UHG remains hospital with most confirmed COVID cases

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August 27, 2021

Galway Daily news Corrib Great Souther must be demolished

Galway West TD Mairéad Farrell has welcomed news that the demolition of the former Corrib Great Southern Hotel will begin next week.

The long-awaited demolition work at the site is due to start on Monday, August 30.

The Sinn Féin TD said that this is good news for people living in the east side of the City – but that it also highlights the years of lack of action.

She described the site as an eyesore, a health and safety hazard and a complete waste of valuable land in Galway City.

“The Government need to take a real look at how they deal with vacant sites going forward as we cannot have a repeat of the Corrib Great Southern Hotel,” said Deputy Farrell.

Planning Permission to demolish the current structures at this site was granted in 2010. and the site was added to the derelict sites register in January 2015.

“Here we are 11 years after the planning permission to demolish the structure was originally granted with news finally emerging that this structure will be demolished,” said Deputy Farrell.

“At a time when so many people are struggling due to a housing crisis the fact that this site was not in use for such a length of time is outrageous.

“I hope that next week will mark the first step in a new chapter for this site, that it will see the site be of benefit to people living in the locality.”

Decent weather to last until first weekend in September

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August 27, 2021

There is still no end in sight for the current spell of decent weather, with Met Éireann’s early forecast for next week indicating that it will stay dry until next weekend at least.

There will be plenty of sunshine too, with temperatures remaining in the high teens to low twenties in the West.

Met Éireann says high pressure may give way to more unsettled conditions for next weekend – but the next few days will be sunny in Galway, reaching 23 degrees across much of the county until Sunday.

Sunday and Monday look set to be slightly cloudier, but there will still be some sunshine, especially on Monday and temperatures will remain pleasant.

There will be more sunshine as the week goes on, with no rain forecast yet for the West.

Today, Friday, will see mist and fog clear early in the morning. It will be a bright, warm day with plenty of sunshine and just the slight chance of a light shower near the coast during the afternoon.

Highest temperatures will be between 20 and 24 degrees, in a light easterly breeze.

COVID-19: 1,866 new cases reported today

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August 26, 2021

Galway Daily news Galway hospitals see COVID cases double in recent weeks

The Department of Health has reported 1,866 new COVID cases in the State.

As of 8am today, there are 331 people with COVID-19 in hospitals in the Republic, of whom 61 are in intensive care units.

University Hospital Galway remains the hospital with the highest number of COVID cases at 32. Six of the confirmed cases at UHG are in ICU, according to the latest HSE data.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said that the number of people with COVID receiving critical care in hospitals nationally is the highest since 3 April this year.

“Critical care is our last line of defence against COVID-19 and I know this figure will concern many of us,” said the CMO.

“There are however many other ways we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from severe outcomes from COVID-19.”

Dr Holohan said that vaccination remains our best means of protection against COVID-19 and that the vaccines available in Ireland are very safe and effective against COVID-19.

“There are still some people who haven’t yet taken up the opportunity of vaccination or, who have delayed receiving a second dose for various reasons,” he said.

“I strongly encourage anyone who is in this position to ensure they get fully vaccinated as soon as possible in order to best protect themselves and those around them.”

“When incidence of disease is high, as it is in Ireland at the moment, it greatly increases the risk to you of contracting COVID-19. If you complete your vaccine schedule you will be fully protected 7 – 14 days after your second dose.

“Vaccination, along with continuing adherence to the public health advice, will break the chains of transmission and drive down incidence of COVID-19 in our communities.”

Eyre Square Shopping Centre on sale for over €12 million

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August 26, 2021

Galway Daily business Eyre Square Shopping Centre sells for more than €9.5m

Galway City Centre’s Eyre Square Shopping Centre is up for sale, with a guide price of €12.75 million.

The shopping centre, which saw more than 270,000 people passing through a week back in 2019, is part of a larger complex together with Corbett Court and Edward Square Shopping Centres.

This centre incorporates more than 70 stores, local, national, and international, which are anchored by Penneys and Dunnes Stores.

The centre is located in the heart of Galway City, with a revamped entrance from Eyre Square.

But despite being in the pedestrian centre of the city, also has access to the 450 parking space Eyre Square Car Park, to accommodate shoppers arriving by car.

