Local Papers Commentary
The Western People - 20th February 2002
By Neasa McGarrigle
Feb 20, 2002, 22:31

Ballinrobe nursing home gets green light
Ballinrobe has being waiting a long time for the decision to be made on whether or not it will receive a nursing home for the elderly, but finally after twenty years the wait is over. Over three million euro will be spent on building a nursing home in the town. The home will have 30-40 beds, day facilities and palliative care facilities. Dr. Tom Moffatt, T.D and Minister for Health and Children, has given the go-ahead to The Western Health Board to purchase a site in the town area to build the nursing home.

49 lay-offs in Allergan
Allergan, the Westport-based pharmaceutical company, has announced that 49 workers are to be laid off. Some of the workers have only been working with Allergan for twenty-two months, meaning that they will not receive a redundancy package as they are two months off the redundancy entitlements. Allergan's spokesperson said that the people being laid-off are only temps and do not have fixed contracts and like most other companies they take on temps as they need them and when they are not needed they let them go again.

Oral hearing on gas terminal proceeds despite suspension call
Efforts to have the oral hearing on proposals to develop a gas terminal in Co. Mayo suspended failed yesterday and the hearing is proceeding. The hearing has been very well attended so far. It is expected to run for about 2 weeks. Issues to be addressed during the hearing include the need for the development, the reasons for selecting the site in question, legal interests, the planning context, and potential impacts of the project.

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