Officials from Louth County Council met with elected members of Dundalk Municipal District on Thursday, 26th June, to discuss recent environmental concerns raised about Blackrock Beach.

The meeting addressed several key issues, including the build-up of seaweed, the designation of bathing areas and water quality.

Council officials shared updates from consultations with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Marine Institute.

This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Fine Gael Councillor in the area, Robert Nash, who told us more about this.

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Students returning to college in September will have their fees revert to the amount owed before the Government began introducing cost-of-living reductions three years ago.

The last three budgets reduced student fees by €1,000 as part of wider “once-off” cost-of-living packages that will not be repeated this year.

Further and Higher Education Minister James Lawless has said that fees will “revert” to what they were before such measures were applied.

Aontu Leader & Meath-West TD Peadar Toibin is on the line with us now to talk to us some more about this.

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Calls for access to toilet and changing facilities along the Omeath - Newry greenway, which is nearing completion, emerged at the June meeting of Louth County Council.

Councillor Fiona Mhic Conchoille highlighted the popularity of the greenway, but noted that the continuous stretch from Newry to Omeath, without any access on or off, might need to be reviewed.

The enclosed scenic walking and cycling route is 11.5 kilometres from Newry to Omeath.

Councillor Mhic Conchoille asked if Louth County Council, and the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), might revisit or review further access to the greenway at the Cornamucklagh junction, and she spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this.

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As the 50th anniversary of the Dundalk bombing approaches this December, renewed attention is being drawn to the tragic event. 

In the Dáil this week, Louth TD Deputy Erin McGreehan raised the issue with Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan in the Dail.

Deputy McGreehan spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this. 

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A local councillor has moved to clarify recent concerns regarding Garda presence in the Laytown area, following claims that the local station was operating with only three officers.

Councillor Sharon Tolan outlined the accurate Garda staffing levels currently in place, and she spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this

Councillor Tolin also addressed the issue of anti-social behaviour in the area.

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Ireland is to sign up to a major new EU defence initiative that will allow member states to jointly procure military equipment as the bloc seeks to rapidly rearm in the face of Russian aggression.

The Government believes becoming a member will allow Ireland to secure military equipment at a lower cost and faster pace – in some cases up to two years earlier than under existing procurement arrangements.

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A number of events are taking place to remember a garda who was shot dead by armed robbers in Co Louth, 40 years ago today.

Sergeant Patrick 'PJ' Morrissey was shot dead in the line of duty while responding to a robbery at the labour exchange in Ardee on 27 June 1985.

He was 49 years old and married with four children. In 1986, he was posthumously awarded the Scott Gold Medal for bravery.

This morning on The Agenda we spoke to Paul Murphy, Journalist at Meath Live, who was Editor at The Drogheda Independent at the time of the shooting and remembers covering the story, 

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We were joined on The Agenda this morning by Louth photographer (from Blackrock) Brian Hopper, who has previously spoken to us on the programme about his concerns regarding pollution on Blackrock beach. 

A member of the Haggardstown and Blackrock Community Forum and Blackrock Tidy Towns, Brian took to social media last night to post photographs he took this week of what he calls “awful algal blooms”.

Brian also commented on the “stench” in the area, branding it “unbearable”, and saying that local businesses are suffering as a result - he told us all about this.

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Marie Sherlock TD, Labour Spokesperson on Health, has said that the Government is now turning its back on healthcare workers who contracted covid in the course of their work and are now experiencing long covid.

Deputy Sherlock spoke to us this morning on The Agenda about this. 

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SIPTU representatives and Bus Éireann management have agreed to meet to discuss the marked rise in anti-social behaviour incidents on transport services in the Drogheda area.

Members of the union have been raising concerns around anti-social behaviour on public transport, particularly at the town’s main bus depot on late night and early morning

services.

SIPTU organiser, Andrew Quigley, spoke to us this morning on The Agenda to tell us more about this.

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