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KILDARE

Parents terrified by the prospect of a serious accident outside a Newbridge primary school are organizing a meeting this week in a bid to force the council to put a pedestrian crossing in place.

Currently, there is no crossing directly outside St Patrick’s School at Morristown, despite constant requests from parents, the school management and local residents that some action be taken.

Moreover, the nearest pedestrian crossing at the Morristown Road junction is currently viewed as grossly inadequate because of a lack of filter arrows. This is despite the fact that, in addition to pupils attending St Patrick’s, that junction also serves neighboring Scoil Mhuire.
 [Source: Kildare Nationalist]

KILKENNY

A football player who assaulted the mentor of the opposing team at a football match was sentenced to five months in prison.

The judge described the incident as “naked violence” and “hooliganism.” Philip Roche, New Road, Moneenroe, Castlecomer was convicted of the assault at the GAA grounds, Grennan, Thomastown on June 1, 2009.

Ann Donnelly, a spectator at the match said that she witnessed a player being sent off. “A man was walking off and the Glenmore mentor was standing on the sideline. He walked over and boxed him in the face and hit him straight into the face. I heard a crack.
 [Source: Kilkenny People]

LAOIS

From a void of information to an 82-page detailed report, the HSE has published a document in which it says it will consult and recommend a decision, but that a Government Minister will have the final say on Abbeyleix and Shaen Hospitals.

Nearly six months after being forced to consult on closure plans, the executive published a document entitled Older Persons Services, HSE Midlands, Information and Consultation two weeks ago.

The report does two things. It sets out the nursing home landscape in the midlands and the position of St Brigid’s Shaen and the Abbeyleix Community Nursing Unit. In the information section of the report, the HSE makes clear that it is still “contemplating” closure. The report also publishes the consultation process ordered in the High Court.

The HSE has declined to bring in an independent party in any part of the consultation process.

ithout any reference to outside expertise, the executive will lead the consultation and a senior HSE manager will consider the evidence and make a recommendation to the Minister for Health, James Reilly.
[Source: Leinster Express]

LEITRIM

The crisis in youth unemployment has reached alarming levels according to Senator Marc MacSharry. According to the latest figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) there are 488 people under the age of 25 on the Live Register in Co. Leitrim.

Of these 374 are registered through the south Leitrim office in Carrick-on-Shannon and a further 114 are registered in Manorhamilton.

Speaking to the Leitrim Observer following the launch of Fianna Fáil’s National Strategy to Tackle Youth Unemployment, Senator MacSharry said that unemployment “is the greatest crisis facing the country”.
[Source: Leitrim Observer]

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Nster.com