HSE had referred the case on to the local safeguarding team.


theirishtimes--2020-07-06--Teaching unions  seek more staff to enable full reopening

Teachers ’ unions and school managers say a full reopening of schools will not be possible unless panels of substitute teachers are hired for schools .
Talks between the Department of Education and education partners are set to continue this week on the steps required to reopen schools safely in late August .
Senior Government sources say the reopening of schools at the end of August is the highest priority for the new Minister for Education Norma Foley , with one senior figure insisting schools would open “ come hell or high water ” .
But the teachers ’ unions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their members , especially since official advice issued last week suggested that one-metre social distancing should be in place for older children .
Ms Foley said the guidelines provide a good platform for further discussion to allow for the “ optimum ” return to school .
She has declined to say definitively whether the guidelines will allow all students to return to education .
However , political sources pointed out that the advice was issued on an interim basis , and could be revisited as the department , school managers and teaching unions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopening the schools .
One issue which will feature in the talks with the unions is the need for additional staff cover for sick leave , which unions says is likely to increase dramatically in the coming academic year .
This is on foot of official public health advice that anyone with potential symptoms of Covid-19 should stay away from work .
While classes at primary level are usually “ split ” between others if a teacher is sick , this will not be possible under new health guidelines .
The Irish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comprehensive level of staffing , including substitute for all absences , will be required ” .
It said a pilot scheme for panels of substitute teachers – who are hired full-time to cover absences – was needed nationwide to ensure schools can continue to operate .
School managers have also told the department that unless similar supports are in place , many schools may end up closing on a regular basis .
At second level , the Teachers ’ Union of Ireland has suggested trainee teachers should be fast-tracked into paid teaching to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students in the second year of the professional master of education programme should be able to work in the classroom as an exceptional measure .
It has also called for additional staff support for school principals to ensure the planning and preparation for a safe return to school for pupils , teachers and other staff can be advanced .
Separately , the Government is to consider on Monday expanding its “ summer programme ” of education support for hundreds of currently ineligible special needs pupils .
Controversy was sparked after it emerged that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were unable to access the programme .
It is understood that the new Minister of State with responsibility for special needs and inclusion , Josepha Madigan , is to request that the programme ’ s criteria be widened to include these students .
A memo is due to be brought to Cabinet on Monday altering the eligibility criteria which would allow almost 700 additional children participate in the programme for children with complex needs .
Currently , the number of eligible children in the programme is about 24,000 , about 9,000 more than @ @ @ @ @ @

Talks between the Department of Education and education partners are set to continue this week on the steps required to reopen schools safely in late August. File photograph: The Irish Times
Teachers’ unions and school managers say a full reopening of schools will not be possible unless panels of substitute teachers are hired for schools.
Talks between the Department of Education and education partners are set to continue this week on the steps required to reopen schools safely in late August.
Senior Government sources say the reopening of schools at the end of August is the highest priority for the new Minister for Education Norma Foley, with one senior figure insisting schools would open “come hell or high water”.
But the teachers’ unions have expressed worry about the safety of their members, especially since official advice issued last week suggested that one-metre social distancing should be in place for older children.
READ MORE
Ms Foley said the guidelines provide a good platform for further discussion to allow for the “optimum” return to school.
She has declined to say definitively whether the guidelines will allow all students to return to education.
However, political sources pointed out that the advice was issued on an interim basis, and could be revisited as the department, school managers and teaching unions continue to seek to agree a path to reopening the schools.
One issue which will feature in the talks with the unions is the need for additional staff cover for sick leave, which unions says is likely to increase dramatically in the coming academic year.
This is on foot of official public health advice that anyone with potential symptoms of Covid-19 should stay away from work.
While classes at primary level are usually “split” between others if a teacher is sick, this will not be possible under new health guidelines.
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation said a “comprehensive level of staffing, including substitute for all absences, will be required”.
The reopening of schools at the end of August is the highest priority for the new Minister for Education, Norma Foley, senior Government sources said. Photograph: Alan Betson
It said a pilot scheme for panels of substitute teachers – who are hired full-time to cover absences – was needed nationwide to ensure schools can continue to operate.
School managers have also told the department that unless similar supports are in place, many schools may end up closing on a regular basis.
At second level, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland has suggested trainee teachers should be fast-tracked into paid teaching to support schools.
Specifically, it says students in the second year of the professional master of education programme should be able to work in the classroom as an exceptional measure.
It has also called for additional staff support for school principals to ensure the planning and preparation for a safe return to school for pupils, teachers and other staff can be advanced.
Support programme
Separately, the Government is to consider on Monday expanding its “summer programme” of education support for hundreds of currently ineligible special needs pupils.
Controversy was sparked after it emerged that students with Down syndrome in secondary school were unable to access the programme.
It is understood that the new Minister of State with responsibility for special needs and inclusion, Josepha Madigan, is to request that the programme’s criteria be widened to include these students.
A memo is due to be brought to Cabinet on Monday altering the eligibility criteria which would allow almost 700 additional children participate in the programme for children with complex needs.
Currently, the number of eligible children in the programme is about 24,000, about 9,000 more than the traditional July provision scheme.


