Galway County Council and An Garda Síochana have launched an operation this afternoon to remove horses from two sites at Carrowbrowne on the Headford Road.

It follows yesterday morning’s meeting on the issue, and involves a number of third party operators.

There have been concerns about the treatment of animals there for some time, and stray horses on the road has caused concerns about the safety of road users.

Stray horses on the road have caused collisions and near-misses in recent times, resulting in calls for the council to step in.

The condition of the sites in this area – which are home to members of the Travelling community – has also been strongly criticised.

Cllr James Charity explained on social media: “For safety reasons, the intention to carry out the operation could mot be announced following yesterday’s meeting but I now want to publicaly thank our Director of Services for the Athenry-Oranmore area, our Area Engineers, Wardens and all GCC staff involved, as well as the members of An Garda Sìochana and staff of the private operators, for professionally dealing with this difficult situation and taking these poor animals out of the appalling conditions they were placed in.”

The meeting took place yesterday, Friday, at County Hall at 10am.

“The maltreatment of animals in this area will not be tolerated in future and further operations will be carried out if necessary,” Cllr James Charity added.

A Connemara family with three small children have been left for over three years without a regular water supply by Irish Water, and Galway County Council before them, according to a Galway West Senator.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh called on the company to sort out the problem once and for all.

Speaking today, the Independent Senator said that it is an ‘inexcusable situation’.

“I first contacted Irish Water on behalf of the family, who live in the Ros Muc – Cill Chiaráin area of Connemara area, in November 2016. Despite scores of emails, phone calls and representations from my office and from the family, nothing has been done to ensure they have an adequate, reliable water supply,” he said.

The Galway West senator said that this week, the family have been left without water for three days.

” They are regularly left in a situation when they have to fill tanks, pots and jars to address their domestic water needs. They have lived in their house since 2009 and have never had a satisfactory water supply.

“They cannot have washing machines running and leave the house for fear that the pressure will drop and damage the machines. When there is increased usage in the locality, for example due to the influx of Irish language students at certain times, they are left with a mere trickle to service their needs or no water at all.

“They have three very small children and therefore their need for a reliable water supply is very high. It would appear that a pump is needed to increase the pressure of the Irish Water supply to their home, but to date Irish Water have put no plan in place and have done nothing to resolve the constant  issues.

“When we make representations, we seem to get sent from Billy to Jack, with no one in Irish Water taking responsibility for the case. This is totally unacceptable and extremely unprofessional.

“We are calling on Irish Water publicly now to take the necessary steps to rectify this supply issue once and for all, without further delay,” Senator Ó Clochartaigh added.

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A study by NUI Galway has found that just 58% of trainee teachers consider themselves a ‘religious person’ but that many trainees did not feel strongly either way about teaching religion.

The study, carried out by the School of Education in the University, found that many respondents said that teaching religion is ‘no problem’, ‘part of the job’, ‘grand’, or that it ‘doesn’t bother me’.

It also found however that there were low levels of religious practice among Initial Teacher Education (ITE) applicants, many of whom would prefer to teach religion using a non-confessional approach.

It is the first ever study in Ireland that explores the religious affiliations and religiosity of applicants and entrants to undergraduate primary ITE programmes in Ireland.

Since 96% of state primary schools in Ireland are still denominational, looking at religious diversity in teaching is important.

The study explored the backgrounds, motivations and perspectives on the Irish education system of applicants and entrants to Initial Teacher Education programmes across Ireland.

The research was published this week in the European Journal of Teacher Education.

The study raises critical questions regarding the experiences, constitutional rights and professional practice of increasingly secular or non-practicing Catholic teachers in a Catholic primary education system that has survived the trend towards the progressive ‘unchurching’ of Europe.

Lead author of the study, Dr Manuela Heinz from the School of Education at NUI Galway, said: “Our main data collection method is an anonymous voluntary cross-sectional online questionnaire implemented annually with applicants to all state-funded Initial Teacher Education programmes across Ireland.

“The diversity in the ITE study addresses the data vacuum with regard to ITE cohorts’ socio-demographic backgrounds in relation to their religious affiliations, religious practice, and attitudes towards religious education in primary schools in Ireland.”

Dr Heinz continued: “We noted a high non-response rate (25%) to an open-ended question probing respondents to express their feelings about teaching religion which may indicate that a significant proportion of ITE applicants were reluctant or felt uncomfortable to disclose their personal thoughts regarding the requirement for primary teachers to teach religion in the majority of primary schools in Ireland, even in an anonymous survey.

