Latest news with #AsIAm
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
PTSB launches new Sustainability Strategy up to 2027
PTSB has today launched its new Sustainability Strategy, which covers the years from 2025 to 2027, and which will focus on channeling investment and directing impact towards areas that enhance societal wellbeing. These include a specific focus on providing finance to SMEs that have an environmental and social impact as well as expanding supports for personal customers through sustainable products and services. The bank also plans to enhance its financial literacy and financial wellbeing and also plans to reducing carbon emissions in line with Science Based Targets. It will also invest in local community initiatives and advocating for social inclusion, such as PTSB's Community Funding Programme and its partnership with autism charity AsIAm. Meanwhile, a new report from PTSB shows that most Irish businesses are looking at new commercial opportunities in sustainability, in areas such as energy efficiency, climate technology, circular economy, renewable energy and organic food production. PTSB's latest "Reflecting Business" report also shows more and more Irish businesses see the benefits of sustainability initiatives for both their commercial and their environmental benefit. The research found that 78% of Irish businesses see the sustainability market as a major growth opportunity to win more customers and increase revenues, while 92% say their customers are interested in sustainable products and services. It also reveals that 74% of business here said they have supported customers in making more sustainable choices, or plan to do so, while 73% said they have engaged with suppliers to source more sustainable goods or services, or plan to do so. Meanwhile, 80% of businesses said they are are interested in Impact Lending, where loans are offered to businesses on the basis of providing a positive environmental or social impact. Despite rising costs and global economic uncertainty, today's research found cautious levels of optimism among businesses, with 98% of businesses expecting to grow or remain the same over the next 12 months. 45% are expecting growth, 53% expect to remain the same, while 2% expect to decline. PTSB said that increased cost of goods and global economic turbulence are seen as the biggest challenges to growth that face businesses, with 36% citing increased cost of goods as an issue and 35% citing global economic turbulence. But despite these headwinds, 80% of businesses feel it is likely or somewhat likely that they will invest further in their business over the next 12 months, with 20% saying they are not likely to. Leontia Fannin, PTSB's Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, said the research shows that more and more Irish businesses are identifying the commercial opportunities that sustainability can bring. "Customers are changing their buying habits to become more sustainable and businesses are increasingly seeing the benefits of reflecting this shift, enhancing both their own offering and how they source their supplies," she said. "By embracing sustainability, businesses are changing their behaviours, not just for the environmental and societal benefits this can bring, but for the cost efficiencies and commercial benefits too," she added. Seán Farrell, PTSB's Head of Business Banking, said the commercial case for sustainability is growing. He said that businesses have identified the importance that existing and potential customers are placing on sustainability, and they are reacting accordingly. "Our Reflecting Business research confirms that Irish businesses recognise the competitive and strategic advantage of embedding sustainability into their operations. This reflects our own experience, with 23% of our new SME lending in 2024 to businesses that have an environmental or social impact," he said. "Businesses who invest in sustainability are also investing in their growth potential by lowering their energy usage, transport costs and by reducing waste," he added.
RTÉ News
12-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
SuperValu and Centra's new charity partnership with DRS
SuperValu and Centra customers are being offered a new way to donate to charity through the country's Deposit Return Scheme. Customers returning cans and bottles at SuperValu and Centra stores will have the option to donate their deposit to the retailers' chosen charity partners. Up to €47m will be returned to SuperValu and Centra customers through the Deposit Return Scheme this year. SuperValu is supporting AsIAm, the country's autism charity, while Centra is partnering with the Irish Cancer Society. Up to €47m will be returned to SuperValu and Centra customers through the Deposit Return Scheme this year and more than 700 DRS machines between the two networks will be used. The campaign will be rolled out across 352 machines in the Centra network and 359 machines in the SuperValu network. The new initiative is being rolled out on an initial three-month basis with the two charity partners, and with SuperValu and Centra working with different charities throughout the year. Luke Hanlon, Managing Director SuperValu and Centra, said that the Deposit Return Scheme has been a success across SuperValu and Centra stores since the rollout last year. "This initiative gives our customers a simple and effective opportunity to support great causes while increasing awareness of the Deposit Return Scheme as a whole. We look forward to working with both charities to ensure the partnership reaches its fullest potential," he said. Adam Harris, CEO of AsIAm, said that customers donating their DRS vouchers to AsIAm at SuperValu stores nationwide is a powerful way for people to show their support to make Ireland a more inclusive place for the at least one in 20 people in Ireland who are autistic, and their families. Averil Power, CEO, Irish Cancer Society, said the initiative is a really important and valuable partnership for the Irish Cancer Society.
Irish Times
09-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
‘It comes from fear': Aoife Daly on parents' battles to get autistic children into schools
When Aoife Daly read the findings of a report by inspectors into how school admissions policies are placing barriers to entry for children with autism, there was no surprise – just recognition. 'It was sobering to read, but not shocking,' said Ms Daly, who has struggled to find a school place for her five-year-old boy, Bertie, who is autistic . 'It just confirms what many parents know already.' The review of admission policies for entry to special classes at 30 mainstream schools – 15 primary and 15 post-primary – carried out by the Department of Education 's inspectorate found 'almost all' admissions policies contained conditions which could limit access to appropriate education for autistic children. These exclusionary criteria include requirements that children should be able to participate in mainstream classes; restrictions on admissions to children with a certain level of disability; or refusal to admit children on the basis of their potential behaviour. READ MORE The findings have prompted Minister for Education Helen McEntee to write to school patrons asking them to review admissions policies to ensure they adhere to legal requirements. The autism charity AsIAm said restrictive admissions practices were reflective of a school system that is 'not inclusive' or in keeping with the spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 'We commend the report for documenting these issues and for recognising the inconsistency and lack of oversight in how such policies are applied across schools. We must remove the inherent prejudicial practices that exist within these policies,' the charity said, in a statement. Ms Daly said she has applied to 25 primary school in Balbriggan and far beyond in an attempt to find a place for Bertie. Some admissions policies seemed to be framed as if places in special classes were for neurotypical children only, she said. [ Schools' rules are discriminatory to autistic pupils, says autism charity Opens in new window ] 'Some had conditions around behaviour – as if the child should behave in a certain way, with no obvious attempt to get the bottom of what might be behind a child's dysregulation.' The reason for these types of criteria, she feels, is simple. 'I think it comes from fear and a lack of understanding of what neurodiversity is,' she said. 'I wonder if some schools panic when they read a psychologist's report saying that a child is non-verbal. Maybe they feel they don't have the expertise ... none of that was an issue at preschool, where all the children mixed well together.' Principals and school managers privately say they worry about whether resources, training and supports will follow if they open special classes for pupils with complex needs, especially at a time when waiting lists for vital therapeutic services are so long. Some also grumble about the 'chaotic' way special classes are being opened at short notice, leaving schools with little time to prepare. The Government insists resources are available, as well as teacher upskilling, and that record funding for supports is being ploughed into the sector. [ Teacher training to include mandatory placements in special education Opens in new window ] Schools are required to adhere to legal requirements, guidelines and circulars issued by the Department of Education on provision for children and young people with special educational needs. The report emphasises the importance of schools fulfilling their legislative responsibilities in a way that ensures 'children with the greatest need have priority access to special class placements'. While many children are still waiting to find out if they have a school place in the coming academic year, Ms Daly said she is one of the fortunate ones. She eventually secured a place in a 'wonderful' primary school in Ashbourne, Co Meath. The downside is that the school is a two-hour round trip in rush-hour traffic. 'By some luck, they accepted us,' said Ms Daly, who works as a fundraiser for an opera company. 'It's a lovely school. We're very happy to get a place for him, but the logistics of travel and getting him there are far from ideal. 'But we're just happy that he has a place in a school that is supportive and understanding. It's the right kind of school. We're aware that many others are still worrying whether their children will get the right support.'
