Community notes

IMPORTANT NOTICE to EMAILERS!

When emailing reports for publication in Lucan Newsletter, please make sure to send them to at least two email addresses

Mary – Community / Schools / Local History
marylucannewsletter@gmail.com

Rose – Sports / Politics
roselucannewsletter@gmail.com

Anna – Parish Notes / Fundraising
annalucannewsletter@gmail.com

Catherine – Anniversaries / Queries on Advertising
catherinelucannewsletter@gmail.com

Please Note:

All items submitted for publication in Lucan Newsletter must have a contact person/number – address or phone number – not necessarily for publication.
Articles without such will not be published.

LUCAN NEWSLETTER

PLEASE NOTE:
We are NOT operating from the Newsletter Office at the moment, but leave your ads, queries or notices in the letter box at St. Mary’s Parish Centre, before 10pm on Wednesday night, and we’ll collect and look after them.

Alternately email any of the following:
marylucannewsletter@gmail.com
annalucannewsletter@gmail.com
roselucannewsletter@gmail.com
catherinelucannewsletter@gmail.com

Lucan Newsletter Update

Due to present restrictions, we will publish online only for a further few weeks, and review the situation then.
To view the weekly issue in pdf format, scroll down to ‘Archive’, and click on the date

Lucan Tidy Towns - Lucan Spring Clean Week

We are very encouraged by the number of clean ups which we have learned are taking place around Lucan on a regular basis. These are being initiated by individuals and local residents. Now wouldn't it be great if more people followed suit!

As we mentioned last week, we are inviting everyone to take part in Lucan Spring Clean Week - commencing officially on this coming Monday 26th April, but of course, earlier if you are ready to go!

. Let's put our best efforts into making Lucan a clean, tidy and pleasant place for all to enjoy. As you know, due to the restrictions on numbers and movements, all in the interests of preventing the spread of Covid 19, we cannot organise to meet and work together in groups. We suggest that individuals/families pick an area nearby and do a litter pick on any day that suits. If anyone is looking for a specific area to clean up, we can allocate around Lucan village.

If you could send some photos via whatsapp, we would transfer to our facebook. This way, we can all gain heart in seeing just how much is happening to combat litter.

Contact Catherine at Lucan Tidy Towns if you need supplies - pickers, bags, gloves, hi viz. Also, we can arrange collection points through South Dublin Co Co.
Tel. 0879468271

Liffey Sound 96.4fm

Tune into Liffey Sound 96.4FM this weekend for a very different mix of music and chat!

Saturday
10am - Blast from the past - 50's, 60's & 70's music presented by Terry Callaghan
4pm - Hot Hits - Kelly Darcy keeps us up to date with the latest from the Irish Hip Hop scene
8pm - Sarah C's Electro house session - Sarah Cahill plays an hour of the greatest DJ's

Sunday
10am - Out of this world - Religious based programme with music & interviews presented by Pat Quinn
11am – Bookline - Teresa Quinn interviews local and national authors about their new releases
12pm – Operaworks - Michael Bourke presents an hour of Opera & classical music
2pm - Cracklin' Country - An hour of the best of Country music with Mick Roche
4pm - Down Penny Lane - Colm Grogan takes a nostalgic trip past strawberry fields and down Penny lane
5pm - Music Parade - Join Pat Mcgee for a 2 hour mix of music and chat
8pm - Country Sounds - Country & Western music as well as ballads from around the counties with Padraig McGarrigle

Liffey Sound 96.4FM- Lucan's Community Radio Station

www.liffeysoundfm.ie or catch up on Facebook

St. Mary’s Camera Soirée

Fortunately Rose’s photo of the grey heron last week did not capture the more brutal side of nature as was displayed during the week when a photo of a grey heron eating a duckling featured on the front page of the Irish Times. Maybe in these difficult times readers could have been spared this regardless of the expertise of the photographer.

This week there is evidence that members of our group are venturing more than 5 km from home at long last. Amongst the highlights for me are some black and white photos of railway tracks taken by Paddy and Conor is out and about again capturing sea life for us.

I’ve even taken out my camera but I have nothing to show in the Newsletter this week. Unfortunately, I let the battery go flat and I was not able to recharge it. The result was an expenditure of €80 on a new battery. I ordered it on line and it was delivered within two days and I was spared the hassle of going into the city to buy one in person. I’ll make sure I keep this one charged in the future.

With the way the vaccines are beginning to roll out we can have some hope that we will be able to meet up at least outdoors again in the coming months.

Age Action for all Older People

Age Action are offering five hours tutoring, remotely, to anyone who needs support using their smartphone, tablet or laptop. Covering topics like how to set up an email, how to download an app, how to use video calling to see your loved ones etc.

For more information, please call 01 4756989 or email gettingstarted@ageaction.ie

Lucan Library

For information on events in Lucan and South Dublin Libraries, see our ‘Archive’ edition in PDF format. Scroll down to ‘Archive’, and click on the date

Lucan Citizens Information Centre

www.citizensinformation.ie

COVID-19 19 has changed the service we offer to the public. Our drop-in service is not currently available, but we are taking phone calls, answering emails, and providing a call back service.

Call us on 0761 07 5090, leave a message with your name and number and we will get an Information Officer to return your call within 2 working days.

Or you can email your query to us at dscis@citinfo.ie and someone will reply.

Citizens Information Phone Service (CIPS) 0761 07 4000 operates on Monday to Friday 9 am to 8 pm.

MABS
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service is the State’s money advice service, guiding people through dealing with problem debt for over twenty years. MABS Clondalkin phone 0761 07 2270 or email clondalkin@mabs.ie

Warning about phone call scams
The Department of Social Protection and the Office of the Attorney General have issued warnings about phone call scams and advises people not to give their PPS number or personal information to a caller who claims to work for either of those offices.
More information is available on
https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/36d10-department-of-social-protection-warns-members-of-the-public-over-latest-sophisticated-phone-and-text-scams/
https://www.thejournal.ie/public-warned-of-phone-scam-attorney-general-5412424-Apr2021/

PRSI and early retirement Information
Early retirement usually means retirement before the age of 65.

Early retirement may happen because you have to retire from your job at a certain age, because you choose to take early retirement or because you have been let go. Sometimes people who are described as taking early retirement have actually been made redundant. Others who have been obliged to take early retirement may regard themselves as unemployed and there are special provisions for older jobseekers.

This document outlines your entitlements to social welfare benefits if you retire early and what arrangements you should make to keep your entitlement to a state pension.

If you are made redundant, you may get a statutory redundancy lump sum. If you retire early, for whatever reason, you may be entitled to Jobseeker's Benefit and later to Jobseeker's Allowance. You may also be eligible for a range of back to work and back to education schemes.

If you do retire early you should organise to continue your PRSI contributions so that your entitlement to a State Pension (Contributory) is maintained (see 'Credits' below).

Rules
If you are made redundant
If you are made redundant, you may qualify for a statutory redundancy lump sum payment. The statutory (that means laid down by law) lump sum is the minimum sum that you must get. A higher payment may of course be negotiated with your employer, either by you or by your union. You can get more information about redundancy on our website.

If you are unemployed
Whether you consider yourself to be retired or unemployed, you may be eligible for Jobseeker's Benefit (JB) if you are aged under 66. You may then be eligible for Jobseeker's Allowance (JA).

If you are claiming JA or JB and you are 62 or over you are not required to engage with the activation process and you will not be subject to penalty rates for non-engagement. Note that to qualify for either Jobseeker’s Benefit or Allowance you must be genuinely seeking work and be available for full-time employment and these conditions will continue to apply to older jobseekers. You can voluntarily avail of a range of supports (for example, training or employment support programmes) from the Department of Social Protection. Read more in our document on older jobseekers.
Jobseeker's Benefit (JB)
To qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit (JB), you must, among other things, be unemployed, aged under 66, capable of work, available for work and genuinely seeking work.

If you are aged under 55 and you have received a redundancy payment of more than €50,000, you may be disqualified from JB for 9 weeks.

You can do a certain amount of work and continue to get some Jobseeker's Benefit. You should check with the Department of Social Protection before taking up work to see exactly what the effect will be. As a general rule, JB is payable for either 9 months or 6 months. However, if you are aged between 65 and 66 when your JB would normally end, you can continue to get it until the age of 66, provided you meet the PRSI requirements. Find out more about qualifying for a payment at 65.

Jobseeker's Allowance (JA)
If you have used up your entitlement to JB or you are not entitled to JB because you do not have enough PRSI contributions, you can apply for Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) if you are under 66. You must, among other things, be unemployed, be capable of, available for and actively seeking work and pass a means test.

In general, if you have a reasonable level of pension from a former employer, you are unlikely to qualify for JA.

Back to education
If you have been getting an unemployment payment for some time, you may be eligible for the Back to Education Allowance.

Safeguarding your entitlements
If you are aged under 55 and you have received a redundancy payment of more than €50,000, you may be disqualified from JB for 9 weeks.

You can do a certain amount of work and continue to get some Jobseeker's Benefit. You should check with the Department of Social Protection before taking up work to see exactly what the effect will be.

Credits
You get social insurance credits while getting Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Allowance. So, if you are getting one of these benefits up to age 65 or 66, you do not need to do anything else to maintain your social insurance record.

If you do not qualify for Jobseeker's Allowance because you do not pass the means test, you can sign on for credits. Usually, you are allowed sign on once a month.

If you do not qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance because you are considered to be unavailable for work, you may not be able to sign on for credits either. If this is the case or if, for example, you want to spend all or part of your retirement abroad, you can become a voluntary contributor to social insurance. You should apply to the Department of Social Protection to become a voluntary contributor within a year of retirement.

Page edited on 8 February, 2021.

USEFUL SERVICES

J. Kelly Painting Services - No job too big or too small. Free Estimates. All Work Guaranteed.
Phone: 6236612 / 087-2346898.

BER Certificates Domestic & Commercial Assessor. DEC’s, Snag Lists, House Surveys. Compliance Certs.
Phone Niall MIEI C, Eng. 086-2300902. Email: niall@eeri.ie

Architectural Drafting Service - Planning Permission Sought. Drawings for Extensions. Retention Orders / Surveys.
Contact John 01 6060722. Mobile 087-9873876.

Clutter Out! Home Organisation - Attic and garages clear out services. Garden design, landscape and maintenance. Home cleaning. Handyman jobs and more. Local family business.
Call 087-6202989 / 087-2695739. www.westsidehomeandgarden.ie info@westsidehomeandgarden.ie

Greg & Orla Martin www.decorating.ie – Specialists in Hand Painted / Sprayed Kitchen and Furniture.
Contact: Greg 086-3944272, Orla 086-8804177, Dodsboro Cottages, Lucan.

The Cartridge Expert – Printer cartridge refills. All brands. Big savings.
Drop in or call us on 6219740. 10% discount if you mention Newsletter.

Lucan Window Cleaning - Six-day service. Fully insured. Established over 25 years.
Phone Aidan 086-2468886.

Handyman and Property Maintenance Service – Local tradesman. Insured and registered. Repairs, house and garden, windows cleaned, gutters cleaned and repaired.
Phone: 087-2530106 / 01 6249571.

Window Wizard – Be winter ready! Repairs to PVC windows and doors and draughty windows. Free window health check!
Call Conor 086-1206214.

Matt Smyth Building & Carpentry Services
(1st & 2nd Fix Qualified)
Roof Repairs, Barna Sheds Refelted, Kitchen Repairs, Wardrobes, All General Building & Carpentry.
Tel: 086-1042557

AL Landscapes – All kinds of trees expertly felled, pruned and removed. Roots destroyed. Roll on lawns. All types of trees shaped, topped and pruned. Garden rotivated, shaped and designed. Overgrown gardens restored. Mulch or top soil provided. Flower beds. Gravel supplied (choice of colours). Hedges trimmed and shrubs reshaped. All rubbish removed.
For a prompt response contact Andy: Office 01 6991158 (Mobile) 087-9904660 (9am-5pm).

FINANCE

Future Proof Finance – Mortgage Broker Life Assurance/Pensions/Savings/Investments. Lucan County Enterprise Centre.
Contact: Stephen Fallon QFA 086 602 1353 / 01 505 6934. info@futureproof.ie Futureprooffinance.ie
Future Proof Finance Ltd. is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

PETS

Woofters Dog Grooming – Karina Kerrigan. Grooming. Peamount Lane off Lucan Newcastle Road. D22 EA06
Phone: 01-6211855. www.wooftersdoggrooming.ie

HEALTH, BEAUTY, FITNESS etc.

Lucan Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Clinic® - Insomnia, Stress etc. VHI / Aviva etc.
Jacqueline McDonnell RGN RPN, Lic.Acu Nanjing. China.
Phone: 6217057. www.acupuncturelucan.com

O’Gradys Hearing Care at Dodsboro Clinic – Add Hearing to your health checklist. Have a Free Hearing Test.
Call 01-8025911. Enjoy Hearing Again. www.ogradyshearing.ie

CHILDCARE

Experienced Childminder Wanted in Lucan Village. Starting in September and minding in our own home is preferable. 12.30-6.00 Monday to Friday. School collection from St Mary’s Boys and Girls school then homework and light food preparation for both children. Girl is 6 and boy will soon be 5. Both well behaved children and guaranteed entertainment every day.
Living beside St Catherine’s Park and close to village so all amenities within walking distance. Driving License is also preferable.
Please contact 086-3201963 if interested.

Keane Minds Montessori School Earlsfort Residents Centre, Lucan. Free 'ECCE' Places – Mon to Fri 9am-12pm.
Ph: Cathy 086-6822449 / Linda 087-9748984, BA Hons Degree in Childcare.
www.keanemindsmontessori.com Give your child the best start in life.

GRINDS

Solomon Grinds - Classes will resume for Junior Cert and Leaving Cert students every Wednesday afternoon and Saturday. Cost is €17 per class. Contact Caitriona on 01-6284171 or 087-2745234. www.solomongrinds.ie

South Dublin Co. Co. on Dumping

Household Waste Collection Services are operating and Civic Amenity sites are open.

If you witness dumping contact 014149000/wasteregulation@sdublincoco.ie

COVID-19 Support Line for Older People

ALONE has launched a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Professional staff are available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary. The support line is open every day 8am-8pm, (including weekends) Please call 0818 222 024.