The Arts Office, Waterford City & Co. Council is offering Waterford practitioners a bursary to attend the Blas – Traditional Music Summer School in the University of Limerick.
Closing date for receipt of applications is Thursday 8th June 2023. The application form and terms and conditions are available to download below.
Notice is hereby given that Waterford City and County Council, in exercise of its powers pursuant to Section 75 Roads Act 1993, will close the following public road to through traffic from 17th to 31st May, 2023 to facilitate Emergency Road Drainage Works.
Road to be closed:
Diversion Route:
Notice is hereby given that Waterford City and County Council, in exercise of its powers pursuant to Section 75 Roads Act 1993, propose to close the following road to through traffic from 11th to 20th August, 2023 to facilitate the painting of mural artworks for Waterford Walls Street Art Festival.
Road to be closed:
Diversion Route:
From 3rd to 6th July and from 14th to 17th August, 2023 the following roads will also be closed to facilitate the painting of artworks.
Road to be closed:
Diversion Route:
Foilsithe: Liostaí Pleanála seachtainiúla
https://bit.ly/3BN1QMv #gaeilge
Published: Weekly Planning Lists for Waterford
A Waterford delegation recently travelled to Märkischer Kreis in Germany to officially sign a twining document to cement a burgeoning relationship between the two regions.
Headed by Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. John O’Leary, the two-day trip explored the synergies between the regions, with the Waterford delegation experiencing the region’s offerings in the areas of tourism, culture, and industry.
The trip culminated in a Twinning Ceremony whereby Mayor of Waterford City and County and Marco Voge, Märkischer Kreis Chief Executive, signed the official partnership document in the majestic Altena Castle.
Over two days the Waterford delegates visited many of the city’s tourist attractions and amenities including Sauerland Park, which comprises of a museum highlighting the area’s rich history, a tourist Information Centre, playgrounds, skate parks, and the focal point of the park, Jübergturm Tower, which commands stunning views of the surrounding region.
The delegation travelled to Mendener Präzisionsrohr GmbH, a high-performance specialised supplier of heat technology products in the town of Menden. There they met with Mayor of Menden, Mr Roland Schröder, who spoke about the town’s heritage and referenced the steps the local council is taking to make Menden a ‘Smart City.’
The second day of events saw the delegation travel to the impressive Altena Castle where they enjoyed a tour of the grounds. The delegates met with the museum curator and were taken on an extensive tour of the castle to learn about the many families that inhabited the castle dating back to the 10th Century.
That afternoon the German members presented on different elements of life in Märkischer Kreis with a focus on culture, tourism, and industry. This was a valuable opportunity to explore and discuss the commonalities between the two regions.
The official twinning ceremony took place in Altena Castle. The ceremony saw Marco Voge deliver a heartfelt and uplifting speech about the coming together of the two regions.
Mayor John O’Leary highlighted the benefits of the partnership and spoke of the importance of how young people will be crucial to the success of the twinning, saying “This agreement is a significant milestone. It marks the beginnings of a new relationship between our two areas and paves the way for closer cooperation, mutual understanding, and future friendships between our people.
“As we come together to celebrate this occasion, it is important to reflect on the many benefits that town twinning can bring. By forging strong partnerships and sharing knowledge, we can create new opportunities for economic growth, cultural exchange, tourism, and community development.
“In terms of our youth, this twinning arrangement can provide opportunities for young people to learn about different cultures and develop new skills. Not only does it encourage greater understanding and tolerance between communities, but possibilities now exist for many types of youth exchange programmes, travel and education. I look forward to welcoming everyone, but particularly young people to the southeast of Ireland when the time comes.”
The Waterford and Märkischer Kreis delegations have already begun plans for a visit to Waterford later in the year. Both parties look forward to working together in the future with the shared goal of making Waterford and Märkischer regions where people will continue to live, work, visit and invest in.
Waterford City and County Council invites submissions from community groups, youth groups, schools or other community development organisations, based in County Waterford, who are interested in receiving funding for public education and awareness initiatives regarding litter or graffiti.
