Click here for 15.10.17 Ferbane Parish Bulletin

Water Framework Directive- Draft River Basin Management Plan Engagement and Feedback on the ‘Recommended Priority Water Bodies for Action in County Offaly’ and the Public Consultations.

A public information meeting to facilitate  engagement on the ‘Recommended Priority Water Bodies for  Action in County Offaly’, and feedback on the River Basin  Management Plan Public Consultation meetings which were held  earlier in 2017, will take  place at 7pm on Monday 16th of October 2017  in the Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

The EPA, local authorities and public authorities have  engaged in Catchment Assessment Workshops throughout the  country during 2016 and 2017 to characterise waterbodies and  assess pressures on river, lake, coastal, transitional and  groundwater water bodies.  In Offaly, there are 6 no. ‘Recommended Priority  Waterbodies for Action’ which were identified following the assessment of all available scientific and technical  data from the relevant agencies and also using local  knowledge. One of these areas may be in your area.

The draft River Basin Management Plan 2018 – 2021  was published in February 2017 and was on public  consultation until 31st August 2017. Presentations were made on the Draft Plan to the Council,  Strategic Policy Committee and a number of Public Meetings were held throughout the county as well as nationally to engage with communities and other  stakeholders.

To further facilitate public engagement, information and  mapping will be available to view at 7pm on Monday 16th  October with the briefing session for members of the public  also.  In conjunction with Offaly County Council and  LAWCO (Local Authority Water and Communities Office) the briefing session will consist of  short presentations on the “Recommended Priority Water  Bodies for Action in County Offaly”, and feedback from the  River Basin Management Plan public consultation  meetings.  There will be an opportunity for discussion and to review the information on view which  will include maps identifying each ‘Recommended Priority  Waterbodies for Action’ and the rationale used in their  selection.

Feedback will be recorded on the day and there will be an opportunity to provide further feedback until 1st November 2017.

Contact:

Basil Mannion |

Community Water Officer

Local Authority

Waters and Communities Office

086 85 99 514

bmannion@lawco.ie

During the summer composer Karen Power has been recording  pollinators in Offaly’s meadows and bogs and beehives!

She has composed the recordings into music which will be  performed with the Quiet Music Ensemble on Tuesday 17th  October in the Tullamore Arts Centre  building on High Street at 7.45pm. Followed by  refreshments. Book with creativeculture@offalycoco.ie for this truely unique Offaly experience commissioned by Offaly County Council with funding from Creative Ireland.

You can be part of a milestone in Irish recycling policy

Summer brings an increased number of people out and about, and with that, we all see the increase of litter strewn about our beaches and countryside. This litter comes predominantly in the form of plastic bottles and cans as well as disposable plastic packaging.

I am reaching out to you on behalf of VOICE, an Irish environmental charity, and we are asking Tidy Towns groups to support the new Waste bill introduced by the Green Party this past July.  This bill would:

Ban disposable plastic plates and cups and other tableware (including non-compostable disposable coffee cups, utensils and straws), which would encourage take-aways to use compostable packaging such as paper and cardboard.

Introduce a deposit/refund scheme for drinks containers (where the cost of drink containers includes a 10-cent deposit which is refundable upon the return of each container to shops or a reverse vending machine).

Call to Action:

We ask that you join us in supporting the Waste bill by:

Signing a letter to Minister Naughten asking that he move this bill for consideration in the Dail;  Asking your local TD to support this initiative; Using Social Media to create momentum behind this bill; and Speaking on traditional local media to support this bill.

If you are interested in joining us in this campaign, we will include you in all our social media and send you an information pack.

If you would like to be involved in this initiative please contact Mindy O’Brien at info@voiceireland.org or call us at (01) 642 5741.

Ulster Bank “Bank on Wheels” – The Mobile Bank Unit will be parked in The Heritage Centre Car Park on Tuesday 11.15am – 12.15pm and Thursday 2.30pm – 3.15pm

This Ballyclare landowner has provided a perfect example of how to aid bees and insects to flourish and pollinate in a natural wildlife meadow environment..  His patch of land has been allowed to grow wild and contains many native grasses and flora and fauna rich in nectar including sunflowers, poppies, wild daisies etc.

This wildlife corridor is alive and buzzing with activity during the Summer months.. It’s a simple and perfect example of how you too can help our native small animals, bees and insects to survive in these times of using intense industrial type agricultural machinery on our farmlands.

Please visit www.biodiversityireland.ie for more information and top tips on how you too can help.

Date: Tuesday October 10th

Time:10.00 am – 5.00 pm

Venue: Tullamore Court Hotel

This event is reaching out to the Over55’s in County Offaly.  We are looking to get the views of OlderPeople. We also want to hear from people who care for Older people, including representatives from support services,  members, workers and service users; including The Carer’sAssociation, Active Retirement groups, Men’s Sheds etc.

For groups interested in attending, we have agreed to fund  transport via Local Link who will have Buses in your area. 057  8692168.

For support services You are invited to have a stand in the  Tullamore Court on the day.

Please let us know if you would like a spot there.

2017 Ferbane tidy towns results