theirishtimes--2020-07-07--Direct provision pupils: ‘We can’t stay late at school or do anything in town’

Child asylum seekers are “ acutely aware ” of racism directed at them , “ sad ” that some Irish resent them , and hide their identity due to perceived “ shame ” of living in direct provision , a report published on Tuesday says .
The report , Direct Division , is from the Ombudsman for Children ’ s Office ( OCO ) .
Upsetting at times to read , it draws on interviews and workshops with 73 children , aged 12-17 , in nine direct provisions centres at the end of 2019 .
Children talked about hearing racist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to your own country ” , in their local areas .
“ They expressed fear when they heard about communities protesting about new direct provision centres .
.
.
These children wanted to inform Irish people and communities about the hurt and pain and terror they experienced in their home countries because they feel many in this country do not understand the rationale for .
.
.
seeking asylum.
” One boy told researchers : “ I come from a place where there is war .
In my school , officers used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a truck and give them a gun and uniform .
.
.
They were mostly 15-18 .
I was 13 .
If I was still there I would be taken.
” Living in direct provision was stigmatised and many children tried to hide this .
One said : “ There was a school trip and it was going past the [ accommodation ] centre and one person on the bus said : ‘ Oh the zoo is coming ’ .
They think we are like animals .
.
.
There was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bus who actually lived here , but she pretended she didn ’ t. ” One girl told researchers : “ A friend said : ‘ Irish people are paying for everything for you ” and that made me feel uncomfortable .
I felt confused and I did not want anyone to see me living here .
I felt sad because it is not my choice to be here .
If I could get papers and if I didn ’ t have troubles in my own country , I would not be here .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I live.
” The isolation of centres , often outside rural towns , exacerbated the children ’ s sense of exclusion .
“ The bus can only take us to school and bring us back , so we can ’ t stay late at school or do anything in town after school .
We always get home at 20 past four , every day , ” said one teenager .
The report notes : “ Children were acutely aware of the difference between themselves and their peers in relation to participating in social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their parents to provide either private transport or to pay for public transport impacts their children ’ s ability to integrate into their local communities.
” Children cited their living situation in difficulties in forming close friendships .
One said : “ Some children just don ’ t talk to me because they say I ’ m living here .
They say they don ’ t talk to people who live in a dirty place , so I just keep quiet.
” The stigma around direct provision extended into the wider community .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the participants spoke of being referred to in the local community and in school as ‘ The [ centre name ] girls and boys ’ or as ‘ The [ centre name ] people ’ .
These labels led to several children feeling ashamed of where they live.
” Several suggested it would benefit both local communities and the people living in centres , if people were allowed to visit for social or other occasions .

