Prestigious awards caps off memorable two weeks for Offaly counselling service
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Community counselling centre, Accessible Counselling Tullamore (ACT), has had plenty of reasons to celebrate recently.
The centre which had its first anniversary on January 20 has been growing from strength to strength despite opening just before the Covid-19 crisis hit.
“2020 was a year like none of us have experienced and the global pandemic is greatly affecting people’s general mood and mental health. We have all had to cope with lockdowns and isolation from family and friends, businesses closing, uncertainty around work, illness, grief, anxiety, fear and many more issues. We are very grateful to have been open to give people a safe, confidential space where they could talk about their issues with one of our qualified counsellors,” said James O’Connor, ACT’s founding member.
The Association representing Social Workers has apologised unreservedly for the "pain and distress" caused by failings of the profession highlighted in the Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes.
A public servant with a full 40 years of service will retire on an annual pension equivalent to half of their salary and a tax-free lump sum of one-and-a-half times their annual pay.
The statisticians have calculated the amount of money owed to households by private employers and the Government on all occupational pension schemes, the so-called liabilities of these schemes.
The CSO said the total liabilities of occupational pension schemes in Ireland were estimated at 186pc of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The total liability equated to a staggering €607.9bn, when the State pension, private sector pensions and public sector pensions are added together.
COVID-19: Animals face slaughter if zoo funding is not addressed by government, charity warns originalfm.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from originalfm.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
BBC News
By Manish Pandey
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Animals are at risk unless the government changes its Covid-19 funding for zoos, a charity has warned.
The Zoo Animals Fund was created by the government to help zoos facing financial trouble in the pandemic with £100m available.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, the British and Irish Association for Zoos and Aquariums (Biaza) says the fund has failed to provide adequate support.
It claims many zoos are unable to access the money.
Out of 300 licensed zoos, 34 have been awarded funding, with a further 23 applications being processed.
Biaza says this makes up £6m of the £100m available and major wildlife attractions such as London Zoo remain ineligible for help.