theirishtimes--2020-10-27--Covid-19 in a cramped flat: ‘It was the most horrible time of my life’

Sinéad O ’ Brien still becomes upset when remembering isolating with her family – including her husband and two children – for 14 days in March in their small inner-city flat .
O ’ Brien , a ward clerk at St James ’ s hospital , tested positive for Covid-19 just after St Patrick ’ s Day .
“ It was like getting hit by a bus , I was so unwell .
It knocked me for six.
” The family had to isolate for a fortnight .
Her son ( 22 ) and daughter ( 15 ) stayed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Darren , had to sleep on the living-room floor , while she stayed in their tiny bedroom .
“ It was actually the most horrible time of my life .
I couldn ’ t leave that room .
I couldn ’ t even go to the front door .
All I had , for fresh air , was to stick my head out the window.
” Their flat , in the 1937-built Marrowbone House flats complex in the Liberties , is on the second floor , its front-door sharing a balcony with seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the balcony over us , another under us , and the ground floor too , ” says O ’ Brien .
“ I couldn ’ t go out of the room , or out on the balcony .
There were too many people around .
It felt like the walls were closing in .
I was so sick and so frightened , ” she says , becoming emotional .
“ And I was worried about my children .
It definitely affected my mental health.
” For the past five years , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fighting for a transfer ” to a three-bedroom flat on a ground floor .
“ My husband had a hip replacement and he finds the stairs difficult .
The council just keep saying I am at ‘ such and such ’ a place on the list and there ’ s hundreds ahead of us .
“ There is not a bit of privacy for any of us .
We have no space to keep anything .
The kids can ’ t have their music on .
It ’ s very stressful.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ You just feel like everyone is on top of you , from people living underneath you , to the people on top .
You can hear every foot-step and it gets in on you .
It would have never bothered me six months ago but , because of Covid and feeling you can ’ t get out , you can feel desperate.
” Asked how she feels about Level 5 , she says she has cried at the announcements of restrictions in recent months .
“ But now I feel , let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
We just have to get on with it.
” Nearby are the Oliver Bond House flats , built in 1936 .
While well-designed for their time , they were not built for a modern pandemic .
The 397 flats are in 16 four-storey blocks .
The average two-bed is 47-53sq m , far smaller than the mandatory 73-90sq m minimum today .
Many are overcrowded , with little ventilation or storage space .
During the first lockdown , residents suffered an infestation of rats – an issue that has not yet been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and no gardens .
The only green area nearby is a small grassy patch at St Audoen ’ s Church .
According to 2016 data , just 4.5 per cent of adults here have a third-level education ; 37 per cent have a primary education only and 50 per cent of adult males are unemployed .
The first lockdown brought further job losses .
Resident Lisa Carey describes as “ awful ” the anxiety felt by her son , a warehouse operative , and his girlfriend .
“ They are both losing their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s two months before Christmas and people with kids are expected to live on €300 or €350 a week , ” she says referring to the pandemic unemployment payment .
“ People need more support.
” A young man who shares a two-bed flat on the ground floor with his partner , daughter ( 3 ) and mother has not returned to work in construction since March .
“ My mother has COPD and is on oxygen 16 hours a day .
The way things are with the virus I couldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place .
I could be in Ballyfermot today , Blanchardstown the day after .
My wages were about €500 a week , so I really do feel it.
” “ I ’ m in a two-bed with the kids .
Two have learning difficulties and it was so hard .
And the homework – it was okay for about two weeks , but then just too stressful .
It was very hard trying to keep them in the flat , trying to explain why they couldn ’ t go out to play with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think I can cope as long as the schools stay open , ” she says – a sentiment echoed by many in the complex .
Isolation is a fear for Nora Dodd ( 93 ) , Oliver Bond ’ s oldest resident , who has lived in her fourth-storey flat since 1958 .
She “ can ’ t go out at all ” since she broke her hip three years ago , she says .
She is a widow with four sons who , she fears , will not be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carer comes daily , but it gets lonely .
“ I have arthritis all over .
I am okay , only for the constant pain all the time .
My family can ’ t come , but I have the best of neighbours.
” Widower Christopher Carey ( 71 ) describes himself as “ very positive ” .
It was “ frustrating not going out ” in March .
“ It does be lonely , but we ’ ve got to go with it .
If we don ’ t do it this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all who speak to The Irish Times say Level 5 is necessary , weariness , resignation , some irritation with restrictions and fear are apparent , too .
Austin Campbell , executive director of the local Robert Emmet community development project , says during the first lockdown , job losses and the closure of schools and after-school clubs ( where children are fed ) saw demand for free food increase from 240kg a week to two tonnes a week now , distributed by volunteers .
“ It really underlined to us how close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the relative lack of socio-economic resilience ” of many in the face of the pandemic .
He worries poverty and mental health issues will worsen in a second lockdown .
Though there was great unity of purpose in March and April , the easing of restrictions over the summer has led to “ some fraying in the local social fabric ” , he fears .
For some , further restrictions will inevitably be seen “ as a greater threat than the possibility of contracting Covid-19 ” .
In the short term , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poorer communities during this crisis must be met with adequate funding for community and voluntary services providing essential supports – such as food , home-help , counselling and educational supports .
In the longer term , decades of “ bad planning , inadequate investment and neglect ” must be addressed , he says , pointing to the lack of green spaces , dearth of community and sports facilities , overcrowded and dilapidated housing and an overconcentration of homeless hostels and hotels in the area .
One resident who sees a way through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 62 ) .
Having been sent to Artane industrial school aged seven and been in and out of prison in the years after , he discovered art in Limerick prison .
He is completing a master ’ s in fine arts at the local National College of Art and Design , and his third-storey one-bed flat in Oliver Bond is also his studio .
Dark grey and black charcoal sketches on his wall , expressing how he feels , are his latest work .
“ It seems the whole of Ireland is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I go it ’ s Covid , as if there is no reality any more .
“ But I am ready for this lockdown .
I am going to get stuck in , paint my emotions .
I ’ ll go for walks in the evenings , and get through it .
”

Sinéad O’Brien still becomes upset when remembering isolating with her family – including her husband and two children – for 14 days in March in their small inner-city flat.
O’Brien, a ward clerk at St James’s hospital, tested positive for Covid-19 just after St Patrick’s Day. “It was like getting hit by a bus, I was so unwell. It knocked me for six.” The family had to isolate for a fortnight.
Her son (22) and daughter (15) stayed in their shared bedroom. Her husband, Darren, had to sleep on the living-room floor, while she stayed in their tiny bedroom.
Hospital Report
“It was actually the most horrible time of my life. I couldn’t leave that room. I couldn’t even go to the front door. All I had, for fresh air, was to stick my head out the window.”
READ MORE
Their flat, in the 1937-built Marrowbone House flats complex in the Liberties, is on the second floor, its front-door sharing a balcony with seven other households.
“Then there’s the balcony over us, another under us, and the ground floor too,” says O’Brien. “I couldn’t go out of the room, or out on the balcony. There were too many people around. It felt like the walls were closing in. I was so sick and so frightened,” she says, becoming emotional. “And I was worried about my children. It definitely affected my mental health.”
For the past five years, she says, the family has been “fighting for a transfer” to a three-bedroom flat on a ground floor.
“My husband had a hip replacement and he finds the stairs difficult. The council just keep saying I am at ‘such and such’ a place on the list and there’s hundreds ahead of us.
But now I feel, let it be. What can we do? We just have to get on with it
“There is not a bit of privacy for any of us. We have no space to keep anything. The kids can’t have their music on. It’s very stressful.”
The pandemic has exacerbated the cramped conditions.
“You just feel like everyone is on top of you, from people living underneath you, to the people on top. You can hear every foot-step and it gets in on you. It would have never bothered me six months ago but, because of Covid and feeling you can’t get out, you can feel desperate.”
Asked how she feels about Level 5, she says she has cried at the announcements of restrictions in recent months. “But now I feel, let it be. What can we do? We just have to get on with it.”
Infestation of rats
Nearby are the Oliver Bond House flats, built in 1936. While well-designed for their time, they were not built for a modern pandemic.
The 397 flats are in 16 four-storey blocks. The average two-bed is 47-53sq m, far smaller than the mandatory 73-90sq m minimum today. Many are overcrowded, with little ventilation or storage space. During the first lockdown, residents suffered an infestation of rats – an issue that has not yet been eliminated.
There are two tiny playgrounds and no gardens. The only green area nearby is a small grassy patch at St Audoen’s Church.
According to 2016 data, just 4.5 per cent of adults here have a third-level education; 37 per cent have a primary education only and 50 per cent of adult males are unemployed.
The first lockdown brought further job losses.
Resident Lisa Carey describes as "awful" the anxiety felt by her son, a warehouse operative, and his girlfriend. "They are both losing their jobs again this week. It's two months before Christmas and people with kids are expected to live on €300 or €350 a week," she says referring to the pandemic unemployment payment. "People need more support."
I'm in a two-bed with the kids. Two have learning difficulties and it was so hard
A young man who shares a two-bed flat on the ground floor with his partner, daughter (3) and mother has not returned to work in construction since March.
"My mother has COPD and is on oxygen 16 hours a day. The way things are with the virus I couldn't be taking public transport all over the place. I could be in Ballyfermot today, Blanchardstown the day after. My wages were about €500 a week, so I really do feel it."
Mother-of-four Rachel McNamara found the early lockdown “very stressful”.
“I’m in a two-bed with the kids. Two have learning difficulties and it was so hard. And the homework – it was okay for about two weeks, but then just too stressful. It was very hard trying to keep them in the flat, trying to explain why they couldn’t go out to play with their friends.
I have arthritis all over. I am okay, only for the constant pain all the time
“Level 5? I think I can cope as long as the schools stay open,” she says – a sentiment echoed by many in the complex.
Isolation is a fear for Nora Dodd (93), Oliver Bond's oldest resident, who has lived in her fourth-storey flat since 1958. She "can't go out at all" since she broke her hip three years ago, she says.
Oliver Bond Flats resident Nora Dodd (93). Photograph: Crispin Rodwell
She is a widow with four sons who, she fears, will not be able to visit under Level 5. A home-help carer comes daily, but it gets lonely. “I have arthritis all over. I am okay, only for the constant pain all the time. My family can’t come, but I have the best of neighbours.”
Widower Christopher Carey (71) describes himself as "very positive". It was "frustrating not going out" in March. "It does be lonely, but we've got to go with it. If we don't do it this will go on for ever."
Christopher Carey, a resident of Oliver Bond Flats. Photograph: Crispin Rodwell
While all who speak to The Irish Times say Level 5 is necessary, weariness, resignation, some irritation with restrictions and fear are apparent, too.
It really underlined to us how close to the edge many families are and the relative lack of socio-economic resilience
Close to the edge
Austin Campbell, executive director of the local Robert Emmet community development project, says during the first lockdown, job losses and the closure of schools and after-school clubs (where children are fed) saw demand for free food increase from 240kg a week to two tonnes a week now, distributed by volunteers.
“It really underlined to us how close to the edge many families are and the relative lack of socio-economic resilience” of many in the face of the pandemic. He worries poverty and mental health issues will worsen in a second lockdown.
Though there was great unity of purpose in March and April, the easing of restrictions over the summer has led to “some fraying in the local social fabric”, he fears. For some, further restrictions will inevitably be seen “as a greater threat than the possibility of contracting Covid-19”.
In the short term, he warns, the particular difficulties faced by poorer communities during this crisis must be met with adequate funding for community and voluntary services providing essential supports – such as food, home-help, counselling and educational supports.
In the longer term, decades of “bad planning, inadequate investment and neglect” must be addressed, he says, pointing to the lack of green spaces, dearth of community and sports facilities, overcrowded and dilapidated housing and an overconcentration of homeless hostels and hotels in the area.
One resident who sees a way through the coming weeks is artist Jimmy Leonard (62). Having been sent to Artane industrial school aged seven and been in and out of prison in the years after, he discovered art in Limerick prison. He is completing a master's in fine arts at the local National College of Art and Design, and his third-storey one-bed flat in Oliver Bond is also his studio.
Jimmy Leonard, an artist who lives in Oliver Bond Flats. Photograph: Crispin Rodwell
Dark grey and black charcoal sketches on his wall, expressing how he feels, are his latest work. "It seems the whole of Ireland is in a dark, heavy presence. Everywhere I go it's Covid, as if there is no reality any more.
“But I am ready for this lockdown. I am going to get stuck in, paint my emotions. I’ll go for walks in the evenings, and get through it.”


