Two people were taken to hospital to be treated for their injuries after a car crash in Galway City on St Patrick’s Day.
Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of a crash on the N59 at Bushypark yesterday evening.
The single car collision occurred at approximately 5:10pm on Friday.
A man in his 20s and a woman in her 30s were taken to University Hospital Galway to be treated for their injuries.
The landmark McSwiggan’s bar and restaurant is celebrating a milestone in its history, having been a part of Galway life for close to 40 years.
During that time it has evolved from a lively country store trading potatoes in the iconic Woodquay Market to now being a welcoming place to eat the best of what Ireland has to offer on a plate.
Working with local suppliers and producers is why McSwiggans Steak + Seafood Restaurant has held its place on the very reputable Galway food scene map.
McSwiggans has been led by General Manager Johnny Rockett and staff of 45+ since 2019. The building has undergone a big exterior facelift and the inside has been reimagined with each floor bringing its own personality to accompany the award-winning service and food.
This March, they are launching the Atlantic Room at McSwiggans, an event space for intimate weddings, special birthdays, and corporate events for up to 100 people.
Guests will be treated to custom food and drinks menus in the private setting on the top floor making each event a unique and truly personal experience.
The menu at McSwiggans celebrates the best of Irish meat, fish and in season vegetables as well as home baked breads and desserts. The Sunday Roast and their Oyster Bar are bringing a unique offering to the dining scene in Galway.
Downstairs the new Whiskey Bar is bringing the best of whiskey from across Ireland and the world to enjoy on a high stool or beside the open fire.
A choice of over 100 different whiskeys with some limited or exclusive to McSwiggans have been hand selected and tasted by the bar team.
The have a passion for seeking out the most robust, smooth and interesting flavours from the whiskey distilleries from across the globe. This bar is open to the public and can be hired privately for tasting and private corporate events.
McSwiggans Steak + Seafood Restaurant is open 7 days a week with Sunday Lunch starting at 1pm and dinner starts from 6pm.
Weekday lunch is served from 12 noon in the bar until 4pm with dinner beginning at 6pm. Pop in or check out McSwiggans Steak + Seafood Restaurant across social media channels, www.mcswiggans.ie or phone 091-568917.
Caitríona finds old secrets, Vera has an ultimatum for Berni, and Malachaí won’t stop trying to control Sadie in Ros na Rún.
Caitríona, much to her delight, discovers old diaries belonging to her father, and grandfather in her mother’s house. But will they be of any help to her in her campaign?
Vera, when told Berni intends on reporting her to the Gardaí, stops her by revealing what she heard on the spy cam.
Manus, feeling guilty for not coming to John Joe’s aid, is reluctant to visit him in the hospital. Will Conall convince him otherwise?
Malachaí is angry that Sadie intends on staying in Italy for a month, and goes to great lengths to stop her.
Michelle wants to let bygones be bygones and make up with Sorcha until she discovers Sorcha slept with Mack, behind Sonia’s back.
Catch up on all of this and more in a double feature omnibus of Ros na Rún on TG4 this Sunday at 7:30pm.
The Galway RNLI Lifeboat and fire service were both called out to help a swimmer in distress off Salthill on St Patrick’s Day.
At approximately 9:35am on Friday, the coast guard relayed reports of a swimmer in difficulty off Blackrock Diving Tower in Salthill.
The lifeboat was quickly launched and proceeded immediately to the scene. The Galway Fire Service was also tasked and they assisted the swimmer ashore.
Weather conditions were good with a force 3 southerly breeze.
The volunteer lifeboat crew on board the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat were Brian Niland (Helm), Dave Oliver, James Rattigan and Ian Claxton supported by shore crew Shane Austin, Dave McGrath and Mike Cummins.
Paul Carey, RNLI Deputy Launching Authority who was on scene at Salthill said that it was, “A great outcome in this case.”
“Two people were swimming together and one of them appeared to get disorientated. Thankfully the alarm was raised quickly.”
“Always remember if you see somebody in difficulty dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard. Always respect the water.”
Over the St Patrick’s Day long weekend, health officials in the West are encouraging the public to consider all care options before attending Emergency Departments.
Emergency Departments (EDs) continue to be extremely busy with high numbers of patients attending who require admission.
This means that patients who attend EDs for routine and non-urgent treatment will experience very long waiting times over the coming weekend.
Just on the morning of Thursday, March 16 there were 60 patients on trolleys at University Hospital Galway, and another 16 at Portiuncula Hospital.
Tony Canavan, CEO of the Saolta Group said, “Anyone who suspects they may be facing an emergency situation should of course come to the Emergency Department and they will be seen and treated.”
“However, we would ask those who may be in a non-urgent situation to help our staff through a challenging time by looking at other healthcare options where possible.”
The Saolta Hospital Group is appealing to the public to help ensure hospitals are best able to look out for patients who need urgent and emergency care.
Breda Crehan-Roche, Chief Officer Community Healthcare West added, “If you urgently need to see a GP out of hours, please contact Westdoc on 0818 360 000.”
“Westdoc provides urgent out-of-hours GP care for patients of participating practices in Galway, Mayo & Roscommon.”
The Roscommon Injury Unit treats injuries that are not life-threatening, such as broken bones, dislocations, sprains, wounds, scalds and minor burns. Details of Injury Unit locations and what they can and cannot treat are on hse.ie/injuryunits
Two people have been arrested and Gardaí are continuing to investigate after shots were fired at a house in Galway City this week.
On Thursday evening, at approximately 7:30pm, Gardaí were alerted to a number of shots being fired at the front door and window of a house in the Knocknacarra area.
Gardaí have said that no one was injured as a result of this firearms incident.
It’s understood those involved fled from the scene in a dark coloured saloon car.
Investigating Gardaí later arrested two males, aged in their late 20s and early 30s, in connection with the incident.
Both are currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939 at a Garda Station in the Western Region.
Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to come forward and make contact with them.
They also appealing to those with camera footage (including dash-cam) from the Knocknacarra area at the time of this incident to make it available to them.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Salthill Garda Station on 091-514720, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
Stand out performers Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen will both be starting for Ireland in this weekend’s push for the Six Nations Grand Slam.
Ireland will face England in the Aviva Stadium this Saturday with the Grand Slam on the line, the first time Ireland will ever have won this at home.
World Player of the Year Josh van der Flier will win his 50th cap on Saturday. He lines out in an unchanged back row as Caelan Doris is named to start alongside him and Peter O’Mahony.
In the front row, Dan Sheehan has been passed fit and will start with Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong on either side of the scrum. Rob Herring comes in on the bench in place of Ronan Kelleher.
Ryan Baird, who came on for the injured Iain Henderson in Scotland, will partner James Ryan in the second row with Kieran Treadwell named in the replacements.
Captain Johnny Sexton will be partnered at half-back by Jamison Gibson Park and Robbie Henshaw comes into the centre to play alongside Bundee Aki.
The back three of Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen and James Lowe start for a fifth consecutive Six Nations fixture.
Mack Hansen has had a hell of a year, and wowed the crowds once again last weekend where he was named the Player of the Match.
The 24 year old scored Ireland’s first try of the game, and was crucial in a number of turnovers and attacks in the second half.
This is also going to be a big game for Johnny Sexton. Last week saw him draw equal with all-time Six Nations points scorer Ronan O’Gara’s record of 557, and he can outright claim the top sport against England this weekend.
Jimmy O’Brien come into the match day 23 to join Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Jack Conan, Conor Murray and Ross Byrne who all featured last weekend in Murrayfield.
Ireland’s final game of the Championship will be broadcast live on VIRGIN and ITV television and RTE and BBCNI radio.
