Latest news with #FrankFeighan
Irish Independent
02-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Medical Council urged to review how sick certs are being issued online with no phone or video consultations
Fine Gael TD, Frank Feighan, said there are 'serious issues and concerns' among employers and argued the online system is 'wide open to abuse'. The Sligo-Leitrim politician raised the matter in the Dáil on Wednesday afternoon following an Irish Independent investigation earlier this week. 'When it comes to someone's health, it is vital that a consultation takes place between a doctor and patient,' he said. 'From a medical practitioner's point of view, an employer's point of view and patient safety, there are some serious issues and concerns here.' Mr Feighan said he was aware that health minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, had been in touch with the Irish Medical Council about the matter and 'hoped some action will be taken following the interaction'. Minister MacNeill said 'it is an issue for enterprise, social protection and indeed health'. 'The Medical council is there to protect the public. Part of that is registering doctors and part of that is making sure they are operating to a very high standard. 'I would encourage the Medical Council to reflect on the issue that you have correctly highlighted, recognising the impact it may have on employers, particularly small businesses, and I can assure you that everyone in Government takes a strong interest in this'. The Irish Independent investigation revealed how employers are having to accept digital sick certs issued without any phone or video consultations being carried out by doctors - even though the Department of Social Protection refuses them for social welfare schemes because they do not meet the standard required. Certs are being advertised on some medical websites for between €25 and €45, with students and employees required to fill out an online questionnaire to allow their request to be reviewed. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more When Irish Independent reporters applied to six websites for sick certs complaining of headaches and flu symptoms, three arranged a phone call with a GP. Four of the sites did not ask for proof of identification and all provided a cert within a short timeframe. Medical professionals say that digital certification helps keep infectious people out of clinics and workplaces, and frees up scarce GP time. While the Irish Medical Council's guidelines do not require live interaction before a doctor signs off on a sick cert, concerns have been raised that the online system may be open to exploitation. Certs are also being provided to Irish students and employees by doctors based in countries outside the EU, who do not appear to be registered with the Irish Medical Council. The Sick Leave Act states certs have to be signed by GPs registered to practice here. The Irish Medical Council has been contacted for comment.
Irish Independent
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
‘We'll put an end to students doomscrolling on smartphones' – Tánaiste vows to get young people ‘talking and laughing' again
Phone pouches for schools are now to be joined by other forms of secure storage after a cabinet decision this week. Funding of €9m was allocated in the last Budget for the pouches, which Sinn Féin immediately branded an example of government waste. However, a central procurement arrangement will be put in place to enable nationwide phone bans starting from the next school year. Schools can apply for funding support for 'phone-storage solutions', starting at primary school level, with post-primary schools to follow. Examples of phone-storage options include pouches, lockable boxes, cubby holes and drop-off and collection at the school office. 'This is a pragmatic and sensible way to proceed,' Mr Harris said. 'I think it will be welcomed by school principals, teachers, boards of management and, I believe, young people. 'We need to look at what more we need to do to allow our children be children. 'We need to allow them to learn and be educated in a safe environment, with the sounds of young people laughing and talking to each other – rather than doomscrolling on their phones during the day.' Guidance will soon be provided to all schools on putting policies in place to ensure they are mobile-free zones during the day. Students will be encouraged to disconnect and to learn, Mr Harris said. They could also 'make friends without the distractions that can arise from the use of mobile phones'. Further guidance will be provided to post-primary schools, outlining the terms, conditions and mechanisms to apply for funding. ADVERTISEMENT Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan said it was also about 'how young people might be protected from cyber bullying in the classroom setting'. He said that in Northern Ireland the phone pouch scheme was implemented, despite some opposition. 'It is clear that every school is different and must be enabled financially to implement their particular strategy on the curtailment of the use of smart phones during class time,' he said. A survey in 2023 of more than 1,000 school students, conducted by Studyclix, found that 83pc were worried they used their phones too much. A total of 38pc said they used their smartphone for more than four hours per day, with 60pc within this cohort using them for more than six hours.
Irish Independent
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
Sligo to get extra EV charging hubs
An allocation of almost €8 million will be provided to support grants for recharging infrastructure at the selected sites, with chargers set to be in place by the end of this year. These new sites will deliver 175 new fast and ultra-fast recharging points, at 53 locations along the national road network, making it quicker and easier for EV drivers to top up on longer journeys. The announcement is part of a wider plan to build a reliable recharging network across the country, with the distance between recharging hubs to be 60km or less. The recharging hubs are funded through the Light Duty Vehicle (LDV) initiative operated by Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI), and delivered by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). This phase of the initiative focused on over 1,200km of national single carriageway roads. Enterprises such as petrol/service station operators, car park owners, hotels, supermarkets/retail outlets, and others with publicly accessible sites, could apply through a competitive grant process for funding. The total allocation for this aspect is €7.9 million. Applegreen, Carraroe, Sligo N4; Whiteside's SuperValu, Ballisodare, N4; Surlis SuperValu, Tubbercurry, N17; Drive Service stations Ltd, Sligo, N17. Sligo Leitrim TD, Frank Feighan has welcomed the announcement of the nomination of 7 sites across Leitrim, South Donegal, and Sligo. 'It is vital for this region and constituency that we expand our EV charging network to facilitate EV owners who visit this region for either work or leisure purposes. 'I would like to see more of our smaller villages and towns get the funding to provide town centre fast charging EV points to ensure that more and more people have the opportunity to visit our locality including EV owners without the concern of range anxiety,' said Deputy Feighan. The nominating sites in Leitrim are: Rooney's Supervalu, Manorhamilton and Rosebank Retail Park, Carrick-on-Shannon.
