wicklow_times_14_01_20_south.pdf - wicklow times

Wicklow County Council has lost its battle to keep thedetails of its agreement with developers of the FlorentineCentre in Bray secret. In a ground breaking decisionwhich will have ramifications for past and future decisions around the disposal of public assets, theInformation Commissioner has directed that the termsand conditions surrounding the disposal be made public.

Independent councillorJoe Behan who took theappeal said “I welcome the decision by theI n f o r m a t i o nCommissioner to directWicklow County Councilto release to the publicthe majority of its devel-opment agreement withthe Florentine Centredevelopers.

“I decided to take thiscase to the InformationCommissioner becausethe Council refused to

divulge the details of theagreement to Councilmembers or the widerpublic. I argued stronglythat the taxpayers and citizens of the county areentitled to know what isbeing done in their namewhen public assets arebeing sold off.

“I am delighted that the InformationCommissioner held thatmy submissions ‘correct-ly identify a public inter-est in transparency and

accountabili ty around the use of publicly owned assets’. TheCommissioner statedthat ‘the Council was not justif ied in refusingaccess to the majority of the records.’ TheCommissioner alsoquotes the Dept ofPublic Expenditure andReform which states that‘the Freedom ofInformation Act 2014means that FOI bodiesare not in a position to

give guarantees of confi-dentiality.’

“This decision by the InformationCommissioner should beread and studied carefullyby the Council manage-ment as it clearly dis-missed most of the argu-ments used by theCouncil to prevent publi-cation of information onthe Florentine Centredevelopment.

“I believe the decisionshould ensure far greatertransparency by unelectedCouncil management intheir dealings with devel-opers and future potentialpartners and it shouldserve as a wake-up callfor all of us to be con-stantly on our guard whenthe disposal of publicassets is being proposed.

“Bray Town desperate-ly needs new life and theFlorentine Centre iseagerly awaited by all.However, as it is still apublic asset, it is vital that

its development and dis-posal is open, transparentand in the best interests ofthe public whom we allserve.”

In coming to her deci-

sion, the InformationCommissioner declared “Iconsider that the develop-er is a service provider forthe purpose of the FOIAct, on the basis that ithas contracted with theCouncil to provide a ser-vice - namely developing

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page 6BIFE DEVELOPMENT

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SOUTH EDITION DELIVERED TO HOMES & BUSINESSES IN: RATHNEW, WICKLOW, GLENEALY, BRITTAS BAY, AVOCA, WOODENBRIDGE, ARKLOW, SHILLELAGH, TINAHELY, REDCROSS, BALLINACLASH, AUGHRIM, RATHDRUM, DONARD, DUNLAVIN, CARNEW, COOLATTIN, BALTINGLASS, BLESSINGTON.

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Tuesday 14th January 2020 5 Eglinton Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow Tel: 01 - 2869111 www.wicklowtimes.net E-mail: [email protected]

Isobel Carr, Jordan O’Brien, Ciara Condren, and Kaitlin Wolohan from St. Mary’s College, Arklow, atthe BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in the RDS last Thursday.

Your Local Enterprise Office Wicklow has just launched the

2020 Spring/Summer Training Programme for small businesses & the

self-employed in Co. WicklowPractical, short & high quality training for small businesses!

Start Your Own Business coursesSpecific courses on: Marketing for SMEs / Business Planning & Accessing Finance/ Social Media/ Trading Online Seminar/ Search Engine Optimisation of your business

website / Food Starter Programme & many more.FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR TO BOOK GO TO:

www.localenterprise.ie/Wicklow/Training-Events/Online-BookingsLocal Enterprise Office Wicklow, Wicklow County Campus, Rathnew, Co. Wicklow Phone: 0404 30800 Email: [email protected]

Cllr Joe Behan

COUNCIL LOSES FOI BATTLE

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The ‘Bray Beach Bellies’ Linda Ulaman, Stephanie Veale, Pat Hannon, Deirdre Fitzgerald, andLaura Stewart taking a dip at the annual Bray Lions’ New Year’s Day Swim, helping to raisefunds for local charities. Pic: Andres Poveda.

The Forde family at the New Year’s Day swim in Arklow

Contacts:

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Erika Doyle, Features Editor - [email protected]

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is published by Wicklow Times, 5 Eglinton Road, Bray.

Tel: 01-2869111

Slightly Less AdoAbout Nothing

Temple Carrig School presents a drama play- Slightly LESS Ado about Nothing - anabridged version of one of Shakespeare’sfavourite comedies. It will be performed inthe Whale Theatre on Friday, 17th January.

The town of Messina in Italy is thrown into a stateof wild excitement with the visit of the Prince, DonPedro, and his army on the way back from the war.Love is in the air, but not for local girl Beatrice andone of the Prince’s officers, Benedick, who despiseeach other with a passion that surely can’t bequenched? A Jazz band that will bookend the eveningwith 5 or 6 short song/comedy performances. Twosingers will be Kay Lynch who is a professional sopra-no who toured with Riverdance for years and ChrisHolland who sang in Les Mis in the Westend. A nightof silliness, song and, of course the play. Organisedand compere for the evening will be Liam Andrewstransition year student of Temple Carrig School and allin aid of The Mustard Seed foundation.

Friday 17th January 2020 at 7.30pm Tickets €10 .See www.whaletheatre.ie or call the booking office on01 2010550

Bray Camera Club 2020Photography Exhibition

The Bray Camera Club members exhibition is currently on display in theSignal Arts Centre until Sunday 19thJanuary.

Since its foundation in 1971, Bray Camera Clubhas provided a forum for its members (an eclecticmix of amateurs, professionals and competitionprize-winners) to learn from and support one anotherin improving their photographic skills and develop-ing their creativity. The Club members use a varietyof photography equipment to collect images - frommobile phones, to compact cameras and digitalSLRs, to film and large format cameras.

The Club’s photography range incorporates allphotographic disciplines: abstract, street, wildlife,landscape, studio, close-up and portrait photographyare all explored.Whenever the Club presents its workto the public, all members are encouraged to displaythe best of their photography and with a wide varietyof photographic disciplines being showcased, thisexhibition is sure to appeal to anyone with an interestin photography or even just a curious eye.

Purple House ask public torun 30km in January

Purple House Cancer Support Centre is 30 years old this year and to help make their need fora permanent Centre a reality, they are asking the public to take the challenge of running,walking or cycling 30km this month.

“Or organise anyfundraiser around thenumber 30, what a greatway to get fit afterChristmas!” they said.

Earlier this year, PurpleHouse learned that thehome they have had foryears was no longer fit forpurpose and they neededto move out. They saythat they had also out-grown the space and saythat it’s time to find some-where new.

“We need your supportto help make our vision ofthe creation of a perma-nent Community BasedCancer Support Centre ofExcellence, a reality.

“Somewhere for children to play withother kids who have lostmammy or daddy,granny or grandad, orwho are living with cancer in their family.Somewhere for parents,children and loved onesto attend counselling sessions, sit in a beauti-ful garden with newfriends, enjoy the relax-ing therapy of a massage,or simply have a privateroom where they cangrieve in peace.

“Luckily, we havefound somewhere new tolive. We can’t share thedetails just yet as it’s

going through the saleprocess, but it’s bigger,and it will mean we canhelp more people. Bestof all, it means we have apermanent space in theheart of your communi-ty.”

The new permanentCentre will provide:More private rooms forcounselling and thera-pies; A specially-designed cancer rehabili-tation gym and recre-ational area; A dedicatedchildren’s cancer thera-peutic and family sup-port area; Dedicatedrooms for cancer sur-vivorship and education

programmes; A muchbigger drop-in space,offering cancer supportand information at a timethat suits families; A gar-den where families canspend precious timetogether making memo-ries. Register your 30kmchallenge at www.purplehouse.ie or byphoning 012866966.Members of the publiccan also Buy A PurpleBrick for the new Centre at purplehouse.ie.Everyone who buys abrick will have theirname placed in the newtherapeutic gardenforevermore.

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Kilmacanogue History Society Kilmacanogue History Society’s next talk is on

Tuesday 14th January at 8pm in the GlenviewHotel. Marc McMenamin is the guest speaker. He isa journalist and documentary maker and the title ofhis talk is ‘The Codebreaker’. This fascinating storyoutlines how a gifted polymath and cryptographer,was drafted by Irish intelligence services to trackthe movements of a prolific Nazi spy, HermannGörtz.

Codebreaker is a riveting and deeply researchedaccount of an extraordinary period of history. Thispresentation will take you back to the secret worldof espionage in Ireland during World War II whenthe fate of an independent Ireland settled on theshoulders of an unassuming employee of theNational Library and is a fascinating opener to thesociety’s 2020 season.

Register now for 2020 Spring Clean

Now is the time to register for the NationalSpring Clean. It can be done at a date which suitsyou or your group. It’s very easy to register andreceive a clean-up kit. Visit www.nationalspring-clean.org to register and get your free clean-up kit.

Loughlinstown emigrantbrings new show to Garden

County Radio Dylan Walshe, a singer-songwriter from

Loughlinstown, currently living in Nashville,Tennessee, is broadcasting his new non-profit radioshow on Garden County Radio from Greystonesevery Sunday from 9pm to 10pm.

“I’ll have a host of my friend musicians dialing insuch as James Fearnley from The Pogues, Zander

Schloss of The Circle Jerks, Billy Bob Thornton,Chris Scruggs and plenty more,” says Dylan.

Dylan himself is an Irish folk singer-songwriterwho has toured with Flogging Molly, Avatar, TheWhite Buffalo, The Mahones, and has recorded withJames Fearnley.

Once Upon A Time inHollywood

Quentin Tarantino’s latest film, Once Upon aTime in Hollywoood..., will be screened in theWhale Theatre in Greystones on Thursday 16thJanuary at 8pm. Doors, 7:15 p.m. Tickets €10.00.Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbiestar in this comedy-drama set in 1969 Hollywoood.Booking and details of all future Whale Theatreevents from www.WhaleTheatre.ie. You can also bea friend on Facebook and receive up-to-date eventinformation.

Greystones Archaeologicaland Historical Society Talk‘Experiences and Contributions of Women

During the War of Independence’ is the title of aGreystones Archaeological and Historical Societytalk in the Kilian House Family Centre inGreystones at 8pm on Wednesday 15th January.

The talk will be given by Dr. Mary McAuliffe,Assistant Professor of Gender Studies UCD. Herresearch includes social history, as well as war/military and oral history. Publications include:Richmond Barracks 1916: We Were There: 77Women of the Easter Rising. Co-editor, Kerry1916: Histories and Legacies of the Easter Rising.Biography of Senator Kathleen Browne 1876 to1943. Dr. McAuliffe is Committee Member andTreasurer of Association of Professional Historians.All welcome to come along. Small charge of €2 atthe door, to help defray costs.

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Tuesday 14th January 2020

Pictured in Wicklow Hospice at Magheramore are Audrey Housihan, Chief Executive of Our Lady’sHospice & Care Services (OLH&CS), and Sean Dorgan, Chair of the Wicklow Hospice Foundation.The hospice will open under the management of OLH&CS, the largest provider of specialist palliativecare in Ireland.

Wicklow Hospice transfers to

Our Lady's Hospice & Care Services

Doors scheduled to open at new care facility in Q2 Responsibility for Wicklow Hospice passed last Thursday from Wicklow Hospice Foundationto Our Lady's Hospice & Care Services (OLH&CS), bringing it under the management andgovernance of OLH&CS, ahead of its official opening later this month.

Wicklow Hospice willbe the first specialist pal-liative care facility inCounty Wicklow, provid-ing in-patient care tothose with life-limitingconditions. Comingunder the governance ofOLH&CS, it joins the200-bed facility inHarold's Cross and the12-bed facility atBlackrock in Dublin, aspart of the largestprovider of specialist pal-liative care in Ireland.

Wicklow Hospice willprovide 15 in-patientpublic beds and specialistCommunity PalliativeCare services across thecounty (excluding WestWicklow, which comesunder St. Brigid'sHospice in Kildare).

The facility atMagheramore has beendeveloped as a result ofthe work undertaken bythe Wicklow FundraisingFoundation over the lastten years, with the 3.5acre site kindly donated

by the Columban sisters.The HSE has delegatedresponsibility for itsmanagement toOLH&CS, as a section38 facility. The HSE willmeet the operationalcosts of the facility andfundraising for capitalcosts and enhancementsfor patients and familieswill be driven byOLH&CS.

Chief Executive ofOur Lady's Hospice &Care Services(OLH&CS), AudreyHoulihan said; "We aredelighted to welcomeWicklow Hospice intothe OLH&CS family. Asthe facility comes underour management, I wouldlike to pay heartfelt trib-ute to the people ofWicklow and theWicklow HospiceFoundation, for gettingthe facility to this point.It is a testament to everyperson who took part inthe many fundraisingprojects that Wicklow

now has a facility of thiscalibre, which will beused by generations tocome."

