The Clare People Archive

THE Citizens Information Service are advising anyone who want to know about grants in relation to go- ing back to education that there is a new online resource www.studentfi- nance.ie offering a comprehensive, user friendly guide to student grants and supports in further and higher education. According to Paul Woulfe manager with the network of advices centres, “More and more mature students and parents are seeking advice in relation to support available in persuing third level courses. There is a lot of confusion around the crite- ria for applying, the means test and who administers what grant. This site provides information on the full range of student supports, including maintenance grants, the Fund for Students with Disabilities, the Back to Education Allowance and the Stu- dent Assistance Fund.” Studentfinance.ie has been designed to help users to quickly and conven- iently identify the various sources of financial support for which they are eligible and how they can apply this online resource. ‘Every year in dealing with queries

at our information offices around the county it is obvious that there is sig- nificant knowledge deficits for many students, prospective students and their families in relation to the main- tenance grant schemes and associ- ated financial support programmes. Studentfinance.ie is designed to fill this gap in a clear and accessible for- mat.

‘The maintenance grant is the main source of financial assistance and any- one who is think- ing of embarking on further study should investigate whether they are eligible, and, if so, submit an application,’ said NZ Daa oltd bree

“The maintenance grant section of stu- dentfinance.ie is the most comprehen- sive source of infor-

mation on the available schemes that you will find anywhere in Ireland. It provides a handy step-by-step guide to eligibility in clear, plain English,” he said.

The Citizens Information Service through its network of offices offers a free and confidential information and advice service to members of the public on their rights and entitle- ments.

INCOME limits for student main- tenance grants are set to increase in time for the start of the new aca- demic year.

The new limits are being increased in line with movements in the aver- age industrial wage for students in receipt of the standard rates of poarch oe

The top limit for grant eligibility where there are less than four de- pendent children has been increased from €48,335 to €49,690. This will result in over 56,000 students from households with moderate incomes not having to pay the student service charge.

The increase in the income limits recognises wage increases and will increase the numbers of eligible stu- Ola AE

The annual income threshold for maintenance grants has also in- creased from €18,055 to €20,147 to reflect social welfare increases.

This will help to ensure that stu- dents from families with the lowest incomes qualify for maximum rates of grants.

Anyone who thinks they might be eligible should check the ‘Students and Trainees’ section of the Depart- ment website, www.education.ie.

ELIGIBLE families who are plan- ning for the next school year should be aware of the available assistance with Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.

Those eligible can receive €200

for each child between aged between two and 11 years and €305 for each child aged between 12 and 22 years.

Families who are eligible include those in receipt of certain social wel- fare and HSE payments, those who are in receipt of Family Income Sup- plement or taking part in approved

employment schemes or training courses. Parents who are unsure if they qualify, should contact their Community Welfare Officer at the local HSE office.

For more information, check the website www.welfare.ie or LoCall 1890 66 22 44.

EQUIPPED with a vast experience in the beauty business and numerous professional and teaching qualifica- tions Helen McCarthy has opened her own hairdressing college, La- hinch College of Hairdressing, in Chapel Street, Lahinch.

In 2003 she opened her very suc- cessful beauty and hair salon in Chapel Street providing pampering treatments including facials, body massage, hand and foot massage full hair treatment, jacuzzi and even ear piercing.

For the bride and bridal party Helen offers upstyles and make up to help make the big day extra special.

The college will enrol 10 students annually and has been designed to offer Elementary Foundation Skills and Intermediate Advanced Skills in Hairdressing.

Lahinch College of Hairdressing is the first hairdressing college in Ireland to be passed and certified by Vocational Training charitable Trust (VTCT) with world wide class quali- fications.

The college is recognised by all leading examination boards and VTCT certificates are recognised worldwide.

For more information on prices and dates of courses please contact Helen at Lahinch College of Hairdressing on 065 687082080 or 087 2830728.

HEADSUP Text, the text support service operated by Rehab and sup- ported by Meteor, is expecting to see a spike in the number of texts received from stressed young people during the ‘results season’. Almost 57,000 students sat the Leaving Cer- tificate this year and with thousands more expecting Junior Certificate and

college exam results over the coming weeks, the last days of summer could be extremely stressful for some of our young people. In August 2007, Head- sup received texts from over 2,500 people highlighting that not all young people are carefree at this time of Merle

Headsup is reminding students who may be feeling under pressure in the lead-up to exam results that help is on

hand. Headsup Text, a free and confi- dential 24-hour text support service, gives access to a range of helplines and support services on a range of topics for young people in difficulty throughout the year. At the touch of a button, the service can be accessed free of charge by all mobile phone us- ers on all networks. By simply texting the word “Headsup” to 50424, young people can receive information on a

range of topics, including teen issues, alcohol, suicide, drugs, relationships and mental health.

