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Call for council owned building to be used for city arts hub

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Joe Loughnane suspended from PBP

City council candidate Joe Loughnane has expressed his support for a call by Theatre 57 for a council owned building to be used as a hub for rehearsing and developing arts projects.

Theatre 57 is a collective of over 60 independent theatre artists making work in Galway city and county founded last summer.

The group advocates for sustainability in the arts and investment in local infrastructure to support the artistic community.

At an event hosted by Theatre 57 as part of Galway Theatre Festival a number of guest speakers talked about creating cultural hubs and how they can support the arts in a community.

Elizabeth Whyte from Wexford Arts Centre talked about how old retail spaces had been converted into venues for visual artists, writers, and an opera festival.

The public facing aspect of the space and the way in which they are designed for people to walk through make them ideal for drawing people in she said.

Mick Smyth from Mayo Arts Squad discussed community arts projects, creating spaces where local painters and sculptors could pass on their skills to others, as well as working with the HSE in psychiatric wards.

While Dr Pat Collins told the room about Institute for X in Aarhus in Denmark. An independent and not-for-profit culture association arising from citizen initiatives.

Joe Loughnane said that there is plenty of support in Galway for initiatives supporting the arts in this manner, and suggested that Nuns Island is a likely location for setting up creative and cultural spaces.

“There should be a stipulation in all new developments in the city for a certain percentage of the space being dedicated to cultural infrastructure.”

NUIG is undertaking a €200 million redevelopment of Nuns Island to create a new cultural and residential quarter in the dilapidated industrial district.

While the project is still in its very early stages, it’s expected that the massive redevelopment of the area will have a strong element of supporting the arts.

Loughnane, who is the People Before Profit candidate for the city’s central ward, said that as the upcoming European Capital of Culture, Galway must do more to support the arts and the artistic community.

“They are struggling to get by and need financial support. They need a shared space with other community groups to develop their work.”

He said that if elected to the city council his focus would be on quickly sourcing a council owned building for Theatre 57 and other arts groups to use.

According to The Arts Matter report released by the Joint Committee on Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht recently found that Arts Council funding in Ireland is still 10% lower than its peak before the recession in 2007.

The Committee recommended that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to double funding for culture and the arts by the end of 2024 in line with a promise he made in November 2017.

Multiple Portumna roadworks to cause traffic delays next week

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Traffic disruption expected from Galway City centre roadworks

Multiple sets of roadworks taking place around Portumna was cause traffic delays for motorists next week.

The County Council has ordered two separate road closures to facilitate resurfacing overlay roadworks taking place from Monday to Thursday.

On Monday and Tuesday work will be taking place at Drumminamuckla South in Woodford.

A section of the R352 will be closed from 7:30am to 7pm each day to allow work to take place.

On Wednesday and Thursday resurfacing works will be taking place elsewhere along the R352 at Cappakella, Ballycrissane.

That road will also be closed from 7:30am to 7pm for the two days while work is being carried out.

Motorists travelling in the Portumna area are advised to expect traffic delays as a result of these works and to allow more time to make journeys.

Tuam Livestock Mart wins fight to retain security fencing

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Tuam Mart postpones first sale of the year due to COVID

Tuam C0-Operative Livestock Mart has won an appeal to retain its current security fencing after previously being refused permission.

Last December, the county council refused an application by the Livestock Mart to retain security fencing, walls, and gateways around the site.

In refusing permission the council said that the current fencing is “visually obstructive” and doesn’t complement the character of the area, contravening the Tuam Local Area Plan 2018-2022.

The current security walls, fences and gateways around the site of the Tuam Livestock Mart were built in 2017 after the council granted permission to demolish several outbuildings on the site and replace the old, smaller fence.

An appeal was made against this decision to An Bord Pleanála in January arguing that there was a need for the new fence due to security concerns about controlling multiple access points to the site.

Two objections were lodged with the county council from a local resident and business last year, and both of them made observations to An Bord Pleanála as well.

Public submissions said the fencing blocking visibility of the roadsign for Athenry and the view of St. Mary’s Cathedral, as well as being an “eyesore” along the route of the proposed Greenway.

