Recycling of natural Christmas trees
Natural Christmas Trees will be accepted for recycling free of charge at Kilbarry, Waterford, Civic Amenity Site and at Ballinamuck, Dungarvan, Civic Amenity Site until 9th January 2021.
Waterford City & County Council
Latest News & Announcements
Change to Christmas and New Year Opening Hours
Mar gheall ar Shrianta Leibhéal 5, dúnfar an oifig seo ón Dé Máirt, 29 Nollaig 2020 go dtí go bhfógrófar a mhalairt.
Due to Level 5 Restrictions, our offices will be closed from Tuesday 29th December 2020 until further notice.
Tá Seirbhísí ar fáil mar a leanas / Services are available as follows:
- Ar líne / Online: www.waterfordcouncil.ie
- Guthán / Phone: 0761 10 20 20
Tá seirbhís bunaithe ar choinne ar fáil de réir mar is gá ó 29 Nollaig. Chun fiosrú maidir leis seo, iarrtar ort glaoch ar 1761 10 20 20
An Appointments based service is in operation from December 29th, where necessary. To enquire about an Appointment please phone 0761 10 20 20
Sa Phost / Post:
Oifig Seirbhíse Custaiméara, Comhairle Cathrach & Contae Phort Láirge, Oifigí Cathartha, Cé Dáibhéid, Dún Garbhán, Co Phort Láirge X35 Y326
Customer Care Office, Waterford City & County Council, Civic Offices, Davitt’s Quay, Dungarvan, Co.Waterford X35 Y326
Tá seirbhís bunaithe ar choinne ar fáil de réir mar is gá. Chun fiosrú maidir leis seo, iarrtar ort glaoch ar 1761 10 20 20
An Appointments based service is in operation where necessary. To enquire about an Appointment please phone 0761 10 20 20
Waterford Council statement on passing of Mrs. Anne Tobin, RIP
It is with regret and deep sadness that Waterford City & County Council has been informed of the death of Mrs. Anne Tobin, Ballyhamlet, Tallow, Co.Waterford. Anne is the wife of Cllr. James Tobin, Cathaoirleach of Dungarvan/Lismore district Council and former mayor of Waterford City & County Council.
The current Mayor, Cllr. Damien Geoghegan and the Chief Executive Michael Walsh have expressed their sincere sympathies to the Tobin family at this difficult time, on behalf of all the staff and Councillors of Waterford City & County Council.
Owing to the current Covid-19 restrictions, it is not possible, as would be normal, for the robed body of Councillors to attend funeral proceedings.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.
Report finds 2019 performance of Waterford City & County Council was mixed
– Independent oversight body identified several areas of improvement and concern across Ireland’s local government sector –
17 December 2020: A report by the independent watchdog of local government has revealed the performance of Waterford City and County Council in 2019 across eleven areas. The annual report, by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC), found the Council delivered mixed results in a range of areas including housing, the environment and financial management.
Some of the key findings in the report include:
- Housing: Waterford City and County Council owned 5,175 social housing dwellings at end of 2019 with 1.18% vacant. The average time for rehousing in vacant properties was 14 weeks.
- Finance: The level of collection of commercial rates was 82% and the level of housing loans collection was 63%.
- Environment: 22% of the Council’s area is unpolluted or litter-free while energy savings made since 2009 is 24%.
- Fire service: Attendance at the scene in respect of fire within 10 minutes was 78%, and 20% within 20 minutes.
- Public Libraries: There were an average of 4.65 visits per head of population and 467,885 items issued to library borrowers in 2019.
Commenting on the publication of the report, Chairman of NOAC, Michael McCarthy, said: “This report highlights some of the important work our local authorities carry out each year. We would encourage all local authorities and public representatives to review the report to learn ways they can continue to help local communities thrive. Local government plays in an important role in people’s lives and as we look beyond the pandemic, NOAC is looking forward to working with all stakeholders to build on this work.”
