Galway Bay FM News Archives
Aer Arann to end Galway to Dublin service in July
Date Published: 06-Apr-2011
Aer Arann is to cease its Galway to Dublin flights this July – the first time in over 20 years there will be no service between the Carnmore airport and the capital.
The Galway-based airline is no longer taking bookings for the Galway to Dublin route after July 21, the date when government subsidies, PSO (Public Service Obligation) funding, end.
The decision to end the PSO, which were worth €960,000 per annum on the Galway-Dublin service, was taken by the previous Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey, on the recommendation of Value for Money Report on Regional Airports.
Management at the airport are now in a race against time to attract another airline to replace Aer Arann’s service on the route but this is proving difficult because when the discontinuation of PSO was announced most airlines had already finalised their summer timetables.
The ending of the daily services between Galway and Dublin, which carried 40,000 passengers last year, is seen as a blow to tourism and business interests in Galway and the western region.
Aer Arann in a statement to this newspaper said the future of the route is “uncertain”. The company said it is in discussions with Galway Airport about operating a service after July 21 but, it said, at this stage it seems “unlikely”.
The statement added: “At the moment the route would not be viable on a commercial basis without either subsidy support or a significant change in airport costs at both ends of the route.
See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
Galway has a population of young people which is more than twice the national average.
According to information gathered by the Central Statistics Office, Galway’s population of 20 to 24 year olds is more than twice the national average.
The number of 25-34 year olds in Galway is also more than the norm nationally, with the two main colleges thought to be the main reason.
However immigration in Galway is much higher than in other areas at 19.4 percent, compared to the national average of 12 percent.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
A city councillor is encouraging people to donate goods directly to charity shops.
It follows allegations of thefts from clothes banks in Galway and across the country in recent months.
However, cameras are in place at some clothes banks and surveillance is carried out by local authorities.
Speaking on Galway Talks, Councillor Neil McNeilis said the problem of theft from clothes banks is widespread.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
A park ‘n’ ride scheme from Carnmore into Galway city could become a permanent service if there is public demand.
That’s according to the Chief Executive of Galway Chamber of Commerce, Michael Coyle.
The pilot scheme will begin at 7.20 next Monday morning, May 13th.
Motorists will be able to park cars at the airport carpark in Carnmore and avail of a bus transfer to Forster Street in the city.
Buses will depart every 20 minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes at offpeak times throughout the day, at a cost of 2 euro per journey.
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