METRO Wednesday, November 4, 2009 D We would like to invite you to an OPENING MORNING on Sat. 7th November at 10.00am sharp. Facilities at our school include: Small Classes Pre-School After School Care until 6pm Homework Club Canteen available from 8.00am Limited places available for September 2010 Boys from 4 years upwards for Junior School Boys & Girls from 3 years upwards for Pre-School; JUNIOR SCHOOL 89 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2 FURTHER INFORMATION: 01 644 9593 / 676 2586 OFFICE@CUS.IE maximum pain be inflicted on people and the threat of widespread strikes. Calling for an agreed national re- covery deal, he said a plan of action was needed to save jobs, prevent home repossessions and resolve the fall-out over public sector pay cuts. Taoiseach Brian Cowen admitted there was understandable worry around the country but insisted anger was not a solution, adding that talks were already going on with the public sector about planned cutbacks. Despite these concerns, the latest KBC Ireland/ESRI Consumer Senti- ment Index shows consumers are more optimistic about the economic outlook than they have been for the last 18months. The index measures how willing people are to spend, based on how they gauge their financial prospects. Economists admitted they were shocked by the results of the poll and warned they expected confidence to dip again next month. Austin Hughes, of KBC Ireland, said the surprisingly strong senti- ment hinted that Irish consumers may believe the economy has reached a turning point. They expect conditions to remain tough for some time to come, but there is a sense that the absolute worst may be behind us, he said. Clear signs of an improvement in the global economy undoubtedly helped as did a further fall in Irish consumer prices and the expectation that borrowing costs will remain low for some considerable time. The report was issued as the Euro- pean Commission signalled the reces- sion was coming to an end across the continent. But Brussels warned that Ireland should not expect to see a turnaround in the economy until 2011. METRODigest A fAther-of-three described as the main expert in a cocaine mixing factory has been jailed for ten years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Gary Mohan, of Coolock Drive, Coolock, pleaded guilty to possession of more than 2kg of cocaine worth 141,890. he also had Lidocane and a pink agent used to mix the drug. the equipment seized included a hydrologic pump, a blender and digital scales. Judge Katherine Delahunt said it was absolutely correct that Mohan be given the mandatory minimum sentence of ten years. She said he was clearly involved in a cocaine factory. Garda raided the house after receiving a confidential tip-off. Ten years for drugs factory expert tWO patients have died at a regional hospital amid a contagious outbreak, it was revealed yesterday. Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda has shut its doors as it battles to stem the spread of the Clostridium difficile (C diff) infection. A health Service executive spokeswoman confirmed two deaths in recent days were referred to the coroner. ten patients have tested positive for the bug. C diff is contagious and spreads easily but can be prevented with good hygiene. It does not cause problems for healthy people but can multiply out of control, particularly in people being treated with antibiotics making hospitals very susceptible to infection. Two dead in virus outbreak at hospital eMBArrASSeD police have apologised for arresting a bridegroom on his way to his wedding after mistaking his wedding party for gangsters. the bungling officers handcuffed groom Xiang Song, 25, his best man and 12 other guests when they simply walked past a used car lot owned by a criminal gang in Kunming, western China. Its lucky my bride had left early to have her make up done or theyd have cuffed her too, said teacher Mr Song. PrOPOSeD new laws designed to open up the bus market to private companies actually stifle competition, fine Gael claimed yesterday. fG said routes run by Dublin Bus and Bus ireann were protected for up to seven years under the Governments Public transport regulation Bill, pushing out other operators. fG transport spokesman fergus ODowd (pictured) said his party plans to put bundles of routes across the country out to tender, as well as introducing integrated ticketing and park and ride facilities. New bus route law flawed A fAther-of-two had more than 50,000 child pornography images on his computer, a court heard yesterday. Kieran Kavanagh, of Newgrove Avenue, Sandymount, will have to submit to random garda checks on his computer while he awaits his sentence in March. he also had 102 movies of child abuse including one showing a child being raped by an adult. he pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the files found on his computer on September 15, 2007. Judge Katherine Delahunt heard the case was at the higher end of the scale and that most of the images showed children posing but some showed graphic sexual abuse. Father had 50,000 child porn images Actors Simon Delaney and Conor Delaney (no relation) star in Stones In his Pockets at the Olympia theatre in Dublin. the award winning comedy show runs until this Saturday Picture: Patrick OLeary METROE-MAIL US AT: mail@metroireland.ie What do you think of whats going on in the news? Or do you have a witty view on the bizarre little things in life? We want to hear from you for Irelands liveliest letters page TELL THE number of burglaries is Dublin have fallen 15 per cent in the last year, according to the Eircom PhoneWatch Burglary Report. Across the country, the figure also decreased by 12.6 per cent. But, according to the comparison between June 2008 and June 2009, Dublin remains the worst hit area. Some 32.7 per cent of all burglaries in Ireland are in the city. When the figures are combined with the commuter belt of Wicklow, Kildare, Meath and Louth, they account for more than half of all burglaries nationwide. This is the first time since 2005 a decrease has been recorded, however, Eircom is warning residents not to be complacent as the latest Central Statistic Office figures reveal a 27 per cent increase in the third quarter of 2009 compared with last year. November is the most popular month for burglaries, accounting for 10.3 per cent of all incidents. Burglaries down 15% in Dublin Consumers optimistic despite spiralling debtBY ellen OreIllY IRELAND is hurtling towards con- flict and strife with debts of almost 23billion. Latest figures show Finance Minis- ter Brian Lenihan got his sums wrong to the tune of 2billion when working out the tax take for this year. Mr Lenihan blamed wage cuts for a dramatic drop in income tax, leaving the public finances much worse than he predicted last April. Predictably, the Opposition rounded on the Government over the miscal- culations. Labour leader Eamon Gil- more said there were fears about the mood of the country five weeks away from what is being branded the worst Budget in Irish history. It seems to me, as a country, we are hurtling headlong into a period of conflict, strife and a lot of division in society, he said. Brian lenihan: Miscalculated Mr Gilmore blamed the looming crisis on the Governments refusal to agree a way forward with others, hard-line commentators urging index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html