The Health and Safety Authority are holding inspections at Killybegs as they aim to reduce the high fatality rate in the fishing sector.

The inspection campaign aims to focus on helping fishermen to prepare for the 'harsh and dangerous' conditions at sea.

From 2015 to 2024, there were 24 fatal incidents in the fishing sector, making it the most dangerous sector to work in, in Ireland.

Ger Hartnett, Senior Inspector with the HSA, says there's different causes to the fatalities:

The EPA says all areas of our economy, society and environment are at risk of climate change in the near future.

The agency has released the first 'National Climate Change Risk Assessment report' to offer advice on how to make the country more climate resilient.

Urgent action is also needed within five years over the threat of disruption and damage to buildings and transport infrastructure due to extreme wind, coastal erosion and coastal flooding.

Sligo's coastline is already said to be experiencing the impacts.

A shock report issued last year says both Easkey and Strandhill will be severely hit by coastal erosion over the next 100 years.

Independent Cllr Joe Queenan doesn't have much faith that the sufficient funding will be sanctioned to implement what's needed:

Thousands of students across Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal will begin their Leaving Cert, Junior Cert and LCA exams this morning.

Nationally, around 4 million examination papers will be handed out at more than 15 thousand exam centres over the next three weeks.

As is tradition, the exams will start off with English Paper One while Religion and Applied Maths bring the exam season to a close on 24th June.

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin has this message for anyone starting their exams today:

There are renewed calls for the reopening of the rail line between Sligo and Galway.

It’s widely thought the opening up the western rail corridor would have far-reaching benefits for this region freight and passengers also being able to the take the train to Ireland West Airport.

However, the project to reopen the line between Athenry and Claremorris was not included as a priority in the Programme for Government earlier this year, meaning it won’t get underway in 2030.

Local Sinn Fein Cllr Thomas Healy says Sligo deserves to be facilitated the same as everywhere else:

The North West and West of Ireland have the largest amount of claims made to the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme in the wake of Storm Eowyn.

Thousands of homes, farms and businesses throughout counties Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal were left without power for an extended period of time as damaging gusts wreaked havoc across the region.

In new figures provided by the Department of Social Protection to 7LÁ, nationally there were 93,000 applications registered in respect of over 75,000 people totalling almost €12.8 million in funding.

Joe Magee, journalist of 7LÁ, says the results show the scale of damage in this area:

Inspectors from the Health and Safety Authority will be at key sea fishing ports this week, as part of a national inspection campaign.

Among those include Killybegs.

According to the BIM Labour Force Analysis of the Irish fishing fleet, the sea fishing sector in Ireland has a workforce of almost 2,700 people directly employed and a registered fleet of just under 2,000 vessels.

Twenty four people working in the industry died in workplace accidents between 2015 and 2024.

Senior Inspector with the HSA, Ger Hartnett says their inspectors will be encouraging skippers and crew to manage the risks they face:

There were over 9,000 claims made across the North West to the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme following Storm Eowyn.

In new figures provided by the Department of Social Protection to 7LÁ, there were over 4,000 applications in Leitrim, over 3,000 in Sligo, and over 1,000 in Donegal.

Nationally there was 93,007 applications registered in respect of 75,733 people totalling almost €12.8 million in funding.

Fianna Fail Leitrim Cllr Mary Bohan the level of destructions proves that this can't be let happen again:

A new study entitled ‘An economic vision for the Sligo to Enniskillen Greenway’ has highlighted the proposed greenway’s potential to support rural development, sustainable tourism, and local enterprise along the route.

The survey provides a practical framework for how local authorities, businesses, and communities might plan for and respond to the potential opportunities from the project.

The study which was developed by the Local Authorities in Sligo, Leitrim and Cavan also has input from the Fermanagh/Omagh District Council.

The publication is not taking any position on route selection and is focusing only on the opportunities that could emerge from a greenway.

Sligo Independent Councillor, Marie Casserly says that although the greenway infrastructure is still at an early stage, now is the time to start developing businesses and services that would benefit from its introduction

Leaving Cert Exam advice has been issued to students across the North West today.

The state exams begin with English Paper One tomorrow morning.

More than 66 thousand students nationwide will sit the state exams over the coming weeks.

Vice Principal of Sligo Grammar School, Jimmy Staunton, highlighted some last minute tips for local students to take into their exams:

Today is the final day for people to have their on the SLNCR Greenway.

It's the third public consultation as part of the project with the emerging preferred corridor is up for consideration.

The greenway is set to run through Sligo, Leitrim and parts of Northern Ireland.

Fine Gael Cllr Thomas Walsh says that the public consultation is crucial in forming an important part of advancing the design process and allows the involvement of the public in identifying key constraints and opportunities: