Search Results for 'Michael McNamara'

Rural coastal economies in Mayo received a boost yesterday (Thursday) with the announcement of €1.35 million in funding for harbours and coastal infrastructre.

The 20 metre whale beached at Keel, Achill, over Christmas has prompted some calls for a new tourism attraction focused on the region’s whale history.

Mayo County Council paid tribute to the late South African president Nelson Mandela by holding a minute’s silence at the start of its December meeting and a number of members paid tribute to the former South African president.

Not all of the 12 Blue Flag beaches in the county are patrolled by a lifeguard which has caused concern among locals according to councillor Michael McNamara.

A number of councillors have called for the €8.5 million Community Gain Investment Fund that has been put up by the developers of the Corrib Gas project as part of their planning permission to have a wider geographic reach. Cllr Rose Conway Walsh, speaking at the April meeting of the Belmullet electoral area committee, said: “I do want to see it extended to areas like Ballycastle, it’s very unfair that it’s not included.” The idea of seeing it extended was supported by other councillors including Cllr Michael Holmes and Cllr Michael McNamara. At present the fund is confined to the Cill Chomain area. While asking for the geographic remit of the fund to be expanded, Cllr Conway Walsh hit out at the small nature of the fund compared to the overall profits that the project developers will make, saying: “Overall we need to look at this fund being from our own natural resources, not the developers” and “it’s a lot less than the people deserve”.

There were differing opinions in the Mayo County Council chamber this week on the proposed changes to local government in Ireland that were announced by the Government in October.

A number of councillors at the Belmullet Electoral Area Committee on Tuesday expressed their hope that LEADER funding that was previously provided by Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (MFG) would soon be back on stream. The calls came as the members were informed that the first two years of funding from the separate Communuity Gain Investment Fund is about to be allocated by Mayo County Council. That €8 millon fund is paid for by the developers of the Corrib Gas project as an obligation of their planning permission. However, councillors are concered that groups who are awarded this funding would not draw it down, as they are waiting to see whether they will also get funding from applications they made to MFG before it was closed two years ago so they can combine the funding to complete projects.

Ballina

Mayo people have been offered an opportunity to earn thousands of euros simply by making a couple of phone calls. Connect Ireland, an initiative designed to tap the Irish diaspora abroad for investments and the creation of work opportunities back home, has already awarded a €45,000 payout to one Castlebar man for passing on a personal business contact. This contact, who was looking to expand outside his base abroad, has since committed to creating 30 new jobs in Carlow.

EirGrid, which is bringing 21st century infrastructure to the west, through a €240 million Grid West Project, has commenced consultation process with the Mayo public.