Galway Mountain Rescue to get funding boost

Galway Bay fm newsroom – Galway Mountain Rescue team is to benefit from a new grant announced by the Government.
A one-off grant of 200 thousand euro is being provided for the 12 mountain rescue teams across the country.
It’ll enable the voluntary teams to buy new vehicles and equipment.
Meanwhile, Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar says he will hold discussions with Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald about oversight arrangements for Mountain Rescue teams.
They currently fall under the remit of the Department of Justice and Equality as an emergency service.
The Department of Transport administers the grants scheme and the coast guard chairs the National co-coordinating committee for mountain and cave rescue.
Chris England from Mountain Rescue Ireland says the grant amounts to almost a full years running costs.
He says rising tourist figures and more people taking to the mountains means the number of rescues is rising sharply.