Head shops always one step ahead, Castlebar JPC told

Fri, Apr 16, 2010

The Castlebar Joint Policing Committee was told this week that the head shops were always one step ahead of legislation, despite public concerns. Castlebar Mayor Cllr Michael Kilcoyne asked town engineer Sean Higgins what the current situation was in relation to proceedings taken by the council on the issue. Mr Higgins informed the meeting that the council was in the process of investigating the planning history of the two head shops in the town, and had sent a warning letter to one shop.

Housing grant allocation only half of what is required

Fri, Apr 16, 2010

A recent announcement by Minister for Housing, Michael Finneran TD, of funding for housing repair grants scheme has caused local councillors to be inundated with calls from applicants according to the Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council. Cllr John Cribben was speaking at the Claremorris Electoral Area Committee this week where he said “people have seen this story in the newspapers and they assume that if they have applied for the grant they are going to get the money now. But I’m led to believe it’s not that easy.”

Ten-year-old was passenger in his drunk father’s car

Fri, Apr 16, 2010

A man from Ballycastle, who when arrested for drink driving had his 10-year-old son as a passenger, appeared before Judge Mary Devins at Ballina District Court on Tuesday.

O’Brien unhappy with some estates left off takeover list

Fri, Apr 16, 2010

Fine Gael councillor Patsy O’Brien told a meeting of the Claremorris electoral area that he was going to have to go back to his constituents with “one hand longer than the other” after an estate was not included on a list of nine in the area for takeover by the council. Mayo County Council planner Brendan Munnelly was outlining to the members the nine estates in the area to which members of the planning department of the council had been assigned, in order to assess what works needed to be done before they were taken over by the council.

Belmullet woman failed to stop for gardaí

Fri, Apr 16, 2010

A married mother of four, who failed to stop for garda and when arrested on the suspicion of drink driving failed to provide a sample, was disqualified from driving for four years at this week’s sitting of Belmullet District Court.

More retail job losses likely as non-motor sales continue to fall

Fri, Apr 16, 2010

With new CSO figures showing that retail sales outside the motor trade are still falling, Mayo Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony has warned that more businesses will close and more jobs will be lost unless the Government develops a national jobs and competitiveness strategy.

Castlebar JPC look for meeting with take aways

Fri, Apr 16, 2010

The Castlebar Joint Policing Committee is to write to the operators of takeaway restaurants in the town to meet with them in relation to the number of incidents that occur outside them on weekend nights. Fine Gael councillor Noreen Heston raised the issue, asking Superintendent Willie Keaveney how much of his resources were taken up on weekend nights policing these areas. Supt Keaveney told the meeting that from 1am to 4am from Friday to Sunday night, he had to have almost all his officers in close vicinity to the areas they operate in, because when the night clubs start emptying out and people start to congregate in these areas the vast majority of assaults and incidents of anti social behaviour start occurring.

Councillors rubbish civic amenity Saturday closing times

Fri, Apr 16, 2010

The elected members of Mayo County Council this week hit out at the decision by the council executive to close the two civic amenity sites at Derrinumera and Rathroeen at 1pm on Saturdays.

Suspended sentence for man who assaulted neighbour

Fri, Apr 16, 2010

A retired man, who on one occasion kicked his neighbour in the leg and on another date threw blocks at him and hit him in the upper body and head with a spade, was given a suspended sentence at Ballina District Court on Tuesday.

Mayo General to implement Ombudsman’s recommendations after woman’s death

Fri, Apr 09, 2010

Mayo General Hospital has agreed to implement the recommendations of Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly following her investigation into the death of a 53-year-old woman. The woman’s family brought their complaint to the Ombudsman after they were unsatisfied with the way the hospital had carried out an investigation into a complaint they made following her death.

Minister’s attempts to restrict turf-cutting must be resisted

Fri, Apr 09, 2010

IFA Connacht vice president and SAC project team chairman Padraic Divilly has called on the Minister for the Environment John Gormley to allow turf-cutting on designated raised bogs in advance of his submission of the interdepartmental report which is due shortly to be presented to the Cabinet.

Good news for farm pensioners — Carty

Fri, Apr 09, 2010

A controversial issue over farm pensions has been resolved, according to Government spokesperson on agriculture in Seanad Éireann, Senator John Carty. Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív has indicated to Sen Carty that following a review by his Department, the decision in relation to the withdrawal or reduction of State Pension (Contributory) from certain people who had availed of commercial partnership arrangements, has been rescinded.

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