NEWS ROUND-UP
Lidl is planning to hire 10 new staff members
Lidl has announced plans to recruit 10 new employees to its Sligo-based stores. Positions are to open in a variety of roles in the Finisklin and Cranmore branches as pat of an overall commitment to the creation 1,200 roles in Ireland this year.
The retailer has also announced that its staff in Sligo will receive a Covid Employee Bonus.
The company has committed to a €2m investment in the bonus for all employees across Ireland, with €18,750 allocated to Sligo-based employees.
This is the third Covid bonus offered by the retailer to recognise the efforts of their essential workers during the pandemic.
Maeve McCleane, director of human resources for Lidl Ireland said: “Since the onset of the pandemic our teams have demonstrated incredible agility, selflessness and dedication in serving our local communities, ensuring that our customers across the county had access to the food and supplies they needed. I am pleased to confirm this significant investment in the form of a third bonus to recognise their phenomenal contribution as frontline workers during an exceptionally challenging time.”
Funding for conservation of buildings
The owners of heritage buildings in County Sligo can avail of an extended deadline to apply for funding for the repair and conservation work. Sligo County Council is inviting applications under the Built Heritage Investment
Scheme, the Historic Structures Fund and the Pilot Stream for Vernacular Structures and Historic Shopfronts. These schemes, which are operated by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, will be administered locally by the council. In November last the Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, announced increased funding for both the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and Historic Structures Fund in 2021 and the deadline for applications was extended to February 26.
The Built Heritage Investment Scheme is for the repair and conservation of structures that are protected under the Planning and Development Acts. It is designed as a support to owners and custodians in caring for our built heritage and ensuring that it is protected into the future.
This scheme aims to support a significant number of labour-intensive, small-scale conservation projects across the country and to support the employment of skilled and experienced conservation professionals, craftspeople and tradespersons in the repair of the historic built environment. Grants of between €2,500 and €15,000 will be awarded, with applicants required to provide a minimum of 50% of total costs.
The Historic Structures Fund 2020 is for conservation works to heritage structures, in both private and public ownership. The primary focus is on conservation and enhancement of historic structures and buildings for the benefit of communities and the public.
A new initiative will also see the roll out of a Pilot Stream for Vernacular Structures and Historic Shopfronts. Categories of structures eligible for assistance are protected structures, structures eligible for or proposed for inclusion on the Record of Protected Structures and structures or works within Architectural Conservation Areas, or within the amenity of a National Monument, where exceptional circumstances apply.
There is a requirement for an appropriately qualified conservation professional to oversee the works, and for a comprehensive method statement to accompany the application.
Applications must be clearly marked Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2021 or Historic Structures Fund 2021 as applicable and addressed to the Heritage Office, Sligo County Council, City Hall.
The closing date for receipt of completed applications (in hard copy only) is Friday, February 26 (4pm). Any queries can be directed to Suzanne Siberry at conservation@sligococo.ie or 071 9114443.
Increase in Covid patients in ICU beds
There has been an increase in the number of Covid patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Sligo University Hospital in the past week.
As of 8pm on Tuesday night, the latest figures available at the time of going to press, there six Covid patients requiring critical care, which left no ICU beds available in the hospital.
The number of confirmed Covid cases being treated in the hospital was 42. That was down from 56 on the previous two days, when there had been five Covid patients in ICU. A week previously on Tuesday, January 19, there were just two Covid patients in ICU and there were 44 confirmed Covid cases overall.
This week hospital manager Grainne McCann said they were dealing with a “significant
increase” in the number of patients with Covid-19 being treated in the hospital and that this situation was likely to continue over the coming days.
There were also over 100 hospital staff unavailable for work due to being Covid positive or a close contact.
Because of that and the increased number of Covid patients in the hospital over the past couple of weeks the hospital is continuing to defer all but very urgent and time critical inpatient and day surgery and there is also a restriction on outpatient faceto-face clinics, unless there is an urgent reason why some needs to the seen in person. Some consultations are taking place online or by phone. People who had been sent appointments are being told they should not attend the hospital unless they receive a phone call confirming that their outpatient appointment is going ahead.
Meanwhile, the latest available figures on Tuesday, which was data up to Sunday last, January 24, show there was a total of 1,936 confirmed Covid cases in County Sligo, which was 129 more than a week previously but the rate of increase in cases has slowed in the past week.
Gardaí patrols reporting high compliance
Garda checkpoints and local patrols are continuing in Sligo in an attempt to curb non-essential journeys.
Gardaí were present at the Benwiskin entrance to Gleniff horseshoe last weekend where motorists were not only turned back for being outside their 5km limit, but also because road conditions were dangerous on the day. Meanwhile, local patrols have been taking place in various locations in Sligo and Leitrim where a high level of compliance with Covid-19 restrictions has been reported.
The public are reminded that the 5km limit applies for those leaving the house for exercise. Travelling farther than this without an essential reason will result in being turned around as well as possibly receiving a fine.
Trinity awards for eight Sligo students
Eight students from
Sligo have received special Entrance Exhibition Awards from Trinity College, Dublin, this year.
The awards go to students accepted into the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme who achieve the highest points among Trinity entrants from their secondary school, above a minimum of 500 CAO points. The students Sligo who received the awards are Emer Conway (St Attracta’s Community School, Tubbercurry), Sarah Louise Dunleavy (Ballymote), Niall O’Donovan, Conor Walsh (Summerhill College), Darra O’Loughlin (Coola Post Primary School), Grace O’Sullivan (Sligo Grammar School), Hannah Scanlon (Mercy College) and Fiona Stenson (Ursuline College). Trinity provost Dr Patrick Prendergast said: “We are delighted to welcome these talented students to Trinity and only wish that they and their families could come to celebrate with us at the university.”
“We congratulate each student and wish them well in their studies.”