It was also said that the fencing created a traffic hazard at the entrance to Tuam Farm Supplies at the Mart as drivers had poor visibility of pedestrians.

Concerns were also expressed about a potential fire hazard on the site as fertiliser is stored along the fence adjacent to one objectors property.

In response the owners of the Livestock Mart said that the site can be easily accessed by fire crews and that the fencing is necessary as there had been issues with trespassing in the past.

It was also noted that there is no protected view along Chuch View and that the old rail line is not currently a Greenway.

An inspector for An Bord Pleanala said that the Livestock Mart is a long standing part of the local area, and that as a commercial property using fencing for security was appropriate.

The inspector also noted that the fencing is “visually inconspicuous” and in keeping with the use of the site, and therefore not damaging to the character of the area.

The developer also volunteered to reduce the height of the fencing along Church View by 400mm to remove any visual obstruction of road signage.

With that condition the higher planning authority granted permission to retain the fencing and walls.

Government must hold “Golden share” of national broadband to block any sell off

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Exemption for farmers on burning green waste welcomed

The government must retain a “golden share” of whatever company operates the new national broadband infrastructure to protect the taxpayers’ investment.

Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice said that it is necessary for the government to hold onto a key share of this crucial broadband infrastructure to prevent any “excessive profiteering or sell-off”.

There has been a lot of anger about the structure of the national broadband plan as more details have emerged about how it will be paid for and owned.

Despite an estimated price tag of €3 billion to rollout broadband to over half a million homes, the  Broadband Ireland consortium led by Granaham McCourt will only contribute €220 million to the upfront cost of the project.

Leo Varadkar has said however that the consortium will be responsible for investing an additional €2.5 billion over the next 25 years.

There has also been alarm around the fact that the infrastructure itself will not be owned by the government, but will be retained by the consortium.

“Broadband, like electricity or water, should be the people’s asset,” Deputy Fitzmaurice said. “This crucial national asset should not be allowed to become the plaything of vulture funds”

“The last thing we need is an Eircom II; instead we need a right of veto on excessive profiteering or any sell-off.”

A ‘Golden Share’ allows a stakeholder in a company to have a veto over changes in the articles of association of a company. This is usually used to block a partial of complete takeover of a company.

Michael Fitzmaurice spoke about the need for this structure while calling for greater scrutiny of the entire deal.

The Independent TD called for the creation of for the creation of a Dáil Committee of Scrutiny to go through “every line of that thousand-page document”.

He warned that “fully resourced, high-powered” committee is needed to scrutinise the deal as negotiated to avoid a repeat of the National Children’s Hospital.

“The minister and the department cannot be allowed disappear into the mist after this deal has been announced.”

“The Dail has committees on everything from petitions to procedures. The National Broadband Plan is the largest infrastructural commitment to rural Ireland since electrification and roads.”

“It requires ongoing scrutiny, of the deal itself and its administration. Therefore, a properly resourced committee is required.”

There is no reason to trust the government to deliver this project in a timely manner, he added, given its past performance.

“Having held the project up for seven years through a combination of temerity and indolence, it is more than capable of holding it up for another seven.”

Deputy Fitzmaurice concluded by saying that such a committee should be brought together now so it can sit through the summer to ensure the deal isn’t “strangled at birth by political cowards and civil service laggards.”

Galway spends more than €37 million buying private homes for social housing

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Briain Kelly
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galway daily news average rent in galway rooms for rent in galway city price

More than €37 million has been spent buying private homes to use for social housing in Galway over the last eight years.

Newly revealed figures in the Sunday Independent show that €15,254,327 has been spent in Galway city and €21,964,695 in Galway county buying existing homes for social housing between 2011 and 2018.

Galway city acquired 74 units at an average price of €206,140 while the county council acquired 145 units which had an average cost of €151,481.

Galway city council has committed to delivering an additional 1,100 social housing units by the end of 2021, less than half of which will be directly built.

The figures were compiled by Fianna Fáil through Freedom of Information requests show that €1.2 billion has been spent by local authorities on 7,200 private homes around Ireland.

According to Fianna Fáil local authorities accounted for 2 percent of all housing transactions in the period from January 2011 to February of this year.

Dublin city lead the pack spending €218 million buying private homes, followed by Fingal (€134m), ad Kildare (€133m).

