Galway Bay fm newsroom – Local TD Claire Kerrane is urging the Taoiseach to intervene in the retained fire service crisis as industrial action is underway.

SIPTU says local authorities have failed to address the recruitment and retention crisis in the brigade.

From this morning, firefighters won’t be attending training drills or testing their life saving equipment like breathing apparatus.

Retained fire-fighters are paid a base allowance and are on call 24/7 for most of the year, but typically work another full-time job

Sinn Fein TD Claire Kerrane says the Government was made aware last year that the service was on the brink of collapse.

Galway Bay fm newsroom – Four Garda stations in Galway recorded a 5-year peak in crime rates last year.

According to the Irish Independent, Athenry, Gort, Oranmore and Clifden all experienced higher levels of crime compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Meanwhile, Salthill garda station was one of 257 to experience a significant reduction in crime in 2022.

Between 2019 and 2022, Crime was up 12.4 per cent at Anglesea Garda Station in Cork, 4.4 per cent at Henry Street in Limerick and 4.3 per cent at Ballybricken in Waterford.

The most dramatic increase recorded nationally was at Moate Garda Station in Westmeath, which saw crime increase by 125 per cent.

Larger stations such as Dublin Airport saw rates increase by nearly 50 per cent since before the pandemic.

The type of crime which has seen the biggest spike during this four year period was homicide – which has risen by 30 per cent.

Despite these increases, there was a decrease in the level of crime across 257 stations, including Salthill, Kinsale in Cork, Finglas in Dublin and Bray in county Wicklow.]

Galway Bay fm newsroom – University of Galway will host one of three Consultative Forums on International Security Policy.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has opened the public consultation on gov.ie and the registration process is available via eventbrite until July 7th.

Public forums will be held across three locations, with the Galway meeting being held on June 23rd.

Each forum will also be livestreamed each day on the Government website.