Connacht Tribune
Údarás net creation of one job in 2017
While more than 200 new jobs were created by Údarás client companies in Galway last year, the net increase was just one after job losses were taken into account.
According to the agency’s report for 2017, there were 211 new jobs created in the Galway Gaeltacht with the support of Údarás – but the report admits the increase was effectively wiped out by jobs losses.
A significant number of jobs were lost in the film and TV sector, as well as data processing, manufacturing and software.
“The number of jobs created meant that employment in the Galway Gaeltacht remained stable in 2017, with more than 3,000 employed – 2,933 fulltime jobs and 177 part-time jobs – in Údarás client companies at the end of the year.
“When the number of job losses is taken into account, there was a net increase of one job on the previous year,” the report reads.
It goes on to say: “New jobs were created throughout the year, primarily in companies operating in the medical-device, niche manufacturing, services and marine sectors, including Aran Biomedical, Cambus Medical, Sidheán, ECC, Oileán Mara, Bradán Beo, and Éire Composites.
“Companies operating in television and film saw job numbers fall as major projects came to an end, and some companies involved in data processing, software, computing and manufacturing also experienced some job losses.”
Five new businesses were established during 2017, employing nine staff by the end of the year.
“A number of projects were approved during 2017 in which more than 76 jobs will be created and in which €4.15 million will be invested when the proposed developments are operational. The main proposed developments will be in the fields of medical products, food and manufacturing.
“A total of 368 people were employed on social employment schemes in the Galway Gaeltacht at the end of the year. These included 171 on the Community Employment Scheme, 115 on the Rural Social Scheme, 61 on the Tús Scheme and 21 on the Tús Nua Scheme. The schemes are managed by 18 supervisors,” the report reads.
In 2017, the Údarás Board approved various development steps leading to the establishment of digital hubs in An Spidéal, An Cheathrú Rua and Carna.
“The Board approved funding to design and prepare a planning application for a Digital Hub and Innovation Unit at Páirc na Meán in An Spidéal.
“Planning permission has been granted for the hub which will house 14 offices as well as hot desk facilities, and a proposal will be submitted to the Board shortly to approve capital funding for the construction work which is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.
“Capital funding was approved to develop a hub in conjunction with Comharchumann Mhic Dara on the industrial estate in An Cheathrú Rua and to develop an enterprise unit and Business Incubation Hub at the enterprise unit on the Údarás industrial estate in Carna; it is hoped construction work will be completed on these hubs by mid-2018.
“Gréasán Digiteach na Gaeltachta (Gaeltacht Digital Network) will provide 30 innovation units with high-speed broadband connectivity which will facilitate remote working opportunities in offices or at hot desks,” says the annual report.
Significant state investment is required to address ‘shocking’ inequalities that leave cancer patients in the West at greater risk of succumbing to the disease.
A meeting of Regional Health Forum West heard that survival rates for breast, lung and colorectal cancers than the national average, and with the most deprived quintile of the population, the West’s residents faced poorer outcomes from a cancer diagnosis.
For breast cancer patients, the five-year survival rate was 80% in the West versus 85% nationally; for lung cancer patients it was 16.7% in the west against a 19.5% national survival rate; and in the West’s colorectal cancer patients, there was a 62.6% survival rate where the national average was 63.1%.
These startling statistics were provided in answer to a question from Ballinasloe-based Cllr Evelyn Parsons (Ind) who said it was yet another reminder that cancer treatment infrastructure in the West was in dire need of improvement.
“The situation is pretty stark. In the Western Regional Health Forum area, we have the highest incidence of deprivation and the highest health inequalities because of that – we have the highest incidences of cancer nationally because of that,” said Cllr Parsons, who is also a general practitioner.
In details provided by CEO of Saolta Health Care Group, which operates Galway’s hospitals, it was stated that a number of factors were impacting on patient outcomes.
Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GARDAÍ and the IFA have issued a joint appeal to all road users to take extra care as the silage season gets under way across the country.
Silage harvesting started in many parts of Galway last week – and over the coming month, the sight of tractors and trailers on rural roads will be getting far more frequent.
Inspector Conor Madden, who is in charge of Galway Roads Policing, told the Farming Tribune that a bit of extra care and common-sense from all road users would go a long way towards preventing serious collisions on roads this summer.
“One thing I would ask farmers and contractors to consider is to try and get more experienced drivers working for them.
“Tractors have got faster and bigger – and they are also towing heavy loads of silage – so care and experience are a great help in terms of accident prevention,” Inspector Madden told the Farming Tribune.
He said that tractor drivers should always be aware of traffic building up behind them and to pull in and let these vehicles pass, where it was safe to do so.
“By the same token, other road users should always exercise extra care; drive that bit slower; and ‘pull in’ that bit more, when meeting tractors and heavy machinery.
“We all want to see everyone enjoying a safe summer on our roads – that extra bit of care, and consideration for other roads users can make a huge difference,” said Conor Madden.
He also advised motorists and tractor drivers to be acutely aware of pedestrians and cyclists on the roads during the summer season when more people would be out walking and cycling on the roads.
The IFA has also joined in on the road safety appeal with Galway IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair Teresa Roche asking all road users to exercise that extra bit of care and caution.
“We are renewing our annual appeal for motorists to be on the look out for tractors, trailers and other agricultural machinery exiting from fields and farmyards,” she said.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
