The Public Sector Magazine - 2019 Awards Edition

the magazine for public sector providers & decision makers

2019

AWARDS ISSUE

RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE

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ISSUE 2019

AWARDS ISSUE 2019

the m

the

the

Ireland’s dedicated magazine for the

Public Sector, Semi-State Bodies and

Civil Servants.

The recognition of peers is important in any sector but for

one as vital as the Irish Public Sector, every accolade adds to

a brand’s credibility. Corporate awards enhance a company’s

reputation, help employees take pride in their work and instil

confidence in customers about the quality and professionalism

of an organisation. An award by any measure is a sign of

excellence. This Awards publication recognises excellence in

key providers to the Irish Public Sector acknowledging the

professionalism of companies that excel in what they do.

Public

Public

Sector

Sector

Magazine

Magazine

Public Sector Magazine

1

1

1

Editor:

Trish Phelan

trish@devlinmedia.org

2019

Design:

Minx Design

www.minxdesign.ie

Production Manager:

Joanne Punch

joanne@devlinmedia.org

Copy:

Elaine Harley

elaineharley@devlinmedia.org

A Devlin Media Publication

3

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Age Friendly City Community

COMING

OF AGE

Excellence in Business Awards 2019

Dublin City Council

Age Friendly City Community

Dublin was the first capital city in the world to adopt a citywide approach to

becoming Age Friendly. Dublin City Age Friendly is part of a shared service hosted

by Meath County Council, which supports and provides technical guidance to 31

local authorities.

Dublin’s Age Friendly Programme is working to create

the kinds of communities in which older people can live

autonomous and valued lives, focusing on actions and

developments to support people of all ages to enjoy

healthier, more active and connected lives.

Dublin City Age Friendly provides a variety of services, the

most notable being their Housing with Support initiative in

Inchicore (HWS), which will provide 52 homes on St. Michael’s

Estate. This project is the first of its kind in that it has been crossorganisational

from its inception working in collaboration

with Dublin City Architects, Housing & Community Services,

Department of Health, Department of Housing, Planning

and Local Government and the Health Services Executive.

Following a tender process, Circle VHA and ALONE were

jointly successful in obtaining the respective development

and management of this initiative. The HWS model brings

together a range of services and supports - principally relating

to housing, community, social and care - that have historically

been provided in “silos”. It seeks to provide an appropriate

physical and supportive environment that enables older

residents to live full lives in their own homes within their own

community, thereby promoting independence and reducing

or deferring the need to move into long term residential care.

4

The overall aim of this project is to develop a new

model of housing for older people where the key

components; physical environment and care supports

are provided onsite with older people at the centre.

Dublin City Age Friendly also provides training,

age friendly business recognition training, public

realm training for architects and planners, dementia

awareness training and in-house training. They

launched their own training model ‘’Dublin City’s

Guide to Age Friendly Communication’’ on 2nd July

2019. Dublin City Age Friendly also act as consultants

on a variety of in-house project and encourage all

departments to consult with older people. They

provide a Walkability Audit Toolkit for communities

that has led to many changes and additions within

areas, for example, additional seating. They also

undertook a Walkability Audit of Dublin City Council

Headquarters with the support of the Older Person’s

Councils which has triggered the implementation

of requested improvements in the atrium of the

building. Dublin City Age Friendly have also worked

collaboratively with the Lion’s Club and Dublin Fire

Brigade in distributing ‘’Message in a Bottle’’ units

a simple but effective idea designed to encourage

people to keep their personal and medical details on

a standard form and in a common location - normally

the fridge. While it focuses on more vulnerable people,

there is a benefit for everyone as accidents can happen

to anyone in their home. The public sector is very

important to Dublin City Age Friendly “because we

are all ageing,” says Beatrice Casserly, Dublin City

Age Friendly Programme Manager. “Ireland’s older

population is set to expand to 1.4 million people

by 2040. If we do not start to consider the older

population now, we will wind up with a crisis later.”

Dublin City’s Guide to Age Friendly Communication

is a training mode, based completely on how

staff communicate to all members of the public.

“Throughout this project, we have collaborated

with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Centre for

Excellence in Universal Design,” explains Ms Casserly.

“From working with these groups and consulting with

our Older Person’s Councils, we have been able to

implement the voices of a wider cohort of people.

We hope that this will enable this booklet to be

cross-organisational, as well as multi-generational.”

Closing Ms Casserly comments: “when you design

with older persons in mind you design for all.” In such

safe hands it is clear that Dublin is a fine example of a

positive, age friendly city.

5

Changing Housing for the Better

Public, Private, Partnership in Practice

Delivering more Homes

for more people

Cork | Dublin | Dundalk | Galway

Cork

Dublin

Dundalk

Galway

24 Marlboro Street

33 Leeson Street

17 Church St

4th Floor

Cork

Lower

Dundalk, Louth

Heritage Hall

021-427 3508

Dublin 2

T 042 942 3400

Kirwan’s Lane

01-676 1602

Galway

091-393280

Email: info@tuathhousing.ie

www.tuathhousing.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Housing Association of the Year

DELIVERING

HOMES

Excellence in Services Awards 2019

Tuath Housing

Housing Association of the Year

Tuath Housing is one of Ireland’s fastest growing Approved Housing Bodies set to

hit 5,000 homes in 2019, housing over 14,000 adults and children. Tuath works in

partnership with every local authority in Ireland.

Tuath has four regional offices in Cork, Dublin, Dundalk

and Galway and has increased the scale of provision in

recent years using the provision of capital grants and loans

in the form of CALF (Capital Advance Leasing Facility) and

CAS (Capital Assistance Scheme) from The Department of

Housing, Planning and Local Government and using loans

from the private sector through the HFA (Housing Finance

Agency), AIB (Allied Irish Bank), Ulster Bank and Bank of

Ireland.

By maintaining a high level of output of social homes, Tuath

and sister housing associations act as a conduit between

the public and the private sectors, combining social and

economic aims to best effect. It proves that the housing

association sector can play a significant part in helping to

unblock housing supply. Tuath aims to maintain momentum

for the remainder of 2019 and will continue to play its part

in Rebuilding Ireland. Tuath is heading for another recordbreaking

year with 1,000 plus new social homes set for

delivery in partnership with councils nationwide. Tuath

will continue to work in partnership with Local Authorities

to provide family housing in both urban and rural areas,

homeless accommodation and supported housing for the

elderly and people with disabilities.

Chairman of Tuath’s Board, Eamonn Gavigan has noted that

“going forward, our focus will be to grow whilst ensuring

our business is equally sustainable. We will also build on our

financial strength via annual surpluses and by making these

surpluses work for us to buy and build more housing whilst

putting away sufficient financial reserves for the long-term

repair of existing homes”.

Tuath is set for another busy year in 2020 with its goal to reach

7,000 homes by 2021. Tuath is always looking to create new

partnerships to work alongside local authorities, developers,

state agencies and financial institutions to help provide more

homes for more people.

7

8 Houses under construction

at Rathvilly, Carlow by Council.

Delivering high quality social

housing though a capital delivery

programme funded by the

Department of Housing, Planning

and Local Government under the

Rebuilding Ireland Programme

Carlow County Council

County Buildings,

Athy Road,

Carlow.

Tel: 059 91 70300

www.carlow.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Services to Housing

MEETING

HOUSING NEEDS


Carlow County Council

Excellence in Services to Housing

Carlow County Council is responsible for the provision of a broad range of services in

County Carlow for a population of 56,932 people.

One of the key services that the council provides is housing,

which covers a broad spectrum including the provision of high

quality social housing through a capital delivery programme

funded by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local

Government under the Rebuilding Ireland Programme.

The council works towards its objectives through direct

builds by the council, collaboration with approved housing

bodies, the housing agency and the private sector. The

council also handles leasing, estate management, a traveller

accommodation programme, asset management of a

housing stock of 1,700 properties and growing, provision of

Rebuilding Ireland home loans, homeless services, rental and

housing assistance schemes.

According to Director of Services Michael Brennan, housing

is one of the key challenges facing the council and the

housing department is proactively meeting this challenge

by working in collaboration with the Department of Housing,

Planning and Local Government, the approved housing

body sector, housing agencies, the private sector and

elected members. “The delivery of housing services on the

ground is only possible through

the hard work of a dedicated

and committed staff team in

the housing department,”

explains Mr Brennan. “The

council are delivering a suite of

housing solutions to reach our

targets under the Rebuilding

Ireland Programme,” he adds.

This ambitious aim is being

achieved through the council

housing construction capital

programme. It includes turnkey

developments, return of vacant

properties into use for homes,

compulsory purchase orders,

purchase of units and leasing.

Brownshill, Carlow respectively and the council currently has

56 units under construction.

“We are confident that our housing target figure can be

delivered in the current year and this is very important for

Carlow but also in the context of regional and national

targets,” explains Brennan. “Carlow County Council is

fully committed to delivering the targets outlined in the

Rebuilding Ireland Programme over the next number of years

and has a strong delivery pipeline in place with its partners.

It has a range of residential sites with construction underway

and is proactively seeking and advancing a further series of

sustainable schemes through various procurement, design,

planning and construction processes.”

A very busy time is ahead for all involved but Carlow County

Council seems well equipped for the challenge. “Success will

be achieved through hard work and by examining all solutions

and methods under the Rebuilding Ireland Programme with

all stakeholders in a proactive way to deliver homes and

sustainable communities for our people.”

The national social housing

target (Rebuilding Ireland

Programme 2018-2021) for

delivery by the council for

build, acquisition and leasing

is 309 homes with a total target

of 233 homes earmarked for

delivery in 2019 through these

methods. A total of 77 units have

been delivered by Clúid and

Túath housing associations at

Sleatty Street, Graiguecullen and

Dr. Frances Hardiman (Head of Faculty of Engineering); Dr. Patricia Mulcahy (President); Dr. David Allen (Athena Swan, Faculty

Project Manager); Aislinn Glennon (Lecturer in Electronic Engineering) and Dr. Yvonne Kavanagh (Assistant Registrar)

9

“Ireland’s housing

development must be

a strategic priority” -

Fidelma McManus, Partner and

Head of Housing, Beauchamps

Housing demand in Ireland is higher now more than ever, but getting projects over the line

is an ongoing challenge. Beauchamps specialist housing team has unrivalled insights into

the legalities involved in the provision of all types of housing, particularly social housing.

We have a deep understanding of the unique and complex issues surrounding regulatory and governance

matters and recognise that housing development as a strategic investment requires bespoke legal advice.

Our ability to deliver practical, innovative and commercial solutions ensures our clients succeed.

To see how we can help you, contact:

Fidelma McManus, Partner and Head of Housing

E: f.mcmanus@beauchamps.ie

T: +353 (0) 1 4180 600

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Housing Services

Best Property Team

BEAUCHAMPS


Beauchamps


Best Property Team

Established in 1803, Beauchamps is now a modern and ambitious firm with over 200

professional staff including more than 100 lawyers.

The firm is at the forefront of legal developments and

innovation in the public sector and works closely with

government departments, state bodies and semi-state

organisations, educational institutions, agencies, local

authorities, charities, approved housing bodies, regulators

and disciplinary bodies and private organisations.

“We are particular experts in navigating the challenges

of increasing and maintaining the level of social housing

construction in Ireland with our specialised housing team,”

explains Fidelma McManus, Partner & Head of Housing.

“Our lawyers’ approach is to not just identify problems, but

focus on developing tailored solutions that will best meet our

public sector clients’ unique needs.”

This multi-disciplinary team, led by Fidelma, comprises

lawyers with a track record in advising a variety of clients

as they deliver landmark projects and innovative solutions,

particularly in the housing and social housing sectors. “We

provide our public sector clients with legal advice in property,

construction, project finance, regulatory, procurement &

competition, corporate, banking & finance, employment,

and litigation,” adds Fidelma.

The public sector is an important

one for Beauchamps as the firm is

dedicated to the development of

our society, our economy and the

communities in which we operate. “We

have a substantial client base in this

sector who face unique and complex

issues surrounding regulatory and

governance matters and the prosperity

of Ireland’s society relies on these

issues being handled strategically and

in a pragmatic way,” Fidelma says.

“We understand that the demands on

the sector, particularly in the provision

of housing, have increased year on

year, and getting projects over the line

has become a notable challenge.”

cases we continue to be involved with.

“Most recently, Beauchamps has appointed partner, Stephen

McLoughlin, to lead our firm’s public and regulatory law

team, having strong expertise in providing strategic advice

and acting on behalf of various stakeholders in the space.”

The priority for Beauchamps at all times is to deliver the

highest standard of sector specific legal advice to clients.

Citing an example, Fidelma looks to the housing sector where

the firm has invested in building an extensive knowledge

base and has established a close working relationship with

housing market participants and stakeholders including

AHBs, local authorities, funds (including through SPV and

ICAV structures), developers and lending institutions.

“Working together day-to-day we build trusting relationships

to facilitate continuous familiarity with our clients’ and their

specific needs.”

It is clear that Beauchamps has indeed built trusted

relationships with both clients and stakeholders. In

recognition of this and a strong commitment to housing in

Ireland, Beauchamps have been awarded the Excellence in

Housing Services - Best Property Team 2019.

Speaking of her firm’s commitment to

social housing Fidelma explains: “our

plans and commitment are particularly

evidenced by our role in acting for a

bidder for Social Housing PPP Bundle

2, acting on a joint venture project

to deliver a pilot affordable housing

scheme and in the significant number

of key public sector instructions and

11

GREEN IS

THE CITY

The 2019 Public Sector Environment Award goes to the EU Commission in recognition

of the success of the European Green Capital Award which is presented to cities which

have excelled in sustainable urban living.

Pictured at the award presentation in Dublin Castle: PJ Rudden RPS Director, Minister Eoghan Murphy TD, Daniel Calleja Crespo Director General DG

Environment, and Louise Connolly RPS Project Manager. The image was provided courtesy of Paul Holmes Photography.

The European Commission has won the Public Sector

Magazine Award for its European Green Capital Award

initiative. It was presented in Dublin to the Director

General of DG Environment, Daniel Calleja Crespo by the

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Eoghan Murphy TD.

DG Calleja was accompanied by RPS Director, PJ Rudden

and RPS Project Manager, Louise Connolly, who are part

of the EU Commission Secretariat for the European Green

Capital Award (EGCA). The Secretariat is responsible

for the technical, environmental and communications

management of the awards. The Award was made to the

EU Commission for its 10 years in initiating and growing

the success of the European Green Capital Award. This is

an annual award set up by the EU Commission in 2008 for

a city that excels in sustainable urban living, has ambitious

future goals and is capable of acting as a role model for

other cities. RPS has been secretariat for 8 of the last 11

years.

The European Green Capital Award (EGCA) is open to

cities with a population over 100,000. Due to its success

a similar competition, the European Green Leaf Award

12

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

EU Commission

The

public

Sector Magazine

Environment Award 2019

EU Commission

(EGLA), was created in 2015 for cities with populations

of 20,000 and up to 100,000 inhabitants.

Since 2008 there have been 11 EGCA winning cities

– Stockholm, Sweden (2010); Hamburg, Germany

(2011); Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain (2012); Nantes, France

(2013); Copenhagen, Denmark (2014); Bristol, UK

(2015); Ljubljana, Slovenia (2016); Essen, Germany

(2017); Nijmegen, Netherlands (2018), Oslo, Norway

(2019) and Lisbon, Portugal (2020).

To date there have been seven winners of the European

Green Leaf drawn from six Member States. The cities

of Mollet del Vallès, Spain and Torres Vedras, Portugal

were awarded the European Green Leaf Award in 2015,

Galway, Ireland, in 2017, Leuven, Belgium and Växjö,

Sweden, in 2018 and Cornellà de Llobregat, Spain and

Horst aan de Maas, The Netherlands, in 2019.

Cities are initially technically assessed by an international

panel of experts on 12 environmental indicators for

the EGCA and six topic areas for the EGLA. Shortlisted

cities then present to an international Jury chaired

by the European Commission with members drawn

from representative bodies including the Committee

of the Regions, Covenant of Mayors, European

Environment Agency and ICLEI – Local Governments

for Sustainability.

environmental problems to address but by sharing

these issues and solutions that learning is transferred

from city to city. Examples of issues addressed include

the need to adapt to future climate change, to better

manage our water resources and transform waste

management into circular economy solutions,” he said.

“This Award celebrates the many cities who have

entered the competition, have been shortlisted and

who have won – all of whom are determined to

exchange ideas, learn more sustainable practices, to

inspire others and to collaborate in the future as a

network of European cities.

To date, some 86 cities have entered the awards drawn

from 26 Member States which indicates a high level of

engagement over the past 11 years. We will continue

to build on this enthusiasm of cities to be leaders of

urban sustainability and to inspire other cities.”

The European Green Capital 2020 award winner was

announced at the Awards Ceremony in June 2018

from a shortlist of three cities – Ghent (Belgium),

Lahti (Finland) and Lisbon (Portugal) with Lisbon being

designated the 2020 EGCA winner. The winners of

the European Green Leaf Award 2019 are Cornellà

de Llobregat, Spain and Horst aan de Maas, The

Netherlands.

This annual competition among cities has grown to

be a very significant environmental initiative across

the Member States from north to south and from

east to west, according to the Director General of DG

Environment, Daniel Calleja Crespo.

“Each city has its own unique character and

Winning Cities

2010: Stockholm

2011: Hamburg

2012: Vitoria Gasteiz

2013: Nantes

2014: Copenhagen

2015: Bristol

2016: Ljubljana

2017: Essen

2018: Nijmegen

2019: Oslo

2020: Lisbon

13

Offaly County Council

Shaping the County’s smart future

www.offaly.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Digital Information Services

DRIVING

ECONOMIC

AMBITIONS


Offaly County Council

Digital Information Services

Offaly County Council is shaping the county’s smart future with primary school children

through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) using VEX IQ Robotics.

Earlier this year, Offaly County Council in partnership with

the Department of Rural and Community Development and

Cork Institute of Technology delivered an exciting new digital

programme to 16 primary schools in the county. VEX Robotics

is an exciting programme where primary school children

from 5-12 years learn about STEM in an engaging way. They

design, build, code and compete with their robot and it gives

children as young as five years old their first opportunity to

learn about engineering and robotics while having fun.

The VEX IQ Challenge game is played on a 4’x8’ rectangular

field. Two robots compete in the Teamwork Challenge as

an alliance in 60-second-long teamwork matches, working

collaboratively to score points. Teams also compete in the

Robot Skills Challenge where one robot takes the field to

score as many points as possible. These matches consist of

Driving Skills Matches, which will be entirely driver controlled,

and Programming Skills Matches, which will be autonomous

with limited human interaction.

The object of the game is to attain the highest score by

scoring and stacking coloured Hubs in Building Zones,

removing Bonus Hubs from the Hanging Structure and by

Parking or Hanging on the Hanging Bar.

Going forward the Council will host and organise the “Offaly

VEX IQ Championship” each year at Civic HQ in Áras an

Chontae where students, teachers, parents, industry and

elected members will be invited to attend. The overall

winner each year will have the opportunity to represent

Offaly in the national VEX IQ finals in Cork. Schools will also

get an opportunity to visit industries and companies in the

midlands where robotics are used. This year we hosted the

competition in May with over 300 primary school students

15

taking part. There were guest judges from some of

Offaly’s award winning engineering companies such

as Grant Engineering, Romequip and EMSS involved,

all of whom use robotics in their businesses.

Primary school is the most formative time in a young

student’s life and with the VEX Robotics Competition,

students are tasked with designing and building a robot

to play against other schools in a game-based challenge.

“The best way to instil a lifelong interest in the areas

of STEM is to provide a fun, engaging and hands-on

opportunity for students to explore and experience for

themselves,” explains Head of Information Technology

& Broadband/Digital Officer, Ray Bell. “Classroom

STEM concepts are put to the test as students learn

lifelong skills in teamwork, leadership, communications

and more. It is great to see everyone bringing their

STEM skills to life by designing and building robots to

play against each other,” he said.

The competition is inclusive, with most teams

consisting of full primary classes, giving every student

early exposure to technology. Schools involved had to

ensure that girls and boys were equally represented

on the school teams. “This is key to building the

pipeline of talent to continue Ireland’s thriving

technology industry,” stresses Bell.

Providing STEM Education of the highest quality is

essential if Ireland is to deliver on its ambitions to be a

hub of technological creativity and an innovation leader.

‘Innovation 2020’, Ireland’s strategy for Research and

Development, Science and Technology, highlights the

critical importance of excellence in STEM Education

to ensure the continuous development of a pipeline

of talent to support both Foreign Direct Investment

and an active ecosystem for indigenous start-ups. This

programme will drive Offaly’s economic ambitions,

support innovation and provide the foundations for

future prosperity in the county.

“Offaly County Council believes that this programme

is needed to ensure today’s students are qualified for

the jobs of tomorrow,” explains Bell. “The new global

economy requires a robust workforce, flush with knowhow

in STEM subjects. Few factors are more important

to Ireland’s future competitiveness and innovation than

education. This programme is an ideal introduction

to students who we hope will drive Offaly’s economic

ambitions, support innovation and provide the

foundations for future prosperity in the county.”

Martina Needham, Senior Executive Librarian with

Offaly County Council, added; “Primary school

students are at the perfect age to begin their STEM

education and this project gives them an early

opportunity to hone their teamwork, creativity and

analytical skills. This programme really demonstrated

the interest amongst young people to engage with

STEM at the earliest opportunity with over 300

students involved from across the county. Schools

showcased their creativity and innovation and

16

credit has to go to the students and their teachers. The

creativity on display at the Offaly championship proves

we have talented future engineers and developers in the

county.”

The Offaly initiative enables students to design, create

& engineer solutions for identified problems, in this case

the VEX IQ Challenge Game. According to Head of IT,

Ray Bell, STEM education is a key objective for Offaly

County Council. VEX Robotics is just one of a number of

exciting initiatives Offaly County Council is supporting

to drive STEM education, research and jobs. He cites

Birr in County Offaly as home to I-LOFAR, the new radio

telescope. This Irish station is part of a €150m European

project and once again puts Offaly at the forefront of

science and discovery. In addition, Birr Castle Gardens

and Science Centre provides STEM training to school

children and visitors, while SFI-funded space camps are

conducted in the new I-LOFAR Education Centre and on

an outreach basis to teachers and school children in the

Midlands region. Meanwhile, Offaly County Council is

also working on a new initiative called STREAM Creative

Suite which will utilise I-LOFAR’s big data to provide

unique opportunities for researchers and businesses.

The STEM VEX project in Offaly is hugely impressive and

likely to be taken up by many other councils. Offaly County

Council plans to extend the programme to additional

primary schools at the start of the new school year and

to introduce the more advanced VEX EDR Programme to

secondary schools in the county.

Offaly County Council are to be commended for their

innovative and proactive approach. They are future

proofing the county and its students in an exciting and

engaging way. This project will undoubtedly ensure that

today’s students are qualified for the jobs of tomorrow.

17

Wexford County Council

Providing

Quality

Sustainable

Baile Eoghain, Gorey

Social

Housing

Ard Uisce, Wexford

in the

Local

Community

Castlebridge, Wexford

OUTRIGHT WINNERS


WEXFORD

COUNTY COUNCIL

The Housing Department within Wexford County Council initiates, implements and

manages a range of services to serve the county’s needs in relation to housing and

community services.



Housing and Community

Housing Services County Council

Wexford County Council’s housing department actively

manages and maintains a housing stock of over 5,000 homes,

provides support services to all social housing tenants,

provides emergency accommodation for homeless people,

operates a refugee resettlement programme and provides

grants to improve housing conditions for older people and

people with disabilities.

“Providing high quality, high performing and sustainable

homes is very important to Wexford County Council and

underpins the commitment made to the people of County

Wexford, this would be a priority of the Council”, explains

CEO Tom Enright.

“In 2016, Wexford County Council was the first Local

Authority in Ireland to adopt the ‘Nearly Zero Energy Building

Standard’ (nZEB) for all their new buildings. The decision to

mandate this commitment to sustainable building ensured

that Wexford County Council became a forerunner in a

sustainable building standard that is to become the national

standard in 2020.”

The outcome of providing high quality buildings has resulted in

a marked difference in the living conditions of the residents of

these homes. The quality of the buildings has also resulted in a

huge reduction in the cost of running the home. The average

running cost of these homes is approximately €800 per year,

which in some instances equates to a saving of over 60%.

Wexford County Council is continually striving to improve the

living conditions of the residents within County Wexford and

as such has carried out a number of projects over recent years.

One such project was to carry out a full radon inspection of all

existing housing stock. This involved establishing radon levels

and carrying out necessary remedial works. All houses that

had remedial works carried out are currently under a constant

monitoring process to ensure the reduced levels are maintained.

The council has also implemented a number of retro fit

programmes of its existing housing stock to improve the

insulation and performance levels of all houses with the aim

to eventually bring all houses in line with the standard set by

the new building programme.

Moving forward, Wexford County Council has an extensive

capital investment programme, with over 450 new homes to

be built by 2021. These projects will lead the way in sustainable

buildings and will be constructed with the latest technologies.

In order to increase the speed of delivery, Wexford County

Council will deliver a number of these units by means of Rapid

Delivery in order to serve the needs of the county. Under the

Rapid Delivery Framework, once a project goes to site, the

method of construction is expected to deliver one home per

week and by adopting the latest advances in construction

technology, this would be done without sacrificing quality or

performance and would maintain the value for money that

Wexford County Council has achieved over the last number

of years, delivering A rated homes at a cost of €155,000 for a 2

bed bungalow and €185,000 for a 3 bed semi-detached home.

Mr Tom Enright stated that “Wexford Counmty Council is

absolutely committedto delivering and actually exceeding its

targets under the current Rebuilding Ireland programme and

will continue to pursue every available opportunity to increase

our housing stock and develop a housing solution for as many

households as possible in Co. Wexford.”

19

Grange Castle

Business Park

www.grangecastle.ie

The ideal location

for innovation and

investment in Ireland

www.idaireland.com www.grangecastle.ie www.sdcc.ie

www.idaireland.com www.grangecastle.ie

www.sdcc.ie

GRANGE CASTLE BUSINESS PARK IS OWNED AND DEVELOPED BY SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

GRANGE CASTLE BUSINESS PARK IS OWNED AND DEVELOPED BY SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Business Development

– Grange Castle Business Park

AN INDUSTRIAL

HUB


SDCC - Grange Castle


- Grange Castle Business Park

South Dublin County Council is the local authority for the administrative county of

South Dublin and the owner of Grange Castle Business Park.

South Dublin County Council came into existence on the 1st

January 1994. It has an area of 222.74 square kilometres with

a population of 278,749 living in 92,363 homes and is the

location of some 6,500 businesses. The council in addition

to the statutory functions and services it provides, has a role

in delivering on the economic development of the county

and Grange Castle Business Park has been a significant

component of that delivery. The council has a proven 20-year

track record in the planning, development and management

of the business park in providing the necessary infrastructure

and in developing strong relationships with other key

agencies including utilities, IDA Ireland and others. The

business park is pro-actively managed by Grange Castle

Facilities Management Ltd which is responsible for the day

to day running of the park.

strive for growth through future proofing and continuous

capacity building. Ms Leonard says that it is for this reason

that Grange Castle Facilities Management has alongside

the IDA and utility partners, ensured a strong platform

upon which clients can, and have, grown at Grange Castle

Business Park.

“Crucial to this has been the service capacities available

which have met the immediate and long-term needs of client

businesses and enabled phased expansion,” she says. “Many

clients have taken a long-term view, opting for large sites

that, along with excellent services, have enabled their current

and ongoing expansion of their facilities. These expansions

are evidence of the foresight and confidence that they have

in Grange Castle Business Park as an industrial hub.”

According to Laura Leonard, Senior Executive

Office, Economic Development is of fundamental

importance and underpins the sustainable future

of the county. With a large young population

(The average age for the county is 35.5 years,

lower than the average for Leinster (36.6), Dublin

City (37.9) and the State (37.4).), accessible

employment centres in proximity to centres of

population are vital, and Grange Castle meets

these criteria. In addition, Dublin Airport and Port

are 30 minutes from Grange Castle, seven third

level institutes are within 35 minutes, also the

business park is ideally located for connectivity

to the national motorway network within 6km

of the M50 and adjacent national motorways. A

thriving business sector facilitates the ongoing

development of the county enabling investment

in areas of deprivation and providing for projects

such as the planned innovation centre to further

encourage and support business.

Last year, 500 acres to the west of Grange Castle

were rezoned of which the council own 400.

This area is being serviced with infrastructure

including an access road incorporating utilities

services. This will provide for serviced sites in

Grange Castle West to meet FDI and indigenous

business needs.

Grange Castle Business Park is a world class

campus with world leading clients, largely

because of the model of continuous investment

and planning over 20 years. Client companies

know that standing still means falling behind.

The best in business always look forward and

21

CORK

Your Smart Gateway to

Local to Success & Global Success

www.corkcoco.ie

www.localenterprise.ie/CorkNorthandWest

www.localenterprise.ie/CorkNorthandWest

/SouthCork

/SouthCork

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

County Council of the Year

TRANSFORM

AND THRIVE

Excellence in Business Awards

Education 2019

Cork County Council

County Council of the Year

Committed to enabling success across the entire county, Cork County Council aims for

the highest quality of service delivery.

“We want our communities and businesses to succeed,”

stresses Chief Executive Tim Lucey. “Funding forms a vital

part of this success and we need appropriate funding, now

more than ever, to fully deliver for our citizens.”

Cork has been set an ambitious but realistic target of delivering

in the region of 23% of the State’s overall population growth

over the next 20 years under the Government’s National

Planning Framework, Project Ireland 2040.

Project Ireland 2040, a €116 billion investment spread over

10 years, places a very strong priority on strengthening

rural economies and communities. As the population of the

country grows, balanced regional development will be vital

to ensure rural areas are attractive places for families to live.

A key component of Project Ireland 2040 is the Rural and

Urban Regeneration and Development Funds. These 10 year

funds, valued at €3 billion, aim to support the rejuvenation

of communities, create jobs and transform rural economies.

“It is my intention that anticipated growth will be infrastructure led

and in this context Cork County Council is capitalising on these

funding initiatives,” adds Lucey. To date, a total of €12,351,343 in

capital funding has been allocated to Cork County.

arrangement worth €130m from the European Investment

bank (EIB) and the Council of European bank (CEB) which

would, over the next decade, allow Cork County Council

to progress a broad range of projects across the county,”

explains Lucey.

This loan arrangement would allow Cork County Council

to develop a more strategic and medium term Capital

Investment Program. “It will enable us to be in a position to

avail of a variety of funding streams and deliver ‘shovel ready’

projects,” he says.

This is a highly strategic move by Cork County Council

allowing them to respond to Ireland 2040 and the Cork

County Development Plan. This is the first ever move by a

council for this type of strategic funding approach, with a

framework of schemes included in the capital programme

which will allow Cork County Council to be both progressive

and responsive to the needs of towns and villages.

Concluding, Lucey says: “Cork is a county of huge potential

and enormous diversity. My role is to ensure Cork can survive,

and thrive, during this period of serious change and realise

its potential as envisaged under the National Planning

Framework and National Development Plan.”

Cork County Council has secured funding support toward

the development of “Rural Digital Innovation Hubs Cork,

empowering rural innovation,” accelerating the delivery of a

specialised Rural Digital Innovation Hubs Strategy & Project

Pipeline Implementation Plan. This will realise a series of

cutting-edge Rural Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) across

Cork County in areas with a population of less than 10,000

across the county’s eight municipal districts, leveraging

particular regional attributes such as the potential of West

Cork for seafood and fisheries and North and East Cork for

food and agri-tech, amongst others.

Central to this is the criticality of the provision of cuttingedge

DIHs county-wide to encourage remote-working, hubworking,

co-working and indigenous job creation, through

entrepreneurship to leverage the rich enterprise asset base

and track record for which Cork County is renowned.

The DIHs will act as the central node in county towns,

connecting users and suppliers of digital innovation across

the value chain while fostering synergies between digital and

other key enabling technologies such as agri-tech, bio-tech

and food-tech.

“As a Council we have almost finalised a borrowing

Nicola Radley A/Director of Services Corporate Services and Chief Executive Cork County

Council Tim Lucey receive award for County Council of the Year

23

COMHAIRLE CATHRACH CHORCAÍ

CORK CITY COUNCIL

To achieve, in a sustainable

manner and in co-operation with

other key stakeholders, an enduring

and better quality of life and a

robust local economy in Cork by

balancing the relationship

between communities,

economic development and

environmental quality

Cork City Council, City Hall, Anglesea Street, Cork,

Tel: 021 4924000, Fax: 021 4314238, Email: corporateaffairs@corkcity.ie www.corkcity.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Housing & Community Services

A WATERSIDE

EUROPEAN CITY


Cork City Council

Housing and Community Services

The recently expanded Cork City is undergoing a development boom and the scale of

development is staggering.

Cork City has a growing population and it is expanding its

boundary so where are the homes, where are all these people

going to live and when they come, how will the council

ensure quality urban design, placemaking and sustainability?

Director of Services Brian Geaney’s primary role is looking

after the social pillar of housing provision. With the city

expanding he has responsibility for over 10,000 council

homes, making the council one of the largest housing

authorities in the country. This is exciting and a task not

without its challenges Geaney says. He believes that the key

to smart cities is the provision of an adequate supply of low

energy housing at a reasonable cost. He further believes that

high energy costs will be unsustainable in 10-years’ time and

likely to consume a major portion of disposable income so

finding sustainable housing solutions will require innovative

thinking and substantial changes in how the council operates.

The council’s achievements to date on the housing front are

highly visible, surpassing new build and acquisition

targets set by Government in 2018. Cork City

Council has substantially ramped up its resources

to action delivery this year, 2020 and beyond. It will

manage its programme through traditional and smart

procurement routes such as turn-key and traditional

building contracts, competitive dialogue procurement

and collaboration with approved housing bodies

and later this year, the delivery of affordable homes.

Innovative interventions have resulted in new

communities of social houses and apartments across

the city such as Church Road, Blackrock, Arus Mhuire,

Skehard Road, Togher, Knocknaheeny, Blackpool,

Leeside Apartments and others with novel schemes

well under construction to open this year in Deanrock,

Togher, Blarney Street, Boyce’s Street and White

Street. In addition, a pipeline of developments is

at various stages of procurement to deliver more

units across the city with a first affordable housing

scheme including social housing units are soon to

be launched to market at Boherboy Road consisting

of 147 new homes and the infrastructure for a whole

new community is about to be installed at Old

Whitechurch Road. This multi-million investment has

helped rekindle the construction industry in Cork

and is regenerating parts of the city. Novel works

carried out in the past year were the Arus Mhuire

Rightsizing Scheme for the elderly on Skehard Road

and the Redclyffe House Family Hub developed on

the Western Road with access to the Mardyke. The

Arus Mhuire right-sizing initiative is a unique 30-unit

scheme addressing the issue of ‘empty nesters’. It

provides accommodation for older people in their community

while simultaneously releasing surplus larger housing, both

public and private, to younger families. Rightsizing is an older

person’s active, positive choice to move home as a means of

improving their quality of life.

Quality of life is everything to Geaney and his team; in the

last fortnight alone the council approved planning consent

for a 35-unit downsizing apartment block in an innovative

proposal to convert the old EG Pettit’s offices at Springville

House, Blackrock to a residential community central to city

services.

Brian Geaney reckons that the key to success is feedback

and relationships with communities. He believes in leaning

towards relationships and taking action simultaneously.

Always listening he quips “The decisions and actions we take

or fail to take now will have a major influence on the future of

Cork’, a harbour of opportunities!”

25

CORK COUNTY LIBRARY

Free Membership

No Fines

Please visit our website

www.corkcoco.ie/Library-Services

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Library of the Year

A LITERARY

TRADITION


Cork County Library & Arts Service

Library of the Year

Cork County Library was founded in December 1925 under the local Government Act

1925. Today, 1.6 million people visit one of the 25 branch libraries or one of the four

mobile libraries in Cork County Library & Arts Service annually.

Over 1.2 million books are borrowed and enjoyed by library

customers who benefit from services such as Schools and

Children’s Services and programmes, local studies, ICT and

digital development, rural outreach and health, business and

employment and social inclusion programming.

The many services provided by the library are developed and

delivered by a highly professional team of library staff across

the county of Cork who deliver a modern, customer focussed

and responsive library service, meeting the needs of the

citizens of Cork County in their local communities.

Cork County Library Service provides an enhanced library

Service, going beyond the provision of national programmes

such as Healthy Ireland at Your Library, Work Matters and

Right to Read, to provide programmes such as the music

lending service ‘Sound Initiative’, The Baby Bear Programme

for parents, babies and toddlers, The ‘From the Well’ short

story competition and anthology, Your Good Self Programme,

Autism Awareness Libraries and much more.

The first County Librarian was Michael O’Donovan who was

better known as renowned short

story writer, author Frank O’Connor.

Continuing this literary tradition

to this present day, Cork County

Library prioritises its commitment

to authorship and literature with

its annual short story publication,

a ‘Writer in Residence’ scheme

and various writing and reader

experience programmes, including

annual Poetry Day events and reader

experiences.

library services are mentioned and hinted at throughout a

story of life’s hardships that was executed in a style that kept

audiences laughing and nodding in empathy from beginning

to end in ten different libraries.

Cork County Council promotes the library services as a centre

of literature, reading and culture for all ages, using a range of

delivery mechanisms to ensure that its services are accessible

and relevant to all residents and visitors to County Cork.

According to Librarian Emer O’Brien, Cork County Library

Service has plans to develop a new library in Kinsale as part

of the Rural Regeneration Fund and is currently developing

a library programme in co-operation with the HSE to support

Syrian refugee families in Cork County.

Closing she says: “Cork County Library aims to empower

communities by providing access to resources that educate,

inform, enlighten and enrich the lives of their citizens by

supporting and promoting literacy and a love of reading and

by collecting and preserving resources relating to the cultural

heritage of the county.”

Drama has always been an important

focus for the library service and as a

result, library staff over the years

having built a unique collection

of plays in Library HQ. This year

library and arts management took

the commitment to drama one step

further with the commissioning of

playwright Katie Holly to write a play

for Bealtaine. The brief was that the

play should be set in a library, have

relevance to older people and in

some way highlight the service. The

result was ‘Crossword’, a two-man

play, centring on a casual meeting

that forms a friendship. A variety of

27

CASTLEBAR REGIONAL TRAINING CENTRE

MAYO COUNTY COUNCIL

The Mall, Castlebar, Co. Mayo

Castlebar Regional Training Centre provides

training for Local Authorities, Group

Water Schemes, Utilities and Private

Contractors. We are continuously developing

and delivering courses and seminars that meet

the changing needs in the current environment

for both the public and private sectors.

Life Long Learning is provided in three main areas:

• Practical outdoor courses for water services, environment,

roads and fire services

• Health and Safety Courses

• High level Professional/Leadership courses and seminars

To make a reservation or if you require further information, please contact

Maura Lawless, Manager, Castlebar Regional Training Centre

at (094) 906 4080

crtc@mayococo.ie

www.lasntg.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Training Services

SETTING HIGH

STANDARDS


Castlebar Regional Training Centre

Mayo County Council

Excellence in Training Services

Castlebar Regional Training Centre (CRTC) provides workplace training on a shared

services basis for six local authorities and other public and private sector organisations

in the West and Midlands.

CRTC is one of five regional training centres coordinated

nationally by the Local Authorities National Training Group

(LASNTG). Mayo County Council is the lead authority.

Training provided is to the highest standard. The facility has

accreditation from SOLAS, QQI, City & Guilds, LASNTG and

ECITB.

“We have grown the centre consistently over the past few

years and we now deliver over 6,500 training days per annum,”

explains Maura Lawless, Manager, Castlebar Regional

Training Centre, Mayo County Council. “Approximately 90%

of our training is provided for the public sector. We deal with

six local authorities and other public sector organisations

such as Irish Water, Group Water Schemes, EPA, HSE and

other state agencies in the West and Midlands. It is a very

important sector for us as there is so much change happening

at the moment,” she says.

One such change is the new ‘purple book’ (Guidelines

for Managing Openings in Public Roads). It states that all

roadwork sites should be staffed by at least one person

who has successfully completed the Basic Level Trench

Reinstatement course. All reinstatement works shall

be inspected, monitored and certified by an approved

certifier who has completed the Advanced Level Trench

Reinstatement Course (having first completed the basic

course). This training is only available through the LASNTG

training centres and it is mandatory from 27 September this

year. “Provision of training to meet the demand here at CRTC

is currently our number one priority,” Lawless says.

CRTC has received Part VIII approval for a state-of-the-art

outdoor training facility for the provision of mainly roads

courses but also a wide range of plant and machinery courses.

This facility will be available for both the public and private

sectors in the west of Ireland and will ensure that courses

currently only available in Dublin will be available locally.

The centre has again won recognition for their training

services, in particular for public sector training which is

consistent and highly impressive. Leadership comes from the

top and Lawless says that workplace training is absolutely

crucial for every organisation’s development and success.

“Businesses that implement and promote workplace

training initiatives find their employees communicate more

effectively, demonstrate better teamwork and are ultimately

more productive,” she says.

CRTC will continue to build on a stellar reputation and expand

on their offerings at every opportunity. They are worthy

recipients of the Excellence in Training Services Award, 2019.

29

LoCall: 1890 202303

@louthcoco

www.louthcoco.ie

County Louth

• Strategically located on the

Dublin/Belfast Corridor

• Euro Route Motorway

• High Speed Rail Link

• Modern Port facilities

• Easy Access to Dublin and

Belfast International Airports

• Broadband Action Plan in place

• Thriving urban centres in Dundalk

and Drogheda

• High Quality leisure and tourist facilities

• Educational Centre of excellence

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Housing Services

County Council Award

LIVING

IN LOUTH


Louth County Council

Housing Services County

Council Award

Louth County Council is the local authority for Louth, delivering a range of social and

economic services to residents and commercial enterprises in the county.

The council works collaboratively with the people of Louth

to make it a great place in which to live, to work and to

do business for a growing population of close to 129,000

residents.

Louth County Council takes a practical and proactive

approach to both the challenges and opportunities that

presents. To encourage entrepreneurship, it supports the

Local Enterprise Office (LEO) to provide a range of vital

supports to small businesses in the county, as well as working

with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA to encourage inward

investment into the county.

