Galway Bay fm - News

A protest was held outside Tuam Primary Care Centre this afternoon - voicing opposition to the HSE's "Pay and Numbers Strategy".
The strategy replaces a controversial recruitment embargo introduced last November - but has proved equally as controversial, amid claims it's putting patients and services at risk.
And SIPTU health workers this afternoon came out in force to highlight the detrimental impact they claim it'll have on services and healthcare.
And our reporter Chloe Nolan was there.

Local Property tax in Galway City is set to increase by 15 per cent following a contested vote at City Hall last night.
It's the first time LPT has been increased since 2013 - and it's predicted to generate an additional €7m over the next five years.
It came down to a razor's edge - with 9 councillors supporting the increase, and 9 opposed, so Mayor Peter Keane held the casting vote.
Fifteen councillors who spoke at last evening's meeting spoke to David Nevin to explain why they voted yes or no.

Roundstone and An Cheathrú Rua are the only two Galway areas discharging raw sewage every day.
The Environmental Protection Agency report has highlighted that these two areas are awaiting construction to fix the problem.
Nationally, the number of towns and villages discharging raw sewage every day has fallen from 29 down to 16 since the start of 2023.
However, wastewater treatment at ten large towns and cities failed to meet European Union standards.
Environmental Protection Agency Programme Manager, Noel Byrne says there's room for improvement:

The University of Galway's Students' Union is hosting events over the next few days to mark World Mental Health Day.
Sult will host a sensory-friendly evening from 8 this evening, while tomorrow from 9:30AM-1PM, a safeTALK training programme will explore suicide awareness.
The Chapel will host 'EcoCafé' from 1:30PM tomorrow - a 'judgement-free confidential space where attendees can voice concerns about environmental issues.
Chloe Anderson, VP for Welfare and Equality, says the SU aims to be a resource for students to turn to if needed:

COPE Galway's annual report has revealed a 16 percent rise in demand for its services.
The report, launched today, outlines that the charity supported 3,427 people in Galway last year across its Homeless, Domestic Abuse and Senior Support Services.
The biggest rise in demand in 2023 was seen in its Domestic Abuse services, which experienced a 40 percent jump compared to the previous year.
The report found that COPE Galway's Domestic Abuse Service saw an almost 40 percent jump in support provided, driven largely by an expansion of its outreach and court accompaniment services.
The team also responded to twice as many crisis calls in 2023, answering over 7,257 calls last year.
COPE Galway's Homeless Service saw a 15 percent rise in families requiring emergency accommodation, affecting 330 children in 2023.
The 2023 report also highlighted that demand has risen for its older people services, mainly for meals and other social supports
In conclusion, COPE Galway is calling for sustainable funding to support its vital services, which, as highlighted during today's launch, are in huge demand.

The Dáil has heard that an 89 year old woman in Connemara was told by the state to make a round trip of 600km for a medical assessment. 
Galway West TD Mairead Farrell told Finance Minister Jack Chambers the woman has mobility issues, but was denied a primary medical cert. 
And she then claimed that when the woman opened an appeal, she was advised she would have to travel to Dun Laoghire for an assessment. 
Sinn Fein Deputy Farrell asked Minister Chambers if a bit of "common sense" could be applied. 

A Galway med-tech company has received 2.2 million euro to develop its cancer-treatment device.
SymPhysis Medical was founded in 2018, and is based at the ATU Innovation Hubs on the Dublin Road.
The company has been working with global leaders in cancer care to develop 'releaze' - a device for cancer patients who are suffering from fluid in the chest
SymPhysis Medical is looking to raise 6.5 million this year, and will seek FDA clearance for its device at the end of 2025.
CEO, Tim Jones says this device could be a game-changer for cancer patients:

A meeting tonight will discuss the findings of a recent transport survey for Headford.
The Headford and District Association is hosting the closed meeting, which councillors and TDs are set to attend.
Issues including mobility, transport, and travel on the N84 Route into Galway will be discussed.
Chairperson Aisling Keogh says they hope to follow tonight's meeting with a public one in the coming months, but all views in the survey will be considered:

49 students have been caught using artificial intelligence to cheat at the University of Galway this year. 
Some students have been using ChatGPT, an artificial language platform, to help write their essays for them. 
However, the University of Galway is one of the few third level institutions to collect AI cheating data according to a Freedom of Information response. 
Professor Barry O'Sullivan, Director at the SFI Centre for Research Training on AI, says the third level sector needs to tackle this issue: 

The HSE is still unable to say when a planning application will be lodged for a long awaited new emergency department at UHG. 
It comes despite the fact that it was indicated as far back as 2019 that a planning application was "imminent". 
At a meeting of the Health Forum West this week, Councillor John Connolly was exasperated over the seemingly never-ending delays. 
They're partly due to revisions to the project, as well as the need for it to fit into an overall masterplan for the site. 
Fianna Fail Councillor Connolly told David Nevin it is important that it's done right - but there has to be more urgency.