Portiuncula Hospital staff hold memorial ceremony for bereaved parents

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February 3, 2021

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

There have been 94 further deaths related to COVID-19 notified by the Department of Health today, along with 1,013 new cases.

Of the cases reported today 96 are in Galway, the second highest level in the country behind Dublin, which reported 337 cases.

The deaths reported today occurred across a spread of time, with a large number in the past three days.

Of the 94 total notified, 47 occurred in February, 44 were in January, 2 in December, and 1 took place last November.

The median age of those who died was 82 years old, and the deaths occurred in people aged from 36 to 100.

As of 2pm today, 1,334 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of whom 203 are in ICU. There have been 66 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

“At the outset of this pandemic, as a global community we knew much less about COVID-19 than we do now,” said Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer.

“We did not know then that today we would have a portfolio of approved vaccines to mitigate the worst effects of COVID-19, adding to our toolkit of public health measures such as social distancing, reducing contacts, mask-wearing, cough/sneeze hygiene and washing our hands.”

There have now been a total of 3,512 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland, and 199,430 confirmed cases in the pandemic.

Validation of data at the HPSC has resulted in the denotification of 7 confirmed cases.

Dr Holohan said that we are continuing to see the “tragic effects” of large numbers of hospitalisations and ICU admissions, and the resulting deaths.

“We should remember the public health advice that has carried us so far in this pandemic, and helped us to suppress COVID-19 together successfully in the past.”

“Its the collective hard work and ongoing sacrifice of people across Ireland in following these public health measures that will keep us all safe at this time, as we look ahead to the increased rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine on the horizon.

“Keep it up, and encourage others to do the same. In short: the present is the time to protect yourself and stay safe, in order to receive your vaccine in the future.”

The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community.

Major changes to city centre traffic flow coming next week

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February 3, 2021

galway daily news transport city council news traffic flow

Works to change the direction of traffic flow along four streets in the city centre are to begin next week.

The traffic management changes will reverse the direction of traffic on Middle Street, Flood Street, Abbeygate Street Lower (between Merchants Road and Middle Street), and Upper and Lower Cross Street.

Galway City Council says the changes, which are to be introduced from Monday 8 February, will reduce the volume of traffic along Middle Street and the adjoining sections of Abbeygate Street Lower and Cross Street Lower.

This will support safer pedestrian and cyclist access, support local businesses, and give more space for social distancing.

Spacious five-bed house overlooks Lough Corrib

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February 3, 2021

Spacious five-bed house overlooks Lough Corrib

This wonderful detached house halfway between Moycullen and Galway City offers beautiful surroundings, not the least of which are some stunning views over Lough Corrib from the large garden.

O’Donnellan & Joyce Auctioneers are offering this 5-bed detached house at Fernhill, Clydagh, Moycullen for sale by private treaty.

This spacious home comes with amazing country surroundings, and large amounts of your own green space in the garden, but is still within minutes of the city and Moycullen, making it perfect for a family that wants more space than the city has to offer, without sacrificing the convenience of proximity.

The house itself offers a large amount of living space which has been finished to an extremely high standard throughout, with an emphasis on light and warmth.

Wood flooring in a variety of different woods is prevalent throughout the building, with a mixture of oak, teak, pine, and red deal creating a warm and elegant atmosphere that still has variety.

Along with tiled floors in all of the bathrooms, kitchen, conservatory, and utility rooms, this creates an easy to clean home décor.

The ground floor consists of the main living area of the house, with a spacious lounge, living room, and conservatory for relaxation and dining, along with a modern kitchen and utility room.

Just inside the front door, the atmosphere is set by the entrance hall which manages to be both modern, and possess old fashioned charm, where the oak floors and teak wooden staircase match perfectly with the warm tones chosen for the walls.

Both the Living Room and Lounge are centred around feature fireplaces, with ample room for a family to relax or entertain guests. The design creates a wonderful balance of elegance and cosiness, sacrificing nothing to achieve both.

The Conservatory is a vault of light thanks to its high ceiling and wrap around windows, ensuring that it will be filled with sunlight and warmth at any time of the day.

The large kitchen is tiled in warm oranges, and features rich wooden storage cupboards and fittings. They, along with the brick fireplace and stove, create a cosy environment in this room overlooking the rear garden.

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Just off the kitchen is a tiled, fully plumbed utility room with additional storage space, sink and fitted countertop, which opens out onto the back garden.

Also located downstairs is one of the five bedrooms in the house, with hardwood floors and a fitted wardrobe, as well as one of the two bathrooms.

Upstairs, the other four large, immaculate double bedrooms can be found, with large amounts of wardrobe storage space. Two of the bedrooms come with their own en suite bathrooms fitted with showers.

The main fully-tiled bathroom of the house is also located on the first floor, which is fitted with both a bath and shower.

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Outside the property is extremely attractive, sitting on a 0.26ha green site that offers incredible views over Lough Corrib nearby.

The large front lawn features mature, well kept greenery and flower beds, while the rear garden is even more stylish in its presentation. The multi-level garden is presented in a tiers demarcated by traditional stone walls.

Stone steps lead up to the large grassy area to the back of the property, which is ripe for a new owner to put their mark on it.

There is ample parking to the front side and rear of the property for any number of family cars or guests. While a large stone shed/garage to the rear of the house offers even more storage space.

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The area itself is ideally placed, offering all the space, greenery, and quiet of a country house, while still being within easy reach of Galway City and its amenities by car or public transport.

In the other direction is Moycullen village, and the rest of Connemara and its rural attractions beyond.

This property has a BER C2 energy efficiency rating, and an asking price of €550,000. Viewing is highly recommended.

To arrange a viewing or for other inquiries, call O’Donnellan & Joyce Auctioneers at 091 564 212.

See more of this incredible country home on their website at odonnjoyce.com/residential/brochure/fernhill-clydagh-moycullen-galway/4472726.

Canney says Minister for Education is not hearing concerns of all parents

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February 3, 2021

Galway Daily news INTO annual conference underway in Galway

Galway East TD Seán Canney has raised concerns that the Minister for Education is not hearing the concerns of two national parents’ associations which represent 340,000 parents and guardians.

The Independent TD has said that neither the Catholic Secondary Schools Parents Association (CSSPA) nor the Education Training Boards National Parents Association (ETBsNPA) have been consulted on the current situation regarding schools and exams.

“There are 726 Post Primary Schools in Ireland and these two organisations represent 612 of these schools but they are not being consulted,” said Deputy Canney.

“This is a glaring omission on behalf of the Minister despite her claims that she is listening to the concerns of parents and guardians.”

Seán Canney TD said that he supports the calls by both organisations for the Minister to engage in a meaningful way with all parents’ associations as a matter of urgency.

“Students and parents have had a particularly difficult time and especially in relation to exams and home schooling,” he added.

“Parents and guardians are there to find solutions and the actions of the Minister has excluded the majority of parents/ guardians and their representatives right across the country including Galway East.

“In Tuam for instance there are four secondary schools represented by CSSPA and ETBsNPA but their voices are not being heard.”

TG4 launches brand new Smart TV App

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February 3, 2021

TG4 has launched a new app for Smart TVs in the latest move to give audiences access to TG4 content on a range of platforms and devices.

The new TG4 Smart TV App is available to download on the TV App Store on Samsung, Sony and LG smart TVs, as well as OTT devices Apple TV (4th and 5th generation), Amazon Fire, Android TV and Google TV.

The original TG4 Player was launched in 2002 and was Ireland’s first TV Player.

The new app was designed and developed in-house in TG4 in partnership with 8bytes an Irish web development company.

“We are always looking for new and innovative ways to meet our viewer’s expectations,” said John Higgins, Broadcast Systems Manager at TG4.

“Our latest Smart TV Player app offers some exciting new features exclusive to TG4. If you have missed the start of your favourite live programme you can now rewind to the start or even pause Live TV.

“The use of the latest Cloud technology along with a highly skilled and creative team now brings together many ways to watch and enjoy TG4 content.”

Peadar Ó Flatharta Web Platforms Manager TG4 said that the release of the TG4 Player App on SmartTV and OTT devices is a huge step in fulfilling their ‘TG4 Gach Áit’ mission.

“TG4 content is now available on all major connected platforms; SmartTV, OTT, Mobile & Web,” he said.

“Last year, we saw an increase of 158% of video on demand streams on the TG4 player. This app gives viewers another choice in how they wish to view our content.”

Disruptions expected to M18 motorway traffic tomorrow

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February 3, 2021

Traffic on the M18 motorway will be disrupted tomorrow by carriageway closures due to continuing signage installation works.

Galway County Council is completing the installation of permanent Variable Message Signs on the M18 and M17 motorways.

The M18 Northbound will be closed at Junction 17 Kiltiernan from 10:30am to 3:30pm tomorrow.