Chair of WicklowHospice Foundation,Sean Dorgan said; "Aftermany years, and loyalsupport from the peopleof Wicklow, the doors ofthe Wicklow Hospicewill soon open and weare very happy to handthe responsibility for themanagement and gover-nance of the facility toOLH&CS, one of theoldest and largest spe-cialist palliative careproviders in the country.We are delighted to haverealised our vision andwe look forward to thedevelopment of WicklowHospice in response tolocal needs."

Recruitment for posi-tions at Wicklow Hospicewill commence in thecoming weeks.Applications will beinvited for a range ofroles and will be pub-

lished on www.olh.ie andon OLH&CS socialmedia channels.

Members of the publicare invited to public opendays on Saturday 25th andSunday 26th January withtours of the facility takingplace from 11-3. All are welcome.

Our Lady's Hospice inHarold's Cross was estab-lished in 1879 by theCongregation of theReligious Sisters ofCharity. The Congregationwas founded in Dublin byMary Aikenhead in 1815,in response to the grindingpoverty pervading the city.The Congregation'sresponse to the needs ofthe people was inspired bytheir motto - CaritasChristi Urget Nos - thelove of Christ empowersus.

To find out more aboutOur Lady's Hospice &Care Services, visitwww.olh.ie, Facebook,LinkedIn, Twitter orYouTube.

Go ahead given for 25 apartments at Albert AvenueWicklow County Council has granted permission for 25 apartments and a café at 5 AlbertAvenue, Bray.

The development will consist of 8 one-bed apartments, and 17 two-bedroom apartments. Access for com-mercial, emergency and residential vehicles will be through the main entrance off Albert Avenue.

The existing warehouses on the 0.274 hectare site, adjoining Bray Dart Station, will be demolished. Theapplication was lodged by Esther Maloney.

The Warehouses are occupied by Bray Building Supplies and Bray Self Storage. Bray Building Supplies lodged a submission objecting to the development, arguing that they occupy the

property under a Commercial Letting and are entitled to a 35 year Lease with five-year rent reviews.Cullen Tyrell & O’Beirne solicitors, made the submission on behalf of Bray Building Supplies, stating

that “our clients objection is based on the fact that the Applicant does not have possession of Unit 2, 5 AlbertAvenue, which forms part of the planning Application.”

The Council’s Planner’s Report stated that “As per the Development Management Guidlines, it is not amatter for the planning authority to resolve civil disputes regarding title to land or premises or rights overland. Section 34(13) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) states, a person is not entitledsolely by reason of a permission to carry out any development. The application form indicates that the appli-cant is the owner of the lands. An advisory note could be attached to any permission.”

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Wicklow County Council’s Arts Office is inviting applications for the following funding streams in 2020:

• Individual Artist Support Scheme• Arts groups / Organisations Award Scheme• Arts Festival Award Scheme

Application forms may be downloaded fromwww.wicklow.ie under Arts Office.

Closing Date for Receipt of Applications is Thursday 27th February at 12 NOON

Return to:Arts Office (Bursaries 2020), Wicklow County Council, Bray MunicipalDistrict, Civic Plaza, Main Street, Bray, County WicklowEmailed or late applications will not be accepted.

There is a funding clinic to discuss making an application to the INDIVIDUAL ARTIST Support Scheme on January 18th at Mermaid Arts Centre.INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS may book on https://www.mermaidartscentre.ie/whats-on/events/wicklow-county-arts-office-funding-clinic

Work starts on Bray Main Street façadeThe work has started on the old facade on Main Street to incorporate it in to the newFlorentine/Bray Town Centre entrance.

Speaking on the matter, Cllr Steven Matthews, Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District, said“Following my many requests, the developer, Oakmount agreed to preserve as far as possible this heritagefacade.

“When we met initially, a few years ago to discuss the Florentine project I asked the design team toretain the facade. It was suggested that it may not be feasible or structurally possible to do so but it wouldbe considered. I was subsequently informed that it would not be retained in the overall project.

“Following one of our progress reports and the announcement that work was to be carried out on Mainstreet frontage I asked again that Oakmout would preserve as far as possible the original frontage. It nowappears that we are going to be able to retain most of the original facade and this will be weaved into thenew design. A lot of credit for this needs to go to our council management in Bray Municipal District. Iasked the management to request the developer to protect and preserve this structure and they have man-aged this request successfully.

“Our built heritage and beautiful Victorian building stock is important to our town for many reasons. Ihave always fought for our architectural heritage, unfortunately we lost the battle to protect St Paul’s Lodgeon Herbert Road but in this case we have been successful in protecting a small piece of our Main Street.”

A digital impression of the completed Main Street facade

WHITMORE ANNOUNCESGENERAL ELECTION BID

Social Democrats Councillor Jennifer Whitmore has confirmed her intention to contest theupcoming general election, speaking at the launch of her election campaign at the weekend inGreystones.

Cllr Whitmore said: "Ihave been a local publicrepresentative now for sixyears, and it's a job that Ihave been honoured to do.

"I had never intended toget into politics, but afterspending over a decadeoverseas in Australia andScandinavia, when Ireturned to Ireland, I sawthe potential for ourincredible county ofWicklow.

"We live in a beautifulcounty and country, butthere are basic issues thatare holding us back. Thereis no need to reinvent thewheel, but we need toapply best internationalpractice to the areas oftransport, environment,housing, health and child-care to make Wicklow abetter place for our communities, and serve asan example nationally forother counties.

"I am running in thiselection with the intentionof winning a seat in Dáil

Eireann, as I believe thatthis is the best way that Ican contribute to bringingabout these necessarychanges, and deliver onthese objectives for thepeople of Wicklow.

"For me, it's importantthat public representativesare focused on deliveringresults, and establish atrack record of gettingthings done.

"Over the past sixyears, as a full-timeCouncillor, I have workedwith community groups todeliver an extensive num-ber of projects, such as theGreystones InclusiveSouth Beach Playground,primary and secondaryschools, sports and community facilities, andenvironmental projectsacross the county.

"I am also Chairpersonfor the newly establishedStrategic PolicyCommittee on Climateand Biodiversity Actionfor Wicklow County, and

I’m using that forum todrive policy and changethrough the Council.

"Nationally, as theSocial Democrats PartySpokesperson forChildren, I was at theforefront of deliveringnational legislationthrough the Dáil thatextended unpaid parentalleave to help parents juggle work and familycommitments inSeptember of last year.

"My professionalbackground is in environ-

mental law, fisheries andecology, and I worked formany years in Australia,developing legislation andpolicy for the New SouthWales Government. Iwant to utilise that exper-tise to address the climateand biodiversity crisis thatwe are facing, and I amdetermined to makeWicklow a leader in climate action.

"However, we also facea housing, health andaffordability crisis in thiscountry. We need politi-cians that are capable ofimplementing effective,practical, evidence-basedpolicy solutions to ourproblems - across a widerange of issues.”

Whitmore concluded "Ibelieve that I have theexpertise internationallyand professionally, and awork ethic and ability toget things done, to be avery effective TD forWicklow at a nationallevel."

Cllr Jennifer Whitmore

He stepped out andhe stepped in again!

There was surprise in north Wicklow politicslast week when it emerged that Fianna Fáillocal election candidate, Saran Fogarty, haddeserted the party and joined the Greens.

Pictured is Saran Fogarty, with Senator Lorraine Clifford Lee, Niall Collinsand Niamh Traynor on the canvas trail in the recent Bye-election in Fingal.

Saran ran for FiannaFail in the Bray West area(Kilmac/Enniskerry) andhad been championed byDeputy Stephen Donnelly.Unfortunately, he missedout in getting elected andthe seat went to RoryO'Connor (former FiannaFail member and greatgrandson of formerTaoiseach Seam Lemass),who ran as an independentwhen he was deprived ofrunning for the party.However, Fogarty wasbarely a week in theGreens when he exitedthem.

In a statement toWicklow Times he said "Ihave decided to withdrawmy membership of theGreen Party, for now. It ismy hope that I will re-joinafter the forthcomingGeneral Election. My rea-son is simple: I genuinelywant Stephen Donnelly tobe re-elected and as he's amember of Fianna Fáil I'vediscovered that I wouldn'tbe able to canvass for him,whilst being involved withanother political party.Stephen is one of the few,if not the only, politician inthe country with a plan tofix the health service. He'salready spent years work-ing in health system trans-formation in the UK andhis experience would be

invaluable in this country.He's definitely got my voteand I'll be doing my best to

help get him as many othervotes as possible".

Stephen Donnelly toldWicklow Times "Saran iscanvassing with me inBray at the moment andwill be doing so as part ofthe team right through theelection. He has alwaysbeen very interested inenvironmental issues andin Trinity has been gettingmore involved. I know he'sinterested in dedicatingwhat political / activismtime he has fully towardsclimate action, and as suchis looking at the Greens."

Pictured below is aphoto Sárán posted inNovember 2019 during theDublin Fingal bye-electionbut was deleted by himfollowing the revelation of

FF Senator LorraineClifford Lee's offensivetweets. Senator LorraineClifford Lee got the nomi-nation 'unilaterally' overlocal Bray man andSwords based Cllr.Darragh Butler the nephewof former Wicklow TDCiarán Murphy and son oflong time Bray Fianna Fáilmembers Phil and FidelmaButler.

During the local elec-tions the then Fianna Fáilcandidates Sárán Fogartyand Chris Walsh held aCross-Party DonationDrive for Women'sSanitary Products (PeriodPoverty) in Bray on Friday26th April, 2019 at whichSenator Lorraine CliffordLee was guest of honour.

Stephen Donnelly TD

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Leah Clarke from Wicklow Town was conferred as a Member of Accounting Technicians Ireland(ATI) at a ceremony in the Talbot Hotel, Stillorgan, with her father Liam. Leah also received herDiploma for Accounting Technicians.

Harris secures over €800,000for major refurbishment ofWicklow Swimming Pool

Wicklow Minister Simon Harris has announced that he has secured Government funding ofover €800,000 today for Wicklow Swimming Pool.

This funding will enable a total refurbishment of the swimming pool including changing rooms and a gym.Speaking to the Wicklow Times, Minister Harris said, "I am delighted to have worked with the community to

secure the funding for the Wicklow swimming pool. I have no doubt this major investment will make a real difference for this important public facility in Wicklow Town and will benefit so many people and families inour community.

"I look forward to the refurbishment now progressing and to continuing to work closely with local communi-ties and groups across our county to deliver investment for our sports and community facilities," concludedMinister Harris.

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(continued from p 1)publicly-owned land - to the Council. Accordingly, Ido not see how disclosing the records would consti-tute a breach of a duty of confidence provided forunder the contract which is owed to a person otherthan an FOI body or a service provider.

"FOI law has been in force for over 20 years. TheCouncil publicly tendered for the development ofpublicly-owned land. In the circumstances, I cannotaccept that the parties could reasonably have had amutual expectation of confidentiality over the entireagreement which governs that development...I alsosee that the tender documentation notified tenderersthat the Council was subject to the FOI Act and thatas a result, tenderers should identify clearly anyaspect of their submission which was either commer-cially sensitive or confidential in nature. In summary,I do not consider that this blanket confidentialityclause could be enforced so as to oust the applicationof FOI to the entirety of an agreement by an FOIbody which publicly procured a developer for thepurpose of developing publicly-owned land.”

She also examined another argument the councilput forward: "During the review process, the Councilclaimed that the records are also exempt under sec-tion 32(1)(a)(i). It says that there is a Garda investi-gation of allegations relating to the Council. It says:‘the investigation into matters relating to WicklowCounty Council includes all matters and agreementssurrounding the Florentine Centre which relates tothis agreement’.

“It submits that disclosing the records now wouldinterfere in the progress of a live investigation andrisk prejudicing both the individuals involved and afair trial. It submits that it would leave any possibleprosecution unsafe because of a potential challengeto a lack of fair procedures.

"A mere assertion of an expectation of harm is notsufficient. The actual content of the records is impor-tant and consideration should be given as to what therecords actually reveal. However, in its submissions,the Council does not demonstrate how releasing these

particular records is expected to cause the harm iden-tified or why the harm could reasonably be expectedto occur.

“In short, it has failed to link the content of therecords with the nature of the alleged harm. I cannotsee from the content of the agreement itself whatconnection there might be between the information init and prejudice or impairment of the kinds envisagedby section 32(1)(a)(i). Even if the records relate tothe Garda investigation, as the Council says they do,this does not, in and of itself, establish a link betweentheir release and the harms envisaged in section 32.”

Concluding she says "I believe that there is astrong public interest in transparency and account-ability around this agreement, which involves thedevelopment and disposal of the asset of an FOIbody. Secondly, in deciding what information servesthat public interest, I would distinguish between onthe one hand, the final agreement between theCouncil and the developer to develop the site and onthe other hand, commercial details relating to thirdparties.

