Stronger protection needed for Mayo’s Bord Gáis customers ahead of sale — Calleary

Fri, Dec 20, 2013

Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary has said there must be a review of the role of the Energy Regulator to strengthen the protections in place for consumers in Mayo ahead of the sale of Bord Gáis Energy (BGE) next year. Deputy Calleary said the announcement that Bord Gáis Energy is to be sold to Centrica, which operates British Gas, will cause concern as prices have been increasing for consumers in the UK.

Corrib garda bill hits €16m

Fri, Dec 20, 2013

The cost of policing the Corrib gas project has now reached €16 million.

Man charged with Balla murder

Mon, Dec 16, 2013

A 22-year-old man has been charged with the murder of mother-of-two Sara Staunton.

Castlebar and Ballinrobe to get youth cafés

Fri, Dec 13, 2013

There was good news this week in Mayo with the announcement that €100,000 will be invested in youth facilities in two towns in the county. Both Castlebar and Ballinrobe were selected as two of 30 locations across the country for new youth cafés in a list that was announced by Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald as part of a total package worth €1.5 million.

Ballina’s running ambitions on track with funding boost

Fri, Dec 13, 2013

Amibitions to develop facilities in Ballina to make the town a major running, walking and cycling destination, similar to west Mayo’s Greenway, got a boost yesterday (Thursday).

Waiting lists soar in Mayo while Government seeks further health cuts, says Calleary

Fri, Dec 13, 2013

New figures published by the HSE have revealed a 17 per cent increase in the number of people on waiting lists at Mayo General Hospital. According to the figures seen by Fianna Fáil Deputy Dara Calleary, there were 850 adults and children waiting for in-patient and day case appointments at Mayo General Hospital at the end of September. That is an increase of 126 in the year.

O’Mahony hands over study group report on future of Knock airport

Fri, Dec 13, 2013

John O’Mahony TD, who is the joint-chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications, this week handed over a report on the Ireland West Airport Knock to An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, and to Minister for the Environment, Leo Vardakar.

Castlebar unit sells for five times its reserve at auction

Fri, Dec 13, 2013

A unit at the N5 Business Park on the Moneen Road in Castlebar was sold for more than five times its reserve price at the latest Allsop auction in Dublin this week. The unit had a reserve price of €20,000 and sold for €101,000. Also in Castlebar, an apartment at Tara Court, Saleen, which had been listed at €15,000 sold for €22,000.

Other Mayo lots sold at the auction included bungalow and former pub in Claremorris which went for €45,000, which was €25,000 over the reserve price, and a building and apartment on Main Street, Foxford, which sold for its reserve of €25,000. A site in Achill was sold for €18,000, while a lot of two houses together in Waterside Close in Ballinrobe went for €53,000, and another house in Waterside, Ballinrobe, was sold for €35,000.

Mulherin highlights need for pros and cons study of power lines located above and below ground

Fri, Dec 13, 2013

Fine Gael TD for Mayo, Michelle Mulherin, has this week highlighted the need for a study to be carried out to determine the pros and cons of locating power lines above and below ground, so that the public is fully informed in an open and transparent manner. Deputy Mulherin was speaking following the appearance by Eirgrid at the recent Joint Oireachtas Transport and Communications Committee.

She said: “Eirgrid attended the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications recently and I asked the CEO, Fintan Slye, to prepare a document setting out the pros and cons of locating pylons above and below ground. The pros and cons should take into account the cost, technology, health, and environmental impact, visual amenity, and tourism point of view, energy security, accessibility, and business impact for each project under GRID 25, including Grid West, so that consultation with the public is with reference to all options, rather than just about Eirgrid’s preferred proposal of locating them above ground. There is broad agreement about the need for proper modern electricity infrastructure. The serious difference arises in opinion on how this is to be achieved. You do not have to be an expert to recognise that pylons have a downside from the point of view of tourism and visual amenity in areas they are constructed. However Eirgrid are the experts, the semi State company charged with building out the electricity grid. It is their job to consult properly and set out the various options. This has not been done and their engagement to date has been perceived by affected communities as not meaningful and high handed.”

Robot enthusiasts get funding for novel business

Fri, Dec 13, 2013

A pair of science and technology students from Castlebar have turned their passion for Lego and robots into a unique start-up company and won themselves a grant to develop their business.

Irish Water funding does not match what is needed to run service

Fri, Dec 13, 2013

With the switch over in responsibility for the water services in the country from local authorities to Irish Water coming into effect from the start of January, Director of Services for Mayo County Council, Paddy Mahon, gave the members of the council a presentation on the hand over at Monday’s meeting of Mayo County Council.

Castlebar street battle captured in new calendar

Fri, Dec 13, 2013

The reenactment during the summer of the famed battle known as the Castlebar Races, which attracted 10,000 spectators to the county town, has been commemorated in a 2014 calendar.

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