theirishtimes--2020-08-31--New Garda board to act as ‘firewall’ between Minister and commissioner

A new “ firewall ” is to be created between the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner with the establishment of a Garda Síochána Board , it has emerged .
According to briefing documents given to Fine Gael , Fianna Fáil and the Green Party during government-formation talks , the new board will identify risks in An Garda Síochána early “ so that controversies are forestalled ” .
“ Crucially , the board is intended to act as a firewall between the Minister/Government and the commissioner in the event of any issues emerging , ” the briefing states .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nine members and will meet a minimum of 11 times every year .
It will also have a role in relation to the selection and removal of the commissioner and deputy commissioners and will also have a role in relation to the approval of appointments or removal of other senior officers .
Legislation to create the new structure is being prepared by the Department of Justice on foot of a report from the Commission of Future Policing in Ireland , which previously found that the current governance and oversight framework for policing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is because of a lack of clarity about where responsibility lies between the Garda Commissioner , the Policing Authority and the department and Minister , the briefing states .
“ As responsibility is so diffuse no one is accountable and the end result is that when controversies arise they quickly escalate to the highest levels of Government.
” Detailing how the new board will work , the parties were told that the responsibility for running the Garda organisation will rest with the commissioner .
“ The legislation will confer on the office-holder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a true CEO .
He will be held to account by the Garda Síochána Board for how he manages the organisation.
” The new board will be “ more akin to the board of the HSE ” .
“ It will have no Garda management members and it is intended that its membership will be people of the appropriate calibre with relevant expertise and experience , who will both challenge and support the commissioner in his management of the organisation.
” Currently the Garda Commissioner is accountable to the Minister and reports to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department .
Under the new scheme , the commissioner will be accountable to the board in terms of the running of the organisation .
Under the new structure the Minister will be “ focused on determining policy , providing information on policing and security to the Oireachtas and public.
” However , the commissioner will still be required to keep the Minister informed of “ significant developments concerning policing and security ” .

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Currently the commissioner is accountable to the Minister for Justice and reports to the Government through the secretary general of the Department of Justice. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
A new "firewall" is to be created between the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner with the establishment of a Garda Síochána Board, it has emerged.
According to briefing documents given to Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party during government-formation talks, the new board will identify risks in An Garda Síochána early “so that controversies are forestalled”.
“Crucially, the board is intended to act as a firewall between the Minister/Government and the commissioner in the event of any issues emerging,” the briefing states.
The new board will have up to nine members and will meet a minimum of 11 times every year. It will also have a role in relation to the selection and removal of the commissioner and deputy commissioners and will also have a role in relation to the approval of appointments or removal of other senior officers.
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Legislation to create the new structure is being prepared by the Department of Justice on foot of a report from the Commission of Future Policing in Ireland, which previously found that the current governance and oversight framework for policing is "set up to fail".
Lack of clarity
This is because of a lack of clarity about where responsibility lies between the Garda Commissioner, the Policing Authority and the department and Minister, the briefing states.
“As responsibility is so diffuse no one is accountable and the end result is that when controversies arise they quickly escalate to the highest levels of Government.”
Detailing how the new board will work, the parties were told that the responsibility for running the Garda organisation will rest with the commissioner.
“The legislation will confer on the office-holder the levers of control to act as a true CEO. He will be held to account by the Garda Síochána Board for how he manages the organisation.” The new board will be “more akin to the board of the HSE”.
“It will have no Garda management members and it is intended that its membership will be people of the appropriate calibre with relevant expertise and experience, who will both challenge and support the commissioner in his management of the organisation.”
Currently the Garda Commissioner is accountable to the Minister and reports to the Government through the secretary-general of the department. Under the new scheme, the commissioner will be accountable to the board in terms of the running of the organisation.
Under the new structure the Minister will be "focused on determining policy, providing information on policing and security to the Oireachtas and public."
However, the commissioner will still be required to keep the Minister informed of “significant developments concerning policing and security”.


theirishtimes--2020-08-31--Dublin nursing home residents ‘terrified and angry’ over its threatened closure

Residents of a south Dublin nursing home and supported living facility say they are terrified , devastated and “ very angry ” at its threatened closure .
Provisional liquidators Baker Tilly have been appointed to St Mary ’ s ( Telford ) , which includes a nursing home and apartments for women who are blind , on Merrion Road .
Liquidation , however , is being challenged in the High Court by families of several residents and is adjourned until September 7th .
St Mary ’ s was founded by the Sisters of Charity in 1868 as a school and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ girls .
The sisters have not been involved in its management since 1996 , though they own the land and campus and two sisters sit on the board of management .
Clare Heffernan ( 66 ) , who is almost totally blind , has lived in an apartment on campus since 2015 .
Originally from Malaysia , she came to Ireland in 1975 to work as a translator .
She got an apartment in St Mary ’ s through a referral from the National Council for the Blind of Ireland ( NCBI ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought my dreams had all come true .
I was told I could stay here .
I am in a one-bedroom apartment .
It is very , very lovely.
” The women in the apartments live independently but can call on staff in the nursing home who specialise in care of the visually impaired .
Heffernan , like other women who spoke to The Irish Times , was told in early June about the nursing home ’ s closure .
“ I asked if the apartments would be kept open .
They promised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Then on July 24th the manager came and told me a liquidator was being appointed , that everything was being closed .
I was very devastated , I was very shocked and traumatised .
It was very distressing.
” Another apartment resident , aged 60 , did not want to give her name .
She had been a pupil in the school in the 1960s .
She was told “ verbally ” on July 24th that the apartments were being closed , having previously been assured the residents were “ safe ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ management on July 30th , provided no reassurance , say the women .
“ They wouldn ’ t give an eviction timeframe so we are just at the mercy of all these people , ” says Heffernan .
“ I feel angry , I feel sold down the drain .
They don ’ t care about our feelings .
All the uncertainty and instability is doing my head in .
“ I can ’ t sleep .
I can not eat .
I am so traumatised .
I am very , very stressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cope .
The anxiety , the fear is very crippling.
” Another resident , aged 68 and a former care assistant in the home , says she feels “ totally let down ” .
She has glaucoma , has lived here for five years , and says St Mary ’ s has been “ a lovely place to work and live ” .
“ All I have been told is we have to wait for the HSE to decide where we will go .
I am very angry and very hurt .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The women are appealing to the HSE to take over the management of St Mary ’ s .
“ This is a very valuable and very precious facility which we need to hang on to , ” saysHeffernan .
“ There is no nursing home or service anywhere else that that has a disability service for the blind.
” The board at St Mary ’ s ( Telford ) referred queries from The Irish Times to Baker Tilly .
Baker Tilly said it could not comment as the liquidation has not been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said : “ We are continuing to liaise with the regulator and the provisional liquidator of St Mary ’ s ( Telford ) Ltd. As required and directed we will support the persons in charge to ensure the interests and welfare of the remaining residents is maintained.
” A spokeswoman for the Sisters of Charity said they were “ concerned about the closure of the independent company governing St Mary ’ s ( Telford ) ” .
“ We are very saddened by what we are hearing and hope that a resolution is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distress of the situation .
The order is aware that the liquidator and the HSE are in discussions and is waiting to hear from them.
” The sisters are also in discussion with the Charities Regulator with a view to making ex-gratia payments to staff “ in recognition of their dedicated service to the residents of the home ” .
This follows a statement from the board earlier this month that they would not be in a position to pay statutory redundancy .

Clare Heffernan has been told she will have to soon leave St Mary's nursing home in Dublin but with no other facility for the visually impaired in Dublin she's fearful of where she may end up. Video: Enda O'Dowd
Residents of a south Dublin nursing home and supported living facility say they are terrified, devastated and “very angry” at its threatened closure.
Provisional liquidators Baker Tilly have been appointed to St Mary's (Telford), which includes a nursing home and apartments for women who are blind, on Merrion Road. Liquidation, however, is being challenged in the High Court by families of several residents and is adjourned until September 7th.
St Mary’s was founded by the Sisters of Charity in 1868 as a school and “asylum” for blind women and girls. The sisters have not been involved in its management since 1996, though they own the land and campus and two sisters sit on the board of management.
Clare Heffernan (66), who is almost totally blind, has lived in an apartment on campus since 2015. Originally from Malaysia, she came to Ireland in 1975 to work as a translator. She got an apartment in St Mary's through a referral from the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI).
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“When I came here I thought my dreams had all come true. I was told I could stay here. I am in a one-bedroom apartment. It is very, very lovely.”
The women in the apartments live independently but can call on staff in the nursing home who specialise in care of the visually impaired.
Heffernan, like other women who spoke to The Irish Times, was told in early June about the nursing home’s closure.
“I asked if the apartments would be kept open. They promised me they would not be closing. Then on July 24th the manager came and told me a liquidator was being appointed, that everything was being closed. I was very devastated, I was very shocked and traumatised. It was very distressing.”
Another apartment resident, aged 60, did not want to give her name. She had been a pupil in the school in the 1960s. She was told “verbally” on July 24th that the apartments were being closed, having previously been assured the residents were “safe”.
No reassurance
A residents’ meeting, hosted by management on July 30th, provided no reassurance, say the women.
“They wouldn’t give an eviction timeframe so we are just at the mercy of all these people,” says Heffernan. “I feel angry, I feel sold down the drain. They don’t care about our feelings. All the uncertainty and instability is doing my head in.
“I can’t sleep. I cannot eat. I am so traumatised. I am very, very stressed. I feel I can’t cope. The anxiety, the fear is very crippling.”
Another resident, aged 68 and a former care assistant in the home, says she feels “totally let down”. She has glaucoma, has lived here for five years, and says St Mary’s has been “a lovely place to work and live”.
“All I have been told is we have to wait for the HSE to decide where we will go. I am very angry and very hurt. I am not ready for a nursing home.”
The women are appealing to the HSE to take over the management of St Mary’s. “This is a very valuable and very precious facility which we need to hang on to,” saysHeffernan. “There is no nursing home or service anywhere else that that has a disability service for the blind.”
The board at St Mary’s (Telford) referred queries from The Irish Times to Baker Tilly.
Baker Tilly said it could not comment as the liquidation has not been confirmed.
A spokeswoman for the HSE said: “We are continuing to liaise with the regulator and the provisional liquidator of St Mary’s (Telford) Ltd. As required and directed we will support the persons in charge to ensure the interests and welfare of the remaining residents is maintained.”
A spokeswoman for the Sisters of Charity said they were “concerned about the closure of the independent company governing St Mary’s (Telford)”.
“We are very saddened by what we are hearing and hope that a resolution is found quickly to ease the discomfort and distress of the situation. The order is aware that the liquidator and the HSE are in discussions and is waiting to hear from them.”
The sisters are also in discussion with the Charities Regulator with a view to making ex-gratia payments to staff “in recognition of their dedicated service to the residents of the home”. This follows a statement from the board earlier this month that they would not be in a position to pay statutory redundancy.


