Five happy Junior Infants at Killygarry National School getting into the swing of things as schools reopened after the Summer holidays. PHOTO: LORRAINE TEEVAN

News Review - September 2022

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Cost of Cavan’s Covid vaccine centre revealed

The total cost of operating Cavan’s COVID-19 vaccine centre reached €4.3 million.

Figures released to The Anglo-Celt under the Freedom of Information Act showed over half, or €2.5 million, was made up of staff pay.

Over €1.6 million of that was paid throughout 2021, and the remaining €872,600 between January and June 2022.

The overall total did not include the cost of purchasing the COVID-19 vaccines administered at the site.

Arrest in relation to fatal hit and run accident

A man, arrested in connection with the investigation into the fatal hit and run that claimed the life of Frank Nulty, was released without charge.

A file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr Nulty (57) died having suffered significant injuries when struck by a passing vehicle on the N3 on August 18 at Billis Bridge just minutes from his home.

In early September, gardaí arrested a 38-year-old male at Dublin Airport, who was then brought to Bailieborough Garda Station, and detained for questioning in relation to hit and run.

Investigating officers also located the vehicle suspected of being involved in the collision. It was seized and a technical examination carried out as part of the investigation.

Hospital under pressure

A HIGH number of people presenting at Cavan General led to a warning from hospital management that it was suffering from delays and a “limited bed capacity”.

It was one of many such warnings and memos issued to GPs and the public over the course of the year asking them not to attend A&E unless absolutely necessary.

Further warnings issued over the Christmas period as the hospital was overwhelmed by a rise in Covid and flu cases.

Gridlock for driving tests

Learner drivers in Cavan were facing one of the longest wait times in the country for their driving test.

The Road Safety Authority stated that the earliest date for a test in Cavan was estimated at February 6, 2023, almost five months away.

Meanwhile, a wait of almost six months was faced by car owners for an NCT in Cavan.

Roadworks hitting traffic and footfall in Virginia

VIRGINIA home and business owners were frustrated by ongoing construction work in the east Cavan town.

Footpaths were being dug up and relaid and a new roundabout installed on the town square. The works were causing significant traffic delays.

Popular long-standing business owner Raymond Arnold was deeply concerned about his hardware shop, one of the town’s oldest establishments. “I see less traffic from customers. You can’t pull up as you can see. It’s very hard to stop outside the premises,” he despairs.

Ray wasn’t convinced the roundabout was going to alleviate traffic in the long run and said the long-awaited Virginia bypass is urgently needed.

“The bypass would have been a much better idea if it was done and none of this squandering of public money, because all of this is not necessary if you had the bypass,” he said.

Cavan County Council confirmed at the time: “The overall investment in the Virginia safety and pavement scheme is in excess of €2 million.”

NUMBER OF THE MONTH

11 bn

The amount in euro in tax and expenditure measures delivered in Budget 2023 by the Government

Every item we purchase has been on a truck at some stage in its journey to the customer... It is in all our interests to support the haulage sector in this Budget. If that doesn’t come to pass, then we will either have to go without or be supplied at an extortionate cost - Cllr Sarah O’Reilly, Aontú, on fuel costs and the Budget

GOOD MONTH

• Loughan House open prison celebrated 50 years in the west Cavan community

• Ballyconnell was set to receive €100,000 to carry out improvements to the town’s streetscape

• Rev Patrick Gilcreest was appointed Laragh Parish Priest back in 1922, and 100 years on, his great grand nephew, Fr Martin Gilcreest, assumed the position.

• CYMS, Cavan’s only snooker club, celebrated 25 years in its new impressive clubrooms

• Erne Eagles Senior Men’s Rounders team won their 15th All Ireland Championship

BAD MONTH

• Students on concessionary school bus tickets were left stranded after an earlier – free school transport announcement – left bus places over subscribed and some families without tickets (the issue was later resolved)

• SOSAD warned that the cost of living crisis could drive some people to the brink of suicide

• Britain was in mourning as the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth, passed away

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