-- Table structure for table `departments`
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--
-- Table structure for table `faqs`
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INSERT INTO `faqs` VALUES (1,'Can I book training online?','<p>Certainly! Please visit our website and chose the course you would like to book.  If it is not listed, contact mary.hutton@socialcaretraining.ie</p>',1,'2017-06-16 07:11:49','2018-12-12 12:39:25'),(2,'Where can I find training in Ireland?','<p>Training courses can be found all across Ireland. We have public courses scheduled in a number of locations each month and we will travel to a venue of your choice if you have a group of people.</p>',1,'2017-06-16 07:12:11','2018-12-12 12:28:03'),(3,'What are the requirements to work in a social career?','The professional qualification is currently a 3-year Ordinary Degree. Many qualified practitioners go on to complete an Honours Degree in the field, and some may progress to postgraduate qualifications. Diploma and degree courses in social care are offered at the Institutes of Technology in Athlone, Blanchardstown, Cork, Dublin, Dundalk, Limerick, Sligo, Tralee, Waterford, and at the Carlow College, and through the Open Training College (based in Goatstown, Co. Dublin).',1,'2017-06-16 07:12:29','2017-06-16 07:12:29'),(4,'What if I can’t find a training course I am looking for?','<p>Can\'t find what you\'re looking for? We\'re really sorry to hear that. Contact <a href=\"mailto:info@socialcaretraining.ie\">info@socialcaretraining.ie</a> with details of the training course you seek and we\'ll get back to you, promise.  We can tailor any of our existing courses to suit the needs of your organisation.</p>',1,'2017-07-07 04:22:16','2018-12-12 12:34:53'),(5,'Can I cancel a booked training course?','<p>Booked a training course by mistake? No problem. Please contact our Training Coordinator and we\'ll help you with course cancellation <a href=\"mailto:mary.hutton@socialcaretraining.ie\">mary.hutton@socialcaretraining.ie</a></p><p>Courses cancelled 48 hours out will receive a full refund, within the 48 hours there will be no refund.</p>',1,'2017-07-07 04:22:55','2018-12-12 13:51:42'),(6,'What are the different types of training courses available?','<p>There are a multitude of training courses available online at Social Care Training Ireland, you will find a list in the about us section of our website.  We can tailor any of our existing training courses to meet the needs of your organisation.</p>',1,'2017-07-07 04:23:34','2018-12-12 12:35:32'),(7,'Do you have any other services on offer?','<p>Other Services available include:</p><ul><li>​External Auditing of Residential Care (Full or Themed Audit)</li><li>External Supervision</li><li>Training Audit Management</li><li>Group Facilitation</li><li>Group Debriefing</li></ul><p>Contact Mary for further details, mary.hutton@socialcaretraining.ie</p><p><br/></p>',1,'2017-07-07 04:23:48','2018-12-12 12:37:49'),(8,'Where can I get directions to the training venue?','<p>Our training co-ordinator will provide you with all venue details and assist you with any other questions you might have, email mary.hutton@socialcaretraining.ie</p>',1,'2017-07-07 04:24:02','2018-12-12 12:32:04'),(9,'What are our courses about?','<p>Social Care Training is a form of learning which focuses on developing awareness on the part of service provider to delivering acceptance, interest, affection, empathy and warmth towards people we are caring for.  Please contact <a href=\"mailto:mary.hutton@socialcaretraining.ie\">mary.hutton@socialcaretraining.ie</a></p>',1,'2017-07-07 04:24:16','2018-12-12 12:33:20'),(10,'Do I need to bring anything with me on the day?','Be fresh! Besides an eager-to-learn attitude, kindly get in touch with our Training Coordinator Mary for course material email info@socialcaretraining.ie',1,'2017-07-07 04:24:30','2017-11-13 15:44:22'),(11,'What accreditation does each course offer?','<p>Each training course offers an accreditation of its own. Kindly refer to the course details for training course accreditation.</p>',1,'2017-07-07 04:24:43','2018-12-12 12:40:52'),(12,'Can I reschedule a training course once booked?','<p>This shouldn\'t be a problem.  Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information for course rescheduling.</p>',1,'2017-07-07 04:24:57','2018-12-12 12:38:27'),(13,'Will I receive a Certificate for attending the training?','<p>Yes, each individual is certified upon completion of a training course.</p>',1,'2018-12-12 12:41:56','2018-12-12 12:41:56');

--
-- Table structure for table `gallery_categories`
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--
-- Table structure for table `info_boxes`
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CREATE TABLE `info_boxes` (
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INSERT INTO `info_boxes` VALUES (1,'Learn from the Experts','Social Care Training Ireland have got an excellent team of trainers who have many years experience in the social care field and are qualified instructors in many areas.','experts_learn',1,'2017-08-23 07:00:09','2018-12-19 14:58:57'),(2,'Let us do the travelling','Our training can be delivered nationwide, we can travel to your preferred location anywhere in Ireland.  We also have a public schedule with courses scheduled in different locations each month.','career_growth',1,'2017-08-23 07:00:41','2018-12-12 16:46:07'),(3,'Accredited curriculum','Participants will receive a Social Care Training Ireland Certification or an External Accredited Certificate upon successful completion of a training course.','accredited_curriculum',1,'2017-08-23 07:01:07','2018-12-19 15:01:45');

--
-- Table structure for table `instructors`
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INSERT INTO `instructors` VALUES (1,'Bryan','bryan@scti.com','Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque sapien risus, tristique at sagittis et, condimentum at purus. Phasellus elementum massa accumsan ipsum volutpat, vitae dignissim lacus aliquam. Vivamus non odio est. Fusce id enim in eros luctus mollis. Mauris sagittis, mi nec convallis pretium, enim purus lobortis metus, et fringilla augue nisl et dolor. Proin quis eleifend eros, nec laoreet diam. Vivamus sollicitudin odio eget quam mollis tempus.',NULL,'353 7445455455','3','MBA','2017-06-07 07:02:21','2017-06-07 07:02:21',NULL),(2,'Carol','Carol.mythen@socialcaretraining.ie','Carol Mythen BA (Hons) is a graduate of Waterford Institute of Technology with a Degree in Applied Social Studies in Social Care. Her background is in Social Care with over 20 years’ experience managing Child Protection units and working with adults with Intellectual and physical disabilities. Carol was a Service manager and was involved in the setting up special care units and overseeing several outreach and homecare projects. Carol also has a Certificate in Counselling skills from the University of Ulster. Carol is an Instructor in Manual handling, Fire Safety, First Aid Response and CFR and TCI, while also delivering many of our other individually tailored courses.',NULL,'0818220261','na','na','2018-02-19 13:19:41','2018-02-19 13:19:41',NULL),(3,'Jennifer','jennifer.hayes@socialcaretraining.ie','Jennifer Hayes B.A. (Hons) is a graduate of Waterford Institute of Technology with an Level 8 Honours Degree in Applied Social Studies in Social Care. Jennifer also received a National Certificate in Business Studies from Carlow Institute of Technology. Jennifer\'s background is in residential care. She has been a trainer with Social Care Training Ireland since 2011, delivering Therapeutic Crisis Intervention in an associate trainer capacity and Occupational First Aid along with many other of our individually tailored courses',NULL,'0818220261','see above','see above','2018-02-19 13:20:58','2018-02-19 13:20:58',NULL);

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INSERT INTO `news` VALUES (1,'Join SCTI','<p>\r\n	Becoming a member of SCTI is an important step in ensuring that your career is progressive, maximising your potential and in turn your opportunities to grow and develop as a professional.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Benefits of joining Social Care Training Ireland include:</p>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>\r\n		Discounted Training</li>\r\n	<li>\r\n		Knowledge Centre &ndash; Access academic material</li>\r\n	<li>\r\n		Discussion Forum &ndash; Contribute on topical and progressive discussion.</li>\r\n	<li>\r\n		Manage your training records</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n','public','',1,'2012-03-16 04:00:00',NULL,'join-scti'),(2,'Social Care Ireland - First Annual Conference','<p>\r\n	Social Care Ireland&rsquo;s 2012 conference will be taking place in Kilkenny on the 28th and 29th March 2012 and will focus on the theme of &lsquo;Taking stock&rsquo;. The theme of the conference could not be more appropriate. For reasons we are all aware of, we face into an uncertain future and never was there a better time to &ldquo;take stock.&rdquo; Three excellent keynote speakers, a wide and varied range of individual presentations and relevant discussion groups feed in to the conference theme. The opportunity for meeting and sharing with people from the three different professions represented by Social Care Ireland &ndash; practitioners, educators and managers &ndash; has become a very positive and welcome feature of recent conferences. The 2012 conference promises to be no different.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	The conference starts at 9am on the 28th March and lasts until 2pm on the 29th. The Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel in Kilkenny City will be hosting us this year.</p>\r\n','public',' ',1,'2013-05-01 10:44:38',NULL,'social-care-ireland-first-annual-conference'),(3,'HSE STOP Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Training','<p>\r\n	The HSE&rsquo;s National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) and the Health Promotion Department Dublin North East has developed a unique suicide prevention training programme STOP (Suicide Training Overview for Prisons)specifically tailored for Irish Prison Service (IPS) staff.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Prisoners are a key vulnerable group for HSE NOSP suicide prevention efforts as research consistently shows prisoners to be at high risk of mental health problems, self harm and suicide.&nbsp; The HSE has been working in partnership with the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) and the Irish Prison Service to deliver suicide prevention and mental health training to those Prison Services staffwho come into contact with prisoners on a regular basis.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	The HSE has worked with the Irish Prison Service Training &amp; Development Centre in Portlaoise and the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) to develop a skills based suicide prevention training programme to meet the training needs of prison service staff in this area.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Older People, Equality &amp; Mental Health, Kathleen Lynch, TD said &lsquo;The other key benefit of the STOP programme is that the skills that the Prison service staff develop as part of the training are not only of use in the Prisons but will also benefit the Prison Officers in their own personal lives with family, friends and colleagues.&nbsp; This Programme is another important step in delivering on The National Strategy for Action on Suicide&lsquo;Reach Out&rsquo; which recommends the development and delivery of training on suicide prevention for staff from the Irish Prison Service (IPS).&rsquo;<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Susan Kenny, HSE NOSP commented &lsquo;it is important that this training programme is successful in upskilling staff to respond to suicidal behaviour as Prisoners are at higher risk of developing mental health problems and are at higher risk of self harm and suicide compared to the general population.&rsquo;&nbsp; Susan also added that the programme represented only one initiative that the NOSP are implementing to reduce suicidal behaviour among vulnerable groups in Ireland.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	The STOP programme has been delivered to staff from eight prisons in Irelandand will be rolled out to all prisons throughout the Country in 2012.</p>\r\n','public',' ',1,'2013-05-01 10:29:09',NULL,'hse-stop-suicide-prevention-and-mental-health-training'),(4,'Authorities \'abdicated duty\' to ensure protection','<p>\r\n	AN INDEPENDENT report on how the State handled the cases of 112 children who died while in contact with social services has found authorities &ldquo;abdicated their duty&rdquo; to protect the welfare of many vulnerable young people.CARL O&#39;BRIEN<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	The report of the Independent Child Death Review Group has examined all deaths of children that occurred in the care system between 2000 and 2010.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Of the 196 deaths that occurred during this time, some 112 were as a result of non-natural causes such as drug overdoses, suicide, road traffic incidents or unlawful killings. The rest were deaths due to natural causes.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Of the cases examined, the report found the majority did not receive an adequate child protection service.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Some care files were in &ldquo;complete disarray&rdquo;, with little or no records of what happened to children. In many cases, they failed to include a record of the death.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	In addition, the Health Service Executive was found to have closed files on some children, even though it was aware of ongoing drug and alcohol abuse within their families.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Risk indicators were not followed up adequately, or at all, in many files, while in some cases no social worker was assigned to families at risk.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	The report states there was evidence of good practice in many cases, with evidence of services being provided and attempts to build relationships with vulnerable young people in care.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	However, too often this kind of work was &ldquo;sporadic and inconsistent&rdquo; and allowed children to engage in ever more risky behaviour during adolescence, with tragic outcomes.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	While earlier and more consistent good practice might have helped children to overcome their vulnerabilities, the report will say it was not possible to conclude the deaths of individual children in the report could have been prevented.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	The report was authored by child law expert and solicitor Geoffrey Shannon and Barnardos director of advocacy Norah Gibbons.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	It was commissioned following concern over the State&rsquo;s handling of the cases of vulnerable young people who had died while in care, as well as doubt over the true scale of the number of deaths in the care system.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	It is understood to make a number of recommendations such as root-and-branch reform of the child protection system to ensure each child protection concern received a proper response.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	In addition, it is likely to call for a relaxation of the in-camera rule in child care cases to allow for greater transparency and accountability over decisions made.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	This would also allow for a greater flow of information between agencies.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	<strong>CHILD DEATHS REPORT THE NUMBERS</strong><br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	196 The number of children who were in contact with social services and who died, including 122 from non-natural causes.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	36 The number of children directly in the care system who died, including 17 from non-natural causes.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	32 The number of young people who died in the aftercare system, including 27 from non-natural causes.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	128 The number of children who died who were known to the HSE, including 68 from non-natural causes</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2012-06-19 04:00:00',NULL,'authorities-abdicated-duty-to-ensure-protection'),(5,'ICPPD Gains National Accreditation','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>The International College for Personal and Professional Development (ICPPD), are delighted to announce that their Professional 3-year part time Diploma in Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy has been accredited by The National Association for Pastoral Counselling and Psychotherapy&nbsp;(NAPCP).&nbsp;&quot;<em>This is great news for all of our trainee counsellors and adult learners and a timely validation to this &#39;young&#39; college</em>&quot; says President Tom Moran.&nbsp;</strong><br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	NAPCP examined and approved ICPPD&#39;s 3 Year Professional Diploma in Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy (part-time)&nbsp;and&nbsp;in December 2011, NAPCP visited the college and announced that&nbsp;they were accrediting this programme.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	ICPPD&#39;s trainee counsellors can be assured of the quality and standards being offered at this college. To practice at present as a counsellor/psychotherapist, a professional diploma and membership of a professional body is required. This course also meets the criteria of the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP). Management and tutors at ICPPD are accredited members of the professional bodies - NAPCP, IACP, IAHIP, IAAAC and PSI.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Based in <strong>Athlone</strong> and with an outreach at the <strong>Galway- Mayo Institute of Technology</strong>, the International College for Personal and Professional Development (ICPPD) was set up to inspire, encourage and support continuous learning. The College provides training and education to adult learners interested in personal development or a career in Counselling and Psychotherapy, and to professionals already working in those areas. At ICPPD, the focus is solely on their courses and their students and because their campuses are efficient and suitable for their purpose they can keep their overheads and thus their fees, affordable. The College aims to achieve and maintain a standard of excellence in its programmes and students, and in its staff as educators, through a combined commitment to a person-centred, holistic approach for the individual learner. ICPPD&rsquo;s goal is to be a leading provider of accredited personal and professional programmes in the area of Counselling and Psychotherapy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	ICPPD are now enrolling for the <strong>3 Year Professional Diploma in Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy (part-time)</strong> which is due to start in Autumn 2012&nbsp;at ICPPD,&nbsp;Athlone and at their outreach&nbsp;at&nbsp;GMIT, Galway. For more information and to download an&nbsp;application form, click&nbsp;<a href=\"http://icppd.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5d2c74d8b50cf300a1dd2d05e&amp;id=160eb9312d&amp;e=050b596dc4\">here</a>. Interviews are scheduled to take place in March.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	ICPPD are also now enrolling for their <strong>Personal Development Programme</strong>. This 30-hour programme is suitable for anyone who is seeking to understand themselves more fully. The aim of the programme is to develop the learners&rsquo; self-esteem and self-confidence, to learn a way to communicate that enhances relationships and to explore ways of behaving respectfully towards oneself and others. Previous learners have stated that they found it a life changing experience. &nbsp;Starting at ICPPD, Athlone&nbsp;on the 29th March 2012 for 10 Thursday&#39;s, 10am-1pm and 7pm to 10pm. For more information and to download an&nbsp;application form, click&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.icppd.com/index.php?page=personal-development\">here</a>.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The <strong>Foundation in Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy</strong> is also due to start in Autumn 2012. This is suitable for anyone wishing to progress onto the NAPCP Accredited 3 Year Professional Diploma in Holistic Counselling and Psychotherapy. Personal development, self awareness and creative expression are central to this course. The programme focuses on developing the participants&rsquo; counselling and psychotherapy skills of personal presence and awareness of process. Attention is also paid to developing the learners interpersonal and group skills. For more information and to download an&nbsp;application form, click&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.icppd.com/index.php?page=personal-development\">here</a>.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	ICPPD also offer a range of <strong>CPD workshops</strong> suitable for trainee Counsellors/ Psychotherapists and Professionals. ICPPD are proud to host International experts in the field of Counselling and Group Therapy, <strong>Dr. Gerald and Marianne Corey</strong> from the USA. <a href=\"http://www.icppd.com/index.php?page=group-therapy\">Training for Group Therapists/Facilitators</a>- a 4 Day Intensive Training in Group Therapy/ Facilitation commences the 11th June and this &nbsp;30-hour Module is filling up fast. Dr. Gerald and Marianne Corey will also be holding 4 one-day workshops. Click <a href=\"http://www.icppd.com/index.php?page=group-corey\">here</a> for more details.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<em>Call (090) 6470484, go to </em><a href=\"http://www.icppd.com/\"><em>www.icppd.com</em></a><em> or email </em><a href=\"mailto:info@icppd.com\"><em>info@icppd.com</em></a><em> if you have any questions or if you want more information on any of our courses. There is a course or a workshop at ICPPD for you!</em></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2012-03-02 05:00:00',NULL,'icppd-gains-national-accreditation'),(6,'Social Care Conference Review','<p>\r\n	On the 28th &amp; 29th of March 2012 Social Care Training Ireland attended and exhibited at&nbsp;the Social Care Ireland Conference, which took place in the Ormonde Hotel Kilkenny. The SCI conference was an excellent opportunity for SCTI to inform the social care sector of its training provisions, to meet potential clients and get feedback.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	During the two days of the conference we spoke with many social care trainers, managers, social care workers, company directors and other affiliated social care practitioners about their needs and our training opportunities. We were also a very proud sponsor of the event.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The keynote address at the beginning of the conference with Sister Stan Kennedy &#39;Justice for all our Children&#39;, was a poignant start to the two days. Her experience and good work really reminds us all who work in the care sector again as to why we do it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The presentations delivered over the two days were excellent. I personally attended &#39;Professional Report Writing&#39;, &#39;Recent Developments in Social Care Adocacy for people with Disabilities&#39; &amp; The use of &#39;Daily Life Events&#39;. all of which I found extremely informative and professionally presented.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	We are extremely excited about next years conference at which we again hope to be sponsoring. To all involved at this years conference SCTI extends its congratulations for an amazing event and all the best for the year to come.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2012-04-11 04:00:00',NULL,'social-care-conference-review'),(7,'A new study links living alone with a greater risk of depression','<p>\r\n	According to a recent Finnish study, adults of working age, living alone, are 80% more likely to be taking anbtidepressants than those living with at least one other person. The study, led by Dr. Laura Pulkki-Raback of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, and published by BioMed Central&#39;s public health journal, look at the antidepressant use of 3,500 individuals aged between 30 and 65 over the course of 7 years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There are a number of limitations to the research which, in fairness, the authors acknowledge. The living status of the participants (alone or not alone) was only recorded a thte beginning of the 7 year period. An awful lot can change in 7 years. And the use of antidepressants prior to the study was also not recorded, meaning that while&nbsp;an association between living alone and depression might be reasonably inferred, it is not possible to establish whether living alone may lead to depression or depression leads to living alone.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Nonetheless, with 30% of Irish Households currently made up of a single occupant, a figure expected to rise by 40% by 2020. evidence suggesting such disparity between the mental wellbeing of those living alone and those living with other people demands to be looked at seriously. Regrettably, the needs of single people are routinely ignored by politicans across the political spectrum. Indeed, even the language of political debate, with its focus on &#39;hard working families&#39;, would seem to exclude the thousands who live alone.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Finnish study uncovered a number of factors that appear to contribute to the increased risk of depression in single-person households. Single occupants, especially women, were more likely to suffer financial hardship, and live in poorer housing conditions. Although at the start of the study all participants were either employed or recently employed, those living alone were significantly more likely to experience unemployment over the course of it. For men, a lack of social support was seen as a predominant factor in the increased use of antidepressants. Both men and women living alone experienced higher levels of what the authors describe as &#39;cynical hostility&#39;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It does not suggest that multi-person households are the answer to our problems. There are plenty of people living with partners, families or flatmates who suffer from mental health problems, including depression. Nor does living alone inevitably result in poorer mental health. In fact, it indicates that many of the challenges of living alone are caused bu our failure as a society to recognise, let alone embrace, the value of solitude.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But it is hard to see how if someone is feeling depressed, living alone can lead to a vicious sysle. You don&#39;t feel up to seeing anyone, so you stay at home and little by little slip into a norm of not socialising, your confidence diminishes and your mood drops further. In this context its not hard to see why the use of antidepressants is soaring among people who live alone. But in the long term we can only address this by tackling the material and social factors that underpin it. Antidepressants have a role to play but you cant talk to a packet of Prozac.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2012-04-11 04:00:00',NULL,'a-new-study-links-living-alone-with-a-greater-risk-of-depression'),(8,'Child Protection Bills Published','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Any sports club, society or voluntary organisation that works with children faces being shut down if they fail to implement official guidelines on how to handle child protection and welfare concerns.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is one of a number of measures contained in two new pieces of legislation published today which are likely to have far-reaching implications for how the State, voluntary groups and wider society respond to children at risk.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Details of both Bills were published today by Minister for Justice Alan Shatter and Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Under the Children First Bill, all organisations where children attend without their parents - such as schools, sports clubs or religious groups - will face a legal requirement to ensure they provide a safe environment for children.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Each organisation will be required to have a &ldquo;designated officer&rdquo; who will have responsibility to ensure staff and volunteers are vetted and trained in recognising signs of abuse and neglect.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	This officer, and certain professionals such as nurses, doctors, social workers and counsellors, will have a legal obligation to report suspicions and allegations of abuse to the Health Service Executive.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	If a designated officer fails to report concerns without a reasonable excuse, they may face a jail term of up to five years. If an organisation fails to implement Children First guidelines, they face losing State funding and, ultimately, being shut down.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Ms Fitzgerald said the legislation would help ensure there are no exception or exemptions for failing to act on child abuse or neglect concerns.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;Child protection is everyone&rsquo;s responsibility. Everyone. Every club, society, organisation, religious organisation, educational establishment and medical facility that works with children,&rdquo; she said.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	While some children&rsquo;s groups have expressed concern that social services could be overwhelmed by abuse or neglect reports, Ms Fitzgerald said she was confident that reformed management of children&rsquo;s services would help ensure the system would cope.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;We need to foster a culture where every individual in this State feels themselves personally responsible for creating and maintaining a society where children are protected,&rdquo; she said.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Separate legislation published today by Mr Shatter will make it a criminal offence for a person to fail to disclose information to the Garda which would assist in prosecuting a person who commits a serious offence against a child or vulnerable adult.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	The prospect of prosecution for failing to report suspected abuse is extended to all members of the public and not just those working with children. Any person who withholds information faces a minimum jail term of five years.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;It is not acceptable that there can be a cloak of secrecy surrounding such offences against children or other vulnerable people in society,&rdquo; Mr Shatter said.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Mr Shatter confirmed the legislation would apply to priests hearing confession, but described the issue as a &quot;media obsession&quot;. He said similar legislation has been in place since 1998, but has not proved a source of controversy since.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	The legislation contains defences for parents and others where a victim of an offence requests that the details not be passed onto authorities. Mr Shatter said these defences sought to protect victims, as well as providing a defence for those who legitimately act in the best interest of a child or vulnerable adult. &ldquo;This Bill should not deter victims of serious offences from seeking help and assistance they need in addressing the harm and damage caused to them,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Children&#39;s groups gave the measures a broad welcome, in particular the decision to place the Children First guidelines on a legal footing.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Barnardos chief executive Fergus Finlay said the move marked a turning point in the history of child protection. &quot;It has been a painful journey, but the learning from the myriad reports outlining our collective failure to protect children in the past has made the publication of this significant legislation possible today,&rdquo; he said.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	The Children&#39;s Right Alliance, a coalition of non-governmental organisations, said the move will &quot;change the culture of child protection in Ireland, ensuring that abuse is tackled head-on and not hidden away&quot;.</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2012-05-03 04:00:00',NULL,'child-protection-bills-published'),(9,'Children\'s Minister: Practices at some care centres \'absolutely unacceptable\'','<p>\r\n	Children&#39;s Minister: Practices at some care centres &#39;absolutely unacceptable&#39;<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Monday, May 28, 2012<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Children&#39;s Minister Frances Fitzgerald has described the conditions at some residential care centres for young people as &quot;unacceptable&quot;.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	An Urls: <a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/unsafe-practices-at-child-centres-report-195448.html\" target=\"_blank\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/unsafe-practices-at-child-centres-report-195448.html</a>Irish Examiner story/url] on inspection reports at a number of centres last year found there were inappropriate relationships between children, unauthorised staff in bedrooms and staff without the proper qualifications.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	One of the centres in question later closed.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Minister Fitzgerald said that she has asked for a report on the matter and rigorous inspections will be carried out.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	&quot;The inspections are really important, standards are important, and some of the practices described are clearly absolutely unacceptable,&quot; she said.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	&quot;We want the highest standards for our children in care, that&#39;s what the inspection regime is targeted at and that&#39;s what I will ensure happens.&quot;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2012-05-28 04:00:00',NULL,'childrens-minister-practices-at-some-care-centres-absolutely-unacceptable'),(10,'Managing Self Harm','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Self harm, or deliberate self harm includes self injury or self poisoning. It is the direct &amp; intentional injury to bodily tissue without suicide in mind. In the past, self harm was often called <strong>self mutilation</strong>; the most common feature being cutting of the skin with sharp objects. This accounts for <strong>80% of self harm abuse</strong>, and the remainder features burning, scratching, banging, or hitting body parts, opening old wounds, pulling of hair (also known as trichotillomania), <strong>alcohol abuse and drug abuse</strong> &nbsp;(with the onset of benzodiazepine dependence &amp; withdrawal). Substance abusers and those with eating disorders who <strong>inadvertently sustain self injury </strong>don&rsquo;t necessarily fall into the category of what is self harm, because self injury has to be the intention in order to fully qualify this diagnosis.&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','thumb_p_20072012151210.jpg',0,'2013-07-11 02:19:17',NULL,'managing-self-harm'),(11,'test','<p>\r\n	test</p>\r\n','public','',0,'2012-06-29 05:57:29',NULL,'test'),(12,'Alcohol & Drugs Awareness','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Alcohol and drugs taking are quite common in contemporary Ireland. While the alcohol aspect has centuries of acquired study and a comprehensive understanding of the hazards linked to excessive drinking, effects from drugs abuse is a whole new ball game. The <strong>narcotic addictions culture</strong> in the Western world is a tricky area to come to grips with, as there are legal and illegal drugs alongside herbal and synthetic drugs. There are <strong>hard drugs</strong> such as heroin and cocaine, and there are <strong>soft drugs </strong>such as marijuana and then there are the<strong> alternative drugs</strong> such as head shops or herbal highs.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_p_02072012062104.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 09:08:05',NULL,'alcohol-drugs-awareness'),(13,'Manual handling ','<p>\r\n	Manual handling activities have multiple scenarios, but the obvious manual handling scenario is the common occurrence of lifting a pen off the ground. Now an adult head ways 7-10 kg, so when it comes to the manual handling of a pen from off the ground from a standing posture, you are not simply lifting a pen up, your lift your head as well. This is possibly the most overlooked regular scenario</p>\r\n','public','thumb_p_23062012185230.jpg',0,'2012-06-25 07:38:06',NULL,'manual-handling'),(14,'Welcome to Social Care Training Ireland','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Hi! And Welcome to Social Care Training Ireland!</p>\r\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Social Care Training Ireland, founded in 2011 provides a broad range of training and consultancy services to the Irish Health &amp; Social Care Sector.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Our ethos is derived from our extensive experience in direct care provision and is embodied in our mission <strong>&ldquo;supporting excellence in care provision&rdquo;</strong>.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	We have built an extensive service offering on solid experience and have for some years carefully crafted our approach, not purely on an academic basis but also through the application and development of theoretical models, whilst constantly measuring outcomes and experiences.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Our trainers are professionally qualified practitioners who translate their shared vision and passion to deliver a new learning experience.<br />\r\n	&nbsp; &nbsp;<br />\r\n	Our clients include the Health Service Executive (HSE), Voluntary Organisations, Employment Agencies, Private Residential Care Providers and individuals wishing to enhance their career prospects.</p>\r\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<h2 style=\"margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; color: rgb(12, 64, 12); font-weight: normal; line-height: 35px; \">\r\n	Our Vision</h2>\r\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Deriving from our mission of <strong>&ldquo;supporting excellence in care provision&rdquo;</strong> we believe that&hellip;</p>\r\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li style=\"color:#687167;font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%; background-image: url(http://socialcaretraining.ie/images/bullet.jpg) no repeat;\">\r\n		continuous professional development is an essential component in ensuring that maximum standards of care are provided by Health Care Professionals.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; line-height: 125%;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li style=\"color:#687167;font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%; background-image: url(http://socialcaretraining.ie/images/bullet.jpg) no repeat;\">\r\n		focusing on the development of each individual staff member improves longevity of employment and overall employee satisfaction. This in turn directly contributes to the experience of service users.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; line-height: 125%;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li style=\"color:#687167; font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%; background-image: url(http://socialcaretraining.ie/images/bullet.jpg) no repeat;\">\r\n		professionals working in the Health &amp; Social Care sector benefit from the engagement of career consultancy and training, up-skilling and creating opportunities and maintaining a progressive career path.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p style=\"font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; line-height: 125%;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','thumb_13122012055709.jpg',1,'2012-12-13 10:57:09',NULL,'welcome-to-social-care-training-ireland'),(15,'Get Yourself Fired-Up for Fire & Safety Training','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Responsibility rests on your shoulders to take an active interest and <strong>concern for fire safety matters</strong> both at work and the home. Because up to 46 people per year die from fires in Ireland, and on average 1000 suffer from serious burn or smoke inhalation injuries. You don&rsquo;t have to be a fireman or a firefighter to<strong> realise your responsibility</strong>; and to learn what number do dial for the fire brigade is not exactly what we mean either. &nbsp;There are ample fire and safety tips out there to help you <strong>understand the dangers of fire</strong> and how to reduce fire risk to you property, but very often important priorities are overlooked. Most people genuinely believe a fire breakout will never happen to them, and this mode of thinking reflects an abnegation of responsibilities. The fact is, <strong>fire and safety measures are easy to learn</strong>, remember and enact if need be. It&rsquo;s not like cramming for a leaving cert exam, whereby as soon as you pass you&rsquo;ve forgotten everything already. <strong>Fire safety training </strong>involves enlightening the mind, with practical education that can be remembered &amp; utilised thereafter. It&rsquo;s not about becoming a superhero firefighter &amp; paramedic, or running through a backdraught to grab the vulnerable, thereby possibly winning a medal for bravery. No, fire safety training is simply a way in which you can inspire your mind to<strong> take responsibility in reducing the risk</strong> of an outbreak of fire.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_p_02072012064652.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 09:11:07',NULL,'get-yourself-fired-up-for-fire-safety-training'),(16,'First Aid – Preserving Life and Buying Time…','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	What is first aid? A definitive answer is that first aid provides initial treatment and care for sudden illness or injury, until a more advanced medical procedure can be applied. First aid is the act of <strong>preventing conditions from deteriorating </strong>and promoting recovery until proper emergency services arrive, or a doctor can be sourced. <strong>First aid treatment</strong> involves a sequence of simple techniques, performed by a trained individual with the minimum of <strong>first aid equipment, </strong>and the application of these techniques can be potentially lifesaving.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_p_02072012064520.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 09:30:41',NULL,'first-aid-–-preserving-life-and-buying-time…'),(17,'Health and Safety Matters - Manual Handling Explained','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Manual handling activities have multiple scenarios, but the obvious <strong>manual handling scenario</strong> is the common occurrence of lifting a pen off the ground. Now, an adult head weighs 5-7 kg, so when it comes to the manual handling of a pen from off the ground from a standing posture, you are not simply lifting a pen up, your lift your head as well. This is possibly the most overlooked regular scenario in our daily lives, with serious<strong> health and safety implications</strong> as we grow older. The vertebrates &amp; spine are finely adjusted; suited for standing posture, and walking. The vertebrate disks open up sufficiently to allow back movement activities such as <strong>manual handling exercises</strong>, but this leaves us open to back ergonomic health and safety issues in the case of top heavy loads.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_p_02072012053011.jpg',1,'2012-12-14 09:36:12',NULL,'health-and-safety-matters-manual-handling-explained'),(18,'Ireland - A Land of Good Sport and Injury','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Ireland is known for earning some major sporting achievements worldwide, and the island is bedecked with an array of sporting hobbies to choose from, boasting probably the largest selection of sporting activities the world over.<strong> Ireland performs consistently in her sports</strong>, and sometimes claims a major international trophy in golf tournaments, &nbsp;Olympic medals, or a major international rugby trophies. &nbsp;With all this sporting activity happening around the country, participants are bound to pick up a sporting injury. An <strong>unexpected injury may occur</strong> from involvement with rugby, soccer, Gaelic football, hurling, athletics, swimming, horse riding, paragliding, boxing, martial arts, basketball, hockey, or an unlucky incident at a game of darts; <strong>sporting injuries </strong>can and will happen on life&rsquo;s numerical lottery.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_p_02072012050614.jpg',0,'2012-12-13 11:33:52',NULL,'ireland-a-land-of-good-sport-and-injury'),(19,'test blog','<p>\r\n	test blog</p>\r\n','public','thumb_p_02072012051131.jpg',0,'2012-07-03 11:46:08',NULL,'test-blog'),(20,'Team Building with Longevity in Mind','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Team building exercises helps to align the individual needs with the team needs, thus enhancing corporate productivity and team relationships.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	This is can be done in two main ways: &nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	1) Conventional method of<strong> corporate entertainment activities</strong>.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	2) A more enriched <strong>experiential training method</strong>: Team building via experiential training exercises encourage participants to focus on positive mental attitudes towards team work and to <strong>develop constructive behavioural patterns</strong> around the work place. It also engages our intellectual and emotional faculties and empowers team members&rsquo; self-awareness, self-sustainability, and thus enables their effectiveness in their in team. This experiential training method boasts superior longevity over the conventional methods as it &nbsp;involves carefully structured activities &amp; <strong>scenarios for team bonding</strong>.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_p_18072012101841.