“In addition, we also noted a widespread tendency of complying with, rather than endorsing or rejecting, the teaching of religion with many respondents using language like ‘it’s no problem’, ‘part of the job’, ‘grand’, or ‘doesn’t bother me’ in their responses. It may be that enculturation into Catholic education and possibly positive experiences and memories of ‘no harm’ have led many to uncritically accept the status quo. Or, alternatively, it may be that many of those considering and/or entering the teaching profession feel that they have no choice in the matter, that they need to comply and be prepared to take on the role of religion teacher if they want to succeed, even if they are not religious themselves, do not practice or believe.”

Dr Heinz added: “We are hoping that this research will trigger more thinking about the characteristics and qualities we are looking for in teachers. Considering that only 58% per cent of our respondents considered themselves to be ‘a religious person’, we need to ask what about the others? What experiences await them as they pursue careers as primary teachers? In our study, the great majority of respondents indicated a clear preference towards teaching children about different faiths/world views/religions with some respondents stressing the importance of tolerance, equal treatment and/or of children making up their own minds with regard to religious beliefs.”

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The provision of funding for works on the N59 Galway, Clifden, Leenane road and the N84 road from Galway to Headford in 2018 has been welcomed.

Galway West TD Eamon Ó Cuív said that the works “will make a huge difference” once completed.

The Fianna Fáil TD explained: “Almost €5m has been earmarked for the N59, including €1m for the development of a major scheme on the Clifden to Oughterard stretch of the road and €400,000 to continue progress on the Moycullen by-pass. It is essential that the Moycullen by-pass goes to tender this year as the road is urgently needed.

“The Minister also needs to clarify what works are due to be undertaken in relation to the major upgrade of the Clifden to Oughterard road. I welcome the provision of €1m for works which are at detailed design stage for the section of road between Maam Cross and Bunnakill, as well as the allocation of €200,000 for widening of the N59 at the National Park, west of Letterfrack. I have been pursuing this project for a long time and it would appear that significant progress will be made on it this year. This particular section of road is very narrow and at times two trucks or two buses have difficulty passing without causing damage to vehicles.

“Funding for overlays on the N59, including the eastern approach to Oughterard, the northern approach to Clifden and the western approach to Maam Cross, will make a huge difference once the works have been completed.

“The funding for the N84 will ensure a much better travelling experience, which last year had the benefit of the completion of the Luimnagh realignment scheme. The sections proposed for overlay this year are Bunnaconeen, Castlequarter to Corrandulla, Clonboo to Corrandulla, Coursefield, Galway Road Headford, the northern approach to Ballindooley and the southern approach to Clonboo. Nearly €4.5m should make a significant difference on this road and should improve safety on it considerably.”

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Galway West TD Catherine Connolly delivered an emotional speech in the Dáil this evening, adding her voice to those supporting the repeal of the Eighth Amendment by saying ‘it is time to trust women to make decisions’.

She began her nine-minute speech by painting a picture of the ‘eighties of secrets’, when the Eighth Amendment was brought in, citing cases in which the amendment has affected women’s lives from early in that decade right through to today.

“The Constitution was amended in the eighties, the eighties that gave us the case of Sheila Hodgers who died on the 19th of March prior to the referendum. We knew exactly what we were doing in this country when we passed the referendum. And she died two days after delivering her baby, premature. Her cancer treatment had been stopped by the hospital which claimed it would harm her pregnancy. She also was denied x-rays and pain relief.

“And so, when we passed that amendment, we passed it in an Ireland, as mentioned, of the Kerry Baby tribunal, or the beginning of that.

“We passed it in an Ireland where Anne Lovett died – at the end of this month- 33 years ago I think, on the 31st of January. It was the Ireland which sent Eileen Flynn from her position in a school in Wexford, simply because she loved somebody – a man who she subsequently married, had a further child with and raised his children.

“It was an eighties of the moving statues, it was the eighties of limited contraceptive[s]. It was the eighties where marital rape wasn’t recognised. It was the eighties where we had no divorce. Many many other things were absent,” she said.

An Ireland of secrets

“Most of all for me, as somebody who lived through that time as a young woman, it was the Ireland of the secrets, the Ireland of shame, the Ireland of mass emigration, the Ireland which told us if you step out of line and do something, you will be punished severely one way or another.

“And those secrets and that shame came to light and those secrets and that shame that was put by the pillars of society at the time both in the Church and out of the Church. And then subsequently we saw those pillars fall to the ground.

“We had the eighties of secrets which followed on from decades of secrets and which has continued, which previous speakers have said, right up to today.

“We still haven’t learned to be honest, straight and direct. We still haven’t learned and I’m glad you’re nodding your head Minister, in relation to that.”

Connolly thanked the committee and the ‘courageous women’ who she said brought the injustice to the Dáil’s attention repeatedly in the ‘most appalling of circumstances’.

She also mentioned many other cases through the years, including the Miss D Case in 2007, the X Case, the ’97 Case of a thirteen-year-old girl who went through ‘an appalling process for her to try to get a termination’.

