The Limerick Blogger: latest Limerick news and Limerick events

The local live register figures for July are out, and it shows a continued significant rise in both Limerick City and County.

791 people joined the live register, bringing the current figure to 21,791.  This represents an annual increase of 90.3 percent.   The figures suggest that the number of people losing their jobs is continuing to slow down.  Last month, the annual increase was recorded at 96 percent.  There has been a drop in the number of people joining the register, which stood at 1,190 at the end of June.

In Kilmallock, the figure went from 2,487 in June to 2,607 in July.  Kilmallock had an anual increase of 103 percent in it’s live register figures.

In Newcastle West, the figure went from 3,476 in June to 3,546 in July.  Newcastle West had an annual increase in it’s live register figures of 117 percent.

In Limerick City, the figure went from 15,037 to 15,638 between June and July.  The city had an annual increase in it’s figures of 83 percent.

Commenting on the figures released today, City Councillor Maurice Quinlivan expressed concern at the fact that over 5,000 of those on the live register are under the age of 25.

He also urged the government to make progress on the regeneration scheme, which, when implimented is reputed to promise up to 7,000 jobs.

“Here in Limerick we are all well aware that if the long promised Regeneration of Moyross, Southill, St. Mary’s Park and Ballinacurra Weston were to take place then thousands of jobs could be created. The government still fails to see the urgency of the situation and more than 2 years after John Fitzgerald produced his report not a single brick had be laid nor a foundation dug in the regeneration process.”

He also called on the government to come to the aid of Small and Medium Enterprises who were finding it difficult, if not impossible to get credit from banks which the government had bailed out.

“Despite pouring billions of taxpayer’s money into the banks many small and medium sized businesses will tell you it is near impossible for them to access credit. Many entrepreneurs will tell you how they are unable to obtain money from the banks.””

The July figures from the CSO can be accessed here (PDF format)

Proposals in the recently released Bord Snip Nua report to cut the rail service from Limerick to Ballybrophy have been described as daft by Limerick East TD Jan O’Sullivan.

The Government’s own transport policy “Smarter Travel” has a big focus on moving people off the roads onto public transport and they have just made a big fanfare of the opening of the Cork to Middleton line, on top of the success of Luas in Dublin and plans advanced for rail commuting in Galway.  So why should a tiny bit of progress in Limerick be scuppered?  The amount of money saved in closing this line would be miniscule and it is the only bit of progress we have had in the huge potential of Limerick to use its rail network for commuter travel in Limerick. “  the Labour deputy said.

While we all know major savings have to be made because of the dire state of the public finances after 12 years of Fianna Fail rule, pulling the plug on a service that has only barely started makes no sense at all.  If the Green Party agrees to it they may as well throw their hat at having any influence at all over Government policy.

The west did not fare well in the report, with recommended cuts to public transport, the merging of local authorities, and even the closing of Tipperary Institute of Technology.

2009 is the 21st that the ISPCC’s Childline has been operating, and with two new services being offered to children, the organisation is seeking volunteers in Limerick.

From the blurb

Our annual statistics show that a staggering 78% of calls were answered outside the standard working hours of 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday. This yet again highlights the urgent need for 24 hour child protection services in Ireland. Childline is therefore urgently needs extra volunteers to help answer these calls during the evenings and weekends. The next training course for volunteers is commencing in September.

The number of children contacting our services has increased over the past year. During an average week in June 2008 Childline received 14, 480 calls. During an average week this year 18, 457 calls were received. There has also been an increasing number of boys contacting the services.  Some of the reasons young people contact our services include: Family and Relationships, Mental Health Issues, Abuse and Violence, Sexuality and Information Requested.

The ISPCC in Limerick also provide the Teenfocus service. This service provides a mentoring and counselling service to young people aged between 13 – 18 who are at risk of misusing drugs and alcohol or are experiencing challenges at home, in school or finding it hard to cope.

As well as Childline and Teenfocus, the ISPCC have set up text and web based supports for children.

Children wishing to avail of the text service can freetext “talk” to 50101, and the web service “one to One” can be accessed through the website, childline.ie.