theirishtimes--2020-08-31--North’s coronavirus infection rate ‘significantly higher’ than Republic’s

The rate of new coronavirus infections in Northern Ireland is now “ significantly higher ” than in the Republic of Ireland or the UK as a whole , the North ’ s chief scientific officer has warned .
On Friday the number of cases per 100,000 in Northern Ireland over 14 days was 38.6 , according to Prof Ian Young , compared with the European Centre for Disease Control ’ s figure of 31.1 in the Republic and 23.2 in the UK .
Prof Young told The Irish Times he did not have a “ simple explanation ” for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which had performed “ much better ” than the rest of the UK earlier in the pandemic .
“ In particular , I don ’ t know whether our population are adhering less well to restrictions than the population in England , Scotland and Wales , which is the obvious thing to think about , but it ’ s very hard to get accurate comparative data.
” However , while the North ’ s figures were currently higher than those in the Republic , he said the numbers fluctuated and the outbreaks remained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Border .
“ We ’ re both dealing with outbreaks associated with meat factories , we both observe greater number of cases in the major urban settings , particularly Belfast and Dublin , and we both have much lower incidence in some of the rural settings.
” Concerns have been voiced throughout the pandemic that the existence of the Border could hamper the fight against coronavirus .
However , Prof Young said the presence of the Border had had little impact on the spread of the virus or the fight against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start of the outbreak of the “ beneficial ” early changes in behaviour by some people in the North , which he said was in part a result of the measures which had been introduced in the Republic .
In regard to international travel through Dublin , Prof Young said the impact had “ largely been neutral .
If people weren ’ t coming in through Dublin they ’ d be coming in through London .
“ The evidence we have from our test , trace and protect service is that only a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present are associated with travel , so we don ’ t think that ’ s a significant driver at the moment in terms of increased case numbers.
” There is also , he said , “ very good communication and collaboration with our colleagues in the Republic ” , with conversations taking place at a minimum once a week , and contact tracing operating on a cross-border basis .
The number of coronavirus cases in the North has increased tenfold since early July , with most cases now among younger people .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been consistently above one since the beginning of August , and hospital admissions and bed occupancy figures have also been rising .
Over the weekend the North ’ s department of health reported 138 new cases , bringing the total number of cases since the beginning of the pandemic to 7,187 .
Prof Young said he was “ concerned ” at the increase in case numbers , which he described as “ steady and progressive and if anything is gathering pace ” , and in particular in Belfast , where 134 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days .

The concept of herd immunity suggests when enough people in a population are either vaccinated against a disease or have developed natural resistance through infection then it stems its spread. Photograph: US National Institutes of Health via AP
The rate of new coronavirus infections in Northern Ireland is now "significantly higher" than in the Republic of Ireland or the UK as a whole, the North's chief scientific officer has warned.
On Friday the number of cases per 100,000 in Northern Ireland over 14 days was 38.6, according to Prof Ian Young, compared with the European Centre for Disease Control's figure of 31.1 in the Republic and 23.2 in the UK.
Prof Young told The Irish Times he did not have a “simple explanation” for the increased infection rate in the North, which had performed “much better” than the rest of the UK earlier in the pandemic.
"In particular, I don't know whether our population are adhering less well to restrictions than the population in England, Scotland and Wales, which is the obvious thing to think about, but it's very hard to get accurate comparative data."
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However, while the North’s figures were currently higher than those in the Republic, he said the numbers fluctuated and the outbreaks remained “broadly similar” on both sides of the Border.
"We're both dealing with outbreaks associated with meat factories, we both observe greater number of cases in the major urban settings, particularly Belfast and Dublin, and we both have much lower incidence in some of the rural settings."
Concerns have been voiced throughout the pandemic that the existence of the Border could hamper the fight against coronavirus.
However, Prof Young said the presence of the Border had had little impact on the spread of the virus or the fight against it, with the exception at the start of the outbreak of the “beneficial” early changes in behaviour by some people in the North, which he said was in part a result of the measures which had been introduced in the Republic.
International travel
In regard to international travel through Dublin, Prof Young said the impact had “largely been neutral. If people weren’t coming in through Dublin they’d be coming in through London.
“The evidence we have from our test, trace and protect service is that only a very small proportion of our cases at present are associated with travel, so we don’t think that’s a significant driver at the moment in terms of increased case numbers.”
There is also, he said, “very good communication and collaboration with our colleagues in the Republic”, with conversations taking place at a minimum once a week, and contact tracing operating on a cross-border basis.
The number of coronavirus cases in the North has increased tenfold since early July, with most cases now among younger people. The reproduction – “R” – rate has been consistently above one since the beginning of August, and hospital admissions and bed occupancy figures have also been rising.
Over the weekend the North’s department of health reported 138 new cases, bringing the total number of cases since the beginning of the pandemic to 7,187.
Prof Young said he was “concerned” at the increase in case numbers, which he described as “steady and progressive and if anything is gathering pace”, and in particular in Belfast, where 134 cases have been identified in the last seven days.


theirishtimes--2020-08-31--Dementia care in a pandemic: ‘Dad asked me if we were at war’

Teena Gates bought seeds for planting and organised projects to keep her dad , Terry Martin ( 95 ) , occupied during the coronavirus pandemic .
Despite all of this preparation , caring for her father – who has vascular dementia – during Covid-19 has been far more difficult than she anticipated .
Gates struggled with the restrictions on movement , because it meant her usual tools to relax , such as sea swimming , were no longer permitted due to distance .
On top of that , her father could no longer attend day care , which allowed him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a break from caring .
“ I actually ended up in hospital .
It turned out to be a stress-related stomach bug , ” she says .
“ It would appear that I have developed irritable bowel syndrome .
I got treated for that but it has been a recurrent factor ever since.
” Carers for people with dementia have noticed a deterioration in the people they care for , as a result of the coronavirus restrictions .
Gates said she has also noticed a decline in her father ’ s behaviour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my dad alone , he has to be watched 24/7 .
I can ’ t even go to the toilet with the door closed , that ’ s how intense it is , ” she explains .
“ Dad is now attached to me in an unhealthy way .
If I leave the room , he ’ ll follow me .
“ He has lost and gone backwards so much .
Just recently , I went back to work on Saturday and I had carers with him for 10 hours .
It didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very upset , very distressed , ” she adds .
“ That would not have been a problem [ previously ] .
I was working a three-day week beforehand and had carers with him for three days.
” Gates says that being a carer in non-pandemic times is “ tough work ” , and that she is “ changing pads all night long .
.
.
[ and doesn ’ t ] sleep very much.
” But adding Covid-19 to the equation has only exacerbated the magnitude and stress of caring , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t fully understand the situation .
“ I tried to shelter him initially about the virus and what was happening , but he started getting alarmed and asked me if we were at war , ” she says .
“ He knew something was up .
He ’ s 95 so he was very close to the second World War so I had to come clean and explain to him about the virus.
” She added : “ He has become agoraphobic .
He has now connected that with thinking it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m having difficulty getting him into the garden .
He used to love the garden.
” Despite all of the challenges , Gates acknowledges that the work can be rewarding at times .
“ The reason why anybody does this is because we absolutely adore the person that we are caring for , ” she says .
“ Seeing dad grinning and smiling at me , with his big blue eyes twinkling at me .
Sometimes when he has a good meal , he licks his lips or smacks his lips noisily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ‘ oh , that was lovely.
’ That just warms my heart , it ’ s marvellous .
Those moments are what you hang onto .
”

