Non-native plants to be banned from sale

Non-native plants to be banned from sale

By Claire O'Sullivan
Monday, July 06, 2009

A RAFT of plants are to be banned from sale in garden centres later
this year as the Department of the Environment moves to curb the
damage inflicted on Irish wildlife by the importation of non-native
species.

It is understood it will be an offence to possess the listed species
for "the purpose of sale or dispersal or to transfer the species from
one place to another within the country".

Householders who have such species will be advised how to dispose of them.

Water plants pose a particular threat to biodiversity with species
such as the African or curly-leaved pondweed wiping out native weed in
Lough Corrib. The weed, and the insects who feed on it, attract the
lake's renowned brown trout.

According to the Department, the ban is being introduced to meet
Ireland's obligations under the EU Habitats Directive and will form
part of the Birds and Habitats Regulations that are to be made law
later this year.

Among other species likely to appear on the list are Water fern
(Azolla filiculoides), New Zealand pygmyweed (Crassula helmsii),
Nuttall's pondweed (Elodea nuttallii), Parrot's feather (Myriophyllum
aquaticum) and Fringed water lily (Nymphoides peltata),

A public consultation process will also be in place.

Senior research officer with the Central Fisheries Board, Dr Joe
Caffrey, said: "Without the appropriate regulations a great number of
our habitats and species will be under threat."

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner
Monday, July 06, 2009

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Midleton - Cork rail service to open Thurs 30th July

Thanks to citylocal.ie for the following. (10th July 2009)

AFTER months of speculation Iarnród Éireann has announced it will open the €75 million Cork-Midleton rail line on Thursday, July 30.

A spokesman for the company said to mark the launch of its new service, travel on trains operating on that day will be free.

From July 30 to August 3 inclusive, trains will operate on an hourly basis only.

The full schedule of services - 21 trains in either direction on weekdays - will come into effect on Tuesday, August 4.

During weekdays trains will run half-hourly at peak times and hourly off-peak. A total of 17 trains will operate each way on Saturdays, and eight trains will operate each way on Sundays.

Iarnród Éireann has put the infrastructure in place to expand services in the future to every 15 minutes, if the demand exists.

Drivers started testing trains on the line yesterday. Two drivers were involved and further drivers will be trained on the track right up to the opening day.

The journey time will be less than 24 minutes each way and all trains will serve the new stations at Midleton and Carrigtwohill, as well as Glounthaune, Little Island and Kent Station, Cork.

Each train consists of two-carriages, with capacity for 320 passengers, including seating for 129 passengers. Platforms have also been built to accommodate future expansion to four-carriage trains.

As well as offering a strong commuter service, the new Midleton timetable will provide excellent connections to the Cork-Dublin Intercity service.

The company has revised its timetable from Midleton after it was noticed that the first train leaving there wouldn't connect with the first train leaving Kent Station for Dublin.

Midleton-based TD David Stanton spotted that the first train leaving his home town would arrive seven minutes after the Cork-Dublin train had departed.

A spokesman for Iarnród Éireann said an alteration had been made to the timetable so the first train would now leave Midleton at the earlier time of 6.45am to allow for connectivity.

The last train will depart Midleton for Cork at 10.45pm.

The first train leaving Kent Station for Midleton will depart at 6.15am and the last will go at 10.15pm.

The company also announced ticket prices: a single adult fare will be €4.40, while a return ticket is €6.50.

Adult weekly tickets cost €26, a monthly ticket comes in at €92, while the annual ticket is €920. "Monthly and annual customers are reminded that employees of companies registered with the Taxsaver scheme are entitled to tax relief on the cost of commuter tickets of up to 51%. Full details are available on www.taxsaver.ie," the Iarnród Éireann spokesman said.

Car parking charges will be introduced at both Midleton and Carrigtowhill station.

The charges will be €2 per day, €8 per week and €30 for four weeks.

Cycling funding for Carrigaline

Cycling funding for Carrigaline

GREEN Party Chairman and Cork-based Senator Dan Boyle has welcomed today's announcement that Carrigaline is to receive €1.2 million for a new cycling and walking network.

The last census showed that almost three quarters of workers in Carrigaline commute by car, making it one of the most car-dependent areas in Ireland.

Senator Boyle said, "I'm delighted that this funding has been made available to Carrigaline to improve the area's cycle network and make a real difference to the transport options for workers, families and older persons.

"The Green Party has been working hard to ensure proper walking and cycling facilities are made available to people in their everyday lives and I hope this is the first in a long line of projects that will receive funding in the coming year.

"Local authorities must come up with comprehensive plans to improve the walking and cycling facilities in their areas to ensure proper funding can be provided.

"The Carrigaline project is a good example of where the local authority worked with the Department of Transport to secure the implementation of walking and cycling plans."

Senator Boyle said the Cycle to Work scheme, introduced by Green Party Leader John Gormley was being implemented by businesses across the country.

"This simple tax-relief scheme has resulted in a real increase in people choosing to cycle to work, with cycling shops noting a huge surge in bike sales," he concluded.

Local Fianna Fáil TD Michael McGrath also welcomed the announcement saying, "I am delighted that he has approved €1.2 million to develop a walking and cycling network which will link residential areas in Carrigaline to the local schools, local sports facilities, and employment centres".

Cork Politics July 8th