Notoway traffic in the area will be diverted via the N67 to Kilcolgan, Clarinbridge, and onto Oranmore, then to the M17/M18 junction at Rathmorrisey.

Man narrowly avoids prison for attacking taxi driver

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February 3, 2021

A man narrowly avoided prison after being sentenced for crashing his car while drunk, and in another incident attacking a taxi driver after refusing to pay his fare.

Mark McKeon (25), of Fana Glas Ballybane admitted to a range of multiple road traffic offences at Galway District Court, along with criminal damage, public intoxication, and assault.

The court heard that on January 25, 2019 Gardaí received a report of an altercation between a taxi driver and a passenger at Rocklands Avenue, Ballybane.

The driver told Gardaí that he brought McKeon to his destination, but when they arrived he did not want to pay the €19 fare.

An argument ensued, and McKeon kicked him in the stomach, knocking him to the ground, and broke a wing mirror off his taxi.

Gardaí found McKeon nearby extremely intoxicated, and he was subsequently arrested. The damage done to the taxi cost €250 to fix.

Also before the court were public order charges from February 10, 2019, when he presented himself at Mill St Garda Station at 4:20am while very drunk.

The final incident before the court occurred on the morning October 13, 2019, when Gardai received a report crashed car in Newcastle.

They found a blue BMW which had mounted the kerb. The driver was still inside the car with the engine running.

Gardai found him to be very drunk, and arrested him. And a urine sample given back a the station returned a result of 240mg of alcohol per 100ml of urine, almost four times the legal limit.

He did not have a licence or proof of insurance on him, and failed to produce them at a garda station within 10 days.

Defence Solicitor Olivia Traynor said that a plea had been indicated as early as February 2020, and that there was €600 compensation in court to be given to the taxi driver.

Her client had alcohol problems, but he is now in a long term recovery programme after rehab in 2020, Ms Traynor added.

Ms Traynor said that her client is holding his hands up, and wanted to convey his apologies to the taxi driver. The injured party did not wish to make a victim impact statement.

Judge Marie Keane said that amount “wouldn’t fill a person’s back tooth” in relation to those events, and that after accounting for repairs to the taxi, there wasn’t much left over.

The judge added that taxis “provide a public service in the dark of the night” and drivers shouldn’t expect to be subject to this kind of abuse.

For the non-payment of the taxi fare Judge Keane handed down a €100 fine, with further fines of €200 for the criminal damage, and €300 for the assault, and gave McKeon four months to pay them.

He was also €300 for being drunk in charge of a vehicle. Judge Keane said that the readings from that day showed a “homicidal level of alcohol” in his system.

The public order charges and failure to produce his licence and insurance were taken into account on his plea.

At the conclusion of sentencing the judge remarked “you should in all honesty be going to jail, and the only reason you’re not is because you’ve done something about your alcohol addiction.”

Letter | What is Zero Covid?

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February 3, 2021

galway daily news letter to editor cian mortimer people before profit galway debenhams workers strike

Dear Sir,

Zero Covid is a policy of active suppression of the COVID-19 virus. Instead of opting to live with the virus, we, as a society, deliberately attempt to limit its spread by reducing the amount of available space where it can do so, alongside hugely increasing testing and trace systems so that further spread can be minimalized.

In the short term Zero Covid requires us to change from Level 5, to what UCC Professor of Epidemiology Ivan Perry has described as, ‘Level 5 plus plus’, which includes closing all non-essential retail, halting flights for all but essential travel and a mandatory quarantine for all people coming into the country. While this means that there will be a lockdown with the lowest possible level of activity, the aim of a Zero Covid strategy is to allow for post-Lockdown life to return relatively quickly. The period of lockdown will be used to create the necessary Zero Covid infrastructure, that is expanding testing capability so that we can commit to 200,000 tests a day, to ensure that people can get tested locally, so that people with symptoms do not have to travel long distances, as well as urgently hiring more healthcare staff, including in contact tracing and other expanded roles in the economy created by Zero Covid.

How long should this lockdown be? Unlike Level 5, a Zero Covid strategy has a definite endpoint for a lockdown under Zero Covid. Once Community Transmission has been crushed and no new cases have been recorded in an area for 14 days, then that area can begin to reopen. Unlike the contemporary plan our response to the virus will be localised and with an expanded system for contact tracing, which will ideally go back 14 days from the date of a confirmed case. Investment in contract tracing will be an absolute necessity, considering its crucial importance in monitoring and halting the spread of the virus.

So what will life look like after Zero Covid? For reopening this will be handled on a county-by-county basis. Counties will be divided into three zones, Green, Orange and Red. Red zones will be the areas with the most restrictions as this will also signify high levels of community transmission, whereas Green will have the least restrictions and should have no community transmission. Green zones which border each other will be allowed to create a ‘bubble’ where people can travel between these counties. Orange zones will be those that border Red zones or have increasing rates of community transmission. Non-essential travel to these Green Zones will be restricted so as to avoid areas with higher rates of community transmission to not spread the virus to areas which have managed to crush it. Green Zones should also steadily decrease the amount of restrictions over time, so as to allow life to return to normal in areas without the virus.

People Before Profit’s plan for Zero Covid contains much more detail than can be just given here. It includes policies which begin at the start of the pandemic, such as empowering workers to not come into a workplace they feel is unsafe, and guaranteeing sick pay, alongside restoring the PUP to €350 and also projected into the future, such as the phased plan for reopening. A pandemic is an emergency which requires concerted effort to overcome. The two Governments we have had since the beginning of the pandemic, have have been opting to allow economic activity to coincide with the spread of the virus, to ensure that businesses can survive this period of significant strain. However, this obviously has not worked, because it does not halt the spread of the virus, but merely give it limited options in which to spread. We need a rapid change of policy in order to recover as quickly as possible from the economic effects of the virus, and Zero Covid is the only policy, which has been proven by the experience of other countries, to lead to a life as normal as before the virus.

Michael Crowley

People Before Profit

Galway TD questions value for money on €250 million Jobpath expenditure

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February 3, 2021

Galway Daily news Additional Dog fines will have little effect without more Dog Wardens

Galway TD Seán Canney has questioned whether the taxpayer is getting value for money out of the JobPath programme, on which a quarter of a billion has been spent.

More than €250 million has been spent on the JobPath programme since its inception in 2015, Deputy Canney said he has been informed by the Department of Social Protection.

JobPath is a privately administered scheme which is meant to help people who are long term unemployed to get back into the jobs market.

Jobseekers are referred to the programme, and assigned a personal adviser who will provide them with employment advice over a 12 month period.

“Jobpath providers are paid a fee for this service and over €250 Million has been paid out between 2015 and 2020 in figures I received from the Department of Social Protection”.

“This is a very high expenditure with €71.7 million being paid out in 2018,” Seán Canney said.

Deputy Canney questioned whether or not the country is getting “value for money” out of the programme, as well as if JopPath as a whole is a “box ticking” exercise for people.

“I fail to see why we have to spend so much on jobpath when this money could be better spent on incentivising employers to take on jobseekers and providing additional tax credits to jobseekers who are successful in getting employment”.

“We need to continue to review this level of expenditure and ensure value for money at all times”.

It was also reported by RTÉ last December that the Department itself has clashed with the private companies which administer the programme, Seetec and Turas Nua.

Internal documents seen by RTÉ Investigates showed that the two companied often exceeded the contractual ratio of clients to advisers they were to adhere to in order to ensure people got enough individual time with their advisers.

COVID-19: 101 further deaths nationally, 53 new cases in Galway

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February 2, 2021

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

The Department of Health has reported 879 new cases of COVID-19 and a further 101 Covid-related deaths, the highest number of deaths reported on any day since the start of the pandemic.

Of the deaths reported today, 83 are from January and 18 from February – and they were aged between 19 and 103 years, with a median age of 85.

Fifty-three of the new cases reported by health officials this evening are in Galway, where the 14-day incidence rate is now 408 cases per 100,000 people.

Today’s figures brings the total number of cases in the Republic since the beginning of the pandemic to 198,424 and there have now been 3,418 deaths related to the disease.

Speaking this evening, Dr Tony Holohan said that it is the highest number of deaths they have reported on any single day of the COVID-19 pandemic so far.

“The high mortality we are experiencing as a country at the moment is related to the surge of infection we saw several weeks ago, and the hospitalisations and admissions to ICU that followed as a direct result,” said the Chief Medical Officer.

“Although we have seen great improvement in the level of infection being reported, we have a long way to go and incidence needs to decline much further.

“The best way to honour those who have died from COVID-19, and those who loved them or provided care for them, is to follow the public health advice. Stay at home unless absolutely necessary, and encourage your friends, family and colleagues to do the same.

“What we can have control over today is the outlook of this disease in the weeks to come. Your positive actions matter, and they add up at a collective level. Please keep it up.”