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 09:52:14',NULL,'team-building-with-longevity-in-mind'),(21,'AED Defibrillators - The Electrical Joule in the Crown of CPR Techniques','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	First aid defibrillators are all making their presence felt in Ireland, with more and more organizations having them installed; such as the law courts, government departments, O.P.W., Dairygold, and the GAA to name a few such institutions. It makes sense to <strong>have these additional first aid gems installed</strong> as cardiac arrest features strongly in Ireland, making defibrillators as important as fire extinguishers when it comes to saving lives. What is a defibrillator? <strong>Defibrillators are devices that give an electric jolt</strong>, enabling rescuers to perform CPRs more effectively and efficiently, providing basic life support (BLS) until the Red Cross services or St. John Ambulance services arrive to the casualty scene. <strong>Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation defines what is CPR</strong>; a procedure used to keep the heart pumping and oxygen flowing. The initial installation costs of Defibrillators vary from around &euro;800 upwards, but the cost of human life is unquantifiable, so <strong>defibrillators represent value for money</strong>. These products are also guaranteed Irish, helping us to save lives and sustain Irish jobs all in one go.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_p_06072012073733.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 09:47:00',NULL,'aed-defibrillators-the-electrical-joule-in-the-crown-of-cpr-techniques'),(22,'Anti-Racism; Finding Realistic Solutions to Discrimination','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	In the places we live and work, in Irish towns and cities, we often hear Racist expressions echoing through the experience of our daily lives. In some places these racial epithets, attributing values, <strong>behaviours and beliefs</strong> on the basis of ignorance and prejudice, is more pronounced than in other places, we can ask ourselves is this a symptom of a societal illness? Is our discrimination mindless, a symptom of insecurity, at best and fear and hatred at its worst? <strong>Racism in Ireland</strong> is arguably a reaction to rapid societal changes in Ireland where people of many nationalities have come in search of economic security and a safe place to live. The result being that our perception of a culturally homogenous society is challenged, especially now in times of economic instability where we must share an ever <strong>decreasing pool of resources</strong> with our new neighbours. This is a difficult adjustment to make and can fuel and compound growing racism and discrimination, from negative labelling and name calling to more serious incidents; this can be called a <strong>resultant coaction</strong>.</p>\r\n','public','p_06072012095616.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 09:49:09',NULL,'anti-racism;-finding-realistic-solutions-to-discrimination'),(23,'Quality Consultancy, Membership, Courses & Training With S.C.T.I.','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/index.php\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">Social Care Training Ireland</a> was established in 2011 with the focus of good professional experience. <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/aboutus.php\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">Social Care Training Ireland&rsquo;s primary function</a> is to upgrade and meet statutory requirements of the qualified social care workers in the social care services, with a predominant focus on what is social care for young people and social services for people with mental illness. <strong>Social Care Training Ireland</strong> also have a broad range of services, including consultancy, online membership for the social care worker and practitioners, an e-newsletter service, as well as<strong> 29 diverse courses</strong> both social work related as well as everyday industry related courses required in all spheres &amp; spectrums of commerce be they social care or non-social care based. <strong>S.C.T.I. training </strong>promises to be valuable and worthwhile, with qualified and experienced trainers delivering in a clear &amp; concise manner with practical examples, accommodating the requirement and needs of clients with little fuss.<strong> Courses are certified and accredited</strong>, meeting the required regulatory and statutory standards within the social services industry.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_p_09072012055720.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 09:45:37',NULL,'quality-consultancy-membership-courses-training-with-scti'),(24,'Communication & Report Writing Skills that Best Define Your View ','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Report writing is common practice in work place today. It can be a <strong>time-consuming communicative method</strong> which is used to describe situations, recommendations or decisions made. A badly written report may very well lay idle, or be misconstrued by readers, having serious ramifications for social care agents and social care clients. <strong>Bad letters reflects badly on the writer</strong>, diminishing both credibility and effective influence. At Social Care Training Ireland, we aim to redress bad habits in report writing, and enabling you to establish yourself as a credible and influential communication agent within the social care environment. We also aim to <strong>instill a sense of self awareness</strong> among course participants with regards how verbal and non-verbal communication is interpreted by recipients. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','thumb_p_12072012101443.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 09:50:58',NULL,'communication-report-writing-skills-that-best-define-your-view'),(25,'Child Protection Training – Legal Aspects & Practical Advice on Safe Guarding Matters','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	The child protection programme was established in 2004 as part of the Irish government&rsquo;s <strong>National Youth Work Development Plan. </strong>The child protection programme objective is to 1) build up the ability of youth organizations in Ireland with regarding safe guarding the youth from child abuse or inappropriate behaviour. 2) to develop and deliver what is <strong>child protection</strong> and train child workers, (be they professional or volunteer), in all areas of youth work. 3) To provide accessibility to Garda vetting units via membership of a relevant youth work &amp; Garda vetting consortium. 3) To advocate for the youth work sector for<strong> safe guarding measures </strong>and protection for children. As citizens, we should be concerned for the on-going welfare of children, acknowledging their right to be protected and to be treated with respect &amp; dignity, recognising that their welfare must come first. <strong>Child protection policy </strong>is an on-going concern in Irish society, and it&rsquo;s our duty not to be complacent or apathetic, to learn from child abuse history, and to continue to develop best practice guidelines to ensure children in Ireland obtain the optimum quality of life, and grow in a <strong>happy nurturing environment</strong>, free from risk of abuse, be it sexual, emotional, physical or child labour, as well as trauma suffered from the witnessing of domestic violence.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_p_21072012052857.jpg',0,'2012-12-13 12:12:50',NULL,'child-protection-training-–-legal-aspects-practical-advice-on-safe-guarding-matters'),(26,'Intervening a Crisis Through Preventative Strategy','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Crisis prevention within a social care setting is about managing challenging behaviours among elderly patients, or patients with disabilities. This is achieved through the use of <strong>non-violent crisis intervention; </strong>an evidence based field of study. Interventions encompass verbal &amp; non-verbal communication skills to reduce seclusion &amp; restraint for improved patient &amp; staff welfare. <strong>Crisis prevention</strong> utilises non-violent, perceptive, listening &amp; innovative faculties to unfolding scenarios at hand. Social care agents needs to be aware of <strong>paraverbal communication</strong>; tone, pitch and pace of the voice. The patient needs to feel listened to while counselling them; it&rsquo;s all about the feeling. When a patient is upset, and you are upset, the words change due to paraverbalism. What you think you hear may not be what is being said, and <strong>how you respond decides outcomes</strong>.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_p_26072012103656.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 10:08:10',NULL,'intervening-a-crisis-through-preventative-strategy'),(27,'Kenny in children\'s rights pledge','<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0725/breaking34.html\">Taoiseach Enda Kenny </a>said he expects legislation to pave the way for a referendum to strengthen children&#39;s rights to be produced shortly after the D&aacute;il resumes in September. He said he has asked Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald to work with other interested parties to help draw up a proposed referendum wording and related legislation on adoption over the summer. The Taoiseach was speaking at the launch of new national standards by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) for child protection services. These standards will ensure that frontline services will be subject to independent inspection for the first time to ensure they are providing adequate care and protection to vulnerable children. This follows a series of damning reports which have highlighted serious failures in child protection and welfare services. The standards set out clear requirements for HSE managers, social workers and other professionals on how to deliver a consistent and speedy service for young people at risk. Tracey Cooper, the chief executive of Hiqa, said that for too long the needs of children have not received a sufficiently significant priority. &ldquo;All children have a right to be safe and to have access to appropriate services and support to enable their growth and development,&rdquo; she said. Ms Cooper said Hiqa will monitor child protection and welfare services to ensure they comply with new standards and complies with its statutory obligation to ensure young people are adequately protected. Mr Kenny said there have been numerous &quot;devastating&quot; reports into the failures of children&#39;s services in th</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2012-07-29 04:00:00',NULL,'kenny-in-childrens-rights-pledge'),(28,'First Aid with Children in Mind','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Most people, on hearing of such a term as paediatric first aid, may run scurrying for a medical dictionary in order to help understand the term better, provided they need to know. <strong>Paediatrics is the Greek for child healer</strong>, and today the word defines a study of medical care for minors &amp; early adolescence. &nbsp;In America they say pediatrician, and in the British Isles we say paediatrician, which is phonetically similar in pronunciation. A <strong>paediatrician is a medical specialist</strong> who has undertaken extensive medical degree courses. But we don&rsquo;t need to worry about taking degree courses here, as <strong>paediatric first aid</strong> is primarily the concern of child care agents such as qualified care workers, child minders, nannies, teachers or anyone involved in the supervision of children be they new born, infant, or early adolescent. Professionals dealing with this category are expected to know &amp; understand cardio pulmonary resuscitation, first aid &amp; child development. &nbsp;Children have a lot of get up and go, are often spontaneous, and can be oblivious to dangers, so while <strong>paediatric first aid treatment</strong> of a serious nature can be reduced by implementing preventative measures, it&rsquo;s still necessary to be certified in the area of child first aid. Having this qualification will enable you to reduce the seriousness of any accidental injury or incident, until the child gets to the hospital.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_p_03082012052724.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 10:03:34',NULL,'first-aid-with-children-in-mind'),(29,'Culturally Appropriate Practices with the Travelling Community','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Culturally appropriate practices is about caring for diversity, identifying needs &amp; potentials for culturally appropriate social care support services for traveller&rsquo;s &amp; children&rsquo;s welfare. <strong>&lsquo;Caring for Diversity&rsquo;</strong> is a report commissioned in 2002 and published in 2003 with the assistance of Traveller Familes Care and Shared Rearing Service. The research encompasses info on <strong>Irish traveller children in foster care</strong>, and residential care, deliberating on principle needs, such as: &nbsp;Registering the traveller community as an ethnic group, and maintaining foster child links with the travelling community. The emerging theme of Caring for Diversity was recognition that the traveller group are in Ireland travelling as a cultural people with ethnic status, which gives them a<strong> legal status as a people</strong>. &nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','thumb_p_11082012061849.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 09:57:42',NULL,'culturally-appropriate-practices-with-the-travelling-community'),(30,'Occupational First Aid – Co-ordinating First Aid in the Work Place','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Occupational first aid training gives knowledge &amp; practical skills needed to co-ordinate first aid at work environments. &nbsp;Upon completion of participant&rsquo;s training, they will fully comprehend the responsibilities of <strong>occupational first aid</strong>. Participants will be capable of preserving life, or prolonging life for the benefit of paramedics or hospital ambulance arrival. <strong>Occupational first aiders </strong>will be capable of on the job nursing, whereby the situation is not life threatening or serious. Trained-up participants will be able to delegate first aid matters of a practical nature in their place of work as well as being aware of relevant health &amp; safety issues pertaining to <strong>work related first aid provisions</strong>.&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','thumb_p_11082012052612.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 10:38:59',NULL,'occupational-first-aid-–-co-ordinating-first-aid-in-the-work-place'),(31,'Random Post','<p>\r\n	Random Post</p>\r\n','public','',0,'2012-08-09 06:18:22',NULL,'random-post'),(32,'Random Post','<p>\r\n	Random Post</p>\r\n','public','',0,'2012-08-09 06:19:42',NULL,'random-post'),(33,'Random Posting','<p>\r\n	Random Post</p>\r\n','public','',0,'2012-08-09 08:35:45',NULL,'random-posting'),(34,'HIQA to ensure child protection standards are met','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; \">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0726/1224320829156.html\">CHILD PROTECTION services will be </a>subject to independent inspection for the first time to ensure they are providing adequate care and protection to vulnerable children.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; \">\r\n	The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) will be in charge of ensuring services meet new national standards published yesterday. This follows damning reports that have highlighted failures in child protection and welfare services, including the deaths of children in State care.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; \">\r\n	The new standards &ndash; officially published by Taoiseach Enda Kenny &ndash; set out clear requirements for Health Service Executive managers, social workers and other professionals on how to deliver a consistent, high-quality and responsive service for young people at risk. The inspections will begin from November onwards and the first reports into outcomes are likely from early next year.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; \">\r\n	Tracey Cooper, chief executive of Hiqa, said that for too long the needs of children had not received a sufficiently high priority. However, all children had a right to be safe and have access to appropriate services and support.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; \">\r\n	&ldquo;These standards are designed to follow a child&rsquo;s journey within the child protection system to ensure his or her safety and welfare is being protected,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; \">\r\n	Speaking at the launch, Mr Kenny said the move, combined with wider reforms in child and family services, was an opportunity to redefine the State&rsquo;s commitment to children. &ldquo;Things would have been so different had children been visible and listened to in the past,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; \">\r\n	&ldquo;For me, for the Minister and the Government, the time has now come to work with every agency to ensure children are visible and listened to and, hopefully in due course, people will enshrine that visibility in the Constitution.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; \">\r\n	Mr Kenny confirmed that a referendum to strengthen children&rsquo;s rights would be held this year. He has asked Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald to work with other interested parties to help draw up a proposed wording and related legislation on adoption.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; \">\r\n	The key principles behind the new standards, which have legal effect and will apply to all child protection services, include ensuring:</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; \">\r\n	Official guidelines on handling abuse and welfare concerns &ndash; known as Children First &ndash; are fully implemented;</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; \">\r\n	Children are protected from risk of harm;</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; \">\r\n	Needs and views of children are taken into account;</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; \">\r\n	Effective governance and clear leadership with lines of accountability</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; \">\r\n	The Irish Association of Social Workers welcomed the new standards but warned resource shortages were undermining child protection services. Hiqa will begin gathering evidence and monitoring services later this year. Niall Byrne of Hiqa, said judgments will be &ldquo;fair and balanced&rdquo;.</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2012-08-13 13:11:25',NULL,'hiqa-to-ensure-child-protection-standards-are-met'),(35,'Mental Health & Recovery: A New Direction from Social Care Training Ireland','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Many of us will suffer from mental health problems during our lifetime, often these are temporary problems, due to anxiety, grief or job loss and do not necessarily lead to serious mental illness. However, <strong>being mentally unhealthy limits our potential </strong>as human beings and may lead to more serious problems. Mental health disorders range from depressive and anxiety disorders, to less <strong>common illnesses such as schizophrenia</strong> and bipolar disorder. &nbsp;Since the mid-1980s, service providers and service users have moved away from a purely medical model often relying on long term hospitalisation towards a holistic model which recognises that many of us will experience <strong>mental ill health </strong>during our lifetime and that social and professional exclusion is damaging to the person, the community and the society.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<div>\r\n	&nbsp;</div>\r\n','public','thumb_p_14082012134440.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 10:45:25',NULL,'mental-health-recovery-a-new-direction-from-social-care-training-ireland'),(36,'Leadership: Support, Development and Progression with Social Care Training Ireland','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Social Care Training Ireland brings you courses on leadership &amp; team support, encompassing all aspects of the holistic professional leader. We <strong>develop participants&rsquo; capacity</strong> for personal, professional and team leadership. Our philosophy is to empower participants to improve, develop and progress their interactions with key stakeholders in social care, to <strong>expand their professional leadership ability</strong> and to assist them in accessing their own personal leadership potential. <strong>Good leaders are made </strong>not born. If you are willing to succeed, think laterally and invest in your team members and managers; you can optimise your leadership culture and effectiveness. Leadership skills training is not just for managers but all team members, to <strong>improve professional networking skills</strong>, their collaborative working and to develop their capacity to work on their own initiative.&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','thumb_p_17082012152316.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 10:53:53',NULL,'leadership-support-development-and-progression-with-social-care-training-ireland'),(37,'Policy Procedure & Guideline Development Training','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Developing policy procedures and guidelines can be as tricky as any other kind of development, be it software development, web development, business development, or community development. All these aspects of development require a purpose, and like a web developer, or any other kind of developer, there will be a <strong>desire to implement best practice for the product</strong>, services or policy in question. &nbsp;There may even be an element of organic growth and development similar to child development, but we can&rsquo;t be too spurious when comparing the two as there is a big difference in reality between policy and child development. But for any policy procedure and guideline developments, one should <strong>strive for the promotion of best practice</strong>, as well as stream lining practice &amp; service distribution. This goes hand in hand with the incorporation of legislation &amp; governmental regulation acts. Ultimately the authorised policy procedures &amp; guidelines should provide for good corporate and staff auditing in terms of <strong>evaluating productivity outcomes</strong>.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_07092012070215.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 10:57:40',NULL,'policy-procedure-guideline-development-training'),(38,'Community Care: Social Care’s Quality Customer Service','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Community in care encompasses a broad range of health services that assists clients in living out their day to day life to the best of their ability given their situation or predicament. These health services are provided by or are in conjunction with the <strong>Ireland Health Service Executive (HSE)</strong>. An outline of the service covered includes: Community health nurses, home-based support service, physio service, occupational therapy, podiatry service, medical provisions, meals on wheels service, day care, and respite service. Irish Citizens with medical cards have<strong> free access to community care service</strong>, while those without medical cards pay on condition that they meet the requirements.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_p_27082012045500.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 11:00:48',NULL,'community-care-social-care’s-quality-customer-service'),(39,'Understanding Culture and Communication','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Contemporary Ireland has attracted a significant number of immigrants from Africa and Eastern Europe among other places since the mid to late 1990s. This influx has led to the <strong>development of immigration policies</strong>, procedures that assist migrants looking to settle in Ireland. With an equality and anti-discrimination framework in place, the next phase of improvement is to cater for immigrant care services.<strong> Ireland is now a culture of diversity</strong>, and this brings prospects as well as challenges for social care agents. S.C.T.I. Culture and Communication skills course provides social care agents with a extensive appreciation of cultural communicative methods; emphasizing the <strong>significance of communicating effectuall</strong>y for employees and clients from diverse cultural, religious and moral expectancies. Culture and communication skills course is experiential, enabling participants to educate one other, on top of gaining what is <strong>communication theory knowledge</strong> from qualified veteran facilitators who bring extensive knowledge from their field of experience.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_17092012055044.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 11:37:22',NULL,'understanding-culture-and-communication'),(40,'Conflict Management Strategies Which Improve Your Professionalism','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Conflict management is an important strategy tool generally used to reduce friction within the workforce. However in a care setting, social workers often find that <strong>conflict management </strong>is about addressing their own emotional conflict as they settle into their chosen career. To help explain the difference further, corporate work places use conflict management to devise schemes which minimises harmful facets of conflict among employees. Management boost positive outcomes, either by offering mediation at the heart of the conflict or at a pre-planning project management level. This is to <strong>help facilitate higher productivity </strong>and educational potential within an organization. Conflict can be time management consuming, sapping up to 25% of production time for the supervisor, and up to 20% of managers production time. These statistics are on the rise, but <strong>some level of conflict can be healthy for organizations </strong>in terms of organic growth. So conflict management at a corporate business level makes leadership sense in terms of increased performance management and job satisfaction. Social care workers on the other hand have what could be better termed as an <strong>inner conflict management scenario</strong> to deal with. In this case, a social worker is both employee and management officer rolled in one.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_07092012070701.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 11:25:18',NULL,'conflict-management-strategies-which-improve-your-professionalism'),(41,'test','<p>\r\n	teswe</p>\r\n','public','thumb_04092012052612.jpg',0,'2012-09-04 09:26:12',NULL,'test'),(42,'test','<p>\r\n	test</p>\r\n','public','thumb_04092012052901.jpg',0,'2012-09-04 09:33:42',NULL,'test'),(43,'Challenging Behaviour in a Social Care Setting','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Challenging behaviour is considered a challenge in light of care workers trying to get to the heart of the problem. If <strong>care agents </strong>knew what the problem with their client really was, the behaviour would cease to be a challenge. In this respect, jumping to conclusions or going on a hunch could have potentially devastating outcomes for both patient and care agent. By <strong>learning to understand</strong> what brings on a challenging behaviour scenario, care agents facilitate a process of communication where the patient can effectively express their needs. <strong>Patient needs will vary</strong> dues to their own unique predicaments. Clients can have any number of disabilities which may trigger challenging behaviour scenarios at any given moment. <strong>Social health care agents</strong> will interface on a regular basis with scenarios related to specific conditions such as autism, adhd (attention deficit hyperactive disorder), blindness, deafness, blind &amp; deaf symptoms as well as elderly patients suffering from dementia. These disorders can impact on their communication skills. For Example if your <strong>client base is young people</strong> then it may effect child development. It takes some basic child psychology to explain as disability can impact on learning difficulties. Basically a child throws a tantrum to let parents know that something is wrong, and as the child grows older, these tantrums give way to <strong>more effective communication techniques</strong>. &nbsp;But having protracted learning disabilities stifles this development, and can lead to what is challenging behaviour with older patients which will surface when residing in a <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/blog-landing.php?id=53\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">community in care</a>.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_11092012031435.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 11:29:00',NULL,'challenging-behaviour-in-a-social-care-setting'),(44,'Stress Management & Coping Skills','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Social care workers often suffer from anxiety with too many tasks, and can sometimes burn out <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/blog-landing.php?id=32\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">fire fighting</a> deadlines, only to then leave the profession with the<strong> resultant stress levels</strong>. Social care agents need to assess their proper role and work environment as the profession is emotionally challenging with obstacles that <strong>can lead to some psychological anxiety</strong>. This is especially true of direct service areas in light of <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/blog-landing.php?id=58\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">behavioural management</a> and health care. Strategies therefore need to be deployed to recognise signs of stress and reduce negative stress levels. It&rsquo;s important to point out that<strong> not all stress is negative</strong>, as anxiety in small doses provides healthy motivational impetus to get jobs done. So in the morning we are prone to small doses of stress, which wane by the afternoon and vanish by the evening provided we had a satisfactory day at work. But if we let things slide, anxiety can grip us, effecting professional judgement. With regular habit, this level of stress can affect our own <strong>physical and <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/single.php?id=83&amp;ids=50\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">mental health</a></strong>.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_07092012094529.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 11:33:52',NULL,'stress-management-coping-skills'),(45,'Mental Health Fuelled by a Lack of Understanding.','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; \">\r\n	A LACK of understanding of mental health problems continues to fuel stigma and prevents people from accessing support, according to new research released to mark World Suicide Awareness Day.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; \">\r\n	More than one-fifth of people surveyed for the research believed those suffering from mental health problems were of below average intelligence, while 31 per cent said they would not willingly accept someone with a mental health problem as a close friend.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; \">\r\n	A clear majority of people &ndash; 62 per cent &ndash; said they would discriminate against hiring someone with a history of mental illness on the grounds that they may be unreliable, the research carried out for St Patrick&rsquo;s Hospital indicates. Some 42 per cent of respondents felt that undergoing treatment for a mental health problem was a sign of personal failure.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; \">\r\n	Paul Gilligan, chief executive of the hospital, described the findings as disturbing.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; \">\r\n	&ldquo;These figures highlight the critical requirement to reduce stigma and barriers to accessing mental healthcare. It&rsquo;s also essential that those looking for help are provided with adequate high-quality services that they can trust in.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; \">\r\n	He pointed to figures from the World Health Organisation which show that about one million people die by suicide each year, or about one death by suicide every 40 seconds.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; \">\r\n	To improve levels of mental health literacy in the population, the hospital is beginning a series of free information evenings for families and carers, beginning today at 6.30pm.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; \">\r\n	A number of events were held yesterday to mark World Suicide Awareness Day, including an open air Mass in Dundalk and candle-light vigils in Drogheda, Navan, Cavan, Carrickmacross, Ardee and Bailieborough.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; \">\r\n	In Ireland last year, 525 people took their own lives, up from 486 in 2010. It is estimated that for every person who takes his or her own life, 20 may attempt to kill themselves.<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0911/1224323844387.html\">http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0911/1224323844387.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2012-09-11 12:46:58',NULL,'mental-health-fuelled-by-a-lack-of-understanding'),(46,'Facilitation Skills – A Vehicle for Change','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Developing good facilitation skills encompasses the ability to encourage positive participation within a group session. A<strong> good facilitator can enhance participation </strong>despite the personal spotlight on them while hosting sessions of various natures. Facilitation skills incorporate a development of facilitation styles as each group session facilitated will have different needs, levels of advancement, as well as group dynamics. This means <strong>facilitators need to understand the stages of group development</strong>. Like a good educator, facilitators need to plan, design &amp; prepare their group sessions with research and consultation. Facilitation skill is a tool to assist in community development in terms of integration and individual participation with community sessions. <strong>Facilitation skills is a vehicle for social change</strong>, often inspiring group session participants to read up more on facilitation techniques as they see the potent reality of change from a social justice perspective. For participants, they may see facilitation skills as <strong>helping others cross the divide</strong>, a gulf of an ocean via translantic sessions or sea sessions that no doubt entail some choppy waters during the voyage.&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','thumb_17092012092011.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 11:40:35',NULL,'facilitation-skills-–-a-vehicle-for-change'),(47,'This Week’s Therapy Topic of Interest - TCI','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	This week we&rsquo;ve decided to look beyond the available training course list and focus on Therapeutic Crisis Intervention as a topic of interest. <strong>TCI is a behaviour managing therapy support mechanism</strong> educating the practice of healthy coping skills for young people and children in distress through situational counselling. The Therapeutic Crisis Intervention method was developed since the late 1970s by <strong>Family Life Development Center</strong> in Cornell University with a case study in New York State of the nature of child neglect and abuse in a state care setting. Institutional care settings hosted a range of neglect incidences &amp; abuse stemming from bad management, unrestrained disciplinary measures, and negative personal development features such as isolation &amp; prolonged restraint periods. Today, <strong>social care agents use cognitive therapy </strong>to overthrow ingrained thinking from negative lived experiences, a bit like occupational therapy to a degree. Following on the assessment report of the New York case study, and counsel from associated child centred groups, the result was the development of <strong>Therapeutic Crisis Intervention</strong>. The effect of this initiative was the reduction of child neglect &amp; abuse where TCI programmes were introduced due to its therapy induced nature. &nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','thumb_24092012111402.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 11:54:02',NULL,'this-week’s-therapy-topic-of-interest-tci'),(48,'Person Centred Planning – A Social Care Life Planning Strategy','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	PCP is concerned with enabling people with support needs to live in a more independent mode of life. This is achieved through <strong>planning strategies </strong>designed to overcome scenarios which may render it necessary to seek secondary support, where none may be forthcoming. <strong>Person centred planning</strong> of what is social care as a recognised practice involves life planning for those with developmental disabilities or learning difficulties. PCP has since broadened its scope to include those with <u><a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/blog-landing.php?id=50\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">mental health issues</a></u>, those with recent physical disabilities, the elderly with debilitating illnesses, and children as well. PCP is a practical &amp; considered response for those in need. Person centred planning allows clients to discuss with their social care agent,<strong> listing out the bare essentials of life </strong>which the client needs to fulfill to live normally with dignity, and requiring the minimal of outside support.&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','thumb_01102012044149.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 12:38:44',NULL,'person-centred-planning-–-a-social-care-life-planning-strategy'),(49,'Homeless families living in hotel in receivership offered \'suitable alternative accommodation\'','<p>\r\n	All of the homeless families living in a hotel which is now in receivership have been offered &ldquo;suitable alternative accommodation&rdquo;, Dublin City Council said yesterday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Lynam&rsquo;s Hotel on Dublin&rsquo;s O&rsquo;Connell St has acted as an emergency shelter for homeless families in recent months, but it must cease trading by next Monday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While the future operation of the hotel will be decided in court next week, all of the families were told to leave by the weekend.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There is no contractual arrangement between the council and the hotel, which has been put in receivership by the National Assets Management Agency.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The hotel was accommodating homeless families when the council was unable to find accommodation for them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The council has been pushed to the limit in dealing with the housing crisis, with 939 families in homeless accommodation in Dublin. Around 600 are in hotels.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The council met with all of the families staying in the hotel over the last couple of weeks to help them locate alternative accommodation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A short statement issued yesterday by the city council said the Dublin Region Homeless Executive and the council were currently in negotiation about Lynam&rsquo;s Hotel.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;All families have been offered suitable alternative accommodation,&rdquo; it read.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, it is understood that around five homeless families, including 10 children, did not want to leave the hotel.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Leanne Heffernan, who has been living in the hotel with two young children since being made homeless some months ago, said she refused to move to a nearby hotel because it had too many stairs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Leanne, whose youngest child is just three months old, was one of a number of families who sought help from the campaign group Irish Housing Network.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The network, formed in May last year, is made up of 19 housing rights groups across Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It held a rally in support of the homeless families yesterday, and another is planned for today.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Niamh McDonald of Dublin Central Housing Action, part of the network, said they wanted secure accommodation for the families.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;They self-accommodate at the moment, which means they have to look for hotel rooms every two to three days,&rdquo; said Ms McDonald.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Anna Farrell Osawe and her Nigerian-born husband have been staying in two separate rooms at the hotel with their five children, aged from 16 down to five months old.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Anna said they had been offered a single room with six bunk beds in a nearby hotel.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;With my husband working in security at night and five children in the same room, he won&rsquo;t be able to sleep during the day,&rdquo; said Ms Osawe.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 23rd July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/homeless-families-living-in-hotel-in-receivership-offered-suitable-alternative-accommodation-411993.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/homeless-families-living-in-hotel-in-receivership-offered-suitable-alternative-accommodation-411993.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-25 08:39:41',NULL,'homeless-families-living-in-hotel-in-receivership-offered-suitable-alternative-accommodation'),(50,'adsd','<p>\r\n	adsd</p>\r\n','public','',0,'2012-12-13 07:09:45',NULL,'adsd'),(51,'tet','<p>\r\n	zxczxc</p>\r\n','public','',0,'2012-10-11 06:16:37',NULL,'tet'),(52,'mynewtest','<p>\r\n	[preffered size 199px X 149px][preffered size 199px X 149px][preffered size 199px X 149px]</p>\r\n','public','',0,'2012-10-11 06:17:50',NULL,'mynewtest'),(53,'test psychotherapy training','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<h1 style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; font-size: 20px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(86, 126, 38); \">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/holistic-counselling-and-psychotherapy-training\" style=\"color: rgb(86, 126, 38); text-decoration: none; \">&nbsp;psychotherapy training</a><a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/holistic-counselling-and-psychotherapy-training\" style=\"color: rgb(86, 126, 38); text-decoration: none; \">&nbsp;psychotherapy training</a><a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/holistic-counselling-and-psychotherapy-training\" style=\"color: rgb(86, 126, 38); text-decoration: none; \">&nbsp;psychotherapy training</a></h1>\r\n','public','',0,'2012-10-12 09:59:18',NULL,'test-psychotherapy-training'),(54,'Social Care\'s Promotion of Empowerment & Self Advocacy','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	The concept of advocacy is becoming increasingly important in <strong>social services provision </strong>across a wide range of areas, including disability, mental health, older people and children&rsquo;s rights amongst others. The word <strong>advocacy </strong>comes from the Latin phrase &lsquo;ad voce&rsquo; - towards a voice.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_24102012035336.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 12:24:03',NULL,'social-cares-promotion-of-empowerment-self-advocacy'),(55,'Aspects of First Aid','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	It&rsquo;s important for first aid trainees to become familiar with their <strong>first aid kit</strong>, ensuring that it is sufficiently furnished at all times. The procuring of additional essential medical supplies may also be necessary, depending on the situation. Typically first aid kits will include <strong>basic medical supplies</strong> such as disinfectants, plasters &amp; bandages, medical tape, scissors, antibiotics, plastic tweezers, and disposables gloves. As a <strong>first aid officer</strong>, knowing that you have these provisions will help you keep on top of things while you perform your normal work duties. More importantly, when it comes to acccidents, these medical provisions will help <u><a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/first-aid-preserving-life-and-buying-time\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">first aiders preserve life and buy time</a></u>.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_19102012090912.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 12:19:39',NULL,'aspects-of-first-aid'),(56,'Occupational Hazards – A First Aid Perspective','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	A social care worker, like nurses, often incurs serious responsibilities in relation to both themselves and their patients in terms of <strong>minimising potential occupational hazards</strong>. Managing this responsibility is facilitated through knowledge in relation to their daily social care work outlay, as well as working in conjunction with a <u><a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/health-and-safety-officer\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">Health and Safety officer</a>.</u> This knowledge incorporates either directly or indirectly occupational first aid, be it direct knowledge or knowing who the appointed officer is. A good and sufficient <u><a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/first-aid-course\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">first aid course</a></u> will <strong>help mitigate potential hazards</strong> during routine social care work related matters as well as prevent the occurrence of bad habits in the work environment. The aim for the social care worker is the <strong>prevention of occupational hazards</strong>, therefore reducing the need for occupational first aid. This will thus impact positively on both patients and social care staff in terms of <u><a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/stress-management-coping-skills\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">stress management and coping skills</a></u>.&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','thumb_24102012034439.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 12:15:03',NULL,'occupational-hazards-–-a-first-aid-perspective'),(57,'Understanding Ergonimics for Manual Handling Purposes','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	In what is a <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/health-and-safety-matters-manual-handling-explained\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">Health and Safety matter; manual handling explained</a> hinges on three 3 curves that make up your back structure. They are the cervical curve, the thoracic curve, and the lumbar curve. Keeping your ears, shoulders and hips in a straight line, helps to <strong>keep a healthy curve balance</strong>. Additionally having strong flexible muscles assists a healthy back, particularly abdominal &amp; muscles for lower back support as the loads can be spread more easily through the sinews. Having flexible thighs, hips &amp; buttock muscles in good shape are sound a priori to t<strong>ransferring a social care residence or equipment</strong>. When lifting a social care patient, you need to understand &amp; develop good body mechanics that will enable you to keep your back balanced for what is manual handling prudence. A Social care worker needs to get in the habit of bending the knees instead of their back. <strong>Good body mechanics</strong> involves keeping the load close to your body &amp; spreading your feet optimally apart, reducing the body&rsquo;s centre of gravity to provide good stance stability. It&rsquo;s important when lifting objects or social care patients to <strong>turn the whole body</strong>, and not to simply twist your back. If you cannot turn the whole body, it&rsquo;s a good sign that your load weight is above your capacity to lift, and we don&rsquo;t want to injure ourselves <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/craning-our-necks\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">craning our necks</a> and incurring an unnecessary visit from the HSE.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_26102012051347.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 12:10:29',NULL,'understanding-ergonimics-for-manual-handling-purposes'),(58,'Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Alcoholism is an addiction to alcohol, while binge drinking (alcohol abuse) is not. &nbsp;They are both similar in terms of effect, but <strong>alcoholism is more pernicious</strong> as it often negatively impacts on your quality of life. Alcohol abuse or binge drinking does away with moderation, and the<strong> negative side effects can go unnoticed </strong>for a period of time before catching up on the abuser, when regular heavy drinking eventually leads to alcoholism. Binge drinking increases in likelihood with those who suffer from depression, and bipolar disorder. People who lack <u><a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/stress-management-coping-skills\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">Stress management &amp; coping skills</a></u> or are schizophrenic are also prone to what is alcohol abuse, and is common in low self esteem cases as well as relationship difficulties. <strong>Alcoholism is endemic</strong> where the culture of alcohol is unchallenged.&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','thumb_26102012050619.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 12:06:08',NULL,'alcohol-abuse-and-alcoholism'),(59,'Good Communication Tips','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Developing communication skills is an ongoing process, and a good place for a social care worker to focus is listening skills. <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/what-does-the-training-entail\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">What does training entail</a> for Good Listening skills? Training requires abandoning your own desires to be heard &amp; putting your points of view on hold in order to <strong>get to know the social care client properly</strong>. Listening is the key ingredient when cooking up a good rap pour, and elicits a more conducive environment for to express views openly. Thus, a <strong>social care worker gains a greater understanding of their client</strong>, &amp; facilitates a reliable assessment, diagnosis and recommendation. Good listening is rewarding, as it imparts beneficial communication both to you and the client. If uninterested in listening, you are therefore not interested in the social care client, who will pick up on this, undetected by yourself. <strong>Good listening complements expression</strong>, and indicates that the social care worker is committed to coming to grips with what their client is experiencing. Developed listening skills help the social care worker meet the client where they are at, addressing emotional wounds &amp; nurturing growth, like a gardener nurtures small plants. <strong>When you listen well, clients respond more positively</strong>, and in turn, once they feel heard, they reciprocate these <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/communication-report-writing-skills-that-best-define-your-view\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">communication skills that best define your view</a>.&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','thumb_31102012041152.jpg',0,'2012-12-14 11:59:03',NULL,'good-communication-tips'),(60,'A Social Care Understanding of Child Development','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Child development is a combination of processes in relation to what is organic <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/personal-development-and-counselling-practice\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">personal development</a> dynamics with biological, psychological, intellectual &amp; spiritual spheres as understood by a social care worker. <strong>Time scales of child development</strong> span from pre-natal stages to adolescence. The organic developmental processes happen as a result of maturation (a DNA controlled sequence) as well as external environmental factors. As Children grow, they display a<strong> strong sense of curiosity</strong>, and with so many novel encounters to take in, it takes time to comprehend their path in life.&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','thumb_06112012042410.jpg',0,'2012-12-18 10:35:57',NULL,'a-social-care-understanding-of-child-development'),(61,'test','<p>\r\n	test</p>\r\n','public','',0,'2012-11-06 09:35:47',NULL,'test'),(62,'What is Intercultural education?','<p>\r\n	Intercultural education is based on respect for human diversity and is a philosophy that acknowledges and values the distinctive qualities of all cultures within the framework of universal human rights. It promotes a model of cultural exchange between different cultural groups within the multi ethnic diverse modern society and promotes equality of access and tolerance of all cultural groups in a society. &nbsp;The Irish government has had a commitment to an intercultural model of diversity since the late 1990&rsquo;s.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Interculturalism fundamentally requires both the citizen and the society to be open to the possibility of intercultural exchange and a willingness to engage in dialogue. This dialogue is a two way process, where members of the &lsquo;host&rsquo; community and the &lsquo;new&rsquo; community engage with each other to create a process which finds both a commonality of values but also respects cultural difference. &nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','thumb_08112012120006.jpg',1,'2012-11-09 09:24:49',NULL,'what-is-intercultural-education'),(63,'cccccccccccccc','<p>\r\n	cxxcvx</p>\r\n','public','',0,'2012-11-09 08:49:15',NULL,'cccccccccccccc'),(64,'What is Intercultural Education?','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Intercultural education is based on respect for human diversity and is a philosophy that acknowledges and values the <strong>distinctive qualities of all cultures </strong>within the framework of universal human rights. It promotes a model of cultural exchange between different cultural groups within the multi-ethnic diverse modern society and <strong>promotes equality of access and tolerance</strong> of all cultural groups in a society. The Irish government has had a commitment to an intercultural model of diversity since the late 1990s.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	<strong>Interculturalism</strong> fundamentally requires both the citizen and the society to be open to the possibility of intercultural exchange and a willingness to engage in dialogue. This dialogue<strong> is a two way process</strong>, where members of the &lsquo;host&rsquo; community and the &lsquo;new&rsquo; community engage with each other to create a process which finds both a <strong>commonality of values</strong> but also respects cultural difference. &nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','thumb_09112012063512.jpg',0,'2012-12-18 10:41:17',NULL,'what-is-intercultural-education'),(65,'Yes vote advocates welcome result','<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/1112/1224326471888.html\" style=\"font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; \"><strong style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; outline: none; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: top; \">YES CAMP</strong>&nbsp;: Children&rsquo;s rig</a><span style=\"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; \">hts campaigners have warmly welcomed the referendum result, describing it as an historic day for children.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; \">\r\n	Barnardos chief executive Fergus Finlay said he was delighted by the outcome.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; \">\r\n	&ldquo;We&rsquo;re not going to wake up tomorrow morning and discover that every child in Ireland is suddenly healthier, happier and safer than they were yesterday. There&rsquo;s a lot of work to be done. This is the start of the work, this is the first piece of the jigsaw . . . &rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; \">\r\n	He said it didn&rsquo;t surprise him in the slightest that people ended up alarmed and confused. &ldquo;I think there was a lot of fear, a lot of anxiety.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; \">\r\n	While welcoming the result, Irish Foster Care Association&rsquo;s patron, former Supreme Court judge Catherine McGuinness, said she would feel sorry if people voted no because &ldquo;they had been made afraid by some rather spurious arguments&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; \">\r\n	Geoffrey Shannon, the Government rapporteur on child protection, described yesterday as the most significant day in his professional life.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; \">\r\n	&ldquo;I will forever remember this day because I think we have now removed those roadblocks that stand in the way of children having the best family life and it&rsquo;s a real opportunity for a second chance.&rdquo; The Ombudsman for Children Emily Logan said she was disappointed the turnout hadn&rsquo;t been higher.</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2012-11-12 05:00:00',NULL,'yes-vote-advocates-welcome-result'),(66,'Whooping Coughs – A Common Child Illness','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/paediatric-first-aid-training\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">Paediatric first aid</a> involves preventative measures for the purposes of maintaining children&rsquo;s health. <strong>Common child illnesses include whooping coughs</strong>, also known as pertussis. Whooping cough is contagious and can last for months. Infants or children with pertussis often begin with mild coughs before it protracts into noticeable &amp;<strong> severe punctuated cough </strong>which resurface regularly over a month. This is a case for a general practitioner, but it is good for a social care worker to be aware of pertussis when dealing with child care matters pertaining to <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/what-paediatric-first-aid-involves\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">what paediatric first aid involves</a> regarding recognition of symptoms. Whooping cough can be fatal, so early detection can help save a life. <strong>Pertussis has an incubation period of up to ten days</strong>, followed by a runny nose, sneezing and mild coughing. At this point, whooping cough is in its catarrhal stage. After this, coughing patterns increase with severity with forceful punctuations that inhibit breathing conditions in what is known as the paroxysmal stage. <strong>Bouts of coughing may occur often</strong> and without warning, triggered by everyday vocal muscular activity of either yawning, laughing, dining or simply talking loudly.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_14112012090744.jpg',0,'2012-12-18 10:45:48',NULL,'whooping-coughs-–-a-common-child-illness'),(67,'Common Child Care Injuries','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	For a Paediatric First Aid officer, probably the <strong>most prevalent childhood injuries are burns &amp; scalds, and </strong>insect stings among cuts and bruises. These are a most common <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/first-aid-with-children-in-mind\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">First Aid with children in mind</a> matter that a social care worker will have to deal with child care wise.&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','thumb_14112012094625.jpg',0,'2012-12-18 10:51:49',NULL,'common-child-care-injuries'),(68,'First Responder','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Sudden cardiac death occurs with the onset of coronary heart disease, heart muscle viral infections or inherited genetic disease, such as channelopathy and cardiomyopathy. Sudden cardiac death is often an <strong>extreme alteration of the electrical pulse </strong>within the heart, bringing about punctuated &amp; irregular heart beats known as <strong>ventricular fibrillation (V.F.)</strong> which left untreated results in death. To counter this chaotic electrical pulse, defibrillation techniques are required.&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','thumb_22112012071105.jpg',0,'2012-12-18 11:00:10',NULL,'first-responder'),(69,'Fire Safety Report','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	The HSA Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 deals with fire safety and in section 19 of the 2005 act, <strong>all employers must identify possible fire hazards </strong>and write a report on risk assessment of all the potential possible. This forms the basis of communication &amp; <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/communication-report-writing-skills-that-best-define-your-view\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">report writing skills that best define your view</a> in a safety statement report, incorporating fire prevention, fire detection, along with firefighter and escape measures, which includes the need for <strong>occasional fire drills</strong>. A social care worker needs to keep these aspects in mind and <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/get-yourself-fired-up-for-fire-and-safety-training\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">get fired up for fire and safety training</a> in relation to drills for community care residents and themselves.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_27112012092437.jpg',0,'2012-12-18 11:05:10',NULL,'fire-safety-report'),(70,'Sports Injury','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/ireland-a-land-of-good-sport-and-injury\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">Ireland is a land of good sport &amp; injury</a>, as when playing sports we are prone to athletic related fatigue as our body strains to keep up with the physical demands exacted on it.<strong> Most sports injury involves a tear in the ligament</strong>, a tendon rupture, or fractured bones, making up for the most <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/common-sports-injuries\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">common sports injuries</a>. Joggers often suffer runner&rsquo;s knee syndrome medically known as chondromalacia patellae, a term denoted for soft cartilage around the knee area. <strong>Runner&rsquo;s knee is an irritation </strong>caused by the knee cap rubbing against the knee joint. &nbsp;Tennis elbow (medically coined as lateral epicondylitis) has symptoms of which are externally sore &amp; tender elbow. <strong>Tennis elbow affects swimmers</strong>, golfers, hurlers, alpinists as well as tennis players to name a few sporting activities. Such a sports injury is the result of repetitive strain or repetitive motion, which involves too frequent a use of certain game performing muscles when executing game play tasks. &nbsp;Often times with the sporting activities, there is a physio at hand to <strong>give physiotherapy </strong>when requiring <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/the-backup-service-to-first-aid-knowledge\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">the backup service to first aid knowledge.</a></p>\r\n','public','thumb_28112012071329.jpg',0,'2012-12-18 11:13:13',NULL,'sports-injury'),(71,'Fire Prevention','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	When it comes to Fire and safety matters preventing the potential for an outbreak of fire is a scientifically simple process. There are<strong> three essential elements</strong> for a fire to exist; they are oxygen, combustible material, and heat. These three elements make up the sides of the combustion triangle, and by removing just one side, the triangle is no more, and<strong> you can eliminate the potential for a fire</strong>. The reverse is also true, if you enhance these facets more and more, you will perfect the fire triangle thereby increasing the potential risk of a fire outbreak. Sadly this is an all too common unwitting occurrence in the advent of fires, where<strong> desperate measures are taken</strong> with the best of intentions; they often negate fire rescue efforts! Oxygen is the most underestimated side of the combustion triangle, and <strong>overlooked as a fire enhancer</strong>, gaining plenty of invitation to fan the flames. Simply by flinging a door open to a smoky room is all it takes for a fire to break out as a result of a fresh supply of oxygen. It&rsquo;s like adding fuel to the flames, so <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/get-yourself-fired-up-for-fire-and-safety-training\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">get yourself fired up for fire and safety training.&nbsp;</a></p>\r\n','public','thumb_29112012030200.jpg',0,'2012-12-18 11:18:00',NULL,'fire-prevention'),(72,'A.D.H.D. – Challenging Behaviour in Young People','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/challenging-behaviour-in-a-social-care-setting\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">Challenging behaviour in a social care setting</a> involves dealing with attention deficit hyperactive disorder in children or A.D.H.D. The disorder typically involves lack of attention, absent mindedness, jumbled organizational behaviour, and unnecessary deferment of activities. <strong>Attention deficit hyperactive disorder </strong>tends to be more prevalent in boys and although medication can support the behaviours associated with A.D.H.D., it does not cure it. Attention deficit hyperactive disorder tends to be seen as a child phenomena, but there are <strong>characteristics of the disorder found in adults</strong>, a sort of pseudo maturing A.D.H.D. When children grow older, they normally develop mechanisms for cerebral adjustments, and acquire coping skills that lead to a more focussed behaviour. Attention deficit hyperactive disorder never really goes away, but&nbsp;translates into a<strong> state of restlessness or fidgeting with age</strong>. But Social care services recognise that even restless energy can be poured into more suitable activities.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_04122012065053.jpg',0,'2012-12-18 11:28:04',NULL,'adhd-–-challenging-behaviour-in-young-people'),(73,'Stress Management in Social Care','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Stress comes from both positive and negative external forces, and is often accompanied by a feeling of inadequate control over one&rsquo;s own life. <strong>High achievers sometimes stress over </strong>maintaining their high standards. &nbsp;This anxiety is the regulative force that spurs them on against the risk of under-performance. In <strong>pressurised social care management</strong>, a <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/good-leadership\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">good leadership</a> response is to grasp the nettle. It is also a good approach to deal with what is stress in a way that does not leave you vulnerable to overconfidence and potentially open for unseen scenarios. For an optimum balance when <strong>dealing with stress management</strong>, you don&rsquo;t want to become too relaxed or sedate, that risks unprofessionalism as a social care worker. Equally we don&rsquo;t want stressed out lives, where we eventually suffer resulting heart problems and are suddenly in need of a <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/cpr-responder\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">CPR first responder</a>.</p>\r\n','public','thumb_07122012065941.jpg',0,'2012-12-18 11:33:49',NULL,'stress-management-in-social-care'),(74,'Community Care Aspects','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	In social care settings, public health nurses are sent out into the community to provide <strong>home health services</strong> in Ireland responding to client/patient requirements from both a preventative &amp; curative nature.<strong> Public health nurses</strong> offer tailored health services aligned to particular client needs from medication check-ups, hygiene assistance, palliative health etc., leading to <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/the-ultimate-aim-of-pcp\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">the ultimate aim of PCP</a> &amp; customer service. Public health nurses are designated patients either via hospital referral, a G.P., enacted via family member, or self-requested. &nbsp;This service enables<strong> effective community care approach</strong>, freeing up on overcrowded hospitals, residential care homes, doing away with bureaucratic hospital arrangements &amp; long waiting lists. <strong>Social care services will liaise with appointed public health nurses</strong>, who work for their client for the duration of their lifespan from the moment of designation. This ensures a good level of acquaintanceship, thus fostering the development of a helpful and healthy rapport in <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/community-care-social-cares-quality-customer-service\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">community care - Social care&rsquo;s quality customer service.</a></p>\r\n','public','thumb_10122012184958.jpg',0,'2012-12-18 12:34:06',NULL,'community-care-aspects'),(75,'Conflict Management – An External Perspective','<p style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">\r\n	Social care work involves diplomacy skills to reduce <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/work-stress-factors\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">work stress factors</a>, which may take time to develop as you <strong>adjust into your social care job</strong>. It takes a bit of getting used to as you strike a balance between assertiveness and co-operation. <strong>Conflict management in a social care setting</strong> involves conducting strategies that help curtail negative outcomes, while enhancing positive results. For a care worker, this might involve <a href=\"http://www.socialcaretraining.ie/social-care-conflict-management\" style=\"font-size:16px; text-align:justify; line-height:125%;\">social care conflict management</a> at source, or at a pre-planned level. Conflict in and of itself can be healthy as it forces at least two people of opposite ideologies to <strong>get to the heart of the matter</strong>, and understand were their individual concerns are at. &nbsp;Once this conflict is managed and resolved, productivity increases, resulting from an appreciation of the other party&rsquo;s perspective.&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','thumb_14122012092520.jpg',0,'2012-12-19 11:55:00',NULL,'conflict-management-–-an-external-perspective'),(76,'Mental health of young at risk over cuts, HSE warns','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Mental health services for young people are coming under increasing strain, the State official in charge has warned, with figures showing more than 2,000 children and adolescents on waiting lists for appointments.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Martin Rogan, head of mental health services at the HSE, said he understood the reality of the economic situation but, he added: &ldquo;There is a limit to how far I can stretch this before it snaps.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	It was vital that help was delivered to young people at an early stage of their problems, he said. A Government decision to cut guidance counselling in schools in 2011 had created a &ldquo;vulnerability&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Mr Rogan was speaking to The Irish Times against the backdrop of a 17 per cent increase in referrals in the year to last September.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	<strong style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; outline: none; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: top;\">Acute gaps</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	The HSE&rsquo;s latest figures show gaps in services are particularly acute outside of Dublin and its commuter belt. Some 130 children and adolescents were waiting for more than a year for an appointment in the HSE West region last September and a further 119 in the south, compared to 23 in Dublin northeast and none in Dublin Mid-Leinster.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Mr Rogan, who has held the post since 2005, said: &ldquo;When you give resources you get good outcomes. When you deny resources you get late interventions. You get people who are already severely labelled who will end up having a lifelong mental illness that could have been avoided.&rdquo; He said extra staff was being added to the services while others had been drafted in from adult services and resources were being reworked to cover needs.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	The mental health sector overall has seen a drop in staff numbers and associated funding through voluntary redundancies. &ldquo;It would be very easy for me to break down crying and say, &lsquo;I don&rsquo;t have enough resources, I don&rsquo;t have enough beds, I don&rsquo;t have enough staff&rsquo;,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;This could be a lot better but we are heading in the right direction. We&rsquo;ll go as fast as resources will let us go.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	<strong style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; outline: none; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: top;\">Millions used elsewhere</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Last week it emerged that millions of euro ring-fenced for suicide prevention and mental health services had been used by the HSE in 2012 to tackle cost overruns in other parts of the health services.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Nonetheless, some funding is being put into new inpatient beds for young people. A 20-bed unit in Galway, a 20-bed unit in Cork and 12-bed and eight-bed units in Dublin have opened in the last year.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Two more units are planned to open in Dublin while the new children&rsquo;s hospital and a special unit for adolescent offenders will also have such beds. These new beds will go towards reducing the numbers of young people being placed in adult psychiatric units. Between January and September last year, 75 young people were placed in adult units.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Mr Rogan said 150 new staff would be in place this month to increase the number of community teams. This month will also see guidelines issued to help teachers deal with children with problems.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	He also stressed the need for different levels of care for young people with problems rather than pushing them towards the health services.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;If you don&rsquo;t have a mental illness, a psychiatric service is a very toxic thing. In Ireland, we did that for many years and we had 20,000 people entombed in a system.&rdquo;<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2013/0103/1224328379516.html\">http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2013/0103/1224328379516.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-01-03 10:37:57',NULL,'mental-health-of-young-at-risk-over-cuts-hse-warns'),(77,'Irish suicide rate one of highest in Europe, new report shows','<p>\r\n	<section class=\"body\" style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;\">\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 10px 20px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none;\">\r\n		A cross-border report on suicide shows the rate among young people on the island of Ireland is one of the highest in Europe.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 10px 20px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none;\">\r\n		An estimated 165 teenagers and young men took their own lives in the Republic in 2011, and 72 teenagers and young men took their own lives in Northern Ireland during the same year.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 10px 20px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none;\">\r\n		The jointly funded cross-border report found the high numbers in both jurisdictions coincide with the economic downturn and rising levels of unemployment.</p>\r\n	</section><section class=\"bodyExt\" style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;\">\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 10px 20px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none;\">\r\n		The report, funded by the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland and the National Office for Suicide Prevention in the Republic, shows that over the past ten years, men have been five times more likely to take their own lives than women.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 10px 20px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none;\">\r\n		Dr Noel Richardson, lead author of the report &#39;Young Men and Suicide Project&#39;, said there can be no quick-fix solutions to tackling the very grave statistics.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 10px 20px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none;\">\r\n		&quot;But neither is there any place for inertia or ambivalence,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 10px 20px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none;\">\r\n		&quot;There is both a public health and a moral requirement to act.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 10px 20px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none;\">\r\n		&quot;There needs to be a concerted effort to engage more effectively, and in a more sustained way, with young men, and to plan services and programmes with young men in mind.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 10px 20px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none;\">\r\n		&quot;This report provides a blueprint and a roadmap for action.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 10px 20px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none;\">\r\n		The study will be launched in Dublin by Minister of State Kathleen Lynch, and in Northern Ireland by Minister for Health Edwin Poots.<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0123/364033-suicide-rate-report/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0123/364033-suicide-rate-report/</a></p>\r\n	</section></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-01-23 10:33:07',NULL,'irish-suicide-rate-one-of-highest-in-europe-new-report-shows'),(78,'Ireland’s First Action Plan on Bullying Targets Homophobia','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding: 0.5em 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif;\">\r\n	Ruairi Quinn TD and Frances Fitzgerald TD have launched an action plan to stem the tide of homophobic bullying in schools.</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding: 0.5em 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif;\">\r\n	Launching the action plan Mr Quinn, Minister for Education and Skills, said: &ldquo;Research shows that homophobic bullying is a particularly acute problem for young people [in our schools] who are either lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender or perceived to be so.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding: 0.5em 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif;\">\r\n	The groundbreaking plan launched today has a series of actions to be undertaken to address bullying in schools that fully integrates measures to combat homophobic bullying. These actions are to be undertaken collaboratively by a wide range of actors: the Department, the Education partners; schools; parents and NGOs, including BeLonG To and GLEN</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding: 0.5em 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif;\">\r\n	Welcoming the plan, Sandra Gowran, Director of Education Policy Change at the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) said: &ldquo;We commend Minister Quinn and his Department for their understanding of the seriousness of the issues for LGBT young people and for a plan that contains very real and tangible actions which will improve the lives of LGBT young people in our schools and communities.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding: 0.5em 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif;\">\r\n	Minister Quinn said: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s important that we recognise that bullying behaviour sometimes stems from prejudice - from racism, homophobia or ignorance about a different culture or religion. Addressing such issues can be difficult, challenging and emotive, but prejudiced attitudes must be explored and dealt with. I take the view that a culture that encourages respect, values opinions, celebrates differences and promotes positive relationships is better for all.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding: 0.5em 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif;\">\r\n	Acknowledging this, Michael Barron from BeLonG To said: &ldquo;This plan contains actions to tackle prejudice, including homophobia, which is the root causes of much bullying. This is critically important. Homophobic bullying can now happen in many areas of a young person&rsquo;s life &ndash; in the classroom, in the school yard, on the playing field and on the street. Increasing the internet, or cyberbullying,&nbsp; is used as a vehicle for homophobic bullying, leaving LGBT young people, and those perceived to be LGBT with a sense that they cannot get away from it&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding: 0.5em 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif;\">\r\n	&quot;It is evident that a high level of commitment to the eradication of homophobic bullying now exists, and this action plan marks the most significant breakthrough in this work to date, placing Ireland at the forefront of attempts to address this acute problem,&quot; added Irwin-Gowran.</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding: 0.5em 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif;\">\r\n	<em style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\">BeLonG To&rsquo;s &#39;Stand Up! Don&rsquo;t Stand for Homophobic Bullying&#39;&nbsp;campaign will run in schools across Ireland from 11<sup style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\">th</sup>&nbsp;&ndash; 15<sup style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\">th</sup>&nbsp;March 2013<a href=\"http://www.gcn.ie/Irelands_First_Action_Plan_on_Bullying_Targets_Homophobia\">http://www.gcn.ie/Irelands_First_Action_Plan_on_Bullying_Targets_Homophobia</a></em></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-01-29 16:23:16',NULL,'ireland’s-first-action-plan-on-bullying-targets-homophobia'),(79,'Most parents don\'t know their child is being bullied','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	ALMOST seven out of 10 parents were unaware their child had been the victim of cyber-bullying.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	New research has revealed that the level of bullying in Ireland is above the&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/European_Union\" style=\"color: rgb(48, 98, 148); font-size: 1em;\">EU</a>&nbsp;average, as the Government today launches its &#39;Watch Your Space&#39; anti-cyber-bullying campaign.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	A quarter of Irish nine- to 16-year-olds experienced some form of harassment, according to a new cyber-bullying report compiled by Dr Brian O&#39;Neill and Thuy Dinh from EU Kids Online and DIT.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	Yet 68pc of parents were unaware their child had been bullied online.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	Simon Grehan, who organises Safer Internet Day, which is tomorrow, said the number of parents unaware their child had been subjected to some form of bullying online was higher than would be expected with &quot;conventional bullying&quot;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	Mr Grehan, project coordinator with Webwise, said more open communication was essential as many children do not admit they are being bullied because they are afraid it might escalate the problem or they might lose their phone or internet access.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	<strong style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Insidious</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	An EU-wide survey of 1,000 children and a parent of each in 25 countries found most young people &ndash; around 71pc &ndash; will turn to a friend or one of their parents.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	More than half of the children bullied online were very upset, and 44pc reported a lasting effect.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	Nearly a quarter of 15- to 16-year-olds also admitted bullying others.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn will today launch &#39;Watch Your Space&#39;, which is the first step in the Government&#39;s new &euro;500,000 action plan that will include an online video targeting cyber-bullying, a website &ndash; www.watchyourspace.ie &ndash; and events in schools.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	Mr Quinn said social media were fantastic tools that had &quot;revolutionised&quot; the process of teaching and learning, but they had an &quot;insidious element&quot; when used with the wrong intentions.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	He urged young people to show respect to others online.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Garda_Siochana\" style=\"color: rgb(48, 98, 148); font-size: 1em;\">Gardai</a>&nbsp;are also launching a new secondary schools programme which aims to change the attitude of bystanders and get them to intervene in online bullying.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	Several deaths of young people in recent months sparked an&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Irish_Independent\" style=\"color: rgb(48, 98, 148); font-size: 1em;\">Irish Independent</a>&nbsp;campaign to combat cyber-bullying.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	Donegal sisters Erin (13) and Shannon (15) Gallagher and Leitrim student Ciara Pugsley (15), pictured below, took their lives last year, amid a worrying level of deaths with links to cyber-bullying.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	The world&#39;s biggest social media site,&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Facebook\" style=\"color: rgb(48, 98, 148); font-size: 1em;\">Facebook</a>, has already vowed to show &quot;zero-tolerance&quot; to anyone who posts abusive content.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	<strong style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Epidemic</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	Prof Mona O&#39;Moore, of the Anti-Bullying Centre at Trinity College Dublin, said greater political pressure should be directed at social media providers to put in place easier access so abusive content can be removed.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	Ireland South MEP&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Sean_Kelly\" style=\"color: rgb(48, 98, 148); font-size: 1em;\">Sean Kelly</a>&nbsp;plans to propose new measures at the&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/European_Parliament\" style=\"color: rgb(48, 98, 148); font-size: 1em;\">European Parliament</a>&nbsp;to tighten internet regulations and introduce stricter school intervention policies to tackle cyber-bullying.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	He said cyber-bullying has become an &quot;epidemic problem&quot;, and awareness work was needed from &quot;the classroom to the GAA pitch to the family home&quot;.</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-02-04 12:40:18',NULL,'most-parents-dont-know-their-child-is-being-bullied'),(80,'40pc of obese children at risk of heart disease','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	FOUR in 10 children who were treated for obesity by hospital specialists already had risk factors for heart disease.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	The 312 children were referred to the weight-control programme in Temple Street Hospital in Dublin, and were all under the age of 16.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	Some children were nearly nine stone in weight when seen and all were classified as obese.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	One in three of the children already had complaints such as knee pain and breathlessness when walking.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	Six in 10 had psychological problems such as poor self-esteem and depression and more than one in 10 suffered severe bullying.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	Consultant paediatrician Dr Sinead Murphy said the children ranged from 18 months to 16 years of age, but the youngsters are mostly in middle childhood when referred.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	&quot;The older we see them, and the higher the overweight problem, the most likely they are to have risk factors for heart disease such as&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/High_Cholesterol\" style=\"color: rgb(48, 98, 148); font-size: 1em;\">high cholesterol</a>. They can also have insulin resistance which pre-disposes them to&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Diabetes\" style=\"color: rgb(48, 98, 148); font-size: 1em;\">diabetes</a>.&quot;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	Dr Murphy said children can end up putting on weight because they are surrounded by a &quot;toxic environment&quot; where they have to make a conscious effort not to eat unhealthy foods.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	This is combined with lack of exercise which can be exacerbated by safety issues, such as not walking to school.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	The W82GO! programme involves a multi-disciplinary team of specialists including a paediatrician, physiotherapist and psychologist to help tackle what can be a complex change of lifestyle for the youngster.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	Physiotherapist&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Grace_O\'Malley\" style=\"color: rgb(48, 98, 148); font-size: 1em;\">Grace O&#39;Malley</a>&nbsp;said: &quot;We introduce families to how they can make small goals to becoming healthier.&quot;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	<strong style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Fear</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	The service currently has a waiting list of 150 children who have to wait several months before being seen. Dr Murphy said the fear is that the children will put on more weight during that time and may have lost the motivation to make changes.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	Celine Dixon from Finglas in Dublin, whose daughter Lily (8) was six stone last summer when she started the programme learned of the benefits of portion control.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	&quot;I bought smaller plates and introduced more vegetables and more fresh foods,&quot; says Celine.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	Lily now&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Swimming_at_the_2012_Summer_Olympics\" style=\"color: rgb(48, 98, 148); font-size: 1em;\">swims</a>&nbsp;and is involved in GAA training twice a week.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;\">\r\n	Lily has become one of the programme&#39;s successes. She has her weight under control and is getting taller.<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/national-news/40pc-of-obese-children-at-risk-of-heart-disease-3377916.html\">http://www.independent.ie/national-news/40pc-of-obese-children-at-risk-of-heart-disease-3377916.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-02-06 11:51:50',NULL,'40pc-of-obese-children-at-risk-of-heart-disease'),(81,'Limerick gardai investigate ‘suspicious approach’ to children','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.091em; line-height: 15px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);\">\r\n	GARDAI are investigating what was termed a &ldquo;suspicious approach&rdquo; to two children in the Kilalee area of the city over the weekend. The incident happened at around 10pm on Saturday as the girls were walking on Downey Street.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.091em; line-height: 15px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<div class=\"KonaBody\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);\">\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.091em; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		&ldquo;They were approached by a man who was driving what was described as an old type Ford Focus with the letter &lsquo;C&rsquo; in the registration. He asked the girls if they wanted to go for a spin,&rdquo; said Sgt Brian Broderick who said after the girls declined, the car then drove off in the direction of Good Sheppard Villas.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.091em; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		Gardai say the driver of the car was aged in his late 30&rsquo;s or early 40&rsquo;s, was of heavy build and had short dark hair.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.091em; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		He was wearing square rimmed glasses and a black Liverpool soccer jersey.