Teena Gates bought seeds for planting and organised projects to keep her dad, Terry Martin (95), occupied during the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite all of this preparation, caring for her father – who has vascular dementia – during Covid-19 has been far more difficult than she anticipated.
Gates struggled with the restrictions on movement, because it meant her usual tools to relax, such as sea swimming, were no longer permitted due to distance.
On top of that, her father could no longer attend day care, which allowed him to socialise, and also provided Gates with a break from caring.
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“I actually ended up in hospital. It turned out to be a stress-related stomach bug,” she says. “It would appear that I have developed irritable bowel syndrome. I got treated for that but it has been a recurrent factor ever since.”
Carers for people with dementia have noticed a deterioration in the people they care for, as a result of the coronavirus restrictions. Gates said she has also noticed a decline in her father’s behaviour.
“I can’t leave my dad alone, he has to be watched 24/7. I can’t even go to the toilet with the door closed, that’s how intense it is,” she explains. “Dad is now attached to me in an unhealthy way. If I leave the room, he’ll follow me.
“He has lost and gone backwards so much. Just recently, I went back to work on Saturday and I had carers with him for 10 hours. It didn’t go well. He got very upset, very distressed,” she adds. “That would not have been a problem [previously]. I was working a three-day week beforehand and had carers with him for three days.”
The reason why anybody does this is because we absolutely adore the person that we are caring for
Gates says that being a carer in non-pandemic times is “tough work”, and that she is “changing pads all night long . . . [and doesn’t] sleep very much.”
But adding Covid-19 to the equation has only exacerbated the magnitude and stress of caring, she explains, particularly because her father doesn’t fully understand the situation.
“I tried to shelter him initially about the virus and what was happening, but he started getting alarmed and asked me if we were at war,” she says.
“ He knew something was up. He’s 95 so he was very close to the second World War so I had to come clean and explain to him about the virus.”
She added: “He has become agoraphobic. He has now connected that with thinking it’s unsafe to go outside. I’m having difficulty getting him into the garden. He used to love the garden.”
Despite all of the challenges, Gates acknowledges that the work can be rewarding at times.
“The reason why anybody does this is because we absolutely adore the person that we are caring for,” she says.
“Seeing dad grinning and smiling at me, with his big blue eyes twinkling at me. Sometimes when he has a good meal, he licks his lips or smacks his lips noisily and will grin at me and say, ‘oh, that was lovely.’ That just warms my heart, it’s marvellous. Those moments are what you hang onto.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-31--Clarification sought on inquiry into nursing home care death

Advocates for a widow whose husband died after a nursing home was unable to manage his care have called for clarification on the status of a regulatory inspection of the home .
Ultan Meehan died in June two weeks after he was transferred from Kilbrew Nursing Home in Co Meath to a Dublin hospital with tumorous facial wounds infected and infested with maggots .
His widow Mary Bartley-Meehan has called for an inquiry into his treatment and criticised the failure of various State agencies to carry out an investigation into the circumstances of his care .
She has said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed ” around by various State bodies .
On his admission to hospital on May 29th , medics found Mr Meehan , who suffered from dementia and terminal cancer , had scratched his facial tumours into an open wound .
Hospital medical records said that Kilbrew Nursing Home was “ unable to manage ” the wound on his face and it had become infested .
Video evidence was taken by the medics on his admission showing his wound .
Mr Meehan died just over two weeks later of sepsis .
Sage Advocacy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has called for clarification after Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said last week week that the regulator , the Health and Information Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) , “ is investigating what happened – they are providing a report ” .
The group raised concerns on the basis that no State agency has the authority to investigate an individual complaint about care at a private nursing home .
It noted that Hiqa is “ unable to investigate individual complaints about a health or social care service under the Health Act 2007 ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nursing home and is preparing a report .
“ We are asking the current Minister for Health if he has now asked Hiqa to undertake an investigation under relevant healthcare legislation , ” said Sage executive director Mervyn Taylor .
Mr Taylor said Mrs Bartley-Meehan was “ absolutely clear ” that there has been no direct contact with her by Hiqa , which “ would be absolutely essential in the event of a proper investigation ” .
He noted that Mr Donnelly told the Oireachtas committee on Covid-19 last week that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigate ” .
“ It is imperative that there is clarity in the Department of Health as to whether or not Hiqa is undertaking an investigation as indicated by the Minister to the Oireachtas committee , ” he said .
“ I have no doubt that it was not the intention of the Minister to mislead an Oireachtas committee or cause further upset to Mrs Bartley-Meehan so for everyone ’ s sake this issue needs to be clarified immediately.
” A spokesman for Hiqa said that that it was “ aware of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Mr Meehan and that “ all correspondence received on Mrs Meehan ’ s behalf has been reviewed and responded to.
” He said that Hiqa contacted Mrs Bartley-Meehan ’ s advocate and offered to meet Mrs Bartley-Meehan when the report on its inspection of Kilbrew has been finalised , an offer which was accepted .
“ This is expected to occur in the near future , ” said the spokesman .
Kilbrew chief executive James Keeling said last month in response to queries about Mr Meehan ’ s condition on admission to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide “ the best of care ” and that , like other homes , it had been “ under acute pressure in the midst of the pandemic ” .
In a statement the Department of Health said Hiqa had recently inspected the nursing home “ which included raising the issue of the care of Mr Meehan with the nursing home directly ” and the report was being drafted .

Ultan Meehan died in June two weeks after he was transferred from Kilbrew Nursing Home in Co Meath to a Dublin hospital. Photograph: iStock
Advocates for a widow whose husband died after a nursing home was unable to manage his care have called for clarification on the status of a regulatory inspection of the home.
Ultan Meehan died in June two weeks after he was transferred from Kilbrew Nursing Home in Co Meath to a Dublin hospital with tumorous facial wounds infected and infested with maggots.
His widow Mary Bartley-Meehan has called for an inquiry into his treatment and criticised the failure of various State agencies to carry out an investigation into the circumstances of his care.
She has said she has felt like “a parcel being passed” around by various State bodies.
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On his admission to hospital on May 29th, medics found Mr Meehan, who suffered from dementia and terminal cancer, had scratched his facial tumours into an open wound.
Infested
Hospital medical records said that Kilbrew Nursing Home was “unable to manage” the wound on his face and it had become infested.
Video evidence was taken by the medics on his admission showing his wound. Mr Meehan died just over two weeks later of sepsis.
Sage Advocacy, a support group for vulnerable adults, has called for clarification after Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said last week week that the regulator, the Health and Information Quality Authority (Hiqa), "is investigating what happened – they are providing a report".
The group raised concerns on the basis that no State agency has the authority to investigate an individual complaint about care at a private nursing home. It noted that Hiqa is “unable to investigate individual complaints about a health or social care service under the Health Act 2007”.
Hiqa has carried out an inspection of the nursing home and is preparing a report.
"We are asking the current Minister for Health if he has now asked Hiqa to undertake an investigation under relevant healthcare legislation," said Sage executive director Mervyn Taylor.
Mr Taylor said Mrs Bartley-Meehan was “absolutely clear” that there has been no direct contact with her by Hiqa, which “would be absolutely essential in the event of a proper investigation”.
He noted that Mr Donnelly told the Oireachtas committee on Covid-19 last week that "in the first instance Hiqa has to investigate".
Clarity
"It is imperative that there is clarity in the Department of Health as to whether or not Hiqa is undertaking an investigation as indicated by the Minister to the Oireachtas committee," he said.
“I have no doubt that it was not the intention of the Minister to mislead an Oireachtas committee or cause further upset to Mrs Bartley-Meehan so for everyone’s sake this issue needs to be clarified immediately.”
A spokesman for Hiqa said that that it was “aware of the sad circumstances” pertaining to the death of Mr Meehan and that “all correspondence received on Mrs Meehan’s behalf has been reviewed and responded to.”
He said that Hiqa contacted Mrs Bartley-Meehan’s advocate and offered to meet Mrs Bartley-Meehan when the report on its inspection of Kilbrew has been finalised, an offer which was accepted.
“This is expected to occur in the near future,” said the spokesman.
Kilbrew chief executive James Keeling said last month in response to queries about Mr Meehan's condition on admission to hospital that the nursing home worked to provide "the best of care" and that, like other homes, it had been "under acute pressure in the midst of the pandemic".
In a statement the Department of Health said Hiqa had recently inspected the nursing home “which included raising the issue of the care of Mr Meehan with the nursing home directly” and the report was being drafted.


theirishtimes--2020-08-31--Leaving Cert students to learn details of adjustments to calculated grades process

Leaving Cert students are set to receive fresh details this week over how the calculated grades process has been adjusted to try to make results as fair and accurate as possible .
The Department of Education is expected to this week release technical details of how the calculated grades system has been completed and refined in light of expert advice and controversy in the United Kingdom .
Disadvantaged students were found to have been disproportionately downgraded compared to others in the UK system , which led to an outcry and a government U-turn to reinstate teachers ’ predicted grades .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the UK version in at least three crucial respects .
Teachers ’ estimated marks for individual students will carry a much greater weight in the Irish system compared to the UK , it is understood .
In addition , teachers ’ estimated marks for individual students will carry a much greater weight in the Irish system compared to the UK .
Furthermore , it is claimed that the Irish system is designed to allow for exceptional students to be recognised , even in a class or school which has historically underperformed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leaving Cert exams – are based on a combination of teachers ’ estimated marks for students and a standardisation process to ensure the national performance is similar to previous years .
Some 61,000 students are due to receive their results at 9am on Monday , September 7th .
The new details of how the system will operate is unlikely to satisfy opposition parties who have criticised an element of the standardisation process know as “ school profiling ” .
This is a reference to how historical data for student achievement across individual schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standardisation process .
Labour ’ s education spokesman Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD said this element should be taken out of the process as it threatens to “ doubly disadvantage ” students from less well-off backgrounds .
Department sources , however , say the Irish system has been carefully constructed to ensure students are not unfairly disadvantaged on socio-economic grounds .
It is understood that the calculated grades process , meanwhile , is largely complete and verification checks are taking place .
Students , who receive their results next Monday , will have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive CAO officers .
Some education sources say the fact that our college offers system is different to the UK ’ s may take some of the heat out of controversy linked to students ’ calculated grades .
In the UK , students received conditional college offers based on their predicted grades .
However , in Ireland the CAO operates on the basis of supply and demand , along with students ’ relative performance , which should provide more flexibility for movements in grades .

