Galway Bay fm - News

Local TD says Government "squandering" immense potential to be a world energy leader

The Government is "squandering" our immense potential to be a world leader in renewable energy.
That's according to Galway West Sinn Fein TD Mairead Farrell, who says there's been an unacceptable lack of investment and progress made, particularly on offshore wind.
And she told the Dáil successive Government's who failed to stand up are to blame.

Labour Councillor demands urgent action on Housing Crisis following latest figures

A City Councillor has expressed concern over yesterday's published homeless figures for May 2024.
The figures revealed that 14,159 individuals are without homes nationally,
This figure includes 4,316 children.
Leas Cathaoirleach of Galway City Council and Labour Councillor Niall McNelis expressed deep concern over the newly published figures in a statement to Galway Bay FM news this morning.
Councillor McNelis said that the crisis underscores the urgent need for substantial state intervention in housing.
Speaking this morning, the Labour City Councillor warned of an influx of no fault evictions in the city and that renters need to be protected.

Tenfold increase in Tern chicks tagged in Lough Atalia thanks to volunteer conservation efforts

There's been a tenfold increase in the number of Common Tern chicks tagged in Lough Atalia thanks to conservation efforts. 
Common Terns are summer visitors to Ireland and are listed as a species of concern due to declines in their breeding numbers or range. 
The success at Lough Atalia is down to the installation of special nesting rafts, a project carried out by a huge team of volunteers. 
They provide a protected floating platform that protects chicks from a range of natural predators. 
Dan Clabby of Conservation Volunteers Galway told David Nevin it all started as a project by PhD students at GMIT. 

Councillor Pete Roche elected Cathaoirleach of Tuam district

Councillor Pete Roche has been elected as the new Cathaoirleach of the Tuam district. 
The veteran Fine Gael Councillor was elected to his fourth consecutive term in the recent local elections. 
At an AGM meeting in Tuam this afternoon, Councillor Karey McHugh-Farag was also elected as Leas-Cathaoirleach. 
Cathaoirleach Councillor Pete Roche spoke to Kevin Dwyer about his mindset and priorities, looking at the term ahead.  

Further meetings planned on retaining current base for Pieta House Tuam services

Galway East TD Sean Canney says further meetings are planned with Pieta House regarding the location of its Tuam services
CEO of Pieta House, Stephanie Manahan today met those involved with the Tuam branch, along with Deputy Canney, Chair of the Regional West Health Forum Donagh Killilea and Councillors Ollie Turner and Karey McHugh. 
Pieta is committed to maintaining its therapy service in Tuam, but has not decided if it can remain in the Bishop Street premises.  
Deputy Canney says Pieta has committed to examining if there's any way they can remain in the current purpose-built facility, and another meeting is to be held in a month's time.

Just 6 of 157 new Garda members are for NorthWestern Region

Just six of the 157 new Garda recruits sworn in today are being allocated to the NorthWestern Region.
102 of the new recruits are being allocated to the Dublin Region, 38 to the Eastern Region and 11 to the Southern Region.
It means the NorthWestern Region, which covers ten counties including Galway, is getting the lowest allocation in the country.
The new members nationwide includes 113 men and 38 women, and brings the total number of sworn gardaí to 14 thousand and 23.
Speaking at today's ceremony, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said he's committed to attracting more people into the force:

Noel Grealish demands action as figures show 75% of court fines "ignored" by offenders

A local TD is demanding action - as figures show 75 percent of the €20m in fines issued by Irish courts last year were just ignored by the offenders. 
Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Noel Grealish also took aim at serious repeat offenders and the vast sums spent on free legal aid every year.   
Quoting figures supplied by the Courts Service, Deputy Grealish said in the past five years, almost 150 thousand fines have gone unpaid - worth €50m.  
He argued there's clearly a lot of offenders with no respect for the law whatsoever - and something has to change. 

Sean Canney hits out at "circus of approvals" delaying vital new school projects for years

We have created a "circus of approvals" in this country that means badly-needed new school buildings are taking years to make any progress. 
That's the opinion of Galway East TD Sean Canney, who was speaking in the Dáil on capital expenditure projects. 
He referenced the Trinity Primary School project in Tuam - an amalgamation of the three primary schools in Tuam - which was formed three years ago. 
But he said despite the urgency of the new school, it's still at design stage years later.
Deputy Canney said it now takes a decade to get a school built from the first plans. 
 

MEP Maria Walsh says Dáil approval of EU Migration Pact "turning point" for Irish immigration system

MEP for this region, Fine Gael's Maria Walsh, says last night's Dáil approval of the EU Migration Pact is a "turning point" for the Irish immigration system. 
The new rules aim to speed up processing times for International Protection applications, as well as bringing in stronger border controls.
But the pact has faced strong criticism and opposition - and the vote in the Dáil was a very narrow affair, passing by 79 votes to 72. 
MEP Walsh told David Nevin she was delighted to see the vote pass. 

Local TD claims pattern of renewable energy development in rural Galway amounts to "blaggardism"

The manner in which renewable energy is being developed in rural Galway amounts to "blaggardism". 
That's the opinion of local TD Sean Canney, who's been raising the issue in the Dáil. 
He's mentioned six planned wind farms in North Galway, as well as a major power generator planned near Portumna. 
Deputy Canney argued  these are privately-led projects - being advanced through An Bord Pleanala, with no local authority input, and without consultation with local communities. 
He claimed if this is the kind of development Government wants to see, we're doing a huge disservice to the people of the country.