theirishtimes--2020-10-27--Unions warn of move away from negotiations if no pay deal by Christmas

If there is no new public service pay deal reached and put out to ballot before Christmas , various groups will begin to move away from a negotiated process , the head of the largest union representing State employees has said .
Kevin Callinan , general secretary of Fórsa and chairman of the public services committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions , said that in such a scenario various groups would begin formulating their own pay claims and looking at other strategies .
The current public service pay accord expires at the end of the year .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the potential for a successor deal hit an obstacle after unions complained the Government side had deferred scheduled talks .
Unions said a planned meeting with the Department of Public Expenditure last week had been postponed because officials had yet to consult the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform , Michael McGrath , to establish the basis for any negotiations .
Unions said they met the Minister on July 28th and officials on September 8th and 22nd .
However , they said they were contacted early last week to say the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead as officials would not be able to brief the Minister until some stage in the coming week .
“ The delay sends a signal that should be a cause of concern to all parties , including the Government .
There is now a real possibility that we will find ourselves , perhaps unintentionally , without an agreement at the end of the year , ” Mr Callinan said .
He said that without a new deal , there would be no “ peace clause ” applying to industrial relations in the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreed , put to ballot and an outcome known or a process in train , there will be a shift away from negotiations towards the formulation of claims and other strategies.
” He said in such a scenario there would be no dispute resolution mechanisms and the only restrictions in place would be industrial relations legislation and the rule books of trade unions .
“ The absence of an agreement would make for a very difficult industrial relations environment , which would itself be complicated further by the lingering Covid crisis .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in anybody ’ s best interests , ” he said Mr Callinan said in preliminary discussions the Government side had indicated they wanted a pay pause of an unspecified duration as part of any new accord .
He said Government officials had also suggested that an agreement of shorter duration than was customary over recent years – about three years – might be more appropriate .
There was no agreement on these issues .
Mr Callinan said unions believed the basis of negotiations for a new public service agreement would “ need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acceptable approach to pay , and provide a clear path to resolving particular long-standing issues within public service grades , groups and categories , ensuring an ultimate resolution in each case ” .
These priorities had been outlined to the Department of Public Expenditure by the trade unions as the basic requirements of any negotiation , he said .
In recent days Mr Callinan and another key public service union negotiator , Phil Ní Sheaghdha of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation , pointed to the need for Government to address the additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government following the economic crash nearly a decade ago .
Mr Callinan said the reversal of additional working hours , introduced under the 2013 Haddington Road agreement as an alternative to an additional pay cut at the time , remained a priority issue for the union .
Ms Ní Sheaghdha told the Oireachtas health committee last Wednesday : “ Nurses in this country work a 39-hour week , a longer week than any other healthcare professional .
As a result , 1½ hours per week is owed to them each week by their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing .
That is how they view it and it must be corrected in order to retain those staff .
”

Kevin Callinan says there is now a real possibility that there will be no agreement at the end of the year. Photograph: Alan Betson
If there is no new public service pay deal reached and put out to ballot before Christmas, various groups will begin to move away from a negotiated process, the head of the largest union representing State employees has said.
Kevin Callinan, general secretary of Fórsa and chairman of the public services committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, said that in such a scenario various groups would begin formulating their own pay claims and looking at other strategies.
The current public service pay accord expires at the end of the year. In recent days exploratory talks aimed at looking at the potential for a successor deal hit an obstacle after unions complained the Government side had deferred scheduled talks.
Unions said a planned meeting with the Department of Public Expenditure last week had been postponed because officials had yet to consult the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, to establish the basis for any negotiations.
READ MORE
Unions said they met the Minister on July 28th and officials on September 8th and 22nd. However, they said they were contacted early last week to say the next scheduled round of talks could not go ahead as officials would not be able to brief the Minister until some stage in the coming week.
“The delay sends a signal that should be a cause of concern to all parties, including the Government. There is now a real possibility that we will find ourselves, perhaps unintentionally, without an agreement at the end of the year,” Mr Callinan said.
He said that without a new deal, there would be no “peace clause” applying to industrial relations in the public service.
“If proposals are not agreed, put to ballot and an outcome known or a process in train, there will be a shift away from negotiations towards the formulation of claims and other strategies.”
He said in such a scenario there would be no dispute resolution mechanisms and the only restrictions in place would be industrial relations legislation and the rule books of trade unions.
“The absence of an agreement would make for a very difficult industrial relations environment, which would itself be complicated further by the lingering Covid crisis. I don’t believe that’s in anybody’s best interests,” he said
Pay pause
Mr Callinan said in preliminary discussions the Government side had indicated they wanted a pay pause of an unspecified duration as part of any new accord.
He said Government officials had also suggested that an agreement of shorter duration than was customary over recent years – about three years – might be more appropriate. There was no agreement on these issues.
Mr Callinan said unions believed the basis of negotiations for a new public service agreement would “need to address specific austerity measures, include an acceptable approach to pay, and provide a clear path to resolving particular long-standing issues within public service grades, groups and categories, ensuring an ultimate resolution in each case”.
These priorities had been outlined to the Department of Public Expenditure by the trade unions as the basic requirements of any negotiation, he said.
In recent days Mr Callinan and another key public service union negotiator, Phil Ní Sheaghdha of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, pointed to the need for Government to address the additional unpaid working hours introduced by the then government following the economic crash nearly a decade ago.
Mr Callinan said the reversal of additional working hours, introduced under the 2013 Haddington Road agreement as an alternative to an additional pay cut at the time, remained a priority issue for the union.
Ms Ní Sheaghdha told the Oireachtas health committee last Wednesday: "Nurses in this country work a 39-hour week, a longer week than any other healthcare professional. As a result, 1½ hours per week is owed to them each week by their employer, which they currently work for nothing. That is how they view it and it must be corrected in order to retain those staff."


theirishtimes--2020-10-27--Hundreds of health staff unavailable every week due to coronavirus