The lowest price tag came in Leitrim, where €5 million was spent to acquire 55 homes at an average cost of €91,000.

In 2018 just 4,251 new social housing units were built. The vast majority of the 27,103 unit output came through the HAP scheme, with 2,610 private homes purchased by councils.

Kick off Galway Film Society’s summer season at the Palas with a fake Italian kidnapping

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily What's On GFS summer season at the Palas

After settling into the Palas over the past year, the Galway Film Society is launching their first ever summer season this weekend.

Galway Film Society is one of the oldest in Ireland, as befitting Galway’s status as a hub of the arts, having been founded in 1964. It moved to its new home in the Palas arthouse cinema.

Taking advantage of the new venue that’s perfect for finding great film from around the world, GFS has put together a summer selection for the first time.

The summer season is kicking off with screenings of the Happy as Lazzaro, the award winning tale of Italian nobleman who fakes his kidnapping with the help of a peasant farmer from director Alice Rohrwacher.

Happy as Lazzaro is playing at the Palas tonight and on Monday at 6:30pm.

Next weekend will follow up on that with Ash is the Purest White about the tragic intersection of the lives of a dancer and mobster in Industrial China.

The summer season will continue throughout June at the Palas with Woman at War, which sees an environmental activist clash with the police and government in Iceland, and In Safe Hands, the 2018 film that follows the life a baby boy from birth to the moment he is adopted.

Maborosi tells a story of reconciling ourselves with losing the ones we love. This haunting Japanese film won Best Director at the 1995 Venice Film Festival.

And the last film of the season is the German thriller Balloon that depicts a daring escape from East Germany via, you guessed it, a homemade hot air balloon.

Tickets for these movies cane be booked now at www.palas.ie, with season tickets available at the Box Office and a reduced price available for the first week of the season only.

Galway Film Society are inviting people to join them for complimentary cheese and wine for the season launch at the Palas this evening.

Old bank on Eyre Square being converted to café and restaurant

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news

A former bank on Eyre Square is going to be handling food rather than money with plans to convert it to a café, coffee shop and restaurant.

Londyne Limited is seeking approval to convert an unused banking hall at 19 Eyre Square to use for a coffee and dining experience.

The developer was previously granted planning permission for this project in 2014, but was unable to proceed at that time.

Londyne is now seeking an extension of duration to this planning permission.

The site for this project is at the southern end of Eyre Square opposite AIB.

A cover letter submitted by the developer with this planning application said that the reason work did not progress in the intervening years was because the unit was occupied by Bank of Ireland until December 2018.

Londyne did not take full ownership of the Eyre Square property until February 21 of this year according to Blake and Kenny Solicitors.

The application states that there was not enough time after that to begin work before planning permission expired on April 15.

“As the building is a Protected Structure the applicant did not have adequate time to source appropriate contractors to carry out substantial works during this time.”

If the council approves the EOD application then Londyne has said they intend to have the conversion completed within one year.

Galway city council is due to make a decision on this planning application by June 2.

NUIG scientist creates bioengineered stent invisible to the immune system

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news NUIG scientist creates state of the art stent

A scientist at NUI Galway has developed a new state of the art cardiovascular stent bioengineered to avoid triggering the body’s immune system.

Prof Gerard Wall, microbiologist and research at the CÚRAM medical devices centre has created a new variety of stent coated in antibodies to help incorporate it into the bloodstream.

For this delicate process antibodies are isolated in the laboratory at NUIG using a genetic engineering approach that mimics the human immune system.

They are tethered onto the lattice of the stent using e-coli bacteria under sterile conditions.

This stent is the first of its kind to use human antibodies for cell capture, to avoid activating the patient’s immune response.

Stents are a medical device used to reopen arteries that have become clogged or completely blocked off by coronary disease.

Coronary disease can cause arteries to become hardened and narrowed due to a build up of plaque on their inner walls, reducing blood flow to the heart and around the body.

This is the most common cause of death in Europe, resulting in approximately two million deaths each year.

Professor Wall said that this breakthrough has been the work of many stent manufacturers, protein engineers and interventional cardiologists.

