Slane Traffic Management Study Public Consultation

Info session on the Slane Traffic Management Study Stage 1 report at the Conyngham Arms Hotel, Slane on Wednesday 21st November between 3.00pm and 8.00pm

Slane Traffic Management Study
Public Consultation
 

Meath County Council invites residents of Slane and surrounding areas, members of the public and interested parties to participate in an information session on the Slane Traffic Management Study Stage 1 report at the Conyngham Arms Hotel, Slane on Wednesday 21^st November between 3.00pm and 8.00pm

Details of the study will be on display, and staff from Meath County Council & the consultants who undertook the study, Aecom, will be on hand to discuss and
take questions on the findings of the report.

The Slane Traffic Management Study Stage 1 report will be available for inspection at Meath County Council’s offices at County Hall, Navan, at Duleek Civic Offices

& the National Road Design Office at Navan Enterprise Centre from 14th November 2012 to 19^th December 2012.
Also a copy of the report can be downloaded from following Link: Slane Traffic Management Study Stage 1 Report October 2012
Written submissions or observations on the Traffic Management Study Stage 1 report can be submitted to

Meath County Council,
National Road Design Office,
Navan Enterprise Centre,
Trim Road,
Navan,
Co Meath

Voluntary organisations will not be charged for vetting application

Fine Gael Meath East Deputy and Chair of the Fine Gael Committee on Health, Regina Doherty, has welcomed confirmation from the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter TD, that there is no plan to charge voluntary organisations for vetting applications under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012.

Deputy Doherty received notification from the Justice Minister following on from a letter the Meath Deputy sent to the Minister to make enquiries about the issue.

“Despite the fact that Section 31 of the Act allows for fees for vetting applications to be charged for certain categories of employment, I welcome the Minister’s assurance that voluntary organisations will not be subject to this. Ensuring that we have adequate vetting procedures in place is essential to protecting our children. The last thing we want is for cost considerations to prevent organisations from playing their part in making sure all children are being cared for in a safe and secure environment.

“Minister Shatter conceded that there may be some consideration given to charging commercial or semi-commercial organisations for vetting in the future. It will come as a welcome relief to voluntary organisations that there is currently no mention of these charges being extended to them.
“It is expected that the Bill will come into effect early in the New Year, requiring those who commence working with children or vulnerable persons on an on-going basis to be vetted. Where retrospective vetting is concerned, there is a provision in the Act to deal with staff who were hired before the Act came into force. It is estimated that, due to existing resources, retrospective vetting will take about two years and that once this issue has been adequately dealt with, it will not need to be revisited. Re-vetting of staff will take place, however, around every 5 years or but this provision will not come into effect until the retrospective vetting process has been properly completed.

“This legislation, together with the Withholding of Information Bill, the placing of the Children’s First Guidelines on a statutory footing and the ratification by the Irish people of the Children’s Referendum, will enable us to ensure that the utmost care and consideration is given to our children’s safety and welfare.”

Doherty & Buttimer welcome radical reform document for the health sector

Patients to be placed at the centre of decision making, ensuring faster, fairer service delivery

Fine Gael Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Health, Jerry Buttimer TD, and the Party’s Internal Health Committee Chair, Regina Doherty TD, have welcomed the publication today (Thursday) of the radical healthcare reform document by the Department of Health.

The document, entitled Future Health: A Strategic Framework for Reform of the Health Service 2012-2015, sets out the roadmap for the overhaul of our healthcare services so that value for money and appropriate service delivery can be achieved.

Speaking following the launch Deputy Doherty said: ‘As the document states, the healthcare system in this country is currently unfair to patients, does not deliver value for money and is in dire need of reform. We are facing major challenges in terms of dealing with the budget deficit, getting the trolley numbers completely under control and dealing with increased activity, year on year. All of this in the context of Ireland having an ageing population’.

