Wicklow News

Builders BAM are being invited before the Public Accounts Committee to discuss their contract for building the New National Children's Hospital. 

A woman has died in a crash in Co. Kildare.

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A spokesperson for the Health Minister says that re-tendering the contract for the National Children's Hospital would only delay the project.

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66 projects will benefit from the funding in all regions with one focusing on mountain biking here in County Wicklow. 

Wicklow’s vacancy rate was 12.2% in the 4th quarter of 2018, down 0.2% compared to the same period in 2017 according to the latest GeoView Commercial Vacancy Rates Report

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Wicklow is the last RNLI station with a Tyne class lifeboat in service.

The Offices of the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board in Naas were raided by Gardaí yesterday on foot of a search warrant. 

In attendance from County Wicklow was Fianna Fail TD Pat Casey and Chris Hill Wicklow IFA Chairman.

 Almost 8 vehicles a day have been seized from unaccompanied provisional licence drivers since the introduction of new legislation since late last year.

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This compares to 262 in the first six months of 2018.

The Comptroller and Auditor General has released a highly critical report into the operations of the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board during the tenure of its previous CEO, Sean Ashe.

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A local development company is hoping to open a community shop and café in the west Wicklow village of Stratford.

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The Taoiseach says no projects will be cancelled in order to fund the new National Children's Hospital.

The family of a young Wicklow woman, who was injured in an accident abroad, have flown over to be by her side.

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Sinn Fein has confirmed it's to table a motion of no confidence in Health Minister Simon Harris.

It happened yesterday afternoon in Greystones

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It's after locals from areas like Rathfarnham, Rathgar and Terenure told the National Transport Authority they'd like more time.

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Rents rose nationwide by an average of 9.8% in the year to December 2018, according to the latest quarterly Rental Report by Daft.ie.

Blessington and District Credit Union has issued a statement outlining its position...

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The multi-national micro-chip giant has applied for planning permission to develop a new fabrication facility at its Leixlip site. 

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Rural Wicklow residents are set to benefit from €282,494 funding for local access roads

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Michéal Martin was joined by his party Colleague Wicklow T.D. Pat Casey, and local election candidates Patsy Glennon, Pat Doran and John Mullen.

The Bray Air Display and the ‘Summer in Bray’ tourism initiative have won Silver at The All Ireland Community and Council Awards which are presented by IPB Insurance and LAMA.

Among those to receive awards was Aughrim in recognition of achieving the highest score of all County Wicklow entries in the 2018 national Tidy Town Competition, while Hollywood received an endeavour award.

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Former Sinn Fein T.D. Peadar Tóibín has been in Wicklow promoting his new political party Aontú as part of a series of meetings taking place around the country.

A public consultation process has been launched on plans to address the Old Bray landfill on the North Beach in Bray that is being washed into the sea.

11 months after her death, the Supreme Court has ruled that Catherine Nevin’s conviction for the murder of her husband can be relied on by his family in their bid to ensure her estate does not benefit from his.

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People living near Stillorgan are said to be upset and dismayed after a plan to re-open a local swimming pool was scrapped.

Gardai have confirmed that convicted Wicklow rapist Larry Murphy has been named as a person of interest in the disappearance of Deirdre Jacob.

The Taoiseach has said he has total confidence in Health Minister Simon Harris. That’s despite growing calls for him to resign.

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The development with eight medium sized retail stores, several high quality restaurants a modern cinema and parking is hoped to reinvigorate the heart of Bray Town Centre.

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A demonstration has taken place outside Kerry Foods' headquarters over what is being claimed is the company's exploitation of a loophole in food labelling laws.

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Wicklow and Arklow Municipal Districts have voted to ban election posters in certain areas during this year’s Local and European elections.

It's emerged the Health Minister was told about a huge possible overspend at the National Children's Hospital more than two months before the rest of the government knew about it.

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Two brothers appeared in Court in Bray yesterday charged with carrying out several burglaries in South Wicklow and North Wexford earlier this week.

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Overcrowding on morning trains will get worse before its gets better, according to Irish Rail

Management at Easi Access Transport C.L.G. in Bray, which is better known as Easicabs and Homelink, have confirmed that they will cease operations from the 15th of March next.

A County Wicklow couple have failed in a High Court appeal challenging enforcement proceedings against them, after building a shed workshop next to their house without planning permission.

The visit to Wicklow by the leader of Sinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald has been described as very successful.

A convicted killer who along with his accomplice carried out two vicious murders in Wicklow and Mayo in the 1970’s is seeking extra time to take an appeal against a high court ruling denying two days temporary release per year.

Sinn Féin is once again calling for an end to the JobPath scheme.

It’s being reported today that the daughter of a woman murdered almost 32 years ago, is to meet with Gardaí at Bray Garda Station later this month, to discuss the case.

Four new Educate Together post-primary schools are to be set up this year.

A commuting survey carried out by Wicklow county Council, has shown that 74% of Wicklow’s 60,000 commuters are unhappy with their commute and 70% would take a similar job if it was available in the county.

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A local campaign group says their is still uncertainty surrounding abortion services in County Wicklow.

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Community campaigners are continuing to call on Wicklow County Council to complete a feasibility study for a swimming pool in the west of the county.

Irish Water has today marked the completion of a new pipeline from Vartry to Callowhill, securing the water supply for more than 200,000 people in north Wicklow and south Dublin.

It’s being claimed that over 28,000 acres of farmland in every county in Ireland, including Wicklow, is controlled by vulture funds.

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Tens of thousands of households who don't use authorised bin collection companies are going to be inspected.

The convicted murderer recently won a High Court legal action over data from mobile phones, with a judge ruling Irish laws are in breach of EU laws when it comes to how mobile phone data is accessed and retained.

Autism-focused pilot projects in Fingal and Wicklow among local authority led digital initiatives

Revelations by a food writer and restaurant critic that chicken slices labelled as made in Wicklow, used chicken from South America, has sparked controversy online, with consumers hitting out at Ireland’s labelling laws.

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Watch this video from Wicklow Mountain Rescue on a rescue operation for snowbound motorists on the Sally Gap.

It’s being reported that Gardai in Arklow are investigating a robbery at a fuel depot in the town yesterday evening.

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Arklow is included in the plan, where a planning application for a wastewater treatment plant is awaiting a decision from An Bord Pleanála.

Bray Public Transport Bridge, Arklow Historic Town Core and Wicklow Town is to share in 6 million euro of funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund.

Donard Garda Station which was one of more than 100 stations around the country closed down since 2013,  is due to reopen within a number of weeks. 

An additional funding support of €9,276,390 will assist Wicklow County Council in progressing repairs to local roads in the county.

There’s more positive news on the jobs front in Wicklow today.

Work on developing a new primary care centre in Baltinglass is about to get underway. The project on the site of the old presentation convent has been on the cards for over ten years.

The company says the The 155, which will be launched next month, will run from IKEA -- stopping in the city centre and Dun Laoghaire -- before terminating in Bray.

It’s being claimed that more than 3,600 council houses are lying vacant despite the ongoing housing crisis.

Wicklow County Council has issued a second warning letter to a landowner in relation to a fence that’s been erected, blocking public access to the North beach in Arklow.

A new Digital Strategy for Wicklow is being developed to transform communities, economy and local services across the County through the use of technology.

The number of people employed in IDA backed companies has reached its highest level ever

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A major jobs announcement has been unveiled for South Wicklow today.

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Fianna Fáil health spokesperson Wicklow T.D. Stephen Donnelly says staff shortages in hospitals mean nurses have been left with little option but to strike.

The Minister for Health is coming under pressure to introduce a Meningitis B catch-up vaccination programme for children and young adults born before the date when the current HSE vaccination programme was introduced. 

 Wicklow County Council along with local authorities around the country could be held accountable to the Public Accounts Committee for their spending. 

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The Health Minister has admitted something went majorly wrong with the cost of the National Children’s Hospital.

The Department of Education says it expects work on an extension and refurbishment of Saint David’s Secondary School in Greystones will begin this coming summer.  

Seven projects submitted by Wicklow County Council under the 2018 Town & Village Enhancement Scheme have been approved for funding by the Minister for Rural & Community Development .

Wicklow County Council planners have declined a planning application from Kilsaran Concrete to develop a sand pit in West Wicklow

Organisers of the Bray Air Show say their event will go ahead this coming July.

An Bord Pleanala has granted planning permission for a new Primary Care Centre in Arklow.

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The council says the work carried out by the Greystones Municipal District Office, was undertaken to address anti-social behaviour.

The funding of €4,000 has been agreed at a Municipal District Meeting in Blessington

The head of the Road Safety Authority says the drink-driving message hasn't got through to many younger people.

27 new social housing units have been officially added to Wicklow County Council’s housing stock.

There's some positive news today for landowners in Wicklow and around the country.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Wicklow T.D. Andrew Doyle, T.D., has announced the start of the 2019 Forestry Premium payments.

Seven Community Funding Schemes administered by Wicklow County Council have delivered in excess of €1.6m to 137 individual projects in 2018.

Almost €500,000 government funding has been secured for Outdoor Recreation Projects in County Wicklow.

A large piece of land with potential for a major housing development in Ashford, has gone on the market this week with a price tag of €13.5 million.

Three Wicklow Municipal Districts – Arklow, Wicklow and Baltinglass – are to get free WiFI hot-spots, thanks to a European funding initiative.

Sinn Fein T.D. in Wicklow John Brady has criticised his constituency colleagues, Stephen Donnelly, and Minister Simon Harris for what he says is their U-turn on citizenship rights, for those born in our country.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland has announced funding of €2million to help ease traffic congestion on the N11 in County Wicklow.

Local Authorities are being given access to a 600 thousand euro fund for regional events and festivals.

An average of just 5 people per journey have been using a new bus service introduced for people living in rural areas.

Men’s Sheds organisations across Wicklow are to benefit from just over €14,500 in funding from the government.

Wicklow County Council is being accused of operating a policy of providing only part time emergency accommodation...

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Emergency services were on hand on Monday evening to deal with a serious fire in Bray.

Local campaigners are calling on Tourism Minister Shane Ross to prevent the closure of the Tourist Office in Blessington.

Fianna Fáil’s spokesperson on Health Stephen Donnelly has expressed concerns...

Avondale House and Forest Park is to undergo an €8 million redevelopment...

Irish Rail has announced a total of 322,000 passenger journeys were made on the Wicklow/Dublin Commuter line in 2018, representing a 4% increase on 2017.

Wicklow County Council has reintroduced real time captioning and live texting of council meetings. The service was used at the councils January meeting.

271 houses are to be built over two phases in the fields to the right of Tinakilly House

13 tonnes of illegal waste have been removed from the Wicklow/Dublin uplands in the first three weeks of this year.

Residents in Wicklow are being encouraged to give their views on a new national heritage plan which is being put out for a period of public consultation.

Motorists in parts of Wicklow are paying through the nose when it comes to fuel.

Houses prices have risen right across Wicklow in the last year – although it’s still a county of two halves.

Fermoy in Cork was the cleanest town in Ireland in 2018.

Wicklow has the fourth-highest percentage of homes in the top category for energy efficiency – but that still only accounts for 6% of homes audited in the garden county.

An inquest has found that ten people who died in a fire at a halting site in south Dublin in October 10th 2015 died by misadventure.

Over one hundred and fifty thousand euro has been raised in memorium of Jastine Valdez. A crowdfunding page has been set up on behalf of Outreach Ireland which will benefit her parents. 

Funds raised for Breast Cancer Ireland since Wicklow author Emma Hannigan passed away from the disease have resulted in the funding of a research fellowship.

Wicklow County Council is submitting a number of concerns with British authorities about plans to develop a new nuclear power station on Anglesey in Wales

NorthDoc Medical Services Ltd will provide a full service in conjunction with local GPs and Clinical Nurses to cover the catchment area of Bray, Greystones and Newtownmountkennedy as well as other areas in South County Dublin.

Serious concerns are being raised about the future of the 133 Bus Eireann route through Wicklow, amid claims that the National Transport Authority has confirmed that it’s on a list of around 10% of routes that may be privatised.

A petition in support of an East Coast Greenway from Wicklow town to Greystones has received over 12,000 signatures.

An Independent review into the National Broadband Plan has found it wasn't undermined by meetings between the former Communications Minister and a businessman involved in the last bid for the contract.

A man who sexually assaulted a woman he met online has been jailed for five and a half years and ordered to stay off Tinder.

Five out of 83 direct provision centres around the country are over capacity, while a large majority are close to being over subscribed.

It follows the release of figures by the Department of Justice showing a 43% drop in the county.