Irish Independent
29-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Funding announced for Sligo Folk Park autism friendly sensory garden and wheelchair accessible paths
Deputy Frank Feighan has welcomed the funding. 'Strong social enterprises are important for our local communities and play a crucial role in creating jobs, addressing social challenges, and fostering a more inclusive society, so I'm delighted to see this significant funding of the 5 social enterprises in Co. Sligo. 'The purpose of this fund is to provide capital grant supports to assist social enterprises across Ireland to achieve their social, environmental, or economic objectives.' Riverstown Enterprise Development (Sligo) Ltd. Sligo has been allocated €95,802.05 to fund the installation of wheelchair appropriate pathways throughout the park and install an autism friendly sensory garden to improve inclusivity for individuals with additional needs. County Sligo Heritage & Genealogy Society Sligo will receive €4,853.00 for improvements of ICT equipment to provide safety and sustainability of database. The €15,000 earmarked for Cherryswan CLG Sligo will be used to fund essential maintenance of the hall floor to ensure it is accessible for all users. Sligo Social Services Sligo is to receive €14,869 to fund the transition to reusable dishes for a meals on wheels service which will create energy and resource efficiencies to sustain the social enterprise by reducing expenditure and to reduce the impact on the environment in the provision of the meals on wheels service. Meanwhile, Ox Mountain Development Co. Ltd. Sligo will used the €13,775 allocated to fund the purchase of a compact oven to improve the menu to offer hot food options. 'We have all seen the invaluable work carried out by social enterprises across Sligo and I am delighted to see support for these vital organisations. 'In particular, I welcome funding for Riverstown Enterprise Development (Sligo) Ltd. throughout the community we know how hard they work, and this funding will go a long way to supporting them carry out their essential work. 'The funding announced will help encourage and sustain strong social enterprise in Co. Sligo the funding is clear evidence of Fine Gael and Minister Jerry Buttimer's commitment to supporting this important sector,' concluded Deputy Feighan. The funding has also been welcomed by Junior Minister Marian Harkin. She commended the range and vision of the projects supported in this round of funding, noting that they reflect the innovation and commitment of local social enterprises in addressing real community needs. She emphasised the importance of continued government investment in this sector, particularly given its strong track record of fostering social cohesion, generating local employment, and delivering services that otherwise might not be available in rural or disadvantaged areas. She added that this investment is aligned with the goals of the 'Trading for Impact' strategy, part of Ireland's second National Social Enterprise Policy, which was launched in July 2024. This policy sets out a clear vision to cultivate and sustain a vibrant social enterprise sector through actions that build awareness, promote growth, support the green transition, strengthen national and international engagement, and enhance impact measurement.
Irish Independent
28-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Autism friendly sensory garden amongst projects grant aided in Sligo
Deputy Frank Feighan has welcomed the funding. 'Strong social enterprises are important for our local communities and play a crucial role in creating jobs, addressing social challenges, and fostering a more inclusive society, so I'm delighted to see this significant funding of the 5 social enterprises in Co. Sligo. 'The purpose of this fund is to provide capital grant supports to assist social enterprises across Ireland to achieve their social, environmental, or economic objectives. The full list of successful applicants are as follows, Riverstown Enterprise Development (Sligo) Ltd. Sligo €95,802.05 To fund the installation of wheelchair appropriate pathways throughout the park and install an Autism Friendly Sensory Garden to improve inclusivity for individuals with additional needs. County Sligo Heritage & Genealogy Society Sligo €4,853.00 – To fund improvements of ICT equipment to provide safety and sustainability of database. Cherryswan CLG Sligo €15,000.00 -To fund essential maintenance of the hall floor to ensure it is accessible for all users. Sligo Social Services Sligo – €14,869.00 To fund the transition to reusable dishes for a meals on wheels service which will create energy and resource efficiencies to sustain the social enterprise by reducing expenditure and to reduce the impact on the environment in the provision of the meals on wheels service. Ox Mountain Development Co. Ltd. Sligo €13,775.00 – To fund the purchase of a compact oven to improve the menu to offer hot food options. 'We have all seen the invaluable work carried out by social enterprises across Sligo and I am delighted to see support for these vital organisations. 'In particular, I welcome funding for Riverstown Enterprise Development (Sligo) Ltd. throughout the community we know how hard they work, and this funding will go a long way to supporting them carry out their essential work. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 'The funding announced will help encourage and sustain strong social enterprise in Co. Sligo the funding is clear evidence of Fine Gael and Minister Jerry Buttimer's commitment to supporting this important sector,' concluded Deputy Feighan. The funding has also been welcomed by Junior Minister Marian Harkin. She commended the range and vision of the projects supported in this round of funding, noting that they reflect the innovation and commitment of local social enterprises in addressing real community needs. She emphasised the importance of continued government investment in this sector, particularly given its strong track record of fostering social cohesion, generating local employment, and delivering services that otherwise might not be available in rural or disadvantaged areas. She added that this investment is aligned with the goals of the 'Trading for Impact' strategy, part of Ireland's second National Social Enterprise Policy, which was launched in July 2024. This policy sets out a clear vision to cultivate and sustain a vibrant social enterprise sector through actions that build awareness, promote growth, support the green transition, strengthen national and international engagement, and enhance impact measurement.
