More news in brief
Vomiting bug at hospital has affected 335
The winter vomiting bug at Dublin's St Vincent's hospital has affected 335 patients and staff.
The hospital confirmed yesterday that seven more patients were diagnosed with the bug in the past 24 hours. It appealed to the public to stay away from the hospital.
In a statement it confirmed 199 patients and 136 staff have been affected. About half the staff who picked up the bug were still out sick.
"Despite the hospital taking all the necessary precautions to curtail the spread of this highly-contagious virus, practically all ward areas are affected, including parts of the emergency department."
€500,000 funding for festivals
Funding of over €500,000 has been awarded to Fáilte Ireland for 600 festivals and events planned for this year.
Grant assistance of €570,000 was provided to Fáilte Ireland in respect of the Festivals and Cultural Events Initiative 2006 by Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue.
The main recipients include the Kilkenny Arts Festival, which stands to get €80,000, and the Earagail Arts Festival in Letterkenny, which will receive €72,550.
A new event to the festival calendar this year, the World Fleadh in Ballybunion, Co Kerry, will receive €50,000.
Other primary recipients include the Waterford Spraoi (€41,850), the Celtic European Festival of the Sea in Donegal (€34,000) and the National-World Ploughing Competition in Carlow (€30,000).
Man attacked while sleeping
A 35-year-old man suffered multiple injuries when he was attacked early yesterday while sleeping in his girlfriend's home in Derry. He was battered by a gang armed with a baseball bat or club as he lay in bed. He was taken to hospital suffering broken legs, broken ankles, a smashed wrist and numerous cuts.
Three masked men forced the front door of the house in Galliagh Park at around 1.45am. After rushing upstairs they sought their victim and attacked him as he lay in bed.
Roche asked about service funding
Labour Party deputy Eamon Gilmore has called on Minister for the Environment Dick Roche to spell out how local services will be funded over the next few years.
When questioning the Minister in the Dáil on the recent Indecon report on the financing of local government, Mr Gilmore accused Mr Roche of dodging the question about how the required €1 billion to €2 billion extra per annum would be found for local authorities to function between now and 2010.
"The Minister has identified motor taxation, planning fees, commercial rates and local charges as the areas from which buoyancy will arise.
"I want to ask him on behalf of the motorist by how much does he estimate motor taxation will increase to meet the €2 billion?"