Dublinbikes hits 50,000 member mark
The Coca-Cola Zero Dublinbikes scheme has today hit the 50,000 annual subscriber mark. According to Dublin City Council, the scheme experienced its busiest ever day this month with members taking over 15,000 journeys on 2 October. It said that since the bike scheme launched five years ago over 8 million journeys have been made and it is recognised as one of the most successful bike share schemes in the world. The recent partnership with Coca-Cola Zero and the expansion of the scheme, which has seen the number of bikes on the city streets almost treble to 1,500 and the number of stations more than double to 100, have made the…
Read More200+ Students Get Combined Funding €16.8m From Irish Research Council
A total of 219 students from 17 institutes in Ireland have received combined funding of €16.8m over four years under the latest round of the Irish Research Council’s postgraduate scholarship scheme awards. Household energy demand, the impact of obesity on motor development, the construction of Irish identity and potential therapies for autoimmune disease are some of the research topics covered. For example, one of this year’s postgraduate scholarship scheme awardees, Bianca Ní Ghrógáin, a student of Dublin City University, has focused her research on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Her research project is entitled ‘Computers, Creativity and the Flipped Classroom: Using Computer Construction Kits in Primary Schools to…
Read MoreExpert finds AIT audiology degree to be on a par with international programmes
Ireland’s first degree in audiology, offered by Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT), is on a par with the standards of similar UK and other international programmes, according to a report. The report was prepared by Prof Gerald Armstrong-Bednall, following a High Court agreement between AIT, the Higher Education Authority and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to allow students to complete their audiology studies in Athlone. He said: “The audiology degree offered by AIT unifies the academic knowledge and clinical practice to produce audiology practitioners who are fit for purpose, practice and award, comparable to other international university programmes.” There is a dedicated audiology laboratory at AIT, which is equipped with…
Read MoreU2 to buy 16 Hanover Quay from Dublin Docklands Development Authority
The Dublin Docklands Development Authority has welcomed the recent approval by An Bord Pleanala of the North Lotts and Grand Canal Dock Planning Scheme (the SDZ), which recognises the Docklands as an art space with a variety of tourism attractions. “The ability to attract tourists to previously unvisited sites requires strong drivers by way of high-profile events and attractions. To date, events such as Dublin Fringe, Docklands Maritime Festivals and Tall Ships have proven to be very successful in drawing large numbers of visitors. However, the Docklands needs to complement its growing visitor numbers with other types of attractions,” according to an extract from the SDZ. “The U2 studios at…
Read MoreSony Mobile announced as technology sponsor to IRFU
Sony Mobile kicks off the 2014/2015 rugby season as it announces its partnership with the IRFU (Irish Rugby Football Union) as technology sponsor. The sponsorship is a three-year deal and will include the Six Nations and Rugby World Cups.The first game of the season takes place on 8 November as Ireland will meet with South Africa.“Sony is a premium technology brand and their product design and performance is a great match for Irish Rugby,” said IRFU president Louis Magee.“We are delighted to announce Sony Mobile as our technology sponsor and look forward to a productive partnership over the coming years.”Sales and marketing marketing manager at Sony Mobile Ireland Russell Keating added:…
Read MoreChange leaders: beyond CSR – MyMind and Boehringer-Ingelheim
Today, on World Mental Health Day organisations across the globe are coming together to bring attention to mental illness. But, while the focus remains on breaking down stigma and encouraging people in difficult situations to seek help, waiting lists for mental health professionals in the public sector can be as long as 12 months, while in the private sector, therapist fees can be as much €150 per hour. MyMind, an award-winning social enterprise, relies on self-referral and fees based on ability to pay to bridge this gap, striving to make mental healthcare as normal as a GP visit. Social entrepreneur Krystian Fikert, CEO of MyMind, and Colin Edwards, general manger…
Read MoreSelf-help support groups underused in care of people with mental health issues – Grow Ireland
Health care professionals must make better use of community-based self-help groups for patients with mental health issues, according to the mental health organisation Grow. Figures from Grow indicate that only 37pc of people attending its services have been referred by GPs, psychiatrist and other mental health professionals. According to Grow Ireland CEO, Michele Kerrigan, poor integration between professional services and community support group networks means many patients are being denied a very effective resource. “The mental health services are under continued pressure,” she said. “In January of this year, one in four people were waiting more than three months to be seen by a community mental health team. By July…
Read MoreAccenture launches FinTech Innovation Lab Dublin
Accenture has launched the FinTech Innovation Lab Dublin, a programme that aims to accelerate technology innovation in the financial services industry and bolster economic and employment growth in Ireland. Supported by Enterprise Ireland, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation together with leading technology and financial services firms, it is open to entrepreneurs from Ireland who are developing cutting-edge technologies for the financial services sector. It will mean that six early-stage companies will get the opportunity to develop their product or proposition under the mentorship of senior executives from leading players in the financial services and technology industries, including AIB, Fexco and Google. The programme culminates in a day of…
Read MoreVayu completes rollout of energy management portal
Irish gas and electricity supplier Vayu has completed the rollout of its MyVayu energy management portal as part of a multi-million euro investment to cater for its Irish customer base and expansion into the UK energy market. The online platform provides businesses with a suite of analytical tools to manage their energy consumption more efficiently and to optimise their electricity and gas procurement decisions. In business since 2003 when market deregulation was introduced, Vayu started out as a gas supplier to business customers and now supplies 22pc of Ireland’s largest natural gas business users. It launched its electricity supply business in 2007 and has seen its market share double each…
Read MoreBizworld Ireland launches new Rise programme for primary schools
Entrepreneurship initiative for primary school children Bizworld Ireland has launched a new programme called ‘Rise’ aimed at fostering young social entrepreneurs. Standing for ‘Rising Innovative Social Entrepreneurs’, it starts with two-day business development workshops involving children working in teams to make their own movie or business and culminates in a competition for sixth class pupils called The Biz Factor. A registered charity, Bizworld has received support from a range of stakeholders including Local Enterprise Offices, Intel, Microsoft, IPB Insurance, Dublin City University, Smurfit Business School and Intellectual Ventures. Through the existing Bizworld programme, participating children in fourth and fifth class are taken through the entire entrepreneurial cycle from writing a…
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