Ombudsman for Children’s Office report: “Children were acutely aware of the difference between themselves and their peers in relation to participating in social and recreational activities.”
Child asylum seekers are “acutely aware” of racism directed at them, “sad” that some Irish resent them, and hide their identity due to perceived “shame” of living in direct provision, a report published on Tuesday says.
The report, Direct Division, is from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO). Upsetting at times to read, it draws on interviews and workshops with 73 children, aged 12-17, in nine direct provisions centres at the end of 2019.
Children talked about hearing racist comments, like, “Go back to your own country”, in their local areas.
“They expressed fear when they heard about communities protesting about new direct provision centres . . . These children wanted to inform Irish people and communities about the hurt and pain and terror they experienced in their home countries because they feel many in this country do not understand the rationale for . . . seeking asylum.”
READ MORE
One boy told researchers: “I come from a place where there is war. In my school, officers used to come for the boys and put them in a truck and give them a gun and uniform . . . They were mostly 15-18. I was 13. If I was still there I would be taken.”
Stigma of housing
Living in direct provision was stigmatised and many children tried to hide this. One said: “There was a school trip and it was going past the [accommodation] centre and one person on the bus said: ‘Oh the zoo is coming’. They think we are like animals . . . There was a friend of mine who was on the bus who actually lived here, but she pretended she didn’t.”
One girl told researchers: “A friend said: ‘Irish people are paying for everything for you” and that made me feel uncomfortable. I felt confused and I did not want anyone to see me living here. I felt sad because it is not my choice to be here. If I could get papers and if I didn’t have troubles in my own country, I would not be here. I felt scared because she knows where I live.”
The isolation of centres, often outside rural towns, exacerbated the children’s sense of exclusion.
“The bus can only take us to school and bring us back, so we can’t stay late at school or do anything in town after school. We always get home at 20 past four, every day,” said one teenager.
Lack of transport
The report notes: “Children were acutely aware of the difference between themselves and their peers in relation to participating in social and recreational activities. The inability of their parents to provide either private transport or to pay for public transport impacts their children’s ability to integrate into their local communities.”
Children cited their living situation in difficulties in forming close friendships.
One said: “Some children just don’t talk to me because they say I’m living here. They say they don’t talk to people who live in a dirty place, so I just keep quiet.”
The stigma around direct provision extended into the wider community. “In a number of areas, the participants spoke of being referred to in the local community and in school as ‘The [centre name] girls and boys’ or as ‘The [centre name] people’. These labels led to several children feeling ashamed of where they live.”
Several suggested it would benefit both local communities and the people living in centres, if people were allowed to visit for social or other occasions.


theirishtimes--2020-07-07--Certain pubs ‘blatantly breaching’ Covid-19 regulations

Gardaí have warned Ministers that a number of pubs are “ blatantly breaching ” Covid-19 public health guidance but carrying out thousands of checks will become a significant drain on the resources of the force .
The Cabinet considered a report on compliance from gardaí and health officials on Monday which warned that officers experienced a “ challenging ” weekend particularly in relation to pubs in Dublin city centre where there was no physical distancing .
A senior source said gardaí had advised that while there was generally good compliance , some pubs were “ blatantly breaching guidelines and did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given a chance to do so ” .
Gardaí may now consider appealing any application by these premises to renew their licence in September .
Taoiseach Micheál Martin warned that plans to reopen the remaining pubs on July 20th may not go ahead .
“ Nothing can be guaranteed .
If this behaviour is to continue , we will have to seriously review it .
We want pubs to open safely but we can ’ t be blind to what is going on right now .
We are not happy with what transpired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said after the Cabinet meeting .
Mr Martin said the Government was worried about the contents of the briefing from senior officers .
The Cabinet also agreed to extend the current advice to the public to avoid all non-essential travel until July 20th .
A “ green list ” will be published at the time but travellers have been warned they may still have to quarantine upon their return if there is a spike of cases in the country visited .
Some 17 per cent of new cases of Covid-19 are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been a sharp increase in footfall in Dublin Airport .
The Department of Health will examine proposals for testing at entry points to the State and the Government will seek to outsource a call centre to check on passengers returning to the State who are advised to self-quarantine .
A Covid-19 tracking app will be launched on Tuesday morning after the Cabinet approved its use .
In drawing up the “ green list ” , the Government will analyse the number of new Covid cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the preceding 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14-day incidence of the disease in Ireland currently stands at 2.96 cases per 100,000 of population , according to acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn .
This compares to an average incidence of 13.1 across Europe , where rates vary between zero and 143 , according to the European Centre of Disease Control .
Just a handful of European countries would make it on to a green list if the strict criterion limited it to countries with a lower incidence than Ireland .
Ireland was in an “ almost uniquely good ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end up “ back where we were months ago ” if we made the wrong choices , Dr Glynn warned last night .
In contrast , if we make the right choices , we can hope to keep the disease under control .
The decision to defer the publication of a green list to July 20th left Ireland with a few weeks to see what happened in other countries , he said .
While it was “ not unexpected ” that large clusters would occur , the test was whether countries managed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of countries recently had problems and this gives us a little more time to see if they can get on top of those problems and close them down.
” With global trends changing rapidly – and 200,000 new cases a day reported over the weekend – Ireland “ needs to see where this goes ” .
“ The global situation could get worse over the week or two , in which case we ’ ll have to think over who is or not on the green list.
” No new deaths of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Public Health Emergency Team for the second day in a row , the first time this has happened since March 21st .
The team reported another four new confirmed cases .

Gardaí may now consider appealing any application by these premises to renew their licence in September. File photograph: Getty
Gardaí have warned Ministers that a number of pubs are “blatantly breaching” Covid-19 public health guidance but carrying out thousands of checks will become a significant drain on the resources of the force.
The Cabinet considered a report on compliance from gardaí and health officials on Monday which warned that officers experienced a “challenging” weekend particularly in relation to pubs in Dublin city centre where there was no physical distancing.
A senior source said gardaí had advised that while there was generally good compliance, some pubs were “blatantly breaching guidelines and did not rectify the issue when they were given a chance to do so”.
Gardaí may now consider appealing any application by these premises to renew their licence in September.
READ MORE
Taoiseach Micheál Martin warned that plans to reopen the remaining pubs on July 20th may not go ahead.
“Nothing can be guaranteed. If this behaviour is to continue, we will have to seriously review it. We want pubs to open safely but we can’t be blind to what is going on right now. We are not happy with what transpired in certain locations over the weekend,” he said after the Cabinet meeting.
Mr Martin said the Government was worried about the contents of the briefing from senior officers.
‘Green list’
The Cabinet also agreed to extend the current advice to the public to avoid all non-essential travel until July 20th. A “green list” will be published at the time but travellers have been warned they may still have to quarantine upon their return if there is a spike of cases in the country visited. Some 17 per cent of new cases of Covid-19 are now linked to foreign travel while there has been a sharp increase in footfall in Dublin Airport.
The Department of Health will examine proposals for testing at entry points to the State and the Government will seek to outsource a call centre to check on passengers returning to the State who are advised to self-quarantine.
A Covid-19 tracking app will be launched on Tuesday morning after the Cabinet approved its use. In drawing up the “green list”, the Government will analyse the number of new Covid cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the preceding 14 days in a given country.
The 14-day incidence of the disease in Ireland currently stands at 2.96 cases per 100,000 of population, according to acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn.
Control of disease
This compares to an average incidence of 13.1 across Europe, where rates vary between zero and 143, according to the European Centre of Disease Control. Just a handful of European countries would make it on to a green list if the strict criterion limited it to countries with a lower incidence than Ireland.
Ireland was in an “almost uniquely good” position in relation to Covid-19 but could end up “back where we were months ago” if we made the wrong choices, Dr Glynn warned last night. In contrast, if we make the right choices, we can hope to keep the disease under control.
The decision to defer the publication of a green list to July 20th left Ireland with a few weeks to see what happened in other countries, he said.
While it was “not unexpected” that large clusters would occur, the test was whether countries managed to control these outbreaks quickly.
“A number of countries recently had problems and this gives us a little more time to see if they can get on top of those problems and close them down.”
With global trends changing rapidly – and 200,000 new cases a day reported over the weekend – Ireland “needs to see where this goes”.
“The global situation could get worse over the week or two, in which case we’ll have to think over who is or not on the green list.”
No new deaths of people diagnosed with Covid-19 were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team for the second day in a row, the first time this has happened since March 21st. The team reported another four new confirmed cases.


theirishtimes--2020-07-07--Covid-19: More cash needed to reopen schools, say principals