Michael McCarthy concluded by thanking local authority staff, the LGMA, and all organisations who provided or reviewed data for NOAC’s 2019 Annual Report.
The NOAC uses 39 indicators across eleven areas to measure local authority performance. The data is submitted by the local authorities and other State and regulatory bodies.
-ENDS-
Note: The full report can be downloaded from the NOAC website here and an address by Michael McCarthy can be viewed here.
About the NOAC
NOAC (the National Oversight and Audit Commission) was established under the Local Government Reform Act 2014 to provide independent scrutiny of local government performance in fulfilling national, regional and local mandates. One of its functions is to scrutinise performance of local government bodies against relevant indicators and this is the fifth annual performance indicator report published by NOAC in relation to that function.
Since its establishment, NOAC has examined a range of areas of local authority activity, resulting in the publication of 22 reports to date. For further information on NOAC, including all reports published to date, see www.noac.ie
Final reminder for residents in Ireland to exchange their UK / NI driving licence for an Irish driving licence
Over 60,000 UK / NI licence exchange applications received since 2019
Wednesday 16 December 2020. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has issued a final reminder to anyone resident in Ireland with a UK / NI driving licence to exchange it immediately, as their UK/NI licence will not be valid to drive here after 31 December 2020.
While the UK has left the EU, a transition period was agreed that allowed for the exchange of driving licences to continue. That transition period ends on the 31 of December 2020. If you are resident in Ireland and using a UK licence to drive it will no longer be valid to drive in Ireland after this date.
It is vital that you have a valid driving licence and that you are legally allowed to drive in Ireland by exchanging a UK licence for an Irish driving licence.
To exchange your licence, you must either visit a National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) centre or apply online at ndls.ie
If applying in person at an NDLS Centre you must complete a licence application form and present this, the correct fee and your UK licence. You must make an appointment online at www.ndls.ie to attend any of the 36 NDLS centres.
You can apply online to exchange your licence at ndls.ie if you have a PSC and verified MyGovID account. A short video can be viewed to explain how to exchange your foreign driving licence online at ndls.ie
Over 60,000 people have applied to exchange their UK / NI licence for an Irish driving licence since 2019.
More information including frequently asked questions on how to exchange your UK licence can be found at www.ndls.ie and on gov.ie/brexit, the Irish Government’s website to help businesses and citizens around the country to prepare for Brexit.
Visitors to Ireland holding a UK/NI licence, will continue to be entitled to drive in Ireland as a visitor with their existing driving licence. Visitors won’t be required to carry an International Driving Permit in order to drive here so long as they carry their UK/NI driving licence with them.
ENDS
For further information please contact the RSA Press office on Tel: 096-25008
Christmas Opening Hours – Customer Services Desks
Christmas Opening Hours at our Customer Services Desks in Waterford (Bailey’s New St) and Dungarvan (Civic Offices).
Uaireanta Oscailte na Nollag & na hAthbhliana – PÓNA MADRAÍ Phort Láirge
Waterford City & County Council DOG SHELTER – Christmas & New Year Opening Hours
Age Friendly Housing Technical Advisors in every Local Authority in Ireland
Minister of State, Peter Burke, TD, Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage officially launches the Local Government Age Friendly Technical Advisors.
On Tuesday, 8th December 2020 in Dublin’s Custom House, Minister of State, Peter Burke, TD, Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage officially launched the local authority based 31 Age Friendly Technical Advisors. This launch is an important occasion, representing another substantial development in the joint policy statement, Housing Options for Our Ageing Population which was launched in February 2019 by both Department of Housing and Department of Health. Minister of State, Mary Butler, TD, Department of Health also attended the launch and spoke about a collaborative approach to Health and Housing for Older People in Ireland.
