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By Waterford City & County Council

Sláintecare Healthy Communities launched in Waterford

On Friday October 28th, Waterford City and County Council along with the HSE launched Sláintecare Healthy Communities in Waterford.

The launch took place in Cill Barra Community Sports Centre where it was attended by Deputy Metropolitan Mayor Cllr Lola O’Sullivan, Minister of State at the Department of Health for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler TD and representatives from Brill Family Resource Centre, St. Brigid’s Family Resource Centre and Sacred Heart Family Resource Centre.  Members of Waterford City and County Council’s Community department as well as the HSE’s Health and Wellbeing, including Health Promotion and Improvement team are directly involved in the delivery of the programme and in bringing Sláintecare to Waterford.

Launched nationally in October 2021, Sláintecare Healthy Communities is led by Healthy Ireland in the Department of Health, which has commissioned Local Authorities, HSE and a wide range of community-based organisations to work together and deliver the range of health and wellbeing initiatives in targeted community areas.

There is widespread recognition that communities have a vital role in improving health and wellbeing. The communities where people are born, live, work and socialise in have a significant influence on how healthy they are.

Sláintecare Healthy Communities provides new opportunities for communities to be involved in actions that can nurture health and wellbeing. Being able to do this gives local people a sense of control over what happens where they live and work.

Deputy Metropolitan Mayor Cllr Lola O’Sullivan noted how Sláintecare will add to the amenities and services which are already in place in Ballybeg.  “I appreciate the principles underpinning the work of Sláintecare which are to recognise the strengths and assets already within the community and to work in partnership with the community and stakeholders, which is crucial to ensure that programme is effective and to truly level the playing field for everyone living in our local communities.”

Mary Butler TD added, “I am really delighted to see Sláintecare Healthy Communities launched here in Waterford City. As Minister with responsibility for Older People and Mental Health, I am keenly interested in initiatives that promote health and wellbeing right across the life-course.

“The Healthy Communities Programme does just this; it provides an opportunity for us to work together to make sure that all the members of our community are supported to live longer, healthier lives.”

A fund of €250,000 was allocated to each Local Authority area under the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme to support projects that provided added value from a ‘social determinants of health’ perspective.  The fund is being used to fund four projects which have recently been completed: the new Mount Sion footpath to the Play Park, the resurfacing of Bernard Place Tennis Courts, the upgrade of Ballybeg Playground and the upgrade of Ballybricken Green.

In addition €75,000 seed funding is being provided to community projects that will help to reduce the health inequalities in six disadvantaged areas of the city.

This increase in resources for local authorities is aimed at integrating the health and wellbeing agenda with the broader aims of supporting a ‘social determinants’ approach to health inequalities.

Derval Howley, Head of Services, Health and Well Being, HSE said, “HSE / South East Community Health Care is delighted to fund and support the Healthy Communities project in Waterford, a place where there is a strong history of partnership working between the HSE, the Local Authorities, other agencies and the community.”

Waterford City and County Council will coordinate and support the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme with the Local Community Development Committees and their existing Healthy Living initiative.

Targeted supports will be delivered to help promote and improve the overall health and wellbeing of our community, particularly around factors that can have a profound impact on our lives such as smoking, nutrition, and parenting.

Health and wellbeing is affected by all aspects of a person’s life; economic status, education, housing, the physical environment in which people live and work. People in Waterford City will have better access to services provided locally by the HSE and other partners.

For further information about Sláintecare visit www.hse.ie

 

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By Waterford City & County Council

Works commence on new City Centre Community and Cultural hub

Waterford City and County Council has commenced works on the creation of a new community and cultural hub in the heart of Waterford Cultural Quarter.

With funding of €651,654 awarded through the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), the repurposing of 16-18 Barker Place on O’Connell Street, will result in a creative multi-purpose venue for community and educational use.

It is expected that the development will vastly contribute to the overall vibrancy of the city and its Cultural Quarter. 

The building is earmarked to provide local facilities and a venue for migrant services, adult education, a community and performance facility, and foster entrepreneurship, creativity, innovation and employment for communities living and working in Waterford.

Works are currently underway with renovations due to be completed in Spring 2023.

Katherine Collins, Waterford Cultural Quarter Project Manager commented, “The importance of this facility in Waterford Cultural Quarter cannot be overstated.

“The Community and Cultural Hub will be used by residents, creatives, educators, and students of the O’Connell Street area, as well as the people of Waterford City and County as a space to get information and support, to meet up in groups and to learn and explore creative skills.

“Celebrating the different cultures present in our region will be a large focus of the Hub and we look forward to welcoming the community in the coming months.”

Waterford Cultural Quarter is a culture-led urban regeneration project based in the O’Connell Street area of Waterford city. Its vision is to deliver inclusive and sustainable innovation and growth for the cultural and creative sectors and has six priorities including developing excellent buildings and public realm as well as supporting collaboration and place-making.

This is the first of 22 City Centre regeneration projects that has been awarded funding under the URDF, with total funding for the regeneration projects coming to almost €28 million.

Work to the remaining projects are progressing and are at various stages through site assembly, survey work and preparation of planning applications.

For more information about Waterford Cultural Quarter visit www.waterfordculturalquarter.ie

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By Waterford City & County Council

Scéim Urraíochta Timpealláin Dhún Garbhán 2023

Tá scéim á cur i bhfeidhm ag Comhairle Cathrach & Contae Phort Láirge chun urraíocht a dhéanamh ar thimpealláin timpeall ár gcathair agus ár gcontae. Tá an Chomhairle ag iarraidh teagmháil a dhéanamh le gnólachtaí agus le heagraíochtaí ar mian leo feabhas a chur ar thimpeallacht thógtha na cathrach agus an chontae agus tairbhe a bhaint as deiseanna fógraíochta a bheidh á dtairiscint ar thimpealláin roghnaithe.

Is féidir le gach iarratasóir tairiscint a dhéanamh le haghaidh timpealláin amháin nó níos mó. Glacfar le hiarratais chomhpháirteacha freisin i gcás inar mian le dhá ghnólacht nó níos mó nó le dhá eagraíocht nó níos mó urraíocht a dhéanamh ar thimpeallán i gcomhpháirt. Sa chás go bhfaightear roinnt tairiscintí le haghaidh timpeallán ar leith, bronnfar an urraíocht ar an tairiscint is airde.

Achoimre

  • Baineann an tairiscint áirithe seo le timpealláin ar bhóithre poiblí i gceantar Dhún Garbhán.
  • Tá na timpealláin suite ar Sheachbhóthar Dhún Garbhán an N25 agus timpeallán amháin ar Bhóthar Chósta an R675 ag Baile an Rodaigh.
  • Mairfidh an urraíocht ar feadh tréimhse cúig bliana, a thosóidh i mí Eanáir 2023.
  • Is é an dáta is déanaí chun cumarsáid a fháil maidir leis an tairiscint seo ná: 4:00n. ar an Aoine, 11 Samhain 2022.
  • Is é an dáta deiridh chun tairiscintí comhlánaithe a fháil ná: 4:00n. ar an Aoine, 18 Samhain 2022.

Doiciméid Tairisceana
Tá an doiciméad iomlán tairisceana, léarscáil, faisnéis faoi tháillí, sonraíochtaí, foirm tairisceana srl. ar fáil anseo sa DOICIMÉAD TAIRISCEANA. (Béarla)

Cumarsáid
Ní mór teachtaireachtaí maidir leis an Tairiscint nó iarratais ar shoiléiriú a sheoladh chuig: Anthony Russell, Oifigeach Riaracháin, An Rannóg Comhshaoil, Comhairle Cathrach & Contae Phort Láirge, Oifigí Cathartha, Dún Garbhán, Co. Phort Láirge.

