Education « Thurles Information

Child Benefit For 18-year-old Students In Full-Time Education.

Child benefit payments will be extended to include 18-year-olds, latter who remain in full-time education, with effect from May 1st next.

Ms Heather Humphreys (Minister for Social Protection) is expected to bring this proposal to Cabinet this morning.

This measure, which will also apply to children with a disability, was previously announced in Budget 2024, but was scheduled to begin from next September.

Ms Humphreys is expected to now inform the Cabinet today that the Department is in a position to implement this measure with effect from May 1st, next.

She will use social welfare legislation; same due before the Seanad this week, to implement this change.

The new policy change was initially designed as a cost-of-living measure.

Free Talk on Kids, Teens and Screen Time Challenges.

Tomorrow, Tuesday February 6th, 2024, is ‘Safer Internet Day’.

Safer Internet Day (SID) is an EU wide initiative to promote a safer internet for all users, especially young people. Webwise is the Irish Internet Safety Awareness Centre, funded by the Department of Education and co-funded by the European Commission. They provide excellent information and support for parents on how to promote safer internet use, so do visit HERE.

Another helpful site can be viewed HERE, which provides up-to-date information on movies, apps, podcasts, games and other media aimed at kids.

Please watch the YouTube video hereunder, for a previous talk given by Avril Ronan on Gaming Safety and Kids.

For Safer Internet Day 2024, Avril Ronan, from Trend Micro (a global cybersecurity leader), is offering a free webinar for parents, teachers and other adults working with young people, on ‘Let’s Talk Kids, Teens and Screen Time Challenges’.

Her talk will explore the screen time battles and challenges faced by so many parents today and it will offer practical advice, top tips, and a question and answer session.

This event is totally free and takes place on Tuesday 7th February 2024 at 7:00pm. It will last approximately 1 hour followed by 30 minutes of question and answer time. You can register to attend this Zoom webinar from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android device: https://www.trendmicro.com/internet-safety/eventsie. [Please note also that Irish Sign language interpreters will sign at this event.]

Undeclared Milk In Batches Of Oishi Corn Flips Chocolate Flavour.

Food Safety Authority of Ireland warning.

Alert Summary Dated Thursday, 01 February 2024.
Allergy Alert Notification: 2024.A05
Allergen: Milk
Product Identification: Oishi Corn Flips Chocolate Flavour; pack size: 40g.
Batch Code Best before: 06/02/2024 & 24/07/2024
Country Of Origin: China

Message:
The above batches of Oishi Corn Flips Chocolate Flavour are being recalled as they contain milk which is not declared in the list of ingredients.
This may make the batches unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of milk.

Incorrectly Declared Soya In Lidl Duc De Coeur Salted Caramel & Chocolate Tartlets.

Food Safety Authority of Ireland warning.

Alert Summary dated Thursday, 01 February 2024.
Allergy Alert Notification: 2024.A04
Allergen: Soybeans
Product Identification: Duc De Coeur Salted Caramel & Chocolate Tartlets; pack size: 125g
Batch Code: All batches and best before dates
Country Of Origin: France

Message:
Soya is incorrectly declared on the ingredients list of Duc De Coeur Salted Caramel & Chocolate Tartlets. This may make the product unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of soya.

The product was sold by Lidl.

Benefits Of New Deposit Return Scheme

Deposit Return Scheme goes live from today.

Protect our Environment.
Reduce Litter and Waste.
Circular Economy Initiative.
Achieve EU Recycling Targets.

From today, drinks sporting the new Re-turn logo (See Image) should start to appear in shops and supermarkets across Ireland. (Do check containers for Re-turn logo.)

Purchased containers will be required to pay a deposit in addition to the price of the drink product. The empty and undamaged container can then be returned to any participating shop or supermarket in order to obtain your initial deposit back.

A deposit of 15 cents will apply to every container from 150ml to 500mls inclusive, while a deposit of 25 cents will be required for containers over 500ml up to 3 litres.

Anything over 3 litres will not attract a charge, thus it is believed it is possible that the new scheme could spell an end to 2 litre bottles with drink manufacturing companies moving to larger 3 litre bottles. Since the deposit applies to all bottles and cans between 150ml and 3 litres per each container, the sales of large multipack minerals (slabs), same now generating an extra cost of €3.00 per 20 container pack, may also dissipate.

Any dairy drinks products in plastic containers or cartons, such as milk or yogurt drinks, are excluded from this new scheme.

Remember: Refunds can be used against any store-bought purchase or issued in cash.