A round-up of today's other stories in brief
HSE West chief warns of job cuts and 100m budget cut next year
Director of operations for the Health Service Executive (HSE) West area John Hennessy yesterday said its budget will be reduced by about €100 million in 2011 and warned of further job cuts to meet the shortfall, writes Gordon Deegan.
The laying off of about 200 temporary staff in the second half of this year has contributed to the HSE West aiming for a break-even position by year end after projecting a shortfall of €100 million during the summer.
The HSE official said that there are still quite a number of temporary staff in the system and that figure will be looked at again with staff and unions in the context of the reduced budget for 2011.
The HSE West area stretches from Donegal to Limerick and Mr Hennessy said that the executive is projecting a €20 million deficit this year based on the October accounts.
Sentencing in porn case adjourned
A man who has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on his computer will be sentenced in February.
Michael Langan (22) from Houndwood, Cross, Cong, Co Mayo, pleaded guilty before Galway Circuit Criminal Court last July to possession of images of young children engaged in explicit sexual activity at his home on May 19th last year and at his rental address between October 22nd, 2007, and May 18th, 2009.
Defence barrister Geri Silke asked for sentencing to be adjourned in July to have Langan examined by a psychologist. A psychological report was not ready yesterday.
Navan bus crash victim settles action
A young man who was a passenger on a school bus involved in an accident in which five school girls died, has settled a High Court action in which he sought damages for post-traumatic stress, depression and loss of opportunity suffered as a result of the accident.
Daryl Noonan (20), now living in Australia but originally from Dean Hill, Hayes, Navan, Co Meath sued Bus Éireann arising from the tragedy which resulted after the school bus went out of control and overturned on the Kentstown Road near Navan on May 23rd, 2005. Five girls died in the accident.
Bus Éireann had conceded liability. No further details of the settlement were revealed.