A roundup of today's other home news in brief
Meeting sought by FG TDs over Coast Guard cuts
A number of Fine Gael TDs have sought a meeting with the Department of Transport over plans to reduce from 24 hours to 12-hour daytime the southeast Coast Guard helicopter service, writes Michael O’Regan.
Waterford TD John Deasy has been joined by party colleagues from Cork and Wexford in claiming the move has prompted strong fears that lives will be lost.
In a letter to secretary general Tom O’Mahony, the TDs express concern that the department has constructed a tendering process “that will diminish and reduce vital safety procedures and services for the southeast and the southern coast and are interested in ascertaining your rationale for doing so”.
They point out that the southeast helicopter search and rescue service had its busiest year ever last year with 115 callouts.
Week of events to promote libraries
Readings by Colum McCann and Brent Pope are among the events planned for “Rediscover Your Local Library Week” which will take place from April 19th-25th around the country.
The week is being run by the public library service with Bord Gáis Energy to highlight the attractions of the 359 public libraries.
Rugby pundit and children’s author Brent Pope will give readings in libraries in Cork, Waterford, Mayo and Louth, while writer Colum McCann will read from his work at South County Library, Tallaght, on April 22nd.
Other events include photography exhibitions, vocal performances, writers’ evenings, children’s face painting and storytelling.
See www.readiscover.ie
Warning on negative job scheme coverage
The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU) has warned against negative coverage of schemes for those without jobs.
“A key element is building up of people’s confidence and re-engaging them in the labour market,” INOU chairwoman Ann Fergus said.
She said access to labour market programmes for many living in rural and disadvantaged areas had been a vital lifeline for unemployed people.
While welcoming a recent Forfás publication on the review of labour market programmes, the INOU expressed concern about media coverage which described a “jobs initiative” as effectively a squandering of money.