“Thirdly, the amount payable by the developer tothe Council has been disclosed in Council minutes, ashave the basic requirements of the tender to developthe land, in the tender documentation. Finally, theCouncil advised this Office that the development ison schedule for practical completion by year end. Arecent media report indicates that completion is morelikely to occur in February or March 2020.

“I believe that any potential prejudice to the devel-oper would diminish with the passage of time andthat the Council's fears as regards the advancement ofcommercial activity on the site are unlikely to materi-alise as a direct consequence of the release of theagreement at this time.

“On balance, I believe that the public interestwould be better served by granting access to therecords.

“ I find that the Council was not justified in refusing access to this information under section36(1)(b) of the FOI Act.”

END TO SECRET DEALS

Upgrade works address odourproblems at Wastewater facility

John Brady TD has welcomed confirmation that works to upgradethe odour Control System at the Murrough Wastewater PumpingStation in Wicklow Town has been completed.

This work has been carried out on foot of acomplaint Deputy Bradylodged with theEnvironmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) in relationto foul odours emanatingfrom the SewageTreatment works.

Speaking after receiv-ing confirmation that theupgrade to the odour

control system has beencompleted Deputy Bradysaid "I'm glad that after anumber of months thework to upgrade theodour control system atthe MurroughWastewater facility inWicklow Town has beencarried out. This was oneof the main recommenda-tions from an EPA inves-

tigation into seriousodour problems at theMurrough wastewaterfacility.

"In July last I lodged acomplaint with the EPAin relation with the seri-ous ongoing foul odourscoming from the wastew-ater facilities in WicklowTown. This complaintwas subsequently fol-

lowed up by inspectionsby the EPA, both thepumping station and theTreatment plant wereinspected twice. On footof those inspections theEPA compiled a fullreport and Irish Waterhad been instructed tocarry out a number ofactions to address theserious problem. One ofthose actions was toupgrade the odour con-trol system. Irish Waterhas now confirmed to methat the work has nowbeen completed.

"Further smoke tests tocheck out the existingbuilding odour seals arealso to be undertaken. Anumber of changes havealso been made to workpractices on site in anattempt to address therisk of odours."

Deputy Brady con-cluded "The issue of theserious ongoing foulodours coming from thewastewater facilities inWicklow Town has beenongoing now for a num-ber of years. At times itgets so bad locals have toleave their own homes.

“I welcome theseworks that have takenplace which I hope willhelp resolve the ongoingissue of foul odour com-ing from the facilities. Iwill continue to workwith the local communityto ensure that the seriousproblem is resolved,”concluded Deputy Brady.


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Eire Og Greystones young musicians performing at Tesco, Greystones; Emily Farrell, Tom Farrell,Jack Creamer & Julianne Creamer. Pic: John McGowan

Seals at Bride's Head likely to beprotected until April

Wicklow County Council has said that it is amenable to the suggestion by Seal Rescue Irelandthat Bride's Head beach be kept closed to the public until April to protect a colony of seals.

Model United Nations conferenceto be held in Wicklow

This innovation byWicklow's newest sec-ondary school is turninginto a truly national eventwith schools fromGalway, Cork and Dublinjoining up to experiencethe interesting skill setpromoted by this activity -research skills, draftingdocuments, critical think-ing, teamwork, deliberation,negotiation, conflict resolutionand leadership skills.

Students will roleplay variousroles from the United Nations confer-ences - the secretariat roles, country dele-gates, administrators, the United Nations Press Office,the Security Council and presidential roles in variousassemblies.

This is a complex event in terms of preparation, butthe result is that learning springs to life as studentssimulate debates on major world issues from the per-

spectives of a diverse number of countries such as theUnited Kingdom, the United States, Iran, Israel, SaudiArabia, Pakistan, Sweden and the Russian Federation.Students will represent the point of view of thosecountries in debates on topics like climate change, ter-rorism, human rights and nuclear disarmament.

A number of training sessions are beingorganised in Wicklow and Dublin in

the weeks ahead to help studentsprepare. They will learn to

take effective notes, listenactively, show empathy

and develop the ability tosee issues from multipleperspectives. The objec-tives of Model UnitedNations are to help stu-dents grow in confi-dence, build their per-suasive skills and devel-

op their ability to showgrace under pressure.

It is also a way to learnabout current affairs, to net-

work with students from otherschools and to build public speak-

ing skills. This new Model UnitedNations event includes even more opportu-

nities than the conference itself to try different speak-ing activities. For example, one feature will be a decla-mation competition where students give their own ver-sions of speeches from films or from history - a chal-lenge for students who want to further enhance theirpublic speaking development.

Council signs ClimateAction Charter

Wicklow County Council has signed the Climate Action Charter which commits the Councilto playing its part in tackling Climate Change. The Charter is an agreement between Ministerfor Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Mr Richard Bruton TD; Minister forState for Natural Resources, Community Affairs and Digital Development, Mr Sean CanneyTD and Wicklow County Council.

"I am proud to signthis important chartercommitting WicklowCounty Council to playour part in tacklingClimate Change", saidCllr Irene Winters,Cathaiorleach, WicklowCouncil, adding: "Westand ready to lead onclimate action and havehuge ambition for whatthe local authority sectorcan achieve with govern-ment support."

Cllr JenniferWhitmore, Chairpersonof the Climate andBiodiversity ActionStrategic PolicyCommittee (SPC), said:"This Charter givesWicklow County Councildirection and sets ambi-tious targets for actionsto be delivered over thecoming years. It will setthe tone for a busy workplan for the Council 'snewest SPC".

Wicklow CountyCouncil Chief Executive,Mr Frank Curran, com-mented: “Climate changeis the defining issue ofour time. It requires aserious and urgentresponse. WicklowCounty Council recognis-es that we have a duty tocapitalise on our uniqueposition to lead lastingchange for the County.”

The Charter wasdeveloped in consultationwith the local govern-ment sector and commits

signatories to a numberof objectives to addressthe climate challenge andadvocate for climateaction and behaviouralchange among citizens.

It reflects the exten-sive work Councils arealready undertaking andhave planned in the areaof climate action. Of sig-nificant note, allCouncils publishedClimate Adaptationstrategies that set out themeasures each will taketo respond effectively toclimate change and toenhance resilience to itsimpact.

Councils anticipatedand planned for theenhanced role nowfalling to them and havepositioned the sector overthe last number of yearsto build on the expertiseand competencies theyhave to work with allsectors of the communityto provide the local lead-ership necessary to bringabout real and meaning-ful change.

All Councils are think-ing ambitiously and cre-atively about what theycan do to have realimpact.

The Climate Charter isone of the measuresincluded in the govern-ment's Climate ActionPlan to Tackle ClimateBreakdown, which nameslocal authorities as LeadPartners in seven actions

and as Key Stakeholdersin a further 22.

Among the wide-rang-ing actions required oflocal authorities underthe Government ClimateAction Plan are to:

• Undertake deep retrofitsof local authority build-ings and social housingstock;• Develop and implementcycle network plans forall major cities;• Develop a sustainabletransport plan for allcities with a populationexceeding 75,000;• Climate-proof develop-ment plans and deliverNational PlanningFramework objectives forcompact growth;• Deliver technical andbehavioural change train-ing to local authoritystaff;• Support the develop-ment of one-stop-shopsfor residential and com-mercial energy efficien-cy;• Develop an onlinechecklist for companiesto measure their sustain-ability;• Manage low emissionzones including throughpricing policies andrestricted access;• Roll out Electric Vehiclecharging network anddeploy electric vehicleswithin council fleets;• Develop plans for ‘decar-bonising zones’; and,

• Implement a newNational WastePrevention Programmeand Regional WasteManagement Plans.Councils are alreadyundertaking significantclimate mitigation andadaptation measures fromwithin existing resources: • All councils have pre-pared and will implementClimate AdaptationStrategies.• Four Climate ActionRegional Offices(CAROs) have beenestablished as a sharedlocal authority service tosupport capacity withinthe sector and act as acatalyst for widerchange.• Climate and environ-mental sustainability arekey considerations forcouncils in their strategicplanning and day-to-dayactions across all serviceareas, most significantlyin planning, transport,housing, lighting, wastemanagement, and eco-nomic development. • Councils are leading theway on electric vehiclecharging points, walkingand cycling routes, wastemanagement, biodiversi-ty and other key areas.• Councils are to theforefront in responding toextreme weather eventscaused by climate changesuch as the flooding,storms and drought ofrecent years.

Wicklow is taking the lead in an educationalactivity proving popular in schools and universities across the world. A Model UnitedNations event for first and second-yearstudents is being organised by EducateTogether Secondary School Wicklowon Friday 27 March taking placeat the school and in theGlenview Hotel.

Last year the beach was closed during mating sea-son between August and December however executivedirector of Seal Rescue Ireland Melanie Croce has saidthat she believes the ban should be extended to April.Ms Croce is reported as saying that once pupping sea-son is over, grey seals start to shed their coats and doso until the end of April. During this process the sealscome to land and don't eat or swim, they just rest. Ifeven one person enters the the beach during this peri-od, all the seals will leave.

Ms Croce said she did not believe the extended clo-sure would be an invonvenience to the public as thereis another bathing beach closer to the carpark.Wicklow County Council told Wicklow Times, "TheCouncil is keen to ensure that the Grey Seals at BridesHead beach are protected from disturbance and isamenable to the proposal by SRI to extend the restric-tions on public access to the beach until the end ofApril. Advice is currently being sought from National

Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) on this matter."Prior to the erection of signage in August 2019,

there were anecdotal reports of dogs and peopleapproaching seals and causing disturbance. In responseto this, the Council sought advice from both SealRescue Ireland and NPWS. Wicklow MunicipalDistrict restricted public access to Brides Head Beachon a temporary basis and erected signs explaining why.

"The following wording was used on signs:'Warning.Grey Seal pupping and resting site aheadPlease do not go on to the beach August - December’.Seals are legally protected under the Wildlife Act1976. It is illegal and dangerous to approach restingseals or to allow dogs to do so. Seals may abandon thisarea if disturbed by contact with humans or dogs.Help us to protect the special wildlife on the CliffWalk. Observe seals only from a distance and try tokeep out of sight at all times. Never allow dogs to barkat or approach seals."

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Leilani Philips, Senuri Wickramaratne, and Patricia Purina from St. Mary’s College, Arklow, atthe BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in the RDS.

National Learning Network Bray: Training forEducation and Employment

If you are out of work, had a illness, set back, need some support, have a disability or if you leftschool early and you are looking to get a job or qualifications and further education then youmight be interested in calling into the regular National Learning Network Open Mornings.

Cillian Scott, a pupil of Colaiste Chill Mhantain,Wicklow Town, was the national winner of theIntermediate category in 2017

Students dreaming of Croke Parkfinal as Student Enterprise

Programme is launched Secondary students across Wicklow are dreaming of a Final appearance in Croke Park in2020 as the Local Enterprise Offices' Student Enterprise Programme for 2019 / 2020 waslaunched.

The programme, whichis Ireland's largest businessand enterprise programmefor second level students,was launched by PatBreen, T.D., Minister forTrade, Employment,Business, EU DigitalSingle Market and DataProtection and rugby starJosh Van Der Flier,Wicklow native. Van derFlier is the StudentEnterprise ProgrammeAmbassador for 2019 /2020 and a former partici-pant in the programmewhile a student in WesleyCollege in Dublin.

Over 1000 studentsfrom 16 secondary schoolsin Wicklow are taking partin this year's Programme inthe hope of making theNational Finals in CrokePark on the 1st May. Theenterprise education initia-tive, funded by theGovernment of Irelandthrough Enterprise Irelandand delivered by the 31Local Enterprise Offices inlocal authorities through-out the country, saw over25,000 students from 515secondary schools acrossthe country take part in2018 / 2019.

Wicklow has a strongtrack record in the StudentEnterprise Programme.Our students have brought

home National titles toWicklow in Intermediateand Senior categories inrecent years. Cillian Scott,a pupil of Colaiste ChillMhantain, Wicklow Town,was National winner of theIntermediate category in2017. Luke Byrne, fromColáiste Craobh Abhann,Kilcoole, developed a sim-ple silicone band calledHeadphone Helpers andtook the Senior title in theNational competition in2016.

This year's Programmewill see two new pilotcompetitions across theJunior, Intermediate andSenior categories. Thefirst, the "MyEntrepreneurial Journey"pilot will be run in theJunior and Intermediatecycle and is open to anystudents involved in widercompetition. It requiresthem to map out the life ofa successful entrepreneurand what it takes to beyour own boss.

In the Senior categorythere is a new "MostCreative Business Idea"section. Under the theme"Go Green: BeSustainable" students canpush their most innovativeideas, without having toproduce a product or ser-vice and it is open to all

senior students taking partin the wider competition.Head of Enterprise, VibekeDelahunt said; "The aim ofthe Student EnterpriseProgramme is to instil thatlittle bit of entrepreneur-ship in every student thattakes part. The LocalEnterprise Offices workclosely with the schoolsto help spark their ideasbut also ground them inwhat will help them makesales. These skills areinvaluable and to see the

amazing ideas, year onyear, many of which havebecome viable businesses,is inspirational not only totheir fellow students butto anyone involved inbusiness andentrepreneurship."

The Student EnterpriseProgramme also has a new website atStudentEnterpr ise . ie ,which will feature regularblogs and houses a full range of StudentEnterprise resources.

You will see first-hand the training courses theyhave on offer. The centre in Beechwood Close(beside the Recycling Centre), Boghall Road inBray opens its doors every Wednesday from11.00am -to 1.00pm and people are invited to comealong to meet current students and instructors tolearn more about their training courses. It’s a greatopportunity to see first-hand what’s involved in thecourses and to see the additional supports that areon offer such as education supports, psychologist,and peer support to help you to a new start!

The courses, funded by the Kildare & WicklowEducation and Training Board, offered here are:

• Vocational Skills Foundation, which is aimed atearly school leavers, and leads to a QQI Level 3 inEmployability Skills,

• Job Seeking - Employer Based Training, wherethe focus is on getting a job and also leads to a QQI

Level 4 in Employment Skills• Skills for Education & Employment, which is

aimed at those who want to go onto further educa-tion or enter/reenter the workforce. It allows students to gain a QQI Level 4 qualification and awide range of employment and business skills. Thisis done in an encouraging environment that promotes wellness and increases confidence.

• IT and Business Administration which leads to aQQI Level 5 in Information Processing and progres-sion to Further Education as well as Employment

All of the courses offer work placement. Formore information, please see their ad in this sec-tion, call 01 282 9643 or get the latest updates onTwitter @NLNWicklow, www.facebook.com/NLNWicklow. Don’t forget the Open Morningstake place every Wednesday from 11.00am to1.00pm in the centre on the Boghall Road, Bray

Bray Institute of Further Education

FREE Pre-Apprenticeship Course in ITFebruary 2020

Interested in starting a career in Ireland’s thriving tech sector?Why not consider entering via the apprenticeship route for practicalexperience and an opportunity to earn while you learn.

BIFE is now offering a pre-apprenticeship Level 5 IT TechnicalProgramme.

Free of Charge.

This is a great career development opportunity for job seekers whohave become detached from the labour market in an increasinglyknowledge-based economy.

To register your interest in this course which is due to start in FebruaryPhone: 01 282 9668Places are limited so early contact is recommended

www.bife.ie

01 [email protected] NOW online at www.bife.ie

CAREER/OPEN DAY

ART & DESIGNArt Portfolio Preparation CourseArt, Craft & DesignArt Practice / Fine Art HNC Architectural Design & TechnologyArchitectural Technology - Advanced HNCGraphic Design HND Fashion DesignFashion & Textiles HNC Garden DesignFurniture Design & Manu. Level 5Furniture Design & Cabinet M. Level 6Construction & JoineryJewellery Making & design

MUSIC & COMPUTER GAMING3D Game DesignGames Development Music Production HND Music Performance HNDSound EngineeringDJ Techniques & Music Production

SPORTSports, Exercise & Fitness InstructionPersonal Trainer, Strength & ConditioningSoccer & Fitness InstructionSports Injury & Soft Tissue Massage Therapy

SOCIAL STUDIES & APPLIED PSYCHOLOGYEarly Childhood Care & EducationSupervision in Early Childhood Care & EducationSocial Studies & Community CareApplied Health & Social Care HNDApplied Psychology

BODY THERAPIES & HOLISTIC HEALTHBeauty & Body TherapyNail Technician & Salon AdministrationHairdressing Junior StylistHairdressing Senior StylistBarberingFashion Theatre and Media Make-UpHolistic & Wellbeing Studies

SCIENCE, ENGINEERING & COMPUTINGAnimal Care & ManagementAnimal Care Animal Care Canine HusbandryAnimal Science AdvancedCompanion Animal Science - Start Your Own BusinessEquine StudiesScience - Pre UniversityDietetics, Nutrition & Food ScienceForensics - Applied ScienceApplied Ecology & Biodiversity StudiesEngineering Pre-UniversityComputer Software DevelopmentComputer Science Level 5Computer Networks & Cyber Security Level 6Teacher Training & Education Pre-UniversityInclusive Education & Training Through Assistive Technology

BUSINESSBusiness Management & AdministrationBusiness Management - Advanced Cert Accounting TechnicianBusiness Tourism & Event ManagementLegal AdministrationIT & Office AdministrationMedical AdministrationSecurity StudiesEstate Agency Practice & Auctioneering

ADULT LEAVING CERTIFICATEAdult Leaving Certificate

NURSING & HEALTH SCIENCESNursing / Midwifery StudiesOccupational Therapy AssistantPharmacy & Retail SellingPharmacy AssistantPharmacy Technician

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Wicklow RNLI held its annual Service of Remembrance on New Year’s Day in memory of alldeceased lifeboat volunteer members, sailors from the town and all those associated with the seafrom Wicklow. The ceremony began with a short religious prayer conducted by Fr. Donal Rocheand Rev Jack Kinkead, who blessed the flowers and wreaths. After the blessing, Coxswain NickKeogh and the lifeboat crew took the floral tributes out into the bay and placed them on thewater. A minute’s silence was also held in memory of all the former members of Wicklowlifeboat who have risked everything to save the lives of others ever since the RNLI Lifeboat station was established in 1857. Pictured are Graham Fitzgerald, Coxswain Nick Keogh andPeter Byrne

One of 12 upright oak trees planted along thesouthern end of the main street in Newtown

New Year - NewtownIn 2018 it was announced that half a millioneuro was to be allocated to seven CountyWicklow projects under the Town and VillageRenewal Scheme, funded by the Departmentof Rural & Community Development.

Blessington, Hollywood, Newcastle,Newtownmountkennedy, Rathdrum, Tinahely, andWicklow town were to benefit from the scheme, whichwas established to enhance rural towns and villages andhelp to stimulate economic development.

Welcoming the funding announcement for CoWicklow, Minister Simon Harris said the Town andVillage Renewal Scheme was a key part of theGovernment's Action Plan for Rural Development. “It isvital that we are focusing on supporting and developingour rural towns and villages in Co Wicklow,” he said.

Newtownmountkennedy was allocated €120,488 forpublic realm works. The Tidy Towns group along withthe general community were to fund 10% of the budgetfor a works programme that would be carried out during2019.

Newtownmountkennedy Tidy Towns and Newtown2050 voluntary groups ran a Strictly Come DancingEvent on the 21st April 2018 to raise funds to supportthe necessary village environmental improvementworks.

The proceeds of almost €50,000 were divided equal-ly between the two supporting groups. The combinedfunds will be used for their stated purpose of improve-ment of village and area amenities for all. TheNewtownmountkennedy & District TidyTowns arealready supporting the present Council sponsoredVillage Renewal Scheme, as well as effecting manyother ongoing town beautification and improvement initiatives of their own.

Residents and business owners were contacted byPaul Kavanagh, the then Chairperson ofNewtownmountkennedy & District Tidy Towns, toinform them of the changes to be made on the mainstreet. Works commenced in earnest in the Autumn of2019. What has been completed so far are:

* Upgrades and improvements to certain footpaths.* Replacement of wooden telephone poles with steel

poles and telephone wires to be placed underground.* Street lamp bulbs have been changed to LED type

lighting to reduce power consumption.* Planting of 12 upright oak trees along the southern

end of the main street.* A defibrillator has been installed at the southern end

of the town beside the Henry and Rose Takeaway shop.Another one is planned for the northern end of the townat the Post Office.

However there is still much to be accomplished, suchas: Storm water drains will be checked and cleared andrepaired as necessary; A new 2 way lollipop crossingwill be installed at the T junction at the Monteith

Memorial and St. Joseph's church; the existing pedestri-an lights will be removed; A further crossing point isbeing considered at the Parkview Hotel to enable safercrossing by pedestrians to get to the doctor's surgery onthe corner and the Post Office, and for bus stop userstoo.

Line marking on the roads will be upgraded, asagreed with the traffic division of an Garda Siochana,and the possibility of new restricted limits on parkingtimes on the main street is likely. Three positions for twoElectric Vehicle charging points will be introduced andsolar bins and ordinary bins will be installed at variouspoints along the main street and 20 bicycle racks will beinstalled. Street furniture, including seating at the busstops, will be upgraded or replaced as necessary. As partof their heritage, an old fashioned type phone box willbe placed somewhere on the main street and will possi-bly be put to use as an online tourist information centrefor the area.

If anyone has any questions on the Town & VillageRenewal Scheme, please feel free to contactNewtownmountkennedy & District Tidy Towns Vice Chairman, Paul Kavanagh, c/o the Community Centre on 01-2810913 or email on [email protected].

Proposed footbridgeover Avonmore river

Wicklow County Council is proposing to construct a new suspension footbridge inRathdrum over the Avonmore River.

The purpose of the bridge would be to connect both the Jubilee Way and Avonmore Way walking routes.The proposed location for the new bridge is to the north of Rathdrum Town, just north of Rathdrum RugbyCIub and south of the Vale of Clara.

The project design has been developed through consultation with NPWS and Coillte. It is hoped that thecompleted project will provide a recreational amenity for both walkers and cyclists, providing access toRathdrum town from the woodland.

According to the Council’s Appropriate Assessment Screening Report, the proposed works will take 26weeks to complete. The start date has not yet been confirmed as a contractor has yet to be appointed.However the Council is hoping for a March 2020 start date, with work in the river itself starting in Mayand completed before the end of September 2020 to comply with fisheries restrictions.

A submission or observation in relation to the proposed development, dealing with the proper planningand sustainable development of the area in which the development would be situation, may be made, inwriting, to Caroline Fox, Administrative Officer, Community, Cultural and Social Development, WicklowCounty Council, Station Road, Wicklow Town, or email [email protected] before 4:30 p.m. onFriday 7th February 2020.

'Wicklow needs aTransport Taskforce'

Social Democrats General Election Candidate, Cllr. Jennifer Whitmore has called for aTransport Taskforce to be established for County Wicklow to urgently address the publictransport needs of the county.

Cllr Whitmore said"Every single one of us inCounty Wicklow isimpacted by a lack ofregular, efficient, afford-able public transport,whether you commutedaily to work in Dublin,want to easily visit yourlocal shops, or want away to get your childrento school and back with-out having to drive themthere. Over the last cou-ple of months, we havehad a number of publicconsultations on publictransport in the County,including the N11/M11consultation, theBusConnects plan and theN81. However, it wouldappear that no-one is tak-ing a holistic view of ourpublic transport needsacross the county.

"It is clear that there isno single solution to the

transport chaos that weexperience in Wicklow. Ithas taken years and yearsof underinvestment bysuccessive Governmentsto get us to the positionwe are currently in, and itis going to take a focusedand conserted effort toget us out of it. It willinvolve improvements inour rail line, our com-muter bus service, ourcommunity bus serviceand our roads infrastruc-ture. It will also take afocus on providing sharedworking spaces and localemployment, to enabledemand reduction.

"It is time for joined upthinking on this problem.I believe that a TransportTaskforce that sets anambitious target of reduc-tion in car usage, appliesboth short-term andlonger term goals and that

brings together all keyagencies to look at howthat will be achieved isthe only way to get theresults we need quickly.This Taskforce will haveto involve all relevantagencies, includingTransport InfrastructureIreland, the NationalTransport Authority, BusEireann, Irish Rail,Dublin Bus, Local Link,

Wicklow County Councilamongst others.

"This is one of thebiggest problems facingCo. Wicklow at themoment as it is impactingon every aspect of ourlives, our environment,our communities and oureconomy. I worked over-seas in Norway andAustralia for many yearsand have seen firsthandhow other countries getthis right - it is possible,it just needs vision andpolitical will.

"I have written toShane Ross TD, Ministerfor Transport, Tourismand Sport, to ask that heestablish this Taskforceimmediately. I have alsowritten to all WicklowTDs to ask that we allwork together for thebenefit of the county. It'stime to get this right."

Cllr Jennifer Whitmore

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BIFE’s campus as it is currently

The proposed new campus layout for BIFE

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTAT BIFE IS 'MADNESS'

The proposal to build a 1,000-student school on the grounds of theBray Institute of Further Education site on Novara Road in Bray hasbeen described as 'madness' by staff and management of the college.A campaign is being mounted by staff, management, students andlocal residents to oppose the plan by every means possible includingthe possibility of seeking a Judicial Review of any decisions.

It is claimed that if theschool is located in BIFEgrounds the BIFECampus' BiodiversityArea would be destroyedwith 500 mature treesbeing felled. WicklowCounty Council has apreservation order onmany of these trees.

Novara Avenue wouldeffectively become acarpark from 8.30 to9.30 and from 3.30 to4.30 every day with hun-dreds of cars droppingstudents off. Bray towncentre would also

become a no-go area atthese times. NovaraAvenue and the sur-rounding area wouldbecome a building sitefor up to 4 years withtrucks and heavymachinery accessing andleaving the site.

The two new large 3to 4 storey buildingswould affect the light fora large number of resi-dences nearby casting ashadow over their properties

BIFE staff and stu-dents coming from South

Wicklow and Wexfordwould have no parkingfacilities with only 30parking places availablefor up to 2500 staff andstudents. Cars would beparked all over Novaraand Sidminton Avenuesand there would be noparking or turning areafor BIFE's three largecoaches.

There would be noplaying pitches forBIFE's sports and horti-culture courses and noproper playing pitchesand play areas for the

new secondary school.Critically adults and

children would be shar-ing sports hall facilitiesand showers which istotally unacceptable

Karl Glynn-Finnegan,Director of AdultEducation, Lecturer inSociology andPsychology and TeachersUnion of Ireland repre-sentative told WicklowTimes "When BIFE wasoriginally built as St.Thomas' SecondarySchool the schoolcatered for 650 studentsand the site as it standswas deemed appropriatefor that number of students.

“Today BIFE catersfor 1,000 day studentsand almost half as manynight school students andnow the Department hasplans to demolish theexisting building andbuild two 1,000 studentschools on the campus.

“The proposed twofour-storey blockstogether with a largesports hall to the front ofthe site would see a sig-nificant reduction ingreen space and generalfacilities for students andunder the new plan carparking spaces, (current-ly 240 spaces) would bereduced to just 30 mean-ing that a staff of up to150 (including VTOSlocated off Bray Main

Street) and the hundredsof students and staff whotravel from northWexford and southWicklow -who have noother public transportoptions- would berequired to find parkingalong Novara Avenue,Sidmonton Road andsurrounding residentialstreets.

“This move wouldsignificantly restrict thefuture development ofBIFE and would provideEducate Together withpremises with similarlylimited recreationalfacil i t ies and parkingand like BIFE no room

to expand further torespond to local needs.

“It should be stressedwe fully support EducateTogether's campaign fora new building andbelieve that the studentsand teachers, who arefellow members of theTeachers Union ofIreland 'deserve betterthan what theDepartment of Educationis planning.

“We believe it is theworst case scenario forboth parties and we bothdeserve better.

“There are otheroptions (RavensdaleCollege) that will not

cause disruption to thelocal area, inconve-nience students anddeprive them of ameni-ties, and inconvenienceteachers in both schools.

“We want what 's'Best for Both' and thisplan certainly is not'Best for Either ’. TheDepartment of Educationseems determined toprogress this plan andhas refused to meet withthe BIFE Board ofManagement to discussthe matter. Now, BIFEstudents and staff areinitiating a campaign toprotect our campus andour future."

Fianna Fáil TDStephen Donnelly said"The Government hasput BIFE & NWETSS inan impossible situation.The solution should beto have these two fantas-tic educational facilitiesin their own lands, andthat 's what I 've beencall ing for for nearlyfour years now.

“BIFE's plans forexpansion are reallyexciting and will be ahuge boost for Bray. AndNWETSS desperatelyneeds a new school.Both are possible, butthe political will doesnot seem to be there.”


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Ciaran Healy from 3rd Class in Moneystown National School is pictured holding his incredible homemade Viking shield which he madein conjunction with a class project on the Vikings

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Decision due soon onKilmacanogue development

A decision is due to be made later this month on a planning application for a development beside Pluck’s in Kilmacanogue.

Wicklow County Council is due to make the decision by January 23rd, on theapplication which was lodged by Clearwater Properties in June 2019 to develop athree-storey detached building beside Pluck’s consisting of four apartments (firstand second floor), restaurant and shops (ground floor), and two office suites (firstfloor). An existing outbuilding is to be demolished as part of the development andthe existing carpark layout reconfigured. The Council requested more informationon the application in August 2019, and received the additional information lastmonth.

A submission objecting to the development has been made by Patricia Cronnellyand John Punch, who have expressed concerns about a potential traffic hazard, andargue that any proposed development in the area is premature since it is locatedwithin the constraints study area for the N11/M11 improvement scheme. They alsosay that the development would be detrimental to the character of the village. Theyargue that a development in keeping with the historical character of the villagewould be more appropriate. They also note the proximity of KilmacanogueNational School (400m away) to the proposed fast-food restaurant and the poten-tial for increased litter.

Brendan Conroy from Avondale Community College, Rathdrum, with PatCasey TD, and Cllr John Mullen at the BT Young Scientist & TechnologyExhibition in the RDS.

Avondale student examines link betweenmusic and road user perception levels

The recent 56th BT Young Scientist andTechnology Exhibition hosted over 550 innovative and exciting projects from talented students across the country.

Wicklow's BrendanConroy from AvondaleCommunity College wasamong the hopefulentrants with his exhibitentitled 'Music To MyEars: A StatisticalAnalysis of the Effectsof Earphones on a RoadUser's Perception', in theSocial BehaviouralScience Category.

The objective of theproject was to investigateif using headphones neg-atively affected percep-tion levels and put roadusers at risk of injury.Brendan explained thathe was inspired by hissiblings' recent attemptsat learning to drive andby "numerous memesabout people turningdown the radio in orderto see better and [he]decided to test if therewas any scientific logicto this theory".

With the support ofhis Science teacher AoifeSullivan, Brendan sur-veyed 100 students, andhis research-based exper-iment revealed someinteresting results. The50% of participants whowore headphones and lis-tened to either music orpodcasts while engagingwith an online hazardroad test, recorded areduction in acuity levelsand were less aware ofpossible dangers andrisks. In addition, it wasalso discovered that boyswere more aware thangirls while wearing head-phones and that podcastsappeared to have impact-

ed perceptual levels less,although Brendanacknowledged thisaspect of the researchwould benefit from fur-ther investigation.

As the RSA notes thatdriver distraction couldpay a role in up to 30%of all road collisions inthis country and could bea contributing factor inroad fatalities andinjuries, the importanceof such investigationscan therefore not beunderestimated.

It is no surprise thatAn Taoiseach LeoVaradkar and the keynotespeaker, PhysicistProfessor Brian Coxcommended allexhibitors on their cre-ativity and excellence.With budding scientistslike Brendan Conroystriving to improve bothour knowledge and inter-actions with our environ-ment, we can all beassured a better worldlies ahead.

The 56th BT YoungScientist & TechnologyExhibition took placelast Wednesday toFriday. Students from244 schools across theisland descended on theRDS to set up their pro-jects and begin to pre-pare for the days ahead.

The following projectsfrom local schoolsentered: 'Is HumanityBecoming More Eco-Friendly?' (PresentationCollege Bray); ManualHorse Loading System(Colaiste Chraobh

Abhann); Electric Paint -how much graphite isneeded to heat yourhome? (St Gerard's);Music to my ears: A sta-tistical analysis of theeffects of earphones on aroad user's perception(Avondale CommunityCollege); food wastelightbulb (St. David's);Indoor Generation - Canwe reverse it? A statisti-cal survey on the bene-fits of outdoor activitieson young people (StMary's College);Reduced timetable forchildren with specialneeds - are we proud ofthis as a country? (StMary's College); Savethe planet one flush at atime (St Mary's College);Marvellous Microbesand Mental Health -change your food tochange your mood? (St

Mary's College); Toinvestigate if vegetarian-ism is a healthier dietchoice than an omnivo-rous diet (St. David's).

In a speech to apacked house of youngscientists, An TaoiseachLeo Varadkar opened theBT Young Scientist &Technology Exhibition.Speaking to the students,he expressed his admira-tion at the calibre andcreativity of this year'sprojects. The topicalnature of students' pro-jects "suggests thatchange is coming", hesaid, encouraging stu-dents "to keep innovat-ing, to keep creating andto keep using your imag-ination to create a betterworld."

The BT YoungScientist & TechnologyExhibition is much more

than a competition - it isthe experience of a life-time for the students andteachers who take part.Designed to raiseschools' engagement inthe critical subjects ofscience, technology,engineering and maths(STEM), the Exhibitioncalls upon students aged12-19 years from all overthe island of Ireland toshowcase innovative sci-ence and technology pro-jects to approx. 50,000visitors each year.

The BT YoungScientist & TechnologyExhibition is supportedby several valued part-ners including theDepartment of Education& Skills, AnalogDevices, CISC, Perrigo,RTE and the Departmentof Education, NorthernIreland.

Delegates representing Baltinglass schools Scoil Chonglais and Scoil Naomh Iosaif (L-R) Evan Fleming, Patricia Gurhy(Principal, Scoil Chonglais), Thomas Ahern (Teacher), Evie Paul, Michelle Hanafin (Teacher), Mairead Hennessy (Principal,Scoil Naomh Iosaif) and parent Maria Reino, at a Shared Learning Day held recently in Maynooth as part of the TeachingCouncil’s BEACONS programme - Bringing Education Alive for our Communities on a National Scale.Through BEACONS, the Teaching Council is leading a diverse group of stakeholders and people exploring new ways of sup-porting more and better conversations between teachers, parents and students at local community level. The goal is todevelop a range of models that any school could choose from and adapt to their own needs, based on the emerging coreprinciples of the programme. The intention for this work is to facilitate enhanced engagement between local communitiesand national consultative processes on issues of common interest and importance.

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JulieAnn Harper and Gerard O’Brien present Sinead Tarmey of the Wicklow Hospice Foundationwith a €3,275 donation from the Ladies Christmas Ball which was held recently in theWoodenbridge Hotel.

Funding to upgrade Charlesland running trackMinister Simon Harris has announced funding of more than 309,000 to upgrade andimprove the Charlesland Running Track in Greystones.

Announcing this funding for Greystones, Minister Harris said, “We are fortunate in Greystones to haveexcellent sports facilities but it is important that we continue to invest in them and improve them so we canmeet the needs of our community.

“This Government funding I am announcing for Greystones to upgrade the running track in Charleslandwill make a real difference for this facility and the many people who use it in our locality.

“As we try to create a healthy Ireland and a healthy population, we need to invest in sports and communityfacilities to help promote active lifestyles and exercise.

“I look forward to seeing this investment now happening and the benefits of it for Greystones,” concludedMinister Harris.

A challengingyear ahead forWicklow hotels

Hotels and guesthouses in Wicklow are reporting a year of mixed performances for 2019, according to the results of the latest industrybarometer from the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF).

Business sentimentamongst hotel and guest-house owners is continu-ing to fall with just over athird (35%) reporting apositive outlook for 2020,as the uncertainty overBrexit and the high costof doing business taketheir toll and overseasvisitor growth continuesto slow down.

The latest CSO figuresshow only a 1.5%increase in overseas visi-tors to the end ofNovember, compared to a5.5% increase for theeleven month to end ofNovember 2018.

While almost half ofhoteliers (48%) reportedan increase in businessfor the year, just slightlyfewer (44%) reported afall. Business levels fromthe domestic and US mar-kets remain strong, with48% of hoteliers report-ing increases in thedomestic market and 44%of hoteliers reportingincreases in the US mar-

ket. However, the UKmarket continues todecline. Seven in tenhoteliers saw a drop inbusiness from GreatBritain this year, whileover half reported a fallin business levels fromNorthern Ireland. Thefallout from Brexit nextyear and the high cost ofdoing business remainkey concerns for the sec-tor with many highlight-ing the significant nega-tive impact that escalat-ing insurance costs andlocal authority rates arehaving on competiveness.

Commenting on theresults, Brian McNamara,Chair of the Wicklowbranch of the IHF, saidthe Government must putmore supports in place toassist tourism businesses."We continue to facehigh costs of doing busi-ness, which have beencompounded by theGovernment's decision toincrease the tourism VATin last year's Budget.

The threat to businessesposed by escalatinginsurances costs is welldocumented. Our mem-bers are also reportingsignificant pressure fromrising local authorityrates.

"The Government hasto do more to tackle thecosts that are stiflingbusinesses. Tourism is ahighly competitive busi-ness and these costs aremaking us less attractiveas a destination. Decisiveaction is needed now tomitigate the impact thiswill have on tourism,especially the regions.

"Irish tourism has beenone of the great successstories of the economy inrecent years, supporting270,000 jobs and pro-moting balanced regionalgrowth across the coun-try. With 70% of thesejobs outside Dublin, it isa major contributor torural economies, andregional tourism is mostlikely to be hardest hit by

Brexit and falls in visitornumbers. Here inWicklow it supports13,900 jobs and con-tributes some 135m tothe local economy annu-ally," he said.

Hoteliers also reportedthat recruitment in thesector remains challeng-ing. With one in fivehotels planning toincrease staffing levelsover the next 12 months,Mr McNamara welcomedthe changes to theemployment permits sys-tem for workers outsidethe EU announced thisweek by MinisterHeather Humphreys,T.D., Minister forBusiness, Enterprise andInnovation. _

On a seasonal note,Christmas parties contin-ue to be an importantsource of business for60% of hotels nationally.Of those, over a thirdreported an increase inbusiness this festive sea-son compared to 2018with a similar number(32%) taking on addi-tional staff for theChristmas period.