The sale of the shopping centre is being handled by Colliers investment management company.

It includes eight retail units rented by brands such as JD Sports, Vero Moda, and Diesel, and a currently vacant corner unit.

A number of common area units over two floors, made up of multiple short and long term
rolling licence agreements for various kiosks, store rooms, telecoms masts and general mall income, are also part of the package.

Long awaited improvements to Connemara Ambulance Service confirmed

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August 26, 2021

galway daily news Planning application submitted for long awaited Ambulance Base in Recess — Pic: Gregory Clarke

Long awaited improvements to the ambulance service in Connemara have finally been confirmed, with extra staff and vehicles coming by the end of the year.

Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív said that Health Minister Stephen Donnelly informed him of major upgrades planned for the ambulance service during his visit to the vaccination centre in Galway on Wednesday.

The additions to the service will include two new vehicles and eleven new staff members, with “immediate funding and implementation”.

The two vehicles will include an ambulance, available 12 hours a day all week, and a rapid response vehicle.

Among the new staff for the service will be a Paramedic Supervisor and a Clinical Supervisor.

“I would like to thank the local campaign committee in Connemara for their unstinting work on this issue for many years as well as my political colleagues.”

“There are also thanks going to the NAS who, once resources have been found, have now addressed this issue,” Éamon Ó Cuív said.

The National Ambulance Service is due to engage with local stakeholders on an appropriate location for the service, with a view towards having it in place by the end of the year.

The NAS carried out a study in 2020 on the appropriate service for the area, and had been consulting this year with the Connemara Ambulance Crisis Group on resolving the issue, which has had serious health implications for the region.

Walk-in vaccination clinics in Galway for over 12s this weekend

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August 26, 2021

galway daily news Vaccine booster clinic continuing today for people in their 50s

Walk-in vaccination clinics will open this weekend in Galway for anyone over the age of 12 who is yet to have received their first vaccine dose.

People who are waiting for their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine may also attend a walk-in clinic, as long as the necessary interval between doses has been reached.

The walk-in vaccination clinic times for the Ballybrit vaccination centre are from 8.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday 28 August for those receiving the first dose of Pfizer.

It will also be open between these hours for people to receive their second dose of Pfizer if they received their first dose before 8 August.

On Sunday 29 August the clinic will be open between 9.00am and 4.00pm for dose 1 of Pfizer and dose two for those who received their first dose before 9 August.

People are reminded that for the first dose, they must bring a PPS number. For those who do not have a PPS number, they can still get vaccinated by bringing proof of address.

People must also provide their Eircode, mobile phone number, email address and photo ID which has their date of birth – for example a passport, driving licence, Garda age card or school ID.

Proof of address can be a household bill, a bank or financial institution statement, a letter from a public service department or agency, a rental agreement, a letter from the owner of the property to confirm you live there – this can be a parent, or a bill or letter from a hotel or Airbnb.

A parent or legal guardian will need to give consent for their child to get their COVID-19 vaccine and will need go to with the child to the walk-in clinic in person to give consent if they have not given consent online in advance.

The child getting the vaccine will also be asked if they are happy to get the vaccine at their appointment.

Children aged 12 to 15 attending alone will not be vaccinated but if a parent or legal guardian has given consent online in advance, it is possible for them to ask another adult to bring their child to the appointment.

If consent has not been given in advance online, the child’s parent or legal guardian has to be there.

If possible, children aged 12 to 15 should bring a form of identification with their date of birth on it (for example, passport or birth certificate).

If 12 to 15 year olds do not have any identification, the adult who brings them to their appointment can confirm their identity and their age.

For people aged 16 or 17, their birth cert can be used in the absence of photo ID.

People can go to any dose 2 walk-in clinic as long as their vaccination is due and they have proof of your first dose, ie. their your vaccination record card. Second doses must be the same vaccine as the first dose.

It does not matter where the first dose was administered – even if it was at a GP, pharmacy or in another country.

Explore Entrepreneurship with though provoking panel event

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August 26, 2021

Galway Daily business Explore Entrepreneurship with though provoking panel event

Explore the Spirit of Entrepreneurship at a free event hosted by GMIT in September, where attendees will hear from a wide range of groundbreaking leaders in their fields.

The ‘Spirit of Entrepreneurship’ event hosted by GMIT’s Innovation Hub, now in its 14th year, a collaboration between this year’s event is a collaboration with the EMPOWER Programme.

EMPOWER Explore will feature a range of high profile male and female entrepreneurs in Ireland and abroad addressing audiences in the online event on September 7.

Speakers for the event include:

Anne Ravanona | Founder & CEO of Global Invest Her
Mairead Mackle | Founder & CEO of Tarasis Enterprises
Brenda Romero | CEO & Games Director of Romero Games Ltd.
Professor Joyce O’Connor | Founding President of the National College of Ireland and Co-Founder and Chair of BlockW
Shane McCarthy | Founder & CEO of Irish Craft Beverages
Victoria Thompson | Co-Founder and CEO at Orora

MC for the virtual event is Susan HayesCulleton, CFA “The Positive Economist”. Pre-registration is required for this free event. Click here to book your place now.

The EMPOWER Programme is a free female entrepreneurship programme which is delivered GMIT Innovation Hubs in the Connacht-Ulster Alliance (CUA) of GMIT, IT Sligo and Letterkenny IT.

It aims to fast track female-led businesses based in the West and North West of Ireland by addressing specific challenges hindering their development.

The programme has two segments, EMPOWER Start for early stage ideas or businesses less than a year and a half old, and EMPOWER Growth for female entrepreneurs in business two years or more.

One day left to enter national environmental awards

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August 26, 2021

galway daily news repak pakman environment awards — Pictured from left at the launch of the 2021 Pakman Awards were Minister of State for Public Procurement and eGovernment, Ossian Smyth TD, and Repak CEO, Séamus Clancy.g Pic:naoise Culhane-no fee

Individuals, businesses, community groups and organisations in Galway are being encouraged to enter the Repak’s national environmental awards before tomorrow’s closing date (Friday, 27 August).

Now in its seventh year, the Pakman Awards honour those which have demonstrated excellence in waste management and recycling practices.

The Pakman Awards are free to enter, and small organisations and individuals are as likely to win an award as large multinationals.

There have been two winners from Galway in previous years – Athchursail Arann and Galway City Council.

This year, category entrants are invited to submit examples of their environmental efforts from the past two years, rather than 12 months.

This year will also see the launch of a brand-new category: the Online Green Packaging Award.

Commenting on the 2021 Pakman Awards, CEO of Repak Séamus Clancy said that over the past six years, several businesses and community groups from the west of Ireland have been recognised for their sustainability efforts.

“In 2019, Athchursail Arann, not only won the Community Recycling Initiative category, but also won the Overall Pakman Award. Despite difficult conditions, most businesses and organisations have continued to implement exemplary waste management, sustainability, and recycling practices and we want to highlight these efforts,” said Séamus Clancy.

“A Pakman Award is one of the highest environmental accolades any organisation can win, and the perfect way to demonstrate and publicise your organisations’ sustainability achievements.

“From recycling practices to waste collection operators, there is a category for everyone committed to protecting the environment for future generations.”

This Award is open to producers and retailers of e-commerce packaging, recognising innovation in sustainable packaging with an emphasis on reduce, reuse, and recycle.

The significant increase in online shopping as a result of Covid-19 restrictions has given online sellers an opportunity to produce eco-friendly sustainable packaging that demonstrates CO2 reduction impacts across the supply chain.

For more information, visit www.pakman.ie.

Galway natives win €20,000 Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Award

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August 26, 2021

galway daily news galway city co-founders of byowave — Social entrepreneurs including Brandon Blacoe and Eibhlin O’Riordan, co-founders of ByoWave

Two social entrepreneurs from Galway city have been awarded a place on Social Entrepreneurs Ireland’s Impact Awards programme, securing €20,000 in funding for their organisation ByoWave.

Brandon Blacoe from Salthill and Eibhlin O’Riordan from Knocknacarra co-founded Byowave to make accessible and customisable video game controllers for people with disabilities.

The organisation aims to address the exclusion and isolation felt by people with disabilities due to inaccessible controllers.

