Galway Bay fm - News

Calls for part of €13 billion Apple tax payment be spent on groundwork for Ardaun development on east of city

Some of €13 billion owed by Apple to the Irish government should be used to lay the groundwork for the long-awaited Ardaun development on the east side of Galway City.
That’s according to Fianna Fáil councillor Alan Cheevers, following the controversial European Court ruling earlier this month on unpaid taxes.
Ardaun is an area of 164 hectares of greenfield land, roughly stretching from Briarhill towards the former Galway Airport.
It's long been planned that thousands of future homes will be developed there.
Councillor Cheevers believes some of the Apple money should be used to develop the necessary water infrastructure.

County Council urged to support Youth Talent Event in Tuam

New traditional music festival to take place across Galway city and county in November

Major step foward in plans for bus shelters in Headford, Moycullen, Mountbellew, Craughwell, Moylough and Ballymoe

Plans to develop new bus shelters in several county towns have taken a major step forward with the launch of a public consultation. 
Galway County Council is looking to install shelters in Headford, Moycullen, Mountbellew, Craughwell, Moylough and Ballymoe. 
Drawings of the plans are available at Consult.Galway.ie, or at County Hall in Galway City - and submissions can be made until Sunday, October 13th. 
David Nevin has been speaking to Headford area Fine Gael Councillor Andrew Reddington about why these plans are so important. 

Seanad hears of "impasse" on new school building for Scoil Mhuire in Moycullen

The Seanad has heard of a "sort of impasse" on a long-planned new school building for Scoil Mhuire in Moycullen. 
Planning was approved last year for a new two story, 16 classroom build behind the existing school, with a new entrance. 
But Senator Sean Kyne has voiced concerns in the Seanad over an apparent lack of progress. 
Minister Neale Richmond said it is on a capital list to be delivered under the Government's ADAPT programme - but acknowledged progress is slow. 
And Fine Gael Senator Kyne wasn't convinced by the reply. 

Canney critical as new Community Nursing Unit in Tuam only "half open" one year later

The multi-million euro new Community Nursing Unit in Tuam is still only "half open" one year later - due to an ongoing issue between the HSE and HIQA. 
That's according to Deputy Sean Canney, who told the Dáil we need a "wake-up call" about how we're managing our health services. 
He also claimed that day centre services still haven't commenced at the unit either - because of an issue with a door. 
Independent Deputy Canney told Minister Mary Butler it isn't acceptable.

Average County Galway house price exceeds €300,000

The average price of a home in County Galway has now exceeded €300,000.
It's a rise of €15,000 since the last Daft.ie report in June, and a rise of seven percent in a year - but still below the national average.
In Galway City, prices in the third quarter of 2024 were 4% higher than a year previously, compared to a rise of 6% seen a year ago.
The average price of a home in the city is now €389,000 - well above the national average of just under 350 thousand euro. 
Economist at Trinity College Dublin and author of the report Ronan Lyons says it all comes back to the lack of houses available on the market:

Midlands North West MEP says Government must not forget about European Projects in forthcoming budget

MEP for Midlands North West Maria Walsh has stressed that Budget 2025 must not forget about European projects and priorities, including Nature Restoration Law, critical infrastructure projects and increased spending on mental health services. 
As the Government prepares to announce Budget 2025, the Midlands-North West MEP has called for an approach that ensures Ireland’s commitments to both Europe and domestic priorities are considered and appropriately balanced.
Speaking to Galway Bay FM News, MEP Walsh said European legislation and programmes have had a monumental impact on Irish people since Ireland joined the European Community.

Galway TD questions when "sense will prevail" over unaffordable childcare

A Galway TD has questioned when common sense will prevail over the increasingly unaffordable cost of childcare.
Deputy Catherine Connolly was contributing to a debate in the Dáil on what the Government can do to tackle the crisis.
She highlighted how four years ago, a Citizens Assembly recommended a move to a publicly-funded, accessible and regulated model.
But Independent Deputy Connolly said there's been no movement whatsoever on that.

Blackberry Festival returns to the Aran Islands this weekend

The annual blackberry festival, Féile na bPuiteachaí returns to Inis Meáin this weekend. 
The Gaeltacht event celebrates all the uses of this small fruit, with workshops on blackberry ink-making, painting, crocheting and cocktail making. 
In its third year, the festival will share the spotlight with local vegetable growers, and a competition will be held to crown the island’s biggest potato.  
The event starts tomorrow morning, with the highlight taking place at 3pm according to founder Aedín Ní Thiarnaigh.