IRELAND Team (v England, 2023 Guinness Six Nations Championship, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Saturday 18th March, 2023, KO 17.00 (IST))
15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 29 caps
14. Mack Hansen (Connacht/Corinthians) 13 caps
13. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 61 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 45 caps
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 19 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 112 caps (c)
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 24 caps
1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 52 caps
2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 16 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 64 caps
4. Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 10 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 52 caps
6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 93 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 49 caps
8. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 27 caps
Replacements
16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 33 caps
17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 122 caps
18. Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 8 caps
19. Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 10 caps
20. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 37 caps
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 104 caps
22. Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 18 caps
23. Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster/Naas) 4 caps
Galway attracts visitors from all over the world, including Australia, due to its charming atmosphere, beautiful scenery, and rich culture. But did you know that this city also has a lot of casinos? So, what attracts gamblers to travel the distance of almost 10 000 miles to play the games available at the sites recommended on australian casino auspokiesguide.com and have fun? If you don’t know how to explain it, we’ll try to help you with this article! In it, we will describe why Galway’s casinos attract gamblers from all over the world, including Australia!
The casinos in Galway are a popular destination for Australian gamblers who want to enjoy casino tourism. The highly sought-after no-deposit bonuses featured in ndb casino review sites are not the only thing that attracts Australian gamblers! Indeed, no deposit promos are quite a good find, especially for those who love to play online, but Galway’s casinos offer the whole experience – and you get to travel! In addition to a myriad of games, they also offer dining options that include exquisite fine dining, casual dining, and snacks. The casinos are easy to get to, and you can book online or over the phone with no booking fees!
So why do Galway casinos attract so many Australian people?
Casino fans are aware of the fact that due to strict laws regarding online gambling in Australia, playing for real money is only possible at offshore sites. These sites offer games with generous bonuses as well as hundreds upon hundreds of titles available 24/7. But even with this, some Australian gamblers prefer gambling in land-based casinos such as those available in Galway.
The best thing about gambling in Ireland is that it is regulated by one central authority, which means there are no restrictions on where you can play or how much money you can spend.
Many things tend to stick in the minds of Australian visitors to Galway casinos. Once they try it, most of them come back. So, what’s so special about them?
Galway is home to a number of casinos, which are the perfect place for you to enjoy your favorite games. Plus, they offer a variety of gaming experiences. Whether you’re looking for slots, table games, or electronic gaming machines (EGMs), you’ll find it all at these casinos. Slots are one of the most popular casino games, and there are thousands of different slot machines available in Galway. They come in many shapes and sizes, from traditional three-reel machines to multi-line progressives with bonus rounds and free spin rounds that can pay out hundreds or even thousands of Euros per spin!
Those Australian players who like playing poker can try different variants, including Texas Hold ‘Em. In fact, there are lots more card games available at these casinos, including Baccarat, Caribbean Stud Poker, and Red Dog Poker – just ask any member of staff for more details about these great games!
The games have different levels of difficulty, so there will be something suitable for everyone, no matter how good or bad they are at gambling! You can also play these casino games for real money or simply for fun if you’d prefer not to risk losing any money while trying out these different types of gambling activities.
You’ll be able to enjoy safe and secure gambling at any of the casinos in Galway. The Irish government regulates all casinos, so you can trust that they are run with integrity and care for their customers.
In addition to being regulated by the government, most casinos have a good reputation for safety and security. They also offer many features designed to make your visit as enjoyable as possible: well-lit rooms; good ventilation; 24/7 surveillance cameras; security systems that prevent cheating (such as card scanners); friendly staff who are trained in first aid or CPR if needed; plenty of restrooms, so you don’t have to wait long lines when nature calls!
Along with the games and entertainment, casinos also offer a wide range of food and drinks. You can choose from a variety of healthy options like salads, smoothies, and juices, as well as traditional favorites like fish and chips, Irish soda bread, boxty, Shepherd’s pie, and more. Australian players who want to stick to some more international meals can opt for burgers, pastas, and pizza.
Drinks are also available at casinos- from alcoholic beverages to non-alcoholic ones such as coffee or tea. As far as alcoholic beverages are concerned- you can get anything from ales to spirits such as whiskey or brandy – and they might even be brewed locally!
Even though casinos in Galways offer pretty much the same services to their players as any other land-based casinos, the biggest thing that distinguishes them is the atmosphere. The pleasant staff and friendly locals will definitely make the gaming experience unforgettable. Additionally, Galway has a lot to offer to tourists apart from casinos.
Galway is a great place to visit for its scenic beauty, historical sites, and attractions. It’s also well known for its festivals and events like the Galway Races. The city hosts numerous festivals each year, including the Oyster Festival (September), International Film Fleadh (July), Oyster Festivals (October), and Food Festival (April). So, Australian players coming here to roll the dice will actually have a lot of opportunities for recreational activities, sightseeing, and exploring local cuisine.
Online gambling sites in Galway are also on the rise – pretty much like everywhere else in the world. Ireland is a big market for online gambling, and it is also a popular pastime. There are tons of online gambling options available to Irish players, including online casinos, the National Lottery, bingo, sports betting, and much more. The Galway and the Emerald Isle are actually home to several operators that cater to Irish gamblers.
We think that the reason why casinos in Galway are popular among Australian players is that they offer a safe and fun environment to gamble in. They can enjoy their trip with friends, family, or loved ones without having to worry about ruining their vacation with bad luck at the table!
More than 100 hospital delegates recently attended the Saolta Group’s annual Neonatal Study Day Conference here in Galway.
The conference, which was organized by the neonatal team at University Hospital Galway, took place at the Clayton Hotel in the city.
Led by Neonatal Advanced Nurse Practitioners Jean James and Aine Binchy, this was an opportunity for the neonatal multidisciplinary team to meet face-to-face following the COVID-19 pandemic.
There, delegates from Saolta Hospitals and further afield were able to share best practices, stay up to date on evidence-based practice, and learn new skills.
The conference featured speakers from the local, national, and international communities, covering a wide range of neonatal topics, which sparked a lot of questions and discussion.
The neonatal team also organised an number of events allowing delegates to update their existing skills, or being entire new skillsets back to their own neonatal units.
Dr Hilary, Stokes, Saolta Director of Paediatrics said, “The Neonatal Conference showcased a great standard of specialised presentations and a day of real educational value.”
“It was a great networking opportunity and really good to see cross discipline engagement and attendance from across the country.”
The annual St Patrick’s Day Parade will draw huge crowds to Galway when its makes its celebratory way through the city this morning.
More than 2,800 people are taking part in the 2023 parade, making it the largest ever put on in Galway.
The parade will kick off as usual at the University of Galway at 11:30am, making its way along University Road towards the city centre.
The route will then take it around the Cathedral, across the Salmon Weir Bridge, before turning onto Francis Street and Eglinton Street.
From there the parade will go past the viewing stand in Eyre Square, up Prospect Hill, and onto Bothar na mBan before coming to its terminus.
More than 50 local groups, and more from further afield, will be taking part in the Parade on March 17, with two local heroes leading the way.
First of two Grand Marshals for this year’s parade will be Connacht Rugby’s Andy Friend, who has been a wonderful ambassador for the province since joining in 2018.
Joining him on the open top bus at the front of the parade will be 11 year old Saoirse Ruane, who has raised million for cancer research since her appearance on the Late Late Toy Show in 2020.
From outside of Galwat, coming all the way from Tampa Florida are Krewe of Europa, a colourful costumed group celebrating the Age of Discovery.
Europa has members representing all 44 European Countries in colorful costumes of each country, and is taking part in celebrations around Ireland.
The parade is kicking off a weekend of celebrations, with live music coming to Eyre Square for the three day festival of free gigs.
In film, Ardán will have an outdoor film screening of short films in the Fishmarket at The Spanish Arch on St Patrick’s Day from 14:00 until 16:00.
The Cinephile Paradiso will host a two-day walk-in exhibition of the early silent films of Ireland in the Pálás Cinema Bar and the Silent Cinema on Dominick Street.
And lastly, Galway Sports Partnership and Healthy Galway have put together a Family Fun Day in Salthill this Sunday.
The long running TG4 soap opera Ros na Rún, filmed in Galway, crossed a milestone on Thursday evening with the broadcast of its 2,000th episode.
Ireland’s only rural based TV drama series, Ros na Rún has long established itself as the world’s only Irish Language drama series.
Filmed in a purpose-built fictional village in An Spidéal, the show is always delivering a high propensity of drama centred on the social issues affecting rural Ireland.
Ros na Rún was first broadcast on the 3rd of November 1996 and has never shied away from topical and controversial issues, such as bringing Irish TV audiences the first gay kiss in 1997.
While its creative script writers bring the challenges of rural and Gaeltacht life to the fore in their presentation of life, humour and comedy always filter through.
“We’re beyond thrilled to have reached such an historic milestone of 2,000 episodes”, says Siobhán Ní Ghadhra Executive Series Producer.
“We’re hugely grateful to our inspiring cast, talented script writers and committed crew, who take such pride in the production and delivery of each episode of Ros na Rún”.
Five of Ros na Rún’s original cast members continue to be at the heart of the popular TG4 drama series, including the village rogue and bully, Tadhg Ó Direáin, played by Abbey Theatre Actor, Macdara Ó Fatharta, Máire played by renowned Connemara Actress and Sean Nós Singer, Máire Pheter.
Also at the core is feisty Caitriona Ní Lóideáin played by An Spidéal native Máire Éilis Ní Fhlatharta who’s currently embroiled in a homelessness story line with Micheál played by Connemara native Josie Ó Chualáin.
This season has also seen Ros na Rún lead character Bernie face another series of highly challenging storylines.
Played by Fionnuala Ní Fhlatharta viewers are this week keen to see if the highly volatile Bernie will have any contact with Vera following her hidden camera incident.
Vera has broken all privacy guidelines out of concern for Berni as she plays the role of the local Miss Marple with her favoured iPad.
Ros na Rún has also welcomed high profile personalities include Stephen Fry, Nathan Carter, Francis Brennan, Alan Hughes and the Hot House Flowers star Fiachna O Braonáin has featured in storylines.
Most recently Páraic Breathnach has joined the cast as the controversial developer Sonny Dirrane.
A co-production between Connemara’s Danú Media and Dublin’s Tyrone Production, the show now employs 160 people during its filming season from August to February annually when 82 episodes of the thrilling drama series are created.
Some 76 patients are without beds across Galway’s public hospitals today as the health service braces for a busy St. Patrick’s Weekend.
Sixty of those on trolleys are at University Hospital Galway, while 16 patients are on trolleys at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe.
Nationally, 553 people are waiting without a bed, down almost 100 from yesterday’s figures released by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).
University Hospital Limerick is the worst affected hospital in the State once again with 101 people waiting for beds.
INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said yesterday that the level of overcrowding in emergency departments warrants a national response.
“It is clear that the system is now completely overwhelmed. We need targeted measures to tackle this crisis, particularly in the Midwest where the overcrowding is completely out of hand,” she said.
Inflation in the Irish economy rose to 8.5% in February, up from an annual increase of 7.8% in the 12 months to January 2023.
This is the 17th straight month where the annual increase in inflation has been at least 5%.
CSO data shows that the divisions with the largest price increases in the past year were housing, water, electricity, gas and other Fuels (+26%), and food and non-alcoholic beverages (+13.1%).
Education (-6.3%) and Miscellaneous Goods & Services (-0.1%) were the only divisions to show a decrease when compared with February 2022.
The National Average Prices for selected goods and services for February were also published today.
There were price increases for an 800g loaf of white sliced pan (+24c), an 800g loaf of brown sliced pan (+23c), 2 litres of full fat milk (+48c), and a pound of butter (+69c) when compared with February 2022.
A comprehensive list of items included in the National Average Prices and their monthly prices can be found here.
A Special Irish Recognition Award has been presented students who achieved a distinction, between 90% and 100%, in their higher level Irish Junior Cert exam.