Hundreds of health service staff become unavailable for work every week due to Covid-19 infection or being a close contact of a case .
Some 108 healthcare workers tested positive in the week ending October 18th , according to figures provided by the Health Service Executive ( HSE ) .
A further 326 healthcare workers were reported as close contacts in the same week , the HSE said .
Of the 108 index cases , 62 were reported by HSE occupational health departments and 46 worked in voluntary hospitals .
Those affected included 58 working in acute hospitals , 12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health .
Some health staff regarded as essential to critical service needs but who are contacts can get a derogation to return to work early .
A further 939 confirmed cases of Covid-19 were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) on Monday .
This brings to 58,067 the total number of cases of the disease in the Republic .
Three new deaths were reported by Nphet , bringing the total number of deaths to 1,885 .
Of the new cases , 262 were in Dublin , 96 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Galway , 51 in Donegal and the remaining 413 cases were spread across all remaining counties .
Some 66 per cent were under 45 years of age and the median age of cases was 32 years .
As of 2pm on Monday , 341 Covid-19 patients were in hospital .
This is the highest figure since May 20th .
The national incidence has risen to 309.9 cases per 100,000 people over the past 14 days .
Cavan has the highest county incidence at 967.5 , followed by Meath at 667 and Sligo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 258.1 while Tipperary has the lowest incidence at 139.1 There were 39 patients with the virus in ICU on Monday night , up two on the previous day .
The five-day moving average of virus cases has fallen for a fourth day in a row , according to the latest epidemiological report from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre ( HPSC ) .
At 979.6 , the five-day average is below the 1,000 mark for the first time in 10 days .
The HPSC recorded 13 deaths over the past two weeks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the North , 727 new cases of the virus were reported , taking the total to 34,832 .
There were five more deaths , bringing the total to 658 .
There are now 342 patients in Northern Ireland hospitals receiving Covid treatment , with 39 in intensive care units and 30 on ventilators .
The incidence in Derry and Strabane continues to fall .
Over the past seven days there were 538 cases per 100,000 of population which is close to the next highest area , Belfast with 502 cases per 100,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland remains high at 363 cases per 100,000 .
Meanwhile , the head of the Catholic schools sector in Northern Ireland has warned against any extension of school closures in the North .
While more than half of all Northern Ireland schools have experienced at least one Covid-19 case , Gerry Campbell , chief executive of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools ( CCMS ) , said on Monday that every effort must be made to ensure all schools open next week .
As part of a mini-lockdown recently announced by the Northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks to include the one-week midterm Halloween break while much of the hospitality sector shut down for four weeks .
Recent figures showed that out of Northern Ireland ’ s 1,035 schools , at least one Covid-19 case was reported in 519 schools .
On Monday the PSNI reported that since March it had issued 3,118 fines and warnings against people for breaching the coronavirus regulations .
These included 45 fines of £1,000 ( €1,103 ) for failure to self-isolate .

As of 2pm on Monday, 341 Covid-19 patients were in hospital. This is the highest figure since May 20th.
Hundreds of health service staff become unavailable for work every week due to Covid-19 infection or being a close contact of a case.
Some 108 healthcare workers tested positive in the week ending October 18th, according to figures provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
A further 326 healthcare workers were reported as close contacts in the same week, the HSE said.
Hospital Report
Of the 108 index cases, 62 were reported by HSE occupational health departments and 46 worked in voluntary hospitals.
READ MORE
Those affected included 58 working in acute hospitals, 12 in primary care and six in mental health.
Some health staff regarded as essential to critical service needs but who are contacts can get a derogation to return to work early.
A further 939 confirmed cases of Covid-19 were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) on Monday. This brings to 58,067 the total number of cases of the disease in the Republic.
Three new deaths were reported by Nphet, bringing the total number of deaths to 1,885.
Of the new cases, 262 were in Dublin, 96 in Cork, 61 in Meath, 53 in Galway, 51 in Donegal and the remaining 413 cases were spread across all remaining counties.
Some 66 per cent were under 45 years of age and the median age of cases was 32 years.
As of 2pm on Monday, 341 Covid-19 patients were in hospital. This is the highest figure since May 20th.
The national incidence has risen to 309.9 cases per 100,000 people over the past 14 days.
Cavan has the highest county incidence at 967.5, followed by Meath at 667 and Sligo at 442.5.
Dublin has an incidence of 258.1 while Tipperary has the lowest incidence at 139.1
There were 39 patients with the virus in ICU on Monday night, up two on the previous day.
The five-day moving average of virus cases has fallen for a fourth day in a row, according to the latest epidemiological report from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).
At 979.6, the five-day average is below the 1,000 mark for the first time in 10 days.
The HPSC recorded 13 deaths over the past two weeks, along with 21 admissions to ICU.
Northern Ireland
In the North, 727 new cases of the virus were reported, taking the total to 34,832. There were five more deaths, bringing the total to 658.
There are now 342 patients in Northern Ireland hospitals receiving Covid treatment, with 39 in intensive care units and 30 on ventilators.
The incidence in Derry and Strabane continues to fall. Over the past seven days there were 538 cases per 100,000 of population which is close to the next highest area, Belfast with 502 cases per 100,000. The figure for all of Northern Ireland remains high at 363 cases per 100,000.
Meanwhile, the head of the Catholic schools sector in Northern Ireland has warned against any extension of school closures in the North.
While more than half of all Northern Ireland schools have experienced at least one Covid-19 case, Gerry Campbell, chief executive of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS), said on Monday that every effort must be made to ensure all schools open next week.
As part of a mini-lockdown recently announced by the Northern Executive, schools were closed for two weeks to include the one-week midterm Halloween break while much of the hospitality sector shut down for four weeks.
Recent figures showed that out of Northern Ireland’s 1,035 schools, at least one Covid-19 case was reported in 519 schools.
On Monday the PSNI reported that since March it had issued 3,118 fines and warnings against people for breaching the coronavirus regulations. These included 45 fines of £1,000 (€1,103) for failure to self-isolate.


theirishtimes--2020-10-27--Cannabis plan for State-owned bogs goes up in smoke

Proposals to transform Ireland ’ s State-owned bogs into vast cannabis farms have gone up in smoke , it has emerged .
Bord na Móna last year held meetings with then minister for health Simon Harris and then minister of State for natural resources Seán Canney about giving over thousands of hectares of its landbank to cultivating marijuana for medical use .
A feasibility study was ordered into whether farming the drug could replace traditional turf-cutting by the semi-State body , which is undergoing a “ Brown to Green ” strategy to switch to a low-carbon , sustainable business model @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is shelving the plan for the foreseeable future as it prioritises other projects – such as re-wetting bogs – in an attempt to safeguard hundreds of jobs , mostly in the midlands , over the coming years .
A key stumbling block in the proposal – which was supported by both Mr Harris and Mr Canney – are the regulatory approvals that would need to be secured to supply markets both at home and overseas .
Mr Canney , Independent TD for Galway East , described the “ mothballing ” of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was assured existing projects at the semi-State would safeguard employees for the short term .
“ It could have created hundreds of jobs if created to the scale where they were exporting under licence to other countries , ” he said .
“ It was going to be a fairly sizeable operation .
That is what the projections were at the time , and Bord na Móna thought it would be of great benefit to them .
It is disappointing.
” Mr Canney said he understood funding had been secured , although it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to allow for a rehabilitation programme on the bogs , which will “ retain most of the workers for the next four to five years ” “ There are regulatory issues [ with the cannabis farming proposal ] and it takes time to sort those out , so it may be a more long-term project but they have more or less set it aside until they get the rehabilitation programme up and running , ” he said .
Mr Canney said Bord na Móna were initially “ excited ” about the marijuana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year and he believes the company may revisit it in years to come .
“ I think at the moment Bord na Móna is focusing on the short to medium term and keeping the jobs that are there , through the rehabilitation of the bogs , ” he added .
“ But I hope they will be bringing forward projects which can dovetail into what they are doing and provide more long-term jobs for the communities , including the growing and processing of medicinal cannabis.
” Mr Canney said the company would need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as supplying demand in Ireland , to make the enterprise feasible .
“ If it is done right and done in a controlled environment , the growing , harvesting and processing of medicinal cannabis would be something of great value in terms of jobs in the region , but it would also make Bord na Móna more sustainable into the future , ” he added .
A spokesman for Bord na Móna said it is “ currently investigating and developing a range of herb and plant species with a view to supplying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company remains open to considering the growing of medicinal cannabis , given the regulatory challenges in this area , it is not currently a priority product species that the company is pursuing at this time , ” the spokesman said .
A decision was taken to shelve the proposal based on the “ prioritisation of new business projects by Bord na Móna rather than any fundamental determination regarding feasibility ” , he added .
Bord Na Móna plans to end peat harvesting in 45 of its 62 currently active bogs within the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Harris signed into law legislation allowing people “ compassionate access to cannabis for medical reasons ” where conventional treatment has failed over the next five years .
Asked at the time about the possibility of Bord na Móna growing cannabis to supply the products , Mr Harris said “ instinctively I think in the medium term this is something that would make sense for Ireland to try to have its own supply ” .

