Progress for council owned homes with pyrite problems

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

There has been some progress for tenants of local authority homes affected by pyrite, it was revealed this week, but there was not good news for private home owners in the county also affected by the problem. At this week’s meeting of the West Mayo Municipal District, Martin Keating, the director of services for the district, told the elected members: “We’ve received communication from the Department that confirms that they are not covered by the pyrite remediation scheme [which was in place in the east of the country], but they are willing to work with Mayo County Council to resolve the issue. They have asked us to commission a number of further tests and studies on the units and to submit them to them as soon as possible. Arrangements are being made to have that done at the minute, we will keep you appraised on that. We are very glad to see there is movement on it from the Department, or at least a willingness to work with the council on resolving the social housing units.”

Fine Gael councillor Gerry Coyle questioned why the council or the relevant Government department had not taken any legal action against the quarries that sold the pyrite affected products, saying: “Everyone was waiting for one case to come from the council or Department against a quarry, it would give a better chance if it was carried through and won, it would give courage to normal people to press on. Because they already have children going to school or college, paying a mortgage, and are already out of pocket. They are afraid to take it on and go to court and spend another €20k and maybe lose, it is €4k to get the testing done, are they paying good money after bad.”

Doocastle man elected Ireland’s Students’ Union president

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

A law and philosophy graduate from Doocastle has been elected to the most prominent role in student politics in Ireland.

More than five hundred applications for social housing in West Mayo district

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

There are more than 500 applications on file in the West Mayo District for social housing, it was revealed this week. The March meeting of the local authority was told there were 503 applications on file in the region by director of services for the district, Martin Keating. He further broke down the figures outlining that in the Westport town area there were 198 applications, in the Westport rural area there were 97, in Belmullet there were 52, in the Ballycroy and Mulranny area there were 20 applications, and in the Achill area there were 33 applications.

Castlebar economists for Draghi meeting

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

Four students from St Gerald’s College, Castlebar, have lined up a meeting with the European Central Bank president Mario Draghi.

€30 million housing allocation will get Tubber Hill project going

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

The announcement on Wednesday of a €30,265,764 allocation for local authority housing needs in Mayo will see the new 20 unit project in Tubber Hill get started. Minister of State Michael Ring said after the announcement of the funding: “In Westport, 20 new housing units will be built and this will go a long way towards reducing the housing list in Westport. In Mayo, €30,265,764 has been allocated to the county council for local authority housing. It is estimated that this funding will meet 38 per cent of the housing need in Mayo. This is not even including the Housing Assistance Payment which will help to further reduce demand on our housing waiting list.”

Concerns for the future of Croagh Patrick raised again

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

The condition of the pathway up Croagh Patrick, and ensuring that it is made safe, was raised again this week at the West Mayo Municipal District’s monthly meeting.

Councillors give go ahead for new car park at Bartraw beach

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

The elected members of the West Mayo Municipal District gave their approval for Mayo County Council to proceed with its plans for the development of a new car park along with drainage and ancillary works for Bartraw Beach, Thornhill, Murrisk, at their March meeting this week. The item was proposed by Cllr Christy Hyland and seconded by Cllr Brendan Mulroy.

Director of Services for the district, Martin Keating, told the meeting: “Following on from the storm damage last year and resulting from the funding that was made available it was decided to pursue providing free car parking that would be more sustainable for the future and to remove car parking from the immediate proximity of the beach. Following on from that a number of sites were examined and the option to purchase this site was looked into and the plans were drawn up and went on public display. There was one submission from the NPWS, we dealt with their submission and I propose we recommend to proceed with the plans.” The elected members gave their approval for the plan to move ahead.

Michael Davitt’s Glasgow Celtic links celebrated in Straide

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

A new exhibition celebrating the historic links between one of Mayo’s greatest patriots, Michael Davitt, and the Scottish football club, Glasgow Celtic, was officially opened at the Michael Davitt Museum in Straide last Friday.

Ballycroy National Park is open for the new season Young Luke

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

Ballycroy National Park visitor centre reopens for the 2015 season today, Good Friday, with a series of special events for all ages. Ballycroy National Park covers 11,000 hectares in area and comprises the Nephin Beg Mountain Range and the Owenduff Bog, the largest intact active blanket bog in Ireland.

Muintir Mhaigh Eo Atha Cliath gearing up for birthday

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

Muintir Mhaigh Eo Atha Cliath has announced that plans are afoot to mark its 110th anniversary by having its ten year publication ready for release to its diaspora world-wide in October 2015.

Government TDs welcome Leader funding for projects

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

The announcement by Minister for Environment, Alan Kelly that he has sanctioned Mayo North East Leader Partnership to approve funding for four projects in the area, was welcomed by Government TDs this week. The three projects are: €301,499 to Comharchumann Forbartha Ionad Deirbhile Eachleim Teoranta to renovate Naomh Bhreandain Community Hall in Eachleim, Blacksod. €177,350 for the development of a commuity centre in Attymass. €167,635 for the completion of phase two of the Bonniconlon Community Centre, and €150,334 for the Swinford community recreation centre.

Abolition of milk quotas will benefit farmers in Mayo – O’Mahony

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

“The abolition of milk quotas will be of huge benefit to dairy farmers in Mayo,” said Mayo Fine Gael Deputy John O’Mahony Fine. Deputy O’Mahony was speaking on Wednesday as the first day of April marked the ending of milk quotas across the European Union.

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