He added that preclinical studies showed great promise and it is now under development by the manufacturer in Poland with a view towards reducing the need for repeat surgeries.

While surgical insertion of stents to re-open arteries is now commonplace, arteries can become re-blocked over time when new tissue grows over the stent.

This new stent design addresses this issue by using the antibody coating to capture endothelial cells from the patient’s blood and the surrounding artery.

This camouflages the stent within the walls of the native blood vessels to avoid rejection by the patient’s immune system while the steel structure provides the mechanical strength necessary to keep the artery open.

Professor Abhay Pandit, Scientific Director at CÚRAM said that all the research they undertake is to address a critical patient need that is going unaddressed.

“By partnering with leading research institutions in Europe, this unique team brought together a critical skill set to design and produce a real solution that will have a very significant impact for those who urgently need it”

Report recommending new 200 bed hospital at Merlin Park due this month

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Plans submitted for community nursing unit at Merlin Park Hospital

An independent report on the need for a new elective hospital in Galway is expected to be delivered by the end of the month.

Galway TD Hildegarde Naughton said that report, which was commissioned by the Saolta Hospital Group, is expected to recommend the construction of a new 200 bed hospital at Merlin Park.

Hospital management and consultant doctors met with Hildegarde Naughton and Health Minister Simon Harris this week to discuss the delivery of the project.

It was at that meeting that Minister Harris was told that he would have the report on the current and future healthcare needs and solution for the region on his desk by the end of the month.

Deputy Naughton that work on this project has been going on in parallel with the report’s production in expectation of its recommendations.

Funding for the new hospital has been included in this year’s capital spending plan she added.

“Galway has the longest waiting lists for procedures in the country, and it is clear that these cannot be addressed without the construction of a new facility to substantially increase bed capacity,” explained Deputy Naughton.

The new elective hospital will allow all non-emergency procedures to be performed there, freeing up space at UHG for specialist care Deputy Naughton said.

The demand for future services based on projected population growth will be outlined in the report, along with recommendations regarding the size, location and specifications of the proposed new facility.

It was decided in January to definitively recommend a new facility at Merlin Park on the basis that there is simply not enough room at UHG for the kind of bed capacity needed.

Deputy Naughton said that she is pleased with the progress that is being made, but that there is no question of “treading water” or waiting for the report’s publication to move forward.

Deputy Naughton met with An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar this week while he was on the campaign trail here in Galway for the EU elections.

The Fine Gael TD said that the need for a new hospital is one of the issues which would be discussed while he was in Galway.

Popular Galway shop raided by Gardaí

By
Michael Malone
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A Galway shop which sells hemp has been raided by plain-clothes officers in what has been described as a ‘devestating ordeal’ for the family and business.

Little Collins CBD dispersary was raided by officers, following orders from Customs, who seized all of the hemp flowers in the premises, before forecfully entering and searching the home of the owners.

The raid on the premises in Upper Abbeygate Street took place as part of a national crackdown on establishments selling hemp, a strain of the Cannabis sativa plant.

Under EU law, if the plants are less than 0.2% THC, it is considered hemp and therefore legal.

In a statement, Little Collins said it sells its hemp as a food product, as per the regulations of the Foods Act.

All of the hemp sold by the six-month old business is double-tested to be under 0.2% THC or less.

However, this crackdown on four premises across Ireland is believed to stem from inconsistencies between the Food Act and the Drugs Act, which means there exists a grey area under Irish law.

The shop has received hundreds of messages of support from customers in Galway and across Ireland, who say they have benefitted from the quality products the shop sells.

People buy CBD products for a variety of reasons, with pain releif and anxiety reduction often cited as two of the main benefits.

Little Collins sells the product in teas and coffees, as well as providing a delivery service in the Republic.

The issue is expected to be raised in the Dail next week.

 

Portumna workhouse centre launching new musuem today

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Portumna workhouse museum opening today

The Irish Workhouse Centre in Portumna is launching its new museum offering today to further the goal of education people on its history.

The new museum is the product of months of effort to categorise artifacts and display them to illustrate the story of the workhouse system here in Ireland.

Galway TD and Minister of State for Community Affairs Seán Canney will launch the new museum at the former Portumna Workhouse on Saturday at 5pm.

The Portumna Workhouse opened in 1852 after previously sending those considered undesirable by the community to the one in Loughrea during the famine years.

It was built to hold 600 residents and continued in operation until the early 20th century, though very few records survive to detail its history during the intervening time.

According to the The Irish Workhouse Centre, the 1911 Census of Ireland showed 12 staff, 64 residents and 4 people classed as “idiots and lunatics”.

In the winter of 1921-22 it ceased operations altogether and In the time since then various bodies such as Bord na Mona, the OPW, County Council used it as an odd space for storage or offices.

It wasn’t until 1999 that the South East Galway Integrated Rural Development Company a non-for–profit local development company began working with the Western Health Board on the conservation of the old workhouse.

After more than ten years of restoration efforts it opened to the public as the Irish Workhouse Centre in 2011 to attract visitors to the area and educate people on the history of the location.

The new museum opening today is the latest step in that effort, soliciting the people of the surrounding area for any photographs, documents, or artifacts they may have had in their possession to help bring this piece of history to life.

Moylough childcare centre expanding to improve its high demand services

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Moylough Childcare Centre adding more amenity services

Buttons ‘n’ Bows Childcare Centre in Moylough is planning to expand its facilities to better supply its in demand local services.

Buttons ‘n’ Bows Childcare Centre is seeking planning permission for a two storey extension to the existing creche in The Orchard, Moylough.

The existing two storey creche opened in was built in 2005, and now needs more space to provide top quality to service to the children it looks after.

The planned extension is a two storey addition with a 74m² floor space to the rear of the existing building according to the planning documentation from APS Consulting.

“The positioning and design of the proposed extension have been carefully considered in order to minimise the risk of any potential impacts on the surrounding residential area while the small ground floor footprint will reduce the impact on the existing outdoor play area.”

It’s intended that the new ground space will be used an extension to the existing sleep room for the children and additional storage space.

While the new upstairs area in the childcare centre will contain a dedicated afterschool room for homework.

“The proposed extension is being provided in order to accommodate the existing range of services being provided in the creche.”

A separate planning application is also in the works to change the use of an adjacent enclosed garden to an outdoor play area.

Galway county council is due to make a decision on this application by May 20.

Knocknacarra artist captures the old and new of Galway city side by side

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily life & style Knocknacarra artist captures the old and new of Galway city at UHG exhibition

Knocknacarra artist Hilary Morley has captured the how the modern shape of Galway city lives alongside its traditional constants in a new exhibition on display at UHG.

‘Knocknacarra : Sale Agreed’ is being displayed by the Saolta Arts Trust in the Arts corridor at UHG as the latest display to nurture local talent and make the hospital a brighter, more stimulating place for patients.

Hilary Morley lives on the west side of Galway city and has seen the are hit again and again by waves of repeated house styles, commercial parks and roadways.

However that same area is buttressed by its constants: the proximity to the sea, the traditional farmlands, and the exquisite light that makes it such a great place to live for her.

She reflects this in her paintings, drawings and collage that capture suburban scenes side by side with the rural landscape.

After a career in retail and arts administration, Hilary returned to college and graduated with a BA in Fine Art in 2015 and is now a member of Engage Art Studios, Galway.

She is also a professional applied art curator, specialising in multi-disciplinary mixed-media shows and the exhibition of ceramics.

“We are delighted to present the work of Hilary Morley on the arts corridor of University Hospital Galway,” said Margaret Flannery, Saolta Arts Director.

“Hilary’s work is uniquely accessible and the theme will resonate with many patients, staff and visitors,” she added.

“The artworks bring the outside world into the hospital environment; familiar scenes from neighbouring Knocknacarra are presented in exquisitely detailed drawings, colourful paintings and novel collage.”

The Saolta Arts Trust is an outgrowth of the Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust which encouraged an arts programme at Galway’s hospitals for ten years to promote health and wellbeing.

Now spread across all the hospitals in the Saolta Group, it runs art programmes for patients and staff, as well as bringing in outside artists.

The Trust operates on the belief that art promotes well-being and enhances the hospital environment.

 

photo: Communion Day Digital Collage by Hilary Morley

Dirty Circus takes the stage with the Hoochie Coochie

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily life & style Dirty Circus are bringing the Hoochie Coochie to the stage

Summer and its fun is just round the corner as the Dirty Circus is launching their decadent new show ‘Hoochie Coochie’ in the Roisín Dubh next week.

The Dirty Circus is a collective of performance artists based in Galway that bring burlesque, comedy, music, pole ,drag, and many many more to the stage in a spectacle of “appreciation and love for our diverse bodies”.

For Hoochie Coochie, launching at the Roisín Dubh on May 24, they promise a night of “all things saucy and style” and invite guest to sit back and enjoy the decadence.

Reigning Miss Burlesque Ireland queen Ms Bella AgoGo will lead the performance on stage in a show that puts empowerment and body confidence at its core.

She is joined by Ms Dee Keveaney, returning to Dirty Circus having danced her way around the world, and Pole artist BOOSKE, a psychedelic unpredictable live wire that’s not for the faint hearted.

Cantina Bop will keep the mood going with an eclectic mix of sexy and underground tunes when the stage goes dark.

More surprise performers will be announced and there prizes will be handed out on the night for the best dressed, “Ladies wear your finest and Gentlemen, dress like gentlemen!”

Special guest host for the night will be the enigma that is Mr Paddy Fagan entertainer extraordinaire and Ms Kitty Satine & Ms Eve Shadows will welcome guests at the door.

Hoochie Coochie launches at the Roisín Dubh on Friday, May 24. Doors at 9pm with the show kicking off at 9:30pm.

Tickets cost €15 and are on sale now at www.roisindubh.net.

 

photo credit: Rick Taylor

Ballinasloe medtech firm partners with Croi stroke charity

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Ballinasloe medtech company partners with local stroke charity

Surmodics medtech company in Ballinasloe have formed a new community partnership to support Galway’s Croí heart & stroke charity.

Surmodics will be supporting Croí’s efforts with financial support for their out of hospital stroke programme for the next five years.

Tom Greaney, Chief Operating Officer at Surmodics said that they were proud to “Support Croí’s mission to prevent disease, save lives and promote wellbeing, a mission that Surmodics as an organisation also shares.”

Surmodics is a global manufacturer of medical devices which owns a manufacturing facility in Ballinasloe which used to be Creagh Medical.

Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with an estimated 10,000 people affected in Ireland alone every year, as many as 7,000 of which require hospitalisation.

More than that, having a stroke is something that can continue to affect your health and lifestyle long after the event itself.

There are as many as 30,000 people living in Ireland with a disability they acquired from having a stroke, making it the leading cause of acquired disability in Ireland.

Kevin O’Reilly, Chairman of Croí, said that the organisation is deeply indebted to Surmodics for their five year commitment.

He said this will allow Croí to continue expanding their post-hospital discharge support programme for stroke survivors.

The charity will offer increased offerings in the area of education, carer support, risk factor management, survivor empowerment, and communications rehabilitation.

“In recent years, there have been significant advances made in hospital-based stroke care with many more people today surviving a stroke.”

However Mr Reilly added that the needs of stroke survivors after leaving hospital are varied and, “unfortunately at both a local and national level, community based supports are greatly in need of resources.”

In this time Croí plans to facilitate monthly support meetings in Galway and Mayo, as well as develop and test a self-management and self-care programme for survivors.

“Survivors have huge needs in term of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and psychological support and Croí’s efforts in this regard are in early stage development.”

Kevin O’Reilly finished by saying that this contribution from Surmodics will make a difference in the lives of hundreds of people in the community.

How Galway Councils spend their money compared to other councils

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Michael Malone
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Galway Daily news IBAL litter survey

Galway County Council spends eight times less per person than Dublin City Council on housing, new research has revealed.

A new online platform developed by researchers Dr Gerard Turley and Stephen McNena at NUI Galway allows taxpayers to see how their money is spent locally.

This revealed that there are huge differences between local council spend and income but this is not unexpected, given the variations in the profile, circumstances and choices of the different areas and their constituents.

The website shows that per person, Dublin City Council spends €686 on housing compared to €86 in Galway County Council.

Other differences between councils can be found in spending in recreation and amenities, where per capita, spending ranges from €223 in Galway City Council to €44 in Meath County Council.

Aimed at improving transparency and accountability but also at informing the public on how local councils raise and spend taxpayers’ money, the website can be used to readily access individual council income and spending budgets.

It can also show cross-council comparisons with a view to identifying best and worst performing councils.

Among other explanations, differences in local authority spending can be accounted for by variations in expenditure needs, arising from differences in the socio-economic and demographic profile of the area and its population.

Of the eight functional areas that local councils provide, four service divisions account for 75 per cent of total current spending.

The national average spend per person in 2019 for each of these service divisions are €351 for housing, €208 for roads, €152 in environmental services and €102 in recreation and amenities.

Across the 31 local authorities there are sizeable differences in terms of how much councils spend per person, with the highest and lowest spend per head in Dublin City Council and Meath County Council, at €1,751 and €635 per inhabitant respectively.

On roads, the range is €396 in Leitrim County Council to €92 in Fingal County Council.

For environmental services, including the fire service and street cleaning, Dublin City Council spends €362 per person whereas Meath County Council spends €84 per person.

Dr Gerard Turley, Whitaker Institute at NUI Galway, said: “As for spending changes over time, in general it is the more urban, eastern local authorities that have witnessed the largest increases in day-to-day spending since the last local elections, with the more rural local authorities experiencing the smallest increases and even some recording reductions in spending since 2014.

“In contrast, all local authorities experienced reductions in current (and even more so in capital) spending between the local elections of 2009 and 2014, coinciding with the years of austerity.

“Notwithstanding the recovery in the general economy since the last local elections, the issue of the rural/urban divide remains a serious challenge for our policymakers, both local and national.”

Funding sources also differ, reflecting differences in tax bases and economic activity.

Stephen McNena, Whitaker Institute at NUI Galway, explains: “As most tax revenue for local councils is in the form of commercial rates and not local property tax, we looked at the commercial rate called the Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV), for 2019.

“For those local councils that have not revalued the commercial rates base recently, the tax rate ranges from 79.25 in Kerry County Council to 56.77 in Tipperary County Council.

“Where local councils have undertaken a recent revaluation of industrial and commercial properties liable for commercial rates, the tax rate ranges from 0.2760 in South Dublin County Council to 0.1500 in Fingal County Council.

“Of the four Dublin councils, two of them are amongst the councils that levy the highest commercial rates in the country, but, on the other hand, the other two Dublin councils have the lowest rates nationwide. As for these cross-council differences in the ARV, the rate in 2019 in any local council is a reflection of that council’s rates levied in the past.”

 

Picture special: Seven Galway schools visited by Irish fitness expert

By
Michael Malone
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galway daily fitness expert

Seven Galway schools recently hosted visits from Irish fitness expert Tom Dalton where over 800 pupils heard the message that physical fitness and healthy eating go hand-in-hand and should begin at an early age.

The participating schools were Briarhill N.S; Scoil Chaitríona Junior, Renmore; Scoíl Bhríde Shantalla; Gaelscoil Dara; Holy Trinity National School, Mervue; Scoil Mhuire, Moycullen and Belclare NS, Tuam.

Topics covered during each visit included demonstrations of exercises young people should do, advice on healthy eating, and tips on how to use leisure time to stay physical fit.

 

 

Galway issues just 2.5 percent of Ireland’s litter fines

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Galway accounts for just 2.5 percent of litter fines issued in Ireland

Of the 50,000 litter fines issued in Ireland from 2012 to 2017, just 2.5 percent of those were issued in Galway.

The environmental group VOICE published a report titled ‘Public Waste Out of Sight Out of Mind’ following on ten months of investigation into how local councils handle waste and litter fines.

The group gathered five years worth of litter management and enforcement efforts coupled with street bin and street cleaning costs and waste types.

According to the report just 1% of litter fines were issued in Galway county over that period, with Galway city accounting for just under 1.5%.

The average number of litter fines issued annually throughout Ireland from 2012 to 2017 was 8,300, with an average compliance rate of 43 percent in paying fines.

In 2017 Galway city’s compliance rate was below average at just 40 percent according to the report, while Galway county stayed slightly above the average, collecting 45 percent of fines issues.

