Three Mayo towns are among 50 Irish towns and cities highlighted in latest EPA report as in need of significant funding to collect and treat wastewater effectively.

 Waste-water treatment facilities in 50 towns and cities are not complying with EU standards, according to the latest report from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Killala, Newport and Belmullet are included on this list.

The EPA says it's posing an unacceptable risk to the environment and public health, and improvements for some areas are not due to be completed until 2021 – and not until 2023 for the Co Mayo town of Newport.

The EPA says an estimated 13 billion euro is needed to make the necessary improvements across the country.

In response to queries from Midwest News, Irish Water has confirmed that the new sewage treatment plant currently under construction in Belmullet will be in operation early next year.

In relation to Killala, the improved system will be in operation by the third quarter of 2019 and in Newport by the end of 2023.

Two men have been arrested in connection with an incident last Saturday in Castlebar, in which a local retailer was dragged several hundred yards through the town centre by a moving car, after he confronted the occupants of the vehicle in relation to a theft at his premises earlier that day.

At about 1pm on Saturday afternoon, the retailer noticed the suspected thieves getting into a car on Ellison Street – about two hours after a theft at his phone fixer shop on Linenhall St.

He approached the suspects, and ended up being dragged down the street by the moving car.

The man was later treated for his injuries at Mayo University Hospital.

Castlebar Gardai have confirmed that two men have since been arrested in connection with these incidents.

A foreign national in his 20’s was arrested in the Longford area yesterday, and was charged with the theft of a mobile phone from a shop in Castlebar, and the theft of another mobile phone from a premises in Swinford.

He appeared before Longford District Court this morning and was remanded in custody to Castlebar District Court on 1^st November.

A second man in his 50’s, also a foreign national, was arrested and taken to Castlebar Garda Station where he’s being questioned in relation to the driving incident.

Gardai say a car was recovered in Co Roscommon and has been seized as evidence.

The Courts Service needs to clarify whether it intends to ever reopen Westport Courthouse – that’s according to Westport-based Fianna Fail Councillor Brendan Mulroy.

The courthouse, which is located on the corner of Distillery Road and Castlebar Street, was closed in 2013 on health and safety grounds.

It was initially intended to be short-term measure, but four years on, all court hearings for the Westport district are still being heard in Castlebar Courthouse.

Judge Mary Devins has now called on the Courts Service to decide its plans for Westport Courthouse, as she says the current situation is affecting the court list.

Councillor Brendan Mulroy says the closure of Westport Courthouse is having a financial impact on the town, as well as being inconvenient for many who have to travel to Castlebar to have their cases heard.

He’s also calling for clarification on the issue from the Courts Service.

Ryan Tubridy and the Late Late Show team were in Galway today to their hunt for the West’s best young performers, to take part in this year’s Toy Show.

Up to 60 children auditioned at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Galway – with acts travelling from Mayo, Sligo, Donegal, Clare and Limerick as well as from Co Galway.

A total of 15 acts auditioned today in Galway, in the second of three regional auditions taking place this week.

Programme host Ryan Tubridy said this is their third year on the road with the Toy Show, and the West has never let them down.

He said the breadth of talent in the West, and around the country, is enormous and it’s no surprise they’re seeing such stellar performers.

This year’s Late Late Toy Show will be broadcast on RTE One on Friday 1^st December.

Yesterday saw the online launch of ticket applications for the Toy Show, which are issued in a random lottery.

Last year, 140,000 people applied for just over 200 tickets.

The death has taken place of Mayo Legend Joe Corcoran.

The Ardnaree man was known to all GAA followers as “Jinkin Joe”.

He was formerly Mayo’s all time top scorer and one of the most stylish forwards ever to grace the field.

He was also a brilliant golfer and all round sportsman and will be sadly missed by his family and friends.

Hs is pre-deceased by his wife Renee and is survived by his two daughters, son and extended family.

Joe had a wonderful Mayo career scoring 20 goals and 358 points.

He famously scored 1-9 against Meath in Wembley in 1968.

Johnny Carey who was Mayo’s first ever All-Star and played alongside Joe for a number of years has today paid this tribute to his late friend and football colleague.

GMIT Mayo is opening its doors to the public on Friday, 10 November (10am – 1pm), for an Open Morning  for secondary school students, parents and anyone interested in starting or returning to third-level study as a mature student.

As a special feature this year, staff are also running a Graduate Careers Fair on the same day. A wide variety of employers, professional bodies and recruitment companies will available to discuss career options after third-level. Information stands and an expo will take place in St Mary’s Hall on campus.

 Visitors will have an opportunity to take part in workshops on the various disciplines on offer with information stands on all courses.

GMIT Mayo’s Access Officer, Counsellor, Chaplain and other staff will be available to answer any questions about access and disability service, scholarships, financial supports, medical and student services.

Second-level students may book a place through their Career Guidance Counsellor.

The EPA report on Urban Waste Water Treatment in 2016, released today, highlights the need for significant funding to address the legacy of underinvestment in infrastructure needed to collect and treat our waste water effectively.  The report finds that treatment is inadequate in many areas.

Waste-water treatment facilities in 50 of Ireland’s 185 large towns and cities fail to comply with EU standards, according to the latest Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report on urban waste-water treatment.

Killala, Newport and Belmullet are listed in county Mayo in the report as failing to meet EU standards. However, a new sewerage treatment plant is under construction in Belmullet.

County Galway towns and villages feature extensively as problem areas, including large areas of Connemara.

EPA office of environmental enforcement director Gerard O’Leary said: “Waste water from over half our population failed to meet environmental standards”.

Waste water is one of the main threats to water quality in Ireland, the report points out.

As a consequence, it sets out “priority areas where resources must be targeted to bring environmental improvements where they are most needed” by Irish Water, the utility responsible for the collection, treatment and discharge of urban waste water.

The mother of Galway All Ireland hurling winner Davy Glennon has revealed how she had to remortgage her home to pay off his massive gambling debts.

Davy, who came on in this year's All Ireland win over Waterford, opened up about his chronic gambling problem last year and spoke how his illness led to him contemplating taking his own life.

He spent 12 weeks in recovery in Cuan Mhuire in Athenry in 2015 and slowly rebuilt his life and now has an elusive All Ireland medal to show for it.

Speaking on RTE Two's Living With An Addict, Davy's mother Eileen opened up about the financial and mental challenges she faced during those days.

In an interview with Independent.ie last year, Davy admitted that the financial burden of his problem led to him contemplating taking his own life.

The documentary screens on RTE Two at 10pm tonight (Tues)

Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny has followed in the footsteps of other world leaders by landing a career as an after-dinner speaker.

Mr Kenny was listed at the prestigious UK-based 'Speakers Associates' agency, which lists other Irish figures such as Mary Robinson, John Bruton and Charlie McCreevy among others.

The Mayo TD, who was yesterday awarded an honorary doctorate in law from NUIG, is said to be charging upwards of €22,000 per event.

The price bracket is reserved for the agency's most sought-after speakers.

However, according to today’s Independent.ie, yesterday Mr Kenny's profile on the site was mysteriously removed.

It reports that Mr Kenny did not return calls from them for comment yesterday.

Before his profile was removed, the agency's website described their latest recruit as a "captivating and memorable" speaker.

In a glowing profile, the agency's chiefs singled out Mr Kenny's St Patrick's Day lecture on immigration to US President Donald Trump.

Mr Kenny's speech on Capitol Hill was viewed more than 30 million times and received universal praise, with many hailing the then-outgoing Taoiseach for his courage in standing up to Mr Trump's anti-immigration rhetoric and policies.

Mr Kenny was in NUI Galway yesterday where he received an honorary doctorate of laws for his contributions to public life.

Despite a 13 million euro investment in 2009 in a Cluid run housing estate in St Patrick’s estate in Ballina, there continues to be a high turnover of the units by tenants and there are regular reports of nuisance and anti social behaviour in the area.

Representatives of the voluntary housing organisation Cluid addressed the October Joint Policing Committee meeting of Mayo county council in Ballinrobe.

Cluid has 6,000 units of housing nationwide, with 150 units in county Mayo.

St Patrick’s Estate, Parkside in Ballina consists of 85 units in total, with 60 of these operated and managed by Cluid. It acquired the housing stock from Ballina Urban council in 2006.

At present 50 percent of the rents owed to Cluid in St Patrick’s Estate, Ballina are in arrears.

