Galway Bay fm - News

Oireachtas Committee agrees to invite Western Rail Greenway petitioners to present case

DPD’s Galway City fleet is now fully electric

West of Ireland’s first Poetry Jukebox installed in Galway city

Concerns raised of toxicity of site for gas turbine at Tynagh

Concerns have been raised over the potential toxicity of the land chosen for a gas turbine between Loughrea and Portumna.
At a recent meeting of the Loughrea Municipal District, councillors said there is fear among locals of the plan to construct the 350 megawatt open cycle turbine on the Tynagh site.
Councillor Shane Curley highlighted an EPA report which states there is potential health risks if the land is dug up.
Senior Executive Planner, Alan O Connell, says one of their risk mitigation measures is to cover the land with new soil, rather than digging.
However, Councillor Shane Curley says it's not enough to simply reduce risks:

Galway Gardai ”keeping eye” on heroin use despite low seizure rates

Galway Gardaí are "keeping an eye" on heroin use across the county, despite relatively low seizure rates. 
A meeting of the City Joint Policing Committee this week heard cocaine is the drug of choice, followed closely by cannabis. 
Heroin is being seized, but in relatively low amounts, partly due to the fact it doesn't spread in the same social manner as the other drugs. 
Garda Chief Superintendent Gerry Roche was asked if Gardaí are worried about heroin becoming a bigger problem in the future. 
He told David Nevin it's something they're always keeping an eye on. 

Aughrim students collect 90,000 batteries in recycling competition

Galway Gardaí ”well aware” highly public feud could ”break out again”

Petition of 26 thousand signatures supporting Western Rail Greenway to be presented to Oireachtas Committee

A petition of 26 thousand signatures supporting a greenway along the disused Athenry to Sligo rail line will be presented to an Oireachtas Committee tomorrow. 
A recent all-island rail review calls for the development of some rail infrastructure on that line, which has been defunct for decades. 
But campaigners say it should be developed as a greenway until that happens - IF it ever does happen - to preserve the line in the meantime. 
Their fear is that if nothing is done, the line will further decay and continue to bring no benefit to the region for years to come. 
Responding to Galway East Deputy Ciaran Cannon in the Dáil, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar indicated he's supportive of the greenway. 

Portiuncula Hospital launches new Midwifery Service to enhance postnatal care

A pilot service to enhance postnatal care has been launched by the Maternity Department at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe
The pilot programme will offer postnatal clinic appointments to all women on day five and day ten after their baby is born. Women will be invited to attend a 45 minute consultation in Athlone, Loughrea or Ballinasloe, and referrals and follow-up care will be provided as required.
In addition, a midwife is available two hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide postnatal support over the phone to the women.
Deirdre Naughton, Director of Midwifery, explains what the aim of the service is and why it was introduced:

4,000 Galway pupils to receive Junior Cert results today

Almost 4,000 pupils in Galway are to receive their Leaving Certificate results today.
In a change to traditional arrangements, schools can access the results online and issue them to students.
Nationally, over 71 thousand students sat the exams this year, an increase of 5 per cent on 2022.
This year saw the second full year of exams in the reformed Junior Cycle, and today sees over 600 thousand grades being issued across 21 individual subjects. 
Junior Education Minister Josepha Madigan is commending those involved for their hard work: