An investigation is continuing into yesterday's incident in Collooney.

The Main Street was sealed off for several hours as emergency services, including the armed support unit, Gardai and ambulance personnel attending the scene.

The alarm was raised after a man reportedly locked himself inside a van and produced equipment believed to be suspicious.

Gardai initiated its Hostage Barricade Suicide protocol and after some time, successfully negotiated with the man to leave the vehicle and he was eventually and taken to Sligo University Hospital.

Local resident Rory and his pregnant partner were barricaded inside their home during the course of the ordeal.

Speaking from the scene yesterday evening, he praised the emergency services for their swift response:

The government have been taken to task on engaging in a discussion on Irish unity.

A poll published earlier this week suggested that the majority are in favour of unity north of the border, with calls for a citizen's assembly.

Donegal Deputy Pádraig MacLochlainn is just one of those who spoken in favour of the matter previously.

Speaking in the Dáil, the Sinn Féin TD says the time is now.

>*

In response, Taoiseach Simon Harris said while he is willing to engage, the government's priorities currently lie elsewhere:

>*

It's emerged that Sligo County Council is set to make a proposal to sell 16 acres of land to ATU, in a bid to provide student accommodation.

The plan will come before members of the council on Monday November 4th, where they will make a decision on the sale.

It is hoped that this move will help address the major accommodation shortage for students within the county, while also giving ATU room to expand.

Sligo-Leitrim Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan has welcomed the news:

Locals have been reacting to what unfolded in Collooney this afternoon 

Speaking from Collooney this afternoon, Cllr Thomas Healy says he’s thankful of a positive outcome 

The suggestion to increase the fees for driving licenses and car tests has not been rejected locally.

A review into the RSA has advised the government that the increase is necessary in order to fund road safety.

The current waiting list backlog in Sligo and across the region has been highlighted as a need for improvements in the service.

Sligo-Drumcliff Independent Cllr Marie Casserly says the whole process of obtaining a licence is already too expensive:

Irish Rail have confirmed that they will continue to work alongside Gardaí to carry-out high-visibility patrols on the Sligo to Dublin rail line.

Earlier this year saw calls for a dedicated transport police force to be rolled out, including on routes to and from the north west.

Unions representing bus and train drivers have been calling for increased security on public transport.

SIPTU says drivers are seeing a growing number of anti-social incidents on board services.

Spokesperson for Irish Rail, Jane Cregan says ensuring ensuring the safety of all remains paramount.

Criticism has been levelled towards the government locally over the move to fine unemployed people €90 if they fail to engage with employment services.

People had previously stood to see their Jobseeker's benefit cut by €44, but the penalty has now been doubled.

There are concerns that this measure may only target disadvantaged members of society.

Sligo People Before Profit Cllr Gino O'Boyle says the government had other options:

Businesses in Collooney are hopeful that the new one way system will be hugely beneficial to all concerned.

The new system is coming into effect this afternoon, with traffic now flowing along the Old Boyle Road, up towards the Square along Barrack Road and back down Main Street towards Lower Main Street and onto the Bridge.

It'll be a trialled for six months.

Rory Maitland of Maitland's Barbers says congestion had been a major issue, and believes that this will alleviate that:

The Government has been accused of having a lack of leadership and accountability over the recent increase to Sligo Boroughs population.

Hundreds of asylum seekers moved into two apartment complexes in the town which used to house students.

Meanwhile, the OPW is to defend the cost of building modular homes for Ukrainian refugees.

They now cost around 440 thousand euro per unit with the total cost for providing 650 modular homes would be nearly 290 million euro.

Independent Sligo Leitrim TD Marc MacSharry believes that the OPW will be savaged when it appears before the Dail's Public Accounts Committee today but feels that the buck does ultimately stop with the Government: