Latest news with #JerryButtimer
Irish Independent
05-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
New Cork sexual health centre location marks a ‘significant new chapter' for organisation
Founded in the 1980s as Cork AIDS Alliance, the organisation had operated from its premises at 16 Peter's Street for almost four decades. Sexual Health Centre's new location was officially opened by Minister Jerry Buttimer on Friday. 'This move is about more than just bricks and mortar,' said Fiona Finn, chief executive of the Sexual Health Centre. 'Relocating to South Mall is a powerful step forward in our mission to provide sexual health services for all. 'This modern, accessible facility allows us to meet the increasing demand for our services and to continue evolving in response to the changing needs of our community. 'The move takes sexual health to the heart of Cork city,' she added. The new premises provides additional counselling and support rooms, as well as a dedicated space for community outreach, education and events. The organisation said it remains committed to offering confidential, non-judgmental support and information on all aspects of sexual health, including rapid HIV testing, at-home SH24 self-test kits, free condoms, LGBTQ+ supports, pregnancy counselling and more. Chair of the Sexual Health Centre, Ciaran Lynch, said the facility's move marks a 'significant chapter' in the organisation's story. 'As we turn the page, we want to recognize the dedication and hard work of our current team and board, as well as pay tribute to those who came before us,' Mr Lynch said. 'This shared commitment has been instrumental in shaping the Centre into what it is today.'
Irish Examiner
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Northside jail rates spark ministerial review as prison plans face local opposition
The Minister of State for rural and community development has asked officials in the department to examine the findings of a major Irish Examiner investigation into who is being jailed in Cork and why. Jerry Buttimer said it was 'disconcerting' to read how, despite decades of targeted government investment in areas of the city officially classed as 'disadvantaged,' these areas still account for the highest number of jail terms imposed — and that this needs to be examined. The analysis of almost 1,500 jail terms imposed in Cork courts over the last five years found that seven northside suburbs were in the top 10 for the number of jail terms imposed. These areas align closely with parts of the city classed as 'disadvantaged' or 'very disadvantaged' in the 2022 Pobal Deprivation Index. These areas have higher rates of unemployment and lone parenting, and lower rates of school completion and third-level participation. The Irish Examiner analysis also found that people living on the northside received, on average, longer jail terms than those with an address on the southside. It revealed that homeless people received almost a quarter of the jail sentences handed down in the city courts over five years, and that addiction or substance abuse was cited in almost three-quarters of the cases analysed. Theft, assault, public order, and drugs offences were the most frequently mentioned in the city courts, with men accounting for 87% of all jail terms. Men's sentences were, on average, twice as long as those imposed on women. Mr Buttimer congratulated the Irish Examiner for the investigation, describing it as 'an important piece of work.' Jerry Buttimer said it was 'disconcerting' to read how, despite decades of targeted government investment in areas of the city officially classed as 'disadvantaged,' these areas still account for the highest number of jail terms imposed. Picture: Daragh Mc Sweeney While he highlighted several positive examples of family and youth projects involving the Irish Prison Service, local resource centres, and the Cork ETB aimed at addressing recidivism, he acknowledged there is still a major problem. 'I've spoken to officials in my own department in community rural development on how we can ensure that there is, with Pobal, a piece of work done so that we can ensure that the investment we are putting in is paying dividends, in terms of people not being institutionalised in prison,' he said. 'We also have to work with different organisations to ensure there is a pathway to education, to safer streets, to rehabilitation from drug and alcohol misuse. 'But it is disconcerting to see that despite the vast sums of money spent by Government over generations, over decades, there is a map that illustrates a clear issue that we have to have a clear conversation on. 'I've asked people in my department to look at that as well.' The research comes as opposition grows on the city's northside to recent government plans to repurpose the old Cork Prison building to provide around 300 new prison spaces. Tánaiste Simon Harris said the government will engage with the local community on the plan, but stated that his 'high-level instinct' is that the State's prison capacity must be increased—and quickly. That increased capacity, he said, would provide the space for education and training programmes aimed at tackling the revolving door problem in the prison system. 'Providing adequate prison space, having it properly staffed and adequately resourced, provides that space or an environment within the prison where there can be a focus on ending the revolving door, by saying to people, how are you going to get your life back on track,' he said. 'Our population has grown and grown very significantly in recent years. 'We in the Oireachtas voted to increase the sentencing - that people who carry out heinous crimes should pay in terms of the time in prison, and that does require extra prison spaces. 'The minister for justice has an important role to do in bringing that extra space on track as quickly as possible. 'Having said that, any process has to engage with communities. 'Any process has to be conscious of the views of communities, and this government will absolutely engage with the community in relation to that. 'But we want to make sure our streets are safe, we want to make sure crime never pays, and one of the greatest deterrents to crime is people knowing there is enough prison capacity and if I commit a crime, I'm have a decent chance of going to prison." Read More From northside to southside: What your address means when the gavel falls in Cork
Irish Independent
24-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Mitchelstown and Cobh get new remote working hubs
