Waterford Today | Waterford's free weekly newspaper

ISME, the Independent Business Organisation, welcomed the reduction in Inflation from 4.7% to 4.3% as a step in the right direction, but added that more needed to be done on the domestic front in order to bring the figure down to the stated aim of 2%.

Commenting, ISME Chief Executive Mark Fielding outlined, "While the trend in inflation is heading in the right direction, it is imperative that domestic costs are kept under control to prevent further inflationary pressures over the next number of months."

"It is no coincidence that the most sheltered part of the economy, with very little competition, is a significant contributor to the overall inflation rate. For instance Education (+6%) and Health (+ 5.2%) were among the highest increases over the last 12 months. Unless the cost environment in these areas is adequately tackled, through reforms in the

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Comments made by the Taoiseach on his visit to Waterford on Friday of last week make for interesting analysis. He said, amongst other things, that the small number of outrages, referring specifically to the child sexual abuse scandals, over the last number of years, should not detract from the great and powerful work that the Catholic Church has done and continues to do in Ireland. This is a very curious statement for a number of reasons. Mainly because it reads like a defence of the church. Such a position would have been unheard of a generation ago where the head of the country has to go to the defence of one of the strongest institutions in the State. However, time moves on and things change and one of those things has been the relationship of the Irish people with the

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Household waste can be deadly when it ends-up on a rubbish tip where wild animals search for food and hundreds of creatures die miserable deaths or suffer because of thoughtless disposal of rubbish. You can help by disposing of your rubbish safely and securely. Rubbish that you put in a litter bin or secure dustbin will probably end up on an open rubbish tip where it can be deadly to animals. Consider the following………………..

- Plastic Bags Tie a knot on all plastic bags to be discarded. Knotted bags are less likely to blow away. Also, animals are less likely to climb inside them and suffocate. Birds and other animals scavenging on waste tips are unlikely to confuse knotted bags with food and eat them. Reduce the number of bags to be discarded by bringing you own bags to the supermarket

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Fine Gael Senator has said Environment Minister John Gormley's new planning measures are preparing the ground for a complete ban on one-off housing in rural areas.

"While some of Minister Gormley's guidelines are sensible and measured, I believe there is an unspecified aim behind these new planning proposals.

The one-off housing, or small cluster housing that suits so many people in Ireland would effectively be eliminated as an option.

Those wishing to pursue a life in the country would be left with no option but to live in villages and towns.

"The idea of ensuring consistency and general guidelines in the planning process are very welcome. Everyone understands the need to ensure balanced development in the countryside.

The consequences of bad planning in both urban and rural areas are plain for all to see.

However, Ireland has a long-tradition of rural settlement and many

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Libertas has today challenged the Government to "name the date" for the Lisbon Treaty Referendum, saying it wasn't prepared to wait much longer before launching a full-scale national campaign.

Adding its voice to that of other groups, the organisation said that the Irish People were overdue a full debate on the treaty, and that it looked forward to a full and frank debate on the contents of the Treaty.

Libertas Campaign Director David Cochrane said that the organisation was committed to forcing an "honest debate" from the Government:

"Fianna Fail and their lapdogs in Fine Gael will do everything in their power to talk about everything but the Treaty. They will try and present this as a referendum on the past, and will avoid talking about the future, preferring to tell the electorate just to "trust" them.

They will tell us that Europe

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The Environmental Enforcement Team in Waterford City Council gets a large number of queries about waste each week. They also receive complaints about neighbours burning waste and allowing waste to build up in their gardens, etc. In fact, they dealt with a total of 2689 complaints during 2007.

The Enforcement Team uses both the Litter Pollution Act 1997 and the Waste Management Acts 1996 – 2005 to address any complaints relating to litter or waste. The Litter Pollution Act enables them to tackle litter problems and waste held anywhere that is visible from a public place. The Waste Management Acts allow the more serious issues such as the burning of waste or the illegal collection of waste to be dealt with.

There are two sections of the Waste Management Act in particular that prove useful to the Enforcement Team:

1. Section 32:

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Our next meeting will take place on Thurs. 21st Feb.'08

At Waterford Crystal Sports & Leisure Centre, Cork Road, Waterford at 8.00 pm (doors open at 7.30pm)

Speaker: Eddie Brosnan will give an illustrated talk on "Plants - beautiful, interesting and photogenic" All are welcome - non-members , €5.00 Followed by complementary Tea/Coffee.

Waterford Charismatic Renewal

A day of praise, worship, testimonies and scripture at the Granville Hotel, Waterford, Sunday 24th Feb 08 starting at 10am followed by 3.30pm mass. All are welcome.

Annual Memorial Service

The annual memorial service for those who lost their lives at sea will take place on the 1st March at 3pm at the memorial on the quay, Dunmore East.

Waterford & Tramore Flower Club

The Flower Club will meet on February 20th at St. Benildus Church Centre, Newtown at 8pm. Club member Josephine Hatton will be our demonstrator for the evening.

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Are you interested in helping to start a Foróige Youth Club in Ferrybank?

If so, please attend our Information Evening on Thursday 21st February at 8pm in Ferrybank Parish Centre.

For further information contact Gail on 051-872982 or Kate on 051-833883.

