Search Results for 'Austin Francis'

A peaceful protest took place in Castlebar this week as families of those suffering with physical and intellectual disabilities took to the streets to lobby against possible cuts in respite care services.

The process of electing a new chairman of HSE West, the health forum that represents Mayo, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim, Clare, and Limerick, took all of 30 seconds at the AGM this week when sitting chair Cllr Padraig Conneely, Fine Gael, and former Mayor of Galway, was re-elected unanimously without contest.

The hepatitis C scare that arose for Mayo patients following a ‘media leak’ about an infected health care worker at the weekend is not expected to result in any public contamination, according to a medical official.

Westport electoral area councillors took the opportunity at their planning meeting on Clare Island to congratulate Peter Hynes on his imminent appointment as county manager.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has welcomed confirmation from the Office of Public Works that Louisburgh Garda Station is to be refurbished following recent water damage caused by burst water pipes. The building experienced water damage to the ceiling, electrical fittings and storage heaters; however, preliminary clean-up operations have taken place to allow the building to dry out. Funding has now been provided by An Garda Síochána to refurbish the Garda Station at Louisburgh and tenders are expected to be issued at the end of the month.

During Monday’s electoral area planning meeting in Westport inconsistencies in planning were criticised when an application for a house in the Emlagh area of Louisburgh was refused, even though there is a house built by Mayo County Council in the vicinity.

The annual allowances and expenses paid to the elected members of Mayo County Council came in at just under €1.25 million for the year just gone. The €1,244,587.37 paid out was split among the 39 people who were councillors during the year. The top 10 earners collected €524,889.25 among them. The top 10 earners though does contain seven members who either retired from their seats or lost their seats in the local elections held in June last year and were entitled to gratuities for their service, as well as the two councillors who held the position of cathaoirleach during the year.

A one-hour parking system will come into effect in Louisburgh next month along the main business thoroughfare in the town—Bridge Street. The parking system, which will be introduced for a trial period, was supported by committee members of the Westport electoral area this week.

Like marathons, election campaigns are long journeys more often suited to the long distance runner then to the sprinter. As on all long journeys events can happen and change predictions that seemed definite at the outset, this is especially true when it’s a political journey. Bear that in mind as we begin the coverage of the local election campaign scheduled for next June. If Madame Editor allows, this scribe will return to my predictions when the ballots are cast and counted to see how wrong (or right!) I was!

Surgical and diagnostic breast cancer services at Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar will be transferred to Galway in a few weeks, a meeting of the HSE West forum were told this week. Initially the services were to be moved in September, then the HSE said it would be December but now confirmation has been given that Mayo patients will start attending the centre of excellence in Galway in a few weeks. However no definitive date has been given for the move.