Galway Bay fm newsroom – The Housing Minister will visit a social housing construction project in the city today.
Minister Simon Coveney is in Galway this afternoon as part of the government’s ‘Rebuilding Ireland’ roadshow.
This morning, he addressed a meeting of the County Council executive and SPC chairs on the government’s action plan to deal with housing and homelessness.
As part of his visit, Minister Coveney will open Threshold’s new Tenancy Protection Service office at Prospect Hill at 2.30 this afternoon.
The minister will also visit a social housing construction project in Roscam.
40 houses are being delivered by Clúid and Tuath- these will provide homes for people on the city waiting list.
Meanwhile, the Social Protection Minister is also in the city, where he’s visiting the South Galway MABS office at Quay Street.
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service helps people to manage their funds, and also provides assistance and support to people in debt or mortgage arrears.
Communications Minister Denis Naughten also visited Galway today – he addresses a Boost your business event at Wellpark, aimed at getting Galway businesses online.
He says all businesses, big and small, can benefit from an online presence.
Galway Bay fm newsroom – The decision to appoint the Forum organisation in Letterfrack to administer the Leader programme in all of west Galway – and the Aran Islands included – has been confirmed by an independent appeals committee.
The Local Community Development Committee of the Co Council and Comhar na nOileán had teamed up in applying for the administration of Leader throughout the whole County.
They appealed the decision to give part of the County to Forum Chonamara.
The Local Community Development Committee in the County Council with Comhar na nOileán – based in Inis Oirr – applied for the Leader programme in all of the County.
This Department of the Environment were suggestingone group would be in charge in each County.
Forum in Letterfrack said this removed the community element and applied for all of west Galway and the islands of Aran and Inishbofin included.
Forum won that contract but the Local Committee in the Council and Comhar na nOileán appealed.
The Appeals committee has sided with Forum.
If there are no legal challenges, Forum will run Leader from here to 2020 west of the Corrib.
Suggestions that they may have €4m. have been played down; the funds are allocated on a population basis.
A decision must also be taken about the Leader programme in east Co Galway.
Galway Bay fm newsroom – Galway Traveller Movement is calling on the Housing Minister to explain what’s its calling a ‘decade of broken promises’ on Traveller accommodation.
Minister Coveney is in Galway today as part of the Rebuilding Ireland roadshow.
He’s currently opening Threshold’s new Tenancy Protection Office at Prospect Hill.
Galway Traveller Movement says the minister needs to use his visit to Galway to make a public committment to work with the city and county council to address the Traveller accommodation crisis.
Minister Coveney met with members of the Travelling Community in the city earlier.
He says the Traveller accommodation crisis is a proving to be a challenge, but he’s committed to solving the problem.
Galway Bay fm newsroom – Galway Traveller Movement says the city and county councils must act, after the Housing Minister committed to offering increased funding.
Minister Coveney is in Galway today as part of the Rebuilding Ireland roadshow.
He met with members of Galway’s Travelling community today, who asked him to use his visit to Galway to make a public commitment to work with the councils to address the Traveller accommodation crisis.
He says the Traveller accommodation crisis is a proving to be a challenge, but he’s committed to solving the problem.
Traveller spokesperson Bridget Kelly says while the minister’s word is promising, Galway’s city and county councils need to deliver on their targets.
Any suggestion that a ‘watered down job’ will be sufficient on the road from Oughterard to Clifden has been firmly rejected by the N59 Campaign Group.
The Group, which has now gathered thousands of support signatures, has issued a statement calling on the County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland to develop a proper standard national secondary road in Connemara.
The N59 Action Group stated there appeared to be a policy emerging that a limited job would be enough on the road from Oughterard to Clifden and north to Leenane.
‘Let it be clear,’ stated Seosamh Ó Cuaig from the Action Group, ‘that a scrape of tar and chips will no longer satisfy the people of Connemara.’
He says that half measures have been the order of the day in Connemara for too long – and that the N59 cannot be allowed to drift in that direction.
The statement says the group is concerned by remarks attributed to County Council managerial personnel that widening sections of the N59 may be off the agenda.
The Action Group says this cannot be accepted: they say there is a clear health and safety issue at stake, as well as the general development of the area.
An investigation has been launched into the case of a woman in her late 80s who was left to die on a trolley while waiting to be seen at the Emergency Department in University Hospital Galway.
