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A scheme offering students academic credits in recognition of their contribution to the extra-curricular life of the university may be in place as early as this semester.
UCD Students’ Union are hopeful that the scheme might be introduced on a pilot basis later this semester, ahead of a full official introduction in time for September 2010.
Whilst recognising the participation of qualifying students in college life, the system – formally known as ‘service learning’ – is also geared towards encouraging more students to contribute to UCD’s clubs, societies, student media and interest groups. The module will take the place of one elective module, with five academic credits awarded to successful students.
Students’ Union Education Officer, Donnacha Ó Suilleabháin, told The University Observer that the introduction of a full service learning option was a “hugely complicated” issue, and explained that each individual student enrolling in the option would be assessed on an case-by-case basis, depending on the nature of their involvement in student life.
“Each of the students has to be taken on and given a tailored programme which maintains academic standards and gives specific assessments to each role they take on within university life – whether it’s volunteering, working with the paper, or so on,” Ó Suilleabháin explained, adding that this workload would require the appointment of a full-time academic staff member.
“There needs to be a full-time person employed by the university to look after this one programme, which might only have an intake of 30 to 40 students in the first year – but with the current recruitment position in the university we’re not in a position to take anyone on.”
This appointment cannot currently proceed because of the nationwide recruitment embargo within the public service, which extends to UCD under its status as a national university. However, The University Observer understands that this embargo may be relaxed in the aftermath of the national Budget in December, allowing UCD to designate a staff member with exclusive responsibility for overseeing the rollout of the scheme.
It is also understood that students would have to apply for extra-curricular accreditation in advance of the semester, and that participating students would be required to undertake a role they have not previously been involved in during their time in UCD. Where appropriate, a record or portfolio of work completed over the year would have to be submitted in order to be successfully awarded the credits.
It is further believed that a team from Queen’s University Belfast, where a parallel scheme is already in place, are due to arrive in UCD in the coming weeks to assist with the rollout of the pilot scheme. Ó Suilleabháin said he was “very, very confident” that a staff member could be appointed to the administrative role in the coming weeks, enabling a pilot scheme to be offered later in the semester.
The system would mirror the offering in Dublin City University known as the ‘Uaneen module’, where students can currently gain academic credits for extra-curricular activity.
The Kilkenny branch of the ISPCA have asked locals to be more aware of the dangers posed to animal welfare by the wintry conditions.
Local inspector Noel O’Donoghue has asked residents to keep an eye out for animals they feel might out for animals they feel might be in danger from cold weather and malnutrition.
O’Donoghue reported that the local branch had received a number of calls from people concerned that water sources such as troughs had frozen in the harsh climate, leaving some animals without a place to drink.
“We’d ask people who find any water source that was frozen over to break any ice off by themselves if they can,” said O’Donoghue.
O’Donoghue had specific advice for bird-lovers trying to take care of birds during the cold snap. “Put out some food for them – nuts, or small fat balls if they can – and again, break any ice if there are ponds of drinking areas nearby, so that they can get to a water source safely.”
O’Donoghue also had general advice for animal welfare. “If they see an animal in distress, or on the road, take it in – and if they feel it’s causing a traffic problem then contact the Gardaí. However, we’d advise that if you take an animal in, to be conscious of the responsibility of caring for it.
“Put out extra food for animals and try to feed animals in sheltered areas where food isn’t likely to be frozen over or taken by other more dominant animals.”
O’Donoghue encouraged anyone concerned about an animal in distress to call the local branch of the SPCA.
The Kilkenny SPCA can be contacted at (056) 777 1635 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
After 5pm people can call (086) 8172167.
Information on stray dogs should be offered to the Carlow-Kilkenny Dog Shelter at (059) 972 6785,
THE NEW YEAR brought more than its usual share of new beginnings for a number of Kilkenny families as they welcomed some new arrivals.
Nine babies in total were born at St Luke’s Hospital on Friday on the first day of the new decade – including a generation of potential Kilkenny hurlers, as the total included eight boys.
Baby David William Fallon was the first born at St Luke’s Hospital, at 7.35am – the first Kilkenny baby of the new decade.
Proud parents Jim and Jane, who are based in Kilmoganny but who hail from Westmeath and Wales respectively, were thrilled with their newborn arrival, who weighed in at 9lbs.
Speaking to the Kilkenny People, Jim revealed that David arrived almost perfectly on schedule – being due for delivery on New Year’s Eve.
The proud father said that knowing a baby would be arriving around the turn of the decade made the holiday extra special for the family.
“We were delighted to have the first baby of the decade,” he added, “but having a healthy baby was the most important thing.”