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14 NEWS

Teacher Joanne English, and St.Mary’s College Arklow students Lauren Raftery and Ciara Kelly,with Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition inthe RDS last week.Students from 244 schools across the island descended on the RDS to set uptheir projects and begin to prepare for the days ahead.

NTR Fund acquires 19.2MWBallycumber Windfarm

NTR has added a further 19.2 MW to its renewable energy platform through the acquisi-tion of Ballycumber windfarm located near the village of Tinahely.

Wicklow townshines in 2019litter rankings

Wicklow is among the cleanest towns in thecountry, according to the final litter survey of2019 by business group Irish BusinessAgainst Litter (IBAL).

The town is in 8th position in the ranking of 40towns and cities, an improvement on last year's summersurvey. The survey showed overall litter levels inIreland's towns were up on a year ago.

The An Taisce report for Wicklow stated: "Again astrong performance frpm Wicklow Town, with six outof the ten sites getting the top litter grade and no heavilylittered sites. The Glen Beach Cliff Walk - a wonderfulcliff walk, getting plenty of use was spotless through-out. The 'Viewing & Picnic' Area on Dunbur Road wasin much better shape than in the previous survey. Theresidential area of Marlton Court was excellent in termsof presentation, maintenance and litter. Other top rank-ing sites included the Main Street and Wicklow TownCouncil Car Park. Cigarette butt litter was very pro-nounced at South Quay and responsible for a downgrad-ing from the top litter grade, while food-related litterwas scattered along some of Dunbur Approach Road."

Kilkenny topped the IBAL litter rankings for a record4th time, having last won in 2014. It finished ahead ofKillarney, which was 3rd in 2018, and Swords at the topof the table. In all, 21 of the 27 towns inspected weredeemed clean, a great result but down on previousyears. Galway edged out Waterford to claim cleanestcity as it enters its year as European City of Culture.The city areas of Galvone in Limerick, Ballymun inDublin and Cork Northside were 'littered', with DublinNorth Inner City at the foot of the rankings.

The past decade has brought a 13% reduction in lit-ter levels in our city centres, while litter in towns hasremained constant over the same period. "We've seenthe fruits of the greater attention given to keeping ourcity centres clean," explains Conor Horgan of IBAL,"to the point where they are now almost as clean as ourtowns. In 2019, for the first time, all were deemedclean." IBAL has been surveying disadvantaged cityareas over the past 5 years but has seen little reductionin litter over the period.

Sweet wrappers, chewing gum and cigarette buttsremain the most common forms of litter on our streets."Perhaps no one item illustrates the link between litterand the broader environment better than the cigarettebutt," contends Conor Horgan. "Cigarette filters areessentially single-use plastic which readily winds itsway into our sewers and rivers, adding to the problemof plastic pollution, which threatens to see more plasticin our oceans than fish by 2050. Yet every day we seepeople nonchalantly flicking butts onto our pave-ments."

From next year, an EU directive will force tobaccomanufacturers to cover the cost of cigarette butt collec-tion and processing in an effort to drastically reduce thenumbers of cigarettes disposed of in the environment."Alongside regulation, we would like to see activerecycling of butts, which would encourage their properdisposal, as once a butt is littered on the ground, it can-not be recovered." Irish start-up NoButts.ie is turningbutts into cellulose acetate for re-use in sunglasses andother products and is looking to set up supply arrange-ments with local authorities. 2019 was the 17th year ofthe IBAL Anti-Litter League.Cllr Paul O'Brien elected to

National League ExecutivePaul O'Brien, national president of the Irish Soccer Referees Societyand local County Councillor has been elected onto the NationalLeague Executive Committee at the recently reconvened FAI AGM.

Cllr Paul O’Brien

"It is easy to sit on thefence and throw stones,but that's not going toresolve the difficultiesfacing the FAI and i tcertainly isn't me, I wantto try and make a posi-tive difference. That iswhy I allowed my namego forward for electiononto the NLEC.

The reality is that thegames enjoyed by somany have to continue,the staff in the FAI, whohave done nothingwrong have to beemployed & the sportmust be managed. So,when this opportunitypresented i tself Iallowed my name to goforward for election",stated O'Brien

The FAI was plungedinto crisis last Marchafter it emerged it's for-mer CEO John Delaneyloaned the association100,000, which was

subsequently hid frommost of the board mem-bers & stakeholders atthe t ime. Since thenDelaney has departedalong with the entireFAI Board, this clearoutwill be completed whenthe current presidentDonal Conway stepsdown on the 25th ofJanuary and four new

independent directorsare appointed. The asso-ciat ion is also facingdebts of over 62mdespite being reassuredthat they would be debtfree by 2020.

Cllr O'Brien stated hewas fed up of someelected represtatives andothers complaining onsocial media about thesituation despite nevereven attending a footballmatch, let alone know-ing what was reallygoing on.

"The reality is if theFAI goes into liquidationwe could lose our placeon the world stage & bebanned from playinginternational football.The Irish supportershave been voted the bestsupporters in the worldon numerous occasions& yet some are callingfor this, which is crazy.The damage this couldlead to could take yearsto recover from andeffect all aspects of thegame, including grass-roots football. I knowplenty of decent peopleinvolved in the game,the real stakeholders &they just want what isbest for our sport, as doI. To see this crisisengulf the Association is

heartbreaking but beunder no illusion, it wasself inflicted, but one wemust recover from".

Asked if & how theFAI can ever recoverfrom this O'Brien wentonto to say "TheMinister in charge needsto stop managing thecrisis by social media &how many likes & com-ments he can get . Heneeds to sit down withall the stakeholders &get this crisis resolved,purely for the sake ofthe game and the manydecent people involved.There also needs to be aclearout of the "hangerson" in the FAI, to manyare in there for far toolong & have used theirpositions within their

respective leagues & theFAI to enhance theirown personal interests.The new board needs thetime and space to man-age the crisis & restorethe associations reputa-tion & fortunes. FinallyI think the footballingfamily needs to cometogether and unite, nottear ourselves apart andthose that know nothingabout the sport need tostop trying to pointscore for their own gain.

"I wil l be steppingdown as the nat ionalpresident of the refereesnext September, as I'mlimited to serving twoterms and I know I 'mgoing to be busy withmy county council workand running in theupcoming general elec-tion. However, I felt thiswas far too important torun away from, soccer isthe biggest participantsport in the Country andif I can help it in any-way I will. Some peoplewil l say I 'm mad andthat it's a poison chalice,but to me the stakes aretoo high, others mightsay I'm only jumping onthe bandwagon, well thereal i ty is I won' t getpaid for doing this and Ican assure my con-stituents that my countycouncil work wil lalways come first andnot suffer.”

The project was acquired by the NTR RenewableEnergy Income Fund II, a wind, solar and energystorage fund that operates in a number of Europeanmarkets.

The project, which comprises six Siemens tur-bines, went into operations in 2019 and is one of thelast remaining wind projects to avail of the IrishREFIT tariff.

Manus O'Donnell, Chief Investment Officer ofNTR said: "We are delighted to add this high qualityREFIT-backed wind asset onto the platform which islocated close to Dublin, the location of heaviestdemand for energy in Ireland. While our investmentsare diversified across a number of European coun-tries, the Irish market continues to be a core marketfor NTR, an Irish-based team, as Ireland transitionsfrom the Feed-In-Tariff regime to auctions, which aredue to start in 2020."

This latest acquisition brings renewable energyassets under management by NTR on behalf of itstwo funds to 515 MWs of wind and solar projectslocated throughout Ireland, France, Sweden, Finlandand the United Kingdom.

NTR is a sustainable infrastructure investor andasset manager that acquires, constructs and managesrenewable energy projects.

Its first fund, NTR Wind 1 LP, was launched in2015 to invest in pre-construction onshore wind pro-jects in Ireland and the UK. This fund has invest-ments of just under 225 MW of wind projects.

Its second fund, NTR Renewable Energy IncomeFund II, targeting 500 million, invests in both pre-construction and operational onshore wind and solarprojects across a number of European markets. Todate, NTR has acquired over 290 MW of wind andsolar projects for this fund.

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16 ARTS

'What's Inside', an exhibition by Rachel Bernard, will run in the Signal Arts Centre in Bray from17th February to 1st March. Rachel Bernard is an artist who originates from Brittany in France and has been living in Irelandsince 2005. Her preferred medium is oil.Originally working with heavy texture and a palette knife to brush and fine ink, she has devel-oped a range of styles which include surreal and abstract paintings. Her desire is to keep movingforward in developing new ways to express her feelings and influences. Following huge learningexperiences, working in Signal arts to running her own gallery and studio, she then worked froma smaller establishment where she could produce works whilst conducting art classes.She now produces paintings from home. This gives her the freedom to work without the escalat-ing costs of renting in the Bray area. Her most recent works follows the theme of human emo-tions, and she loves the challenges of transferring these to works of art. The range of paintingsvary from large to small to suit both taste and budgets. All are welcome to attend. The opening reception is on Friday 21st February, 7pm - 9pm.

Coming up at Mermaid...The Royal Ballet

On Friday 24 January Mermaid Arts Centre is delighted to welcome the Royal Opera House presentingThe Royal Ballet Pepita, The Sleeping Beauty (Encore Screening).

This production of The Sleeping Beauty has been delighting audiences in Covent Garden since 1946. Aclassic of Russian ballet, it established The Royal Ballet both in its new home after World War II and as aworld-class company. Sixty years later, in 2006, the original staging was revived, returning Oliver Messel’swonderful designs and glittering costumes to the stage. Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score andMarius Petipa’s original choreography beautifully combine with sections created for The Royal Ballet byFrederick Ashton, Anthony Dowell and Christopher Wheeldon. This ballet is sure to cast its spell over any-one who sees it. Tickets cost €14/12 and are available from Box Office on 01-2724030 and at www.mer-maidartscentre.ie

Shaun Dunne presents RestorationRestoration is a new play exploring violence, healing and the insecure dynamics of youth work in

Ireland. In the wake of a violent outburst by a young person, the staff at a youth service in Dublin areattempting to move on. But healing is hard when you’re on the floor and out the door. Healing is hardwhen your wounds are still raw... Made in consultation with youth workers from the north inner-city,Restoration is a new play from the award-winning Shaun Dunne (Rapids, Making a Mark) directed byDarren Thornton (A Date for Mad Mary), exploring the politics of restorative practice and youth work inIreland. Supported by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon and Mermaid Arts Centre. Shaun Dunne ispart of Six In The Attic, an Irish Theatre Institute artist development programme and is a resident artist atProject Arts Centre. A preview showing of Restoration will take place in Mermaid on Saturday 25 Januaryat 8pm. Tickets cost €16/14 and are available from Box Office on 01-2724030 and at www.mermaidarts-centre.ie

Street Art OperaThe building opposite Mermaid Arts Centre will come alive on Saturday 25 January from 4pm to 7pm

as Dumbworld bring together street art, mapped projection and contemporary music in an experience forpublic spaces, open and accessible to all. Drop in and pick up headphones at Mermaid and wathc the tenminute opera on the walls outside! Two octogenarians stage a hit on an errant husband. Two angels play Ispy as they watch over the city...These short ten-minute works appear like street art on a city wall, thenmorph into an animated video, with an orchestral soundtrack broadcast to wireless headphones, and lyricsappear as dynamic and crafted subtitles. Created by John McIllduff and Brian Irvine. Funded by the ArtsCouncil. Duration: Loops every ten minutes - Drop by whenever suits between 4pm and 7pm. Admission isfree. For more information contact Box Office on 01-2724030 and at www.mermaidartscentre.ie

The building opposite Mermaid Arts Centre will come alive on Saturday 25 January with StreetArt Opera

Greystones author tackles UCD'sEuropa League campaign in first book

Greystones author Kevin Burke has releasedhis first book, One Night in Dudeleange:Adventures in the UEFA Europa League,which examines UCD's 2015 Europa Leaguecampaign.

Kevin was one of the main contributors to the popu-lar UCD fanzine Student Till I Graduate, and hasnever missed a UCD goal in Europe. His ownEuropean Cup exploits include draws against Lazioand a top-flight English team, being left out (by him-self) of a match against Besiktas in Turkey, and nar-rowly missing out on being drawn to play Dudelange.

It's safe to say that University College Dublin AFCare unlike any other football club in the world. The

first western team to play in China have also beenworld champions, started riots in Sudan and had theArchbishop of Dublin deem it a mortal sin to play fortheir main rivals. For those who play for the club,career success is more likely to mean a GovernmentMinistry or a high-ranking CEO position than a moveto a Premier League club.

