The Art Teachers’ Association of Ireland launch the ♯stateoftheart campaign: Raising awareness of the urgent need for change in Leaving Certificate Art

Support community-based responses to flooding

We the people of Ireland have had enough Stop the 16.8 Million government funding to the IGB ( Irish Greyhound Board) Ban Greyhound racing Ban live Hare Coursing Ban exporting greyhounds to countries with no animal welfare such as , China , Pakistan and Chile .

It has been 10 years since the historic passing of Marriage Equality in May 2015, and yet, 10 years on in 2025, the LGBTQ+ community of Ireland do not truly have equal marriages. The majority of children born to LGBTQ+ parents in Ireland are left in an uncertain legal position without any functioning legal framework to establish a legal parent-child relationship with both of their parents. As well as the emotional impact of not having your family recognised as such, there are many practical impacts for the children of these families in areas such as; birth registration, citizenship provisions, childcare and/or educational provisions, access to social welfare, succession/inheritance rights etc.

It is increasingly important that those migrating to Ireland for the purpose of their PhD research are being joined by the families. It is strange that the dependents of PhD students coming from Non-EU nations cannot work in Ireland and support each other financially. Rather this will be a good opportunity for the dependents of the PhD students to contribute in Ireland by working displaying their skills and paying tax. We believe that the family members accompanying PhD students should receive immediate access to the labour market once they have been granted a resident permit. Otherwise, it creates difficulty for the PhD students to manage financially and it also might hamper their research work as there can be a potential financial burden. It is strange that the dependent of the PhD students under hosting agreement can have access to the labour market but the dependents of the PhD students who are not under hosting agreement cannot have access to the labour market. PROPOSED SOLUTIONS - Employers should be given clear information, including, if required, training so they are aware of the rights of Stamp 3 holders, the dependents of PhD students and encouraged to provide a fair opportunity to candidates in this category. - The INIS website should be edited to clearly explain the State’s policy to facilitate the access to employment of dependent family members of the PhD students residing in Ireland. - The dependent family members of the PhD students should have direct authorization to work and should only be required to register their employment.

The Irish government is again breaching the humans rights of survivors of state and catholic run institutions by trying to fast track a bill in which will see the mother and baby home commission records sealed for 30 year and then personal information of survivors handed to Tusla. No consultation talks was held with survivors who partook within the commission. Today we saw a motion which asked for more time to consult be defeated. https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2020/1016/1171883-mother-and-baby-homes/ On Wednesday 21 October the debate will continue you within the Dáil, so I please ask for everyone’s support to demonstrate to those who are forcing this that this is not what is wanted nor what is right! These crimes which will never see individuals held to account should have never been covered under a commission. Such cases always required legal Investigations. The proposed legislation in which we need to see urgently scrapped, will block access to information about disappeared relatives or babies who are buried in unmarked graves.

We want Sirio Homes to withdraw their application for 43 Apts, Austere in design and rising to 8 storeys height (SD20A/0250). It does not enhance a heritage village, or show design recognition of the TJ Burns terraces or medieval stone walls Of The Priory or the village streetscape. If this is not withdrawn, we believe this application needs to be rejected by SDCC planning Dept because: The current application (SD20A/0250) lodged for the Esso site, by Sirio Homes, is for 43 apartments, including 4 x studios. There is only 1 x 3-bedroom apartment and 3 x 3-bed “units” – 9.3 % of the development, far short of the 30% required in the Tallaght LAP. 1. The current application (SD20A/0250) lodged for the Esso site, by Sirio Homes, is for 43 apartments, including 4 x studios. There is only 1 x 3-bedroom apartment and 3 x 3-bed “units” – 9.3 % of the development, far short of the 30% required in the Tallaght LAP. 2. Does not promote the creation of a sustainable community in the village. It is all build-to-rent – so no opportunity for local people to sell large homes and downsize through purchasing. 3. The Design falls far short of what is required to enhance the village streetscape. Crudely rendered Austere exterior cladding, projecting balconies and orange / yellow balcony features are diametrically oppose to the surrounding streetscape design of a village. 4. Scale - 8 storeys dwarfs all buildings around this site - in particular the bungalows to the immediate west and south of this site. This development shows no respect for its impact on the existing residents in terms of natural light, shadowing, overlooking or visual Impact. 5. ACA - this site is a pivotal site on the Main st and sits on the curtilege of the ACA area. The proposed design shows no trace of a design that seeks to reflect that in its choice of materials, shape, design and scale. 6. It proposes to use a public garden by the dancers to locate some of its bike parking instead of using space on their property to discharge their responsibilities for adequate parking for the development. 7. Retail Mix at ground level - demand / sustainability What consideration has been given to the vacancy rate of neighbourhood ground floor units in New Bancroft of a cafe / restaurant and the recent Change of Use by iRes to change much of the ground floor in Priors Gate from retail to residential due to lack of demand for these units since 2007/8. With the changes from Covid 19 on high street retail - this aspect of this development seems overly speculative as opposed to being based on demand. What regenerating impact will more vacant street level retail units have on the Main St village area ?

I am calling on Councillors to stand with their voters and local businesses by supporting a CETA-Free Zone motion here locally. CETA is a trade deal between the EU & Canada, that signs us up to investor dispute court tribunals that allow corporations sue the Irish government for compensation if they think their profits are under threat as a result of changes to regulations.

I am calling on Councillors to stand with their voters and local businesses by supporting a CETA-Free Zone motion here locally. CETA is a trade deal between the EU & Canada, that signs us up to investor dispute court tribunals that allow corporations sue the Irish government for compensation if they think their profits are under threat as a result of changes to regulations.

I am calling on Councillors to stand with their voters and local businesses by supporting a CETA-Free Zone motion here locally. CETA is a trade deal between the EU & Canada, that signs us up to investor dispute court tribunals that allow corporations sue the Irish government for compensation if they think their profits are under threat as a result of changes to regulations.