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.091em; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		Gardai at Henry Street are investigating the incident and anyone who saw anything suspicious in the vicinity of Downey Street between 9.45pm and 10.15pm on Saturday night or who has any information about either the car or the driver is asked to contact them at (061) 212400.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.091em; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		&ldquo;We would also appeal to the driver to come forward as other drivers have done in the past,&rdquo; said Sgt Broderick who added that it is also important for parents to speak to their children about how to deal with an approach from a stranger.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.091em; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		&ldquo;It is important to impress upon them the importance of reporting any approach that causes alarm to a responsible adult and the garda&iacute; where necessary,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.091em; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		A number of similar incidents were reported to gardai last year but following investigations none of them were deemed to have been sinister.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.091em; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		&ldquo;It is important that garda&iacute; are made aware of any approach to a child that causes concern and I want to assure you that all such reports are taken seriously and are fully investigated,&rdquo; said Sgt Broderick.<a href=\"http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/leader-local/limerick-gardai-investigate-suspicious-approach-to-children-1-4757306\">http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/leader-local/limerick-gardai-investigate-suspicious-approach-to-children-1-4757306</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-02-06 11:56:34',NULL,'limerick-gardai-investigate-‘suspicious-approach’-to-children'),(82,'Job applicants with schizophrenia facing ‘discrimination’','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"outline: none;\">\r\n	<span class=\"storyTop \" style=\"outline: none; margin-bottom: 0px; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', serif; font-size: 13px;\">Tens of thousands of people with schizophrenia are being denied the chance to work because of &ldquo;severe discrimination&rdquo;, a report has found.</span></p>\r\n<div class=\"body \" style=\"outline: none; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', serif; font-size: 13px;\">\r\n	<p style=\"outline: none; margin-top: 0px;\">\r\n		Only eight per cent of people with schizophrenia are in paid employment, compared with 71 per cent of the general population, although many more would like a job, a report by the Work Foundation says.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"outline: none;\">\r\n		Seven out of 10 people with schizophrenia feel that they experience discrimination because of their condition. The report blames a lack of understanding, stigma, fear and discrimination towards people with schizophrenia and calls for urgent government action to prioritise work as part of the recovery for those with mental illnesses.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"outline: none;\">\r\n		People with schizophrenia in paid employment are over five times more likely to achieve remission from their condition than those who are unemployed or in unpaid employment, according to the report, Working with Schizophrenia.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"outline: none;\">\r\n		Charles Walker, chairman of the all-party mental health group in the Commons, said: &ldquo;For many people with the condition, having a job can mean a great deal, both economically and socially.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"outline: none;\">\r\n		&ldquo;We must ensure funding continues so that more people living with schizophrenia can access the workplace and carers can also return to work.&quot;<a href=\"http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/job-applicants-with-schizophrenia-facing-discrimination-8488994.html\">http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/job-applicants-with-schizophrenia-facing-discrimination-8488994.html</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-02-11 10:56:05',NULL,'job-applicants-with-schizophrenia-facing-‘discrimination’'),(83,'Government awarded overall C grade in 2013 report card','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n	THE GOVERNMENT HAS been given a &lsquo;C Grade&rsquo; in the Children&rsquo;s Rights Alliance&rsquo;s report card for 2013 &ndash; a slight drop from its C+ last year.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n	The Children&rsquo;s Rights Alliance commented:</p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"coloured\" style=\"margin: 15px 40px; padding: 10px 10px 10px 40px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); quotes: \'\'; display: table; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,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); background-color: rgb(234, 237, 242); line-height: 23.390625px; background-position: 5px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;\">\r\n	<div style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		In a year that saw a Children&rsquo;s Rights Referendum and key work in overhauling the child protection system, the grade will disappoint many.</div>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n	This year, their annual report card scrutinises the Government on its promises to children that were made in the Programme for Government 2011-2016.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n	<strong>Top of the class</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n	The Department of Children and Youth Affairs, under the direction of Minister Frances Fitzgerald, gained an A grade for strengthening children&rsquo;s constitutional rights and an overall B- grade for steps to better protect children from abuse and neglect.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n	An additional win is a B+ grade for the promised closure of St Patrick&rsquo;s Institution &ndash; up from an F grade last year.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n	Minister Ruairi Quinn and the Department of Education and Skills both receive an overall B- grade for solid progress, particularly in literacy, patronage and school buildings, said the Alliance.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n	<strong>Fail</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n	The report card puts the Department of Social Protection at the &lsquo;bottom of the class&rsquo;, giving it an F grade &ndash; a fail&ndash; for child poverty.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n	The Department of Health received an overall D grade for its work in Health, with the Alliance saying there is an under-spend in Mental Health, inaction on alcohol misuse and delays in Primary Care and the Children&rsquo;s Hospital.</p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"coloured\" style=\"margin: 15px 40px; padding: 10px 10px 10px 40px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); quotes: \'\'; display: table; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,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); background-color: rgb(234, 237, 242); line-height: 23.390625px; background-position: 5px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;\">\r\n	<div style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		Overall, Government has failed to support migrant or Traveller children or to address family inequalities, resulting in an overall E+ grade.</div>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n	<strong>Mixed bag</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n	Tanya Ward, Chief Executive of the Children&rsquo;s Rights Alliance, said:</p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"coloured\" style=\"margin: 15px 40px; padding: 10px 10px 10px 40px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); quotes: \'\'; display: table; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,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); background-color: rgb(234, 237, 242); line-height: 23.390625px; background-position: 5px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;\">\r\n	<div style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		Report Card 2013 is a mixed bag. Overall, Government has done worse this year, slipping down to a C grade, despite getting an A grade for the excellent work in strengthening children&rsquo;s rights in the Constitution. There is also real progress in child protection, ending the detention of children in St Patrick&rsquo;s Prison and in education. But children are the real losers in Budget 2013 with cuts to Child Benefit not being reinvested in children&rsquo;s services and controversies and underspend in health leading to major delays in health reform.</div>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n	Ward said that implementation of mental health policy requires immediate redress, and the under-spend in funds needs to be addressed.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n	The full report will be&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/childrens-alliance-report-card-799164-Feb2013/www.childrensrights.ie\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: initial; color: rgb(0, 106, 160);\">available on the Alliance website</a>&nbsp;today.<a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/childrens-alliance-report-card-799164-Feb2013/\">http://www.thejournal.ie/childrens-alliance-report-card-799164-Feb2013/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-02-18 11:07:28',NULL,'government-awarded-overall-c-grade-in-2013-report-card'),(84,'Constitutional Convention votes in favour of changing clause on place of women in home','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 10px 20px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none;\">\r\n	The Constitutional Convention has voted overwhelmingly in favour of changing the clause in the Constitution which emphasises the place of women in the home.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 10px 20px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none;\">\r\n	88% of delegates voted in favour of amending article 41.2, while 12% favoured deleting it.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 10px 20px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none;\">\r\n	Article 41.2 reads: &quot;In particular, the State recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 10px 20px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none;\">\r\n	&quot;The State shall, therefore, endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home.&quot;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 10px 20px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none;\">\r\n	In another vote, 97% of delegates said they would like to see more Government action to encourage greater participation of women in politics and public life.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 10px 20px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none;\">\r\n	The votes were taken during a second weekend meeting of the convention in Dublin.<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0218/368268-convention-votes-to-change-clause-on-women/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0218/368268-convention-votes-to-change-clause-on-women/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-02-18 14:45:46',NULL,'constitutional-convention-votes-in-favour-of-changing-clause-on-place-of-women-in-home'),(85,'Call to \'poverty-proof\' budget for children','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Budget 2014 needs to be &ldquo;poverty-proofed&rdquo; to protect vulnerable families, the chief executive of the Children&rsquo;s Rights Alliance said yesterday.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Tanya Ward was speaking at the launch of the alliance&rsquo;s annual report card assessing the Government&rsquo;s commitments on children, which this year gave Government a fail grade in the category of child poverty.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	While cuts of &euro;136 million were made to child benefit in last year&rsquo;s budget, Ms Ward said &ldquo;money was not redirected into children&rsquo;s services . . . and that&rsquo;s what we&rsquo;re very concerned about is that we are directly taking money away from vulnerable families and using it to cover bank debt&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Sheila Greene, professor and fellow emeritus in the school of psychology, Trinity College Dublin, described the Government&rsquo;s record in relation to child poverty as &ldquo;intolerable&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;We have moved, in terms of consistent poverty . . . from 6.3 per cent of Irish children in 2008 to 9.3 per cent in 2011 and we know things are getting worse,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	<strong style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; outline: none; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: top;\">&lsquo;Fairer in theory&rsquo;</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Speaking in relation to proposals put forward in the Mangan report, Catherine McGuinness, a member of the Council of State who sits on the alliance&rsquo;s external assessment panel, said that &ldquo;in theory&rdquo; a universal child benefit payment that is taxed for those less in need is fairer than cutting child benefit across the board, but &ldquo;if you&rsquo;re doing that you must be sure that the money that&rsquo;s raised through taxation goes back to the vulnerable children and it doesn&rsquo;t just turn out to be another way of taking more money away from parents&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Overall the Government was awarded a C grade. Ms Ward said that &ldquo;next year we want to see that grade improve&rdquo;.<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2013/0219/1224330208426.html\">http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2013/0219/1224330208426.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-02-19 10:05:47',NULL,'call-to-poverty-proof-budget-for-children'),(86,'Kerry County Council Votes In Favour Of Same Sex Marriage','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<br />\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"padding: 0.5em 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif;\">\r\n		Kerry County Council has passed a motion in support of civil marriage for same sex couples, becoming the 14th local authority in Ireland and Northern Ireland to pass a motion in support of marriage equality.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"p1\" style=\"padding: 0.5em 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif;\">\r\n		The provision of marriage equality is set to be discussed by the Constitutional Convention on April 13<span class=\"s1\" style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"><sup style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\">th</sup></span>&nbsp;and 14<span class=\"s1\" style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"><sup style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\">th</sup></span>. Recent polling carried out for Marriage Equality found that 75% of people would vote yes in a referendum to extend civil marriage to same sex couples &ndash; an increase of 12% from previous research carried out four years ago.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"p1\" style=\"padding: 0.5em 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif;\">\r\n		&quot;This is a wonderful step by Kerry County Council to raise awareness of this important issue at a local level. We&#39;d like to thank all councillors involved for their initiative, Councillor Gillian Wharton-Slattery for tabling the motion, and our supporters across Kerry who spoke to their councillors about raising the issue,&quot; said Marriage Equality Director Moninne Griffith.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"p1\" style=\"padding: 0.5em 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif;\">\r\n		&quot;Marriage equality is not just a national issue, it&#39;s a local one. It&#39;s about respecting and protecting loving couples and families who are part of our communities and treating them as equal. That is why putting the issue on the agenda at local level is so important. Tralee is hosting its first-ever Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride in May this year, and the passing of today&rsquo;s motion helps to further boost Kerry&rsquo;s reputation as a place that welcomes diversity and LGBT people.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"p1\" style=\"padding: 0.5em 0px; margin: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 13px; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif;\">\r\n		Marriage Equality are asking everyone who believes in marriage equality to make a submission at&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.convention.ie/\" style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px; text-decoration: initial; color: rgb(137, 227, 35); font-size: 13px;\">www.convention.ie</a>, and to talk to their TDs and Senators about why marriage equality matters.&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.gcn.ie/Kerry_County_Council_Votes_In_Favour_Of_Same_Sex_Marriage\">http://www.gcn.ie/Kerry_County_Council_Votes_In_Favour_Of_Same_Sex_Marriage</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-02-19 12:56:20',NULL,'kerry-county-council-votes-in-favour-of-same-sex-marriage'),(87,'Report on racism calls for new legislation','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Campaign groups have welcomed the publication of a report highlighting concerns over racial profiling and the treatment of minority groups in Ireland. The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance&rsquo;s (ECRI) fourth monitoring report on Ireland praised the State&rsquo;s &ldquo;good system for registering racist criminal offences&rdquo; but criticised other issues.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	The 47-member human rights body said it was aware of claims that many non-Irish nationals were subjected to police stops and required to produce identity documents, &ldquo;which in practice can result in racist incidents and the profiling of individuals on the basis of their colour&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	It said the Government should &ldquo;consider adopting legislation prohibiting any form of racial profiling&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	The Immigrant Council of Ireland said the report highlights &ldquo;complacency around racism&rdquo; and identifies several areas that require immediate action. Chief executive Denise Charlton said, &ldquo;The references in the report about racial profiling are particularly disturbing and unfortunately reflect stories which are relayed to us through our support services on a regular basis.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	<strong style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; outline: none; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: top;\">Traveller accommodation</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	The ECRI also pointed out &ldquo;significant challenges in relation to adequate accommodation&rdquo; for Travellers. Local authorities should be more involved in the implementation of the National Traveller/ Roma Integration Strategy to meet the housing needs of Travellers, it said.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Traveller rights organisation Pavee Point welcomed the call for &ldquo;measures binding&rdquo; on local authorities to meet the accommodation needs of Travellers. &ldquo;We have recently witnessed a regression to times past with the burning of the house allocated for a Traveller family in Ballyshannon last week,&rdquo; said Martin Collins, the organisation&rsquo;s co-director. &ldquo;The silence of the majority of politicians was deafening.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	The report also criticised cuts to Government-funded English language courses for immigrants, particularly children. It noted that 70 to 75 per cent of children for whom English is an adopted language require help and the cuts mean &ldquo;Ireland is not very well prepared to help new immigrants enter the school system&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	When The national consultative committee on racism and Interculturalism was closed down in December 2008 &ldquo;the bridge between authorities and the civil society and the unique reporting system about racist incidents was lost&rdquo;, the report found.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	<strong style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; outline: none; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: top;\">Recommendations</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Among its recommendations, the ECRI said the Government should draft and adopt the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill as soon as possible &ldquo;to put in place one procedure for dealing with applications for asylum and subsidiary protection, introduce a long-term residence status and procedures for registration of non-national minors under 16&rdquo;.It also called for a &ldquo;non-judicial independent authority competent to deal with cases of discrimination in the provision of goods and services&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	The Irish Refugee Council welcomed the finding that accommodation for asylum seekers is unsuitable for lengthy periods of stay and has a negative impact on family life.<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2013/0220/1224330265818.html\">http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2013/0220/1224330265818.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-02-20 20:45:14',NULL,'report-on-racism-calls-for-new-legislation'),(88,'Child protection agency needs more public scrutiny','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	<strong style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; outline: none; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: top;\">Opinion&nbsp;</strong><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 11px; line-height: 18px;\">Jillian van Turnhout</span></p>\r\n<div>\r\n	&nbsp;</div>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;We have an opportunity to get the Child and Family Support Agency right. But, with so little transparency, we may repeat the HSE&rsquo;s flaws</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	When the Government took office in March 2011, it pledged to &ldquo;fundamentally reform the delivery of child protection services by removing child welfare and protection from the HSE and creating a dedicated child welfare and protection agency, reforming the model of service delivery and improving accountability to the D&aacute;il&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	For those of us who have campaigned for years to strengthen and uphold children&rsquo;s rights in Ireland, this commitment to establish the new Child and Family Support Agency was a source of celebration, and heralded a new and long-overdue reform of children&rsquo;s services.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	However, slow progress and questions around the creation of the agency have turned celebration into concern.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	What has happened so far? In September 2011, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Frances Fitzgerald established the taskforce on the Child and Family Support Agency as a direct response to the Government&rsquo;s commitment. Reporting back to the Minister in July 2012, the taskforce described the new agency as &ldquo;a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fundamentally reform children&rsquo;s services in Ireland&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	In July 2012, the Minister announced that her department had started to draft the heads and a general scheme of a Bill to establish the Child and Family Support Agency.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Some seven months later, we still have not seen the Bill. We are in the dark about the agency&rsquo;s remit, function and operation, and about how it will ensure transparency and accountability.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	This is an extremely important juncture in the conception and development of the new agency, yet the process appears to be taking shape behind closed doors. If we are to create a new culture of children&rsquo;s services, child protection and family support, we must avoid establishing what is effectively a rebranded Health Service Executive.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Thus far, there has been inadequate debate and input involving the relevant external stakeholders such as experts, service providers, parents, and children&rsquo;s organisations. I believe this is a missed opportunity.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	<strong style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; outline: none; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: top;\">Past failings</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	As someone who campaigned hard for a Yes vote in the children&rsquo;s rights referendum, I readily admit to being disappointed that it was not the landslide victory so many of us had hoped for. However, the ensuing debate afforded policymakers a real opportunity to learn from and remedy past failings.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	We cannot ignore the fact that many No voters had concerns about past treatment by our social services system. We need to listen to these concerns and ensure the new agency is fully resourced, that it works for all children and families, and that it is focused on the kind of early and accountable intervention that can deliver the best possible outcomes for children and families.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	The latest Health Information and Quality Authority inspection report of the foster care service run by the HSE&rsquo;s Dublin North West local health area has found that the area &ldquo;could not guarantee good outcomes for children&rdquo; in its foster care service.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	This is the fourth consecutive report to identify serious gaps in the HSE&rsquo;s ability to provide for the safety and wellbeing of children in this foster care region. I am aware that parts of the HSE are already in the process of being transferred into this new agency.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Have the deficits identified in these reports been remedied? If not, is the new agency destined to inherit a failing system of service delivery? How do we insure against this? The Child and Family Support Agency will have a budget of &euro;546 million for 2013 and we are advised that it will have 4,000 staff. Will the staffing needs for the new agency reflect a strong professional mix? Will staff from the current HSE simply be transferred? What is the Minister&rsquo;s rationale for not including public health nurses in the first phase of the new agency?</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	The HSE has never been a beacon of accountability. Money set aside for mental health services is routinely diverted to plug other gaps in the health service budget.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	In December, we learned that in spite of efforts to earmark funding, the long-promised mental health staff and services are still not in place. To the best of my knowledge, no one at the HSE has been held accountable for this.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Will this new agency have robust checks and balances to ensure oversight and accountability? How do we ensure that in developing this new agency, we do not lose sight of what is best for children and families?</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Surely the whole purpose of the consultation and debate was to maximise the potential of this essential agency.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	What we need is an informed, integrated approach &ndash; one that brings together all the health and support services for children and their families under one roof: child welfare, prevention and early intervention services, child protection, family support, therapeutic and psychological services, public health nursing and accessible mental health services. The new agency will also need to connect with schools and other community organisations and agencies.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	<strong style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; outline: none; font-size: 12px; vertical-align: top;\">Open consultation</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	To do this &ndash; and do it well &ndash; the Government should publish the Bill to establish the new Child and Family Support Agency.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	In the interim, the heads of Bill should be published to allow for public debate and consultation. As the saying goes, sunlight is the best disinfectant.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs should appoint an interim board to ensure that there is oversight and governance in determining the vision, remit and resources of the new agency.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	We have a unique opportunity here to ditch ineffective systems and to finally make sure that children get the treatment they deserve, and that families get the help they need.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	An effective and accountable Child and Family Support Agency would be a monumental step forward for a country that has so spectacularly failed our most vulnerable children in the past.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	This opportunity has been a long time coming &ndash; and we know that history is unforgiving. We are duty bound to get this right.</p>\r\n<p style=\"line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;\">\r\n	Frances Fitzgerald has shown great capacity for change and reform. So, let&rsquo;s take ownership and publicly debate what we expect from the new agency.</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-02-28 11:41:16',NULL,'child-protection-agency-needs-more-public-scrutiny'),(89,'Government action urged over high fees for migrant children','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The Government must address the problem of children of non-EU residents paying up to &euro;8,000 in college fees, campaigners have urged.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Up to 500 young people every year face high fees for third- level education despite living in&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Ireland&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Ireland</a>&nbsp;for a number of years. This is because without Irish or EU citizenship, they have to pay amounts applicable to overseas students.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<br />\r\n	Discrimination warning<br />\r\n	The Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland has warned this amounts to discrimination since these young people consider themselves Irish. They have often gone through primary and secondary education for free but are being frustrated in trying to access college.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;These are the children of first-generation migrants to Ireland and we need to be concerned about what this is going to do to social cohesion,&rdquo; said&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Helen%20Lowry&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Helen Lowry</a>, community work co-ordinator of the centre.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Some families were having to put their finances under pressure to come up with the fees but others were forced to opt out of college, she said. &ldquo;People are making huge sacrifices but we are particularly concerned about the people who don&rsquo;t make it in to college.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The centre wants the Government to fast-track people applying for Irish citizenship whose children are approaching college-going age and who would also get citizenship.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	It wants a code of practice for universities whereby they could allow migrant children to reduce their payments on becoming Irish citizens &ndash; something only some third-level institutions do at present.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<br />\r\n	Rule change<br />\r\n	The Government needs to change the rules so migrant children pay the same as Irish students, based on how many years they have lived here, not on what their citizenship is, the centre adds.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The Department of Education said it was &ldquo;keenly aware of the problem&rdquo; and was &ldquo;examining ways to address it&rdquo;.<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/government-action-urged-over-high-fees-for-migrant-children-1.1325605\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/government-action-urged-over-high-fees-for-migrant-children-1.1325605</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-03-14 10:45:17',NULL,'government-action-urged-over-high-fees-for-migrant-children'),(90,'Mind our Men: new campaign aims to reduce number of male suicides','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	More than 500 people have used a suicide prevention group&rsquo;s website to pledge their support for a new initiative being launched today. The Mind our Men campaign by Pieta House asks people to pledge their support in minding the men in their lives.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Eight out of 10 people who die by suicide each week are men, but despite this, more women than men are using Pieta House&rsquo;s services. The initiative aims to help men who may be contemplating suicide, but who may not seek out mental health services. It will equip participants with the knowledge to correctly address mental health issues and to normalise conversations about suicide. Participants will become the link between their friend or relation and Pieta House.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Founder of Pieta House&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Joan%20Freeman&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Joan Freeman</a>&nbsp;said although suicide was being discussed more, the problem was not decreasing.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;In the last few years, there&rsquo;s been an increased awareness in regard to suicide and more people are talking about it. However, despite this, the rate of suicide in&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Ireland&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Ireland</a>continues to grow and most of them are men,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;If we do this right, it will make a big impact and we will lead the way in changing how people talk about suicide. People are saying it&rsquo;s a wonderful and simple approach.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Over the next few weeks, Pieta House will be travelling to counties across Ireland to promote the scheme, which has an interactive map online showing where people have pledged support.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;Someone said to me that our interactive map is lighting up beautifully,&rdquo; Ms Freeman said.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	When pledging support, participants leave a public, anonymous message saying whom they have promised to keep an eye out for, whether husbands, friends, colleagues or other family members.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Pledges can be made at mindourmen.ie. People worried about friends or family or who are contemplating suicide themselves can contact their local Pieta House. A list of offices is available at pieta.ie.<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/mind-our-men-new-campaign-aims-to-reduce-number-of-male-suicides-1.1338197\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/mind-our-men-new-campaign-aims-to-reduce-number-of-male-suicides-1.1338197</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-03-26 12:20:36',NULL,'mind-our-men-new-campaign-aims-to-reduce-number-of-male-suicides'),(91,'Respite centre will cater for children and parents','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Up to 8 per cent of Irish children suffer from rare diseases. Their lives and those of their families are constantly consumed by the enormity of the treatment, therapy and medication they have to endure on a regular basis. But last Friday the official go-ahead was given to build a respite centre aimed at offering support and help to those who need it most.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Liam&rsquo;s Lodge will be built on a site located next to Kerry General Hospital and will offer respite to more than 520 sick children and their families each year caring for their medical, emotional, educational and recreational needs.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The centre, which will be named after Tony and&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Mary%20Heffernan&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; cursor: default; outline: none !important;\">Mary Heffernan</a>&nbsp;&rsquo;s son Liam, is a result of their tireless devotion and fundraising. It will be built in memory of their daughter Saorise who suffered from Batten &rsquo;s disease &ndash; a rare neurological condition &ndash; and died when she was five-years-old, and four-year-old Liam who also has the condition and a similar life expectancy.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Although Tony and Mary are battling every day to prolong their son &rsquo;s life, they have first-hand experience of the need for a respite centre so have spent years setting up a charity and planning the facility which will help other children with rare life-threatening illnesses.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;You feel very isolated when you are told that your child is going to die, &rdquo; says Tony. &ldquo;We were given no written information or future advice on what to expect with the condition after Saoirse was diagnosed. So we started our charity&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Bee%20for%20Battens&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; cursor: default; outline: none !important;\">Bee for Battens</a>&nbsp;in March 2010, to ensure that no one else would be left in the same position we were.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;One of the best things you can do for exceptionally ill children and their families is to give them rest and respite &ndash; tiredness and exhaustion take a huge toll on the body and mind, so by building Liam &rsquo;s Lodge, these sick children and their families can have an opportunity to take a break. &rdquo;</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	As their little boy deteriorates on a daily basis, this extraordinarily selfless couple are paving the way to prevent other parents from having to go down the same lonely, uncertain route as they watch their child slip away from them.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;We know first-hand what it is like to provide full-time care to our children &ndash; it is immensely stressful as well as utterly heart-breaking, &rdquo; says Tony. &ldquo;One of the most important things you can do is to sleep and eat well to provide the best care for your little prince or princess. This is very difficult and Mary and I wish there was a facility to give families the break they need.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;If a centre like Liam &rsquo;s Lodge was available to us, we would jump at the chance .&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Through their charity, the Kerry couple have raised enough funds to start building the lodge but it will cost &euro;4 .5 million to complete the project. They plan to replicate the Niall Mellon Trust model appealing to tradesmen, builders and companies in the construction industry to get involved, which would significantly reduce the costs, but as the project has no Government funding , a lot of money still needs to be raised.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;For years we have admired the generous Irish men and women who have travelled to Africa and other countries to build hospitals, schools, homes and orphanages. Now let &rsquo;s do it for the children of Ireland affected by rare disease and genetic disorders ,&rdquo; urges Tony.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;We need as much help as possible to keep our services going . So whether it &rsquo;s through fun-runs, cycling or coffee mornings, please think of us as it could make all the difference to a sick child &rsquo;s life. &rdquo;</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<br style=\"cursor: default;\" />\r\n	For more information or to make a donation, visit www.liamslodge.com<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/respite-centre-will-cater-for-children-and-parents-1.1338358\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/respite-centre-will-cater-for-children-and-parents-1.1338358</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-03-26 12:22:24',NULL,'respite-centre-will-cater-for-children-and-parents'),(92,'Parents who do not have their children vaccinated run ‘grim risk’ warns Reilly','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Children are being exposed to the potentially deadly measles disease if their parents do not get them vaccinated, the Minister for Health Dr&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=James%20Reilly&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; cursor: default; outline: none !important;\">James Reilly</a>&nbsp;has warned.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Dr Reilly said the measles outbreak in&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Wales&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; cursor: default; outline: none !important;\">Wales</a>, which has now surpassed 900 cases and claimed the life of a 25-year-old man last week, ought to give &ldquo;pause for serious thought&rdquo; in&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Ireland&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; cursor: default; outline: none !important;\">Ireland</a>&nbsp;given the proximity of the two countries.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Speaking at the launch of a public information campaign to coincide with European Immunisation Week, Dr Reilly said parents who do not allow their children get the MMR (Measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine are running a &ldquo;grim risk&rdquo; of exposing their children to a preventable disease.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	A previous outbreak of measles in Dublin in 2000 which affected 1,500 children led to three deaths and more than 100 hospitalisations.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The outbreak was blamed on a health scare propagated by British doctor Dr&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Andrew%20Wakefield&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; cursor: default; outline: none !important;\">Andrew Wakefield</a>&nbsp;who linked the MMR vaccine to autism and bowel disease. He was subsequently found to have falsified the results and was struck off.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Vaccination rates dropped to below 70 per cent following that health scare.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	An outbreak last year in west&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Cork&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; cursor: default; outline: none !important;\">Cork</a>&nbsp;which affected 60 children coincided with an area where the MMR vaccine uptake is considerably lower than the general population.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Dr Reilly said the MMR uptake at between 82 per cent and 85 per cent of the eligible population is &ldquo;not good enough&rdquo; as the target figure is 95 per cent.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Currently 92 per cent of one-year-old children received the vaccine last year though there are pockets in west Cork and inner-city Dublin where the uptake figures are lower than that.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	He urged parents to &ldquo;think about the facts and not the hype&rdquo; around vaccination and to seek advice from medical professionals if they are worried.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	He also advised health professionals to ensure that misinformation about vaccination does not become the norm.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The public health campaign involves television radio and bus shelter advertisements which will run for four months.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	HSE consultant in public health medicine Dr&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Brenda%20Corcoran&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; cursor: default; outline: none !important;\">Brenda Corcoran</a>&nbsp;said they did not have the budget for a television advertising campaign but were approached by pharmaceutical company&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_company=Pfizer&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; cursor: default; outline: none !important;\">Pfizer</a>.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Dr Corcoran maintained the partnership was &ldquo;good for both parties&rdquo; and was discussed with the HSE procurement section before being passed.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	She said Pfizer provided only one of the 12 vaccines currently given to Irish children and that was through competitive tendering.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Vaccination rates for MMR are improving every year, but there is still a risk among those children who were not vaccinated around the Millennium and are now teenagers. They are being offered catch-up vaccinations.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The HSE has set a goal of having Ireland measles-free by 2015, a goal which will not be accomplished unless the 95 per cent target rate for vaccination is reached.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Dr Corcoran said there is also a problem with the Whooping Cough vaccine as the present vaccine only lasts for 10 years. There were 480 cases of Whooping Cough last year and a further 80 cases to date this year.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; cursor: default; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Doctors now believe that a single whooping cough vaccine dose is not sufficient and that a second dose is necessary.<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/parents-who-do-not-have-their-children-vaccinated-run-grim-risk-warns-reilly-1.1368986\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/parents-who-do-not-have-their-children-vaccinated-run-grim-risk-warns-reilly-1.1368986</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-04-23 09:38:32',NULL,'parents-who-do-not-have-their-children-vaccinated-run-‘grim-risk’-warns-reilly'),(93,'Residential centres for disabled to face inspections','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Residential centres for almost 5,000 adults and children with disabilities will be subject to independent inspections for the first time from September onwards. The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) will be responsible for monitoring care standards in residential accommodation centres, which are mostly operated by the voluntary sector.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	These facilities have not been subject to State inspections or care regulations, despite evidence which shows that children with learning disabilities face a much higher risk of abuse or mistreatment than the general population.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The new move will involve hiring at least 25 additional inspection staff and is likely to cost the State up to &euro;5 million each year, according to Government sources.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The residential centres are mostly funded by the State and run by voluntary or religious groups. In addition, a number of private operators have recently started providing this form of care.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<br />\r\n	Inspectors<br />\r\n	<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Kathleen%20Lynch&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Kathleen Lynch</a>, the Minister of State responsible for disability, said a set of standards is being finalised against which inspectors will judge the quality of accommodation.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;At the end of the day, no matter how good an organisation is, it is vitally important to have an independent body that is helping to ensure that vulnerable people are protected,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;If families are unable to care for someone in a private capacity, then they need assurances that their wellbeing is monitored.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	A spokesman for Hiqa confirmed that new standards had been finalised and discussions were at an advantaged stage over how the inspections regime will be implemented.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Draft national standards for residential centres for adults and children with disabilities were published last year.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	These standards are based on principles that will guide residential centres in providing quality, safe and effective care and support in partnership with people living in, or using, residential care services.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	These principles involve the person always being at the centre of their care and support service, and being enabled to live with dignity, choice and personal autonomy.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Proper leadership, skilled and experienced staff and the effective management of resources in the centre are also central to ensuring residential services deliver on this vision.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The introduction of independent inspections follows sustained pressure from groups such as&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Inclusion%20Ireland&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Inclusion Ireland</a>&nbsp;&ndash; the umbrella group for people with intellectual disabilities &ndash; which have been calling for care safeguards for almost two decades.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<br />\r\n	Safeguards<br />\r\n	In addition, official reports commissioned by State agencies have raised concerns over the lack of safeguards for people with disabilities in residential care. These include the McCoy report into&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_company=Brothers%20of%20Charity&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Brothers of Charity</a>&nbsp;Services in&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Galway&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Galway</a>&nbsp;in 2009; the Irish Human Rights Commission&rsquo;s inquiry in 2010; and the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse in 2010.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	In total, there are an estimated 1,700 residential centres of varying size where people with disabilities reside.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The move comes at a time of significant change for disability service providers, which are under pressure to provide more community-based residential care.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	It is Government policy to close all institutions &ndash; or &ldquo;congregated settings&rdquo; &ndash; within seven years. They house an estimated 5,000 people with physical or intellectual disabilities.<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/residential-centres-for-disabled-to-face-inspections-1.1367765\">http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/residential-centres-for-disabled-to-face-inspections-1.1367765</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-04-23 09:40:59',NULL,'residential-centres-for-disabled-to-face-inspections'),(94,'TCD and WIT deal with most bullying claims','<p>\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">Details provided under Freedom of Information also show two students in Cork Institute of Technology alleged in May 2010 that six other students had sexually harassed them as they walked to a lecture.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">WIT and DIT both dealt with 16 cases of alleged bullying since 2008, while Trinity College Dublin responded to 14 allegations.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">A sample of 10 of the country&rsquo;s largest third-level institutions show:&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">* 91 cases of bullying involving students and/or staff across the 10 institutions;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">* WIT paid out &euro;107,338 to deal with 16 allegations, of which more than &euro;88,000 went on mediator/ investigator costs;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">* UCC dealt with four allegations of bullying but spent more than &euro;10,000. None of the allegations involved students;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">* In addition to the 14 allegations of bullying in TCD, the university&rsquo;s junior dean investigated and upheld six separate bullying claims involving student societies;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">* DCU dealt with 10 cases but only spent &euro;20,000 in lieu of notice in which a member of administrative staff resigned;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">* Among UCD&rsquo;s 10 cases, a claim of alleged racism by a supervisor in Feb 2010 was dismissed &ldquo;on procedural grounds&rdquo;, while a separate claim of sexual harassment made by a student against a society was dismissed at the Equality Tribunal;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">* NUI Galway had no bullying cases involving students, but spent &euro;16,473 dealing with seven cases involving academic and support staff. Three are ongoing, and the other four claims were not upheld;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">* The University of Limerick paid &euro;30,940 to deal with seven cases &mdash; three involving staff and four involving students;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">* A student in DIT last year accused a college technician of &ldquo;a racial slur&rdquo; &mdash; one of five cases in 2012 that were resolved.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">In most cases, the 10 universities and colleges give limited detail regarding the nature of the complaint beyond &ldquo;bullying&rdquo;.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">In April 2009 a student claimed he had been followed by another student, while in May last year, a lecturer claimed a student had become abusive during an online lecture.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">Just one of 16 allegations dealt with in WIT was upheld, a 2011 case in which a member of staff physically attacked a colleague, resulting in their transfer and a written warning.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">In a separate case last year, a student was asked to apologise after falsely claiming mistreatment by a staff member.<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/tcd-and-wit-deal-with-most-bullying-claims-229765.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/tcd-and-wit-deal-with-most-bullying-claims-229765.html</a></span></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-04-29 10:09:58',NULL,'tcd-and-wit-deal-with-most-bullying-claims'),(95,'David Coleman: Ten tips to boost your child\'s self-esteem','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	DAVID Coleman gives his top tips to help you develop self-confidence in your children.<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/incoming/david-coleman-ten-tips-to-boost-your-childs-selfesteem-29232101.html\">http://www.independent.ie/incoming/david-coleman-ten-tips-to-boost-your-childs-selfesteem-29232101.html</a></p>\r\n<div class=\"sidebar \" style=\"margin: 15px 20px 10px -65px; padding: 0px; float: left; width: 300px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;\">\r\n	<div class=\"section\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; border-bottom-width: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(222, 222, 224);\">\r\n		<div class=\"w18\" data-minarticles=\"1.00\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n			<article class=\"mha\" style=\"margin: -8px 0px 15px; padding: 7px 0px 0px; width: 300px; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(212, 213, 217);\">\r\n			<div style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: table-cell; width: 300px; height: 38px; vertical-align: middle;\">\r\n				<h4 class=\"small\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n					&nbsp;</h4>\r\n			</div>\r\n			</article><article style=\"margin: -8px 0px 15px; padding: 7px 0px 0px; width: 300px; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(212, 213, 217);\">\r\n			<div style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: table-cell; width: 300px; height: 37px; vertical-align: middle;\">\r\n				&nbsp;</div>\r\n			</article></div>\r\n	</div>\r\n	<div class=\"widget ad google\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important;\">\r\n		<div class=\"sense-content-a\" style=\"margin: 20px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; width: 300px; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-width: 0px 0px 3px;\">\r\n			<h3 style=\"padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; clear: both; text-align: right; margin: 0px !important; padding-top: 5px !important; color: rgb(125, 125, 125) !important; font-weight: normal !important; font-size: 12px !important; line-height: 1 !important; font-family: \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important;\">\r\n				&nbsp;</h3>\r\n		</div>\r\n	</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Children will make mistakes. We can choose to punish them, or we can let them learn from their choices</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Self-esteem can seem a bit intangible. We can&#39;t really see it, hold on to it, or touch it in any way. Despite this, we are often acutely aware when it is missing, especially in our children.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	They can seem to have a very negative opinion of themselves, or they seem unconfident, overly dependent, or conformist.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	In contrast, children who have high self-esteem are more emotionally mature, more stable, more realistic and they have a higher frustration tolerance. They also tend to be happier and to do better academically.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	So if you want to give your child the best possible opportunities in life, then helping them to have high self-esteem is a great starting point. To help you along that road, here are my top 10 tips for building your child&#39;s self-esteem.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">Remember what you are role-modelling</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Children watch us all the time. They take their lead from how we act in the world. It is our actions that give them the strongest guide for their own behaviour.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	If you find that you are self-deprecating, be aware that your children may learn to do the same.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Similarly, if you find that you always say &quot;yes&quot; to things because you don&#39;t want to offend others by saying &quot;no&quot;, you may be giving your children a message that other people&#39;s needs are more important.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Even our own expectations of ourselves can be unreasonable, leaving us feeling like we are constantly failing.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">Give individual attention to your children</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	I know how busy family life can get. Nevertheless, children will always benefit from a bit of special time with their parent(s).</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	When children feel their parents notice them, it really helps children to develop the self-belief that they are indeed important individually.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	The individual attention may be just a quick story before bed, or a weekly treat time with one child, or even taking the time to comment specifically to one child about something good and positive they did.</p>\r\n<div class=\"more\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;\">\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		<strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">Accept your child for who they are</strong></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		We all have our strengths and our weaknesses. There is no perfect parent and no perfect child. But children need to know that, even when they mess up, they are still loved and cared about.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		When children make individual choices they need to know that, whatever the outcome, we will not reject or dismiss them.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		Often in our approaches to discipline, we can unintentionally make our love seem conditional. Our children may come to believe they are only acceptable to us when they behave in certain ways.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		<strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">Communicate with respect</strong></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		Our typical response to children&#39;s mistakes is to criticise them and their behaviour. We can easily give children a message of both our disappointment in them and our dismissal of them.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		We always want our children to be respectful, but we need to think about how respectful we are to them.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		Think about how many times a day you may say &quot;I don&#39;t care&quot; to your child, in response to their moans, whinges, and demands. We intend to communicate that even though we hear what they want, they can&#39;t have it. However, when we add the &quot;I don&#39;t care,&quot; children can come to believe that we actually don&#39;t care about them.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		<strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">Help children to recognise and understand their feelings</strong></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		Being a child can be a frustrating experience. When we forget that the demands and restrictions we impose on them trigger feelings in our children, we can easily become angry, dismissive, and critical at their apparent opposition to us.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		What children learn from this is that their feelings don&#39;t seem to matter to us. So, rather than simply railroading children, we can be empathetic, while still remaining firm about what has to be done.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		That way, children continue to know that we do understand and care about them, even when we have to go against their desires.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		<strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">Identify their strengths and abilities</strong></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		Often children focus more on the things they can&#39;t do, than the things they can. In group situations, children will often compare themselves negatively with their peers.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		<span class=\"CTXempty\" style=\"margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; text-decoration: inherit !important; float: none !important;\">Acknowledging what we are good at seems to go a bit against the&nbsp;<span id=\"link0\" name=\"link0\" style=\"margin: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1em; height: auto; cursor: pointer; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 153, 0); text-decoration: underline !important; color: rgb(0, 153, 0) !important;\">Irish</span>psyche. However, knowing what we are good at, and what we do well, is at the centre of feeling capable within ourselves.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		If ever you feel pride in your child&#39;s achievements, it is helpful to encourage them to feel proud of themselves.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		<strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">Treat mistakes as learning opportunities</strong></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		Making mistakes is part of what makes us human. Almost all of the really significant advancements in science, technology, and medicine are based on experiments involving trial and error.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		Children will make mistakes.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		We can choose to punish them for those mistakes, possibly leaving them feeling bad, demotivated, or resentful, or we can let them experience the consequences of their choices, and then encourage them to have another go with the new knowledge they now have.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		<strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">Allow children to make choices and decisions</strong></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		It naturally follows, therefore, that we have to let children make those choices in the first place if they are to really benefit from the opportunities to learn.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		It is very tempting to keep &#39;bubble-wrapping&#39; our children to protect them from possible harm or danger. However, if we continue to over-protect them, we will only teach them to be dependent on us.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		Similarly, if we don&#39;t give children the chance to solve some of the problems they face, then they may come to believe they are helpless and incapable.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		<strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">Encourage effort and acknowledge success</strong></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		&quot;It&#39;s not the winning that&#39;s important, it&#39;s the taking part that counts.&quot; In terms of building self-esteem there is a lot of truth in this. However, there is lots of research to suggest that competitive sport for under-12s is counter-productive, as children can end up too disappointed and disheartened if they constantly perceive themselves to be failing.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		It is great for any of us to feel the thrill and achievement of reaching the top or achieving a goal. It is important, too, for children to learn to cope with disappointment, and sometimes sports can be a good and safe opportunity to do so.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		However, at heart, if children are to feel good about what they are doing, they need to know the effort they are putting in is valuable, even if it doesn&#39;t get them the prize.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		<strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">Allow children an opportunity to contribute</strong></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		It is important that children get opp-ortunities to do things that are genuinely useful and appreciated.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		Household chores are a great way to give children responsibility. It gives parents the chance to say &quot;thanks&quot; or &quot;well done&quot;. Children like to feel helpful and useful.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		We have to let children have a go at being responsible. For sure they&#39;ll mess it up sometimes, but that is just an opportunity to show them how to do it differently next time.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n		For more tips, news and information from David sign up to his free monthly email newsletter at www.davidcoleman.ie</p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-05-01 16:18:38',NULL,'david-coleman-ten-tips-to-boost-your-childs-self-esteem'),(96,'Child abuse referrals have doubled since 2005','<p>\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">The domestic violence support group recorded a 55% year-on-year increase in violence against children of abused women in 2012.&nbsp;</span></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">Women disclosed on 3,230 occasions last year that their children had suffered emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">Children were hit, sometimes with household items, smacked, constantly shouted at, and, in some cases, sexually abused.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;The most recent figures for referrals of child abuse to the Health Service Executive show that there were 19,044 referrals in 2012,&rdquo; said Ms Fitzgerald. &ldquo;This represents a doubling in referrals in seven years from 9,503 in 2005.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">Women&rsquo;s Aid director Margaret Martin said: &ldquo;At times, the perpetrator has deliberately targeted the children as a way to hurt both them and their mother.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">At the launch of the 2012 Women&rsquo;s Aid report, Ms Martin said more than 1,000 children saw their mothers abused last year.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;Many children have witnessed their mother being shouted at, threatened, physically assaulted and at times have seen their mother being raped.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">Women&rsquo;s Aid says custody and access arrangements in family law proceedings often disregard the impact of violence on children and risk continuing abuse of the children and their mothers.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;Child contact should not outweigh child protection and safety should be prioritised in all custody and access proceedings,&rdquo; said Ms Martin.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;To do anything less is to fail women and children.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">Women&rsquo;s Aid believes the best-practice principle of protecting the child through the non-abusive parent should be reflected in any changes to family law or domestic violence legislation, as well as changes to any child protection structures.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">It is also calling for the provision of an out-of-hours on-call system for emerg-ency barring orders, which would provide 24/7 access to legal protection for women and their children when they need it the most.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">The Woman&rsquo;s Aid free-phone helpline answered 11,729 calls last year &mdash; about 65% of all calls made.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;The ability of some women to escape domestic violence is being hampered by the recession,&rdquo; said Ms Martin.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;Women fear increased impoverishment, losing their home, and the effect of poverty on their children.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;Women who do try to leave often find it harder or impossible to access vital supports such as housing, refuge, welfare, and legal representation.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">Some women who escape an abusive relationship find it does not mean the end of the abuse. Last year, 49% of women supported by the support group&rsquo;s one-to-one service experienced abuse from a former partner.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.womensaid.ie/\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(38, 120, 150); line-height: 15px;\" target=\"_blank\">www.womensaid.ie</a><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<b style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">&lsquo;Irish Examiner&rsquo; investigation showed understanding&nbsp;</b><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">There was a lot of positive feedback about the Irish Examiner&rsquo;s&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2013/0418/world/the-victim-aposi-would-have-been-deadapos-228624.html\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(38, 120, 150); line-height: 15px;\" target=\"_blank\">special investigation</a><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">of&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2013/0418/world/there-are-almost-30-incidents-a-day-228626.html\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(38, 120, 150); line-height: 15px;\" target=\"_blank\">domestic violence</a><span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">&nbsp;from women who called the Women&rsquo;s Aid national freephone helpline, it has emerged.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;The feedback, largely anecdotal, was that it was great to have this issue covered so well; that it was very comprehensive; and that a lot of the articles showed a deep understanding of what the issues were and a lot of care went into it,&rdquo; said Women&rsquo;s Aid director Margaret Martin.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;Too often, because domestic violence is such a complex issue, the kind of attention that is given to it is quite superficial.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;I think the Irish Examiner is really good at dealing with social justice issues. It is important the people experiencing domestic violence know that it is not just Women&rsquo;s Aid reaching out to them; that there are people in the media highlighting domestic violence as a very serious issue.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<b style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">2012 stats&nbsp;</b><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">* Around 32 calls were made daily last year to the Women&rsquo;s Aid helpline.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">* Staff managing the charity&rsquo;s freephone helpline &mdash; 1800 341 900 &mdash; answered 11,729 calls, holding 508 one-to-one support visits, and 162 court accompaniments.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">* Of those suffering domestic abuse, 97% were women and almost half were abused by their husband; 7% by an ex-husband, 16% by a partner and 10% by an ex-partner.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">* Only 7% sought help in the first year of an abuse.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">* Almost one third lived with abuse for one to five years, with 61% living with abuse for more than six years, including 6% who were with a violent partner for over 30 years before seeking help.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;\">* Of those who called the helpline, 42% were from Dublin, while 27% of calls came from outside the capital. Almost one third of callers did not disclose their location.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 3px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 12px; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 18px;\">\r\n	<i>&copy; Irish Examiner Ltd. All rights reserved</i></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-06-13 04:00:00',NULL,'child-abuse-referrals-have-doubled-since-2005'),(97,'HSE: ‘Creche breached child-adult ratio – we marked it compliant by accident’','<h2 class=\"main_excerpt\" style=\"margin: 5px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);\">\r\n	An inspection report handed to parents whose children attend a Dublin creche identified breaches of child-adult ratios yet marked the facility compliant. The HSE said this was an &ldquo;administrative error&rdquo;.</h2>\r\n<div class=\"infos border\" style=\"margin: 10px 0px; padding: 2px 0px; border-width: 1px 0px; border-style: dotted; border-image-source: url(data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhBgAGAIABAH9/f////yH5BAEAAAEALAAAAAAGAAYAAAIIjAOny6h5UgEAOw==); border-image-slice: 1; border-image-repeat: repeat; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-border-image: url(data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhBgAGAIABAH9/f////yH5BAEAAAEALAAAAAAGAAYAAAIIjAOny6h5UgEAOw==) 1 fill repeat; overflow: hidden; line-height: 25px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);\">\r\n	<div class=\"metadata\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); float: left;\">\r\n		<span class=\"date\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px 0px 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">7 hours ago</span>&nbsp;<span class=\"views\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px 0px 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">5,863 Views&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/hse-inspection-report-links-portmarnock-950882-Jun2013/#comments\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);\" title=\"Comment on HSE: ‘Creche breached child-adult ratio – we marked it compliant by accident’\">&nbsp;13 Comments</a></div>\r\n	<span class=\"share\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; float: right;\"><a class=\"open-window social\" href=\"http://www.facebook.com/dialog/feed?app_id=116141121768215&amp;display=popup&amp;link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thejournal.ie%2Fhse-inspection-report-links-portmarnock-950882-Jun2013%2F&amp;picture=http%3A%2F%2Fs2.jrnl.ie%2Fmedia%2F2013%2F06%2Fhse-inspection-report-2-197x197.jpg&amp;name=HSE%3A+%26%238216%3BCreche+breached+child-adult+ratio+%26%238211%3B+we+marked+it+compliant+by+accident%26%238217%3B&amp;description=An+inspection+report+handed+to+parents+whose+children+attend+a+Dublin+creche+identified+breaches+of+child-adult+ratios+yet+marked+the+facility+compliant.+The+HSE+said+this+was+an+%26%238220%3Badministrative+error%26%238221%3B.+&amp;message=Just+saw+this+article+on+TheJournal.ie&amp;redirect_uri=http%3A%2F%2Fthejournal.ie%2Futils%2Ffb_post.php%3Fp_id%3D950882\" style=\"margin: 0px 3px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0.4em 0px 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(217, 217, 217); font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); height: 20px; line-height: 20px; display: inline-block; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239); text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.498039) 0px 1px 0px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Share on Facebook\">&nbsp;Share<span class=\"number\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: inline-block; text-indent: 5px; position: relative;\">2</span></a>&nbsp;<a class=\"open-window social share-twitter twitter-tweet jrnl-tweet-950882\" href=\"http://twitter.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fjrnl.ie%2F950882&amp;text=HSE%3A+%27Creche+breached+child-adult+ratio+-+we+marked+it+compliant+by+accident%27+%28via+%40thejournal_ie%29&amp;related=@thejournal_ie\" style=\"margin: 0px 3px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0.4em 0px 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(217, 217, 217); font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); height: 20px; line-height: 20px; display: inline-block; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239); text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.498039) 0px 1px 0px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Tweet this\">&nbsp;Tweet<span class=\"number\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: inline-block; text-indent: 5px; position: relative;\">12</span></a>&nbsp;<a class=\"social share-email lightboxTrigger\" href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/hse-inspection-report-links-portmarnock-950882-Jun2013/#EmailArticle\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0.4em 0px 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(217, 217, 217); font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); height: 20px; line-height: 20px; display: inline-block; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239); text-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.498039) 0px 1px 0px; border-top-left-radius: 5px; border-top-right-radius: 5px; border-bottom-right-radius: 5px; border-bottom-left-radius: 5px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;\" title=\"Email this article\">&nbsp;Email<span class=\"number\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(217, 217, 217); font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: inline-block; text-indent: 5px; position: relative;\">13</span></a></span></div>\r\n<div class=\"text\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.3em; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);\">\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		<img alt=\"hse inspection report\" class=\"alignnone\" height=\"426\" src=\"http://s0.jrnl.ie/media/2013/06/hse-inspection-report-630x426.jpg\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\" width=\"630\" /></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		THIS IS A Health Service Executive inspection report which identifies breaches of child-adult ratio regulations at a Dublin creche, yet deems the facility compliant.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		The HSE has said that the &lsquo;compliant&rsquo; box was &ldquo;wrongly ticked&rdquo; but this report was distributed to parents who have children in the creche on the day after the broadcasting of Prime Time&rsquo;s &lsquo;A Breach of Trust&rsquo; programme.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		One parent said that marking the creche as being compliant was &ldquo;mind boggling&rdquo; and &ldquo;very disturbing&rdquo; given the issues identified in the non-compliance section of the report. But the HSE said it was an &ldquo;administrative error&rdquo;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		The inspection report is for the Links Childcare facility in Portmarnock, north Dublin and details regulation breaches identified during an inspection carried out last October. Links did not comment for this story.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		The report says &ldquo;that the correct adult/child ratios is (sic) not always maintained&rdquo;. The inspectors found that in one case records showed 10 to 12 children &ndash; aged 2 1/2 to 3 years &ndash; with just one staff member. On another occasion, there were 10 children present with one staff member.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		The report recommends that ratios for children aged 2 to 3 years attending full day care be 1:6. &ldquo;The correct child ratios must be adhered to,&rdquo; the report states.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		In a statement, the HSE said: &ldquo;A review of the Inspection Outcome Report has found that non-compliance issues under Regulation 8 Management and Staffing identified in the Inspection were correctly documented and the appropriate corrective action detailed in the Report.</p>\r\n	<blockquote style=\"margin: 15px 40px; padding: 10px 10px 10px 40px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); quotes: \'\'; display: table; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,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); background-color: rgb(234, 237, 242); background-position: 5px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;\">\r\n		<div style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n			&ldquo;However this review has found that there was an administrative error in the Report in which the Regulation 8 Compliant box was wrongly ticked. The Non Compliant box should have been ticked.&rdquo;</div>\r\n	</blockquote>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		The parent, who did not wish to be named, told&nbsp;<em style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">TheJournal.ie</em>&nbsp;that the ratios have improved since the airing of the landmark Prime Time programme last month.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		&ldquo;The ratios have been a lot better since the report,&rdquo; the parent said. &ldquo;The ratios were 10 and 12 to 1, which we had observed a few times and we were concerned about. We just mentioned it to the carers in the room, they seemed like their hands full.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		Links Childcare&rsquo;s Abington facility was featured in the Prime Time programme and a number of issues were highlighted including the frequent breaching of child-adult ratios and the fabrication of records about children&rsquo;s activities.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		In a statement made after the programme aired, the company said it &ldquo;deeply regrets&rdquo; the distress caused by the Prime Time programme and pledged to &ldquo;repair the loss of trust that is inevitable as a result of what has happened&rdquo;. &nbsp;As part of this they announced plans to re-train staff and to provide real-time CCTV online coverage for parents.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		When contacted this week, a Links spokesperson said: &ldquo;Links Childcare has issued a number of public statements on this matter and has no further comment to add.&rdquo;<a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/hse-inspection-report-links-portmarnock-950882-Jun2013/\">http://www.thejournal.ie/hse-inspection-report-links-portmarnock-950882-Jun2013/</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-06-17 13:56:01',NULL,'hse-‘creche-breached-child-adult-ratio-–-we-marked-it-compliant-by-accident’'),(98,'Bullying by siblings as harmful as by peers','<p>\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\">Washington: Bullying by siblings is related to the same serious mental health effects as peer bullying, a new study has found.</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\">Lead author Corinna Jenkins Tucker, associate professor of family studies at University of New Hampshire, said that even kids who reported just one instance had more mental health distress.</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\">Tucker and her co-authors from UNH`s Crimes against Children Research Center - center director and professor of sociology David Finkelhor, professor of sociology Heather Turner, and researcher Anne Shattuck - analyzed data from the center`s National Survey of Children`s Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV), a national sample of 3,599 children, ages one month through 17.</span></p>\r\n<table align=\"right\" height=\"260\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\">\r\n	<tbody>\r\n		<tr>\r\n			<td>\r\n				<ins style=\"display: inline-table; border: none; height: 250px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 250px;\"><ins id=\"aswift_1_anchor\" style=\"display: block; border: none; height: 250px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; visibility: visible; width: 250px;\"><iframe allowtransparency=\"true\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"250\" hspace=\"0\" id=\"aswift_1\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" name=\"aswift_1\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px;\" vspace=\"0\" width=\"250\"></iframe></ins></ins></td>\r\n		</tr>\r\n	</tbody>\r\n</table>\r\n<p>\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\">The study looked at the effects of physical assault with and without a weapon or injury, property aggression like stealing something or breaking a siblings` things on purpose, and psychological aggression like saying things that made a sibling feel bad, scared, or not wanted around.</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\">The researchers found that of the 32 percent of children who reported experiencing one type of sibling victimization in the past year, mental health distress was greater for children (1 month to age 9) than for adolescents (age 10 - 17) who experienced mild sibling physical assault, but children and adolescents were similarly affected by other psychological or property aggression from siblings.</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\">Their analyses also showed that, while peer aggression like bullying is generally thought to be more serious than sibling aggression, sibling and peer physical and psychological aggression had independent effects on mental health.</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\">The mental health of those experiencing property and psychological aggression, whether from siblings or peers, did not differ.</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\">An important implication of this research, Tucker said, is that parents and caregivers should take sibling aggression seriously.</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\">Tucker said that if siblings hit each other, there is a much different reaction than if that happened between peers, asserting that it is often dismissed, seen as something that`s normal or harmless.</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\">She said that some parents even believe that it`s beneficial, as good training for dealing with conflict and aggression in other relationships.</span><br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;\">The study has been published in journal Pediatrics.<a href=\"http://zeenews.india.com/news/health/health-news/bullying-by-siblings-as-harmful-as-by-peers_22484.html\">http://zeenews.india.com/news/health/health-news/bullying-by-siblings-as-harmful-as-by-peers_22484.html</a></span></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-06-18 10:15:57',NULL,'bullying-by-siblings-as-harmful-as-by-peers'),(99,'The chaos of the asylum system is leaving children at risk','<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	An asylum seeker is a person who, from fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, social group, or political opinion, has crossed an international frontier into a country in which he or she hopes to be granted refugee status.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	Since 2000, asylum seekers in Ireland who are without the means to live independently have been placed in State-administered Direct Provision Accommodation Centres.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	Under direct provision, asylum seekers and their children are provided with basic communal accommodation, meals, and a meagre weekly living allowance of &euro;19.10 per adult and &euro;9.60 per child.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	This money is expected to cover all extras in their lives including extracurricular school activities, exam fees, prescription card charges, non-prescription medications, non-essential bus fares such as visiting a friend to children&rsquo;s birthdays, toys and so on.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	Asylum seekers are not entitled to work while their applications are being processed and as such are prohibited from earning money, supporting themselves or paying taxes.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	They have no say over where they are accommodated and can be moved from one of the 34 centres across 16 counties without consultation and at a moment&rsquo;s notice.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	My entry point into the issue of direct provision is from a children&rsquo;s rights perspective.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	It is informed by my work on related issues as the former Chief Executive of the Children&rsquo;s Rights Alliance; the recommendations of the Government-appointed Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, Dr Geoffrey Shannon; the concerns raised by advocacy groups; and my own recent visits to two direct provision asylum accommodation centres as an independent member of the Seanad.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	It has taken me a long time to get my head straight about direct provision.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	It has been difficult to establish which parts of the system belong to the Department of Justice and Equality, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs or indeed the Department of Social Protection.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	I have struggled to understand the distinction made between children &ldquo;cared for by the State&rdquo;, as is used to describe children in direct provision, and children &ldquo;in the care of the State&rdquo;. Children are falling between the gaps of bureaucracy.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	I argue passionately that firstly, children are children irrespective of status and secondly, that it is just not credible to claim that children in direct provision are in the care of their parents in circumstances where the parents&rsquo; freedom to make even basic decisions about their children&rsquo;s care &ndash; for example what and when to eat &ndash; is so limited.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	My overwhelming concern is that direct provision is detrimental to the welfare and development of asylum seekers, and in particular children. As of February 2013, the latest available figures, 1,808 children were residing in direct provision accommodation centres throughout Ireland.