A round-up of today's other stories in brief
22 jobs to go as workshop in Clare to close
A facility in Co Clare that has provided sheltered workshop services for special-needs clients for 40 years has confirmed that it will close at the end of May with the loss of 22 full-time positions, writes Pat Flynn.
Based in the Shannon Industrial Estate since 1967, Shannon Community Workshops has provided sheltered workshop services to clients on a contract basis to the Health Service Executive.
The company said yesterday, however, that it will close on May 31st.
To deal with the change, the HSE has contracted Rehabcare on an interim basis to provide services to the 27 clients attending the facility.
Through their involvement in the manufacture of pottery products marketed under the Irish Country Pottery trade name, a significant number of clients were offered a secure and supportive environment at the unit.
In addition to the full-time staff there are also nine staff working on a community employment scheme.
The company confirmed that full-time staff will be made redundant and receive statutory redundancy payments.
The company cited rising costs, the loss of some core customers and competition from lower-cost imports as the main reasons for the decision. It acknowledged, however, that difficulties in bridging the gap between HSE funding and what is required to operate the facility was also a factor.
Audit of nurses' working conditions
The Irish Nurses' Organisation is to ask the Health Information and Quality Authority to carry out an audit of working conditions for its members at Kerry General Hospital, writes Anne Lucey.
Nurses have complained for some years of working under intense pressure because of staff shortages and lack of facilities at the hospital, the second largest acute hospital in the southern area.
A 24-bed general ward remains closed because of nursing shortages, while a surgical ward closed for two weeks during Christmas.
The HSE South has said it was carrying out a vigorous recruitment drive at home and abroad for nurses. It has also denied concerns that the hospital that serves the wider Kerry region is being downgraded.
Thieves target oil tanks in Kerry
Gardaí in Co Kerry yesterday warned owners of oil tanks to be on the alert following a series of thefts of heating oil amounting to thousands of euro over the past 10 days, writes Anne Lucey.
Thieves are targeting holiday homes as well as households where owners are away for the weekend or the day.
However, most damage is being done at larger premises such as schools and business premises in the north Kerry and Tralee area, according to a Garda spokeswoman.
Last week the 30-pupil Killahan National School at Abbeydorney, which also has a specialist autistic unit, was forced to close for two days after it was targeted.