Galway Bay FM News Archives
Airport board determined to secure facility’s future
Date Published: 15-Jun-2011
Galway Airport this week commenced sourcing alternative streams of investment to secure its long-term future after the Government decided to cease funding it from January of next year.
The board of the airport and its majority shareholder, Galway Chamber, has confirmed it will hire “specialists” in finance and investment, who will help the airport fundraise from private third-party investors, businesses and local authorities, Galway City and County Councils.
In a joint statement this week, airport management and the Chamber said they were “confident about the future for Galway Airport”, even though they had consistently said the airport would close if state subsidy was not forthcoming.
They also both jointly rejected the inference by the Minister for Transport and Tourism, Leo Varadkar, that Galway Airport is not a strategic asset and therefore not important to the economic development of the west region.
“In his announcement last week Minister Varadkar said that he was going to concentrate on supporting ‘strategic’ airports and what he was saying by not supporting Galway is that Galway is not a strategic airport. Well we completely reject that and we are reiterating that Galway Airport is a strategic airport in supporting business and jobs and promoting tourism in Galway City, County and the West. It is a strategic asset because of the economic impact it has.
Is this an indicator of how the West of Ireland and Galway is going to be treated? We have to make a stand,” said Managing Director Joe Walsh.
See this week’s Connacht Tribune for full story.
Galway Bay FM News Archives
Galway has country’s largest population of young people
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.
Galway Bay FM News Archives
Call for direct donations to city charity shops
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.
Galway Bay FM News Archives
Galway ‘Park and Ride’ could become permanent
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.