Ríomhphost: arussell@waterfordcouncil.ie

Is é an dáta is déanaí chun cumarsáid a fháil maidir leis an tairiscint seo ná: 4:00i.n. ar an Aoine, 11 Samhain 2022. 

Cuirfear gach ceist agus gach freagra a thagann as sin ar shuíomh gréasáin na Comhairle.

By Waterford City & County Council

Road closures / flooding in Waterford

Following heavy overnight rain, the following roads are affected by surface water and flooding:

  • N72 – closed from Rockfield Junction to Cappagh
  • Military Road (N72) – closed from Ballyneety Cross to Master McGrath Monument
  • Road to Clashmore at Whitechurch is closed
  • Significant flooding on the Clonmel Road at Kilmanahan – road closed

By Waterford City & County Council

4 Active Travel Public Consultations closing on 1 November

We currently have 4 Active Travel Public Consultations open, and that will close on next Tuesday November 1st.

The registration process is a one-time process and your account can be used for all of the Council’s future online public consultations. You will be able to record your submissions across multiple consultations and save the progress of partially completed submissions to complete at a later date.

 

By Waterford City & County Council

Fire Safety Week : How do you Plug In ?

National Fire Safety Week is taking place from Monday 17th October to Sunday 23rd October 2022 to raise the profile of fire safety in Ireland.

How do you Plug In ?

  • Save energy! – and keep your family safe too. When you’re not using it, turn it off.
  • Overloaded sockets? – not a good idea

 

By Waterford City & County Council

Fire Safety Week : Smoke Alarm Day!

National Fire Safety Week is taking place from Monday 17th October to Sunday 23rd October 2022 to raise the profile of fire safety in Ireland.

The theme this year is “Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives – Have you a plan if yours goes off!”

  • Any day is a good day to test your smoke alarms. Just press to ‘TEST’.
  • Where should your smoke alarms be? – in the stairs and hallways as a minimum.

 

By Waterford City & County Council

Waterford City & County Age Friendly Alliance survey

This survey is being carried out on behalf of Waterford City and County Age Friendly Alliance. The Alliance wishes to ensure that priority issues relating to the quality of life of older people are addressed in a coordinated way by a variety of local bodies. The Age Friendly Strategy is intended to help to achieve this.

The intention of this survey is to gather the views of members of the community and of older members in particular,  about the things which contribute to a high quality of life for older people.

By completing this questionnaire you will contribute significantly to the preparation of the Age Friendly Strategy for Waterford. Responses to the questionnaire are confidential and no specific comment or information is attributable to any individual.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7PJHD3N

By Waterford City & County Council

More than 24000 people in Waterford using the toilet as a bin

Clean Coasts and Irish Water urge the public to ‘Think Before You Flush’ in a bid to safeguard our environment

 Monday 3 October 2022: Irish Water and Clean Coasts are urging the public to continue to ‘Think Before You Flush’ as a recent survey has revealed that more than 24,000 people living in Waterford continue to regularly flush wipes and other sanitary items down the toilet. Worryingly those aged under 35 are twice as likely to dispose of ‘flushable’ wipes down the toilet, compared to those aged over 35. No wipes whether marked ‘flushable’ or not should be flushed down the toilet.

With sea swimming and the use of our beaches increasingly popular all year-round, it’s a timely reminder that our flushing behaviour has a direct impact on the environment and that making small changes can help prevent sanitary waste ending up on Ireland’s sandy beaches, rocky shores and secluded bays.

A new campaign video targeting under 35 years olds aims to connect with this audience in way that encourages real behavioural change.

Broadcaster Bláthnaid Treacy who is also supporting the campaign, said: “I am delighted to support the ‘Think Before You Flush’ campaign. For me, it is important that we all play a positive role when it comes protecting the environment. Collectively, small changes can have a huge impact so I would encourage everyone to consider their flushing habits. It is simple really, just ‘Think Before You Flush’.

