Galway Bay FM News Archives
Water supply to western suburbs near crisis point
Date Published: 31-Mar-2011
By Bernie Ní Fhlatharta
Demand for water in the western suburbs of the city is at bursting point – and there are fears that the system will be quickly overstretched if it is not radically upgraded.
A serious pipe leak in Kingston during the week left 1,200 homes in the wider Knocknacarra area without water from 11pm on Tuesday until 4pm the following day.
Director of Services at Galway City Council, Ciarán Hayes confirmed that another such water pipe burst could have serious consequences for the network.
Mr Hayes described the city’s water network in the western suburbs as “being on a knife edge”.
“I would say it is finely balanced and it would be under great pressure if it suffered more pipe bursts because we don’t have the pumping capacity to replace the water in the Tonabrucky and Clifton Hill reservoirs, which is why we propose to build another reservoir at Tonabrucky.
“We need additional storage on the west side of the city and we need additional pumping capacity to pump the water from Terryland. That would be done through a rising main which would be a dedicated pipe.
“We can produce enough water but we don’t have enough storage and we don’t have enough pumping capacity,” he said. But Mr Hayes did say that they were responding by rebuilding the network and gathering knowledge
Local Cllr Donal Lyons said that basically the supply wasn’t meeting the current demand for water. “Sure, Knocknacarra wasn’t even a proposal when the Tonabrucky reservoir was built,” he added.
For more on this story, see the Galway City 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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