“However, this document charts the way forward by outlining the steps to be taken on the basis of the best possible evidence. A full collaborative approach is to be taken which will make full use of the Regional Health Forums who will consult with the relevant stakeholders to ensure best service delivery. The patient will be front and centre in the reform process which will seek to have patients treated at the lowest level of complexity that is safe, timely and that is delivered as close to home as possible.

Deputy Buttimer said: ‘The radical reform agenda being carried out by Minister Reilly will not happen overnight. This Government was handed a health service that was creaking at the seams and which had money thrown at it as the solution to all its problems. The Irish people, quite frankly, deserve better’.

“It is the Government’s intention to create a single-tier health service which is supported by Universal Health Insurance and where no distinction between public and private patients exists. Outcomes for patients will be improved, free access to GPs will be available, as is the case in other countries, and there will be better management of chronic illnesses.

“We have no choice but to do more with less, but that aside, it is high time we had a healthcare system that worked for, instead of against, us. Healthcare staff, consultants and, most of all, the patient, who should always have been at the heart of the system, deserve it. I have no doubt that this intention can and will become a reality under Dr. James Reilly TD.”

TABLE QUIZ In Aid Of Early Intervention Home Teacher Programme - Down Syndrome Ireland

Education Grants for County Meath Community/Voluntary Groups

Available November 2012

• Applications are invited from community and voluntary groups who have not received funding from Co. Meath VEC’s Community Education Programme in the past.
• Co. Meath VEC’s Community Education Service provides tuition hours to community or voluntary organisations that wish to run learning programmes in their own areas.
• “Programmes should aim to develop the individual’s self confidence and educational skills base in order to enable and facilitate their development and participation in the life of their community”

In line with Government guidelines for usage of funding, priority will be given to courses/programmes which:

• ØSpecifically target educational disadvantage
• ØAddress self development, confidence building and skills enhancement for group members
• ØFacilitate and encourage participation in educational activity from all sectors of our community
• ØPromote social inclusion

The latest date for receipt of completed applications is Friday 30^th November at 4pm. Application forms are downloadable from www.meathvec.ie or are available by contacting:

Jackie BreenCommunity Education ServiceThe Alpha Learning CentreCo. Meath VECAbbey Road, Navan, Co. MeathTel. 046-9068285 E-mail: jbreen@meathvec.ie

Doherty welcomes funding to facilitate reopening of Bellewstown Bridge

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has today (Tuesday) welcomed confirmation that €92,000 in funding is being made available to ensure Bellewstown Bridge can be reopened as soon as possible.
“I am glad to hear that the National Roads Authority has agreed to transfer €92,000 to Meath County Council for works on the bridge, following a request from the local authority. This money will be used to pay for remedial works on the bridge, so it can reopen as soon as possible.

“The bridge has been closed for almost three weeks now, and it has been causing some considerable disruption to local people and other motorists who travel this route on a daily basis. It was closed in the first place due to structural concerns, so it is welcome that these concerns will now be addressed with remedial works.

“I would urge Meath County Council to ensure work is carried out on the bridge as quickly as possible, so any further disruption can be kept to a minimum. Bellewstown Bridge is an historic structure, which has been used by local people for centuries. I hope that the repair works will ensure it can be preserved into the future.

“The sooner these works are completed and people can begin to use this route as normal, the better.”

County Council unites citizens of Meath in Christmas jobs drive - Meath County Council is bringing together individuals, businesses and students in a drive to attract new business into the county.

Its ‘Whatever your business…Make it Meath ’ campaign invites everybody in the county to promote the benefits of setting up a business in Meath among their friends and contacts throughout the world.

Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Niamh McGowan, said that Meath County Council had put together support programmes to assist the local community to attract new business to Meath.

“With many of our emigrant citizens returning to Meath for Christmas, we are asking everybody to make sure that our visitors are invited to promote Meath as an ideal location to set up a new business or open a European office.

“We have a comprehensive promotional brochure available from our offices or at any library in the county. It highlights the benefits of working and living in Meath and provides information on a number of individual towns in the county.

