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Kyne heads government committee on developing the islands

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Irish Language Plan approved for the Aran Islands

The sustainable development of Ireland’s islands will be the focus of a newly formed inter-departmental government committee starting work this month.

Galway West TD and Minister of State with responsibility for the Islands Seán Kyne will be heading the Interdepartmental Committee on Island Development in its work.

Announcing the date of the first meeting Minister Kyne said “Having visited the islands and having met with individuals, communities, island representative organisations, Oireachtas members and other public representatives, I know the great significance of our islands to our heritage and to our language.”

“I have seen the vibrancy and the resilience of island communities.  I also know of the support that island communities need to continue to be sustainable and to realise their potential.”

Minister Kyne added that in recent years the priority for development of the islands has been on improving infrastructure and subsidising access to services.

Stark differences between the quality of services and amenities on the Aran Islands and the mainland have been seen in the past few years in both transport and water supply.

The unprecedented drought that occurred in the summer of 2018 saw water shortages and restrictions in many places, but the Aran Islands were hit harder than most due to a lack of water storage facilities.

In the year since Irish Water has been trying to make up this lack with planning applications for water storage tanks, though they have been hit with setbacks.

Similarly, the need for greater development of transport to and from the islands was put in the spotlight during a potential shutdown of Aer Arann that would have cut one of their biggest transport links with the mainland.

Despite this Minister Kyne said that work done so far has achieved significant improvements in the quality of life for island residents.

“I am looking forward to working with colleagues across all of the relevant Government Departments to develop a cross-Government Islands Policy with an associated Action Plan,” Seán Kyne said.

“However, in order to tackle the challenges that island communities face, some of which are unique to islands, the Government has approved the establishment of an Interdepartmental Group, which I will chair”.

The inaugural meeting of the committee will take place next week on September 24.

Taoiseach says Justice Department should talk with people of Oughterard

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Taoiseach Varadkar meeting with local businesses in Ballinasloe visit

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that if the Department does intend to put a Direct Provision centre in Oughterard then it should communicate that with locals.

The Taoiseach was responding to a question in the Dáil from Labour leader Joan Burton asking why there has been “No communication with people in Oughterard about a potentially significant development in the town and one which does require communication?”

The Taoiseach said that there hasn’t yet been any communication from the department with Oughterard because “any plans or proposals to accommodate asylum seekers in that particular town are only at the initial stages and are not developed to the point where the Department is in a position to consult residents.”

He added that if it did get to that stage then he was certain there would be communications with locals, and cited Lisdoonvarna and Wicklow town as good examples where “Some fears were allayed and some scare stories corrected”.

Those towns are “very good examples of where there may have been an initial reaction which was negative but now people have come around and welcomed people from other countries into their towns,” Leo Varadkar said

After a massive march against any direct provision centre attracted well over a thousand people through Oughterard last week, a group of protesters have been maintaining a constant presence at the Connemara Gateway Hotel.

Joan Burton also called on Galway West TD Noel Grealish to apologise for “deeply upsetting” comments he made about migrants from Africa at a meeting in Oughterard.

Deputy Grealish made comments at a public meeting in Oughterard about ongoing work at the Connemara Gateway Hotel where he said that asylum seekers from Africa are “economic migrants” coming to Ireland to “sponge off the system”.

The meeting was marred by frustrations from locals about the lack of communication about whether a direct provision centre is meant for Oughterard.

Graduating GMIT artists show their talent in Metamorphosis exhibition

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily arts & culture GMIT graduating artists Metamorphosis exhibition

Another year has gone by and Galway, city of singers and painters that it is, has produced another generation of artists eager to show their work to the world.

Metamorphosis, an exciting exhibition of work by eleven graduating artists from GMIT’s MA in Creative Practice, opens to the public in GMIT’s Centre for Creative Arts and Media in Cluain Mhuire this Friday.

Artist Michael Minnis will formally open the show which demonstrates the varied skills and creative viewpoints of the graduating artists.

The work they have created for Metamorphosis includes everything ranging from performance to photography using augmented reality, and from paint and print to new form journalism.