The impending arrival wasn’t the only concern for the family over the holidays, however – the presence of David’s sisters Molly (5) and Caitlin (3) meant that “Christmas and Santa were big focuses first, according to the “absolutely delighted” father.
Last year’s total number of births in the hospital stood at 2,193 – a number likely to be replicated this year.
Remarkably, two of the eight boys born in St Luke’s on Friday arrived within a minute of each other – at 9.34pm – to Margaret Gunning of Kilkenny and Leah McCullough from Callan.
Other proud mothers at St Luke’s throughout New Year’s Day included Fiona McCusker from Knocktopher, Helen O’Dowd from Castlecomer, and Cait Madigan from Thomastown, as well as Carlow residents Lonita Pujate and Emma Murphy.
This is a colour piece published in the Kilkenny People alongside news features of a major fire at a Supermac’s outlet on the city centre’s High Street.
“SOME mess. Shocking… shocking.” The Garda on duty at the door has been here for several hours, taking stock of the scene, and even he is finding the prospect tough to take in.
It’s noon on Wednesday, the day after the Supermac’s premises on High Street was gutted by fire, and despite the incessant teeming rain, crowds can’t help but slow down and stop to take stock of the skeletal, charred remains of what was once a much-loved pit-stop in town, as alarms and sirens continue to wail in the background.
The enormous windows at the front facade of the building are almost impossible to see through – they have turned brown from the heat of the flames, and are covered on the inside with a crusty debris – making the true extent of the fire’s damage tough to comprehend.
There are, however, two small patches on the window panes of the entrance doors where the brown residue and filmy debris have been wiped away, allowing people the chance to take stock of the damage incurred by the building.
“The front windows are fire-hardened and have gotten very soft, so don’t lean against the door,” the Garda advises us as we crouch slightly to peer through to the interior, clearing a spot on the ground upon which a mass of soggy, charred remains has built up from people leaving the premises.
The vista is reminiscent of the carnage one might identify with a news report from a war zone. The building is simply gutted – a scene of total devastation. The steps leading to the upstairs seating are covered in bruised and semi-melted tiling; the countertops from the Café Relish and Papa John’s Pizza stands to the left are still standing, but only just. The main counter – located just to the front of the kitchen where the fire broke out – is unrecognisable to the unfamiliar eye, completely blanketed in the ruins of the ceiling that had stood above it.
The windows being so dark, the only light on the scene comes through the enormous gap in the ceiling, obscured only by the support beams that had held it in place. The upstairs toilets on the promises had occupied this space a mere 15 hours ago.
Walking down William Street in the rain, there is significant condensation on the windows of the retail units – clearly the after-effects from the heat of the flames. A few windows have been blown out by the intensity of the heat. Across the street, crowds taking shelter under the Tholsel – the site of the last major High Street fire in 1985 – cannot take their eyes off the carnage. The sirens wail still.
Nobody wants to look, but the passers-by cannot tear their eyes away from the scene. “I’m not from around here,” one young man says, “but I would’ve been out here a fair bit. Always remembered coming in here after a night out or after a gig at the Cat Laughs. Wouldn’t recognise the place now – it’ll probably need to be flattened,” he supposes, with a tinge of emotion.
Most poignant is an orange plush toy, a Tigger from the Winnie the Pooh series, lying strewn on the ground – a solitary blob of colour in the midst of the grey ruins – having been blasted from a nearby slot machine when its glass panels were blown apart in the flames. Beside the door, two more toys sit derelict. The image of children sitting happily offering their toys an occasional chip might be some time in returning.
KILKENNY CITY will see the introduction of two one-way traffic systems this coming April, as part of the city’s €4m Mobility Management Plan.
Kilkenny Borough Council’s Senior Engineer, Kieran Fitzgerald, has informed councillors that ongoing works in the programme, approved by the Council in September, will see the introduction of two one-way systems on Tuesday, April 6 – the day after the Easter Bank Holiday – in an effort to relieve traffic congestion in the city centre.
John Street, Rose Inn Street and Parliament Street will become one-way traffic areas from that date, on an indefinite trial basis. A separate scheme including Michael Street, Back Lane, Upper New Street and Jacob Street will also be introduced on that date.
A sum of €55,000 was agreed tby the members for the provision of ‘variable messaging signage’ informing drivers of traffic arrangements in the city.
The schemes were confirmed at last month’s monthly meeting of Kilkenny Borough Council.
Discussing the progress of the plan, Cllr Joe Reidy (FF) sought clarification on how the success or failure of the trial one-way scheme would be appraised, commenting that a free flow of traffic might impact on traders whose premises were located on the streets were the scheme would be in operation.