Right now they are looking for volunteers in Limerick.  There will be information evenings taking place throughout the month of August at their office at 115 O’Connell Street.  For more information, the ISPCC can be contacted at 061 4000 77 or 061 4000 88.

The body of a man was recovered this evening near the Cliffs of Moher after it was discovered by tourists in the area.

The discovery was made at 1800 hrs by a party of French Tourists who brought it to the attention of staff at a nearby visitor centre, who in turn notified the Gardai.

The body, which was partially clothed, is believed to have been in the water for up to three weeks.  The remains have been taken to the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick where a post Mortem is due to take place tomorrow.

The identity of the man is as yet unknown, and there are no reports of missing persons in the area.

A man in his 40s was killed yesterday when a lorry he was working on collapsed on top of him.

The accident happened in the Coolbawn area of Tipperary at around 1230 hrs on Saturday.

He was airlifted to Limerick Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead.  Both the Gardai and the Health and Safety Authority are conducting investigations into the incident.

Unions say workers are furious at the new rescue package for the Element Six plant in Shannon as the redundancy package falls far short of the six weeks per year they were hoping for.

After the announcement three weeks ago that it was to cease manufacturing in Shannon, talks between Element Six and local officials resulted in a proposal to keep 240 jobs at the facility, and to increase the redundancy pot from €6.5m to 8m.

This would increase the package for those being let go from one week per year of service to two and a half weeks.

Workers were also told that they would have to undergo drastic work practice changes, as well as increse productivity.

On hearing the offer, workers stormed out of their meeting with management, and downed tools for a time later in the day.

Management at Element Six insist that the plan must be implimented in full and quickly if staff do not wish to see a wind-down of the operation in Shannon.

Staff are to hold their own meeting to discuss the plan next week.

I’m delighted the local management team have come forward with a truly sustainable plan for Shannon which will retain more than 240 jobs on site. We recognise the excellent capabilities we have in Shannon, but we were only prepared to retain operations if they could be competitive and sustainable for the long-term. This plan achieves that goal and I look forward to working with the entire Shannon management team to secure quick support for this Plan.”

-Cyrus Jilla, CEO, Element Six

Following talks this week in London, it has been announced that the majority of the jobs proposed for the axe at element six in Shannon will be saved.

The announcement comes after a number of restructuring measures were agreed.  130 workers will still be made redundant, but there is now an €8m redundancy fund availible for them.  There will also be drastic changes to work practices at the Shannon Facility.

The government have also stepped in to temporarily subsidise wages at the plant.

The announcement of the rescue package for the Element Six jobs was also welcomed by Labour TD for Limerick East, Jan O’Sullivan

The success by the various parties in putting together a rescue package in this instance, should act as an example in the cases of other companies that are under severe pressure. I have consistently argued that the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment should be leading the effort to identify difficulties in such companies before they become a crisis, and to provide the support and expertise that they might need to map a way out of their problems without having to resort to large scale redundancies.

More from the Leader

Meanwhile, the Central Statistics Office have released national live register figures for July.  There has been an increase to 12.25 percent for the month.  While the figure is still rising, the rate of people joining the live register is slowing down.  Local figures will be released on Tuesday.

Now we are going to take you way back, some might say a little too far back.

DR. Hook at UCH

Click here to watch video

Dr. Hook is to play the University Concert Hall on November 1st. Tickets can be obtained from the UCH booking office for €27.50 including booking fee.

From the blurb:

Ray Sawyer, the spirited, eye patched lead singer of the group Dr. Hook, whose soulful and sometimes comic vocals fronted the bands breakthrough to the “Cover Of The Rolling Stone” an international superstar status in the early 70’s and 80’s, has been touring the United States, Canada and Countries Overseas, since the break-up of the Band in 1984 ,with a new band and a new twist to his familiar sound. Ray’s current style is harder edged and more soulful then his previous country-rock and pop efforts, through future releases will show the humor is still there..

Born and raised in Alabama , Ray got his first job as a professional musician at age 14 playing drums with a local band. His style was indelibly marked by blending the black and white Southern music that kept Alabama dance halls and clubs hopping. When Ray grew up playing music in Mobile, you play either Country or Rythem & Blues , though down there they are just about the same thing, its two races talking about their lives, Ray explaimes. Developing a style that extracted honesty and emotion-the best traits of both Country & R&B. Ray sings with an intensity and sence of conviction that truly moves an audience.

