Galway Bay fm - News

Call for additional funding for Domestic Violence Response Galway

The resources of Domestic Violence Response Galway are becoming extremely stretched due to increased demand. 
That's according to Senator Sean Kyne, who told the Seanad that the number of women accessing the service has increased "exponentially" in recent years. 
He said between 2021 and 2022, demand increased by 20 percent, while demand for court advocacy services also increased by 50 percent. 
Senator Kyne said DVR Galway must now plan for further expansion - but it urgently needs funding to do that. 

City Council criticised over €1.6m underhand spend on extra car-parking at Crown Square

Galway City Council has come under fire for an underhand spend of €1.6m for extra car parking spaces at Crown Square.
Crown Square in Mervue will be the new location for City Hall, with staff and services set to begin transferring there at the end of 2024. 
Councillors, who unanimously backed the €45m project, were last year given a presentation that noted 150 car-parking spaces. 
But anger and frustration was expressed last night over city officials later deciding to spend an extra €1.6m on 100 more parking spaces without briefing all councillors. 
It was accepted by the interim CEO, Patricia Philbin, that if they could do it over again, they would do it differently and consult with elected members. 
Councillor Mike Cubbard says it's not the right way to do business when it comes to public money. 

O’ Cuiv demands immedate action on major delays to An Bord Pleanala decisions

Galway West TD Eamon Ó' Cúiv is urging the Government to introduce stop-gap legisation to address "ridiculous" delays on planning decisions at An Bord Pleanala. 
Deputy O' Cuiv says he accepts that the Government is preparing a major piece of legislation to ensure decisions are made in a far more timely manner. 
But he argues that will take considerable time, and right now it's taking up to two years for a decision on appeal cases. 
Speaking in response, Minister Darragh O' Brien accepted it was a fair point, but that work is being done. 

Claims County Council ”not ambitious enough” in plans for housing in Athenry

Ballybane hosts key seminar on youth volunteerism

Kerrane tells Dáil morale in ambulance service ”in the gutter”

Local TD Claire Kerrane has told the Dáil that morale in the ambulance service is "in the gutter". 
She said when it comes to recruitment and retention, we now seem to have a crisis in all of our emergency services. 
She referenced retained firefighters, ambulance staff, and the Gardaí. 
Roscommon/Galway Sinn Fein TD Kerrane argued Government has to step in - and quickly. 

Connemara Ambulance Group slams delays over proposed ambulance base in Recess

O’ Cuiv says ”penny pinchers” in Government must invest tenfold in wastewater

€10,000 rise in Galway property prices in first quarter of 2023

A new report has shown that property prices in Galway have risen by €10,000 during the quarter.
The median asking price for a property in the county is now €295,000 - a €20,000 increase on the same period last year.
The report was carried out by MyHome.ie in association with financial services group Davy.
Managing Director of MyHome.ie Joanne Geary says she expects property prices to stabilise.

Galway Deputy warns that a concrete levy will add millions to the cost of construction

Galway East Independent Deputy Sean Canney has warned that the Government's decision to introduce a concrete level would add millions to the cost of construction.
Deputy Canney has called on the Government to reflect on their decision saying that the levy will add €1,285 to the cost of a 3 bed semi-detached house and in turn will an additional cost of €297 million to the delivery targets in the Government's own Housing for All targets to 2030 according to a recent report from KPMG.
Speaking this afternoon, Deputy Canney said that the government stepped back from the levy adding that it is an unnecessary expense at this time.