Latest news with #PatrickBolger
Irish Examiner
06-08-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
'I will go into debt until March': Parents reveal what they do to afford school costs
Parents are raiding their savings, going into debt, and falling into arrears on energy bills just to be able to afford to send their children back to school this September, a survey has found. The annual Back to School survey for children's charity Barnardos found that more than half of parents are worried about how they'll meet the costs this year, as issues around uniforms, voluntary contributions and the increasing cost of digital devices come to the fore. It comes ahead of this Government's first Budget due in the autumn, with ministers all but ruling out the universal supports for families that marked recent Budget announcements. One parent told the survey: 'I will not pay gas and electric bill in August, I will borrow a loan and use instalments to get as much as I can for back-to-school items. 'I will go into debt until March the following year until it's all paid back, then it repeats again in August. My worries are if I can keep this up year after year.' Sean McGovern, aged 6, at the launch of the Barnardos Back to School Survey 2025. Photo: Patrick Bolger Photography In all, Barnardos received 830 responses to the survey which ran online throughout most of July. More than a quarter (27%) of secondary school parents said they have to use savings to meet the costs of sending their children back to school while just under one in six (15%) said they had to take a loan out or borrow from family. Parents also discussed having to go without or cutting back on other essentials to be able to afford it, while others said they simply wouldn't be able to pay their bills. When it came to uniforms, parents said they're spending €125 on average for primary school uniforms and €199 for secondary school ones. Barnardos said the biggest problem parents had with uniforms was having to buy expensive crested items instead of generic clothing, tracksuits alongside regular day-to-day uniforms, and their children outgrowing them during the year. Mona Sheils. More than three quarters (78%) of primary and 84% of secondary school parents said that their schools asked for a voluntary contribution. Photo: Patrick Bolger Photography The charity said that the Department of Education circular on affordable uniforms is not being enforced, and that it should introduce an affordable uniform charter for schools to sign up to. More than three quarters (78%) of primary and 84% of secondary school parents said that their schools asked for a voluntary contribution. This meant parents were forking out €87 on average if their child was in primary school, along with €133 for secondary school. Around three quarters of parents said they did not think the payment felt voluntary. Mona Sheils, left, and Sean McGovern, right. Two recommendations made by Barnardos include expanding the eligibility of the back-to-school allowance, while also reducing the cost of digital devices in schools that are placed on parents. Photo: Patrick Bolger Photography Barnardos said that the next Budget should look to continue increasing the capitation rate to support schools while schools should be transparent about where funds go. Other recommendations made by the charity include expanding the eligibility of the back-to-school allowance, while also reducing the cost of digital devices in schools that are placed on parents. 'No parent should face additional stress and financial pressure to ensure their child has all they need to start back to school,' its chief executive Suzanne Connolly said. 'The Government has reduced some expenses but there is an opportunity for them and schools individually to do more to reduce costs for parents."
Extra.ie
31-07-2025
- Extra.ie
Revenue officials attacked just for doing their job
Revenue staff were slapped, intimidated and attacked by irate members of the public last year, workplace reports show. One Revenue official was 'slapped on the head' while several other employees had 'near misses' when people drove cars at them. A separate official at the tax office had his car vandalised outside his house. Another felt intimidated by a 'happy birthday' message posted on their Facebook page by a person known to Revenue officials. Revenue staff were slapped, intimidated and attacked by irate members of the public last year, workplace reports show. Pic: Shutterstock Also, a customs official was inspecting the back of a courier van with a sniffer dog when the driver took off at high speed. Both the official and the dog fell over, leaving the customs worker with serious injuries to his ribs and arm. The information is contained in health and safety reports logged by Revenue Management for 2024. They feature incidents of harassment, intimidation, and violence carried out by the public against workers just for doing their job. At Dublin Port last September, a driver drove at speed towards a customs officer in what was described as a 'near miss'. That same month in Coes Road, Dundalk, Co. Louth, another customs official had a 'near miss' when a vehicle tore off from a checkpoint. At Dublin Port last September, a driver drove at speed towards a customs officer in what was described as a 'near miss'. Pic: Patrick Bolger/Bloomberg via Getty Images Before this, another customs official was almost struck by a car that reversed in their direction on the same road last August. Coes Road contains a large industrial estate with a large volume of goods arriving from the North and there have been several intimidation reports from Revenue staff in the area in recent years. At the Dublin Airport cargo terminal last February, a customs official and sniffer dog were inspecting the back of a courier van when the driver 'drove off with officer in van and they fell over with dog', leading to a fracture and laceration in the arm and ribs, the data shows. At the Dublin Airport cargo terminal last February, a customs official and sniffer dog were inspecting the back of a courier van when the driver 'drove off with officer in van and they fell over with dog'. Pic: Mirelaro/Shutterstock In March of 2024, a Revenue officer in Dublin had their car vandalised at their home in an incident believed to be linked to their work. And in April last year, an official found a Facebook post saying 'happy birthday' in what was thought to be a veiled threat. There were other anti-social behaviour incidents, with a security guard being harassed by a member of the public and a 'confrontation' at Dublin Port between Revenue officers and passengers linked to possession of cannabis. Other incidents reported by Revenue included a 'dog detector van that was broken into'. In May 2024, a Revenue officer was 'slapped on the head' on the High Road in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, while a customs official experienced 'intimidation' and 'a threat to cause violence' during an 'aggressive altercation' at Dublin Port last August. In Tullamore, Co. Offaly, in February 2024, a 'member of the public was aggressive and drove off' during an altercation outside a shop. Pic: Getty Images There were several cases in which drivers remonstrated with Revenue officials and refused to comply with inspections. In Tullamore, Co. Offaly, in February 2024, a 'member of the public was aggressive and drove off' during an altercation outside a shop. The same happened at the Liosban Industrial Estate on the Tuam Road in Co. Galway a day earlier. There was one complaint from a member of the public when a customs official in Dublin Port was 'accused of using profanity'. This was lodged as a complaint of 'alleged aggression'. Workplace accidents are also recorded in the health and safety data, such as when a Revenue official fell into their back because their chair was moved without their knowledge. The cause of the accident, in Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork, in January 2024, is listed as 'missing chair'. In February 2024, a Revenue official accidentally set fire to their hi-vis jacket while using unspecified Revenue equipment. Also in February 2024, a customs official slipped from a truck step while doing a vehicle inspection at Dublin Port. Similar data for 2023, released last year, showed that Revenue staff were deliberately hit by cars and intimidated. A log of incidents detailed the frequent hazards faced by customs officers and employees of the Revenue Commissioners in going about their daily business. Revenue said it had registered 102 cases of accidents involving staff, including near misses, vehicle mishaps, dangerous incidents and property damage, during 2023. In Dundalk in 2023, an officer suffered a 'blow to their body' from a car, causing head injuries, while a colleague suffered 'emotional trauma' after seeing the assault. Also listed as serious incidents were a case of dangerous driving where a car sped perilously close to a customs officer in Dundalk, and aggressive behaviour from a member of the public who banged angrily on the door of a Revenue office in Co. Louth. A Revenue spokeswoman said it was committed to ensuring the safety, health and welfare of all its employees and the people with whom they came into contact. She said: 'Our safety management system incorporates the identification of hazards, an assessment of the associated risks, mitigation measures for eliminating or reducing the risks, as well as a method to monitor and review procedures. 'Revenue strives to ensure the provision and maintenance of a safe and healthy working environment in all of its workplaces.'
Extra.ie
24-07-2025
- General
- Extra.ie
Tiny stripes, big news: Rare Okapi calf debuts at Dublin Zoo
Dublin Zoo has announced the birth of a rare and endangered female okapi calf, born on the morning of Good Friday, April 18, 2025. Both the calf and her mother Lumara, aged 10, are 'thriving' after months of 'beautiful care'. The young calf has been growing steadily, showing all the signs of good health and Dublin Zoo confirmed that her name will be revealed soon. The okapi calf was born on Good Friday. Pic: Patrick Bolger Photography She is just the third ever okapi calf born in Ireland which marks an important milestone in the conservation of the okapi species. Dalia and Leki, also offspring of parents Lumara and Kitabu, were previously born at Dublin Zoo. Like the earlier calves, this year's new female is 'settling into her home under the attentive care of her mother'. According to the zoo, infant okapis spend most of their time in their nest during the first few months of life but visitors may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse in the coming weeks. Helen Clarke, Team Leader at Dublin Zoo, exclaimed: 'We're absolutely delighted to welcome our third okapi calf to Dublin Zoo. Each birth is a major step forward for the conservation of this endangered species. 'At the moment, the calf is nesting with her mother – typical behaviour for young okapis – but it won't be long before she begins exploring the outdoor habitat alongside her. 'The calf is thriving, and visitors exploring the African Plains area may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of her in the coming days – and see just how much she has grown!' Visitors may catch a glimpse in the coming weeks. Pic: Patrick Bolger Photography Okapis are large, hoofed mammals closely related to the giraffe, with a reddish-brown, velvety coat and distinctive black-and-white stripes on their hind legs. They are herbivores, feeding on a diet of leaves, shoots, fruits, and fungi. To meet these dietary needs, the okapis at Dublin Zoo are provided with a variety of foliage, including rose leaves which is a particular 'favourite'. For added enrichment, Dublin Zookeepers create 'rose balls', which are hanging baskets filled with rose leaves that encourage the okapis to use their long tongues to nibble at the treats. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species is endagered, with experts estimating that populations have dropped dramatically over the past two decades. This is due to habitat loss, hunting, deforestation and civil unrest with current population estimates range between 15,000 and 50,000 in the wild. Also known as the forest giraffe, Congolese giraffe and zebra giraffe, their natural habitat is the dense forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Africa.
The Irish Sun
24-07-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Dublin Zoo reveal birth of ‘rare and endangered' Okapi Calf with adorable snaps as it marks important milestone
IT was a magical day at Dublin Zoo as they welcomed the birth of a "rare and endangered" animal. Proud mother Lumara gave birth to a rare and endangered female okapi calf on the morning of Good Friday, April 25. Advertisement 4 Dublin Zoo announced the birth of a baby animal at their sanctuary Credit: Getty 4 The endangered okapi calf was born on Good Friday, April 25 Credit: Patrick Bolger Photography 4 She is only the third okapi calf ever born in Ireland Credit: Patrick Bolger Photography The zoo confirmed that the mother, aged 10, is caring for her Over the past three months, the soon-to-be-named young calf has been growing steadily and showing all the signs of good They stated that the birth marks an important milestone in the conservation of the okapi species, as she is only the third okapi calf ever born in Dalia and Leki, also offspring of parents Lumara and Kitabu, were previously born at Advertisement READ MORE ON DUBLIN ZOO Like the earlier calves, this year's new female is settling into her home under the attentive care of her mother. Infant okapis spend most of their time in their nest during the first few months of life. Visitors may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the growing calf as she begins to explore her outdoor habitat in the coming weeks. Helen Clarke, Team Leader at Dublin Advertisement Most read in Irish News Latest "Each birth is a major step forward for the conservation of this endangered species. "At the moment, the calf is nesting with her mother - typical behaviour for young okapis - but it won't be long before she begins exploring the outdoor habitat alongside her." 'Bittersweet day' as Dublin Zoo's 'vulnerable' baby orangutan rehomed at new sanctuary She added: "The calf is thriving, and visitors exploring the Okapis are large, hoofed mammals closely related to the giraffe, they have a reddish-brown, velvety coat with distinctive black-and-white stripes on their hind legs. Advertisement They are herbivores, feeding on a Much like its giraffe cousin, they have a long, dark tongue that helps them to pull leaves from branches. To meet these dietary needs, the okapis at Dublin Zoo have various foliage, including rose leaves - a particular favourite. For added enrichment, Dublin Zookeepers create 'rose balls,' hanging baskets filled with rose leaves that encourage the okapis to use their long tongues to nibble at the nutritious treats. Advertisement ENDANGERED SPECIES The okapi is listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature under the Red List of Threatened Species due to habitat loss, hunting, deforestation and civil unrest. Experts estimate that the population have dropped dramatically over the past two decades, with the current population estimates ranging between 15,000 and 50,000 in the wild. The population trends are reported to still be decreasing and action recovery plan is in effect for the affected region. Their natural habitat is the dense forests of the Advertisement Under the red list of threatened species, over 169,000 species were assessed, and 47,187 species were threatened by their environment. 4 The calf is currently nesting with her mother Credit: Patrick Bolger Photography
Irish Examiner
08-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
'Dreading next winter's bills': Half of families in Barnardos survey cut back or go without essentials
Almost half of families in Ireland go without or at least cut back on basic essentials including food and electricity, new figures in the Barnardos Cost of Living 2025 survey claim. Parents are borrowing money to buy food, cancelling medical insurance, and already 'dreading' next winter's heating bills, it said. Only 27% of parents did not need to cut back or go without any items listed in the survey, compared to 37% in 2022. Heating was cut back, or gone without, by one in five families, while low incomes forced almost one third of parents into arrears on energy bills, it said. The pressures are such that 40% of parents borrowed money at least once in the last year to buy essentials. Some 40% of parents skipped meals or reduced portion sizes so their children would have enough to eat. Another 28% felt at some point they did not have enough food for their children, and 12% used a foodbank. The data on rent shows that, in 2022, just 2% of parents faced serious problems paying the rent. This is now at 7%. Barnardos CEO Suzanne Connolly called for targeted permanent supports instead of once-off cost-of-living measures. Picture: Patrick Bolger One woman said: 'It has made me feel guilty and useless as a mother as I am struggling to give my children what they need… It's not enough. My children's mental health is also suffering.' Another parent explained: 'My in-laws buy us fuel each week, we couldn't afford it otherwise. I never have money in my purse or account. We are worse off than before.' Another said: 'There's not much left for any pleasures in life. It's grim and not getting any better.' One parent said they are 'dreading next winter's bills'. After-school activities were cut by other parents surveyed. The survey of 1,000 parents or guardians was carried out in May by Amárach Research. Some 52% of those surveyed cut back or went without social activities, while 51% cut back or went without clothing and medical appointments. Some 78% of parents said these problems had a negative impact on their children, with 19% saying this is significant. Providing children with daily essentials is sometimes or always a worry for 70%. Barnardos CEO Suzanne Connolly said: Parents on the lowest incomes are really struggling, as well as those just outside the threshold for welfare supports. The organisation has been conducting this survey for four years. Ms Connolly said that, in that period, 'things have remained static, despite repeated once-off government cost-of-living measures". She called for targeted permanent supports instead. She added: At an absolute minimum, every child in Ireland should live in homes with adequate heating and electricity, sufficient nutritious food and appropriate clothing, as well as the opportunity to engage in sporting and cultural activities. Barnardos called for changes in the fuel allowance and for child support payments to increase in line with inflation. This would mean an increase for under-12s by €6 weekly and for over-12s by €15 weekly in Budget 2026. It argued that income disregard — where some income types are not included in means-testing — for one-parent family payments should be increased. All financially vulnerable families using prepaid meters should be placed on the lowest tariffs, it said.
