Waterford City and County Council is currently developing a Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) for a six year period between 2023 and 2029.
This will set out the priorities, objectives, actions and resources needed to promote and support economic, local and community development throughout the County, directly by the Local Authority and in partnership with development agencies, sectoral interests and the wider community. A socioeconomic statement outlining the LECP planning process and a brief statistical summary establishing a current baseline for Waterford’s society, economy and environment can be viewed at https://waterfordcouncil.ie/media/plans_strategies/lecp/index.htm
ONLINE SURVEY
An online survey has also been developed to capture the input of all interested parties – please click below to take the survey:
As part of this process, a series of public meetings will be held to enable all interested parties shape the sustainable social, economic and environmental development of their own communities. Details of date, venue and time of these public meetings are as follows:
Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons for the following position from which any future vacancies will be filled:
RETAINED (PART-TIME) FIREFIGHTER
for the following locations:
Portlaw
Dunmore East
Tramore
REMUNERATION: Annual Retained Allowance
0-2 years service €8,696
2-5 years service €9,664
5-10 years service €10,834
10 + €11,907
Additional payment for attendance at Fires and Drills and Clothing Allowance.
Persons must reside and, if employed, work within 3 kms distance or 5 mins travelling of the Fire Station which will allow him/her to respond within the turnout time as set by the Chief Fire Officer.
Persons must hold a full unendorsed Class B driving licence or a provisional Class B driving licence.
Persons must be able to provide proof of release from workplace to respond to fire calls if necessary.
Applicants must be over 18 and under 55 years old.
Candidates may be shortlisted on the information provided on the application form.
Notice is hereby given that the City and County Rate has been duly made on the rateable properties in Waterford City and County.
The Annual Rate on Valuation for the Ordinary Expenditure for Waterford City and County Council for services for the year ending 31st December 2023 is €0.2863.
The Rate Book is now in my custody and may be inspected by any person affected thereby at the Offices of Waterford City and County Council, Customer Care Office, Baileys New Street, Waterford and in the Customer Care Office, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford between the hours of 9.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. by appointment only. The said rates will be payable from and after the publication of this notice.
Under Section 7(1) of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act 1978, any person who is aggrieved at the failure of a rating authority to make them an allowance under the Act or who believes that they are entitled to a different allowance to that made, may within two months of the date of the making of the rate, request the rating authority in writing to grant the appropriate allowance. In case the request is not complied with within 28 days the person may, within four months of the date of the making of the rate, apply to the District Court to have the appropriate allowance made.
The above rate was made on the 25th of January 2023. Any request in respect of an allowance under Section 7(1) of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act 1978, must therefore be made to Waterford City and County Council not later than the 25th of March 2023. Any application to the District Court under the same provisions must be made not later than the 25th of May 2023.
Dated this 31st Day of January 2023 Bernard Pollard, Head of Finance
Completed application forms must be emailed to recruitment@waterfordcouncil.ieclearly stating the position applied for in the subject line no later than 4p.m. on Thursday, 16th February, 2023.
Hard Copies will not be accepted.
An official application form must be completed in full by the closing date for the competition. Please note that amendments to the application will not be accepted after the closing date.
Please send your application from an email address that you will review regularly as communication during the assessment/selection period will only be through that email address.
WATERFORD CITY & COUNTY COUNCIL IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the County and City Management Association (CCMA) are calling on land-owners to cut their hedgerows before the March 1 deadline, to ensure they are not causing a potentially serious road safety hazard.
Overgrown hedgerows and roadside verges can result in road fatalities and serious injury collisions. Properly maintained hedges also protect vulnerable road users who are not forced onto the road by overgrown hedges. It additionally affords motorists a clear view of what is in front of them or around the a bend, especially on local rural roads in the case of sightlines at junctions or obstructions to road signs.
In accordance with the Wildlife Act, it is an offence to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated or growing in any hedge or ditch, between 1st March and 31st August. There are some exceptions to this including if there are grounds to act for road safety reasons. Local authorities can and do either take direct action themselves or serve a notice on the landowner to do something in such instances.
