DonabatePortrane.net

Sorry for the delay in replying. Yes, I'm also in the Gallery but I can assure you that the outages were over a wide area. On the Friday night, it was dark in all areas as far as I could see (Beverton mainly) but the sky was basically dark. All of the burglar alarms were going off. On the Sunday mor...

Surprised at the absence of any discussion on these. As you probably know we've had a couple of significant power cuts recently: five and a half hours on a Friday night a few weeks ago and two hours on Sunday 20th July. ESB Networks aren't exactly easy to get answers from, however having persevered ...

I've mentioned this before but given people's current annoyance regarding the bird scarer, it seems appropriate to do so again. Over this weekend, the tranquility of Beverton/The Gallery has been repeatedly shattered by extremely loud burglar alarms going off for 20 minutes at a time whilst obviousl...

The census data shows that people in Fingal have some of the longest commutes of any workers in Ireland, particularly by public transport. So far, none of the parties has been at the railway station first thing in the morning when I'm heading out - and I'm not impressed. As someone who gets up early...

We're really pulling in the A listers! I'd say we could put in a bid for the Linda Martin on the strength of this

What a fool I was thinking that I could rationally discuss this. The language teacher in question will never teach maths; the art teacher will be relying on a completely different skillset to the history teacher. You are the one defending sub-standard education because you would rather set arbitrary...

I'm sorry, but this really is quite silly. I'm wondering how basic an explanation of secondary education will be required for you to grasp the implications of what you are saying. First of all though, I think many parents would be horrified by your suggestion that a child who displayed great talent ...

I struggle to see why a specialist teacher of languages, history, art, music etc. should require higher level maths specifically. That's ridiculous. If we want to debate the Minister's proposal, let's at least do so honestly based on what he actually said. His proposal refers to primary teaching whe...

Cutbacks in education over the last few years play a major role here. When you increase the pupil teacher ratio in post-primary schools, you often don't increase the number of students in each class group all that much, rather the school loses a teacher or teachers and subject choice is impacted. Do...

I really am getting fed up with burglar alarms going off several times a day every day in Beverton near the wall with The Gallery. I'm sure I can't be the only one. If those who own the offending alarm(s) are reading this, please do your neighbours a favour and invest in a proper monitored alarm or ...

No, it was actually my wording that was maybe unfortunate in the context. I know that wasn't what you meant by vigilant:)

Thanks but I can't say it's the first time I've seen such people around the area. Anyone remember the fight near Supervalu on a Saturday afternoon a couple of summers ago that left a couple of these people covered in blood? I refuse to understand how we can't have robust laws and policing of anti-so...

I can't and indeed I'm sorry for butting in, but if the report just arrived today maybe the first course of action is to take a breath and realise that most students bounce back nicely in sixth year. However, if you really want to do something, might I suggest the really important thing for Irish th...

I wouldn't disagree for one minute about bankers etc and obviously anyone can leave a mess. However, let's all live in a fantasy world whereby individuals from certain geographical areas and backgrounds were not involved in a riot on Portmarnock beach, did not go en masse to Sutton and Howth last Sa...

It's not me, but just to let you know that An Post redirect mail at no extra charge. Simply drop the letter into the first postbox you pass and they'll sort it for you. However, I also got post delivered recently that was intended for a totally different address in Donabate - same number, totally di...

Look away if you'd prefer me to be PC, but I'm going to tell it as I've seen it. For the past couple of days there has been what I will describe as an utter skanger element making its way out to Donabate by train from the city. I had the misfortune to share a carriage with these people the other aft...

Every parent has a place in a parent-teacher association and the Education Act 1998 provides for that. However, it is normal to elect a committee at the AGM every year. You should be notified when that is taking place. I agree that it doesn't look great to be volunteering to help with things and not...

What strikes me about beba's vision for the school is that it's not as if we wouldn't love to see a school like that. It's just that it's a utopian vision that won't work because children are not adults, they are still developing physically and mentally and that is why they need parenting, disciplin...

I was away for a couple of days so I just spotted the new post office getting its finishing touches earlier this morning.

Best wishes to Neil and the rest of the staff in their new surroundings. I know it'll be more convenient for most people to have the post office there in the heart of the village.

I've read over this thread with particular interest being a teacher but as someone with no connection with the local school other than the fact that I live here in Donabate. It's good to see that overall people recognise that the school has to strive for academic excellence. Travelling by train into...

Delighted to see this, as a daily pedestrian. I'd given up on anything being done to be honest. I'd also formed the impression not a lot of people were as exercised about it as me. Nice to see I was obviously wrong. And well done Fingal County Council and whoever lobbied for it!

Jack, I don't have a difficulty with much of what you say but let me come to your substantive point. Did you read my final paragraph or, with respect, are you another of these people who chooses to ignore the actual facts when they don't suit your argument? Firstly, full-time teachers who up to now ...

And what exactly would you suggest an English and Music teacher would do in the wonderful private sector? Or a History and Geography teacher? That's about as vacuous as people who think we should send young offenders to the army - as if we'd like this State defended by thugs. Teachers are profession...

To answer your question, principals and deputy principals generally would be earning above 65k because they receive substantial managerial allowances based on the number of pupils in the school. Moving down the scale, teachers who have been promoted to middle-management (year heads etc...) would oft...

Basically, whatever the general consensus (and obviously general consensus never did any harm in the Irish economy!), I believe that my property is overvalued by Revenue. I am basing that on recent sale prices for other similar properties in the area. My argument is that Revenue should give an assur...