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HEALTH&HABITAT

August/September 2012 www.esb.ie/em

GRANTS FOR STUDENTS in further and higher education

EAP NOTICEBOARD

STUDENT GRANTS, available for approved courses in an approved institution, are divided into maintenance grants, fee grants and the postgraduate fee contribution. In general, if you qualify for a maintenance grant you will qualify for all elements of the fee grant.

Income limits for maintenance grant and full fee grant
The family income limits for eligibility for a maintenance grant in 2012-2013 are set out below. These limits also qualify you in respect of the fee grant (if you are otherwise eligible).

Income limits for partial fee grant
The family income limits for eligibility for a partial fee grant in 2012-2013 are set out below.

The reckonable income limits, above, may be increased, as follows, for each additional family member who is pursuing a full-time course of at least one year’s duration:

• In full maintenance and partial fee grant categories by €4,980 where there are two such family members, €9,960 where there are three such family members and so on, by increments of €4,980
• In part maintenance 75%, 50% and 25% categories by €4,815 where there are two such family members, €9,630 where there are three such family members and so on, by increments of €4,815

If you are an independent applicant, the family member taken into account is your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant. If you are dependent on your parents, the family members taken into account are your parent(s) and, if any, their other dependent children.

Income limits for postgraduate fee contribution
The family income limits for eligibility for a postgraduate fee contribution in 2012-2013 are set out below.

The reckonable income limits may be increased by €4,980 for each additional family member who is pursuing a full-time course of at least one year’s duration

Maintenance grant rates for 2012

For students who live 45 km or less from the college being attended, the adjacent rate of maintenance grant is payable.

HOW TO APLY AND FURTHER INFORMATION:
From 2012-2013 on, Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), which has been nominated as the new single grant-awarding authority, is handling all new applications for student grants. All new grant applications will be made online. The closing date is the end of August, but you should apply as soon as possible.

SUSI’s helpdesk: Tel: 0761 08 7874 Email: support@susi.cdvec.ie www.studentfinance.ie

Renewals of existing grants will be handled by the authority that issued them initially. The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is a confidential service provided to ESB Staff and Pensioners. For further information on this or any related matter contact your local EAP Officer.

ESB WASTE WATCHERS TEAM

Disposable Cups/Coffee Cups: Where do they end up?

WHERE WILL YOUR disposable coffee cup end up? Not in the recycling.

Annually over 500 billion disposable cups are manufactured throughout the world resulting in millions of tonnes of waste. It’s the mix of materials in the cups that make recycling coffee cups impossible. Disposable cups are mostly made of cardboard (about 95% by weight) but also contain about 5% polyethylene in the form of a thin coating inside the cup, to stop your cup from going soggy.

As the cardboard cannot be efficiently separated from the plastic the cups cannot be recycled. They are often also impregnated with toxic dyes which add to the difficulty in recycling.

Instead disposable cups go to landfill where they can take more than 50 years to biodegrade. On average, each disposable cup contains 5% of the raw materials used in the manufacture and delivery. All ending up in landfill.

This is why reduce is the first principle of sustainability.

Another interesting fact is that when milk is added the milk residue is now a contaminant also.

So be conscious the next time you get your hot drinks, that disposable cups are not recyclable and should always go in the red bin.

To reduce disposable cups contaminating our recycling materials in ESB, the ESB Waste Watchers Team will be trialling disposable cup bins in three different ESB office locations shortly.

A better alternative is to ditch disposable cups altogether and choose one of the many sustainable cup options available.

Over-the-Hills hikers have over 30 hikes

Monthly Hiking in Wicklow

LOOKING FOR a sociable and active way to spend your Mondays? Fancy exploring the valleys, lakes and cafes of the Garden County? Then join the Over The Hills hiking group on our monthly Monday rambles in the Wicklow Hills. After two years traipsing the cul-de-sacs and wrongs-of-way of Wicklow, with 30 hikes completed and with no rabbits endangered to date, we would welcome sheep-fearing hikers to join our group.

If you would like to join us for occasional Monday rambles in the Wicklow Hills, then contact Dominic on 087 6474629 or email dominiccolbert@gmail.com.

Can I have zzzzzzz with that?

MIRIAM MCDONALD

NATURAL HEALTH

In today’s busy world, many people complain of being tired and/or of not having enough sleep. Lack of sufficient sleep can be due to a number of factors, including poor sleep routines, to bad diet and/or little exercise. If you suffer from excessive tiredness or insufficient sleep, here are some things to consider:

GET TO BED BEFORE MIDNIGHT:
Many of the brain’s recuperative processes take place early in the night, particularly before midnight. Make a decision to be in bed at least an hour before midnight and build this into your routine no matter what.

REDUCE YOUR ALCOHOL INTAKE:
Drinking alcohol may help you fall asleep, but will wake you up during the night. Reduce your alcohol intake and restrict it to those nights when sleep is less important.

EAT YOUR EVENING MEAL BEFORE 8PM:
A heavy meal before bed may keep you awake as your body copes with digestion. It may also cause heartburn or other side effects and disrupt sleep. Aim to have your main meal finished by 7.30 to 8pm.

AVOID CAFFEINE IN THE EVENINGS:
Caffeine makes you more alert so don’t drink coffee, tea or fizzy drinks containing caffeine after a late meal or close to bed time. Opt for herbal teas instead – peppermint tea is particularly good in helping digestion; chamomile tea will help you relax.

TAKE A LITTLE EXERCISE: Consider a walk after your evening meal, which will help digestion and relaxation. Be careful though, as exercise too close to sleep can wake you up. So have your walk about an hour before bedtime.

CONSIDER A NATURAL REMEDY: There are a range of natural remedies that can help with sleep and tiredness. Valerian, found growing all around Ireland, is widely used for insomnia and doesn’t cause groggy side-effects the next day. Valerian doesn’t work for everyone, however, especially those with racing minds, and an alternative is passionflower, or passiflora, which is an excellent sleep remedy. Both are non-addictive and available from health stores.

EAT A HEALTHY DIET: Finally, ensure you eat a healthy diet with plenty of protein, fruit and vegetables, which will give your brain and body the essential building blocks for energy. This is particularly important if you are under prolonged stress. There are a number of ‘rejuvenating’ supplements also available to help with concentration and energy. However, as a first step get your diet and exercise working for you. If you do need something further, it should be as a shortterm measure only.

Hopefully, a combination of the above will result in increased energy but, as always, if you are experiencing unexplained tiredness or shortness of breath you should always consult your doctor.

Miriam McDonald is a Nutritional Consultant & Practitioner (CANNP). She can be contacted at miriam.mcdonald@freshperceptions.com