Latest news with #AlanHarney
Irish Independent
7 days ago
- Climate
- Irish Independent
‘Crucial' back-up generator confirmed for Galway water plant following Storm Éowyn chaos
In January, the Galway town – and its water treatment plant – was badly hit by Storm Éowyn, with thousands of people being left with no water for days. Following the extreme weather event, Uisce Éireann identified a number of areas for back-up generators to be installed. However, Ballinasloe was not on that list. Six months later, after several appeals and Galway County Council meetings, Uisce Éireann has this week confirmed that back-up power generator will be installed at Ballinasloe Water Treatment Plant by the end of 2025. Ballinasloe Councillor Alan Harney told the Irish Independent the announcement is 'hugely positive' for the community and will be 'crucial' during future extreme weather events. 'This new generator should be able to kick in in a very short space of time once it's installed, if we are to face any power outages again in the future. 'I know that the lack of water coupled together with the lack of electricity caused huge difficulties for so many people right across our area. As we know, the water treatment plant in Ballinasloe serves several thousand residences, but also supplies water to Portiuncula University Hospital and a number of local nursing homes. 'So it's crucial that we would have a continuity of supply and I'm hopeful now that with the backup generator in place, if we are to face future extreme weather events, we won't see water supplies cut off for days on end like they were back in January.' In the meantime, a change-over switch was installed at the Ballinasloe plant. 'The change-over switch is essential. That was one of the big issues as well that we faced in January, there wasn't a change-over switch in place, so when we eventually did get a generator on site, it took in excess of 12 hours to get it wired into the water treatment plant to get the plant back up and running, then took another length of time after that,' Cllr Harney said. The Fine Gael councillor added more is expected to be done to improve Ballinasloe Water Treatment Plant in the near future. 'We do need to see an increase in the overall capacity of the water treatment plant and Uisce Éireann said that they're hoping that that will be progressed in 2026, almost doubling the capacity.' 'It's good and hopefully it will deliver real tangible results for people in my community.'
Irish Independent
28-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Frustrations in Galway at HSE's ‘disgraceful' delay in disposal of buildings on derelict hospital site
At a meeting of the Regional Health Forum West on Tuesday, May 27, Fine Gael's Cllr Alan Harney said the HSE has failed 'abysmally' in relation to these buildings. The councillor said it's 'absolutely disgraceful' that the HSE has been served a Derelict Sites notice for these buildings following multiple pleas for engagement with local authorities. Cllr Harney said we need to 'see action' and 'immediate works' under way, and not further delays. He also noted the opportunity to transform one of these buildings into a health centre which is needed for the local Ballinasloe community. After a recent fire on the hospital campus, Cllr Harney noted an increase in security around the Ballinasloe site's vicinity, which he did applaud the HSE for. A response to Cllr Harney's request for updated information on the disposal of the site was answered by Niall Colleary, the HSE's Assistant National Director for Capital and Estates. 'The HSE are aiming to have a sales agent selected before the end of June to manage the disposal process for St Brigid's,' he said. 'The campus is not in compliance with Section 58 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as the HSE has recently been served with a Derelict Sites notice. 'The HSE have engaged with the local authority in relation to this matter with a view to reaching agreement on a pragmatic approach to addressing the issues.' However, as Mr Colleary, or any other representative for Capital and Estates, wasn't in attendance at the meeting, Ann Cosgrove, the HSE's Integrated Healthcare Area Manager for Galway and Roscommon, assured Cllr Harney that the HSE is 'intent to move forward' with their strategy to destroy these properties. ADVERTISEMENT 'We need to keep it moving forward to get the best possible outcomes,' Ms Cosgrove said. Cllr Harney also expressed his annoyance at no representatives from Capital and Estates being in attendance at the meeting, saying he noted that there is 'no one here from estates which seems to be a common occurrence at these meetings'. Later in the meeting, following numerous questions directed at the HSE's Capital and Estates department, the Regional Health Forum West's Chairperson Cllr Ciaran Brogan asked if it is made a priority that a representative from that department be present at next month's meeting.
