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Councillor Keith Martin, Labour's County Council candidate for Westport, has warmly welcomed the planned Citizens’ Information Service (CIS) Office for Westport, which is due to open in December.

Director of services with Mayo County Council Joe Loftus said that a review of signage policy would be looked into following a notice of motion before the council’s monthly meeting by Councillor Damien Ryan as regards promotional signage.

Pensioners, unemployed, and people with disabilities who used their own initiative to improve their living conditions without any contribution from the Galway City Council should not be neglected by the same body.

Sinn Féin councillor Rose Conway-Walsh told her fellow county councillors at their monthly meeting on Monday that the decision to reduce visiting hours to the Ceide Fields is a concern and put forward a notice of motion, alongside Sinn Féin councillor Gerry Murray, to write to the OPW requesting them to reverse the cutbacks they have imposed on the Ceide Fields Visitor Centre.

Ballina Town Council’s annual budget meeting wound up earlier this week with Progressive Democrat Town Councillor Tommy Cooke calling on the Mayor of the town to give up the annual allowance allocated to her. This year’s budget for Ballina Town Council has a figure of €13,000 allocated for the Mayor’s expenses over the course of the year, but Cllr Cooke wondered would it be better for the town in the current economic climate if the Mayor didn’t take up this allowance. “On my own behalf when and if I become Mayor of the town, due to the current economic situation I would hand back the €13,000 that has been allocated for the Mayor’s expenses and I hope that all of you would consider this,” stated Cooke.

The rejection of two planning applications because of the variation of the County Development Plan by the Minister for Environment John Gormley sparked anger at the monthly meeting of the Castlebar Electoral Area committee this week. The debate led to one councillor calling the Minister a coward. Mr John McMyler, Senior Planner for the Council confirmed that he and the planning department were working off the amended plan because they were directed to do so. Both applications were turned down because they were in areas identified as rural areas under severe urban influence. Cllr Al McDonnell said that “this all sounds a bit ministerial”, while Cllr Johnny Mee stated that “it’s not like there are 1000 houses going up in Belcarra, I don’t think that one house will increase the urban influence of the village”. The possible removal of 30 metres of hedgerow was also cited as a reason for the refusal in the Keelouges case. Cllr Johnny Mee said, “I’m very fond of hedgerow myself, but 30 metres of hedgerow or giving someone the chance to start a home it seems easy to me. And to say that Keelouges is under strong urban pressure is madness, come on it’s Keelouges. Cllr Sean Burke told the meeting that, “I was born two miles away from there and to say that it’s under strong urban influence, well I don’t know what to say to that.”

The Labour Party in Mayo has called for a united political campaign in the county town to lobby the Minister for the Environment on behalf of Councillor Noel Campbell. Cllr Campbell has been precluded from contesting next year’s local elections due to a rule that bars certain civil service grades from political office.

The impending refusal of planning permission for a development at Cloonkeen, Islandeady, caused frustration to elected members of the Castlebar electoral area committee this week. The single dwelling house was turned down because it was located on a national primary route, and the NRA objected to it. Cllr Johnny Mee asked senior executive planner for Mayo County Council John McMyler if there was anything that could be done in relation to this plan. Mr McMyler responded it was not likely as the council had received a submission from the NRA on the application.

Independent Cllr Daniel Callanan is coming ever closer to a final decision on whether or not he will run in June’s Local Election.

Phase one of the Tubberhill development is now drawing to completion, with new residents set to live in the 43 units by Easter.