The Cluid representatives explained that there is low demand for housing in the area, due to the past reputation of the estate.

The need for a community centre, as promised in the rejuvenation project was highlighted by Cluid.   

Independent councillor in Ballina Gerry Ginty says it’s a small number of people who are causing the majority of the nuisance and incidents in the estate and he believes that unless the law comes down heavy on the culprits the problems will continue and escalate.

Independent MEP for this region, Castlerea native Luke Ming Flannagan told today’s Irish  Independent that he voted in error in connection with a vote on a hard border under Brexit in the parliament recently.

The MEP voted in tandem with far right euro sceptics such as Nigel Farage and Marine Le Pen    on the issue of the Border with Northern Ireland.

However, Mr Flannagan subsequently requested to change his vote, saying it was cast in error.

All other Irish MEPs voted in favour of a resolution that strongly rejected a hard border for the north.

The resolution stated that the parliament strongly believes that it is the responsibility of the UK government “to provide a unique, effective and workable solution that prevents a hardening of the border and ensures full compliance with the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts”.

MEPS Farage and Le Pen,together with Luke Flannagan opposed the motion.

It’s understood that the Roscommon based MEP was strongly criticised over his vote by a group called The Border Communities Against Brexit.

The resolution itself, which passed through parliament - was issued in response to the serious concerns about the return of a hard Brexit.

Midwest News has contacted Mr. Flanagan for comment but is still awaiting a response.

A Chicago Flag will be presented to Westport tomorrow which coincides with celebrating the 100^th year of the flag and the 250^th birthday of the town.

A number of representatives from the U.S. along with the grandson of the late Chicago City Council Alderman James Ambrose Kearns will present the City of Chicago flag to dignitaries in Westport.

Kearns, also known as “Weeping Jim” Kearns because of his fondness for Irish wakes, is recognised as the “Father of the Chicago Flag”.

James A. Kearns emigrated from Kilmeena, to America in 1883 and became a lawyer in Chicago where he served as an Alderman, Clerk of the Municipal Court and City Treasurer.

The event gets underway at 10.30am tomorrow morning in the Westport Coast Hotel.

An enquiry into allegations of ethics breaches at Mayo County Council got underway earlier today.

The hearing at the Standards in Public Office Commission is being carried out in private, following an application by Castlebar councillor Cyril Burke - one of the councillors being investigated.

According to the Standards in Public Office Commission, Mayo County Councillors Cyril Burke and Frank Durcan along with the council’s CEO Peter Hynes are alleged to have contravened the Ethical Frameworks for the Local Government Service.

The hearing was initially open to the public when it began at the SIPO offices in Dublin this morning.

However, after a preliminary application by a lawyer for Councillor Cyril Burke, reporters and the public were told that the rest of the proceedings would be held in private.

The hearing, chaired by Mr Justice Daniel O’Keefe, is continuing this afternoon and is also expected to run tomorrow.

A public meeting will be held in Bunninadden tonight to discuss concerns over the school transport issue facing children and parents in the south Sligo area next year.

Residents had campaigned to ensure the bus routes would stay as they are for this year, which ensured children attending secondary school in Tubbercurry would still be collected in Bunninadden, but a letter sent to parents from the Department of Transport implies there is a threat to this route for the 2018 / 2019 school year.

This may mean pupils having to change school and attend Ballymote instead, if they wish to travel by bus.

A number of Sligo TDs will attend tonight’s meeting, which gets underway at 9pm in the Bunninadden Community Centre, and parents are urged to attend.

Residents in Crossmolina are again relieved that the latest storm did not lead to flooding in the north Mayo town.

There were fears over the past two weekends that Storm Ophelia and subsequently Storm Brian could lead to flooding of the River Deel.

Local Fianna Fail Councillor Michael Loftus says they were lucky to escape flooding over the weekend, but he’s calling on Minister Kevin Boxer Moran for urgent progress on delivering long-promised flood defences for the town.

Prior to the severe flooding in the Winter of 2015, consultants have been considering long-term flood defences for Crossmolina, where the River Deel has burst its banks in the past, flooding homes and businesses in the area.

However, a preferred option has still not been finalised – and Councillor Loftus told Midwest News that it’s unfair that people in Crossmolina are living in fear of storms or heavy rainfall.

Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny is due to receive an honorary doctorate of laws from NUI Galway later today.

The Mayo TD will receive the honour at a ceremony at the university this afternoon.

Meanwhile, the European Investment Bank has agreed to lend €60 million to NUI Galway for campus development.

It will help fund the construction of new student accommodation and a new building for the College of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences.

A public hearing gets underway this morning ( Monday) in the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) offices in Dublin and Mayo county council’s CEO Peter Hynes and county councillors Frank Durcan and Cyril Burke are expected to be called before the hearing into allegations of ethical breaches in Mayo’s local authority.

The hearing , according to SIPO is “for the purpose of its investigation into the alleged contravention of the Ethical Frameworks for the Local Government Service”.

The duration of the hearing is not yet known.

Cases can be brought before SIPO if it receives complaints from one or more persons.

When a complaint is received an inquiry officer is appointed and a preliminary inquiry is carried out to determine if there is prima facie evidence to sustain a complaint and justify bringing the matter to a full hearing.

It could be some months before the Commissioners report on their findings.

MEP Sean Kelly says it may be time for Ireland to look at a minimum set-back distance for trees close to public roads.

Three people lost their lives during Hurricane Ophelia because of falling trees.

While hundreds of roads were blocked and power-lines were brought down all over the country by falling trees

There is a minimum set-back of 15 metres for forestry plantations but other trees are not covered by this planning condition.

The MEP says global warming is going to bring more severe storms to Ireland so it's time to act on issues like this.

Fear over the escalation of the sale and use of illegal drugs in Ballinrobe were raised on Friday last when the county Joint Policing Committee met in Ballinrobe.

At the start of the meeting, local Fianna Fail cllr Damien Ryan called for a special garda pilot study to be set up in Ballinrobe where he said the local schools and parents are fearful that they are losing the battle against drugs.

The councillor told Midwest News that action needs to be taken now. He says the drugs problem is fueling anti social behaviour in the area.

The Chief Superintendent for Mayo Pat Diskin told the Joint Policing Committee meeting that he is always glad to hear of local concerns, and appealed to anyone with information to contact the gardai.

He explained that in addition to a full time drugs unit in Mayo, he has also set up a number of crime task forces across the county that will also be focusing on drug issues.

Chief Superintendent Diskin told Midwest News that if any member of the public has any information  - all they have to do us talk to the gardai and the gardai will take it from there and will act on it.

Westport based Independent councillor Christy Hyland  told the meeting that he wants” in your face policing” against the drug dealers and he has called for additionalgardai to be assigned full time to the Mayo Garda Drug’s Unit.

Gardai in Castlebar are appealing to anyone who may have mobile phone footage of an incident that occurred in the town on Saturday afternoon last to come forward with it.

A local retailer was dragged several hundred yards through Castlebar town centre by a moving vehicle after he attempted to confront the occupants of the vehicle in relation to a theft that had occurred at his premises earlier in the day.

It was about 1pm on Saturday afternoon when the retailer noticed the suspected thieves getting into a vehicle on Ellison Street, about two hours after the theft had happened at his phone fixer shop on Linenhall street..

He approached them and ended up being dragged by the vehicle as it moved away towards Market Square and Newtown .

The retailer sustained no life threatening injuries and was treated at Mayo University Hospital.

Gardai are said to be following a certain line of inquiry in their investigation and are appealing for anyone that may have mobile phone footage of the incident to contact them at 094 9022222.

Gardai are investigating a robbery at a filling station in Ballinlough last night.

The incident occurred at around 8.40pm when a man, said to be in his late twenties or early thirties, entered the Daybreak filling station on the Ballyhaunis Road, Ballinlough.

He threatened staff with a knife, opened the till and stole the contents of the till, which are reported to have been in the region of €1,300.

Gardai in Castlerea are appealing for information on the incident. They are also appealing for information on a white Vauxhall Vectra car with partial registration 06-MO.

Anyone who saw this car around the time of the robbery or anything suspicious is asked to contact them on 094-96-21630.

Plans need to be progressed for a bypass of Claregalway Village, as the opening of the new Tuam to Gort motorway has had little effect on congestion during morning peak times.

