Other News In Brief

Bus Strike Looms

There could soon be industrial action at Bus Éireann following the collapse of talks regarding the company's cost-cutting plans. Management who are planning to shed 320 jobs and remove 160 buses from the company's fleet have failed to reach agreement with the unions with a break down due to a row over the appointment of temporary drivers causing a rift. SIPTU wants the firm to appoint 40 probationary drivers to permanent positions, but Bus Éireann is refusing to do so until an overall agreement is reached on the €25m cost-cutting plan.

Road Fatality Victim Named

Gardaí have identified the pedestrian who was fatally injured when he was struck by a bus at Ormond Quay, Dublin, on Wednesday. He was hit at 3.30pm and although the man was taken by ambulance to the Mater Hospital, he was later pronounced dead. He was 63-year-old, John Halloran of Heskin Court, Elm Park, Dublin 4.

Fire Station Opens

A new fire station will officially open in Co Donegal's Gweedore this evening. The new station has been built on the existing site at the Gweedore Business Park at a cost of €700,000. The project is one of a number of new stations being built around the county to ensure fire fighters have all the necessary facilities required by today's standards. Chief Fire Officer for Donegal Bobby McMenamin said progress is slowly being made throughout the county.

Lenihan Spotlights Economy

The Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan said there is a "great deal of denial" among people about the economic situation. He was speaking at an Intertrade Ireland economic conference in Dublin and said banks must return to a conservative traditional approach and said the Government had to prevent banks from failing. But, he added that the State cannot nationalise the remaining banks although he believes the Government had taken "decisive steps" to stablise the economy.

Tallaght School Building Scheme Opened

A €3.5m building project has been officially opened at Scoil Santain gaelscoil in Tallaght, Dublin. The project comprises a mainstream classroom, library and storage room. Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe said the project was a "fine example" of the government’s ongoing school building programme, which he said has been "ramped up over the past decade to meet the accommodation needs of students and teachers". "Over €610m has been earmarked this year for school building projects," said the Minister.

West-Based Tesco Avoids Strike

Staff at Tesco stores in Sligo and Leitrim are not taking part in the planned strike action by employees throughout the country. Mandate trade union has served strike notice on 19 Tesco stores around the country. However, workers in the stores in Limerick, Wicklow, Carlow, Longford, Tipperary, Dublin, Kerry, Kildare, Meath and Wexford voted overwhelmingly in favour of the action in a dispute over what the union says is a reduction of workers hours. The strike will take place on July 2nd and it will be followed by two more days of action the following week.

€250 Cork Hospital Gets Green-Light

Plans have been approved for a new €250m Cork hospital scheme. An Bord Pleanala granted planning permission to Beacon Medical Group (BMG) to construct the co-located facility at Cork University Hospital.

(BMcC/NS)