Tag: county

Dublin County Sheriff Seizure notice postal scam

There is not a day that goes by without some scam or another be it text or email from utulity providers or packages being delivered requesting money and these are non stop all year round. This one is a new one from the Dublin County Sheriff

This scam however is a new one and in my local facebook group a reader posted up a letter claiming to be from the revenue but this came in the post but there is several tel tale signs but it caused a bit of a stir on the group and rightly so.

The letter itself has all the headings similar to what you would get and two big red text sections saying SEIZURE PENDING and FINAL notice. After some investigating myself speaking to the person on the page and looking into the matter it turns out to be a scam as the Gardai have been contacted and also say it is a fake.

The website itself alone looks ropey and all the details match the letter so be carefull as there is two of them now online

This is the other one online and fake

The details below match however there is clues

You can contact us using any of the following methods:

Phone: 01 8603077

Email: info@dublincountysheriff.com

Post: Fergus Gallagher, Dublin County Sheriff, Unit 17, Tolka Valley Business Park, Ballyboggan Road, Dublin 11

 

Here is the letter below and what to watch out for just in case you get one in the post

Esri launches interactive map of festive events in Ireland

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has announced the launch of a digital map of fun-filled events happening around Ireland this festive season.

The interactive, easy-to-use StoryMap will help yuletide revellers to navigate what’s on across the island of Ireland this Christmas. From markets and festivals to light shows and ice-skating, there is something to suit all ages and interests.

The festive map includes a Web App enabling the public to search for events by county and location, to make planning your festive adventures even easier.

Esri Ireland specialises in the application of geographic information systems, helping customers record where things happen and analyse why, with the aim of providing insight and helping them to make better decisions.

As Esri’s official point of presence in Ireland and Northern Ireland it has, since 2002, partnered with both the public and private sector to help them understand the impact of geography on their business.

Recognised as one of the Best Workplaces in Ireland, Esri Ireland is part of the Esri Global Network, a billion-dollar privately held software company with nearly 10,000 employees worldwide. www.esri-ireland.ie

Ireland’s First Cybersecurity Apprenticeship for Local Government Launched

Local authorities are boosting their cyber-security systems with the official launch of Ireland’s first tailored IT apprenticeship programme for county and city councils.

Ten local authorities across Ireland have joined the initiative, which aims to equip staff with the skills and expertise to protect local government networks and data from cyber-attacks.

The Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Programme, which allows employees to train while they work, was officially launched by Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Marian Harkin and Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, John Cummins in Dundalk, Co Louth. Representatives from the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), which has collaborated with FIT (Fastrack into Information Technology) to deliver the programme, also attended the launch.

The scheme features a 70:30 split between workplace learning and off-the-job training. This means the participants are applying the most up-to-date theoretical knowledge to IT practice in local authorities.

When completed, the programme will equip participants with the skills and knowledge to work in cybersecurity roles within the local government sector, and they will receive an Advanced Certificate in Cybersecurity (NFQ Level 6).

The first cohort of 14 participants began in June, serving their apprenticeships in 10 local authorities and the LGMA.

Minister Harkin said the programme opens doors for new talent but also empowers local government’s existing workforce.

“This apprenticeship is a powerful example of how targeted education and training can support the evolving needs of our public sector,” she said.

“By investing in both new talent and upskilling existing staff, we are not only strengthening cyber resilience within local government, but also building a future-ready workforce equipped to meet the challenges of a digital society. In addition, this programme supports a number of Government priorities, including growing the number of apprentices within the Public Service.

Minister Cummins added: “The Government is committed to expanding apprenticeship and traineeship numbers on a sectoral basis alongside established primary recruitment processes. Today marks an important step in building cyber resilience within local government.

“As global vulnerabilities continue to rise in threatening the security of our IT systems, this pioneering programme showcases the dedication of public servants in safeguarding our communities through stronger cyber resilience. This programme demonstrates the commitment of the local government sector to achieve the targets set out in the Public Service Apprenticeship Plan to provide programmes that offer a route to qualifications and careers in a range of diverse areas and to establish the sector as an employer of choice by attracting, retaining and developing its staff.”

Training takes place online and in person in the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence in Dundalk, where the launch took place.

This initiative supports key goals outlined in the Local Government Digital and ICT Strategy 2030 and the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021–2025, contributing to the development of a skilled digital workforce in the local government sector.

The training programme is being delivered by FIT. CEO Peter Davitt said: “We are proud to launch Ireland’s first workforce development apprenticeship for local government.

“By embracing tech apprenticeships, this model proactively addresses the challenge of skills obsolescence in today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, ensuring that public sector digital services remain robust, secure, and future-ready for the benefit of communities nationwide.”

Chief Executive Officer of the LGMA, Pauline Mulligan added: “Upskilling current local authority employees is central to our digital transformation strategy, ensuring that they are equipped with the expertise needed to safeguard public services in an increasingly complex cyber landscape.

“This initiative reflects our commitment to inclusive growth, innovation, and excellence in public service.”

Director of LMETB’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence (AMTCE), Gerard Smith said: “This programme is just one of a wide range of training initiatives AMTCE provides to companies and employees in the cybersecurity space. From foundational awareness to advanced threat detection, our goal is to equip the workforce with the practical skills needed to protect critical infrastructure. Our state-of-the-art Training Security Operations Centre (SOC) enables us to simulate real-world cyber scenarios, ensuring learners are prepared for the threats they’ll face on the ground.”

Click to access the Local Government Digital and ICT Strategy 2030 and the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021–2025

Galway County Council’s StoryMaps Wins eGovernment Award

Galway County Council’s innovative StoryMaps project, which has digitised the heritage of communities across County Galway into interactive online experiences, has been named a category winner at the 2025 Ireland eGovernment Awards.

The project received the Open Data Award, having been shortlisted alongside the National Cancer Registry of Ireland.

Galway County Council’s Heritage and GIS sections, working in conjunction with community groups and academia, have so far created over 40 town and village StoryMaps showcasing the rich heritage of the County’s towns, villages, and townlands.

In addition, historical information relating to 1,000 townlands has been digitised, providing a valuable resource for communities, schools, heritage groups, Tidy Towns committees, academia, and the public.

By integrating mapping technology with text, images, and multimedia content, StoryMaps delivers location-based stories that can be accessed on any internet-enabled device, from desktop computers to tablets and phones.

Cllr David Collins, Cathaoirleach of Galway County, said, “This project showcases and promotes knowledge of, and pride in, the rich heritage of our townlands, villages, towns, and other aspects of our heritage. It presents this heritage to local, national, and international audiences and serves as an extremely valuable resource.”

Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council, added, “This project is a fantastic example of how local history can be preserved and shared using modern technology and innovative research techniques. The partnership approach to developing StoryMaps shows how collaboration is central to preserving and sharing our local history.”

Liam Hanrahan, Director of Services for Planning and Economic Development, said the project places a strong emphasis on community engagement, presenting local heritage in a way that is easily accessible to the public, the Irish diaspora, and scholars at home and abroad.

Led by Galway County Council’s Heritage Office and GIS Department, the project was developed in collaboration with the Galway County Community Archaeology Project, University of Galway, Atlantic Technology University (ATU) Galway, ICAN (Irish Community Archive Network) Galway, Galway County Heritage Forum, The Heritage Council, and local Tidy Towns, heritage and community groups.

Bridin Feeney, GIS Analyst in Galway County Council’s ICT Department, said the project is about unearthing stories, local lore, and forgotten histories and presenting them in an engaging digital format.

Outlining the background to the project, she added, “Several community groups approached us wanting to develop a digital platform to showcase the heritage and history of their local areas but lacked the capacity or resources to do so. Working with these groups, our GIS team and Heritage Officer developed a framework to create StoryMaps for their heritage trails and townland research. Some communities had the knowledge but not the digital expertise, so we worked with them and trained them on the possibilities of StoryMaps and how they could reach their target audiences.”

Heritage Officer Marie Mannion said the primary goal of StoryMaps is to make heritage accessible to everyone.

“We initially expected to train local communities and students on how to create StoryMaps and make this information available as open-source data. It has turned out to be much more than that,” she explained. “It has given people confidence in their skills and fostered a strong sense of pride in their communities. The StoryMaps are used by local residents, schools, academics, the diaspora, and many others. They have a myriad of uses, and we are only now discovering additional applications, including their use in ATU Galway’s Heritage Studies course.”

The Ireland eGovernment Awards celebrate excellence, innovation, and creativity in Ireland’s public sector and are recognised as the benchmark for digital government services. This year’s awards were presented by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD at O’Reilly Hall, UCD.

Giles Newsome, CEO of iConnect101 and a member of this year’s judging panel, said, “This submission proved very much the value of using GIS, open-source mapping data to deliver something very valuable from Galway County Council to the people of Galway and beyond. What has been done here is the creation and curation of very valuable content on interactive maps about places of interest, historic monuments, historic sites right across County Galway. A fantastic smart use of mapping technology.”

The StoryMaps project is available at www.tinyurl.com/StoryMapGalway.

Spark Discovery at the Cork Carnival of Science 2025!

Prepare to unleash your inner scientist as Cork Carnival of Science returns to Fitzgerald Park on the 7th and 8th of June 2025. This FREE two-day festival, supported by Research Ireland and Cork City Council, will once again transform one of Cork Cities best loved public green spaces  into a sprawling outdoor science lab, where minds of all ages can experiment, explore, and experience the thrill of scientific discovery.

With more than 75,000 visitors attending in previous years, the Cork Carnival of Science has cemented its place as Ireland’s largest outdoor STEM festival. Whether you’re captivated by the wonders of the natural world, fascinated by cutting-edge technology, or eager to try mind-bending experiments, this event is designed to fuel curiosity and fan the flames of innovation.

This year’s festival will feature an even more dynamic programme, spanning physics, chemistry, engineering, biology, and environmental science. From the tiniest molecular reactions to large-scale experiments that make you go “WOW,” every corner of Fitzgerald Park will be buzzing with scientific potential!

Highlights of this 2 day weekend of wonder include:

  • Electrifying live science shows in the Circus Top and Stretch Tents

  • Hands-on experiments and workshops to test, tinker, and create

  • Fascinating exhibits showcasing real-world science in action

  • Roaming science performers bringing unexpected experiments, gravity defying stunts and bubble magic to the crowd

  • Nature-focused activities exploring ecosystems, wildlife, and the environment

  • STEM challenges that puzzle, provoke, and inspire

(Additional programme details to yet to be announced)

Beyond the scientific spectacle, families can soak up the atmosphere with street food stalls, picnic areas, lush gardens, the Cork Public Museum, a huge playground, and on-site facilities, making it the perfect place for an exciting, educational, and entertaining day out.Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Dan Boyle welcomed the return of Cork Carnival of Science for June 2025 saying “Cork City Council are delighted to continue our support for the Cork Carnival of Science which is a superb day out for all to enjoy engaging in STEM activities. Once again, the event will take place in the beautiful Fitzgerald Park. This free family festival is essential in keeping Cork City at the forefront of scientific endeavours into the future and I hope everyone will come out and enjoy this great day out.”

Cork Carnival of Science is dedicated to making science accessible, engaging, and inclusive. Sign language interpretation will be available at live shows, and a quiet zone near the Sky Garden will provide a calm space for those who prefer a less sensory-stimulating environment.

Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Dan Boyle welcomed the return of Cork Carnival of Science for June 2025 saying “Cork City Council are delighted to continue our support for the Cork Carnival of Science which is a superb day out for all to enjoy engaging in STEM activities. Once again, the event will take place in the beautiful Fitzgerald Park. This free family festival is essential in keeping Cork City at the forefront of scientific endeavours into the future and I hope everyone will come out and enjoy this great day out.”

Celine Fitzgerald, interim CEO of Research Ireland, said: “Research Ireland are delighted to support the Cork Carnival of Science under the Discover Programme. Science is about asking questions, experimenting, and seeing the world from new perspectives. This festival brings that spirit to life, offering a unique opportunity for families to engage with science in creative and interactive ways. Whether you’re fascinated by the cosmos, curious about how things work, or just love a good experiment, there’s something here for everyone.”

Mervyn Horgan of Lifetime Lab who oversees the organisation of the Carnival of Science said:“The Carnival of Science continues to evolve, and this year’s event will highlight not only physics, chemistry, and engineering but also our deep connections with nature and environmental science. It’s a brilliant opportunity for all ages to see the magic of STEM in action.”

The full programme will be unveiled soon, but for now, be sure to save the date for this unmissable science extravaganza.

For updates, visit corkcity.ie/corkcarnivalofscience or follow @corkcitycouncilofficial on social media. #BelieveInScience

Paradyn backs up critical data for Donegal County Council

Paradyn, one of Ireland’s leading cybersecurity service providers, is today announcing that it is backing up critical data for Donegal County Council with Vault365, an all-in-one backup, ransomware, and data protection solution.

Donegal County Council needed to effectively back up and secure its Microsoft Office365 data to ensure compliance and eliminate the setup and maintenance of its own hardware, storage, and infrastructure. Paradyn deployed the Vault365 solution which runs in the cloud and backs up information to its own highly secure off-site data centre. The remotely stored data is immutable and cannot be compromised by potential cyberattacks on the organisation’s estate.

Paradyn’s solution is protecting sensitive information for Donegal’s 166,000 citizens. It’s also enhancing the user experience for those who engage with the council’s vital services as public information is backed up, reliable, and up-to-date.

Ongoing monitoring and management by Paradyn of the Office365 estate gives peace of mind to Donegal County Council that its critical assets are protected. The council also has access to a self-service portal, meaning it has full control and visibility of the solution. The solution is flexible and scalable in line with organisational growth in the future.

Paradyn is securely backing up 900 Microsoft Office365 accounts for the council across applications including Teams, SharePoint and OneDrive. As Microsoft only stores data for up to 90 days, the Vault365 solution ensures business continuity and is increasing employee productivity as data can be quickly recovered in the event of an incident. The new solution is based on a cost per user model, which is resulting in significant cost savings for the council.

Sean Dunnion, Project Leader Information Systems at Donegal County Council, said: “With Paradyn’s extensive expertise securing organisations in the public sector and local government, they were the natural fit to support on this next phase of our journey. This Vault365 solution has futureproofed our data protection and backup capabilities, and provides peace of mind that sensitive information is secure.

“Crucially, it’s helping to enhance the services we provide to citizens throughout Donegal as the solution gives us full control of our Office365 estate, while ensuring minimal downtime should an incident occur. Ultimately, the technology is built with growth in mind and will enable us to scale as needed.”

Fergal Meehan, Chief Commercial Officer, Paradyn, said: “It’s a common misconception that Microsoft backs up customer data, which is why it’s essential for organisations to proactively protect their critical information. Vault365 eliminates the risk of losing access and control over this data, underpinned by the expert knowledge of our experienced specialists. Hackers will typically target on-site backups and having critical data stored securely in an off-site location provides an extra layer of protection.

“The council deals with citizens’ sensitive information and provides crucial public services to the people of Donegal, and this solution enables the council to meet these needs now and into the future.

Bolt and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council bring shared electric bike service to region ahead of Car-Free Day on September 22nd

European shared mobility leader Bolt, in partnership with Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, has officially launched its shared electric bike service across parts of the area today. The occasion was marked by an event attended by Bolt and the council at White Rock beach. The service arrives just in time for European Mobility Week which starts on September 16 and aptly ends with Car-Free Day on September 22.

Though the council area already benefits from an abundance of different transport modes that crucially aren’t the private car, the service from Bolt offers residents and visitors something brand new in a multitude of ways.

To start, it has an affordable €0.18 per minute charge and no unlock fee. Market research often says that the price point of a transport mode determines its utilisation. Since Bolt and DLR CoCo have the common goal of shifting private car use to public and shared transport, especially ahead of Car-Free Day, this is crucial.

Another quality important to consumers, and a differentiator of Bolt’s service, is ease of use. Notably, Bolt’s bicycles have pedal assisted motors. This means they can be used in different ways to push bicycles. For example, riders of Bolt’s e-bikes can scale DLR’s notorious hills or put kilometres behind them (aided by the region’s fantastic cycling infrastructure) without breaking a sweat. This means they can be a genuine alternative to the private car, and connect coastal towns (such as Dalkey, Killiney, Shankill) and Cherrywood with Bray. Additionally, the service provides an important link with Dart and bus services which helps people commute in a sustainable way. The value this can bring can be seen in the almost 3250 people that have cycled more than 38,000 kilometres since the service launched in nearby Bray in late June.

It is not, however, only users of the service that are getting something new. Bolt is a firm believer that transport needs to work for everyone, including pedestrians. Consequently, the firm has a suite of features and smart technologies which ensure the service is used responsibly.

For those with no or little experience of bicycles with pedal assisted motors, there is ‘Beginner Mode’. This limits the top speed of the bicycle to 15 km/h. Once ‘Beginner Mode’ is turned off, the bicycles have a maximum speed of 25 km/h.

The GPS technology packed into the bikes brings a wealth of benefits. For example, in collaboration with the council, Bolt has implemented go-slow zones (where speed is limited to 15 km/h), as well as no-go zones (where the bikes aren’t allowed to be ridden whatsoever).

GPS also brings benefits even when the bikes aren’t being used. Bikes will be stationed in designated mandatory parking locations on public realm and private property (as agreed with the landowners). This means riders will be shown where they can park their bike through the app and physical signage. Not only does this mean the bikes won’t take up space reserved for private bicycles at popular bike racks, Bolt can also see if a parking location is at risk of being overwhelmed and take action. This could be in the form of the local operations team shifting an appropriate amount of bikes to another location, temporarily disallowing bikes being parked in a specific location or discounting trips from a location to ensure the bikes get moved.

The roll-out of the bikes in these areas is a pilot programme and is subject to amendment, pending feedback from all corners of the community. Feedback of all kinds is welcome and can be shared in-app or by emailing Ireland@bolt.eu.

Though the service will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the company will be employing an in-app cognitive reaction test 11pm-5am. This means prospective riders have to prove they are in a fit state to ride a bicycle through their reaction time.

Another way in which the Estonian company offers a unique proposition is the taxi service that can be ordered within the very same app. This means a wide variety of mobility needs can be met within the Bolt app alone. For example, citizens can ride a bicycle to a public transport hub or destination in DLR at the start of the night, and then get home safely by taxi after public transport services have stopped for the night.

Bolt will further support users taking the right mode of transport at the right time and discourage the usage of its bike service whilst under the influence of alcohol by offering a discount for its taxi service to those who fail its cognitive reaction test*. The company will offer this discount during launch week whilst everyone gets familiar with the new service.

Bolt Operations Manager for Rentals in Ireland and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown resident, John Buckley, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled that our electric bikes will be available to residents and visitors to the southern parts of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown. We offer something completely different – an electric bike service that can get you up that hill, and a taxi service that can get you home safe at night, all in one app. And what fantastic timing, just on the eve of European Mobility Week which encourages everyone who can give up their private car to do so, a cause which is central to our company mission. Providing people with more convenient options make that prospect more likely for many.”

Esri Ireland’s digital mapping transforms the delivery of public services for Wicklow County Council

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), is today announcing that it has helped Wicklow County Council to migrate their geospatial data and GIS services to the cloud, improving internal processes and transforming the delivery of public services.