Mr. Sam Waide, Chief Executive, RSA, said: “Landowners across the country need to be aware of the impact that overgrown hedgerows can have on other road users. They can cause a road safety hazard that could potentially result in loss of life or serious injury to another member of your community. Road safety is a shared responsibility, and it is important that landowners remain alert and take accountability for maintaining hedgerows. We can make our roads a safer place if we all play our role and take personal responsibility for what happens on the roads.”
On behalf of local authorities, John McLaughlin, Chair of the County and City Management Association Climate Action, Transport, Circular Economy, and Networks Committee said: “Local authorities have an obligation to ensure roadside verges are maintained and that local road safety issues should be prioritised, whilst also recognising the commitments under directives to preserve hedgerows and promote biodiversity. Equally, landowners and anyone living along the roadside has a responsibility to check that hedges or trees on their property are not causing a road safety hazard. If they are, the landowners should take the necessary steps needed to ensure road safety. We are also calling on members of the public to report road safety issues caused by overgrowth to their local authority, which can then contact the landowner.”
For the past few years, the Council has permitted free of charge parking for electric vehicles in the public pay and display parking areas in Waterford.
However following a review of our parking charges and given the significant increase in the numbers of EVs on the roads, the Council cannot continue to sustain this incentive.
Accordingly public free parking for EVs within the Council’s pay and display car parks and streets will cease from 1st February, 2023.
The Council will continue to operate free parking for EV and PHEV vehicles while charging at designated public EV charging points throughout Waterford City and County.
The Council will also be facilitating a significant investment which will see 12 new fast EV charging points being delivered across the city and county during 2023.
If you have any further queries in relation to this matter please contact our Customer Services Department on the number below.
Fógra maidir le deireadh a chur le páirceáil in aisce d’Fheithiclí Leictreacha
Le blianta beaga anuas, tá páirceáil in aisce ceadaithe ag an gComhairle d’fheithiclí leictreacha sna limistéir pháirceála íoc agus taispeáin phoiblí i bPort Láirge.
Mar sin féin, tar éis athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar ár dtáillí páirceála agus mar gheall ar an méadú suntasach ar líon na FLanna ar na bóithre, ní féidir leis an gComhairle leanúint leis an dreasacht seo a chothú.
Dá réir sin cuirfear deireadh le páirceáil saor in aisce don phobal do FLanna laistigh de charrchlóis agus de shráideanna íoc agus taispeáin na Comhairle ó 1 Feabhra 2023.
Leanfaidh an Chomhairle le páirceáil in aisce a oibriú d’fheithiclí FL agus FL Hibrideacha agus iad ag luchtú ag pointí luchtaithe FL poiblí ainmnithe ar fud Chathair agus Chontae Phort Láirge.
Beidh infheistíocht shuntasach á éascú ag an gComhairle freisin, rud a fhágfaidh go mbeidh 12 phointe luchtaithe tapa nua á seachadadh ar fud na cathrach agus an chontae le linn 2023.
Má tá aon cheist eile agat maidir leis an ábhar seo, déan teagmháil lenár Roinn Seirbhísí do Chustaiméirí ar an uimhir thíos, le do thoil.
The Old Market House Arts Centre, Lower Main Street, Dungarvan is currently showing ‘TheMidnight Court’ by Pauline Bewick.
This visual translation of Brian Merriman’s poem, also known as ‘Cúirt an Mheáin Oíche’ deals with the folklore of 18th century rural Irish life. It was created as a limited edition print run of 250 presentation sets of 11 signed and numbered prints. In addition, one unique framed set of the Artists Proof was commissioned and this series was acquired by the then Arts Office of Waterford County Council in 2007. These works are a significant addition to the Waterford Art Collection and are on public show in the Arts Centre into the Spring of 2023. Pauline Bewick was one of Ireland’s most acclaimed and prolific artists who died last year at the age of 86.