In July 2020 Ireland’s new Programme for Government pledged a mission and vision of an Age Friendly Ireland. The approach taken in the agreed programme for government is to support older people to live in their own homes and communities with dignity and independence, for as long as possible. The programme’s ambition is to enable everyone, of all ages, to live longer healthier lives in their own homes and communities. This vision is central to the overarching principles of the World Health Organisations Age Friendly Framework and core to the joint departmental Housing options for our Ageing Population Policy. The aim of the housing policy is to ensure that older people will have greater choice by developing a range of housing options that are suited to their needs, so they can plan ahead and, insofar as possible, choose the right home for them.
Age Friendly Ireland has supported the development and implementation of the policy document and in response to Action 4.13: ‘Local Authorities will identify and assign an individual on their housing teams to work with older people in terms of sourcing appropriate accommodation’, all Local Authorities have assigned a staff member to undertake this role so that this resource is available in all of the 31 local authorities across the country.
A member of staff at the appropriate technical level of expertise has participated in training provided by Age Friendly Ireland to enable them to become the local authority specific age friendly Housing Technical Advisor. This will ensure that they can provide specialist advice to the authority itself, to private sector interests who want to get involved in providing age-friendly housing and to individuals from the public generally.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister said ‘The specific Action which brings us here today is Action 4.13, which introduced a novel idea that local authorities should appoint a member of staff as a technical advisor on age friendly housing with the intent that this person would be a resource for older people, for the local authorities, and indeed for anyone who wants to access information about age friendly housing. In late 2019, my Department wrote to the Chief Executives of local authorities asking them to do this, and, in the wholehearted way in which they have embraced other elements of the Age Friendly Ireland programme they all agreed to do so.’
On behalf of the Local Authority sector, Chief Executive of Meath County Council, host to the Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service said, ‘Today’s launch is a significant occasion, representing another substantial development in the joint departmental housing policy and also acknowledging the sterling work of local authorities, both Departments, the Age Friendly shared service and partner organisations on the Implementation Group.’
Ends
For further information see: https://twitter.com/agefriendlyirl
Waterford City & County Council Festival & Event Grants 2021
Waterford City and County Council has allocated €1,287,300 in festival and event funding to aid with the development and promotion of events in Waterford City & County during 2021. The allocation supports 70 festival and events throughout Waterford City and County with the aim to promote local festivals that have an economic, tourism, cultural/artistic or community benefit for Waterford.
Speaking following the adoption of the Festival Grants for 2021, Cllr Damien Geoghegan stated ‘As Mayor I am delighted that Waterford City & County Council is in a position to support so many events across Waterford in the coming year. While 2020 has been a challenging year for all and many of our events could not be held, we are hopeful that by showing our continuing support for the many community and voluntary events across the county that these groups will be ready to bring vibrancy back into our communities when restrictions allow. I would like to express my gratitude to the many voluntary and professional groups that put so much effort into their applications and help make Waterford a great place for our residents and for visitors.’
| Name of Festival | 2021 Allocation |
| 1848 Tricolour Celebration | €4,500 |
| A Slice of Culture | €600 |
| Arts Festival Online Support | €5,000 |
| Bealtaine Living Earth Festival | €1,500 |