For individuals or companies who wish to have the information posted to a contact abroad please contact us on 046- 909 7000 or email: edi@meathcoco.ie

“Those who have businesses in the county are asked to promote Meath among their high level business contacts, especially those abroad. Indeed successful business people who are now retired may wish to support the campaign by sharing their international business contacts abroad. By working together we can attract new companies to the county and generate jobs,” she said.

Research by Meath County Council’s Economic Development and Innovation Unit has identified that each and every member of the community has a wealth of contacts in Ireland and throughout the world.

They include business executives either working in or from Meath who regularly travel overseas, solicitors and accountants with clients who may be in a position to invest in Meath, local clergy whose parishioners are now working abroad and local schools who can identify high profile former students who could help bring businesses to the county.

Mr Frank Harrington, President, Navan Chamber of Commerce welcomed the initiative from Meath County Council and has urged all Chambers of Commerce in the county to come together to make sure that all their contacts receive the promotional brochure.

“This united approach will bear fruits in terms of attracting industry and commerce to Meath. The support of all the Chambers of Commerce and the advice and assistance of the key state agencies in the county will make sure that directors and their families of those companies coming here have access to the best advice and assistance available in the county,” he said.


Mr Kevin Stewart said that if the county was to attract new business, then it’s up to each and every one of us working and living here to get out there and sell the benefits.

“These benefits include a high quality of life, access to quality education as well as excellent infrastructure, premier business locations, easy access to major towns and cities and a wealth of skills currently available in Meath. Our workforce has a wealth of skills in the majority of industry sectors and fluency in a wide variety of languages.

“We are of the view that if you don’t ask companies to consider Meath as a location, they won’t. We need everybody working together to ask international business people to set up in Meath. And we have had a great response from every section of the community in Meath and we are confident that if we all promote Meath abroad, we will attract new business. We also have the support of the State agencies in the county to help companies to set up in Meath,” he said.

Meath County Council’s Economic Development and Innovation brochure, ‘Whatever your business… Make it Meath”, showcases the economic case for locating a start up in Meath. It provides an overview of the county with an economic profile insert for 7 key locations in the county.

Further information and a copy of the brochure is available from www.meath.ie/business

Health Committee to seek information from HSE on pregnancy counselling services allegations

At its meeting today, the Joint Committee on Health and Children considered the matter of recent allegations printed in a national newspaper concerning services at HSE funded pregnancy counselling services.

Following the meeting the Joint Committee decided to write to the HSE requesting the following information as a matter of urgency;

· Has a formal investigation been commenced by the Health Service Executive in respect of the alleged advice given by counsellors at the clinics referred to?

· If an investigation has commenced, what will be the terms of reference and scope of the investigation? What will be the timescale involved in such an investigation to complete to report stage? In particular, will the investigation examine the actions of the service providers only or will it also look at the role of the HSE in this matter? And who will be carrying out the investigation?

· If an investigation has commenced, what is the basis or authority for such an investigation? Further, what procedures will be adopted in respect of the investigation?

· Is the HSE aware of any investigation by An Garda Síochána into the alleged incidents?

· Is the HSE aware of any internal review being carried out by any of the organisations referred to into the alleged incidents?

· What actions were carried out by the HSE in the period of weeks before these articles were printed, during which time the HSE was in possession of the transcripts referred to in the article?

video on state intervention

Staff from Louth Meath Hospitals to host information events to mark World Diabetes Day 2012

World Diabetes Day takes place on Wednesday 14 November 2012. To mark the occasion the diabetes department in Louth/Meath Hospital Group are inviting members of the public to attend free diabetes information events in Louth County Hospital, Dundalk and Our lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.

Anyone who has been diagnosed with diabetes, or people at risk of developing diabetes are encouraged to visit the Outpatients Department in Louth County Hospital or the health promotion corner on the ground floor of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital between 10am and 4pm on the day. Staff from the diabetes department will be on hand to provide advice and information on managing diabetes, in relation to food, foot-care, and pre-pregnancy planning for women with diabetes or a history of gestational diabetes.

Diabetes is now recognised as one of the most chronic diseases of the 21st century. It is estimated that 366 million people worldwide have diabetes, with the number expected to reach some 380 million by 2025. In Ireland, it is estimated 240,000 people have diabetes – half of which are unaware of it.

Speaking in advance of the diabetes information events, Pauline O’ Hanlon diabetes nurse specialist Louth Meath Hospital Group said, “Many people could have type 2 diabetes for over seven years without realising it. It's very important to be aware of the risk factors, which include being overweight, having a family history of the illness, and in relation to women, if they have a history of gestational diabetes or have had large babies (over 10lb). However, both type 2 and type 1 diabetes can be managed effectively by incorporating a healthy diet and physical activity, monitoring blood glucose, medication and attending for regular follow up with their GP or diabetes hospital clinic."

What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic, potentially debilitating and often fatal disease. The disease occurs as a result of problems with the production and supply of insulin in the body. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps ‘sugar’ (glucose) to leave the blood and enter the cells of the body to be converted into energy.
There are two main types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes (previously referred to as insulin-dependent or juvenile-onset diabetes) occurs when the body does not produce insulin. It can affect people of any age, but usually occurs in children or young adults. People with this form of diabetes need injections of insulin every day in order to control the levels of glucose in their blood.
In Type 2 diabetes (previously called non-insulin dependent diabetes or mature-onset diabetes) the body cannot use the insulin it produces effectively. The onset of type 2 diabetes is linked to genetic factors but obesity, physical inactivity and unhealthy diet increase the risks of it occurring. In the past, it was thought of as a disease of the elderly. However, due to the rise in obesity, type 2 diabetes is becoming more common in children and young adults.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and accounts for 90-95% of all diabetes. Worldwide, many millions of people have type 2 diabetes without even knowing it.
Gestational Diabetes
Some women develop a third, usually temporary, type of diabetes called ‘gestational diabetes’ when they are pregnant. Gestational diabetes develops in 2-5% of all pregnancies, but usually disappears when the pregnancy is over. Women who have had gestational diabetes have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later on.
Recognizing diabetes
The onset of type 1 diabetes is often sudden and dramatic and can include symptoms such as:
Abnormal thirst and a dry mouth
Frequent urination
Extreme tiredness/lack of energy
Constant hunger
Sudden weight loss
Slow-healing wounds
Recurrent infections
Blurred vision

The same symptoms that are listed above can also affect people with type 2 diabetes, but usually the symptoms are less obvious. The onset of type 2 diabetes is gradual and therefore hard to detect. Indeed, some people with type 2 diabetes show no obvious symptoms early on. These people are often diagnosed several years later, when various complications are already present.

Risk Factors for developing Type 2 Diabetes
Being overweight
Family history of Type 2 Diabetes
History of Gestational Diabetes (Women)
Women who had large babies (over 10lb)

Life-threatening complications
Poorly controlled blood-glucose can result in short and long-term complications, many of which, if not prevented and left untreated, can be fatal.Diabetes is among the top 10 causes of disability, resulting in life-threatening complications such as heart disease, stroke, lower limb amputations, kidney failure and blindness.All have the potential to reduce the quality of life of people with diabetes and their families.

Diabetes can be prevented
Early detection and the adoption of proven measures to prevent diabetes can significantly lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, delay its onset or at least reduce its impact. People with type 2 diabetes can usually control the level of glucose in their blood by following a healthy diet, taking regular exercise, and oral medication (tablets).
For people with type 1 diabetes, it is not yet possible to prevent the condition. However, much can be done to prevent or delay diabetes complications by healthy eating, regular physical activity, medication and regular follow-up with the GP or diabetes clinic.