There are an estimated 180 million disabled gamers worldwide who are unable to to play video games due to inaccessible video game controllers.

Co-founder Eibhlin O’Riordan has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which means she can only play games with one hand.

“It means the world have an organisation like SEI supporting us with our mission to make gaming and technology more accessible,” she said.

Each ByoWave controller is made up of a set of electronic cubes that can connect together at any angle.

The user connects their cubes together to create whatever shape they want to accommodate their specific disability.

Brandon Blacoe said: “Finding a community whose fundamental drive is social good, and being selected as a member within it, has re-energised the passion I found at UCD to innovate and engineer world class assistive technology that solves real problems for real people.”

The SEI Impact Programme is a nine-month accelerator programme that supports social entrepreneurs by providing significant funding and mentoring as well as access to a network of support.

This year’s awards attracted over 110 applications from across Ireland, with ByoWave being one of the five organisations to successfully pitch for a place and secure an equal share of the €100,000 funding.

Commenting, CEO of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Tim Griffiths said that the pandemic has proven that innovation and resilience are two of our strongest assets.

“The role of social entrepreneurship and the individuals whose insight, inspiration and tenacity to create the solutions to our social problems, has never been in greater demand,” he said.

“As we continue to live through these extraordinary and challenging times, it is truly heartening to see so many people stepping up and sharing their ideas to tackle social problems.

“I’d like to thank everyone who applied to the SEI this year and extend my congratulations to ByoWave and all our incredible Impact Awardees who are already making such a difference across Ireland.”

Since its foundation in 2004, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland has supported more than 400 social entrepreneurs across the country to move from idea to action and develop solutions that are transforming Ireland’s approach social problems.

A Quick Guide to Using Instagram For Business

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Angela Mc Bride

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August 26, 2021

More than 1 billion people use Instagram every month, and about 90% of them follow at least one business. That means that in 2021, it will be easy to use Instagram for commercial activities. In just over ten years, Instagram has grown from a photo-sharing application to a center of commercial activity. Brands can host fundraising events on Instagram Live, open stores through their profiles, and allow people to make reservations through their accounts. Updates to new business tools, features, and tips in apps have become almost routine, but there can be many things to track, especially when managing an Instagram business account is just one aspect of your job. Learn how to start a business with Instagram, from setting up a profile from scratch, increasing engagement on Instagram, to measuring your success. You can even use some of the best instagram marketing tools to engage more customers to your business.

How to set up Instagram for a business?

When you switch to a business account, Instagram will ask you to fill in details, such as your contact number, email ID, and address, so that people can contact your business. In addition, you can take some steps to optimize your Instagram business account.

Edit your Instagram profile to start a business. Your description represents your business and should let your audience know about you and why they should contact you.
Unlike other social platforms, Instagram does not allow you to add links to posts, so the only option for links in your profile. You can use this link to direct your users to your website, YouTube video, online store-no matter where you want to generate traffic.
Update your profile picture. The profile picture on the Instagram business page is the best for branding. You can choose to place your logo. You can use a free profile picture maker to create a professional-looking image that represents your business.
Make your Instagram name SEO-friendly. Many companies and creators have started adding main business keywords to their names to make them more SEO-friendly.

Update your profile description

When you click Edit profile, a page will appear where you can update your profile. The character limit is 150, and it can contain a combination of words, hashtags, or emojis. In this resume, consider what keywords people will search for when searching for a product or service you own.

Determine your target audience

Who do you want to attract? What will catch your attention? Marketers often try to keep content evergreen, which is an industry term, so that it can be used throughout the year and not specific to events or activities. However, social media is not the place to do this. Everything happens very quickly, and trends change every day. For example, if your target audience includes millennials or Gen Z, relevant memes may apply to your brand. Feel free to use it! For increasing engagement during the start, you can visit the best places to buy Instagram followers.

Share high-quality content to create a visual aesthetic

Instagram is about visual effects, so having a recognizable visual identity is very important. Try to set a repeating pillar theme that you can switch. If you provide services, try to show the customer story or highlight the office life and the people who make your business run behind the scenes.

Take great photos. To make Instagram work for your business, you need to have great photos.
When it comes to Instagram photography, your phone is your best friend because you can post directly from your device.
Use tools to help you. Edit your photos using the Photoleap app to maintain beauty, add frames or logos, and even create infographics and other original content.
Write attractive headlines. Instagram can be a visual platform, but that doesn’t mean you can ignore your captions. The story that makes the photo meaningful.
Create inclusive content. Branded content is most effective when people can imagine using your product or service. It is even harder to do this if people feel that they are not recognized.

Set goals to achieve with this account

Instagram’s main marketing goals should be:

Increase brand awareness and engagement conversions.

Below are specific metrics that you can analyze (via Instagram insights) to ensure that you achieve these goals correctly:

Brand awareness-Follow the growth of readers, the impression, and coverage of posts. Reach is the total number of unique users who viewed your posts.
You can view a breakdown of where users viewed your posts, such as their feed, by visiting your profile, through hashtags, or in your discovery feed.
Share and save. For the story, check the view, forward, back, reply, and leave.
Finally, be sure to track the number of visits to your profile and the number of clicks to your website. This best shows whether your posts and stories are of interest to your brand.
Track the click-through rate and bounce rate of your call to action or bio link. That helps you understand how effective Instagram content is in stimulating brand interest.

We have included everything you need to know about starting a business with Instagram, from setting up an account to developing a winning strategy.

Remember, what works for one brand on Instagram may not work for another brand. Fortunately, social media platforms are forgiving and provide plenty of room for trial and error.

Now that you have a better understanding of Instagram features and how to create a business account, it’s time to put it all into action.

UHG is Ireland’s most overcrowded hospital today

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August 26, 2021

University Hospital Galway is the most overcrowded hospital in Ireland today, with 30 patients admitted without a bed available.

Figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show that there are 30 patients on trolleys in the Emergency Department at UHG this morning.

At Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe, there are a further two patients in the wards who do not have a bed today.

The INMO’s Trolley Ward Watch shows that there were 240 patients without a bed in Ireland’s acute hospitals this morning, 205 of them on trolleys in the A&E, and 35 in wards.

After UHG, the worst affected hospitals are Cork University Hospital, where there are 28 people on trolleys, and UHL, which has 24.

An Bord Pleanála overrules inspector to approve Oranmore mobile mast

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August 26, 2021

Galway Daily news An Bord Pleanála overrules inspector to approve Oranmore mobile mast

An Bord Pleanála has approved plans for a new mobile mast in Oranmore village, overruling their inspector’s recommendation to refuse planning permission.

Vodafone Limited had originally sought approval from the county council to take down a 15m high mobile mast at Main Street Oranmore, where the structure has a total height of 19m.

In its place, the telephone and broadband provider planned to erect a 24m high lattice mast, for additional antennae and dishes, which would reach a total height of 25.5m

These plans were refused approval by the county council in March of this year on the grounds that they would have a detrimental visual impact on the surrounding area, and due to its proximity to residential dwellings.

This decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanála, where Vodafone proposed revised plans for a 20m high mast, bringing the total height of the structure to 21.5m.

Vodafone also argued in the appeal that the larger mast is needed to deal with increased demand in the area, and to allow other operators to use the same location.

Seven objections to the original plans were received by the county council, and An Bord Pleanála also received submission from local residents, including the Oranmore Community Development Association CLG.

These argued that the site is zoned residential as it is, that no consideration has been given for other locations, and that there would still be a negative visual impact since there are houses close by.

An Bord Pleanála’s inspector Colin McBride recommended that the board uphold the council’s original decision, and refuse planning permission, regardless of the reduced size, for similar reasons.

“I would still consider that the design and increased physical bulk of the replacement structure would have a detrimental visual impact at this location,” the inspector’s report said in its assessment.

“I would be of the view that the design of the new structure is unacceptable and would have detrimental visual impact over and above that of the existing structure on site.

“I do not consider that sufficient technical justification for such has been provided or demonstrated or any information provided to indicate that alternative options are not available.”

“I would consider that the proposal would be contrary to the recommendation of the national guidelines in relation location and siting of telecommunications structure and that insufficient justification has been provided for the proposed replacement structure at this location.”

In making its decision to grant permission, the board said that the mast was in a “highly suitable and appropriate location” for providing broadband coverage in the area, and that it would be available for other providers to locate equipment there.

