Search Results for 'County councils in the Republic of Ireland'

There are 165 vacant council units in the county boundaries of Galway, a situation that has led one general election candidate to declare that with "thousands of people on housing waiting lists", the situation is now at "emergency levels".

Is the harmonious accord between Fine Gael and Sinn Féin in the Claremorris Municipal District a 'glimpse of the future' at a national level? quipped Independent councillor Richard Finn at the electoral area's AGM on Wednesday.

While those in the United States will be celebrating Independence Day tomorrow, it was 'Independents Day' in the chamber of Mayo County Council last Monday, when Independent councillor Michael Holmes was elected as the Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council for the next 12 months. Cllr Holmes' election to the role of first citizen of the county came about through a post election pact by the 10 Fianna Fáil councillors in the council and five of the independent councillors who were elected last June.

Chief executive of Mayo County Council, Peter Hynes, responded to a query from Sinn Féin councillor Rose Conway-Walsh about claims made of planning irregularities in an unnamed county in the Sunday Independent last week. Mr Hynes responded to the councillors query saying: “I am aware of the coverage in a national newspaper at the weekend. You will be aware that no county was named in that and it appears that it might refer to Mayo, but as of now, we have had no communication from any agency or authority. If we are communicated with, as always we will co-operate fully with any investigation that takes place to its conclusion.” He concluded by saying that he couldn’t comment any further.

“This is a clash of ideals, people who want to see rural Ireland closed down and those who want to see it prosper,” was how Fianna Fáil councillor Al McDonnell described the challenge to the recently adopted Mayo County Council Development Plan (2014-2020) by the Department of Environment and Local Government. The Development Plan sets out a number of guidelines for planning and development in the county for the next six years, including the contentious issue of rural housing. It is the second time that the Department of Environment and Local Government has challenged the plan adopted by the members of Mayo County Council. In late 2008 a delegation from Mayo County Council travelled to Dublin and met the Oireachtas Committee on Environment when a similar issue arose, they put their case forward and were ultimately successful in getting the development plan they wanted passed. “We were right the last time and they were wrong,” was how Fine Gael councillor Gerry Coyle responded to a letter received by the councillors telling them to change the adopted plan.

Fine Gael has managed to rescue one top post in local politics in Mayo following the major power shift brought about in the Local Elections at the end of May.

Community groups in Westport have one last opportunity to apply for funding under the amenity grants scheme operated by Westport Town Council.