CareDoc float wins top prize in Clonroche
IT ws a big undertaking, but undertaker Leo Tector’s out-of-thisworld float featuring a CareDoc unit won the top prize at this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Clonroche.
A record crowd turned out on a bitterly cold day Saturday afternoon for the parade, which started at 1 p.m., and celebrated all that is great about Irish village life, including some close to the bone jokes. With free beer on tap in the Clough Bawn for an hour and tasty ice cream being served up, the crowds were kept happy as they watched the parade and the Ireland V England rugby match afterwards.
One of the organisers, Leo Tector said he was honoured to win the prize.
‘It went very well and was bigger and better than ever,’ he said of the parade. ‘I had a 1953 Morris Minor with CareDoc on it, driven by Jim Murphy. It went down awful well. I also had a house of storytelling with a thatch roof on top based on the house in Askamore with characters like Connie Power on it.’
The GAA star duo of Paul Carton and Seamus Flood were very well received, as were all the local groups and organisations and the free beer.
Parental leave
What is parental leave? Can both parents take it
Each parent of an eligible child may take up to 18 weeks of unpaid parental leave from work. Leave can be taken no later than the child’s eighth birthday. However, if your child has a disability or a long-term illness, you can take parental leave up to their 16th birthday. If you adopt a child between the ages of six and eight, you can take leave for that child up to two years after the date of the adoption order. ( Your contract of employment may also provide for an extended age limit.)
You can take 18 weeks of leave per child in one continuous period or in two separate blocks of a minimum of six weeks. If taken in two separate blocks, there must be a gap of at least 10 weeks between the two periods of leave per child. However, if your employer agrees, you can separate parental leave into periods of days or even hours.
Taking parental leave does not affect your other employment rights. Apart from the loss of pay and pension contributions, your position remains as if no parental leave had been taken. This means, for example, that while on parental leave you will continue to accumulate your annual leave entitlement. While you are on parental leave, a public holiday that falls on a day when you would normally be working is added to your period of leave.
When you return to work after taking parental leave, you can ask for a change in your work pattern or working hours for a set period. Your employer must consider your request, but is not obliged to grant it.
Both parents have an equal entitlement to 18 weeks’ parental leave each. Unless you and your partner work for the same employer, this leave is non-transferable; you can only claim your own parental leave entitlement of up to 18 weeks per child. However, if you both work for the same employer and your employer agrees, you may transfer up to 14 weeks of your parental leave entitlement to each other.
Free cancer screening programmes
My friend has been offered free screening for cancer. She says it’s a national free screening programme. How can I take part?
The National Cancer Screening Service provides free screening programmes to help detect or prevent several types of cancer.
BowelScreen – The National Bowel Screening Programme aims to detect bowel cancer at an early stage in people who have no symptoms. It offers free screening every two years to men and women aged 60 to 69. If you are in this age group, you can ring BowelScreen on Freephone 1800 45 45 55 to check your details are on the register. If you are on the register, you will receive an invitation to take part in the BowelScreen programme.
CervicalCheck – The National Cervical Screening Programme tests women aged 25 to 60 for changes in the cells of the cervix. Early detection and treatment can prevent cervical cancer. If you are aged between 25 and 60 and have never had a CervicalCheck smear test, you can simply make an appointment with a GP practice or clinic registered with CervicalCheck. You can find one in your area by visiting cervicalcheck.ie or by calling Freephone 1800 45 45 55. A letter of invitation is not needed to make an appointment and attend for a first test.
BreastCheck – The National Breast Screening Programme invites women to a free mammogram (x-ray of the breast) every two years. The screening has been available to women aged 50 to 64 but is being gradually extended over the next few years to include all women aged 50 to 69. If you have not received an invitation you can check if you are registered by visiting breastcheck.ie or by calling Freephone 1800 45 45 55.
Screening can help prevent or detect cancer at an early stage in people who have no symptoms. If you have any specific concerns or symptoms you should visit your GP (family doctor).
Further information is available from the Citizens Information Service below.