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	There are a range of difficulties, many of which I have raised in the Seanad including the debatable legality of the direct provision system, the lack of an independent complaints mechanism for residents, the absence of independent inspections of direct provision centres where children reside, the decision by Ireland to opt out of the EU Directive to allow asylum seekers to enter the workforce if their application has not been processed after one year, the fact that there are no prospects for post-secondary education for young asylum seekers, which is like hitting a pause button for an uncertain and doubtlessly lengthy period of time, the fettering and erosion of normal family dynamics and functioning and the lack of autonomous decision-making.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	The ultimate failing of direct provision is the length of time asylum seekers are in the system waiting for their claims to be processed.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	It is important to remember that when first introduced 13 years ago, direct provision was viewed as a time-limited system with a maximum of six months.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	If this were the case, I could perhaps tolerate the inadequacies that would present in that time period rather than the outright failings that present in this system where the average length of stay is four years and a significant number have remained in the system for between five to 10 years.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	So the long-term solution has got to be a system that can determine an asylum seeker&rsquo;s status in a speedy, robust, fair and transparent way.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	I hope this will be delivered through the Immigration, Residency and Protection Bill, which the Minister for Justice has committed to republish in revised form, but which has ultimately been eight years coming down the track.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	In the meantime, I am calling on the Government to take the following steps:</p>\r\n<ul style=\"margin: 0px 1.5em 1.5em 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.5em; border: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n	<li style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n			conduct an examination to establish whether the system of direct provision itself is detrimental to the welfare and development of asylum seekers, in particular children, and whether, if appropriate, an alternative form of support and accommodation could be adopted which is more suitable for families and children</p>\r\n	</li>\r\n	<li style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n			&nbsp;to establish an independent complaints mechanism, and</p>\r\n	</li>\r\n	<li style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n			&nbsp;to commence independent inspections of direct provision centres where children reside.</p>\r\n	</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 1.15385em; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.28571em;\">\r\n	The Irish Refugee Council is currently looking for 10,000 people to sign its online petition to End Direct Provision. I will certainly be signing.<a href=\"http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/news-opinion/jillian-van-turnhout-chaos-asylum-2015814\">http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/news-opinion/jillian-van-turnhout-chaos-asylum-2015814</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-03 10:09:54',NULL,'the-chaos-of-the-asylum-system-is-leaving-children-at-risk'),(100,'Mum admits stealing €360 worth of clothes for child','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	A YOUNG mother caught stealing over &euro;300 worth of clothes was taking them for her young child because she was struggling financially.</h2>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Sinead Kennedy (21) was stopped by security staff as she was walking out of a shopping centre with the children&#39;s clothing.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Kennedy, of Ballyfermot Drive, Ballyfermot, admitted to a charge of theft at Blanchardstown District Court.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Garda Sergeant Walter Sweeney said staff stopped Kennedy as she was leaving Liffey Valley Shopping Centre on April 18.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Sgt Sweeney said Kennedy had walked out of Marks &amp; Spencer with &euro;363 worth of children&#39;s clothing.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	The sergeant said Kennedy was with another woman when she took the clothing.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	The court heard that Kennedy has no previous convictions.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Defence lawyer Ann Sheridan said Kennedy is a single mother with a three-year-old child.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Ms Sheridan said Kennedy, who is unemployed and on social welfare, is under a lot of financial pressure is finding it hard to survive on social welfare.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Ms Sheridan said the defendant took the clothing for her child.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	She asked the judge to leave her client without a conviction, saying she was willing to make a contribution to charity.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Judge David McHugh refused to leave Kennedy without a conviction and he fined her &euro;50.<a href=\"http://www.herald.ie/news/courts/mum-admits-stealing-360-worth-of-clothes-for-child-29403861.html\">http://www.herald.ie/news/courts/mum-admits-stealing-360-worth-of-clothes-for-child-29403861.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-09 11:23:13',NULL,'mum-admits-stealing-€360-worth-of-clothes-for-child'),(101,'Late nights \'sap children\'s brain power\'','<p class=\"introduction\" id=\"story_continues_1\" style=\"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1.077em; text-rendering: auto; clear: left; font-weight: bold;\">\r\n	Late nights and lax bedtime routines can blunt young children&#39;s minds, research suggests.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1.077em; text-rendering: auto; clear: left;\">\r\n	The findings on sleep patterns and brain power come from a UK study of more than 11,000 seven-year-olds.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1.077em; text-rendering: auto; clear: left;\">\r\n	Youngsters who had no regular bedtime or who went to bed later than 21:00 had lower scores for reading and maths.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1.077em; text-rendering: auto; clear: left;\">\r\n	Lack of sleep may disrupt natural body rhythms and impair how well the brain learns new information say the study authors.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1.077em; text-rendering: auto; clear: left;\">\r\n	They gathered data on the children at the ages of three, five and then seven to find out how well they were doing with their learning and whether this might be related to their sleeping habits.<br />\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p id=\"story_continues_2\" style=\"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1.077em; text-rendering: auto; clear: left;\">\r\n	Erratic bedtimes were most common at the age of three, when around one in five of the children went to bed at varying times.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1.077em; text-rendering: auto; clear: left;\">\r\n	By the age of seven, more than half the children had a regular bedtime of between 19:30 and 20:30.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1.077em; text-rendering: auto; clear: left;\">\r\n	Overall, children who had never had regular bedtimes tended to fare worse than their peers in terms of test scores for reading, maths and spatial awareness.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1.077em; text-rendering: auto; clear: left;\">\r\n	The impact was more obvious throughout early childhood in girls than in boys and appeared to be cumulative.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1.077em; text-rendering: auto; clear: left;\">\r\n	The researchers, led by Prof Amanda Sacker from University College London, said it was possible that inconsistent bedtimes were a reflection of chaotic family settings and it was this, rather than disrupted sleep, that had an impact on cognitive performance in children.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1.077em; text-rendering: auto; clear: left;\">\r\n	&quot;We tried to take these things into account,&quot; said Prof Sacker.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1.077em; text-rendering: auto; clear: left;\">\r\n	The children with late and erratic bedtimes came from more socially disadvantaged backgrounds and were less likely to be read to each night and, generally, watched more TV - often on a set in their own bedroom.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1.077em; text-rendering: auto; clear: left;\">\r\n	After controlling for such factors, the link between poorer mental performance and lax bedtimes remained.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1.077em; text-rendering: auto; clear: left;\">\r\n	The findings are published in the&nbsp;<a href=\"http://jech.bmj.com/\" style=\"color: rgb(74, 113, 148); line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;\">Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health</a>.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1.077em; text-rendering: auto; clear: left;\">\r\n	Prof Sacker said: &quot;The take-home message is really that routines really do seem to be important for children.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1.077em; text-rendering: auto; clear: left;\">\r\n	&quot;Establishing a good bedtime routine early in childhood is probably best, but it&#39;s never too late.&quot;</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1.077em; text-rendering: auto; clear: left;\">\r\n	She said there was no evidence that putting children to bed much earlier than 19:30 added anything in terms of brain power.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1.077em; text-rendering: auto; clear: left;\">\r\n	Dr Robert Scott-Jupp of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said: &quot;At first glance, this research might seem to suggest that less sleep makes children less intelligent, however, it is clearly more complicated than that.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1.077em; text-rendering: auto; clear: left;\">\r\n	&quot;While it&#39;s likely that social and biological brain development factors are inter-related in a complex way, in my opinion, for schoolchildren to perform their best, they should all, whatever their background, get a good night&#39;s sleep.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	&quot;<a href=\"http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23223751\">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23223751</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-09 11:36:20',NULL,'late-nights-sap-childrens-brain-power'),(102,'Court bill may add to child’s ‘distress’','<p>\r\n	<em><span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;\">The Children&rsquo;s Ombudsman has warned that plans to allow media reporting of child care proceedings do not adequately protect children&rsquo;s privacy and may add to their stress in court.</span></em><br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Ombudsman Emily Logan said flaws in the Courts Bill 2013, which contains provisions relaxing reporting restrictions, risk exposing children&rsquo;s identities and discouraging them from giving evidence.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Ms Logan has written to Justice Minister Alan Shatter urging him to reconsider this part of the bill before it becomes legislation later this year.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Family law and child care cases in the civil courts have been heard &ldquo;in camera&rdquo;, meaning in private, raising concerns about undue secrecy and an inability to see whether judges act consistently.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Publishing the bill earlier this year, Mr Shatter said: &ldquo;Media access and reporting of cases will add transparency to the conduct of family law and child care proceedings and will provide valuable information on the operation of the law in this area.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Ms Logan said she fully supported the idea and the intention behind it but had concerns about the practicalities of operating a more open system and its potential impact on children.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Under the new law, only &ldquo;bona fide representatives of the press&rdquo; would be allowed into court and any details that might identify a child must be excluded from their reports, under threat of severe penalties.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">But Ms Logan said there was no definition as to who was a bona fide press representative and she urged the minister to set up an accreditation system specifically for such cases.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">She also warned that allowing more than one journalist into any case could be problematic given that each journalist may include and exclude different details from their reports which individually might protect the identity of a child but collectively could expose them.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">She said this was of particular concern where local media might report on a case heard in their local court so the location of the child would be hard to disguise.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Another problem could arise from the reporting of cases contemporaneously as a child might hear or read about a case that took place the same day their own case was in court and realise the story was about them.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">As most cases required numerous dates in court before they were resolved, Ms Logan warned: &ldquo;This may have fundamental consequences for the child care case.&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&ldquo;This is particularly likely to be true in cases of sexual abuse. If a child becomes aware from contemporaneous media reportage of what is occurring in the case, this may cause the child distress &mdash; particularly if the child learns of denials by the parents of the abuse. It may increase pressure on the child to retract his or her account of the abuse.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">A pilot Child Care Law Reporting Project backed by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs is under way with limited reports of selective cases being published every few months. Ms Logan said this project should be allowed to finish and be assessed before any changes to the law were considered.</span></p>\r\n<div>\r\n	<span style=\"color: rgb(116, 116, 116); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">By Caroline O&rsquo;Doherty</span><br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	<i style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;\">&copy; Irish Examiner Ltd. All rights reserved</i><br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/court-bill-may-add-to-childs-distress-236217.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/court-bill-may-add-to-childs-distress-236217.html</a></div>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-09 11:44:40',NULL,'court-bill-may-add-to-child’s-‘distress’'),(103,'Ombudsman warns of child abuse risk in asylum-seeker hostels','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	THERE is a &quot;real risk&quot; of child abuse in asylum-seeker hostels where single-parent families are required to share with strangers, Ombudsman Emily O&#39;Reilly has warned.</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		She said there was also a danger of abuse in these facilities because families with teenage children of the opposite sex were required to share one room.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Ms O Reilly was commenting on the system of &#39;direct provision&#39;, which confines asylum seekers to hostel-type facilities, with all meals provided.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;At present, there are about 4,800 people in 35 centres; of these, about 1,820 (or 38pc) are children under the age of 18 years.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		She said there were about 640 lone-parent families in these hostels.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;In addition to meals and accommodation, residents receive a weekly payment of &euro;19.10 per adult and &euro;9.60 for a child. These rates have not been increased since 2000,&quot; she wrote in the current edition of the &#39;Jesuit Quarterly Studies&#39;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		She pointed out: &quot;Had they been increased in line with the consumer price index, the current rates would be about &euro;26.60 and &euro;13.40 respectively.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Ms O&#39; Reilly, who will become European Ombudsman in the autumn, revealed that her office had to deal with one case involving an asylum-seeking family where the HSE decision ended up keeping them apart.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The HSE refused to pay supplementary welfare allowance to an African woman who had won her right to the payment.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;The complaint related to an African woman with two children who came to Ireland in 2007. She was placed in direct provision accommodation in Co Mayo. She left it after 15 months because of serious concerns about the mental health of one of her children who had attempted suicide.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;The woman moved to Dublin, where she lived with a friend in rented accommodation. Her child made a second suicide attempt and was hospitalised.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;The woman had no income so she applied for supplementary welfare allowance and was unsuccessful. The woman appealed, initially within the HSE system, where her appeal was rejected.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;She had a final right of appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office where, following a delay of more than eight months, her appeal was successful.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;The complaint made to my office was that, while the woman had succeeded with her appeal, the HSE had not implemented the appeal decision. As a result of this failure, the woman and her children were left in a very vulnerable position.&quot; The family remains separated.</p>\r\n	<div class=\"more\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;\">\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			Ms O Reilly said that we need &quot;urgently, to reform our arrangements so as to ensure that asylum applications are dealt with speedily, efficiently (in a single process), fairly and humanely&quot;.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			She said: &quot;We have known for a decade and more that our treatment of asylum seekers is unacceptable and we have failed, mostly, to do anything about it. With some honourable exceptions, that failure is a collective failure of a republic which needs to re-engage with what ought to be its core values.&quot;<br />\r\n			<br />\r\n			<strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 12px; text-transform: uppercase; margin-bottom: 0px !important;\">EILISH O&#39;REGAN HEALTH CORRESPONDENT</strong><span style=\"font-size: 12px; text-transform: uppercase;\">&nbsp;&ndash; 10 JULY 2013<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ombudsman-warns-of-child-abuse-risk-in-asylumseeker-hostels-29408519.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ombudsman-warns-of-child-abuse-risk-in-asylumseeker-hostels-29408519.html</a></span></p>\r\n	</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-10 07:31:13',NULL,'ombudsman-warns-of-child-abuse-risk-in-asylum-seeker-hostels'),(104,'Germans are worriers, Irish among most carefree - survey','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Unemployment is biggest concern for Europeans, 12-country survey finds</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Europeans are worried more about unemployment than any other social or economic problem, according to a new survey by the GfK market research group.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Though largely immune to the recent euro crisis, Germans remain Europe&rsquo;s biggest worriers, the 12-country survey suggests, while the Irish and Swedes are the most carefree. Asked to name, without being prompted, the most pressing problems facing their country, respondents cited an average of two problems.<br />\r\n		<br />\r\n		However, Germans named 2.5 problems on average, while the Irish and Swedes had just 1.2 concerns. Overall, some 37 per cent worried about unemployment &ndash; the top worry in all countries surveyed, except in the&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Netherlands&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Netherlands</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Russia&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Russia</a>, where people were most worried by economic stability and inflation respectively.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Irish concerns<br />\r\n		Ireland&rsquo;s recent economic trials are apparent in the results. Two-thirds of Irish respondents saw an urgent need to tackle problems of an economic or financial nature. One in four said more should be done to boost jobs, while one in five worry about unemployment. &ldquo;This is not surprising,&rdquo; the survey notes, as unemployment &ldquo;more than tripled between 2005 and 2012, according to the OECD and lies at 14.2 per cent.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The third-biggest concern in Irish minds, the survey suggests, is overall economic development &ndash; cited by 18 per cent of respondents. Just six per cent are concerned about state finances, while just four per cent see politics, inflation or crime as a problem. Given the collapse in house prices, it&rsquo;s perhaps not surprising that housing concerns &ndash; in particular the cost of accommodation &ndash; comes out bottom of the top 10 concerns, worrying just three per cent of those quizzed.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Fear of unemployment<br />\r\n		In the overall results, the fear of being without work rose in seven of the 12 countries surveyed and was the top concern for 72 per cent of Spanish respondents and 69 per cent of French.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Such fears clearly do not always correspond to the jobless rate: almost a third of Germans are concerned about unemployment, though unemployment in&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Germany&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Germany</a>&nbsp;is relatively low by European standards at seven per cent.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		After unemployment, respondents were most concerned by, in order, inflation, economic stability, their health system, rents and housing, governance, pensions, education, corruption and crime. Concerns about terrorism or climate change didn&rsquo;t make the top 10.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		A new entry in the top 10 was corruption, due to the fact that 27 per cent of Spaniards were concerned by graft allegations surrounding the Rajoy government.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/germans-are-worriers-irish-among-most-carefree-survey-1.1458201\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/germans-are-worriers-irish-among-most-carefree-survey-1.1458201</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-10 07:45:23',NULL,'germans-are-worriers-irish-among-most-carefree-survey'),(105,'Abuse of vulnerable older people is not something that is confined to institutions','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Victim may come under pressure to sign over assets to younger family members</h2>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/abuse-of-vulnerable-older-people-is-not-something-that-is-confined-to-institutions-1.1426304\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/abuse-of-vulnerable-older-people-is-not-something-that-is-confined-to-institutions-1.1426304</a></p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Imagine seeing unexplained withdrawals from your bank account, or losing your financial independence, or failing to pay your bills or even struggling to afford basic needs such as food, clothing and electricity.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	While most Irish families are enduring hardship at the moment in some form, some of our citizens are being deliberately targeted and made victims of mental and physical abuse as well as fraud and other crimes.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The greater tragedy is that in many cases the victims of these crimes are older people. People who, having contributed to Irish society for the entirety of their lives, now find the quality of their latter years destroyed by perpetrators of abuse.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Elder abuse is not a new phenomenon. It has existed historically throughout time.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	What&nbsp;<em>is</em>&nbsp;new is the reporting of elder abuse and the consequent debate that is taking place about it.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	As we have cast a light on the hidden secrets of Irish society, we uncover uncomfortable truths about people&rsquo;s willingness to exploit others.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Saturday is World Elder Abuse Day, a day to raise awareness of this unacceptable situation which a recent study shows afflicts over 11,000 people in Ireland.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	High-profile cases&nbsp;<br />\r\n	The Irish experience of elder abuse is varied. High-profile cases such as that of Evelyn Joel in Enniscorthy make headlines as they are exposed in court. But the everyday experience that makes fewer headlines is no less tragic.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The abuse can be defined as a single or repeated act occurring within any relationship that causes harm or distress to an older person and violates their human or civil rights. It can take many forms &ndash; emotional, physical and psychological.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	In less clinical terms we are discussing bullying, intimidation, grievous bodily harm, rape and fraud. All are crimes that older Irish people have suffered at the hands of abusers in the last 12 months.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	A particular area of concern, in light of Ireland&rsquo;s economic circumstances, is financial abuse, the most common type reported to Senior Help Line, a confidential listening service managed by older people for older people.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Typically, an older person may experience pressure to sign over the family farm, property or assets to relatives. Abusers are rarely anonymous strangers. In many cases they are the adult children of the victim. Research shows this to be the case in 80 per cent of reported cases.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Financial constraints have put families under pressure to maintain a decent standard of living. This has resulted in an increasing number of older people being misled over money or being put under improper pressure to support their adult children financially rather than take care of themselves. Property has been lost, pensions have been raided and savings stolen.&nbsp;<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Theft<br />\r\n	The questionable actions of financial institutions are bad enough, but to have your own family mislead, deceive and even steal from you adds a disturbing undertone of cruelty to the victim&rsquo;s trauma.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Obviously sustained abuse, in whatever form it manifests itself, can adversely affect a victim&rsquo;s well-being, leading to sleep problems arising from anxiety, the exacerbation of existing health conditions, and loneliness. The control exerted by the abuser can cause victims to feel prolonged periods of stress, sorrow and anguish.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	In 2007 the HSE established a national Dedicated Elder Abuse Prevention Service and has put in place a number of regional Officers for the Protection of Older People who will investigate complaints and take appropriate action.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Senior Help Line has the contact numbers of each protection officer and can refer the caller as necessary.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	As long as this abuse persists, searching questions will always remain for victims and society alike. However, there are both preventative and reactive actions that victims can take. Contacting a telephone listening service, such as Senior Help Line, is a good first step.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	One of the elements that fosters an environment of abuse is the isolation many older people feel. Many can go days without meeting another person.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	It is a tragic irony that in an era where technology creates pocket-sized devices that facilitate instant and frequent communication, many of our older citizens are starved of multiple human contact and become more vulnerable to abuse.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	We know that austerity has eroded the confidence of young people and forced many to emigrate. It affects older people too.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	A good society measures itself on the treatment of the most vulnerable of its citizens, by ensuring that they are not exploited, harmed or psychologically abused. Raising awareness of this issue is merely the first step and others must follow.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<br />\r\n	Anne Dempsey is head of communications at Third Age Senior Help Line. Their local phone number is 1850 440 444</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-10 07:48:11',NULL,'abuse-of-vulnerable-older-people-is-not-something-that-is-confined-to-institutions'),(106,'UN rights body questions Vatican over child abuse','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Committee on the Rights of the Child asks for &lsquo;detailed information&rsquo; on sex abuse cases of last 15 years</h2>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	A&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=United%20Nations&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">United Nations</a>&nbsp;human rights panel has posed a list of tough questions to the&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Vatican&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Vatican</a>about child abuse by Catholic priests, a potential embarrassment for&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Pope%20Francis&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;a few months into his papacy.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) asked for &ldquo;detailed information on all cases of child sexual abuse committed by members of the clergy, brothers or nuns&rdquo; since the Holy See last reported to it some 15 years ago, and set November 1st as a deadline for a reply.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The request was included in a &ldquo;list of issues&rdquo;, posted on the CRC&rsquo;s website, to be taken up when the Vatican appears before it next January to report on the Church&rsquo;s performance under the 1990 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	It will be the first time the Holy See has been publicly questioned by an international panel over the child abuse scandal which severely damaged the standing of the Roman&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Catholic%20Church&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Catholic Church</a>&nbsp;in many countries around the world.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The CRC has no enforcement powers, but a negative report after the hearing would be a blow to the Church whose leader, Pope Francis, is striving to put a number of scandals behind him since succeeding Benedict XVI who resigned in February.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	By issuing its questions, the Geneva-based CRC brushed aside a Vatican warning that it might pull out of the Convention on the Rights of the Child if pushed too hard on the issue.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	In a report of its own in late 2011, posted on the UN website last October, the Holy See reminded the CRC of reservations on legal jurisdiction and other issues it made when it signed the global pact.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	It said any new &ldquo;interpretation&rdquo; would give it grounds &ldquo;for terminating or withdrawing&rdquo; from the treaty.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	In its request for information, the CRC asked how the Vatican was ensuring that abuser priests have no more contact with children and what instructions it has issued to ensure that cases known to the Church are reported to the police.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	In several countries, including the&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=United%20States&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">United States</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Ireland&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Ireland</a>, the Church has been accused of simply moving suspect priests from one diocese to another, and of handling cases secretly.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The committee also asked if the Church had investigated the&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Magdalene%20Laundries&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Magdalene Laundries</a>&nbsp;run by nuns in Ireland over several decades until they were closed in 1996, where former female inmates say they were treated as slaves.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	There was no immediate comment from the Vatican today.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Keith%20Porteous%20Wood&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Keith Porteous Wood</a>, executive director of Britain&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=National%20Secular%20Society&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">National Secular Society</a>&nbsp;who gave evidence to the committee in June, said he hoped for a new line from Pope Francis.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;He has expressed the Catholic Church&rsquo;s determination to act decisively against pedophiles,&rdquo; said Mr Wood. &ldquo;This gives room for optimism that these issues will at last be tackled. His papacy will be judged on his success in doing so.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/un-rights-body-questions-vatican-over-child-abuse-1.1459324\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/un-rights-body-questions-vatican-over-child-abuse-1.1459324</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-11 07:51:55',NULL,'un-rights-body-questions-vatican-over-child-abuse'),(107,'Child protection watchdog calls for extension of guardianship rights','<p>\r\n	<section class=\"body\" style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;\">\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		The Government appointed Child Protection watchdog has recommended that guardianship rights be extended.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		The move would allow step parents and the non-biological parent in a civil partnership to apply for guardianship.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		In his annual report, Geoffrey Shannon also recommends that such rights should automatically be given to unmarried fathers&nbsp;and &nbsp;grandparents who are already looking after a child on a day to day basis.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		The report also recommends that homophobic or transgender bullying in schools be made a child protection issue.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		Recommendations in the report are that legislation should be introduced compelling schools to have a strong disciplinary code on bullying.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		The report recommends that cyber bullying is incorporated into our harassment laws as a criminal offence.</p>\r\n	</section><section class=\"bodyExt\" style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;\">\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		At present same sex couples, who are not the biological parents cannot apply here as a couple to adopt or gain guardianship or custody rights.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		Guardianship is the legal right to have a say in the upbringing of a child i.e. their religion, permission for a medical procedure, or where the child lives.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		Guardians can also apply for custody which is the day to day care of a child.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		The only people who automatically have guardianship rights are the mother and married father.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		The unmarried father can apply for guardianship.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; outline: none; padding: 0px 10px 20px 194px;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0710/461721-guardianship-rights-extension/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0710/461721-guardianship-rights-extension/</a></p>\r\n	</section></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-11 07:59:58',NULL,'child-protection-watchdog-calls-for-extension-of-guardianship-rights'),(108,'Lack of garda vetting raised in Limerick crèche reports','<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	A lack of Garda vetting, inadequate facilities and staff members raising their voices with children were among the issues raised in creche inspection reports published yesterday.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The first tranche of&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=HSE&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">HSE</a>&nbsp;creche inspection reports covering 38 facilities in Co Limerick was published on the Pobal website yesterday afternoon.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Although the majority of creches were found to be compliant, 16 were not under one or more headings.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	A lack of Garda vetting or clearance and missing references or CVs for staff members were the most common issues raised in the reports.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	In a report relating to an inspection carried out in Bruff Montessori school in Ballinlee, Bruff, Co Limerick, in March, inspectors found that no Garda vetting and no written references were on file for relief staff.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	It also found that the tone of voice and actions of staff while directing activities was inappropriate and that &ldquo;the tone of voice was raised by staff when addressing the pre-school children&rdquo;. It said two children who were taking longer over their lunch than others were told to finish up.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Kept indoors<br />\r\n	Inspectors found that children had not gone out to the outdoor area for &ldquo;a long time&rdquo; and that the outside area was inadequate for needs of children as it was &ldquo;not clean, tidy and safe&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	In a response received on May 14th, the creche informed the HSE that Garda vetting had been applied for in relation to relief staff and that improvements to the outdoor area would be undertaken at the end of the term.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	It added that a &ldquo;code of conduct for staff with emphasis on positive behaviour will be investigated, formulated and implemented as soon as possible&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	A report relating to an inspection carried out in Kilcolman Community Creche in Ardagh, Co Limerick, in March 2012 found that Garda clearance was not on file for three staff members and that the premises were not in a suitable state of repair or decoration.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The inspection found the outdoor area should be further developed, referred to a build-up of dust in a number of areas throughout the creche and noted the presence of a strong odour from the nappy-changing room.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	It also found that a staff member&rsquo;s voice had been &ldquo;high and sharp at times&rdquo; with the pre- school children and that staff had stated that &ldquo;time out&rdquo; was practised as a method of dealing with challenging behaviour.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	In correspondence from the provider following the inspection, the HSE was informed that Garda clearance had been obtained for all staff, a deep clean had been carried out on the premises and a cleaner employed and that issues around ventilation in the changing room were being addressed.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Behavioural management<br />\r\n	It said that all staff members had attended behavioural management training in October 2012, a key worker was now assigned to each child and that &ldquo;time out&rdquo; would no longer be practised.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	In the Happy Faces creche in Askeaton, the inspectors criticised an insufficient quantity and variety of play materials and noted that only four dolls, with no clothes, were available in the Montessori room.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The publication of creche inspection reports followed a<em>&nbsp;Prime Time&nbsp;</em>investigation in May of this year into the alleged mistreatment of young children in three creches, two in Dublin and one in Wicklow.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/lack-of-garda-vetting-raised-in-limerick-cr%C3%A8che-reports-1.1459765\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/lack-of-garda-vetting-raised-in-limerick-cr%C3%A8che-reports-1.1459765</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-11 08:01:46',NULL,'lack-of-garda-vetting-raised-in-limerick-crã¨che-reports'),(109,'Young people who ‘get out’ of homelessness early more likely to ‘stay out’','<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The longer a young person remains homeless the more difficult it becomes for them to exit out of homelessness, the first ever Irish longitudinal study on the topic has found.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The study, entitled&nbsp;<em>Young People&rsquo;s Homeless and Housing Pathways</em>, first interviewed 40 young people in 2004 and 2005, and followed their progress for the next six years.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;One of the clearest messages from the research is the importance of speedy exits from homelessness. Those young people who &lsquo;get out&rsquo; early were likely to &lsquo;stay out&rsquo;, even if a number did return to homelessness for a period,&rdquo; the report&rsquo;s authors, Paula Mayock of&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Trinity%20College&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Trinity College</a>&nbsp;and Mary-Louise Corr of&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Edinburgh%20Napier%20University&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Edinburgh Napier University</a>, found.They first interviewed 40 young people when they were aged between 14 and 22. The researchers re-established contact with 37 of these young people for a second time between 12 and 18 months later, conducting interviews with 30 of them. Of that cohort, 17 had exited homelessness while 13 remained homeless.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Three to four years later they again made contact with 32 of the original 40 and conducted interviews with 28 of them. Of that cohort 13 remained homeless, 12 of who were male.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Speaking at the launch of the report today, Ms Maycock said that of the 13 who remained homeless 12 had spent some time in prison and five were in prison at the time the third phase was carried out in 2009 and 2010.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	She said the &ldquo;process of remaining homeless... can be characterised as an institutional circuit where they are constantly moving back and forth between hostels and places of detention&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Ms Mayock said all of the young people who remained homeless at the end of the study had reported heavy or dependent drug use, which she described as the &ldquo;double jeopardy of homelessness and drug use&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The study recommended continued investment in the prevention of homelessness and the return to homelessness; noted the transition to adult homeless services was a crisis point for young people; and highlighted the importance of support services following the transition to independent living.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The study was one of two reports published by the Department of Children today.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The second report by the&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Centre%20for%20Effective%20Services&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Centre for Effective Services</a>&nbsp;which reviewed the department&rsquo;s Youth Homelessness Strategy found it had made a significant contribution to addressing youth homelessness. It also found the number of children and young people seeking services had diminished.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	However, it said stakeholders had called for more of an integrated multi-agency approach to meeting the needs of vulnerable or at-risk children, and a change of the terminology from &ldquo;homeless&rdquo; to &ldquo;out-of-home&rdquo; to more accurately describe and address young people&rsquo;s situations.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The report, by Sean Denyer, Aisling Sheehan and Avery Bowser, emphasised that the use of garda stations for children accessing emergency accommodation for the first time should be stopped and that emergency residential accommodation in Dublin should remain open to children throughout the day.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Michele Clarke of the&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Department%20of%20Children%20and%20Youth%20Affairs&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Department of Children and Youth Affairs</a>&nbsp;said that, when read together, the two reports gave the &ldquo;depth that is necessary to understand the complexities&rdquo; of youth homelessness.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	She said that, since the department&rsquo;s youth homelessness strategy was first launched in 2001, the issue of &ldquo;children sleeping rough has been virtually eliminated&rdquo;, but added that these studies showed challenges remained.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/young-people-who-get-out-of-homelessness-early-more-likely-to-stay-out-1.1459239\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/young-people-who-get-out-of-homelessness-early-more-likely-to-stay-out-1.1459239</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-11 08:08:01',NULL,'young-people-who-‘get-out’-of-homelessness-early-more-likely-to-‘stay-out’'),(110,'Lone parents face income cuts as new welfare changes come into force','<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Thousands of single parents are facing cuts in their income as a result of welfare changes which came into effect last week . More than 2,500 parents in receipt of the One-Parent Family payment have been moved off the benefit and on to the Jobseekers&rsquo; Allowance payment over recent days.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	The changes are aimed at incentivising welfare recipients to enter the workforce or training, but parents&rsquo; groups say they will leave many vulnerable families trapped in poverty.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Both welfare payments are worth the same. However, recipients are able to earn up to &euro;110 per week and retain their full welfare benefit under the One-Parent Family payment. The earnings disregard for the Jobseekers&rsquo; Allowance is much lower at &euro;60. This means many lone parents who have been working part-time face cuts of &euro;50 or more per week.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<br />\r\n	Loss of income<br />\r\n	The&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Department%20of%20Social%20Protection&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Department of Social Protection</a>&nbsp;confirmed yesterday that the welfare changes would lead to a loss of income for many single parents who were working part-time.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;The reforms also aim to bring Ireland&rsquo;s support for lone parents in line with international provisions,&rdquo; said a spokeswoman for Minister for Social Protection&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Joan%20Burton&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Joan Burton</a>.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	By July 2015 all lone parents in receipt of benefits will have moved to the Jobseekers&rsquo; Allowance if their youngest child is seven years of age or older.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Fianna%20F%C3%A1il&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Fianna F&aacute;il</a>&nbsp;Deputy Se&aacute;n Fleming TD criticised the move which he said would drive single parents out of part-time work. &ldquo;If there were jobs available it might make sense, but they&rsquo;re not there.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	His concerns were shared by lone parent groups such as Open and Spark, who say the moves will plunge vulnerable families deeper into poverty.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;There is no upside to this,&rdquo; said&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Frances%20Byrne&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Frances Byrne</a>&nbsp;of Open. &ldquo;It will simply add to the burden on families and children. We have worried parents on the phone to us who stand to lose out.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Spark&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Louis%20Bayliss&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Louis Bayliss</a>&nbsp;also said parents had been promised by Ms Burton that these changes would only occur once a Scandinavian-type childcare system was in place. &ldquo;All we&rsquo;ve seen is the introduction of after-school places for 6,000 children, but there&rsquo;s likely to be 60,000 or more children affected by these moves.&rdquo;&nbsp;<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Sufficient supports<br />\r\n	However, One Family&rsquo;s director of policy&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Stuart%20Duffin&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Stuart Duffin</a>&nbsp;said the move made sense as long as there were sufficient supports in place to assist parents to enter the workforce. &ldquo;The best way out of poverty is work, and work must pay. At the same time, we need to ensure that no one is further disadvantaged during this transition period.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	Carl&#39;O&#39;Brien<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/lone-parents-face-income-cuts-as-new-welfare-changes-come-into-force-1.1459436\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/lone-parents-face-income-cuts-as-new-welfare-changes-come-into-force-1.1459436</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-11 08:22:38',NULL,'lone-parents-face-income-cuts-as-new-welfare-changes-come-into-force'),(111,'New website allows public to report racism','<p>\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">See it. Send it. End it.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">That is the message behind a new website being launched today that lets the public report racist incidents in confidence.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.ireport.ie/\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 15px;\" target=\"_blank\">iReport.ie</a><span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&nbsp;has been set up by the European Network Against Racism, who said there is a serious lack of data on the subject at the moment.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">They&#39;re encouraging users to break the silence and come forward if they see anything.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">Emmanuel Sone encountered racist chanting on public transport after moving here from Cameroon.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&quot;I was embarrassed, feeling insulted and threatened,&quot; he said.</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&quot;You felt really not welcome, it&rsquo;s a feeling you get but the reality could always be different</span><br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<br style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\" />\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;\">&quot;People need to stand up in a civil society we cannot allow something like that to happen.&quot;</span></p>\r\n<div>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/new-website-allows-public-to-report-racism-600121.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/new-website-allows-public-to-report-racism-600121.html</a></div>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-11 08:39:31',NULL,'new-website-allows-public-to-report-racism'),(112,'Employers must act quickly on mental illness','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	The&nbsp;<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/World_Health_Organisation\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(92, 139, 63); margin-bottom: 0px !important;\">World Health Organisation</a>&nbsp;estimates that depression will be the second biggest cause of disability in the world by 2020. This will have a significant impact on our workplaces and can mean new challenges for employers in terms of costs, increased absences, sick pay, the need to hire temporary replacements, health and safety issues and liability should the mental illness arise from work-related causes.</h2>\r\n<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</h2>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	When confronted with an employee who has a mental health issue, an employer needs to ask whether the condition is work-related or external. If it is caused by work-related stress, then this raises issues of liability.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	If this happens, an employer should seek information on what exactly within the workplace is leading the employee to suffer from the mental illness, and the employer should endeavour to reduce the risk associated with that problem.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, an employer has a duty to reduce risks to employees. Employers also have a duty of care towards employees under common law.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	The employee should be referred to the employer&#39;s grievance process in order that the employer can understand and deal with the matter fully.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	If the work-related stress is as a result of alleged bullying, then the employee should be referred to the employer&#39;s anti-bullying policy. The employee should have the option of utilising either an informal or formal route within that process.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	If the informal route is chosen, this may include employee relations counselling and mediation. If the formal route is chosen, then the employer will need to investigate the complaint to ascertain if the behaviour did occur. If the complaint is upheld, then the employer may be required to discipline the bully and consider mediation.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	Ensuring the above procedures in place, and that they are correctly followed, will assist the employer in defending any claim.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	Personal injury and breaches of health and safety legislation claims could be brought against the employer if they do not deal with the matter. An employee could also resign and claim they were constructively dismissed.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	In respect of any mental illness, it is essential that the employee gets support from their employer to help with early diagnosis and timely treatment. Managers and HR personnel should be trained on how to recognise early signs. Notes should be kept of meetings with the employee, and actions taken, to protect the organisation in the event of a claim.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	It is important that current or previous mental illnesses are not taken into account when deciding not to hire a candidate without a thorough review of the situation. The same is true in deciding to let an employee go. The Employment Equality Acts 1998-2011 prohibit discrimination on the grounds of disability.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	Employees should speak to a trusted HR person or manager as soon as they know there is a problem. This should then lead to a discussion on risk assessment and appropriate supports.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	Employers and employees should maintain communications if an employee is out sick. Overall, the most important element for both to remember is that open communication is key.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	Linda Hynes is an associate with Leman Solicitors, specialising in employment law. www.leman.ie</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/employers-must-act-quickly-on-mental-illness-29411823.html\">http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/employers-must-act-quickly-on-mental-illness-29411823.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-11 08:51:51',NULL,'employers-must-act-quickly-on-mental-illness'),(113,'Children\'s mental health needs not met','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	THE mental health needs of children in state care and in the youth justice system are not being met, a new report warns.</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<span style=\"font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">The &#39;Someone to Care&#39; report highlights the loneliness and isolation that can be felt by young people who are separated from their families because of domestic problems of abuse and neglect.</span><br />\r\n	<div>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n			The findings from the Mental Health Coalition highlighted how multiple placements in care &ndash; as many as 23 in some cases &ndash; as well as a lack of coordination between state agencies, means children find it hard to develop trusting relationships.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n			Chairperson Orla Barry said that there also needed to be further training for staff working with children whose mental health problems present in different ways.</p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n			<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/childrens-mental-health-needs-not-met-29414271.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/childrens-mental-health-needs-not-met-29414271.html</a></p>\r\n	</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-12 10:49:35',NULL,'childrens-mental-health-needs-not-met'),(114,'Welcome for child protection recommendations','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Groups working with children urge implementation of rapporteur&rsquo;s report</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Key recommendations in the latest report by the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection must be implemented, groups advocating for young people and children have said.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Among the recommendations in the report by&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Geoffrey%20Shannon&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Geoffrey Shannon</a>, which is to be brought to Government and published shortly, are that cyberbullying be made a criminal offence; that schools be legally mandated to draw up and enforce strict disciplinary codes with regard to bullying and the misuse of social media; and that automatic guardianship rights be extended to unmarried fathers and stepparents.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		It also highlights the lack of legal clarity surrounding the position of children in families headed by same-sex couples.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		This is the sixth report from Dr Shannon in his role as Government-appointed Special Rapporteur on Child Protection.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The single-parent support charity Treoir welcomed the recommendation on extending guardianship rights to step-parents and civil partners.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		On Dr Shannon&rsquo;s recommendation that the State consider extending rights and obligations to family members who act<em>&nbsp;in loco parentis</em>&nbsp;and are involved in the day-to-day care of children, Treoir said this should be legislated for.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		Racism<br />\r\n		The Immigrant Council of&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Ireland&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Ireland</a>&nbsp;urged the Government to act on concerns raised about racist bullying and child trafficking into Ireland.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;We must look at the issue of racist bullying and the impact it has in our schools. It is an issue which parents, teachers and school management cannot ignore or be complacent about,&rdquo; said the council in a statement last night.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network said the report highlighted the fact that homophobic and transphobic bullying were serious problems in Irish schools.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;The special rapporteur&rsquo;s report outlines the Irish research that illustrates the difficult experiences of LGBT young people in Irish schools, including that 50 per cent experienced verbal homophobic or transphobic bullying; 25 per cent were physically threatened by their peers; and that 34 per cent heard homophobic comments from their teachers,&rdquo; said Sandra Irwin-Gowran, the network&rsquo;s director of education.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;The research also found a direct correlation between homophobic and transphobic bullying and attempted suicide.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		Obligations<br />\r\n		&ldquo;Schools already have legal obligations to address homophobic and transphobic bullying, and many schools are doing so. However, in many schools there is still a silence around LGBT issues, which creates a climate where such bullying continues unchallenged.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Ms Irwin-Gowran added: &ldquo;We also welcome the recommendation of the special rapporteur that further legislation should be introduced compelling schools to have a strong disciplinary code.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Minister for Children&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Frances%20Fitzgerald&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Frances Fitzgerald</a>&nbsp;said some of the recommendations were for the Department of Justice, particularly those relating to children in the asylum process and guardianship of children, while others were cross-departmental, particularly in relation to bullying, and were for the Departments of Justice and Equality, of Children and Youth Affairs and of Education and Skills.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		Reappointed<br />\r\n		She also confirmed the reappointment of Dr Shannon to the role of special rapporteur for a further three years.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;Dr Shannon&rsquo;s reports on legal developments relating to the protection of children and the assessment of what impact, if any, litigation in national and international courts will have on child protection, have informed policy and have provided an objective and independent expert view of the child protection system in Ireland,&rdquo; she said.<br />\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/welcome-for-child-protection-recommendations-1.1460806\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/welcome-for-child-protection-recommendations-1.1460806</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-12 10:58:12',NULL,'welcome-for-child-protection-recommendations'),(115,'After the Asylum','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<em>People with mental-health problems were once locked away in asylums. Now most live in the community, like Mags Kelly, whose story is told here. But they can easily fall through the cracks of an underfunded service.</em></h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Mags wakes up and waits for her heart to slow down. She feels like a woman pulled from a burning building: still not quite able to believe she&rsquo;s safe.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		At 6.30am she slides out of bed, sits at her dressing table and rolls a cigarette. Today, like lots of days, her anxiety is sky-high. In a few minutes she&rsquo;ll take her anti-depressants and mood stabilisers. They numb the distress and ease the panic &ndash; but they don&rsquo;t take away the pain.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Shards of memories tumble around her head. They are of rough-and-tumble years spent living on the streets: unprovoked assaults, bloodied noses, crack-houses and pimping. It all seems part of one chaotic mess.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Then the faces of her children. The girls she never knew, taken into care because she couldn&rsquo;t cope.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		And the fear that courses through her. What if the psychiatrist she saw thinks she can&rsquo;t cope living in the community? Maybe she&rsquo;ll get sectioned again and end up in a locked ward? Or maybe she&rsquo;ll slip through the cracks of the system and end up back on the street?</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;Fear is an awful thing,&rdquo; Mags says. &ldquo;If you have a lot of fear in your body, it just doesn&rsquo;t go away . . . I can put on a false front. Put on a bit of make-up and act like I&rsquo;m well. People say, &lsquo;She&rsquo;s better,&rsquo; but I can&rsquo;t seem to relax or anything.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		There are days when it feels like she&rsquo;s making progress. Like the other week, when she discovered a bunch of newborn ducklings in a corner of the garden, all open beaks and yellow and black fur. She was the first to find them. It made her feel elated for days afterwards.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Or recently, when she got a letter to say one of her daughters in foster care wanted to make contact with her. She&rsquo;ll dress up nicely and send on some photos of herself. Maybe one day they&rsquo;ll be able to strike up a relationship.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		But the bad days still come. And when they do, it can be overwhelming. &ldquo;Depression is terrible. It&rsquo;s rotten. Look what it&rsquo;s done to me,&rdquo; she says, baring her arms. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m destroyed. I&rsquo;ve used myself like a human ashtray, stubbing cigarettes into myself.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;There are sometimes all these thoughts of self-harm in my head . . . I talk to someone, and I feel okay. Then, an hour later, it&rsquo;s back. It&rsquo;s like I&rsquo;m slipping back into the past, and I can&rsquo;t see a road ahead.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		<strong>***</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		Until recently, Ireland&rsquo;s mental health system dealt with people such as Mags through institutionalisation and drug treatment. It was a model with a long history. For hundreds of years, people with psychiatric health problems were locked away in asylums, behind high walls. We led the world locking people up in institutions, with inpatient admission rates that were multiples of other countries.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Today, most of these institutions have closed or ceased admissions. Only 300 patients remain, down from 25,000 about 20 years ago. The last remaining asylum is due to close within the next 12 months or so. The State&rsquo;s policy now is to provide care in the community. To do this, it is funding the development of teams of professionals &ndash; psychiatrists, therapists, nurses and social workers &ndash; who support those with mental-health difficulties in a home environment.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Everyone agrees A Vision for Change, the policy launched in 2006, is a more enlightened and progressive approach. Research shows that a wider range of support is much more effective at helping patients recover than the narrower &ldquo;medical model&rdquo; associated with institutional care.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		But our community mental-health services are under real strain. Dr Patrick Devitt, the Inspector for Mental Health Services, found the system of support was &ldquo;stagnant and perhaps slipped backwards&rdquo; last year as a result of dwindling staff numbers and poor governance.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The concerns were echoed by John Saunders, chair of the&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Mental%20Health%20Commission&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Mental Health Commission</a>, the State&rsquo;s watchdog for psychiatric services. &ldquo;We have incomplete mental-health teams trying to provide multidisciplinary care,&rdquo; says Saunders.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Last year, millions of euro ring-fenced by the Government to hire more than 400 staff to modernise mental-health services disappeared. It ended up being used to tackle cost overruns in other parts of the health services.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Health%20Service%20Executive&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Health Service Executive</a>&nbsp;says all these posts are being filled this year. But staff have been retiring in even greater numbers, so the extra recruitment is like pouring water into a fast-leaking bucket.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		New figures show more than 1,000 fewer full-time posts exist in mental-health services today than in 2009. Staffing levels in some sectors are now at about 50 per cent of those recommended in the Vision for Change policy as being needed to run an effective service.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Records obtained by&nbsp;<em>The Irish Times</em>&nbsp;show unfilled posts are resulting in professionals being pulled out of community services to plug gaps in inpatient care, a move that flies in the face of Government policy. &ldquo;With the huge exodus of nurses who are retiring, coupled with the recruitment embargo, the community services of which we are so proud are being decimated,&rdquo; reads an internal email from the clinical director of one HSE service.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The result is an understaffed community mental-health service that patients say is leaving them isolated, disempowered and starved of meaningful treatment options. Concerns are growing that patients in the community may fall through the cracks of an underfunded and understaffed service into homelessness, prison or back in acute in-patient units.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		All of this is happening at a time when indicators show an increase in demand for mental-health assistance. Latest figures show the number of suicides and people self-harming is up, while mental-health groups such as Pieta House and others say they are struggling to meet demand for assistance. Just when mental-health services are needed most, they are fraying at the seams.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		<strong>***</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		How Mags dresses depends on her mood. Today, she&rsquo;s wearing black, splashed with a riot of primary colours. Morning begins in the kitchen, helping to bake scones, and feeding some of the animals. Later, other residents will come back from the bakery and they&rsquo;ll sit down and catch up on the events of the day.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Her days now are measured in structure and routine &ndash; a world away from the chaos of her life before. Looking back, it&rsquo;s hard to see when things began to unravel. Maybe it was abuse she suffered, or maybe it was anger. She would steal tablets and take overdoses, go on drinking binges that left her in hospital, or lash out at people around her.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;I was seen as a wild child,&rdquo; she says. &ldquo;I remember cutting all my hair off. That&rsquo;s when I began stubbing myself with cigarettes.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Now that she looks back, she feels that abuse and other troubling experiences earlier in life were at the root of it all. In her mid-teens she ran away from home. It was the beginning of two decades of tumult: sleeping on pavements or in crowded homeless shelters, or getting through the day in a haze of drugs or alcohol.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		There were times when she held down jobs or had a flat. But her mental-health problems were always lurking around the corner, waiting to trip her up. The response of authorities seemed to make things worse.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;The psychiatric system that I went to for help just kept pumping me up with tablet after tablet &ndash; up to 50 or 60 a day at one point,&rdquo; Mags says. &ldquo;. . . I was getting injections as well &ndash; I never knew what they were &ndash; and couldn&rsquo;t get out of bed for days afterwards . . . I&rsquo;d be asking people what day of the week it was. I didn&rsquo;t know. I&rsquo;d be drooling from the mouth.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		There were inpatient stays in mental hospitals, too. So many now that she can&rsquo;t remember. Back on the street, she used crack, heroin or alcohol to ease the pain. Many of those she met on the streets died through overdoses, medical complications, suicide or other reasons.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Just over a year ago, Mags suffered a brutal assault. She could feel her life slipping through her fingers as she lost several pints of blood. She recovered, but she wasn&rsquo;t sure if she could survive another setback. By now she was living in a homeless shelter in Cork.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		When she was told about Sl&iacute; Eile, a community therapeutic centre in the countryside, she was skeptical at first. &ldquo;It sounded like the kind of place that was full of nuns,&rdquo; she says. &ldquo;But another girl &ndash; a previous tenant here &ndash; told me, &lsquo;My neighbours were the bird; you&rsquo;ll be safe and get your life sorted out&rsquo;.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		It was a big readjustment. Empty days were replaced with support and routine; a bakery to get involved in, as well as gardens and farmyard animals. The other residents seemed nice. Counsellors visited and a step-by-step programme was provided, designed to give Mags the chance to live either independently or with support. She left after two weeks, unable to cope. She couldn&rsquo;t settle. It was too much, too soon.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		<strong>***</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		Care in the community is complicated. If there are lessons to be learned about how to close Ireland&rsquo;s asylums, the UK is a good place to start. Its policy to close down institutions and provide care in the community took place mainly during the late 1970s and 1980s.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		While also seen as a progressive move, It ended up being criticised for not providing the kind of rehabilitation services needed to help people with psychiatric problems live successfully in the community.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The numbers of mentally ill people in jail or on the streets climbed significantly during this period. Some refer to it as Penrose&rsquo;s Law, after the British psychiatrist Lionel Penrose who found that the prison population rose as the population in psychiatric institutions fell.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Professionals here worry that we are seeing the same troubling indicators in Ireland: our prison population has been growing over recent years &ndash; along with the numbers of homeless &ndash; at a time when we are closing down old institutions.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;The danger is that, in many cases, we&rsquo;re just swapping one institution for another,&rdquo; says one HSE consultant psychiatrist. It&rsquo;s a reminder that community care means much more than simply providing housing: it also requires support, rehabilitation and a strong focus on recovering people&rsquo;s shattered sense of self.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		About 3,000 former long-stay inpatients now live in State-funded group homes, of which there are about 300 in Ireland. A report for the Mental Health Commission found the climate and culture of many of these residences &ldquo;reflected those of a &lsquo;mini-institution&rsquo; rather than a home-like environment, especially in the high-support residences&rdquo;.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		As a result, it found many didn&rsquo;t work towards independent living in the community in any real sense. In addition, community mental-health services are supposed to offer patients &ndash; or service users &ndash; access to a broad range of treatment to give them the best chance of recovery.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		But the Inspector for Mental Health Services has found that most people are still offered a more traditional, medicalised version of mental-health treatment rather than the holistic service envisaged in our policies.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Minister of State for Mental Health Kathleen Lynch says services are still being developed, but insists the jigsaw pieces for effective community-based services are being put in place. &ldquo;We hope to have all the [multidisciplinary] teams in place soon. We&rsquo;re hiring hundreds of additional posts . . . We&rsquo;re going to focus more on enhanced rehabilitation and different types of services. We don&rsquo;t have everything we want, but we&rsquo;re a long way down the road.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Pilot &ldquo;deinstitutionalisation&rdquo; projects are under way across number of HSE regions which are trying new ways of supporting patients in the community. In addition, local and regional bottom-up initiatives are providing high-quality community services, driven by local leadership.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Sl&iacute; Eile, near Charleville, in Co Cork, is one of them. Once a stately mansion, it is now the setting for a therapeutic community residence for up to eight former psychiatric patients.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;We are not caring for people here, but we care about them,&rdquo; says Joan Hamilton, who founded the centre. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s supported living, so it&rsquo;s a stepping stone to something more permanent.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Her search for an alternative model of recovery came from seeing the lack of support available for her daughter. Sl&iacute; Eile&rsquo;s aims are simple: help residents to believe in their own potential, develop the skills to manage their mental illness and, in time, create a transition to a more independent form of living.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		All the residents play a role in running the house, such as cooking, cleaning and managing household budgets, as well as running a bakery, which sells bread and scones to local shops. It has had remarkable successes over the past few years, with residents who once seemed destined to languish in the psychiatric services progressing to living on their own in social housing.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;This isn&rsquo;t rocket science,&rdquo; says Hamilton. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s what people want. It gives people a sense of structure and purpose, a reason to get up in the morning, in an atmosphere where they feel safe and accepted. It&rsquo;s all about making choices.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		<strong>***</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		Mags returned to give the community residence another go.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t settle down at first. I was going around at the start, bringing my handbag everywhere. I was afraid my cigarettes or money would be stolen,&rdquo; she says.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;I found it hard: I was going to bed during the day, I&rsquo;d sleep anywhere because I&rsquo;m so used to it . . . I&rsquo;d sleep on the chair here. I just felt mentally drained and exhausted . . . But that went. I began to like it here.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		She started seeing a counsellor. She began to steadily lower her levels of medication, with the advice of a psychiatrist.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		She discovered health problems she wasn&rsquo;t aware she had: diabetes, emphysema and liver problems, linked to her life on the streets. There were also internal injuries she had suffered from assaults.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Recovery is still a step-by-step process. There have been slip-ups along the way. But, for the first time in a long time, Mags feels she&rsquo;s heading in the right direction and is hopeful about the future.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;I cry a lot in my room. I think of the past. I lost a lot of friends. I had sixteen friends &ndash; only two of us are alive. Overdoses, suicides. I was only young. I&rsquo;ve seen too much. I grew up too fast,&rdquo; she says.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Studies suggest that between a third and half of homeless people in Ireland have a diagnosed mental health condition. But a lack of specialised community-based services means many end up ricocheting in and out of homeless shelters, emergency accommodation and the street.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Mags is fortunate to be able access to the kind of community support she needs.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;I never thought I&rsquo;d last this long . . . I still feel panic over the smallest things. I was so used to being beaten, mugged, or sleeping in a homeless shelter with 50 others. But these days. I can turn off the light and be safe.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>For an interactive narrative version of this story see&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.aftertheasylum.com/\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">aftertheasylum.com</a></strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/after-the-asylum-1.1461970?page=1\"><strong>http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/after-the-asylum-1.1461970?page=1</strong></a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-13 11:32:31',NULL,'after-the-asylum'),(116,'Jason Sherlock helps launch new anti-racism initiative','<h2 class=\"main_excerpt\" style=\"margin: 5px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);\">\r\n	<em>iReport.ie is a new website set up to encourage people to confidentially provide details of racist incidents.</em></h2>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n	FORMER DUBLIN FOOTBALLER Jason Sherlock and comedian Tara Flynn helped to launch a new anti-racism initiative in Dublin yesterday.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://enarireland.org/ireport/\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(26, 107, 92);\">iReport.ie is a new website</a>which encourages people to confidentially provide details of any racist incidents they experience or witness.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n	The project is the work of ENAR Ireland, a network of over 30 organisations working against racism in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n	Information collected through iReport will be use to understand the frequency and type of racist incidents which occur in Ireland and also to devise strategies on a local and national scale to tackle the problem.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n	Sherlock, whose late father was from Hong Kong, has spoken in the past about the &ldquo;humiliating&rdquo; racist abuse he suffered during his playing career. He retired from football earlier this summer.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.thescore.ie/jason-sherlock-ireport-enar-racism-990128-Jul2013/\">http://www.thescore.ie/jason-sherlock-ireport-enar-racism-990128-Jul2013/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-13 11:53:12',NULL,'jason-sherlock-helps-launch-new-anti-racism-initiative'),(117,'Ignite! Call for proposals','<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n	Mayo County Council&#39;s Arts Office is delighted to announce the launch of Ignite! a new and innovative approach to commissioning and touring work by artists with disabilities. Ignite! Is managed through a unique partnership involving Mayo County Council Arts Office, The Arts Council/ An Chomhairle Eala&iacute;on, Arts and Disability Ireland, Cork City Council and Galway City and County Councils.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n	The Ignite! Programme provides exceptional opportunities for local arts organisations and disability organisations to work with internationally recognised artists with disabilities to create new artworks. Through promoting new, ambitious work by artists with disabilities, the Ignite! Programme intends to broaden the audience for this kind of work and to provide more diverse work for local audiences.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n	Ignite! Commissions aim to support contemporary cutting-edge arts and disability work, through funding the creation of new work. Commissions are open to all art forms. Ignite! Is particularly interested in proposals focused on collaborative practice and will welcome proposals that also partner with arts and disability, and disability groups or organisations locally. There are three commissions in total, one in each county (Mayo, Cork and Galway). Detailed information and application packs can be downloaded from&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.adiarts.ie/\" rel=\"nofollow\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(213, 9, 9); text-decoration: none;\">www.adiarts.ie</a><br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.advertiser.ie/mayo/article/62294/ignite-call-for-proposals\">http://www.advertiser.ie/mayo/article/62294/ignite-call-for-proposals</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-13 11:54:32',NULL,'ignite-call-for-proposals'),(118,'Top prof tells the banks, \'I\'ll blame you for suicides','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	<span style=\"font-size:16px;\"><font face=\"Trebuchet MS, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif\"><span style=\"line-height: 38px;\">Psychiatrist targets lenders on behalf of patients feeling strain</span></font><span style=\"line-height: 38px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">&nbsp;over increased financial pressures</span></span></h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		A leading psychiatrist is writing to banks on behalf of vulnerable patients telling them he will hold them responsible in the event of a patient&#39;s suicide.</h2>\r\n</div>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Dr Ivor Browne says he has been seeking out the names of bank staff responsible for the pressure his patients are under before issuing them with the formal notice.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Dr Browne, former chief psychiatrist of the Eastern Health Board, said the action is &quot;making waves&quot; in favour of patients who can no longer cope with mounting pressure.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;I am hearing people who are being hassled and who are being threatened that their homes will be repossessed,&quot; Dr Browne said.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;I am writing letters to the banks holding them personally responsible if this man commits suicide.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;Unless you can make them take personal responsibility, it is very difficult to get at them,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;I would write to the individual who would seem to be implicated. The name that I can get,&quot; he explained, adding &quot;I think it is making waves in the background&quot;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		In a call to other health professionals who are treating people in similar circumstances, Dr Browne said these exceptional times called for direct action: &quot;I am there to try to help in whatever way I can, and if there is something or someone that is clearly putting unfair pressure on patients, then I think that you have to address that.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		A move by health professionals who are concerned about the welfare of their patients could lead banks to rethink their debt-collection strategy &ndash; for fear of future lawsuits.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The Master of the High Court has previously warned that the banks are driving some borrowers who can not pay their debts to suicide.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Ed Honohan, brother of Central Bank governor Patrick Honohan, said he had dealt with several debt cases where the borrowers had subsequently taken their own lives.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The news comes as suicide campaigners have accused lending institutions of adding to the suicide crisis by harassing people crippled by debt and struggling to cope with the recession.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Paul_Kelly\" style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(92, 139, 63); margin-bottom: 0px !important;\">Paul Kelly</a>, CEO of Console, welcomed the move by Dr Browne and called on other clinicians to take action if they made a &quot;good clinical decision&quot; that a person&#39;s life may be in danger.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;If their client is at risk and in great distress, and the clinician or therapist has a fear their patient could take their own life, then banks need to be made fully aware of this and steps need to be taken to ensure the individual is protected,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		He added: &quot;We are dealing with calls every day where people feel suicidal because of the pressure from banks and lending institutions. In one case, we dealt with a man who walked out of the bank after his loans were foreclosed and he took his own life. People are telling us &#39;I would be better off dead&#39; rather than continue with the pressure they are being put under.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 12px; text-transform: uppercase; margin-bottom: 0px !important;\">NIAMH HORAN</strong><span style=\"font-size: 12px; text-transform: uppercase;\">&nbsp;&ndash; 14 JULY 2013</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/top-prof-tells-the-banks-ill-blame-you-for-suicides-29418331.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/top-prof-tells-the-banks-ill-blame-you-for-suicides-29418331.html</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-14 22:19:17',NULL,'top-prof-tells-the-banks-ill-blame-you-for-suicides'),(119,'Dublin teens promote positive mental health','<p style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	LOCAL teens recently took part in a workshop designed to inspire youths to promote positive mental health in their communities.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	The Think Big workshop took place at the O2 headquarters in Dublin.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	The young people attending were each awarded a place on the national Think Big programme after successfully submitting an idea for a project in their community.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Think Big has granted initial funding of &euro;300 to help get each project off the ground, along with a mobile phone (with &euro;50 top-up), and a Think Big start-up pack.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Carmel O&rsquo;Reilly and Evelyn McGrillen, from Clondalkin, worked on furthering the development of Knockmitten Youth Cafe. The youth caf&eacute; will give young people a place where they can socialise in a positive environment without the influence of drugs and alcohol.