Celine Curtin, Head of Department says: “The MA in Creative Practice endeavours to engage students in a range of creative disciplines through dynamic discourse, exchange of ideas and transformative learning.”

“In addition to this exhibition here in the Centre for Creative Arts & Media, works are also on show in Engage Studios, Salthill and in NUIG.”

“The exhibition is the culmination of twelve months’ work by the students who are due to graduate in October.”

The launch of Metamorphosis on Friday, 20 September, will coincide with Culture Night which features a wide variety of artistic events locally and nationally.

Once kicked off the exhibition will remain open to the public for free from 9am each day for one week.

For further information on GMIT’s MA in Creative Practice, see gmit.ie/creative-arts-and-media/master-arts-creative-practice

 

image: Michelle Hill, untitled oil on canvas

Whiskey, vodka, and buckfast mixer leads to arrest for abusing gardaí

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Briain Kelly
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An unwise decision by one man to drink whiskey, vodka and buckfast all at the same time led to his being arrested and convicted for being abusive to gardaí.

Joe McDonagh (34), who is serving a sentence in Midlands Prison, pleaded guilty to being dangerously drunk in public and behaving in a threatening, abusive, or insulting manner to garda officers.

The court that on February 4 of this year gardaí received a report of a threatening man at Oldenway Business Park on the Monivea Road at 7:45 in the morning.

When officers arrived at the business park they found McDonagh extremely drunk, and he was arrested after being abusive towards gardaí.

Explaining what happened to the District Court McDonagh said that it was his first time in Galway and he went out drinking with some friends.

He added that he was drinking whiskey, vodka, and Buckfast mixed together and “it went badly”.

McDonagh has 19 previous convictions, and volunteered in court that they were all theft and fraud offences when Judge Mary Fahy enquired with the prosecuting Sergeant.

On the charge of threatening, abusive, or insulting behaviour Judge Fahy imposed a two month prison sentence to run concurrently to the one he is serving now.

The public intoxication charge was taken into consideration by the court.

Inspection finds critical breach of regulations at UHG mental health unit

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Almost 1,000 patients on trolleys at UHG in February

An inspection by the Mental Health Commission found a critical breach of regulations at the UHG acute mental health unit for the inadequate provision of tribunal facilities.

The Acute Mental Health Unit at UHG is a purpose built, 50 bed psychiatric facility. It has been open for patients since last June and was officially opened this week.

An inspection of the facility was carried out by Dr Susan Finnerty with the MHC on July 18 after a complaint was received that month from a chairperson of a Mental Health Tribunal.

The complaint focused on the inadequate provision of facilities for the tribunal which respect the patient’s right to dignity.

The complaint said that the room was too small, windowless, and was not soundproofed, so that tribunal proceedings could be heard in the training room next to it.

While a prior inspection in November 2018 had found that the MHT room at the facility was “bright and spacious”, the location of MHTs had since been moved to a room other than the one at the time of registration the inspection found.

The new room was partitioned to provide space for both MHTs and a multi-purpose training room.

The summarised findings of the inspection said that “the Mental Health Tribunal room was not adequately sized, ventilated and soundproofed and that the facilities did not respect the dignity of the patient during the Mental Health Tribunal”.

“A narrow table with six chairs was in the centre of the room. The width of the table did not allow adequate personal space for people sitting opposite each other,” Dr Finnerty’s report said.

“There was insufficient space in the room for MHT members, the patient, his/her advocate, any attending nurses and the consultant psychiatrist.”

“There were no windows in the wall; there was a Velux style window in the ceiling, which could be opened remotely. The room was stuffy and hot at the time of the inspection.”

The facility was deemed non-compliant with regulations because it did not co-operate with MHTs in ensuring that the tribunal room wad adequately sized, ventilated, and soundproofed to protect patients’ dignity.

Social media overload drags down academic performance

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Social media overload makes people susceptible to Covid-19 misinformation NUIG study shows

The constant updates and messages that come with modern social media can feel like an endless bombardment at times.

But the overwhelming amount of communications that comes from social media use can actually have a negative impact on students’ academic performance according to a new study from NUIG.

Social media is everywhere in society, and the fact that Facebook still has more than 2.5 billion users after all the scandals that have hit this all consuming beast lately show that its pretty resilient in sticking around.

The reasons why it has been adopted so widely are obvious. Social media enables you to connect with countless people be they right next door or on the far side of the world.

But handling this constant input of communications and information may be having a negative effect on the cognitive processing abilities of third level students.

Dr Eoin Whelan, Senior Lecturer in Business Information Systems at NUIG, said that with this issue becoming increasingly common it’s important to understand its causes and effects.

“Our study finds that people who have a high fear of missing out, or FoMO in modern parlance, are more likely to suffer social media overload,” Dr Whelan said.

“They will also perform less well academically as being constantly bombarded by social media depletes the self-control needed to study diligently and develop one’s career.”

It’s hoped that the insights from this study could help with mitigation measures such as self-control training, and the development of “emotion sensing technology which adapts automatically when a user is becoming overloaded”.

This study was carried out with a survey of 182 students. The first thing it found is that a fear of missing out is what triggers this feeling of overload in people.

The data suggests that being constantly overloaded with information from social media diminishes people’s sense of self-control, something which is required for studying or producing high-quality assignments..

To read the full study in the journal Computers and Education, visit: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360131519302453?via%3Dihub

Galway projects share in €20 million Sláintecare Integration funding

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news People in Galway urged to know their healthcare options for Bank Holiday

Multiple innovative Galway healthcare projects will be sharing in a €20 million pot from the Sláintecare Integration Fund.

The Sláintecare Integration Fund is aimed at testing multiple pilot projects that promote community based healthcare.

Applicants for the fund were judged based on three criteria. Do they: demonstrate innovative ways in which citizens can engage in their own health; represent best practice in the management of chronic diseases and caring for older people, and; encourage innovations in shift of care to the community or promote hospital avoidance.

In Galway, projects in the area of cardiac care included in the fund are community cardiac diagnostics for Galway University Hospital and improvement of patient outcomes for Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe and Primary Care in Galway.

Other projects receiving funding include a podiatry-led pathway for the provision of footwear and orthotics for diabetic care in Galway, Roscommon, and Mayo Community Health Organisation (CHO); telemedicine for Cystic Fibrosis for Galway University Hospital; and individual placement and support for mental health services for Galway, Mayo and Roscommon CHO.

Galway East TD Seán Canney welcomed the announcement, saying that we need innovative thinking to change the healthcare system.

“I am particularly pleased to see the importance of working in partnership being emphasised in these projects and I want to congratulate them all on achieving funding,” Seán Canney added.

He also welcomed funding for national organisations which are active in Galway such as Men’s Sheds and Alone BConnect, which aims to facilitate older people staying healthier for longer in their homes by combining technology with expanded community services.

Over 477 projects applied for the Integration Fund and of those applicants 122 projects were successful.

Minister for Health Simon Harris said “The successful Sláintecare Integration Fund projects are leading examples of how innovative thinking can bring about meaningful and long-lasting change to health and social care in Ireland.”

The Minister said that using community partnerships to change how we deliver healthcare can shift a large burden of care from hospitals to the community, helping to reduce waiting times.

B&B plans for vacant city centre buildings refused

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Plans for city centre hotel development off Eyre Square

Plans to convert two buildings in the heart of the city centre into a B&B have been rejected for being against housing guidelines.

Permission was sought from the city council to convert No. 4 & 5 on Market Street from residential to short term letting / B&B usage.

Both of these buildings are listed as Protected Structures in the Galway City Council Development Plan 2017 – 2023. Number 4 was a house, and Number 5 was an old workshop.

The two buildings had been vacant for a number of years before being purchased by their current owner who has been carrying refurbishment works.

A cover letter from Tobin Engineers included in the application said that both buildings were in very poor condition before their refurbishment, and that no further works were planned on the buildings as part of this development.

In refusing permission for the project Galway city council said that converting two buildings into short term letting in a Rent Pressure Zone is against government guidelines.

“It is considered that the proposed short term usage including the pattern of occupancy and servicing of the properties could give rise to conditions which would contribute to the ongoing deficit of long term housing accommodation”.

This is based on Ministerial Guidelines issued on August 2, 2019. And though further guidance on specific circumstances where permission might be granted has been promised by the governemt, it has not yet been delivered according to the council.

The council noted that the developer has carried out substantial work on the properties, but that the permission for those was simply for the replacement/refurbishments of two residential dwellings, and not anything to do with a B&B.

UHG has been the second most overcrowded hospital 7 times in 10 days

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Cardiac care investment in Galway

University Hospital Galway has been the second most overcrowded in Ireland seven times in the last ten days of records.

Today UHG is the second worst affected hospital in Ireland with 41 patients on trolleys or in overcrowded wards.

It is only behind UH Limerick, consistently the most packed public hospital in Ireland, where there are 56 on trolleys today.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation keeps track of the number of patients without a bed in Emergency Departments and overpacked wards in its daily Trolley/Ward Watch.

Nurses take a daily count of those on trolleys each morning from Monday through to Friday.

In the past ten days, there have only been three times when UHG wasn’t the second most impacted in the country by a shortage of beds, and only once when it didn’t crack the top three.

In total there have been 431 patients who were unable to secure a bed at UHG in the past ten week days.

The INMO has warned that Saolta needs to curtail services in Galway and throughout the group due to a shortage of frontline nurses.

Anne Burke, INMO officer for Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon said that this is a recipe for disaster for staff and patients alike.

“Our frontline members tell us that day staffing levels now resemble the night shift,” she said.

“We provided management with specific examples of missed care and impacts on patients, but services have still not been curtailed to ensure safe staffing.”

According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation there are currently 64 staff nurses at University Hospital Galway, with a recruitment ban having a severe effect on maintaining staffing levels at hospitals.

There was controversy last month when it emerged that of the nursing students from UHG graduating this year, only a tiny fraction were being offered positions within the health service.

GMIT and Brothers of Charity award first joint arts bursary

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily arts & culture GMIT and Brothers of Charity award first arts bursary

GMIT and the Brothers of Charity Services have awarded their first joint arts bursary to local film maker Jill Beadsworth.

Jill, a documentary filmmaker, is the first recipient of The Radius Project Bursary from GMIT’s Centre for Creative Arts and Media (CCAM) and the That’s Life arts programme at the Brothers of Charity Services.

On receiving her bursary Jill said that the community involved in That’s Life “exude a richness of storytelling potential and an eagerness to experiment and collaborate”.

The bursary is valued at €2,500 and is jointly funded by GMIT and the Brothers of Charity and will allow Jill to take part in the That’s Life programme as part of her Masters in Creative Practice in CCAM starting this October.

Jill added that the bursary will enrich her practice over the course of her MA year at GMIT and give her the opportunity to work with a broad range of subject matters.

Celine Curtin, Head Department for Creative Arts and Media “We are delighted for Jill and we look forward to developing our relationship with the Brothers of Charity Services in a truly meaningful fashion”.

Claude Madec, That’s Life Director at the Brothers of Charity Services added “This award is an important new departure for both our organisations as it will enrich our respective art practices and could inform future engagements.”

This creative action is part of a larger initiative, the ‘Radius Project’, in which GMIT’s CCAM is engaging with a variety of community and social organisations within a close radius of their campus.

Project leader Dr Seamus McGuinness of GMIT’s CCAM, says: “The Radius Project has two interlinked strands, each integral to the other.

“Firstly, how we, the Centre for Creative Arts and Media at GMIT, can become more relevant to and a creative catalyst for community engagement in the surrounding area.”

“And, secondly how we, the school and local bodies and communities, can collectively and creatively build trust and working relationships to develop and sustain social and cultural relationships within these communities – our neighbours.”

For further information on the MA in Creative Practice, see: https://www.gmit.ie/creative-arts-and-media/master-arts-creative-practice

Galway start up wins second place at Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition

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Michael Malone
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A Galway woman has been named as runner-up in the Best Business Idea category in the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur competition.

Local Enterprise Office Galway’s finalist for the title of Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur Elizabeth McGloughlin competed with finalists from across Ireland at Google HQ in Dublin at the weekend for the prestigious final.

Elizabeth, who is a 30-year-old city resident, is co-founder of city-based company Tympany Medical which is designing and developing a novel combined access and visualisation device which will enable ear surgeons to ‘see around the corners’ of the ear canal.

This will allow surgeons to perform trans-canal ear surgery with a wide endoscopic view of the surgical site, thereby, avoiding unnecessary invasive surgery.

The IBYE programme is run by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices and is funded by the Government of Ireland with the support of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland.

Project Baa Baa – clearing up woolly thinking on sheep

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily life & style Project Baa Baa teaching Galway kids about sheep

Aiming to teach young children more about the role that sheep, and all that comes from them, plays in our society and traditions, Project Baa Baa is coming to schools around Galway.

Part of the Galway 2020 schools programme, Project Baa Baa is a unique programme celebrating the cultural, economic and environmental contribution of sheep in Ireland and Europe.

It wouldn’t shock anyone to hear that Ireland has a deep agricultural heritage, and farming sheep for meat, milk, and all that can be done with wool is a big part of that.

Earlier this year Project Baa Baa launched its Primary School Project Exhibition competition by sending every school in Galway City and County an invitation to take part in a pilot project, including a project book with facts on sheep.

This was followed by an education and engagement programme with live animal demonstrations in primary schools starting in May.

This month schools are now being invited to take part in research on topics such as sheep farming, agritourism, food, meat, milk, cheese, wool, craft, eco and innovation.

Each school will present their project in their school or local library from 24 April 2020 across a number of weeks.

Thirty shortlisted projects will be selected by an independent panel of judges and these will be invited to take part in the Primary Schools Sheep Project Exhibition in Galway City during EU Congress Week, on Saturday 30 May 2020.

A prize for the winning schools will be awarded to the top three projects.

Visit the Project Baa Baa website for more information about this scheme.

The full programme for Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture is launching this week in Eyre Square on Wednesday evening.

New centre for child sexual abuse victims opens in Galway

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Barnahaus child sexual abuse centre launches

A new initiative launched in Galway this week aims to completely revamp the way child sexual abuse is handled in Ireland.

The Barnahaus Onehouse Galway pilot project brings together health, medical, therapeutic and policing services for children and adolescents where child sexual abuse is suspected in a way that focuses on the well being of the child.

Children will be able to get a medical exam, with evidence taken, speak with therapists and be interviewed by gardaí about what happened to them all under the one roof.

The pilot project was launched at NUI Galway’s ILAS centre on Monday by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan and Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone.

Attending the launch Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said that the experience of interacting with the criminal justice system can be traumatic for child abuse victims.

“For the first time, this project will deliver professional services to the most vulnerable of victims – children who experience sexual abuse.”

A key part of this project is cutting back on the number of times which children will have to be interview by coordinating services between the HSE, Tusla, and An Garda Síochána.

Dr Joanne Nelson, Consultant Paediatrician with Saolta and Clinical Director of Child and Adolescent Sexual Assault Treatment Service welcomed the news, saying that advocates have long been battling for progress in sexual abuse services for young people in Ireland.

“In this era of virtual online communication nothing promotes effective interagency working better than face to face contact – meeting, talking and planning around the best interests of the child.”

“Under one roof, the frontline Barnahus professionals will support vulnerable children and their families, addressing evidential, forensic, health, safeguarding and therapeutic needs.”

“Children will be brought to the Barnahus door, each with their own private and individual trauma. Every voice will be heard. The ultimate aim is that every child will be in a better position when the process ends than when it began.”

Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone said that the need for joined up service has been evident for some time.

“One of the most appealing aspects of the Barnahus model is the child centredness of the approach. All the key services are brought together under one roof, taking away the need for children to repeat their trauma as they engage with multiple agencies”.

She added that it also allows families to be supported in caring for their child through this traumatic time.

Medtech company creating 30 jobs in Galway

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily business Medtech company creating 30 new jobs in Galway city

Medtech consultancy firm Med-Di-Dia is going to be creating 30 jobs in Galway with the opening of its new offices in the city this week.

Med-Di-Dia works with medtech companies to help them get their products to the market by helping them comply with regulatory obligations in this sector.

The company officially opened their Galway offices on Monday with Mayor of Galway Mike Cubbard officiating, and announced plans to create 30 new jobs over the next three years.

We are acutely aware that there is a skill shortage in the life sciences and the shortage of regulatory expertise is even worse.” said co-founder Greer Deal.

“We need to train the next generation of regulatory specialists to try and ‘plug’ this skill shortage and have enough resource to support the increasing regulatory demands of the MedTech sector,” she added.

A key challenge for established MedTech companies is achieving compliance with the new EU Medical Device and In-Vitro Diagnostic Regulations.

Med-Di-Dia says that by ensuring regulatory compliance is baked in to the development process in medtech from the outset, and by making sure good quality data is gathered at the right time, they can ensure a smoother path to the market, saving both time and money.

The company owes its origins in part to Brexit and the New European Regulations, which are increasing the burden and complexity of regulatory compliance for Medical Device and Medical Diagnostic Companies operating in Europe.

There are some significant changes to the regulatory obligations of legal manufacturers, importers and distributors involved in the MedTech supply chain.

Greer said that to ensure they have access to skilled graduates in Galway to meet these challenges they are working with local universities to offer internship programmes.

“Galway is a hotbed of innovation especially for the MedTech sector.  The Med-Di-Dia team is embracing every aspect of Galway life.  We will be supporting start-ups, entrepreneurs and well established MedTech companies,” Greer said.

Med-Di-Dia was spun out of Global Regulatory Services to provide the key services of EU Authorised Representative, EU Person Responsible for Regulatory Compliance and EU Legal Representative for Clinical Trials.

Emergency repair money for Craughwell NS welcomed

By
Michael Malone
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Galway Daily news craughwell national school

The allocation of funding for emergency repair works on Craughwell National School has been welcomed.

Craughwell NS has been allocated funding by the department of education for roof repairs under the Emergency Works measures.

Galway East TD Seán Canney said that the roof repairs being undertaken are “essential to keep the school protected at all times.”

“Craughwell National School is also awaiting approval to go to tender for a major expansion Deputy Canney said, adding that he has lobbying for this work and met with both the Design Team and Board of Management this year.

The Emergency Works Scheme exists to give urgent funding to schools with a situation that requires immediate attention.

Drone delivers insulin to the Aran Islands in world first

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Drone delivers insulin to the Aran Islands

In a world first achievement of it’s kind, insulin was delivered to the Aran Islands by drone thanks to a team led by researchers from NUIG.

The drone flew a two part mission, delivering insulin from Connemara Airport to Inis Mór, and the returning with a patient blood sample.

This flight was organised with the support and permission of the Irish Aviation Authority in order to coincide with a gap in commercial flights.

The team in charge stayed in contact with air traffic controllers at all times during the flight which took roughly 15 minutes either way.

The team behind this project have said that recent extreme weather events like Storm Ophelia and Emma hve shown the need for flexible ways to deliver critical medications during a time of crisis.

Project lead, Professor Derek O’Keeffe said that extreme weather events can leave remote areas isolated for days afterwards.

Such events are being exacerbated climate change he added, and can create emergency situations where people run out of medication.

“Therefore, it is incumbent on us to develop a solution for these emergencies, which addresses the clinical, technical and regulatory issues before a sentinel event occurs”, Prof O’Keefe said.

“To date medical drones have demonstrated success, for example in delivering blood, defibrillators and human organs for transplant.”

“This #DiabetesDrone project represents another milestone in the use of drones to improve patient care.”

Dr Marion Broderick, a practicing GP on the islands, was enthusiastic about the project, saying that there are “endless possibilities” for drone deliveries.
The drone for this was supplied by Survey Drones Ireland; a Wingcopter 178 Heavy Lift with insulated parcel delivery box for the payload.

Novo Nordisk global pharmaceutical company manufactured and supplied the insulin for the project.

From Connemara Airport the autonomous drone flew a pre programmed flight path to Inis Mór and back using software from the company Skytango.

On it’s way it crossed the 18km gap of water, well beyond the crew’s line of sight.

This was the first time a drone had been used to deliver medication beyond line of sight and return with a patient sample.

Marion Hernan lives with diabetes on the Aran Islands, and she says that having a reliable supply of insulin is essential to her survival.

