Dede Sophie

A scheme to provide licensed hauliers with support for their increased energy costs has been approved by the Cabinet, writes Brian Byrne. Under the initiative, the Licensed Haulage Support Scheme 2023 will target higher levels of support at smaller operators that are facing increased operating and fuel costs.  A graduated payment basis will see €1,200 each provided for the first five vehicles on a licence, €700 for vehicles six to 20, and €200 for each vehicle thereafter. The scheme will be administered by the Department of Transport and will cover eligible heavy goods vehicles authorised on the licence of a current road haulage operator as of 15 December 2022.  

Mitchell Maxwell, a Tony Award-winning producer, director and 35-year veteran of the entertainment industry, has come out with his new novel, LITTLE DID I KNOW (Prospecta Press; October 5, 2011; $25.00) written in classic roman á clef style. This is a daring coming-of-age tale filled with romance, laughter, heartbreak and applause about a young entrepreneur who sets the stage for fledgling artists while living a life so many aspire to but never realize. Told with compassion and the kind of detail only a Broadway veteran like Mitchell Maxwell can provide, LITTLE DID I KNOW is a novel about being in the spotlight and embracing destiny in a single season. EXCERPT: Only a handful of us remained now that the late hour had become early dawn. My best friend, Secunda, who had acted confidently, brilliantly in many of our shows lamented, “Now what do we do? This ride can’t just end. Figure something out, Sammy.” “Yeah, we need to keep that torch burning,” Secunda’s younger brother ...