Bord na Móna has confirmed it is shelving the plan for cannabis farming for the foreseeable future as it prioritises other projects, such as re-wetting bogs. File photograph: Getty
Proposals to transform Ireland’s State-owned bogs into vast cannabis farms have gone up in smoke, it has emerged.
Bord na Móna last year held meetings with then minister for health Simon Harris and then minister of State for natural resources Seán Canney about giving over thousands of hectares of its landbank to cultivating marijuana for medical use.
A feasibility study was ordered into whether farming the drug could replace traditional turf-cutting by the semi-State body, which is undergoing a “Brown to Green” strategy to switch to a low-carbon, sustainable business model.
However, the company has confirmed it is shelving the plan for the foreseeable future as it prioritises other projects – such as re-wetting bogs – in an attempt to safeguard hundreds of jobs, mostly in the midlands, over the coming years.
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A key stumbling block in the proposal – which was supported by both Mr Harris and Mr Canney – are the regulatory approvals that would need to be secured to supply markets both at home and overseas.
Mr Canney, Independent TD for Galway East, described the “mothballing” of the plans as disappointing but added that he was assured existing projects at the semi-State would safeguard employees for the short term.
The Bord na Móna plan could mean up to 850 redundancies in the peat harvesting business over the next decade. Photograph: Pat Sammon
“It could have created hundreds of jobs if created to the scale where they were exporting under licence to other countries,” he said.
“It was going to be a fairly sizeable operation. That is what the projections were at the time, and Bord na Móna thought it would be of great benefit to them. It is disappointing.”
Rehabilitation programme
Mr Canney said he understood funding had been secured, although it has yet to be passed by Cabinet, to allow for a rehabilitation programme on the bogs, which will “retain most of the workers for the next four to five years”
“There are regulatory issues [with the cannabis farming proposal] and it takes time to sort those out, so it may be a more long-term project but they have more or less set it aside until they get the rehabilitation programme up and running,” he said.
A spokesman for Bord na Móna said it is “currently investigating and developing a range of herb and plant species with a view to supplying the pharmaceutical and health sectors”.
Mr Canney said Bord na Móna were initially “excited” about the marijuana proposal during meetings with the Government last year and he believes the company may revisit it in years to come.
“I think at the moment Bord na Móna is focusing on the short to medium term and keeping the jobs that are there, through the rehabilitation of the bogs,” he added.
“But I hope they will be bringing forward projects which can dovetail into what they are doing and provide more long-term jobs for the communities, including the growing and processing of medicinal cannabis.”
Mr Canney said the company would need to be exporting overseas, as well as supplying demand in Ireland, to make the enterprise feasible.
“If it is done right and done in a controlled environment, the growing, harvesting and processing of medicinal cannabis would be something of great value in terms of jobs in the region, but it would also make Bord na Móna more sustainable into the future,” he added.
‘Herb and plant species’
A spokesman for Bord na Móna said it is “currently investigating and developing a range of herb and plant species with a view to supplying the pharmaceutical and health sectors.
“Although the company remains open to considering the growing of medicinal cannabis, given the regulatory challenges in this area, it is not currently a priority product species that the company is pursuing at this time,” the spokesman said.
A decision was taken to shelve the proposal based on the “prioritisation of new business projects by Bord na Móna rather than any fundamental determination regarding feasibility”, he added.
Photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times
Bord Na Móna plans to end peat harvesting in 45 of its 62 currently active bogs within the next six years.
Last year, Mr Harris signed into law legislation allowing people “compassionate access to cannabis for medical reasons” where conventional treatment has failed over the next five years.
Asked at the time about the possibility of Bord na Móna growing cannabis to supply the products, Mr Harris said “instinctively I think in the medium term this is something that would make sense for Ireland to try to have its own supply”.


theirishtimes--2020-10-27--Europe needs ‘serious acceleration’ in fight against Covid-19, warns WHO

Europe needs “ serious acceleration ” in the fight against Covid-19 as it has fallen “ well behind this virus ” , World Health Organisation ( WHO ) head of emergencies Dr Mike Ryan has warned .
Stringent lockdowns could be avoided if people quarantined when required but the challenge was that “ not everyone is doing that ” or had the knowledge or interest in adhering to regulations , the Irishman told a WHO briefing on Monday night .
His comments were echoed by chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan who said people with Covid-19 and contacts needed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ There are too many stories of people with symptoms/waiting on tests and not self-isolating , also contacts not restricting movements , ” according to Dr Holohan .
Urging people to “ spread the message , not the virus ” , he said self-isolating meant staying indoors completely and avoiding contact with all other people .
Anyone waiting for a Covid-19 test or test result must self-isolate for 10 days and those they live with or close contacts of a case must restrict their movements for 14 days , he said .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European countries on Monday , there was evidence in Ireland of a slight improvement in Covid-19 trends .
The number of new cases went below the 1,000 a day mark on Monday and the five-day average continued a slight downward trend .
The 939 cases reported on Monday brings to 58,067 the total number of cases of the disease in the Republic .
A further three deaths were also reported .
With 26 admissions over the previous day , the number of hospitalised patients increased to 344 on Monday .
Northern Ireland reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Long-term exposure to air pollution is a factor in 8 per cent of Irish Covid-19 deaths , an international modelling study has estimated .
At least 150 Covid-19 deaths in Ireland are linked to air pollution , it suggests .
Air pollution may aggravate other health conditions and lead to fatal outcomes for Covid-19 patients , the authors say .
Meanwhile , a study showed 18 per cent of healthcare workers at Tallaght University Hospital have antibody evidence of infection with Covid-19 – much higher rate than the 1.7 per cent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have antibodies .
In Belgium , officials warned intensive care units could be overrun in a fortnight if current rates of infection continued , and doctors in Liege have been asked to keep working even if infected with Covid-19 .
Italy warned its citizens against travelling to other European countries , while German chancellor Angela Merkel has reportedly warned colleagues it was on the verge of losing control of its fight against the virus .

Dr Mike Ryan said at a WHO briefing on Monday night that not everyone had the knowledge or interest in adhering to regulations.
Europe needs "serious acceleration" in the fight against Covid-19 as it has fallen "well behind this virus", World Health Organisation (WHO) head of emergencies Dr Mike Ryan has warned.
Stringent lockdowns could be avoided if people quarantined when required but the challenge was that “not everyone is doing that” or had the knowledge or interest in adhering to regulations, the Irishman told a WHO briefing on Monday night.
His comments were echoed by chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan who said people with Covid-19 and contacts needed to act fully in accordance with advice.
“There are too many stories of people with symptoms/waiting on tests and not self-isolating, also contacts not restricting movements,” according to Dr Holohan.
READ MORE
Urging people to “spread the message, not the virus”, he said self-isolating meant staying indoors completely and avoiding contact with all other people.
Anyone waiting for a Covid-19 test or test result must self-isolate for 10 days and those they live with or close contacts of a case must restrict their movements for 14 days, he said.
Slight improvement
While the situation continued to deteriorate in many European countries on Monday, there was evidence in Ireland of a slight improvement in Covid-19 trends.
The number of new cases went below the 1,000 a day mark on Monday and the five-day average continued a slight downward trend.
The 939 cases reported on Monday brings to 58,067 the total number of cases of the disease in the Republic. A further three deaths were also reported.
With 26 admissions over the previous day, the number of hospitalised patients increased to 344 on Monday.
Northern Ireland reported another 727 cases and five more deaths.
Air pollution
Long-term exposure to air pollution is a factor in 8 per cent of Irish Covid-19 deaths, an international modelling study has estimated.
At least 150 Covid-19 deaths in Ireland are linked to air pollution, it suggests. Air pollution may aggravate other health conditions and lead to fatal outcomes for Covid-19 patients, the authors say.
Meanwhile, a study showed 18 per cent of healthcare workers at Tallaght University Hospital have antibody evidence of infection with Covid-19 – much higher rate than the 1.7 per cent of the general population who are estimated to have antibodies.
In Belgium, officials warned intensive care units could be overrun in a fortnight if current rates of infection continued, and doctors in Liege have been asked to keep working even if infected with Covid-19.
Italy warned its citizens against travelling to other European countries, while German chancellor Angela Merkel has reportedly warned colleagues it was on the verge of losing control of its fight against the virus.


theirishtimes--2020-10-27--Concerns over cost halt €20m north Dublin city cycle path

The development of a €20 million cycle path from Fairview to Connolly Station in Dublin has been halted amid funding and design disputes between Dublin City Council , the National Transport Authority ( NTA ) and Irish Water .
The path , designed to connect the city centre with the Dublin Bay cycle path that runs along the coast from Clontarf to Sutton , was first planned more than eight years ago but has been delayed several times , most notably following a 2017 campaign to save trees in Fairview park .
The council in June said it was weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ path which would provide safe , segregated facilities on what is one of the most heavily used routes for cyclists accessing the city centre .
However , it now says it has to redesign the scheme due to a failure to reach funding agreements with Irish Water and the refusal of the NTA to sanction bus diversions during construction .
The cycle path had in 2017 been expected to cost €7 million .
Last year revised costs of €20 million were published by the council following design changes and the decision to include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ systems in the project .
However , the council says funding discussions with Irish Water have “ failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion ” and the NTA has asked it to “ de-scope all water main renewals from the project ” which will require redesigns .
The NTA has also refused to agree to the diversion of a number of outbound buses during the construction phase , which could last up to two years , the council said .
Instead the council will have to remove proposed temporary cycle lanes , with cyclists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the construction works , ” .
This will require a revised traffic management plan , it said .
The NTA also wants the council to change a previously agreed 5cm difference between the level of the footpath and the cycle path to 6cm .
“ Although this may seem like a minor change , due to the complexity of the scheme , this change will have knock-on effects on the design of construction elements such as earthworks and drainage , as well as requiring an update in the complex 3D model that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the council said .
In addition , a section of the scheme in Fairview Park needs to be narrowed to protect mature trees .
As a consequence of all these changes the business case for the project will need to be revised “ in order to calculate the correct benefit-cost ratio ” the council said .
Green Party councillor Donna Cooney said she was “ extremely disappointed ” by the setback to the project .
“ We have been given no indication of how long this project will be delayed by , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Irish Water said it was “ prioritising work that delivers the greatest water savings where they are needed most ” .
It had assessed the Clontarf project but determined “ other areas are at greater risk at this time ” .
A spokesman for the NTA said the bus diversions would have had a “ major impact on bus users ” .
It was “ appropriate ” the scheme details would be reviewed given the “ significantly increased ” costs , and he expected a request for tenders would issue before the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was first proposed in 2012 .
Redesigns undertaken from 2015-2017 involved felling of 50 trees in Fairview Park .
The latest scheme sees most of these trees protected .
Along the full length of the route 86 trees will be removed and 133 trees will be planted .

