Latest news with #BreandánFitzgerald
Irish Examiner
21-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
West Kerry hospital's peninsula location makes it harder to recruit staff, says department
Challenges faced by the HSE in recruiting staff in rural locations are exacerbated in Dingle because it is a peninsula, the Department of Health has told councillors. But there are hopes that a new "local" approach which sees friends of the peninsula's community hospital trying to recruit nurses and others with local connections may bear fruit. There has been an ongoing campaign focused on the need to make the West Kerry Community Hospital, which opened in 2010, fully operational. The 54-bed hospital overlooking the harbour has never operated at full capacity because of staffing issues, with at least 10 beds unopened. Patients from west Kerry are still sent to Kenmare, Caherciveen and Killarney for a bed because of the ongoing shortages. 'The HSE advised that challenges in recruiting staff to some more rural hospital locations are well-documented,' the Department of Health has told councillors in the Castleisland-Corca Dhuibhne MD. West Kerry Community Hospital's location on a peninsula can make recruitment even more challenging and such challenges can be exacerbated by temporary staff shortages due to retirements, resignations, and various other leave including maternity and sick leave. Multiple recruitment campaigns - local, national and international - have been run with limited success to date, the department said. A number of jobs are currently advertised, the HSE has said. Along with the national campaign, local representatives and volunteers have mounted 'a targeted campaign' aimed at nurses and care assistants who have local connections and may wish to return to the area. The friends of West Kerry Community Hospital, the registered charity Cairde Ospidéal Pobail Corca Dhuibhne, are also promoting the jobs. Corca Dhuibhne councillor Robert Brosnan (SF) said the targeted campaign is bearing fruit. 'We know of four nurses already who have expressed interest to friends of West Kerry community hospital,' he said. Placing people at a distance from their own communities goes against the stated aims of Sláintecare for local treatment as much as possible, Cllr Breandán Fitzgerald (FF), said. Having locals looked after in their communities relieves pressure on acute hospitals, he added. Housing is an issue but a number of developments, social and private, are in train, and there is a commitment in those developments for housing for locals and for Irish speakers, he also said. The HSE Southwest has said plans to increase capacity at the hospital are dependent on staffing levels and it is working with all stakeholders. This article was funded by the Local Democracy Scheme Read More More than 50 vacant nursing positions at University Hospital Kerry
Irish Independent
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Photos show Kerry kids enjoying Cruinniú na nÓg around the county
Kerry hosted a fantastic day of creative activity as part of festivities as close to 67 free activities for children and young people took place on the day. Highlights included events involving dance, magic, drumming, jewellery making, puppetry, comic books and much more besides. Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Breandán Fitzgerald remarked: "Kerry County Council is delighted to partner with Creative Ireland on Cruinniú na nÓg. This is a great day for children and young people, who have many opportunities to explore creativity and maybe find a new skill.' In Killorglin, Rochelle Lucey and Darragh Kinch hosted Screen-Printing Workshops and mural workshops, followed by a screening of films by Jesse Gilbert. Donal Moroney also organised a concert in the town on the Saturday evening as part of the festivities and he spoke to The Kerryman about how it all went. "It was a great night altogether. It was a great way of showcasing all of the wonderful local young talent that we have here. It was great for them to have an opportunity to perform. There was some great acts on the night including a new trad group called Undercurrent who were just brilliant,' he said. 'There was wonderful support for them on the evening too from locals to parents so we're delighted with how it all went,' Donal continued. Elsewhere in Kenmare, the town offered monoprinting, building your own safari jeep, robots and mini lamps whilst Sneem had an action-packed day with 'Happy Mess'- including singing, DJ party disco and arts and craft sessions. In Killarney Lily MacMonagle encouraged Swifties who were invited to 'Sing it, Shake it, Slay it' at the ANAM centre as part of a Taylor Swift inspired workshop. Kerry International Film Festival hosted a Create Your Own Script workshop at Muckross Traditional Farms, in addition to a wonderful Singer's Circle with Grace Foley, and Music Generation Kerry offered a fun filled 'Whack,Strum, Play'. Listowel proved itself to be a centre for literature and much more, with Fighting Words creative writing workshops, Clay Pottery, Art Workshops and not to forget the King of Mayhem, Ronaldo Fanzini at St. John's Theatre in Listowel. Dingle meanwhile offered nature-based art workshops at An Díseart with Darrach Ó'Murchú and teen bracelet making with Celtic Costal Creations. ADVERTISEMENT Tralee was a vibrant hub with nineteen events, hosted by Síamsa Tíre, Collis Sandes House, KCYS, Tralee Library and Kerry County Museum. Highlights included sock puppet workshops, Wonder Walls workshops, Makermeet STEAM activities, Youth Theatre Island workshops, the Magic Mirror, Drumming Playshop, Creative Dance and a Ukrainian necklace workshop. Emma Carmody, the Creative Communities Engagement Officer for Kerry County Council, who coordinated the day for Kerry stated, 'I especially want to thank all facilitators, artists, and organisers who make this annual day of youth creativity happen, and the young people and their families who came out to participate on the day.'
Irish Examiner
01-06-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
New EV strategy to expand electric vehicle charging points in Cork and Kerry
The local authorities in Cork county and Kerry have teamed up to plan the delivery of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the south-west. Cork and Kerry County Councils launched a joint public consultation process over the weekend seeking public input into the potential location and type of EV charging points that need to be installed in both counties over the coming years, in a bid to facilitate the move of more people to EVs. The regional strategy is required as part of a national plan for the delivery of four main EV charging categories — home/apartment charging, residential neighbourhood charging, destination charging, and motorway/en-route charging. Cork City Council adopted an EV strategy last year that focuses a lot on home/apartment and residential neighbourhood charging, given the mainly urban nature of the area within its jurisdiction. But given the largely rural nature of the counties of Cork and Kerry, people in the southwest have been asked to consider destination charging, which involves installing charging stations at popular destinations such as shopping centres, hotels, and tourist attractions, and neighbourhood charging, for the county towns, which focuses on providing charging options in residential areas. The two local authorities say public input into the strategy is vital to help shape the future of EV infrastructure in the area, but they have stressed that this is only a strategy — that the actual installation of EV chargers will come later. Mayor of the County of Cork, Joe Carroll, said the strategy will be the first step in developing a network of EV charging stations across both counties. 'This new strategy is intended to support the growing number of EVs on our roads. It is vital that all areas are adequately served and that the chargers can be used by local communities, businesses and the tourists who visit the south-west region,' he said. Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Breandán Fitzgerald, said the new charging network will support the growing number of EVs on our roads. 'The goal of the Cork and Kerry EV Infrastructure Charging Strategy is to establish the principles that will guide the rollout of this infrastructure across the region,' he said. The Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan published by Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland earlier this year sets out minimum charging capacity requirements for local authorities in their own geographical area. On-route charging along national roads and travel routes is being supported separately by Transport Infrastructure Ireland. The public consultation for the south-west is open until 4pm on June 30 at Read More Transport chiefs seek research firm to come up with ideas to make electric cars more attractive to public
Irish Independent
29-04-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Kerry coastal community stands proudly over precious dune system rescued from brink of obliteration
It's an inspiring exemplar of what can be done in the face of human activity, coastal erosion and climate change in general. The Maharees community-led collaboration which has paid sand dune dividends, has been supported by a host of state agencies, the local authority Kerry County Council, universities and NGOs. An aerial shot of the area known as Magherabeg Cut (right) has shown dramatic recovery of the dune which had been seriously degraded from unmanaged access from beach users and demonstrates how simple actions like not walking on sand dunes can make them more resilient to storm damage. Mayor of Kerry, Cllr Breandán Fitzgerald said: 'Kerry County Council collaborates with communities like Maharees to advance environmental conservation through initiatives such as dune restoration and sustainable tourism strategies. Supported by MD members, the Maharees Conservation Association successfully preserved and nurtured the sand dunes in Magherabeg, Maharees. Chair of Maharees Conservation Association CLG, Aidan O'Connor said: 'We are so proud of the dune recovery here that we wanted to thank all of our partners who worked with us to achieve it over the last nine years. Without support from Kerry County Council, NPWS, University of Galway, Munster Technological University, Clean Coasts and the Dingle Hub we would probably be a news story for all the wrong reasons as our main road would undoubtedly be at risk without these sand dunes.' William Hunt, District Conservation Officer, NPWS said: 'The Maharees Dune Restoration Project serves as a positive example of the significant benefits that can be achieved for both nature and local communities when operating within the regulations of Natura 2000 sites. 'Led by the Maharees Conservation Association, with support from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, community efforts have successfully increased the coverage of marram grass on previously bare patches of sand. This has resulted in enhanced dune stabilisation and improved biodiversity levels. 'This initiative is a win not only for nature and the delicate ecosystems supported by these dunes but also for the local communities in Tralee Bay, who depend on the dunes for protection against storm events.' Killian Kelly, Wildlife Biology lecturer at MTU said: 'MTU is delighted to be a long-term collaborator with Maharees Conservation Association, working alongside NPWS, Kerry County Council and the community of the Maharees and West Kerry. ADVERTISEMENT 'Public events, student research projects, and hands on habitat management, provide excellent opportunities teaching and learning for our Wildlife Biology programme, while at the same time contributing to and engaging with communities around the county.' Deirdre de Bhailís, General Manager, Dingle Hub said: 'At Dingle Hub, we're immensely proud to partner with the Maharees Conservation Association through our 'Neart na Machairí project. 'The vital work being done to regenerate these dune systems represents not just environmental protection but community resilience in action. Their success demonstrates how local knowledge, passion and collaboration can create meaningful solutions to the pressing challenges of coastal erosion and climate change.'
