Latest news with #LindaNelsonMurray
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Johnstown in Meath 'left behind' as new Navan community centre secures funding
Meath County Council's planned community centre at Cluain Adain is set to receive €400,000 under the 2025 Community Recognition Fund. In total, four projects across Meath have been awarded €696,496, as part of a national package of €17m for 212 community initiatives across the country. The scheme supports communities that have welcomed new arrivals in recent years. Senator Linda Nelson Murray welcomed the funding for Cluain Adain, but noted the ongoing demand for more community infrastructure in Navan. 'Navan is really struggling for community buildings, we don't have enough places for the elderly to go and be together, we don't have enough places for the youth to go, so the fact there is going to be a new community building built near Clauin Adain, which is a brand new housing estate, is very welcome news,' she said. 'However, I think we need more community centres; one in the Johnstown area, and one in the centre of the town.' Her call was echoed by Independent Councillor Alan Lawes, who said Johnstown has been overlooked for too long. 'Any new community centre is always welcome but people in Johnstown feel left behind. The town has about 12,000 people living in it but there's still no community centre,' said Cllr Lawes. 'We have clubs like boxing or dancing clubs with no home. All these community groups have nowhere to call home….they need somewhere to call home. Every population should have one.' Meanwhile Minister for Education and Meath East TD, Helen McEntee, also welcomed the announcement. 'This investment will empower our communities to become more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, making them better places to live, raise families, and socialise,' she said on a post on social media. Ms McEntee added: 'Congratulations to the community groups in Meath listed who have been the driving force behind the successful applications. I look forward to seeing the completed projects and the benefits they will bring to our local communities.' The four Meath projects to receive funding under the scheme are: Meath County Council's new community building in Cluain Adain (€400,000) Flexibus, Navan, for a new wheelchair-accessible bus (€146,496) Ashbourne and District Community Council CLG (€80,000) Cushinstown Athletic Club, Duleek, for facility upgrades (€70,000).
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Meath leads with 94pc pharmacy uptake in free HRT scheme for women
A total of 59 pharmacies across the county — a 94pc uptake — are now offering the medication at no cost, making Meath one of the top counties in terms of participation in the initiative aimed at supporting women during perimenopause and menopause. The scheme, which provides free HRT once prescribed by a GP or consultant, is being welcomed by Meath Senator Linda Nelson Murray. The Fine Gael Senator described the free medications as 'good news for those who choose to use it.' She said: "As someone who takes HRT myself, it is so important for women to have access to them for free.' 'We have 94pc of pharmacies in County Meath signed up, that's great because I know how much help HRT gives. As women, we haven't been able to talk about things like this….there's a lot of things women go through and don't speak about; like periods and menopause, and the difficulties women face with those two particular things.' Ms Nelson Murray said that without the scheme, the medications could cost €30 to €60 depending on what HRT people are on. She added: 'The free HRT is good news for those who choose to use it. Plenty of people don't and that's completely okay.' 'Maybe 10 years ago, women didn't talk about it; unfortunately a lot of women were suffering in silence. Now we don't have to.' Under the new scheme, women must be registered with the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) to qualify. Registration can be completed online. Medical card holders can continue to access HRT medication without needing a DPS card. Women in Meath seeking to find their nearest participating pharmacy can use the HSE's online pharmacy finder tool. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Good news for those who choose to use HRT
A total of 59 pharmacies across the county — a 94pc uptake — are now offering the medication at no cost, making Meath one of the top counties in terms of participation in the initiative aimed at supporting women during perimenopause and menopause. The scheme, which provides free HRT once prescribed by a GP or consultant, is being welcomed by Meath Senator Linda Nelson Murray. The Fine Gael Senator described the free medications as 'good news for those who choose to use it.' She said: "As someone who takes HRT myself, it is so important for women to have access to them for free.' 'We have 94pc of pharmacies in County Meath signed up, that's great because I know how much help HRT gives. As women, we haven't been able to talk about things like this….there's a lot of things women go through and don't speak about; like periods and menopause, and the difficulties women face with those two particular things.' Ms Nelson Murray said that without the scheme, the medications could cost €30 to €60 depending on what HRT people are on. She added: 'The free HRT is good news for those who choose to use it. Plenty of people don't and that's completely okay.' 'Maybe 10 years ago, women didn't talk about it; unfortunately a lot of women were suffering in silence. Now we don't have to.' Under the new scheme, women must be registered with the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) to qualify. Registration can be completed online. Medical card holders can continue to access HRT medication without needing a DPS card. Women in Meath seeking to find their nearest participating pharmacy can use the HSE's online pharmacy finder tool.
