This article first appeared on Galway Bay FM

A Galway TD today told the Dáil that the city’s growth is being hampered by a lack of transport infrastructure

Catherine Connolly says it’s a mockery to suggest it can grow without a system like Luas and park and ride services

A 1.2 billion euro plan for a light rail in Galway city has been published.

Public Expenditure Jack Chambers told the Dáil, the Government is committed to delivering light rail to cities around the country:

This article first appeared on Galway Bay FM

Junior Minister and Galway East TD Seán Canney says work is ongoing to decide which rail projects should be prioritised.

The All-Island Strategic Rail Review was published last summer, and includes plans for the Western Rail Corridor, as well as a service to Donegal and Navan.

Irish Rail says it is working on an investment plan for the project over the next 10 years.

Minister Canney told the Dáil, public transport needs to be delivered:

This article first appeared on Galway Bay FM

Tuam is to mark National Play Day with a free family event this Saturday

This nation-wide initiative aims to inspire children’s imaginations

This year’s theme is ‘The Power of Play’.

Families are encouraged to bring a picnic, wear comfortable clothing and come ready to play.

Ellie Loftus of Galway Sports Partnership says children of all abilities will enjoy the day:

This article first appeared on Galway Bay FM

The Dáil has heard claims there’s no sense of urgency to solve traffic and transport issues in Galway city.

Independent Galway West TD Catherine Connolly said the easiest way to reduce congestion and emissions is a luas line in the west.

A feasibility study for the project was published last October – which put the cost of a system at around 1.2 billion euro.

Deputy Connolly says it makes sense:

This article first appeared on Galway Bay FM

The HSE has fully signed off on a proposal to develop a Primary Care Centre on Seamus Quirke Road in Galway City.

The €50m eight-storey building will cater for a variety of health services, along with hosting two GP practices, a pharmacy and café.

It’ll also host a Tusla family support building, an ambulance deployment building, and more than 200 bike and car parking spaces.

Planning permission was upheld by An Bord Pleanala last November, despite some local objections, and it’s hoped works can begin within a year.

Speaking to Galway Talks, Deputy Connolly says the centre will provide so many vital services for the community

This article first appeared on Galway Bay FM

A demonstration will take place this weekend in Eyre Square over recent changes to rental law.

The demonstration is in particular highlighting changes to Rent Pressure Zone rules.

It’ll take place this Saturday from 12:30PM, with leaflets being handed out and signatures gathered to email to local representatives.

Speaking to Galway Talks, University of Galway Research assistant Fergus O’Donoghue is encouraging people to come out on Saturday

This article first appeared on Galway Bay FM

Partnerships are being sought to build higher density housing in five cities including Galway

The Land Development Agency wants to forward purchase apartment developments in which the homes will be made available to cost rental tenants

Project Tosaigh is an LDA initiative where it steps in to kickstart and complete unviable or stalled developments.

The LDA will deliver the homes by paying a deposit up front and agreeing to purchase them in full once they are built.

The homebuilders will then be required to develop the projects to completion.

The new phase of Project Tosaigh will focus on Galway, Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Waterford

homebuilders are requested to submit Expressions of Interest by July 31st

This article first appeared on Galway Bay FM

More than 20,000 people across County Galway were affected by boil water notices or water restrictions in 2024.

The most-impacted areas last year include Carna, Kilkieran, Clifden, Dunmore, Glenamaddy, Gort, Kinvara, Tuam, Monivea, Killtullagh and Abbeyknockmoy.

Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency has listed Inisbofin as one of the ‘at risk’ areas for Uisce Eireann to address, with plans to upgrade its water treatment plant by June 2026

However, in general the report found the quality of drinking water from public supplies remains very high, with almost 100 per cent of samples compliant with standards.

Noel Byrne from the EPA says there are still some areas that need to be addressed, including Inishbofin

This article first appeared on Galway Bay FM

Sales of both new cars and electric vehicles in Galway are well up on national trends for the first half of the year.

General sales were up 11 per cent, compared to the national average of 3.5 per cent.

3352 new cars were sold in Galway between January and June.

The sale of electric cars were up by just under 38 per cent, compared to the national average of 27 per cent.

438 EVs were registered before the new registration begins this month.

Nationally, the 5 top selling new car brands were Toyota, Volswagen, Hyundai, Skoda and Kia.