Galway Bay fm - News

Silage contractors from Galway among last night’s protest over failure to reduce the cost of green diesel back to pre-war levels.

Silage contractors from Galway joined contractors from Longford, Roscommon, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan last night in Portlaoise to protest over the Government’s failure to reduce the cost of green diesel back to pre-war levels.
Many of the 400 or so who attended the packed meeting in the Midlands Park Hotel said the hike on fuel prices was going to play havoc for farmers silage costs in the coming weeks, adding that they were in favour of staging road blockades at Dublin airport and along the M50 next week.
However, Midlands North West MEP Ciaran Mullooly said a committee has now been formed firstly to negotiate with the Government and Minister for Finance next week on key issues. MEP Mullooly says scrapping the excise duty on green diesel must be done immediatelyif contractors are to stay in business.  He says a series of proposals came out of last night’s meeting.

HSE offer further clarity on the future of St Brigids Campus in Ballinasloe

The HSE have provided further clarity on the future of the St Brigids campus in Ballinasloe.
Galway/Roscommon Sinn Fein TD Claire Kerrane says the HSE has given indications on how it will use parts of the land in future.
Some parcels of the land are being put on the open market, and work is ongoing to clean up and repair buildings on the grounds.
Deputy Kerrane says it's now been made clearer what will happen with the land the HSE intends to keep.

Funding allocated for foothpath works in Headford

Funding has been allocated towards footpath works on the Main Street in Headford.
Local Councillor Andrew Reddington says Transport Infrastructure Ireland has allocated €40 thousand towards the works along the N84.
Fine Gael Councillor Reddington expects a contractor to be picked soon.

Cancellation of Bus Éireann's 52 Bus a major blow says Sinn Fein TD

The upcoming cancellation of Bus Éireann's 52 Bus from Ballina-Galway has been described as a major blow to towns and villages along its route, including Milltown, Tuam and Claregalway by Sinn Fein TD for Galway East Louis O'Hara. 
It was announced yesterday by Bus Éireann that the route will be cancelled from the 24th of May, alongside two other Expressway services in the Southeast. These are the Waterford to Dublin and Dublin Airport route and Rosslare and Wexford to Waterford. 
In a statement, Bus Eireann said that the measures are in response to the continuous significant losses being incurred on these services adding that the decision to withdraw from a small number of routes is aimed at safeguarding the Expressway network.
Speaking to Galway Bay FM News this morning, Deputy O'Hara said that this decision is a step backwards in terms of transport connectivity. 

Local TD calls for Junior and Leaving Cert exam fees to be removed

A local TD is calling on the government to reverse its decision to reinstate exam fees.
Parents are being asked for €109 per Junior Cert student and €116 per Leaving Cert student.
Sinn Féin TD Louis O'Hara says the last thing parents need is another bill at the door, amid rising fuel costs.
Deputy O'Hara believes the Government are 'out of touch' with the pressure families are under:

Senator Sean Kyne

Minister welcomes new transport support for learners with intellectual disabilities in Galway and Roscommon

Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports and Leader in Cabinet of the Independent Ministers Sean Canney has welcomed the announcement that €80,000 in new transport funding has been secured for the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board to support learners with intellectual disabilities.
The funding forms part of the new Transport Fund for Learners with Intellectual Disabilities, introduced as part of the Fund for Students with Disabilities in Further Education and Training.
GRETB will also receive €120,000 under the wider Fund for Students with Disabilities, which supports learners through a range of practical supports and services.
Speaking to Galway Bay FM News, Minister Canney said that the funding was very important for people with disabilities. 

Galway West Deputy welcomes allocation of €84,000 for the progression of an Injury Unit in Galway

Galway West Fianna Fail Deputy John Connolly has welcomed the allocation of €84,000 for the progression of an Injury Unit in Galway, saying the project will help deliver faster care for patients while easing pressure on the Emergency Department at University Hospital Galway.
The funding has been allocated under the Health Service Executive Capital Plan for 2026 and will support the project as it progresses through the appraisal stage.
Injury Units provide treatment for recent non-life-threatening injuries that are unlikely to require hospital admission.
By treating these cases locally, they allow patients to receive care more quickly while reducing the number of people attending busy emergency departments.
Speaking this morning, Deputy Connolly said that Galway would be the next logical place for an injury unit to be set up, and this allocation is a positive development.

Midlands North West MEP calls on the Government to refund monies to Irish citizens returning from Dubai and other parts of the UAE.

Midlands North West MEP Ciaran Mullooly has called on the Irish Government to apologise for delays and refund monies to Irish citizens returning from Dubai and other parts of the UAE as a result of the ongoing war in the Middle East.
The flight was supposed to depart yesterday but has been delayed to this afternoon because of "highly challenging" conditions in the Middle East, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
There has been criticism of the government's decision to charge €800 for a seat on the chartered flight and MEP Mullooly pointed out that there was a EU mechanism in place which would have covered up to 75% of costs. A mechanism that was not triggered by the Government until 5.30pm yesterday.
The EU's Emergency Response Coordination Centre also had the capacity to charter planes under rescrub and cover 100% of the costs.
Speaking to Galway Bay FM News, MEP Mullooly said the government had the chance to charter EU Flights under EU funding since last Monday and didn't do so.

Local TD calls for more investment in LEADER programme

A local TD is calling for the Government to invest more in the LEADER programme.
LEADER is an EU-backed programme that supports rural development projects to revitalise local areas and create employment.
Raising the matter at an Oireachtas Committee meeting, Galway East Fine Gael TD Pete Roche said those working under the programme bring enormous benefits to their communities.
But he suggested they could do even more if more money were made available.