The Irish Sun
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Rise in injury payouts will hit us all where it hurts – we need to curb latest hikes in Irish insurance premiums
THE cost-of-living crisis shows no sign of ending. Among the many recent price increases is soaring car insurance. New stats show that 3 Motor premiums shot up in the first six months of last year Credit: Getty Images - Getty 3 Childcare settings is a sector that has historically reported high insurance costs Credit: Getty Images - Getty 3 Irish Senator Linda Nelson Murray Credit: Facebook This is an increase of 12 per cent in the past two years alone. Reforms were introduced in the sector in recent years, which initially saw premiums coming down. But the recent jump in the Despite a series of hard-won changes aimed at lowering costs – particularly through new personal injury guidelines – many motorists, businesses and community groups now feel blindsided by rising rates. Fuming punters want to know why the cost of premiums are on the rise again – comfortably overtaking general inflation. Writing in The Irish Sun on Sunday today, Senator Linda Nelson Murray says motorists, businesses and sports clubs are under huge pressure already. READ MORE IN OPINION THE introduction of the personal injury guidelines three years ago was one of the most significant reforms made to insurance in decades. It was a key part of the previous Government's commitment to reducing premiums for us all, be it for a car, We did it because we were total outliers compared to other countries. Our awards were sometimes 100 per cent higher. Compared to our neighbours in Most read in The Irish Sun So proposed increases to those guidelines must be put on hold to ensure motorists, businesses, I have serious concerns about a recommendation from the Judicial Council that personal injury awards should be increased by almost 17 per cent in the coming weeks. CLAIMS HALVED When we implemented the guidelines, awards were reduced. In fact, there was a 40 per cent reduction in personal injury claims where the injury was sustained by visitors to businesses and public spaces between 2019 and 2023. Claims relating to cafés, hotels and In childcare settings, a sector that has historically reported high insurance costs, 256 personal injury claims were identified over five years, compared to nearly 170,000 So, we can clearly see that the implementation of the guidelines worked in reducing claims. Our awards are still higher than many countries, but it has been a pivotal moment and instrumental in helping to reduce premiums. We don't want to see insurance for our cars, cafés, community groups, charities, football clubs and golf clubs rise, but if we allow the personal injury guidelines to go up this is exactly what will happen. 'SUBSTANTIAL PROBLEM' It will also impede the work of the Injuries Resolution Board at a time when the previous Government did so much to get claims processed. The National Claims Information Database 2023 Liability Report found that average legal costs are less than €1,000 for cases finalised at the Injuries Board, but over €23,000 once it enters into litigation, while awards for claimants were the same in either channel. Legal costs are already a substantial problem and will only increase if the proposal on guidelines is adopted. The last change to awards was in 2022, just three years ago, and Ireland's insurance costs are still higher than many other We see young motorists paying huge premiums, and in fact the recent report from the Central Bank showed motor insurance premiums increased by nine per cent in the first half of last year — and that is with the current reforms and guidelines. There are so many groups and businesses that still cannot get insurance, or cannot get insurance at a fair price. We need to see increased availability and affordability in insurance premiums. PROTECT BUSINESSES I personally know the stress of trying to get insurance for a business, as I'm one of the hundreds of business owners who has struggled with this. I don't want to see other business owners put under the same pressure. Right now, businesses are faced with a myriad of increased costs and we simply cannot add more fuel to the fire by doing something that will drive up premiums. The places we go to everyday — running clubs, cafés, crèches, play centres — and the festivals we attend will all be affected by increased insurance premiums. The Government has launched the public consultation phase to support the Action Plan on Insurance Reform and I encourage all business owners to have their say on how we can better support them through reform. The closing date is Monday May 19, so if you want to have your say on insurance reform, get your response in. I urge the Minister for Justice to protect our businesses, groups, community centres and sports clubs, and pause or stop the rise in personal injury awards. In our Programme for Government, we committed to further action to drive down insurance costs impacting households, motorists and businesses, and this is now our first early test.
