Connacht Tribune
Councillors fear legal action over planning
Fears have been expressed that any decision taken on future planning of the county could be subject to a personal legal challenge against individual members.
Councillors were discussing the County Development Plan 2022-2028 when they decided to de-zone a portion of land in Oranmore from residential to open space and amenity for local residents.
However, members were informed that this portion of land at Oranhill, Oranmore, had planning permission for housing that did not expire until January 2026.
They were then told by senior officials that this decision could be the subject of a legal challenge by the developers of the site, given that planning permission for housing already exists there.
While councillors voted by an overwhelming majority to de-zone the land for recreational purposes, many expressed concerns that they would be held individually liable for making such a decision.
Members of Galway County Council were discussing the motion from Cllr Martina Kinane (FF) proposing the de-zoning of lands at Oranhill Estate from residential to recreational.
She said that this was to address the need for a balanced approach to providing amenity facilities for local residents in the immediate area.
The Clarinbridge councillor said that there “isn’t a swing between the children” who are living in the estate and wanted this parcel of land de-zoned so that recreational facilities can be put in place.
She was supported by Cllr Geraldine Donohue (Ind) who said that a meeting of the Athenry-Oranmore Municipal Council area had heard that there was nothing in the locality for the younger generation.
Cllr Donohue said that it was a matter that had come up for discussion on several occasions given the fact that the Oranhill area was dominated by houses with little room for play areas for local children.
But Executive Engineer Brendan Dunne informed the meeting that planning had been granted for housing on this particular site and did not expire until January 2026.
And councillors were informed that their decision to de-zone the portion of land could become the subject of a legal challenge and there was no ruling out the possibility that individual councillors could be named in any such proceedings.
Cllr James Charity (Ind), a barrister by profession, said that he was not comfortable making any such decision if it was not indemnified by Galway County Council. He did not believe that any such challenge would stand up in court.
Cllr Joe Byrne (FG) actually suggested that the whole County Development Plan debate be adjourned until clarity was sought on the legal situation with regard to individual members.
“If we make decisions, are we subjected to a legal challenge on an individual basis,” he asked as officials could not provide clarity on the situation but expressed the view that it was a possibility.
Eventually, after an hour and a half long debate, it was agreed to hold a vote and Cllr Kinane’s motion to de-zone the Oranhill Estate lands for recreational purposes was passed with 30 councillors in favour, four against and five who abstained.
Cllr Michael Connolly (FF) said that there was too much hysteria surrounding decisions made by councillors but added that there should always be legal advice available from the Council when it comes to decision-making.
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
