Towns in East Galway could benefit from the €1 billion regeneration development fund announced earlier this year, which is now calling for projects to be put forward for consideration.

An initial fund of €315 million is being made available from 2019 to 2022.

Sean Canney TD says the aim of the fund is to support projects which will have an impact on sustainable economic and social development in rural areas.

Proposals under the fund must demonstrate a collaborative approach between two or more organisations.

The Fund will be open to Local Authorities, Local Development Companies, State Agencies, Government Departments, Philanthropic funders, the private sector and communities.

The lead party in the applications must be a State funded body.

“The opportunity is here to begin the regeneration of towns in East Galway by preparing and implementing projects in a unified way.

“Tuam and Ballinasloe are eligible to apply for funding under the Urban Regeneration fund or the Rural Regeneration Fund while all other towns in the county can apply under the Rural Development Fund.

“This funding call is delivering on the programme for Partnership Government which was agreed after the last election, which I welcome,” said Sean Canney TD.

Galway West TD Hildegarde Naughton has drawn attention to Ireland’s failure to reach its 2020 targets on climate change, saying ‘we have not paid sufficient attention to this issue’.

The Fine Gael TD was speaking in support of the creation of a Joint Committee on Climate Action to consider the recommendations of the Citizen’s Assembly.

The new committee will be made up sixteen (or fewer) TDs, with five members appointed by the Government; four members appointed by Fianna Fáil; two members by Sinn Féin; and the remainder by the smaller parties.

Deputy Naughton said that as she served on the Special Committee on the Eighth Amendment, she can attest to the value of such a committee.

She said that she did not wish to criticise the Minister or his Department, but said that the issue of climate change has not had enough attention.

“To put it very simply; climate change has not got the attention or action it deserves because the Department, and my committee, must consider a whole range of other subjects within our remit.

“Important matters such as public service broadcasting, the media landscape in general, broadband and a myriad of other issues take up time that we could otherwise devote to climate action.

“The fact that we are going to miss our 2020 targets by a considerable margin illustrates the point that we have not paid sufficient attention to this issue,” she said.

Deputy Naughton added that she recently spoke to the Taoiseach on the issue and she can assure the Dáil of Fine Gael’s complete support in the work the committee will do.

A homeless charity has warned that homelessness in the West of Ireland is growing faster than any other region around the country, at a rate of nearly four times the national average.

Galway Simon Community say that the number of people in emergency accommodation in the West of Ireland in May 2018 increased drastically by 105% since May 2017, while the national figure grew by 28%.

514 people, including 233 dependents, were recorded as living in emergency accommodation in the West with the majority of these in Galway.

While all nine regions across the country experienced increases over the last year, the rate of increase is faster in the West than in any other area.

Karen Golden, CEO of Galway Simon Community has spoken out about the reasons behind the surge in homelessness in the West and what the charity believes needs to be done about the crisis.

“The private rented sector in Galway is under huge pressure from all sides. The local economy is improving and employment is growing, tourism numbers are very healthy and we have significant numbers of third level students.

“While building activity is increasing again, the housing supply is inadequate to meet the current demand for homes.  As a result, rents are increasing to the point where people are being pushed into homelessness.

“Galway City is a designated Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) with rent increases capped at 4% yet, according to Daft.ie’s Quarter 2 report, rents in the city increased by nearly 14% in the last year.

“The average rent in the city is now at €1,131.

“We’re seeing this reflected in the number of people accessing our services. In the first six months of the year, Galway Simon has already supported 375 unique households, many of whom are victims of increased rents and lack of affordable housing.

“Many of those accessing our services at present are under huge stress and literally, at breaking point.  Our Prevention Team is doing everything possible to support families to retain the tenancy they have or to find another tenancy, before they end up in emergency accommodation in B&Bs, hostels or hotels.

“We need more social and affordable housing in the city.  The social housing targets set by Minister Eoghan Murphy in Rebuilding Ireland and discussed at the Housing Summit this week are to be welcomed.

“However, the Minister is targeting 96 new builds in 2018 and with Catherine Connolly speaking in the Dáil last week of the 14 social homes that are being built in Galway City over the next two years, more work is required to deliver this target.

“Minister Murphy is looking for 64% of the 2018 target for Galway City to be delivered through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme ie through the private rented centre which is already under so much pressure.  We urgently need measures in place to enforce RPZ measures and to prevent year on year rent increases which are currently over four times the RPZ upper limit of 4%.

“If the increase in homelessness in this region continues at the current rate, we could be looking at over 1,000 people living in emergency accommodation in the West of Ireland by next year. Unless we urgently start putting more social housing in place, this is a very real possibility. Behind each and every one of these statistics is an individual or family who needs a place to call home.”

RTÉ presenter, Ray D’Arcy will be in Portumna Castle Harbour, Portumna on Tuesday, 10 July 2018 as part of a week-long trip, where Ray and his team will uncover Ireland Hidden Heartland’s unexplored tracks and trails, exciting blueways, enchanting waterside towns and picturesque rural villages.

To mark the launch of Fáilte Ireland’s Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, The Ray D’Arcy Show on RTÉ Radio 1 will broadcast live from some key locations while Ray experiences on-the-water adventures along the iconic River Shannon, a tranquil river cruise through breathtaking Lough Derg, and a journey through heritage and history in the bustling town of Athlone.

Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands will cover the ‘heart’ of the country, from Leitrim down to East Clare and extending through Longford, Roscommon, East Galway, as well as parts of Westmeath, Cavan, North Tipperary and Offaly.

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