The path, designed to connect the city centre with the Dublin Bay cycle path that runs along the coast from Clontarf to Sutton, was first planned more than eight years ago but has been delayed several times. Photograph: Cathy Loughran
The development of a €20 million cycle path from Fairview to Connolly Station in Dublin has been halted amid funding and design disputes between Dublin City Council, the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Irish Water.
The path, designed to connect the city centre with the Dublin Bay cycle path that runs along the coast from Clontarf to Sutton, was first planned more than eight years ago but has been delayed several times, most notably following a 2017 campaign to save trees in Fairview park.
The council in June said it was weeks away from seeking contractors to build the path which would provide safe, segregated facilities on what is one of the most heavily used routes for cyclists accessing the city centre.
However, it now says it has to redesign the scheme due to a failure to reach funding agreements with Irish Water and the refusal of the NTA to sanction bus diversions during construction.
READ MORE
The cycle path had in 2017 been expected to cost €7 million. Last year revised costs of €20 million were published by the council following design changes and the decision to include extensive water mains replacement and new sewerage systems in the project.
However, the council says funding discussions with Irish Water have “failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion” and the NTA has asked it to “de-scope all water main renewals from the project” which will require redesigns.
Traffic management plan
The NTA has also refused to agree to the diversion of a number of outbound buses during the construction phase, which could last up to two years, the council said. Instead the council will have to remove proposed temporary cycle lanes, with cyclists “required to use the bus lanes during the construction works,”. This will require a revised traffic management plan, it said.
The NTA also wants the council to change a previously agreed 5cm difference between the level of the footpath and the cycle path to 6cm. “Although this may seem like a minor change, due to the complexity of the scheme, this change will have knock-on effects on the design of construction elements such as earthworks and drainage, as well as requiring an update in the complex 3D model that has been developed for the contractor,” the council said.
In addition, a section of the scheme in Fairview Park needs to be narrowed to protect mature trees.
As a consequence of all these changes the business case for the project will need to be revised “in order to calculate the correct benefit-cost ratio” the council said.
Green Party councillor Donna Cooney said she was "extremely disappointed" by the setback to the project. "We have been given no indication of how long this project will be delayed by, it just keeps being pushed out."
Irish Water said it was “prioritising work that delivers the greatest water savings where they are needed most”. It had assessed the Clontarf project but determined “other areas are at greater risk at this time”.
A spokesman for the NTA said the bus diversions would have had a “major impact on bus users”. It was “appropriate” the scheme details would be reviewed given the “significantly increased” costs, and he expected a request for tenders would issue before the end of the year.
The cycle route was first proposed in 2012. Redesigns undertaken from 2015-2017 involved felling of 50 trees in Fairview Park. The latest scheme sees most of these trees protected. Along the full length of the route 86 trees will be removed and 133 trees will be planted.


theirishtimes--2020-10-27--Lack of mandatory face covering rules for taxis leading to ‘challenges’

The lack of legislation mandating the wearing of face coverings in taxis has resulted in passengers “ challenging ” drivers over the issue , the head of a taxi company has claimed .
Niall Carson , general manger of Free Now , has called on the Government to legislate for the mandatory wearing of face coverings while in taxis .
Since July 13th it has been a legal requirement to wear face coverings while on public transport .
Speaking in the Dáil later that month , Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said his department was working on “ extending the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sector .
However , it has not yet been extended .
Mr Carson said the lack of regulation on the issue is endangering passengers and drivers .
“ It ’ s mandatory in public transport and mandatory in shops but isn ’ t in taxis .
The fact that the legislation hasn ’ t caught up is quite disappointing , ” he said .
He said the Minister “ committed to it in July , and nobody is under any illusion that there hasn ’ t been a lot going on , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is a genuine issue.
” Mr Carson did not have figures for the number of passengers who did not comply with the company ’ s own mask-wearing guidelines , but said anecdotally drivers were reporting passengers challenging the issue .
“ We ’ ve had feedback that passengers have asked questions around it , like ‘ Is it mandatory ?
Is it law ?
’ I think if there is anything the past few weeks have taught us is that the messaging , when it ’ s not mandatory , it leads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Like many sectors , Mr Carson said the taxi industry had experienced great changes due to the Covid-19 pandemic .
Business is down about 50 per cent year on year , while only about half of its 14,000 drivers have resumed work , but Mr Carson expects these figures to drop further due to Level 5 restrictions .
He said drivers are in a “ really difficult position ” , but Free Now , as a company , is “ in a strong financial position ” because of its investors BMW and Daimler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sign-ups in order to “ sustain the livelihoods of the drivers who have always worked with us ” , he added .
The purpose of trips has also changed , he observed .
Previously , many customers used the service to attend social events , but with the reduction in public transport capacity , many drivers are bringing passengers to and from work or important appointments .
“ We ’ re working with some of the large multinationals about bringing essential workers into the office and things like that , ” he explained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the HSE is around dialysis so we have people who need essential care , so we can get those service users in and out to get their treatment.
” He cited one example in which a daughter used the app to bring her mother to a hospital appointment .
She shared the trip with her brother and the two of them were able to monitor and make sure their mother safely arrived at the hospital .
Asked about the issue of face masks , the Department of Transport said under existing regulations for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to refuse a passenger who refuses to comply with a “ reasonable request ” , such as wearing a face covering .
“ The Department of Transport and the Department of Health collaborated to draft regulations to extend this mandatory approach to include the [ taxi ] sector and the draft regulations are now with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for final drafting , ” a spokeswoman added .

The lack of legislation mandating the wearing of face coverings in taxis has resulted in passengers “challenging” drivers over the issue, the head of a taxi company has claimed.
Niall Carson, general manger of Free Now, has called on the Government to legislate for the mandatory wearing of face coverings while in taxis.
Since July 13th it has been a legal requirement to wear face coverings while on public transport. Speaking in the Dáil later that month, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said his department was working on "extending the mandatory approach" to include the taxi sector. However, it has not yet been extended.
Hospital Report
Mr Carson said the lack of regulation on the issue is endangering passengers and drivers.
READ MORE
“It’s mandatory in public transport and mandatory in shops but isn’t in taxis. The fact that the legislation hasn’t caught up is quite disappointing,” he said.
He said the Minister “committed to it in July, and nobody is under any illusion that there hasn’t been a lot going on, but from a driver safety point of view it is a genuine issue.”
Mr Carson did not have figures for the number of passengers who did not comply with the company’s own mask-wearing guidelines, but said anecdotally drivers were reporting passengers challenging the issue.
“We’ve had feedback that passengers have asked questions around it, like ‘Is it mandatory? Is it law?’ I think if there is anything the past few weeks have taught us is that the messaging, when it’s not mandatory, it leads to challenges,” he said.
We're working with some of the large multinationals about bringing essential workers into the office and things like that
Like many sectors, Mr Carson said the taxi industry had experienced great changes due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Business is down about 50 per cent year on year, while only about half of its 14,000 drivers have resumed work, but Mr Carson expects these figures to drop further due to Level 5 restrictions.
He said drivers are in a "really difficult position", but Free Now, as a company, is "in a strong financial position" because of its investors BMW and Daimler.
The company has stopped accepting new sign-ups in order to “ sustain the livelihoods of the drivers who have always worked with us”, he added.
The purpose of trips has also changed, he observed. Previously, many customers used the service to attend social events, but with the reduction in public transport capacity, many drivers are bringing passengers to and from work or important appointments.
“We’re working with some of the large multinationals about bringing essential workers into the office and things like that,” he explained.
“One of the contracts with the HSE is around dialysis so we have people who need essential care, so we can get those service users in and out to get their treatment.”
He cited one example in which a daughter used the app to bring her mother to a hospital appointment. She shared the trip with her brother and the two of them were able to monitor and make sure their mother safely arrived at the hospital.
Asked about the issue of face masks, the Department of Transport said under existing regulations for the sector, drivers have the right to refuse a passenger who refuses to comply with a “reasonable request”, such as wearing a face covering.
"The Department of Transport and the Department of Health collaborated to draft regulations to extend this mandatory approach to include the [taxi] sector and the draft regulations are now with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for final drafting," a spokeswoman added.


theirishtimes--2020-10-27--CervicalCheck Tribunal postponed over victims’ concerns

The CervicalCheck Tribunal , which was due to start its work on Tuesday , has been postponed for “ a number of days ” , the Government said on Monday night , following meetings between Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and victims ’ representatives .
The tribunal was due to commence its work on Tuesday morning but , in the face of objections from some victims , including campaigner Vicky Phelan , the Government agreed to postpone the start date in the hope that their concerns can be met .
A spokesperson for the Department of Health said : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister for Health , the Department of Health and the 221+ group .
At the request of the 221+ group , the establishment of the tribunal has been paused for a number of days to allow it to engage with and update its members.
” It is understood that Mr Donnelly has briefed colleagues in Government that he is hopeful that most of the victims ’ concerns have been addressed and that they will engage with the tribunal in the coming days .
A spokesman for 221+ , the cervical cancer patient support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ progress ” in the discussions on Monday and that the group was in continuing contact with the Minister for Health .
He said that they needed to see some of the commitments made by the Minister communicated in writing , but that they hoped to be able to present them to their members in the coming days .
The fact that the Government is willing to pause the tribunal in an effort to secure the group ’ s co-operation was a positive sign , he said .
Last week , Ms Phelan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court case exposed the CervicalCheck controversy two years ago , said the tribunal was “ not fit for purpose ” and “ a slap in the face ” for the women affected .
However , officials believe that a series of meetings and contacts on Monday and in recent days can address the concerns expressed by Ms Phelan and other campaigners .
The tribunal was due to start on Tuesday at premises in Smithfield in Dublin , and is to be chaired by a judge of the Court of Appeal , Ms Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide compensation to women affected by the misreading of cervical smears , who subsequently became ill with cancer that was not detected early , and to allow them tell their stories .
Its proceedings will be held in private , except where victims specifically request otherwise .

Campaigner Vicky Phelan said the tribunal was ‘a slap in the face’ for the women affected by the CervicalCheck controversy. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
The CervicalCheck Tribunal, which was due to start its work on Tuesday, has been postponed for "a number of days", the Government said on Monday night, following meetings between Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and victims' representatives.
The tribunal was due to commence its work on Tuesday morning but, in the face of objections from some victims, including campaigner Vicky Phelan, the Government agreed to postpone the start date in the hope that their concerns can be met.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: "There is ongoing constructive engagement between the Minister for Health, the Department of Health and the 221+ group. At the request of the 221+ group, the establishment of the tribunal has been paused for a number of days to allow it to engage with and update its members."
It is understood that Mr Donnelly has briefed colleagues in Government that he is hopeful that most of the victims’ concerns have been addressed and that they will engage with the tribunal in the coming days.
READ MORE
A spokesman for 221+, the cervical cancer patient support group, said that there had been “progress” in the discussions on Monday and that the group was in continuing contact with the Minister for Health. He said that they needed to see some of the commitments made by the Minister communicated in writing, but that they hoped to be able to present them to their members in the coming days.
Positive sign
The fact that the Government is willing to pause the tribunal in an effort to secure the group’s co-operation was a positive sign, he said.
Last week, Ms Phelan, the terminally ill Limerick woman whose court case exposed the CervicalCheck controversy two years ago, said the tribunal was "not fit for purpose" and "a slap in the face" for the women affected. However, officials believe that a series of meetings and contacts on Monday and in recent days can address the concerns expressed by Ms Phelan and other campaigners.
The tribunal was due to start on Tuesday at premises in Smithfield in Dublin, and is to be chaired by a judge of the Court of Appeal, Ms Justice Ann Power.
It is intended to provide compensation to women affected by the misreading of cervical smears, who subsequently became ill with cancer that was not detected early, and to allow them tell their stories. Its proceedings will be held in private, except where victims specifically request otherwise.


theirishtimes--2020-10-27--Air pollution attributed to at least 150 Covid-19 deaths in Ireland – study

At least 150 Covid-19 deaths in Ireland are attributable to long-term exposure to air pollution , according to a new study .
About 15 per cent of all virus deaths globally , and 19 per cent in Europe , are linked in the modelling study to air pollution resulting from human activity .
In Ireland , it is estimated that 8 per cent of Covid-19 deaths are linked to air pollution , of which three-quarters is pollution caused by fossil fuels .
This is the proportion of virus deaths that could be avoided if Irish people were exposed to lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mostly German team of researchers .
While not proposing a direct cause and effect relationship between air pollution and Covid-19 , they say air pollution may aggravate other health conditions and lead to “ fatal health outcomes ” of the virus infection .
When people inhale polluted air , small particles migrate from the lungs to the blood vessels , causing inflammation , according to Prof Thomas Münzel of Mainz University .
This causes damage to the inner lining of arteries , leading to their narrowing and stiffening .
Covid-19 causes similar damage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air pollution and infection with the Covid-19 virus come together then we have an additive adverse effect on health , particularly with respect to the heart and blood vessels , which leads to greater vulnerability and less resilience to Covid-19 , ” Prof Münzel said .
“ If you already have heart disease , then air pollution and coronavirus infection will cause trouble that can lead to heart attacks , heart failure and stroke.
” Referring to previous work that suggests fine particulates in air pollution may prolong the life of infectious viruses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a role in “ super-spreading ” events by favouring transmission of the virus .
According to the study , published in Cardiovascular Research journal , the contribution of air pollution to Covid-19 deaths varies from 29 per cent in the Czech Republic and 27 per cent in China to 1 per cent in New Zealand .
The authors say their work shows the question for effective policies to reduce man-made emissions needs to be accelerated .
“ The pandemic ends with the vaccination of the population or with herd immunity through extensive infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are no vaccines against poor air quality and climate change .
The remedy is to mitigate emissions .
”

In Ireland, it is estimated that 8 per cent of Covid-19 deaths are linked to air pollution. Photograph: Clodagh Kilcoyne/ Reuters
At least 150 Covid-19 deaths in Ireland are attributable to long-term exposure to air pollution, according to a new study.
About 15 per cent of all virus deaths globally, and 19 per cent in Europe, are linked in the modelling study to air pollution resulting from human activity.
In Ireland, it is estimated that 8 per cent of Covid-19 deaths are linked to air pollution, of which three-quarters is pollution caused by fossil fuels.
Hospital Report
This is the proportion of virus deaths that could be avoided if Irish people were exposed to lower air pollution levels, according to the mostly German team of researchers.
READ MORE
While not proposing a direct cause and effect relationship between air pollution and Covid-19, they say air pollution may aggravate other health conditions and lead to “fatal health outcomes” of the virus infection.
When people inhale polluted air, small particles migrate from the lungs to the blood vessels, causing inflammation, according to Prof Thomas Münzel of Mainz University. This causes damage to the inner lining of arteries, leading to their narrowing and stiffening. Covid-19 causes similar damage.
“If both long-term exposure to air pollution and infection with the Covid-19 virus come together then we have an additive adverse effect on health, particularly with respect to the heart and blood vessels, which leads to greater vulnerability and less resilience to Covid-19,” Prof Münzel said.
“If you already have heart disease, then air pollution and coronavirus infection will cause trouble that can lead to heart attacks, heart failure and stroke.”
‘Super-spreading’ events
Referring to previous work that suggests fine particulates in air pollution may prolong the life of infectious viruses, the authors suggest particulate matter plays a role in “super-spreading” events by favouring transmission of the virus.
According to the study, published in Cardiovascular Research journal, the contribution of air pollution to Covid-19 deaths varies from 29 per cent in the Czech Republic and 27 per cent in China to 1 per cent in New Zealand.
The authors say their work shows the question for effective policies to reduce man-made emissions needs to be accelerated. “The pandemic ends with the vaccination of the population or with herd immunity through extensive infection of the population. However, there are no vaccines against poor air quality and climate change. The remedy is to mitigate emissions.”


theirishtimes--2020-10-27--Irish birth rate continues to fall amid sustained increase in deaths

Rates of births , marriages and adoptions continue to fall in Ireland while the death rate increases .
Church marriages also continue to drop as civil marriages increase .
These are among the facts disclosed in the 2019 annual report of the Civil Registration Service , which is published on Tuesday .
The service registered 60,173 births in 2019 , a drop of 1,728 on the 61,901 births registered during 2018 , itself a decrease of 2.8 per cent on the 2017 figure .
This steady decrease has continued from a peak in 2008 , when more than 75,000 births @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were a fifth less than in 2008 .
In 2019 , 20,335 marriages were registered in Ireland , a drop of 3.4 per cent on the 2018 figure and 7.7 per cent lower that the average for 2016-2018 .
The proportion of religious marriages registered has dropped below 60 per cent for the first time , accounting for 58.5 per cent of all marriages registered in 2019 .
Civil marriages accounted for almost a third of all marriages registered last year , with 10 per cent of all marriages registered in 2019 conducted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ double the proportion of such marriages registered in 2014 .
Of the marriages registered in 2019 , 640 were same-sex – 288 between women and 352 between men .
The overall figure was a drop on the 2018 figure of 668 and the 2017 figure of 767 .
The highest number of same-sex marriages was in 2016 , the year after the marriage referendum , when 1,055 same-sex couples married .
Adoptions registered in Ireland during 2019 numbered 79 , a decrease of 2.5 per cent on the 81 in 2018 .
Of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under three and 33 were 17 .
Irish death rates continue to increase , with 32,084 registered in 2019 .
Of these , 52.5 per cent were male and 47.5 per cent female .
Numbers dying in Ireland have shown a slight increase every year since 2016 .
In 2018 the figure was 31,232 , in 2017 it was 31,385 and in 2016 it was 32,029 .
All births registered before 1919 , all marriages registered before 1949 and all deaths registered before 1969 are available on irishgenealogy.ie .
The Civil Registration Service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and consists of the General Register Office , based in Roscommon town , and local registration offices at 61 locations operated by the HSE .