Planning permission was ultimately granted for the mobile mast with six standard conditions attached.

Warning notices lifted for Grattan and Ballyloughane beaches

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August 26, 2021

Galway Daily news Swimming ban at Ballyloughane Beach due to E. Coli

Prior warning notices issued for Ballyloughane and Grattan beaches last week have been removed after positive water quality results.

The City Council gave prior warning notices last Friday, for people to beware of possible bacterial contamination.

There were concerns that a period of heavy rainfall could lead to contaminated water runoff.

Water samples from taken from both beaches on Monday, August 23, and have returned ‘excellent’ water quality results.

The Prior Warning notices were lifted for both the Ballyloughane and Grattan areas as of Wednesday evening.

Galway man joins new podcast exploring healthy ageing

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August 26, 2021

galway daily news old country podcast galway professor

Galway Professor Kieran Walsh is a featured guest in the latest episode of The Old Country, a new podcast exploring healthy ageing in Ireland.

Professor Walsh, who is head of the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology at NUI Galway, joins Mayor of South Dublin and podcast host Peter Kavanagh to speak about what is required to build a better Ireland for everyone by thinking about our older people.

The podcast is a 12-part series produced by Active Retirement Ireland exploring issues around ageing such as combating ageism, age-friendly environments, and integrated and long-term care.

In the latest episode, Professor Walsh also discusses the negative impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on older people, and how things can be done differently in the future.

Each episode of the podcast features a guest involved in making Ireland a better place to grow older, from older people themselves to activists and policy experts.

The fortnightly episodes examine the challenges and opportunities which an ageing population brings.

The podcast, which is available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify and iTunes and through the Active Retirement Ireland website, has been created to mark the beginning of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and is supported by the Community Foundation for Ireland.

The next two episodes of The Old Country will feature Mai Quaid, Development Officer with Active Retirement Ireland, and Paddy Connolly, CEO of Age Action.

Commenting on the launch of The Old Country podcast, Mayor Peter Kavanagh said: “We are delighted to have Professor Kieran Walsh joining us on the podcast and provide his expert opinion on how we can build a better Ireland for our older people.

“He also offers great insight into the impact that the Covid 19 pandemic has had on our older people, and on the lessons we can learn to ensure more fair treatment for everyone.”

Peter Kavanagh said that with the ever-increasing popularity of podcasts, now feels like the right time for something to cater for our older population.

“With The Old Country, we are really excited to tell the story of ageing in Ireland,” he said.

“The podcast explores the challenges for our ageing population, highlights some of the great opportunities and discusses how we can make the experience of ageing in Ireland as positive as possible.

“We know how much our retired population in Ireland have to offer through our work with local Active Retirement Ireland groups.

“We also know that they will become a larger proportion of our population: by 2030 the population aged 80 or above will increase by between 89 per cent and 94 per cent, according to the ESRI.

“This is a major shift in the demographics of our country. This podcast is all about sharing insights from those making the most of their older years, and how we can better the experience of our older years through community, wellbeing and a positive attitude towards ageing.”

COVID-19: Another 2,051 cases reported today

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August 25, 2021

Galway Daily news 25 percent drop in COVID cases in Galway hospitals

There have been a further 2,051 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland reported by health officials today.

As of this morning, the number hospitalised with the disease had climbed to 323, of whom 56 are receiving critical care in the ICU.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said that “significant concerns” remain about the Delta variant, despite high uptake levels of the vaccine.

“Over 70% of cases are in unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people and we are seeing a high incidence of COVID-19 in adults and teenagers aged 16-29.”

“If you haven’t yet registered for your vaccine or have delayed receiving your second dose, please do so as soon as possible. We know that vaccines work,” Tony Holohan said.

“They are about 80% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 disease and they provide approximately 95% protection against hospitalisation.”

“It is very important that we remain vigilant and continue to follow the public health measures that we are all so familiar with. This is especially important for anyone who is soon to return to school and college.”

The Cabinet will meet this week to discuss a phased lifting of the remaining COVID-19 restrictions, with plans to be signed off on next Tuesday.

Among the earliest of those changes could be a return to full capacity on public transport, which could be implement by the middle of next week.