The Saolta Hospital Group confirmed to the Galway City Tribune that the case is being “reviewed externally”.
The woman is understood to have been brought from a nursing home by ambulance on Wednesday of last week and was left on a trolley in the public waiting area of the ED.
The unit was on ‘Code Black’ of its Full Capacity Protocol at the time – the highest alert level for overcrowding at the hospital.
She was left waiting on the trolley for several hours and passed away after suffering what are believed to be cardiac-related difficulties. She is understood to have been aged 88.
In response to a series of queries from this newspaper, the Saolta Group issued the following statement: “The circumstances of this case will be reviewed externally in conjunction with the National Ambulance Service.
“The Saolta University Health Care Group and the National Ambulance Service have offered the family concerned our deepest sympathy and will be communicating directly with them in relation to the review process.”
Galway Bay fm newsroom – Tuam’s Fintan Monahan will be installed as the new Bishop of Killaloe tomorrow. (Sun 25/9)
The former Tuam schoolteacher, who’s 49, will be Ireland’s youngest bishop.
Fintan Monahan was announced as the new Bishop of Killaloe by Pope Francis in July.
He had been working as diocesan secretary for the Tuam Archdiocese.
Fintan Monahan was born in Tullamore, and between 1980 and 1996, his family lived in Carraroe where his father was principal teacher at Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin.
In 1996, they moved to Castlegar in the city, the native home of Fintan’s mother.
Bishop-elect Monahan was ordained as a priest in 1991, and is a former science, Irish and religion teacher at St Jarlath’s in Tuam.
He’ll be installed as Bishop of Killaloe at a special ceremony at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Ennis at 3pm tomorrow.
Speaking ahead of his installation, Bishop-elect Monahan says he intends to work closely with the community and continue encouraging young men to join the priesthood.
Mission accomplished! Water from Holy Well at Máméan for Ordination Ceremony, Sunday! pic.twitter.com/tbOZkEb9mw
— Fr Fintan Monahan (@FrFintanMonahan) September 23, 2016
This is No Limits Week, Enable Ireland’s annual effort to highlight the work the organisation does to make life so much better for those who use its services – like nine year old Lucy MacConnell from Spiddal. Here her mother Dr Niamh O’Brien MacConnell tells how Enable Ireland has helped her daughter live her life to the full.
Our daughter Lucy has Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type 3, a severe brittle bone condition that results in her being of short stature with a high risk of fractures.
Lucy MacConnell enjoying summer camp at Enable Ireland Galway.
She has recently turned nine and will be starting in Rang a 3 at her school, Scoil Éinne, An Spidéal, this September. Lucy’s older sister Orla (11) is going into Rang a 5 in the same school.
Lucy continues to be full of life and full of fun, with a busy schedule of school, activities, play dates and birthday parties.
She made her First Holy Communion in April of this year and we had a wonderful day of celebrations to mark her momentous milestone. And she did herself and us all so proud by walking to the altar in her walker with all of her classmates.
We had a big party at home for our family and friends and sun shone for Lucy’s special day. Lucy danced and bounced all day to the music in the Disco Dome bouncy castle.
Some big news for our family was the arrival in February 2014 of Lucy and Orla’s little sister Annie. Lucy is delighted not to be the youngest anymore! Annie is a lively little lady with a head of blonde curls and she has kept us all very busy!
Lucy is a very patient big sister and has helped us to explain to Annie how she must be gentle with her, this has been more of a challenge as they are now the same size, despite the age gap.
Lucy has asked a lot of questions about Annie’s size and is now old enough to understand that her own small size is because of her fragile bones but that she can still strive to achieve all of her goals as a smaller person.
Lucy’s fragile bones have to be looked after to ensure they grow straighter and stronger, so she continues to have her infusions every three months of pamidronate, a bone-strengthening medicine, under the kind care of the staff at St Bernadette’s Paediatric Unit in University Hospital, Galway.
Lucy has also had several rodding surgeries, where a metal rod is inserted into her long bones to straighten and strengthen them. She attends Crumlin for these surgeries under the care of her wonderful orthopaedic surgeon Jacques Noel.
Lucy now has telescoping rods in both of her femurs, these grow with her as she grows. She is currently waiting to have the rods in her tibias replaced with telescoping rods too.
Lucy also had one of her arms rodded with a telescoping rod last November, this was done in Sheffield Children’s Hospital in the UK, where she was looked after by Mr James Fernandes, an excellent orthopaedic surgeon with a special interest in upper limb surgery.
These surgeries usually result in missed school time for Lucy, but she is very brave and works very hard with her rehabilitation and physiotherapy so she gets back to her friends at school as quickly as possible. She also keeps up with her schoolwork when in hospital and recovering at home.
Lucy continues to receive Personal Assistant hours from Enable Ireland and she has been lucky enough to have had the same amazing PA for many years now.
We have a very close relationship with Lucy’s PA Fiona Boyle, and she provides Lucy with immeasurable help and support each week.
In the past two years, Fiona has supported Lucy in attending a local children’s art class after school every Tuesday. She also brings Lucy to some of her appointments and often supports her at swimming lessons.
Hydrotherapy is a particularly important form of rehab for Lucy and helps her to recover from both fractures and surgeries.
We had a very special family holiday to Disneyland Paris last November, where Lucy got to meet a Disney Princess and all her favourite characters and enjoy so much fun and excitement all day long, at the parade every evening and at the fireworks each night.
Lucy’s favourite things are swimming, art, playdates with her friends, playing Minecraft with her sister and minder Amy, Sylvanian families, Ever After High and watching Full House on Netflix!
Lucy accesses her school-aged therapy services at Enable Ireland Galway, where she receives physiotherapy, occupational therapy, assistive technology support – including school staff liaison – and orthotics reviews.
The multidisciplinary team liaise with Lucy’s paediatricians and surgeons locally in UHG, in Crumlin and in Sheffield Children’s Hospital. We are lucky to have a team that are so dedicated to their work in helping Lucy to reach her full potential.
Every day is a big adventure with Lucy. She has a vivid imagination, a sparkling sense of humour and she loves to play most of all.
Lucy has taught us that life needn’t be so serious, she is definitely a girl that just wants to have fun!
■ Enable Ireland’s national fundraising and awareness week, No Limits, takes place all this week, running until Sunday and raising much needed funds for the Enable Ireland Galway service. You can support by purchasing the Enable Ireland kite-branded merchandise at TK Maxx store, the Enable Ireland shop on High Street or from any of their on-street sellers.
Galway County Council will send a unanimous motion to the central council of the GAA urging it to return championship matches to free to air channels next season.
Tabled by Tuam Independent Councillor Shaune Cunniffe, he said the decision to sell the rights to Sky was having a devastating affect across rural Ireland where many pensioners on a fixed income were unable to afford the high fees and were missing out on crucial matches.
The GAA was an organisation run by volunteers who gave of their time freely for the good of sport and their community. The sale of television rights to the British media giant excluded a large swathe of the population who were unable to travel to watch the matches.
When TV3 had the rights, 448,000 people watched a quarter final, since Sky took over just 48,000 watch it, Cllr Cunniffe stated.
Kinvara Fine Gael Councillor Joe Byrne said this was a decision for the GAA and any members should make their feelings known through their own branches.
The last time a motion on this issue came up for a vote at the national congress, just 15% voted in favour of returning the rights to free to air channels, he stated.
Since the rights were sold, the diaspora abroad were now able to watch matches easily rather than forking out large fees to watch it in pubs.
However, everybody else in the chamber was in favour of the motion, with Cllr Aidan Donohue (FG) pointing out that he now had to bring his kids to a pub to watch the matches.
Cllr James Charity (Ind) insisted that the RTE digital player service was a better way for the diaspora to watch GAA matches. He referred to the reference on Sky Sports by a broadcaster to last Sunday’s final between Mayo and Dublin as the “All-England Final”.
Cllr Seosamnh Ó Cualáin said none of the clubs were getting funding from the deal – indeed they all got a levy recently instead of a cheque for up to €4,000.
Cllr Tim Broderick (Ind) pointed out that Sky Sports costs pubs €5,000 a year and it was scandalous and disgraceful they should have rights over Ireland’s national game.
A decision by Galway County Councillors on whether or not to vary the Local Property Tax (LPT) rate has been deferred until after a meeting with various Ministers about the possibility of securing additional funding for the local authority.
Councillors have until September 30 to vary the basic rate of the LPT up or down by 15%.
The Department of the Environment has indicated that the total LPT expected to be received by the Council is €14.5m – of which €11.6m will be retained locally. The value of a full 15% increase or reduction would be €2.18m.
Income for 2017 is forecast to be €500,000 lower than in 2016. Current estimates of expenditure for 2017 is put at €107.1m, an increase of €2.2m over the 2016 budget, which includes additional payroll costs arising from national pay agreements, additional costs due to a reduced head count being funded by Irish Water and an increase in the provision for vacant rate properties.
“The overall budgetary position shows that changes such as reduced income, increasing costs and areas of activity, and the need to make further provision for vacant commercial property means that there is a clear requirement for increase income as in the alternative services will be reduced through significant expenditure reductios in order to achieve a balanced budget,” according to a report circulated to councillors in advance of this month’s meeting.
“The cumulative deficit to the end of June 2016 stands at €1.8m. This deficit will most probably increase in size from mid-year arising from among other things, a requirement for an increased provision for vacant or uncollectable rates. The local government auditor has again highlighted the importance of addressing the deficit which is particular challenging in the current economic climate.”
A 1% variation in the base LPT rate would result in an increase of 90c per year for one third of properties; €2.25 for another third valued up to €150,000 and €3.15 for a quarter of properties.
A jump of the full 15% would add €47.25 a year for households.
Not one submission was received by the Council when it sought public feedback on a variation to the LPT.
Fianna Fáil Councillor Mary Hoade said before a decision would be made by the chamber, the majority had agreed to seek meetings with a number of ministers to see if it was possible to secure more central funding to address the serious shortfall in Council coffers.
They planned to meet with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Simon Coveney, Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources Sean Kyne and Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief Sean Canney.
A special meeting to debate the issue has been set for next Monday.
Some 240 homes in towns around the county are at risk of significant flooding in the next big flood according to the most extensive flood risk maps ever drawn up.
The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment & Management study conducted the Office of Public Works (OPW) is the largest study of its kind undertaken in Ireland which aims to plan for measures that are needed to manage flood risk from rivers and the coast.
The study centres only on areas of population and is based on surveys, hydrological analysis, hydraulic computer modelling and public consultation.
Galway is divided between two studies, one for the western waterways and the other the catchment areas of the Shannon River.
In the western study, the OPW found seven towns outside of Galway City were at risk of flooding for which no viable solution could be found for all but one town in the next big flood event – described as a 100-year flood.
The map shows Clifden is the most prone to flooding with 25 homes at risk of flooding. The study puts the damage caused by such a flood at over €625,000. An embankment would best address flooding in the town, according to the consultants.
Gort is the next town most likely to flood with 12 homes at risk, which the study assesses would cost €116,000. Kinvara is third with eight houses and a damage bill estimated at €565,000; there are four in Oughterard costing €12,263, three in Oranmore with damages put at €21,000 and three in Corofin, with the damages here estimated at €360,000. There are two homes on the flood risk map in Roundstone which if flooded are estimated to cost €21,000.
Claregalway is excluded as a major scheme is currently underway to address flooding on the Clare River. Galway City has 318 homes at risk which would cost €8.1m in the event of a flood.
Ballinasloe and Portumna are examined in the study centring on the Shannon. In Portumna 117 homes are risk of flooding with a flood gate regarded as the best solution to alleviate water damage, which would cost €3.6m.
In Ballinasloe, where extensive flood defences previously created saved over 200 homes last winter, there are a further 60 homes at risk when next the waters rise in the River Suck. The study proposes a scheme where the wall at Derrymullen is extended and more eyes on the East Bridge are opened and a dam built upstream to restrict the flow of water.
Fine Gael Councillor Jimmy McClearn said people in Portumna were most anxious that work on the flood gate would be completed soon as it would alleviate 95% of the flooding in the town.
Ballinasloe Councillor Aidan Donohue asked if work in the town was contingent on other work on the Shannon.
OPW engineer Clare Butler said while the body would prioritise certain projects the work in Ballinasloe was not dependent on work elsewhere on the River.
Cllr Joe Byrne (FG) asked if the OPW were looking at the whole catchment rather than particular blackspots.
He said flood relief measure in Gort some years back had saved the town but had cause mitigating problems in the surrounding hinterland.
He welcomed an application to the OPW for funding to progress a flood relief scheme to benefit townlands from Skehanagh in Peterswell to the sea in Kinvara.