Speaking about the survey results Ian O’Mahony, Irish Water said: “In 2018, our research informed us that 36% of people living in Ireland were regularly flushing the wrong things down the toilet. Irish Water have been working in partnership with Clean Coasts on the ‘Think Before You Flush’ campaign and during this time, we have made significant progress, as this figure has now reduced to 21%.

Whilst this represents a 42% improvement in people’s flushing behaviour, it still represents almost a million people nationally using the toilet as a bin: that’s more than 24,000 people living in Co. Waterford. The impacts of flushing the wrong things down the toilet are clear to see, as we are still removing thousands of sewer blockages from our network every month and continue to see this waste ending up on our beaches”.

“Following the latest survey findings, we have a call to action to those aged 35 and under in particular to be mindful of their flushing behaviour as this age profile can really help make the difference. We are keen to remind people that wipes should never be flushed down the toilet even if they are labelled as ‘flushable’. The impact of this waste ending up in our natural environment, on our beaches, shores and riverways is stark. Removing this waste from the sewerage network can be a nasty job which is easily avoided.

“Our message is simple: only the 3 Ps, pee, poo and paper should be flushed down the toilet. All other items including wipes and other sanitary products should go in the bin even if they are labelled as flushable.

This will reduce the number of sewer blockages, the risk of flooding to homes and businesses and the risk of pollution in the environment harming wildlife such as fish and birds and associated habitats. We have all witnessed the love story unfold between the public and swimming, whether that be at piers, beaches, lakes or rivers. A small change in our flushing behaviour can make a big difference to our natural environment – put wipes, cotton bud sticks and sanitary items in the bin and not down the toilet.”

Speaking about the campaign, Sinead McCoy, Clean Coasts said: “The Think Before You Flush campaign, through education and awareness, aims to prevent items like wipes, cotton bud sticks and sanitary items washing up on Ireland’s spectacular beaches.

While we have seen a positive improvement in the nation’s flushing behaviour since 2018, one in five adults still admit to regularly flushing unsuitable items down the toilet. By making small changes in our flushing behaviour, we can prevent the harm caused by sewage related litter in our marine environment. We are asking everybody to only flush the 3 P’s – pee, poo and paper – and put everything else in the bin.”

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By Waterford City & County Council

Campaign highlights impact of a Driving Disqualification on those planning a J1 Visa

New Campaign Highlights Impact of a Driving Disqualification on those Planning a J1 Visa Programme next summer

  • RSA, USIT Travel and AGS target new and returning college students with drink and drug driving campaign
  • Video campaign ramps up the FOMO factor 

29 September 2022: The Road Safety Authority (RSA) in partnership with USIT Travel, Ireland’s leading specialist in work abroad programs, and An Garda Síochána have come together to remind students ‘A drink or drug driving conviction may stop you from going to the U.S. on your J1. Or ever’. The core message of a new campaign launched today is aimed at new and returning students across Ireland as they settle back in college and begin considering a summer abroad next year on USIT’s J1 visa programme.

The new video campaign by the RSA, USIT Travel and An Garda Síochána tells the story of a group of friends experiencing the summer of a lifetime on their J1 visa in the United States juxtaposed against one of their peers back at home because he is disqualified from driving. The story highlights the contrast between an incredible summer abroad and the disappointment of missing out on such an experience as a result of reckless drink or drug driving behaviour.

The campaign is designed to show the consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and how a drink or drug driving conviction or disqualification may impact someone’s chances on getting a J1 visa for the summer.

Mr. Sam Waide, CEO of the Road Safety Authority had this advice for students: “If you are returning to college this autumn, you will no doubt be looking forward to great opportunities and making new connections through the fantastic social activities throughout the academic year. Please remember to drink responsibly and plan how you will get back to your accommodation at the end of the night. If you live far from campus, arrange in advance to travel home with a group of friends through a cab share or public transport. Getting behind the wheel under the influence of drink or drugs can result in fatalities and serious injuries, and the consequences can also hamper the start of any career opportunities.”

