In short

A round-up of today's other regional news in brief...

A round-up of today's other regional news in brief ...

Reduced working week at Mayo firm

The construction industry in the west has been dealt a pre- Christmas jobs blow yesterday with the announcement of temporary job losses and reduced working weeks for a number of employees.

The Harrington company, a concrete supplier, says 75 workers at its concrete plant in Kilkelly, Co Mayo, are going on a reduced working week from January 12th.

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The company, which is owned by Frank Harrington, the current Mayo Man of the Year, has also announced some temporary layoffs.

A spokesman for the company, which employs some 250 people in Kilkelly, says he is hopeful the layoffs will be temporary.

Visitor ban at Waterford hospital

A complete ban on visitors remains in place at Waterford Regional Hospital due to a suspected outbreak of the winter vomiting virus.

The ban has been in place since Friday to "curb suspected cases of Norovirus", commonly known as the vomiting bug.

The only exceptions to the visiting ban are the families of critically ill patients, according to an HSE spokeswoman.

Nine patients are displaying symptoms at the hospital, while some staff have been affected. Other infection-control measures are in place and arrangements will be reviewed daily.

Patricia Sullivan, general manager of Waterford Regional, said: "People may unknowingly bring the bug into the hospital when visiting sick relatives or friends."

Family members of critically ill patients are asked to ring the relevant ward via the switchboard at 051-848 000, before visiting the hospital.

Recycling centre avoids closure

Wicklow's county councillors have adopted a 1.9 per cent increase on commercial rates for next year and have saved Avoca recycling centre from closure.

The county manager was seeking a rates increase of 4.9 per cent as well as looking to axe 70 jobs by shutting down the recycling centre in Avoca and reducing the opening hours of other centres.

In order to take 3 per cent off the rates increase being sought by the manager, the councillors had to find €500,000 in savings over their spending programmes for 2009, and they also agreed to take a 25 per cent cut in their conference and travel expenses.

Chef gets suspended sentence for having drugs

A chef who cut blocks of cannabis for his friends has been given a six-month suspended prison sentence at Galway District Court.

Florent Guibot (26), Whitestrand Park, Salthill, Galway, a native of Normandy who has been working in Ireland for three years, pleaded guilty to having a €800 bar of cannabis resin for sale or supply last May.

Garda Cathal Rodgers gave evidence he found a large amount of cannabis resin and €1,350 in cash in Guibot's bedroom.

Defence solicitor Seán Acton said that while his client was pleading guilty to the drug dealing charge he was only supplying his friends. He said Guibot was buying a bar of hash at a time and cutting it up to supply his friends who were paying him for it.

Mr Acton said his client was a commis chef who also busked and sometimes worked as a DJ.

Judge Mary Fahy sentenced Guibot to six months in prison but suspended the sentence for 12 months. She warned him that if he remained in Ireland and reoffended, the sentence would be activated. She ordered forfeiture of the €1,350 cash found in his room to the State.

A €500 fine was also imposed on Guibot for being found in possession of the cannabis.