“And then we have the D Case in 2006, fatal-foetal abnormality diagnosed, and a difficult process to get a termination,” she continued.

“In 2010 we have the ABC case and Miss C  suffering from cancer, pregnant with cancer. And we go forward to 2012 in my own city, Savita’s case. And again, an absolutely appalling lack of basic treatment.”

She said that the fact that they were putting more emphasis on a foetal heartbeat than on the treatment of obvious sepsis shouldn’t have happened, and made references to the Whelan Case and also Amanda Mellett.

“Over that period of time, we have been forced by very brave women, women whose health has suffered, women who have died.

“We have been forced by European Court judgments, we have been forced by United Nations committee who clearly told us that what we are doing to our women is inhuman, degrading and amounts to a certain torture.

Simply has to go

“I’m here tonight to proudly add my voice to say the Amendment has to go,” she said. “It simply has to go. It is time to trust women to make decisions.”

The Independent TD said her comments were being made in the context of the 100 year celebrations of when women got the right to vote – a limited right, she added – and 70 years after Noel Browne bravely but unsuccessfully tried to bring in his Mother and Child Comprehensive Scheme.

“And 70 years later, we have a very welcome report from the Oireachtas committee telling us that we simply have significant gaps in our maternity services. Significant gaps in so many areas of our maternity services.

“And so, we are excluding women from our health service in the 21st century, 70 years after Noel Browne’s gallant attempt.

“They are excluded from the health service in terms of getting a termination, in terms of going abroad in their thousands – you mention the figure, 3,265 – and they come back bleeding through airports. And we’re standing over that. And we’re excluding them from any follow-up treatment.

“And yes, we should cringe. I think we should collectively cringe that it has taken us this time and this much effort from vulnerable women who have had the courage in the most appalling circumstances, and also our colleagues, Deputy Clare Daly, Deputy Smith and all the other people who have tried – Mick Wallace – all of the Deputies who have brought or attempted to bring bills before this Dáil to deal with the matter in a humane way.

“It is time to treat this society as a secular society. And ironically, for those who are totally against abortion, and I fully respect their opinion, the best way to reduce the rate of abortion is to look at those countries which have a liberal regime and have a very low rate of abortion.

“That’s the most ironic, for me, fact in all of this,” she concluded.

Catherine Connolly TD has questioned the Minister of Rural and Community Affairs Michael Ring about the state of the dangerous Bothar Dhoirefhearta in Carraroe.

The exchange took place in the Dáil during Priority Questions.

Catherine Connolly TD asked the Minister when a decision is expected on the application received from Galway County Council in regard to funding for the road.

Wrong scheme

Minister Michael Ring said that the application was submitted under the wrong scheme.

“The local improvement scheme supports improvement works on private, non-public roads to improve access for people who live or work along these roads. I understand the project in question relates to a public road; it is, therefore, not eligible for support under the scheme,” he said.

The Galway West TD replied: “I am at a loss to understand what is going on. B’fhéidir go mbeidh an tAire Stáit, an Teachta Seán Kyne – the Minister’s colleague – in ann tuilleadh cabhrach a thabhairt.

“We have attended public meetings and I have followed all of the correspondence. I have a list of it in front of me.

“I understand we have already received the reply the Minister has given. I understand from more recent replies that the application is before the Department of Rural and Community Development. At this point what I want to hear is an acknowledgement that this cannot go on.

“This is a road i gcroílár na Gaeltachta.

Tá droch-chaoi ar an mbóthar agus tá sé baolach. It is dangerous and in the heart of the Gaeltacht. I ask for the Minister’s assistance in clarifying where the people of Carraroe can go with the application.

“They are going from Billy to Jack and back to Billy again, from the county council to the wrong Department and then another Department and all the time the condition of the road is worsening. Tá sé ag éirí i bhfad níos measa. Ag an bpointe seo, ar a laghad, I seek direction and a commitment to help the people living in the area to address their legitimate concerns.”

The Minister acknowledged Connolly’s frustration, saying that he was aware of the public meetings held about the condition of the road.

“I also know that the Deputy met the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, during the summer,” he explained. He also said that he would write to Minister Shane Ross in relation to the matter.

Catherine Connolly acknowledged this, however she said that there should be more communication between departments on these matters.

“I would have thought one Department communicated with another, as the Minister is now planning to do. Earlier there was a discussion between him and an Teachta Éamon Ó Cuív about the millions that had been refunded, yet here is a Gaeltacht community that is struggling to survive and, more importantly, be safe in using the road. At some stage there has to be communication between the two Departments. It is not happening in the absence of support from local Deputies. We have repeatedly attended public meetings and raised the matter.”