County Roads

Tá an comharchumann ag cur liosta do bhóithre chontae an oileáin a bhfuil poill iontu, i gceann a chéile don Co Co. Déan teagmháil leis an chomharchumann chun na bóithre chontae ar a bhfuil obair chothabhála ag teastail orthu a chur ar an liosta. 

An comharchumann is on behalf of Donegal Co Co, compiling a list of county roads on the island which require pothole repair works. Contact an comharchumann to add county roads which require maintenence works to the list.

County Roads are roads which are maintained by the Council
Non-county roads are not maintained by the Council

Know Your Rights : Importing a car

August 2014

Question

I’m living in Ireland but I want to buy a second-hand car in the UK. What steps do I have to take when I bring the car to Ireland?

Answer

Within seven days of bringing the car to Ireland you must make an appointment to bring the car to your local National Car Testing Service (NCTS) centre in order to register it and pay Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT). See ncts.ie to book an appointment and for details of the documents you need to bring with you.

The car will be examined at the NCTS centre and the details will be used by Revenue to assess the amount of VRT payable, based on the value of the car. Revenue provides an online VRT Calculator that you can use to get an estimate of how much you will have to pay, see revenue.ie. You pay the VRT to the NCTS. You must complete the registration process within 30 days of the vehicle's arrival in Ireland.

You will get a receipt for the VRT paid, showing the new registration number for your car. You must display this number on your car within three days. You can buy registration number plates at the NCTS centre or at a motor factors.

You will also get Form RF100, which you will need when you pay motor tax. To pay motor tax, you will also need to insure the car and have your insurance details. You can pay motor tax online at motortax.ie or at the Motor Taxation Office of your local authority.

After you have paid the motor tax, the Vehicle Registration Certificate will be issued to you by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

If the car is four years old or more it must also undergo the National Car Test immediately.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.

Know Your Rights has been compiled by  Dungloe Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public. Tel: 0761075430 Address: Dungloe Public Services Centre, Gweedore Road.

Information is also available online at citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, 0761 07 4000.

Know Your Rights : Vaccinations when travelling abroad

July 2014

Question

We are planning a round-the-world trip later this year. Should we think about getting vaccinations?

Answer

You should consider getting vaccinations if you are travelling outside of Western Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Health risks vary from country to country, so you will need to get advice about this well before you travel – ask your family doctor, the Health Service Executive (HSE) or your travel agent.

You will also find relevant information on the World Health Organization Country List. The HSE website has information on the different types of vaccines, such as those for cholera or tuberculosis – hse.ie.

Travel vaccinations are not covered by the medical card so you will have to pay the full cost for them.

Start the process of vaccination in good time before you travel. Some vaccines take time to become effective, so give yourself at least 8 weeks for full protection.

An early start is particularly important if you plan to travel with children. The BCG vaccination against tuberculosis (TB), for example, should be given at least 3 months before your child travels.

Some countries require you to have certain vaccinations and you will need to show an International Certificate of Vaccination in order to gain access to these countries. Other vaccinations are recommended and you can decide yourself whether to get them.

If you feel unwell on your return to Ireland, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Give full details of the countries you visited.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.

Know Your Rights has been compiled by Dungloe Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public. Tel: 0761075430 Address: Dungloe Public Services Centre

Information is also available online at citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, 0761 07 4000.

Bíodh Eolas agat ar do Chearta : Vacsaínithe agus taisteal thar lear á dhéanamh

Ceist

Tá sé beartaithe againn dul ar thuras ar fud an domhain níos moille i mbliana. Ar cheart dúinn breithniú a dhéanamh ar vacsaínithe a fháil?

Freagra

Ba cheart daoibh breithniú a dhéanamh ar vacsaínithe a fháil más rud é go bhfuil sibh ag taisteal lasmuigh d’Iarthar na hEorpa, de Mheiriceá Thuaidh, den Astráil agus den Nua-Shéalainn. Bíonn éagsúlacht i rioscaí sláinte ó thír go tír. Dá bhrí sin, beidh oraibh comhairle a fháil faoi sin sula dtaistealóidh sibh - cuirigí ceist ar bhur ndochtúir teaghlaigh, ar Fheidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte (FSS) nó ar bhur ngníomhaire taistil.

Gheobhaidh sibh faisnéis ábhartha freisin ar Liosta Tíortha na hEagraíochta Domhanda Sláinte. Tá faisnéis ag láithreán gréasáin FSS faoi na cineálacha éagsúla vacsaíní, ar nós na vacsaíní le haghaidh calair nó eitinne - hse.ie.

Ní chlúdaítear vacsaínithe taistil leis an gcárta leighis. Beidh oraibh, mar sin de, an costas iomlán atá orthu a íoc.

Cuirigí tús leis an bpróiseas vacsaínithe tamall maith sula dtaistealóidh sibh. Tógann sé roinnt ama sula dtagann vacsaíní áirithe chun éifeachta. Bíodh siad agaibh 8 seachtaine sula dtaistealóidh sibh le go mbeidh cosaint iomlán agaibh.

Baineann tábhacht ar leith le tús luath sa chás go bhfuil sé beartaithe agaibh taisteal le leanaí. Ba cheart vacsaín BCG in aghaidh eitinne, mar shampla, a thabhairt 3 mhí ar a laghad sula dtaistealóidh bhur leanbh.

Éilíonn roinnt tíortha oraibh vacsaínithe áirithe a bheith agaibh agus beidh oraibh Deimhniú Idirnáisiúnta Vacsaínithe a thaispeáint d’fhonn cead isteach chuig na tíortha sin a fháil. Moltar vacsaínithe eile agus is féidir libh a chinneadh cé acu a gheobhaidh sibh iad nó nach bhfaighidh.

Má bhraitheann sibh tinn tar éis daoibh filleadh ar Éirinn, ba cheart daoibh dul chuig an dochtúir a luaithe is féidir. Tugaigí sonraí iomlána faoi na tíortha ar thug sibh cuairt orthu.

Tá tuilleadh eolais le fáil ón Ionad Faisnéise do Shaoránaigh thíos.

Chuir Ionad Faisnéise do Shaoránaigh An Clocháin Liath ‘Bíodh Eolas agat ar do Chearta’ le chéile.  Cuireann an tIonad seo seirbhís shaor in aisce agus faoi rún ar fáil don phobal. Teil: 0761075430 Seoladh: Ionad Seirbhisí Pobal An Clocháin Liath

Tá faisnéis le fáil freisin ar líne ag citizensinformation.ie agus ón tSeirbhís Teileafóin um Fhaisnéis do Shaoránaigh, 0761 07 4000.

Know Your Rights : Getting an ‘apostille stamp’

Question

I was born in London and I have an Irish passport. I am getting married later this year in Dublin. I have been told that I must provide a birth certificate with an apostille stamp. My Irish fiancé has not been asked to produce this certificate. Why is this?

Answer

The Civil Registration Act 2004 requires both people getting married in the Republic of Ireland to provide evidence of their identities, civil status, age and nationality. If either person was born outside of the State, an authenticated birth certificate is required. Since you were born in the United Kingdom, you need such a birth certificate, even if you are entitled to an Irish passport.

The Hague Convention (1961) specifies how a document issued in one of the signatory countries can be authenticated or certified for legal purposes in all the other signatory states. Such a certification is called an apostille (in French this means certification). An apostille stamp is an international certification, like a notarisation in domestic law, which authenticates or legally certifies a document.

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (including staff in Irish embassies, consulates and honorary consulates overseas) can authenticate documents for Irish-born people getting married abroad.

In the UK apostille stamps are issued by the Legalisation Office of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). Visit fco.gov.uk/legalisation to find out more about the process. You can also email legalisationenquiries@fco.gsi.gov.uk or telephone +4420 7008 5959.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.

Know Your Rights has been compiled by Dungloe Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public.   Tel: 0761075430 Address: Dungloe Public Services Centre

Information is also available online at citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, 0761 07 4000.

 

Bíodh Eolas agat ar do Chearta : ‘Stampa apastaile’ a fháil

Meitheamh 2014

 Ceist

Rugadh i Londain mé agus tá pas Éireannach agam. Beidh mé ag pósadh níos moille i mbliana i mBaile Átha Cliath. Dúradh liom nach mór dom teastas breithe mar aon le stampa apastaile a léiriú. Níor iarradh ar m’fhear geallta Éireannach an teastas sin a léiriú. Cén fáth a bhfuil sé seo amhlaidh?

Freagra

Ceanglaítear leis an Acht um Chlárú Sibhialta 2004 ar an mbeirt atá ag pósadh i bPoblacht na hÉireann fianaise ar a gcéannacht, ar a stádas sibhialta, ar a n-aois agus ar a náisiúntacht a chur ar fáil. Más rud é gur rugadh ceachtar duine lasmuigh den Stát, beidh teastas breithe fíordheimhnithe ag teastáil. Ós rud é gur rugadh sa Ríocht Aontaithe thú, beidh teastas breithe den chineál sin ag teastáil uait, fiú má tá tú i dteideal pas Éireannach.

Sonraítear le Coinbhinsiún na Háige (1961) conas is féidir doiciméad a eisíodh i gceann amháin de na tíortha sínithe a fhíordheimhniú nó a dheimhniú chun críocha dlíthiúla sna stáit sínithe go léir eile. Tugtar apastaile ar an deimhniúchán sin (ciallaíonn sé sin ‘deimhniú’ i bhFraincis). Is é is stampa apastaile ann ná deimhniúchán idirnáisiúnta, cosúil le nótaireacht sa dlí intíre, lena ndéantar doiciméad a fhíordheimhniú nó é a dheimhniú go dlíthiúil.

Is féidir leis an Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádála de chuid na hÉireann (lena n-áirítear foireann in ambasáidí, i gconsalachtaí agus i gconsalachtaí oinigh na hÉireann thar lear) doiciméid a fhíordheimhniú do dhaoine a rugadh in Éirinn atá ag pósadh thar lear.

Sa Ríocht Aontaithe, is é Oifig Fíoraithe na hOifige Eachtraí agus Comhlathais a eisíonn stampaí apastaile (FCO). Téigh chuig fco.gov.uk/legalisation chun tuilleadh eolais faoin bpróiseas a fháil. Chomh maith leis sin, is féidir leat r-phost a chur chuig legalisationenquiries@fco.gsi.gov.uk nó glao gutháin a chur ar +4420 7008 5959.

Tá tuilleadh eolais le fáil ón Ionad Faisnéise do Shaoránaigh thíos.

Chuir Ionad Faisnéise do Shaoránaigh An Clocháin Liath ‘Bíodh Eolas agat ar do Chearta’ le chéile.  Cuireann an tIonad seo seirbhís shaor in aisce agus faoi rún ar fáil don phobal. Teil: 0761075430 Seoladh: Ionad Serbhisí Pobal An Clocháin Liath.

Tá faisnéis le fáil freisin ar líne ag citizensinformation.ie agus ón tSeirbhís Teileafóin um Fhaisnéis do Shaoránaigh, 0761 07 4000.

Know Your Rights : The Energy Engage Code

June 2014

Question

What is the ‘Energy Engage’ Code?

Answer
The ‘Energy Engage Code’ is a new code of practice which aims to protect energy customers who are in financial difficulty, particularly those in arrears on their bills. It applies to five energy suppliers with effect from 1 June 2014 – these are Bord Gáis Energy, Electric Ireland, Energia, Flogas Natural Gas and SSE Airtricity.
Under the Energy Engage Code, suppliers guarantee that no customer engaging with them will be cut off. The energy suppliers will seek to identify vulnerable customers at an earlier stage. They commit to treating each customer individually and offering realistic and achievable payment plans to customers in difficulty. The Energy Engage Code will be independently audited to ensure that the participating energy suppliers are complying with it.

In addition to the new code of practice, all energy suppliers must comply with certain mandatory consumer protection standards that are set out by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER).

All suppliers are obliged to establish a register of vulnerable customers and to keep it updated. Customers listed on this register cannot be disconnected during the months November to March. A customer in arrears must be offered a payment arrangement, which can include the installation of a Pay As You Go meter, while avoiding a situation where the debt becomes worse.

“At risk” customers must be referred to MABS, The St Vincent de Paul Society or a representative of the Department of Social Protection (formerly called the Community Welfare Officer). A supplier can consider applying for a disconnection only if these measures fail, and only after at least four separate attempts to contact the customer have been made.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.

Know Your Rights has been compiled by Dungloe Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public.

Tel: 0761075431 Address: Dungloe Public Services Centre

Information is also available online at citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, 0761 07 4000.

Know Your Rights : Self-employed people and Jobseeker’s Allowance

June 2014

Question

My small business is not doing well at present so my income has dropped substantially. Am I entitled to any social welfare payment?

Answer

If the amount of work you are getting from self-employment has reduced so much that it no longer provides a sufficient income, you may qualify for Jobseeker’s Allowance. You must meet all the conditions to qualify for this payment, including a means test, but you do not need to close your business or stop working as a self-employed person.

The earnings from your business will be assessed in the means test. The assessment must reflect the income that you may reasonably be expected to get from your business over the next 12 months. Income for the last 12 months will be taken as a guide, but the means test will also allow for any factors that are likely to vary. You should be prepared to discuss these factors when you are being assessed for the payment.

Your earnings over the 12 months are assessed as your gross income minus work-related expenses. Your expected annual earnings from self-employment are divided by 52 to find your weekly means from self-employment.

Usually, you will be asked for your receipts and payments or audited accounts for the current and previous year. For example, if you apply for Jobseeker’s Allowance in May 2014, you will be asked for your receipts and payments from January 2014 to May 2014 and for 2013. However, in certain cases you may be required to show audited accounts for the last two or more years.

You may qualify for Supplementary Welfare Allowance while you are waiting to be assessed for Jobseeker’s Allowance or if a decision is made that you don’t qualify for Jobseeker’s Allowance.

The website selfemployedsupports.ie has further information on the services and entitlements available.

Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below.

Know Your Rights has been compiled by Dungloe Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public.

Tel: 0761075430 Address: Dungloe Public Services Centre.

Information is also available online at citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, 0761 07 4000.