By Harry Keaney
A new report suggests that Ireland’s population will reach six million during the next 10 years. The report, by the Dublin-based Academy of Engineering, also says housing, transport and social infrastructure have already reached crisis point in the capital and, in view of the projected population explosion, will get worse unless new measures are taken.
AIF conference
Members from the 12 Ireland Funds from around the world will be in attendance at the American Ireland Fund’s annual worldwide conference in Dublin from June 25-27. For details, call Caitriona Fottrell at (617) 574-0720 or log onto www.irlfunds.org.
Celtic Vision website
Boston-based Celtic Vision will soon be launching a new website devoted to all things Celtic. The site will be developed by New York-based Xceed Inc.
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Celtic Vision is a Boston-based cable television network that features dramas, documentaries, performing arts, sitcoms, news, and sports from and about Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Celtic Vision operates a 24-hour cable television network bringing programming from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales to an American audience. Currently, a basic channel in more than 150,000 homes in the greater Boston area, Celtic Vision is carried by Cablevision and Adelphia Cable Systems. The company is proceeding with a national rollout of the cable network as well as the launch of its new website.
Xceed is headquartered in New York City with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, London and Amsterdam.
Euro on the way
The Republic of Ireland’s central bank has begun producing euro bank notes, more than 18 months before they are due to go into circulation. Irish euro coins will have an image of the harp. Euro notes and coins will be introduced into circulation in Ireland on Jan. 1, 2002.
National notes and coins will be withdrawn by early February.
Accounts in financial institutions will be converted to euros, withdrawals from accounts will be in euros, ATMs will begin dispensing euro notes and wages, salaries, pensions and welfare payments will be in euros.
Retails will charge in euros. Although they will continuing accepting Irish notes and coins initially, change will be give n in euros only.
From midnight on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2002, Irish notes and coins will no longer be legal tender.
Jobs
Heinz is to create more than 60 jobs in its frozen and chilled food business in Ireland as part of a $9 million investment. The expansion will make Dublin the headquarters of the company’s European frozen and chilled foods section.
Shortage of nurses
There was a time when Irish nurses in their thousands worked in England, the U.S. and Australia. Now, there is a shortage of nurses in Ireland, so much so that a group of 31 Filipinos arrived in Dublin last week to take up positions in the Mater Hospital in Dublin. And reports say the number could reach 500 within two years.
It is estimated that Dublin is short between 1,000 and 1,500 nurses.
Elderly at risk
Ireland’s minister for social community and family affairs, Dermot Ahern, has expressed concern at the closure of branches of banks in towns and villages around the country. Ahern said that the closures had implications for the safety of elderly people who may be forced to keep their money at home.
Speaking on the RTE program Morning Ireland, he said that the banks should re-think the closure of branches in rural areas.
Ahern announced an extension to the deadline for receipt of applications regarding grants for security equipment for the elderly. The scheme covers security monitors and locks for windows and doors.