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Broad welcome for Minister’s review of pupil teacher ratio in island schools
Galway Bay fm newsroom – The Minister for Education’s vow to review his policy in relation to pupil-teacher ratios in island schools is being viewed as a positive step.
Under current rules, these schools need to reach an enrolement of 20 students in order to qualify for a second teacher.
In response to a question from Galway West TD Eamon Ó’Cúiv, Minister Ruairi Quinn says he will review the numbers in relation to the affected schools.
However, the minister says that a seperate policy change could see the number of one-teacher schools on the mainland increase ten-fold.
Deputy Ó’Cúiv is welcoming the minister’s decision to review ratios in island schools.
The full preferred route for the Galway-Athlone cycleway project will be published online tomorrow.
It follows consultation with landowners over the past year – though there’s been vocal opposition in some areas.
The preferred route starts near Ballyloughane Beach on the east side of Galway City, and snakes it way towards Athlone, taking in a wide range of towns, villages and hinterland.
The anchor points are Oranmore, Renville, Clarinbridge, Kilcolgan, Kinvara, Gort, Woodford, Portumna, Meelick, Clonfert, Ballinasloe, Shannonbridge and Athlone Castle.
But while there’s no opposition to the cycleway in principal, there’s some discontent about certain elements of the emerging option.
There’s been criticism over alleged interference with areas of special conservation in South Galway, as well an alleged lack of engagement with some landowners in East Galway.
The entire preferred route will be published on the project website tomorrow and can be viewed at GalwayToAthloneCycleway.com.
Four public information events are also to be held next week.
They’ll be held at the Oranmore Lodge Hotel on Tuesday, the Lady Gregory Hotel in Gort on Wednesday, Portumna Community Hall on Thursday and at the Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe on Friday.
It’s expected a planning application for the ambitious project will be lodged with An Bord Pleanala sometime in 2024.
Galway Bay fm newsroom – Local TD Mairead Farrell says she has an awful sense that the Government is bringing Ireland “full circle” back to 2008.
Speaking during a debate in the Dáil, she argued it hasn’t done close to enough to help those struggling with the cost of living crisis.
And she said rents prices are out of control – and claimed the Government is now presiding over people being thrown out on the streets.
Sinn Fein Deputy Farrell said the reality is, the current situation is a direct result of Government policy.
Galway Bay fm newsroom – Galway-based Blue Teapot Theatre Company has received recognition as a provider of a quallity assurance programme.
The local company based in Galway city is well-known for its work involving people with intellectual disabilities in theatre.
The QQI process recognises the high quality work in developing, enhancing and implementing quality assurance processes.
Last year, the group bought a new building on Munster Avenue, which it’s now been revealed was possible thanks to Social Finance Foundation, Clann Credo.
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