There was great excitement throughout Louth when it was

announced that Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann was to be held

in Drogheda in 2018. The council worked closely with the

Fleadh Executive Committee to make it the most successful

ever, with more than half a million people attending.

The enhancement of towns in the county is also a priority

and the council is proud of the launch of the Westgate

vision for Drogheda, along with securing funding for the

redevelopment of Clanbrassil Street

in Dundalk.

by compulsory purchase orders whereupon it repaired and

refurbished them and returned them to use as social housing.

Working with the Peter McVerry Trust, the council also

expanded the services offered to families who are homeless

in the Drogheda area by the opening of a family hub.

Chief Executive of Louth County Council, Joan Martin said:

“Louth County Council is delighted to win this award and we

are especially pleased that the award recognises our ongoing

work in housing.

“While many are still struggling to find suitable

accommodation, the council’s housing staff have shown

great energy and dedication, working with our partners,

and resulting in Louth County Council exceeding our HAP

and leasing targets for 2018. In partnership with approved

housing bodies, 211 new homes were delivered through

construction and acquisitions.”

Concluding she said: “The Council’s work on housing

continues as a high priority on our busy agenda in 2019.”

The provision of housing is a

challenging one for local authorities

across the country and Louth is no

exception. However, working in

partnership, Louth County Council

has made considerable strides to

address community needs.

The council manages a total social

housing stock of 4,020 homes,

in addition to 1,019 homes with

approved housing bodies. In 2018, it

exceeded its HAP and leasing targets

and through working in partnership,

provided 211 new homes. A total of

208 homes were allocated through

the Choice Based Letting system

in 2018, with 54 homes given to

those with a priority need. Housing

Assistance Payment (HAP) was

provided for 2,644 tenancies.

During 2018, the council identified

and brought back into use 23 homes

that had been vacant for long

periods. It acquired these properties

31

Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness

Rebuilding Ireland -

Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness,

an initiative of the Government of Ireland.

We would encourage local people to use www.vacanthomes.ie

Bringing vacant homes back into use increases the housing

supply and provides homes to people with a housing need.

Apart from the supply of housing, utilising existing vacant homes

helps rejuvenate areas that are in decline and contributes

to the creation of more sustainable communities.

@VacanthomesIRL

Áras an Chontae, The Mall, Castlebar, Co. Mayo E: info@vacanthomes.ie W: www.vacanthomes.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Services to Housing

VACANTHOMES.IE


Mayo County Council

Services to Housing

The www.vacanthomes.ie web portal developed by Mayo County Council on behalf of

the local government sector is heralded as a key initiative in dealing with this country’s

vacant housing stock.

The innovative, crowd sourcing, web portal allows individuals

to anonymously log possible vacant properties and this will

alert housing authorities, who can then follow up with owners

to see whether the property can be re-used quickly. The

website also provides useful information for property owners

to encourage and incentivise them in bringing their vacant

homes back into use by highlighting and promoting initiatives,

developed under Rebuilding Ireland such as the Repair and

Leasing and Buy & Renew Schemes. Although, the Repair and

Leasing Scheme has thus far failed to reach the targets which

were initially set, there are encouraging signs that the new

revamped scheme is gaining traction, with more and more

enquiries coming through on a daily basis.

Tom Gilligan, Director of Services at Mayo County Council

and instigator of VacantHomes.ie is urging owners of vacant

homes to bring their properties back into use, in order to

increase the supply of housing. “It’s a case of supply and

demand and the housing market is currently starved of much

needed properties,” says Gilligan. “We need more properties

to be brought back into use and an effective way this can

happen is for vacant homes to be targeted and utilised right

across the country.” The reuse of vacant dwellings also has

merit in helping to reduce the numbers of extra new homes

required. To date, the vast majority of properties logged on

VacantHomes.ie are located in the provinces of Leinster and

Munster where the demand for housing is most acute. Putting

these properties back into use benefits everyone, including

property owners, people with a housing need, the local

community, local services and the local economy.

Bringing a vacant home back into use is transformative and

has such a positive impact on people with a housing need. It

changes lives for the better, forever. It also helps to rejuvenate

areas that are in decline and bringing vacant homes back

into use addresses the blight of dereliction, vandalism and

anti-social behaviour. From a climate change perspective, it

helps to promote sustainability and mitigation of our carbon

footprint as a lot of key infrastructure is already in place such

as the roads network and utilities like electricity and water

services.

Gilligan acknowledges the hard work and effort that it has

taken to get to this point. “I want to take this opportunity to

thank the Public Sector Magazine for this fantastic award. It

means a lot to everyone involved in VacantHomes.ie. We are

extremely honoured and delighted to accept this prestigious

award.”

Bringing homes back from the dead, breathing new life

into communities, rejuvenating areas that are in decline and

providing a much-needed home to the homeless; that’s

what www.vacanthomes.ie is all about.

Gilligan explains that the whole vacant homes initiative is borne

out of Mayo County Council’s commitment to the Rebuilding

Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness and in

particular, Pillar 5 of the plan, ‘Utilise Existing Housing’, which

outlines a range of actions to ensure that existing housing

stock is used to the highest possible degree. “It’s a no brainer

and a definite win-win for everyone,” he says.

Gilligan wants to thank the Department of Housing, Planning

and Local Government, Local Authorities, other Housing

Associations, his colleagues in Mayo County Council and of

course the public for their continued help and co-operation.

“To date, with the help of everyone involved, we’ve been very

successful in helping to bring vacant homes back into use. We

are asking for everyone’s help, to get involved and to highlight

the issue of vacant homes. Our goal is to utilise existing vacant

stock and although returning vacant homes to use will not

on its own solve the housing crisis, it certainly has a positive

outcome on the number of residential dwellings available in

the housing stock.”

33

• Brand new, modern, recently opened facility

• 66 no. desks within

• Free unlimited one gigabyte uploadand download speeds

• Use of boardroom and meeting room facilities

• Kitchen facilities

• Flexible terms

• €55 plus VAT per desk per week,including all services

For further information, please contact Mr. John Reilly

on +353 71 9144779 or Ms. Janette Gillen on +353 71 9155222

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Services Promoting

Economic Development

CAPITAL OF THE

NORTHWEST

As the local authority, Sligo County Council has a remit for economic development

in addition to its remit under roads, housing, environment, planning, finance and

community development.


Sligo County Council


Economic Development

Sligo is presently emerging as a world-class location in which

to live, invest and visit. This strategic position has been

acknowledged in the National Planning Framework (NPF),

where it is designated as a growth centre. Separately, the

council is leading the way in addressing challenges faced by

peripheral urban centres. With a population of 65,535 (CSO

2016), 25,000 are within the town and environs.

Set against the backdrop of rural depopulation, emigration

of younger generations, a decadal absence of investment

in infrastructure, declining FDI sector and some dereliction

of the urban centre, Sligo set out its vision of becoming the

economic driver of the Northwest and sought to play its part

in counterbalancing the growth of the greater Dublin region.

A number of innovative partnerships were formed including

with Ireland West Airport, Knock (IWAK) to facilitate growth

of the airport and to address some of the access deficiencies

in the region. Separately, partnerships with other local

authorities led to the opening of trade offices in the USA to

facilitate access to the American market for SMEs.

Public and private sector leadership and collaboration is

central to Sligo’s ambition and the key message is that

agencies are working to a consistent agenda. The IDA and

EI are attracting inward investment; IT Sligo is educating

and developing the skill sets to meet present and future

needs and the council is facilitating the development of

infrastructure to support growth and development.

35

Wi-Fi, sample the many cultural activities, festivals

and rich musical traditions that the region has to offer,

while enjoying the activities of the great outdoors in a

stunning natural setting.

Pursuing the Smart City agenda will position Sligo to

take advantage of the digital economy and position

itself ahead of the curve, providing better information,

improved services, more choice, convenience and less

waste for businesses, communities and public services.

The strategy will facilitate and inform the

development of ICT infrastructure as part of the

public realm program. It will involve partnerships

among stakeholders in the public and private sector

as well as academia and the use of the public realm as

the test bed for advances in ICT. A Memorandum of

Understanding will be signed between Sligo County

Council and IT Sligo to facilitate the use of Sligo

City for the development of apps and devices for

the Internet of Things (IoT) and other pilot projects

leading to mutual benefits for students, young

entrepreneurs and the city. A further development

is the investment of €2m in the Strandhill Enterprise

Centre to establish world-class ICT facilities, targeted

at the growing digital gaming industry in Ireland.

Separately, several ultra-modern, co-innovation

workspaces with one gigabyte upload and download

speeds have been provided centrally in Sligo,

providing progressive small businesses affordable

facilities including flexible rental terms, peer

networking and structured supports. Proposals are

being formulated to provide additional centrally

located workspaces, thus facilitating the development

of a vibrant urban centre.

Infrastructure is critical to development and Sligo is

presently benefitting from investment of €225m in a broad

spread of projects including roads, bridges, housing,

public realm, tourism and wastewater treatment.

Reflecting on the vibrancy and energy now evident in

Sligo, Chief Executive, Ciarán Hayes, paid tribute to

the staff for their ambition, commitment and vision

and to the Members for taking responsible decisions

in difficult times. Referring to the recent investments

and developments as ‘transformative’, he is looking

forward to Sligo achieving its ambition as the vibrant

capital of the northwest.

Growth in professionals relocating to the region

to benefit from the work-life balance can be seen

as one measure of success. A more concrete

measurement however is the announcement

by the IDA and EI of 1,600 jobs in the last

year in companies such as ASG, GW Plastics,

Overstock, Live Tiles, Phibro, E3 Retail, Eir and

Abtran. Sligo has become a key destination

for enterprise investment and of the 3,100

active enterprises in Sligo, 93% are in the

micro-enterprise sector.

The vision is to become the economic

driver of the Northwest with Sligo as the

vibrant urban centre, a Smart City at the

cutting edge of technology. A city where

people can live and work in a highquality

public realm with free public

36

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Flood Protection

HOLDING BACK

THE TIDE


Dublin City Council

Services to Flood Protection

Dublin City Council is the largest local authority in Ireland representing a population

of 30,000 residents (not counting millions of visitors each year) and has a turnover of

over €1bn.

It provides over 400 services to the public. Housing, roads,

traffic (vehicular, cycle and pedestrian), libraries, parks,

cleansing, fire brigade, planning civil defense, emergency

services and social & community projects and centres being

a few of the larger ones. It also employs 5,800 people to carry

out these public services, 500 of these are on a Service Level

Agreement (SLA) with Irish Water.

Dublin City Council also takes an active role with other

local authorities and major stakeholders at a regional level

to make County Dublin and the eastern region reach its

development potential. The City Council is actively working

on making Dublin an even smarter city with more efficient uses

of existing resources, better information transfer, and better

communications by exploiting many new initiatives particularly

in the information technology area.

Gerard O’Connell is the Senior Engineer of the Flood

Projects and Water Framework Directive Division. His division

performs a vital function for Dubliners in the area of flood

protection. “My main role is in the area of flood alleviation,

flood emergency forecasting and planning and reducing

pollution to our rivers and tidal areas through the Water

framework Directive,” he explains.

One of the main responsibilities of Dublin City Council is

to minimize flood risk to its citizens as far as is reasonably

possible. The highest ever recorded tidal flood event

to 1st February 2002 flooded over 1250 buildings

mainly homes in the city area and this highlighted that

something urgent had to be done with regard to coastal

flooding. This flood caused around €60m in reported

damages at the time. Since then, €25m of flood defences

have been carried out at Spencer Dock, on the tidal

region of the Dodder, on the lower Tolka and elsewhere

in the city. An even higher tide occurred on 3rd January

2014 and thanks to the old and new flood defences, only

€0.1m of damages were recorded as a result. The new

coastal defences have already paid for themselves within

a period of only 12 years.

is substantially on the south campshires between Butt Bridge

and Cardiff Lane to protect over 3,000 building between this

new wall and the railway line up to the National tidal flood

standard of a 200-year tidal event plus a provision for sea level

rise to the year 2100.

In the Pipeline

Future flood schemes are being progressed on the Poddle

River, the Dodder River upstream of Clonskeagh, the Wad

River in Clontarf and the Liffey Estuary. The Camac River flood

defence scheme is being re-evaluated. Most of the above

schemes are being developed through close co-operation

with the Office of Public Works through its Catchment Flood

Risk Assessment and Management Studies (CFRAMS). These

studies look at all of the major rivers and coastal zones

in Ireland which have a flood history or are likely to be at

significant flood risk and develop, where possible, schemes to

reduce flood risk.

“Flood awareness and flood warning are non-structural

ways of reducing flood risk. Flood walls and embankments,

flood storage and flow diversions are typical forms of flood

mitigation measures scenario’s proposed by these studies,”

explains O’Connell. “These scenario’s are then assessed

economically, environmentally and socially for their viability.

In October 2011 a large rainfall event caused the flooding

of over 1200 buildings in the city Area. Falling out of this,

further flood alleviation projects are progressing on the

Dodder River, a local scheme is completed on the Camac

at Lady’s Lane, a scheme is substantially completed

on the Wad River in Clontarf and local flood storage

schemes are completed in Finglas, Cabra and Ashtown.

A cycle way with some coastal protection is completed

in Dollymount between the causeway and the wooden

bridge. A further 5m coastal flood protection scheme

37

Likely global warming scenarios are also looked at and

incorporated into the design if possible.

According to O’Connell, a scheme has to be buildable

and it cannot increase the flood risk significantly

elsewhere. For a scheme to be economically viable, the

cost of the proposed works and associated activities,

environmental, social, 50 years maintenance, etc. when

added up have to be significantly less than the estimated

flood damages protected by the flood scheme.

“The Flood Projects and Water Framework Directive

Division in Dublin City Council (DCC) manages all

schemes as the client. Dublin City Council sometimes

taking the role of designer, PSDP and PSCS on some of

the smaller projects.”

Planning for the Future

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is the national

competent authority for the implementation of the

European Union Floods Directive in Ireland. Following

the development of a flood alleviation scheme under

the CFRAMS process which leads to a CFRAM Plan

for most major rivers and coastal bodies; any viable

flood alleviation schemes are then progressed by the

local authority to the planning stage with the approval

of the OPW. Many of the larger schemes require

an Environmental Impact Assessment Report and

Statement which goes to An Bord Pleanala for approval.

The CFRAM Plans for Dublin City were published in May

2018 and are available on www.floodinfo.ie

Once planning for the scheme is approved by DCC,

funding can be applied for; either partially or in total,

to the OPW. The OPW carry out some schemes using

their own direct labour force and this can greatly

speed up the construction of the project as procuring

a contractor to do it can often take a year.

The OPW and their hydraulic consultants can also

provide advice throughout each project. Often

proposed minor changes required in construction works

can be computer modelled to prove no changes in flood

levels. The OPW also have a country wide knowledge

in river and tidal construction methodologies and can

quickly assess construction options. Each construction

project is a close liaison between the OPW, the local

authority and the construction consultants to produce

the best solution. “The OPW also have a pride in their

workmanship which is to a very high standard. Many of

these schemes are in very high-profile areas,” observes

O’Connell.

“Even so, many of the proposed schemes would not

progress without the help of the public and local

residents’ associations giving their support, especially

if they have been flooded in the past.”

For their continued work protecting Dublin from one of

its greatest assets, Dublin City Council Flood Projects &

WFD Division are worthy recipients of the Public Sector

Magazine award for Excellence in Flood Protection.

38

WORKING TO KEEP OUR CITY SAFE FROM FLOODING

Adaptation - Resilience - Protection

Comhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath, Roinn Comhshaoil agus Iompair

Tionscadail Tuilte agus Rannán um Chreat-treoir Uisce

Dublin City Council, Environment and Transport Department,

Regional Projects & Water Framework Directive Division

www.dublincity.ie

Cavan Library Service

Evolving Libraries

‘A fabulous place to

relax and learn’

‘It’s one of my favourite places in town…

the staff are always helpful’

‘Great events for all ages’

‘Brilliant study facilities… I really like

the free Wi-Fi’

‘I love their free access to eBooks and eAudiobooks

and the Digital Magazines are fantastic! I’m going to

try an online course next!’

www.cavanlibrary.ie

Tel: 049 4378501

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

County Library Service of the Year

EDUCATE

& INSPIRE


Cavan County Council's

Library Service

County Library Service of the Year

The written word chronicles our past and shapes our future. As a custodian of books

and a place of learning, Cavan County Council’s Library Service seeks to similarly

enhance and shape society through providing modern services that educate, inspire

and build community.

Cavan Library Service was established in 1930 and operates

a network of nine branch libraries which provide a range of

free services in response to ongoing user needs. Its vision

is to provide a library service that is the cornerstone of the

community, providing equitable access to information,

knowledge and learning opportunities, contributing to the

social, economic and cultural fabric of the county. The library

service provides printed and digital resources including

an excellent local studies section and archive, services to

schools and community groups as well as reading, study

and community spaces for all. In addition, it boasts a suite

of modern, state-of-the-art IT equipment, including scanning

facilities along with a printing solution which allows the public

to print from home.

Libraries are a vital part of the community which evolve

and adapt to changing user demands. Rapid advances in

technology has resulted in a major shift in the way the public

are now using library services. Cavan Library Service has

embraced the possibilities afforded by technology, offering

a wide range of new services which make it easier than ever

to enjoy the timeless pleasure offered by the written word.

These services feature eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines

and online learning courses, including language learning.

The Library Service offers free membership to all, which allows

borrowing and returning items, at any library in the country.

Through the Cavan Library Service website (www.cavanlibrary.

ie), everyone can access the national public library catalogue

to order items online from any library nationwide which are

then delivered to their local library.

Literacy, supports for business and employment, and health

and wellbeing are core initiatives in the public library service of

today. Cavan Library Service delivers a programme of activities

to children and families to promote literacy and reading

through the Right to Read programme. The Work Matters

programme for business and employment delivers supports

for locally based entrepreneurs, start-ups and job seekers.

Cavan Library Service also seeks to shape the future of the

community through promoting health and wellbeing, as

41

part of the ‘Healthy Ireland at your Library’ initiative.

Library branches across the county now stock

information on a variety of health and wellbeing

subjects, from mindfulness to healthy eating and from

childhood resilience to exercise. Informative events

with guest speakers or innovative services draw

visitors in to their local library so that they can avail of

the health education on offer. Recent highlights have

included the hugely successful visit of the Irish Heart

Foundation mobile unit, a presentation on ‘Minding

your Microbes for a Healthy Gut’ and a talk by Stella

O’Malley, renowned author and psychologist, on

‘Building Bully-Proof Kids’.

Cavan Library Service continues to play a leading

role in fostering creativity in the community through

an extensive annual calendar of events, lectures,

exhibitions and author visits. Furthermore, as part

of the national Creative Ireland programme, Cavan

County Council’s Cultural Team, chaired by the County

Librarian, delivers a wide-ranging programme of

cultural and heritage experiences through the county’s

libraries, theatre, museum and community centres.

A Collaborative Process

Cavan Library Service works in collaboration with its

neighbouring library service in County Monaghan on

the award-winning annual Cavan Monaghan Science

Festival. This exciting and engaging festival has

inspired thousands of young minds, opening them up

to the possibilities offered by a career in S.T.E.A.M.

(Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Maths).

Cavan Library Service continues to seek new and

innovative ways to share information, ignite creativity

and build community. This is exemplified by the

Library’s unique ‘Voices of the Troubles’ project, an

oral history archive that chronicles the experiences

of people touched by the Northern Ireland conflict,

north and south of the border, in counties Fermanagh

and Cavan. The project, funded through the PEACE

IV Programme, gathered together both Catholic and

Protestant communities to talk with each other and to

put on record their thoughts and feelings about the

thirty-year conflict known as ‘The Troubles’.

Many of the people interviewed had lost loved ones to

the conflict or had themselves suffered serious injury,

and all appreciated the opportunity to tell their story.

A common theme among interviewees was that ‘The

Troubles’ had been discussed for fifty years, but this

was their first opportunity to recount their personal

experiences. In many cases, these are stories that would

have been lost forever, but are now preserved for future

generations, who can listen to these stories online from

a distant corner of the globe or in their local library.

42

LOCAL

AUTHORITY

NEWS

BREXIT IMPLICATIONS FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES

According to the LGMA local authorities face a number of

uncertainties due to Brexit but are focussed on building

resilience in their areas to prepare.

Addressing the conference Local Authorities – Implications

for Local Authorities and their Areas, Jackie Maguire, Chair

of the County and City Management Association said Brexit

has been to the forefront of local authority considerations

since the UK vote to leave the EU.

“Preparing for the unknown is a huge challenge. In the

local authority sector, our approach has been to consider

all our plans and actions through the lens of Brexit, while

maintaining close contact with Government and relevant

departments throughout the negotiation period,” she said.

As well as the potential impact on local business and

economic development, there are a number of practical

implications for local authorities, particularly in border

regions. Citing the current arrangement, where the Northern

Irish Fire Service provides first response to call outs in parts of

Donegal and giving the further example of an ongoing crossborder

greenway project, she said, “While both the Republic

and Northern Ireland have been members of the EU, we have

been able to work collaboratively on shared infrastructure

development and shared service provision. We now face into

an unknown situation as to whether that can continue.”

The CCMA Chair also highlighted the impact Brexit may

have on environmental standards, “Currently we apply

relatively consistent environmental policies north and south;

this is the best way to achieve results. The Water Framework

Directive, for example, is implemented in both jurisdictions

to manage river basins and improve water quality but rivers

don’t stop at borders.”

Jackie Maguire commended the work Local Enterprise

Offices have been doing to support business in their

areas, “This is a very uncertain time for businesses. The

full and free access we have enjoyed to our closest market

in the UK has meant it is the first market to which many

local businesses and SMEs expand. Many companies

need to be brought up to speed on the issues that may

be involved when the UK becomes a third country, and

also need to be supported to help expand their markets.

Local Enterprise Offices have been doing excellent work

with businesses in their areas and will continue to help

them to prepare.”

43

CELEBRATING LEO’S

Since the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) were established in 2014

they have supported the creation of over 18,600 jobs nationwide

with 144,830 entrepreneurs and business people trained in a

range of skills over the five years.

Devised as a “first stop shop” for those looking to start a business

or for small businesses looking for support, the Local Enterprise

Offices are now a significant source of job creation and a hub of

entrepreneurship across the country.

The LEOs have distributed €81.5 million worth of direct financial

assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs and have

approved and contributed funding to over 5,000 business and

entrepreneurial projects. In those 5 years, 40,577 people have

received mentoring support through the LEO network, while over

17,500 have taken a Start Your Own Business course.

Speaking at an event to mark the anniversary, Minister Heather

Humphreys T.D., said; “Since their inception in 2014, the Local

Enterprise Offices (LEOs) have played a hugely significant role in

generating indigenous employment across the country. There are

now over 36,000 people employed by LEO-supported companies,

small Irish businesses that are creating jobs in their own towns and

villages. Supporting regional enterprise is a big priority of mine as

Minister and it’s for this reason that I allocated an additional €5

million to the LEOs in Budget 2019.

Minister Pat Breen, T.D., said; “Small businesses are the heartbeat

of the Irish economy and they make a huge impact to local

economies across the country. The Local Enterprise Offices have

become the most important resource for any entrepreneur or

small business looking for support or training. With over 144,000

trained and 40,000 receiving specialist mentoring, the LEOs are

providing these businesses with the skills and knowledge to start

and grow, to create jobs and generate significant revenue for the

Irish economy.”

Some of the successful companies who have been supported by

the Local Enterprise Offices across the country include; Simtech

Aviation (Fingal), Irish Fairy Door Company (South Dublin), Beats

Medical (Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown), Blacks of Kinsale (Cork

North & West), Pip & Pear (Waterford), GloFox (Dun-Laoghaire

Rathdown), Neurant Medical (Galway), Keoghs Crisps (Fingal) and

Strong Roots (Dublin City).

44

LOCAL

AUTHORITY

NEWS

SATISFACTION WITH

LOCAL AUTHORITIES

A new survey has found that 56% of people are satisfied with

their local authority while 93% of people believe their local

area is a good place to live.

The Local Authority Satisfaction Survey 2019 was carried

out by Ipsos MRBI for the National Oversight and Audit

Commission (NOAC). The survey combines the results from

2018, which covered 10 local authorities and from 2019 which

researched a further 11. A 2020 poll will survey the remaining

10.

Of the 2019 and 2018 surveys, the research found that 69% felt

their local authority was working to make their area cleaner

and greener, while 61% agreed that it was making a positive

contribution to the quality of life in their area. 51% agreed

that their local council cared about residents while the same

amount felt their local authority was doing a good job.

Colleen Savage chair of the NOAC Customer Survey

subcommittee said that although the local authority

areas surveyed were different in 2019 to 2018 the results

were broadly similar: “While the general perception of

local authorities is generally positive overall the surveys

suggests that local councils need to be more proactive in

communicating with those living in their area.”

Young people were found to be the least knowledgeable

about their local authority with 72% of 18-25 years olds not

knowing what it does. By contrast, 93% of people aged 65 or

older had some knowledge of what their council did.

The survey also found that the four most important services

provided by local councils are: roads and road safety;

housing; amenities and environmental protection. While

great strides have been made by many local authorities

towards improving housing the report identified housing

as one of the most important services with just 25% of

respondents being satisfied with the affordability of housing

in their area.

45

A LIFETIME OF READING

Details of the 20 books and authors

borrowed most often from Irish public

libraries in 2018 have been published

by the Local Government Management

Agency (LGMA), which compiles the

information as part of the Public Lending

Remuneration (PLR) Scheme.

All 20 of the most borrowed titles were

children’s books, with Harry Potter and the

Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling topping

the list. Meanwhile, 19 of the 20 most

borrowed authors in 2018 were children’s

authors, with only James Patterson bucking

the trend to make the list.

James Patterson topped the list of the

20 most popular authors from the adult

books collection, while Irish author,

Mike McCormack’s Solar Bones was the

most borrowed adult book in 2018. Four

of the top five most borrowed books

for adults in 2018 are by Irish authors:

Mike McCormack, Graham Norton, Liz

Nugent and Marian Keyes.

A number of titles included in the adult

top 20 are from the ‘Healthy Ireland at Your

Library’ collection, which is available in all

public libraries to support the Government

Initiative to improve health and wellbeing.

Tom Enright, Chair of the National

Libraries Development Committee

said, “Encouraging children to read for

enjoyment and learning is central to Our

Public Libraries 2022, the national Public

Library Strategy, so I am very encouraged to

see so many children’s books and authors

on the list. Whether you want to come in to

your library to browse for a book, use the

internet, make use of digital equipment,

enjoy the community space and wide

range of activities, or you would prefer to

download an audiobook, eBook, or online

newspaper or magazine from your own

home, it is all open to you completely free

with your library membership.”

46

LOCAL

AUTHORITY

NEWS

€25 MILLION INVESTMENT FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY

HOMES

Minister for Housing, Planning & Local Government, Eoghan

Murphy announced the allocation of over €25 million in funding

for the upgrading of the energy efficiency of local authority homes

this year.

The energy efficiency retrofitting programme for social houses

continues to sustain and create jobs while making a significant

contribution to Ireland’s carbon emissions reduction targets and

energy reduction targets for 2020, resulting in warmer homes and

lower energy bills for local authority tenants.

This is the latest funding allocation under the programme, which has

already seen over 68,000 homes retrofitted to date through a total

exchequer spend of over €128m. The programme provides funding

of up to €22,800 per property for fabric upgrade works to dwellings

with solid/hollow block wall construction and includes the provision

of heating upgrades such as heat pumps and solar panels. As well

as improving the energy efficiency of Ireland’s social housing stock,

the programme also brings about reductions in people’s heating

bills and helps tackle fuel poverty. As part of the EU Operational

Programme 2014-2020, the programme attracts co-funding under

the European Regional Development Fund.

Funding under the scheme is based on evidence of the work

done and confirmation that no previous public funding has been

received in recent years for similar works for the property. It is also

a requirement that details of energy savings (pre and post-works

BER) are provided by the local authorities when drawing down

funding from DHPLG.

A deep retrofit typically involves carrying out multiple energy

efficient measures together, wall insulation, attic, replacing

windows and doors and installing renewable energy technologies

in the home. Where more than 25% of the surface envelope of

a property undergoes renovation, the energy performance of

the dwelling should be upgraded to achieve a cost optimal

level where feasible. This typically requires wall insulation, attic

insulation and the installation of a condensing boiler or heat

pump or alternatively, the attainment of a B2 Building Energy

Rating (BER).

As part of the EU Operational Programme 2014-2020, these energy

efficiency works will attract co - funding under the European Regional

Development Fund. The Regional Assemblies have created a

‘Social Housing Retrofit programme’ within their Operational

Programmes to accommodate support for the social housing Voids

and Energy Efficiency programmes. This will see EU co-financing of

50% of eligible public investment under these programmes.

47

DECADE OF CENTENARIES FUNDING

The period from 1912 to 1922 was one of the most eventful in

Ireland’s history. From the campaign for Home Rule, through

World War One and the Easter Rising of 1916 to the foundation

of the Free State, this was a decade of great change.

Campaigns for social reforms highlighted by the suffrage

movement and the 1913 Lockout also went hand in hand with

political events. The Decade of Centenaries programme aims to

commemorate each step that Ireland took between 1912 and

1922 in a tolerant, inclusive and respectful way.

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha

Madigan TD has announced a funding allocation of €10,000 for

every local authority in 2019 to support their role in leading the

development of commemorative activities at county level under

the Community Strand of the Decade of Centenaries programme.

This collaborative approach between the State, local authority

network and community organisations will provide a supportive

structure to ensure that the significant and often deeply personal

events that occurred between 1919 and 1923 are remembered in

a respectful, inclusive, and balanced manner.

The programme recognises the need to be sensitive to the local

historical context and that there was no uniform experience

during the struggle for Independence and the Civil War -

within counties or across the island of Ireland. It is intended to

facilitate engagement from all traditions and communities on

the island and it recognises the significance of local narratives

and experiences.

The purpose of this funding is to help and support every local

authority in developing commemorative activities, which will:

• Promote a deeper understanding of differing perspectives

around this sensitive and challenging period in our shared

history, and respectful remembrance of all of those who

suffered and who died;

• Support the appropriate involvement of local commemorative

committees and the wider local community to the greatest

extent possible;

• Provide for a rich diversity of commemorative initiatives in

every county to remember and explore the historical events

and related themes of this period, and their legacy and

impact on local communities;

• Develop commemorative activities which are appropriate,

measured, respectful, inclusive and authentic, with real

potential to engage people of different ages and perspectives.

48

LOCAL

AUTHORITY

NEWS

€15 MILLION FOR DISABLED GRANT SCHEME

Funding of €15.075 million has been approved for the Disabled

Persons Grant scheme (DPG) and Improvement Works In Lieu of

social housing scheme (IWILs).

The DPG scheme provides funding for extensions and

adaptations to existing social housing stock for older people

and people with a disability such as grab rails, disabled access

ramps, wet rooms, downstairs bedrooms etc. The scheme also

provides extensions in cases of overcrowding. It is administered

directly by the local authorities who prioritise the works required

under the scheme each year. The scheme assists older people

and people with a disability to continue living in the comfort of

their own homes. Exchequer funding meets 90% of the cost of

the works in each property, with the local authority providing the

remaining 10%.

The funding being provided also covers the Improvement

Works in Lieu of social housing scheme (IWILs) which allows

local authorities to improve or extend privately owned

accommodation, where the applicant has been approved for

social housing. It allows those who are eligible to remain in

private housing and as their housing need has been met, helps

to reduce the demand for social housing. It can also support

those who might otherwise find themselves homeless.

Minister Murphy welcomed the efforts being made by all local

authorities to improve the quality of life for older people and

people with a disability and those affected by over-crowding,

stating that “this will greatly improve the housing conditions for

our older tenants and those living with disabilities and addresses

issues of overcrowding in existing social housing stock.

Improvement works on private homes in lieu of social housing

will also provide an alternative for those currently experiencing

overcrowding in private accommodation.”

Minister Finian McGrath welcomed the €15,075 million funding

allocation stating that the adaptations carried out with these

monies will also help facilitate the early return home from

hospital for many as well as giving people support and options

as regards living longer in their own homes.

49

PASSION FOR

EXCELLENCE

INSPIRING

EVENTS

We believe in creative thinking, ever challenging

the status quo. We create and deliver exceptional

experiences that inspire. Every meeting, conference,

exhibition and event is tailored to fit needs and exceed

your expectations.

Experience The CCD, an iconic destination

in the heart of Dublin.

LET US

INSPIRE YOU

Call us today to make a booking +353 1 856 0000, email sales@theccd.ie or visit www.theccd.ie.

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Conference Facility

Services to the Public Sector

A WORLD

CLASS VENUE


The CCD

Excellence in Conference Facility

Services to the Public Sector

The Convention Centre Dublin (The CCD) was developed to provide a world-class

conference venue in the heart of Ireland’s capital city.

Positioned in a convenient city centre location in the heart of

Dublin’s docklands, with excellent transport links, The CCD

is easily accessible from within Ireland, or indeed anywhere

in the world.

Since opening in September 2010, The CCD has hosted over

1,800 events and won 43 industry awards. With 22 flexible

halls, meeting rooms and boardrooms including a 2,000-

seat auditorium, The CCD can host meetings and events for

any size from 5 to 5,000. The entire venue is finished to the

highest specifications and incorporates the latest technology

including Wi-Fi for up to 22,000 devices.

customer service and and we work tirelessly to deliver to this

and our customers’ event vision,” enthuses Meehan.

“The public sector is an important sector for us, one in which

we have built excellent relationships across the years. I would

like to thank your readers for their business and support and

look forward to working with them over the coming years.”

“We continue to position Ireland on the world stage for

conferences, congresses and events,” explains Chief

Executive, Stephen Meehan. “We strive to offer a world-class

venue in every sense, from the quality of the facility, through

to every aspect of our service. Our aim is to offer everyone

who visits The CCD an unrivalled event experience.”

The CCD provides a full range of events services to clients

with a core team assigned to every client who looks after

their events, technical and hospitality needs, as well as being

supported by a full range of in-house services. Over the past

nine years, The CCD has held many events for the public

sector both large and small, including the Irish Naturalisation

and Immigration Service Citizenship Ceremonies.

Meehan says that the public sector is a key segment of their

national business and continues to form a vital part of the

business for future years. “We provide an exceptional service

to all of our customers and with the building being stateowned,

it’s a pleasure to welcome Irish public events,” he says.

Looking to the future Meehan says that The CCD will

continue to build on business in line with their Vision 2025

and keep close to customers to understand their changing

needs. He cites several recent initiatives that have come from

this, including VR (virtual reality) capability, event and venue

apps and CCD events such as Thrive Festival.

“Last year, we launched Thrive Festival in partnership with

the team behind Taste of Dublin,” he explains. “In March

we delivered a weekend of health and wellness activity to

an enthusiastic audience over two days. It was exciting to

see so many people attending and the venue being used in

yet another way. We look forward to Thrive Festival 2020 in

February next year.”

There is no doubt that excellent service delivery is paramount

to the team at The CCD. “Our passion is exceptional

51

WE’RE BACKING

DEDICATION IN

HEALTHCARE

Ask about some of the ways we’re

backing the healthcare industry.

WE’RE BACKING BRAVE

#backedbyAIB

Mary-Clare Roche-Nagle

Senior Manager – Healthcare

Corporate Banking

087 295 2379

maryclare.b.rochenagle@aib.ie

Tanya Twomey

Senior Manager – Healthcare

Corporate Banking

086 042 6632

tanya.p.twomey@aib.ie

Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Services

to the Healthcare Sector

LEADERS IN

HEALTHCARE

BANKING


AIB Corporate Banking

Healthcare Team

Excellence in Services to the

Healthcare Sector

AIB Corporate Banking is the leading banking partner for healthcare businesses, both

in the public and private sectors.

Mary-Clare Roche-Nagle, Senior Manager Healthcare, outlines

that the team’s key service is the provision of a range of innovative

and bespoke financing solutions to suit each customer’s

requirements from Senior/Mezzanine debt, Equity solutions,

Corporate Finance advisory services along with day-to-day

traditional banking services.

“What sets us apart from our competitors is our dedicated team

which focuses exclusively on the healthcare sector. Knowing the

industry and having an understanding of the unique challenges

of the sector allows us to structure more appropriate and

bespoke financing packages.”

“Being a customer of AIB Corporate Banking means that you

avail of our Relationship Management Model with a dedicated

Relationship Manager who acts as a ‘one stop shop’ for all

banking requirements,” adds Tanya Twomey, Senior Manager

Healthcare. This Relationship Manager gets to know each

customer and they are supported by a wealth of product

specialists across the different areas of the bank to assist should

different products be required.

“Our support to healthcare has resulted in an improvement

to Ireland’s national healthcare infrastructure with improved

primary, acute, medical and nursing home care for the people

of Ireland,” explains Mary-Clare. “Our range of debt funding

has also contributed to the on-going enhancement of medical

treatments and technology along with increased bed capacity

and improved facilities.

“The range of our customers includes State agencies, acute

hospitals, residential/nursing home care providers, non-acute

step-down carers, primary care centres, specialised clinics

and other specific healthcare service providers. Many of these

customers are directly funded by the State or are indirectly

funded through various initiatives such as the National Treatment

Purchase Fund, Fair Deal Scheme etc.”

AIB Corporate Banking. “It is an ever-evolving sector with

growing demand due to an increased ageing population,

advanced and improved medical treatments and longer life

expectancy,” she says.

“Our Healthcare Team are tasked with identifying new

opportunities and ensuring we play our part in continuously

improving the healthcare infrastructure and services for

individuals and families,” adds Mary-Clare. “We are fully

committed to the continuation of our long tradition of

partnership within this industry. We continue to take a leading

role in backing our healthcare customers, supporting ongoing

capital expenditure projects, providing debt for large

scale healthcare infrastructure projects and initiatives aimed

at improving care, enhancing the delivery of modern facilities,

medical technology and diagnostics.”

Mary-Clare goes on to say that AIB Healthcare is currently

heavily involved in funding and supporting numerous projects

nationwide across the healthcare sector. Nursing home beds

continue to be under pressure due to high demand she explains.

“We are actively funding new, modern, purpose built residential

care infrastructure across Ireland to ensure the highest standards

of care and quality are provided to residents. We will support in

excess of 400 new beds this year. This also serves to reduce the

pressure on the acute hospital system.”

“Acute hospitals require on-going investment in capital

expenditure in order to maintain the cutting-edge medical

technology and provide the latest advanced treatments to

patients,” adds Tanya. “In addition, the roll out of the Primary

Care Strategy continues to increase healthcare services at local

levels. We are playing our role in the provision of funding to

support these investments”.

According to Tanya, apart from day-to-day banking services, “we

provide bespoke financing packages to fund construction and

expansion of new facilities and new bed capacity, acquisitions,

capital expenditure for new and replacement of equipment/

technology, asset finance, trade finance and foreign exchange.

“As part of various Government policy reviews, we have been

privileged to provide our input into such reviews over recent

years as we are seen as a key stakeholder for the sector.”

Tanya stresses that healthcare is a most important sector for

53

JOIN US

ONLINE

Ireland’s

1 st Credit

We’re Nationwide!

with

Union

Full

Online

Membership

Applications

#putsUfirst

Tel: 01 677 8648 or Lo Call 1890 677 864 email: info@hsscu.ie

www.hsscu.ie/join-us-online

Health Services Staffs Credit Union Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Loans

& Saving Services

A UNION

OF FRIENDS


Health Services Staffs Credit Union Ltd.

Excellence in Loans & Savings Services

Health Services Staffs Credit Union is one of the largest and most progressive credit

unions in the country. Founded in 1970, it provides a nationwide service to members

employed in the health services, their families and much more.

In recent years, Health Services Staffs

Credit Union (HSSCU) has merged with

several credit unions, which brings CIE

employees and An Post employees

(Munster region) into the fold, as well as

the communities of James Street and

Ranelagh & District credit unions. As

an extremely progressive credit union,

HSSCU operates a multi-channel service

that includes online banking, a mobile

app, telephone operations and a branch

network of 6 offices. These channels can

be used to avail of preferential loan rates,

savings products, fingerprint login access

to your account and much more. “No

matter how you want to do business with

us, we are here for you,” explains CEO,

Sean Hosford.

“As a credit union our main offering is loans,

and we have several different loan types at

highly competitive interest rates,” Hosford

says. “Payments to the credit union can

be made by payroll deduction for many of

our health service, Bus Éireann, Irish Rail,

and An Post members. We also offer some

unique products such as our ‘Christmas

Savings Accounts’, free life savings

insurances (terms & conditions apply),

sponsorships, bursaries, scholarships and

so much more.”

HSSCU was founded by employees of the

health services who saw the need for a

credit union in their workplace. While the

services and the way they are delivered

have changed dramatically, HSSCU is still

owned by employees of the HSE and all other voluntary and

private institutions employed in the provision of healthcare, as

well as employees of Bus Éireann and Irish Rail and Munster

based employees of An Post. The public sector remains firmly

at the core of its operations. “We are here for our members

and many of our members are here because of the public

sector,” explains Hosford.

HSSCU is always focused on introducing new products

and services for members. With that in mind, they recently

introduced mortgages and online membership applications

and will be launching a full current account with a debit card

in October. They also recently launched an innovative home

energy upgrade loan scheme called ‘ProEnergy Homes’ with

Pádraig Power – Marketing Manager

the SEAI, where members can get increased grants of up

to 35% for qualifying works completed by September 30th.

Additionally, HSSCU regularly add new and exciting aspects

to prize draws and various other incentives.

HSSCU would like everyone working in the healthcare industry

and their families to know that they are here for their needs.

As a not-for-profit financial services provider, HSSCU is

committed to always supporting and giving back to members.

Whether it be through loans, savings, sponsorships, bursaries,

financial advice or other areas, HSSCU is here to support

communities, champion their members and continue to prove

their commitment to members with the introduction and

improvement of products and services.

55

The Source of

World Class Care

A Leading International Supplier

of High Quality and Innovative

Healthcare Solutions

servisource.ie

1800 603 604

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Best Healthcare Provider

SERVISOURCE

Founded in 2000, Servisource is Ireland’s only multidisciplinary full-service healthcare

provider. Proud partners of the HSE and private healthcare facilities, Servisource

provides a range of value-added services.