In the past six months over 40 roads have been permanently raised which should alleviate some of the hardship for motorists who had to endure lengthy detours last winter.
Galway Bay fm newsroom – The IFA is calling on the Minister for Agriculture to urgently address the difficulties faced by Galway farmers as a result of poor weather conditions.
Members of the organisation have visited a number of farms across Galway, where they’ve met with farmers who have incurred major losses as a result of the wet summer.
IFA president, Athenry’s Joe Healy, is urging Minister Michael Creed to implement a five-point plan to help affected farmers.
The plan includes crisis aid for tillage farmers, a fodder scheme, flexibility on slurry spreading and prompt payments and relaxed eligibility criteria on a range of funding schemes.
Pat Murphy, IFA Galway chairperson, says grain farmers have been particularly badly affected.
Galway Bay fm newsroom – Businesses in Loughrea town will benefit from a 100 thousand euro boost as gears up to host the National Hot Air Balloon Championships. (Sunday 25th Sept)
Up to 40 balloons will take to the skies over east Galway during a major opening event tomorrow.
The balloonists from the US, UK, Australia and Europe will stay in the town – and are expected to spend around 100 thousand euro during their visit.
The championships will be launched at the Loughrea Hotel and Spa at 4 tomorrow afternoon.
A mass launch of balloons will take place during the event, if weather permits.
Brian Barrett of Galway County Council says it promises to be a spectacular event.
Galway Bay fm newsroom – Gardaí are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing a man missing from Claregalway.
40 year old Eamon O’Connell went missing from his home in the village on Thursday.
Eamon is described as 5’11”, of thin build, with brown eyes.
Gardaí and Eamon’s family have serious concerns for his safety.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Galway Garda Station on 091 538000 or any Garda station.
The new Bishop of Killaloe, former Tuam priest Fr Fintan Monahan, said in the homily at his episcopal ordination Mass this afternoon (Sunday), that having worked so closely over the past twenty-five years in Tuam Archdiocese he will miss it in many ways.
He also spoke about meeting Pope Francis at what he said is often described as a “Baby bishop’s course” last week and he said it was a most humbling experience to be asked in person by the Holy Father to pray for him personally!
As bishop of the diocese in Killaloe he realised there will be many challenges but he added that please God new, creative and dynamic ways will be found to live and address these great challenges and opportunities.
Since announcement day on 29 July he said that he had to hit the ground running – a lot has been done, but there is much more to do, concluded the new Bishop Fintan.
Galway Bay Fm newsroom-The Galway men who were deported following the 1916 Rising will be remembered at a special event in Wales today. (Sunday 25/9)
Over three hundred men were deported from Galway to prisons across the Irish Sea in the aftermath of Easter Rising.
A delegation of relatives of these men are visiting Frongoch, Wales this weekend – the site of the prison camp where almost 2,000 Irish rebels were held.
The trip has been organised by the children and grandchildren of those who were deported and is intended as an act of commemoration for Galway.
The group of forty descendants are accompanied by County Cathaoirleach Michael Connolly.
He told Galway Bay Fm news that a special mass is being held in Wales today for the Galway men of 1916.
Galway Bay Fm newsroom-Eamon O’Connell who was missing from his home at Claregalway, since last Thursday 22nd September, 2016 has been located safe and well.
Gardaí have thanked the public and the media for their assistance in this matter.
Gardai across Galway are urging motorists to drive with care due to wet roads and blustery conditions following three crashes this afternoon, one involving 5 vehicles in the city and two on the N17.
In the city crash traffic was down to one lane at Dublin Road following the five-vehicle crash near Galway Crystal at Merlin Park.
But the Gardai say that this has now been cleared up and traffic is back to normal.
On the N17 a stop-go system was in operation for a time after midday following a single vehicle crash at the exit-entrance to the Belclare-Claretuam side road and at Loughgeorge traffic was also delayed for a time following a single vehicle crash at the turn off for the Roscommon Road.
The crashed vehicles have now been moved from the scenes and traffic has returned to normal on the N17
There were no serious injuries to any of those involved in the three crashes.
Old schoolmates from Killimor took a trip down memory lane at the weekend for a celebration on the double.
For the first time in 56 years, the 1960 class of Raheen National School gathered for a reunion.