The steady decrease in the birth rate has continued from a peak in 2008. Photograph: iStock
Rates of births, marriages and adoptions continue to fall in Ireland while the death rate increases. Church marriages also continue to drop as civil marriages increase. These are among the facts disclosed in the 2019 annual report of the Civil Registration Service, which is published on Tuesday.
The service registered 60,173 births in 2019, a drop of 1,728 on the 61,901 births registered during 2018, itself a decrease of 2.8 per cent on the 2017 figure. This steady decrease has continued from a peak in 2008, when more than 75,000 births were registered. Births registered in 2019 were a fifth less than in 2008.
In 2019, 20,335 marriages were registered in Ireland, a drop of 3.4 per cent on the 2018 figure and 7.7 per cent lower that the average for 2016-2018.
The proportion of religious marriages registered has dropped below 60 per cent for the first time, accounting for 58.5 per cent of all marriages registered in 2019. Civil marriages accounted for almost a third of all marriages registered last year, with 10 per cent of all marriages registered in 2019 conducted by a secular body, more than double the proportion of such marriages registered in 2014.
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Same-sex marriages
Of the marriages registered in 2019, 640 were same-sex – 288 between women and 352 between men. The overall figure was a drop on the 2018 figure of 668 and the 2017 figure of 767. The highest number of same-sex marriages was in 2016, the year after the marriage referendum, when 1,055 same-sex couples married.
Adoptions registered in Ireland during 2019 numbered 79, a decrease of 2.5 per cent on the 81 in 2018. Of the 79 adoptions, eight children were under three and 33 were 17.
Irish death rates continue to increase, with 32,084 registered in 2019. Of these, 52.5 per cent were male and 47.5 per cent female. Numbers dying in Ireland have shown a slight increase every year since 2016. In 2018 the figure was 31,232, in 2017 it was 31,385 and in 2016 it was 32,029.
All births registered before 1919, all marriages registered before 1949 and all deaths registered before 1969 are available on irishgenealogy.ie.
The Civil Registration Service operates under the Department of Social Protection and consists of the General Register Office, based in Roscommon town, and local registration offices at 61 locations operated by the HSE.


theirishtimes--2020-10-27--Charity says 500 more families will need food support in lockdown

Children ’ s charity Barnardos expects more than 50 per cent more families to need food support for their children in the coming months as the Covid-19 pandemic continues .
A survey of the agency ’ s staff at 19 centres around Ireland revealed a further 57 per cent or more than 500 additional families would need help in feeding their children .
Chief executive Suzanne Connolly said that many of the families the charity supports face a lot of challenges including poor parental mental health , problems in trying to stay on methadone treatment programmes and domestic violence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” of 1,250 families it supports that 61 per cent faced at least one of these challenges , Ms Connolly said .
A number of families need food support daily while others seek it on a weekly basis .
The surge in demand for child food supports follows earlier research by Barnardos showing 35 per cent of families with young children spent more on food between March and June as children were at home while the Covid-19 pandemic took hold .
Since March the charity provided 7,250 food parcels and 9,620 hot meals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their children while schools and creches were closed .
A number of parents also told Barnardos that they have been eating smaller or fewer meals because they are worried their family won ’ t have enough food .
The charity highlighted the statistics as it announced a partnership with supermarket chain Aldi Ireland to raise €1 million over two years for vulnerable children .
Barnardos is asking Aldi customers to help vulnerable families experiencing food poverty by donating €4 by texting ‘ BARNARDOS ’ to 50300 or by visiting Barnardos.ie/Aldi and making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ €4 of which Barnardos will receive a minimum of €3.60 .
Ms Connolly said the public had been “ very generous and responsive and that made a big difference ” as fundraising through the charity ’ s shops dried up .
The charity said that €4 helps it provide a hot dinner and access to specialised care for a child in their after-school club .
Director of Barnardos children ’ s services Siobhán Greene said that with the next stage of the pandemic “ we are expecting to see further significant demands for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are struggling to cope ” .
Aldi Ireland group managing director Niall O ’ Connor said : “ Our partnership will deliver €1 million for the charity over two years , helping to provide 10,000 warm meals to vulnerable children at their centres and a range of other essential supports .
”

Barnardos chief executive Suzanne Connolly said many of the families the charity supports face a lot of challenges. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Children’s charity Barnardos expects more than 50 per cent more families to need food support for their children in the coming months as the Covid-19 pandemic continues.
A survey of the agency’s staff at 19 centres around Ireland revealed a further 57 per cent or more than 500 additional families would need help in feeding their children.
Chief executive Suzanne Connolly said that many of the families the charity supports face a lot of challenges including poor parental mental health, problems in trying to stay on methadone treatment programmes and domestic violence.
Hospital Report
The charity found in a “snapshot” of 1,250 families it supports that 61 per cent faced at least one of these challenges, Ms Connolly said. A number of families need food support daily while others seek it on a weekly basis.
READ MORE
The surge in demand for child food supports follows earlier research by Barnardos showing 35 per cent of families with young children spent more on food between March and June as children were at home while the Covid-19 pandemic took hold.
Since March the charity provided 7,250 food parcels and 9,620 hot meals to families unable to access proper meals for their children while schools and creches were closed.
A number of parents also told Barnardos that they have been eating smaller or fewer meals because they are worried their family won’t have enough food.
The charity highlighted the statistics as it announced a partnership with supermarket chain Aldi Ireland to raise €1 million over two years for vulnerable children.
Barnardos is asking Aldi customers to help vulnerable families experiencing food poverty by donating €4 by texting ‘BARNARDOS’ to 50300 or by visiting Barnardos.ie/Aldi and making a donation online. The text costs €4 of which Barnardos will receive a minimum of €3.60.
Ms Connolly said the public had been “very generous and responsive and that made a big difference” as fundraising through the charity’s shops dried up.
The charity said that €4 helps it provide a hot dinner and access to specialised care for a child in their after-school club.
Director of Barnardos children’s services Siobhán Greene said that with the next stage of the pandemic “we are expecting to see further significant demands for our services from children and families who are struggling to cope”.
Aldi Ireland group managing director Niall O’Connor said: “Our partnership will deliver €1 million for the charity over two years, helping to provide 10,000 warm meals to vulnerable children at their centres and a range of other essential supports.”


theirishtimes--2020-10-27--Post-Covid education: What can Ireland learn?