| Blackwater Valley Opera Festival | €7,000 |
| Campervan of Sound Music & Arts Festival | €1,000 |
| Camphire International Horse Trials and Country Fair | €5,000 |
| Capital of Culture/Music Generation | €84,000 |
| Celebration of International Women’s Day | €1,500 |
| Comeragh Christmas Craft Fair | €1,200 |
| Comeraghs Wild Festival | €28,000 |
| Copper Coast Festival 2021 | €500 |
| Copper Coast Trad Fest 2021 | €2,000 |
| Creative Ireland | €15,000 |
| Daonscoil na Mumhan | €1,500 |
| Deise Medieval Greenway2021 | €2,500 |
| Dungarvan Aglow | €20,000 |
| DUNMORE EAST BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL 2021 | €10,000 |
| Dunmore East Festival of Food, Fish and Fun | €5,000 |
| Dunmore East Walking Weekend | €500 |
| Festive Lighting | €111,850 |
| Festive Support briefing | €5,000 |
| Fun for Life 2021 | €500 |
| Giggle of the Galaxy | €2,000 |
| Harvest Festival | €65,000 |
| Imagine Arts Festival | €20,000 |
| International Women’s Day Festival 2021 | €1,500 |
| John Dwyer Trad Festival 2021 | €3,000 |
| Knockanore Fete | €1,000 |
| Lismore Towers and Tales | €5,000 |
| ModPoets Fest 21 | €1,400 |
| Nire Valley Drop MTB Challenge | €1,750 |
| O’Connell Street Festival | €9,000 |
| Pride of the Déise | €2,050 |
| Ravens Rock Rally | €3,000 |
| Robert Boyle Summer School | €2,000 |
| Seasonal Annimation in Dungarvan | €10,000 |
| Southeast Science Festival | €5,000 |
| Spraoi International Street Arts Festival | €70,000 |
| Sprog | €2,000 |
| St Patricks Day Parade, Waterford City | €45,000 |
| St. Patrick’s Day Dungarvan | €5,000 |
| St. Patricks Day Portlaw | €1,000 |
| Summer in the City 2021 | €59,000 |
| Summer on The Mall | €15,000 |
| Tallow Tostal Festival | €500 |
| The Barony Of Gaultier Rose Festival. | €550 |
| THE BOOLEY HOUSE | €1,000 |
| The Carbally Art By The Sea Festival. | €1,000 |
| THE CELTIC BOX CUP | €10,000 |
| The Good Old Days Festival. | €1,000 |
| The LIT Young Writers Festival | €1,800 |
| Tionól Nicolás Tóibín | €2,000 |
| Tramore Christmas Festival | €5,000 |
| Tramore St Patricks Day Parade | €5,000 |
| Tramore Street Party | €4,000 |
| TUNEFEST | €5,000 |
| Viking River Festival | €3,000 |
| Vitamin Sea Festival | €15,000 |
| Waterford Film Festival | €500 |
| Waterford Heath and Wellbeing Family Fest | €3,000 |
| Waterford PPN Community & Voluntary Awards | €5,600 |
| Waterford Viking Marathon | €22,000 |
| WATERFORD WALLS FESTIVAL | €35,000 |
| Waterford Writers Weekend | €34,000 |
| Well Festival of Arts & Wellbeing | €4,000 |
| West Waterford Festival of Food | €50,000 |
| Winterval | €429,000 |
| Wyse Park Arts Spectacle scheme | €6,000 |
| Yogafest | €1,000 |
| €1,287,300 |
Civic Amenity Sites – Christmas & New Year Opening Times
Ionaid Fhóntas Poiblí Chomhairle Cathrach & Contae Phort Láirge
Waterford City & County Council Civic Amenity Sites
Uaireanta Oscailte na Nollag & na hAthbhliana
Christmas & New Year Opening Hours
Notice of Proposed Review of Casual Trading Bye-Laws
Waterford City & County Council has prepared a review of Casual Trading Bye-Laws for the regulation and control of Casual Trading within the City and County of Waterford.
A copy of the proposed Bye-Laws may be viewed on the Waterford City & County Council website at www.waterfordcouncil.ie
Copies of the proposed Bye-Laws will be available for inspection at the following locations during office hours:
- Customer Services Department, Bailey’s New Street, Waterford
- Customer Services Department, Civic Offices, Co. Waterford between the period 15th December 2020 to 15th January 2021, both dates inclusive.
Submissions or observations with respect to the proposed bye-laws review may be made in writing to The Director of Services, Department of Economic Development and Planning, Waterford City & County Council, 35 The Mall, Waterford City, or by email to
casualtradingreview@waterfordcouncil.ie no later than Friday 29th January 2021.
We’re in this together and let’s stay safe” – an All-Ireland message from the HSE, Gardai and Waterford City & County Council
Ahead of this Sunday’s All Ireland hurling final (being played behind closed doors in Dublin’s Croke Park stadium), the HSE, Waterford City and County Council and the Gardai locally are endorsing the appeal made by the Waterford hurling team for supporters to follow all public health guidelines.
In addition to public messages issued by the Waterford County Board of the GAA, the three principal response agencies are drawing attention to the special appeals issued on social media this week by players and management.
Speaking in a video clip on behalf of all the players involved (see: https://twitter.com/SouthEastCH/status/1336049632200314881), the Waterford team captain Conor Prunty said he and his teammates “are about to play the game of our lives and we are asking you to support not only us but your family, friends and community. Please keep yourselves and each other safe and follow the current health guidelines, so that everyone can enjoy the game.”
Speaking on another video clip issued on behalf of the team management (see: https://twitter.com/SouthEastCH/status/1337074597192151046), Liam Cahill asked all Déise fans throughout city and county to be mindful of the level 3 public health guidelines in place and to stay safe this Sunday when supporting the team – “We are playing our part on the pitch and we are asking you to do the same at home for the All Ireland hurling final. Please enjoy the game but bear in mind the times we are living through.”
The HSE, Waterford City and County Council and the Gardai locally, in wishing the best of luck to the Waterford team on Sunday, say the “stay safe” and “hold firm” messages conveyed by the players and management are very important to remember at all times over the coming days – particularly in light of daily statistics published by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) showing rates of diagnosed cases remaining a cause of concern in the South East.
The three principal response agencies are urging people to continue taking precautions in relation to transmissions of Covid-19, to adhere to restrictions, and practice “the basics”.
- Reduce your contacts with other people.
- Wear a mask.
- Keep your distance.
- Wash your hands.
(ends)
NOTES:
- For what to do when you’re waiting for a test, when you get a result and when you need to isolate, please see: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/managing-coronavirus-at-home/self-isolating-and-restricting-movements-differences.html
- For up to date public health advice and a comprehensive range of other important information on Covid 19, please see https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/
- Information about level 3 restrictions is at www.gov.ie
Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) 2021 & Historic Structures Fund (HSF) 2021
Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) 2021
The BHIS scheme seeks to leverage private capital for investment in small-scale, labour-intensive projects and to support the employment of skilled and experienced conservation professionals, craftspeople and tradespersons in the repair of Protected Structures and in certain cases, the conservation of structures within Architectural Conservation Areas (ACA). Waterford has been allocated €136,800. Funding awards made under the scheme will be between €2,500 and €15,000, with applicants matching in full the grants being awarded.
Completed application forms and photos of the structures to be submitted only by email to Planning@waterfordcouncil.ie by 5pm on 22nd January 2021. Please ensure that the grant scheme name is in the subject line and note that all forms must be completed in full in order to be processed. The Department will formally approve projects for funding by 26th of February 2021. Successful applicants must have the works completed by 24th of September 2021.
For further information or if you have any queries in relation to the schemes please contact: Rosemary Ryall, Executive Conservation Officer, Waterford City and County Council by e-mail: rryall@waterfordcouncil.ie
Historic Structures Fund (HSF) 2021
The primary focus of the Historic Structures Fund will be on conservation and enhancement of historic structures and buildings for the broader benefit of communities and the public.
For further information or if you have any queries in relation to the schemes please contact: Rosemary Ryall, Executive Conservation Officer, Waterford City and County Council by e-mail: rryall@waterfordcouncil.ie
Survey – Improving Access to the Internet with Waterford’s Community Response Forum
Keeping in Contact – Connecting with other people is really important for our mental well-being and has never been as important as it is now. Having someone to connect with can provide emotional support or gives you an opportunity to provide support to others.
As part of the National #Keep Well Campaign, Waterford’s Community Response Forum is working on ways to improve access to internet services. There are still people who find using computers, smartphones and tablets a scary process for various reasons. As a first step, we have devised a survey which we would ask you to circulate to all the people, groups and companies you are in contact with in Waterford. Surveys can be returned by email or in hard copy.
- ONLINE SURVEY LINK
- Email for distribution – English
- Email for distribution – Irish
- Survey Details – English
- Survey Details – Irish
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