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KPFA staff serve strike notice over pay disparities

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Medical and care staff working for Kerry Parents and Friends have served strike notice and will not report for work from next Tuesday.

The dispute centres on pay disparities. Most medial and care staff employed by the Health and Safety Executive are paid under Section 38 pay structures.

However KPFA is funded by government under Section 39 and that rate is lower that Section 38 employees.

KPFA is having difficulty retaining staff as many to more-lucrative Section 38 jobs.

In a letter seen by the Killarney Advertiser, Marie Linehan, the KPFA’s chief executive outlined her concerns.

She said: “KPFA is losing staff who are taking up employment directly with the HSE or with a Section 38 employer. In the current year, up to the end of July, we have lost a significant number of staff for these very reasons. KPFA fully supports the need for pay parity, and we have long advocated for this. Unions have asked KPFA to address the issue of pay parity for our employees, but we are not funded to do this and we have forwarded this request to the HSE, our primary funders, to seek this level of funding.”

The situation has now escalated and strike action has been served.

Ms Linehan added: “We have in the last week been advised by unions, that following a ballot of their members who are KPFA employees, the have unanimously voted to proceed with strike action.”

Strike action will commence on Tuesday and the staff will not return to work until there is some resolution of a renewed round of talks.

“Obviously, this is a very serious situation and I would like to assure you that we are seeking engagement with unions,” she added, “We also recognise the significantly disruptive impact strike action will have on people we support and their care givers and families and this remains a priority for the Senior Management team.”

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Centenary exhibition to chart early years of Fianna Fáil in Kerry

. The exhibition, which runs from March 10 to March 31, explores the foundational years of the political party within the county between 1926 and 1933. The exhibition details how […]

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The exhibition, which runs from March 10 to March 31, explores the foundational years of the political party within the county between 1926 and 1933.

The exhibition details how the party established itself in a county where Civil War divisions were particularly deep-seated. It covers the transition of local figures from revolutionary activities to parliamentary politics and the intense election battles of the late 1920s. Visitors will be able to view documents and archives that illustrate how the party built its organisation across South Kerry in its first decade.

As part of the event, local historian and author Dr. Owen O’Shea will give a public lecture at the library on Thursday, March 26, at 7:00 p.m. His talk will focus on the foundation of the party and the “bullets to ballots” transition in Kerry politics. The exhibition is free to attend and will be open during the library’s scheduled operating hours throughout the month of March.
The project is the result of extensive research funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. The grant was awarded under the Commemorations Bursary Scheme for 2025-2026 and managed by the Royal Irish Academy. This scheme supports local research that helps the public better understand the political and social evolution of Ireland following the Civil War.

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St Brendan’s College travel to London

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5th year students from St Brendan’s College went to London on their English school trip.

They enjoyed a production of ‘The Book of Mormon’ at the Prince of Wales theatre.

The following morning was spent touring Tate Modern before attending a tour and a brilliant interactive workshop in Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre focusing on their Leaving Certificate single text “Othello”.

The focus of the workshop centred on the performative elements of the play in relation to themes and character development. 

All students performed with great theatrical verve. 

A brilliant experience for all before attending an acclaimed production of the play in the Theatre Royal.

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