From the Galway Bay FM Newsroom: On a visit to Galway today, the Junior Trade Minister is urging employers and employees to be flexible in making the return to the workplace.

Workers aren’t obliged to reveal their vaccination status, as thousands of people return to their workplace setting across the county today.

The Government is urging employers to allow for a phased and staggered return, with social distancing rules remaining in place.

Other Covid restrictions are also easing today with indoor gym, dance and art classes returning.

Minister of State at the Department of Trade Enterprise and Employment Robert Troy, who is in Athenry this afternoon, says it’s key that both employers and employees work together to make the return to the workplace smooth.

We’ll bring you all the details of the Minister’s trip to Galway this evening on FYI Galway from 5-6pm

Galway Bay fm newsroom – Optometry Ireland says there are deliverable opportunities to reform eye-care to have patients seen quicker and at less cost in the Galway area and nationwide.

It comes as 3,350 people are on a waiting list for outpatient ophthalmology appointments at UHG.

A further 689 are waiting for inpatient or day case procedures at UHG.

National Treatment Purchase Fund figures to August 2021 show that almost 41,200 people nationwide are on the outpatient eye-care waiting list.

Almost 19,000 were waiting more than a year, and 14,800 more than 18 months.

Optometry Ireland President John Weldon says as the HSE has to manage healthcare budgets with the additional pressures COVID-19 has created, there is an opportunity to address this in eye-care through greater use of optometrists.

Galway Bay fm newsroom – Galway has been selected as one of seven counties to pilot a community volunteers programme.

The initiative is built on lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and designed to ensure that communities are better placed to respond quickly and effectively.

The programme has been launched in partnership with Volunteer Ireland and Volunteer Centres, supported by Local Authorities.

It aims to offer a new way to bridge the gap between communities that need support and the people who want to help.

The initiative also offers people the opportunity to get involved in local events and festivals while also supporting more urgent needs that arise unexpectedly, like the community response to COVID-19.

Brendan McGrath, Chief Executive, Galway City Council says the project is a very positive development for Galway City, learning from lessons over the last two years but also as a new service available to the city to help communities run events where people can re-engage with their neighbours and the wider area.