That’s according to Independent Galway County Councillor James Charity.

There has been a drop of about 5,000 vehicles per day travelling through Claregalway each day since the opening of the motorway, however during the peak morning rush hour of 7-8am there was no improvement in traffic congestion.

Councillor Charity says the traffic count data from Transport Infrastructure Ireland shows that, in the 7 days before the motorway opened, 1080 cars were recorded in Claregalway between 7 and 8am, while the number after the motorway opened was 1006.

Speaking with Midwest Radio, he says it’s now clear that the M17 is not a longterm solution to the congestion in Claregalway, and a bypass of the village  needs to be advanced….

The Government parties have missed out on a 'budget bounce' in the latest opinion poll out today.

The Red C research for the Sunday Business Post has Fine Gael on 29 percent and Fianna Fail on 25 percent - both down a point.

Sinn Fein is down 2 on 14 per cent, Labour up 1 on 6 per cent, and Independents up 2 on 12 per cent.

A longstanding Ballaghaderreen business has announced it is to close its doors.

Dooney’s Menswear announced on social media that it will be closing the business at Christmas or shortly afterwards.

Customers with gift vouchers have been asked to use them at their earliest convenience.

Arrangements will also be made regarding the St Nathy’s school uniform and where it will now be available in the coming weeks.

In the statement Dooney’s thanked their customers for their continued supporter over the years.

Storm Brian has caused some problems in the west today. 

There are currently power outages in the Crossmolina/Moygownagh area, where around 50 customers are without electricity. The estimated restoration time there is 11pm tonight. Meanwhile over 40 customers are without power in the Castlerea area this evening, where power should be restored by around 8.45 this evening. There is also an outage in the Boyle area, where there are 60 homes without power until around 11.30pm tonight. 

Earlier there were reports of a tree down close to Hollymount village. 

A new inshore lifeboat for Clifden RNLI will be officially named at a ceremony in the Connemara town at 2pm today (Saturday).

The lifeboat, which went into service this week, was funded by Peter Ross in memory of his wife Celia Mary, and the vessel will be named after her.

Celia Mary Ross from East Sussex died three years ago at the age of 79, and her wish to have a lifeboat will be granted when her husband travels to Clifden this afternoon to officially name the D class lifeboat after her.

Celia’s ashes will be scattered at sea from the new lifeboat this afternoon.

The Celia Mary replaces the Grainne Uaile, which served Clifden RNLI for the past 10 years, and launched 62 times bringing 20 people to safety.

Strong winds and spot flooding are expected this morning as Storm Brian moves across the country.

Coastal counties from Wexford to Mayo are forecast to be the worst affected, with winds of up to 130 kilometres per hour predicted.

Meanwhile, Merchants Quay and Arthur's Quay in Limerick City are impassable due to flooding.

Noel Gibbons, Road Safety Officer for Mayo County Council, says drivers should be aware of the following hazards.

Some parts of the west are set to experience winds that will "actually be stronger than they were during Storm Ophelia" over the weekend, according to Met Éireann.

A Status Orange wind warning is in place for a number of Atlantic coastal counties, which is to come into effect tomorrow morning.

Winds of up to 80km/h and gusts reaching 130km/h are expected in Wexford, Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway and Mayo.

A Status Yellow wind warning is in place for the rest of the country, with average speeds of 65km/h and gusts reaching 110km/h expected.

Meanwhile, ESB crews are working to restore power to 42 thousand homes still without electricity.

There are concerns efforts may be hampered as Storm Brian approaches and a status orange weather warning is in place.

The new driver theory test centre in Westport was officially opened this morning.

The opening was performed by Minister for Rural and Community Affairs Michael Ring earlier.

The centre is one of 28 new permanent facilities nationwide that are being opened as part of the new driver theory test service contract which came into effect in June. They replace mobile services that had previously been in operation.

There is also a centre in Ballina. 

We should know by this afternoon whether there'll be a strike at Irish Rail before Christmas.

The NBRU trade union is meeting later to discuss their next step after turning down a possible pay hike at the WRC overnight.

Irish rail workers say they still haven't been offered a 'no-strings' attached deal.

NBRU General Secretary Dermot O'Leary says they'll meet at 2.30 this afternoon before announcing the next course of action