Additional funding must be provided to schools to enable them to implement in full Department of Education guidelines for reopening , the Irish Primary Principals ’ Network ( IPPN ) has said .
In a submission to the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee , chief executive of IPPN Páiric Clerkin also said special schools would “ face huge challenges in reopening their school buildings in September ” .
The IPPN , the professional body for the leaders of Irish primary schools , also told the committee teaching principals needed to be provided with additional leadership and management time .
“ Simply put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teach as well as lead their schools through the reopening phase.
” Mr Clerkin said in an opening statement : “ To enable schools to manage during the reopening phase , substitute cover is needed for every absence.
” “ Schools also need to have flexibility in how they allocate staff to comply with social distancing requirements , including arrangements for shared special education and EAL ( English as an additional language ) teachers who work in multiple classrooms and/or in multiple schools , while ensuring that the most vulnerable children receive the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ procurement and distribution to all schools of appropriate and sufficient personal protective equipment and cleaning materials prior to their full reopening in the autumn would greatly alleviate schools of a significant burden over the summer months .
Mr Clerkin said : “ Training specific to schools is needed , particularly in relation to supporting children with special educational needs , as there are specific concerns and issues that will pose significant challenges for school staff with regard to intimate care needs .
“ In addition , specific training is required for cleaning staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school leaders .
The training being prepared by the Health and Safety Authority needs to be expanded to address these cohorts .
“ Special schools face huge challenges in reopening their school buildings in September .
They will require extra personnel and protective personal equipment equipment , as well as very clear guidance and training on the intimate care challenges they will face day-to-day in schools , and funding to support the purchase of extra resources to limit the sharing of materials in or between classes.
” Alan Mongey president of the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the committee his organisation would like to see a full return of all students to school in late August-September , “ provided it is safe , practical and possible to do so for students , all school staff and school leaders ” .
He said post-primary schools varied from 100 pupils to more than 1,500 .
Each had its own unique factors which would affect what a return to school may look like .
“ A one size fits all solution to school reopening will not work , ” he said .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or reallocation of a member of staff to act as a Covid-19 assistant while a financial package was needed to fund the implementation of the reopening guidelines .
“ Blended learning for post-primary education will form part of our future practice .
There must be clarity , however , as to what we mean by blended learning and what are the expectations of schools in this regard .
There must be clear guidance produced by the Department of Education and Skills to ensure equity of provision for all students .
”

Alan Mongey, president of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, said his organisation would like to see a full return of all students to school in late August-September, “provided it is safe, practical and possible to do so for students, all school staff and school leaders”. Photograph: PA
Additional funding must be provided to schools to enable them to implement in full Department of Education guidelines for reopening, the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) has said.
In a submission to the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee, chief executive of IPPN Páiric Clerkin also said special schools would "face huge challenges in reopening their school buildings in September".
The IPPN, the professional body for the leaders of Irish primary schools, also told the committee teaching principals needed to be provided with additional leadership and management time.
“Simply put, they cannot be expected to teach as well as lead their schools through the reopening phase.”
READ MORE
‘Substitute cover’
Mr Clerkin said in an opening statement: “ To enable schools to manage during the reopening phase, substitute cover is needed for every absence.”
“ Schools also need to have flexibility in how they allocate staff to comply with social distancing requirements, including arrangements for shared special education and EAL (English as an additional language) teachers who work in multiple classrooms and/or in multiple schools, while ensuring that the most vulnerable children receive the required support.”
He said the centralised procurement and distribution to all schools of appropriate and sufficient personal protective equipment and cleaning materials prior to their full reopening in the autumn would greatly alleviate schools of a significant burden over the summer months.
Mr Clerkin said: “Training specific to schools is needed, particularly in relation to supporting children with special educational needs, as there are specific concerns and issues that will pose significant challenges for school staff with regard to intimate care needs.
‘Cleaning staff’
“In addition, specific training is required for cleaning staff, staff reps, compliance officers and school leaders. The training being prepared by the Health and Safety Authority needs to be expanded to address these cohorts.
“Special schools face huge challenges in reopening their school buildings in September. They will require extra personnel and protective personal equipment equipment, as well as very clear guidance and training on the intimate care challenges they will face day-to-day in schools, and funding to support the purchase of extra resources to limit the sharing of materials in or between classes.”
Alan Mongey president of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals told the committee his organisation would like to see a full return of all students to school in late August-September, "provided it is safe, practical and possible to do so for students, all school staff and school leaders".
He said post-primary schools varied from 100 pupils to more than 1,500. Each had its own unique factors which would affect what a return to school may look like.
“A one size fits all solution to school reopening will not work,” he said.
He added that each school required the appointment or reallocation of a member of staff to act as a Covid-19 assistant while a financial package was needed to fund the implementation of the reopening guidelines.
"Blended learning for post-primary education will form part of our future practice. There must be clarity, however, as to what we mean by blended learning and what are the expectations of schools in this regard. There must be clear guidance produced by the Department of Education and Skills to ensure equity of provision for all students."