It will benefit businesses, public & taxi drivers.

We desperately need the Galway City Council to stop the illegal Airbnb’s from operating. Galway families, students, and individuals who live and work here need long term housing to continue operating as long term housing stock rather than permanently become illegal short term lets. 

Health risks backed by science • Multiple Studies have found that even short-term exposure to PM2.5 smoke particles increases hospital admissions for heart, lung, and neurological conditions. (Links to studies: [1][2])  • Studies show wildfire smoke can raise mortality rates in vulnerable groups (children, the elderly, people with asthma, and heart disease). [Links to studies: [3], [4]] • These pollutants travel long distances — you don’t need to live in Cherrywood to be at risk. Smoke is more toxic than normal air pollution • Gorse/wildfire smoke isn’t just particles — it contains toxic gases like benzene, formaldehyde, and acrolein. • These VOCs are linked to respiratory disease, cancer risk, and neurological problems — and they’re invisible, often undetectable by smell.  • For VOCs such as formaldehyde and benzene, WHO recognises that there is no safe threshold indoors, further underlining the health risk of the current smoke exposure. Children are the most vulnerable • Kids breathe faster and inhale more pollutants per body weight. • In Cherrywood, a primary school sits right below Ticknick Park, directly in the path of the smoke. • Protecting them here sets a precedent for protecting children everywhere. It’s not just Cherrywood — it’s Ireland’s future • With warmer, drier summers, gorse fires will keep recurring across Ireland. • If we don’t act now, other towns will face the same repeated exposure, with no monitoring or guidance. • The current response is limited to carrying out controlled burning or "hoping for the rain" — but neither of these protect Cherrywood families from repeated exposure to toxic smoke. A precedent for national action • By supporting Cherrywood, you’re pushing Ireland to adopt stronger protections — including, but not limited by efficient fire response, local monitoring, proactive land management, timely community guidance and access to HEPA + carbon filters. • Wildfire smoke has been recognised internationally (e.g. by the US CDC and European Environment Agency) as a significant public health hazard due to fine particles and VOCs. • This campaign can set the standard for how Irish authorities respond to all future smoke events. *In this context, ‘Ticknick’ refers to the adjoining lands located beside Ticknick Park and the community playfields. ** Have you been affected? Please take 2 minutes to fill out this short survey: https://forms.gle/cUtUWMZA2Zamr39UA

In Ireland, Ambulance response times for life threatening emergencies have been incraesing, with Category 2 calls averaging 35 minutes and 11 seconds, surpassing the 30 minute targets. In some regions, such as Cork, there have been instances where ambulances have taken over an hour to arrive to high priority calls. Given that anaphylaxis can progress rapidly, requiring immediate administration of adrenaline, these delays can be life threatening. Without timely access to adrenaline, individuals expreincing anaphylaxis face increased risk of fatality. Ensuring that autoinjectors are availible over the counter would allow people to act swiftly in emergencies, potentially saving lives while awaiting professional medical assistance

Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya served as director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, until his unlawful arrest and has been arbitrarily imprisoned by the Israeli Occupation Forces for over six months. During a recent visit with his lawyer, Gheed Kassam, he asked "Does anyone remember me?". I was incredibly moved by this question and it prompted me to make this petition; we need to let this brave man know that, not only do we remember him, but we're fighting for his release.  Please add your signature and share as widely as you can.  Thank you.

It is the only National School in the area without an Autism class. St Patricks NS Baconstown has a total of eight teachers. The school staff includes a principal, a deputy principal, and six teachers. Additionally, there are four Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and a secretary. The current staffing levels would class St Patricks NS Baconstown as a medium size school. Accommodation for 7 mainstream classrooms, currently using 6 classrooms. Maximum capacity 189. Currently 148 enrolled The addition of an Autism class would add 1 teaching position and 2 SNA positions. It would accommodate the needs of 6 Autistic children in their community. It will ensure that no more children are forced to leave St Patricks NS Baconstown to seek an Autism class in another school as they have done so in recent years. You cannot teach inclusion unless you provide for it in your schools.

For too long the Midwest has been left behind We were promised a centre of excellence we got a warzone

Edenderry has become a hub for the Re-Turn Scheme, people from the town and surrounding areas all bring their bottles into the town to return.  Even with the 5 locations within the town, there can still be long lines and delays for returning our bottles. All it takes is one or two people having to handball trolley loads of bottles to take up a machine for some time.  With the growing successes of the scheme has also come new fund raising opportunities for local groups and charities by collection bottles in bulk and returning them. Again due to only having single bottle return machines, the process of returning these bulk batches of bottles can take some time.  We are calling on Re-Turn and Offaly County Council to arrange for some of the newer Bulk Re-Turn machines to be installed within the town. 

 Every person deserves a safe, secure, and affordable place to live. The current HAP limits in Carlow are so far below real rental costs that people are being pushed into overcrowded, unsuitable, or even unsafe housing or left with no options at all. This i When families can’t afford housing, we all pay the price through increased homelessness, greater pressure on emergency services, healthcare systems, schools, and charities. Fixing HAP limits now means preventing deeper social and economic problems down the line. This isn’t just a personal issue ,it’s a community crisis.   Rising rents, job loss, illness, or family changes can quickly push anyone into housing insecurity. You or someone you care about could need support one day. Standing up for fairer housing supports protects everyone ,not just those currently affected.  This Campaign Is for: • Families priced out of decent housing • Young people trying to move out or start a future • Older people on fixed incomes struggling to afford rent • Anyone who believes in fairness and dignity for all

This is important to insure that all of the parents around Ireland get their children into a suitable environment for their autistic child.

There is a concerning oversight in the planning approach of Kerry County Council regarding Campervan/Motorhome 'Aire' type services. These services, named after the 'Aires de Service' in France, offer essential amenities for Campervan / Motorhome users and are prevalent across continental EU countries. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a notable surge in 'Staycationers,' accompanied by a corresponding increase in Campervan / Motorhome sales. These vehicles afford individuals the comfort of their own secure space, fostering a preference for domestic travel among many. This presents a unique opportunity to augment 'bed nights' in regions beyond the primary tourist centres, offering significant economic advantages to these areas. By providing adequate facilities for Campervan/Motorhome users, Kerry County Council can tap into this burgeoning market and bolster tourism in less frequented areas. During stays at the Bridge Field, we've encountered visitors from various countries, including the UK, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands, as well as fellow Irish tourists. Their patronage has notably boosted the local economy, benefiting village shops, pubs, restaurants, and even the weekly farmer's market. These visits aren't confined to the summer months but extend throughout the year, owing to the convenience their vehicles afford them.   Moreover, the spaciousness of motorhomes encourages tourists to invest in larger purchases, fostering new opportunities for rural craft enterprises across Ireland. The Bridge Field motorhome park provides a warm and inviting hub for exploration in Kerry. However, the absence of such a facility may now lead to a noticeable influx of camper vans into the village, only to depart shortly after due to the lack of secure parking - a circumstance that would be particularly regrettable for the community in the upcoming seasons. At present, the sole Aire-type service available in Kerry County is the thriving motorhome park located at Goosey Island in Sneem. This serves as a prime example of how such facilities can significantly contribute to the prosperity of a local community.  It begs the question: is there a bias against Campervans/Motorhomes within the Kerry Co. Co. Planning department, or perhaps a misguided association of this lifestyle with a particular demographic? Consider this: would you prefer 'Staycationers' to support rural areas in Ireland by spending their money locally, or would you rather see them opt for ferries to destinations like France, Germany, or Spain, where they are warmly welcomed and their tourism euros are eagerly received? 

The people of Gaza are being starved to death and denied Humanitarian aid since March 2nd 2025