For more than 25 years, Wicklow County Council has used Esri’s ArcGIS solutions in areas ranging from local development planning to highways maintenance. Now, with its ArcGIS Online system, Wicklow County Council’s data can be accessed in one central and secure cloud-based location and up-to-date data can be made available to the public faster than before.

The scalable system is underpinning the rollout of services to 142,000 citizens in Wicklow and enabled the council to build a new Residential Zoned Land Tax app in just half a day. User experience is improved as data from planning applications is now updated daily and receives thousands of views per day, while planning queries now load in a matter of seconds. In addition, Wicklow County Council can publish its County Development Plan immediately, as soon as it is formally adopted.

Esri’s technology is saving time for Wicklow County Council’s 850 employees as it eliminates the need for software updates and server upgrades with additional storage. Without the time-consuming burden of server management, the council’s GIS team can focus on creating new web apps to improve public services.

ArcGIS Online also simplifies data management, making it easier for the council to keep its 450 data sets current and available, such as information on vacant development sites. The migration has resulted in a six-fold increase in the performance of the council’s web-based GIS apps for both employees and members of the public who engage with these services. The system can handle peaks in traffic without any disruptions and returns search results rapidly.

Paddy O’Flaherty, GIS Officer, Wicklow County Council said: “Managing data and maintaining our GIS platform is so much easier than before. Things that were a chore can now be done with the click of a button. Users can select a thousand features, and ArcGIS Online will still return the results straight away.

“Not only did we migrate data to ArcGIS Online; we also did a thorough data quality review, to make sure that the data we were sharing online was the primary and most accurate data set available. ArcGIS Online has freed up time to develop more GIS services to improve our delivery of public services.”

Ted Taylor, Technical Account Manager, Esri Ireland: “We are delighted to be working once again with Wicklow County Council. It’s fantastic to see them embrace new technologies which will ensure resilience for the future. ArcGIS Online provides quick and reliable access to information, streamlines workflows, and improves programme performance, meaning the council can continue to provide vital resources to the public quickly and efficiently. We look forward to continuing to work with them to enhance these services for the residents of County Wicklow.”

Roscommon County Council selects Thrive.App as its internal communications app provider

Roscommon County Council, has today announced the launch of their internal communication application, RosComms, designed to improve communication, connection, and engagement between all Council employees.

Roscommon County Council is the authority responsible for local government in County Roscommon, Ireland.  The Council has over 450 employees, working across multiple locations.

With a percentage of employees having no regular access to emails, enhancing communication, and promoting employee engagement and well-being is essential for the Council.

Eugene Cummins, Chief Executive from Roscommon County Council said:

“To ensure all staff are included and feel part of the organisation, Roscommon County Council is making sure all information is simultaneously shared with all staff. Our RosComms app is helping us to provide a supportive and healthy working environment which is especially important during these challenging times. We are empowering and enabling our employees, managers, and supervisors with the right information at the right time to carry out their duties effectively and we continue to encourage a culture of learning and development.”

Caitlín Conneely, A/Director of Services from Roscommon County Council said;

“The deployment of the app brings everyone together. All employees receive regular updates including information on policies and procedures, job vacancies, well-being information, video updates, Health, and Safety information and more; this all happens in real time, with no one being the last to know.  Communicating with staff has always been important to Roscommon County Council and this app ensures timely and effective communication with all. “

Antoinette Gately, A/Head of HR from Roscommon County Council added;

“The support provided to us by Thrive has been excellent and very professional. They have advised and guided us throughout the implementation of this app and continue to support us in getting the best out of RosComms. “

James Scott, CEO (Chief Executive Officer) and Co-Founder of Thrive, adds;

“As organisations continue to navigate these challenging times, effective employee engagement has never been so important. We look forward to continuing to help Roscommon County Council achieve this in the weeks and months ahead and are delighted to be working with them. 

“Our goal is to help as many organisations as possible to build better places to work by transforming their communication and improving employee retention, shifting from traditional paper-based methods and team brie