43 patients

Forty-three patients were waiting on trolleys at University Hospital Galway – the highest number nationwide – on Wednesday.

Across Ireland yesterday a total of 413 patients were waiting for medical care on trolleys.

The second most overcrowded hospital in the state was Cork University Hospital, with 42 patients stuck waiting.

Last month UHG was the fourth worst in the country, with 457 patients on trolleys recorded over the course of July.

The figures are reported by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

April saw the highest one-day number of patients on trolleys at UHG at 58 people – but the number was drastically reduced during the Taoiseach’s visit to the hospital that same month.

The INMO blames staffing issues at busy hospitals around the state for the long waiting times.

Hospitals are in need of more nursing staff in particular – with the HSE estimating over 200 nurses are needed in Ireland to care for all of the patients.

Galway City Council has removed nearly 20 tonnes of garbage in a bid to tackle illegal dumps in the Connacht Ulster Waste Region.

The local authority cleared 19 tonnes of waste material dumped illegally in spots around the city as part of a summer campaign to raise awareness and stop the practice.

Illegal dumping is not only unsightly – it can create environmental, fire, and health hazards as toxins leach into ground soil and water.

Health issues related to illegal dumping can include asthma, headaches, nausea, and infections as well as more long-term conditions such as cancer, congenital illness, and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

The dumps can attract vermin such as rats as well as drive down property values in the area – which may have a knock-on effect on crime.

19 tonnes cleared

A number of clean ups have taken place during the campaign.

City Council Director of Services, Climate Change & Environment Gary McMahon commented: “Over the past number of months we have targeted dumping black-spots to remove illegally dumped material and hopefully eliminate the culture of dumping.

“To date we have removed approximately 19 tonnes of material from locations in Westside, Sliabh Ban, Ballybane and the Dyke Road.”

The campaign to raise awareness and tackle the problem took place in nine counties in the Connacht Ulster Waste Region over the summer.

Poster for the campaign against illegal dumping

It spread the message using social media, local radio, and newspapers to support the ongoing efforts of local authorities in cleaning up illegally dumped waste material.

Regional Co-ordinator at the Regional Waste Enforcement Office Sean Scott said:

“Our overall aim is to eliminate unsightly illegal dumps and further protect our environment…as well as engaging with the public to ensure that areas remain clean once clean-ups have taken place.

“Significant costs are associated with cleaning up illegally dumped waste and there is an onus on all citizens to dispose of waste in the correct manner.

“[Going forward,] the use of technology including drones as well as overt and covert surveillance equipment will become more effective and act as a deterrent.”

Members of the public and householders should be aware that using an unlicensed waste service to dispose of waste is a criminal offence.

Each individual or business is responsible for their waste.

Mr McMahon noted: “We’re very grateful to all the very responsible householder and community minded people who do the right thing – who dispose of their waste correctly using authorised waste collectors, the extensive network of bring banks and the public and private Civic Amenity Centres located throughout the region.

“However, there is still a cohort of people who are irresponsible in disposing of their waste which ultimately results in small and large scale illegal dumps and to those individuals we appeal to cease this activity.”

The Connacht Ulster Waste Region campaign against illegal dumping is supported by the Region and funded by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

For further information please check out the Galway City Council website, contact the City Council’s Climate Change & Environment Section or email environment@galwaycity.ie.

A group of Dutch divers have planned a “ghost fishing” operation to remove abandoned fishing gear in Galway’s waters early next month.

The Netherlands-based non-profit Ghost Fishing Foundation will start Operation Stone and Pots on September 3 – the first of its kind in Ireland.

They aim to remove storm-driven fishing gear such as lines, nets, and lobster pots that have been lost at sea by fishermen.

This fishing gear often continues to trap and even kill sea animals – called ‘ghost fishing’ – which poses a potential threat to ocean wildlife such as sharks, fish or crustaceans.

Operation Stone and Pots follows on the tail of a report by An Taisce that only 8% of Irish beaches are clean.

In fact, Salthill was listed as the only litter-free beach in the country.

But our ocean environment needs all the help it can get – especially after five beaked whales have been found dead on western Irish beaches in only one week.

Six divers from the foundation will work for three days removing lobster pots and other ghost fishing gear from Galway Bay.

The gear will be returned to fishermen if they can be reused.

A preliminary dive this past May revealed a number of ghost lobster pots in Galway Bay.

Irish waters are known for their rich biodiversity – but ghost fishing gear kills millions of marine animals each year.

The public is invited to join the team for a presentation of the work of Ghost Fishing and a beach cleanup on Thursday, September 6th.

Those interested can follow Operation “Stone & Pots” on Facebook.