We urge Minister O'Gorman who, along with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, is responsible for refugees, to urgently reconsider his decision to remove up to 180 vulnerable people in the coming weeks and days from their homes. These residents have made a significant contribution to our town's growth and success, and we would be devastated to see them forced to leave. The Ukrainian community in Cahersiveen is currently facing the heart-wrenching prospect of their lives being torn apart once again, which has left many of them devastated. The news has been difficult to bear, and many have not stopped crying since they heard about the possibility of being forced to leave. Families are being split apart, and children will be torn away from the friends they have made in their new home. This is a heartbreaking situation for everyone involved, and we cannot stress enough how much this would negatively impact the lives of those affected. The thought of having to uproot themselves once again after settling into a new community is daunting and distressing. As a community, we have worked tirelessly to integrate these individuals and families into our town, a key remit for the department and European. It has not been an easy process, however, the hard work has paid off, and we have seen, welcomed and managed a 50% increase in our population, with professional and volunteer input contributing significantly to our town’s success. This also includes maintaining rural school numbers which has had a positive impact both socially and economically. Further, a move to other places will inhibit any early years provision for child care places. The Ukrainian residents in our town are not just faces in the crowd; they are active members of our community. They work in our businesses, send their children to school with our kids, and participate in our sports clubs and social organisations. They have started to open new businesses in our town, providing employment opportunities in the town. They are immersed in further education and training in the O’Connell FET Centre, upskilling in full-time and part-time course and all levels of English Language. We implore the Minister to consider the impact his decision will have on our community and the individuals and families who call Cahersiveen their home.

Single-sex schools provide no academic advantage, as study finds. * The findings are based on an analysis of data from nearly 5,000 15 year olds in Ireland which examined the association between attending a single-sex school and performance in maths, reading and science. There was no difference in maths, science or reading performance for 15-year-old students after adjusting for the background of the student and other school-level factors. This result was found for both boys and girls. There are multiple reports of single-sexed school being responsible for teenagers to not be well integrated with the other gender. Psychologists also say girls in single-sex schools are more likely to suffer from social or emotional problems. There is more pressure to perform in single-sexed school, especially for girls. Stop the divide. Let all Irish children learn together. * https://bera-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/berj.3841 ** https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/the-problem-with-all-girls-schools-1.3399028 *** Additional notes: https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/education/2023/02/22/single-sex-schools-provide-no-academic-advantage-study/

Castletroy is a populated area that needs facilities to match the growing population. This park would bring people to the area to spend in the area and also minimize unscoped poop in the area as - the upkeep would not cost anything as once fenced off its purely a gate to open and close the area..

Because people deserve to be paid for the work they do.

Climate Action keeps getting pushed down the priority list, sometimes understandably (e.g. COVID, the war in Ukraine with its associated cost-of-living price hikes). We need initiatives that keep Climate Action top-of-mind at all times, irrespective of what else is going-on in the world. Campaigns details will follow on social media (hints & tips to participate etc)

An ambulance person shouldn't have to wait 3 hours to get a stretcher back form a hospital and put themselves at risk at viruses and bugs. Also our elderly shouldn't be on corridors. They fought for our country to be treated like this

If we are to encourage our population to use public transport more, it is important that it is comfortable for everybody. Listening to a device without earphones is inconsiderate and selfish. Irish Rail have already made efforts to stamp out this behaviour. Let's try to bring some calm to our other transport providers, Dublin Bus, Bus Eireann etc. I think the offenders don't even realise they are effecting other passengers. If there was a little sticker posted on the bus/luas/DARTetc, for all to see, it would serve as a gentle nudge to remind people of their manners

it is unfair that we allow 16 and 17 to do multiple things in society such as being able to work. yet they have no say in how society is effected. especially when it will affect them the most in the future

A dedicated building rather than a warehouse.

The first memory of sacrament for our children is their First Holy Communion, a lifelong and important memory to share with their childhood friends. The revised policy in the Archdiocese of Dublin is to separate children making their Holy Communion with their school friends as a group. In the school that my daughter attends it means that 12 children across two classes will make their Holy Communion over 3 consecutive Sundays. The Archdiocese state that the revised policy advocates for “small group celebrations” for a “more prayerful and personal experience”. Our 8 and 9 year old children are excited about this sacrament and sharing the experience with all of their peers.

Cateracts can effect anyone but they mostly effect elderly people. A cloud grows over the eye making it difficult to see. It only gets worst and the only treatment is surgery. But the good news is that the 20-30min surgery is very effective and the pateints sight is returning to them only days after the procedure. The surgery is 95% successful. This surgery was routinely performed on out pateints in district hospitals in the 1960s but in recent decades fewer consultants in the public system are available to perform the procedure and so people are left on waiting lists for 5-6 years. You can avail of the cross border scheme. This involves being accessed by your GP and referred to the HSE cateract waiting list, then making arrangements with a clinic abroad that offers this surgery under the cross border scheme, book an appointment with their consultant on the day before the procedure, arranging your travel and accommodation and paying in advance the full amount, approx €2500 per eye, then actually going abroad, some require you have someone accompany you, have the surgery and get paper work completed by consultant and finally sending off same to HSE for about 90% reimbursment 9-10 weeks later. Then repeat the whole thing if you need treatment on a second eye. This is no way to treat our older people, specially when they are at their most vulnerable. By the HSE employing more eye consultants the waiting list for cateract removal can be reduced and eliminated and a local, efficient and humane service restored.

An Post were amazing during the pandemic and really showed how they could improve the lives of the more vulnerable in our community. They offered free postage for Packets up to 2KG to Nursing Homes. This enabled carepack.ie to leverage the humanity all across Ireland to get 13,000 Gifts to residents in 2020 and 20,000 to residents in 2021. The Service halted in March 2022 , but we would love to see it back again , please !