A key meeting was held in Tubbercurry at the weekend over a number of local issues.

Questions are being asked over progress on a number of projects eat marked for the town, including the former Garda barracks and the health centre.

There’s also ongoing transport concerns including the lack of a local link catering to the area.

The meeting was attended by TDs and Cllrs.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Barry Gallagher is hopeful that following on from the engagement, positive updates will be forthcoming in the new year:

ATU is receiving €10.5 million in funding.

The money is set to go towards digital capacity, strengthening student engagement and supports, enhancing staff development and leadership, and accelerating progress on climate action and sustainability goals.

The investment is being mooted as a strong signal of balanced regional development and is part of a nationwide €65.8m investment in technological education.

Junior Minister Marian Harkin says the fund will enable ATU to progress on a number of levels, but acknowledged that with the success will mean an even greater need for purpose built student accommodation:

There's concern that the North West is being side-lined in a new Garda initiative.

It comes as a high-visibility policing operation which is in ­effect in Dublin is set to be rolled out in other cities and large towns.

The plan was introduced in the Capital last year with extra Gardai deployed to the area and is said to have been a major success with a large drop in street crime recorded since.

Plans are now afoot to introduce the operation to the likes of Limerick, Galway and Waterford, Athlone and Dundalk.

So far, there's no mention of Sligo, Letterkenny, of other large urban areas in this region.

Cllr Michael McClafferty says that's not fair:

A Leitrim Beef Farmer say a recall of Brazillian beef from EU markets raises very serious questions about its production standards.

The recall follows the discovery of hormones in beef exported from Brazil to the EU.

It coincides with a report on the findings of an IFA /Irish Farmers Journal investigation on production standards for Brazilian beef.

Patrick is a beef farmer and a member of the Irish Beef and Lamb Association,

He says this development serious questions about the Mercosur trade deal.

A North West representative of the GRA says it's their hope that tasers will be rolled out as soon as possible to front line members of An Garda Siochana.

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan is expected to bring a memo to Cabinet today on the issue.

It's understood 128 frontline Gardai will be trained up, under a 6 month pilot project that could start as early as this week.

The plan would be introduced in three Garda divisions to start.

Sligo native and Deputy General Secretary of the GRA James Morrisroe says tasers have been used by successfully used by the armed response unit

A local County Councillor and teacher has called for a public awareness campaign targeting class rooms in relation to the dangers of e scooter.

Leitrim independent Councillor, James Gilmartin has backed has backed calls which warn parents not to buy e-scooters for their children as Christmas presents,.

The Royal College of Physicians have also called for urgent action as its members deal with the fall out of accidents involving children using them.

Manorhamilton Municipal District Councillor, James Gilmartin says with e-scooters the leading cause of traumatic brain injury in children in Ireland the situation needs to be addressed.

The Government is under fire over the level of funding sanctioned to County Sligo under the Safety Improvement Schemes.

The latest allocation was €370,000 for the entire County.

There’s said to be a number of projects waiting for funding to progress but its thought the overall amount won’t go far enough.

Sinn Fein Cllr Thomas Healy has branded the allocation as a disgrace with many serious issues in the County that need to be urgently addressed:

A local Consultant in Public Health Medicine is warning that the relatively low number of people receiving flu vaccinations is leading to the spread of the flu and placing extra pressure on our Hospitals.

The HSE has confirmed that nationally 418 people presented to hospital with the flu last week.

Yesterday the INMO trolley watch figures confirmed that there were 73 people reported to be waiting on trollies in the two main Hospitals in the North West.

According to the figures there were 42 people waiting in Sligo and 31 in Letterkenny.

Dr Anthony Breslin says not enough of us in the North West are taking flu vaccinations

The Sligo greenway project has been shelved.

Sligo County Council has confirmed that an alternative alongside route to the disused train line which had been under consideration is not feasible.

Risks, impacts and costs were all said to be factors which have led to the decision.

Late last year, Irish Rail ruled out the proposal to establish the greenway on the disused line itself.

The local authority has indicated that it remains committed to greenway infrastructure in the County.

Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council Cllr Donal Gilroy says while many will feel disappointed, the focus should now be on getting the rail line back into use:

The HSE is warning of a surge in hospital admissions as a result of the flu.

It says cases are rapidly rising, with 418 people presenting to hospital with the flu last week.

The extra number of people seeking is expected to place more pressure on the regions hospitals.

Earlier today there were 73 reported to be waiting on trollies in the two main hospitals in the North West.

According to the INMO there were 42 people waiting in Sligo and 31 in Letterkenny.

National Health Protection Office Director with the HSE Dr Eamonn O' Moore says a new strain of the virus is to blame;