John Mulholland, the council’s Director of Services for Roads & Transportation, responded that the main concern would be ensuring that the flow of traffic was no worse than before the implementation, but also that a large focus would be placed on traveller comfort, and the “attractiveness” of the city for enticing tourism. Mulholland added that advice had been received from both the Department of Transport and Department of the Environment on appraising the success of the trial one-way system.
The Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce and Industry have cautiously welcomed the proposals. Chamber CEO Alison McGrath told the Kilkenny People that the Chamber’s Board had been invited to meet with County Manager, Joe Crockett, and the Council Executive to discuss the rollout of the scheme and to address the concerns of local businesses which might be affected by inhospitable traffic streams.
“We would be in favour of the Mobility Plan,” McGrath said. “The Executive will have to keep an open mind, and if there’s concern that the scheme might have a negative impact, it’ll need to be looked at.
“The Plan’s proposals would be great for the city centre; one of the long-term bugbears we’ve had is in relation to signage in the city centre and this has been improved in the last six months; on approach roads to the city people are offered directions to the available car parks and this has been received positively by retailers… Once the Council Executive sit down and talk to businesses [about the one-way systems], we would be in support of it.”
Further information signage displaying real-time parking information in the city is scheduled to be installed in the coming months under the Plan. In other works scheduled for 2010, the capacity of the Kilkenny Ring Road will be increased further, while permanent bus set-down areas and a new taxi rank are also to be put in place. In addition, work to improve the facades of John Street and High Street will commence in autumn.
The implementation of the city’s cycle network and the provision of signage for the cycleway and car parks are scheduled for completion before the end of January.
ST CANICE’S Credit Union, Kilkenny, reported strong figures at last week’s Annual General Meeting despite the tough economic times, with rising membership numbers and an announcement that it was pumping €2.4m into the local economy as Christmas draws near.
The Credit Union is offering members a 1% dividend on savings this year, and a 5% rebate on interest paid on loans given out over the last 12 months.
Presenting the accounts for the twelve months up to the end of September 2009, St Canice’s treasurer Eamon McArdle said that the local Credit Union had demonstrated great strength and resilience in the last year in the face of immense turmoil. He added that while the dividend is often seen as the sole indicator of the Credit Union’s performance, a sound and stable institution with strong reserves was equally important in ensuring the Union’s future and the safety of its members’ savings.
St Canice’s has extended its provision for bad debts to €1.6m – an increase of €1 million from the same time last year – but McArdle felt this was prudent in light of the economic crisis, and allowed for members who were currently repaying loans on schedule ut who might run into difficulty doing so in the coming year.
The amount lent by St Canice’s in the 12 months has fallen, with €77.8m of loans outstanding to the Union, down from €85.6m in September 2008. This drop-off of nine per cent has been attributed to a falloff in applications from members who doubt their own ability to repay loans, as part of “prudence” on the part of the Credit Union’s loans officers and credit communities.
Speaking to the Kilkenny People, branch manager Claire Lawton said she attributed the strength of St Canice’s to the fact that the union had been “very conservative” in its policies over the years”, explaining that the institution had always sought to concentrate its lending to members seeking smaller loans rather than offering loans to bigger businesses.
Lawton also explained that St Canice’s had historically kept a larger cash reserve than was required by law, and when the Registrar of Credit Unions had instructed branches to raise their reserves earlier this year, St Canice’s had already been meeting the new target of 10 per cent.
The manager was also pleased with the introduction of sort codes and account numbers with members, which allows account holders to use their Credit Union accounts as de facto bank accounts. She explained that that a Credit Union account was slowly becoming a genuine competitor to a traditional current account, saying that “bar a cheque book, you can do pretty much everything in the Credit Union.”
Lawton went on to explain that the introduction of the new account numbers – which enable facilities through the mainstream Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) mechanism – was introduced to encourage younger members to join St Canice’s.
Elsewhere, Lawton was happy with the growth of St Canice’s second office, which was officially opened in July at MacDonagh Junction. She commented that prior to the opening of the second branch, there would be regular queues for the High Street premises stretching to the Butter Slip and beyond, and acknowledged that the central nature of the High Street branch led to difficulties with parking and accessibility to some customers. “We’re very happy with the facility over there,” Lawton said, adding that “any members who use it tend to stay using it. It’s a lovely office, very much designed around being warm and friendly.”
Looking to the future, Lawton anticipates further challenges as the economy struggles to escape recession. “Onwards and upwards, hopefully… 2010 won’t be without its challenges, but this year a lot of our surplus was used to prop up our provisions. Brian Lenihan said we’d ‘turned a corner’; we don’t believe people have. That’s why we wanted to keep our provision for bad debts as high as we possibly can – just in case.”
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