Gardaí rescue 17 suspected stolen dogs in Kiltullagh

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February 2, 2021

Galway Daily news Gardaí rescue 17 suspected stolen dogs in Kiltullagh

Gardaí seized 12 dogs and five puppies in the Kiltullagh area of Galway yesterday which are believed to have been stolen.

The seizures occurred shortly after 10am on Monday when Gardaí searched a number of vehicles in the Kiltullagh area.

During the course of the search five golden Labrador puppies, a black Lurcher, two Chihuahuas, three collie cross, two springer spaniels, a foxhound beagle, and a terrier, a cocker spaniel, and a setter were found.

The dogs were found by Gardaí in three separate vehicles.

Gardaí believe these dogs may be stolen and are anxious to return the dogs and pups to their rightful owners.

Anyone who may be missing a dog or may have had a dog stolen recently matching the description of these is asked to contact Athenry Garda Station on 091-844016 or Galway Garda Station on 091-538000.

Gardaí rescue 17 suspected stolen dogs in Kiltullagh

NUI Galway Students’ Union launches #SustainableMonday campaign

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February 2, 2021

galway daily news nui galway students union sustainablemondays campaign poster

NUI Galway Students’ Union launched their Sustainable Monday campaign yesterday to highlight the small changes that everyone can make that could have a major impact on the planet.

Each Monday in February the Students’ Union will have tips and information on ways to live more sustainably.

With Covid restrictions, many are becoming more conscious of what they consume and the waste they produce and this campaign aims to give NUIG students advice and encouragement to live more sustainably.

Week One looks at the food we consume and the impact our food choices have on the world around us.

Throughout the campaign the SU will be running competitions where people will have the opportunity to win reusable keep cups and water bottles where students share their own #SustainableMonday tips and ideas.

“We are delighted to launch our #SustainableMonday campaign this month. This year we introduced our SU Clean Ups and they were a huge success showing how much our students care about the world they live in,” said Students’ Union President Pádraic Toomey.

“This campaign will show that by making small changes in our lives, like our choice of toothbrush, we can be part of the move to a sustainable future.”

Students’ Union Welfare and Equality Officer Róisín Nic Lochlainn said that this campaign is very much about thinking globally by acting locally.

“We will be encouraging our students to look at sustainable food and transport choices. We will be highlighting the different charity shops in Galway along with making your own clothes with our online Stitch & Bitch knitting and crafts group,” added Róisín.

Median age of Galway’s Covid cases continues to rise

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February 2, 2021

Galway daily covid-19 coronavirus galway cases 14 day incidence

The median age of coronavirus cases in Co. Galway has risen again in the latest data released by the CSO.

The median age of COVID–19 cases in the county was 33 when the data was taken in the third week of January, up from 31 the week before.

At the beginning of December the median age of cases here was just 26.

Twelve more people in Galway died with Covid-19 during the same week in mid-January, taking the Covid death toll in the county to 53.

The median age of the 53 deaths reported was 80, with just two counties recording a lower median age of Covid deaths.

Galway continues to have the lowest median age of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ireland by four years, while Mayo has the joint-highest median age of cases.

Mayo has had almost twice the number of Covid deaths compared to Galway.

Gardaí seek public’s help locating man missing from Galway

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February 2, 2021

Galway Daily news Gardaí seek public help locating missing Galway man (38)

Gardaí are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 38-year-old Joseph Langan who has been missing from Galway City since last week.

Langan has been missing from the Wellpark Road area of Galway City since Tuesday, January 26.

He is described as being 6ft in height, of slim build with short hair.

When last seen Joseph was wearing a green coat, dark jeans and dark trainers with white soles.

Anyone who can assist Gardaí in locating Joseph is asked to contact Galway Garda Station on 091 538 000, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

Gardaí seize €4,500 in cocaine and cash in Moycullen

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February 2, 2021

Galway Daily news missing teen found safe

Gardaí in Moycullen seized €4,500 in cash and suspected cocaine during a vehicle stop last weekend.

Gardaí from Oughterard stopped a car in Moycullen Village on Friday night.

During the course of the stop they found €1,200 worth of suspected cocaine, and €3,300 in cash.

Two individuals were arrested, and later released without charge.

A file is now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The investigation is ongoing.

COVID-19: Galway hospital numbers down almost 60% since January peak

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February 2, 2021

The number of people hospitalised with COVID-19 in Galway has more than halved since peaking in mid-January.