Lisa Collender, USIT, said: “Every year, we facilitate thousands of Irish students with work placements abroad. Our mission for the J1 is to help students in 3rd level colleges to spend a summer working and travelling in the USA. The J1 programme has long been a milestone in many young people’s lives, where they not only experience personal growth but also contribute positively to the vital cultural connection between our two nations. The J1 visa programme is a fantastic opportunity for students to kickstart their travel and career dreams. This is why we want students to seriously consider how these dreams can be taken away with a drink or drug driving offence. Ask yourself: is the risk worth sacrificing a summer of a lifetime working abroad?”

Assistant Commissioner, Paula Hilman, Roads Policing and Community Engagement, An Garda Síochána said: “We would like to wish everybody beginning their first year, and returning to college and university the very best. We hope that this will be a memorable and enjoyable experience. However, we want to remind everyone that college is a time in which we are preparing for the future, and as such we encourage you to enjoy yourself in a responsible manner and remember that the decisions we make today can affect our tomorrow. While the majority of people don’t drink and drive, some continue to take risks, driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  A drink or drug driving conviction can result in a driving ban of up to six years, it could impact on travel plans and job opportunities for young people, particularly those who want to pursue a J1 visa.”

To date in 2022, a total of 114 people have died on Irish roads, 11 more than the same period in 2021.

Ireland’s Road Safety Strategy

Ireland’s fifth government Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 aims to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on Irish roads by 50% over the next 10 years. This means reducing deaths on Ireland’s roads annually from 144 to 72 or lower and reducing serious injuries from 1,259 to 630 or lower by 2030.

The strategy is the first step in achieving the 2020 Programme for Government commitment of bringing Ireland to ‘Vision Zero’. This is to eliminate all road deaths and serious injuries on Irish roads by the year 2050.

ENDS

By Waterford City & County Council

Waterford City & County Council clears the way for Make Way Day 2022

Every corner of Ireland will be put to the test for basic access issues this Friday, September 30th when the Make Way Day campaign returns, with a testing twist!

Campaign organisers, the Disability Federation of Ireland DFI, have developed an online tool that campaigners can use to test and rate their local area along with using MWD stickers to highlight the issues faces by people.

Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr John O’Leary welcomed the return of Make Way Day.  “Make Way Day focuses on individual responsibility and explores what we can all do immediately to help our fellow citizens get from A to B, a very basic right. We in Waterford City and County Council are delighted to work with DFI and support the roll-out of Make Way Day across the city and county.”

“We all share public spaces and we are all entitled to share them equally and safely.  However, for those with a disability, are infirm, visually impaired, or simply unable to manoeuvre obstacles, Make Way Day is about highlighting these issues, making the public aware of them and encouraging a change of behaviour.”

The backbone of the Make Way Day campaign is people with disabilities. An online tool empowers them to survey their area for obstacles and rate its accessibility. It will once again give them the chance to share their frustrations by posting photos of obstacles to social platforms with the hashtag #MakeWayDay22

DFI’s survey of campaigners earlier this year revealed that the most reoccurring obstacles are:

  • Cars parked on footpaths
  • Bins causing obstruction on footpaths
  • Bikes illegally parked

Groups of people with disabilities, their allies, and local Access Groups from Waterford Disability Network will take part.

The tool will be available at www.makewayday.com on Make Way Day,  Friday September 30th. It is easy to use and download to a phone and will be circulated widely on the campaign’s social media platforms.

According to the Disability Federation of Ireland, “Our aim is to have all neighbourhoods join up, to give us one comprehensive map of access in Ireland. We will coordinate all the results. We aim to and feed them back to the right people and work together towards clearer streets.”

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