Some 61,000 Leaving Cert students are set to receive their calculated grade results at 9am on Monday, September 7th. Photograph: David Jones/PA Wire
Leaving Cert students are set to receive fresh details this week over how the calculated grades process has been adjusted to try to make results as fair and accurate as possible.
The Department of Education is expected to this week release technical details of how the calculated grades system has been completed and refined in light of expert advice and controversy in the United Kingdom.
Disadvantaged students were found to have been disproportionately downgraded compared to others in the UK system, which led to an outcry and a government U-turn to reinstate teachers’ predicted grades.
Sources say the Irish system now differs from the UK version in at least three crucial respects.
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Teachers’ estimated marks for individual students will carry a much greater weight in the Irish system compared to the UK, it is understood.
In addition, teachers’ estimated marks for individual students are in the form of per centages rather than grade bands, as was the case in the UK. This, say department officials, should allow for greater accuracy.
National performance
Furthermore, it is claimed that the Irish system is designed to allow for exceptional students to be recognised, even in a class or school which has historically underperformed.
Calculated grades – which replaced the summer Leaving Cert exams – are based on a combination of teachers’ estimated marks for students and a standardisation process to ensure the national performance is similar to previous years. Some 61,000 students are due to receive their results at 9am on Monday, September 7th.
The new details of how the system will operate is unlikely to satisfy opposition parties who have criticised an element of the standardisation process know as “school profiling” .
This is a reference to how historical data for student achievement across individual schools is set to form part of the standardisation process.
Labour’s education spokesman Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD said this element should be taken out of the process as it threatens to “doubly disadvantage” students from less well-off backgrounds.
Department sources, however, say the Irish system has been carefully constructed to ensure students are not unfairly disadvantaged on socio-economic grounds.
It is understood that the calculated grades process, meanwhile, is largely complete and verification checks are taking place.
Students, who receive their results next Monday, will have to wait four days after their results to receive CAO officers.
Some education sources say the fact that our college offers system is different to the UK’s may take some of the heat out of controversy linked to students’ calculated grades.
In the UK, students received conditional college offers based on their predicted grades. However, in Ireland the CAO operates on the basis of supply and demand, along with students' relative performance, which should provide more flexibility for movements in grades.


theirishtimes--2020-08-31--Sentencing regime for serious child offenders must be detailed in law, legal body says

Sentencing protocols for children who commit murder must be put on a statutory footing , the Law Reform Commission ( LRC ) has said .
In its latest report , focusing on suspended sentences , the LRC reviewed the sentences imposed on the two boys who murdered 14-year-old Ana Kriégel in Dublin in 2018 .
The 14-year-old boys both received lengthy sentences which will be reviewed in several years .
The commission noted the practice of sentencing youths who have committed serious offences to a reviewable term in detention has grown as a result of a “ vacuum ” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not allow judges to impose suspended sentences on underage offenders , which severely limits sentencing options in cases of serious offending like murder and rape .
Life sentences can be imposed on underage murderers but , unlike in murderers committed by adults , they are not mandatory .
The LRC report details several recent cases of lengthy but reviewable terms being imposed on underage offenders , including the sentencing of a 15-year-old boy for the attempted murder of a young woman in Dún Laoghaire in 2017 .
The boy received an 11-year term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The reviewable sentence of detention is an important and useful sentencing option in the sentencing of child offenders , ” the LRC said .
“ Furthermore , the reviewable sentence of detention provides valuable flexibility in dealing with children convicted of serious offences : it reflects the welfare and rehabilitative ideals underpinning the juvenile justice system , while at the same time ensuring that serious offending behaviour by child offenders be met with a punitive sanction.
” However it noted the sentencing model is not detailed in law and that it also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Court .
The commission recommended the practice of imposing reviewable sentences on underage offenders should continue but that it needs to be put on a statutory footing .
As part of its research for the 349-page report , the commission conducted an analysis of the use of suspended sentences across most major offending categories in recent years and found the imposition of fully-suspended sentences fell dramatically between 2006 and 2017 .
In 2006 , 41 per cent of all sentences involved fully suspended sentences .
By 2017 this had fallen to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly large drop in suspended sentences for sexual offences – from 37 per cent to 10 per cent of cases – and for drugs offences which fell from 46 per cent to 17 per cent .
The LRC also endorsed the idea of fully-suspended sentences for white-collar crime offences , although it said some offending will deserve an immediate custodial term .
White-collar crime represents a particular sentencing challenge , it noted , as individual offences can cause great damage to society but offenders themselves often have no previous convictions and will find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to the fact they often have greater resources and education .
As a result , there is a general perception that white-collar offenders are treated more leniently by the courts , it said .
The commission said “ the suspended sentence is a particularly appropriate sanction to simultaneously balancing these conflicting elements ” .
However it stressed “ in some cases of a sufficiently serious nature ” an immediate jail term might be appropriate .

The Law Reform Commission noted the sentencing model is not detailed in law and that it also conflicts with case law laid down by the Supreme Court. Photograph: Chris Maddaloni/Collins
Sentencing protocols for children who commit murder must be put on a statutory footing, the Law Reform Commission (LRC) has said.
In its latest report, focusing on suspended sentences, the LRC reviewed the sentences imposed on the two boys who murdered 14-year-old Ana Kriégel in Dublin in 2018.
The 14-year-old boys both received lengthy sentences which will be reviewed in several years. The commission noted the practice of sentencing youths who have committed serious offences to a reviewable term in detention has grown as a result of a “vacuum” in legislation.
Currently, Irish law does not allow judges to impose suspended sentences on underage offenders, which severely limits sentencing options in cases of serious offending like murder and rape.
READ MORE
Underage murderers
Life sentences can be imposed on underage murderers but, unlike in murderers committed by adults, they are not mandatory.
The LRC report details several recent cases of lengthy but reviewable terms being imposed on underage offenders, including the sentencing of a 15-year-old boy for the attempted murder of a young woman in Dún Laoghaire in 2017. The boy received an 11-year term with a review after seven years.
“The reviewable sentence of detention is an important and useful sentencing option in the sentencing of child offenders,” the LRC said.
“Furthermore, the reviewable sentence of detention provides valuable flexibility in dealing with children convicted of serious offences: it reflects the welfare and rehabilitative ideals underpinning the juvenile justice system, while at the same time ensuring that serious offending behaviour by child offenders be met with a punitive sanction.”
However it noted the sentencing model is not detailed in law and that it also conflicts with case law laid down by the Supreme Court.
The commission recommended the practice of imposing reviewable sentences on underage offenders should continue but that it needs to be put on a statutory footing.
As part of its research for the 349-page report, the commission conducted an analysis of the use of suspended sentences across most major offending categories in recent years and found the imposition of fully-suspended sentences fell dramatically between 2006 and 2017.
In 2006, 41 per cent of all sentences involved fully suspended sentences. By 2017 this had fallen to 17 per cent.
Sexual offences
There was a particularly large drop in suspended sentences for sexual offences – from 37 per cent to 10 per cent of cases – and for drugs offences which fell from 46 per cent to 17 per cent.
The LRC also endorsed the idea of fully-suspended sentences for white-collar crime offences, although it said some offending will deserve an immediate custodial term.
White-collar crime represents a particular sentencing challenge, it noted, as individual offences can cause great damage to society but offenders themselves often have no previous convictions and will find it easier to rehabilitate back into society due to the fact they often have greater resources and education.
As a result, there is a general perception that white-collar offenders are treated more leniently by the courts, it said.
The commission said “the suspended sentence is a particularly appropriate sanction to simultaneously balancing these conflicting elements”.
However it stressed “in some cases of a sufficiently serious nature” an immediate jail term might be appropriate.


theirishtimes--2020-08-30--Covid-19 cases will occur in schools in coming weeks, Glynn says

The acting chief medical officer has moved to reassure worried parents as schools reopen , but has acknowledged that cases of Covid-19 in children will happen in the coming weeks .
However , Dr Ronan Glynn said that public health teams will respond and liaise closely with schools involved to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to protect other students and school staff .
Dr Glynn made the comments in an open letter to parents and teachers as the majority of schools and childcare facilities prepare to fully reopen this week .
“ I am very aware that many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of schools .
.
.
This concern is natural and is to be fully expected , ” he said .
Dr Glynn said the decision to reopen schools has not been taken lightly and was based on international guidance and latest scientific evidence .
He said this shows that child-to-child and child-to-adult transmission of Covid-19 in schools is “ uncommon ” .
In addition , the overwhelming majority of children who are diagnosed with Covid-19 have mild symptoms .
“ There are no zero-risk options for reopening schools or indeed any other environment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopen in as safe a way as possible , ” he said .
While it was okay to send a child to school if they have a runny nose or a sneeze , he said they should he kept at home if they had symptoms such as fever , cough , shortness of breath , or loss of taste or smell .
In the case of suspected Covid-19 , the latest advice is that every person a child lives with should also restrict their movements , at least until a child gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus test result .
This means not going to school , childcare or work .

