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Protect the land we loveAnother 7 wind turbines are proposed to be built on a mountain above Glencar in Leitrim, which already has been exploited by the wind industry more than any other Irish county. These turbines would carry the name "Charafenna wind farm" and would expand and connect with the pre-existing Carrickeeney windfarm, as well as the additional and current proposal for another 18 machines on Dough Mountain to the East. It would require excavations to create a cable connection across 9 Kilometres of farmland to the electrical substation at Manorhamilton, a significant widening of the high mountain road, the addition of a new circular industrial service road on the top of the mountain, plus 7 additional buildings (one for each turbine). Each machine would be at least 150m tall and very visible from the head of the Glencar Lake Valley and the world famous Devil’s Chimney waterfall. They would overshadow a great many residential homes in close proximity as well as their turbary rights on the mountain above, producing severe noise pollution and shadow flicker, devaluation of property and a loss of local jobs in tourism and other fields. —— From this elevation there are magnificent views across the Glencar and Glenade valleys as well as an astounding vista right across Donegal bay to the distant mountains above Killybegs. Home to hen harriers, barn owls, golden eagles, sparrowhawks, buzzards, kites, grouse, red squirrels, pine martens, hares, bats, foxes, badgers and bees - This is quite simply one of the most pristine places in Leitrim and indeed Ireland. —— And whilst of course the world is in dire need of better solutions to our energy issues, it is easy to understand that this old technology cannot possibly be the best solution. - Firstly we need widespread education to encourage every household to wake up and cut their own energy usage…there are a myriad of simple ways to do this. - For energy generation we need to be investing in far more progressive thinking than we currently do - this could perhaps include offshore windfarms instead (although not good for marine life), wave power generation, solar collection and other far less obtrusive and destructive technologies. - Wind turbines have a life expectancy of approximately 20 years and are not biodegradeable or recyclable. They end up in landfill. - They create a significant loss of biodiversity - in this case, affecting a rich and specific local fauna which includes rare and protected species. —— When making decisions which directly affect the community, our ancestors traditionally considered the impact upon at least 7 future generations. Would that we in Ireland were still this wise and forward thinking… What will our children and grandchildren say about us when they realise that we selfishly made irreversible, ignorant decisions which altered and destroyed the mountains and inhabitants of these very special places? These lands were beloved of W.B.Yeats, our great poet and thinker, who would surely be turning in his grave to see Glencar progressively overshadowed by major industry? —— In recent years Leitrim County Council has had a history of leniency in its responses to such applications, a stance which now needs to be scrutinised and reevaluated to be in line with the future, not the past. It is time that our authorities cease to think in purely monetary terms, ticking boxes to benefit themselves and their industral partners, but instead to begin to lead with impeccability and forward thinking so as to leave behind a legacy from which everyone in Ireland may benefit. Please add your voice and your intent to this petition, so that together we may share and cherish this precious land for many more centuries to come, and wisely show the way into the future for new generations who may better care for it as well as for one another…271 of 300 SignaturesCreated by Tim McGuire
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Stop giving children in National schools homeworkThe pressure of home work can effect children's mental health and well being and that of their parents. If you agree please join me in this petition.115 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Elizabeth Ewing
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Pay apprentices properlySociety relies on trade work and to encourage uptake and retention of apprentices they need to be paid properly. Apprentices are working very long work weeks without being adequately paid, leading to apprentices dropping out and pursuing different careers8 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Saoirse McHugh
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Stop the changes to Professional Development training courses for teachers in IrelandIt is important that the level of anger, frustration and concern from teachers across Ireland about these changes is shared with the Minister and Department of Education so that they understand why these requirements are making it increasingly difficult for teachers to upskill, train and qualify for their EPV days entitlements and CPD certification.10,987 of 15,000 Signatures
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End Homework for Primary School ChildrenHomework for younger children can cause unnecessary stress just before bedtime and eat into what little leisure time families have during during the week. In a typical household with working parents, by the time children are collected from childcare, have eaten dinner and completed their homework, its already time to being bedtime routines. Instead, parents could spend valuable time playing with their children or engaging in physical activities with them that would allow them to sleep better and have a more positive and fun time with their parents. Take Finland as an example. Finland regularly tops international polls for their high educational standards and Finnish schools do not have homework. For the wellbeing of families and educational outcomes - homework in primary school children should be banned now. Homework can be very important for developing independent learning skills in older children but research shows that it has little impact on the learning development of younger children and can actually increase the gap in attainment for disadvantaged students. https://theconversation.com/primary-school-children-get-little-academic-benefit-from-homework-181652 https://www.jstor.org/stable/150184417 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Julie Connelly
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Road Safety for Castlemartyr National School ChildrenCastlemartyr National School is based on the busy N25 Cork to Waterford road, less than 200 metres from a busy junction as well as having an adjacent road servicing an estate. The school has been supported by a traffic warden for over 30 years but since November, the school has had to do without a warden due to the safety concerns expressed by a number of wardens who have held the position. Although this position is actively being recruited for, it still leaves the issue of safety around the area of paramount concern. Traffic surveys carried out at the areas have shown that a large percentage of passing traffic will regularly break the speed limit which is set at 50km/h. Footpaths opposite the school are extremely narrow and passing traffic is less than one metre away from anyone using those footpaths. This can mean that large trucks and other vehicles can be traveling at 50Km/h less than one meter away from children or families with buggies walking to and from school. The School has 245 students with over 170 families as part of its community with many having to travel to the school, particularly families from Mogeely. Children cycling or using a Scooter to get to school have no option but to use the road or narrow footpath. Parking in the locality is extremely limited due to the size of the car park in the school. Many people have to find parking locally and then walk to the school. The entrance to the car park at the school is less than 5 metres from the entrance to Kiltha park which means that there are three lanes of traffic that need to be navigated when crossing the road close to the school. This also causes concern for local residents as driveways may be used for turning or parking when dropping or picking up children. The N25 sees upwards of 15,000 vehicles pass through Castlemartyr each day. With such a large volume of traffic passing through a populated village it is vital that the safety of pedestrian and motorists alike is addressed with the highest urgency. https://trafficdata.tii.ie/sitedashboard.asp?sgid=XZOA8M4LR27P0HAO3_SRSB&spid=5229D2644906 The list can go on but we need action and we need your support, we want Castlemartyr to be a safe place for children going to and from school. Some form of traffic calming has to take place. Please sign and share this petition to show your support and help us ensure our children can walk safely to school.1,034 of 2,000 SignaturesCreated by Castlemartyr Parents Association Castlemartyr
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sign petition for new Educate together secondary school CootehillIt's important that we can educate our kids in a non religious environment. As well as having a low cost School for those who struggle with paying for uniforms ,book etc.9 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Mary Roche
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Stop UCD removing alumni email accessConsidering the valuable contribution the alumni community makes to the university, the reasons outlined by management are not good enough for the university to row back on this assurance of an "email for life" that was made almost a decade ago. "low usage of the service" does not equate to no usage, as is evidenced by the high volume of complaints to UCDSU and visible on social media. Many former UCD students have used the address they acquired in university as their primary email address for many years off the back of this assurance and it forms a part of the connection that they still maintain with their alma mater. Such a move could potentially damage alumni relations and make it harder, or less attractive for alumni to support the university in the future. We call upon UCD management to reverse this decision.4,675 of 5,000 SignaturesCreated by UCDSU Comms
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Tackle the #CostofCollege!Students are in the red. - 88% of students report worrying about their money and finances during the academic year. - There is an expected shortage of 20,000 student beds by 2024. -The €1,000 reduction in the Student Contribution Charge is a once off reduction. - PhD students are still fighting for a stipend that covers the cost of living. We, the students, need to take a stand for affordable, accessible education. Students can’t afford to stay quiet, so we’re walking out. At 11.11am On October 13th 2022, thousands of students walked out of lectures, to remind politicians that students aren’t an endless money pit. Our demands for students are as follows - Accommodation Demands: Protect Renters - Legislation to protect students in digs-style accommodation - Continuing the eviction ban for students - Legislative change to allow the RTB to intervene in disputes relating to security deposits Reduce Rents - Legislation to enact an immediate rental cap - Establishing freezes on utility bills separate from rents - Allowing the RTB to intervene in relation to security deposits Subsidisation of affordable PBSA from public funds - Building on public lands new and refurbished PBSA - Specifically ensuring approved PBSA is affordable in conditions - Re-establishing the interdepartmental group on student accommodation Cost of College Demands: Abolishment of the Student Contribution Charge - Abolition of the fee within the Lifetime of this Government - Transparency on how non-EU and postgraduate fees are set - Removing hidden course costs in materials and subsidies Funding for the HE Sector (inclusive of SUSI reform and funding) - Funding to increase SUSI grant levels to match the cost of living - Increasing SUSI rates for all brackets to a living subsidy - Increased funding to the sector to reduce the staff student ratio to the European average of 15:1 Minimum wage to match living wage - The normalisation of wages for workers under 20 years old - A PhD stipend of €28,000 following the PhD review - A living wage based on the cost of living, not the median income1,968 of 2,000 SignaturesCreated by Union of Students in Ireland (USI)
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MU: Support our Students, Build our BuildingThis Student Centre, as well as two other flagship developments, were to be funded by the student levy. This is the same levy the students of Maynooth have been paying since September 2015 with the express purpose of constructing student facilities on long overdue timelines. To date, none of these projects have been completed. With already collected funds in the millions, Maynooth University continues to collect the levy from students. Maynooth Students’ Union strongly condemns this lack of prioritisation of its members. Maynooth University continues to increase student numbers each academic year despite not fit for purpose student spaces and facilities. The students of Maynooth have trusted Maynooth University with their money for more than seven academic years. Many paid the student levy charge knowing that they would never see the projects they were paying for during their time here. It was a commitment for the future students of Maynooth who deserve to see and experience a vibrant and exciting campus. These demands are crucial, especially as Maynooth University still continues to collect the student levy. We are asking for the support of Simon Harris TD to ensure that Maynooth University hear the voices of its students on the ground.2,876 of 3,000 SignaturesCreated by Niall Daly
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Corpus Christi Parish Hall for Corpus Christi SchoolWe are now entering the 3rd year where the school does not have access to the adjoining Parish hall for PE/Assembly activities including school events and communion/confirmation receptions and graduation celebrations. The Parish Priest closed the hall circa July 2020 citing fire safety issues. Regretfully, the Monsignor and the church’s position is one of non-engagement with the community and public representatives on the matter. The school secured the scouts den on the Corpus Christi church grounds for PE activities. However, this is not suitable spatially for PE delivery for a 450 pupil school. Indeed, much PE activity takes place in the school yard as well as all school assembly activities, weather permitting. Parents were led by the school management to believe that the use of the Scout's Den was an interim measure until access to the Parish Hall resumed while works were in progress.511 of 600 SignaturesCreated by Angela Shafer
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School bus places for every student who needs oneSchools open this week but thousands of students have been left stranded - because the Dept of Education has failed to organise enough buses. Norma Foley is spinning a story that this is a new problem - but we all know that every year there are never enough school bus places for everyone who needs them. Parents are scrambling to find ways to get their children to school on time. Many will be forced to take time off work, pay for taxis, juggle already stressful days. We need to make sure school children can get to school.4,055 of 5,000 SignaturesCreated by Siobhan O'Donoghue