Latest news with #SamBoal
Extra.ie
14 hours ago
- Business
- Extra.ie
Parents of primary school pupils now collecting cans to fund schools
Primary schools across the country have become reliant on the Deposit Return Scheme to raise money to 'keep the lights on'. Parents are increasingly being asked to chip in through fundraisers to make up shortfalls in capital grants, which are used for day-to-day running expenses, including heating and insurance. While the grants are set to rise from €200 per child to €224, teaching unions have said they are at 2007 levels. As a result, parents and children have been asked to take part in multiple fundraisers, including collecting bottles and cans, which can be redeemed for up to 25c via the Deposit Return Scheme. Parents and children have been asked to take part in multiple fundraisers, including collecting bottles and cans, which can be redeemed for up to 25c via the Deposit Return Scheme. Pic: Sam Boal/ Séamus Mulconry of The Catholic Primary School Management Association has said that in many schools, this has now become an 'integral part of their financial planning. They're desperate to raise cash and we have a lot of schools now who are dependent on money from collecting plastic bottles to pay for school essentials,' he told Pat Kenny on Newstalk yesterday. When contacted by the Department of Education said: 'The manner in which voluntary contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school management.' A spokesman said fundraising must not create a situation where parents or pupils could infer the contributions are compulsory in nature'. The Irish National Teachers Organisation has attributed the increased reliance on fundraising to the insufficient capitation grants offered to schools. It said: 'The capita – tion grants stand at €200 per pupil (due to rise to €224 per pupil from September), the same as it was 14 years ago, despite significant inflationary pressures that have increased operational costs.' Primary schools across the country have become reliant on the Deposit Return Scheme to raise money to 'keep the lights on'. Pic: Maskot/Getty The INTO has called on the Government 'to deliver an increase of €75 per primary pupil' on the capitation grant in the budget. They say the current rate of capitation grants 'has placed an intolerable burden' on school principals, and has seen a rise in teachers and parents participating in fundraising to keep the lights on. Mr Mulcroney noted that by September, there would be €224 per pupil to run schools, but they will receive €536 per head to feed pupils via the School Meals Scheme. 'We're taking good care of pupils in that respect… but we're not taking care of the running costs of the school. We interviewed over 90 schools, and from 2019 to 2024, costs have gone up by 60%. This included cleaning bills going up 60%, insurance 30% and heating 80%. It's all these things together that leave schools struggling. We have always been underfunded, now we're under water.' Labour education spokesman Eoghan Kenny TD has called on the Government to raise the capitation rates in line with inflation. Pic Stephen Collins/Collins Photos Labour education spokesman Eoghan Kenny TD has called on the Government to raise the capitation rates in line with inflation. 'I don't think the department realises the extent of the costs facing schools. Very basic needs are not being met. This is the fault of the Department of Education and this Government,' he said. Social Democrats' education spokeswoman Jen Cummings also called for rates to match inflation. 'Parents are not fundraisers. They are taxpayers who deserve a free education system, not one built on endless appeals for voluntary donations to plug State funding gaps.' Primary schools are also grappling with updating software systems. This comes after the department announced in June that there would be a 30% cut to the ICT minor works grant, used by schools to buy and maintain computer equipment. Ms Cummins said the cuts put extra pressure on schools after Microsoft said it will no longer be servicing Windows 10, a software many schools still rely on. This has created financial difficulties for schools that will soon need to upgrade their systems.
Extra.ie
15 hours ago
- Business
- Extra.ie
Plans for new Luas lines 'should be fast-tracked'
An ambitious plan for the future of the Luas would see two new circular lines running on the outskirts of Dublin city centre, along with an orbital route outside the M50 motorway. One of the suggested circular lines would run from Finglas past DCU, through Drumcondra, along Griffith Avenue, and on to Marino and Fairview. The Luas 2050 vision would also include new lines to Blanchardstown, Clondalkin, Balgriffin, and Clongriffin, according to an internal presentation from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). A new Luas line 'should be fast-tracked'. Pic: Getty Images It said light rail would be a key part of future public transport in the capital and plans for new lines should be accelerated. However, it found issues with the existing Luas network and highlighted that there are not enough trams on the Red Line which connects the Docklands to Tallaght and Saggart. It said there are constraints to increasing services and managing future demand, but there may now be an 'appetite to address' some of the challenges, given the success of the Luas network. TII said longer 55-metre trams might not be a solution as they are slower, and so much of the Red Line is shared with cars. Pic: Sam Boal/ It said that this has created possible safety issues, and more trams are needed instead of longer vehicles. The presentation said the capacity of the Green Line, which runs from Broombridge to Sandyford and Bride's Glen is 'OK for [the] short term'. It said some changes and increases in service were possible, and this could be accommodated with the existing fleet of trams. TII said there were issues with depots, with the main facility at Sandyford 'land constrained' and unsuitable for expansion. The presentation said there is room at Broombridge for an increase in size, but this is not ideal 'for operational reasons.' Pic: It said an option around land acquisition and possible expansion at the Red Cow could also be looked at in the future. The slideshow also put forward the possibility of adding lines, including an ambitious plan for circle routes over the next 25 years. It said in the short term, work should continue on an extension to Poolbeg as well as studies on the efficiency and flexibility of the Red and Green Lines. The slideshow suggested a 'new Luas project' should be examined, with one possibility being a connection to UCD. It also recommended moving forward with an extension to Bray with an indicative start date of between 2028 and 2030. The document said workshops on accelerating project delivery would be useful to help speed up development of new projects. The presentation said, from 2029 onwards, they should be starting work on a new Luas line every one to two years to have an advanced network by 2050. A spokesman for TII said: 'Transport Infrastructure Ireland, taking a strategic look ahead to 2050, allows for public and decision-making bodies – such as the Department of Transport and National Transport Authority – to see where potential investments can be made to support the country's future growth and development.'
Extra.ie
25-06-2025
- General
- Extra.ie
Watch: Moment lorry driver rescues man from burning building in Dublin
A lorry driver who reversed his truck up to a burning building in Dublin is being hailed a hero for saving a man's life. The man had been trapped on the third floor of the four-storey building on Granby Row in Dublin 1, as smoke billowed from the windows out onto the street, when the quick-thinking lorry driver reversed his lorry directly outside the burning building. After a minute or so, a man can be seen jumping from a window onto the top of the lorry to the amazement of a group of onlookers who had gathered at the scene. Dublin Fire Brigade and An Garda Síochána at the scene of a fire on Granby Row. Pic: Sam Boal/Collins Photos The lorry driver, who has since been identified as Polish man, Tomasz Zareba. Fire in Dublin this morning 😯 weldone to the truck driver 👌 👏💯 — ThisisDublin (@Thisisdublin0) June 24, 2025 Three people were hospitalised following the blaze, with gardai and Dublin Fire Brigade attending the scene. The street remained closed on Tuesday afternoon with local diversions in place, and Dublin Bus were among public transport operators implementing diversions as a result.
