Leaving Cert students need clarity on accredited grades – Naughten

Canada is considered one of the best countries in the world to live in, and is also one of the countries with the largest number of international students. This is no surprise: the high quality of life, a renowned education system and the economic prosperity of the country make studying in Canada one of the best options for students from all over the world.
To study in Canada as a foreigner, you will need either a travel permit or a visa, depending on the length of stay and study. In some cases, you can simply travel to Canada with an eTA and do not need to apply for a visa. However, the eTA is not sufficient for a longer stay, and in these situations a specific study permit must be obtained.
What is the eTA Canada?

The eTA (short for “electronic Travel Authorization”) is an electronic travel authorisation that allows citizens of 55 countries, including Ireland, to enter Canada without applying for a visa. The eTA application can be completed online using a digital application form, so you don’t have to visit the Canadian consulate or embassy. Applications generally take around five to ten minutes to complete and processing of the application takes around three days. Once approved, an eTA Canada allows you to stay in Canada for up to 6 consecutive months during an overall 5-year validity period. This makes it an ideal option if you want to study in the country for up to 6 months, as visa applications for Canada usually take several weeks or months and are more expensive.
Students who travel with only an eTA Canada can leave and re-enter the country as often as they like to visit family and friends. However, they must take into account the validity period of the eTA when they return to continue their studies. In the rare case that the study permit is still valid but the eTA has already expired, the eTA will need to be renewed before you travel to Canada again.

When do I need a study permit?

Students who are going to Canada on an exchange program, or who want to follow a study programme that lasts longer than 6 months, will have to go through a few extra procedures besides the eTA. A study permit allows you to study in Canada at certain educational institutions that have been approved by the Canadian government to accept international students and that are on the Designated Language Institutions (DLI) list. The application for a study permit must be submitted via the government website, at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) or at a visa office. Before beginning the process, you must have an invitation letter from the educational institution you will be attending and you must prove that you have sufficient funds to finance your stay in Canada. Those who choose to study do not need to apply for an eTA separately, as this travel permit is issued automatically when the application for a study permit is approved. Those who wish to study and work at the same time in order to finance part of their stay can do so for a maximum of 20 hours per week on the campus of the educational institution in question.

Dangerous driving conditions again tonight as Yellow Warning issued

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January 4, 2022

Galway Daily weather Met Eireann issues fresh weather warning for Galway

Met Éireann has said that sub-zero temperatures across Ireland again tonight could lead to icy roads and possible travel disruption.

A status yellow weather warning for widespread sharp frost with icy stretches is currently in place for Galway and all other counties in the Republic.

The warning will continue overnight and is expected to be lifted at 10am tomorrow, Wednesday.

Lowest temperatures of -3 degrees are forecast for many areas overnight, but it should remain dry in the West after any remaining showers pass.

On Wednesday, frost and ice will slowly clear through the morning, and it will be a cold, dry day with plenty of sunshine.

COVID-19: 21,302 cases reported today

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January 4, 2022

Galway Daily news 25 percent drop in COVID cases in Galway hospitals

There have been a further 21,302 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported by the Department of Health today.

As of this morning there were 884 people in Ireland hospitalised with the disease, an increase of 80 on yesterday.

There are 90 of these patients in the ICU, three fewer than were receiving intensive care on Monday.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said “For the second January in a row, a significant surge in infection from COVID-19 is having a major impact on essential services across all sectors, including the health service.”

“As one of our key essential services – the education sector prepares to restart in person education this week, it is important that we continue to minimise, as much as we can, discretionary mixing indoors with people from other households.”

He added that there was a “significant reduction” in COVID-19 incidence among primary school aged children in December, but that it is “inevitable” that children will pick the virus up from household contacts in the coming days.

“We also know, as a result, that there will be cases and outbreaks in schools and childcare settings.”

However, the CMO added that Irish and international “experience of the pandemic” leads the government to continue to believe that schools are a lower risk environment for transmission of the virus, and that kids infected will mostly experience a mild form of COVID-19.

“It is also important to note that children between the ages of 5 – 12 are now eligible for vaccination. You can get more information on www.hse.ie.”

“Children who have symptoms of COVID-19, or who live in a household where someone has received a positive or “detected” test result either on a PCR or an antigen test should not attend school.”

Statistics on booster vaccinations are now available on the COVID-19 data hub, which provides details on the status of the disease in the community.

Department confirms schools reopening as planned

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January 4, 2022

Galway Daily news Planning extension grant for Craughwell National School expansion

Schools will reopen as planned this Thursday, January 6 the Department of Education has confirmed this evening.

Minister of Education Norma Foley held a meeting today with teachers unions, public health officials, and school managers to discuss the reopening.

In a statement following that meeting the Department said that all parties recognised the importance of in-school teaching and learning and the need for all involved to abide by COVID mitigation measures.

“Schools will operate in line with their Covid-19 response plans, which set out a range of mitigation measures for schools, including hand hygiene, mask-wearing, and social distancing. Schools have also been provided with guidance on maintaining good ventilation.”

“The successful roll-out by the HSE of the booster vaccination campaign for adults and the opening the vaccine programme to children aged 5-11 was also noted.”

“Guidance for parents and students on ensuring symptomatic students and household close contacts should not attend school is being issued through a communications campaign as well as directly through schools.”

Public health officials briefed stakeholders on the mitigation measures, which have been deemed “effective and appropriate”.

The department also said that public health officials advised that there is “no public health rationale” to delay the reopening.

“Further to today’s meetings, clarifications and further information will issue to schools from Public Health and the Department tomorrow in advance of schools reopening.”

Teachers Unions had asked for greater clarity from the department on COVID-19 isolation requirements, such as the length of time teachers must isolate, and what do if you get a positive antigen test, but cannot find a PCR test.

Bus Eireann urges public to check for disruptions due to COVID absences

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January 4, 2022

galway daily news bus éireann open day for female drivers

Bus Eireann is advising people to check online for disruptions to their services when planning journeys, due to COVID disruptions.

The national bus company said that they are experiencing “minor disruption” across all 17 of their depots caused by absences due to COVID.

However, the “vast majority” of bus services are continuing to be delivered as scheduled a statement from the company said.

“Bus Eireann’s team is working agilely on a daily basis to manage absences and to prioritise delivery of services which minimise customer disruption.”

“Bus Eireann has robust Covid-19 mitigation measures in place, including having hand sanitising units available on-board and in stations, having touchpoint cleaning during the day and deep cleaning of buses overnight, as well as reminders to leave windows open.”

The company is also reminding customers to wear masks while in bus stations, as well as for the duration of their journey.

People planning bus journeys should check their website and twitter feed for up to date information on service disruptions.

17 new Apprenticeship programmes to be developed this year

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January 4, 2022

Galway Daily news 17 new Apprenticeship programmes to be developed this year

Apprenticeship programmes are set to get a big boost this year from 17 new programmes to be developed in 2022.

Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris said that this is a “vital step” towards hitting a goal of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations each year by 2025.

“We now have 62 apprenticeship programmes. Eight new programmes were launched over 2020 and 2021 despite the challenges presented by COVID-19 and we have a further four programmes close to launch.”

Last year saw more than 8,000 people register for apprenticeships, an increase of 25 percent on 2019, and Minister Harris said that this will be further expanded in 2022.

The 17 new courses being developed are in the areas of agriculture, engineering, construction, equine, finance, hospitality and food, ICT and logistics.

Minister Harris said that apprenticeships can provide a “real and substantive career pathway” for people leaving school, those looking to upskill, or people seeking a career change.

An apprenticeship is a work-based learning opportunity. It combines a minimum of 50% work-based learning with an employer with off-the-job learning in an education and training institution.

Apprenticeships lead to internationally recognised qualifications from level 5 -10 of the National Framework of Qualifications.

Apprentices ‘earn while they learn’ – they have an employment contract and are paid a salary for the duration of their apprenticeship.

The 17 new apprenticeships under development during 2022 are as follows:

	Apprenticeship	NFQ Level
	Agriculture
1	Farm Manager	Level 7
2	Farm Technician	Level 6
3	Sportsturf Management	Level 6
	Construction
4	Advanced Quantity Surveyor	Level 9
5	Roofing and Cladding	Level 5
	Engineering
6	Manufacturing Data Integration Engineer	Level 7
7	Precision Machinist and Quality Control	Level 6
8	Science Aircraft Asset Management	Level 7
9	Wind Turbine Maintenance	Level 6
	Equine
10	Stud Farm Assistant Management	Level 7
	Finance
11	International Financial Services Advanced Specialist	Level 9

12	Applied Horticulture	Level 6
	Hospitality and Food
13	Bar Manager	Level 7
14	Executive Chef	Level 9
	ICT
15	Software Solutions Architect	Level 9
16	Advanced Cyber Security Practitioner	Level 8
	Logistics
17	Transport Operations and Commercial Driving	Level 6

Minimum unit pricing will stop children buying drink at “pocket money” prices Minister says

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January 4, 2022

The newly introduced minimum unit pricing will stop children getting alcohol at “pocket money” prices Minister of State Frank Feighan has said.

The controversial new pricing law for retail alcohol sales has come into force from today, introducing a legal floor beneath which alcohol cannot be sold.

Section 11 of Public Health (Alcohol) Act sets a minimum price of €0.10 per gram of pure alcohol in a drink, specifically targeting drinks that are cheap relative to their price.

Minister of State for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy, Frank Feighan said “We are taking this action to ensure that cheap strong alcohol is not available to children and young people at ‘pocket money’ prices and to help those who drink to harmful levels to reduce their intake.”

“I am proud that Ireland is among the first countries in the world to introduce this measure and to take real action to help those who need it the most.”

Scotland was the first country in Europe to introduce minimum unit pricing in 2018, followed by Wales in 2020.

Other countries and territories which already have a legal minimum price include the Russian Federation, and regions in Australia and Canada.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said that this law is meant to reduce serious illness and death from alcohol consumption, and the pressure this puts on the health system.

“It worked in Scotland and I look forward to it working here,” Minister Donnelly said.

Grants available to community groups in Galway City affected by COVID

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January 4, 2022

Galway Daily news Grants available to community groups in Galway City affected by COVID

Community groups in Galway City are being invited to apply for over €250,000 in grant funding available for clubs and groups affected by COVID-19.

Galway City Council has been allocated €264,910 under the new Community Activities Fund (CAF) to distribute to local organisations.

These grants will help support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their non-pay running costs such as utility bills, and other operating costs such as existing rent or leases, or insurance bills.

The funding can also be used for necessary repairs and improvements to facilities, or purchasing equipment such as tables and chairs, tools and signage, laptops and printers, lawnmowers, canopies and training gear.

Under the programme the LCDC will ring-fence some funding to provide small grants of €1,000 or less.

This is meant to ensure that a greater volume of groups with limited resources will be able to access grant funding.

This funding is aimed at addressing disadvantage and applications should relate to one or more key priority areas identified in the Galway City Local Economic & Community Plan 2015 – 2021.

This can be viewed online at https://www.galwaycity.ie/local-economic-and-community-plan/lecp.

The Department of Rural and Community Development has stipulated that only costs from the period of July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022 are eligible under the scheme.

Applications can be completed online at www.galwaycity.ie/caf and a copy of the terms and conditions, including the guidelines are available on this link to assist with your online application.

The closing date for applications is February 4, 2022 at 4pm. Enquiries can be made to Elaine Clifford at candc@galwaycity.ie.

A non-exhaustive list of projects that could receive funding under the programme is:

Development/renovation of community centres
Community amenities
Development of youth clubs or facilities
Development of sports/recreation facilities
Improvements to town parks and common areas and spaces
Public realm improvements
Streetscaping
Development of play/recreation spaces
Energy efficiency type projects
Purchase of equipment
Adaptations or equipment needed as a result of Covid-19
Maintenance of premises
Utility Bills (electricity costs, refuse charges, heating charges)*
Operating costs (e.g. existing rental/lease costs, insurance bills)*
Website Maintenance
Cleaning
Audit & Accountancy fees

Vaccine portal open for all children aged 5-11

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January 4, 2022

Galway Daily news Parents advised to keep on top of school immunisation programme

All children between the ages of five and 11 can now be registered to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

Thousands of parents have reportedly registered their children for a vaccine since the online portal opened yesterday morning.

The HSE says that children who have had previously had the virus can still get the vaccine – but they must wait one month after their positive test.

There must also be a two-week interval between the COVID vaccine and other immunisations, Dr Lucy Jessop, Director of Public Health at the HSE’s National Immunisation Office told RTÉ News yesterday.

The online registration for vaccines for higher risk 5 to 11-year-olds opened last week, with vaccinations beginning for these groups yesterday.

Vaccines for all other 5 to 11-year-olds will begin on January 8th.

Parents will need a PPS number, Eircode, phone number and an email address to book a vaccine appointment for their child online.

Alternatively, they can call HSE Live on 1800 700 700 to register their child over the phone.

Galway city loses “clean” status in national litter ranking

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January 4, 2022

Galway city has lost its ‘clean’ status in the latest Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) rankings published this morning.

Waterford is now Ireland’s only ‘clean’ city, with Galway city centre being described as ‘moderately littered’.

Naas was crowned Ireland’s cleanest town after every site examined by IBAL was found to be ‘virtually free of litter’.

Cork and Limerick city centres were also classed as ‘littered’ in the league table, with both showing a deterioration on the previous survey. Dublin City Centre fell to ‘heavily littered’.

The report showed PPE litter at record levels, with an increase in the presence of both masks and gloves.

“It would appear that this litter is accumulating as the pandemic continues, as there remains an understandable reticence to pick up other people’s PPE,” says IBAL’s Conor Horgan.

“The disposable blue face mask has become a ubiquitous part of the landscape up and down the country. People have not moved to reusable masks and people are not taking care of their masks.”

There was also a significant rise in other pandemic-related litter, such as coffee cups, while alcohol-related litter remained at previous levels despite hospitality reopening and the survey being conducted in winter.

Galway weather: Continuing cold with heavy showers forecast

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January 4, 2022

Galway Daily weather weather warning for low temperature and ice

Met Éireann’s weather advisory for dangerous driving conditions has been lifted this morning, but it will continue cold across Galway, with some heavy rain expected later in the week.

Today will be dry in many areas, with spells of crisp winter sunshine and any scattered showers of rain or hail will mainly affect north Connacht.

It will be another cold day and highest temperatures will not exceed 4 to 7 degrees in a moderate northwest wind.

Tonight will be dry, cold and clear with a widespread frost developing as temperatures fall to between 0 and -3 degrees.

Frost and icy patches will slowly clear on Wednesday morning, but it will be another cold and dry day with plenty of sunshine.

Highest temperatures on Wednesday will be between 3 and 6 degrees, with a light westerly breeze or near calm conditions.

The rest of this week will be unsettled and generally cold with some heavy showers forecast – falling as hail, sleet and possibly snow on higher levels.

Wednesday night will be become windier, with southerly winds increasing fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds increasing fresh to strong and gusty.

Rain will spread from the west overnight to all areas, briefly falling as sleet on higher ground.

Tuam Intreo centre to be completed by spring

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January 4, 2022

Galway Daily news Calls for upgrades to Tuam roundabouts

The conversion of the old library into an Intreo Centre for Social Welfare services in Tuam is to be completed in the coming months.

Independent Galway TD Seán Canney said that these offices will supplement the social protection offices in Church View which will remain in place.

The East Galway deputy confirmed that Finna Construction from Cong, who are the building contractors, are now at the final stages of construction, and the works are expected to be completed in the coming months.

“The project represents an investment of approximately €3 million in the centre of Tuam and will bring back into use an iconic building in the centre of the town,” said Deputy Canney.

The works will include the conversion of the Library building into offices for the Department of Social Protection as a one stop shop for social welfare services, the installation of a lift to all floors and the complete rewiring and new heating installation to meet modern standards.

The project is being managed by the Office of Public Works on behalf of the Department of Social Protection.

“In my role as Minister of the Office of Public Works, I was delighted to bring forward this project and I am delighted to see the project come to a successful conclusion,” he said.

Over 50 people with COVID in Galway hospitals

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January 4, 2022

Galway Daily news Portiuncula Hospital reports high flu circulation

There are now 52 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Galway’s public hospitals as of Monday night.

The number of people hospitalised nationally with the disease also continues to rise, with 843 people with the virus receiving treatment at 8pm yesterday, up from 758 on Sunday evening.

The latest HSE data shows University Hospital Galway has 36 confirmed cases, while Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe has 16.

Nine of the 52 cases are in ICU – six at UHG and three at Portiuncula Hospital.

There were 10 general beds available at UHG at 8pm on Monday, but none st Portiuncula.

Social welfare weekly payments to increase from this week

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January 3, 2022

Galway Daily news Fewer than 4,000 remain on pandemic unemployment in Galway

All social welfare weekly payments are set to increase this week, affecting about 1.3 million pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and jobseekers.

The maximum weekly rate of pension payments is increasing by €5 per week, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and those in receipt of reduced rates of payment.

This is the first time the rate of payment for pensioners has increased since March 2019 and is expected to benefit 775,000 people nationwide.

The Living Alone Allowance is increasing for the third year in a row and will now be paid at €22 per week.

Many social welfare payment recipients will also have an increase for qualified child dependants.

The rate of payment in respect of a qualified child up to the age of 12 is increasing by €2 per week while the rate of payment is increasing by €3 for children aged 12 years and over.

This means that the increase in some households will be between €8.30 and €9.50 per week.

For households in receipt of two primary payments, such as a contributory pension, the increase will be at least €10.

Minister Humphreys also announced an expansion of the Hot School Meals Programme in the Budget, which will benefit an additional 16,000 pupils.

Announcing the increases to social welfare payments, Minister Humphreys said that the increases will “benefit hundreds of thousands of households and families across the country, including our carers, pensioners, widows, widowers, lone parents, people with disabilities and people on jobseekers payments.”

Minimum pricing on alcohol to be introduced tomorrow

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January 3, 2022

Minimum unit pricing on alcohol will come into effect in Ireland tomorrow, Tuesday.

The minimum price will be 10c per gram, meaning the minimum price for one standard drink, i.e. a small glass of wine, will be €1.

A 500ml can of beer at 4.3% ABV will be at least €1.70 and a bottle of wine (750 ml, 12.5% ABV) will be over €7.40.

A 70cl bottle of spirits at 40% ABV cannot be sold below €22.09 under the new rules.

Prof John Ryan of Beaumont Hospital, Dublin welcomed the introduction of the new pricing rules, saying that it will help to reduce the harm caused by cheap alcohol.

Speaking on Newstalk, Eunan McKinney of Alcohol Action Ireland also welcomed the measure, saying: “As of midnight tonight, minimum unit pricing will be put in place – ensuring there will be a minimum price set for a gram of alcohol. Alcohol will no longer be able to be sold beneath that price.”

“Alcohol has been used as essentially a footfall driver into convenience stores and supermarkets, and has been sold at exceptionally cheap prices.”

“This is endeavouring about trying to bring about a change in that – we know when alcohol is that cheap, it does fuel excessive drinking and especially binge drinking.”

Met Éireann warns of treacherous road conditions overnight

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January 3, 2022

Met Éireann has issued a warning to motorists ahead of wintry conditions expected across the country tonight.

A mix of rain, sleet and snow will clear south over Ireland this evening and early tonight (Monday), with a cold airmass following from the north.

Ice is expected to form in some areas which may lead to treacherous travelling conditions overnight and into Tuesday morning.

Met Éireann’s advisory comes into effect at 8pm this evening and will be in place until 9am on Tuesday.

All counties in the Republic are included in the advisory.

More time sought to complete Kinvara housing estate

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January 3, 2022

Galway daily news Planning refused for huge housing development on Galway City outskirts

An extension of planning permission is being sought for a housing development on the outskirts of Kinvara first approved in 2011.

An Extension of Duration application has been made for an estate on Bothar na Mias Dungory West, Kinvara comprising 46 houses.

This entails 6 four-bed, detached houses; 20 four-bed, semi-detached houses; and 20 three-bed, semi-detached houses.

The estate was first granted planning permission by the county council in November of 2011, and a first extension of this was given in 2016.

Work began on the development in November of 2018, and it is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

To date, 12 of the approved houses have been completed and occupied, the site has been fully connected to the public sewer network in Kinvara, and other site preparation works have been carried out.

“However, construction activities were interrupted by the Covid epidemic and the national restrictions which have arisen, significantly affecting construction activities and supply chain,” the EOD application states.

A further two years beyond the current planning permission, which expired last November, is sought to enable the completion of the scheme.

An Appropriate Assessment Screening Report was submitted with this EOD application.

It said that there is no need for a Natura Impact Statement, as the development will not have any significant effect on any designated protected areas.

Galway County Council is due to make a decision on extending planning permission by January 29.

COVID-19: 16,986 cases reported today, hospitalisations increase

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January 3, 2022

Galway Daily news Galway hospitals see COVID cases double in recent weeks

There have been a further 16,986 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported by the Department of Health today.

As of 8am this morning the number of people hospitalised with the disease stood at 804, and increase of 87 on the previous day.

Of these patients there are 93 who have been admitted to the ICU for treatment, up six on yesterday.

In the past week there have been 236,945 laboratory tests carried out in Ireland, with a 43.4% positivity rate.

As of Saturday there had been 2,171,376 doses of booster vaccine administered in Ireland, including 104,397 for people who are immunocompromised.

The COVID-19 data hub provides information on the key indicators of the disease in the community, including the vaccination campaign.

Officials from the Department of Education are due to meet with teachers unions and management bodies today.

This is to discuss public health measures around the reopening of schools, currently scheduled for Thursday, January 6.

Sharp spike in COVID cases at UHG amid outbreak

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January 3, 2022