“Having a diabetes drone service in an emergency situation would ensure this survival while living on an offshore island”, she said.

 

image: Andrew Downes/Xposure

Mining in Connemara “extraordinarily difficult to justify” says Kyne

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Call for Revenue to extend COVID-19 tax bill assistance deadline

Any application for mining in Connemara would be “extraordinarily difficult to justify considering environmental and infrastructure constraints Seán Kyne has said.

The Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Galway West TD was speaking after Canadian mining company MOAG was refused a prospecting licence for the Roundstone/Ballyconneely area.

The Department of Communication, Climate Action and Environment chose to refuse the application, which has been the subject of intense protest by the people of Connemara, on the grounds that the company had failed to provide sufficient information supporting their application.

MOAG was asked by the department to provide additional information based on submissions received from members of the public concerning this project.

“I appreciate and understand the concerns that many people expressed regarding the possibility of mining,” Seán Kyne said, adding that he felt the application process was robust, and was always going to yield a fair result.

“The application was to prospect only, not to mine. An application to mine would be made to Galway County Council and would have involved an extremely detailed level of environmental study.”

Deputy Kyne added that he has said in the past that he feels “any application to mine would be extraordinarily difficult to justify considering the environmental and infrastructural constraints present in Connemara.”

The department had earlier signaled its intent to grant MOAG a licence to prospect for gold and silver in the area west of Roundstone.

Multiple local protest groups, political parties, and An Taisce objected to the move on environmental grounds.

While supporters of the project said that prospecting is a minimally invasive activity with little environmental impact, others said that was impossible to determine in this case as simply not enough information was given about the planned works.

Another mining company, BTU Metals, is still seeking a prospecting licence for gold in Maam Valley.

Bus Eireann ending 5% discount for online booking onmost services

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Bus Eireann rolling out new Galway Expressway services

As of today, people who purchase their bus ticket online will no longer receive a 5% discount for any Bus Eireann commuter, rural and local services.

Bus Eireann has said that customers may still book their tickets online for convenience, and they are still not charging a transaction fee for any credit/debit purchases.

However any financial incentive to buy your ticket online ahead of time for most journeys is ended as of September 16.

The discount will still apply for people purchasing an inter-city bus ticket online.

People who wish to save money on bus fares are advised to make use of a Leap Card which can offer savings of up to 30% on cash fares.

Bus Eireann has come under criticism in the past year for a realignment of their services that has seen the use of multiple rural stops in Galway discontinued.

Salthill post office being moved to local Centra

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Salthill post office being moved to local Centra
SONY DSC

The local post office in Salthill is going to be relocated to a nearby Centra store according to plans submitted to the city council.

O’Connors Centra at 220 Upper Salthill road are seeking planning permission for renovations to the existing ground floor in order to accommodate a retail area and post office.

Permission is also being sought for an expansion of the first floor of the building.

“This planning application is to facilitate the relocation of the An Post office from its current location at No. 137 Upper Salthill to the Centra shop”.

“An Post are closing individual standalone post offices around the country in favour of the model of relocating post offices within existing shops”.

The first floor expansion is for storage space and the relocation of offices and the canteen related to this new addition the application states.

It also says that O’Connors Centra is a “family run business which provides a valuable amenity and employment to the village of Salthill”.

Galway City Council is due to make a decision on this planning application by October 2.

Local vets issue poison warning after sudden dog deaths

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Surge in people surrendering their dogs MADRA says

Local vets are issuing a warning for pet owners to beware of poison after four dogs died suddenly in the Corcullen area over the weekend.

The Barna and Moycullen Veterinary Clinics Facebook group issued a warning that “There seems to be some type of TOXIN / POISON affecting dogs in the CORCULLEN/ DROM area of Galway this weekend.”

“There have been four deaths of dogs in different households all walked in the same are between the cross and the football pitches.”

“Dog owners should avoid this area for now as as yet cause unknown”, it was cautioned.

Symptoms of the issue include increased temperature and panting, followed by sudden death.

“Please be vigilant and contact your vet if you have any concerns about your dog if you have walked them in this area yesterday or today.”

People who may have seen anything suspicious in this area are urged by the vets group to contact gardaí.

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