The Mitchelstown hub is located above the library in the heart of the town. It has 36 desk spaces, including hot desks, a large office with space for 10 people, several smaller offices and a meeting room. It's open for use 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Cobh hub has 15 desk spaces and three offices for two or three people. It's co-located with Cobh Library in the Arch Building on Casement Square, a historic building that dates back to the early 1800s and which was a former market house and town hall. The two hubs were co-funded by the Department of Rural & Community Development under the Town & Village Renewal Scheme and by Cork County Council. There are now 387 remote working hubs in Ireland as part of the Connected Hubs network, including 39 in County Cork. Speaking at the opening, Cork South-Central TD and Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Jerry Buttimer, said remote working hubs help to enhance local economies and revitalise communities by offering diverse services to remote workers, SMEs, and start-ups. "These hubs are essential in promoting sustainable, flexible work options. They can also increase productivity, help to improve collaboration and create networking opportunities as well as saving money for businesses and their employees," he said. 'The flexible work hubs are a wonderful addition to the town centres, providing working facilities and private offices for the local communities. The new hubs will significantly enhance the local capacity to start, expand and scale enterprises. In North Cork, the hub will complement the fantastic work being done by the Mitchelstown Enterprise Centre," said Mayor of Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll. Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Moira Murrell, said the hubs will contribute to vibrant and inclusive local economies by nurturing an ecosystem and offering workers the freedom to choose where they live and work. "These initiatives can have a positive impact on personal and family lives, as well as promoting economic growth and fostering opportunities for sustainable development,' she said. Daily, weekly and monthly rentals of the hubs are available. Enquiries and reservations for a desk or office can be made on the Connected Hubs website
Irish Independent
18-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Boost for 148 Leitrim community projects as over €110,000 allocated to help with running costs
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, and Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer TD, have) announced the successful projects under the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2025. The funding aims to provide capital supports essential for the many small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged areas in rural and urban areas. The funding will support local groups with ongoing running costs. Cathaoirleach of Leitirm County Council Councillor Paddy O'Rourke said the funding will greatly benefit the groups across the county. 'I would like to thank the Minister and the Dept of Rural and Community Development and Gaeltacht for this significant funding allocation of more than €110,000 towards 148 community projects across County Leitrim through the Local Enhancement Programme 2025. "I would also like to warmly congratulate all of the community groups that were successful in securing funding and to thank them for the vital work that they continue to do,' said Cllr O'Rourke. Chief Executive of Leitrim of County Council, Joseph Gilhooly also welcomed the funding. "I welcome this allocation of funding to the county by the Dept .of Rural and Community Development and Gaeltacht. "This funding will provide much needed financial support to 148 community projects throughout the County. "Community groups are both key contributors and a valued partner in developing our county and enriching the social fabric and the lives of those who live within our county,' said Mr Gilhooly. The Local Enhancement Programme 2025 was launched in November 2024. The funding provides capital supports essential for the many small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged areas in rural and urban areas and also current funding to support local groups with ongoing running costs. The Department of Rural and Community Development and Gaeltacht's Local Enhancement Programme 2025 is administered by the Leitrim Local Community Development Committees, with support from Leitrim County Council.
Irish Times
15-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
TDs and senators question if €7m Dáil broadcasting contract is value for money
A cross-party group of 125 TDs and senators, including a Government Minister, has called for a review of the estimated €7 million contract for audio and video coverage of Oireachtas proceedings, with questions around its value for money. In a letter to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, which runs Leinster House, the public representatives, including Minister of State Jerry Buttimer , said there is a 'compelling case' for the commission to directly employ the 10 full-time and 20 part-time professional broadcast workers providing the coverage, 'given the extremely concerning working conditions and pay issues'. They allege 'precarious and uncertain working hours, withdrawal of pay during Oireachtas recess periods – including Christmas – lack of pension entitlements, pay that is significantly below the industry norm, lack of any retainer payment and a culture of criticism from management'. 'These workers are left to rely on social welfare for periods when the Oireachtas is not in session.' READ MORE The letter also says 'it is difficult to see what a contract with a private company adds to the services they provide given that all the skilled work is carried out by these workers and their equipment is provided by the Oireachtas itself'. The first five-year contract was issued in 2011 for €7 million. TDs and senators are attempting to establish the current value of the contract 'and how this money is spent'. Pi Communications, the current contractor, which provides a similar service to the Northern Ireland Assembly , has said the contract operates on a 'pay per public minute model'. Based on the 2011 contract, this meant €250 an hour for each hour of broadcast, as well as an overall contract fee. The employees broadcast the live feeds of the Dáil, Seanad and committees. They also oversee the archiving of all feeds. The company said the workers have a guaranteed fixed amount of work 'each full sitting week', with 'certainty of income for their contracted work'. However, one employee, who did not want to be named, said most of the employees are on 'casual part-time contracts' with 'only one day a week guaranteed, which is very precarious'. Some workers have no guaranteed days and are only brought in occasionally, the employee said. In response, Pi Communications said: 'We are surprised and disappointed that some who have commented on our operations did not first fact-check the accuracy and veracity of ill-founded claims.' The company said the employees earn substantially more than the national living wage, with attractive bonus arrangements and receive paid leave and sick leave. Employees 'are free to work on other projects or for other employers, as is the norm in our industry'. It said salaries are regularly benchmarked and commensurate with roles, skills, experience and responsibilities. Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide, who co-ordinated the TDs. and senators' letter, said public representatives question 'the value for money' the contract provides. They believe it would be cheaper for the Oireachtas to pay the workers directly. He said the 'only overheads in the contract would seem to be the employees' pay', as the equipment is supplied by the Oireachtas. The issue has been referred to the Public Accounts Committee and to the Oireachtas Media Committee. The letter says the contract is due for renewal this year. It adds that any review should include an in-depth investigation into the issues raised by the broadcast workers, which they have previously attempted to resolve through industrial relations mechanisms. Included in the group of 125 calling for the review is Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, Labour leader Ivana Bacik, Social Democrats acting leader Cian O'Callaghan, and former journalists Evanne Ní Chuilinn (Fine Gael) and Alison Comyn (Fianna Fáil), both of whom are senators. The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission has said the workers and Pi Communications are in dialogue at the Workplace Relations Commission and it would not be appropriate 'to undermine the industrial relations process'.