Dr Ronan Glynn, acting chief medical officer: “There are no zero-risk options for reopening schools . . . the aim, therefore, is to reopen in as safe a way as possible.” Photograph: Colin Keegan
The acting chief medical officer has moved to reassure worried parents as schools reopen, but has acknowledged that cases of Covid-19 in children will happen in the coming weeks.
However, Dr Ronan Glynn said that public health teams will respond and liaise closely with schools involved to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to protect other students and school staff.
Dr Glynn made the comments in an open letter to parents and teachers as the majority of schools and childcare facilities prepare to fully reopen this week.
“I am very aware that many of you are worried about the reopening of schools . . . This concern is natural and is to be fully expected,” he said.
READ MORE
Dr Glynn said the decision to reopen schools has not been taken lightly and was based on international guidance and latest scientific evidence.
Mild symptoms
He said this shows that child-to-child and child-to-adult transmission of Covid-19 in schools is “uncommon”.
In addition, the overwhelming majority of children who are diagnosed with Covid-19 have mild symptoms.
“There are no zero-risk options for reopening schools or indeed any other environment; the aim, therefore, is to reopen in as safe a way as possible ,” he said.
While it was okay to send a child to school if they have a runny nose or a sneeze, he said they should he kept at home if they had symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, or loss of taste or smell.
In the case of suspected Covid-19, the latest advice is that every person a child lives with should also restrict their movements, at least until a child gets a diagnosis from their GP or a coronavirus test result. This means not going to school, childcare or work.
Returning to college
Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris said there would be strict rules when students return to college, but it will vary from institution to institution. Mr Harris said the priority would be first year students.
When it comes to college accommodation, authorities are being asked to group students who study the same subjects to limit contacts, while some third level institutions are introducing flexible accommodation where students pay only for the days they are on site.
Mr Harris told RTÉ Radio 1’s Today with Claire Byrne on Monday he did not want “any messing around” as some students had been treated “shabbily” at the start of lockdown.
The Minister also pointed out that the SUSI grant system would make allowances for students whose family circumstances had changed because of Covid-19, while the student assistance fund had been doubled and €15 million had been granted to purchase 17,000 laptops for students who need them.
More college places are being provided, he said, especially in sectors such as health and education. It was sensible to increase college spaces, but it cannot be done dramatically as this would “tip over” the third level system.
Mr Harris said he was confident about this year’s Leaving Cert results and he predicted that there would not be the same difficulties as there had been in the UK.


theirishtimes--2020-08-30--Over half of remote workers are now sitting down for almost three hours longer each day

More than half of people working from home in Ireland are sitting down for an average of two hours and 40 minutes longer per day than when they were working in an office , a new survey has found .
The findings have prompted warnings to this new cohort of Covid-19 pandemic home workers of increased risk of stroke and heart disease .
The Irish Heart Foundation ( IHF ) commissioned the survey carried out by Ipsos MRBI , which interviewed 1,007 people by phone .
It found that more than half of all workers surveyed have been able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with 53 per cent of them sitting down for longer than when in their office or usual place of work .
The research conducted between August 1st and 10th also found that one in four of those who are sitting for longer are remaining sedentary for at least three hours more than previously .
John Barton , a consultant cardiologist , told The Irish Times that “ if you don ’ t exercise , you ’ re looking for trouble ” .
He said that remaining active is “ crucial ” for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got to work exercise into your day .
I ’ ve a treadmill at home that I used during Covid-19 , ” Mr Barton said .
Exercise is “ very , very good for cardiovascular health , mental health , maintaining a normal weight , and helping to prevent cancers .
There ’ s a link between obesity and cancers , ” he said .
Tara Curran , physical activity co-ordinator at the IHF , said sitting at work all day can “ increase a person ’ s risk of heart disease and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home and video meetings become the norm , workers are increasingly tied to their laptops for hour after hour , ” Ms Curran said .
“ We are urging them to get up and move regularly during their working day and would like to see employers make an effort to shorten meeting times on video conferencing.
” The survey is part of IHF ’ s Escape Your Chair Heart Month campaign , supported by the HSE , which calls on the nation to get up and move for a minute each hour during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emphasised the need to move regularly to counteract the negative effects of sitting down .
“ Being physically active can release endorphins that can help relieve stress , boost mood , and improve self-esteem , ” he said .
“ When we find ourselves in a stressful situation at work , a quick stroll can help clear our heads while also helping our hearts and reducing our sitting time .
”

The Irish Heart Foundation said more than 53 per cent of those surveyed were sitting down for an average of two hours and 40 minutes longer per day than when in their usual place of work. Photograph: Getty Images
More than half of people working from home in Ireland are sitting down for an average of two hours and 40 minutes longer per day than when they were working in an office, a new survey has found.
The findings have prompted warnings to this new cohort of Covid-19 pandemic home workers of increased risk of stroke and heart disease.
The Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) commissioned the survey carried out by Ipsos MRBI, which interviewed 1,007 people by phone.
It found that more than half of all workers surveyed have been able to work from home since coronavirus restrictions began, with 53 per cent of them sitting down for longer than when in their office or usual place of work.
READ MORE
The research conducted between August 1st and 10th also found that one in four of those who are sitting for longer are remaining sedentary for at least three hours more than previously.
‘Crucial’
John Barton, a consultant cardiologist, told The Irish Times that "if you don't exercise, you're looking for trouble". He said that remaining active is "crucial" for overall health.
“You’ve got to work exercise into your day. I’ve a treadmill at home that I used during Covid-19,” Mr Barton said. Exercise is “ very, very good for cardiovascular health, mental health, maintaining a normal weight, and helping to prevent cancers. There’s a link between obesity and cancers,” he said.
Tara Curran, physical activity co-ordinator at the IHF, said sitting at work all day can "increase a person's risk of heart disease and stroke".
“As working from home and video meetings become the norm, workers are increasingly tied to their laptops for hour after hour,” Ms Curran said. “We are urging them to get up and move regularly during their working day and would like to see employers make an effort to shorten meeting times on video conferencing.”
Move a minute
The survey is part of IHF’s Escape Your Chair Heart Month campaign, supported by the HSE, which calls on the nation to get up and move for a minute each hour during the day.
Fitness expert Karl Henry emphasised the need to move regularly to counteract the negative effects of sitting down.
“Being physically active can release endorphins that can help relieve stress, boost mood, and improve self-esteem,” he said. “When we find ourselves in a stressful situation at work, a quick stroll can help clear our heads while also helping our hearts and reducing our sitting time.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-30--Covid-19: Why Ireland is seeing the rise and rise of the cautious consumer

When it is eventually broadcast , RTÉ ’ s Reeling in the Years for 2020 will be as terrifying as @ @ @ @ @ so long that it will most likely have to be screened over several days – @ @ @ @ @ the beginning of the year we have had the formal moment when Brexit ( remember @ @ @ @ @ reality , and Donald Trump became only the third president in US history to be @ @ @ @ @ .
Then there was the general election at home which saw Sinn Féin win more @ @ @ @ @ but not quite enough seats to form any part of a Government .
Protracted negotiations @ @ @ @ @ Gael bury the hatchet somewhere other than each other ’ s backs after almost 100 @ @ @ @ @ with the resurgent Green Party .

When it is eventually broadcast, RTÉ’s Reeling in the Years for 2020 will be as terrifying as it is depressing, and so long that it will most likely have to be screened over several days – without any breaks.
Since the beginning of the year we have had the formal moment when Brexit (remember that?) became a reality, and Donald Trump became only the third president in US history to be impeached and was subsequently acquitted. Then there was the general election at home which saw Sinn Féin win more support than any other party but not quite enough seats to form any part of a Government. Protracted negotiations saw Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael bury the hatchet somewhere other than each other's backs after almost 100 years and form a coalition with the resurgent Green Party.
There's no significant change in those planning to keep cutting or to stay frugal
The programme will also have to focus on the widespread social unrest in the US and the growth of the Black Lives Matters movement and – of course – the US presidential election which is coming down the tracks and could shape the world for decades to come.
Oh, and there was the pandemic. Covid-19 has already killed close to a million people across the world and brought the global economy to its knees and reshaped almost every aspect of our lives from how we interact with others and how we shop to where we travel and what we eat.
READ MORE
Virtually every single event – from global sporting events such as the Olympics to holidays, weddings, communions, graduations and even wakes on more localised stages all over the world had to be cancelled or postponed. A gala golf dinner in Clifden went ahead, convulsing the country in a political storm it really could have done without right now.
Almost since the crisis began, forecasters have been poring over the runes – or should that be ruins – to try and get a sense of how consumer behaviour has been changing and how enduring that change is likely to be.There are growing signs that Irish consumers are settling in for the long haul and any optimism that the crisis may go just as soon as it came is fading.
Last week KBC Bank Ireland published its latest consumer sentiment index – a measure of how we all feel about the state we're in – and it notes that our world view slipped in August on fears of a renewed spike in cases of Covid-19. It was the first decline since April when the index dropped to its lowest level since October 2008.
“The August sentiment results do suggest any improvement now under way in the circumstances of Irish consumers is uneven and tentative,” the bank’s economist Austin Hughes said. “There have been some very positive elements in recent spending data that, together with the trend in consumer confidence in recent months, point to a clear turnaround in sentiment and spending from April’s low point. However, the muted survey results for both July and August suggest that we may be seeing a limited rebound rather than the first signs of a lasting recovery in Irish economic conditions.”
The increased gloom is also evident in the latest research published by the financial and professional services giant, EY. During the crisis its researchers have been publishing data reflecting how consumer attitudes have been shifting, and at the beginning of the summer its Future Consumer Index placed Irish consumers into four categories, “cut deep”, “stay calm, carry on”,”save and stockpile” and “hibernate and spend”.
Fast forward four months to the end of the summer and it appears that people are becoming more careful with their money as the reality of the scale of the crisis really bits home.
Panic spending
While there was an element of panic spending in the early stages of the crisis, the latest EY Future Consumer Index has revealed a growing mood of financial conservatism, indicating that consumers are becoming increasingly cautious with their money, with many “hunkering down” for the duration of the crisis.
At the start of the crisis people appeared willing to spend all around them – or at the very least pile their supermarket trolleys high as we headed into a period of almost unprecedented uncertainty – and it appeared that people were less price sensitive than they might normally be.
However the latest study shows that 54 per cent of those surveyed believe price is a more important purchasing criteria than it was a month ago while 61 per cent say they are more aware and more cautious of their spending with a similar percentage saying they are more focused on value now than they were earlier this summer.
It is also clear that people are asking more and harder questions about their purchasing decisions with a further 64 per cent saying they would not buy products they don’t need, something which signals a significant drop in discretionary spend. The study also shows that almost one in two people are now postponing the purchase of big-ticket items.
"We've been tracking the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on consumers around the world for four months now, and it's clear that the road to any kind of post-pandemic normality will be a long and winding one," says EY's Yvonne Kiely.
“Some countries are continuing to move forward, but only in small and tentative steps. Yet in many places the steady groundswell in consumer confidence we were seeing has slowed, stopped or slipped into reverse.”
Kiely says this is all reflected in its consumer segments, “which are tilting towards those that represent higher degrees of spending conservatism. Globally, the percentage of consumers in our ‘stay calm, carry on’ segment doubled between May and June, but it’s now stuck at that level. Likewise, the percentage in our ‘cut deep’ segment was falling fast, but this has now stabilised.
She says that many governments “are urging consumers to get out and spend, but many consumers are deciding they’d rather not – or not yet. When we ask consumers about their future intentions, there’s no significant change in those planning to keep cutting or to stay frugal”.
Kiely points to the 64 per cent of consumers who say they won’t buy products that they don’t feel they need, even if it means they miss out on the latest trends; and the 45 per cent who “expect that buying what they want won’t be an option for them – they will just buy the essentials. This suggests that many consumers are hunkered down for the duration of the crisis”.
She says the index is also pointing away from brand names to a pivot towards private label products “that is likely to prove deeper and more lasting than normally seen in a downturn”.
The surge in at-home consumption which was evident in the early stages of the crisis as restaurants were forced to close and come up with innovative ways to get their food to diners looks to be with us for some time with 41 per cent of consumers still feeling “uncomfortable about going out to eat” . A further 45 per cent plan to keep their cupboards stocked with an excess supply of household staples such as cleaning and paper products and basic groceries.”
The index suggests premium pricing will become harder to maintain. “As more consumers shift their focus to price, they are less willing to pay a premium for most attributes, such as whether a product is ethically or sustainably sourced,” she says.
She suggests that the four segments identified could morph into five very different ones as the crisis abates. For example, the index currently suggests that over time, most consumers in the “save and stockpile” segment will migrate to two new segments: “remain frugal” and “cautiously extravagant”.
These new consumer segments, detailed in the index, could emerge post-Covid-19 and be summarised as: “keep cutting” (8 per cent); “stay frugal” (21 per cent); “get back to normal” (40 per cent); “cautiously extravagant” (20 per cent) and “back with a bang” (11 per cent).
A third report looking at how consumers are viewing the crisis has also been published recently. This one has come from fintech company N26. It is a global survey which included more than 1,000 Irish people.
It makes for glum reading. It found that 2020 was set to be a big year for consumers worldwide, with 67 per cent of people globally saying they had major purchases or life events planned.
However a massive 80 per cent of Irish people with big plans for 2020 were forced to cancel or postpone them as a result of the pandemic with 47 per cent saying they had lost money as a result of the raft of cancellations. The average amount of money lost was put at just under €700.


theirishtimes--2020-08-30--Children significantly increase use of technology during lockdown

Children of all ages significantly increased their use of technology during the lockdown introduced to combat the spread of Covid-19 , but less than one-third reported having been victims of cyberbullying , according to new research .
The research , which canvassed the experiences of more than 1,000 parents and children , was carried out by the National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre at Dublin City University in partnership with the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission .
It looked at how children and parents engaged with digital technology while staying at home during the Covid-19 lockdown and examined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s online safety and overall family wellbeing .
It found that children significantly increased their use of technology during the lockdown , with 71 per cent of children who use smartphones saying they used them more often during lockdown than before .
The same was the case with 72 per cent of children who use social media , 66 per cent of those who use gaming consoles , and 65 per cent of instant/private messaging users .
While many social media sites do not allow children under the age of 13 on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 10-13 age category said they used social media more frequently .
Despite this increase in technology use , less than one-third of children reported to have been victims of cyberbullying during lockdown ( 28 per cent ) and there was not a sharp increase in victimisation .
Among those cyberbullied , 39 per cent said this happened more frequently during lockdown than before , 37 per cent said it happened about as frequently as before , while 23 per cent said it happened less frequently than before .
Incidents of cyberbullying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ younger age groups and between boys .
For 66 per cent of children who were cyberbullied aged 14-16 , it was more common in private or instant messaging services such as WhatsApp or Viber .
Many parents who participated in the study agreed on the positive aspects of technology use , in particular that it helped them to maintain contacts with family and friends ( 86 per cent ) and that it helped their family be more creative during lockdown ( 61 per cent ) .
Important digital skills were reported , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tools , while almost half ( 49 per cent ) of children said they know where to find health information they can trust .
While there were many positives , a portion of parents reported an increased level of worry over their children ’ s internet and digital media use .
More than half ( 57 per cent ) expressed concerns that the pandemic would have a negative impact on their child ’ s education , while 42 per cent reported worries about cyberbullying and 62 per cent worried about their children ’ @ @ @ @

Research looked at how children and parents engaged with digital technology during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Children of all ages significantly increased their use of technology during the lockdown introduced to combat the spread of Covid-19, but less than one-third reported having been victims of cyberbullying, according to new research.
The research, which canvassed the experiences of more than 1,000 parents and children, was carried out by the National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre at Dublin City University in partnership with the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission.
It looked at how children and parents engaged with digital technology while staying at home during the Covid-19 lockdown and examined a number of impacts on children’s online safety and overall family wellbeing.
It found that children significantly increased their use of technology during the lockdown, with 71 per cent of children who use smartphones saying they used them more often during lockdown than before.
READ MORE
The same was the case with 72 per cent of children who use social media, 66 per cent of those who use gaming consoles, and 65 per cent of instant/private messaging users.
While many social media sites do not allow children under the age of 13 on their platforms, 75 per cent of children in the 10-13 age category said they used social media more frequently.
Despite this increase in technology use, less than one-third of children reported to have been victims of cyberbullying during lockdown (28 per cent) and there was not a sharp increase in victimisation.
Among those cyberbullied, 39 per cent said this happened more frequently during lockdown than before, 37 per cent said it happened about as frequently as before, while 23 per cent said it happened less frequently than before.
Incidents of cyberbullying were found to be more prevalent within younger age groups and between boys. For 66 per cent of children who were cyberbullied aged 14-16, it was more common in private or instant messaging services such as WhatsApp or Viber.
Many parents who participated in the study agreed on the positive aspects of technology use, in particular that it helped them to maintain contacts with family and friends (86 per cent) and that it helped their family be more creative during lockdown (61 per cent).
Important digital skills were reported, such as an increased knowledge of video conference tools, while almost half (49 per cent) of children said they know where to find health information they can trust.
While there were many positives, a portion of parents reported an increased level of worry over their children’s internet and digital media use.
More than half (57 per cent) expressed concerns that the pandemic would have a negative impact on their child’s education, while 42 per cent reported worries about cyberbullying and 62 per cent worried about their children’s mental health.


theirishtimes--2020-08-30--Man (28) who died in Cork city is named locally

A man ( 28 ) who died in unexplained circumstances in Wilton on the southside of Cork city over the weekend has been named locally as Colm Casey from Keel in Macroom .
Gardaí have begun a criminal investigation following the unexplained death of Mr Casey who was transferred to Cork University Hospital at 1.10am on Saturday .
Paramedics were called to the scene at Eagle Valley in Wilton and Mr Casey , who was unconscious , was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead .
Mr Casey , who was a past pupil of De La Salle College @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of several of his friends .
The scene was forensically examined and a postmortem was carried out .
The results were not released for operational reasons .
Local priest in Macroom Father John Keane said there were “ no words ” for the “ shocking ” tragedy suffered by the Casey family .
Local Fine Gael councillor Ted Lucey has extended his condolences to the Casey family .
“ I knew Colm through Macroom GAA .
He was a nice footballer and quiet boy .
I feel very sorry for his family and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
” Macroom Fine Gael councillor Michael Creed said it was “ devastating ” for the family and friends of a “ a very nice young fella ” .
An incident room has been established in Togher Garda station .
Anyone with information is asked to contact gardaí on 021-4947120 .

A man died in unexplained circumstances in Wilton on the southside of Cork city over the weekend. Photograph: Frank Miller / The Irish Times
A man (28) who died in unexplained circumstances in Wilton on the southside of Cork city over the weekend has been named locally as Colm Casey from Keel in Macroom.
Gardaí have begun a criminal investigation following the unexplained death of Mr Casey who was transferred to Cork University Hospital at 1.10am on Saturday.
Paramedics were called to the scene at Eagle Valley in Wilton and Mr Casey, who was unconscious, was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Mr Casey, who was a past pupil of De La Salle College in Macroom, was in the company of several of his friends.
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The scene was forensically examined and a postmortem was carried out. The results were not released for operational reasons.
Local priest in Macroom Father John Keane said there were “no words” for the “shocking” tragedy suffered by the Casey family.
Local Fine Gael councillor Ted Lucey has extended his condolences to the Casey family.
“I knew Colm through Macroom GAA. He was a nice footballer and quiet boy. I feel very sorry for his family and friends. He was a good footballer .”
Macroom Fine Gael councillor Michael Creed said it was “devastating” for the family and friends of a “a very nice young fella”.
An incident room has been established in Togher Garda station. Anyone with information is asked to contact gardaí on 021-4947120.


theirishtimes--2020-08-30--First bishop ordained in Ireland since arrival of Covid-19 pandemic last March

The former parish priest of Newbridge Co Kildare , Fr Paul Dempsey ( 49 ) , was ordained as the new Bishop of Achonry in the West of Ireland on Sunday .
It was the first ordination of a bishop on the island of Ireland since the arrival of Covid-19 last Spring .
It took place on Sunday afternoon at the Cathedral of the Annunciation and St Nathy , Ballaghaderreen , Co Roscommon .
The pandemic-limited numbers in attendance included principal consecrator Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary with papal nuncio Archbishop Jude Okolo and Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Bishop of Achonry , current Bishop of Galway Bishop Brendan Kelly , and Canon Andrea Wills representing the Church of Ireland .
Bishop Dempsey ’ s appointment was announced last January and his episcopal ordination in Ballaghaderreen was to take place on April 19th last but was postponed due to the pandemic .
Bishop Dempsey was born in Carlow town on April 20th , 1971 , but the family moved to Athy , Co Kildare in 1978 .
The youngest in his family , he has one brother , Tony , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their parents died in 1994 .
Their mother Berry died from cancer in February and father Tony died suddenly 12 days later .
In his sermon Fr Vincent Sherlock , parish priest of Kilmovee , Co Mayo , noted how the new Bishop would be “ among the youngest of our priests ” in Achonry .
He recalled the Kavanagh poem ‘ To The Man After The Harrow ’ , about a neighbour of the poet ’ s who was being ordained a priest .
“ Now leave the check-reins slack , The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fr Sherlockquoted .
It concerned “ a young man who could run the risk of being rigid , fearful , anxious – wanting to make no mistake , ” he said .
“ The slackness of the check reins , ” encouraged “ the horse to give of its best , to walk a straight path and allow far flung seeds to embed themselves in the stony grey soilm ” Fr Sherlock said .
“ Paul , I hear Kavanagh say the same to you .
Be yourself Paul , be relaxed and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need for a tight grip , since you are walking in the Gospel message , with your people , walking for your people , the journey and the work will continue ” he said .
Recalling the Kavanagh poem ‘ Father Mat ’ , Fr Sherlock noted its description of the old priest as ” part of the place , natural as a round stone in a grass field.
” Achonry diocese had “ its share of grass fields with stones in their corners and our diocese needs priests and a bishop to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Working with you Paul , as priests , religious and laity , may His ( God ’ s ) gentle spirit be known through ours , ” he said .
At the end of the ceremony Bishop Dempsey said that on his first visit to Ballaghaderreen he was shown where deceased Bishops of Achonry were buried .
“ It was “ a sobering thought in case I got ahead of myself !
” he said .
“ In a similar vein , while reading the history of the diocese , I came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , transferred from Killala diocese , in the late 18th Century .
It was observed that he was ‘ very elderly , toothless and goutish… ’ I still have my full set of teeth and to the best of my knowledge , I don ’ t suffer from gout , so I hope things are looking up !
” , he said .
In recent months , he recalled , “ we ’ ve become familiar with the saying ; ‘ We ’ re in this together.
’ As a diocese we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There would be “ challenges along the way ” , he said .
Drawing “ hope and encouragement ” from the words of poet Brendan Kennelly , he quoted : “ Even though we live in a world that dreams of ending/That ’ s always seems about to give in/Something that will not acknowledge conclusion/Insists that we forever begin ’ .
” Bishop Dempsey concluded : “ So , from this sacred place , where the Christian story has been celebrated for generations .
Let us go out , go out to where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disciples today .
Let us begin !
”

The former parish priest of Newbridge Co Kildare, Fr Paul Dempsey (49), was ordained as the new Bishop of Achonry in the West of Ireland on Sunday.
It was the first ordination of a diocesan bishop on the island of Ireland since the arrival of Covid-19 last Spring. It took place on Sunday afternoon at the Cathedral of the Annunciation and St Nathy, Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon.
The pandemic-limited numbers in attendance included principal consecrator Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary with papal nuncio Archbishop Jude Okolo and Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare and Leighlin as co-consecrators.
Also present was former Bishop of Achonry, current Bishop of Galway Bishop Brendan Kelly, and Canon Andrea Wills representing the Church of Ireland.
READ MORE
Bishop Dempsey’s appointment was announced last January and his episcopal ordination in Ballaghaderreen was to take place on April 19th last but was postponed due to the pandemic.
Bishop Dempsey was born in Carlow town on April 20th, 1971, but the family moved to Athy, Co Kildare in 1978 . The youngest in his family, he has one brother, Tony, and two sisters Bernadette and Angela. Both their parents died in 1994. Their mother Berry died from cancer in February and father Tony died suddenly 12 days later.
In his sermon Fr Vincent Sherlock, parish priest of Kilmovee, Co Mayo, noted how the new Bishop would be "among the youngest of our priests" in Achonry. He recalled the Kavanagh poem 'To The Man After The Harrow', about a neighbour of the poet's who was being ordained a priest.
“Now leave the check-reins slack, The seed is flying far today,” Fr Sherlockquoted. It concerned “a young man who could run the risk of being rigid, fearful, anxious – wanting to make no mistake,” he said. “The slackness of the check reins,” encouraged “the horse to give of its best, to walk a straight path and allow far flung seeds to embed themselves in the stony grey soilm” Fr Sherlock said.
“Paul, I hear Kavanagh say the same to you. Be yourself Paul, be relaxed and encourage others through gentle witness. No need for a tight grip, since you are walking in the Gospel message, with your people, walking for your people, the journey and the work will continue” he said.
Recalling the Kavanagh poem ‘Father Mat’, Fr Sherlock noted its description of the old priest as”part of the place, natural as a round stone in a grass field.”
Achonry diocese had “its share of grass fields with stones in their corners and our diocese needs priests and a bishop to be a natural part of the place. Working with you Paul, as priests, religious and laity, may His (God’s) gentle spirit be known through ours,” he said.
At the end of the ceremony Bishop Dempsey said that on his first visit to Ballaghaderreen he was shown where deceased Bishops of Achonry were buried. “It was “a sobering thought in case I got ahead of myself!” he said.
"In a similar vein, while reading the history of the diocese, I came across a bishop who came to Achonry, transferred from Killala diocese, in the late 18th Century. It was observed that he was 'very elderly, toothless and goutish…' I still have my full set of teeth and to the best of my knowledge, I don't suffer from gout, so I hope things are looking up!", he said.
In recent months, he recalled, “we’ve become familiar with the saying; ‘We’re in this together.’ As a diocese we’re on this faith journey together.”
There would be "challenges along the way", he said. Drawing "hope and encouragement" from the words of poet Brendan Kennelly, he quoted: "Even though we live in a world that dreams of ending/That's always seems about to give in/Something that will not acknowledge conclusion/Insists that we forever begin'."
Bishop Dempsey concluded: “So, from this sacred place, where the Christian story has been celebrated for generations. Let us go out, go out to where Christ is calling us as community of disciples today. Let us begin!”


