Financial Boost For Clare's Dairy Farmers

Clare farmers will receive money under the EU emergency dairy compensation fund on a flat rate basis, Junior Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen confirmed today.

According to the local Fianna Fail Deputy and Minister of State: “The fund is part of a package of measures agreed at the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers. The Commission made EUR300 million available to support dairy farmers across the EU who were severely affected by the fall in milk prices. Each Member State’s share was calculated based on their milk production in the 2008/2009 year, and on this basis Ireland received EUR11.5 million. Member States must make the payments by the end of June 2010, and are required to notify the Commission of the method of allocation by the end of March.”

He continued: “The Department has decided to allocate the money on a flat rate basis after consulting with the various stakeholders in the dairy sector. I believe this is the optimum method of allocation to those dairy farmers most affected by the crisis. The Department has already notified the Commission of this decision, and in order to keep red tape to a minimum, Minister Brendan Smith has decided that dairy farmers will not have to submit an application for payment. The Department will pay eligible farmers in the most efficient way possible, using the Single Payment System. Arrangements are currently being finalised and I expect payments to issue within the next few weeks.”

“This payment will be a welcome boost to dairy farmers, who have experienced serious difficulties over the past year. The Department will continue to maintain close contact with the EU Commission and the Council of Ministers to ensure that market measures are activated at appropriate levels to support the market”, concluded Minister of State Killeen.

The exact amount payable to each farmer will not be known until the data has been processed to identify eligible cases, but it is estimated to be around EUR580 per farmer.

Irish Primary Schools Can Save Hundreds Of Euro By Installing Waterless Technology

One of the Mid West Region’s best known primary schools has moved to reduce its annual water and sewer charges by installing waterless urinal systems.

The Model School in Limerick City invested in the systems, which were installed by brwaterless solution, to offset the scale of metered water charges that were introduced for all schools and educational centres in January. The Sligo-based company says that thousands of schools around the country are unwittingly flushing money down the toilet by using conventional toilets instead of newer waterless urinals.

The savings for the Model School has led brwaterless solution to develop the country’s first Pay As You Save (PAYS) programme for national schools interested in using the Waterless No-Flush systems.

According to Ortwin Reintjes of brwaterless solution: “The country’s National Primary Schools have been severely affected by the introduction of metered charges as many are not equipped with urinals for male pupils, necessitating toilet flushes for urination. The absence of installed urinals means that it is very difficult to reduce the level of water usage and the corresponding water and sewer charges”.

Mr. Reintjes said that the Model School will benefit from significant savings by its use of the system.

He explained: “The average conventional urinal uses between 50,000 and 150,000 litres of potable water per year. With only two Waterless No-Flush units installed, the Model School, based on its male pupil population of 250, will benefit from savings on water and wastewater charges of up to 350 euro per year, based on Limerick City Council water charges of EUR2.30 per 1000 litres. Outside of the obvious water conservation and commercial benefits for the school, the urinals also lead to increased hygiene as well as a significant reduction of CO2 emissions and maintenances costs.”

The urinals resemble conventional wall-hung urinal fixtures, but do not require a water supply or flush valve for their proper functioning. Gravity helps the flow into the urinal trap and into the drain line. The urinals, which can even be made of approximately 30 per cent of soybean resin, not only save water but help save natural resources and promote sustainability as well. Due to the dryness of the fixture, bacteria growth is inhibited and odours are eliminated through the minimal use of BlueSeal.

Commenting on the background to the PAYS scheme, Mr. Reintjes said: “On request, we evaluate how many litres of water per year and how much maintenance can be saved though the use of Waterless No-Flush system. The cost of the urinals is paid from part of the savings made on the reduced water charges. Fixtures are usually paid off within two years after which the schools keep on saving on water and sewer charges, along with reduced maintenance costs.”

Commenting on the environmental benefits of the scheme, Mr. Reintjes noted: “The world is becoming increasingly aware of the need to conserve water and to diminish waste water. Dwindling natural resources, climate changes, the need to reduce and/or conserve budget money plus behavioral changes have led to an increased awareness and desire to install water conserving fixtures. We intend rolling out the PAYS program to other schools throughout the country and look forward to the opportunity to speak with Boards of Management interested in finding out more about the systems and to save money.”

For more on brwaterless solution’s PAYS (Pay As You Save) program see www.brwaterless.ie, telephone 071-9150622 or email ortwin@brwaterless.ie.

NCBI Audio Book Club Wins Inaugural Competition

The National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) Audio Book Club from County Dublin has been named overall winner of Ireland’s first ‘Book Club of the Year Award’.

Organised by the Ennis Book Club Festival, in association with Clare County Library, the competition attracted dozens of entries from book clubs throughout the country. The Dún Laoghaire-based Audio Book Club will be guests at the 2010 Ennis Book Club Festival from 5th to 7th March in Co Clare.

The three-day festival is expected to attract hundreds of Book Club members and book lovers from all over Europe and North America. The Festival programme features author visits, readings, lectures and workshops, exhibitions, a professional development workshop for library staff, walking history tours, musical entertainment and chocolate tasting in various venues around Ennis. Among the contributors to the fourth annual festival will be Lionel Shriver, David McWilliams, Joseph O’Connor, Tim Pat Coogan, Diarmaid Ferriter, Paul Howard, Fiona Looney, Thomas Lynch; Claire Kilroy; Joe Duffy, Paul Durcan and Ruth Dudley Edwards.

Commenting on the ‘Book Club of the Year Award’, Frances O’Gorman of the Festival Organising Committee stated: “Entrants to the competition were asked to say why their book club is special. The NCBI Audio Book Club stood out as a deserving winner for a number of reasons. Lots of people cooperated to get it started including Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown library service who facilitate the meetings and supply the club with multiple book copies. The NCBI also provide a cosy meeting space and transport for the participants, who come from diverse backgrounds and had never met before. You would be hard pressed to meet a more enthusiastic, vibrant bunch anywhere. Their commitment ultimately makes it happen.”

Ms O’Gorman continued: “The group is made up of seven participants and includes one honorary member - the infinitely patient Hughie, who lies at Peggy’s feet throughout. Where else would you find a canine Book Club member? The reality is that Peggy could not attend without him, so his role in the Book Club meeting is vital. The Audio books used include prize-winners, bestsellers, classics and wide-ranging genres, all democratically chosen. The members, some avid, some new readers, have embraced this opportunity that some thought was lost forever to them, not just to enjoy books but to discuss in a meaningful way themes and characters, and to have their opinions valued amongst new friends.”

She added that there has been a surge in membership among new and existing book clubs throughout Ireland. “The significant increase in interest in book clubs is the focus of a questionnaire by the Ennis Book Club Festival Organising Committee. We are inviting people to complete the questionnaire on our website, which aims to gather information on the scale and nature of book club activity across Ireland”, Ms. O’Gorman concluded.

The NCBI Audio Book Club’s winning entry can be viewed at www.ennisbookclubfestival.com.