The latest HSE figures show that there were 59 confirmed cases in Galway’s hospitals as of 8pm on Monday night, 51 at UHG and 8 at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe.

This marks a 59.4% decrease in cases at Galway’s acute hospitals since the numbers peaked during the third wave on January 17.

On that evening there were 131 confirmed cases at University Hospital Galway, with another 12 at Portiuncula.

At that time UHG had the fourth highest number of COVID patients in the country, but as of the most recent figures it has dropped down to 13th place on the table.

However, while the total number of hospital cases in Galway peaked in mid-January, the number of dangerously ill patients continued to creep up in the days and weeks afterwards.

On January 17, with the single highest number of admissions in Galway in the entire pandemic, there were 10 cases in the ICU at University Hospital Galway, and just 2 at Portiuncula.

Even as COVID-19 admissions began to fall thereafter, the number of patients being admitted to the ICU would hit 20 at UHG later in the month, and Portiuncula was faced with up to 4 critically ill patients at once.

This would frequently stretch capacity at both hospitals, with multiple days where there were no beds at either Intensive Care unit, though plans were in place to increase that capacity if necessary.

The number of patients in the ICU has begun to fallen again recently, following behind the trend of decreasing daily case numbers and hospital admissions.

As of Monday evening there were 13 confirmed COVID-19 patients in Intensive Care at UHG, and 3 at Portiuncula. The Ballinasloe hospital was also awaiting test results on another suspected case in the ICU.

136 Galway students receiving Leaving Cert exam results today

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February 2, 2021

Galway daily news Almost 3,500 Galway students receiving Leaving Cert results

There are 136 Leaving Cert students in Galway who are receiving their exam results today after opting to sit the deferred exams rather than taking calculated grades.

The State Examinations Commission is today releasing results to 2,200 students who sat the deferred Leaving, Junior, and Leaving Cert Applied exams.

Due to the COVID-19 crisis affecting students ability to go to school, the vast majority of young people who would have sat exams in 2020 received a calculated grade instead.

But the option was also provided to all students to sit a deferred written exam in some or all of their subjects.

In Galway 156 candidates applied to sit the Leaving Cert exam, but 20 of those applicants changed their minds.

People who initially took a calculated grade also had the option to sit the deferred exams. Any student who receives a higher grade from the written exam than their calculated result will have that counted instead.

Minister for Education Norma Foley congratulated all the students who sat deferred exams, acknowledging that they had been through a lot in “extraordinary circumstances” due to the impact of COVID-19 on education.

“While some of you may have been disappointed with your Calculated Grades results, you undertook the challenge of studying for the postponed exams and have worked hard for your results.”

“Due to public health measures in place, you will not be able to celebrate the way you would have liked, but I know that you all understand the role each one of us has to play in keeping one another safe.”

Ability West awarded €200k to strengthen disability services

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February 2, 2021

Galway Daily news Ability West plans new Headford day centre

Galway’s Ability West has been awarded over €200,000 in two one-off grants to help improve the disability services it offers across the city and county.

Ability West is a voluntary, not for profit organisation, set up by parents and friends, that provides services and supports to over 580 children and adults with an intellectual disability and autism in Galway.

It provides day care, residential services, rehabilitative training, supports towards employment and other community supports at 58 centres in 13 locations around Galway.

The funding announced by Minister of State for Disability Services Galway TD Anne Rabbitte is for two strands of improvements to the Galway charity.

Ability West will receive €140,000 for “staff development and training”, along with a further €61,000 for “IT development/upgrades”.

The Department of Health announced this week the first tranche of successful applicants for the €20 million Strengthening Disability Services Fund.

Minister Rabbitte said that a “vast array” of applications were submitted by groups around the country.

The department sought out projects that would encourage “person-centred practice” and help to further embed that in an organisation’s culture, as this is key to the practice of disability services function.

“In this first cycle of funding, projects approved include improvements to premises, such as additional recreational spaces, therapeutic spaces and sensory gardens, as well as the purchase of assistive technologies, tablet devices and other computers for service users, and the provision of broadband to disability premises.”

“Grants have also been provided for building upgrades and refurbishments, updated fire safety measures and much needed upgrades to IT systems and staff training.”

“These grants will further bolster our voluntary disability service providers and help them meet the challenges they may face in delivering services.”

It is expected that further grants will be announced later this month under the second tranche of successful applications to the €20 million fund.

NUI Galway’s CÚRAM medical devices centre awarded over €46 million

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February 2, 2021