New Mayo group urges Junior Cert celebrations without drink

Fri, Sep 07, 2012

Celebrate your Junior Certificate results in style without drink or drugs is the straight talking message to students and parents from a new group working to stop the harm and danger caused by alcohol to young people in Mayo every year.

O'Mahony welcomes postponement of Domiciliary Care Allowance reviews

Fri, Sep 07, 2012

Mayo Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, that eligibility reviews of children in receipt of the Domiciliary Care Allowance has been postponed pending the completion of a review of the scheme.

Recipients of the allowance were informed during the week that no further scheduled medical eligibility reviews of children receiving the payment will be undertaken. Deputy O’Mahony said that a steering group of representatives of relevant departments, together with nominees with expertise and parent/advocacy group representatives has been established and is expected to report to the Minister by the end of the year.

National Broadband Plan will deliver faster broadband to Mayo

Fri, Sep 07, 2012

Mayo Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony has welcomed the launch by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte, of Delivering a Connected Society – A National Broadband Plan for Ireland, which will see every home and business in the State have access to high speed broadband at speeds much faster than what are generally available today.

Gathering gets a warm welcome

Fri, Sep 07, 2012

The elected members of the Belmullet Electoral Area Committee gave a warm welcome to a presentation they received on next year’s Gathering celebrations. Sinn Féin councillor Rose Conway Walsh told the meeting that she welcomed the plans but thought that as much work as possible should be done between those organising it and local committees on the ground who annually organise small festivals that bring people home each year. Her sentiments were echoed by independent councillor Micheal Holmes. The members also suggested that a meeting be organised by the council’s organising staff in the Erris area so the general public could go along and voice their own ideas for the event. They were told that such a meeting could be arranged.

Heritage Week was a success

Fri, Sep 07, 2012

The Heritage Council, coordinator of National Heritage Week, has issued a big thank you to all the Heritage Week event organisers across the country.

Are you aware?

Fri, Sep 07, 2012

Aware, the national depression support organisation, is calling on people throughout Ireland to donate a few hours of their time this September 27 to 29 to help with the organisation’s flagship fundraising event. The theme this year is ‘Are You Aware?’, and all funds raised in towns and cities throughout the country will go directly to Aware’s important support, information and education services, which are offered nationwide.

Welcome reduction in child fatalities between 1997 and 2010

Fri, Sep 07, 2012

New research from the Road Safety Authority has revealed there was a 77.8 per cent reduction in the number of children (under 14 years old) killed on Irish roads in the period 1997 to 2010. This was announced as the RSA and Electric Ireland teamed up for the third year running to distribute 85,500 high visibility vests to every child starting school this year. The vests will be included in the RSA’s ‘Back to School’ road safety packs which will be distributed to primary schools nationwide over the coming months.

Westport councillor wants Seanad abolished

Fri, Sep 07, 2012

Councillor Keith Martin of the Labour Party says he will canvass for the abolition of the Seanad when the promised referendum is called. Cllr Martin says that the upper house of the Oireachtas is beyond reform and a drain on the nation's resources.

According to the Westport based councillor, the Seanad is “an undemocratic body which performs no specific function other than provide a resting home for failed or defeated Dáil candidates.

Voiceless Mayo emigrants dotted around the world

Fri, Sep 07, 2012

Jim Higgins MEP for Ireland North West has this week called on the Government to review the voting rules for Irish citizens living abroad, who lose the right to vote once they leave the Irish State. “The day you leave Ireland, you lose your right to vote in Irish elections. I think this is fundamentally wrong,” said Mr Higgins. All other EU states, bar Malta, make provision so that people living abroad can continue to vote for the government of their native land for a certain period of time after they leave. This will be especially prevalent come the referendum on Children’s Rights expected later this year.

Achill Community Alert CCTV

Fri, Sep 07, 2012

The Achill Community Alert CCTV committee wishes to thank the community and friends of Achill for their generous response to the recent collection.

Harkin backs EU call for mandatory female boardroom quotas

Fri, Sep 07, 2012

Independent MEP Marian Harkin this week joined EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding in calling for compulsory gender quotas for listed companies in Europe, noting that “the time for lip service on equality is over”.

Woman forged prescription to get medication, court hears

Fri, Sep 07, 2012

A woman with 98 previous convictions was before Castlebar District Court on Wednesday for three charges—theft, for being threatening and abusive, and for forging a prescription—all which occurred on November 27 2011.

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