But the club's most memorable adventure was in thesummer of 2015, when European football came to thecollege campus in Belfield. It was in May of that yearthat the newly-relegated club unexpectedly qualifiedfor the UEFA Europa League through the UEFA FairPlay award - and as a result, the college's team of Artsstudents, Actuary Master's and Theoretical Physicsgrads went from playing intervarsity competitions toWorld Cup stars in the space of six months. A sensa-tional win over Luxembourg side F91 Dudelange -now Europa League group stage regulars - and thebirth of the manager's son just hours later saw the clubmake headlines across Europe, and they followed thatup with an agonising defeat against a SlovanBratislava side laden with full internationals and ex-Premier League players.

One Night in Dudelange - Adventures in the UEFAEuropa League, by Greystones author Kevin Burke,tells the full story of that summer. Quotes from theplayers, coaches, officials and supporters give aninsight into what it's like to make your European debut- and to get sent off on it - and to go toe-to-toe withplayers you recognise from Championship Manager.

But it's also the story of the behind-the-scenesLeague of Ireland experience in Europe - all the littleodds and ends you mightn't think about as you walkthrough the turnstiles or turn on the TV, but which areessential parts of making any European game runsmoothly. What happens when your prospectiveopponents refuse to help out with visas, or you can'tfind a flight to the away leg? How can social mediahelp in scouting the opposition? And what was in the67-page UEFA rulebook on jerseys that meant theclub had to dump their kit in the bin and order a newone?

One Night in Dudeleange is available in Dubray's,the UCD campus bookshop, on Amazon, or from thepublishers at Shop.VisionSP.co.uk. Price €15 plusP&P.

The Joy of Painting:An exhibition by Bray

Active RetirementBray Active Retirement's members exhibition 'The Joy of Painting' runs in the Signal ArtsCentre from March 16th to 29th.

relaxation from fatigue'.When this painting

became a recognised 'workof art' the upcomingPicasso was disconcerted,which prompted him toout-do Matisse with his1907 canvas 'LesDemoiselles d'Avignon".However Matisse appearsthe guardian in our darkesttimes of something thathuman beings need to beable to imagine andbelieve in. Happiness is a

Henri Matisse viewedhis masterpiece 'LeBonheur de Vivre' of 1905as 'Creating an art of bal-ance, of purity and sereni-ty, devoid of troubling ordepressing subject matter.

An art that could be forevery mental worker, forthe businessman as well asthe man of letters, forexample, a soothing, calm-ing influence on the mind,or something like a goodarmchair that provides

human right and Matissespeaks up for it beautifully.

The Bray ActiveRetirement Group mightnot all want the angst ofbeing a Matisse or Picassobut come together everyweek to create art, shareenthusiasm, fun, and thepossibility of taking homea masterpiece. They bringtheir work to share withyou from Monday 16thMarch until Sunday 29thMarch 2020.

The joy of painting is atheart the joy of sharing andthe works exhibited herereflect not just hours, butyears of work by the par-ticipants. There is always aprocess of revealing one-self in the art we make andthat is possibly the hardestjourney we undertake.Sharing our art with othersis the joy.

Opening ReceptionSunday 22nd March 3pm -5pm .

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Saturday 8th February - 10am to 2pmSt Marys College Sport's Hall, ArklowCome Join the Fun and make friends with AGB

New Players are always Welcome

ARKLOW GERALDINESBALLYMONEY GAA CLUB

REGISTRATIONDAY 2020

BRAY BOWLING CLUBFailte Park, Adelaide Road, Bray

New members always welcomePhone Frank Devlin on086 353 4673

Stress-free way to get fit whilst

enjoying fresh airand a great way tomeet new friends

Everywhere people are asking “How was yourChristmas?”. More often than not the answer is“Great, but I ate too much”. So whether you are try-ing to drop those extra holiday pounds or you justfancy trying your hand at something new, then join-ing a club may be the right idea for you. And in Co.Wicklow, there are plenty of clubs to choose from.

January is a great time to think of taking up anew hobby or joining a club. Many clubs run spe-cial offers and deals at this time of year.

You won’t be alone either as many other peoplewill have had the same idea. Why not see if afriend or co-worker wants to come along with you,some clubs offer discounted membership for peo-ple joining together. As well as participating in anactivity, clubs offer a social aspect and many holdevents with some even having their own club-house. Family memberships are available in manyclubs, particularly sporting clubs. Participation ina club is a great, inexpensive way to get out andsocialise. Besides the many benefits of getting fit,there is also the added benefit of just ‘turning off’for a few hours every week. There is only so New Year

New You - get fit and

active It wouldn’t be January without New Yearresolutions! Over the festive season theextra pounds inevitably pile on and thelegacy of one too many servings ofChristmas pudding have many of us feelingoverweight and unhappy.

However with a little commitment and a resolu-tion to get into shape, it’s easy to shed weight. Youcan transform yourself in time for summer and enjoyyour holidays.

For all the benefits of a healthy body, regularexercise is important. Try to get into the habit ofexercising regularly - start off lightly and graduallybuild up. Setting goals and knowing your personalrisk factors is half the battle to developing and main-taining a fitness programme.

Joining a gym or health club can be a great help,particularly for those who need some motivation.Aerobic and cardio-vascular exercises are the bestfor all round fitness and weight loss. Aerobics class-es, rowing machines and running are some of thebest ways to keep fit.

Dance classes and swimming are excellent waysof getting fit and having fun at the same time.Walking has also become a popular choice for Irishpeople, and all you have to spend is the price of agood pair of trainers. Cycling is great for burningthe calories and Co Wicklow has some beautifulscenic routes that are not to be missed.

So with the excesses of Christmas a distant mem-ory, now is a great time to focus on your goals forthe coming year. For many of us, these goals willcentre around physical health and well-being. Ahealthy body can often mean a healthy mind whichis why it’s so important to keep fit and stay in shape.

Yes, it’s true! Its 2020 alreadyand we are still feeling the

effects of those food binges overthe festive period.

much bad news we can take.And finally, for you ‘young at heart’, remember

that many a romance started in a local club!There are a huge amount of clubs of all types and

sizes around Co. Wicklow that can accommodate amyriad of interests. Joining a club is a great way tomeet new people while building your confidence,learning a new skill or taking part in a sport.

There is an obvious social aspect to most clubs aswell, with many members meeting up in their owntime. Joining a club is a great way to expand yourknowledge and experience in a particular sport orhobby you are passionate about.

Joining a club also looks good on your CV, showingyou to be a sociable and active person, and is a greatchance to make friends who share your specialist inter-ests.

From children to senior citizens, there should besomething in the area to fit the bill. Many clubs in thegarden county are formed around various sports butthere are clubs for everything from public speaking,

reading, chess, gardening, to more business orientedgroups that meet for professional reasons. Sometimesmembership can be free, or paid monthly or weekly ina payment plan.

For those into sports, there are a wide variety ofoptions available, and Wicklow boasts a multidude ofactive and thriving sports clubs. From outdoor sportssuch as tennis and football, to indoor sports such asbadminton and table tennis, there is sure to be a localsports club nearby where you can participate in yourpreferred pastime.

For those who might be less passionate about sportsbut who still want to keep fit, joining a fitness clubmight be an alternative option to take. If your passionis dance, joining a dance class is the way to go.

There is a large variety of clubs in Co Wicklow tochoose from for people of all ages, interests and abili-ties. Every kind of club from sports to social are rightunder your nose so why not turn off the television andsign up today. Take a look at the adverts on this pageto see if any of these clubs fit the bill for you.

MEN,LADIES &JUNIORHOCKEYFOR ALLLEVELS

BRAYHOCKEYCLUB

Contact us on [email protected] see www.brayhockeyclub.ie


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18 LOCAL BUSINESS / NEWS

Joanne Kenna (Certified Service Advisor of the Year) and Tony O’Brien (High Voltage Technicianof the Year) of Avon Motors, Rathdrum, receive their national awards from Denis McCrudden(Hyundai Training Manager) and Directors Ray and Paul Carter.

Reach the MOST people for the LEAST money with Wicklow TimesFor details of our amazing deals please call 01 2869111

• Service and Repair of Cars & LightCommercials• Tyres • Brakes • Clutches

• Batteries • Shocks • Lights • Exhausts • Diagnostics • Recovery

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ALLSHADES BLINDS• Roller • Vertical • Wood Venetian

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FACTORY: Unit 10, Block 1, BroomhallBusiness Park, Rathnew. Tel: 0404 20344

Tel: 087 2201600

All-Island Business Angel Conference2020 to take place in Wicklow

HBAN, the all-island organisation responsible for the promotion of business angel invest-ment and a joint initiative between Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland and InvestNorthern Ireland, will host its annual All-Island Conference at Powerscourt Hotel onThursday, 6th February 2020.

The all-day event aims to encourage more people to get involved in business angel investing, highlighting theopportunities and rewards that it presents. Business angel investment is continuing to grow across the island ofIreland, with an increasing number of start-ups receiving vital early-stage funding from individual angelinvestors and syndicates. In December last year, HBAN announced that its members have now invested morethan €100M in start-ups across the island of Ireland since 2007. HBAN’s conference will explore the theme of‘Driving value with exits and data’, with speakers discussing how data can inform better investment decisionsand ultimately, lead to more exits. Meanwhile, a combination of talks, panel discussions and masterclasses willequip attendees with the knowledge they need to create a healthy portfolio.

John Harbison, Chairman Emeritus of Tech Coast Angels (TCA), one of the largest and most active angelinvestment organisations in the US, will speak at the conference. An active investor, he has achieved returnsranging from 100x - 1,110x in five companies: Microsoft, Apple, Abbott Labs, Nucor and McGraw-Hill.Harbison will discuss how TCA has achieved a 4.9x overall multiple on its angel investments, and how it hasdeveloped insights using data analysis to give new angel investors the confidence to build and expand their port-folios.

Dr. Jim Mountjoy, a serial investor and entrepreneur, will draw on his experience to provide insights into howangel investors can recognise a high-potential start-up and how to create value. Jim has spent the last twentyyears acting as an investor, mentor, non-executive director and Chairman with a large range of individuals andcompanies, largely in the technology field. He founded telecoms software company, Euristix, which was soldfor over $80 million, and has also had a number of successful exits in recent years.

Áine Denn, co-founder of Altify, will tell the story of how the company’s leadership team built value in theircompany resulting in a sale to US tech firm, Upland Software, for $84M. Denn is passionate about giving backto the community and investing in people and businesses that challenge norms. She volunteers as a leadentrepreneur for the Irish government-sponsored programmes Going for Growth and Back For Business, help-ing to foster the success of female and returning emigrant entrepreneurs.For more information on the event andto register, visit https://www.hban.org/conference

Especially among the sailing fraternity, where boats gettrailered to Lough Derg one week, Baltimore the nextand then back to Greystones or Bray, complete with aload of sails, wetsuits and other gear, every other week-end. The Forester does "Heavy Duty" very well.

I drove the new E Forester on the country roads out-side Monaghan town, where the superb suspension and50/50 weight distribution gave a comfortable, reassuringride over the undulating drumlines Paddy Kavanaghloved to write about.

For Subaru to succeed it will have to tempt away cur-rent BMW X3 AWD, Mercedes and Audi Quattrodrivers and with a very high spec - including heatedwipers - and a starter price of €45,545, the Forester cer-tainly makes the short list.

Subaru unveils new Hybrid ForesterSubaru consider Wicklow be an Irishstronghold for the brand, not least becauseone of their best dealers, Derek Bradshaw'sCastle Motors in Bray, have been represent-ing this niche premium brand for longer thanany other Irish dealer.

Subaru are doing well worldwide - and this is becauseoutdoor lovers - mountaineers, sailors, hikers, cyclistsetc. have a special affinity with their cars - and outdoorsports are on the increase. This is as true in Wicklow asin Butte, Montana. Subaru have dropped their dieselengine and for 2020 will have a new, more economical,hybrid version of their iconic flat four petrol powerplant.

Subaru's goal is to grow sales in Ireland tenfold - to1,000 units p.a. by 2025 and MD Pat Ryan says they willdo it by convincing new Irish customers - generally ofthe sporty and outdoors variety - that Subaru are No1 inSafety, No1 in Reliability and No.1 in Capability.

Now armed with the Hybrid, "Boxer" engine, theiradvanced "Eyesight" collision avoidance system, theiruncompromising, permanently on, four-wheel drive sys-tem and a luxurious, very high spec interior, they mightjust get there.The Forester has a very loyal Wicklow fol-lowing. Too loyal, in fact as many owners have heldonto the cars until they are 10, or ever 15 years oldbefore changing. The reliability has been incredible.

by Martin McCarthy

4,270 people in Wicklow employedin Enterprise Ireland jobs

A total of 4,270 people in Co. Wicklow are now employed in Enterprise Ireland backed companies.

Minister AndrewDoyle said "TheDepartment of Business,Enterprise andInnovation andEnterprise Ireland, theGovernment agencyresponsible for develop-ing Irish business glob-ally has reported the cre-ation of 16,971 new jobsby Enterprise Irelandsupported companies in2019. 221,895 peopleare now employed incompanies supported bythe agency. This is thehighest total employ-ment in the 20-year his-tory of the agency. 65%of total employment byEnterprise Irelandbacked companies isnow outside of Dublin.