theirishtimes--2020-08-30--James Nesbitt in call for information about the Disappeared

The actor James Nesbitt has called on anyone with information about the North ’ s “ Disappeared ” to give it up “ in the name of humanity ” .
Mr Nesbitt said the recent death of his father , Jim , had brought home to him once again the pain felt by those who still waited for news of their lost loved ones .
He sent the message of support to the WAVE Trauma Centre in Belfast which held a ceremony on Sunday to mark the International Day of the Disappeared .
In Northern Ireland , the “ Disappeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed and secretly buried by republicans during the Troubles .
The remains of all but three of the victims – Joe Lynskey , Columba McVeigh and Robert Nairac – have since been recovered .
Their relatives and the father of Lisa Dorrian – who went missing in 2005 and is believed to have been murdered – released doves in their memory as well as a fifth dove on behalf of people around the world who believe their loved ones are dead and have been secretly buried .
Nesbitt is a patron of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Families of the Disappeared .
“ The death of a deeply loved family member is always hard to take whatever the circumstances , ” said Nesbitt .
“ But to know that your loved one met a violent end and not to know where they were buried for years and years brings almost unimaginable pain and anguish .
“ That is what the families of the Disappeared have had to endure .
“ For the families of Joe Lynskey , Columba McVeigh , Robert Nairac and Lisa Dorrian that agony continues and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are brought home .
Someone somewhere must have information that could lead to their remains being found , ” he said .
The lead investigator with the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims ’ Remains ( ICLVR ) , Geoff Knupfer , appealed to anyone with information to contact them .
“ We are down to three cases now from 16 and while Lisa Dorrian ’ s disappearance is outside the ICLVR ’ s remit we hope that progress can be made there too .
“ Anyone with information can be absolutely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the strictest confidence .
“ We can only help these families if people with information come forward , ” he said .
Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via an untraceable anonymous online form at crimestoppers-uk.org .
The ICLVR can be contacted by telephone on 00800-55585500 or +353 1 602 8655 , by email at Secretary @ iclvr.ie or by post at ICLVR PO Box 10827 .

Michael McConville, Jean McConville’s son, at the Wave Trauma Centre in Omagh, Co Tyrone, releasing five doves to mark the International Day of the Disappeared. Photograph: Kevin Cooper/PA Wire
The actor James Nesbitt has called on anyone with information about the North's "Disappeared" to give it up "in the name of humanity".
Mr Nesbitt said the recent death of his father, Jim, had brought home to him once again the pain felt by those who still waited for news of their lost loved ones.
He sent the message of support to the WAVE Trauma Centre in Belfast which held a ceremony on Sunday to mark the International Day of the Disappeared.
Actor James Nesbitt at family prayers ahead of his father’s funeral in Coleraine earlier this month. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
In Northern Ireland, the "Disappeared" refers to 16 people abducted, killed and secretly buried by republicans during the Troubles. The remains of all but three of the victims – Joe Lynskey, Columba McVeigh and Robert Nairac – have since been recovered.
READ MORE
Their relatives and the father of Lisa Dorrian – who went missing in 2005 and is believed to have been murdered – released doves in their memory as well as a fifth dove on behalf of people around the world who believe their loved ones are dead and have been secretly buried.
Nesbitt is a patron of the WAVE Trauma Centre and a supporter of the Families of the Disappeared.
“The death of a deeply loved family member is always hard to take whatever the circumstances,” said Nesbitt. “But to know that your loved one met a violent end and not to know where they were buried for years and years brings almost unimaginable pain and anguish.
“That is what the families of the Disappeared have had to endure.
“For the families of Joe Lynskey, Columba McVeigh, Robert Nairac and Lisa Dorrian that agony continues and will not begin to ease until they are brought home. Someone somewhere must have information that could lead to their remains being found,” he said.
The lead investigator with the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR), Geoff Knupfer, appealed to anyone with information to contact them.
“We are down to three cases now from 16 and while Lisa Dorrian’s disappearance is outside the ICLVR’s remit we hope that progress can be made there too.
“Anyone with information can be absolutely assured that it will be treated in the strictest confidence.
“We can only help these families if people with information come forward,” he said.
Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via an untraceable anonymous online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.
The ICLVR can be contacted by telephone on 00800-55585500 or +353 1 602 8655, by email at Secretary@iclvr.ie or by post at ICLVR PO Box 10827.


theirishtimes--2020-08-30--Pupils risk losing bus services as private firms prepare to pull out

Many pupils risk losing their school bus service due to challenges facing private transport firms in meeting new social distancing guidelines .
Confey College in Co Kildare is one of several secondary schools where private bus operators say they must withdraw due to the cost of providing extra buses to comply with public health advice which limits the numbers of passengers .
In a change to public health advice just over a week ago , schoolbuses carrying second level students have been advised to operate at 50 per cent capacity .
James Mullally of JM Coaches , which operates the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buses were normally used to transport children to this school .
Up to 12 buses will now be needed in order to comply with social distancing rules due to the layout of these buses , he said .
“ It ’ s just not feasible .
This is a huge problem .
I know of five other schools in the greater Dublin area with private operators where there are similar problems , ” he said .
While JM Coaches announced that the service would be cancelled last Thursday , it wrote to parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will now continue on a “ temporary ” basis , without social distancing .
Mr Mullally said State funding was urgently needed if they were to phase in social distancing over the coming months .
“ We can ’ t go on indefinitely .
We don ’ t have the resources of Bus Éireann to get extra buses .
This is just a temporary measure so 200 children are able to get to school .
Support for private operators is needed urgently if we are to continue operating , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ council said families were reliant on the bus service and there was no alternative if it shuts .
“ Many parents are working and aren ’ t available to drive their children to school .
Many of us are angry , frustrated and worried about how they will get their children to school , ” she said .
Separately , Dublin Bus has confirmed that it has recently removed a number of school bus services that were contracted out to private operators .
In a statement , Dublin Bus confirmed it had removed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on the low passenger numbers on some of these services and the availability of existing public routes .
As an alternative , it said it has increased services on these public routes .
A spokesman said all affected schools had been contacted and service levels in the bus network will be monitored over the coming months .
Additional services may be added where demand requires , subject to the approval of the National Transport Authority .
Meanwhile , Bus Éireann , which operates the Department of Education ’ s school transport scheme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its secondary school bus services will be operating at the recommended 50 per cent capacity as schools reopen .
The company said it was reviewing how it will meet social distancing requirements on its 2,100 post-primary routes .
Sources say it is likely to be several months before all of the routes which service secondary schools can operate at the stipulated 50 per cent capacity .

Liz Wynne of Confey College’s parents council (front) alongside children and parents from the school, pictured in Lucan, Co Dublin. They fear the private bus which transports up to 200 children to the school will be axed. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
Many pupils risk losing their school bus service due to challenges facing private transport firms in meeting new social distancing guidelines.
Confey College in Leixlip, Co Kildare is one of several secondary schools where private bus operators say they must withdraw due to the cost of providing extra buses to comply with public health advice which limits the numbers of passengers.
In a change to public health advice just over a week ago, schoolbuses carrying second level students have been advised to operate at 50 per cent capacity.
James Mullally of JM Coaches, which operates the Lucan-Confey College route, said four double-decker buses were normally used to transport children to this school.
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Up to 12 buses will now be needed in order to comply with social distancing rules due to the layout of these buses, he said.
“It’s just not feasible. This is a huge problem. I know of five other schools in the greater Dublin area with private operators where there are similar problems,” he said.
While JM Coaches announced that the service would be cancelled last Thursday, it wrote to parents on Sunday afternoon to say the buses will now continue on a “temporary” basis, without social distancing.
Mr Mullally said State funding was urgently needed if they were to phase in social distancing over the coming months.
“We can’t go on indefinitely. We don’t have the resources of Bus Éireann to get extra buses. This is just a temporary measure so 200 children are able to get to school. Support for private operators is needed urgently if we are to continue operating,” he said.
Liz Wynne of Confey College parents' council said families were reliant on the bus service and there was no alternative if it shuts.
“Many parents are working and aren’t available to drive their children to school. Many of us are angry, frustrated and worried about how they will get their children to school,” she said.
Separately, Dublin Bus has confirmed that it has recently removed a number of school bus services that were contracted out to private operators .
In a statement, Dublin Bus confirmed it had removed these services after “careful deliberation” based on the low passenger numbers on some of these services and the availability of existing public routes.
As an alternative, it said it has increased services on these public routes.
A spokesman said all affected schools had been contacted and service levels in the bus network will be monitored over the coming months.
Additional services may be added where demand requires, subject to the approval of the National Transport Authority.
Meanwhile, Bus Éireann, which operates the Department of Education’s school transport scheme, said just 20 per cent of its secondary school bus services will be operating at the recommended 50 per cent capacity as schools reopen.
The company said it was reviewing how it will meet social distancing requirements on its 2,100 post-primary routes.
Sources say it is likely to be several months before all of the routes which service secondary schools can operate at the stipulated 50 per cent capacity.