Over 100 students from Galway, Donegal, Clare, Mayo, Leitrim, Sligo and Roscommon attended a special event at University of Galway to celebrate their achievements.
These students are among the 2.6% of students across the country who achieved a distinction in the higher level T2 Irish paper, or the 3.6% of students who achieved a distinction in the higher level T1 paper in the 2022 Junior Certificate examinations.
University of Galway President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, welcomed the students and their families, and also congratulated the teachers and principals from the 36 schools they are attending while recognising the hard work being done in the schools.
“I am very pleased that we can give the next generation of Irish speakers the respect and recognition they deserve, particularly as the Irish language is so important to us here at Ollscoil na Gaillimhe and that it is such a central part of our identity,” he said.
Deputy President and Registrar, Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh, also congratulated the students saying: “You should all be very proud of yourselves.”
“You are exceptional students, with exceptional ability in the Irish language, and you are all a great source of encouragement to us as we can rest assured that the future of the Irish language is in safe hands.”
The Saw Doctors gig that fans have been waiting for is set to take place this summer after the band announced an August date in their native Tuam.
The band announced they will return to play their hometown for the first time in more than three decades on Saturday, August 19 in a Big Top marquee in the grounds of St. Jarlath’s College.
Leo Moran and Davy Carton will take to the stage in front of just under 5,000 people in what promises to be one of the highlights of the summer.
Tickets for the concert, titled ‘The West’s Awake’, will go on sale on Friday, March 24 at 9.00m from www.ticketmaster.ie
After a five-year break from touring, The Saw Doctors played a series of ‘comeback’ gigs in Britain last winter, selling out London Brixton Academy, Manchester Apollo and two concerts at the Glasgow’s iconic Barrowlands.
In June The Saw Doctors will play Glastonbury, heading the Acoustic Stage at the festival on Friday, June 23.
Davy Carton, Leo Moran and the Tuam lads will also headline the Wickham Festival in Hampshire in August and the Moseley Folk & Arts festival in Birmingham in September.
Update: Traffic lights at the Quincentennial Bridge are now restored.
Update: Power has been restored to the east Galway City.
A major power outage in Galway city today has left thousands of homes and businesses without electricity.
The problem was reported this morning and the ESB is currently working on fixing the issue. A total of 7,817 customers in the east of the city are affected by the power outage.
The ESB said that they expect the outage to be resolved by 5pm today.
Galway City Council has asked motorists heading north for the bank holiday weekend to leave the city via the Dublin Road and M6 / M17 motorway to Tuam due to traffic lights outages.
The power outage is affecting traffic lights at Ballybane N6, Tuam Rd N6, Riverside, Liosbaun. ThermoKing on the Monivea Road is also affected.
All road users are advised to exercise caution, and be aware of pedestrians trying to cross.
The ESB said: “We apologise for the loss of supply. We are currently working to repair a fault affecting your premises and will restore power as quickly as possible.”
Registration has opened for University of Galway’s annual spring undergraduate open day, which will give thousands of students and their parents or guardians a chance to visit the historic campus.
The open day will take place on the University campus on Saturday, March 25 from 9am to 3pm, and it is open to all senior cycle students, including those doing transition year.
Visitors will meet current University of Galway students and hear from leading professors and lecturers about the courses on offer as well as the innovative research that puts it among the top 2% of universities worldwide.
The event is spread across five exhibitions and the schedule includes the largest ever programme of talks, with more than 100 talks featuring all courses and subjects, along with career and student support.
Some highlights include Student Life, Sport, Study Abroad, Careers and ALIVE volunteering.
The Access Centre will host a session on alternative pathways, mature student supports and the QQI/FETAC/PLC entry route.
Sarah Geraghty, Director of Student Recruitment and Outreach, said it offers prospective students and parents an opportunity to explore courses, subjects, careers and student life at the University.
She said that the event is a great chance to meet and talk to our professors, lecturers and current students.
“We look forward to welcoming students to the campus where they can expect a true university experience with research-led teaching, a focus on employability skills, placements, study abroad and a support ecosystem that prepares individuals to reach their potential,” she said.
“The open day will give senior cycle students a taste of college life and hopefully a sense of great possibility for their future university studies.”
Roscommon-Galway TD Claire Kerrane has warned the government to avoid changing the payment model for EmployAbility.
Teachta Kerrane made the call ahead of a tender process which is due to be published in April.
The process will see EmployAbility service contracts put out to tender, in a similar way to the tendering of Local Employment Services (LES) and Job Clubs services over the past two years.
EmployAbility services provide sustainable employment opportunities for people with a long term illness, injury or disability and support them into that employment.
Deputy Kerrane said that the details of the tender process and any proposed changes to the current service are not yet known.
The Sinn Féin TD said that it is crucial that Minister Heather Humphreys’ Department “learns lessons from the previous tender process” which she says saw employment services dismantled and the commodification of people seeking employment.
Her party stood against the privatisation of those employment services, and Deputy Kerrane said they will continue to oppose a payment by results model for job activation and employment supports.
“In particular, EmployAbility services support people with longer-term illness, injury and disabilities, and it is simply not appropriate to implement a model which seeks to place them in any job role, which payment by results is all about.
“These are some of our most vulnerable citizens. The community-based, wrap-around services that EmployAbility provides across the State offer must be protected as part of the forthcoming tender process.”
Galway University Hospitals has said that construction of the new outpatients department at Merlin Park Hospital is now underway, with the first phase of the works costing €15.5m.
The development will include a two-storey Outpatients Department (OPD) with parking spaces, bicycle parking, pedestrian footpaths, lighting, and associated signage and landscaping.
The new building will assist in meeting service demands and will provide an improved environment for patients and staff along with dedicated areas for virtual clinics.
It will also allow for some of UHG’s outpatient clinics to be relocated.
Hospital Manager, Chris Kane, said that they are delighted to be progressing this essential project which will “greatly enhance local access to non-acute patient care” in the region.
She said that the first phase of this OPD project is part of a “major capital scheme for Galway University Hospitals”, and they will be “seeking further funding for a second phase to facilitate additional clinical space.”
The development is part of a wider development plan currently being progressed for GUH, where there is a bed capacity deficit of 222 beds.
The Saolta Group and GUH have identified and are currently progressing a number of priority capital projects which are necessary to address capacity issues on site.
These are: a new permanent Emergency Department and Women and Children’s Block; a replacement laboratory department; a ward block and Cancer Centre; and an elective hospital for the region.
Galway Rural Development (GRD) has begun delivering equipment around east Galway as part of its 2023 Loan Equipment Support Scheme.
The scheme allows groups to apply to borrow everything from lawnmowers to cement-mixers to assist them in their community work.
GRD has provided community groups with long-term loans of horticultural tools, laptops, printers and other equipment such as sewing machines and air purifiers.
Last year, GRD also bought a new van for use by their Tús and RSS teams to complete deliveries of equipment and other supports between community groups.
This has provided communities with valuable long-term loans of equipment and the means to better share resources.
Over the course of 2023, GRD also plans to support communities in becoming more sustainable.
They confirmed Mountbellew as Connacht’s first ‘People’s Transition’ town an initiative led by TASC and supported by Mountbellew Smart Villages.
Sean Broderick, Senior Manager of the Tús and Rural Social Schemes (RSS), said they are all too aware that community groups have been feeling the pinch in this cost of living crisis, and the demand for extra support is growing.
“While we obviously can’t agree to every request, and there is a waiting period, we have already made a huge difference and I want to thank my colleague Anne Cassidy, the SICAP Senior Manager, and the LCDC for backing this endeavour,” he said.
Senior Manager of the SICAP team, Dr Anne Cassidy, added: “We know that even small assistance, like through the loan equipment fund, can make all the difference in helping community groups.
“We’re proud to have led the way in the country on this and to have made such a difference on the ground.”
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