Antigen test kits for sale at a Dunnes Stores branch in Dublin this morning

This afternoon.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly earlier told RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne that the government has scrapped a subsidy for antigen tests as the price of kits had fallen. He said kits which had been broadly retailing at €8 per test were now under €5 and within reach and that the ‘market has done it itself’.

Social Democrats Health Spokesperson Róisín Shortall responded:

“It beggars belief that Health Minister Stephen Donnelly would announce a U-turn of this scale, as an aside in a media interview, on RTE radio – after senior ministers spent weeks assuring people a subsidy scheme was nearing completion.

“At the start of the month, Nphet changed its advice on antigen tests and advised that anyone engaged in so-called risky activities – which can be summarised as, leaving your home to meet people indoors – should take two antigen tests per week.

“In recognition of the increased financial burden this places on households, particularly low income households, the government opted to provide a subsidy for antigen tests, rather than offer them free of charge.

“Now we learn that because antigen tests are available in certain retailers for approximately €3 or €4 a test, the government is scrapping its proposed subsidy. Apparently, it believes that this is an affordable price for households to absorb.

“This again shows how out of touch this government has become. It has no comprehension of the financial struggles that ordinary people in Ireland are enduring. Antigen tests that are €3 or €4 each may be affordable for government ministers, but they are priced out of reach of many low and middle income workers and families.”

Health Minister says subsidy for antigen tests ‘unnecessary’ after retail price reductions (RTE)

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Protestors outside The Cobblestone, North King Street, Smithfield, Dublin 7, one of the best known traditional Irish music pubs in Dublin last September.

This afternoon.

Smithfield, Dublin 7.

Via RTE news:

Dublin City Council has refused planning permission for a hotel to be built around the Cobblestone pub in Smithfield.

Marron Estates had applied to the council for permission to construct a nine-storey hotel at 77-80 North King Street.

The development would have meant the partial demolition of one of Dublin’s most famous traditional music pubs.

Hundreds of objections were lodged with the council and demonstrations were held to save the pub.

Refusing planning permission the council stated the development would be “overbearing and significantly out of scale and character with the prevailing architectural context“.

Permission refused for hotel near Cobblestone pub (RTE)

Paul Callan – Falling

Better call Paul.

Louth’s finest purveyor of indie guitar tunesmithery is back with the latest in his monthly series.

Paul writes:

“This is a short documentary on some of the many ways in which you can crash land on love’s dirt road from falling in love to falling flat on your backside.

“It is truly an indie song as it is packed with melody and is also short and sweet. The sound is a result of all of the beautiful guitars and vocal melodies that have poured into me. The very essence of a pop song with the most beautiful raw edge!

“This year I have been putting out one song every month. These can now be found wherever you like to listen to music. All of these songs will be released early next year as an album.

“All work emanates from my one-roomed cabin in the deepest darkest woods of Ireland’s north east.”

Nick says: Play very Louth.

Paul Callan

Ah here.

Yesterday.

Via EuroNews:

Czech centre-right opposition leader Petr Fiala has been appointed as the country’s new prime minister on Sunday after October legislative elections ousted billionaire Andrej Babis.

President Milos Zeman who is in a wheelchair and suffering from COVID-19, led the unusual ceremony from his Prague residence, protected by a plastic barrier.

Sign of the times as COVID-positive president appoints new Czech PM (EuroNews)

Blimey.

This morning.

100 per cent of over-70s!

Granny’s saved.

Earlier: “It Is Likely It Is Here”

Via Ireland Vaccine Status

Meanwhile…

St Patrick Park,  Dublin 8

This morning.

Via The Irish Times:

Dubliners are to be “paid” for a walk in the park with “Civic Dollars” they can cash in for coffee and cake and other goods and services, in an effort to encourage outdoor exercise.

Visitors to five parks in the Dublin 8 area can earn the community currency if they sign up for a new smart phone app to allow Dublin City Council to track their park use.

The scheme is being piloted in the area from the Liberties to Inchicore, following research by the council’s Smart D8 team which found just 40 per cent of local residents took regular exercise, but 92 per cent said they would use a park for exercise if it was available to them.

Visitors to St Audoen’s Park, St Patrick’s Park, Weaver Park and Oscar Square in the Liberties, and Grattan Park in Inchicore who use the app will be rewarded with Civic Dollars for every 30 minutes they spend in the park up to a limit of 5 dollars a day.

Hmm.

It’s a walk in the park: Dubs get exercised over digital dollars (Irish Times)

RollingNews

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