Future patronage of Mayo schools called into question

Fri, Aug 06, 2010

The Council for Education of the Irish Bishops’ Conference has welcomed the publication this week of data by the Department of Education into the possible divesting of patronage of primary schools in Ireland to respond to the needs of parents.

More than 200 speeding fines issued on one stretch of road

Fri, Aug 06, 2010

Gardai in Castlebar have issued over 200 speeding fines on the stretch of road between the McDonalds roundabout and the Westport road roundabout in the town over the last 18 months. Inspector Martin Byrne told the meeting that the Gardai had been making efforts on the stretch over the past number of months. The issue came up after Cllr Eugene McCormack asked could the Gardai take over the monitoring of the CCTV camera at the Mayo Peace Park as part of their monitoring system in the town. The CCTV is currently being monitored by the Peace Park committee. Superintendent Willie Keaveney told the meeting that he would look into it.

Boy racer cars should be impounded

Fri, Aug 06, 2010

Ireland North West MEP Jim Higgins has called for the cars of boy racers to be impounded by gardaí.

Supermacs refuses to agree to 2.30am closing time in Castlebar

Fri, Aug 06, 2010

A letter sent by the proprietor of the Supermacs restaurant in Castlebar to the members of the Castlebar Joint Policing Committee (JPC), was described as being “nearly contemptuous” by Garda Superintendent Willie Keaveney at a meeting of the JPC this week. The committee was discussing the issue of takeaway closing times concerning an agreement that had been reached with the rest of the takeaway operators in the town to close at 2.30am. However, Supermacs was refusing to sign up to the agreement.

Mayo County Council will terminate landlord contracts over bad tenants

Fri, Aug 06, 2010

Mayo County Council can and will terminate the contracts of landlords with whom they have entered into agreements under the Rental Accommodation Scheme, if the landlords fail to live up to their obligations to stop their tenants from engaging in antisocial behaviour.

Funding of €300,000 pledged towards new Belmullet resource centre

Fri, Aug 06, 2010

A funding boost of €300,000 has been awarded towards the development of a Resource and Outreach Centre in Belmullet by the Irish Wheelchair Association. The good news was announced by Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs Pat Carey this week.

Roundfort and Hollymount flooding works welcomed

Fri, Aug 06, 2010

Mayo Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony has welcomed news from the Office of Public Works that mitigation works to provide flood protection in the Hollymount and Roundfort areas will start in September.

Castlebar gets its first cycle lane

Fri, Aug 06, 2010

The Mayor of Castlebar, Cllr Ger Deere Deputy Mayor, Cllr Thérèse Ruane have both got on their bikes this weekend to try out the first cycle lane in the county town. Both the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor are members of Iompar Castlebar, a group working to promote cycling and sustainable transport in the region and have warmly welcomed the new cycle lane at Davitts Terrace.

Garda update

Fri, Aug 06, 2010

Break-in in Ballyhaunis
On Sunday August 1 a house in Ballyhaunis was broken into and a sum of cash was taken.

Airlines are out of step with musicians - Higgins

Fri, Aug 06, 2010

Jim Higgins, Fine Gael MEP for the North West, has condemned the European-wide lack of regulations regarding the transportation of musical instruments and the abuse of airlines’ position of power on the transport of the instruments. "Recent rules from airlines regarding hand luggage have been imposed with mixed intentions of greater efficiency on flights but also the emphasis is on financial gain to the airlines concerned. However, gross abuse of the position they hold in relation to carry-on baggage can not be tolerated," Mr Higgins stated.

Local authorities need to clean up their act

Fri, Aug 06, 2010

The Mayor of Castlebar, Cllr Ger Deere, has called on local authorities to set example by cleaning up properties under their ownership, including former official buildings no longer in use.

Public sector workers depending on State benefits

Fri, Aug 06, 2010

Responding to the recent revelation by the Department of Social Protection that almost 3,000 public sector workers are dependent on Family Income Supplement, Sinn Féin Cllr Thérèse Ruane, has warned that Irish society is becoming more polarised and unequal by the day. She also recommends that people check out their eligibility for family income support top-up payments as more than €100,000 remains unclaimed.

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