But this wasn’t an ordinary gathering – the 17 former friends reunited to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Religious Profession of their classmate, Sister Kathleen M. Murphy of Claremadden.
After doing the ‘Primary’, aged just thirteen and a half, she headed to Juniorate in Swanage near Southampton in the South of England. It was here young girls decided whether they wished to become nuns.
She did, and joined the Sisters of Mercy, and received an education – degree, masters and doctorate in religious education.
She taught in State schools in England and worked her way to the top of Maryvale Institute in Birmingham – the equivalent of a Catholic teacher training college – where she became head of religious education.
After years of travelling England, Wales and Northern Ireland in that capacity, and on missions, when Sr Kathleen reached her Golden Jubilee milestone, there was only one place she wanted to be – home in East Galway!
“They asked me would I like a trip to Rome, or a trip anywhere else to celebrate. I didn’t. All I wanted was a reunion with my classmates in Raheen National School. Because I had left so early, that’s what I wanted.
“My brother said firstly, my classmates wouldn’t care enough to want to come. And secondly that it would be impossible to get in touch with everyone, even if they did want to,” she recalled.
But nothing is impossible. And he was wrong abouit her classmates not caring – they jumped at the chance to meet again!
So with the help of Anna McDonagh nee Breheny, one of Sister Kathleen’s class mates, her brother Tom and his wife Marie, the group got together last weekend.
Everyone who was mobile made it to the celebration, including seventeen classmates; only two couldn’t be there due to illness.
The day itself was unique and special, not least for the powerful homily delivered by Fr Christy O’Byrne at the mass which was concelebrated in St Patrick’s Church Kiltormer, Ballinasloe. The choir, under the direction of Lucy Kilkenny excelled themselves.
Offertory gifts included a bible, a symbol of Sr Kathleen’s missionary life; and the old plaque from the Raheen National School was polished-up and brought to the altar by classmate Michael Larkin.
Candles were lit for three deceased classmates, the late Sean Hogan, Kathleen Duane and Joe McClearn. There was a special candle lit also for her late parents, Jim and Delia Murphy, who lived to 100, and the deceased parents of the classmates, all of whom had passed away.
They browsed old communion and confirmation photographs and reminisced on the ‘good old days’ during a day full of emotion. Later they updated each other on the years gone by over a special celebration meal in Gullane’s Hotel, which was followed by dancing to the music of the sixties.
“It was a powerful day. Not just for me. But what struck me was that it was a powerful day for all of the classmates. Many of them hadn’t seen each other in 56 years. It was very emotional. For me it was a very spiritual day, a very emotional day,” added Sister Kathleen.
Galway County Council has promised to tackle the dreaded Japanese knotweed – most critically in areas where it is obstructing visibility on roads – but it could take years, and a small fortune, to rid the county of the plant pest.
This large, herbaceous perennial plant is non-native and is considered one of the most invasive plants in the western world.
Strimming or cutting it back in any way only further encourages the spread of this plant, which is basically a weed that can destroy other plant life.
It certainly exercised councillors attending the recent Connemara Municipal District meeting who were told by Director of Services, Liam Gavin, that the Council needed funding — and a lot of it — to tackle the problem in rural Galway.
Replying to Cllr Seán Ó Tuairisg who thought it would be a good project for a community employment scheme, Mr Gavin said that the removal of knotweed had to be done by professionals who knew what they were doing.
The chairman, Cllr Noel Thomas, a landscaper by profession, agreed telling his colleagues that the removal was a four to five year process and that those doing it had to be properly trained.
A number of councillors told of how the knotweed was so overgrown on some roads that visibility at bends was poor and that in the interests of road safety, those areas had to be prioritised.
Mr Gavin agreed and asked councillors to let them know of those particular areas so that they could be tackled first.
But Cllr Tom Welby wondered if it was the responsibility of the Council at all to remove knotweed.
Mr Gavin explained that landowners and the National Parks and Wildlife Services were on board.
Cllr Tom Healy informed the meeting that the English had a secretariat to deal with the issue and that the EU also had a directive about knotweed. It was a national problem, he said, and it needed a national response.
Cllr Tomas Ó Curraoin said he hadn’t known what it was when he saw it in his neighbour’s field first. Since it started encroaching on his property he enquired and was told it would take €700 for a professional to remove it.
