Ocean FM News Reports

Local butchers say they're continuing to trade strongly in the run up to Christmas.This is despite the fears around bird flu in the area with outbreaks recorded around the country.Concerns remain also around the Mercosur deal for suppliers and butchers in the region.Peter Wynne, owner of For Pete's Steak Butchers believes it will always be tough for standalone butchers to compete with their supermarket counterparts:

The December meeting of the Manorhamilton Municipal District of Leitrim heard calls for an updated progress report on the Safe Routes to School scheme for St Clare's National School, Manorhamilton. The calls were made as the Department of Transport expanded a scheme which encourages parents to ditch the car for the school run. The Safe Routes to School Programme accepted 105 more schools in Round 4, schools in Ransboro, Ballisodare, Drumshanbo and Glenties were added to the scheme. Under the scheme schools can apply for infrastructure improvements such as colourful road markings, upgraded footpaths, and enhanced pedestrian crossings. Meanwhile ongoing safety concerns at St Claire's remain unresolved. Local Councillor James Gilmartin says it frustrating with funding having been allocated

Farmers from the North West are on their way to join their peers from across Europe at a protest in Brussels today. It's expected that at today demonstration they will raise concerns over the CAP budget, trade deals including Mercosur and excessive regulation around the cost of doing business. The IFA Chairman in Sligo is in Belgium for today’s event. He says farmers intend to highlight a number of issues that are threating the very future of the agriculture sector:

Sligo's Caredoc won't be impacted in today's strike action. INMO and SIPTU members are in dispute over an unpaid eight per cent pay increase agreed in 2023. The action which begins at 8am and will last until 8am tomorrow is set to focus on centres in the south east of the country. Caredoc, warns the stoppage will severely impact services over the Christmas period, with up to ten thousand hours of care at risk. Speaking to Ocean FM news, SIPTU representative and Caredoc employee Nicola Doyle says while Sligo is not included as of now, that may change if there is no resolution:

With the Christmas season in full swing, schools across the North West are preparing for their festive celebrations.Ransboro National School is one of the many schools hosting Christmas carols this winter.Jack Duignan has this report: