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€2,500 fine for contravening new waste bye-laws

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By Anne Lucey

Fines of up to €2,500 on conviction will be imposed if people contravene new stringent waste disposal bye-laws.

On Monday, at the Kerry Council Council monthly meeting, councillors overwhelmingly backed the new laws which will come into force on April 1.

New rules for waste include: how it is presented on the kerb and how it is disposed of by businesses and householders.

Documentary evidence such as receipts, statements or other proof of payment will now be required for council waste inspectors who will be authorised to call door-to-door.

In Killarney, bins can’t be put out until 9pm the day before collection and must be removed by 10am after collection.

Outside town, the time for leaving bins out will also be 9pm and the deadline for removal will be 6pm.

Illegal dumping, as well as littering from dogs, has reached epic proportions, the meeting heard.

As well as requiring how clean and suitable containers are presented, the new laws aim to identify people who have no known means of rubbish disposal.

Fines of up to €2,500 on conviction as well as €500 a day for continued contravention of the bye-laws, especially where fixed payment notices of €75 remain unpaid, were adopted.

Director of Services for waste and the environment, John Breen, said the Department of Communication, Climate Action and Environment’s scheme piloted in Sligo in March 2018 would be adopted in Kerry. This is a scheme were Eircodes are used to identify households who are or are not signed up with authorised collectors.

Householders are obliged to provide their waste contractor with their Eircode, and these codes are then provided to the council.

Householders, not registered with a waste collector and bringing waste to a civic amenity site will also be asked to provide an Eircode when paying.

Persons who have provided their Eircode are excluded from council  investigations.

However, it was not made clear how many new officials will have to be employed in the new inspection and cross checking processes by the council.

 

Filthy bins were being put out a small number of premises in Killarney, Cllr Michael Gleeson said. And there was no point introducing bye-laws unless they were enforced, he said.

Cllr Donal Grady said it was disgraceful the way some people in Killarney town stored bins and said planning had been given without allowing for bin storage. At night bins were practically “dumped” at the side of streets. He recalled when no one was allowed put out a bin until 7am the morning of collection.

“We had lovely clean streets then,” the councillor said.

Even during the town council a survey of householders showed 13 percent could not tell what they were doing with their waste, he said.

Littering had generally increased since the Council got out of waste collection and prices had increased, Independent Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae said.

The Council was therefore the cause of a lot of the litter problems and instead of calling to the homes of old ladies wondering where they were “discarding their few tea bags and bread wrappers” the Council should concentrate on the litter and dumping black spots which were well known in every area, he said.

 

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Kerry coaches firm honoured with All-Ireland title

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Kerry Coaches named All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company of the Year 2025

Killarney-based Kerry Coaches has been named All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company of the Year 2025 by the All-Ireland Business Foundation. This recognition also marks Kerry Coaches’ second Business All-Star Accreditation, having received its first accolade in 2024.

Founded in 1957, Kerry Coaches has established itself as a leader in the Irish transport industry, known for its exceptional service and commitment to quality.  With a fleet of over 100 modern chauffeur vehicles, mini-buses and coaches the company provides a wide range of transport services, including corporate travel, executive golf transportation and bespoke tours throughout Ireland and Scotland.

 Speaking on the achievement, Mike Buckley, Director of Kerry Coaches, said:

“We are incredibly proud to receive this national recognition from the All-Ireland Business Foundation. It’s a true reflection of the dedication, professionalism, and passion shown by every member of our team. Our mission has always been to deliver exceptional travel experiences, and this award reaffirms our position as a leader in the industry.”

Announcing the news of Kerry Coaches’ achievement, Deputy Chair of AIBF’s Adjudication Board, Kieran Ring, said: “It is my pleasure to commend Kerry Coaches for its outstanding performance in achieving the Business All-Star accreditation. After a thorough review, the firm has been honoured with All-Ireland All-Star Bus & Coach Company Of The Year 2025. Kerry Coaches is distinguished not only for its superior fleet but also for its exceptional team, some of whom have been with the company for over 25 years. This seasoned team brings an extraordinary level of knowledge and expertise, ensuring that every client experience is exceptional.”         

Managing   Director   of   the   All-Ireland   Business   Foundation, Kapil   Khanna, said:  “The accreditation, which is now held by over 700 firms, is needed by the thousands of small and medium businesses which operate to their own standards but have nothing to measure them by.”

He   added: “We   evaluate   a   company’s   background, trustworthiness and performance, and we speak to customers, employees and vendors. We also anonymously approach the company as a customer and report back on the experience. The business goes through at least two interviews and is scored on every part of the process against set metrics.”

About The All-Ireland Business Foundation

The All-Ireland Business Foundation is an autonomous national accreditation body tasked with enterprise development and the promotion of Best-in-Class Irish businesses.

As the accreditation body for the Business All-Star mark, the AIBF recognises Best-In-Class Irish 

businesses.   Companies   that   merit   recognition   based   on   an   independent   audit   of   their performance, reputation, and customer-centricity.

Business All-Star Accreditation Is The Nation’s Symbol Of Trust. Currently, there are over 700 

companies that are accredited by AIBF. Since 2014, over 5000 companies have participated in their programmes.

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Trainee Blacksmith forging a career at Muckross Traditional Farms

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Phillip Pestor-Young, a trainee blacksmith from County Kildare, is currently gaining experience under Master Blacksmith Tom Allison at Muckross Traditional Farms.

Pestor-Young is enrolled in the All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme. This programme is a cross-border educational initiative by the King’s Foundation, The Heritage Council, and the Historic Environment Division in Northern Ireland. 

Prior to moving to Ireland in 2019, Phillip trained as an engineer and fabricator in the UK. He is now developing his blacksmithing skills in Kerry.

For more information on the program, visit https://kings-foundation.org/study/all-ireland-heritage-skills-programme/.

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