People living on the list of estates below will not have to pay the household charge of €100 in 2012. Official list . Jan 2012

Barley Hill Court Castlebar Road Bohola
Beechpark Convent Road Claremorris
Belleek Manor Belleek Road Ballina
Black Oak Rise Barrick Hill Newport
Bracklaboy Village Knock Road Ballyhaunis
Carrabeg Newport road Castlebar
Carrowmore Drive Main Street Knock
Carrowmore meadows Kiltimagh Road Knock
Cedar Park Newport road Westport
Church Manor Church Road Ballina
Church View Mullenmore Street Crossmolina
Claremont Manor Knock Road Claremorris
Cluain Abhainn Ballinrobe Road Westport
Cois abhainn Bonniconlon Bonniconlon
Cois Abhainn Kilkelly Road Kilmovee
Cornwater Place Bridge street Ballinrobe
Craobh ban Quay Road Newport
Derry Gurry Pontoon Road Foxford
Duggort Beach Duggort Achill
Duggort View Slievemore Road Achill
Dun Na Ri Dublin Road Swinford
Elm Park Knock Road Claremorris
Foxfield Park Bohola Road Kiltimagh
Friars Court Killala Road Ballina
Gleann Darrach Dublin Road Swinford
Glen Ri Bonniconlon Road Ballina
Glenbrook Kiltimagh Road Knock
Glencara Kiltimagh Road Knock
Heather Vale Garryduff Castlebar
Highland Park Highfield Kilkelly
Lansyn Boheransup Ballina
Lavey Manor Laveybeg Charlestown
Mill Lodge Swinford road Foxford
Newtown Manor Scaradaun Road Ballindine
Plan Ref Pl46217432 (College Woods) Westport Road Castlebar
Plan Ref 021988 Hill Street Newport
Plan Ref 031825, 0730 Kilbeagh Village, Knock Road Charlestown
Plan Ref 041928 Ardroe Claremorris
Plan Ref 043291 (Annagh Village) Crossmolina road Lahardaun
Plan Ref 043568 Murrisk abbey Murrisk
Plan Ref 043679 Shore Road Belmullet
Plan Ref 04894 Ballybeg Bangor Erris
Plan Ref 051057 (lugnalisheen) Irishtown Road Ballindine
Plan Ref 051282 Mayfield Claremorris
Plan Ref 061063 Ballyhaunis Road Aughamore
Plan Ref 062770 Church Road Ballina
Plan Ref 06559 Old Castlebar Road Ballyvarry
Plan Ref 071573 Lisnaboley Lane, Ardroe Claremorris
Plan Ref 982903, 01587, 0852 (College Ballyhaunis Road Claremorris Woods)
Plan Ref 992685 (Quignalecka Apartments) Sligo Road Ballina
Rath Dubh Dublin Road Swinford
Sean Abhain Castle Street Castlebar
Sli Na Misean Louisburgh Road Westport
Slievemore Atlantic Drive Achill
Suan Tra Aghleam Aghleam
The Cresent Churchfield Knock
The Glebe Church Road Ballina
The Maples Hazelhill Ballyhaunis
The Waterways Ballinrobe Road Castlebar
The Woods Turlough Road Turlough
Tower View Ballycastle road Killala

After you register – just click on the “Start Shopping” link an dif your address is covered in the delivery area – you will be able to continue shopping.
You can also register at one address and have shopping delivered to another addresses – such as a holiday home or a relatives address.

The online Tesco Store Locator never seems to be working. It seems you have to register with Tesco before it will work .  You Can Register Here

These are the locations and telephone numbers of the Tesco shops in Ireland
Visit Tesco Ireland Website Here

ABBEYFEALE, Colbert Terrace, Abbeyfeale, Limerick, Tel: 068 51195

ARDKEEN Ardkeen, Tel: 051 311255 Filling station

ASHBOURNE,Frederick Street,Ashbourne,Meath,Tel: 1890928512

Athlone , Golden Island Shopping Centre, Athlone, Westmeath, Tel: 1800 455454

TESCO BAILIESBORO, Thomas Street, Cavan, Tel: 042-9675055

TESCO BALLINA, Market Square, Ballina, Mayo, Tel: 096 21056

TESCO BALLINAMORE, New Line Road, Ballinamore, Leitrim, Tel:

TESCO BALLINASLOE, Dunlo Town Centre, County Galway, Tel: 0909-650100 Filling station

TESCO BALLINROBE, Claremorris Road,Mayo Tel: 949541782

TESCO BETTYSTOWN, Narrow Ways,Bettystown,Meath, Tel: 041 9827406

TESCO BIRR, Railway Road, Birr, Offaly, Tel: 05791 – 69081

TESCO CARLOW, Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Carlow, Tel: 599139140

TESCO CARRICK ON SHANNON Dublin Road, Carrick on Shannon, Leitrim, Tel: 719671551

TESCO CASHEL,  Cahir Road, Cashel, Tipperary,Tel: 062-64620 Filling Station

TESCO CASTLEBAR, Market Square, Castlebar, Mayo,Tel: 1890-928416

TESCO CASTLEPOLLARD Castlepollard Shopping Centre, Westmeath, tel: 04496 62250

TESCO CAVAN, Main St/Pearce St, Cavan Town, Tel: (049)4331422

TESCO CELBRIDGE,Maynooth Road,Celbridge,Kildare,Tel: 16274126

TESCO CLAREMORRIS, Silverbridge Shopping Centre, Claremorris, Mayo,Tel: 094 9372234 Filling station

TESCO CLONMEL EXTRA, Powerstown centre, Clonmel, Tipperary Tel: 526181660 Filling station

TESCO COONAGH, Coonagh Cross, Coonagh, Co Limerick, Tel: 061-327899

TESCO CRUMLIN,Crumlin Shopping Centre,Crumlin,Dublin 12,Tel: 1890928433

TESCO DENNEHEYS CROSS EXPRESS, Orchard Gardens, Cork City, Tel: 021 – 4541412

TESCO DOUGLAS EXTRA, Douglas Village Shopping Centre, Douglas, Tel: 021 4857357

TESCO DROGHEDA EXTRA,Donore Road,Drogheda,Louth,Tel: 041 9878501 Filling station

TESCO TESCO DROGHEDA,West Street,Drogheda,Louth,Tel: 041 9839607

TESCO DUBLIN BALLYFERMOT,Upper Ballyfermot Road,Ballyfermot,Dublin 10,Tel: 01 6266654

TESCO DUBLIN BALLYMUN,Number 7 Towers Centre,Ballymun,Dublin 11,Tel: 01 8421011

TESCO DUBLIN BLANCHARDSTOWN,Roselawn Shopping Centre,Blanchardstown,Dublin 15,

TESCO DUBLIN CLONDALKIN,Booth Road,Clondalkin,Dublin 22,Tel: 01 4593393

TESCO DUBLIN DRUMCONDRA,22A Upper Drumcondra Road,Drumcondra,Dublin 9,Tel: 01 8377632

TESCO DUBLIN INCHICORE EXPRESS,38-41 Tyrconnell Place,Inchicore,Dublin 18,Tel: 14200025

TESCO DUBLIN RATHCOOLE EXPRESS,Main Street,Rathcoole,Co. Dublin,Tel: 01-4010375

TESCO DUBLIN SANTRY,Omnipark,Santry,Dublin 9,Tel: 18429122

DUBLIN TALLAGHT,The Square Shopping Centre,Tallaght,Dublin 24,Tel: 12152000

DUBLIN TEMPLE BAR,40-47 Fleet Street,Dublin,Dublin 2,Tel: 1890928523

TESCO DUNDALK,Dundalk Shopping Centre,Dundalk,Co Louth,Tel: 042 93323353

TESCO Dundalk,Longwalk Shopping Centre,Co. Louth,Tel: 429327277

TESCO Dundrum Town Centre,Dundrum,Dublin 16,Tel: 01-2991030 – Filling station

TESCO EDENDERRY, clonmullen Industrial Estate, Offaly, Tel: 469732680 Filling station

TESCO ENNIS, Francis Street, Ennis, Clare Tel: 065-6829722

TESCO GALWAY,Galway Shopping Centre, Tel: 091 561261

TESCO KILLARNEY PARK, Deerpark Road, Killarney, Kerry, Tel: 646637993 Filling station

TESCO  KILLARNEY, New St, Killarney, Kerry, Tel: 064 6632866

TESCO  KILRUSH, Ennis Road, Kilrush, Clare, Tel: 065-9051438

TESCO  LETTERKENNY,Letterkenny Shopping Centre,Letterkenny,Donegal,Tel: 074 23814

TESCO Limerick A rthurs Quay,Limerick City,Tel: 061 411067

TESCO Limerick Roxboro Shopping Centre, Limerick, Tel: 061-416839

TESCO Limerick , Crescent Shopping Centre, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Tel: 061-229933

TESCO LISDUGGAN, Waterford Shopping Centre, Lisduggan, Waterford, Tel: 51372051

TESCO  LONGFORD, Rear Main Street, Longford, Tel: 043 33 47300

TESCO  LUCAN,Tesco Shopping Centre,Lucan,Co. Dublin,Tel: 16282304

TESCO  MAHON, Mahon Point Shopping Centre, Mahon, Tel: 021-497-2018

TESCO MALLOW, Park Road, Mallow, Cork, Tel: (022)22933

TESCO MAYNOOTH EXTRA,Carton Park,Maynooth,Kildare,Tel: (01) 6549700 Filling station

TESCO MIDLETON, Market Green Shopping Centre, Midleton, Cork, Tel: 0214636151

TESCO MITCHELSTOWN, Brigowan Road, Mitchelstown, Cork, Tel: 025 86015

TESCO  MONAGHAN,Dawson Street,Monaghan Town,Monaghan,Tel: 4771525

TESCO  MULLINGAR, Ashe Road, Mullingar, Westmeath, Tel: 044-9341022 Filling station

TESCO NAAS, Blessington Road, Naas, Kildare, Tel: 045-879633

TESCO  NAVAN,Navan Shopping Centre,Navan,Meath,Tel: 469022872

TESCO   NENAGH, Ormand Street,Nenagh Tel: 067 50602

TESCO  NEW ROSS, Bosheen Road, New Ross, Wexford, Tel: 051-440393 Filling station

TESCO NEWBRIDGE, Moorefield, Newbridge, Kildare, Tel: 045 432992

TESCO  NEWCASTLE WEST, Limerick Road, Newcastle west, Limerick, Tel: 069 66095

TESCO  PAUL ST CORK, Paul Street Shopping Centre, Cork City, Tel: 214270791

TESCO POLEBERRY, Bath Street, Poleberry, Waterford, Tel: 51878000

TESCO PORTLAOISE Laois Shopping Centre, Portlaoise, Laois, Tel: 1890928432

TESCO RATHFARNHAM,Rathfarnham Shopping Centre,Rathfarnham,Dublin 14,Tel: (01)4938527

TESCO ROSCOMMON, Market Yard,Roscommon Town, Tel: 906637474

TESCO ROSCREA, Roscrea, Tipperary, Tel: 0505 22777

TESCO  SLIGO, O’Connell Street, tel: 719162788

TESCO  THURLES, Liberty Square, Thurles, Tipperary, Tel: 50421855
TESCO TIPPERARY, Limerick Road, Tipperary Town, Tel: 6233753

TESCO TRALEE Manor West Retail Park, Tralee, Kerry,

TRALEE SQUARE, Abbeycourt, Tralee, Kerry, Tel: 667121110

TRAMORE, Summerhill, Tramore, Waterford, Tel: 51330558 Filling station

TULLAMORE EXTRA, Portarlington Road, Tullamore, Offaly, Tel: 1890928432 Filling station

TESCO TULLOW, Abbey St, Tullow, Carlow, Tel: 059 9151666

TESCO  WESTPORT, Westpoint Shopping Centre,Mayo, Tel: 098-501250

TESCO WILTON, Sarfield Road, Cork, Cork, Tel: 214386500

TESCO  YOUGHAL, Mill Road, Youghal, Cork, Tel: 024 20233

Homes on two categories of estates will qualify for a Household Charge waiver in 2012 – these are :-
Category 3 -  where  a receiver has not been appointed and the developer is still in place but is effectively inactive;

Category 4 unfinished estates -  where  the development has been effectively abandoned and is posing serious problems for residents.

Note : – owners  of homes on these estates are supposed to  register for the  Household charge and claim the waiver for 2012.
Ard An Mhulinn Ballyvaughan Road Kinvara

Ard Na Speire Moycullen Road Spiddal

Bealach na Ceartan Ballyroe Williamstown

Bealach na Gaoithe Galway Road., Killaloontey Tuam

Bruach An Chaladh Dominic St. Portumna

Caoin Dara Crosheen Ballindereen

Carrig Gheal Galway Rd. Loughrea

Carrig Linn Danesfort Rd. Loughrea

Carrig Mor Danesfort Rd. Loughrea

Cearnog Nua Church Street Moycullen

Cedar Court off Glennamaddy Road Williamstown

Choill Clocha Oranhill Oranmore

Ciislean Riada Clarinbridge

Clochran Kilcloghans Tuam

Clos An Iarla Dominic St. Portumna

Clos An Iarnroid Ballinasloe Ballinasloe

Cois Furain Cosmona Rd. Loughrea

Coolhaven Galway Rd. Gort

Corr an Tochair Dunmore Road Williamstown

Cottage Hill Athenry Rd Loughrea

Cricket Court Dunmore Road Tuam

Cuirt Na hAbhann Oranmore Road Claregalway

Danesfort Court Danesfort Rd. Loughrea

Dun Na Ri Corofin Road Gort

Eallagh Galway Road Headford

Forest Gate/Glade St Josephs Rd. Portumna

Garrai An Droichid Killora Craughwell

Garrai Eoinin Bothar Bui, Knock South Inveran

Gleann Mhuiris Oranmore Road Claregalway

Glynndale Court Corrolough Williamstown

Kilcummin Fields Estate Main Street Oughterard

Leas Na Greige Rossaveel Road Oughterard

Lios Na Si Bridge St Portumna

Lios Garbh Ballinasloe

Lios Na Ndaoner Danesfort Rd. Loughrea

Lorro Gate Prospect Athenry

Lough Eala St Brigids Rd. Portumna

Oran Island Maree Road Oranmore

Pairc na gCon Newbridge Road Mountbellew

Pairc Na Ri Park Rd Ballydavid South Athenry

Plan Ref 011325 Westport Road Clifden

Plan Ref 041866 (Craughwell Town Centre) Main Street Craughwell

Plan Ref 05/2498 (Craugh Tn Centre) Main St. Craughwell

Plan Ref 071155 Mountain Road Moycullen

Plan Ref 091446 Galway Road Moycullen

Rath Glas Kilgarve Ballinasloe

Redington Woods Clarinbridge Clarinbridge

The Fairways/An Mhinleog Tuam Road Dunmore

The Orchard Main Street Moylough

The Willows Raheen Rd. Athenry

Tir an Choir Vicars Choral Tuam

Uilin Church Street Moycullen

Woodview Crescent Moylough Road Clonbern

The old UK channels using analogue signals were starting to get switched off in September 2011 – and many Irish residents who pick up BBC and ITV from Wales or Northern Ireland via an aerial will see those channels dissappear soon if they have not already done so.

The minority (340,000) of  households  in Ireland still use their TV ariel for watching TV  . The switch to digital TV will hardly affect the majority of the country’s consumers, who receive their TV from digital providers such as Sky (625,000) or UPC (375,000)

There will be 5 “new”  digital channels – RTÉ Two HD, RTÉ Aertel Digital, RTÉ jr, RTÉ One + 1 and RTÉ News Now.
In the UK – there are dozens of channels on their Freeview setup.

What Will You Need  to Buy ?

Set Top Box

The Digital TV  Saorview  signal can be received on all types of televisions from most aerials using a set-top box.
There are Saorview approved set top boxes – retailing at about €100. But any UK Freeview HD set top box will work.

Aerials

Some households may need to adjust or replace their aerial:  expect to pay about  €150.
Don’t be conned into paying for a new aerial if you don’t need one. If you currently can receive TV3 through your aerial then your aerial is most likely fine and is pointing in the right direction. You should not need to do anything with your aerial.

2. If you currently receive RTÉ One, RTÉ Two and TG4  through your aerial but do not receive TV3 then your aerial is most likely fine but for some homes it may be pointing in the wrong direction.

3. If you receive only RTÉ One and RTÉ Two through your aerial and do not receive TV3 and TG4 then you will probably need a new UHF aerial pointed at the best transmission site for your area.

Televisions

You don’t need a new TV – but If you are planning on buying a new TV – you should consider  a  television with Saorview built in or look for Freeview HD.
The 340,000 households that currently just view TV via an ariel – will be made up of a high proportion of elderly , rural dwellers and those on lower incomes.

Freeview televisions from the UK will not work with Saorview. But Freeview HD televisions should be able to pick up the Saorview signal.

Any  Television with an MPEG4 digital tuner should work. – Freeview HD uses MPEG4.

By October 2012 SAORVIEW should be accessible to 98% of the population.  Approximately 2% of the population will not be able to receive the SAORVIEW service.
RTÉ is currently in the process of also developing and testing a free-to-air satellite service, SAORSAT, which will make it possible for 100% of the population to access Irish free-to-air digital television channels and services. This will provide coverage to the homes not covered by SAORVIEW.

See more here about the new Household Charge which is payable by all home owners from Jan 2012.

We did a quick survey of most of the County Council and City Council websites on January 6th to see if they were providing any  information about the Household Charge.

We checked the council websites for  Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork,  Donegal, South County  Dublin, Dublin City , Fingal , County Galway, Galway City Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary,  Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow.
Some sites had no information about the Household Charge at all – Carlow , North Tipp, Offaly and Monaghan did not mention it -or if they did it was well hidden!

The majority of the Council websites had just a  link direct to the Household Charge website but no other info or mention of payment or forms being available.

Two  Councils  had a small bit of information about the charge and a link to the Householdcharge website . (Limerick County and Killarney).
Only three sites also had links to downloadable forms – Westmeath, Wicklow and Longford.

The only council that provided any useful information and confirmed that they were issuing forms and accepting payments was Fingal County Council.
Their website informs users that Household charge registration forms are available at all  Fingal County Council cash offices and reception desks in Swords & Blanchardstown, at all Fingal Libraries and at Citizens Information Centres. They also state that Registration forms can be returned  and payments can be made through Fingal County Council cash offices at Grove Rd, Blanchardstown or County Hall, Swords from 9.30am to 3pm Monday to Friday. Completed forms will be forwarded by the Council to the Household Charge payment office. They even have  staff in a  Household Charge Team available on  01 890 6254

Well done Fingal County Council – !

Update Jan 9th - Dublin City Council now have information about accepting payments  – they state on their site that anyone who wants to pay Household Charge to Dublin City Council should go to :  Customer Services Centre ,Ground Floor Block 3 Civic Offices.

Cavan have added some information that Household Charge Payments will be accepted at the Rates office, Courthouse, Cavan.

Galway County Council now say that forms can be collected  from  Galway County Council, Aras an Chontae, Prospect Hill, Galway.  Payments of Household Charge can be made bBy calling to your Local Authority office (By credit card/laser/cheque/bankdraft / or Cash)

Wexford County Council have confirmed that cash will be accepted in any of the following Wexford Local Authority Offices and together with your completed registration form will be forwarded to the Central Processing Unit in Dublin.

- Wexford County Council, Carricklawn, Wexford.

- Wexford Borough Council, Spawell Road, Wexford.

- New Ross Town Council, The Tholsel, New Ross

- Enniscorthy Town Council, Market Square, Enniscorthy.

- Gorey District Office, Civic Square, Gorey.

The average asking price of a 4 bedroomed house in  Leitrim was €179000. In County Roscommon it was €181000.

Take a look at some bargain properties here -
Detached 5 Bedroomed Bungalows under €200k

You couldn’t buy a site and build a 5 bedroomed house for that price!

As expected – the  most expensive  area was Dublin  – with South County Dublin prices just over three times higher than prices in Leitrim.
The highest prices outside Dublin were in Wicklow, Kildare and Cork.

Of those – 61% were living in towns or cities (2,574,313) and 39%  were living  in rural Ireland. (1,665,535)

Top 15  Population Figures of Irish Towns and Cities 2006 Census

1. Greater Dublin  1,045,769  24.7% of the population.

2. Cork City  190,384 (4.49%)

3. Limerick City 90,757 (2.14%)

4. Galway City 72,729 (1.72%)

5. Waterford City 49,213 (1.16%)

6. Drogheda 35,090 (0.83%)

7. Dundalk 35,085 (0.83%)

8. Swords 33,998 (0.8%)

9. Bray 31,901 (0.75%)

10. Navan 24,851 (0.59%)

11. Ennis 24,253 (0.57%)

12. Tralee 22,744 (0.54%)

13. Kilkenny 22,179 (0.52%)

14. Carlow 20,724 (0.49%)

15. Naas 20,044 ( 0.47%)

US president Barack Obama is to make a public address in Dublin during his visit to Ireland  – a nd may even greet some of the crowd.
But because of concerns for her safety people will be  kept well away from the Queen

Onlookers will not be accommodated at any of the locations the Queen visits in Dublin, Kildare,  Cashel and Cork,  – the only people to meet her will be hand-picked. The streets she visits will be sealed off to both traffic and pedestrians.

Mobile speed cameras are being introduced in Dublin and nationwide to try and  reduce the incidence of fatal and serious injuries and improve road safety.

An Garda Síochána, in conjunction with the National Roads Authority have identified secctions of road  where a significant proportion of accidents occurred due to speeding.

These are the “speed enforcement zones” within Dublin that may be  be monitored by the new  GoSafe mobile camera vans or by Garda

Here is map from Garda.ie showing the roads in Dublin where the private contractor GoSafe will be monitoring with mobile speed cameras in vans. (Shown in Red – Zoom in for better view)

View Larger Map

Slow down and try to get used to going slower .  Speed does Kill
This is a list of Garda Speed Enforcement Zones where both Garda and the private Gosafe vans may be operating speed cameras. See the Map of Mobile Speed Cameras Here