Teachers have never been more respected : responding to Covid-19 , helping children and young people through lockdown and reopening schools have shown the world how important these key workers are .
But educators face unprecedented challenges that are being exacerbated by the virus .
At home – and overseas – large class sizes , high-stakes terminal exams , educational disadvantage and underfunded third-level systems pose additional headaches for policymakers dealing with the urgent pandemic crisis .
Earlier this month , teachers from around the world joined together in a live-streamed , 24-hour online event to share their experiences and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Education International , the global federation of teacher unions and professional associations , representing more than 32 million teachers and education workers across more than 170 countries .
The event featured inspirational teachers , heads of state , humanitarians and United Nations representatives including primatologist Dr Jane Goodall ; Nobel peace prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi ; New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern ; general secretary of Education International Dr David Edwards ; and many more .
The Irish Times caught up with some of the speakers and talks and asked a question : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global community of teachers ?
Dr David Edwards , general secretary of Education International , says : “ Teachers want to do the right thing but they ’ re worried about their own families and pressed between their professional obligations and personal rights .
They say that governments are not giving them the information or support they need .
“ From the evidence I ’ ve seen , teachers in Ireland have not been divided on reopening schools .
Five weeks into the school year , Irish unions ’ concerns about safety echo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some schools making physical distancing difficult ; requirements for teachers who are defined by the official guidance as ‘ high-risk ’ [ having ] to contend with schools ’ emerging shortages of high-quality PPE equipment ; and a lack of ongoing financing to upgrade digital infrastructure in schools and for individual students .
It is clear that these issues must be addressed by the Irish Government .
” Steffan Handal , president of the Union of Education Norway , adds : “ I was quite surprised by how complicated it was to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closing them .
“ Trust and communications between health and education authorities is vital : it is difficult for health authorities to recognise the practicalities of what needs to be put in place – including test and trace , which is well established in Norway.
” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , director general of the World Health Organisation , says : “ The pandemic has shown us who the most essential workers are : health workers , teachers and education workers .
Long-term school closures may have a severe impact on child health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schools are more than places for children to learn : for many millions , it is where they receive nourishing meals , have opportunities for physical activity and access health services including immunisation .
For many , it is the main place they learn about health and staying healthy .
Schools can also provide sound guidance on Covid-19 and prevent the spread of misinformation to both children and parents.
” Dr Annie Sparrow , a medical doctor and assistant professor of population health science and policy at Icahn school of medicine at Mount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We played Covid by the influenza playbook and it didn ’ t work .
Shutting down schools is a man-made catastrophe .
Child labour and child marriage are now parallel pandemics , we have seen an increase in mental and physical health problems , eating disorders and suicide .
“ A range of physical , emotional and social issues are addressed at school .
We have left a billion children – many already disadvantaged – stranded .
We know how essential teachers are to society , the future , economies and our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When vaccines come out , we must protect teachers as part of the frontline , but they are being infected in their communities , not their schools.
” Kailash Satyarthi , founder of multiple organisations including the Global Campaign for Education , was the co-recipient of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize , alongside Malala Yousafzai .
He says : “ The pandemic has exposed and exacerbated the gaps in education .
Out of a billion students , almost half have no access to online learning or internet facilities .
We have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and marginalised get additional support to send children back to school .
“ A large number of school children are dropping out and the fear is that 11 million children across the world may not come back to school if we don ’ t act now .
Countries that allocated money to bail out economics and markets are not fulfilling their promises .
.
.
the world ’ s most marginalised 20 per cent should get 20 per cent of the Covid response fund.
” Dr Christina Colclough of the WhyNot Lab is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , politics in technology and ethics in artificial intelligence .
She says : “ Education unions need to protect their members and build capacity to understand digital tools and the building blocks of an algorithm .
As teachers in the UK and Ireland learned recently [ when predicted grade algorithms led to controversy ] , it ’ s important to know what questions to ask .
Ed tech is a huge market that is predicted to rise to $ 285 billion in three to four years .
When we have built capacity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place in workplaces and schools .
“ Are they proprietary systems ?
Who owns them ?
Why are education authorities recommending or buying into these systems ?
What agreements do they have in place with private tech companies about joint data access and control ?
Anonymised data can be monetised very quickly .
The moment we see data as a commodity to be bought or sold is the moment when we subordinate human and privacy rights to monetary value.
” Larry Flanagan is general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He says : “ Why are these apps free ?
What are we giving away ?
We need to teach children to be critical , and that there is no free lunch .
As unions and workers we need to assert our control and say that we will not be subject to opaque algorithmic influences .
We demand insight and the right to collectivise our data and build our own data trusts so we can tell our version of the story.
” Dr David Edwards says : “ Student support structures , homework @ @ @ @ @ @ @ culture of high expectations for all students [ are ] critical [ in tackling educational disadvantage ] , as are adequate career guidance supports .
[ But ] placing the burden of eradicating educational disadvantage exclusively on schools is a flawed approach if not supplemented by coherent family support policies .
“ Ireland appears to be one of the few countries with a dedicated government department for children , youth and families .
Countries such as Singapore , Finland , New Zealand and Canada all have specific strategies for supporting disadvantaged students which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community supports and teachers being given the time to liaise with other professionals providing support to disadvantaged families .
Involving teacher unions in strategies tackling education disadvantage is vital.
” Dr Jane Goodall is a primatologist and anthropologist , famed for her study of the social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees .
She says : “ Once we realised the pandemic was caused by destroying nature and pushing animals into closer contact with people , it became more important than ever for children to respect and understand nature .
“ When we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis is still there .
Students have so many ideas as to what they can do .
If they understand the problem and you listen and empower them to take action , they come up with fantastic ideas themselves .
I ’ ve been pushing for students to spend more time outside and in nature : books are very well , but see the eyes of children light up when they discover nature for themselves .
My website , RootsandShoots.global , has more info and ideas .
”

Teachers have never been more respected: responding to Covid-19, helping children and young people through lockdown and reopening schools have shown the world how important these key workers are.
But educators face unprecedented challenges that are being exacerbated by the virus.
At home – and overseas – large class sizes, high-stakes terminal exams, educational disadvantage and underfunded third-level systems pose additional headaches for policymakers dealing with the urgent pandemic crisis.
Hospital Report
Earlier this month, teachers from around the world joined together in a live-streamed, 24-hour online event to share their experiences and advice. The event was hosted by Education International, the global federation of teacher unions and professional associations, representing more than 32 million teachers and education workers across more than 170 countries.
READ MORE
The event featured inspirational teachers, heads of state, humanitarians and United Nations representatives including primatologist Dr Jane Goodall; Nobel peace prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi; New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern; general secretary of Education International Dr David Edwards; and many more.
The Irish Times caught up with some of the speakers and talks and asked a question: what lessons can Ireland learn from the global community of teachers?
Reopening schools
Dr David Edwards, general secretary of Education International, says: “Teachers want to do the right thing but they’re worried about their own families and pressed between their professional obligations and personal rights. They say that governments are not giving them the information or support they need.
"From the evidence I've seen, teachers in Ireland have not been divided on reopening schools. Five weeks into the school year, Irish unions' concerns about safety echo the concerns of teachers internationally: overcrowding in some schools making physical distancing difficult; requirements for teachers who are defined by the official guidance as 'high-risk' [having] to contend with schools' emerging shortages of high-quality PPE equipment; and a lack of ongoing financing to upgrade digital infrastructure in schools and for individual students. It is clear that these issues must be addressed by the Irish Government. "
Steffan Handal, president of the Union of Education Norway, adds: "I was quite surprised by how complicated it was to reopen schools – much more so than closing them.
“Trust and communications between health and education authorities is vital: it is difficult for health authorities to recognise the practicalities of what needs to be put in place – including test and trace, which is well established in Norway.”
Children’s wellbeing
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organisation, says: "The pandemic has shown us who the most essential workers are: health workers, teachers and education workers. Long-term school closures may have a severe impact on child health, wellbeing and educational progress.
“The pandemic has shown us who the most essential workers are: health workers, teachers and education workers.” Photograph: iStock
“Schools are more than places for children to learn: for many millions, it is where they receive nourishing meals, have opportunities for physical activity and access health services including immunisation. For many, it is the main place they learn about health and staying healthy. Schools can also provide sound guidance on Covid-19 and prevent the spread of misinformation to both children and parents.”
Dr Annie Sparrow, a medical doctor and assistant professor of population health science and policy at Icahn school of medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, adds: "We played Covid by the influenza playbook and it didn't work. Shutting down schools is a man-made catastrophe. Child labour and child marriage are now parallel pandemics, we have seen an increase in mental and physical health problems, eating disorders and suicide.
“A range of physical, emotional and social issues are addressed at school. We have left a billion children – many already disadvantaged – stranded. We know how essential teachers are to society, the future, economies and our ability to deal with the next pandemic. When vaccines come out, we must protect teachers as part of the frontline, but they are being infected in their communities, not their schools.”
Kailash Satyarthi, founder of multiple organisations including the Global Campaign for Education, was the co-recipient of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, alongside Malala Yousafzai.
He says: “The pandemic has exposed and exacerbated the gaps in education. Out of a billion students, almost half have no access to online learning or internet facilities. We have to make sure that parents who are poor and marginalised get additional support to send children back to school.
“A large number of school children are dropping out and the fear is that 11 million children across the world may not come back to school if we don’t act now. Countries that allocated money to bail out economics and markets are not fulfilling their promises . . . the world’s most marginalised 20 per cent should get 20 per cent of the Covid response fund.”
Children and data
Dr Christina Colclough of the WhyNot Lab is an expert on the future of work, politics in technology and ethics in artificial intelligence.
Schools can provide sound guidance on Covid-19 and prevent the spread of misinformation to both children and parents. Photograph: iStock
She says: “Education unions need to protect their members and build capacity to understand digital tools and the building blocks of an algorithm. As teachers in the UK and Ireland learned recently [when predicted grade algorithms led to controversy], it’s important to know what questions to ask. Ed tech is a huge market that is predicted to rise to $285 billion in three to four years. When we have built capacity, we should look into what systems are in place in workplaces and schools.
“Are they proprietary systems? Who owns them? Why are education authorities recommending or buying into these systems? What agreements do they have in place with private tech companies about joint data access and control? Anonymised data can be monetised very quickly. The moment we see data as a commodity to be bought or sold is the moment when we subordinate human and privacy rights to monetary value.”
Larry Flanagan is general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland, Scotland's largest teacher union. He says: "Why are these apps free? What are we giving away? We need to teach children to be critical, and that there is no free lunch. As unions and workers we need to assert our control and say that we will not be subject to opaque algorithmic influences. We demand insight and the right to collectivise our data and build our own data trusts so we can tell our version of the story."
Equality gap
Dr David Edwards says: “Student support structures, homework clubs and, above all, a culture of high expectations for all students [are] critical [in tackling educational disadvantage], as are adequate career guidance supports. [But] placing the burden of eradicating educational disadvantage exclusively on schools is a flawed approach if not supplemented by coherent family support policies.
"Ireland appears to be one of the few countries with a dedicated government department for children, youth and families. Countries such as Singapore, Finland, New Zealand and Canada all have specific strategies for supporting disadvantaged students which focus on schools being the hub of community supports and teachers being given the time to liaise with other professionals providing support to disadvantaged families. Involving teacher unions in strategies tackling education disadvantage is vital."
Environmental education
Dr Jane Goodall is a primatologist and anthropologist, famed for her study of the social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees.
She says: “Once we realised the pandemic was caused by destroying nature and pushing animals into closer contact with people, it became more important than ever for children to respect and understand nature.
“When we come through this pandemic, the climate crisis is still there. Students have so many ideas as to what they can do. If they understand the problem and you listen and empower them to take action, they come up with fantastic ideas themselves. I’ve been pushing for students to spend more time outside and in nature: books are very well, but see the eyes of children light up when they discover nature for themselves. My website, RootsandShoots.global, has more info and ideas.”