Waterford Primary Schools to Compete for Awards Of Science Excellence This Summer

7th February – Discover Primary Science have announced the launch of the Awards of Science Excellence. The awards acknowledge the efforts of primary school children and teachers, who have shown an increased knowledge of science and its many applications as a result of participation in the Discover Primary Science (DPS) programme. Last year 13 Waterford schools received Awards of Science Excellence - Ballymacarbry National School, Gaelscoil na nDéise, St John of God National School, Knockanore National School, Scoil Naomh Mhichíl, Whitechurch National School, Bunscoil Gleann Sidheain, Kilrossanty National School, Aglish National

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Question: I am having difficulty meeting some of my bills after Christmas. Where can I get help?

Answer: The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) provides support to people who need help and advice in coping with debt problems. It provides confidential advice free of charge.

MABS money advisors can help you to assess your financial situation, make a budget plan for the future and deal with your creditors.

You can access the service in a number of ways. There are 65 MABS offices around the country which provide a face-to-face service. You can find their addresses and contact details on the website or by phoning the helpline. Waterford MABS is at 26 Catherine Street Tel no: 051 857929

The MABS national helpline number is Lo-call 1890 283 438 (or 1890 BUDGET) and operates Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 8.00pm.

The MABS website is

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Reliance on the state funding in higher education will not be sufficient as alternative sources of funding for higher education providers should be explored, according to Strategic Consultancy Firm Prospectus, whose Director of Consulting, Deirdre O'Mara spoke to Waterford Today Newspaper about the findings of their 2007 survey of 175 educational personnel.

Among the strategies of funding cited by O'Mara when speaking with Waterford Today Newspaper were Philanthropy-related funding, international education funding in addition to the funding streams provided by the state.

A typical example of Philanthpy-related funding was the announcement last year of the Hooper Dolan Scholarship in the WIT school of Business as well as the recent presentation by the Institute of the Richards Scholarships to four students last week.

Alternative sources of funding was the fourth of ten reccomendations made to government by Prospecus in the wake

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Waterford City man, Tom Colbert, has reason to celebrate this week as he begins work at Waterford Airport as a newly-qualified Air Traffic Controller.

Tom began his training in February 2007, having undergone an intensive selection process, explains Donal Leahy, Air Traffic Services Manager at Waterford Airport. "All the applicants were rigorously tested – the Irish Aviation Authority provided us with a detailed aptitude test for our potential Air Traffic Controller. We were only able to select one applicant to proceed with the training programme, so it was very important that we chose the best person for the job," continued Mr Leahy.

Tom began his basic training in Sligo, before moving to Rudloe College, Shoreham Airport in the UK, which is dedicated to Air Traffic Control training. Having successfully completed basic training and all exams, he then returned to Waterford Airport to

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Network Waterford began the 2008 events programme with a very comprehensive planning workshop facilitated by Business Coach, Seamus Murtagh.

To start with everyone was given a detailed checklist which covered all the key areas of a business. Seamus went through each of the areas –from the basic building blocks of Time, Money and Delivery, through Sales, Marketing, Systemisation, Team and Leadership. We even considered the concept of how our business would look when it was finished.

When addressing the many participants Seamus asked us all to be honest and realistic with ourselves, after all there is only so much that can be done in 90 days and we would get frustrated if we didn't achieve our goals.

It was a fantastic evening with a lot of learning which will make us focus on working on our business and not just in our

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Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin, TD announced last week a €60m growth fund to support Irelands Small and Medium Sized companies.

The Growth Fund, operated by Enterprise Ireland, will help secure new jobs in Irish firms by supporting investments in staff, equipment and technology to increase competitiveness and encourage new exports

Eligible companies will be able to receive €650,000 from Enterprise Ireland to support business plans that meet the main criteria of the scheme.

Announcing the details of the Growth Fund Minister Martin said: "Innovating to improve competitiveness has become a national priority in the face of growing international pressure. I welcome Enterprise Ireland's Growth Fund which will help our SME sector to increase productivity and exports whilst also creating new jobs".

"As SMEs make up over 97% of the Irish business sector, it is imperative that they have the capacity

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Q. On the world's menu are dung-driven coffee, saliva soup, maggot cheese and more. Are these foods "in bad taste" or are they delicacies?

A. They're the latter, as described by Dr. Massimo Marcone in "In Bad Taste? The Adventures and Science Behind Food Delicacies." Take "Kopi Luwak," Indonesian for coffee and civet, from the island of Sumatra where the arboreal catlike palm civet consumes the sweet, ripe red coffee cherries with beans inside. After being "deposited," these are collected, washed and roasted, producing a chocolaty "cat-scat" coffee selling for over $1300 US per kilo ($600/pound), "rarest and most expensive beverage anywhere." Edible bird's nests derive from the Indonesian male swiftlet that builds its home in caves using strands of sticky saliva. After cleaning, the nests are air-dried and packaged for sale around the world. When cooked in water or chicken

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Aries - March 21st - April 20th

If you have anything to do on any day this week it is suggested that you get it done and dusted as early in the day as possible, thereby creating acres of time which you can fill with pleasant suprises, fun and frolics, new adventures with no need to say "Sorry, I've got too much to do." Interviews look promising, and you might need to clear the air with a partner.

Taurus - April 21st - May 21st

A course of study might present itself for your consideration but look at all the ramifications before you go for it. Once that decision is made you will discover the excitement of a new peer group as your life – part of it anyway - heads off in a new and stimulating direction. You need to really listen

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