Snippets

By Tom Kelly

Mayo County Council is winning the war against substandard and health-threatening water supplies.

The authority is committed to spending in excess of £5.m. towards bringing group water schemes throughout the county up to EU standards.

And further multi-million-pounds investments are in the pipeline over the coming years to ensure that supplies to every house in the county will meet the necessary regulations.

The Department of the Environment is working closing with the council as part of a countrywide strategic rural water plan.

Mr. Alex Fleming, assistant county manager, said a high percentage of group water schemes in Mayo had quality and quantity problems. "Our strategy, which involves substantial expenditure, is to give a good quality service by extending the regional network to link in with smaller schemes. This will give more homes supplies which will fully comply with EU regulations."

Apart from schemes which are due to be upgraded under the 1997\89 rural water programme, a further 24 schemes are being progressed through the design stage and will go to tender subject to design approval. These works will require grant aid in the region of £2.6m and will cover supplies to a total of 2,722 houses.

Five further group water schemes, namely Taughneen\Crossboyne; Partry\Ballintubber; Ballyheane; Glenisland\Islandeady; and Behy are due to be taken over by the council before the year 2000 in an expenditure of £1.5m. which will improve supplies to more than 1,500 homes.

Council to mark centenary in April

MAYO County Council is planning to celebrate its centenary in style.

A special meeting, to mark the occasion, will be held on Thursday, April 22nd in the old Courthouse buildings at the Mall, Castlebar, the venue where the first elected council met 100 years earlier to the day.

The occasion will be marked by the publication of a souvenir centenary publication.

Health Board sign £2.3m Mayo contracts

CONTRACTS have been signed for the Western Health Board's new Community Nursing Unit in Achill and a new training centre in Castlebar.

This represents an investment of some £2.3m by the Board throughout the county and will significantly enhance the health services in the region. Both projects are due for completion at the end of the year.

The new Achill unit will provide high quality residential care facilities for 30 people at a cost of £1.7m. It will offer a range of services for the elderly in the areas of respite care, convalescent care, day and long stay care.

The £600,000 WHB training centre in Castlebar will provide training for 60 people throughout the Castlebar area and will replace the existing centre based at St. Mary's Hospital.

The centre aims to provide a range of training and work programmes that will enhance the social and economic independence of people with disabilities..

To achieve these aims training programmes in catering, communication, social skills, information technology, upholstery, independent living skills, literacy and woodwork will be offered.

Fine Gael Euro convention

The Fine Gael Euro convention will be held in the Travellers Friend Hotel, Castlebar on Sunday February 28, when it now appears that outgoing MEP Joe McCartin will be the only candidate going forward.

Free dog licence plea for pensioners

Muintir na Tire has called on the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Mr. Noel Dempsey, TD, to introduce free dog licences for older people.

Muintir na Tire notes with concern that the Minister for the Environment had increased the cost of a dog licence from £5 to £10, with the introduction of the amendment to the control of Dogs Act 1986 to 1992 which comes into force on February 1st 1999.

A dog is both a companion and a source of security for many older people around the country, in particular those living alone, when Muintir na Tire held a series of consultative meetings with Community Alert groups last year, one of the many recommendations was that older people be allowed free dog licences.

Muintir na Tire would like to see a scheme of free dog licences for older people introduced immediately, in particular in light of today's increased cost.

Muintir would encourage the Minister for the Environment make this gesture to coincide with the International Year of Older People 1999.

Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - February 1999