Construction of Spiddal wastewater treatment plant to begin soon

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August 25, 2021

Galway Daily news Lack of sewerage infrastructure impeding housing Galway TD says

Work is due to begin soon on the Spiddal Sewerage Scheme which will involve the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant for the Connemara village.

Irish Water is investing €4 million in the new wastewater treatment plant and associated infrastructure, which is meant to cut down on the discharge of untreated sewage into Galway Bay.

Construction work on the plant is expected to get underway in a matter of weeks, with a view towards being completed by early 2024.

Spiddal has frequently been listed by the Environmental Protection Agency as a problem location for the dumping untreated waste, in contravention of EU regulations.

Patrick Greene from Irish Water said that the new plant will stop the equivalent of 600 wheelie bins worth of raw, untreated sewage being dumped into Galway Bay each day.

The new treatment plant will be designed to serve a population of approximately 1,000 people, in order to allow for growth in the area.

“We are looking forward to delivering this important project on behalf of the local community in Spiddal.”

“All new infrastructure has been sized to accommodate future population growth and the project will enhance the local environment and provide a platform for social and economic development of the area well into the future.”

The project will also protect recreational waters for swimming, surfing, fishing, boating and sightseeing, as well as protecting the integrity of the local marine environment.

Coffey Water Limited has been selected as the contractor for this project by Irish Water.

“We look forward to working with the local community to deliver this essential project in conjunction with our partners Galway County Council and Coffey Water Limited and eliminating the discharge of untreated wastewater into Galway Bay,” Patrick Greene said.

The location of the planned treatment plant, next to the craft village in Spiddal, proved controversial with many locals, who expressed health and environmental concerns.

The county council’s decision to grant planning permission for the sewerage scheme back in October of 2018 was appealed to An Bord Pleanála, which upheld the council’s decision.

GRETB awarded over €138k to support youth services

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August 25, 2021

Galway Daily news Four Galway community groups awarded funding for special transport vehicles

The Galway-Roscommon Education and Training Board has been allocated €138,877 to support youth services across the two counties.

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’ Gorman announced €1.72 million in funding for ETBs’ youth services this week.

The funding for GRETB includes €57,866 in grants of less than €5,000, and a further €81,011 for larger scale grants.

“Youth services play a vital role in our communities, providing support and guidance to young people, and empowering them to reach their full potential,” Minister O’Gorman said.

“They have been at the forefront at reaching out to help young people throughout this pandemic, helping to alleviate social isolation, by offering them a space in person or online, to meet with their peers, and process the challenges of Covid-19.”

“I know clubs and services are working hard to improve the well-being of young people, and by providing opportunities for personal development, they are helping young people to achieve better social outcomes and gain a greater understanding of the world around them.”

“I have no doubt this funding will support services to provide real benefits to young people’s lives as they navigate the ongoing challenges brought by Covid-19.”

On top of the grants for services provided by ETBs, the Minister also awarded €564,032.98 in capital grants for 24 national youth organisations.

The grants are meant to support organisations and clubs with upgrade works, the purchase of new equipment, ICT for online service provision, improvements to ventilation, and adaptations to outdoor spaces to facilitate youth services to run outdoor activities.

COVID-19: ICU numbers steady amid outbreak at UHG

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August 25, 2021

University Hospital Galway is still treating the largest number of COVID-19 patients in the country following an outbreak, but critical care numbers have not increased.

There were 33 confirmed cases at UHG as of Tuesday night in the latest HSE figures, two more than the day before almost nine more than any other hospital.

There has still been no change in the number of COVID patients being treated in the intensive care unit at UHG however, which remains at seven

At Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe there are five confirmed cases, one fewer than Monday night.

Two of the patients at Portiuncula have been admitted to the ICU for critical care.

University Hospital Galway is also the most overcrowded in the country overall today, with 34 general patients admitted who are without a bed.

Figures from the INMO also show that there are four patients in the Emergency Department at Portiuncula who are on trolleys.

Nationwide, there 310 COVID patients in Irish hospitals, with another 42 admitted in the 24 hours prior. Of these 55 are being treated in intensive care units.

Bill Murray takes to the green in Galway for golf show

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August 25, 2021