RADIO KILKENNY
Lunchtime News: 18th August 2008
CAO Results
Thousands of third-level applicants around Kilkenny will find out this morning whether they have secured a place on the course of their choice. For the third year running many programmes have seen a drop in points. However the points requirement for teaching courses is up, reflecting strong interest in the profession. The points for courses related to the construction industry are in many cases down. That includes architecture in many colleges, as well as courses such as engineering. Interest in the high points health areas such as Speech and Language, and Occupational Therapies has also slackened, and the points for Nursing have also dropped. Primary teaching continues to grow in popularity, with points up across the board.
Kilkenny Floods
A major clean up operation took place all around the county over the weekend, after floods which were some of the worse floods Kilkenny has ever seen. Leinster and parts of Munster were the worst affected areas after downpours caused severe flooding. Gardai and the Road Safety Authority are advising motorists to still excercise caution on the roads today as Met Eireann are predicting continuing rain and more flood risks.
Kilkenny's Taxi Ranks
Kilkenny's Taxi Drivers can voice their anger over the new taxi rank situation in Kilkenny this Wednesday, as a meeting has been called to dicuss the problem. The works at the Parade have disrupted the city's usual taxi rank, locating them to other areas around Kilkenny.
Ronnie Drew's Funeral
The funeral of musician Ronnie Drew is due to take place in Greystones, Co Wicklow, tomorrow. The legendary Dubliners singer passed away at a hospital in the capital on Sunday afternoon after a long battle with cancer. He was 73-years-old and is survived by his two children and five grandchildren. President Mary McAleese led tributes to the singer over the weekend, describing him as a champion of traditional music. The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, said he was an iconic figure in Irish music. Ronnie Drew's remains are reposing at his family home in Greystones today ahead of his burial tomorrow in Redford cemetery after 10am mass in the Church of the Holy Rosary.
Payment card fraud
An investigation is underway into the theft of payment-card details from around 20,000 bank customers in Ireland. The theft was carried out by a gang who posed as engineers to gain access to credit and laser card sales terminals in Irish shops. The gang managed to remove the original terminals and replace them with compromised machines capable of skimming card details from unsuspecting customers. The Irish Payment Services Organisation says the gang has used the cards to withdraw money in countries where chip and pin is not yet implemented. However, it has declined to name the shops where the scam was carried out. It says banks will refund any customers whose details have been used to make fraudulent transactions. The theft has also forced the banks to restrict withdrawals by account holders while travelling abroad. Kilkenny customers are advised their local branch should they have any queries.
Farming News
The IFA has said that the future of the sheep sector is dependent on strong lamb prices and government delivery. IFA President Padraig Walshe has said that sheep farmers are under extreme financial pressure and the future of the sector is dependent on improved factory lamb prices and urgent action by the Government to deliver on its commitments to the sector. Padraig Walshe said lamb prices have fallen excessively in recent weeks. He said sheep farming is unviable at these low price levels and its future is threatened. The IFA President said figures compiled by the IFA show that sheep farmers are not receiving a fair share from the lamb price chain. Padraig Walshe has also said based on the figures, it is clear the factories and retailers have cut lamb prices excessively to producers. He also stated that in order to restore confidence at farm level the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith urgently needs to remove the obstacles holding back the payment of 34million euro committed by the Government to the sheep sector last year. He said IFA has put specific proposals to the Department of Agriculture on REPS and the Capital Grant Aid on sheep handling facilities and fencing which would facilitate this process. The IFA Sheep Chairman said the sheep sector makes a major economic, social and environmental contribution to the Irish economy and rural areas. He said it is essential the retailers and factories restore viable lamb prices and the Government moves to deliver on its commitments.