“The Leaving Certificate results, in particular, can represent a crossroads in a person’s life and it can be a par- ticularly difficult time for students whether they have concerns over their grades, decisions about their future or anxiety over starting college. While for some, it is undoubtedly a time of

celebration, for others it can still be a time of stress and isolation which is why it is crucial that young people know that they have somewhere to turn to for support and information,’ said Angela Kerins of Rehab.

The Samaritans, AL Anon, Aware, Women’s Aid, Childline, MABS and Bodywhys are amongst the many sup- port services offered through Head- SOF

EVER feel you’re not making the most of your talents, stuck in a rut at home or at work or could achieve much more if only you had the op- portunity? Then the Higher Educa- tion Grant Scheme could give you the opportunity you’ve been waiting for, to re-train, qualify or pursue the career you’ve always wanted. Even if you have found the course of your dreams but are worried about money the scheme may be able to help.

“In a recent case a man went into Shannon Citizens Information Cen- tre (CIC) who was unhappy at work. He’d spent years working as an elec-

trician in a specialist company but felt frustrated and limited career- wise. His hobby and real interest was photography but he felt it was too late (and too expensive!) to re- turn to education. The information officer suggested he might consider a photography qualification (for ex- ample, a degree) and explained the range of educational grants available to him. Now in his second year at the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art & Design, the former electrician is doing extremely well. Although his income has changed, he receives a Higher Education Grant to help with the costs of returning to education,” said Paul Woulfe, Manger with the

Citizens information Service in the

eee ANe The Higher Education Grants Scheme provides means-tested

grants to eligible students on ap- proved courses. Application forms are available from your local author- ity or VEC. If you are already on a social welfare payment, the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) al- lows you to study at second and third level without losing your benefits. You must meet certain criteria to be eligible for the BTEA.

A candidate is deemed a mature candidate for the purpose of a grant if he is at least 23 years on | Janu- ary of the year of entry or re-entry

to an approved course of third-level education in an approved institution. Eligibility is normally calculated by comparing the reckonable income of the candidate in the year ending December 31 of the year in which he enters the course with the means test tables of the scheme in that year. In the case of mature students who are deemed dependent on their parents, reckonable income of their parents must be assessed. A mature student is deemed dependent on his parents if he ordinarily resides at home with his parents.

In the case of our electrician, his income entitled him to 75 per cent of the maintenance grant (part-mainte-

nance and full fees) as his earning in 2007 was below €42,235. The grant is worth ©2,565 per year to him. Students who qualify for grant as- sistance also have the student service charge paid on their behalf.

The non-adjacent rate of main- tenance grant shall be payable to all mature candidates who qualify, having been assessed either as a de- pendent or independent mature can- didate.

Make sure you apply early and study all the documentation, seeking assistance if necessary advises the Citizens Information Service.

The deadline for applying for the grant is August 29.

I HAVEN’T test driven many Citro-

en cars in recent years, but when I do they have been motors to remember. The C6 stands out as sheer luxury; the C4 Picasso is remembered for all that glass at the front and Citroen’s first SUV, the C-Crosser which was launched at the end of last year, is also a massive motor.

Last week I was testing the new C5 and straight away let me say that without a shadow of a doubt this car oozes class. Externally it looks really cool thanks to those beautiful front headlamps and inside it’s so roomy and comfortable. The rear end 1s also very attractive.

When you sit in the first thing that strikes you is the impressive array of slave controls on the steering wheel. They are not really on the wheel, but incorporated into a separate section that doesn’t move with the wheel.

Right in front of you get a digital speedometer, so no excuses for get- ting any penalty points.

Then you notice how comfortable the driver and front seat passenger seats are. They literally hug your posterior. Unfortunately you cannot see out over the bonnet and have to use your judgment when parking, but like most things in life you get used to it.

All good ads create a bit of con- troversy. And Citroen’s ad for the C5 where they say that the C5 is ‘Unmistakeably German, Made in

France, had the bloggers on over- drive. I haven’t seen the ads on Irish television, but you can of course

check it out on You Tube. We are all supposed to be Europeans now, yet there is no better way to start a row

than compare traits from different oles aloe I liked the line from the brochure

which simply stated ‘Passion meets Logic.’

I drove a diesel model and it was very quiet. There is plenty of room for five adults and the boot is huge. It would I feel be ideal for taxi drivers or even for chauffeuring work.

The car was awarded a five-star Euro NCAP rating, making the C5 one of the safest cars on the road. You get up to nine front, side and curtain airbags plus a specially cre- ated torso-shaped bag for extra safe- ty. In the Dynamique model I drove you also get a host of extras includ- ing 17 inch alloy wheels, fog lights, auto wipers, etc.

It really is a beautiful looking car and would I think look well in any driveway.

Prices start at €27,850 for the 1.8 petrol, while the price of the 1.6 diesel version I drove has dropped to €29,850 from July 1. Citroen say they are the lowest CO2 emissions manufacturer, yet the C5 is rated at the C Road Tax Band which is €290 per annum. Still I suppose it’s not bad for such a large motor.

Overall a most enjoyable drive. In the words of the old song ‘C’est si bon.’

WEST Clare has seen little commer- cial development under the current area development plan during a time of national prosperity.

According to Eilis O Nuallain, from the Forward Planning Section of Clare County Council there was a lack of applications for commercial planning permission since the area plan was enacted in March 2003.

“Within a period of growth it is strange that we didn’t get more com- mercial applicants within the settle- ments,” she said.

The planning expert was addressing a special meeting of the Kilrush area

councillors called to address the new west Clare area plan. The new plan must be adopted by March 2009, and the draft in place by September 25.

“It does seem that west Clare is not capturing what it should given its ad- vantage,” said Ms O Nuallain.

She told the councillors as part of her research she examined all of the planning permission requests in west Clare to see where the pressure points were.

“In situations where there was no pressure is it worth having land zoned?” she asked.

There are 36 settlements and five clusters in west Clare.

“If a cluster has not preformed or

developed in the period of a plan we need to discuss it. Leaving is as it is not doing any good,’ she said.

Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind) asked for a document outlining all the flood planes and storm drains in the area to be provided before the councillors agreed to any new plan.

Rezoning of land was also an issue of concern to council members.

“We need to take a serious look at what is zoned. There is land out in Cree that will never be sold and there are areas trying to develop,’ he said.

Director of Services and Kilrush Town Manager, Bernadette Kinsella assured the councillors that the plan would be the “members plan” and

the council officials would imple- ment it “whether we agree with all of it or not”’.

The west Clare area is now invited to have its say on the 2003 plans and how it worked or more importantly didn’t. On August 26, 27 and 28 council officials will be in Kilkee, Kildysat and Kilmhil to meet with the public to discuss the old plan and how the 2009 plan may work more SLUGS AUU DAY

People are invited to “drop in” be- tween 7.30pm and 9pm at locations yet to be organised and to make sug- gestions.

A draft plan will then be drawn up and the plan will go on display.

THE Health Service Executive has given a clean bill of health to a Crat- loe-based nursing home – but only after an earlier inspection produced a critical report on aspects of its op- eration earlier this year.

After an unannounced inspection in March, the HSE found that best practice was not being implemented in a number of areas in the operation of the 40 bed Sancta Maria nursing home at Cratloe.

The report found that the deficien- cies appeared to be due to insuffi- cient staff numbers, but also reflect- ed inadequate supervision of work

practices.

However the HSE report concluded that the inspection team considered that the nursing home had a good standard of management.

The report found that on the day of inspection, several beds were made up with stained, crumpled and untidy linen and recommended that those beds to be remade using fresh linen.

“Accommodation in some _ bed- rooms was quite congested, making cleaning, nursing duties and circula- tion in those rooms somewhat diffi- cult. A redistribution of beds within the home is recommended.”

The report suggested that “a suffi- cient number of competent staff are

on duty at all times having regard to the number of persons maintained and the extent of their dependency”’.

This followed the inspectors dis- covering that care attendants do the laundry in the nursing home.

‘This is inappropriate, as it reduces their availability to residents: their role should be solely in providing di- rect patient care. Many areas within the nursing home, particularly in the older part of the building and the kitchen, were poorly and inadequate- ly cleaned.”

The HSE recorded that the previ- ous inspection in August of last year found the nursing home to be “sub- stantially compliant with current

nursing home inspectorate regula- tions at the time of inspection”.

A spokesman for the nursing home said that the building was undergo- Thovcmmaet-y(O) Mm Kos AUDMOyEJevON(oUO MEI ME ROCoMmBD Dele of the HSE inspection earlier this year and has since had two inspec- tions where the HSE found it to be fully in compliance.

He said that all the requirements from the first HSE report this year had been complied with.

‘Before the March inspection, we never had a breach. This is a family run home and we maintain the high- est of standards. We get a lot of re- peat business and if families weren’t happy, they wouldn’t return.”

Saturday, August 16th: