Ireland's Eye: What's going on in the old sod this week

A look at news from around Ireland

The half-price sale – which saw three-beds in the city selling for €215,000 –heralded a temporary halt in construction for the company until late next year.

“What we have for sale was ‘specced’ during the boom. We can’t continue to build at that high spec, we’d be losing money,” a spokesperson for O’Malley Construction said.
Since the sale was announced, booking deposits were taken on three properties, and the builders have reported strong viewing levels.

The company cut prices by up to 45% in its Boireann Bheag and Réileán developments in Roscam on the east side of the city and at Leargán in Knocknacarra on the western side.

During the day-long sale this Saturday, 1,400 square foot four-bed semis in Réileán were selling for €235,000 (down from €420,000); with 1,600 square foot units at €245,000.

Connacht Tribune

Dog Duty

Limerick County Council have never issued a fine for dog fouling in a public place, it has been confirmed.

The revelation comes as the local authority prepares to roll out new pooper scooper dispensers on a trial basis, in a bid to get pet owners to tidy up after nature has called.

Responding to a question on the matter by Councilor Damien Riedy, Mary Killeen Fitzgerald of the County Council Environment Department confirmed that no fine has ever been issued for dog fouling due to the “difficult” process involved.

In order to hand out the €150 fine for dog fouling, a litter warden has to see the dog create the waste and be able to identify the dog’s owner.

Likewise, if a member of the public makes a complaint about dog fouling, he or she must be willing to identify the owner and possibly give evidence to be used in court.

Killeen Fitzgerald said that given these administrative difficulties, the council is now placing extra emphasis on prevention.

In the next two months, trial pooper scooper dispensers are to be installed in the park in Castletroy and the Demesne in Newcastle West.  If these prove successful, they will be expanded to other areas.

Riedy said that dog waste is creating a serious public health hazard in areas like the Demesne, and needs to be tackled.

He added that parents have approached him with concerns about dog waste near playgrounds in parks.

Limerick Leader

Ready for Snow

Kildare is ready if we are hit with another big freeze this winter -- that’s the message from Kildare County Council.

Salt stocks are being stockpiled and the local authority is prepared to tackle a recurrence of last year’s conditions, which paralyzed many parts of the county.

A council spokesperson said, “Salt supplies have been centrally purchased by the National Roads Authority (NRA) and on behalf of the Department of Transport. These will be available for purchase by local authorities. The amount of salt required will depend on the severity of the weather.”

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Nster.com