#Fishing - A Galway senator has called for Government assistance for inshore fishermen devastated by the recent storms that have ravaged the west coast, damaging vessels, piers and slipways - and devastating many small coastal shellfish farms.
As Galway Bay FM reports, Senator Trevor O' Clochartaigh (Sinn Féin) has suggested Marine Minister Simon Coveney could bail out via an emergency fund fishermen whose livelihoods have been threatened.
Similar funding has been called for to help repair coastal roads in Galway rendered impassable by the exceptional winds and flooding since the New Year began.
In addition, Galway West TD Eamon O Cuiv says he will press the Government to make funds available for the Aran Islands and the Connemara region, both of which have been severely affected by the worst storms in recent memory.
The nation was this week left counting the cost of the extraordinary series of storms, in particular Lahinch in Co Clare, which suffered millions of euro worth of damage to its seaside promenade as massive swells encroached half a kilometre inland.
Six lighthouses also sustained structural damage in what were often hurricane-force winds, though all remained operational.