According to the city council’s annual report for 2018, last year the council issued 209 fines for littering, collecting €14,100.

With on the spot litter fines coming to €150, that indicated that 94 fines were paid, a compliance rate of 45 percent.

It should be noted that while the report said that while Galway County did reply to the group’s request for information, it was one of nine local authorities which provided partial or incomplete data.

VOICE credited Galway County council for having a large number of full time litter wardens compared with other councils.

Galway county and Dublin city each have 15 full time litter wardens apiece according to the report, where the average is just five.

Mindy O’Brien, Coordinator of VOICE said that this report shows the need for a “properly informed debate on the real cost, both financial and environmental, of litter, street cleaning and street bin management and must find  methods that actually deter litter louts.”

“Current enforcement systems are not working and are not cost effective;  many litter fines are ignored and the ones that are pursued in court are done at a significant financial loss to the local authority.”

The most common littering offences to go to prosecution in Ireland were section 3 offences such as fly-tipping, depositing household waste in public bins or generally causing litter in a public place which accounted for two thirds of prosecutions.

Hospital support workers overwhelmingly vote to strike

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Government approves new Elective Hospital and surgical hub for Galway

Hospital support staff in Siptu have overwhelmingly voted by 94 percent to go on strike.

The decision to strike affects some 17,000 workers in medical and non-medical support positions including at University Hospital Galway, Merlin Park Hospital and Portiuncula Hospital.

SIPTU members chose this action over the refusal of the government to implement the provisions of a job evaluation scheme included in the Lansdowne Road and Haddington Road agreements.

The scheme found that many staff have been underpaid for years and support workers were entitled to pay raises of up to €3,200.

SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell said that the overwhelming vote shows their member’s anger with the government over its refusal to treat them fairly.

He added that their dispute is not with the community, but that health services could be impacted in the coming weeks if the government does not engage with them.

The 17,000 workers balloted in this action include medical support staff such as healthcare assistants and laboratory aides, but also those with non medical roles within the health service such as porters and chefs.

This is just the latest disruption to the healthcare service after a three day strike by nurses and midwives in February that ended with a compromise agreement from the Labour Court.

Further industrial action is also coming down the line from Ambulance workers in June.

The Department of Public Expenditure has been under pressure not to allow the public sector pay deal to be further undermined before it expires at the end of 2020.

The nurses strike resulted in a compromise that is likely to cost the government in the region of €50,000, and other unions have been lining up to pile the pressure on since.

At the recent national teachers conference in Galway Education Minister Joe McHugh admitted there was “unfinished business” on pay inequality for teachers in a comment that many have taken to mean there will be a review of the deal before the end of 2020.

If the government had implement the pay raises advised under the job evaluation review, SIPTU estimates the bill would come to somewhere in the region of €15 million.

On foot or by horse, over hills and mountains – The odyssey of some school journeys

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily life & style Galway students see the odyssey kids make on the way to school the world over

Schoolchildren in Galway are getting to see for themselves the incredible journeys that some kids undertake on the way to school in different parts of the world.

An Taisce Green-Schools invited any school in Galway to come to a free screening of the incredible documentary On The Way To School today as part of their ‘Walk to School Week’.

On The Way To School tells the stories of four young people from India, Kenya, Argentina and Morocco who make the journey to school every day across mountains and rough terrain, whether they’re travelling on foot, by horse, or in a wheelchair.

It was screened for students 5th & 6th class students at the Town Hall Theatre today by An Taisce Green Schools and the Junior Film Fleadh.

Walk to School Week has been running throughout this week, with An Taisce Green Schools encouraging pupils, their parents and teachers to walk from home this week.

This is an easy way to celebrate the environment in these days of sun while enjoying health and social benefits as well.

Green-Schools Travel Manager, Jane Hackett said “We’re living in a country where climate is becoming front page news.

“For families, there’s no better place to begin their sustainability journey than on the way to school.”

Tens of thousands of people came out earlier this week from some 2,000 schools around Ireland  for the National WOW (Walk on Wednesday) to mark the midpoint of the week.

These walking events are also a way to highlight to the local council where upgrades need to be made to the local pedestrian infrastructure to make sure that young people are safe on their morning journeys.

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