Ray’s trademark eye patch was acquired following a 1967 auto accident that left him without his right eye and kept him laid back for two years. When he was back on his feet, Ray set out for Los Angeles in 1968, working his way back East to New York where the nucleus of Dr. Hook was formed in time to record the score to a Dustin Hoffman film’ Who is Harry Kellerman (and why is he saying those terrible things about me).

Accumulating 60 Gold & Platinum Records worldwide with Dr. Hook, He has gained the confidence of a seasoned entertainer, Ray still to this day travels the World with his Band. His son Cayce has been touring with him since he was 13 playing percusion and singing background vocals in the show. Now he is the “Drummer” for the band.

Ray has had the honor of being Inducted into the “Alabama Music Hall Of Fame” in April 2005

Nick Carswell and the Elective Orchestra

It has undoubtedly been the most popular song on their MySpace page, and now, lovers of the song “Oceanview” can have a copy of it for themselves as it becomes availible on downloadmusic.ie

The Fimerick-based group will also be doing a tour to co-incide with the release of the single.

From the blurb:

The tour starts at home in Limerick, Upstairs in Dolans on Tuesday 11th August. The next stop is at a couch in DeBarra’s in Clonakilty, on to Candlelit cosiness in Waterford. Nick & Co. then appear at the closing night of the Kilkenny Arts Festival (kilkennyarts.ie) sharing a bill with the excellent Halfset and 3epkano. From there, to the stage at the Wexford Song Club in the legendary Sky and the Ground pub. Along the way, Nick and Co. play an acoustic set in Gallery 126 in Youghal, a recent home from home and a great East Cork seaside town, with a fine Ocean View of its own.

The song Oceanview is a beautifully textured piece of acoustic folk that displays the emotive soul and depth that this ensemble has to offer. Insightful lyrics stir the imagination, and Nick’s vocals are offset by the enchanting warmth of the strings, rightly ensuring Oceanview has become a firm favourite for fans, and a highlight in the band’s captivating live set.

“The song is about imagining someone who’s far away, and the picture that you build in your head of where they are and what they’re doing.” says Nick. “Sometimes that can be such a strong image, you remember it more than any actual memory; the memory of imagination can be stronger than the memory of reality, if that’s not too abstract a thought!”

Some catching up to do following the calm of the last few days

The Motorway comes to Limerick

The blue motorway signs are popping up to the north of Limerick City as a stretch of road between the City and Ennis is to be redesignated to motorway status.

The N18 will officially become a motorway on August 28th

Motorway status allows for a higher speed limit, puts restrictions on the types of vehicles which can use it, and also prevents development of nearby land.

Pre-clearance at Shannon for US flights

Passengers flying to the US from Shannon will not have to worry about having to go through customs asome of the busiest airports in the world as they can get it all out of the way before they leave Shannon.

the €20 m  pre-clearance facility at the airport was opened this week by US ambassador to Ireland, Dan Rooney.

Cuts in funding and capitation payments to schools could have a damaging effect on the health of Children, that is according to Sinn Féin activist and former election candidate Richard Young.

In a statement released today, Young said: “In 2006 the Department of Education & Science had arranged for the inclusion of all schools in a nation-wide survey of public buildings being carried out by the Office of Public Works in order to identify the presence of asbestos in all schools built before 1985. Asbestos use is no longer permitted because it can constitute a health risk if fibres are released into the air and breathed in. Asbestos has being linked with serious illnesses such as cancer.”

Young expressed concern that cuts in funding would see the survey and removal of asbestos in schools halted.

“Schools which are still renting pre-fabricated classroom and have asbestos detected in them, can have their temporary classroom replaced with a new temporary classroom under the terms of their rental agreement from their supplier. But for the schools that have permanent classrooms in state of disrepair and are still awaiting refurbishment, there seems to be no option but to sit in this unhealthy environment.”

The Office of Public Works has responsibility for detecting and removing asbestos in schools.

The cancer Mesothelioma is attributed to exposure to aspestos.  The singer Christy Hennessey developed the cancer following years of working on construction sites in London, and subsequently died from the disease