Irish Examiner
08-05-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Autism charity welcomes moves to tackle special class policies which block children with greatest needs
A national charity that supports autistic students has welcomed moves to tackle 'exclusionary' school enrollment practices that disproportionally affect children with the greatest level of need. The charity AsIAm has reacted to the publication of a report by the Department of Education's Inspectorate, which found issues with almost all admission policies used by a selection of mainstream schools to determine entry to their special classes. The review provides an important spotlight on the admissions policies of some schools, the charity said. The inspectorate's findings confirm that, too often, admission policies can include exclusionary criteria, such as discriminatory codes of behaviour, updated diagnostic documentation requirements or a lack of resources that disproportionately affect autistic students with higher levels of support needs. Such practices are reflective of a school system that is not inclusive or in keeping with the spirit of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, it added. 'We commend the report for documenting these issues and for recognising the inconsistency and lack of oversight in how such policies are applied across schools. 'We must remove the inherent prejudicial practices that exist within these policies.' However, the charity also expressed some concern around the report's references to eligibility criteria for autism class placements. "It is important to maintain the integrity of accessing an autism class which has a particularly defined criterion. "It is important the eligibility and the use of these classes are used for the students who have a particular recommendation for same. No child should be denied the opportunity to learn and thrive because of how their needs are defined or how systems interpret those needs. Some policies reviewed by the inspectorate required children to be able to participate in mainstream lessons as a condition for admission. Other clauses 'reserved the right to withdraw the offer of a place based on a perception of the student's behaviour". It also found several incidences of schools requiring parents to provide additional reports or documentation at the point of application. Education minister Helen McEntee has now written to the school patron bodies, asking them to commence a review of admissions policies. There are currently 3,335 special classes attached to mainstream schools. Read More Ireland faces court action over EU hate crime and cyber laws
Irish Independent
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Hollywood actress Rosie O'Donnell to make comedy debut on Dublin stage
Ms O'Donnell has been in films such as Sleepless in Seattle, A League of Their Own and The Flintstones. She has also had her own talk show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, and has appeared in the likes of HBOs Curb Your Enthusiasm and Netflix's Russian Doll. Now, the 62-year-old is performing at a number of Dublin venues this week including the Craic Den Comedy Club in Workman's, The Comedy Cellar at the International Bar, and In Stitches Comedy in Peadar Kearney's pub. She is preparing material ahead of her performance at Edinburgh Fringe Festival later this summer. According to the Craic Den Comedy Club, 'Rosie is a rockstar comedian with a stand-up career spanning four decades.' Ms O'Donnell took to Instagram to say: 'Tuesday and Wednesday nights this week, I will be trying out some new stand up as I prepare for Edinburgh Fringe Festival - come by and say hello.' We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Ms O'Donnell moved to Dublin from the US with her 12-year-old child, Clay, who has autism. She is in the process of getting Irish citizenship as she has Irish grandparents. Last month, they took part in AsIAm's Same Chance Walk for autism in Malahide Castle. She told the event's official ambassador, TikTok star Eric Roberts, how Clay was diagnosed as autistic at two years old. 'We need a lot of help and attention, but we're getting there. I think that AsIAm is a wonderful organisation, and I'm proud to be associated with it,' she said. She also told Mr Roberts that she wants to spend the rest of her 'notoriety' helping families who have a loved one with autism. Ms O'Donnell has also attracted headlines since moving to Ireland, largely due to comments from US President Donald Trump. She has been a long-time critic of the US President. When Taoiseach Micheál Martin visited Mr Trump ahead of St Patrick's Day, a reporter asked about Ms O'Donnell's move to Ireland in the Oval Office. Mr Trump responded: 'Do you know who she is? You're better off not knowing.'