"Cleantech jobs grewby nine percent ,Lifesciences jobs by sixpercent, Fintech by six

percent, Electronics byfive percent, ICT andinternational services byfour percent, while jobsin the food sector grewby one percent, reflect-ing the uncertainty cre-ated by Brexit in 2019.The jobs growth trans-lates into a net increaseof 4,706 jobs created in2019.

"In Co. Wicklow, thenumber of peopleemployed in EnterpriseIreland backed compa-nies is 4,270. This is anincrease of 8% since2016. This comes at atime when more peopleare working than everbefore with the unem-ployment rate currentlystanding at 4.8%. Nearly220,000 total jobs havebeen created since thestart of 2016. Also, morethan 6 out of every 10

new jobs have been cre-ated outside of Dublin.Fine Gael is not beingcomplacent about thisprogress. We have put inplace Future JobsIreland; an al l-of-Government plan to pre-pare Ireland for the digi-talisation of the work-force.

"The Government isalso continuing to pre-pare business for Brexitwhich will pose greatchallenges to businesseshere across many sec-tors.Enterprise Ireland iscontinuing to work on aone-to-one basis with itsexport ing cl ients onBrexit planning. In 2018and 2019, the agencyapproved funding of€ 125m to i ts mostBrexit-exposed clients.

"With the UK set toleave the EU in a few

weeks, we will soon beentering into complextrade negotiat ionsbetween Brussels andLondon. Ireland is com-ing to these talks in astrong position but thereis still a lot of uncertain-ty and it would be a mis-take to underestimatehow challenging theprocess will be.

"Great progress hasbeen made on Brexitpreparedness byEnterprise Irelandclients so far - two-out-of-three have takensteps to reduce theirdependency on the UKmarket, and 125m infunding and supportswas approved forEnterprise Ireland's mostBrexit-exposed clientsover the two year periodbetween 2018 and2019.”

SELF-STORAGE24hr access own door/key, Secure dry storage units

various sizes. Suit house contents etc,

reasonable rates.ASHFORD AREA

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PLANNING

PLANNINGPLANNING CLASSIFIEDS 19TimesWICKLOW

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C LASSIFIED ADS & PLANNING / APPOINTMENTSCALL 01 2869111 EMAIL: [email protected] NOTE DEADLINE FOR CLASSIFIED ADS AND APPOINTMENTS IS 12 NOON FRIDAY

C LASSIFIED ADS & PLANNING / APPOINTMENTS

I, Joe O Neill Intend to apply forPlanning Permission for developmentat this site Woollen Mills, Derrybawn,Laragh, Co. Wicklow. The development wil l consist of:Permission sought for the completionof 366.32 sq m first floor bedroomextension and roof to existing groundfloor plan, Consisting of Dining Room,Reception, Sun Lounge, Toilets, Store,Lift and Lobby to existing groundfloor extension. Car parking,Connection to existing services andsite ancillary works Granted PlanningRef No. 08/20. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding thereasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of planning authorityduring its public opening hours. ThePlanning application may be viewedon line at www.wicklow.ie,under planning online enquires. Asubmission or observation in relationto the application may be made inwriting to the planning authority onpayment of the prescribe fee, €20,within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt bythe authority of the application, andsuch submissions or observationswill be considered by the planningauthority in making a decision on theapplication. The planning authoritymay grant permission subject to orwithout conditions, or may refuse togrant permission.

WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCILI Imagination Station intendto apply for retention permission for the change of use of partial area of unit 1 from commercial/recreational to preschooland associate works atCroghan Industrial Estate,Unit 1, Emoclew, Arklow,Co. Wicklow. The planningapplication may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding thereasonable cost of making acopy at the offices ofWicklow County Council,County Council Buildings,Wicklow Town, during itspublic opening hours and asubmission or observation inrelation to the applicationmay be made in writing tothe planning authority onpayment of the prescribedfee within 5 weeks fromsubmission of application toPlanning Authority.

WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCILTom O’Gorman seeks planningpermission for Proposed alterations to the existing roofprofile including the creation of a gable wall to the side elevation and the introductionof roof lights to the front, alongwith the construction of a newdormer roof space to the rearof the property at 102Charlesland Court, Greystones,Co. Wicklow.The planning application maybe inspected or purchased at afee not exceeding the reason-able cost of making a copy atthe offices of Wicklow CountyCouncil, County CouncilBuildings, Wicklow Town, dur-ing its public opening hoursand a submission or observa-tion in relation to the applica-tion may be made to theauthority in writing on paymentof the prescribed fee within theperiod of 5 weeks beginning onthe date of receipt by theauthority of the application.

WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCIL

Require a

AAVVOONNMMOOTTOORRSS

RRAATTHHDDRRUUMM MMaaiinn HHyyuunnddaaii DDeeaalleerr ffoorr CCoo.. WWiicckkllooww

For their parts department

Send CV. to:Avon Motors, Rathdrum

co.Wicklowor Email: [email protected]

Tel:0404-46444

PARTSPERSON

Alphaplan Design (Tel: 0862461269, Email: [email protected])Seeks planning permissionfor a single storey dwelling,waste water treatment system to EPA standards,garage, entrance and associated works at OghillUpper, Redcross, Co.Wicklow for C. Fennell. Theplanning application may beinspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding thereasonable cost of making acopy, at the offices of theplanning authority during itspublic opening hours and asubmission or observation inrelation to the applicationmay be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribedfee within the period of 5weeks beginning on the dateof receipt by the authority ofthe application.


Alphaplan Design (Tel: 0862461269, Email: [email protected])Seeks planning permissionfor a dwell ing with connection to services,garage, entrance and associated works atBlackthorn Close,Newtownmountkennedy, Co.Wicklow for T. Nolan. Theplanning application may beinspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding thereasonable cost of making acopy, at the offices of theplanning authority during itspublic opening hours and asubmission or observation inrelation to the applicationmay be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribedfee within the period of 5weeks beginning on the dateof receipt by the authority ofthe application.


Alphaplan Design (Tel: 0862461269, Email: [email protected])Seeks planning permissionfor revised house type onpreviously granted site (ref.nos. 17/1022 and 19/770)and associated works at Site3 Ballard, Shillelagh, Co.Wicklow for S. Kavanagh.The planning applicationmay be inspected, or purchased at a fee notexceeding the reasonablecost of making a copy, at theoffices of the planningauthority during its publicopening hours and a submission or observation inrelation to the applicationmay be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribedfee within the period of 5weeks beginning on the dateof receipt by the authority ofthe application.


Alphaplan Design (Tel: 0862461269, Email: [email protected])Seeks planning permissionfor revisions to previouslygranted dwell ing to include dormer windows and balcony to rear elevationand associated works atBallykillavane, Glenealy, Co.Wicklow for N. Gregory. Theplanning application may beinspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding thereasonable cost of making acopy, at the offices of theplanning authority during itspublic opening hours and asubmission or observation inrelation to the applicationmay be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribedfee within the period of 5weeks beginning on the dateof receipt by the authority ofthe application.

WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCILAlphaplan Design (Tel: 0862461269, Email: [email protected])Seeks planning permissionfor change of use fromdomestic garage to home office and associatedworks at Fishers Mountain, Ball inahinch,Netwownmountkennedy, Co.Wicklow for G. and C. Fisher.The planning applicationmay be inspected, or purchased at a fee notexceeding the reasonablecost of making a copy, at theoffices of the planningauthority during its publicopening hours and a submission or observation inrelation to the applicationmay be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribedfee within the period of 5weeks beginning on the dateof receipt by the authority ofthe application.

WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCILCaroline Ward and DesO'Connor seek full planningpermission for a 15sqm groundfloor extension to front andside of house. A new first floorlevel of 57sqm created by converting the existing atticand raising the roof height,including new Velux windows.Also a new shed to front ofhouse and all associated siteworks at 2 Victoria Close,Greystones, Co. Wicklow.The planning application maybe inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making acopy at the offices of WicklowCounty Council, CountyBuildings, Wicklow during itspublic opening hours and asubmission or observation inrelation to the application maybe made to the authority in writing on payment of theprescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning onthe date of receipt by theauthority of the application.


I , Patrick O'Brien, seeks permission for the change of useof existing domestic garage(37.485m2) to a residentialdwell ing which shall include: 1. New side extension to existing structure (21.42m2) incorporating 1 bedroom withensuite bathroom, 2. New rearextension to existing structure(6.87m2) incorporating W.C facility and utility room providingrear access, 3. Modifications to the west and south facing elevations of the existing structure including as part of theproposals a new relocated frontdoor entrance, 4. Connection tothe public sewer network and public water supply and 5. All other ancil lary site works at Kilmacullagh,Newtownmountkennedy, Co.Wicklow. The planning application may be inspected orpurchased at a fee not exceedingthe reasonable cost of making acopy at the offices of WicklowCounty Council, County Buildings,Wicklow during its public openinghours and a submission or observation in relation to theapplication may be made to theauthority in writing on payment ofthe prescribed fee within theperiod of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by theauthority of the application.


Trainee TelesalesExperienced Telesales

Attractive Package • Basic and Commission • Full time Position • Immediate Start

Please send your CV to:

Jennie Finane, Sales Manager, Wicklow TimesTel: 01 286 9111 or email: [email protected]

New Year - New Career

Coffee morning to fightloneliness on Blue MondayHomecare providers Right at Home is open-ing its doors to anyone who is feeling theeffects of Blue Monday at their inauguralBlue Monday Coffee Morning.

The coffee morningwill take place on BlueMonday (20th January)at their South Dublin &Wicklow branch offices

at Unit 3A, PineviewBus iness Pa rk ,Firhouse Road, Dublin16 from 11am - 1:00pmand all are welcome.

In Ireland, one thirdof older people over 65live alone and sixty percen t o f peop le agedover 80 live alone.

Speaking about theevent, David McKone,Managing Director ofRight at Home Ireland,sa id " In ou r expe r i -ence , peop le expe r i -ence a dip at this timeof the year, when theparty season has endedand eve ry th ing i sr e tu rn ing to no rma l .So , we dec ided th i swou ld be a pe r fec topportunity to give ourclients and staff a liftby inviting them out toour off ices to have achat and a cuppa andraise the spirits.

"Our carers see theposi t ive impact thei rv i s i t s can have onclients. When someonetakes t ime out to s i t ,chat and listen to them,it can make all the dif-ference to their day. Anumber of studies havebeen done in r ecen t

Maxi Zoo are kicking off the new year bycelebrating the brand’s 30th birthday,and are marking the occasion by givingback to Irish wildlife by helping to feedwild birds.

Ireland's largest pet retailer Maxi Zoo haveannounced the i r Hear t fo r Wi ld Bi rds campaign, which will see the retailer donate10% of sales from their MultiFit SunflowerSeed Hearts to Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland(WRI) for the full month of January.

WRI promotes wildlife rehabilitation andhelps to improve wildlife welfare and conser-vation in Ireland.

Anthony Cremin, Marketing Manager said"Wild birds are in decline in Ireland, so it'simperative that we help where we can.

“A simple way to do this is by feeding them.When the temperatures drop to below freezingand hard ground hampers the search for food,many animal lovers can help out native birdsby providing them with extra food rationsthroughout the winter to help sustain the wildbird population.

"It was a natural fit to partner with WRI, as animal lovers we commend them on their com-mitment supporting rehabilitators who work inthis field and we are delighted to donate a percentage of our sales to help vulnerablewildlife."

H.T. Carroll Limited seeks Changeof Use Planning Permission for theconversion of the existing groundfloor retail unit to residential use & Planning Permission for theaddition of a first f loor level extension and new roof to thebuilding, to provide for a 1Bedroom Apartment Unit on eachlevel ( 2 in total ) , with privateopen space the rear of each. Worksto include demolition of existingrear sheds and construction of anew ground floor rear extension of5.5sqm, with a new facade toAlbert Avenue, revised roof profileand associated site and landscapeworks all at 2A Albert House, AlbertAvenue, Bray, Co. Wicklow. Theplanning application may beinspected or purchased at a fee notexceeding the reasonable cost ofmaking a copy at the offices ofWicklow County Council, CountyBuildings, Wicklow during its publicopening hours and a submission or observation in relation to theapplication may be made to theauthority in writing on payment ofthe prescribed fee within the periodof 5 weeks beginning on the dateof receipt by the authority of theapplication.


years in this area andthey have shown thatisolation and lonelinessa ff ec t t he phys ica l ,mental and emotionalwell being of an indi-

vidual. We are trying toaddress this in a small,but meaningful way."

RSVP to 01 -9081919/[email protected].

Maxi Zoo celebrate their30th birthday by helping

to feed wild birds

Wicklow Timeshave vacancies for the following positions:

wicklow_times_14_01_20_south.pdf - wicklow times

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