Also showing is ‘Market 23’ by various artists based in the county, including works by David Minehan, Felix Faulkener, Ed Hawan and Rodney Cairns, plus works from Waterford Designers and Makers, Eileen Singleton, Adele Stanley, Kathleen Dobbyn and Áine Ryan.
Owing to popular demand, the stunning ‘Icons’ by Annie Shaw will remain on show until the end of February. Iconographer Annie has over thirty years experience in this artform and has worked extensively abroad but has been based in Dungarvan for the past two years.
The Old Market House Arts Centre (058 48944) current opening hours are Wednesday to Friday from 11am to 5pm (lunch 1.30pm to 2.30pm) and Saturdays from 1pm to 5pm.
Admission is free and all are most welcome.
-ends-
Image from The Midnight Court series.
‘The Punishment Set by the Queen of Craglee – Pauline Bewick (2007)
Scéim Rogha Tithíochta Beidh 4 réadmahoin ar fáil ar an Scéim Ligean Roghabhunaithe ar an Aoine 26ú Eanáir. Níl aon ghrianghraf ar fáil do 3 Bóthar Arbour.
3 Bóthar Arbour, Lios Dúgáin, Port Láirge [ Trí sheomra leapa, teach sraithe, dhá úrlár -LA ]
Árasán. 1, 30 Sráid Liam, Port Láirge [ Árasán sheomra leapa amháin – urlár na talún -RLS ]
Árasán. 2, 30 Sráid Liam, Port Láirge [ Árasán dhá sheomra leapa – an chéad urlár -RLS ]
Árasán. 3, 30 Sráid Liam, Port Láirge [ Árasán dhá sheomra leapa – an dara hurlár -RLS ]
Choice Based Letting Scheme Please be advised of the following 4 Choice Based Letting properties for Friday, 26th January 2023. There is no photo available for 3 Arbour Road.
Photo by Colin Shanahan – DigiCol Photography (c) 2022 – http://www.digicolphotography.com
Last year following a two-year hiatus which put paid to mass gatherings and celebrations throughout the world, Waterford City and County Council saw the long-awaited return of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, along with the successful inaugural St. Patrick’s Festival.
Waterford City and County Council’s Community Team and EveryEvent, with the support of Fáilte Ireland, are delighted to announce the return of the St. Patrick’s Day parade and the festival celebrations – three days of craic agus ceol, live entertainment, pageantry, and tradition from March 17th to March 19th, 2023.
The theme for the Parade this year is “The Best of Waterford”, which is reflected in its people and communities, its culture and heritage, its diversity, and its musical and artistic talent.
Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr. John O’Leary said,
“The success of last years’ parade and festivities proved the affection that our national holiday is held in. It goes without saying that we have an infectious community spirit.
We want to make this year’s parade even bigger and better. If your sports club, community group, local business or dance troupe wants to make a big impression on the crowds this year, we’d love to see you line out for the parade, which will wind its way down the Quay, from the Bus Station to the Viewing Stand on the Mall.”
Spraoi, which recently celebrated 30 years of great street theatre, will also bring its magic, flair and imagination to the parade. TV Honan, Director of Spraoi encouraged groups to get involved. “The theme this year is the ‘Best of Waterford’, so wherever or whomever you take your inspiration from, let your imagination run wild and have some fun!”
Waterford has a long-held association with St. Patrick’s Day. In February 1903, before March 17th was ever declared a National Day of Celebration, a meeting was held in the Town Hall in Waterford where the citizens unanimously voted to make St. Patrick’s Day a ‘general holiday’ where local businesses would close in order to allow everyone to celebrate. That year Waterford was Ireland’s first city to hold a St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Details of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and festival event will be revealed in the coming weeks, however Johnny Codd, Festival Director, said there will be plenty for all to enjoy.
“The events making up the three-day festival this year will have an eclectic appeal. While we are putting the finishing touches to the festival programme with EveryEvent, rest assured that there will be some great events taking place.
“Some of the highlights include three outdoor live music stages in the city, a festival fairground, poetry events, river cruises and fascinating history tours, with more to be revealed in the coming weeks.”
If you would like to take part in Waterford’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade visit www.stpatricksfestivalwaterford.com and keep up to date with all that’s going on in Waterford from March 17th to 19th during the St. Patrick’s Festival on Facebook at WaterfordStPatricksDayParade.
-ENDS-
Images: Digicol Photography
Putting the final touches to the St Patrick’s Day Festival 2023 programme, l-r: John Grubb EveryEvent; Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr. John O’Leary and TV Honan, Spraoi
“The Trading Online Voucher gave us the means to build this fantastic website.”
Lisa Connolly and Luke Marsh are the founders and owners of Finders Keepers in Waterford City. While her background is in fashion and textile design, Lisa developed a love for retail when working abroad with her partner Luke, “I loved the experience of walking through the doors into someone’s shop and seeing how they have imagined their space.”
Finders Keepers is based in Waterford City, offering unique gift & homeware products and ideas. “We signed the lease on an old butcher shop in September 2017 and opened the door to Finders Keepers in November! My amazing little sister Beth joined us later that month & has been working with us since. A small family run business through and through!”
Following their opening they were very active on social media. They didn’t have the funds to advertise so it was their only way of promoting the business. “I was really just doing this with the idea of people from Waterford in my mind. I wanted them to come into town and find our shop. But our community quickly grew outside of Waterford. Our following was growing and suddenly we had customers in all parts of Ireland. But it was very frustrating, not having a website.”
Lisa met with the Local Enterprise Office in Waterford, who recommended a ‘Trading Online Voucher’ in order to get to the next phase of growth for Finders Keepers. “We found local web designers Transpose Digital. They were absolute pros and really worked hard with us to achieve the vision we had. If we were going to build a website, it needed to be done right and to a standard that could sit alongside with some of the bigger retailers. The TOV gave us the means to build this fantastic website.”
A Trading Online Voucher (TOV) is a financial incentive developed by the Local Enterprise Office for small businesses with no more than 10 employees, less than €2m turnover and who have been trading for at least 6 months. This voucher is designed to stimulate the applicant business to develop their online trading presence. The voucher is administered through your Local Enterprise Office (LEO) and takes the form of matched funding where the maximum amount payable will be €2,500 or 50% of the eligible cost (whichever is the lesser), exclusive of VAT.
They launched the website in November 2019, just a few months before the pandemic. “I was never so grateful for the website during this time. We were suddenly busier than ever before. It was a crazy time. I live less than 1km from the shop so could walk here each day and continue dispatching orders. It was a hugely challenging time, taking on such a workload alone but our business grew exponentially.”
Fast forward to today, they have just moved into a new premises on Michael Street in the City, that is much bigger. They have a whole floor in the building dedicated to online and have built a studio for photoshoots to improve their digital offering on the website and through social media. The aim is to continue to grow the website within Ireland but start moving into the European market.
“Our bricks and clicks business model is working very well. I don’t think you can have one without the other. On a day where it may be quiet in town, our website will pick up the slack. We also have a large customer base from Waterford City who may be time poor and will use our click and collect service, ensuing their gift is wrapped and paid for on collection. It works very well.”
Irish consumers spend around €850,000 per hour, 24 hours a day online. With the trend ever increasing towards online spending it is estimated that only 30% of small Irish businesses are engaged in any meaningful way in e-Commerce sales. For businesses employing less than ten people this percentage could be even lower. It is now believed that of online purchases made in Ireland that 70% of these are done in overseas markets.
Applicants interested in a Trading Online Voucher can now apply online using a link on Waterford’s Local Enterprise Office website. Those wishing to avail of a voucher, must attend an obligatory information seminar. At each seminar attendees will be informed of the purpose of the scheme and how best to use and get value from the application of the voucher. You can book the next information seminar via the website.
Please reach out to your local LEO team by emailing info@leo.waterfordcouncil.ie if you any questions in relation to your application, quotes or Information Seminar.