Examples of projects previously funded under this grant include:
Apply online via : http://bit.ly/AntiLitterGrant2023
Closing date for applications: close of business on 18th May 2023.
Young people in Waterford are invited to celebrate 50 years of EU membership in Ireland with photographs capturing the theme of ‘Peace and Unity’
Léargas, a not-for-profit organisation managing international and national exchange programmes across Ireland and Europe, is calling on young people aged 13 to 30 across Ireland to celebrate Europe Day this year by submitting photos capturing the theme of ‘Peace and Unity’ to a Photography Competition coordinated by Eurodesk.
Europe Day, which takes place each year on 9 May marks the anniversary of the historic ‘Schuman declaration’, the proposal considered to be the beginning of what is now the European Union. Ireland joined the EU in 1973.
Amy Doherty, Eurodesk Waterford and Sinead O’Higgins, Europe Direct Waterford launched the Photo competition last Tuesday on Europe Day in the Europe Direct Waterford Centre which is in Central Library in Waterford City. Central Library is also hosting the EU at 50 Exhibition Into Europe which is a Royal Irish Academy exhibition commissioned by EU50, Department of Foreign Affairs. It consists of 12 thematic panels which focus on various aspects of Ireland’s relationship with the European Union. The panels are available in both English and Irish. The exhibition will run until the end of May.
Eurodesk, which is administrated by Léargas in Ireland, is a free information service that operates in 36 European countries. Eurodesk Waterford provides information on EU-funded programmes and opportunities for young people to work, study, volunteer and travel in Europe and support young people to access such opportunities and is based in the Waterford & South Tipperary Community Youth Service in Manor Street, Waterford.
Europe Direct Waterford Europe is part of a community of 424 Europe Direct centres around Europe. Their purpose is to reinforce the important connection between the EU institutions and citizens, providing timely and factual information on European matter and events while coordinating with other EU networks in the region to ensure easier local access to information for citizens, organisations and businesses. Europe Direct Waterford is run from Central Library in Waterford City.
Léargas, Eurodesk and Europe Direct Waterford are inviting young people living locally aged 13-30 years old to take a picture using their own camera or phone camera responding to the theme of ‘Peace and Unity’ and what that means to them in Ireland and Europe in 2023. The competition opened as part of Europe Day on May 9th, and photographs will be accepted via email submission until midnight on the 28th of May 2023. Up for grabs is €500 worth of photography equipment within each age category.
Commenting, Eurodesk Waterford Youth Worker Amy Doherty said: “We have a strong partnership with Europe Direct Waterford and Waterford Libraries and we are looking forward to displaying the winning entries and holding the prizegiving in the Library. We are committed to developing our European opportunities for Young people in Waterford and WSTCYS recently obtained the Quality label through Erasmus+ which allows us to help young people Volunteer through fully funded projects with European Solidarity Corps. This year is the European Year of Skills and the skills obtained through volunteering in another country are immeasurable and increase the resilience and skillset of anyone that takes part”.
Léargas is committed to developing strong and lasting connections with our European neighbours through our programmes and exchange opportunities from sport to youth work, promoting personal and professional development through building confidence and better understanding of European cultures.
Announcing the photo competition, Eurodesk Ireland Co-ordinator, Malgorzata Fiedot-Davies said:
“Eurodesk Ireland is a hub for promoting the many opportunities for our young people in Europe. Peace and Unity in Europe remains, at its heart, about mutual understanding, respect for diversity and openness to other cultures. We are so excited to see what peace and unity for young people across Ireland in 2023 means as part of this photo competition, how that challenges them, interests them and sparks their creative minds.”
Sinead O’Higgins, Manager of Europe Direct Waterford said: “We are delighted to continue our work with Eurodesk Waterford, together we organised an excellent conference for over 300 young people last December to mark the European Year of Youth. We have exciting plans for later this year and hope that the young people of Waterford will visit the EU at 50 exhibition and perhaps be inspired for their photo entry”.
You can find out more and download an entry form at: https://wstcys.ie/eurodesk-photo-competition-for-youth-ages-13-30
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Are you part of a group that wants to help to take steps on waste prevention, re-use and repair activities in your local area?
Waterford City and County Council invites submissions from community groups, youth groups, schools or other community development organisations, based in County Waterford, who are interested in receiving funding for initiatives regarding the circular economy, reuse and repair.
A circular economy is based on long-life products that can be renewed, reused, repaired, upgraded and refurbished to preserve natural resources, protect habitats and reduce pollution. It is about finding ways to keep items in use longer and not generating as much waste in the first place. It’s about rethinking the way we do things – redesigning the items we use – changing attitudes and changing behaviours about what we buy and what we throw away.
The main focus for projects this year should be on projects to promote a circular economy e.g. repairing, reusing, building skills and knowledge in the community to facilitate repair and reuse, changing attitudes and behaviours to how we use items, reduce use of single use items (encourage use of reusable items). Applications for projects under these themes will be prioritised for funding. Why not apply for funding to help you carry this project out?
How to apply:
Celebrating the benefits of cycling, Bike Week 2023 kicks off with two full weeks of cycling events and workshops throughout Waterford city and county, from Saturday May 13th to Sunday May 21st.
From dawn cycles and Greenway night cycles, to disability cycle workshops and balance bike schools programme, Bike Week has something for all ages and all abilities.
Launched in 2009, National Bike Week has helped raise the profile of cycling as healthy and fun mode of transport, and it’s also great for the community and the planet. Waterford City and County Council, in association with Waterford Sports Partnership, has compiled a wide range of cycling activities.
If you think you’ve got 30km in the tank, the Passage East 30k spin takes place on May 21st. This free event includes a 30km cycle from Waterford City to Arthurstown in Co. Wexford, taking in the Passage East Car Ferry, with light lunch provided. All participants must have their own bikes and helmets and be over 16 years of age.
The Waterford Greenway Night Cycle departs SETU Arena Carpark at Carriganore at 9pm on Friday May 19th. Participants over 12 years of age are welcome and must have their own bikes and helmets.
How about a spot of High Tea at Mount Congreve? This women’s cycle departs Bilberry carpark at 10.30am on Saturday May 13th. At Mount Congreve you can take a well-earned rest and enjoy a spot of high tea in one of the ‘great gardens of the world.’
Whether you’re in the city or county, enjoy a lunchtime cycle on Wednesday May 17th. With cycles departing from Walton Park in Dungarvan and the House of Waterford on the Mall in the city, you’ll get to see the very best of your locality on two wheels. Participants must be over 16 years of age and light lunch is provided.
There are dozens of fun events to choose from. All events are free, but booking is advised to avoid disappointment.
To find out more about the wide range of events taking place throughout Bike Week in Waterford city and county, or to register for a Bike Week event visit www.bikeweek.ie
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Waterford City & County Council is not publishing a Residential Zoned Land Tax supplemental map (RZLT)
Residential Zoned Land Tax supplemental maps include additional land identified as being within the scope of the tax, over and above the land which has already been included
on draft maps published on November 1, 2022. Where no additional land has been identified as being in scope, Waterford City & County Council is not required to publish
a supplemental map in accordance with Section 653F of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997.
Additional land may be identified for inclusion on the supplemental map due to changes in zoning or investment in services. Land which was identified through submissions made on the draft map or which has otherwise become known to the local authority as meeting the criteria for the tax may also be included.
As no additional land met these criteria Waterford City & County Council is not publishing a supplemental map.
Liam McGree
Senior Planner
Waterford City and County Council
Notice is hereby given that Waterford City and County Council, in exercise of its powers pursuant to Section 75 Roads Act 1993, propose to close the following road to through traffic from 6th to 15th June, 2023 to facilitate the Construction of a Cattle Underpass.
Road to be closed:
Diversion Route:
Public urged to continue to consider the environment and alternatives to pesticides when gardening, farming and maintaining sports grounds
Monday, 8 May 2023 – One exceedance for pesticides were detected in the public drinking water supplies in Kilmacthomas in 2022. This exceedance for 2,4-D was detected as part of Uisce Éireann’s public water supply monitoring programme. MCPA is still the most commonly detected pesticide in drinking water sources and is present in many commonly used herbicide products used to control thistles, docks and rushes.
There was an increase in the number of exceedances for pesticides in public drinking water supplies in Waterford county last year, according to Uisce Éireann. In 2021 the utility did not detect any exceedances for pesticides as part of its ongoing monitoring, however, this has increased to one in 2022.
The Kilmacthomas water supply abstracts raw water from a spring in the Kilmacthomas area which is vulnerable to runoff from land. Uisce Éireann is asking users of any herbicide or pesticide products to continue to consider the vulnerability of their local drinking water supplies to pesticide contamination and the importance of these supplies to local homes and businesses in the community.
Uisce Éireann and the NPDWAG are asking the farming community, greenkeepers, grounds keepers, and also domestic users of pesticides, to consider in each case whether they need to use pesticides at all. Pesticides must only be used where strictly necessary and only after the possibility of using other control methods has been carefully considered. Minimising pesticide use not only helps to protect water quality but also has multiple wider environmental benefits.
For example, leaving areas unsprayed can help native flowering plant species to grow and support a range of insects including bees and other vital pollinators. One third of Ireland’s bee species are threatened with extinction and by helping the bee population survive and thrive we are also helping to protect our precious water sources. For more information on practical ways to help bees and other pollinators, check out the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan at pollinators.ie. Farmers should also bear in mind that the application of herbicides reduces sward species diversity and could negatively impact on payments through agri-environmental schemes.
Where pesticide use is considered necessary, the NPDWAG continues to work with local communities to ensure that best practice measures to protect drinking water sources and biodiversity are always followed. Farmers and other landholders dealing with the challenge of rushes should note the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) guidance on the sustainable management of rushes. This approach is based on the concepts of containment or suppression and aims to minimise the use of pesticides. More information on this can be obtained from your local farm advisor or on www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie/sud/waterprotection
Patrick Duggan, Uisce Éireann’s Regional Drinking Water Compliance Specialist said: “In Co Waterford, the exceedances of the drinking water regulations for 2,4-D was noted in the Kilmacthomas public water supply following routine sampling. While our consultation with the HSE has concluded that the levels we detected did not represent a threat to public health, they are still however undesirable in drinking water and it is therefore imperative that users of pesticides are mindful of best practice when using herbicides or pesticides and seek out alternatives.”
Adding to this, Dr Aidan Moody, DAFM and Chair of NPDWAG, commented: “It is important that we maintain our focus on this issue and that there is a sustained effort by stakeholders to continue the good progress that has been made in recent years. Users of pesticides must always consider the possibilities for alternative control methods in the first instance and if the application of pesticides is considered essential make sure that they follow best practice measures to protect water quality.”
If pesticides have to be used, the basic steps to reduce risks to drinking water sources and the aquatic environment are:
Further guidance:
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Waterford City and County Council is organising a public information event regarding the Ballinacourty Greenway Spur widening and improvement project. This is a ‘drop in’ event which will take place in St. Laurence’s Community Hall, Ballinroad, X35 KT53 on Tuesday 9th May between 5 and 8 p.m.
Interested parties are invited to attend to meet and discuss the current proposals with members of the project team and to view project plans and particulars. Those in attendance will also be advised as to how they might get involved in the Part VIII Planning process, which commences on the same date and will close for public submissions on 20th June 2023.
The proposed development will consist of:
The proposed enhancement works are being funded under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme which is administered at national level by the Department of Rural and Community Development. The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure.
It also provides support for the necessary repair, maintenance, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in rural areas across Ireland. To date this scheme has funded numerous recreation schemes around Co. Waterford since its inception in 2017.