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Avril Clarke, from Stoneybatter, focused on her website project, &lsquo;Betterthannoodles .com.&rsquo; The aim is to make the site the number 1 student cooking website in Ireland. It will include video recipes, which will refer to nutritional values, and the site will work to promote the association between a good diet and a healthy mind.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Megan O&rsquo;Loughlin, from Artane, developed &lsquo;Simply Positive Performing,&rsquo; which will promote dance to boost the mood of the locality. Megan has studied the performing arts and knows first-hand how movement and music can improve one&rsquo;s outlook on life.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Jill Johnston, corporate responsibility manager at O2, said: &ldquo;We would like to congratulate all of our young people who participated in the Think Big training programme and we&rsquo;re looking forward to seeing them bring their projects to life.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;The variety and high calibre of projects that young people across the country have submitted has really impressed us.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;In addition to funding, each Think Big project group gets support from O2 and Headstrong in the form of mentoring and training and every project is also encouraged to incorporate digital and social media elements.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;Aisling Flynn, Think Big Co-ordinator, Headstrong, said the young people taking part in Think Big are leading the way in changing how we think about mental health in Ireland.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;Young people intuitively understand the importance of mental health and are ideally placed to promote positive mental health among their peers,&rdquo; she stated. &nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;Each project attending the training has great potential to make a positive difference in their community and in joining over 250 other Think Big projects they are helping to transform our understanding of mental health.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	The Think Big Programme is open to any young person in the Republic of Ireland, aged between 14 and 25, with an idea for a project that will make a difference to young people&rsquo;s mental health.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Project ideas can be submitted through the www.o2ThinkBig.ie website. Young people can also join the online Think Big Community to discuss and share ideas about how to promote mental health among young people.</p>\r\n<p style=\"color: rgb(68, 68, 68); margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.dublinpeople.com/article.php?id=2584&amp;l=100\">http://www.dublinpeople.com/article.php?id=2584&amp;l=100</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-15 07:28:15',NULL,'dublin-teens-promote-positive-mental-health'),(120,'Rural travellers make the difference','<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	<b>Travellers die on average thirteen years younger than members of the settled community and suicide rates in the traveller community are more than six times higher than in the settled community.</b></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Against this backdrop, the Tipperary Rural Travellers (TRTP) project launched the results of research they undertook in the South Tipperary traveller community in Tipperary recently.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	The research highlighted health problems in the community, strong links between mental health and physical health and very strong links between the general health of travellers and their living conditions.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	It also highlights difficulties faced by travellers in accessing health services and major problems in how health information is communicated .</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	It also examines how health professionals understand or fail to understand the traveller community.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Health care providers, service providers as well as members of the traveller community attended the launch to develop a 5-year strategy involving health and other service providers with the traveller community to tackle serious health issues.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;I am trying to put a key message to statutory agencies on how we can come up with a better plan for the travelling community,&rdquo; said Margaret Casey (Project Coordinator TRTP).</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;We want to have a better country for Irish citizens including Irish Travellers and I think that we can achieve that together with the help of the statutory agencies. The main objective is to improve the health of the travelling community.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Primary health care workers in Tipperary and Clonmel carried out the research who are traveller women trained to support members of their own community.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.nationalist.ie/what-s-on/arts-culture-entertainment/rural-travellers-make-the-difference-1-5276805\">http://www.nationalist.ie/what-s-on/arts-culture-entertainment/rural-travellers-make-the-difference-1-5276805</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-15 08:02:06',NULL,'rural-travellers-make-the-difference'),(121,'‘Wellness bus’ becomes vehicle for conversation about positive mental health','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	A mobile mental health service operates in west Cork as part of an initiative to help people recover outside traditional mental-health services</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Is it a bus? It is truck? Nope, it&rsquo;s a mobile mental health service. A bright blue bus rolls through the towns and villages of west Cork as part of an initiative to help people recover outside traditional mental-health services.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The wellness bus &ndash; known as Cumas&uacute;, the Irish for &ldquo;empower&rdquo; &ndash; can be spotted across the region at festivals, markets or simply because a community has asked for it to visit.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Michael%20Bambrick&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Michael Bambrick</a>, director of nursing with HSE South&rsquo;s west Cork mental health services, says the bus also brings people together by using the bus as a space for creative and artistic purposes.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;The wellness bus is about promoting social inclusion by utilising the bus as a space for creative and novel initiatives,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The activities and events are varied with gardening groups, men&rsquo;s shed, art workshops, yoga classes, music groups, stress-management workshops, carer&rsquo;s support groups, parenting programmes, trialogue&rsquo;s and wellness movie nights.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Staff on the bus provide advice on services available across the community that promote physical, mental and social wellbeing.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;We&rsquo;ll never tackle the area of mental health unless we all take responsibility for it,&rdquo; says&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Pat%20Murphy&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Pat Murphy</a>&nbsp;of the National Learning Network in west Cork. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s where the idea of a community wellness programme came..&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Cumas&uacute; is an initiative undertaken by the West Cork Mental Health Services, the National Learning Network,&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=RehabCare&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">RehabCare</a>, and the West Cork Development Partnership.<br />\r\n		<br />\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/wellness-bus-becomes-vehicle-for-conversation-about-positive-mental-health-1.1463312\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/wellness-bus-becomes-vehicle-for-conversation-about-positive-mental-health-1.1463312</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-15 08:04:11',NULL,'‘wellness-bus’-becomes-vehicle-for-conversation-about-positive-mental-health'),(122,'After the Asylum: ‘I loved the severe physical pain. It was better than the mental pain\'','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	Rory Doody spent years in and out of psychiatric hospitals and institutions. Today, he helps others in the community</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		It feels sometimes as if he wasn&rsquo;t there at all. It&rsquo;s as if he was a spectator watching scenes in a movie of his life, played by an actor. Here&rsquo;s one:&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Rory%20Doody&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Rory Doody</a>&nbsp;in the kitchen of his home. His eyes are tormented. He has a knife and he&rsquo;s cutting himself to let the pain escape. Now, five garda&iacute; have arrived in stab vests, to take him away to the locked ward of the psychiatric hospital.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;I could hear voices in my head,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;But I couldn&rsquo;t differentiate them with the reality around me. They were exceptionally overpowering . . . I was feeling enormous pressure from events that didn&rsquo;t exist. I wanted to escape. I didn&rsquo;t want to feel like that anymore.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Looking back, he says he tried to cope in different ways. He recalls getting up at about 4.30am one morning, going downstairs and making tea for six people.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;There weren&rsquo;t six people coming for tea,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;There were six voices in my head.&rdquo; Another time the din of conversation was so loud in the back of the car that he pulled over and ordered the voices to leave.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;When I look back to those days, I see that I couldn&rsquo;t cope,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t differentiate what was going on in my head with the reality around me.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Doody lost count of the number of times he was admitted to various institutions or hospitals over a 20-year period. But what he remembers with startling clarity is the sense of fear, shame and loss of dignity that followed being hospitalised.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		It felt as if the system had given him a life sentence. He was told he would never have a full-time job, that he shouldn&rsquo;t get married or ever have children.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;When I cut myself, it was a way of letting the pain out, but no one seemed to ask me that. I was sick, undoubtedly. But there was a lack of a connect between what I was doing and the response to it . . .</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;A lot of things got lost during those admissions. There was a loss of self-confidence, trust and dignity . . . I felt isolated and alone, never knowing if I&rsquo;d get through what I felt I was going through . . . it was just an incredible feeling of not knowing.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		There are many people who carry hurt and suffering from past experiences in asylums or psychiatric hospitals&nbsp;<br />\r\n		The old granite and red-brick buildings are closing. But shutting the door on a culture which often ignored the voice of patients isn&rsquo;t necessarily as easy.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;While many improvements have been made in recent years, the need for a more humane, person-focused service is still the consistent message from the many people we consult across the country,&rdquo; says&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Orla%20Barry&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Orla Barry</a>, director of the campaign group&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Mental%20Health%20Reform&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Mental Health Reform</a>.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;Although many people have positive experiences of mental healthcare, we regularly hear about those who feel they cannot get their voice heard within mental health services and are not given the choices they should have over their treatment.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Groups such as the Critical Voices Network and Mind Freedom &ndash; which includes many service users &ndash; say many people still feel marginalised and have little meaningful say in their own care.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Surveys by the National Service Users&rsquo; Executive &ndash; a group established by the HSE to give patients a stronger voice &ndash; indicates that an increasing number of patients are happy with services. But significant numbers feel they don&rsquo;t receive sufficient information about the medication they&rsquo;re given, while there is also frustration that communication with doctors is too often &ldquo;one-way&rdquo;.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The government&rsquo;s mental health policy,&nbsp;<em>A Vision for Change</em>, published in 2006, was to be implemented by 2016. It envisaged a departure from overly-medicalised, hospital-based services to modern, multidisciplinary, recovery-focused and community-based mental health services.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Now, seven years into the policy, it remains an unfulfilled promise. Staff are being recruited and progressive projects are flourishing in parts of the country. But mental health services are still staffed at at least a quarter below the level recommended in the policy.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		There is a gnawing frustration among psychiatrists and other professionals who want to play a greater role in promoting recovery and working with patients in the community.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;There has been an active dismantling of community mental health services and specialist rehabilitation and recovery services,&rdquo; says a spokeswoman for the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;Last year we saw mental health professionals taken back into acute services from the community and rehabilitation and recovery specialists posts just terminated. Teams are under constant pressure due to cuts, which ultimately affect the quality of support and care patients and their families receive.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The HSE, however, says it is appointing hundreds of staff this year to staff up community mental teams as part of a &euro;35 million investment. Officials say this reorientation of services faces the challenges of a dwindling in overall staff numbers in the health services and cuts to annual budgets.<br />\r\n		<br />\r\n		&lsquo;You can chalk it down to an imaginary friend&rsquo;<br />\r\n		Doody first recalls hearing voices as a youngster. &ldquo;When I think about it, my parents are mystified over how I could be laughing on my own or talking on my own in the room &ndash; you can chalk it down to an imaginary friend, or whatever. It was certainly something that registers in my own mind as more than a little bit odd.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		As he grew older, the pressure inside his head would build up and up. Unable to talk to anyone about it, he&rsquo;d end up burying himself in drink to numb the pain.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Other times he would bang the wall so hard he cracked bones in his hand. &ldquo;I know it sounds a bit much, but it was that severe physical pain,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;I loved it. It was better than the mental pain, and I would feel good for a short while. It&rsquo;s terrible, really.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		He doesn&rsquo;t remember all that much about the hospitalisations. He recalls more about the struggle to return to community and society. He calls the process &ldquo;re-entry&rdquo;.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;Anytime I&rsquo;ve ever left a hospital or had a breakdown, there&rsquo;s a point where I&rsquo;ve come to; where I&rsquo;ve come back and felt my two feet underneath me again. I come back to the world we live in . . .</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;It was something that was always slow for me. I&rsquo;d struggle with simple things like wanting to shower, wanting to put on fresh socks, wanting to clean my teeth . . . and then trying to answer the phone and hearing the voice on it, knowing it&rsquo;s a real voice; or getting into the car and driving to town.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;Or calling your parents and telling them how you are. They felt like massive events which were hugely difficult.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The road to recovery only came into view after a number of crucial turning points.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		One of them was when his consultant psychiatrist admitted he didn&rsquo;t have all the answers. Instead, the consultant admitted, they would need to work together to figure a way out of his distress.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Another was a close friend who would ask Doody: what are you going to do? Through a combination of dealing with issues in his own life and working on his own mental health, he began to make real strides towards recovery.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;My wife Martina likens it to a light-bulb. After five years, she says, someone turned on a light switch; five years later, someone turned up the dimmer,&rdquo; Doody says. &ldquo;It was the start of a journey of empowerment . . . I had handed over my life and will to the institutions of doctors, psychiatrists, nurses. I did it willingly . . . But I began to realise there were choices I could make. I didn&rsquo;t have to leave it up to others.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&lsquo;The concept of recovery is well understood but implementation remains uneven&rsquo;<br />\r\n		Traditionally, Ireland&rsquo;s response to mental health needs has been almost exclusively medical, with decision-making power focused in the hands of psychiatrists.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The recovery ethos &ndash; the idea that mental health services are designed to assist in a person&rsquo;s recovery rather than simply to &ldquo;manage&rdquo; their illness &ndash; is central to&nbsp;<em>A Vision for Change</em>. It involves rebalancing decision-making power and ensuring patients play a much greater role in their care.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		However, the&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Mental%20Health%20Commission&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Mental Health Commission</a>&nbsp;says there are &ldquo;serious deficiencies&rdquo; in the development and provision of recovery-oriented mental health services.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;The concept of recovery is now well understood but implementation of it remains uneven,&rdquo; it found in a recent report. &ldquo;Such a service requires an additional multi-disciplinary approach involving psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists and others.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;However, service delivery is still largely provided by medical, psychiatric and mental health nursing staff.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Although individual care plans for patients are now a legal requirement, the Inspector for Mental Health Services, Dr&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Patrick%20Devitt&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Patrick Devitt</a>, recently found that only half of services were complying with their obligations.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;Safe, high-quality care can only be given if there is a clear, individual care plan for each service user, recognising and addressing their individual needs,&rdquo; according to Devitt.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;It is disappointing that the level of compliance with this requirement fell from 62 per cent in 2011 to 52 per cent in 2012.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Consultant psychiatrist Dr&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Pat%20Bracken&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Pat Bracken</a>&nbsp;says his profession needs to change. He says psychiatrists still have huge powers &ndash; and responsibilities &ndash; under the terms of the Mental Health Act. A psychiatrist has the power to determine what treatment will be used, how it will be used and its duration.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		It is also within the psychiatrist&rsquo;s power to decide what risks to the patient&rsquo;s health will be tolerated. They can even order electroconvulsive therapy if the patient or their family refuses it.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;The powers invested in psychiatry are a legacy of the asylum era and can no longer be justified on scientific or moral grounds,&rdquo; he wrote, recently.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		He argues that the ongoing review of the Mental Health Act offers an opportunity to rethink the ways the profession deals with risk.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		More and more research points to the fact that people who recover from serious mental health problems place a major emphasis on things such as relationships, meaning, purpose in life &ndash; issues that were often forgotten about in our medical model.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Much of the profession is embracing change. Service users are now routinely consulted by authorities.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		There are encouraging developments in the form of HSE initiatives aimed at embedding the recovery ethos across mental health services. But patient groups still, by and large, feel frustrated at what they see as a slow pace of change.<br />\r\n		<br />\r\n		<br />\r\n		&lsquo;I have bad days, like anyone else. But it doesn&rsquo;t have to turn into a psychotic breakdown&rsquo;<br />\r\n		Today Rory Doody is happily married with four children, aged between four and 10, and has a bright, airy home on the outskirts of Bantry in west Cork.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very comfortable with myself, with my person,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;I can still hear voices. I still have crises with my mental health. I have bad days, like anyone else. But it doesn&rsquo;t have to turn into a psychotic breakdown . . . Now, I can engage with my mental health as part of the jigsaw that makes up all of me.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Looking back, he feels some of his issues stem from handing over too much of himself to others.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;I always wanted to be cared for. That need to be wanted . . . that all stemmed from other stuff.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;Now, I&rsquo;ve learned to love myself. To respect all of me . . . Like that late 20th-century philosopher L&rsquo;Oreal puts it, &lsquo;because I&rsquo;m worth it&rsquo;,&rdquo; Doody smiles.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		He&rsquo;s also using his experiences to help others. Doody forms part of what&rsquo;s known as the &ldquo;home focus team&rdquo;, an innovative initiative of the National Learning Network and West Cork Mental Health Services. It involves visiting and supporting people with mental health problems in their own homes.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;Traditional services see the need to fix someone, to get them better and back into their lives,&rdquo; Doody says. &ldquo;But recovery work is about being there until a person wants to get better, and facilitating that want.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The project is being reviewed by academics who say it has significant potential as a way of empowering people in recovery and, ultimately, guiding them into training, education or employment.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;Over the last year and a half I have seen people having an awakening,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;This kind of work is genuinely recovery-oriented. In my own case, I found that nothing really mattered until I wanted to get better myself.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Doody says the trauma he experienced earlier in his life has changed his perspective on the world.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;I have four children. And I just think there&rsquo;s nothing wrong with any of them, or any aspect of them. If they&rsquo;re angry, that&rsquo;s alright. If they&rsquo;re quirky and do things in odd ways, that&rsquo;s alright too. That idea of becoming okay with yourself is every important. I&rsquo;ve accepted myself. I wouldn&rsquo;t change anything about me.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Carl O&#39;Brien<br />\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/after-the-asylum-i-loved-the-severe-physical-pain-it-was-better-than-the-mental-pain-1.1463471?page=3\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/after-the-asylum-i-loved-the-severe-physical-pain-it-was-better-than-the-mental-pain-1.1463471?page=3</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-15 08:08:52',NULL,'after-the-asylum-‘i-loved-the-severe-physical-pain-it-was-better-than-the-mental-pain'),(123,'HSE to close special needs pre-schools despite parents’ wishes','<h2 class=\"main_excerpt\" style=\"margin: 5px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 1.1em; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.3em; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);\">\r\n	Two pre-schools for special needs children are to shut as the HSE facilitates a policy to mainstream students from an early age.</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		THE HSE IS to go ahead with plans to shut down two special needs pre-schools in Donegal as part of wider efforts to mainstream children&rsquo;s education, despite the objections of a parents&rsquo; group.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		In a document submitted to the agency, about 40 public representatives and medical professions &ndash; with the backing of parents and childcare providers &ndash; called for the retention of St Agnes&rsquo; Special Needs Pre-School in Donegal Town and Ballaghderg Special Needs Pre-School in Letterkenny.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		However, the HSE confirmed that it will not be taking enrolments for September at St Agnes&rsquo;s and that mainstreaming work has ben ongoing between it, parents and mainstream pre-school providers.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		The Let Me, Be Me Campaign, set up in the face of these cuts, claims there is &ldquo;little evidence&rdquo; of this groundwork having taken place.&nbsp;Parents involved in the campaign say they are &ldquo;disillusioned and greatly saddened&rdquo; by the HSE&rsquo;s decision. They describe &ldquo;a sense of abandonment on behalf of themselves and their children&rdquo;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		According to the group, the closures of the schools and the policy to mainstream children with disabilities &ndash; some of whom have severe and complex needs &ndash; will have &ldquo;massive consequences&rdquo;.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;For children with the most complex needs, the only available option will be home care packages, denying them their right to an education. This is a fundamental breach of a child&rsquo;s right to and education,&rdquo; the campaign told&nbsp;<em style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">TheJournal.ie</em>.</p>\r\n	<blockquote class=\"coloured\" style=\"margin: 15px 40px; padding: 10px 10px 10px 40px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); quotes: \'\'; display: table; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAB4AAAAeCAYAAAA7MK6iAAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAVJJREFUeNpi/P//P8NAACaGAQKjFo9aTDPAQoyiPXv2CAKp3UBc4eLisoeA2nIgBVLfCVT7nlIfz1RUVDQWEhLaDTQYhJVwWGrMx8fXAVQLsvwu1BHkWQzU7AK0MFRZWZlBS0uLgZOT0wWP8g4ZGRkGkFoFBQVBsuMYGsQzQYaBwJMnTxi+f/8OCu572IIYqM5FSkqK4cePHwwPHjwABfMscn2cBnS5kpiYGF7DoA4sB6qFO5DsOIbFF7Jv8RgGSgOCHBwcRPmWkI/BloIM+/37Nz7fwtMAsb4lZDE4vtDAKlCqRhMDhQycA4oWIAiFpv40irITKysrg729vaCRkREoReNL1QwgR5iZmRkD49sFmp8pK7lAlgODlCi1yCEwWlaP1k5Ywblz54gy5NOnT0SrJcZi13fv3hFjxmqgurM45O7h0sQ42rwdtXjUYmoBgAADAEuNioRYC8Y0AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-color: rgb(234, 237, 242); line-height: 23.390625px; background-position: 5px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;\">\r\n		<div style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;\">\r\n			This is a fundamental breech of a child&rsquo;s right to education to enable him or her to reach their full potential. In these cases, parents of children will receive no respite in terms of caring for their children.</div>\r\n	</blockquote>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		The group also believes the mainstream pre-school sector is not adequately prepared for the transition. Current providers say they are struggling at present and HSE supports are limited. They have identified 100 children across the county who are in need of individual leraning and development needs.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"font-weight: 700;\">Counter-proposal</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		Mother Regina Grant, whose son lives with mitochondrial disease, says another proposal has been handed to the HSE. They have asked for the facilities to remain open while the mainstream schools catch up and make the necessary changes.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		A number of local TDs, including Thomas Pringle, Pearse Doherty and Charlie McConalogue, have met with the parents in recent weeks to hear their concerns. They have requested an urgent meeting with the HSE Area Manager Donegal to take place within the next two weeks.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23.390625px;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/hse-to-close-special-needs-pre-schools-despite-parents%E2%80%99-wishes-993585-Jul2013/\">http://www.thejournal.ie/hse-to-close-special-needs-pre-schools-despite-parents%E2%80%99-wishes-993585-Jul2013/</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-16 07:50:22',NULL,'hse-to-close-special-needs-pre-schools-despite-parents’-wishes'),(124,'After the Asylum: ‘I like my reality now.\'','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	The destructive voices in Michelle Dalton&rsquo;s head resulted in her being admitted to hospital as a teenager. She now supports others in distress</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Michelle doesn&rsquo;t remember when she first heard them.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Even as a child the voices always seemed to be in the background. They felt comforting. Reassuring. They were more like imaginary friends, telling her stories or helping to direct her through life.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;I saw them as a childhood thing. In a lot of ways, they kind of protected me,&rdquo;&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Michelle%20Dalton&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Michelle Dalton</a>&nbsp;says. They could be be funny, making her laugh out loud, or give a helping hand by alerting her to danger.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		But by her early teens the voices had changed. They were turning angry. They seemed to take a hatchet to almost everything she did, criticising her decisions and wrecking her self-esteem. The most destructive of all them all was the voice she called &ldquo;the butcher&rdquo;.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;It tried to butcher anything I&rsquo;ve ever tried to do,&rdquo; she says. &ldquo;It would say the most awful things imaginable . . . it would speak very clearly, very directly. This wasn&rsquo;t my own thoughts or inner voice &ndash; this was a distinctly different voice.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Sometimes the voices were so loud and venomous it felt like being in a room full of angry people roaring abuse from all sides. It led to her first breakdown at the age of about 14.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;I was in a cafe in Bandon. I was with friends, but it was like I couldn&rsquo;t see or hear anybody outside of me. All I could feel was what was inside me. I was like a volcano erupting,&rdquo; she says.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;I stormed out, practically lifted the table and threw it on the ground. People were chasing me, trying to calm me down, but my perception was completely abnormal. It was like the most chaotic form of self-destructive energy a person could feel &ndash; it drove me to want to smash my head off concrete,&rdquo; she says.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Garda&iacute; arrived on the scene. Her friend made up a story, saying she had just broken up with her boyfriend. No one knew what had happened.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Michelle felt too ashamed to say anything about voices in her head. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t want to be called crazy,&rdquo; she says. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t want that.&rdquo;<br />\r\n		<br />\r\n		Establishing your independence, navigating your way through adulthood and making critical life decisions is no easy feat. Almost a third of young people say they have experienced mental distress in one form or another, according to research by the youth mental health group&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_company=Headstrong&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Headstrong</a>.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		For some, it&rsquo;s tougher still: more than a fifth of young adults have engaged in self-harm and 7 per cent reported a suicide attempt. Dr&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Barbara%20Dooley&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Barbara Dooley</a>, Headstrong&rsquo;s director of research and senior lecturer at UCD school of psychology, says the figures underline the urgency of providing services to these young people.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;We must see youth mental health as a national priority. There is no health without mental health,&rdquo; she said at the launch of a recent report.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		With mental health and education budgets under strain there is increasing concern at the consequences for child and adolescent support services. The campaign group&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_company=Mental&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Mental</a><a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Heath%20Reform&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Heath Reform</a>&nbsp;points to a number of worrying indicators.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Despite significant progress in recent years &ndash; such as the development of adolescent inpatient units &ndash; waiting times for adolescent mental health services are on the rise.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		At the end of 2012, there were 338 children and adolescents waiting for more than a year for their first appointment. The HSE&rsquo;s target for 2012 had been to bring this waiting list down to zero.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		For young people with more severe mental health problems, services are still far from ideal. Last year 106 children and adolescents were admitted to adult psychiatric units, despite concerns expressed by the&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Mental%20Health%20Commission&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Mental Health Commission</a>&nbsp;that the practice is &ldquo;inexcusable and counter-therapeutic&rdquo;.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Staffing shortfalls also exist within child and adolescent mental health services and are about half the levels recommended in the Government&rsquo;s official policy. For professionals such as Dr Dooley, there should be no excuse for substandard services given what we know about the importance and effectiveness of early intervention in the lives of children with mental health problems.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;We have never had access to such rich information that enables us to identify critical protective factors that help young people to resolve the challenges they face, and also the risk factors that compound their distress,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		Growing up, Michelle lived much of life in her own head.<br />\r\n		&ldquo;I grew up in Ballincollig and there was drugs, crime, people you couldn&rsquo;t trust. I was extremely introverted as a kid. I remember I didn&rsquo;t want to play with other kids . . . I was living in my imagination. My reality was nearly an unreality. I created this inner reality because my reality wasn&rsquo;t so good.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The voices, she feels, were part of that. She lived with them for years, but it was only in her late teens &ndash; as they grew increasingly aggressive &ndash; that she realised she needed help.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t tell anyone about them. I felt guilty . . . I didn&rsquo;t want to cause my parents trouble or cause upset.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		At the age of 17 she met a consultant psychiatrist attached to Cork&rsquo;s South Lee mental heath services who listened to her. It was this psychiatrist&rsquo;s intervention that helped her finally understand what she was experiencing.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		After the summer of her Leaving Cert, Michelle was making great strides. The voices had disappeared. She was looking forward to the next chapter of her life.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;I had the best summer. I was partying, I&rsquo;d just turned 18. It was J&auml;ger-bombs all the way, like. Everything was great. I felt, &lsquo;Wow, I&rsquo;ve been misdiagnosed&rsquo;. I even bought the psychiatrist a present as if to say, &lsquo;Nice to know you, I won&rsquo;t be seeing you again.&rsquo; &rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Then came a fall. A week later the voices returned. This time, they were more intense than ever, giving her direct instructions on how to take her own life. &ldquo;They were saying, &lsquo;Pack your bags, don&rsquo;t tell your parents, go to&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Galway&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Galway</a>, don&rsquo;t take your phone with you.&rsquo; &rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The psychiatrist advised that an inpatient admission to the psychiatric hospital was necessary for her own safety. Michelle felt struck with terror as she was shown to her room. &ldquo;I had finished my Leaving Cert. I remember thinking, &lsquo;I&rsquo;m 18, my friends are in college and I&rsquo;m in a room with a woman who stares out the window all day,&rsquo; &rdquo; she says.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Though the inpatient unit was terrifying initially, her road to recovery began there. Getting to know other psychiatric patients changed her view of mental ill-health forever and made her reassess her own condition.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;I went in with the Hollywood idea: these are people with shaved heads, faeces, all those horrific things the media portrays . . . then I found out that some of those patients were the most beautiful, honest, brave people.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;In the outside world, people hide their emotions. They try to put on a party face. But in there it was honest. There was a real empathy there between people. You didn&rsquo;t have to apologise for not talking or for feeling depressed. There was a normality of madness.&rdquo; She ended up being hospitalised on more than a dozen occasions.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		What helped spark her recovery, she says, was learning more about herself, making connections between the voices and her life, and not being so hard on herself. &ldquo;I could see that some great artists were considered &lsquo;mad&rsquo; and that was a real turning point. My idea of what crazy people were like was all wrong.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Michelle also says she gained insight into the role of medication, and how real long-term recovery &ndash; in her experience &ndash; lay within herself. &ldquo;The drugs seemed like a band-aid to cover the distress. At the end of the day, anxiety or extreme states of emotion have deep roots, and medication can&rsquo;t get to the core of the problem.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;Drugs have a role, I think. But recovery depends on community support: having a network of friends and family. Psychotherapy also has a big role for me, looking at your self and drawing on your inner resources . . . but many people don&rsquo;t have those choices.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		The field of mental health is facing growing questions over the use of medication and the manner is which mental disorders are diagnosed.<br />\r\n		Over the past five years, prescriptions for antidepressants, benzodiazepines and sleeping pills on the medical-card scheme increased by more than 25 per cent.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Critics &ndash; including patients&rsquo; groups and some high-profile psychiatrists &ndash; say fresh scrutiny of scientific literature suggests the benefits of many medications have been exaggerated and that in the long term they might even exacerbate a person&rsquo;s illness.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Further, they say, the medicalisation of &ldquo;common distress&rdquo; is serving only the interests of drug companies, which don&rsquo;t care who is prescribed antidepressants as long as they are prescribed in great quantities.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		It&rsquo;s a challenge hotly disputed by representative groups for the psychiatric profession, who see mental disorders mostly as diseases of the brain that can be treated effectively with medication, along with other therapy. They argue that critics make too much out of often minor technical matters and then ignore an overwhelming body of data supporting the effectiveness of medication.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		This debate over medication and how best to treat mental health problems comes at a time when the voices of patients and advocates, especially those critical of the system, are growing louder.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Groups such as Mind Freedom&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Ireland&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Ireland</a>, Mad Pride and many others are rejecting the labels and language of psychiatry, which views mental ill-health as a biomedical problem.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Instead, these organisations tend to see mental health problems as forms of emotional distress or an underlying vulnerability, and are demanding a much greater emphasis on choice and on being involved in their route to recovery.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		For people such as&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Dr%20Terry&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Dr Terry</a>&nbsp;Lynch, a Limerick-based GP and psychotherapist, the debate on how best to treat mental health problems needs to focus more on developing a genuinely recovery-orientated approach.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		While he says he is not &ldquo;anti-medication or anti-psychiatry&rdquo;, he says the process of recovery requires therapy and time.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;The mental health system doesn&rsquo;t sufficiently understand the emotional and psychological aspects of mental health problems, nor the importance of exploring in detail the individual&rsquo;s experiences, whatever they may be.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		Today Michelle is 24. She&rsquo;s an accomplished artist and concert curator.&nbsp;<br />\r\n		She rents her own home on the outskirts of Bandon, in Co Cork, along with Hendrix, her dog, and cat, Lizbeth. The walls of the house are adorned with her paintings. Michelle still has a fantasy world. She hears voices from time to time. They&rsquo;re not bad or critical. They can, instead, be teachers for dealing with issues in her life.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Until very recently she was using her experiences to help others in the&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_company=Hearing%20Voices%20Network&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Hearing Voices Network</a>, a support group for people who hear &ldquo;auditory hallucinations&rdquo;.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		She feels proud that she has turned some very negative experiences into something very positive.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The other day she wrote the following in her journal:<br />\r\n		<em>Today, I am thankful to myself for building such a great life. I have more wealth than most people do and it had nothing to do with printed paper</em>.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		It captures, Michelle says, how she feels these days.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not sappy, it&rsquo;s quite fierce . . . I like my reality now. And I&rsquo;m quite proud that I&rsquo;ve managed to create this great life for myself.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Carl O&#39;Brien</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/after-the-asylum-i-like-my-reality-now-1.1464664?page=1\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/after-the-asylum-i-like-my-reality-now-1.1464664?page=1</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-07-16 08:17:12',NULL,'after-the-asylum-‘i-like-my-reality-now'),