Sod off — Minister sent sod by registered mail

Fri, May 01, 2009

Labour’s Keith Martin has told the Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe TD “to keep his sod until he presents the pupils of Westport’s Gaelscoil na Cruaiche with a contract for their new school”.

Payment of education grants welcomed by O’Mahony

Fri, May 01, 2009

Mayo Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony has welcomed the announcement that the final phase of the grants to third level students in Mayo will be paid this week. Following representations between Deputy O’Mahony and Mayo County Council and the Department of Education, it was confirmed on Friday evening last that the grants would be paid.

Harkin challenges Ganley to public debate

Fri, May 01, 2009

Independent MEP Marian Harkin has insisted that the European Parliament election debate is being deliberately diverted in an attempt by the Ganley Libertas campaign to avoid dealing with the real issues concerned. She has challenged Mr Ganley to public debate on real issues affecting the north and west constituency.

Henry Kenny calls for local road improvements in light of recent accidents

Fri, May 01, 2009

Following two serious car accidents in Mayo last weekend Councillor Henry Kenny has called on Mayo County Council to implement safety measures at the Prizon Road, Balla adjoining the N60 at a junction at Drimadoon. Cllr Kenny said: “In light of a recent and sad fatal accident, there is a definite need to upgrade and improve safety measures at this junction.” Furthermore, he is calling on the council to improve the road surface at Coyne’s Corner on the Westport Road at Ballymacragh, Castlebar. This is following a number of recent accidents.

No room for Government error in banking policy

Fri, Apr 24, 2009

When historians in 2020 analyse our current politics, the most profound Government decisions will be those relating to our banks.

Drama, tears, and fun in store for Westport

Fri, Apr 24, 2009

Less than seven weeks from the elections and things are hotting up in the race for Westport Town Council with the announcement of new candidates from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and Labour.

Fianna Fáil has decided to run five candidates in the hope of keeping its three seats but this is a misguided strategy which will see a much diminished FF vote scatter-gunned across too many candidates and could result in a big upset for the Government party on Westport Town Council.

Front-line job cuts will cause chaos in health services – Ruane

Fri, Apr 24, 2009

Commenting on the leaked memo from the HSE over job cuts, Sinn Féin councillor, Thérèse Ruane says that front-line job cuts will cause chaos in the public health services and that “savage health cuts cannot be dressed up as reform”.

FF’s Caulfield campaign launch

Fri, Apr 24, 2009

Fianna Fáil’s John Caulfield has launched his election campaign in the Swinford electoral area. A native of Kilmovee but now living in Kilkelly, a town starved of council representation since the 1960s, John’s campaign launch was well attended with endorsements from outgoing MEP Sean O Neachtain, Senator John Carty, Dara Calleary TD and former ICMSA President Pat O’Rourke.

McHale calls for swift action to save Claremorris town centre

Fri, Apr 24, 2009

Claremorris Fianna Fáil candidate Gerard McHale has outlined four actions which Mayo County Council can take to ensure that Claremorris town centre does not further decline.

Mr McHale has called on the council to take swift action to stop local businesses from closing. “Over the last number of months a number of businesses around the town centre have closed down, and a number more are currently under severe pressure to stay in business. I am calling on Mayo County Council to take swift action to ensure the survival of our town centre, which is the heart of our community,” said Mr McHale.

Fáilte Ireland will not sink Killala ship plans, says Loftus

Fri, Apr 24, 2009

Fianna Fáil election candidate Michael Loftus has expressed disappointment at Fáilte Ireland’s difficulty with granting funding to Killala Bay’s artificial reef project, but states that this is “certainly not the end of the line” for the ambitious attraction.

Eddie Kimpwene to stand for Castlebar Town Council

Fri, Apr 24, 2009

The newest person to enter the race for one of the nine seats on Castlebar Town Council is Eddie Kimpwene. Eddie has lived in Castlebar for the past nine years and runs a recruitment agency in Thomas Street in the town. Kimpwene says he is standing for the election on a platform of hope and believes Castlebar should dwell on the positive issues in our time; to tackle the challenges and to work tirelessly to rebuild what we have lost and to build on the many great foundations that have been laid in Castlebar.

Government attacked for reneging on Castlebar-Belmullet funding

Fri, Apr 24, 2009

Independent councillor Michael Holmes has hit out at the Government for its decision to slash the €200,000 it had allocated for upgrading the Castlebar to Belmullet road. The funding was granted in February of this year under the Strategic Regional and Roads Grant scheme. However the decision to cut it was announced only a matter of weeks later, in the 2009 Budget.

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