Extra.ie
22-06-2025
- Extra.ie
Jarring details as 150 attacks on Irish Rail trains were reported in 2024
Nearly 150 attacks on passengers and staff were reported to Irish Rail last year, including an alleged sexual assault on the Dublin to Cork service. The incidents were among over 1,500 cases of anti-social behaviour or criminal activity which occurred on trains or in stations during 2024. These included a number of hate speech episodes – including a case of racial abuse that happened on a train from Dublin to Waterford – and a 'hate incident' on board another intercity service. Pic: Rolling News In May, a customer alleged they were the victim of a sexual assault while travelling on the Dublin to Cork route, according to data released by Irish Rail under Freedom of Information legislation. Dozens of other assaults were also reported, which included attacks on passengers, on employees of Irish Rail, and on contractors working for them. On one rail service from Mallow to Tralee last spring, there was an allegation of 'inappropriate touching' on board the train. Pic: Getty Images In another case last March, a customer claimed they were the victim of an assault by gardaí and staff at Cork's Kent Station. Last December, a passenger spat in the face of an Irish Rail employee after they were refused travel at Newbridge Station in Kildare. Other incidents of anti-social behaviour included a man brandishing a knife and another person who was filming fellow passengers on board a train to Portlaoise. Pic: Sam Boal/ In one case, a threat was made to bomb a station on the X social media platform, while pickpockets were reported on one train service. There were a total of 278 incidents where a member of the public or a member of staff suffered an injury. This included a case where a passenger was hit by part of a lift that fell off at Mallow Station in Co. Cork. Another incident involved 'lewd behaviour' on board a Galway train that caused psychological distress to witnesses, which was one of at least 30 similar reports of 'lewd' activity. There were at least a dozen cases where people fell onto platforms or tripped in the gap between the platform and the train. Other incidents included a person hit by a falling piece of luggage, another who walked into a pole, and multiple passengers who were hit by ticket validator machines. One person sustained a needlestick injury at Portlaoise Station while numerous passengers either fell while getting on board or alighting from trains. Irish Rail also reported 27 cases of what they call 'category one' near misses, where people get onto tracks or are narrowly missed by trains. This included trespassers walking on railway lines, graffiti artists trying to spray paint trains or buildings, and other similar incidents. There were also numerous reports of damage to trains. The windows of one train were shattered, with two separate incidents of 'soiling'. Other incidents logged by Irish Rail last year included a catalogue of cases involving aggressive behaviour—a large number of these involved intoxicated people. Reports of begging and selling of tissues were also reported to Irish Rail.
Extra.ie
11-06-2025
- Business
- Extra.ie
Explainer: Rent Pressure Zones and what new changes could mean
Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) are set to be extended nationally for the first time since they were implemented. The new national rent control system means that the areas, where rent is capped, means that the zones will be extended to all areas in the country in order to try and combat rapidly rising rents. The implementation of RPZs has been controversial since they were first introduced, but the Housing Minister James Browne has said that the extensions will be brought in once the current RPZ deal ends on December 31. Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) are set to be extended nationally for the first time since they were implemented. Pic: Getty Images Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) are, essentially, parts of the country where the rent is capped. Initially introduced in parts of Dublin and Cork, RPZs saw rent increases being capped at 4% in these zones, but have changed since July 2021 during the onset of the cost of living crisis — where rents were capped either at 2% or the rate of inflation, whichever was lower. So, for example, if the rate of inflation was 1.9% or lower, then rent increases would be capped at 1.9%. Any higher than 2%, and increases would be capped at 2%. Landlords that have four or more properties will be unable to carry out 'no fault' evictions. Pic: Shutterstock The changes are set to be brought before Cabinet by Minister for Housing, James Browne, but the government agreed to the new system to be retained for existing tenancies, who will keep their rent cap of 2% kept. For landlords, they will be able to hike rents up if a tenant leaves the rented accommodation voluntarily, but not if they're evicted. When it comes to evictions, 'no fault' evictions will be banned for landlords who own four or more properties, while smaller landlords who own three or less will be able to evict tenants on circumstances such as financial difficulties or if they plan to have a family member moving in. Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne said that he hopes that the new rules will bring rent prices down. Pic: Sam Boal/Collins Photos New tenancies that are created from March 1, 2026 will be set at market value and have a minimum six-year rolling tenancy, with the rent being able to 'reset' and put back on to the market in 2032. Prohibition of setting rents above market value will also remain prohibited. While the government leaders have welcomed the move, there has been some pushback/skepticism from opposition parties. Minister Browne said that he's hoping the new expansion of the rules will see rents fall over time, but admitted 'What that particular length of time is, I won't be able to predict.' He added that he hopes tenants will report rule-breaking landlords to the RTB, saying 'Nobody should be able to game the system,' and hopes that fines can be increased. However, there has been some pushback — with Labour's housing spokesperson Conor Sheehan saying that the government were 'making it up as they go along.' '[The] Government need to clarify what exactly they are proposing in terms of any proposed ban on no-fault evictions which must be watertight and unequivocal,' Mr Sheehan said. 'The devil will be in the detail in relation to this and we need to see the proposals when they are published.'
