Month: November 2005

FEARS that a €35 million hous- ing development would have a negative impact on the operation of Ennis Golf club have been dis- missed by Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council.

This follows the two planning authorities giving the go-ahead to Joe McNamara to build 159 homes on Ennis’s Golk Links Road.

Ennis Golf Club did not object to the planning application. Howev- er, local residents opposed to the plan raised fears over the impact the proposal would have on Ennis Golf Club.

They stated: “The established in- tegrity of the golf course would be seriously undermined by the pro- posed development and its future viability would be uncertain.

“Tf basic land use conflicts are

to be avoided in the future, the present housing application needs to be refused on the basis that it will result in injury to the recrea- tional and visual amenities of the area.

“The proposed housing, because of its proximity to the existing golf course, would give rise to mutual conflicts and injury to both the amenities of the golf course users and of any residential properties which would adjoin it.

The residents also requested the County Council “to refuse the planning application, as the ap- plicant site is not appropriate for housing development in terms of isolation from the sustainable ur- ban structure as a whole”.

“There are no significant public transport facilities. The applicant has failed to include a proposal in relation to the co-ordinated and

integrated approach between land use zoning and public transporta- tion provision and the merits of the scheme having regard to the principals of proper planning and sustainable development.

“The proposed development will erode the semi-rural character of the area as there are sufficient lands zoned within the Ennis en- virons plan to cater for future ex- pansion within the plan and the is premature under the current plan.

“The development as proposed would be detrimental to the amen- ities of the area and the amenities of our property and the amenities of potential occupiers of the devel- e}eyetonim

The objection continued, “Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council should have major con- cerns in regard to the principal of the development. This is a site that

is on the periphery of Ennis town.

In adjudicating on the plan, the Council stated, “Although, the proposed development is located outside the designated Residential Development Area, in practical terms, the proposal cannot be con- sidered to be premature.

“Having regard to the Residen- tial Density Guidelines and the designation of Ennis as a hub town in the National Spatial Strategy the provision of housing at the pro- posed medium density and within walking distance from the town centre is considered appropriate.”

However, having regard to vari- ous provision of the Ennis and Environs Development Plan, the Council gave the planning appli- cation the go-ahead. The decision has now been appealed to An Bord Pleanala by local residents.

A WARNING by well-known soci- ologist, Fr Harry Bohan, that plans for student accommodation in Shan- non “are sowing the seeds for serious problems” has failed to prevent the development getting the go-ahead.

An Bord Pleanala ignored the rec- ommendation of its own planner by granting permission to Brook Drive Properties for 35 apartments and a gym and cafeteria to accommodate 140 students at Drumgeely in Shan- non. And Fr Bohan has appealed the eleTert (Oye

In relation to the current proposal, a senior planning inspector with the Board, Brendan Wyse, stated, “It ap-

pears that there is already a signifi- cant shortfall in car parking provi- sion in the Drumgeely area.

“In this context, I do not consider that the proposed 31 spaces, though a considerable advance on the previ- ous proposal, would be an adequate compensation for the loss of an area with a current capacity for at least 60 cars. In conclusion therefore, I do not consider that the revised pro- posal overcomes the second reason for refusal.”

However, this was overturned by the Board which stated: “In decid- ing not to accept the Inspector’s rec- ommendation, the Board considered that there was sufficient car parking on site to facilitate the displaced car

parking serving the existing flats complex together with the proposed development.”

The application is the latest of several attempts to develop the site, which have encountered strong local Opposition.

Earlier this year, Clare County Council granted planning for the development only for a number of local residents, including Fr Bohan, to appeal the decision to An Bord lene

As part of his appeal, Fr Bohan, who lives at Drumgeely, wrote, “I am appealing this decision on so- cial and sociological grounds, but I am very aware of the other serious grounds for appealing it such as con-

travention of the development plan; parking space; road traffic and seri- ous question mark over ownership to the proposal.”

Also appealing in a personal ca- pacity, Fr Bohan — a member of the Clare senior hurling management team — said: “My objection to the proposed development is based on the fact that high density develop- ments of this kind, linked as it would be to 137 existing apartments and 13 houses, 1s sowing the seeds for ser1- ous social problems.

“The proposed development at Drumgeely has serious consequenc- es for people living in that area and indeed for the future development at Shannon.”

TALK of a possible coalition between Fine Gael and the Green Party could af- fect the larger party’s rural vote in the next election, according to rural housing lobbyist, Jim Connolly.

Speaking to The Clare People, the sec- retary of the Irish Rural Dwellers’ Asso- ciation warned that “courting the Greens is a high risk strategy when looking for votes in rural Ireland”’.

Mr Connolly accused the Green Party of being totally against one-off hous- ing, adding that Green county council- lor Brian Meaney expressed such views when he addressed the IRDA conference in Kilkee last September.

Cllr Meaney countered that Mr Con- nolly was listening to the “honeyed words of Fianna Fail, and they are the ones directing policy. Where are the Green Party members that are influenc-

ing this (one-off housing) policy?” he asked.

“Mr Connolly is blinkered in his thinking and his logic. He needs to re- visit some of the comments made to him in the past by members of larger parties. I went back (to Kilkee) and gave policy and no one else did,’ he said.

Cllr Meaney sent a transcript of his speech to The Clare People. In it he said, “T wish to state clearly that the Green Party is fully committed to the develop- ment and prosperity of rural areas.

‘Development and prosperity has to be achieved in a balanced and a sustainable fashion, and no reasoned argument can be made to allow uncontrolled develop- ment, be that badly-designed and sited commercial development, or uncon- trolled ribbon development along every road in the country.”

Cllr Meaney continued, “We believe the best way to maintain and increase

population numbers in rural areas, based on the evidence of the recent census, 1s to support villages and clusters, as vil- lages and clusters have held their popu- lation better than scattered communities in the open countryside.

‘Areas of population loss, as indicated by CLAR maps, match areas with poor or non-existent village and cluster struc- ture. This lack of structure is the main reason these areas suffered more popu- lation loss than others.

“Therefore, we believe that the best way to address population loss in weak areas is to create new villages or village clusters and to actively prevent further dispersal of settlement,’ he said.

Meanwhile Mr Connolly called on Fine Gael to publish its policy on one- off housing. He said while Deputy Paul Connaughton (FG) was very supportive of rural housing, he was speaking per- sonally.

A MASSIVE €33 million shortfall in the Shannon Development pension fund will have to be met by the taxpayer.

Accounts recently filed with the Com- panies Office also show that the company would have made a much greater loss last year than the €1.6 million recorded, but for a €12.518 million profit made in selling off property. This included €4.2 million on the sale of Shannon town to Clare County Council.

The pensions deficit increased by €6.9 million during 2004. However, the accounts state that the exchequer will meet any short- fall, as a result of a High Court settlement between the Trustees of the pension fund, and the company and Department of Fi- nance last year.

The company’s pension fund stood at €46.5 million at the end of last year. But the anticipated cost of the fund — which gives each employee a guaranteed amount at the end of their working lives – is €80 million, resulting in the shortfall.

The company has declined in the past to give a breakdown of the numbers working in each department.

However, accounts show that the high- est number (75) work in industrial devel- opment, and these are the jobs threatened through the new mandate for the company announced by the Minister for Trade, Em- ployment and Enterprise, Michael Martin ETS aves

This is currently the subject of negotia- tions between SIPTU and the Dept of En- terprise, Trade and Employment, where SY UE ORS ee lacoseel olan stam comm ClUs nome soMBADIRUD KS of Shannon Development in promoting the Shannon Free Zone.

Staff costs, including salaries and pension provision, cost €14.535 million in 2004.

In a bid to reduce staff numbers, Shannon Development has had in place a voluntary retirement scheme costing €2.24 million over the past two years.

In relation to the transfer of Shannon town to Clare County Council, the company spent €690,000 on redundancy and €922,000 on other costs. And it cost €104,000 to remu- nerate its Board of Directors last year.

Underlining the importance of the com- pany’s property portfolio, the accounts show that €17.913 million was generated in rental income last year.

The company’s balance sheet shows that its fixed assets were valued at €150 million at the end of last year.

A CLAIM that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment owes more than €30,000 to the White hotel group is not true, Inspector Michael Gallagher told the court.

He said information given during the hearing last month by White hotel group accountant, Robert Hurley, was incorrect.

“That department owes no money and owed no money on the date of the hearing,” said the in- spector, who added that a member of staff from the department was in court to give evidence to this effect.

Defending solicitor Eugene O’Kelly said this was a “scurrilous” and “outrageous” allegation of perjury.

Mr Hurley had told the court last month that during the past two to three years, 194 applica-

tions were made to the Department for work joes WNDU

None of the 194 were taken on and the money had not been refunded.

Each application now costs €400.

Meanwhile, the outcome of the two-day court hearing was hugely disappointing and may be appealed, according to the managing director of the two hotels at the centre of the case.

Jim White, a former Fine Gael Donegal South- West TD, told The Clare People, “I am very dis- appointed with this court ruling.

“Tt is a very difficult place to run, Lisdoonvar- na, opening in March and closing in September.

“T think it has been unfairly treated. I still have to decide on an appeal.”

He pointed out that out of the 190 or 200 work- ers employed by the hotel group, just a few were found to be illegal.

INCREASING class sizes are impacting on the level of attention teachers can give to pupils.

Principal of Ballyea National School, Eddie Liddy believes overcrowding in the classroom is one of the main problems facing schools in Clare. He said the current situation, where classroom sizes are increasing, imposes extra burdens on teachers and limits the amount of attention they can give to students. In Ballyea the problem has been particularly prevalent in split classes, where children from two different classes share the same room.

‘Absolutely it is a big problem. We have split classes with 32 children in them, where one teacher in one classroom is looking after all of

the junior infants and half of the senior infants. In the other classroom a teacher has all of first class and half the senior infants. It can be very difficult to manage.”

The issue of class size in primary schools was discussed at a public meeting of representatives of parents, teachers and management in Ennis last night. There are currently 159 children at- tending Ballyea National School and this year the school received an extra teacher in accord- ance with directives issued by the Department of Education. “We still have huge class sizes but it definitely has made a difference.”

Ballyea National School had been highlighted as being typical of the overcrowding problem but the school is hopeful of getting a new build- ing in the future.

this system is of concern to parents. ‘Nobody wants to be paying for teachers. We lost two teachers last July because the roll dropped in September 2004,” said Mr Mac Cor- maic. “Now the roll has come up again, but we

will have to wait until September 2006 to get out teachers back. Despite appeals to the De- partment of Education and lobbying our elected representatives for even a part-time extra teach- er our requests have fallen on deaf ears. All we are looking for is a part-time teachers, for fifth and sixth class students. This doesn’t make sense. The reason we are fundraising is that the children get an equal chance,” he added.

He said the Department told the Board of Management that if there were 187 students (just five more than is the case at present), the school would have been allocated two addition- al teachers. Mr Mac Cormaic said the problem could be overcome if the fifth and sixth classes were split up, but this would not be fair to the students and teachers concerned.

A number of fundraising initiatives have tak- en place in recent weeks, including a golf out- ing, while a sponsored walk and table quiz are also planned.

A JUDGE yesterday granted bail to a man who, it is claimed, threatened to burn his wife’s house Keyan

But Judge Joseph Mangan said he was giving the O’Callaghan’s Mills man bail on condition that he live in Limerick.

Denis Peppard of Keldara, O’Callaghan’s Mills, was before the court accused of criminal damage, and breaching a barring order.

Gardai gave evidence in Killaloe District court of having arrested Peppard after getting a call from his wife in the early hours of Monday morning.

Gardai had asked the court to remand him in custody until the case can be heard.

Garda Colin McGrath said that he responded to acall from Peppard’s wife and found her at her home “in a very distressed state. She alleged he told her that he would burn the house down.”

Garda McGrath said that he took the threat se- riously.

Sergeant Gerard Mulqueen said that at the house, he saw that a window had been broken by having stones thrown through it.

While he was there, Sgt Mulqueen said more large stones were thrown in.

The sergeant told Judge Mangan that the ac- cused man “lives in a caravan on his own land

about 100 feet away from his wife’s house.”

Peppard’s solicitor told the court that her client is contesting the charges and that he would abide by any bail conditions imposed.

After hearing that Peppard works in Castletroy, Judge Mangan said he would agree to bail, pro- vided Peppard lives in Limerick and that he would go there directly. The judge asked if the gardai would drive the defendant into the city in a squad car.

He also ordered that Peppard have no direct or indirect contact with his wife and that he sign on daily at Henry Street garda station.

He was remanded to appear again in Tulla Dis- trict Court on December 1.

A 24-YEAR-old Cooraclare man has been charged with the murder of Ann Walsh, whose body was discovered in the grounds of a church in Kilrush in August. Raymond Donovan, of New Houses, Cooraclare, was charged with murder last Friday.

Gda Michael Ryan told Ennis District Court that he formally arrested and charged Dono- van with the murder of Ms Walsh, contrary to common law, at Toler Street, Kilrush, on Au- gust 24.

In reply to the charge, the accused said, “I didn’t mean to do it”. He agreed that he under- stood the charge and caution.

Donovan had previously been charged with intentionally or recklessly causing harm to the

23-year-old woman, on the same date. Judge Leo Malone withdrew that charge on the re- quest of Inspector Kevin Moynihan.

Donovan, who was making his seventh court appearance in connection with the death of Ms Walsh, a native of Pella Road in Kilrush, was remanded in custody.

He will reappear again in court tomorrow (Wednesday).

But his trial will not go ahead until late next year at the earliest. There is currently a ten- month waiting list for murder trials at the Cen- tral Criminal Court in Dublin, although this is significantly shorter than had been the case in the past.

A spokesman for the Courts Service told

ONE of Ennis’ oldest institutions will close its doors for the last time tomorrow.

The ESB Store in Carmody Street closes on Wednesday after over 40 years in business. Since the mid six- ties the store operated as a retail out- let for electrical goods and provided a bill paying service for customers.

Speaking on Monday in an empty store, staff were sad to be saying farewell to the shop.

“I feel sad really as it is the end of an era. It was a good place to work. There was camaraderie among the staff,’ said Marian Barry, who has worked there for over 30 years.

Last March ESB announced that it had sold the retail division of the company to the Bank of Scotland

(Ireland) (BSOI) for €120 million, resulting in the closure of all its out- lets nationwide.

A shrinking market share and in- creased competition from national and international retailers were the reasons given by management.

BSOT have also acquired the ESB’S retail loan book, which means that customers who had deferred pay- ments on electrical appliances can

make their repayments to BSOI while customers can now pay their electrical bills at An Post branches. Under the deal, ESB staff were given the option of working with BSOI.

The store currently employs five people and while some staff mem- bers have decided to avail of the opportunity others will continue to carry on working with the ESB at their offices in Station Road.