Servisource

Best Healthcare Provider to the Public

and Private Sector

Servisource Managed Services streamlines the procurement

of staff intensive activities and consolidates elements such

as recruitment, vendor management, HR, rostering and

deployment, compliance, pay and billing into one service.

A specialised patient transport service provides for the

removal or return of a person to an Approved Centre in

accordance with sections 13 and 27 of the Mental Health

Act, 2001. Allied Admissions supports patient-centred care

at each stage of the journey to recovery. Due to the highly

sensitive nature of this service, Servisource ensures that the

process is conducted in a professional, empathetic manner,

safeguarding the dignity and privacy of the person always.

The company provides a complete portfolio of nationwide

training services and occupational health screening to private

and public organisations and individual members of the

workforce. The firm equips front-line staff with the skills required

in modern healthcare practice, meeting HIQA standards. The

company is also the largest supplier of education support

workers in Ireland providing staff to support students with

disabilities to gain equal access to education in twenty 3rd

level institutes including NUI Maynooth and DCU.

list challenge by operating a variety of medical services

across the country including transitional care units, day-care

facilities, clinical processes and other custom-made services.

With over 110 beds currently under management in a variety

of care facilities across the country and having provided

almost 1 million hours of care in the past 12 months, the

Servisource Managed Services Division, which traditionally

focused on providing nurses and HCAs to the Healthcare

Sector, has recently shifted its focus with the objective of

assisting the HSE in tackling the challenge of ever increasing

waiting lists.

Servisource provides support at every stage of the care

pathway from birth to retirement to end of life. “We will

continue to improve and provide the best services to the

healthcare industry,” stresses CEO Declan Murphy. “We will

continue to work with the public sector to deliver world class

services in staffing and solutions. We will continue to develop

in partnership with the public service to assist them to achieve

their vision for a better Ireland. Our core mission is to provide

world class service and be No.1 in the areas of healthcare,

administration, training and outsourced services.”

Myhomecare.ie is the largest non-franchise homecare

business in Ireland and a HSE preferred supplier for the

care of babies with complex needs and people over the

age of 65. Myhomecare has launched ground-breaking new

initiatives, including VIZIER – an intra EU project which will use

the internet of things (IoT) to facilitate social companionship

for older people living at home providing a common userfriendly

platform where users gain easy access to information

and services in a non-intimidating and secure manner.

Myhomecare Connect provides the family (circle of care) a

secure, transparent and high quality IoT support service. It

combines the latest technology with one-to-one personal care.

Servisource is an approved supplier of staffing solutions to

several public-sector clients including the HSE, Eures, Solas

and Poball. “We believe that partnering with the public

service is key to successful delivery of quality services in

Ireland,” explains CEO Declan Murphy. “We achieve this by

providing excellent support and focusing on continuing to

improve our service. Servisource prides itself on the close

relationship it has established with the public sector for the

past 20 years. In a fast-moving environment, public services

rely on contingent staffing and tailored services to respond to

the needs of the population.”

With Servisource, everyone ‘WINS’. The ‘Waiting list Initiative

for Nationwide Services’ is helping the HSE tackle the waiting

57

WOMEN IN COMPUTING

AND ENGINEERING

@ITCarlow

@ ITCarlow

network

collaborate

share

inspire

analyse

like

Supporting women in technology to:

Engage, Learn, Innovate, Lead

ITCarlow

ITCarlow

ITCarlow

Institute of Technology Carlow

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Education

Promotion Award 2019

GENDER

BALANCE

Institute of Technology Carlow has been bestowed with a Public Sector Award for its

championing of women in STEM and promoting computing and engineering as career

choices for girls.


Institute of Technology Carlow

‘Women in Computing & Engineering’

Excellence in Education Promotion

Accepting the Excellence in Education Promotion Award

2019, Dr. Frances Hardiman, Head of the Faculty of

Engineering at Institute of Technology Carlow commented,

“We are delighted to receive this recognition for the work

the Faculty is doing to champion engineering as a career

choice for females. This promotion is part of an overall drive

by Institute of Technology Carlow to drive gender balance,

equality and inclusivity reflected in the recent Athena Swan

Bronze Award achieved by the Institute”.

In receiving the award, Institute of Technology Carlow was

commended for developing and recently hosting a Women

in Engineering interactive workshop for girls in second-level

education across the region.

According to IT Carlow, positive female advocates who will

champion the sector are fundamental to the promotion

of careers in computing and engineering to women. To

this end, the Women in Engineering Workshop invited the

attendees to meet with and hear the personal stories of

current students and recent graduates of engineering and

computing degree courses. The role models discussed

their careers and explained what life is like when you study

engineering. The amazing response from the schools forced

the event to a larger lecture theatre

than originally planned to facilitate

the 200 attendees.

year as part of the Institute’s ongoing work in promoting STEM

to females and championing equality and inclusion.

This culture is also reflected in the number of IT Carlow

academic staff who regularly present at conferences on

Women in Engineering and Physics. Assistant Registrar Dr

Yvonne Kavanagh, who is in-coming chair of the Institute

of Physics in Ireland (IOP), is an active advocate of women

in physics and recently spoke at the 10th International

Conference on Materials for Advanced Technologies (ICMAT)

in Singapore about developing role models in STEM. The

president of Institute of Technology Carlow, Dr. Patricia

Mulcahy, is one of only two females in Ireland heading a

third-level institute. Dr. Frances Hardiman was appointed

Head of Faculty of Engineering in 2018.

Institute of Technology Carlow was also amongst the first

in the technological sector to achieve the Athena Swan

Bronze Award, an international acknowledgment of its work

in advancing gender equality in academia & in promoting

diversity & inclusion for staff and students in higher

education. The Institute’s Faculty of Engineering is currently

preparing to apply for the award, which can be bestowed at

departmental level.

The event featured a welcome by Dr

Hardiman, followed by a video from

ARUP showing the different aspects

to engineering. The highlight was

talks from a fourth year Software

Engineering student Ailish

Kavanagh, and a Computer Systems

Management graduate working

for Amazon, Ciara McMahon,

who described what working in

computing meant to them and the

fabulous opportunities it provided.

A panel session with girls on

engineering courses was chaired

by Dr Yvonne Kavanagh and

straddled mechanical engineering,

aviation engineering and electronic

engineering. An interactive platform,

that allowed the girls to ask questions

via an app, was used to facilitate

engagement. Three similar sessions

are planned for the next academic

Dr. Frances Hardiman (Head of Faculty of Engineering); Dr. Patricia Mulcahy (President); Dr. David Allen (Athena Swan, Faculty

Project Manager); Aislinn Glennon (Lecturer in Electronic Engineering) and Dr. Yvonne Kavanagh (Assistant Registrar)

59

Supporting the Southern Region of Ireland

Southern Regional Assembly

Assembly House, O’Connell Street, Waterford

051 860700

www.southernassembly.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Regional Development Support

DRIVING

ECONOMICS


Southern Regional Assembly

Regional Development Support

The Southern Regional Assembly is part of the Local Government Sector to

facilitate greater cooperation and coordination between local, regional and national

government and other state agencies to drive social, economic and sustainable

development of the Southern Region.

The Assembly’s roles include, managing and monitoring EU

programmes, participating in EU-funded projects, preparing and

implementing the Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy (RSES)

and promoting effective local government and public services.

The Southern Region has ten local authorities. Thirty-three

Councillors are appointed to the Assembly for a 5-year term;

27 are nominated from their constituent local authority and 6

as a member of the Committee of the Regions.

The Assembly has a role in linking local economic development

with regional and national planning through oversight of Local

Economic & Community Plans and reporting on aspects of

local authority performance at the request of the National

Oversight & Audit Commission. It supports balanced regional

development through management and monitoring of EUfunded

programmes and participates in EU projects of specific

regional benefit.

The Assembly manages the Southern & Eastern (S&E) Regional

Programme 14-20 which uses €500m ERDF co-financing to

support a variety of initiatives across five areas, RTDI, ICT,

SME supports, low carbon economy, and sustainable urban

development.

The Assembly is a programme partner for the Ireland Wales

Programme and the contact point for Interreg North-West

Europe, along with the financial audit function which ensures

that projects spend EU funding in accordance with the rules.

The Assembly also participates in four Interreg Europe projects

which address issues specific regional needs, including multimodal

transport, low carbon energy, and responsible research

& innovation.

supporting job creation, competitiveness, economic growth,

improved quality of life and sustainable development. The

Programme currently supports 9 world-leading research centres

and over 750 researchers, over 35,000 micro-enterprises, and 9

sustainable urban infrastructure projects, including Waterford’s

Apple Market and the Mary Elmes Bridge in Cork.

The RSES will set out a 12-year strategic planning and

economic development framework that will implement Project

Ireland 2040, National Planning Framework and National

Development Plan 18-27 at regional and local level. The RSES

sets a dynamic vision for the Southern Region to 2031 and

beyond and a sustainable framework for spatial growth and

economic investment to embrace all aspects of life within the

region. The RSES will be adopted by the Regional Assembly

in autumn 2019.

Mr Kelly explains that the first RSES for the Southern Region

not only provides an opportunity to set a strong vision for the

region but more importantly to deliver on it. “The Assembly

will take a leadership role by working with all key stakeholders,

particularly the local authorities, to drive the sustainable

development of the Region. The Assembly will support local

authorities to avail of national and EU funding opportunities

to secure the future economic growth and quality of life for the

Southern Region.”

The Assembly is centrally involved in the formulation of policies

aimed at achieving a greater dispersal of economic growth

and development throughout the Region through its remit

to prepare and implement the RSES in association with local

authorities and local, regional and national stakeholders. The

RSES links the National Planning Framework, City & County

Development Plans and Local Economic & Community Plans.

“We work at the regional level within the Local Government

sector to facilitate greater coordination between local,

regional and national government and other state agencies to

drive social, economic, and sustainable development of the

Region”, explains Director David Kelly.

The S&E Regional Programme 14-20 is facilitating economic

and social development of the S&E region of Ireland by

61

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Services to Education

SERVING THE

COMMUNITY


LOETB

Excellence in Services Education

Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) is a statutory provider of

education and training in Laois and Offaly.

LOETB is one of the main employers in the midlands with

over 1,000 staff providing education and training for over

4,000 students at post-primary level and over 11,000 students

on Further Education and Training (FET) programmes.

It manages nine post-primary schools and twelve multiprogramme

FET centres and is joint patron of five community

schools across Laois and Offaly. LOETB also has a growing

responsibility to support the coordination and provision of

youth work services across the two counties and, through

co-operation with other institutions, provides support to a

variety of programmes and agencies to deliver education

and training programmes that cannot be met by mainstream

educational services. It has a long history of working in

partnership with statutory, community and voluntary groups

and management and staff represent LOETB on various

boards and committees across Laois and Offaly.

Chief Executive, Joe Cunningham, explains that education

and training are the foundations not just for a strong economy

but also for a vibrant and inclusive society, and therefore it is

a privilege to give public service in this sector. “We view the

three pillars of Schools, Further Education and Training, and

Organisation Support and Development as akin to a threelegged

stool that support our ultimate aim of actively leading

the provision of high-quality education and training across

Laois and Offaly,” he says.

expertise across finance, corporate services, and human

resources to meet our obligations in both an efficient and

effective manner,” explains Mr Cunningham.

The Chief Executive explains that the LOETB is working on a

number of projects at present in line with the goals of their

Strategy Statement. “We recently established a Teaching and

Learning Unit that, among its functions, will support staff with

the implementation of technology-enhanced teaching and

learning methodologies across all our provision,” she says.

“We have a number of large-scale capital projects underway

that will help improve our facilities for both post-primary

and FET students.” They are also currently introducing a

series of measures supported by ICT to improve both the

efficiency and effectiveness of administration service as

well as supporting the primary education sector locally with

procurement and capital projects.

LOETB has come through a significant change process since

it was first established. “The development of staff and the

continuous transformation of the organisation to respond to

changing and emerging needs are critical to ensure we meet

our commitment effectively,” explains CEO Joe Cunningham.

“As a local education authority LOETB is now in a strong

position to meet the needs of the community we serve.”

“Our post-primary provision across

Laois and Offaly is a cornerstone of

our provision where the focus is on

the academic, personal, and social

development of our students. As the

economy continues to grow, so too

does the need for relevant further

education and training provision

to support organisations to remain

competitive in a constantly-changing

business environment.” The focus

of LOETB is to support students

to progress to higher education

and also directly into employment.

To this end, they work closely with

SOLAS, the Further Education and

Training Authority, to ensure their

provision meets the needs of those in

employment, as well as those seeking

employment. “Our Organisation’s

Support and Development (OSD)

function provides the necessary support

for the administration of education and

training services with the necessary

63

Keeping the community in Kerry safe

Kerry County Council I County Buildings I Tralee I Co. Kerry I (066) 718 3500 I info@kerrycoco.ie

www.kerrycoco.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Public Road Safety Initiative

SAFETY IN

NUMBERS


Kerry County Council

Public Road Safety Initiative

Kerry County Council is the Local Authority for the county of Kerry which provides a

range of frontline services across five municipal districts.

The council functions are carried out by a workforce headed

by the Chief Executive which reports to a council of 33 Elected

Members.

Kerry County Council provides frontline services in the areas

of housing and community, roads, transportation & marine,

planning, economic & community development, water

services, fire & emergency services, environmental services

and library services. It is the primary authority for County

Kerry for economic development and for ensuring sustainable

communities. “We work with multiple stakeholders, across

many sectors to achieve these aims and see our role as vital

for the wellbeing of our 150,000 citizens as well as the 2 million

visitors to our county annually,” explains John Kennelly, Senior

Engineer, Roads, Transportation & Marine Department.

Looking to road safety specifically Kennelly says that in the

decade between 2006 and 2015, a total of 119 people lost their

lives on Kerry’s roads. In an attempt to greatly reduce these

numbers a comprehensive Road Safety Plan was put in place

to significantly reduce serious injury and fatality on the roads

of Kerry. The plan set out four main objectives in the areas of

education, engineering, enforcement and evaluation in the

years up to 2020. The Road Safety Department are actively

working with the community to raise awareness of road safety

with a view to changing attitudes and behaviour at individual,

community, and organisational levels; To make Kerry’s road

network safer and more forgiving of inevitable errors by road

users and to ensure viable and appropriate enforcement, acting

as a deterrent and increasing compliance with road traffic laws.

Kerry County Council has many projects and various stages

of development which are delivered under the auspices

of government departments or agencies including the

Department of Housing, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, and

the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport. The council

also works in partnership with Irish Water to deliver capital

projects such as new water and sewerage schemes which are

essential for the economic development of local communities.

“We also work with communities and other interest groups

to apply for grant assistance under various programmes such

as CLÁR, Town & Village Renewal and the Urban and Rural

Regeneration Funds under Ireland 2040,” continues Kennelly.

With a strong focus on the community and on keeping the

community safe, Kennelly closes by saying: “Kerry County

Council has a proven track record of working with our

community groups and business leaders towards achieving

our common goal of ensuring that Kerry is a great and safe

place to visit and an even better place to live and work.”

65

The beautiful

thing about

learning is that

no one can

take it away

from you

– B.B King

Ionad Oiliúna Fhionnghlas, CDETB,

Bóthar Shéamais, Fionnghlas,

Baile Átha Cliath 11

CDETB Finglas Training Centre,

Jamestown Road, Finglas,

Dublin 11, D11 KW18

Tel: 01 814 0200

www.finglastrainingcentre.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Education Training

TOPS FOR

TRAINING


Finglas Training Centre - City of Dublin

Education and Training Board (CDETB)

Excellence in Services Education Training

Since 1983, Finglas Training Centre has been the ‘go to’ provider of vocational

training for those wishing to enter the labour market. Since then thousands of learners

have attended its courses and expanded their skill set in their chosen field of learning.

“We are fortunate in our dedicated team of instructors and

support staff,” explains Maria Murphy, Area Manager, Finglas

Training Centre. “Through expert instruction, using state of

the art equipment we strive to ensure the learning experience

is successful, productive and relevant.”

The courses on offer provide training for new labour market

entrants and those seeking to upskill, or change career

direction, offering certification at QQI Level 5 and 6 and/or

industry certification.

Finglas Training Centre values its industry links, continuing

to foster relationships for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Collaborations include training of Aircraft Maintenance and

Aircraft Structures Technicians for the aviation sector. Since

2012, 70 plus individuals have qualified in these skills areas,

successfully taking up employment in a sector experiencing

growth and a constant demand for skilled personnel.

A recent collaboration sees Finglas Training Centre delivering

two New Generation Apprenticeship programmes; ICT

Network Engineering and ICT Software Developer for the

public service sector to meet its strategic goals for talent

requirements over the coming years.

groups and other agencies, providing training for early school

leavers and those deemed to be economically, socially,

geographically or educationally disadvantaged. Learners

participating in community training programmes have the

opportunity to complete QQI Major Awards at Levels 3, 4 and 5.

Local Training Initiative programmes are offered to learners

aged 16 to 35 without formal or incomplete second level

qualifications. Opportunities also exist for those unemployed

who are unable to participate in other training interventions.

The projects learners participate in enormously benefit many

communities.

There are Justice Workshops which provide training, education,

personal and social development for offenders and exoffenders

aged 17 and upwards. Learners obtain nationally

recognised certification with services focussing on rehabilitation

and reintegration with a view to their return to employment.

For those in employment or wishing to simply expand their

skill set there are evening courses to upskill for new tasks or

for promotional opportunities. These courses are short and are

designed to meet the needs of every learner, from complete

beginners to those requiring more advanced learning.

“Continuous liaison with industry ensures courses

remain relevant whilst generating employment

opportunity for graduates,” Ms Murphy explains.

“Recent consultations resulted in modifications to

our Front-End Web Developer; Graphic Design

and Revit Technician Traineeship programmes that

more accurately reflect the skills set required in

these rapidly evolving technological areas.”

Other courses offered include legal and office

administration traineeships, hairdressing and

computer application skills via a multimedia facility.

According to Ms Murphy, industries requiring these

skills sets consistently look to Finglas Training

Centre graduates to fill job vacancies and to

offer opportunity for workplace training, a key

component for all successful learners.

Finglas Training Centre delivers Phase 2 training

to apprentices engaged in traditional craft skills

of electrical, plumbing, carpentry, motor and

sheet metal work, in addition to professional

apprenticeships in ICT, Associate Professional

Network and Software Developer Engineering.

Finglas Training Centre partners with community

67

LET’S LOOK OUT

FOR EACH OTHER

CYCLISTS, MOTORISTS

& PEDESTRIANS

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Services,

Road Safety

SAFETY

FIRST


Donegal County Council

Excellence in Services Road Safety

Donegal County Council provides a wide range of services and supports to the

community including an award-winning road safety initiative that will help to save lives.

Cllr. Nicholas Crossan, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Mr. Seamus Neely, CE Donegal County Council, Mr. Brian O’Donnell, Road Safety Officer,

Mr. John McLaughlin, Director of Roads and Transport.

Donegal County Council plays a proactive role in the

development of the county and as a vibrant and progressive

council, is made up of 37 elected members who work for

the people of Donegal to develop sustainable, inclusive and

prosperous communities in an effort to make the county a

better place in which to live, work, relax and invest.

Road safety is a very important issue and Donegal County

Council believes that road traffic collisions should not be

accepted as a normal part of life. Road safety applies to every

one of us – motorists, cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians.

All are vulnerable and have duties of care to each other and

the importance of motorists allowing a safe passing distance

when overtaking cyclists cannot be stressed enough. “We also

need to impress on motorists the vulnerability of cyclists and

the need to respect them as road-using equals,” stresses Brian

O’Donnell, Road Safety Officer.

According to O’Donnell, excessive speed is one of the greatest

threats on the road and any impact with a cyclist or pedestrian

at even 50km an hour carries a very real death threat. “Dealing

with that particular vulnerability requires personal visibility and

greater traffic awareness by all road users,” he says. “Cyclists

have their own responsibilities regarding their own safety,

lighting, high visibility clothing and helmets, clear signals and

strict adherence to the rules of the road. Motorists should

recognise their particular vulnerability, slow down and give

them more room when overtaking.”

The Donegal Road Safety Working Group has taken the

opportunity to distribute high viz gilets in the hope that as

many cyclists as possible will wear them. “We would like to shift

the mentality and attitudes of cyclists to take their own safety

on board,” O’Donnell says. “While there is bad behaviour

by both cyclists and motorists, it is an unequal relationship.

Cyclists need to be clearly visible and the distribution of high

viz cycling gilets is a step in the right direction to help protect

cyclists on the road.”

The initial feedback from cyclists has been very positive and

O’Donnell hopes that cycling clubs will promote this safe cycling

initiative and encourage as many as possible to wear high viz

gear when on the road. “Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians all

need to share the road safely,” he says. “We should all respect

each other’s space and ensure that everyone stays safe.”

While there are many interventions that can save lives and

prevent serious injury, the assistance, will and commitment of

all road users is essential and without this little can be achieved.

The time to act is now. Road safety is everyone’s responsibility.

69

Fáiltíonn Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna an Chabhán

agus Muineachain roimh Choinbhinsiún Chumann na

Scoileanna Pobail is Cuimsitheacha 2019 go Cabhán,

agus guímid gach rath air.

Cavan and Monaghan Education and

Training Board is responsible for the

administration and management of 11

post-primary schools and 2 Further

Education and Training Institutes:

CMETB welcoming the recognition

of the Public Sector Awards

• Ballybay Community College

• Beech Hill College, Monaghan

• Breifne College, Cavan

• Castleblayney College

• Coláiste Dún an Rí, Kingscourt

• Coláiste Oiriall, Monaghan

• Inver College, Carrickmacross

• Largy College, Clones

EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR LIFE

(in co-operation with the Diocese of Clogher)

• St Bricin’s College, Belturbet

• St Mogue’s College, Bawnboy

• Virginia College

• Cavan Institute

• Monaghan Institute

Cavan and Monaghan Education

and Training Board is also Co-trustee of:

• Bailieborough Community School

• Saint Aidan’s Comprehensive School, Cootehill

MISSION

Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board provides

quality education and training for young people and adults

through a professional, inclusive and innovative approach.

In addition Cavan and Monaghan ETB provides a range of

services across Cavan and Monaghan including:

Further Education and Training Services, Youthreach,

Youth Services, Outdoor Education, Prison Education, Arts

Education, Music Generation

Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna an Chabháin agus Mhuineachain, Sráid an Mhargaidh, Muineachán, Co. Mhuineacháin

Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB), Market Street, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan

T: 047 30888 W: www.cmetb.ie E: info@cmetb.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS


& Training Services

COMMUNITY

CARE


CMETB - Cavan and Monaghan

Education and Training Board


and Training Services

Established in July 2013, Cavan and Monaghan Education & Training Board are a

pro-active organisation exhibiting excellence in the delivery of Education and Training

Services.

CMETB has a large staff who are committed, enthusiastic and

dedicated to serving the needs of the community it serves.

“It is reassuring for those seeking education and training

opportunities within the Cavan and Monaghan region to know

that they are dealing with a professional organisation who

have their best interests at heart,” explains CEO John Kearney.

Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board provides

post-primary education to over 4,000 students across 11

schools, with each school offering Junior Certificate, Leaving

Certificate, Transition Year, Leaving Certificate Vocational and

Leaving Certificate Applied programmes.

Four CMETB schools are national lead schools for a project led

by Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) and the National Council

for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). These schools have

developed strategies to empower the voice of students

throughout the school, but also in the classroom. Students

contribute to what they will learn, how they learn it and how

they can assess whether their learning has been successful or

not. The participating students have reported higher levels of

motivation and a greater sense of autonomy in their learning.

Such was the success of these schools (Virginia College, St.

Bricin’s College, Inver College and Ballybay Community

College) that they were asked to present to an international

conference on this topic in Dublin Castle.

CMETB Further Education and

Training (FET) Services provide a

wide range of full and part time

programmes throughout Cavan

and Monaghan, offering valuable

learning opportunities for those over

16 years of age. The programmes

are largely vocational in nature,

e.g. childcare, healthcare, ICT

and engineering, thus providing

clear routes into employment.

Likewise, there are a number of

progression opportunities from FET

programmes into Higher Education

(e.g. Universities & Institutes of

Technology programmes).

basic and vocational skills and hobby programmes at levels

1- 6; CMETB operates six Youthreach Centres that provide a

broad range of certified programmes for early school leavers

and there is a Prison Education service at Loughan House

Open Prison. The ETB also provides general training services

which includes the apprenticeship service, contracted training

programmes, traineeships, local training initiatives and

specialist training providers.

CMETB sets high standards with a set of goals outlined in its

Strategy Statement. This strategy seeks to ensure that CMETB

is a dynamic, responsive and effective organisation that

promotes excellence in all aspects of its service and fulfils its

remit in a timely, cost effective, efficient and quality manner. The

organisation looks to continually strengthen and optimise the

administrative and organisational framework which supports

the delivery of all CMETB services while promoting excellence

in teaching, learning, management and administration in all

CMETB schools. The team sets out to deliver a high quality,

integrated and co-ordinated further education and training

service that meets the skills needs of learners, employers and

facilitates progression.

“We will also strive to advance and expand CMETB’s capital

programme thereby ensuring optimum facilities for CMETB

learners and staff and to maintain and further develop CMETB’s

diverse ancillary service provision,” concludes Kearney.

CMETB FET comprises 5 distinct

services; there are two PLC Colleges –

Cavan Institute & Monaghan Institute

– delivering full time vocational skills

programmes at Levels 5 & 6 and

evening classes; Adult Education

Services deliver a range of part time

71

INVEST IN MAYO

FOR QUALITY

OF INVEST LIFE.

IN MAYO

FOR QUALITY

OF Mayo, a place LIFE.

immersed in an ambitious culture

of enterprise and business development.

The heartbeat of the Wild Atlantic Way and

Voted ‘Best Place in Ireland To Live’

Utilising our energy resources and connectivity,

Mayo, is a place a ‘place’ immersed people in like an ambitious doing business.

culture

of enterprise and business development.

The heartbeat of the Wild Atlantic Way and

Voted ‘Best Place in Ireland To Live’

Utilising our energy resources and connectivity,

Mayo is a ‘place’ people like doing business.

County Mayo – a pro-business environment

Mayo County Council would like to congratulate

Brenton L. Saunders, CEO of Allergan for his

incredible tenure within his role.

We

with wish

a “can-do” him continued

attitude.

success into the future.

Mayo County Council would like to congratulate

From From indigenous start-ups success to major stories multinational to major multinationals, companies,

many

well-known Brenton companies have chosen to locate in Mayo. A vast

pool Mayo of educated is already

L. and the

Saunders, talented location workforce, of choice world for

CEO class more

of Allergan for his

business

infrastructure, incredible than 4,000 transport businesses. tenure links County including within Mayo freight, also road his offers

and role.

air,

We strong wish business him supports continued and networks, a success highly-

into the future.

skilled workforce and a clean, green location with

the continue business to attract sector major in multinationals. Mayo is a key Co priority Mayo is for

a platform

for connecting US and European financial markets with the

Mayo largest County sub-sea fibre Council optic and cable through project in the the Enterprise

world. Mayo can

& deliver Investment for your Unit, company, it wants to find to out let how interested visit www.mayo.ie parties

know that Mayo is open for business and whether

large or small scale, you will receive a pre-enterprise

From E: good indigenous invest@mayo.ie natural resources success stories T:+353(0)94 904 and to 7555 a major ready multinationals, W: www.mayo.ie access to many welcome continue to from attract Mayo major County multinationals. Council. Co Mayo is a platform

well-known companies have chosen to locate in Mayo. A vast

for connecting US and European financial markets with the

Mayo County Council, Cedar House, Top Floor, Moneen, Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland.

pool international of educated markets. and talented Supporting workforce, and world growing

class business

largest sub-sea fibre optic cable project in the world. Mayo can

infrastructure, transport links including freight, road and air,

deliver for your company, to find out how visit www.mayo.ie

E: invest@mayo.ie T:+353(0)94 904 7555 W: www.mayo.ie

Mayo County Council, Cedar House, Top Floor, Moneen, Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland.

OUTRIGHT WINNERS


promoting Economic

& Cultural Development

HEARTBEAT

OF MAYO

Mayo County Council has a responsibility for a population of over 130,000 people.

With an annual budget of €136 million, the council employs almost 1,300 staff

delivering a wide range of services.


Mayo County Council


Economic and Cultural Development

The services that fall under their remit of the council include

housing, roads transportation and safety, emergency

services, enterprise, community engagement, library, arts

services, tourism development, planning and development,

to name a few

Mayo County Council is at the heart of the local community

and is a key enabler of economic and social development in

the county. Each day it delivers over four hundred different

services from providing much needed social housing to

delivering supports for small employers to making it easier

to get around the county and making sure that children

and the elderly are nurtured in their

communities.

With an eye also on the digital age, an Atlantic Economic

Corridor Taskforce, chaired by Chief Executive, Peter Hynes,

has Mayo piloting the development and rollout of an App

to accelerate surveying and mapping of vacant enterprise

space in Mayo’s towns and villages.

According to the Chief Executive; “County Mayo is very

much open for business and central to that is a local

authority that is very pro-enterprise. Mayo County Council’s

Enterprise & Investment Unit welcomes the opportunity to

showcase the many benefits of basing a business and doing

business in Co. Mayo.”

Chief Executive of Mayo

County Council, Mr Peter Hynes

believes “Economic and Cultural

Development is an important aspect

of what Mayo County Council does.

Mayo County Council takes its

commitment to providing public

services seriously and in successfully

doing so we can make Mayo a

sustainable, inclusive, prosperous

and proud county”

There are many significant projects

underway in the county, including

the large-scale road development

which will see the construction

of a 25.8km stretch of new road

between Turlough and Westport.

This will be one of the largest

road development projects in the

country. Other significant projects

include the realignment of the

Cloongullane Bridge on the N26

connecting Ballina/North Mayo to

Swinford/East Mayo and beyond.

The council are also working to

create an adventure leisure hub at

Lough Lannagh, Castlebar. A €12

million Leisure Centre opened in

April, and the creation of a centre of

excellence in partnership with Mayo

GAA together with a number of

outdoor adventure projects aims to

position this location as a leader in

the sporting activity and adventure

space

Mayo Co Co Chief Executive Pater Hynes, Director of Services Catherine McConnell, Head of Enterprise John Magee

73

The State Education and Training

Authority for Limerick and Clare

Schools

Further Education and Training

Music Education

Outdoor Education

Youth Work

Marshal House, Dooradoyle Road,

Limerick, V94 HAC4

P: 061 442100

info@lcetb.ie | www.lcetb.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Further

Education & Training

LIFELONG

LEARNING

Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board is the state education and training

authority for the Limerick and Clare region. It is one of 16 statutory regional education

authorities established by the Education and Training Boards Act 2013.


Education 2019

Limerick & Clare Education

& Training Board

Further Education and Training

The authority delivers educational services to over 34,000

learners across its administrative region annually. It employs

2,500 staff and had an annual budget of €152 million in 2018

across all of its divisions. The authority has responsibility

for 18 post-primary schools and 33 further education and

training centres. It also works with community groups in

approximately 300 locations across the region.

Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board is

currently focusing on the provision of a number of much

needed extensions to existing schools and the provision

of new schools across its administrative region. This capital

programme will see an investment of over €90 million in the

region over the next 3 to 4 years. In addition, the authority is

also providing professional support to schools in the postprimary

and primary sectors in assisting them with their

building programmes.

The authority has responsibility for 18 multi-denominational,

post-primary schools. During 2018, its schools enrolment

accounted for 35% of overall enrolment for post-primary

students in the region. The authority is also co-patron of 4

community schools in its administrative region.

The ethos of its schools reflects the diversity of the

communities served and provides for participation by those

communities through a transparent and democratic model

of management.

as English for speakers of other languages and literacy),

employability skills (including employee skills development,

skills to advance and evening provision). It also provides postleaving

certificate courses, specific skills training (including

contracted training), traineeships, vocational training

opportunities and youth skills (Youthreach, Community

Training Centres, Justice Workshop and Co-operation Hours).

The division further administers the supply of teaching

services to 27 other institutions, including education, training

and social service organisations.

Underpinning the education and training provision there

are several support services available including a further

education and training development team, information,

recruitment and guidance support and services for enterprise

engagement, active inclusion and quality assurance.

According to Paul Patton, Director of Further Education

and Training, 2018 marked a significant milestone in the

ongoing reform of the Further Education and Training sector

towards a more strategic and integrated FET system. A

national framework was agreed for a new process of strategic

dialogue to inform the development of three-year strategic

performance agreements with SOLAS. The new agreement

between SOLAS and Limerick and Clare Education and

Training Board sets out the context, strategic priorities

and the authority’s contribution to the achievement of key

national FET sector targets over the period 2018-2020.

In May 2018 Limerick and Clare Education

and Training Board launched its first Youth

Work Plan. Designed for implementation

over the period 2018-2021, the Plan will

guide the work of the authority in regard to

its youth work functions.

Limerick and Clare Education and Training

Board offers an extensive choice of full

and part-time provision through its Further

Education and Training Division with over

24,000 learners in approximately 300

locations participating across the Limerick

and Clare region every year.

The range of provision offered by the

authority’s Further Education and Training

Division includes apprenticeships, back to

education initiatives, community education

and training (including local training

initiatives, specialist training providers

and co-operation hours), core skills (such

(L to R) Mary Troy, Head of Finance; Paul Patton, Director of Further Education & Training; Shelagh Graham,

Director of Organisation Support & Development; Donncha Ó Treasaigh, Director of Schools; and Breda Flynn,

Head of Human Resources.

75

OUTRIGHT WINNERS


Part time Courses

INNOVATE &

EDUCATE


IT Carlow Wexford Campus

Excellence in Services Education

Part Time Courses

Institute of Technology Carlow, Wexford Campus has been awarded a Public Sector

Award for Excellence in Education Part-Time Courses 2019.

Accepting the Excellence in Education Part-Time Courses

Award 2019, Dr Janette Davies, Deputy Head of the Wexford

Campus commented: “We are delighted to receive this

recognition for the leadership role the Wexford Campus

has in responding to the provision of part-time courses. The

provision of part-time lifelong learning courses is rooted

in the belief that individual learning is a lifelong process.

It is particularly important in County Wexford, as the

county shares, with Longford, the lowest percentage of the

population in the country to have a third-level qualification.

At Wexford Campus, we are very student-centred, with

a dedicated team whose primary aim is to help provide

support and guidance back to education.”

The Wexford campus delivered its first Higher Education

programmes in 1995-96, when it opened with 24 students,

six staff members and two full-time programmes. It now

offers a comprehensive suite of full-time CAO programmes

and over 40 lifelong programmes. The campus employs over

80 lecturing staff and has more than 800 full and part-time

students from all over the country including Galway and

Donegal, with 45% of the student cohort studying part-time.

The campus has become an integral part of the fabric of

County Wexford with a mission

to respond to the academic,

economic and cultural needs of

the region. This is evident in the

suite of course offerings, reflecting

the importance of tourism, culture,

the arts, agriculture, the seafood

sector and the growing tech sector

in Wexford, along with supplying

suitably qualified graduates. The

part-time programme provision

also contributes to Wexford

County Council’s Local Economic

Plan Goal 1, Wexford Chamber

Skillnet portfolio and the National

Springboard initiative. It provides

easy access to third-level education

in a county with socio-economic and

educational disadvantage, offering

a wide range of programmes from

level 6-9 on the NFQ framework. To

date, there are over 3,500 graduates

across the full and part-time

programme provision, 90% of whom

reside in County Wexford.

innovation is integral to the success of the lifelong section

of the Wexford Campus with unique programmes such as

the Higher Diploma in Business in Aqua Business. “This

programme received recognition at the highest level with

the EU commissioner for the Environment, Marine Affairs and

Fisheries noting that the programme was one of the most

significant things to happen in Ireland in the marine sector in

Ireland in the last few years,” she says.

Dr Karen Hennessy, Head of the Wexford Campus,

commented that the provision of lifelong courses extends

across a wide diversity of disciplines which appeal to all sectors

of the community. “With students aged from 18-82 enjoying

our courses, we understand that part-time learners face

myriad challenges and that is why our courses are designed

to provide maximum choice and flexibility to learners. We

partner with industry, business, voluntary and community

groups on course development, which are designed to meet

the educational needs of the local and national economy.”

The provision of part-time and flexible programmes continues

to go from strength to strength and the Institute continuously

expands on programme offerings, giving more opportunities

to the community to participate in lifelong learning.

According to Dr Davies, programme

77

Roadbridge is a Limerick based international civil engineering company

that has been in operation for over 50 year’s . We’ve built our reputation

on working collaboratively with our clients, offering a quality service,

and a product with genuine added value.

With one of Ireland’s largest in-house plant fleets giving us unparalleled control

over project delivery, we have the experience, capability and proven track record in

delivering major infrastructure projects safely, on time, and within budget.

roadbridge.ie

Crossagalla, Ballysimon Road, Limerick, V94 X2E1

SAFETY FIRST

The construction industry is on track to have the lowest recorded workplace

fatalities in 2019 despite an 80% increase in the number of workers in the

industry since 2013.

CONSTRUCTION

NEWS

Management and awareness of safety and health issues has progressed

enormously in recent years. Employers and workers have invested time

and money to drive improvements, endeavoring to ensure all workers

can work safely on construction projects in Ireland. As an example of this

commitment, up to 107,481 workers completed the SOLAS Safe Pass

Programme in 2018 alone. No other industry sector in Ireland can compare

with this level of focus.

Dermot Carey, Director, Safety & Training, Construction Industry Federation

said, “The construction industry is striving to make 2019 the year with the

lowest recorded work fatalities. Any fatality is one too many.”

According to the Health and Safety Authority there were two recorded

deaths this year with 164 non-fatal workplace incidents in construction from

January to June 2019. These statistics are declining year on year, with three

fatalities and 278 non-fatal incidents recorded by the HSA during the same

period in 2018.

This encouraging downward trend has been achieved by construction

companies adopting behavioural, technological and psychological bestpractice

to embed safety on thousands of sites around the country. Research

indicates that the moment you feel safe on site is the moment you can

become complacent. So, construction companies will constantly remind

workers through a range of channels and practices to think about safety and

act safely. Signs, warnings, toolbox talks, even accident re-enactments with

actors are used to remind workers of the importance of safety continually.

BUILDING BETTER

ENVIRONMENTS

Public administration and defence is Dublin’s fastest growing

sector of employment, with 4,900 new jobs created in the last year.

This represents an annual increase of 14.7% according to the latest

report from property advisor Savills Ireland driving strong growth

in public-sector office take-up.

Dr. John McCartney, Director of Research at Savills Ireland and

author of the report noted that since 2012, take-up of office space

by public sector bodies has risen by over 1,000%, which reflects

significant jobs growth in the sector, particularly since 2015 when

the recruitment embargo was lifted.

According to the report, the average office employee in Dublin

now occupies 10.3 sq m of space, meaning that the 4,900 new

jobs in public administration should translate into a requirement

for approximately 50,000 sq m of additional business space.

Andrew Cunningham, Director and Head of Offices at Savills

Ireland said “While jobs growth has contributed to increased

public sector take-up, this also reflects the Government’s proactive

approach to modernising and improving the quality of its business

space portfolio to promote productivity and environmental

objectives. Recent examples of this include moves by the

Department of Health from Hawkins House – which was built in

1965 – to the newly refurbished Miesian Plaza, and the NTMA from

the Treasury Building to No. 1 Dublin Landings.”

There were several large office lettings to the public sector in

Q1 2019. Tailte Éireann – the name of the Government body to

be formed by the merger of the Property Registration Authority,

Ordnance Survey Ireland and the Valuation Office – pre-let 16,722

sqm of space at The Distillers Building in Smithfield. In addition, the

Central Bank of Ireland has agreed to acquire Blocks 4 & 5, Dublin

Landings – currently under development by Ballymore.

79

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY WEEK 2019

The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has officially launched Construction Safety Week 2019, which

will run from 21st to 25th October. Construction Safety Week is an opportunity to reflect on aspects of

safety, health and overall wellbeing and to promote its importance throughout the workforce. Its mission is

to strengthen the industry’s safety culture and performance by sharing best practices, tools and resources

in a number of ways:

• y Eliminate accidents and incidents on construction sites in Ireland.

• y Promote a healthy culture of sharing lessons learned and best practice case studies in safety, health and

wellbeing.

• y Reflect on the positive initiatives taken and celebrate achievements in good safety performance, whilst

appreciating the potential consequences of failing to act responsibly in terms of safety and health.

• y Continue to work with colleagues and others to strengthen the construction industry’s safety and

wellbeing culture.

All 47,000 construction companies in the country are invited to participate, and there will be a national

‘Stand Down for Safety’ to start safety week on sites across the country.

Construction Safety Week 2019 Daily Themes

The CIF’s Safety Week 2019 takes place from 21st to 25th this year. This coincides with European

Safety Week, the theme of which is ‘Healthy Workplaces Manage Dangerous Substances’. This

year’s Construction Safety Week themes are:

Day 1.

Day 2.

Day 3.

Day 4.

Day 5.

Mental Health and Wellbeing in Construction

Vehicle Risk & Safety in Lifting

Working Safely with Electricity

Working Safely at Height

Hazardous Substances

80

NEWS

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show

that only 8% of Irish construction industry employees are

female and of 10,000 state-funded apprenticeships taken

up last year, just 33 were taken up by women.

According to CIF Director of Industrial Relations, Jean

Winters, the industry will require around 112,000 extra

workers to deliver required construction activity over the

next decade. “From a practical perspective, the industry

is limiting its growth potential if it only recruits from 50%

of population. From an efficiency perspective, female

participation in business decision making has been proven

to improve business performance. We, as an industry, cannot

continue to allow such low levels of female participation.”

President CIF and Regional Managing Director (Civils) with

John Sisk & Son, Pat Lucey, said that construction industry

is beginning to see great change. “There is no doubt that

construction has traditionally been considered a maledominated

industry, but it is time to change that perception

and to an extent that reality; not because it currently

suits us to do so due to the skills shortage the industry is

experiencing, but because it is the right thing to do.”

The good news is that more than 84pc of female

respondents in a recent Construction Industry Federation

survey believed their male counterparts assisted them as

they progressed, with 73pc reporting significant, positive

change towards female workers in the industry. As a result,

some 85pc of those currently working in construction

said that they would recommend a similar career path for

younger female relatives or friends.

With the impending cloud of Brexit hanging over the

industry the CIF has warned that Brexit could pose a

problem with access to skilled workers. A reduction,

however limited, in an already small pool of skilled workers,

will cause huge strain in an industry with a decade-long

pipeline of activity, it says.

Business group IBEC said in January that between 80,000-

100,000 workers would be needed to meet government

construction targets and estimated that there is a shortfall of

between 60,000 to 80,000. If the industry cannot meet these

numbers IBEC suggested that there would need to be a

significant growth in the number of non-Irish construction

workers coming here to bridge that gap.

81

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Civil Engineering

& Construction

THE ROAD

TO SUCCESS


Roadbridge

Excellence in Civil Engineering &

Construction within the Public Sector

Founded in 1967, Roadbridge is a Limerick based civil engineering company

operating globally in the delivery of major infrastructure projects.

It has completed in excess of 250KM of major inter-urban

motorways in Ireland and laid 360km of gas pipeline for Bord

Gáis and Irish Shell.

Identifying new markets and constantly improving its offering

to clients are the basis of Roadbridge’s sustained growth

trajectory, says Managing Director Conor Gilligan. Its focus on

delivering above and beyond client expectations and looking

at new markets and areas to win a steady stream of Irish and

international infrastructure contracts for its team of over 800

people helped boost Roadbridge’s global sales by over 20%

to €278m in 2018. But it was also a year of consolidation for

the company, according to Managing Director Conor Gilligan.

“Having weathered the storm of the recession for 10 years, the

company is back on track to be the global partner of choice

in the delivery of critical infrastructure projects,” he says. “We

have consolidated our place in the civils market with a welldiversified

portfolio of clients and contracts. The last year has

seen us active in all our key sectors, including oil and gas, water

services, marine, renewables, motorways, aviation, pharma

and IT, and operation and maintenance.”

Although Limerick-headquartered Roadbridge had never

worked outside Ireland before 2008, international markets

added up to 60% of sales in 2018 and the company now has

offices in London, Cardiff, Glasgow, Stockholm, Oslo and

Doha, as well as in Dublin. However, 2019 will see a shift back

towards Ireland following several significant project wins,

including the North Runway at Dublin Airport, work at Dublin

Port and motorway construction on the N4 in Sligo.

New contracts in the UK, a market that has accounted for

around 60% of the company’s business in recent years, include

82

Roadbridge has also won Gold and most Considerate

Site Runner Up Awards for the construction of the

forest holiday village at Center Parcs, Longford and

Gold and most Considerate Runner Up for Oweninny

Wind Farm in Bellacorrick, Co. Mayo, on behalf of ESB/

Bord Na Mona, in the 2019 awards. Another important

win for the company last year was the overall National

Q Mark title for Civil Engineering Group of the year

for its quality management system, an accolade it had

previously picked up in 2014.

Unlike many companies in the sector, Roadbridge has

not been badly affected by the skills shortage to date.

“We’re a self-performing contractor so we retain all our

own staff, even during lean times,” Gilligan says. “We

try to keep everybody employed because that’s where

the company’s intellectual property lies. We have kept

our full crew for the last number of years so, while we

are recruiting it’s not at the level of some companies.

“Our approach has always been to keep our staff and

resources and try to win contracts for them. Others

may win the contract first and then try to recruit for it.”

significant marine projects at the ports of Cromarty and

Greenock in Scotland and work on the High Speed 2

(HS2) rail network in England. But, with Brexit looming,

the company is looking to expand into further markets.

“Uncertainty is the biggest issue surrounding Brexit

because nobody knows what’s going to happen. We

have to prepare ourselves. We have well over 800 staff

now and we are always looking to redeploy people to

different regions when markets dry up.”

One thing that won’t be changing, says Gilligan, is the

company’s focus on enhancing its offering. Roadbridge

has, for example, been involved with the Considerate

Constructors Scheme in the UK since 2011. The

scheme aims to improve the image of the construction

industry by encouraging best practice by companies in

their dealings with, and impact on, the general public,

the workforce and the environment.

“The scheme is based around corporate social

responsibility in relation to the area you’re working in,

your staff, the client and the community and how you

interact and leave a positive legacy. It was something

we embraced from the start as it fitted in with our

ethos of being a good neighbour and also reflected

a lot of what we had been doing anyway but hadn’t

necessarily been recording and marketing.”

Roadbridge is now in the top 0.2% of all sites audited

by the scheme in the UK. It was also one of the pilot

companies when the scheme launched in Ireland

in 2017. Then in 2018, Roadbridge’s North Runway

Construction Project 1 at Dublin Airport became the

first Irish-registered project to win a Gold Award at

the 2018 Considerate Constructors Scheme Awards.

While there’s plenty of talk at the moment around lack

of resources in the industry, Gilligan believes it would

be a bad idea to rush into bringing down some of the

barriers against entry into the market. “We cannot go

back to creating a situation that led to overheating in

the economy by importing thousands of workers from

abroad nor should we consider any form of deregulation

in the industry to facilitate easier entry,” he says.

“Companies such as ours have invested heavily in

all the required procedures for a safe and efficient

execution of contracts. I would hate to see any

dropping of standards just to facilitate fast-tracking

projects that essentially are not going to be fasttracked

anyway because a lot of them are still only in

the planning stages.”

Roadbridge itself is already involved in several joint

ventures, including Roadbridge FCC, formed with

Spanish infrastructure firm FCC Construcción, which

was awarded the main contract for the design and

construction of Dublin Airport’s new 3.1km North

Runway last November. The company has also been

working with Italian engineering and construction

specialist in the oil and gas sector, Sicim, since 2003.

Gilligan describes the Roadbridge ethos as being

unchanged since the company was set up 52 years ago.

“Our goal is to be the partner of choice for any client

with an infrastructure need. We have maintained our

self-delivery model over the years, which means we can

guarantee an effective proven and safe delivery model

where we are in full control of all aspects of delivery.

“Our plan over the next number of years is to further

consolidate our company as the civils partner of

choice and continue to grow by embracing new ideas,

innovations and technology whilst at the same time

being true to our principals which will result in a timely

and safe delivery.”

83

C+W

O’BRIEN

C+W O’Brien is a leading, award winning architectural practice with 10 offices across

Ireland and the UK and is a part of the Corstorphine + Wright Architects Group.

Marrying 35 years of professional experience with cutting

edge technologies, C+W O’Brien produce design solutions

that enhance the built environment, transform cities and

communities and achieve outstanding commercial success for

their clients.

An exciting portfolio of innovative clients includes Ireland

and the UK’s largest property PLCs, along with the leading

developers and property and pension funds. Whilst their

specialties cover a wide range of sectors, the bulk of

the firm’s revenue arises from complex and large-scale

residential developments featuring commercial, industrial

and retail elements..

“Recently, our achievements have included reaching number

45 in the Architects Journal (AJ) Top 100 practices in the world

in 2018,” enthuses Director Arthur O’Brien. “Recently we

received the very exciting news that AJ 100 have shortlisted the

practice within the International Architects category in 2019.

We look forward to the final announcement later this year. Not

to mention winning the prestigious Public Sector Magazine

Award for Excellence in Business and Architecture and Project

Management for five consecutive years (2015 – 2019). We have

also received awards and acknowledgements from a number

of Irish and UK bodies including the Irish Construction Industry

Awards, Building and Architect of the Year Awards, British

Council for Offices, the British Council of Shopping Centres

and the International Council for Shopping Centres.”

According to O’Brien, as a practice C+W O’Brien stand out

as one of the few architects with the range of skills to take

projects through from concept to completion, offering both

the vision to design world-class schemes and the technical

skills and commercial awareness required to deliver them

84

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Architectural

& Project Management


C+W O’Brien Architects

Architectural and Project Management

be tested, developed and improved. Always at

the forefront of industry developments, C+W

O’Brien invest in the latest technology and skills

so they can continually innovate and go the

extra mile for clients.

In terms of new projects and developments in

the pipeline, there are simply too many projects

to list however some of the work they are

looking forward to completing in the near future

includes a modular student accommodation

project in Sandyford consisting of an 8-storey

development containing 827 student units and

facilities such as a gym and café. Using a prefabricated

modular system – the first of its kind

in Ireland - the development will be built off-site

and subsequently assembled onsite, ensuring a

short construction period.

Working with their client Heyday, a new

youth brand for accommodation aimed at a

discerning client with quality, urban living and

environment at its centre is expected to roll out

across multiple locations throughout Ireland

with a focus on budget and value for money.

This concept raised the bar in terms of quality

of fit out and living experience.

on time and within budget. “We understand that

great architectural designs need to be aspirational,

but they also need to be deliverable,” he says. “To

ensure they work in the real world we take a holistic

approach to our projects, making sure that we

consider them from every angle.”

C+W O’Brien ensure that their developments don’t

just look good; they also deliver incredible and

long-term value, meeting clients’ objectives and the

needs and desires of the end users for whom they

were conceived. In addition to their architectural

talent, C+W O’Brien employ an in-house team of

graphic designers and 3D animators who add value

for clients throughout all projects. These animators

help the firm to accurately convey the vision for the

project and create virtual environments which can

C+W O’Brien are currently on site in Beckett

Locke with their client SACO Apartments. This

241 room apart-hotel has a delivery date of

September 2020 and is a much-needed addition

to the area, providing corporate travellers and

organisations with a range of facilities including

serviced apartments, gym, restaurant co-working

and co-living spaces.

Data centres are a very busy part of their portfolio.

Ireland continues to be a leader in the digital

economy and the demand for these centres has

been acknowledged at government level. Their

importance cannot be overstated in terms a creating

a cohesive, strategic plan for the economy in the

future and for these reasons Mr O’Brien says that he

would welcome a refining of the decision-making

process for planning.

Closing he says: “once again this year we are excited

about the new projects that are unfolding within

our practice and we remain positive for the future

outlook of the industry.”

85

COVERING ALL ASPECTS OF DECORATION

Stella Cocktail Club

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Construction Painting

THE FINISHING

TOUCH


13 Painting Contractors

Construction Painting

13 Painting Contractors are a commercial painting company covering all aspects of

the decorating industry from general painting to specialist works.

Originally starting out as a sole trader, Managing Director

David Flanagan said that after a few years he knew the areas

that he could be most successful in, so in April 2013 the

company was formed “to do what we could do best and to

put our stamp on the industry,” he said.

“Primarily we are commercial painting contractors covering

large scale works. We are experts in specialist finishes,

hygiene coatings, Epoxy coatings, decorative finishes,

spray-painting, wallpapering and restoration. We also

specialise in bespoke projects so anything at all that is

possible to be done in the decorating arena both public

and private sector, we look after.”

13 Painting Contractors are extensively employed in

the healthcare sector having worked on the majority

of hospitals in Dublin they are continually used as the

preferred contractor in the refurbishments of theatres, x-ray

units and general hospital areas. They are currently carrying

out works at Connolly Hospital, Temple Street Hospital

and Holles Street, doing upgrade works and new

builds for contractors. “Another area we seem

to work a lot in is government office buildings,”

Flanagan says. “Actually, when we started out in

2013, Temple Street Hospital was one of the first

large contracts we secured and we have had a very

good relationship with the hospital over the last

number of years.”

so you build on the hard work over the years, build your

business and it pays off.”

All of the hard work does indeed seem to have paid off

with the company seeing steady growth and achieving

good brand recognition countrywide. As a result, they

have diversified into many other areas. “There is a great

satisfaction when you hand over a finished ward or x-ray

unit and know the good that will come out of it,” Flanagan

enthuses.

Closing he says: “We are a young, dynamic company that is

always looking for exciting projects to become involved in.

We are going live with a new website shortly as we have had

a busy few years and we have updated the old site so I would

love if readers would take a look at what we do. Expansion

is on the horizon and we would be particularly keen to get

involved in public sector schools, so if any readers would

like to contact me regarding decorating works, we would

love to talk to them.”

Restoration work whether on public buildings

and hospitals or on niche projects is a particular

speciality. The company was delighted to work

on the restoration of the Stella Theatre in Dublin,

an iconic landmark and one of the most beautiful

additions to the city in recent years. Sitting

confidently in heart of Dublin 6, the cinema was

sympathetically restored to reflect the glamour

and glitz of the 1920s.

The public sector is a very important sector for 13

Painting Contractors and has been an integral part

of the company’s rapid development.

“When we first started out the healthcare service

was the first big break we got, especially when

you remember how bad the economy was in

2012/2013,” explains Flanagan. “We were an upand-coming

company, fairly new, willing to work

hard and we got a good start in the Public Sector.

Although myself and my men were very capable

painters, sometimes you need that bit of luck and

87

FIRE ENGINEERING

ASSIGNED CERTIFIER

ACCESS CONSULTANTS

PROJECT SUPERVISOR DESIGN PROCESS

Mount Pleasant Business Centre, Ranelagh, Co Dublin

(01) 907 3222 | info@goldsmithgroup.ie

www.goldsmithgroup.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Business Construction

Engineering Consultants

GO FOR

GOLD

With offices in Dublin, London and Belfast, Goldsmith Engineering Group offers fire

engineering, assigned certifier and health and safety consultancy services to the

building design and construction industry.


Goldsmith Engineering Group


Engineering Consultants

The fire engineering team is led by David Quinn who has

delivered fire engineering expertise on some of the largest

developments in the world including the new Tottenham

Hotspur football stadium, Battersea Power Station and

Msheireb Downtown Doha in Qatar. Heading up the

certification and health and safety team, Peter McKay has

extensive experience as a surveyor and certifier across the UK

and Ireland over the last 20 years. Peter is currently Assigned

Certifier for the Clery’s Redevelopment, AIB Bank Centre and

Bray Town Centre.

Managing Director Luke Goldsmith explains that his

company’s main involvement with the public sector is

through working with building control and local authority

fire prevention services, ensuring statutory certification is in

place for building projects in Ireland and the UK. “Having a

close working relationship with public sector officials is a key

part of our overall service,” he says. “We are the link between

building control, the design team and the developers. Our

excellent working relationship with

local authorities ensures that projects

are delivered on time and to the

satisfaction of both the client and the

local authority in terms of compliance

with building regulations.”

company the best fire engineering consultancy in the world.

We’re not afraid of thinking big!” he quips.

In terms of current projects, Bray Town Centre, AIB Bank

Centre, Mount Street Hotel, New Ireland Assurance building

on Dawson Street and the Hibernia REIT HQ are but a few.

Looking to the future Goldsmith says that there are

upcoming challenges in the construction industry, with

external factors such as an inevitable downturn after some

good years of growth and Brexit. “We are also grappling

with a serious skills shortage which leads to inflated costs,”

he says. “It is important at this stage in the economic cycle

to analyse your strengths and weaknesses, diversify your

risk and look to how you can protect your operations should

current economic growth take a dip. It is more important

than ever that we make sure we are delivering the very best

service. Delivering high quality service to your client never

goes out of fashion.”

2019 is set to be an exciting year for

Goldsmith Engineering Group as they

concentrate on diversifying markets

and bring on board new key staff in

Dublin, London and Belfast. Eoin

Troy is a newly appointed Associate

Director leading the fire engineering

team in Belfast. Eoin has been a

leading fire engineer for both Exova

Warringtonfire and Bureau Veritas

in the UK since 2006. He is currently

working on increasing the company’s

market share in Northern Ireland.

Another key hire is David Quinn,

Engineering Director, who has worked

previously with MD Luke Goldsmith.

“I have a long working relationship

with David,” explains Goldsmith, “in

fact, we both started our engineering

career together in 2004. David has

been based in London for the last

nine years as Group Director for Buro

Happold. We are finally back together

with the ambition of making our

89

PRESERVING OUR HERITAGE

TO LAST A LIFETIME

Wexford Courthouse

Services

Facade restoration

Lime pointing

Lime rendering

Rotec vortex cleaning

Facade protection

Structural waterproofing

Type A systems

Type C systems

Timber treatment

Woodworm

Wet rot

Dry rot

Damp proofing

Rising damp

Falling / Lateral damp

Radon gas control

Condensation / cold bridging / mould control

Remedial surveys

Specialist damp consultancy

Pre-purchase condition survey

Fintan Farrell

087 - 1192740

Fintan@farrelldoyleconservation.ie

Laura Doyle

085 - 1496297

Laura@farrelldoyleconservation.ie

Brick chimney repair

www.farrelldoyleconservation.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Conservation

Construction Services

PRESERVE &

CONSERVE


Farrell Doyle Conservation

Excellence in Conservation


Farrell Doyle Conservation provides long-term solutions centred on dampness in

buildings both old and new.

The company’s remedial building solutions are available

for both construction professionals and private clients. The

company specialises in buildings of a conservation/heritage

nature and also provides specification and design services for

waterproofing systems.

Dampness in buildings is a prevalent problem in Ireland, but

thanks to changes in conservation technology, the firm can

protect your building against water ingress. “Where water

ingress is causing a problem, it’s our job to find it!” exclaims

Managing Director Fintan Farrell. When water gets into a

building, either from precipitation or vapour, it can create

problems such as wet rot, dry rot, rising damp and falling

damp. Farrell Doyle Conservation provides services to tackle

this including façade restoration, structural waterproofing,

timber treatments, damp proofing and remedial surveys.

rebranded the business from Fintan Farrell Conservation

Services to Farrell Doyle Conservation.

Together, Fintan and Laura exemplify this cornerstone idea of

blending traditional building methods with new conservation

technologies so as to ensure the longevity of historic buildings

for future generations.

“It is our mission to ensure that Ireland’s built heritage is

capable of meeting modern day needs,” they say. “We view

each building as a living entity. We understand that when a

building is allowed to breathe, it can be preserved and we

know from experience that moisture and dampness hinder

a building’s ability to breathe. If there’s dampness in your

building; it’s our job to find it!”

Project Manager Laura Doyle says that the public sector is an

integral part of her company’s business. “Our public buildings

need to stand the test of time and meet our 21st century needs.

Correct and regular maintenance will allow these buildings to

serve the public for generations to come,” she says.

Work is steady and varied and the company have recently

completed works on the former Parliament hotel on Lord

Edward St which will be the new ‘Hard Rock Hotel’ due to

open in 2020. Here, Farrell Doyle Construction designed and

implemented the waterproofing system to the basement. The

company are currently working on a similar redevelopment on

Shrewsbury road implementing the structural waterproofing to

the basement.

Citing another project Ms Doyle says, “an exciting project is

coming up over the summer in Blackrock which involves an

array of conservation works to a property that’s reaching 150

years old. This will see the façade being re-rendered in lime,

as would have been the original render. As well as timber

treatments to the original timbers.”

The story of Farrell Doyle is a conservation story in itself and

the idea of structural integrity, one of the cornerstones of their

day-to-day work practices, lies at the heart of that story.

The business was founded in 2011 by Fintan Farrell who has

over 30 years of experience in conservation services and

a strong reputation in the industry for his knowledge and

expertise. He is descended from generations of stonemasons,

engineers and construction project managers so he grew up

with this in his blood. Soon after, his daughter Laura joined

the business bringing her own construction and conservation

qualifications and experience to the table and in 2018 they

91

FULL RANGE OF HEATING & PLUMBING SUPPLIES

SKC Providers, operating in three Branches in Rathnew, Co. Wicklow, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim and

Gorey, Co. Wexford, is your one-stop shop for all Heating & Plumbing and Bathroom supplies.

We sell to both trade professionals and the general public.

All our Branches have Showrooms displaying an extensive range of Stoves, Heating & Plumbing

Supplies, and bathroom suites, showers, shower trays, shower enclosures, traditional and modem

heated towel rails, bathroom furniture, a wide range of taps and bathroom accessories.

Our opening hours in all branches are convenient and consumer friendly:

Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm

Call and see our

newly renovated

Bathroom

Showroom!

info@skc.ie www.skc.ie

Wicklow 0404 20088, Leitrim 071 964 0593

and Gorey 053 942 2352

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Business

Services Providers

TURNING UP

THE HEAT


SKC Providers Ltd

Excellence in Business Services Providers

From their showrooms in Wicklow, Wexford, and Leitrim SKC Providers boast an

extensive range of bathroom fixtures and accessories as well as a comprehensive

range of stoves.

Established by Shane Connolly in 2010, SKC Providers have

established a strong reputation in plumbing and heating and

are the ‘go to’ place for everything you need to turn your

house into a home. From bathroom appliances to heating and

stoves, a wide range of top of the range products are available

at SKC.

The bathroom is a functional place yet it should also be stylish,

sleek and beautiful; a place you enjoy spending time in.

Planning and designing the bathroom can be a challenge, but

this is made easy at SKC where a myriad of the most attractive

bathrooms are arranged to stimulate creativity and showcase

what can be achieved even in the smallest of spaces.

Mindful of the move towards energy efficiency SKC also stock

a full range of renewable energy products. “Renewable energy

is the cornerstone of modern living both in commercial and

home environments. We supply a range of energy-efficient

and water-conserving products designed to save money – the

green way,” explains CEO, Shane Connolly.

SKC stock a range of Ideal Boilers which have been at the

forefront of quality heating for generations. In heating they

supply top of the range ventilation products from Joule, the

best ventilation supplier in the country. According to Connolly,

heat and water are essential elements that turn a building into

a home. “We supply some of the most competitively-priced

heating and plumbing products on the market today,” he says.

Little wonder therefore that SKC Providers have won contracts

with the public sector including with the HSE. “We are

focused on providing the best to this sector and to expanding

our portfolio in this arena,” he says.

Quality customer service is an equal priority and Connolly is

delighted to say that at SKC “we constantly push the bar to get

even better at what we do.” Service here is exemplary, from

the friendly face in the showroom through to a free delivery

service.

Growth is the recurring theme in the story of SKC Providers

who in ten short years have reached the top of their game.

“We’re a one-stop shop for all of your heating, plumbing, and

bathroom needs,’’ explains Connolly.” All of our products are

selected for their quality, reliability and for their capacity to

improve the environment. Much more than just a bathroom

and heating providers, we pride ourselves on our Irish familyrun

service going the extra mile every time to provide added

value to our clients.”

93

BUILDING

WITH INTEGRITY

ABM OFFERS A

DESIGN AND BUILD,

FAST TRACK METHOD

FOR THE PUBLIC

AND PRIVATE

SECTORS

• Residential

• Educational

• Medical

• Commercial

• Industrial

• Social & Recreational

• Retail and Hospitality

ABM Design and Build Ltd

Unit 2b, Feltrim Business Park, Drynam Road,

Swords, Co. Dublin. K67 TX95

Tel: +353 (0)1 890 0919

Email: info@abmdesignandbuild.com

www.abmdesignandbuild.com

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Best Public Sector

Building Contractor

DESIGNED

FOR LIFE


ABM Design & Build

Ireland’s Top Building Contractor

within the Public Sector

ABM works with all stakeholders to ensure that projects are completed within the

required design, time & budgetary framework producing buildings of integrity.

Celebrating 25 years in business this year, ABM Design &

Build is one of the most established leaders in delivering

design and build construction projects, specialising in fasttrack

turnkey solutions for both the public and private sector.

The Design and Build process is a method to deliver a project

in which the building design and construction services are

contracted by a single entity known as a Design and Build

contractor. ABM works closely with trusted and experienced

design partners to ensure that a customised design solution

in each case is aligned with ABM’s supply chain to meet

the programme requirements. ABM Design & Build use

a number of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)

techniques with a high emphasis on build quality & durability.

ABM in conjunction with our Design teams strive to develop,

from these various methods, a system that we believe is

the optimum solution. In summary our systems incorporate

only the highest quality certified materials, and provide the

ultimate level of product certification, assuring predicable

costs, specification and construction quality.

Since 2011 ABM has built a substantial track record with the

design and build of up to 41 schools as part of the Department

of Education and Skills rapid build schools programme. In

addition, ABM have recently completed rapid build housing

projects for Dublin City Council and Wicklow County Council

using off-site construction techniques for social housing at

sites in Finglas, Drimnagh and Baltinglass.

• Clear understanding and ability to effectively administer

various D&B contracts, to ensure correct timelines are

adhered to, mitigating against any possible negative

impact on the contract programme.

• Clear understanding of change management procedures

and necessity for early, effective, engagement with all

stakeholders.

• Comprehensive ISO9001 and ISO 14001 accredited

project management procedures to administer the

works as prescribed within the company’s Integrated

Management System Manual.

• Comprehensive safety Management System as prescribed

within the company’s OHSAS18001 accredited procedures

for managing safety on site.

• Proven track record in this type of rapid build off-site

manufacture.

ABM Design and Build Ltd Headquarters is located in

Swords, Co. Dublin and, under the group banner of ABM

Europe, the company has offices in the UK, Czech Republic,

Slovakia and Poland.

ABM’s philosophy and approach to all projects is to provide a

quality service during the construction process and to produce

a quality end product which is totally customer focused.

“Our success in delivering Design and Build Projects has

been built around retaining key resources, such as the design

professionals and construction management personnel

and understanding the Design and Build delivery process,”

explains Director Pat O’Neill. “This has allowed ABM to

develop and improve the techniques used previously from

project to project.”

The benefits of selecting ABM Design and Build and its team are:

• Competent, experienced and committed team members

who have a proven track record of constructing and

delivering fast-track design and build schools and

residential developments.

• A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the

DoES technical guidance documents which the design

and construction of primary and secondary schools are

based upon.

Philip Weinmann – General Manager

95

www.burkejoinery.com

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Business – Joinery

BURKE

JOINERY


Burke Joinery

Excellence in Business [Joinery]

Established in 1986 by Managing Director John Burke Senior, Burke Joinery is a family

business based in Ballyfermot, Dublin.

With a current head count of 75 and a 70,000 sq ft facility,

Burke Joinery is one of the largest joinery manufacturing

businesses here in Ireland. The company provides a wide

range of products to the public and commercial sectors

that include integrated fire door sets, acoustic panelling

systems and a wide range of bespoke joinery. The company

has three distinct lines of operation; Burke Joinery and two

sub-divisions, Burke Acoustics and Burke Fire Doors. The

company’s latest development, Burke Fire Doors, offers a full

inspection and maintenance service on fire doors in both new

and existing builds.

Burke Joinery provides a full design, manufacture and

installation service. “With this unique service we offer our

customers a single source for their project requirements,”

explains Director John T. Burke. “We offer full 3rd party

certification through BM TRADA for all our fire door

installations. Through

our specialist division

Burke Fire Doors,

we also offer full

maintenance and

inspection of existing

fire doors. This is a really

important avenue,”

he continues, “as it is

critical to ensure the

correct functioning of

fire doors throughout

the life cycle of a

building.”

Burke Joinery has a number of key projects at the moment

which include the full joinery package for BAM at Boland’s

Quay and over 3,500 door sets being supplied to the UCD

student residencies for JJ Rhatigan. Another high-profile

development just coming to completion is One South County

for Collen Construction. The company has also just secured

an 850 no door set package at 76 Sir John Rogerson Quay for

Bennett Construction.

Within the Burke group the company offers a free consultation

and sampling service; robust acoustic analysis for areas that

may suffer from poor acoustics. “With Burke Fire Doors we

provide an annual maintenance service to ensure that all fire

doors are functioning and kept in good health. As part of this

maintenance agreement we offer a robust reporting service

based on industry standards,” says Burke.

The Public sector has

been and will continue

to be an important

market for each of The

Burke divisions from the

supply and installation of

joinery products, to the

installation/retro fit of

interiors with best in class

acoustic products. The

company also handles

the maintenance and

inspection of fire doors.

“There is a wide service

offering that caters for

the growing demand

for these products and

services within the sector

as a whole,” Burke says.

97

• Commercial Diving

• Pipelaying and Marine outfalls Dredging

• Marine Plant and Vessel Hire

• Marine Construction

• De mountable knuckle boom crane hire

(two available) 40-80 tonne metre

• All equipment is road transportable

• Currently operating in the UK, Ireland and

Europe

+353 (0) 51 562 061 www.marinespecialists.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Business Marine Services

MARINE

SPECIALISTS


Marine Specialists Ltd


Marine Services

Marine Specialists Ltd has over 20 years’ experience working in the marine and

freshwater sectors.

This experience includes underwater survey & inspection,

salvage, dredging, pipe laying, underwater construction and

demolition. The company has a range of specialised plant &

equipment including pontoon barges, jet driven mini tugs, dive

support vessels, knuckle boom cranes and 360° track excavators.

Managing Director, John McKeown established the business

in 2006 and continues his involvement with the company on

a daily basis. His employees together with the company’s

resources offer a unique skill set capable of overcoming

any challenges presented by working in the marine and

freshwater aquatic environments.

an 8.5m jet driven twin-engine mini-tug and RIB or 8.5m flat

deck aluminium work boat.

Managing Director John McKeown invites you to contact

him if you can benefit from any of the company’s services:

“The Marine Specialists team has a vast range of experience,

backed by an assortment of specialised plant and equipment

and has earned a reputation for overcoming challenges and

successfully delivering projects. Please feel free to contact

us, we will readily discuss your requirements and outline what

contribution and support we can offer.”

In terms of the public sector, Marine Specialists

provide flexible dive control systems and dive

teams which can be customised to meet the

parameters of the various underwater inspection

and survey work. They also provide a range

of road transportable specialised plant and

equipment for new installation and construction

works or remedial works to existing structures,

(e.g. waste water, outfall pipes, diffusers,

dredging works).

Public Sector contracts are important for Marine

Specialists as the company has established

sustained working relationships with various

county councils, and government departments

over the course of its existence with many

of these relationships having led to repeat

business. In the immediate future several key

contracts are about to commence:

• Remedial works to Wexford Waste Water Treatment

outfall pipe in conjunction with Murphy Process

Engineering (June/July 2019).

• Remedial works to the outfall pipe and diffuser in

Killala, County Mayo, working in conjunction with

MEIC Ltd. (June/July 2019).

• Construction works to Camden Lock, Dublin in

conjunction with Aquatic Control Engineering Ltd.

(September/October 2019).

All three of these projects will require a

containerised dive control aboard a pontoon

barge. The dive team will operate from the

pontoon barge. Additional barge-based

equipment will include knuckle boom crane and

360° excavator. The barge will be supported by

99

Supporting the Public Sector to achieve it’s

development goals in Housing, Healthcare,

Education and Workspace projects

Mill House, Mill Street, Co. Louth +353 42 9354466 www.vandijkarchitects.com

Also at Innovation factory, Belfast, UK—Wroclaw, Poland—Dubai, UAE– Chennai, India

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Services to Urban Regeneration

SMART

PRACTICE

With offices in Dundalk, Belfast, Poland, the USA and India, van Dijk International

Architects Ireland is a project management company representing a number of

international design specialists.


Van Dijk Architects

Services to Urban

Regeneration Architects

The practice was founded over 25

years ago by Jan and Ingrid van

Dijk. Ingrid explains that the firm

strives to use the fundamental

tools of architecture: space, light,

structure and materials, to create

timeless, innovative and highquality

modern buildings.

Van Dijk Architects, as a practice,

see itself as client-focussed and

through a culture of honesty,

understanding, friendliness and

communication, expertly delivers

solutions for the present and future

needs of clients with whom the

firm aims to grow and sustain long

term collaborative relationships.

“The architects at the firm take

great pride in the execution of

their architectural craft and in the

design, quality and professional

standards achieved in all of their

work,” she says. “We bring fresh

and open thinking to every project

and we are relentless in our efforts

to make each project the best it

can be.”

The practice works on a wide

range of public sector projects

including housing, healthcare,

education, civic buildings and

modern workspaces providing

services including architectural

design, project management,

employer’s representative, design

certifier, conservation expertise,

PSDP, assigned certifier and

interior design. “This sector is vital to van Dijk Architects,

representing 50-60% of our workload,” explains Director

Ingrid van Dijk.

Current workload includes a range of projects nearing

completion for the IDA consisting of two advanced tech

building projects, one in Waterford and the other in Tralee,

with two further advanced office building projects in Dundalk

and Limerick. The Limerick building is presently being fitted

out by van Dijk Architects as a software development centre

for Johnson and Johnson.

Van Dijk Architects is constantly improving the efficient service

it provides through commitment, expertise and a smart

process-oriented approach. Staff members are valued which

is evident in their studio where a happy atmosphere and

positive approach combines with an ethos of collaborative

teamwork taking centre stage. Each team member is valued

and nurtured with many opportunities for personal growth.

For its professional approach and valued services the firm

of van Dijk Architects has been awarded the Excellence in

Business Award for Urban Regeneration 2019.

101

B

Darren Becke

Dire

087 6542 1

BECKETT & COMPANY

SUSPENDED CEILING & DRYWALL SPECIALISTS

34 Kiltipper Avenue, Aylesbury, Dublin 24.

Tel: 01 452 1808 | Fax: 01 452 4116

beckettandco@eircom.net

HERBERT PARK HOTEL

CHATHAM & KING STREET

SUSPENDED CEILINGS

& DRYWALL SPECIALISTS

BECKETT & COMPANY

34 Kiltipper Avenue, Aylesbury, Dublin 24

T: (01) 452 1808 | F: (01) 452 4116 | E: beckettandco@eircom.net

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

tt

ctor

57

A FAMILY

TRADITION

Beckett & Company specialises in suspended ceilings, acoustic ceilings, drylining,

drywall bulkheads, ceiling repairs, metal stud partitions, skimming and external

renderings.


– Ceiling & Drywall


Beckett and Company


[Ceiling and Drywall]

The company was originally established in 2005 by father and

son team Eric and Darren Beckett. Eric stepped back from

the business a number of years ago but continues to be a

source of support and advice for Darren.

“As a family-run business, we are able to provide the sort of

personal service that you just don’t get from big contractors,”

explains Managing Director Darren Beckett. “We are always

at the end of the phone for our customers and we always

go the extra mile to look after their needs.” A steady repeat

business is a clear testament to the company’s success,

together with a clear vision of what they seek to achieve.

“We’ve never tried to be the biggest –only the best,” Darren

says. “Because most of our work is

secured through word of mouth,

we have no need to advertise. Our

work speaks for itself”.

attributes the success of his company also with their team’s

ability to work alongside many other contractors and trades

to ensure that the customers needs are met in the most time

and cost-effective way possible.

The company is well established in both public and private

sectors, and have been involved in many key contracts across

the board on commercial work, hotels, and pharmaceutical

companies. “These projects are very important to Beckett &

Company as they involve working with some of the largest

and best-known main contractors in the country,” Darren

says. He looks forward to a bright future and he promises to

not only meet expectations but to strive to surpass them.

Some of the projects that Beckett

& Company have recently been

involved in include the Herbert

Park Hotel Extension and office

block with John Sisk & Son. The

team also worked at the SK Biotek

pharmaceutical plant in Swords

with John Paul Construction.

Another major project was the Intel

Microchip facility in Leixlip with

BAM, Duffy Construction and PJ

Hegarty.

The company is currently working on

the Irish Stock Exchange expansion

with Duggan Brothers and with

Ardmac Builders on Merck Sharp

& Dohme (MSD) pharmaceutical

facility in Swords. Work will shortly

commence on the Chatham and

King Street commercial office

development with John Sisk and

Son.

A busy order book is a sure sign

that things are going well, and

Darren says that this is because the

team at Beckett & Company pride

themselves on offering the highest

possible standard of workmanship

with unrivalled attention to detail

“all wrapped up and delivered with

exceptional value for money”. He

103

• Groundworks Foundations

• Ground Beams

• Concrete Slabs Drainage and Ducting

• External Finishes

• Demolitions

• Plant Hire

www.kbph.ie

Email: knockbrackplanthire@gmail.com

Knockbrack, Castlebar Rd, Westport, Co. Mayo.

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Plant Hire Groundworks

A FOUNDATION

OF EXCELLENCE


Knockbrack Plant Hire

Plant Hire Groundworks

Operated by Michael and Monica Gannon, Knockbrack Plant Hire has steadily grown

to become a leader in groundworks and RC Frames throughout Ireland.

This Mayo-based company was set-up in the middle of a

harsh economic downturn yet in the short space of three

years Monica and Michael together with an enthusiastic team

have turned Knockbrack into a thriving business.

“We commenced operations in 2013,” explains owner

Monica Gannon. “We undertake site excavation, muck

shifting, demolitions, foundations, ground beams, rafts, all

aspects of drainage, paving, kerbs, footpaths, roadworks,

hard and soft landscaping. Our aim is simple - we have

an experienced team who operate at a high standard of

workmanship, quality, commercial awareness and health and

safety. We endeavour to offer a service where quality and

efficiency are the fundamental keys.”

With such a strong work ethic it is no surprise that the company

has steadily grown to become a leader in groundworks and

excavation throughout Ireland. They can boast a large list

of completed projects and are proud to say that most of

their work is as a result of repeat

business. All services are tailored

to the individual client’s needs for

better client service satisfaction.

At the same time health and safety

is always a top priority and at the

heart of their business ethos.

The company is particularly busy at present with several

new projects commencing in Dublin following the same

line of work. This includes a nursing home in Artane and a

primary care centre in Edenmore. Housing schemes and

private developments are on the increase also and Monica is

confident that her company will be involved in both sectors

for a long time to come.

“We are grateful for our contracts so far and we hope to

continue into the future on a strong footing with our valued

staff without whom we would not be able to deliver our

reliable work,” she says.

The objective of this company is to operate high

standards of workmanship, quality, commercial awareness,

communication and safety & welfare. In this regard they are

hugely successful and look likely to continue building on a

foundation of excellence.

The company are proud to say

that to date, approximately 80% of

their work has been to the public

sector. “We specialise in all areas

of groundworks for educational

centres, primary care centres

and nursing homes,” explains

Monica. “Our first project was an

educational project in the West

of Ireland and since then we have

moved on to complete numerous

projects for the Department of

Education.”

The public sector is a very important

source of work for Knockbrack Plant

Hire and the company has built

up well-established relationships

with main contractors and clients.

Monica is very appreciative of

these relationships and says that

she really wants to thank the main

contractors for coming back time

and time again.

105

| Engineering

| Facilities

| Modular

Complete Lifecycle Care

Plan | Develop | Deliver | Operate | Maintain

www.lmcgroup.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Best Building Services to the

Construction Industry

LMC GROUP


LMC Group

Best Building Services

to the Construction Industry

An approachable professional company delivering big company performance with

a personal one-to-one service, LMC Group consists of 3 complimentary companies:

LMC Engineering, LMC FM Ltd and LMC Modular Ltd.

As an ISO 9001:2015 (Quality), ISO 45001:2018 (Safety), and ISO

14001:2015 (Environmental) accredited group of companies,

LMC are committed to ensuring that all tasks carried out by

the group are executed in a safe manner ensuring compliance

to the regulatory standards and industry best practice.

Traditionally the company’s core business has been providing

mechanical electrical contracting services nationwide.

Services range from design development, building services

engineering, BIM, project planning, procurement, project

management, project execution, commissioning and system

burn in period management, to asset register compilation

and client handover. LMC FM Ltd, the facilities management

company then pick up the asset and facility care for the entire

life cycle of the plant.

“We provide our clients with a 24/7/365 callout service with

response times tailored to each client’s requirements,”

explains Managing Director Martin Lydon. “This service is

fully traceable from initial call to sign off through our bespoke

computer aided facilities management (CAFM) system.”

In 2017 LMC Group added LMC Modular Ltd. to the group, a

manufacturing wing which provides modular solutions. To date

these have consisted of bathroom and kitchen pods, but this

is now expanding into more extensive modular solutions. The

efficiencies this offer clients range from continuity of quality to

full traceability from design to installation, hook-up and full life

cycle care.

educational sector (in particular laboratories, lecture theatres

and libraries) and we completed numerous projects in Sligo

IT, NUIG, UL, UCD, DCU to name but a few. On completion of

each of these projects we took on the facilities management

for the first twelve months and in many cases continue to

service these buildings today.”

In 2012 LMC were awarded their first project with the Irish

Prison Service on completion of which they were awarded

two consecutive projects, and in 2014 they were awarded the

facilities management contract for the entire prison service

which is still ongoing. They have also been awarded contracts

with Iarnród Éireann and the OPW, cementing their relationship

with the public sector. “LMC Group are tried and trusted

partners of the public sector,” Lydon says. “Our partnership

approach has been extremely successful and has demonstrated

how the public and private sector can work together when we

have a common aim. This has been proven time and again, in

particular in our dealings with the Irish Prison Service. Here we

have in partnership with the Irish Prison Service implemented

a planned preventative maintenance system across the estate

which has resulted in a dramatic reduction in reactive callouts.

This project demonstrates LMC’s ability to partner with the

public sector achieving tangible results.”

LMC Group has grown steadily over the years with over 220

direct employees and over 400 employed indirectly with bases

in Munster and Dublin. Over the years the company has built a

loyal and trusted supply chain that are hand-picked and share

LMC’S ethos of safety, quality and reliability.

Speaking directly of work with the public sector, LMC Group

offers the complete suite of engineering services delivered by

experienced and technically competent engineers backed up

by planning, technical and administration teams. “With our

expertise in design, implementation, energy management

and asset aftercare we not only install the ideal engineering

solution, we ensure that they are chosen, co-ordinated,

operated and maintained safely, statutory compliant and to

best practice and manufacturers guidelines,” Lydon says.

For LMC, the public sector has always been the backbone

of their order book. “From humble beginnings in 2008 we

have steadily worked and grown through our work in the

public sector,” explains Lydon. “We progressed from project

to project in the healthcare sector, we expanded into the

107

*National Construction Training Centre*

Construction Skills Traineeship Course Duration: 6 Months

Health, Safety and Welfare in Construction, Principles of Building Construction Foundations,

Skills training in formwork and Steel Fixing Slabs and Paths in Concrete, Work Placement.

Dry Lining Traineeship Course Duration 6 months

Health, safety and welfare in construction, Install partitions, Install suspended ceiling systems,

Install wall linings and encasement systemsFix sheet materials(plasterboard) using direct bond

method, Apply tape and jointing systems to plasterboard & Work Placement.

CSCS Programme (New Entrants and Experienced Operators)

- Site Dumper - Mini Digger

- Articulated Dumper - 180° Excavator

- Telescopic Handler - 360° Excavator

- Remote Control/Self Erecting Crane - Tower Crane

- Slinger Signaller

Changeover Programme

- Irish CSCS Card – UK CPCS Card

- Health Safety & Environment Test (UK equivalent to SOLAS Safe Pass Card)

Other Training Courses:

- Manual Handling

- Abrasive Wheels (Including Practical)

- MEWPS (Scissor Lift & Articulated Boom)

- Forklift Training (Counter Balance, Reach Truck and Electric Powered Pallet Truck)

Contact us:

Tel: 057 9362508 – Email: info@mountlucas.ie

www.mountlucas.ie

Follow us on FB: @National Construction Training Centre

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Services to Education in

Construction Training

Setting Standards

SKILL

BUILDING

At the National Construction Training Centre, Mount Lucas, non-craft worker

training and certification of new entrants and experienced workers in the National

Construction Skills Certificate (CSCS) is provided to the highest possible standards.


Mount Lucas

Services to Education Construction

Training Setting Standards

The centre also offers construction related traineeships

targeted to address skills gaps within the industry. In addition,

Mount Lucas administers both the CITB UK changeover

programme for Irish CSCS cards to UK CPCS cards and the

UK Health Safety & Environmental (HSE) Test, the compulsory

pre-clearance test that enables entry to work on UK sites.

By working with industry stakeholders, the National

Construction Training Centre at Mount Lucas has devised a set

of easily adaptable, non-craft worker training programmes to

meet evolving Industry needs. All services provided at Mount

Lucas are funded and supported by SOLAS with training

provision delivered to respond to industry, and concurrently

meet the specific needs of people who are unemployed,

under-employed, or are in employment but requiring new or

enhanced skills.

According to Centre Manager John Kelly, the public sector

is an important market for Mount Lucas. He explains:

“Mount Lucas maintains a collaborative relationship with

the Construction Industry Federation and other bodies that

guides the training provision to meet developing gaps within

the industry. During 2016, for instance, our Employment Skills

for Construction (Formwork) Programme was developed in

partnership with the SOLAS, Department of Employment

Affairs and Social Protection

(DEASP), CIF, local construction

employers and City & Guilds to

train construction workers, as a

specific need had arisen within the

construction sector.

City & Guilds and QQI centre and delivers bespoke

construction related training. It has recently expanded the fleet

enabling the centre to increase the training provision for both

new entrants and experienced operators as part of the CSCS

programmes. As part of the fleet, a Saez Tower Crane has been

sourced with the added features of both a hoist and a Jumbo

training cab allowing both the instructor and the trainee to

work alongside each other enhancing the training experience.

LOETB are part of a National Consortium Steering Group that

are developing a scaffolding apprenticeship programme.

The Scaffolding Craft Apprenticeship will lead to a twoyear

apprenticeship at Level 5 on the National Framework

of Qualifications. It will provide comprehensive skills and

understanding of the mechanics of scaffold, the different

forces acting on scaffold structures, and incorporate specialist

skills to ensure that apprentices are fully competent. The

curriculum, currently under development, will be submitted to

QQI in June 2019 and subject to validation the apprenticeship

scheme is scheduled to commence in January 2020, with the

first group of scaffolders qualifying in 2021.

For their services to education in the construction Industry

Mount Lucas have been awarded this year’s Public Sector

Magazine Setting Standards Award.

“The facilities at Mount Lucas

include a 33-acre site complete with

a fully simulated work environment

that replicates actual building sites.

We have over 15 acres assigned for

machinery training, we also have a

700m2 construction hall that is used

for small machine training and is

currently in use as a workshop for

the traineeships. All areas in Mount

Lucas are set out so participants are

trained in construction skills in real

work environments. And like any

building site, if participants arrive

to site without appropriate personal

protection equipment, they are not

allowed onsite.”

Mount Lucas is both an accredited

109

Thinking Labour? Think Centum

+353 (0) 15686385 +44 (0) 756 5299146 paddy@centum.ie www.centum.ie

UK Office | 38C Airfield Road

Toomebridge | Co. Derry | BT41 3SG

ROI Office | 246 Blanchardstown Corporate

Park 2 | Ballycoolin | Dublin | D15 F2XT

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Services to Construction

(Recruitment)

SKILL

SOLUTIONS


Centum Construction Services

Services to Construction (Recruitment)

Centum is an Irish-based company providing labour only subcontracting solutions to

clients wherever in the world they need it.

Their clients base is primarily main contractors who need

Centum’s help to supplement their current workforce or

provide the total labour for a project. Labour can be supplied

on hourly or day rates or on occasion at a fixed-price contract

were Centum supply supervision.

The main focus for Centum is on clients with commercial

projects, oil and gas, offshore and industrial plants. Centum

meets the needs of these clients by providing skilled manual

labour in a cost-effective, compliant and structured way. “We

know how to mobilise workers locally and internationally to

fulfil our client’s requirements,” explains Paddy McKeever,

Commercial Director.

“We supply highly skilled electricians, apprentices and

electrical labour primarily on day works to carry out electrical

installations on projects on behalf of the client, whether that

is supplementing their own work force or completing entire

works on their behalf.”

to the core values of the company.”

As a result of such high standards and some good oldfashioned

values the workbook is healthy and the pipeline in

Ireland north and south is very strong. The last quarter of 2019

should take Centum on to a new plateau at home with hope to

engage further in Europe and the UK.

Concluding McKeever says: “Centum’s growth has been steady

but measured. We will always strive to move forward but not at

the expense of what we have already worked hard to establish.

Our team is young and ambitious and we look forward to a

bright and mutually beneficial between our company and our

valued clients.

Centum offer electrical services for data centres, commercial

and industrial, pharmaceutical and hospitals. They also

provide supervision for larger projects and they offer an entire

logistics package for prospective clients if needed such as

flights, accommodation, foreign registration, transfers and site

transport. This is the preferred alternative for works abroad.

All health & safety requirements and relevant compliance is

stringently adhered to in all countries and various jurisdictions.

According to McKeever, the electrical trade probably missed

an entire generation in the aftermath of the boom & bust of

Celtic tiger days. It’s very much a niche market he says, but

Centum would encourage any young man or woman to

consider a career in the trade. This is particularly relevant today

as the construction industry has seen a turnover up by 25%

last year. With continuous upwards growth and shortage of

construction professionals and trades people, now is the time

for young people to learn a trade.

“It’s got infinite possibilities and growth opportunities, a

chance to see the world, or the security of long-term work

on home shores. Centum work with most of the principal

contractors at home who can offer job security and variety few

could match.”

What is the secret to the company’s success? Centum focus on

getting it right the first time. “We believe that we are only as

good as the last job we did and we have a talented, dedicated

workforce,” muses McKeever. “It makes us competitive but we

are also old fashioned in many ways – adhering to a strong

sense of value and excellent working relationships that are true

111

Mellett Electrical

Electrical Services

Public and Private Sector

Full Design and Installation

Mellett Electrical

Mellett Electrical

Unit 13 Chlar Industrial Estate,

Ballindine Rd Claremorris, Co Mayo

Tel: 094 9377783

Email: info@mellettelectrical.ie

www.mellettelectrical.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in

Construction, Electrical

A SHINING

LIGHT


Mellett Electrical

Construction Electrical

Established in 2010, Mellett Electrical has evolved into a company offering a wide

range of electrical services.

Based in Claremorris, County Mayo, the company provides

design and installation for both private and public sector

clients nationwide. Their client base represents all areas of

industry including the domestic, residential, commercial,

retail, healthcare and educational sectors.

“At Mellett Electrical we believe that a proactive approach to

our client’s requirements, a collaborative working relationship

with the project team and a flexible attitude to change are

the cornerstones of our success,” explains Director Brendan

Mellett.

“Much of our work is repeat commissions from clients with

whom we have built up a strong working relationship, a

reflection of our reputation for delivering projects on time,

within budget and with a high level of customer satisfaction.

Our ability to provide an outstanding level of service is due

to the dedication and commitment of our team.” Another

testament to the success of this company is that in a short

9-year period their compliment of staff has increased to over

150 people.

work across many public sector organisations with a primary

focus on healthcare including the recent full electrical

installation of the local Claremorris Primary Care Centre. This

is a hugely important sector for Mellett Electrical as there are

so many opportunities for new projects as well as continued

maintenance and support.

Mellett Electrical are in expansion mode at present and there

are no plans to slow down. “We have orders received to

take us up to December 2020 at the moment which is hugely

positive. We are constantly expanding our office and fieldbased

staff to ensure that we deliver exemplary service and

outstanding work. Again, Brendan has a strong and simple

message when it comes to service delivery, “aim high, aim to

be the best at what you do and when you reach that target,

set it even higher!

It is little wonder that Mellett and his team are lighting up

the electrical world. For their service to the public sector they

have been awarded the 2019 Excellence in Business Award

for electrical services to the construction industry.

Referrals are a staple of every

successful business and Mellett

Electrical are delighted to see a

strong repeat rate as well as a healthy

list of referrals. To what does Brendan

Mellett attribute this? “Business

owners whether public or private

sector like to deal with somebody

they can trust. Even though we’re in

the age of social media, one to one

attention and word-of-mouth is still

a very successful way to generate

business.

“We go above and beyond for

our clients. We don’t shy away

from anything. When I am bidding

projects, I look for what is best for

the company and then I go all out to

deliver it. It seems a simple enough

formula but it’s surprising how many

companies cut corners. We cut

nothing but the bottom line which

we guarantee will always be realistic

and competitive.

It is this strong ethic that has

propelled Mellett Electrical to the

forefront of their field. The company

113

Undertaking projects of varied

sizes in both the commercial

and residential sector

• Commercial

• Residential

• Public Projects

• Private Projects

McLaughlin Taylor Drylining ROI LTD

Letter, Clonmany, Co. Donegal

McLaughlin Taylor Drylining NI LTD

6 Kingsmere Gardens, Kilfennan, Co. Derry BT47 5TR

Tel: Martin: +353 87 7738697 (Managing Director)

E: martin@mtdrylining.com

Tel: Pat: +353 86 3029838 (Quantity Surveyor)

E: pat@mtdrylining.com

www.mtdrylining.com

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in

Business Construction

CUT

AND DRY


McLaughlin Taylor Drylining Ltd


A second-generation family business, McLaughlin Taylor Dry-lining is one of the

country’s leading dry-lining contractors with experience across Ireland and the UK.

This award-winning company is capable of undertaking

projects of any size in both the residential and commercial

sectors. With expertise in metal partitions, MF ceilings,

acoustic insulation as well as bespoke solutions, McLaughlin

Taylor Dry-lining work hand in hand with the ‘who’s who’ of

main contractors.

McLaughlin Taylor Dry-lining has established itself as

one of Ireland’s leading dry-lining contractors, capable

of undertaking projects of varied sizes in the residential,

commercial and industrial sectors. The company’s flexibility is

matched by its professionalism, which has seen them set the

standards in dry-lining contracting down through the years.

In 2010, for example, they scooped two prestigious Saint-

Gobain Awards for their breath-taking work at the Titanic

Signature Building, Belfast as well as taking the 2018 nonresidential

award for the Titanic Hotel project.

The company’s skilled workforce is trustworthy and passionate

about undertaking high quality work using modern

techniques. They partner with customers and contractors

who share the same vision of quality and professionalism and

they actively assist on projects from the design stage through

to project completion.

This family-run business maintains a skilled workforce who

are passionate about undertaking high quality work using

modern techniques. The company partners with customers

and contractors who share the same vision of quality and

professional workmanship. They are specialists in metal

stud partitions, plaster boarding, MF ceilings, suspended

grid ceiling, acoustic & thermal insulation as well as in load

bearing Structural Framing Systems (SFS).

“The key to our success is the professional relationship we

develop with our clients,” explains Managing Director Martin

McLaughlin. “We can assist on projects from the design

stage to project completion. In so doing, we guarantee an

on-time, quality finish while adhering to industry’s quality,

environmental and safety standards,” he says.

In recognition of a consistently high level of services together

with high level workmanship McLaughlin Taylor Dry-lining has

been awarded the 2019 Public Sector Magazine Excellence in

Business Construction Award.

“Keeping the project to programme is the most important

factor of all,” states founder and Managing Director Martin

McLaughlin. “Quality is also paramount, in terms of both

workmanship and the materials used. So, the key is to keep

the quality levels high while at the same time carrying out

the work as quickly as possible. You have to deliver on both

fronts – complete the work quickly and also to the highest

standards possible.”

Equally adept at working on new builds and fit-out/

refurbishments, McLaughlin Taylor consistently achieves

optimal solutions by only using the best industry-leading

materials sourced from renowned names such as Saint-

Gobain, Kingspan, Gyproc, Armstrong Ceiling and Wall

Solutions, AMF, SAS International, Rockfon, Siniat, etc.

Although McLaughlin Taylor boasts experience delivering

projects throughout the UK, most of the work at present is

restricted to the island of Ireland. The company is currently

engaged on a variety of projects nationwide, including One

Microsoft Court and Autodesk for Mac Interiors, Northwood

Nursing Home for Elliot Construction as well as the Tallaght

Cross West Apartments for Ardmac Construction, having

previously delivered a series of bank refurbishments for both

Bank of Ireland and AIB.

115

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Access Solutions up to 43m

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Core Fleet of over 1,600

product lines

MONTHLY OFFERS

on DIY & Garden Equipment

Power Solutions up to 1260kVA

Range of plant equipment

50% OFF YOUR FIRST HSS HIRE

hss.ie / 1800 22 33 66 / Safety / Value / Availability / Support

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Ireland’s Best Hire Company

ONE

STOP SHOP


HSS Hire

Ireland’s Best Hire Company

A brand synonymous with quality and availability, HSS Hire is a leading provider of

tools, equipment and related services in the UK/Ireland.

With over 50 years’ experience the company offers an

extensive range including everything from conventional

hire to specialist divisions as well as being a logistical and

technical partner to businesses of all sizes. With 27 branches

throughout Ireland and a nationwide delivery service, there is

always a HSS nearby.

The public sector is an important one for HSS given its wide

remit and the many applications for their tools and services.

“As investment continues, we will be looking to continue

providing an excellent service to all of our customers working

in this area,” explains Daniel Doyle, Regional Manager, HSS

Hire Southern Ireland. He plans to continue expanding in the

sector by assisting public authorities with their many projects

throughout 2019.

Being so accessible and with the widest range of hire products

available nationwide, service includes several different

divisions such as powered access, pumps, generators, VMS

boards and large plant.

HSS provides training for customers and all kit is checked and

serviced overnight before being re-hired. The company is

committed to great customer service.

“Quality and service are the keywords;

our people are key to delivering

this,” Doyle says. The company is

also strongly focused on health and

safety, ensuring the safety of their

products and helping to promote

safe working practice. “We arm you

with the technical ‘know-how’ of our

equipment,” Doyle says. “Through

our extensive safety checks, training

courses and safety guides, we’ll see

you safely through until your work is

done.”

penetration – HSS equipment can be spotted on most major

sites in the country.

“We are one of the most recognisable hire companies

in Ireland,” enthuses Doyle. “We want to be a strong and

reliable presence in the public sector. With our dedicated

and experienced sales team, we can provide a high level of

service and whatever product it is that clients need to get the

job done.

“We are a forward thinking, industry leading organisation that

continually works closely with clients to develop & refine an

unrivalled branch service to support projects. We go out of

our way to help customers save time & money and streamline

the hire processes.”

Needless to say, a strong and easily accessed reporting tool is

also available called My HSS Reports where clients can view,

manage and generate reports in one easy to access dashboard.

Without a doubt HSS has all the tools for continued growth

and to this end are outright winners for Best Hire Company

2019, Public Sector Magazine Excellence in Business Awards.

Aiming high seems to be the mantra

for HSS and there are ambitious

expansion plans as well as investment

in a vast new range of the latest

available products. HSS also sees the

importance of trustworthy brands.

The company’s range includes plant

and powered access, generators and

Hilti tools.

The company operates with a

proactive & progressive approach

which is evident in its market

117

Operating from a purpose built

base in Bree Castleblayney and

directly employing 45 people

from the local area, Broomfield

Construction have built an

enviable reputation throughout

the region as a multi-disciplined

main contractor and are a

trusted construction partner

in the Healthcare, Education,

Commercial and Local Authority

sectors.

• Residential

• Food processing and Manufacture

• Retail and Office

• Sports & Leisure

• Healthcare

• Industrial

• Commercial

• Protected Structures

Broomfield Construction

T: 00 353 (0) 42 9 740559

E: info@broomfieldconstruction.com

W: www.broomfieldconstruction.com

OUTRIGHT WINNERS


Main Contractor

TRUSTED

PARTNERS


Broomfield Construction

Excellence in Business Main Contractor

Operating from a purpose built base in County Monaghan, Broomfield Construction

has built an enviable reputation throughout the region as a multi-disciplined main

contractor and is a trusted construction partner in the Healthcare, Education,

Commercial and Local Authority sectors.

With projects ranging from

between €15 million down to €100k,

the company directly employs

construction professionals such

as quantity surveyors, structural

engineers, civil engineers, building

surveyors, HQHS and construction

managers.

Broomfield Construction works

with a close-knit top management

team that have banked up

knowledge across all sectors of

construction. The firm embraces

modern technology and is en-route

to be one of the first ISO certified

contractors at its level in Ireland.

Broomfield Construction has ample

experience in the development

of schools, community centres,

resource centres and medical

centres for both government and

private bodies. The company has

been working within the public

sector for over 40 years and in

the last 10 years has successfully

completed 12 public sector

construction projects. This is made

up of acute live environment

hospital works, new nursing homes, a new accident and

emergency department, a new surgical theatre department

and X-ray departments together with roof replacements

and upgrade works. Apart from the HSE works, Broomfield

Construction also carries out civil works for county councils,

salt barn projects nationwide and small-town council works in

their local town of Castleblayney.

“The public sector is a key sector for Broomfield

Construction,” explains Managing Director Jason Reilly. “We

try to keep a minimum of 40% of the workflow in the public

sector and make up the remainder in the private sector. We

find the mix of public and private work brings knowledge to

both parties.”

Current projects include a €5 million mental health campus

for the HSE in conjunction with RKD architects and Duffy

Engineering. The company is also working on three medical

centres in Blackrock, Clondalkin and Dundalk. In other

sectors the firm has four food factories in completion and

another pharmaceutical warehouse nearing completion.

Broomfield Construction has invested in the digital

construction era and is now set to become BIM level 2

compliant by the end of 2019. “This decision was made to

keep ahead of mandate and keep one step ahead of our

competitors,” explains Jason.

Keeping ahead of the competition is something that

Broomfield has achieved with ease. According to Jason this

is due in no small part to a total commitment to providing

the best possible service and value to clients. “The quality of

Broomfield Construction’s work is reflected in the continuing

growth of the company in an increasingly competitive market

and the portfolio of projects over the past four decades stand

as a testament to this,” he says.

“It’s been a successful few years for Broomfield Construction

and we plan to keep growing and maintaining high standards

to continue impressing our wide range of clients.”

119

Building & Civil Engineering

Connaught Contractors have more than 25 years’ experience in the building and civil

engineering industry, proving excellence in service in both Ireland and the UK

Connaught House, Castlerea Business Park, Henry Byrne Road, Castlerea, Roscommon F45 RW29

tel: 094 9622007 fax: 094 9622008 email: info@connaught.ie

www.connaught.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS


& Civil Engineering

CONNAUGHT

CONTRACTORS


Connaught Contractors Civil Engineers


Civil Engineering

Established almost 25 years ago, Connaught Contractors have established

themselves as leaders in their field when it comes to building and civil engineering

in the west of Ireland.

Covering all aspects of groundworks, formwork, demolition

and bulk excavation, the company had its initial roots in

Birmingham, moving to Ireland 17 years ago to Castlerea,

Co Roscommon. They now employ over 75 people – a

testament to the success of this dedicated team. “We are

delighted to have earned a glowing reputation off the back

of our work over the past decade-and-a-half,” CEO Pat

Murphy comments. With big name clients including Stewart

Construction, JJ Rhatigan and John Sisk & Son amongst the

companies they continually work for, it seems certain that this

company is on an upward trajectory.

For Pat Murphy, continued excellence in his company’s

work has been the secret to his success thus far and a key

reason why the company enjoy continued repeat business

from clients. This includes public sector contracts for site

development, and infrastructure for schools and public

buildings. “We carry out all aspects of the contract mostly

up to the DPC level,” Murphy explains. “We are able to offer

a speedy and trusted response to our clients’ needs and we

believe we are the contractor of choice when an unforeseen

problem occurs. Keeping machinery updated to make sure

that projects are a success both timely and efficiently.” At

the very core of what they do Murphy stresses “we always

endeavour to work within our targets”.

In terms of public sector contracts, “the rapid build framework

of schools has suited our operation for both speed and

quality,” Murphy says.

“Experience in completing similar projects removes any

possible uncertainties and the risk of possible delays builds

confidence and knowledge among all levels on site. We have

a skilled and experienced workforce, and the equipment/

machinery required. It all comes down to a continued

transparent, honest and professional relationship with the

clients our continued success comes from our success in

doing repeat business.”

Citing some examples of their work Murphy refers to Colaiste

an Chlairin Athenry Galway – Secondary School; Ard Cre –

Social Housing, Ballymoneen Road, Galway - 75 Units; IDA

Building Parkmore, Galway; Boston Scientific expansion

works in Galway and also in Galway the Bonham Quay

Development Docks.

Concluding he says “our ability to deliver projects on time

and on budget to our clients helps to build and maintain a

strong working relationship, which is key to the growth of our

business going forward.”

121

Main Contractor | Design & Build | CSA Contractor | Fit-Out

Retail Commercial Hotel & Leisure

Cork Office

Melbourne House,

Melbourne Business Park,

Model Farm Road, Cork.

T: +353 (0) 21 4874930

Residential

Dublin Office

Unit J16/16 Greenogue Business Park,

Rathcoole, Co. Dublin

T: +353 (0) 1 401 9757

Pharma & Healthcare

Civic

Industry

Fitout

www.visioncontracting.ie

CIF Top 50

Contractor 2018

OUTRIGHT WINNERS


A CLEAR

VISION


Vision Contracting Ltd


Vision Contracting Limited is an Irish based construction services company and a

leading force in several niche market segments.

The company has earned recognition for undertaking

complex projects successfully as well as for its customer focus

and hands on approach.

“We offer our customers the accessibility and support of

a local company with national experience. We are owner

driven and we are focussed on building enduring customer

relationships,” explains Managing Director Niall O’Meara.

“The senior management team have worked successfully

together for over 20 years and have a broad and wide range

of technical, commercial and business-related construction

experience. We have been directly involved in the delivery of

a diverse range of construction projects throughout Ireland

and the UK, ranging in values from €0.5m to in excess of

€100m and we are active in most constructions sectors.”

The company also boasts a strong track record of working

successfully in the pharmaceutical industry and in the

commercial and retail sectors.

Vision Contracting has a well-established reputation for

successfully delivering projects and the team at Vision

Contracting distinguish themselves from their peers with

their strong customer focus, their commitment to solutionsbased

working and with their collaborative and partnering

approach. “Our core values are founded on absolute

dedication to customer service, value for money, operational

excellence and the protection of the health, safety and

welfare of our people and all those

involved in our construction activities.”

eighth year, we have a portfolio of work that we can reference

to help us prequalify.”

Vision Contracting now provides a diverse range of

construction related services including residential,

educational & healthcare, office and retail fit-out,

refurbishments and commercial work. The company is also

actively involved in several construction frameworks across

the education, healthcare and public services office sectors.

“Public Sector workload accounts for approximately 20%

of our annual turnover and forms a key component of our

construction services business. Even though it is a highly

competitive area, we are focussed on growing our current

activities in this sector.”

Citing some examples of recently completed projects,

Vision refurbished the office at the Legal-Aide Board in

Tallaght and Portlaoise; the refurbishment and upgrade of

the LeisureWorld in Bishopstown, Co. Cork; the fit-out of the

Tourist Information Centre at Bord Fáilte in Kilkenny; roof

and fire remediation works at Cork Institute of Technology

and also in Cork, new production and food research facilities

at Moorepark Technology in Fermoy. The company has also

recently secured a contract to construct the new TK Maxx

extension at Liffey Valley Shopping Centre and is currently

completing the fit-out of RDI Hub in Killorglin, Co. Kerry.

Construction services comprises of a

full range of building and refurbishment

activities across a diverse range of

industries and sectors. These include

main contracting, management

contracting, construction partnering,

CSA work package contracting (civil,

structural and architectural), design and

build contracting.

In relation to public sector contracts,

the company has gone from strength

to strength. Initially as a relatively

new company, and despite having

the necessary project and personnel

experience, it was difficult to secure

public work type projects. “Essentially

you had to point to the projects you have

already completed as a new company

to pre-qualify for new tendering

opportunities. As Vision are now in our

(L-R) Alison Redmond – Submissions Executive, Niall O Meara – Managing Director, Alan Deane – Quality Manager

123

PROVIDING A HIGHER

STANDARD OF ENGINEERING

Civil • Mechanical • Electrical

Automation • Process

Design & Build Solutions

Turnkey Project Solutions for

the Water & Waste Water Industries

Traditional Building Works

Provision of Operation and

Maintenance Solutions for

types of infrastructure

Bulk Earth Works

Transportation Infrastructure

LOUGHREA

Railway House, Station Road,

Loughrea, Co. Galway,

H62 VN56, Ireland.

DUBLIN

Unit 3, 4075 Kingswood Road,

Citywest Business Campus,

Dublin 24, D24 KF85, Ireland.

UK

Churchill House, Suite 301, 120

Bunns Lane, London

NW7 2AS, United Kingdom.

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Project Solutions

– Water Supply

GLAN

AGUA

Kerry Central Regional Water Supply Scheme WTP is amongst the largest in the

country and provides 60 million litres of sustainable, safe drinking water daily to the

Killarney, Tralee, Castleisland and Castlemaine communities.


Glan Agua Ltd

Excellence in Project Solutions

[Water Supply]

Winner in the Civil Engineering category of the Irish

Construction Excellence Awards, the scheme was also

shortlisted in the BIM Excellence category at the annual ICE

Awards. The project was awarded the Engineering Project

of the Year at the Engineers Ireland Excellence Awards.

Incredibly, the project also made the final four at the Global

Water Awards, where it was up against projects completed in

Saudi Arabia, Russia and the USA.

Glan Agua acted as ‘Design Build Operate’ contractor

for the scheme, along with sister company MEIC Ltd. This

award-winning scheme, which was delivered to the highest

standards on time and within budget - demonstrates how

hard work, innovation and collaboration can achieve the

common goals of all parties involved and the construction

industry as a whole.

In addition to the design and construction of the new WTP,

the project also included the upgrade of intakes, including a

hydroelectric power turbine and 11,000m3 RC water storage.

It further included all the MEICA works associated with the

water treatment process including recycling to conserve

water and protect the environment, pumping stations and

numerous pipelines.

Despite the best efforts of storms during the contract period,

including national red alerts and the occurrence of a drought,

construction work was completed within the 24-month

programme period. Glan Agua is in the unique position of

having a civil engineering sister company, Mota-Engil Ireland

Construction Ltd which meant that the project could be

altered or adopted quickly to resolve many of the problems

that plague similar projects.

Glan Agua also utilised its own in-house multidisciplinary

professional staff to create and manage a construction

programme of works which proved to be effective and highly

accurate. This collaboration between designers in addition

to development of innovate solutions to address project

challenges ensured that performance was achieved and that

Irish Water’s key deliverables were achieved.

Continually striving to improve the team’s skill set and

implement new technologies and solutions to efficiently

manage Irish water resources and the environment, Glan

Agua has the capacity and the experience to provide complex

project solutions for the water and wastewater industry

including design, construction, operation and maintenance

of water and wastewater infrastructure.

The Kerry Central WTP project design was developed in a

systematic fashion from tender concept design through

to completion. Use of sound engineering principles,

engineering workshops and design reviews ensured that

Glan Agua achieved the common goals set by the client in

their Employer’s Requirements. The outcome of this was a

reliable, robust and resilient WTP.

Kerry Central WTP was one of the first major projects in the

Irish water industry to fully implement Building Information

Modelling (BIM) and integrate it into all aspects of the

project from design through construction and into operation.

Meanwhile, the integration of IT infrastructure, mobile tablets

and QR Codes at the WTP has set a new benchmark for Irish

Water and has allowed greater productivity, efficiency and

improved service delivery.

The adoption by Glan Agua of the BIM process allowed for

a fast track construction process and elements designed and

constructed off site included structural steel frame; structural

steel walkways and stairs; precast bridge beams used to

maximise the span capacity on in-situ concrete tanks; precast

wide slab floor sections utilised as roofing for smaller tanks

and precast wall sections used to construct the three storey

administration building.

125

CIVIL ENGINEERING COMPANY SPECIALISING

IN STRUCTURAL CONCRETE WORKS

Professional service in all areas of reinforced concrete construction

• Reinforced in-situ framed Buildings

• Rail Works

• Bridges

• Wastewater Treatment Plants

• Ground Works

J.W. Casey Construction Ltd | 1 Irishtown Road, Dublin 4, D04 H7E8 | 01 668 8530

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Construction

BREAKING

THE MOULD


J.W. Casey Construction Ltd


JW Casey Construction Ltd is a civil engineering company specialising in structural

concrete works offering a full range of professional service in all areas of reinforced

concrete construction.

JW Casey started out as a sole trader in 1997, then later

expanded to a private limited company in 2007, and now

employs over 100 people. The company has an experienced

project management team that can provide all the necessary

skills and experience to supervise every element of various

projects.

“We have worked for some of the biggest construction

companies in Ireland on major infrastructural projects such

as Luas City West, Luas Cross City, M16/17 Motorway and

are presently working on the National Children’s Hospital,”

explains CEO John Casey. “Our clients include tier 1

contractors in Ireland such as BAM and John Sisk and Son.

Last year we were honoured to receive an award for the best

performing sub-contractor from John Sisk and Son Civils.”

In terms of public sector work specifically, JW Casey are proud

to say that they are very active in this arena. “The public sector

procures construction companies to

carry out infrastructural projects such

as the construction of new roads,

railways, wastewater treatment

plants and hospitals. Our company

provides the expertise and skilled

labour to aid in the completion of

such projects,” explains Casey.

construction workers within Ireland he says.

In recent years construction activity in Ireland has being

growing steadily. However, activity in the civil engineering

section of the industry has been contracting over the last ten

years. This he says has been caused by lack of government

investment in major infrastructural projects. “To avoid the

highs and lows the industry has been experiencing in the last

few decades we believe it is essential that the government

consistently invests in capital projects,” comments Casey.

“This streamlining of the procurement of infrastructural works

would help to provide a relatively consistent workload for the

industry.”

It is clear that this company is on an upward trajectory and

that its continued success is set in stone. For its contribution

to the industry JW Casey has been awarded the Public Sector

Magazine Excellence in Construction Award, 2019.

“The public sector implements and

plan infrastructural projects that are

essential for the economic growth

of the country. These projects form

the majority of the civil engineering

projects in Ireland and provide our

company with the opportunity to

procure work.”

JW Casey are currently working on

two major projects at The National

Children’s Hospital and a new

multimillion euro manufacturing

facility for Intel in Leixlip. They have

extensive experience in light rail

works having played a major part

in the construction of the last two

Luas projects and Casey hopes to be

involved in the proposed Metrolink

in Dublin.

There are ambitious plans to double

the workforce in the near future, as

there is a high demand for skilled

127

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Business Contracting

MARINE

SOLUTIONS


Cunningham Civil & Marine Ltd

Excellence in Business Contracting

Cunningham Civil & Marine is a specialist Marine Civil Engineering solutions provider,

run by Eoghan & Danielle Cunningham from their headquarters in Westport, Co. Mayo.

The company has become a trusted specialist supplier to the

larger multinational Tier 2 contractors on major engineering

projects such as Dublin Port – Alexandra Basin Redevelopment,

Dun Laoghaire Baths and Cape Clear Storm Gates & Harbour

Redevelopments.

Cunningham Civil and Marine have worked with many highprofile

clients including multinational corporations and

government agencies on local and national level. They have

completed several state-funded civil and marine projects

including storm repair works on many piers around the coast

and the neighbouring islands of Ireland.

The company offers many services including marine and civil

construction with design and build options, wet and dry batch

mobile batching plants for offshore works

and has a licensed landfill facility that can

accept construction waste in the Westport

and Connacht region. The company can offer

a full range of groundworks and plant hire

services with a fleet that ranges from tipper

trucks, grab wagons, excavators wheeled and

tracked from .5 ton to 35 ton with or without

rock breakers. Included in the fleet are a range

of articulated trucks, a road suction sweeper,

tracked bulldozer, dump trucks, site dumpers,

concrete pumps, telescopic handlers as well

as crane hire both tracked and wheeled.

year for the Commissioners of Irish Lights.

“This sector is particularly important to us and with more focus

on procurement through e-tendering for public bodies, it gives

us a chance to bid for projects all over the country,” explains

Ms Cunningham.

There are many plans and projects in the pipeline, in particular

the development of the new sea baths in Dun Laoghaire under

SIAC Mantovani JV which will transform the seafront landscape

in Dun Laoghaire.

Cunningham Civil and Marine are clearly on an upward

trajectory and are a fine example of Excellence in Business

Contracting.

“Our team has grown, our reach has

expanded, our local values and passion for

marine civils is stronger than ever,” enthuses

Director Danielle Cunningham. “We place

safety at the very core of our business. We

earned a Safe-T-Cert in 2017 and renewed

it in 2018 in which we received an ‘A Rating’

with an IOSH letter of recommendation.”

The company now provides regular training

programmes both internally and externally

to ensure that all staff are kept up to date

with health and safety legislation and best

practice. Cunningham Civil and Marine Ltd

is now proud to be certified to international

standards; ISO 14001:2015, ISO9001:2015 and

BS:OHSAS 18001:2007.

The company provides a full range of

services to the public sector which includes

the refurbishment of Kish Bank lighthouse

incorporating design & build of the helipad

resting on the top of Kish Bank 31m-high last

129

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Structural

Defects Insurance

GO GLOBAL


Global Home Warranties Ltd

Excellence in Structural Defect Insurance

Global Home Warranties Ltd is an Irish registered company based in Balbriggan,

Co Dublin that provides 10 year Structural and Latent Defect Insurance to the

construction industry.

Covering new build projects ranging from one off builds

to mixed use developments the company works with

developers and contractors involved in private residential

schemes, social housing projects and commercial units.

The main focus for the team at Global is on their 10 year

Structural and Latent Defect insurance cover that is essential

throughout Ireland and the UK in situations where lenders

are providing funds to purchasers of new build properties.

In the case of social housing the company is seeing more

and more local councils and housing associations seeking

the protection of its 10-year warranty cover even though

the end user will not be seeking private finance. Global

also offers clients bonds such as road and sewer bonds

and performance bonds together

with associated on site insurance

products.

works with members to raise standards throughout the

construction industry. “We pride ourselves in offering our

clients flexible solutions and have seen our involvement with

public sector works increase year on year, especially within

social housing,” she says. “Our team are always available to

have a chat with anyone interested in finding out more about

the products and services we offer and all our clients have

access to their own account manager and dedicated on site

surveyor.”

As the number one provider of quality structural and latent

defect insurance to the construction industry Global Home

Warranties has been awarded the 2019 Excellence in Business

award for its exceptional suite of insurance products.

Historically Global would have

focused more within the private

residential sector but over the

past year the company has seen

an increase in the amount of social

housing projects it has been asked

to provide cover on from both local

councils across the country and

housing associations such as Tuath

and Clúid.

Global has focused on new research

and development projects over

the past 12 months and will in the

coming weeks be releasing a New

House Build app to all members

providing them with access to the

most up to date technical drawings,

plans, building regulations and

best practice in relation to building

projects across Ireland and the UK.

“We are very excited about this new

product as we have taken on board

ideas following consultation with

our members and will be the only

warranty body in Ireland to provide

clients with the most up to date data

at the touch of a button,” explains

Managing Director Kathy McKenna

LL.B.

Ms McKenna says that Global is a

young progressive company who

131

The Professional Roof Services Company

Roofing and Cladding Repairs and Maintenance Safety Services

MD Roof Services carries out all types of roofing and cladding

maintenance, repairs and refurbishments of commercial and

domestic roofs using specialist high quality products, all with

the reassuring confidence that you are getting the best value for

money with unrivalled project management.

MD Roof Services

Chapel Street,

Swinford,

Co. Mayo,

F12 YE14

01 4433 223 / 094 9252 492

info@roofservices.ie

www.roofservices.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in


MD ROOF

SERVICES


MD Roof Services Ltd


Muldowney Doherty Roof Services Ltd (MD Roof Services) offers the complete roof

and safety system solutions to clients within both the public and private sectors.

The company provides a diverse range of industrial roofing

services inclusive of complete installations, refurbishment

and repairs. With a head office based in Swinford, Co. Mayo

and a Dublin area office, MD Roof Services is the leading

Irish roof maintenance and safety systems company offering

specialist services nationwide.

The organisation has built up a vast portfolio of projects

completed on all aspects of pitched, steel cladding, low slope

and flat roofs as well as decorative wall claddings. Offering

specifically tailored roof maintenance, repairs and installation

packages on new and existing commercial and industrial

buildings, MD Roof Services has vast experience working

on roof systems inclusive of PVC, TPO / EDPM membranes,

bituminous felt, cladding, slate and tile to name but a few.

Working on numerous different roof systems with a vast range

of materials and roof coverings requires the organisation to

be versatile and adoptive to the ever-changing and further

developing industry. MD Roof Services has become a market

leader in roof and safety system solutions with the facilities

management and commercial business sectors covering

composite, built up systems, standing seam, refurbishment

of asbestos cladding including works involving complete

replacement and relining of all types of gutters and rainwater

systems.

Maintenance is a key area of the business and MD Roof

Services can provide specifically tailored preventative

maintenance contracts for

all types of roof coverings

including cleaning, detailed

inspections, surveys, inclusive

repairs, advice and costings

as required. The organisation

also operates a re-active

call out service to clients

experiencing damage, leaks

or water ingress issues, where

the nearest available crew

would attend a site at the

first available opportunity and

identify the source of the water

ingress, completing repairs as

appropriate.

light protection systems. All systems are bespoke, designed

to meet the client’s requirements.

MD Roof Services has a high regard for the management of

occupational safety and health within all work activities which

the organisation completes. The company is committed

to reducing and controlling the risks associated with the

completion of works in order to effectively manage safety

and health in recognition of the fact that effective safety and

health management is key in all operations.

MD Roof Services strives for beyond-legal compliance,

reducing risks posed, so far as is reasonably practicable, by

following the principles of prevention in relation to hazard

identification and risk assessment. Since the initial set up

of the organisation, MD Roof Services has been working

consistently towards making working at heights safer by

designing and developing bespoke roof safety systems.

MD Roof Services uses the highest-grade products on the

market while utilising the most innovative technology and

equipment available to the industry. The company offers

clients the complete roof solution specifically tailored to meet

the needs of any organisation. Offering clients a proficient

service with exceptional attention to detail and workmanship

is at the heart of MD Roof Services and for this reason the

company has been awarded the 2019 Excellence in Business

Award for Business Construction.

MD Roof Services designs,

installs and certifies a vast range

of roof safety systems inclusive

of horizontal lifeline systems,

guardrail edge protection

systems and Lite CoverTM roof

133

Mechanical & Electrical Expertise

Efficient Innovative Robust Mechanical & Electrical Design

www.pmep.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Mechanical & Electrical

Consultancy

SETTING

STANDARDS

PMEP (Penston MEP) was founded in 2015 by Managing Director Nick Penston. Based

in Calmount Business Park, Ballymount, South County Dublin, PMEP Consulting

specialises in project management and building services engineering design for

mechanical and electrical projects.


Penston MEP Consulting Ltd

Excellence in Business Mechanical

and Electrical Consultancy

The company operates in the commercial, retail, education,

health, power and industrial sectors. “As a company we

commit to director involvement to all projects, from concept

to completion,” explains Managing Director Penston. PMEP

offers the complete range of M&E design expertise in building

services installations from HT and LT installations, LV and ELV

installations, lighting and emergency lighting, fire detection

and alarms, BMS systems, ICT installations, all forms of HVAC

systems and combined heat and power/cogeneration.

PMEP offers specialist skills and

services in advanced computer

modelling including thermal analysis,

environmental and sustainable

engineering, REVIT services,

BREEAM and LEED assessments,

due diligence, M&E cost control,

building energy audits and BER

assessments. According to Nick

Penston, the public sector is very

important to PMEP as it is a source

of prestigious projects and of repeat

business. “We are in a position to

pledge director-lead teams and

to provide an exemplar service to

our clients,” he says. This level of

service is evident in the company’s

recent accreditations. PMEP has

attained ISO 9001:2015 and OH SAS

18001:20070 certification and has

been involved in many prestigious

projects since its inception, including

Adobe Citywest, Oracle Blocks

C and E, Eastpoint Business Park

(both projects have achieved design

stage LEED Platinum), Clay Farm

Development for Park Development

Group, Parnell House for Alstead

Securities and the new Jaguar

Land Rover vehicle testing facility in

Shannon which has achieved LEED

Gold accreditation, to name but a

few.

staff that keep it all going are extremely committed to

project delivery. This is achieved by approaching each

project as an opportunity to achieve a new higher level of

professionalism, service and quality, to maintain a working

environment that rewards distinction and that sets the

standard for exemplary building services M&E design.

In recognition of these high standards, PMEP have been

awarded the Public Sector Magazine Excellence in Business

Award for their superior Mechanical & Electrical Consultancy.

All of the PMEP team members from

Managing Director Nick Penston,

Director of Projects Rory Harkin,

Director of HR and Finance, Michelle

Hickey-Penston, Associate Eoin

Mullins and the other invaluable

135

ENGINEERING A

SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

ORS is a prominent Irish building

consultancy. With offices in the

East and West of Ireland, ORS has

nationwide reach.

It is the only Irish firm offering a blend

of multi-disciplinary services including:

• Consulting Engineering Services

• Building Surveying

• Assigned Certifier

• Fire Safety

• Energy Management

• Environmental

Contact

John Brennan

Managing Director

E: j.brennan@ors.ie

W: ors.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Consulting

Engineering Services

ORS

ORS is a prominent Irish multi-disciplinary building consultancy. The firm operates in

a unique work environment, growing sustainably while enhancing the community and

lives of its people and their families.


ORS

Excellence in Consulting

Engineering Services

ORS offers design, planning and management advice that

is supported by expert guidance in energy efficiency. Its

people are highly skilled designers, consulting engineers,

planners, scientists and surveyors. With offices in the east

and west of Ireland the company has nationwide reach. This

allows teams to quickly respond to on-site requirements and

to be available for project meetings wherever the location.

The firm also has an office in London to serve international

project funding agencies.

For over 25 years, ORS has worked in partnership with

property developers, estate managers, architects, solicitors,

accountants and planners from both the private and public

sectors. The company is at the forefront of developments in

the construction sector through ongoing up-skilling training

for its people and tailoring services to meet the demands

of clients. The service offering provided by the firm to the

public sector falls under six key areas; consulting engineering

services, building surveying, assigned certifier, fire safety,

energy management and environmental. ORS is the only

Irish consultancy offering a blend of these multi-disciplinary

services which is particularly relevant to public sector

contracts. “Working with the public sector means being part

of shaping the Ireland of the future,” explains Managing

Director John Brennan. “It is an important sector for ORS

because the firm thrives on interesting work.”

Citing some examples of recent

projects Brennan points to work on

Center Parcs in Longford Forest.

Set on a 400 acre estate, Ireland’s

largest holiday village is due to open

in Longford in August 2019. ORS

provided a range of consultancy

services from a very early stage on

this substantial project. The firm’s

expertise and experience helped

facilitate a smooth transition from

design through to construction.

a series of building and condition surveys of all National Car

Testing Centres (NCT) across Ireland, all to be completed within

a four-week window,” Brennan says. “And we are currently the

appointed PSDP for the design team packages for 14 Primary

Care Centres as well as being part of the technical advisory team

for the PPP development in various locations around Ireland.”

ORS is also providing PSDP and Assigned Certifier services for the

development of several rapid build schools for the Department

of Education and Skills across Ireland. “These projects range in

size and complexity across new builds, education campuses’ and

extensions to existing schools,” he says.

Brennan is keenly aware of the need to meet time constraints

and budgets and this has been a key delivery element from

the outset. “ORS has worked with public sector organisations

and local authorities since its foundation in 1991. We

understand that the sector needs advisors that meet strict

deadlines within tight budgets.”

Transparency when spending from the public purse is of key

importance, therefore it is paramount to choose advisors that

deliver to the highest standard in quality. ORS is ISO 9001

certified; it is an Engineers Ireland CPD accredited company

and ranked 25th in Best Small Workplaces Ireland from Great

Place to Work. These achievements represent a dedication

to quality in the delivery of services.

Another key project is at RCSI

Beaumont, Smurfit Building Extension.

Here ORS is providing Assigned

Certifier services for the construction of

a three-storey extension, incorporating

a new student concourse, series of

large multi-functional tutorial rooms

and open plan faculty offices and

meeting rooms.

“We are also currently completing

ORS Directors (pictured L-R): David McCormack, Finbarr Stuart, Paul O’Reilly and Brian Collentine with

(centre) Managing Director John Brennan

137

Thanks.

To the talented team of people in MJ Clarke’s, to our sub-contractors,

the great Architects and designers we work with, and our Clients.

We are very proud winners of the 2019 Conservation Construction Award.

www.mjclarkes.com

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Conservation & Construction

FAMILY

FRIENDLY


MJ Clarke & Sons Ltd


Conservation Construction

Established in 1961, MJ Clarke & Sons Ltd is one of Ireland’s longest established

building contractors and building maintenance providers.

The company has come a long way since Michael Clarke,

who remains actively involved at the age of 85, sold his

Volkswagen Beetle in order to set up his own building

firm. Over 58 years later, the Rathfarnham-based company

continues to go from strength to strength, having survived

several national economic boom and busts by continually

adapting and investing to deliver to the evolving needs of

customers, whilst all the time staying true to its core beliefs.

Over the years, the general building contracting side of the

business has completed projects on large, high-profile sites,

working on some of the country’s most beautiful buildings,

such as the Bank of Ireland in College Green, the Four

Courts, Government Buildings and refurbishment works in

many schools. In its hay day, the company built several Bank

of Ireland branches from the ground up and carried out

large fit-outs in others, all over Ireland. It also developed the

shopfitting side of the business, working for several retail

chains nationwide.

The family-run business survived the most recent recession

by refocusing its efforts

on smaller projects –

under the €1m value

range. By applying

their experience and

expertise from large

scale, complicated

projects to smaller

projects, MJ Clarke

& Sons brings added

value of logistical and

project management

experience to the more

modest refurbishment,

fit-out and building

projects. The company

now works on a diverse

range of projects in

occupied environments,

healthcare facilities,

hospitals, embassies,

pharmaceutical

plants and residential

properties. “With the

breadth of experience

the team has across

all kinds of buildings

– new builds and

refurbishments – MJ

Clarke’s can deliver this

on all jobs, big and small,” explains Rachel Clarke, Managing

Director.

Citing some examples of high-profile projects Ms Clarke

points to Temple Bar Cultural Trust in Dublin 2; Dun Laoghaire

Institute of Art, Design and Technology; the National

Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire; The Central Remedial

Clinic in Clontarf, the Law Society and Fáilte Ireland.

Ms Clarke says that the directors and staff of the company

all subscribe to the view that the customer is king. They carry

out work for clients from a variety of backgrounds. Some have

expertise in building and some rely on MJ Clarke & Sons for

sound advice and guidance.

Looking to the future, this exceptional family business is

positioned to deliver a fully-integrated building maintenance

service to both its existing extensive customer-base and to

new customers. On this basis they are worthy winners of

the 2019 Excellence in Business award for conservation and

construction.

139

Part of the KCC Group

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in

Architectural Products

TRUSTED

MAINTENANCE

PARTNER


KCC Architectural

Excellence in Architectural Products

KCC is a leading solutions provider to the public sector through its service &

maintenance and fire door inspection divisions.

Since its formation in 1998, KCC have become a leading

provider of architectural goods and services to the

construction industry. KCC’s product portfolio includes a

combination of their own and internationally renowned

brands of door hardware, automatic and access-controlled

entry systems, fire and non-fire steel glazing, movable walls

and steel and timber door sets. In addition, they also provide

a full service and maintenance package operating nationwide

with offices in Dublin, Belfast and Cork.

The idea behind growing the business across its four

main divisions that is architectural hardware, automatics

& access control, facades, partitions & doors and service

& maintenance was to be able to provide clients such as

contractors and end users with a ‘full package’ of integrated

solutions thus minimizing their need to deal with multiple

suppliers on any project.

Having initially provided product to many public and

government buildings, KCC can support the public sector

by offering preventive maintenance in the form of service

level agreements and find it is the most

economical way for clients to obtain optimal

profits from equipment as it reduces the risk

of incorrect performance, malfunctions and

downtime. KCC’s preventative maintenance

agreement covers all necessary servicing

recommended by KCC at the correct

intervals and in a proactive manner. It offers

fixed routine maintenance costs and allows

for easy maintenance cost forecasting.

solutions to everyday building issues such as fire safety, asset

protection, access control and visitor safety.”

KCC also provide a fire door inspection service and this is

proving to be a valuable service to the public sector. KCC

provides building owners with detailed reports on their fire

doors and advises them of areas of non-compliance which

may require remedial works or replacement in order to

ensure that the fire doors are compliant and functioning

effectively.

Their fire door inspection service means that they will assess

the door, report on findings and where necessary, correct any

issues. The KCC team are third party accredited through the

BM TRADA Q-mark accreditation giving peace of mind to

building owners.

As an AssaAbloy distributor KCC has supported the public

sector in providing bespoke mechanical and electronic

master key systems such as the ‘Abloy Cliq’ system installed

and maintained in Dublin Castle.

The maintenance plan can be customized

and adjusted at any time to suit the client’s

needs. KCC offer a range of different

service solutions with a focus on specific

needs and budgets. “A service contract

offers peace of mind with 24 hour cover;

this includes weekends, bank holidays and

all the festive periods. A service contract

offers over the phone support and priority

call outs if required”, says Chris Kilpatrick

Managing Director.

Stephen Arkins, Service Sales Manager,

says that the Public sector is important

to KCC and vice-versa, “because of our

ability to provide compliant and tested

141

Leetherm are registered to all the associations below:

Client: Waterford City & County Council

Project: The Alms Houses / Boyce Cottages, Tallow

Leetherm were awarded the contract by Waterford City & County Council in 2018 to carry out the full refurbishment

of Boyce Cottages in Tallow, a protected structure built in the 1830s. The existing building is now converted into four

local authority residential dwellings. The project involved the preserving and re-using of the original materials & features

where possible, aswell as providing high levels of insulation by using a breathable internal insulation system with

renewable heating through air to water heat pumps. The existing windows were restored, existing roof slates re used,

new lime plaster render applied externally and all external wall features retained.

Deep Retrofit Specialists

The image above shows an example of a recent deep retrofit carried out by

Leetherm in Tipperary. Works included external wall insulation, attic insulation,

air to water heatpump with heating controls & monitoring, new windows &

doors, airtightness, demand control ventilation and solar PV panels.

Leetherm specialise in energy efficient building upgrades but

in particular Deep Retrofits. We have been carrying out deepretrofit

upgrades on buildings for the last 5 years with almost

100 deep retrofit upgrades completed in the last 3 years alone.

Deep Retrofits now have their own stream of grant funding

through SEAI which is available for private, housing association

and local authority housing projects. A deep retrofit takes a

whole-house approach to energy in the home. The aim of a

deep retrofit is to achieve a BER A-rating. This is involves carrying

out multiple energy efficient measures together. Wall insulation,

attic, replacing windows and doors. looking at air tightness

and ventilation. Deep retrofit also looks at installing renewable

energy technologies in the home.

OUTRIGHT WINNERS


Energy Insulation

FUTURE

PROOFING

Leetherm is a nationwide construction and insulation company based in Tipperary that

carries out construction and energy efficient upgrades on domestic and commercial

buildings. The company specialises in renovations, refurbishments, deep-retrofits and

energy efficient upgrades.


Leetherm Construction & Insulation


Energy Insulation

Leetherm provides energy

efficient upgrades & deep retrofits

such as insulation, ventilation,

window & door and heating

system upgrades on private and

local authority housing as well

as commercial, medical and

educational buildings. “We are

basically a one-stop shop with

regards to the domestic and

commercial energy environment,”

explains Founder and Managing

Director Ken Lee. “The company

also carries out renovations,

refurbishments, extensions and

new builds with a constant focus

on providing a very high level of

energy efficiency in the completed

building combined with a highquality

finish for our clients.”

Leetherm has a highly skilled and

experienced workforce both at

management and tradesman levels

with an annual average workforce

of 35 employees. The company is

constantly striving to improve from

a quality and health & safety point

of view with audits and continuous

improvement on an annual

basis. Leetherm is registered and

certified to the following industry

related organisations:

• CIF (Construction Industry Federation)

• Safe T Cert Scheme

• CIRI (Construction Industry Register of Ireland)

• NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland

• NIAI (National Insulation Association of Ireland)

• SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland)

The public sector is particularly important to Leetherm as it

provides a large percentage of their work. “We also see a

lot of potential work in the future in this sector due to the

large number of old buildings, both domestic & commercial

that will need to be refurbished and upgraded to bring them

in line with current building regulations and standards over

the coming years,” explains Ken. “We have a very good

reputation within the sector and have built up good working

relationships with public sector clients; we want to continue

our growth in this sector into the future.”

With an increasing focus on green energy the company is

currently involved in a number of Better Energy Communities

Schemes that are grant funded through the SEAI (Sustainable

Energy Authority of Ireland). These schemes involve the

deep-retrofit upgrades and energy efficient upgrades to

private, local authority and housing associations domestic

and commercial buildings. “We also have 5-6 construction

projects running at any one time, the majority of which are

refurbishment projects of older buildings with extensions and

energy efficient upgrades,” concludes Ken.

Quality and efficiency are the hallmarks of this company

making them worthy recipients of the 2019 Public Sector

Magazine Award for Construction Energy Insulation.

143

Best choice for you

and your property

CONTACT DETAILS:

Address: Corlican, Killurin, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford

Email: info@stephencreanelectrical.ie

Phone: 00353 53 900 6996

Mobile: 00353 87 061 0046

Web: www.stephencreanelectrical.ie

Stephen Crean Electrical

@stephencreanelectrical

@CreanElectrical

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Business Specialists

CREAN OF

THE CROP


Stephen Crean Electrical

Excellence in Business Specialist

Established in 2013, Stephen Crean Electrical is a Wexford based electrical contractor, with

Stephen as owner and manager. Since its inception the company has grown to employ

eight highly skilled individuals who are key to the continued growth of the company.

Stephen Crean Electrical offer a multitude of services

ranging from domestic to agricultural, emergency lighting

to PAT testing and all in between. They now also offer a

fire extinguisher service with plans to introduce a lighting

design service in the near future. “We pride ourselves on

the quality of our electrical services,” explains Managing

Director Stephen Crean. “With a wide range of customers,

no job is too small or too large for our experienced team

who specialise in domestic, industrial, commercial and

agricultural. With a speedy turnaround at a reasonable price,

our team will help you from inception to completion.”

The company offer such services as general electrical works,

planned maintenance, system upgrades and emergency

callouts. Stephen is also trained in PAT testing for any

portable electrical equipment. PAT testing is a requirement

for any office space or building for the maintenance of health

and safety in that workplace. “We believe that emergency

lighting is a key requirement for the safety of public buildings

and therefore we see this

as an important service

that we offer,” he says.

“This includes emergency

lighting design, installation,

testing and maintenance.

We also offer a general

electrical maintenance

service to the WWETB and

Wexford County Council,

Housing Department.”

extinguisher maintenance and servicing. “This addition in

conjunction with current testing services for emergency

lighting and PAT allow us to offer our clients a comprehensive

service ensuring their safety throughout their building,”

explains Stephen. “By the end of 2019 we aim to provide a

lighting design service which will assist companies to become

more environmentally aware.”

While growth has been steady over the last eight years

Stephen Crean feels that no matter how large the job, the

personal touch is hugely important. “We are a Safe Electric

certified contractor who can offer a personal touch to our

customers. We have grown over the years from simple

local jobs to shop fit outs, hotel renovations, works with

the Waterford Wexford Education and Training Board and

more recently the Housing Department of Wexford County

Council. With our skilled staff, we can offer a professional and

efficient service.”

The public sector is an

important one for Stephen

Crean Electrical. “We work

well with the public sector

providers,” Stephen says.

“Understanding their needs

and requirements helps

us to tailor the service we

supply. We view our role

in the maintenance and

upkeep of the buildings

we look after as being

important to the safety of

our clients and the greater

public who use those

services.”

A recent expansion to

the company has resulted

in a new offering of fire

145

Specialist Formwork Solutions

Raps is highly specialised in all

aspects of Formworks, marine,

civil and building.

We have built a reputation for

excellence and innovation in

concrete formworks over the past

10 years in business.

• Commercial

• Conservation

• Education

• Pharmaceutical

• Healthcare

• Industrial

• Residential

• Retail

The Orchard, Johnstownbridge, Co. Kildare.

Office: 046 9549698 | Jason O’Keeffe: 087 0626452 | Francis Mcteigue: 087 9499760

E: jokeeffe@rapsconstruction.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Business Construction Services

UNDER

RAPS

Raps Construction Ltd are a Civil & Formworks Engineering Company operating

in Ireland specialising in all civil, marine and formwork aspects of the construction

industry.


RAPS Construction Ltd



Since 2009 the company has been providing a specialised and

dedicated service to the commercial, industrial and public

sectors. An experienced management team is dedicated to

consistently providing an excellent service to clients.

“Our clients are confident knowing their projects will be

completed on time and within budget and to the highest

standard achievable,” explains Director Jason O’Keeffe.

He says that the public sector is of vital importance within the

industry. “Within our company, we have over time built up

relationships with clients within this

sector and will continue to develop

these for the coming years. We find

working in the public sector is a

great environment to operate in. Our

work here can be very varied and

challenging from general civil works

to highly specialise works.”

Asked if there was any message he would like to get out to the

public sector O’Keeffe said that the value of good employees

should never be underestimated. “We at Raps Construction

know that our success is attributed to the dedication and

experience of our workforce. We have large volume of core

employees who have remained loyal to the company for years.

They are very experienced at what they do and we have full

confidence in their ability to meet the client’s expectations. It

is of vital importance that we continue to educate and provide

the necessary training they require within the industry.”

Since the company was established

in 2009 it aimed to provide a

specialized and dedicated service

to the commercial, industrial and

public sectors. “Our experienced

management team is dedicated to

consistently providing an excellent

service to all our clients so they can

be confident knowing their projects

will be completed on time and within

budget, explains O’Keeffe. “10

years have now pass and our aims

and objectives remain the same but

its paramount that we provide this

consistent level of service and more

importantly maintain the standards

that are required within this industry.”

The company has carried out work

for some of the largest building and

civil firms in Ireland. They have been

involved in numerous prestigious

projects around the country including

the special feature lift shafts in the

National Art Gallery and the Pearse

Lyons Distillery. O’Keeffe is delighted

to say that currently the order book

is full until the end of this year “and

with other projects been negotiated

and reviewed we probable have work

in the pipeline until the end of 2020.”

147

HALCON PLANT HIRE LTD

Sandy Lane, Blackrock, Co. Louth

Mob: 085 811 1173

E-mail: halpinphilip@gmail.com

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Ground Work

Plant Construction

FROM THE

GROUND UP


Halcon Plant Hire Ltd

Excellence in Business Ground

Work Plant Construction

Halcon Plant Hire Ltd is a general civil contracting company based in Ireland with a

wide variety of experience working in Dublin, the midlands and the rest of Ireland.

The company is a highly successful construction civils

contractor specialising in demolitions and groundwork.

“We have a 20+ workforce and a substantial machinery &

plant inventory ranging from mini diggers to 20tn excavators

& dumpers,” explains Philip Halpin, Managing Director.

“Since our incorporation over 15 years ago, we have worked

with many of the Top 20 main contractors in Ireland on

projects ranging from €500,000 to €40m.”

Since being in business the company has experienced

sustainable growth year on year due in no small part to their

commitment to bringing in projects to the highest standard

and within time and budget. “We have a dedicated health &

safety team and also a highly efficient commercial team to aid

the efficient running of all projects in a professional manner,”

adds Halpin.

The company boasts a vast wealth of experienced staff that

have completed contracts for countless high-profile clients

including Purcell Construction with supply and fit contracts,

public school projects and Monami Construction with

contracts up to €1,350,000.

“We have established an excellent reputation for producing

work of the highest standard, which is also managed with the

highest degree of professionalism,” Halpin says.

Success certainly breeds success and here the success of

Halcon Plant Hire Ltd can be attributed to sound, effective

management and the employment of a professional, highlyskilled

and motivated workforce.

The company benefits from a strong reputation based

on their extensive experience in large civil engineering

and groundwork projects. A dedicated team of managers

and specialist tradesmen deliver project civil engineering

including road and footpath construction, main services and

main drainage installation, culvert & large diameter pipework

and foul water attenuation systems. They are also experts in

general infrastructure including excavation for substructure

including reduced level digs & foundations, rebar & mesh

Installation, concrete foundation & floor slab installation,

formwork and paving.

Mr Halpin says that public sector work is hugely important

to his company and Halcon Plant Hire have been involved in

works on many schools & civils projects. “We aim to increase

our workload in this sector,” he says. “The projects are always

challenging and in general, the public sector is less volatile

than the private sector and it is also more recession proof.”

There are several exciting projects in the works at the moment.

At Loughshinney Nursing Home in Lusk, Co Dublin Halcon are

involved in the construction of a 7,000m2 two-story nursing

home on a 12-acre site with substantial civil engineering

site works. At Nova Building in UCD they are involved in

substantial demolitions to the existing nova building as well

as renovations and erection of a large-scale extension. Also at

UCD they are working on the construction of a new 200 space

car park including all civil works and at Ardmore House, UCD,

renovations are taking place to the existing Ardmore House

with substantial external and civils works. On the housing

side, a large housing development in Johnstown, Co Kildare

involves the construction of 100 houses including all external

civil works, landscaping and paving.

149

PROJECT

IRELAND 2040

Some €7 billion has been earmarked for

investment in projects in 2019 through

Project Ireland 2040 with significant progress

being made in transport, education, health,

and housing.

Project Ireland 2040 takes a radically different

approach to future planning by focusing

not just on bricks and mortar, but on social,

economic and cultural development. It links

planning and investment for the first time

in Irish history, balances rural and urban

investment, and will avoid the mistakes of

the past.

Some highlights from the first year of

Project Ireland 2040 include 11 primary

care centres which will open this year on

top of the 127 in operation, with another

26 being developed. By the end of 2019

some 410 school projects will have been

completed or in construction, providing

40,000 extra or replacement school

places, 200 modern science labs, 48 new

or upgraded PE halls and replacing 600

prefabs. Construction has started on the

new quads at Grangegorman for the

Technological University Dublin and work is

ahead of schedule on the National Indoor

Arena ensuring that Ireland’s sporting

bodies, high performance athletes and

the general public have the best facility for

indoor sport and events.

Progress is also being made in sustainability

with 21,350 homes having become more

energy-efficient and €250m has been

allocated for the first priority schemes in

flood risk management.

The first allocations have also been made

from the €4 billion Project Ireland 2040

funds:

• y 84 projects have been awarded €86m

under the Rural Regeneration and

Development Fund;

• y 88 projects received €101m under the

Urban Regeneration and Development

Fund;

• y €75m was awarded to 27 projects

through the Disruptive Technologies

Innovation Fund;

• y €77m was awarded for 7 projects in the

first phase of the Climate Action Fund.

Project Ireland sets out to ensure that

three quarters of new growth will be

outside Dublin, with 50% of the projected

population growth planned for our towns,

villages and rural areas and 50% for our

cities. The annual report shows that 58%

of employment in IDA client companies is

now outside Dublin, the highest ever level,

while 60% of new jobs in Enterprise Ireland

client companies were created outside

Dublin in the last year.

NATIONAL

BROADBAND

PLAN

The National Broadband Plan will be one

of the largest investments in rural Ireland

in the history of the State, akin to rural

electrification.

The Plan will ensure that every home, farm,

school and business in Ireland will have

access to high speed broadband – no

matter where they are located. As a result

of the Plan, the 1.1 million people living

and working in 540,000 premises across the

country including 100,000 businesses and

farms, and over 600 schools who currently

cannot access broadband, will have access

to a high-speed broadband service.

High speed broadband will help diversify the

rural economy and offer further options for

flexible working arrangements, particularly

remote working. There are already a

number of companies in Ireland who offer

remote working to their employees and this

trend is only going to increase in the future.

The ability to work in regional locations can

help to take the pressure off our cities and

can mean substantial savings for employees

in terms of rents and property costs while

also reducing the need to commute leading

to a better work-life balance.

Minister Bruton stressed that work is

progressing on finalising the contract for

the National Broadband Plan. “It is crucial

that we move to sign the contract so that

the one million people who today are

without access are not left behind,” he

said. “Digital technology is transforming

how we live, learn and work. We must

make sure the people of rural Ireland have

the same opportunities as those in our

towns and cities.”

The rollout will commence in Q4 2019

with significant pre-mobilisation activities

ongoing over the coming months. While

the majority of premises will be passed in

the initial 5 years the overall rollout will be

concluded within 7 years.

150

NEWS

5G ON THE HORIZON 5

It’s been nearly a decade in the making, but 5G is finally becoming a reality.

From the first mobile phone to 4G LTE, the telecommunications

industry has progressed at lightning speed. We’ve jumped four G’s, or

generations, very quickly. Now the market is poised to break into the

fifth generation, which promises 100 to 1,000 times the speed of 4G LTE.

5G networks are the next generation of mobile internet connectivity,

offering faster speeds and more reliable connections on smartphones

and other devices than ever before. Combining cutting-edge network

technology and the very latest research, 5G should offer connections

that are multitudes faster than current connections, with average

download speeds of around 1GBps expected to soon be the norm.

The shift to 5G will undoubtedly change the way we interact with

technology on a day-to-day basis. The networks will help power a

huge rise in Internet of Things technology, providing the infrastructure

needed to carry huge amounts of data, allowing for a smarter and more

connected world.

With development well underway and testbeds already live across the

world, 5G networks are expected to launch across the world by 2020,

working alongside existing 3G and 4G technology to provide speedier

connections that stay online no matter where you are.

151

TIME FOR CHANGE?

The Irish Government has announced that Ireland will oppose the EU proposal to end seasonal clock changes. The decision

not to support any proposal which could result in different time zones on the island of Ireland or any disruption to the EU Single

Market follows the recommendation of an Interdepartmental Steering Group which included a public consultation exercise.

In the current system, time zones are solely determined by geographic location on an east to west basis. The proposal, as

drafted, suggests that each country may choose summer or winter time year-round. The Government noted that this proposal

could result in member states of similar latitudes choosing different times, which could negatively impact the functioning of

the single market.

While the consultation highlighted that the public would generally favour brighter evenings in winter allowing for instance

for greater access to sporting and leisure activities, 82% of those surveyed were not in favour of any measure that resulted

in different timezones on the island. Other stakeholder submissions raised concerns around agriculture, education, health,

tourism, trade, utility costs and transport schedules.

Clocks are currently changed twice each year in order to cater for the changing patterns of daylight and to match the hours

of available daylight to people’s daily activities. Since 2001, all member states switch to summer time on the last Sunday of

March and switch back to their standard time (winter time) on the last Sunday of October.

Following a resolution from the European Parliament in February 2018 and an EU wide consultation last summer, the European

Commission published a proposal to abolish seasonal clock changes. While the European Parliament voted in favour of the

proposal, this is not a final decision. Negotiation with the Council of Ministers is still necessary and final approval will be a

co-decision of the EU Parliament and the Council of Ministers where a Qualified Majority Vote with the approval of 55% of

Member States (16) is necessary which must represent at least 65% of the EU’s population.

152

TOURISM IS BIG BUSINESS

Local authorities plan €150m investment in tourism projects to build on €100m

funding over the last five years.

Local authorities have increased their tourism investment and resources to sustain

and enhance Ireland’s tourism sector, particularly in light of Brexit, a conference in

Cork has heard. The conference ‘Tourism is Everyone’s Business’ organised by the

LGMA and County and City Management Association in association with Fáilte

Ireland brought together local authority staff and other industry stakeholders to

consider how we can strengthen Ireland’s tourism offering throughout the country

and appeal to a diversity of markets, domestic and international.

A new report released at the conference shows Ireland’s City and County Councils

have plans to develop 256 new tourism projects, with €156 million committed

to these projects by councils including for new walking trails, discovery centres,

cultural plazas, harbours, and sports facilities. An additional €205 million will be

leveraged by local authorities from external agencies.

Local authorities directly invested €99.4million to develop tourist attractions in

the five years 2014-2018. On top of that, councils leveraged a further €88.4 million

from external agencies towards these developments, meaning City and County

Councils harnessed a total capital investment in tourism attractions of €185.8

million.

This increased investment will play a key part in building resilience in the context

of Brexit, according to Ann Doherty, Chair of the CCMA Economic and Enterprise

Committee: “Brexit is a challenge the local authority sector is actively addressing,

committing increased resources and working even harder to expand our markets

and generate new offerings. With 35% of Ireland’s overseas tourists coming

from the UK, and in a competitive international market, it has never been more

important to actively develop new offerings to provide diverse and niche tourism

products throughout the country to appeal to both domestic and foreign tourists.”

153

Take a guided tour at

the world’s oldest intact

working Lighthouse

Hook Lighthouse is a

gem on Ireland’s Ancient

East located on the tip of

the Hook Peninsula in

Wexford, Ireland.

For information & bookings call:

051 397 055 / 051 397 054

www.hookheritage.ie

Named ‘The Flashiest Lighthouse in the World’ by

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Tourism

GET

HOOKED


Hook Lighthouse

Excellence in Tourism

Hook Lighthouse is the oldest operational lighthouse in the world, sitting majestically

at the tip of the Hook Peninsula. Purpose-built some 800 years ago it is still fully

operational today, truly one of a kind.

Year round at Hook Lighthouse visitors can enjoy a fully

guided tour of the 800 year old medieval tower and learn

of its foundation with St. Dubhan, who tells the tale of

monks who kept a beacon alight in the fifth century, and

William Marshal - the first Earl of Pembroke, who built the

tower and married the daughter of Strongbow. Hear stories

of lighthouse life before automation, and enjoy vistas of

the southeast for asfar as the eye can see from inside the

Lightkeeper’s Watchroom.

Guided tours of the lighthouse culminate with the spectacular

view from the balcony. In clear weather you can see for miles

and in a storm the spray often reaches the top of the lighthouse.

Visitors can also enjoy a visitor centre complete with gift shop,

art workshop, exhibits and café, open all year around.

The public sector is very important to Hook Lighthouse as

it is operated by a voluntary Board of Directors as a social

enterprise, not for profit business to benefit the local

area. Hook Peninsula in southwest

Wexford is an area of natural

beauty but is also an area of

high social deprivation with high

unemployment, particularly youth

unemployment, and a low take up

of third level education. “Through

capital and employment grants we

are able to operate a year-round

tourist attraction which attracts

national and international tourists,

benefitting local businesses,”

explains General Manager, Ann

Waters. “Our full-time staff are part

funded by the Department of Rural

& Community Development and

our student work schemes benefit

local students through training,

development and of course a waged

income to help through college.”

Wexford County Council is currently working on developing

the site further to accommodate the growing numbers of

tourists visiting the Hook Lighthouse and peninsula area.

This is at concept development stage, currently funded

by the Department of Rural and Community Development

along with Wexford County Council and Fáilte Ireland.

These developments are planned to progress in 2020 with

traffic management and car parking and an extra onsite

ticketed attraction.

Constantly evolving and ever innovate the team at Hook

improve the offering at the site continually. This summer a

new Pirate Ship was unveiled funded by a FLAG BIM Capital

Grant. A new outdoor mobile BBQ station ‘The Seahorse’

was opened to alleviate queue times at the on-site café. 10th

of August World lighthouse day will be the official opening

of the new Eco Education Station - SOS Save Our Seas which

aims to help spread more awareness of our need to become

more ecologically and environmentally conscious.

Ms Waters feels that tourism as a

social enterprise is of enormous

economic benefit in rural and coastal

locations around Ireland. There is

currently great potential to develop

the tourism sector as an economic

driver in socially deprived areas.

Hook lighthouse is a great example

of tourism as a social enterprise which

has been instrumental in benefitting

an area of high social deprivation.

155

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Tourism Development

IRELAND’S

ALCATRAZ


Spike Island Cork

Excellence in Tourism Development

The former fort and notorious prison in Cork harbour, once known as ‘Hell on Earth’,

has now become a world class, award-winning attraction.

Spike Island is owned by

Cork County Council and the

council set up Spike Island

Development Company to run

the day-to-day operations of

the island. Cork County Council

invested significant sums

together with Fáilte Ireland

to interpret and reopen this

historic site, once home to a

monastery, a 24-acre fortress

and the largest prison in the

world in the 1850s. Since the

company’s inception in 2015,

visitor numbers have steadily

grown from 27,000 in 2016 to

70,000 in 2018.

Spike Island Development

Company offers access to

the island via ferry from Cobh

where visitors can avail of an

included guided tour of the

facility or use the free map and

app to self-explore. The island

has reopened the 1850’s prison

cells, the 1980’s cells, the fortress

walls and tunnels, military, penal

and social museums and a café

and gift shop. There are also

scenic island walking trails and

green open spaces with picnic sites and interpretation.

A fascinating and historic step back in time, most visitors stay

on the island for several hours as there is so much to see

and do. From six-inch guns secreted away at the end of deep

bastion tunnels, to the imposing central parade ground, an

artillery ‘gun park’, striking rampart outlooks to the mouth of

the harbour, and cells that clank with their foreboding past.

“When you have 104 acres of island to explore and a 24-

acre fortress and prison, this is a great day out for visitors,”

explains Tim Lucey, Chief Executive, Cork County Council.

Lucey stresses the importance of the tourism sector to the Irish

economy saying that “there is only one Ireland and nowhere

else can tell our stories, our history or lay claim to such an

extensive global diaspora.” As he sees it, the trend that has

been ongoing for ten years that has seen tourism employ

over 260,000 is only set to continue, and with China coming

on-line and traditional employment avenues decreasing,

tourism is a critical contributor to jobs and revenue.

There are lots of plans in the pipeline including the reopening

of the moat around the fortress which will add another scenic

9 km of walks and interpretation. There are also plans to add

an international welcome hub in 2020 to make it even easier

for foreign visitors to orientate themselves and maximise

their visit. “And we have massive opportunities to tell our

social history through island village recreations with tearooms

and amazing views,” Lucey says.

Spike Island invites everyone to come and see the massive

work that has been done in the last 12 – 24 months with

this year alone seeing the opening of walking trails, a major

exhibition on the war of independence and the 1400 men

held here in 1921 and a new 126 seater ferry operating

year round. This is clearly a special place and it has a place

in the heart of everyone that visits. The work never stops

developing ‘Ireland’s Alcatraz’ and visitors continue to be

fascinated by the history and quality of this little island with

a big story to tell.

157

FREE

TRANSFERS TO / FROM

SHIP INCLUDED

Licensed & Bonded

Tour Operators No. 214

“NO FLY” CRUISE

Holidays from Dublin, Cobh & Belfast

Date From Destination Duration

5-January 2020 Cobh Grand Africa & Indian Ocean Voyage (Marco Polo) 78 nights

23-March 2020 Cobh Azores, Madeira & Portuguese Highlights 14 nights

6-April 2020 Cobh Easter River Seine Experience 7 nights

13-April 2020 Cobh Treasures of the British Isles 11 nights

24-April 2020 Cobh Portugal & Seville Fiesta 13 nights

24-June 2020 Belfast River Seine Experience 8 nights

2-July 2020 Belfast Fjordland Splendour 9 nights

11-July 2020 Belfast Weekend Mini Cruise 2 nights

13-July 2020 Dublin Round Britain & River Seine Experience 11 nights

24-July 2020 Dublin Iceland and Faroes 12 nights

5-August 2020 Dublin Spain, Portugal & Morocco 12 nights

17-August 2020 Dublin Summertime Fjordland 10 nights

27-August 2020 Dublin River Seine Experience 7 nights

3-September 2020 Dublin Overnight Mini Cruise 1 nights

13-September 2020 Belfast Mini Cruise to Bristol 3 nights

16-September 2020 Ringaskiddy River Seine Experience 6 nights

22-September 2020 Ringaskiddy Hidden Baltic Treasures 14 nights

6-October 2020 Cobh Grand Canary Islands & Madeira, Iberian Treasures & Morocco 16 nights

22-October 2020 Cobh Iceland & Land of the Northern Lights 9 nights

31-October 2020 Belfast CMV Taster Cruise 2 nights

For a brochure call 00353 74-9135960 or contact your local travel agent

JMG Travel, Gortahork, Co. Donegal • Tel: 00353 74-91 35201 • Email: jmgtravel@eircom.net • www.jmgcruise.com

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Vacations

Cruise Travel for Public Sector

PLAIN

SAILING

From humble beginnings in the passenger transport sector, McGinley Coach Travel

has expanded and diversified to become one of Ireland’s leading Coach and Tour

operators.


JMG Travel

Excellence in Vacations - Cruising

Holidays for the Public Sector

Today, the company offers comprehensive group travel and

leisure services to the Irish, European and worldwide markets

and has provided travel solutions to thousands of satisfied

customers. JMG Travel is the tour operating division of the

company and is under the direction of its Managing Director

James McGinley. The family-run company has moved into

many new and different sectors of the travel industry to

include inbound tour operations, outbound air-package

holidays, specialist group travel services, independent

travel and wholesaling to the travel trade. 2011 first saw the

introduction of No-Fly cruising to the portfolio. Not content

with sitting still, JMG Travel is expanding further into this

market with an exciting choice of cruises planned for the

years ahead.

“In conjunction with our UK cruise

partners Cruise & Maritime Voyages,

we specialise in great value No-

Fly cruising holidays, offering a

leisurely, home-from-home style of

cruising with the emphasis very much

on providing a friendly, personal

service,” explains Managing Director

James McGinley.

cruising, only a few years ago you had to fly to the UK or

Europe to get onboard a cruise ship, now you can do this

from Dublin and Cobh. So, I’m delighted to be at the fore of

this industry in Ireland and looking forward to expanding this

further,” enthuses McGinley.

JMG Travel was lucky to spot a gap in the market when they

organised their first charter in 2011. Since then they have built

up the number of departures year on year with 12 cruises

operating from Ireland each year, so the future looks bright

for JMG going forward.

“There hasn’t been a better time to try out a cruise holiday,”

McGinley concludes. “There are plenty of destinations and

dates to choose from so go on, try the lure of a No-Fly Cruise.”

“This exciting programme of great

value scenic cruising holidays features

convenient sailings from Dublin

and Cobh aboard the impressive

Magellan. Discover destinations as

diverse as Norway’s Fjordland; Iceland

& Northern Isles; Spain, Portugal &

France; Scottish Isles & Faroes and

Summer Gardens & the River Seine.

Whatever you choose, we are sure

that our traditional cruise experience

combining superb dining, great

entertainment and friendly service,

will delight you.”

McGinley says that the cruise

industry is flourishing at the moment

with an increasing number of

people discovering the appeal

of sea holidays. According to the

worldwide travel and tourism industry

organisation, cruising is one the

fastest-growing industries and it is

fast becoming an important segment

in the travel sector. “For years Ireland

was forgotten when it came to No-Fly

159

Executive Travel Solutions, Gurtymadden, Loughrea, Co. Galway, Ireland.

Executive Travel Solutions, Suite 5305, 26 Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin 2

Galway: 091 423020 | Mobile: 086 1930 213 | United States: 857 321 8644 | Dublin: 01 697 1145 | Kildare: (045) 810 181

info@executivetravelsolutions.ie

www.executivetravelsolutions.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Luxury

Travel in Ireland

THE ULTIMATE

SOLUTION


Executive Premier Travel

Excellence in Luxury Travel

Throughout Ireland

Executive Travel Solutions is a chauffeur and luxury travel company specializing in

luxury car, bus and mini bus hire all over Ireland.

With bases in both Dublin and Galway the company have a

fleet of vehicles that can cater to every travel need, including

a Mercedes Benz E Class, a Mercedes Viano & a Mercedes

Sprinter luxury 16 seat mini bus.

Executive Travel Solutions offer an extensive range of services

including airport transfers, executive chauffeur, luxury tours

of Ireland, golf trips, private tours of Ireland, wedding car

hire and more. “We can help you organise everything from

accommodation to green fees, from sight-seeing to restaurant

bookings and everything in between,” enthuses Managing

Director Keith Spain. “If you are travelling to Ireland and

have specific sights in mind, we can chauffeur you around the

country in the lap of luxury. Our local drivers are friendly and

knowledgeable and can take you to all of the main attractions

as well as some hidden gems off the beaten path.”

He continues: “We hire out minibuses and coaches of varying

capacity (8-53-seater vehicles) to our esteemed clients. The

tour company we operate has been customized to provide

travellers the comfort they deserve

and experience convenience as

they proceed on their journey. All

these gains present great value to

passengers as we give tour packages

which account for the diversity of

needs which our customers.”

solutions for the public and private sector,” adds Spain.

The public sector is particularly important to the company

with its diversity of business needs. It is a growing market for

Executive Travel Solutions who continue to meet the needs

of their public sector clients in a fast-changing market. To

meet the needs of this market the company continually invest

in their fleet and are currently developing a new booking

system which allows customers in real time to update

bookings online.

Closing Mr Spain says: “Concerns over mechanical challenges

plus logistics could easily hamper your team-schedule while

travelling. We can totally alleviate any concerns. We have

well-designed vehicles which enable you to experience

comfortable, safe and customized travel. Rest assured of

experiencing classy service from our dedicated customer

care team. We are at your disposal and promise to offer

outstanding support when planning your next trip.”

Mr Spain says that his customers

can expect to receive several gains

once they approach Executive Travel

Solutions with their travelling needs.

These include extensive coverage

together with the ability to network

with various operators; consultation

with seasoned members of staff who

are highly-professional; the ability

to make bookings online and via

phone support; the advantage of

automated communication services

through tracking facilities and digital

text messaging and top of the range

safety mechanisms of industryleading

calibre.

“Executive Travel Solutions offers a

diverse range of services including

passenger transport, luxury travel,

chauffeur services and general mini

bus & coach hire. We pride ourselves

in offering excellent quality transport

161

& CONFERENCE CENTRE

& CONFERENCE CENTRE

& CONFERENCE CENTRE

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Best Hotel & Conference Centre

M1 MEETING

HUB


City North Hotel & Conference Centre

Best Hotel & Conference Centre

CityNorth Hotel & Conference Centre, Co. Meath is a contemporary four-star hotel

that combines excellent facilities for conferences, meetings and events with a very

accessible location.

Situated just off exit 7 on the

M1 motorway Dublin to Belfast

route and only 30 minutes from

Dublin City, the hotel offers a

complimentary shuttle service

to and from Dublin Airport.

CityNorth Hotel is the ideal “M1

Meeting Hub” for the business

guest with a large relaxing lobby

situated on the ground floor

with complimentary newspapers,

Wi-Fi and car parking. The hotel

offers a large variety of flexible

room options with two large-scale

suites for up to 650 delegates

plus 12 other meeting rooms,

which include an executive

boardroom and a number of

syndicate breakout rooms. Most

importantly, all meeting rooms

have external windows giving lots

of natural light.

Whether it’s an early start or

overnight accommodation,

delegates can avail of a choice of

128 stylish bedrooms which range

from deluxe rooms to executive

and junior suites. Delegate

accommodation rates depend

on event requirements and the

hotel is happy to put together a

customised delegate package for all public sector guests.

There are a variety of dining options available, from casual

dining in the Tara Lounge to fine dining in the stylish modern

Mornington Restaurant. Private dining is also available for a

variety of group sizes.

In 2017, CityNorth Hotel invested in a multi-million euro

refurbishment project with the primary focus of creating a

stunning and stylish upgrade to all dining and function areas.

“The new lavish interior is exquisite and classical, enhancing

the versatility of our event facilities,” says Catherine

McGovern, Director of Sales. “We strive to offer guests an

experience that they will remember, and the refurbishment

shows our dedication to this experience. Our professional

and experienced banqueting team contributes to the

delivery of our excellent service and will offer a guiding hand

from initial enquiry to the day of your meeting or event.”

On the day of each event, experienced event co-ordinators

are on hand at all times to assist delegates to ensure their

meeting or event is a complete success.

“Our public sector customers have been extremely loyal to us

for many years and we are particularly appreciative of this,”

Catherine says. “Public sector meeting bookers always book

well in advance and requirements are clear and concise which

makes for the perfect working relationship which enables us

to give the best competitive quotation at all times and this

creates a great sense of loyalty.”

Catherine concludes, “Public Sector companies are central

to our business and we aim to offer excellent corporate

rates, state of the art conference facilities, a convenient

and accessible location and friendly customer service all

combined to ensure that when you travel for business you

always feel at home with us.”

163

For Non-EU Residents

makers of the

tm

Traditional Claddagh Rings,

Timeless Claddagh Wedding Bands

& Exclusive Diamond Set Claddagh Rings

From the Workshops of Claddagh Jewellers

in the Heart of Galway City.

Visit Our Stores

in Galway City

and Dublin

City Centre

Visit Our Galway Store

25 Mainguard St. 091 562 310

Visit Our Dublin Store

2 Grafton St. 01 607 4018

shop@thecladdagh.com

www.thecladdagh.com

fb.com/claddaghjewellers

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in

Irish & Celtic Jewellery

LEGEND OF THE

CLADDAGH


Claddagh Jewellers

Excellence in Irish & Celtic Jewellery

A family run business trading since 1967, Claddagh Jewellers are makers of the

authentic Claddagh ring for which they have received the 2019 award for Excellence

in Irish & Celtic Jewellery.

A family run business trading since 1967, Claddagh Jewellers

are makers of the authentic Claddagh ring for which they

have received the 2019 award for Excellence in Irish & Celtic

Jewellery.

In 1991 the first Claddagh Jewellers store opened and is

currently located on the intersession of Shop Street, Mainguard

Street & High Street enabling them to display their full range

of jewellery and at the same time, to showcase jewellery from

other Irish manufacturers. “The guiding ethos throughout

has always been to promote Irish design with a focus on

maintaining and expanding the manufacture of jewellery in

Ireland,” explains Director Andrew Fried.

As they continued to develop new designs, including a range

of diamond set Claddagh rings inspired by locations around

Galway, Claddagh Jewellers quickly became a recognised

destination, gaining a reputation as a high-quality producer of

genuine Irish made jewellery among locals and visitors alike.

With their reputation for quality and authenticity fully

established, a total of three jewellers and a qualified diamond

setter are now employed, and their range of jewellery includes

fully handmade pieces, jewellery made through lost wax

casting and a range of semi-manufactured stamped items in

Sterling silver, gold and platinum.

location and produced a fascinating short film, using only local

talent, telling the tale of how the legend of the Claddagh ring

came to be. The visitor centre includes a thatched cottage

reminiscent of the dwellings that existed in the village of the

Claddagh before the 1920’s and highlights the origin of the

Claddagh ring and its importance to Galway. Combining the

story of the Claddagh ring and keeping the spotlight firmly

on the central theme of the tradition of Claddagh rings in

Galway, it contains a workshop, information centre, an ample

viewing area and a gift shop. Within the cottage is a workshop

that comprises a cutting-edge casting plant which entered

production in October 2015 and is on view to visitors who can

see the various steps in the lost wax casting process from the

injection of wax into moulds to the final polished product.

Claddagh Jewellers also operate from a prestigious Dublin

base at 2 Grafton Street. Centrally located, on the corner of

Grafton Street and directly opposite Trinity College, this is the

only retail location in Dublin where visitors can buy Claddagh

rings that are made in Galway.

Claddagh Jewellers offer discounts to customers who work in

the public sector across the board as appreciation for the hard

work of all public servants. Visit in person to see for yourself or

access the new website coming on board shortly to experience

for yourself the legends of the Claddagh.

In 2012, Claddagh Jewellers applied to

the Irish Patents Office for recognition of

their business identity and subsequently,

their trading style was granted

protection as an Irish trademark. This

allowed Claddagh Jewellers to position

themselves as makers of the Authentic

Claddagh Ring, a term which is defined

as “a traditional Claddagh Ring that is

designed and made from start to finish,

within the old city walls of Galway, with the

date of manufacture of the ring recorded

in a central register.”

Expansion soon followed and when the

opportunity arose to secure the adjoining

unit at 26 Shop Street in Galway, the

decision was taken to convert it into a

visitor & manufacturing centre open

to the public, named ‘Legend of The

Claddagh Ring’. Making this the focus

of the celebration of 25 years since the

opening of their first store, Claddagh

Jewellers completely refurbished the

165

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Irish Textiles

IT’S A

WRAP


Liz Christy

Excellence in Irish Textiles

The Liz Christy, Hand-Woven in Ireland brand was set up over 20 ago as a one-person

operation. For Liz her craft was always about a career, as she set about developing her

creativity in textile design and running a professional business.

As a textile student Liz had produced her own designs and

her medium was hand-weaving. This passion for her craft has

grown with her business. It is very important to Liz that her

“Wearable Art ~ Inspired by Art” scarves, are hand-woven by

her team in Co. Monaghan at Swallow Studios.

Liz hand-dyes her wool so each scarf is truly unique. She

supplies some of the best craft retailers in Ireland and

exporting has been part of her business from the beginning.

She also sells directly from her website, lizchristy.com and

from the studio at Swallow Studios, which itself has become

a visitor attraction along Ireland’s Ancient East.

Beautifully crafted and presented scarves by Liz Christy, are

given as gifts when something special is required. Gifting is

a big part of life, be it for personal

or business reasons. It is important

that corporate gifts reflect the

values of the giver and the esteem

in which the receiver is held, and

the Liz Christy brand has proven to

be successful in this respect. Perfect

gifts for colleagues, visiting speakers

and dignitaries, Liz’s scarves are also

ideal for overseas presentations as

they are light and easily transported.

Liz’s scarves have been presented

and gratefully received by visiting

Heads of State and on trade

missions. While there is a wonderful

array of scarves to choose from, Liz

can customise colours and labelling

for public sector batch gifting when

required.

is an important market for Liz Christy scarves. Gifting is all

about people and marking relationship milestones – birthdays,

anniversaries, promotions and retirement to name a few. All

of these important occasions are marked with the giving and

receiving of something special and Liz’s beautifully presented

scarves are suitable gifts to give across generations and genders.

Liz’s looms are powered by human energy alone and the

threads pass through the weavers hands many times in the

making of the scarves. It is not mass production but a handcrafting

process which takes time, skill and creative input daily,

every step of the way. Visitors are welcome to Swallow Studios

& Shop which is just off the N2, easily accessible via the M1,

exit 14 to N2, bypass Carrickmacross and Castleblayney, exit

right for Annayalla.

Product development and strategic

planning are ongoing with Liz Christy,

Hand-Woven in Ireland, always with

the customer in mind and in keeping

with the core values and ethos of the

designer. A special commission for

Liz was working with The National

Gallery of Ireland, to design and

produce a scarf, especially for their

gift shop. This design was inspired

by Ireland’s favourite painting, ‘the

Meeting on the Turret Stairs’ by

Frederic William Burton.

With over 300,000 people working

in the public sector in Ireland, this

167

WHITEWATER

NEWBRIDGE, CO. KILDARE

IRELAND’S LARGEST REGIONAL

SHOPPING CENTRE

045 449002 | customerservice@whitewatersc.ie

www.whitewatersc.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Retail Services

Ireland’s Largest

Regional Shopping Centre

RETAIL

THERAPY


Whitewater Shopping Centre

Excellence in Retail Services Ireland’s

Largest Regional Shopping Centre

Often referred to as the ‘Dundrum outside Dublin’, Whitewater Shopping Centre

has much to offer.

As Ireland’s largest regional shopping centre, with over 75 highend

stores including internationally acclaimed retail brands

such as Debenhams, M&S, H&M, Zara, Kilkenny Design, River

Island and New Look, Whitewater Shopping Centre, located in

the vibrant heart of Newbridge Town, has become loved for all

the right reasons.

With 17 food outlets, such as Nando’s, Milano, Fujiyama on

The Avenue, a fabulous food court and an impressive 6-screen

Odeon cinema to choose from, Whitewater is counted

amongst the top attractions and destinations in Kildare since

opening in 2006.

Community and family-driven from day one, communityfocused

events take place throughout the year with free family

fun, Kids’ clubs, style, beauty and seasonal events. Whitewater

also enjoys an excellent relationship with Kildare GAA, it

supports fundraising initiatives for local charities, schools and

clubs and is proud to support ‘Irish Guide Dogs for The Blind’,

as its nominated charity. Whitewater raised enough last year to

sponsor an Irish guide dog puppy from birth until he became

a fully trained assist dog.

Shopping Centre is rightly proud of their Grade A classification

in the national survey in a recent IBAL (Irish Business against

Litter) survey. The judges commented that – “The main

entrance was adorned by wonderfully abundant flower boxes

and shrubs. The paving, seating, bins and landscaped area

along the side were in pristine condition, not just clear of litter,

but meticulous.” Ingrid Ryan, Centre Manager, commented

that they “have a great team who work very hard to ensure

a premium retail offering, top customer service, centrewide

cleanliness, year-round family-focused events and the

latest technology such as Google indoor maps, for ease of

navigation. We’re always striving to improve. It was great that

our Avenue received a special mention; we strive to keep it

full of colourful blooms and well tended and we take great

pride in creating a clean and appealing amenity in the heart

of Newbridge for all to enjoy. We would not be here without

our loyal customers and the local Kildare community and we

always try to give something back.”

Providing 1,700 easily accessible car parking spaces and a

premium retail offering, Whitewater attracts almost 6 million

shoppers a year. Style, quality and commitment to providing

a 5-star shopping experience to all its customers has earned

Whitewater Shopping Centre a loyal customer following since

first opening its doors.

The centre is bright and airy, enjoying light streaming in from

all sides through the atrium glass ceiling which facilitates views

to rolling clouds and the skies above. Often referred to as

the ‘Dundrum outside Dublin’, Ireland’s largest regional retail

shopping centre employs almost 1,000 people and attracts a

wide regional draw with people travelling from the surrounding

counties to shop there.

Ingrid Ryan, the Centre Manager, has been awarded the

Kildare Chamber Retail Excellence award in 2015, also the ‘All

Ireland Manager of the Year Award’ at the Sceptre Awards in

London in 2015 (The Sceptre Awards recognise best practice

and outstanding people in the international shopping centre

industry. Over 450 shopping centre and industry professionals

attended the awards ceremony), and most recently she

received the 2018 Public sector Award for ‘Excellence in Retail

Services’.

The Centre Management Team has also been awarded many

accolades due to their dedication and professionalism to

ensure Whitewater is the destination of choice. Whitewater

169

Committed to Excellence.

A forward thinking law firm.

Contact:

Feargal Brennan

Managing Partner

Direct: +353 1 691 5276

Email: fbrennan@byrnewallace.com

Michelle Ní Longáin

Employment Law Partner & Head of Public Sector Group

Direct: +353 1 691 5662

Email: mnilongain@byrnewallace.com

www.byrnewallace.com

First top 10 Irish Law firm certified.

First Irish Law firm certified.

Top Legal Adviser to the Public Sector - Public Sector Awards 2017 - 2019

Top Ranked Law Firm - Chambers & Partners Europe 2019 | Top Tier Law Firm - Legal 500 2019

OUTRIGHT WINNERS


– Top Legal Advisors

BYRNEWALLACE

ByrneWallace is a leading business law firm in Ireland, providing a full range of legal

services to a broad range of organisations, public and private, national, local and

international, across all industry and business sectors.


ByrneWallace


- Top Legal Advisors

The firm has been consistently recognised and ranked, both

nationally and internationally, as Ireland’s top legal adviser to

the public sector.

“For over 40 years we have been providing advice on complex

strategic projects and legal developments, representation in

inquiries, legal proceedings, administrative law matters and

advice on the full range of legal needs of public sector bodies,”

explains Managing Partner Feargal Brennan.

“We have also advised on their diverse legal needs specific to

their establishing legislation, functions and powers including

advice on acting effectively and robustly within those powers

without risking judicial review proceedings.”

ByrneWallace clients include government departments; local

government; regulatory bodies; universities; health, educational,

justice, culture, transport & tourism bodies; and state and semistate

organisations.

“Our lawyers work collaboratively advising across all areas of law -

from employment & pensions and industrial relations to corporate;

regulatory and compliance to litigation and investigations and

reputation management; data protection, FOI and IP to health,

construction, and real estate,” adds Brennan.

According to Michelle Ní Longáin, Employment Law Partner

and Head of the ByrneWallace Public Sector Group, the public

sector is one of the Firm’s most significant practice areas.

“We place huge value on the depth of the knowledge and

relationships which we have built up with our clients over the

many years,” she says. “We have tremendous respect for the

people who work within this sector, and for the services they

provide to the Irish state and people. We have developed a

deep understanding of the environment in which they work,

their key challenges and requirements.

in partnership with our public sector clients, providing expert,

practical and proactive advices that will ensure those working

within the sector achieve their strategic goals and deliver upon

their responsibilities.”

Looking to the future Ní Longáin comments: “We foresee a

number of key growth areas over the coming years including

advice to universities on forthcoming legislative developments

and their performance and governance of all of their functions,

advice to public bodies on decision-making in the context

of judicial review, fair procedures and constitutional law, the

development of the law on freedom of information and data

protection, the interaction between redress before the courts

and statutory bodies, reputation management and risk advisory

services, complex projects within the law, the provision of

social housing, funding, policy and process development and

legislative amendment.’’

Brennan adds, “We believe that due to our in-depth expertise

and full-service offering, we are well positioned to support our

clients within these areas. With more than two thirds of our

lawyers experienced in advising this sector, ByrneWallace is

proud to have the capacity to anticipate and meet the needs of

public sector clients for skilled, insightful and timely advice and

representation across all legal disciplines.

“ByrneWallace is a strategic, innovative, experienced and

knowledgeable provider of legal advice to the public sector.

We anticipate, know and handle legal risk in a practical and

timely way that works with and enhances the provision of strong

effective public services.”

“We understand and appreciate how they operate under a high

level of public scrutiny, within a highly regulated and pressurised

environment, and the need for transparency is key.”

ByrneWallace has a strong culture of excellence and

accountability, which resonates with public sector clients. The

Firm invest substantial resources to ensure that they provide

the highest standard of service, insights and advice to meet,

anticipate and exceed the evolving needs of the public sector.

“We also make a particular effort to ensure that we consistently

deliver actual value and benefit to our clients, both through

the type of services and advice we provide, and the way we

deliver them,” explains Ní Longáin. “Most importantly, we work

171

“OPTIMISE unlocks

so much value for

our members, who

otherwise would

not have the expert

guidance to enhance

their online presence.”

Brian McGee, Market Development Director

of the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland.

Designer and founder of Liadain Aiken Knitwear

liadainaiken.ie

. ie is your Irish

online identity

Visit www.iedr.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Support & Protection of

.ie Domain Names

IE DOMAIN

REGISTRY

IE Domain Registry is the national registry for .ie domain names and is responsible for

the management and administration of Ireland’s official internet domain, .ie, in the

interest of the Irish and global internet communities.


IE Domain Registry CLG

Excellence in Support & Protection

of all .ie Domain Names

It operates the domain name system (DNS) for the .ie

namespace, facilitates independent dispute resolution

services and operates a GDPR-compliant public WHOIS

lookup service for .ie domains. It provides a secure DNS

option (DNSSEC) and also a registry lock service to protect

brands and high-profile domain holders. Its Anycast service

protects the .ie namespace from DDoS attacks. All of its

mission-critical services are securely provided from Tier IV data

centres. Access to those services is controlled by two factor

authentication.

In cooperation with registrars, partners and stakeholders

the company helps shape the development of the internet

landscape and ecosystem and as such, it is an important part

of the national internet infrastructure.

IE Domain Registry has been identified as an Operator of

Essential services (OES) under the EU NIS Directive and in

due course, will work closely with the DCCAE (Department of

Communications, Climate Action and Environment) to ensure

compliance. It also acts as a training service provider for the

‘Digital Skills for Citizens’ programme run by DCCAE.

The company’s mission is to provide unique,

identifiably Irish domain names, along with

registry and related services to businesses,

residents and citizens who want an online

identity. It has a multi-stakeholder Policy

Advisory Committee, to advise the Board of

the company. Policy development for the .ie

namespace follows a bottom-up, consensusdriven

and consultative approach. Currently,

there are over 273,000 registered .ie domain

names.

a lack of resources and a lack of knowledge about how to

use digital tools to help grow their businesses. In response,

the company set up OPTIMISE – the e-Commerce Website

Development Fund in 2011. The Fund supports Irish SMEs

and micro enterprises with professional consultation to

plan and develop website enhancements and e-commerce

improvements. To date, OPTIMISE has worked shoulderto-shoulder

with 170 companies to enable them to make

greater use of existing web technologies to grow their existing

business via the internet.

In 2018, IE Domain Registry launched the ‘Digital Town’ initiative

which highlights the benefits of the internet and celebrates the

digital achievements of a local town. The Digital Town concept

is centered on supporting the community by creating a day

of celebration promoting awareness, knowledge, use and

understanding of the internet among citizens, businesses and

the wider community. Gorey, Co Wexford was selected as the

first Digital Town in 2018 and Sligo is the Digital Town 2019.

For their continued support and protection of .ie domain

names, IE Domain Registry have been awarded the 2019

Excellence in Business Award

Keeping in touch with the needs and wants

of the SME community is an important part

of the company’s remit. This is achieved

by sponsoring and attending business

events aimed at SMEs, as well as building

relationships with stakeholders such as the

LEOs, Retail Excellence, the Small Firms

Association, IBEC, the Hardware Association,

the Royal Institute of Architects, the Design &

Crafts Council and others.

Research undertaken by IE Domain Registry

into SME’s and micro enterprises’ online

presence found that the vast majority of

companies are not fully utilising the internet

or online sales opportunities - often through

173

FACILITY

SERVICES

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Email: Email: sales@iss.ie sales@iss.ie

Web: www.iss.ie

Web: www.iss.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Facility Services

A BRIGHT

FUTURE


ISS Ireland

Excellence in Facility Services

ISS Facility Services is one of the world’s leading facility services companies and voted

best global outsourcing provider for each of the last 5 years.

The company has been operating in Ireland since 1995

providing cleaning, catering, technical maintenance and

route-based services (washroom and pest control) for many

clients within the public and private sectors. ISS currently

employs over 3,000 people in Ireland through a network of

regional offices nationally and is one of the most experienced

companies in the outsourced services sector, providing single

and integrated solutions that allow clients to concentrate on

their core competencies and responsibilities to grow and

become more efficient.

The continuation of the outsourcing of non-core activities

will deliver value to the public sector, keeping the focus on

costs, improving the quality of the services delivered and

demanding innovation from within the marketplace. Working

in partnership with companies like ISS will ensure the future is

bright for both parties.

“Much of our success lies in how we tailor our solutions to

individual client needs, how we manage risk and how we

add the power of the human touch to everything we do,

creating a clean, comfortable and safe environment while

also creating career path and development programmes for

our dedicated employees at all levels within the business,”

explains Managing Director, Eric Doyle.

“As a leading provider of cleaning and support services to

hospitals, universities and public sector bodies (such as Irish

Rail, the houses of the Oireachtas and the Courts Services),

we have developed and grown through the delivery of

high-quality services,” he adds. “We add value through the

introduction of innovations in terms of the technology used

to support our service offering, which has been positively

received by our clients. We work in an open and transparent

way, listening to our clients’ requirements and remaining

flexible to their needs.”

The public sector is hugely important to ISS. The strategy and

practice of outsourcing has continued and grown through

successive governments where ISS customers are assured

that through a self-delivery model, the company can develop

flexible solutions that fit with changing requirements for

either single or bundled services.

The work currently undertaken by the ISS teams in hospitals,

universities and on the public transport systems positively

affects over half a million people in Ireland every day,

“effectively in many cases, we are the people behind their

people,” Eric says.

According to Eric, the size and nature of the public sector

requires contracts to go to public tender at regular intervals

which provides for significant opportunities for ISS and the

market. “We have a number of high-profile projects at the

various stages of the bid procurement process which are

keeping our teams busy, however we remain confident that

our value proposition and solutions will shine through.”

175

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Estate Agency

Services within the Public Sector

HOT

PROPERTY


Savills

Excellence in Estate Agency Services

within the Public Sector

Savills is one of the world’s leading property agents, spanning the globe with over 600

offices across the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.

This sheer scale gives Savills wide-ranging specialist and local

knowledge and the company takes pride in providing best

in-class advice to help individuals, businesses and institutions

make better property decisions.

“At Savills, we are focused on advising public sector clients

on all aspects of property services from valuation to agency,

management structures to planning and development

strategies,” explains Mark Reynolds, Deputy Managing

Director, Savills Ireland. “Our goal in each case is to support

clients and deliver long-term objectives, whether that is

partnership, disposal, income or occupational.”

Savills Ireland operates across the sector with government

departments, local authorities, health and education

bodies and agencies. “Our long-term experience ensures

we have the knowledge and skills to deliver in accordance

with all current policies and practices. We pride ourselves

on understanding our client business so we can deliver the

specific services required,” explains Reynolds.

operations only utilises circa 14.7 hectares (Ted Russell Dock).

There remains 30.8 hectares of land, in the ownership of the

SFPC, as surplus to current port operation requirements.

Savills are working with SFPC and key stakeholders to deliver

the Limerick Docklands Economic Park which aims to attract

inwards investment into the city.

Concluding, Reynolds says: “Being on the coal face of public

sector property services, we see the challenges faced not

only at present but in the future such as the need for delivery

of affordable housing. Many of these challenges require the

involvement of the private sector to aide in delivery. We see

this as an exciting time in the property market with many

opportunities to create better relationships between private

and public sectors to the benefit of the wider community.”

He feels that increasingly, as our economy grows, we look to

the public sector to lead in the promotion of better working

environments, delivery of housing and innovative property

portfolio strategies to leverage private markets and obtain

maximum value. This sector has been through some significant

changes over the last decade with research highlighting

that the strongest expansion for office take up has been in

government employment, with more than one-in-three of

the new office jobs being in public administration. This takeup

is reflective of the proactive approach by the sector to

achieve greater efficiencies through active management of

its business space portfolio and to modernise its office stock

to enhance the working environment for staff and to achieve

productivity and environmental performance improvements.

Savills are well equipped to service this market and they have

a number of ongoing workstreams with various state and

semi-state bodies. The most eagerly anticipated milestones

will be the completions of the nine buildings at Boland’s

Quay. Fronting Grand Canal Dock, this unique development

will comprise more than 210,000 sq ft of new build offices,

46 residential apartments and the refurbishment of the

traditional mill buildings into office and leisure facilities.

Boland’s was acquired by Google in 2018.

In Limerick, Savills are working with Shannon Foynes Port

Company providing strategic property advice on their

Limerick Estate which totals 45.5 hectares. At the forefront

of SFPCs objectives is the continuation and growth of the

successful operational port, however the existing port

177

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Project Management Solutions

THE RIGHT

SOLUTION


Cora Systems

Excellence in Project

Management Solutions

Cora Systems is a worldwide leader in providing enterprise project and portfolio

management solutions to global organizations and government agencies.

Cora’s headquarters are based in Carrick on Shannon, with

regional offices in Dublin, Bedford (UK) and Boston (USA).

It works with some of the biggest brands in the world, e.g.

Allergan Pharmaceuticals (New Jersey, USA), BT (London, UK),

City of London, Honeywell Building Solutions (New Jersey,

USA), Teleflex Medical (Wayne, PA, USA) as well as the UK’s

NHS and is powering the largest transformation programme

in the history of the Irish state at the HSE. The company is

an important local employer as the largest software company

based in the northwest of Ireland.

Cora has invested significantly in product R&D. Over the last

two years, for instance, it has spent €3 million on over-hauling

its platform. Cora Systems has one product, which is called

Cora PPM. It is a project and portfolio management solution.

It helps companies manage large-scale programmes and

portfolios of projects. Every day, over €20 billion worth of

projects are managed on this platform, supporting hundreds

of thousands of users across multiple locations in over 50

countries around the globe.

The Cora PPM solution enables clients to make decisions

quickly and effectively by having the right information to

hand, which enables managers to make good decisions.

If staff can have good quality

information, delivered in a simple

and straightforward way, which is

easily digestible, they become more

engaged in project management

issues – in leading these projects

and in generating improvement.

PwC’s selection of Cora Systems as a global partner – an Irishowned

software company based in the northwest of Ireland

– is testament to the standing Cora Systems has globally.

Cora Systems prides itself on the return on investment

(ROI) it helps to deliver to its clients. Here in summary are

some of the measured benefits that Cora has helped to

achieve with its clients in sectors as diverse as public sector,

healthcare, life sciences and engineering in several overseas

implementations over the last 12-18 months.

• 85% of resourcing now “a slam dunk”

• 50% reduction in cancelled projects, resulting in €2.5

million Year 1 savings in cost improvement programme

• 40% reduction in deviation

• 33% less PMO staff required

• 10% reduction of capital programme costs

• 10 hours to seconds, reduction in time spent reporting per

month

For their outstanding product portfolio and excellence

in delivery, Cora Systems have been awarded the 2019

Excellence in Project Management Solutions Award.

Cora Systems has recently secured

endorsement from one of the

kingmakers in its sector, PwC. They

are enamoured with its solution, Cora

PPM. In fact, Cora Systems has just

inked a global partnership agreement

with PwC, a deal that was finalised

after two years of auditing; PwC is also

a client and is eager to endorse the

power of the Cora Systems solution.

“One of the reasons PwC got

involved with Cora in the first place

is because we really liked the journey

that Cora had been on. We liked

the product, where it was at and we

absolutely liked it in comparison with

a lot of the competitor products,”

says Sandie Grimshaw, Partner, PwC.

179

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Software Solutions

FREEDOM

TO CARE


CareWorks

Excellence in Health & Care

Software Solutions

CareWorks provides solutions that enable health and social care organisations to make

a real difference to people’s lives.

Every day CareWorks’ solutions help tens of thousands of

social workers, nurses and care professionals worldwide to

do a better, safer job for patients. The company enables

professionals to work better together, improving the efficiency

and effectiveness of the services they provide to the public.

CareWorks currently provides solutions to councils and

mental health trusts in England, a fully integrated health and

social care solution to the country of Wales, health and human

services solutions in the USA and a national child care system

for Ireland. The company’s CareDirector framework brings

together clinicians, social workers, carers and the public in

the delivery of integrated, outcome focused services.

In the United Kingdom and Ireland CareWorks’ software

solutions enable 30,000+ Health & Care professionals to

deliver integrated national care for patients in Wales as well

as facilitating thousands of social workers across over 40 local

councils in the UK to deliver services to vulnerable families,

older people and people with disabilities. The company also

provides for 30 child welfare and protection services in Ireland

to implement new streamlined national business processes

for delivery of social work services.

The Public Sector is the company’s primary focus and has

been for the last 20+ years. “We understand, from our own

experience the vital work that our customers do,” explains

CEO Michael Dolan. “Whether that’s supporting older

people and those with disabilities or helping children who’ve

had a tough start in life to reach their potential, our solutions

make a positive contribution to that work.”

Elaborating he explains that the CareWorks system represents

genuine integration between health and social care services

as outlined by Fred McBride, CEO of Tulsa: “One of Tusla’s key

achievements over the past three years was the development

of a National Child Care Information System (NCCIS) to

ensure that every social work department in Ireland has a

robust, secure information system to support the delivery of

effective child protection and welfare services.”

To this end in Ireland & the UK the company has just launched

the latest version of its award-winning software solution,

CareDirector, and will be using this innovative solution to

continue supporting the HSE in Ireland and the NHS in the UK.

While it is clear that there are major challenges for health and

social care teams over the coming years, Dolan says that the

good news is that there is help in the form of Information

Technology (IT) innovations and these innovations can help

deliver better services. This can be achieved in many ways:

streamlining processes and improving communication and

collaboration to enable efficient staff and resource management;

reducing manual documentation; and allowing for more time

for care professionals to spend on working directly with patients,

children and families through access to data in the field.

Concluding Dolan says: “CareWorks’ solutions give care

professionals the freedom to participate in and direct their

own support. Our solution enables care professionals to

spend less time with paper and more time helping the people

they serve. We will continue to innovate and provide award

winning software solutions to the public sector.”

181

A division of Eirebus, Swords Express is a fast,

comfortable service linking Swords to Dublin City Centre

What we offer:

• A fleet of fully seated, air-conditioned deluxe coaches,

all of which are 4G Wi-Fi enabled;

• Real time tracking for passenger convenience;

• More ways to pay, including Leap Cards, cash, and taxsaver,

with contactless payments coming soon.

140 weekday departures

75 weekend departures

t: (01) 529 2277 e: feedback@swordsexpress.com w: www.swordsexpress.com

@SwordsExpress

PASSENGER TRANSPORT

COMPANY OF THE YEAR

2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 & 2019

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Business Development,

Transport

SWORDS

EXPRESS


Swords Express a division of Eirebus

Business Development Transport

Swords Express is a privately owned commuter coach service operating daily between

Swords and Dublin City Centre via the city’s Port Tunnel.

Owned and operated by Eirebus Limited, Swords Express was

formed in 2007 with just 5 coaches and today it has a fleet of

35 vehicles, with 140 daily departures on weekdays and 75 at

weekends. Now in its 12th year of operation, Swords Express

has experienced exponential growth since its inception, with

1.5 million passengers carried in the past year alone.

The company employs a team of 50 drivers, maintenance,

operations, IT, finance and marketing staff. A family owned

business, Swords Express is headed up by Managing Director

Sinéad Kavanagh and Operations Director Jeff Clarke.

A large percentage of Swords Express passengers use the

service on a daily basis to travel to and from work. Key

employment hubs are served by the various routes, both

in Dublin City Centre and Swords, including East Wall, the

North Quays, Docklands, the IFSC,

Merrion Square and Airside. Swords

Express operates fully seated deluxe

coaches with reclining seats, air

conditioning and complementary

Wi-Fi on the fastest route to Dublin

City Centre from Swords. Having

no standees allows the company to

achieve faster journey times and the

combination of comfortable vehicles

with frequent departure times offers

commuters an attractive alternative

to the car, helping to ease traffic

congestion.

routes. As the population of Swords continues to grow, we

hope to continue our expansion and offer the travelling

public an attractive alternative to the car in the long term. As

a company, we are committed to customer service and pride

ourselves on proactively seeking customer feedback to assist

us in enhancing our services. Our dedication to customer

service will continue into the future and we hope to grow our

loyal customer base in line with this.”

This dedication and customer focus have contributed to

Swords Express being the recipients of the “Passenger

Transport Company of the Year” award at the Irish Logistics &

Transport Awards in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019. For their

dynamic approach and continued investment in their service

and their customers they are also recognised by Public Sector

Magazine for Excellence in Business, 2019.

“The public sector is very important

to the company and many of our

passengers work in this sector,

using the Swords Express service

to travel to and from their place of

employment,” explains Managing

Director Sinéad Kavanagh. “We

offer a number of different ticket

options, including cash and Leap

Cards and our tax saver tickets are

particularly appealing to passengers

using our services to commute, with

savings of up to 52% available via the

Government’s Taxsaver scheme.”

There are further plans for expansion

as outlined by Ms Kavanagh: “In the

near future there are plans in place

to increase departure frequency

and serve more areas on our various

183

Dedication to Excellence in Customer Service

10,000 passenger, commercial & electric vehicles.

Services including car-sharing, van customisation & replacement car rental.

Mayo

Derry

Donegal

Antrim

Tyrone

Leitrim Fermanagh

Armagh Down

Monaghan

Sligo

Cavan

Louth

Roscommon Longford

Meath

CARS VANS & TRUCKS URBAN MOBILITY INTERNATIONAL COVERAGE

Galway

Westmeath

Dublin

Kildare

Offaly

Laois

Wicklow

Clare

Limerick

Tipperary

Kilkenny

Carlow

Wexford

Kerry

Waterford

Cork

Europcar Mobility Group is the perfect alternative to vehicle ownership.

europcarfleet.ie

22 nationwide locations.

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Best Car & Van Rental Company

GET

MOBILE


Europcar Mobility Group

Excellence in Customer Services, Best

Car & Van Rental Company Nationwide

Europcar Mobility Group is an industry-leader in corporate mobility and provides

hundreds of Irish companies with tailored solutions to their transport requirements.

Customers benefit from year-round access to a commercial

rental fleet of cars, vans, tracks and electric vehicles, as well

as a team of experienced industry experts and a service with

unparalleled flexibility and specificity.

Europcar Mobility Group employs a consultative approach to

discover how the team can help clients achieve their goals.

This extends to their ability to customise any number of vans

including shelving, roof-racks, dash-cams, chevrons and

applying company livery to the exterior.

The company also has a solution for those businesses who do

not need vehicles on a full-time basis. Europcar’s state-of-theart

corporate car-sharing service not only cuts unnecessary

transport costs but also provides designated on-site vehicles

which can be reserved and accessed with incredible speed

and convenience. Thanks to clever software and in-car

technology, all that’s needed is a smartphone.

Through an online management portal, clients enjoy easy

access to their account details from

a single touch-point, while staff

are always on hand to maintain an

unwavering excellence in customer

service.

Public sector partners include An Post and Irish Rail, both of

whom require considerable fleets throughout the country

and fully utilise the entire range of Europcar Mobility services.

Europcar Mobility Group is proud to be a vehicle supplier

to An Garda Síochána. “We facilitate the four-wheeled

requirements of the Gardaí, making the national police force

one of our most significant public sector clients,” Brady says.

“Not only do we provide cars, vans and SUVs for day-today

operations, but also bespoke vehicles for events such as

state visits or weather emergencies.”

Europcar Mobility Group is willing to, and capable of,

applying their expertise and resources to any public sector

project which requires mobility solutions. “Ours is a fluent

and dynamic service, so clients are able to swiftly update

their requirements in the event of unforeseen change,” Brady

explains. “Every customer is assigned an account manager,

who they can defer to at a moment’s notice. We employ the

latest fleet management technology and all billing is applied

on a rolling monthly basis.”

The company works directly and

indirectly (via third parties) with

several public sector bodies and

from 22 nationwide locations,

provides this sector with a wide

range of cars, vans and customised

commercial vehicles.

The public sector represents a modest

but important portion of the Europcar

client base. Considering the scale and

variety of the projects the public sector

undertakes, and the vital role those

endeavours play in maintaining and

improving the country’s infrastructure,

Europcar Mobility Group is committed

to sustaining mutually beneficial

working relationships with this sector.

“Indeed, the variety and utility of our

collection of corporate vehicles –

ranging from executive cars to tipper

trucks – aptly reflects the eclectic

transport requirements of the public

sector,” comments Colm Brady,

Managing Director.

Europcar Mobility Group’s Paul McNeice and Robert Montgomery

185

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Business Development Support

INVEST

WEXFORD


Invest Wexford


Business Development Support

Wexford is putting itself on the map as an ambitious and progressive hub for new

business and investors, with much of the strategic development in the county being

steered by Invest Wexford.

An initiative of Wexford County

Council, Invest Wexford was

established with the task to attract,

support and enable new business

investment in the county. Led by Tom

Enright, Chief Executive at Wexford

County Council and supported by the

Council’s Economic Development

Unit, Invest Wexford has a dedicated

website (www.investwexford.ie) and

social media presence showcasing

the opportunities that Wexford

has for investors and the county’s

success stories.

A €200 million capital programme

from Wexford County Council has

been deployed in a range of strategic

responses aimed at making Wexford

a highly competitive location for

business start-ups and long-term

growth.

(L-R) Tom Enright – Chief Executive, Martina Furlong – Economic Development Officer, Ed Murphy – Senior Economic

Advisor & Tom Banville – Head of Enterprise

“We identified that the challenge for Wexford was a shortage

of quality commercial property solutions,” says Tom Enright.

“A key part of our strategy has been to design and construct

commercial buildings and office space around the four main

towns within the county that will meet the needs of today’s

business investor.”

The M11 Business Campus in Gorey, located just one hour

south of Dublin is an excellent new business park development

consisting of modern and contemporary multi-functional

office space. High quality office units from 5500 ft2 to 21,500

ft2 are available for lease at competitive rates. Within the M11

Campus one of Invest Wexford’s most successful projects

to date has been the opening of The Hatch Lab offering

incubation and co-working facilities for fledgling microenterprises

within the innovation and technology sector. This

facility has been modelled on similar world-class innovation

centres both in Ireland and abroad with services such as hot

desks, meeting space, joint administrative services and highspeed

broadband.

Elsewhere in the county, the first phase of the new Enniscorthy

Technology Park is almost complete. The Technology Park

will accommodate high quality office and manufacturing

buildings. Construction of two high quality office buildings will

commence later this year bringing approx. 100,000 ft2 of prime

office development to the market. A new Enterprise Centre

is to open in New Ross in the coming months. A planning

application has also been lodged with An Bord Pleanála for

the Trinity Wharf commercial development in Wexford Town.

The investment in the county’s commercial property solutions

is already reaping dividends. In recent weeks, US company

GrandPad has announced that it is to create 75 jobs in the

Wexford County Council supported M11 Business Campus in

Gorey. The Carne Group is opening a new financial services

centre in Wexford, with recruitment currently underway for 50

highly-skilled positions across a broad range of disciplines.

Wexford is already home to over 6000 businesses, from start-ups

to multinational companies involved in life sciences, technology,

ICT, engineering and international financial services, including

BNY Mellon, Zurich and Waters Technologies.

“Wexford is perfectly positioned for investment growth

and development, with excellent transport infrastructure, a

skilled and talented workforce, affordable housing, enviable

amenities, a high quality of life and a progressive local

authority,” says Tom Enright.

“Invest Wexford has made real progress in securing the

potential of our county for the years ahead as a vibrant and

ambitious place in which to do business. We have extensive

experience in working to bring start-ups and multinationals to

Wexford so we are able to help with the unique needs of every

business interested in locating here.”

187

Local Link provides door-to-door and scheduled

bus services in towns, villages and rural areas.

To find your Local Link and for details on timetables visit

www.locallink.ie

Your Local Bus Service

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Transport Community

YOUR LOCAL

BUS SERVICE


Local Link

Transport Community

Local Link provides rural transport links across the country, responding to rural

isolation and enhancing the mobility, accessibility and community participation

of local people.

Local Link is a development of the Rural Transport Programme

(RTP) to address issues of unmet transport needs from a

social inclusion and community-based perspective. Local

Link is specifically focused on responding to rural isolation

and enhancing the mobility, accessibility and community

participation of local people.

The National Transport Authority (NTA), established in 2009,

has the statutory responsibility to procure public transport

passenger services. The placing of the responsibility for

integrated local and rural transport with the NTA, including

managing the RTP, has had the effect of consolidating the

oversight of all State funded local and rural transport services.

It enables the development of better links between local and

rural transport services and scheduled bus and rail services.

It also enables the NTA to identify gaps in service provision

and, as funds become available, to fill those gaps gradually

in the most effective way.

“The key priorities of the programme continue to include

addressing rural social exclusion and the integration of rural

transport services with other public transport services,” says

Malone, “The NTA in conjunction with Local Link offices will

continue to identify improvements in existing services and

develop appropriate new routes based on the availability of

resource. Greater integration with existing public transport

services and better linkage of services between towns and

villages.”

Scheduled Fixed Transport services are those services with

a regular route, stopping place and timetable. Evening or

late night services are also available, usually on a Friday or

Saturday evening. This provides opportunities for people to

engage in social activities that might otherwise be unavailable

to them due to a lack of transport.

There are 15 Local Link Offices nationwide. These offices

manage approximately 1,000 Public Bus Services in local

and rural areas of Ireland. Contact information for all offices,

including phone number and email addresses can be found

on the Local Link website.

There are several ways in which to find out about Local

Link services around the country. The first option is to visit

the timetable page on the locallink.ie website to view what

services are available. Once a service is identified, it is

advisable to contact the closest Local Link office, as many

services require pre-booking, particularly where door-todoor

services are available. The details of scheduled Local

Link services are available on the National Journey Planner.

Local Link services are available to everyone with a significant

focus on providing accessible transport options for service

users. Free Travel Passes are accepted on all Local link

services. Fares are payable by anyone who doesn’t have

a Free Travel Pass - fare information is available on www.

locallink.ie or by contacting the Local Link office managing

the service.

Local Link provides a combination of

Demand Responsive Transport or doorto-door

and Scheduled Fixed Transport

bus services in towns, villages and rural

areas. Demand Responsive Transport

(DRT) services do not operate on a fixed

route but respond to requests for services

by intending passengers. They operate by

making specific trips to pick up and drop

off passengers at the door. This offers

great peace of mind to passengers who

might otherwise have no way to access

public transport. An additional feature,

which is helpful for many customers, is

the willingness of drivers or other staff

to assist with getting shopping on and

off the bus. These small gestures can

make a real difference to a person living

in an isolated or rural area when they are

making the decision to venture out into

their community on a shopping trip.

189

PRIMO

Specialist

Vehicle

Conversions

Primo is a provider of quality vehicle conversions.

Primo repair, refurbish, maintain and convert a wide

range of specialist vehicles. We have a dedicated

team of experienced, multiskilled vehicle converter

employees to ensure projects are fi nished on time

and to the highest possible standards.

Primo products include:

• Frontline Ambulances

• Patient Transport

(PTS) Vehicles

• 4x4 Off Road

Ambulances

• Rapid Response

Vehicles

• Command and

Control Vehicles

• Commercial Vehicles

• Mobility Conversions/

Adaptions

• Specialist Conversions

• Buses

• Wheelchair Accessible

Vehicles

• Taxi and Hackney

Conversions

• Crew Cab and

Personnel Vehicles

For more information contact:

Ferbane, Co. Offaly, Rep. Of Ireland.

Tel: +353 (0) 906 454368

www.primocoachworks.com

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Quality

Vehicle Conversions

QUALITY

VEHICLE

CONVERSIONS


Primo Coachworks

Excellence in Quality Vehicle Conversions

PRIMO Coachworks is a provider of quality vehicle conversions at highly competitive

prices. Established in 2007, the company has quickly become the name to rely on for

vehicle conversions in Ireland.

PRIMO Coachworks provide specialist vehicle conversions

to both the public and private sector. They design and

manufacture various vehicle types including rapid response

vehicles, frontline ambulances, mobile command units,

wheelchair accessible vehicles, work utility vehicles and

disability adaptations for disabled drivers.

The company operates under ISO Quality Management

System 9001:2015 and are NSAI approved vehicle body

builders which allows them to build and type approve

vehicles.

Managing Director Ted Dunican is justifiably proud of the

extensive services his company provides into the public

sector: “We provide rapid response vehicles for the National

Ambulance Service, command and control vehicles, search &

rescue vehicles, prison riot vans and repairs and maintenance

to existing fleet vehicles.

“Public Sector projects tendered for and won by PRIMO

generate substantial revenue to the company. As a small

but expanding business in the midlands, it is an important

source of income and allows us to provide more jobs in the

community,” he says.

The order book is ever expanding due to the quality and

reliability of PRIMO services and a reputation for excellence

from their many clients. The company are currently designing

public order unit vehicles for An Garda Síochána; Dublin Fire

Brigade command control units; box body vehicles for the

Defence Forces and rapid response vehicles for the National

Ambulance Service.

Ted would like to thank all PRIMO’s customers in both the

public and private sector for their patronage and support

“and we endeavour to continue providing top class vehicle

conversions at competitive prices.”

191

Accepted

at over 500

multi-brand

Service Stations

Fuelcard

Services

For Fuelcard enquiries contact:

Greg Swail +44 78 0110 8206

Fuelcard Services +44 28 9050 6070

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Fuel Services

FUELLING

BUSINESS


Maxol

Excellence in Fuel Services

Maxol is Ireland’s leading family owned forecourt and convenience retailer and

employs directly and indirectly more than 1,500 people across the island of Ireland.

The business offers a wide range of products and services

through its retail, fuel cards and lubricant divisions and has a

network of 231 service stations. Maxol’s Fuel Card service gives

businesses greater control over fuel costs through flexible

pricing packages, which are tailored to suit business needs

using innovative technology to provide security of information

and to provide a quality range of products in easily accessible

locations. This service is currently used by a large number of

companies and government bodies to control and administer

their fuel usage and costs.

“At Maxol we understand that businesses and especially fleet

owners can ill-afford uncertainty in fuel pricing and quality of

fuel, explains David Martin, Head of Business Development.

“That’s why our National Account Fuel Card holders can fill up

at any of our service stations with the confidence of knowing

that the agreed price will always be charged to their account.

It is accepted at over 500 service stations throughout Ireland

with all transactions verified with PIN technology. Easy online

access to account information provides invoice statements

and management reporting to help businesses analyse and

monitor vehicle and driver performance. The Public Sector is

an important part of Maxol’s existing Fuel Card business and

is of strategic importance to the company as we extend our

network of service stations.”

Maxol continues to invest in Ireland through the acquisition of

new sites and by upgrading its network of service stations with

a focus on enhancing the overall customer experience through

improved services and technology. Maxol has also invested

significantly in improving its in-store experience and food to

go offering with the launch of their new Maxol Deli, their own

coffee ROSA coffee, along with their own range of prepacked

sandwiches, wraps, bespoke salad bowls, fruit and breakfast

pots, plus own brand Maxol Milk, water and firelighters.

Closing Mr Martin says: “As one of the largest suppliers of

Fuel Cards to the Public Sector in Northern Ireland for many

years, Maxol has extensive knowledge in dealing with large

Public Sector organisations and takes great pride in providing

a best in class customer experience through its network of

independent retailers.”

193

Phone: 1890 447 447

g4ssales@ie.g4s.com

www.g4s.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Services to the

Security Industry

SAFE &

SECURE


G4S Secure Solutions Ireland Ltd

Excellence in Services to Security Industry

G4S is the largest secure outsourcing company in the UK and Ireland. More than

10,000 customers including 59 FTSE 100 companies depend on G4S to provide them

with a safe and secure way to deliver their services.

G4S Secure Solutions has been operating in the Irish market

for more than 40 years. The company has a solid base, being

part of the Global group ‘G4S Group’ with representation in

94 countries worldwide. G4S offers a full and comprehensive

package of bespoke integrated security systems, designed

and developed to cater for every individual client’s needs.

“We work in partnership with you to create a security solution

which protects what is most important to you, combining

professional security personnel with cutting edge technology,”

explains Managing Director Alan Durnan.

To this end G4S supply turnkey packages covering CCTV,

access control and intruder and

perimeter security. The company

has a vast array of agencies to

supply the leading brands of CCTV

and access control products such

as IP/digital video and analytics

and perimeter detection. The

company is the largest Gent

installer in Ireland and is an agent

for both the Apollo and the Vesta

systems.

contributed to the growth of the company over the years,”

comments Durnan. He also points to another key project at

Dáil Éireann where G4S carried out a full, integrated CCTV

installation. Here G4S implemented some of the most advanced

technology to provide a sophisticated and user-friendly state-ofthe-art

surveillance system at this prestigious location.

G4S is now in a position to offer full nationwide installations

and full 24-hour backup via the four separate branches located

across Ireland. This allows G4S to achieve very efficient

response times to any incident, keeping businesses safe and

secure. For services to the security industry G4S is the worthy

winner of the 2019 Excellence in Business Award.

G4S also caters for large gas

suppression systems, giving the

client a one-stop shop for all

security and fire requirements

designed to detect, alert and

protect lives. The company has a

substantial team of professional

and experienced staff, with 90

engineers and a team of 12

designers, the majority of whom

have been with the company for

many years.

The company has carried out

some of the largest installations

in Ireland, both commercial and

industrial and has a dedicated

‘data hall’ design team to cater for

this specific business area. The firm

has worked with OPW for the past

35 years catering for the historic

and critical buildings that exist in

this unique portfolio.

“We consider the OPW as a

major and valued client who has

195

Tel: 6670 777

24 Hour Service

Fast, Friendly, Efficient

Uniformed Drivers

iPhone App

ISO14001 and ISO9001 approved

Please try out our in-car credit facilities

T&C’s apply

Enquire when booking

www.xpertaxis.com

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Corporate Services

CALL THE

XPERTS


Xpert Taxis

Excellence in Corporate Services

Xpert Taxis was launched by an Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in October 2005. The

company has challenged the market by introducing innovative technology which

enables them to provide the Irish corporate, governmental and residential market with

a premium taxi and chauffeur service.

“We specialise in top-end corporate accounts across

all markets from legal, financial, pharma and state

contracts,”explains CEO Vinny Kearns. “Having begun

my career in the Irish defence forces, I am accustomed to

delivering transport in difficult and demanding circumstances.

In the event of any issues arising, we have a proven escalation

process that ensures we maintain communications and

deliver timely updates to our client base.”

Training and discipline are important when dealing with

top-level clients and many of the drivers at Xpert Taxis are

ex-military and Garda personnel. The company provided

chauffeur services for visits such as President Obama,

The Queen’s, Vice President Biden and the recent visit of

President Trump to Doonbeg, Co. Clare.

“Having one of Europe’s most experienced management

teams we regularly attend international trade conferences to

ensure that we are at the top of our game and that we avail of

the latest technology available,” explains Kearns.

His ambitious but totally achievable aim is to set the

benchmark for the industry,“and our main target

audience is government and corporate contracts

which have helped us trade successfully through

the economic downturn from 2007.”

utilise resources to continue as Ireland’s premiere transport

provider.

While the business element is hugely important, Kearns also

takes the environment and his company’s carbon footprint

very seriously. “As a company we will continue to invest in

Greener technology and practises that will reduce our impact

on the environment and reduces our carbon footprint. We

are reviewing our fleet policy and actively encourage hybrid

and electric vehicle use and actively working in transport

groupings planning for the introduction of hydrogen

vehicles for 2022 -2025. This policy is evident in our day-today

practices on the road and in our offices where we have

replaced all office lighting with low energy LED fittings.”

A “One Stop Transport Shop” Xpert Taxis prides itself on it’s

ability to service the corporate market. Xpert Taxis is thankful

having been chosen as the winner of the 2019 Public Sector

Magazine Excellence in Corporate Services Award.

2020 will be our new challenge with our new entity brand

“NXT” taking our industry to a new level.

Winning this Public Sector Magazine Excellence

in Business Award for the second consecutive

year is a testament to my team’s consistent efforts

to improve the overall customer experience.

This award is greatly appreciated by all in Xpert

Taxis and it is accepted in recognition of the

standard of service provided by the entire team.

“This level of acknowledgement will encourage

the company to continue to invest in areas that

result in efficiencies all round,” Kearns says.

Looking forward, the company’s aim is to be

the preferred supplier of taxis, chauffeurs and

buses to corporate clients while continuing to

expand operations in Dublin, Wicklow, Meath,

Kildare, Sligo, Limerick and Ennis. According to

Kearns, the current economic upturn has, and

will, result in greater demands and opportunities

for those who are prepared to meet them. We

are happy to publicly announce our merger with

National Radio Cabs which is one of the largest

and longest established corporate taxi supplier.

We recognise the need to scale and better

Vinny Kearns CEO Xpert Taxis & Dermot Quinn Sales Manager Xpert Taxis

197

Web: www.tyfernetworks.com

fibre optic solutions

Tyfer Networks Ltd is an innovative, specialist fibre optic solutions company

currently operating within Ireland and the UK that delivers a full end to end

network build solution to the telecommunications industry.

As a company our focus is to provide the highest quality of service and product

to our customers by using the most up to date equipment, highly qualified

technicians and proven procedures.

Call us now – As fibre optic and cabling specialists, you can rely on us to

provide cost effective and professional solutions for all your needs.

Tel: +447595936931

Tel: +442868641541

Email:info@tyfernetworks.com

31 Glenlevan Road, Sandhill, Derrygonnelly, BT93 6ER, Co Fermanagh, N. Ireland

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Provision of Fibre

Turnkey Solutions to

Communications Industry

HIGH

FIBRE


Tyfer Networks

Provision of Fibre Turnkey Solutions

to Communications Industry

Tyfer Networks Ltd is an innovative, specialist fibre optic solutions company that

delivers a full end to end network build solution to the telecommunications industry.

Tyfer Networks was established in 2016 and has been

involved in numerous fibre optic projects, both in Ireland

and the UK, within the telecommunications sector. With

over 15 years’ experience, company directors Damien

Treanor and Kevin Martin see their company as a key player

in the current fibre optic boom that the telecommunications

industry is currently experiencing.

“As a company our focus is to provide the highest quality of

service and product to our customers by using the most up

to date equipment, highly qualified technicians and proven

procedures,” explains Director Damien Treanor.

“We are a very competitively priced company within the

fibre communications market and use the latest technology

available for completion of all fibre

projects. We consistently receive

extremely positive feedback

from our clients who benefit from

exceptional value for money whilst

receiving a quality assured delivered

product.”

surrounded themselves with a strong team of people with

the same likeminded passion for fibre optic infrastructure

and network builds. Using the latest technology, this

company has the mindset and capabilities that puts them

at the forefront to efficiently deliver any fibre optic project.

With offices in Enniskillen (Northern Ireland) and Drogheda

(Ireland), Tyfer Networks have conducted projects all over

Ireland and the U.K. and is embarking on a period of

significant growth. They are currently working with their

clients on large scale projects for Siro, Eir and BT. They

also have plans to assist in the delivery of the National

Broadband Plan in Ireland when the final project is decided

upon by the government.

Tyfer Networks provide a wide

range of services within the

telecommunications industry

including full fibre turnkey solutions

from fibre optic cable installation,

fibre optic splicing and testing, data

centre build, to complete backup

network maintenance.

“Through use of our custom-built

workflow management system, we

can tailor a client’s specific needs to

maximise cost effectiveness while

maintaining exceptional quality

standards,” adds Treanor. “Our

team of expert fibre technicians

are highly experienced and so have

the ability to adapt to changes and

adversities as they arise on any

given project.”

The public sector is crucial to Tyfer

Networks. For both directors it was

a case of ‘stick to what you know’,

and they foresaw a niche in the

market for a company like Tyfer

Networks. The pair have extensive

experience in the industry and have

199

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NORTHSIDE

DENTAL

SURGERY

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DAN O’BRIEN

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Find us

or visit www.northsideshoppingcentre.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Retail Service & Customer Care

HEART OF THE

COMMUNITY


Northside Shopping Centre

Excellence in Retail Services

Customer Care

Northside Shopping Centre has been at the heart of its community for four decades.

Today it may have a brand-new look but it is simply a new face with the same heart.

For anyone that grew up

in Coolock, Northside

Shopping Centre is one

of the most familiar

and comfortable places

in the world. With an

updated new look,

Northside Shopping

Centre in Coolock is still

a strong pillar of the local

community.

The centre offers a wide

range of services for

everyone in the area. From

medical services to weekly

grocery shopping and

everything in between,

it can all be found at

Northside and all under

one roof.

The centre is very active in

the community providing

sponsorship to several

local teams, Parnell’s

GAA Club, Mercy College

Beaumont Basket Ball &

Choláiste Dhúlaigh Post

Primary GAA teams. The

centre also holds many

special events throughout

the year with young and old

coming together for great

giveaways, competitions

and fun family days out.

Now with many new and

exciting shops and services

due to open in the coming

year, this certainly is a one

stop location and not to be

missed.

“Northside Shopping

Centre is both honoured

and delighted to win the Excellence in Retail Services

Customer Care Award 2019,” says centre manager Alan

McCabe. “The centre strives to give back to the community

that has kept their doors open for over 40 years. Our main

hope is to continue to support the locality in the same way as

locals supported the shopping centre through tough times.

“From the Management, staff and stores of Northside

Shopping Centre, we thank you for your continued support

and we look forward to seeing you soon for more great

giveaways and great value,” says Alan McCabe, Centre

Manager.

201

Financial Supports for

Enterprise from Údarás

na Gaeltachta

Údarás na Gaeltachta offers eligible enterprises a range of

of incentives and supports to start up, develop, expand or

locate their business in a Gaeltacht area. Hundreds of

businesses, from small indigenous start-ups to large

international companies, have been established in the

Gaeltacht with our help.

gteic @Gaoth Dobhair

Gaoth Dobhair Business Park

Co. Donegal

Who We Are?

Údarás na Gaeltachta is the regional

development authority funded by the Irish

Government to promote the economic,

social and cultural development of the

Gaeltacht with the overall objective of

maintaining Irish as the main communal

language of the region.

What We Do....

Our job is to stimulate economic growth and

job creation in the Gaeltacht by nurturing

new and existing businesses, developing

modern enterprise infrastructure and

enhancing the skills base of the Gaeltacht

community.

The Types Of Enterprises We Assist...

Assistance is available across a wide range of

eligible sectors, from micro business to large

companies in areas such as:

Information Communication Technology

Niche and Modern Manufacturing

Internationally Traded Services

Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices

Digital and Audiovisual content

Food Processing

Fish Farming/Processing

Cultural Tourism

Arts and Crafts

Community-based Enterprises

Natural Resources

Types Of Supports Available

The range of grant aid available includes:

Assistance for Start-ups

Feasibility Study grants are available to

assess the viability of your business idea.

Development of Micro-Enterprise Scheme

offers funding to eligible start-up businesses

towards the costs associated with capital

expenditure.

‘Chéad Chéim’ Scheme (First Steps)

provides funding towards the initial start-up

costs.

Innovation Voucher provides vouchers

worth €5,000 to assist early stage companies

to work with a registered college or

knowledge provider to explore a business

opportunity or solve a technical problem.

Mentor Scheme provides support for a

business mentor to assist you in your start-up

phase or advise on specific areas of your plan.

Growing Your Business

Capital grant can be paid for initial

investment in material and tangible assets,

such as building, plant and machinery and

assets created by the transfer of technology

through the acquisition of patent rights,

licences know how or unpatented technical

knowledge.

Employment grant provides support

towards the recruitment of new employees.

Training grant provides assistance for

training programmes that train or upskill

employees.

Share Capital Investment where Údarás can

take an equity stake in small and medium

enterprises in the start-up and expansion

phases where this is of strategic importance

to the development of the enterprise.

Marketing And Export Supports

Market Development supports the costs of

researching and exploring new international

business opportunities.

Graduates 4 International Growth

Programme matches graduates with

companies to develop and execute plans to

grow in key markets and provides support for

the graduates’ salary and training.

Research and Development and Innovation

Grants support businesses in developing new

markets, technologies, products, processes

and strategic alliances to enhance their ability

to perform in increasingly competitive

markets.

Management Development Supports

Mentor, Strategic Consultancy, Key

Manager & Platform 4 Growth/Leadership

4 Growth grants can be used to investigate

the feasibility of developing a new product,

process, technology or service offering;

support the cost of planning or implementing

a new strategic development initiative; and

introduce key skills and expertise to the

company’s senior management team and

challenge SMEs to scale and grow their

businesses.

Productivity and Business

Process Improvement Supports

Lean Start, Lean Plus and Lean Transform

grants, Business Process Improvement

Grants provide support to companies to

improve and increase performance and

competitiveness, drive company efficiencies

and business process improvements.

Business Premises

Údarás has a diverse property portfolio

dispersed throughout the Gaeltacht.

Properties are available at competitive

rental rates and clients can benefit from

flexible leasing arrangements. They include

enterprise, incubation and industrial type

units and buildings, office accommodation

and development sites.

How do I apply?

Through our network of regional offices,

we ensure that enterprises throughout

the Gaeltacht areas have access to Údarás

assistance and support programmes. Check

out www.udaras.ie for further information.

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in


RURAL

RENEWAL


Údarás na Gaeltachta

Excellence in Business Development

Údarás na Gaeltachta is the regional authority responsible for the economic, social

and cultural development of the Gaeltacht. The overall objective of Údarás na

Gaeltachta is to ensure that Irish remains the main communal language of the

Gaeltacht and is passed on to future generations.

Údarás na Gaeltachta is a unique regional development

authority, which undertakes a wide range of development

activities and is committed to the development of a

vibrant, successful, sustainable Gaeltacht economy,

thereby bolstering the position of the Irish language as the

predominant Gaeltacht community language.

The authority endeavours to achieve that objective by funding

and fostering a wide range of enterprise development and

job creation initiatives and by supporting strategic language,

cultural and community-based activities.

Údarás na Gaeltachta has a key role in stimulating economic

growth and job creation in the Gaeltacht by nurturing new and

existing businesses, developing modern enterprise infrastructure

and enhancing the skills base of the Gaeltacht community.

encourage the emigrant Gaeltacht community abroad or in

Ireland to return home to the Gaeltacht, their families and

communities and, thereby, bolster the Irish language as a

community language in those areas.

• The Tourism Management Development Scheme will

support a range of strategic tourism projects in the Gaeltacht

to assist those projects to add to their management,

marketing, development and administrative capabilities.

These five strategic projects are an integral part of Údarás na

Gaeltachta’s development strategy to change the narrative

of Ireland’s rural areas in the coming years and to evolve as

an innovative and vibrant location to live and work that is no

longer limited or reliant on traditional employment sectors.

Údarás encourages investment in the Gaeltacht by offering

eligible enterprises a range of incentives and supports to start

up, develop, expand or locate their business in a Gaeltacht

area. Hundreds of businesses, from small indigenous start-ups

to large international companies, have been established in the

Gaeltacht with the support of Údarás over the past 39 years.

The organisation supports businesses in developing new

markets, technologies, products and strategic alliances

through research and development. Gaeltacht companies

span a range of commercial sectors, including life sciences,

ICT, tourism, fish processing and aquaculture, renewable

energy, food, niche manufacturing, audio visual and digital

media, arts and crafts.

Underpinning Údarás na Gaeltachta’s Strategic Plan for 2018

– 2020 are 5 strategic projects:

• gteic– Gréasán Digiteach na Gaeltacht, a network of 30

innovation and digital hubs with highspeed broadband

connectivity giving new technology companies an

opportunity to establish or locate themselves in the rural

areas which encompass the Gaeltacht.

• Páirc na Mara, the development of a state of the art, low

carbon marine innovation park, located on a greenfield

site on the southern edge of the Conamara Gaeltacht

approximately 45 miles west of Galway City.

• Gaeltacht na hÉireann – the Gaeltacht brand which will

act as a stamp of approval for products and services that

originate in the Gaeltacht and is a visual representation

of the vibrancy, enterprise, cultural richness and unique

language and heritage of the Gaeltacht regions.

• The Diaspóra na Gaeltachta project will endeavour to

203

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Human Resources

Public Sector Services

PEOPLE

POWER


HSE [HR]

Human Resources Public Sector Services

Despite being the largest employer in the state, the HSE HR Directorate fosters a

family friendly work environment that enables employees to embrace core values of

care, compassion, trust and learning.

Rosarii Mannion, National HR Director HSE advised that

the People Strategy 2019–2024 sets out the future direction

for the development of people services and the delivery of

Sláintecare. “It is focused on our shared purpose – to deliver

services that are valued by the public and by our staff,” she

says. The People Strategy has identified three key areas:

• Leadership – taking responsibility to work together to lead

the HSE’s services

• Talent – having the right combination of people with the

right skills in place to deliver the services

• Capability – developing the knowledge, skills and

confidence to continually improve and transform the

services

“As leaders in people services, we are committed to delivering

a professional and relevant HR service enabled by strong

relationships and collaboration across the whole system,”

explains Ms Mannion. “We have a particular responsibility

to plan and deliver interventions when and where they are

needed, taking the local context into account. We need to

empower our staff to be resilient, to take up their leadership

roles and deal with the pressures of constant change.”

The multi-generational and diverse workforce of HSE HR

provides a wealth of talent and capability. Mannion stresses

that it is important to develop, support and retain existing staff

and engage a newer generation of healthcare employees.

“We welcome increased flexibility in our work patterns,

locations and ways of learning, with people moving through

their work and careers to fit their personal needs,” she says, as

does developing the next generation of leaders and improving

digital competency which she sees as critical for the future.

“Listening carefully to the views of frontline staff and

recognising their contribution in a meaningful way will result

in better employee experiences and better outcomes for all.

“Our leadership team are fully committed to implementing

the People Strategy working with staff, service and HR leaders

in the delivery system, partner organisations, regulatory and

staff representative bodies. By engaging with and supporting

our staff and enabling our teams we can strengthen our

connection with the people we serve ensuring that ‘If we get

it right for staff – we get it right for patients and service users.”

It is clear that Ms Mannion and her team are succeeding in

their goal. This has been recognised in the 2019 Excellence

in Services Award for best human resources, Public Sector

Services.

205

WORRIED

ABOUT YOUR

ASTHMA?

Call the Asthma or COPD Adviceline today

and one of our specialist nurses will help

put your mind at ease!

ASTHMA ADVICELINE

1800 44 54 64

COPD ADVICELINE

1800 83 21 46

nurse@asthma.ie

FIGHTING ASTHMA WITH EVERY BREATH

asthma.ie

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Best Public Awareness Campaign

ASTHMA

SOCIETY


Asthma Society of Ireland

Best Public Awareness Campaign

The Asthma Society of Ireland was founded in 1973 to help raise public and political

awareness of the condition and the challenges faced by people with asthma.

Today, it is the national charity dedicated to empowering Ireland’s

390,000 people with asthma to take control of their asthma by

providing them and their families with information, education,

services and support. They are focused on representing people

with asthma and work to improve their health outcomes.

The Asthma Society provides a wide range of supports for

people with asthma and their family which include:

• The Joint Asthma and COPD Adviceline - a free service

in which people with asthma and/or COPD can speak to

a respiratory specialist nurse who will work through every

aspect of life with asthma/COPD: answering questions

after a GP or consultant appointment, dealing with triggers

that may be bringing on asthma/COPD symptoms, and

helping users put together an Asthma Action Plan/ COPD

Self Management Plan to self-manage their condition.

After speaking to one of the Adviceline nurses, patients

will be fully equipped with the information and skills they

need to improve their health and stay as well as possible.

The Joint Asthma and COPD Adviceline is available for

free on 1800 44 54 64.

• The Asthma Society holds a number of “Asthma in the

Pharmacy Day” clinics around the country in which people

with asthma can attend to speak to an asthma nurse about

all aspects of managing their condition. These

clinics take place all around Ireland throughout the

year. Upcoming clinics can be viewed on asthma.

ie. After attending one of these clinics, each person

will be fully equipped with the information and skills

they need to improve and manage their asthma.

• The Asthma Society also provides asthma

informational materials for free to people with

asthma and their families such as the Asthma Action

Plan and the Asthma Attack Cards. On asthma.ie

users can take advantage of the Asthma Society’s

videos which teach people proper inhaler technique.

• The Asthma Society works closely with healthcare

professionals to ensure asthma patients receive the

support and care they need. The Asthma Society is

also very involved in new asthma research.

the year aiming to help people with asthma and their families.

Upcoming campaigns include the Back2School, Asthma

Friendly Homes and Winter Wellness campaigns.

The Asthma Society continues to look at ways to better inform

and educate the wider pubic on asthma. The Asthma Society

runs monthly campaigns throughout the year aiming to help

people with asthma and their families. Upcoming campaigns

include the Back2School, Asthma Friendly Homes and Winter

Wellness campaigns. Currently the Asthma Society is working

on its Clean Air campaign which aims to improve the quality

of the air we breathe, and its hayfever campaign, which aims

to highlight the dangers of hayfever for people with asthma

and encourage them to manage their condition.

According to Sarah O’Connor, CEO of the Asthma Society,

asthma deaths are rising with one person now dying every six

days from asthma. Asthma management will greatly reduce

your chances of suffering a fatal asthma attack she says. To

get in control of your asthma, the first step is downloading

a free Asthma Action Plan from asthma.ie and filling it out

with your healthcare professional. The Asthma Society’s Joint

Asthma and COPD Adviceline which is available for free on

1800 44 54 64 is also a great tool for people to get in control

of their condition.

One in 13 adults has asthma and one in five children

will experience it at some stage in their lives. The key

priorities of the Asthma Society include decreasing

asthma deaths and helping people with asthma

improve their quality of life.

The Asthma Society continues to look at ways to better

inform and educate the wider public on asthma. The

Asthma Society runs monthly campaigns throughout

207

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Excellence in Pharmacy Services

to the Public Sector

CARA

HEALTHCARE

For Cara Pharmacy, its customers, people and communities are at the heart of

everything it does and its stated mission is to improve the health and lifestyle of the

communities it serves.


Cara Pharmacy

Excellence in Pharmacy Services

to the Public Sector

This philosophy has served the Cara Group well and it has

rapidly joined the ranks of Ireland’s most prominent and

successful pharmacy chains.

The Cara Group is an indigenous, innovative and rapidly

expanding pharmacy and retail-based business which

currently comprises 15 retail outlets and a popular and

progressive online store. Established in 2002, the company is

based in County Donegal and operates from sites all across

Ireland, including Dublin, Cork and Northern Ireland.

leading pharmacy. “We will continue to aim to be the best

in the industry by delivering products and service that are

superior to our competitors,” he says. “At Cara our customers,

people and communities remain at the heart of everything we

do. We practice our core values every day in everything we do.

Our goal is to improve the health and lifestyle of the people

in our communities and we do this by supporting everyone’s

right to a happy, healthy and confident life.”

Headed up by Directors, Canice and Ramona Nicholas - both

experienced pharmacists - Cara Pharmacy employs over 245

people and prides itself on the outstanding levels of customer

service and the excellent customer experience which it offers.

In addition to dispensing prescriptions and providing advice

on OTC medication, the dedicated teams of pharmacists

and experienced healthcare staff at Cara Pharmacy provide

numerous additional services including advice on minor

ailments, smoking cessation clinics, vaccination services,

compounding of medication and provision of emergency

hormonal contraception.

Testing services are also provided including cholesterol

checks, blood glucose measurements, blood pressure

readings and weight and BMI measurements. In addition,

Cara Pharmacy also specialises in the provision of care

to patients in nursing home and residential care settings.

According to Director, Canice Nicholas, the pharmacy’s

Dublin branch is regarded as a leader in this field and utilises

a dosage compliance aid known as the ‘Cara Pouch’ to help

optimise medicine management in the care setting. Teams

of specially trained Cara pharmacists regularly visit the care

homes to advise on patient medication, answer any questions

which staff may have and contribute to staff training.

Canice is proud of the extensive range of services provided

by Cara Pharmacy to the public sector and stresses the

critical role that pharmacies play in maintaining and

safeguarding public health. “At Cara we recognise the vital

role that pharmacists play in public health,” he says. “Our

pharmacists contribute hugely to disease prevention and

health improvement. They are experts in helping people

manage their medical conditions and ensure they are getting

the best from their medication. They are readily accessible

and members of the public can seek advice and reassurance

on minor illnesses without requiring an appointment.”

Cara Pharmacy is set to continue to deliver superior products

and services and develop their reputation as the country’s

209

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Volunteer with Big Brother Big Sister

and help change a young person’s life.

Go to foroige.ie to find out more.

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Services to Community

and Recreation Youth

FORÓIGE


Foróige

Services to Community

and Recreation Youth

Foróige is a leading youth development organisation, working with more than 50,000

young people and 5,500 volunteers every year across Ireland.

Foróige believes in a world where all young people have

opportunities to grow and develop to be their best selves, one

where young people are an intrinsic part of their communities

and where adults and young people work in partnership to

achieve this.

Young people who are involved in the organisation are

empowered to develop their own abilities and attributes, to

think for themselves, to make things happen and to contribute

to their community and society. As a result, they develop greater

self-confidence, self-reliance and greater capacity to take

charge of their lives. Foróige’s clubs, projects and programmes

are designed to achieve this aim. It happens in a friendly and

safe environment in which young people can meet friends and,

importantly, have fun.

The organisation has a long and highly respected tradition both

nationally and internationally and has guided generations of

young people to lead happier, healthier and more fulfilled lives

since its founding in 1952. It provides services to young people,

volunteers and communities which can broadly be divided into

volunteer led services and targeted services, much of this work

being provided in partnership with the public sector.

“Our volunteer led services enable young people to involve

themselves consciously and actively in their own development

and in the development of society facilitated by adult

volunteers. They include the organisation’s network of Foróige

clubs, special interest groups and youth cafés as well as the Big

Brother Big Sister Youth Mentoring Programme,” explains CEO

Seán Campbell.

“Our Targeted Services are focussed on the provision of

education, training and development programmes directly by

professional youth workers, sometimes in partnership with adult

volunteers, to young people who are particularly disadvantaged,

at risk or marginalised.”

Foróige Young Engineers Programme, Computer Clubhouse,

Sound Surfers and Foróige TechSpace have the opportunity to

enhance their skills in coding, app development, prototyping,

animation, design, film production, robotics, sound and music

production. They become creators of technology rather than

simple consumers of it. It provides a framework to harness the

passion, enthusiasm and creativity that older teens in particular

can have in technology and translate these into tangible,

transferrable life skills.

Through an emerging suite of initiatives and partnerships

Foróige is endeavouring to promote, engage and develop

young people’s interests in and attitudes towards STEM through

providing a creative, safe, out-of-school learning environment

where young people from the community, work with staff and/

or adult volunteers to explore their own ideas and develop new

skills through the use of STEM.

According to Campbell, the non-formal sector has a significant

role to play in this particularly with regard to engaging young

women and young people facing social, economic, geographic

or educational disadvantage as well as minority groups such as

migrants, the travelling community or those with a disability.

Mr Campbell feels that there is a significant gap in technology

education in Ireland. The new Computer Science curriculum is to

be welcomed he says, “but it is only available in 40 schools at

the moment and the first classes will not sit exams until 2020, so

progress is slower than we as a country need it to be.” Concluding,

he says: “Education does not stop when young people walk out

the school gate and we need to take a more holistic approach

to how we educate Ireland’s young people if we really want to

prepare them for life in the real world and for their future careers

in apprenticeships and work.”

Foróige works in proud partnership with the public sector to

deliver services to young people. In particular, it works with

the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, education and

training boards, the Health Service Executive; the Irish Youth

Justice Service and TUSLA amongst others.

One of the areas of focus for Foróige at the moment is STEM

(Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) education and

the important role that non-formal education has to play in

opening the world of STEM up to young people, their parents

and communities.

Young people involved in Foróige STEM initiatives such as the

211

ABC Services 460 0555/456 4492

We provide the

catering food industry

with a complete

package, from design

to completion of the

finished project.

PROJECTS

Commercial Kitchens

HSE Hospitals & Nursing Homes

Department of Defence

Government Projects

Irish Prison Service

Tel: 460 0555/456 4492 | Fax: 460 0666

A4 Calmount Park, Calmount Road, Ballymount, Dublin 12

E-mail: Parts@abcservices.ie

website: www.abcservices.ie | www.convotherm.ie | www.cateringparts.ie

ISO 9001:2015

QUALITY ASSURED COMPANY

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Provision of Catering Services

to HSE Government Project

ABC

SERVICES

ABC Services (Advanced Bar & Catering Services Ltd) is a leading supplier of catering

food service systems in Ireland, possessing an in-depth knowledge of all facets of the

catering & retail food service industries and HSE at all business streams.


ABC Services

Provision of Catering Services to

HSE Government Projects

“Having been at the forefront of catering equipment supply

and equipment servicing to these industry sectors over the

past 30 years, we have acquired a skills-base which has enabled

us to develop into the highly successful company that we have

become today,” explain Partners Eamonn & Ciaran Ward.

“We are renowned industry-wide for our commitment to

customer care, for our pre-sales and after-sales service, the

success of which we attribute to our strong work ethic and

business acumen.”

ABC Services provides the catering food industry with a

complete package, from design to completion of the finished

project. The firm’s design studio uses fully computerised design

techniques to produce plans and 3D drawings, mechanical

and electrical specifications for all installations.

ABC Services works closely with architects on each and

every project. The company is ISO

9001 2015 approved, is a certified

international service partner to

Convotherm and a main agent in

Ireland for Convotherm/Mach Lotus

Blanco Scanbox. The firm is also the

only catering equipment supplier

that holds ISO 9001:2015 EQA Cert.

that offer preventative maintenance. We have a team of

service engineers that can tailor make a service contract to

suit all needs to save down time and money.”

A busy spare parts department carries a large range of parts

for most makes of catering equipment with service contract

customers having priority in service calls. Partners Eamonn

& Ciaran invite enquiries and promise that clients will be

delighted with the standard of service on offer:

“If you haven’t experienced ABC Services’ renowned

accessibility to a wide and diverse range of spare parts, then

why not contact us today, where we commit to sourcing and

servicing your specific requirements to ensure continuity of

service for your business operation. At ABC Catering Services,

we have access to an extensive range of quality parts for a host

of new and used catering equipment and we can recommend

the best course of action for your specific requirement.”

The company works extensively

throughout the HSE providing

commercial kitchens from start to

finish and a full after sales services.

With over 30 years experience in

this field, public sector work is a

significant part of ABC Services’

business both in terms of supply

and after sales service. Citing some

recent examples, the partners point

to the new National Forensic Mental

Health Hospital in Portrane as well as

the new 100 bed Nursing Home in

Tymon North with Glenbeigh Group

and the HSE.

The partners say that after sales

service is a huge focus for the

company and they deliver a

speedy and efficient service every

time. “Eliminating down time in

the kitchen is very important. We

provide a nationwide after sales

service as well as service contracts

213

Your dream kitchen can’t wait to meet you.

Kube Feel, a kitchen to covet. The latest technology and

unparalleled design come together in a timeless contemporary

kitchen fitted to function perfectly with your household and your

lifestyle. Picture yourself in a Kube kitchen.

“Kube Feel - invent excuses to stay home…”

Features:

• Soft Matt Lacquered

Laminate doors in Kube

Feel White.

• Dekton – Keon 20mm

stone worktops.

• Bough Oak Platinum

breakfast bar with

matching splash back

and open shelving.

• Calligaris Palm stool

in Taupe Skuba and

Natural Leg.

• Kube Emotion Lighting.

• Chrome Quooker Fusion

Combi boiling water tap.

• Flush mounted Falmec

Nuvola extractor with

remote control.

be KitchenProud

kubekitchens.ie

Sandyford | Balbriggan | Long Mile Road | Rathgar | Cork

OUTRIGHT WINNERS

Kitchen Design & Installation

DESIGNER

LIVING

WITH KUBE


Kube Kitchens

Excellence in Kitchen Design

& Installation

With over fifty years of experience in kitchen design and installation, Kube are experts

in their field and worthy recipients of the Excellence in Business Award for Design and

Installation.

Kube supply high-quality, affordable kitchens to retail and

commercial sectors. Products include kitchens, tables, chairs,

sofas, bedrooms, and wardrobes, anything that has to do

with the living parts of the home.

“We specialise in design that suits the needs of the clients as

opposed to just selling products,” explains Brand Manager

Dave Fagan. “We are heavily involved in the design brief and

ensuring that the products we are supplying suit the needs of

the customers.” What sets Kube apart he feels is the amount

of time spent with clients and the amount of effort the

company put into training designers, installers and everyone

involved in the supply chain.

Kube have been building relationships with leading European

manufacturers for over 50 years which enables them to source

the best products for the best prices so that customers can

be confident that they are getting quality products that meet

European safety standards. Their supply chains enable Kube

to scale up and support the needs of larger developments

without any delays or logistical issues.

The team at Kube are currently involved with several largescale

developments supplying kitchens and furniture to help

215

support the needs of the building industry to bring

badly needed housing to market. They are also bringing

in a new high-end Italian luxury sofa manufacturer that

will fill a gap at the top of the market.

“When people are in the market for a new kitchen or

furniture, they should come to us,” Fagan says. He is

keenly aware that it is a difficult time in the property

market for many homeowners and the Kube team

wants clients to feel comfortable knowing that Kube

have solutions that will provide them with the highest

quality of lifestyle, whether renovating an existing

home or moving to a new residence. “We can help

them add value to their existing property, increase

storage space, and we can also help them design

the kitchen for their dream home. We are set up to

help people in many different situations. People will

probably be surprised how far their budgets will go

in Kube when you package up the entire service over

the lifetime of the kitchen.”

216

OUTRIGHT WINNERS


Broadband Services

BUILT FOR

BUSINESS


Virgin Media Business Ireland


Broadband Services

Virgin Media is built for business and has received an Excellence in Business

Award as Best & Fastest Broadband Provider in Ireland in recognition.

The company’s enterprise solutions provide the connectivity

to seamlessly connect agencies, people and resources

across Ireland.

Virgin Media Business covers a wide range within the Public

Sector, one of the biggest being in the health and social care

sector. “Driving digital transformation for patient care will

contribute to the delivery of improved patient care and build

a more efficient and flexible working environment,” explains

Aidan D’Arcy, Director of Business. “Reliable internet for

frontline services is critical. We have the right mix of unified

communications and the ability to share confidential data

with confidence.”

According to D’Arcy, finding the best way to educate digital

natives is crucial. “It’s not just about shifting classrooms from

exercise books to tablets, it’s about empowering children and

making sure they’re safe on the internet. Local and central

government are under pressure to keep essential services

running around the clock. We can improve communication

and manage multiple sites in a different way.”

Unique Services

Virgin Media Business offers customers a truly unique set of

services for the public sector. Because these services differ

from the standard line-up of great products, they require a

specialised customer support structure that blends local and

national support for maximum efficiency and best results. The

company’s highly talented team’s advanced levels of training

enable us to meet the demands of customers 24/7.

With dedicated Internet access, clients have a fully supported,

secure and super-fast connection. This product also has

an option to add Virgin Media’s DDoS Protection Services

security offering meaning that only the traffic that is wanted

can enter or leave the network.

Take advantage of Ireland’s largest portfolio of Carrier

217

217

Ethernet - perfect for public service providers needing

a managed and secure connection between multiple

sites. Virgin Media Wi-Fi solutions offer a fast, secure

Wi-Fi experience that is easy to log on to and works

with multiple devices.

“We can combine voice and data with SIP Trunking,”

explains D’Arcy, “perfect for call centres and

operations across multiple sites, it’s cost efficient and

offers advanced call-handling features.”

In terms of support D’Arcy says that Virgin Media

are “there for you every step of the way.” The Virgin

Media team supports business needs at all service

checkpoints – from sign up, to detailed tech support,

to billing. The goal is to ensure that the client always

has an expert to answer questions about the services

they receive.

D’Arcy is keen to point out that Virgin Media Business

are experts in the public sector and one of the largest

providers of networking services in Ireland. “In fact,

we have helped build many of Ireland’s public service

networks and are used by most of Ireland’s public sector.

We’re confident that the sophistication and high

capacity of our fibre optic network helps us deliver

the highest levels of service to our customers. The

scalability of our data services allows us to deliver

Ethernet, Internet and phone solutions – including

more options at a service level – with great efficiency.

This matters to the public sector,” he says.

Looking to the future, Virgin Media Business is

constantly looking at ways to provide exceptional

service, care and solutions. D’Arcy feels that his

company are always a step ahead of the competition

and know that all businesses want exceptional secure,

connectivity in their space. “We’ve cracked it for

you so that your customer, employee or guest can

experience exceptional broadband and Wi-Fi.”

An important matter for every business is security.

Virgin Media Business has designed the best DDoS

Protective Services solution to suit every business and

to support your security products. “Bottom line, we help

businesses of all sizes protect themselves,” enthuses

D’Arcy. “A few affordable safeguards can bolster your

digital defences, that’s why our security options are

constantly updated and will detect and inhibit threats

before you’re lumbered with a big problem.”

Virgin Media Business offers Ethernet, Internet,

security, Wi-Fi, voice and TV solutions to help

organisations of all sizes transform their business,

powered by an advanced network and backed by 24/7

technical support. The company is the nation’s largest

cable provider to small and mid-size businesses

across Ireland as recognised by Chambers Ireland

for Excellence in Business Award as Best & Fastest

Broadband Provider in Ireland.

“We are responsible for powering the businesses that

power the community, a responsibility we take very

seriously,” D’Arcy says. “So even when the weather

turns, your business won’t skip a beat because our

experienced engineers are constantly monitoring the

network and resolving issues before they become

problems. This commitment is just one reason why

countless businesses trust in Virgin Media Business.”

218 218

AWARD

WINNINGLY

BRILLIANT

1800 940 980

businesssales@virginmedia.ie

virginmedia.ie/business

/VMBusinessIreland

/VMBusinessIE

/company/virgin-media-business-ireland


Virgin Media Business Ireland

Excellence in Business Broadband Services

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