EPA announces increased funding of €16m for new environmental and climate research.
Research proposals are invited for research across the following areas:
Nature-based solutions that can benefit the environment and society.
Advancing climate science in an Irish context.
Identifying effective options to adapt to climate changeThe use data of and digitalisation for environmental protection.
How society can be enabled in its transition to a sustainable future.
Environmental Protection Agency
Successful researchers will work closely with policy makers and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the research is impactful and effectively informs environmental policy in Ireland.
Environmental and climate research in Ireland today received a boost with the announcement by the EPA of up to €16 million in funding for new research projects, representing a significant increase over previous years. The EPA is inviting proposals from the research community for innovative research projects to support the development and implementation of environmental policies in Ireland.
Announcing the EPA funding call, Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of the Office of Evidence and Assessment said: “Scientific research and innovation are playing an increasingly important role in informing how governments and society can respond to the challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation. Today’s EPA research call will address knowledge gaps, both current and future, and ultimately will provide robust evidence to support the implementation of effective environmental policies in Ireland.”
Areas of research include exploring how nature-based solutions can benefit the environment and society, advancing climate science in an Irish context, and identifying effective options to adapt to climate change. Cross-cutting areas are also highlighted, such as how data and digitalisation can be utilised for environmental protection and how society can be enabled in its transition to a sustainable future.
Dr Darragh O’Neill, EPA Research Manager, said, “In this year’s call, we are pleased to include both targeted and open topics to support the research community to address specific evidence needs as well as to explore emerging research areas relevant to environmental policy. With up to €16m available under this call, we look forward to receiving proposals for innovative and impactful projects.”
The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Under this year’s call, the EPA is delighted to be partnering with the Geological Survey Ireland, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Met Éireann to co-fund projects in areas of mutual interest.
Further details about the 2023 EPA Research Call are available HERE
The EPA, in partnership with Dublin City Council, is delighted to welcome Professor Stefan Rahmstorf, Co-Head of the Research Department on Earth System Analysis of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Professor of Physics of the Oceans, at the University of Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany.
The public lecture will take place on Wednesday next, April 19th at 7:00pm, in the Round Room in the Mansion House, Dublin and will also be streamed online. This lecture forms part of the National Dialogue on Climate Action.
Professor Rahmstorf is internationally renowned for his work linking climate change to significant slowdown in the Gulf Stream System. He will discuss how continued melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet in the coming decades could contribute to further weakening of the Gulf Stream, with important consequences for the ocean ecosystem, the weather in the North Atlantic region, regional sea levels and the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide. He will explore how close we already are to the Gulf Stream tipping point.
Professor Rahmstorf will also comment on his recent examination of fossil fuel companies’ awareness of the seriousness of climate change over 40 years ago, and the difference between their public statements and internal knowledge. Ms Laura Burke, Director General EPA said, “We are delighted to welcome Professor Rahmstorf to speak on the topic of climate change impacts on the Gulf Stream and how information on climate change is shaped. As an island nation on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, Ireland is especially exposed to climate-driven changes in the North Atlantic.” Ms Burke added, “Understanding the evolution of climate change and the ocean is essential if we are to understand our future. This knowledge can help inform policy to manage our responses and adapt to the future climate conditions.”
This free event requires registration through the following link HERE. The event will also be recorded and uploaded to the EPA YouTube channel.
For further information contact: Emily Williamson, EPA Media Relations Office, Telephone 053-9170770 (24 hours) or media@epa.ie.
Read first, HERE, an extract from Tipperary County Councils Corporate Plan (2020- 2024). Their unkept promise, to “Continue to enhance and protect the built, heritage in Tipperary and to work in partnership with key stakeholders, to deliver a high quality heritage service that will serve the people of Tipperary and attract visitors to our count.”
The above statement is yet another commitment which Tipperary Co. Council has successfully been allowed to weasel out of and row back on. And no, I am not further raising the issue of the now completely destroyed, historic Great Famine, Double Ditch. However, local people should be made aware that yet again, another piece of Thurles history has been, eradicated, without any consultation with the people of Thurles.
I refer of course to the 170 year old Victorian Turnstile Gates, [known locally as the Swinging gates], once found positioned beside and south of Lidl supermarket, on Slievenamon road (N62); same leading east on the river Suir pedestrian walk way.
My attention was drawn to its absence on meeting several motorcycles and numerous silent electric scooters travelling at speed on what was supposed to be a pedestrian footway.
Thurles Victorian Turnstile Gate Gone. Pic. George Willoughby.
On questioning a member of the local districts council’s workforce, I learn that this Victorian Turnstile gate is not, as I had foolishly believed, stored in the Parnell Street, County Council storage shed, but has been simply given away by as yet an unnamed senior official within Tipperary Co. Council, without any consultation whatsoever with local people.
Does this mean that the Turnstile Gate (Swinging Gates), on the junction between Emmet Street and Thomond Road will also be removed?
MatchingThurles Victorian Turnstile Gate at Thomond Road Junction. Pic. George Willoughby
We now have a situation, where parents walking with young children, need to take great care and control when coming out onto the N62 thoroughfare, as there is nothing to protect either pedestrians or small unsupervised children.
Obviously, ignorance now hopes to “Position Tipperary as a holiday destination for domestic and international markets”, latter yet another promise in Tipperary Co. Council’s Mission Statement which the latter has successfully been allowed to weasel out of and row back on.
It had been hoped that this Victorian Turnstile gate would have been returned to its opening with a robust pedestrian-safe, self-closing, “Ball Fence Swing Gate” at the side, latter to accommodate access for wheelchair users.
Thurles people should note: These gates were unique to Thurles town – find me another image of such gates on the internet. Note, how the capping stones were tied together (See Pic 2) using forged iron staples held in place with lead filling.
Parents will not be buying school books next September. The Minister for Education Ms Norma Foley TD has published guidelines for recognised primary schools and special schools on the new free schoolbooks scheme.
The new guidelines are designed to assist primary schools, as they adopt the free schoolbooks scheme in time for the start of the 2023/24 school year.
For the most part this new scheme means that:–
Schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks will be provided by primary schools for all pupils.
There is no need for parents or guardians to buy or rent these items.
Schools will be provided with sufficient funding (€96 per pupil) to cover the costs of providing required items.
Schoolbooks are the property of the school and must be returned at the end of the school year.
For parents seeking further information and clarification, same is available HERE.
A young Co. Laois man, named locally as Mr Adam Kirwan, aged 22, has sadly died, following a single vehicle collision in Thurles, Co Tipperary. The crash occurred at around 3:15am, in the area of College Green, in the south east area of the town, close to the N75. Mr Kirwan was a student of the Mary Immaculate College in Thurles.
The victim was treated at the scene, but was later pronounced dead. His body was later removed to University Hospital Limerick where a post-mortem examination will now take place.
Two other female passengers in the vehicle escaped injury.
The road remained closed for a time earlier, while a technical examination took place.
Thurles Gardaí are appealing to any witnesses, particularly any road users who may have video footage (including dash-cam), to contact them at Thurles Garda Station Tel. No. – 0504 25100, or the Garda Confidential Line Tel. No. – 1800 666 111, or indeed at any Garda Station.
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