Month: April 2008

has learned that Clare County Council has with- held payments from the consultants overseeing the planning of the multi- million-euro Lahinch Promenade Development because of continued delays in the project. It now also looks certain that con- struction work on the development will be ongoing throughout the busy

Summer season, despite guarantees given that this would not be the OF Ton

‘Unfortunately, it seems to me that we are still some distance away from the development actually starting,” said Cllr Richard Nagle (FF).

“I requested at the last local area meeting that the meetings with the stockholders would take place as soon as possible. We are now in the month of April and we are told that

this has not been done.

“We were told that this was to hap- pen in September 2007, then we were told January 2008, and now we are still looking at an uncertain time. I welcome the construction work on the lifeguard centre but this is just getting started and will take at least 14 weeks. This is going to be a se- vere hindrance throughout the tour- ism season. We have already heard that the playground is being held up

because of this.

“I know myself that payment has been delayed to the consultants be- cause of the delays and they have not been helpful. We are sick and tired of being fobbed off. We have been wait- ing for five years and this is not good enough.”

Questions were also raised about the willingness of Clare County Council to push the project forward.

“Realistically, nothing has _ hap- pened in the last five years on this and all the responsibility does not lie with the consultants. If a project is not driven, it doesn’t get anywhere, and this project hasn’t been driven. It is looking like we are going to end up doing work during the peak tour- ist season, which is wholly unaccept- able,’ said Cllr Joe Arkins (FG).

The role of the council in driving the project forward was defended by Senior Executive Engineer, Hubert eek

“There might be an impression there that this is not being driven by the council and that is not really fair. An awtul lot of work is being done on this and I wanted to make it clear what is going on,” he said.

The consultants have said that the photomontage of the project will be completed in the coming days and a meeting will then be held with Sea- world and the Golf Club.

A CLARE construction firm has tak- en the first step to power a new €20 million commercial development on the outskirts of Ennis through wind- NEAT

Earlier this year, one of the largest construction firms in Clare, Keco Construction Ltd secured planning permission for a commercial devel- opment at Ballymaley, Ennis oppo- site the existing Ballymaley Business Park.

Now, the company has lodged plans with Clare County Council for a test wind-turbine at Ballymaley to test the viability of powering the new com- mercial development, which includes car showrooms, through wind.

The company, employing between 75 and 100 people and with a turno- ver of €30 million, is headed up by local builders, Eugene Keane and Michael Cotter.

A spokesman for the company stat- ed that data collected from the test mast would establish “what size and number of turbines will be required in order to produce enough electric- ity to service the development”.

A company spokesman said: “The wind mast will stay in place for one year and the average wind speed can be established from a data logger connected to the mast.”

He added: “The turbines will not be multi-megawatt machines like those located on large scale wind farms. They will be micro type, mounted on the larger building and will be FWegexol AYA) UL MO) ana (oAy’2

“The turbines will likely be ‘verti- cal shaft’. Most turbines we are fa- miliar with are horizontal shaft and look like a propeller.

“The vertical shaft turbines are quiet and will feed power into a number of battery banks in order to store the electricity for when its actu- ally required.”

Along with the proposed wind-tur- bines, Keco state that the Ballymaley development will also include use of solar power for all water heating, use of treated rainwater for all purposes other than human intake and use of energy efficient heating and air-con- ditioning systems.

KECO has been operating since 1998 and some of its recent Ennis commercial projects include Carraig Donn, Hughes & Hughes Bookstore and Westpoint Retail Park while its housing developments include Cluain Ros Leamhain (Roslevan) and Gar- ran na Coille in Shanaway Road.

It employs 75-100 people and has a turnover of over €30 million. It is currently working on commercial projects in Galway City, Oranmore, Loughrea and Carlow.

WITH a high-ranking report on how the Irish abuse drink due out today, Clare TD, Timmy Dooley has called for serious measures to curb the cul- ture of alcohol misuse.

Following the recent bank holiday weekends when more than 1,100 ar- rests for drink driving were made na- tionally, Deputy Dooley said serious measures are required to curb the culture of alcohol misuse.

The deputy is calling on the Alcohol Advisory Group (AAG) established by Justice Minister Brian Lenihan, to target alcohol sales in premises other than licences public houses, and to look at the role legislation can play in keeping the number of anti social behaviour offences down.

The AAG comprises high ranking members of the Gardai, the HSE, and academics and was due to report to the Government today.

Deputy Dooley said it is intended that the legislation changes recom- mended by the AAG will be enacted by the Government before the sum- mer recess.

“Clearly we have a problem with our patterns of drinking in this coun- try, and that this problem 1s adding to public disorder.

“While this alcohol culture needs to be tackled at many levels, I believe the Alcohol Advisory Group must start with the issue of alcohol avail- ability and visibility in our commu- nities,’ he said

“Recently published research indi- cates that alcohol consumption in- creased by 17 per cent between 2005 and 2006.

‘Alcohol is available to buy now in Supermarkets, convenience stores, and even petrol stations. We must stop now and look at this seriously to see what legislation must be intro- duced to tighten up the availability of alcohol,” Deputy Dooley said.

“Regulations relating to the sale of alcohol from these outlets need to be tightened up dramatically. If an un- der age person is served alcohol in a pub, there are severe penalties that apply. Penalties as punitive as this must also apply to other outlets in order to safe guard fully against the sale of alcohol to minors,” he said.

PLANS have been lodged for the largest ever residential housing

scheme in Clare with a €200 mil- lion proposal to create a new suburb of Ennis.

Ennis-based Crystal Partners Ltd is seeking approval for 471 residential units in the first phase of a master- plan that will ultimately deliver 700 new homes in the Gaurus area on the eastern outskirts of the town.

The first phase of the ‘Gaurus Vil- lage’ development involves an invest- ment of €125 million with the over- all value of €200 million put on the project.

The company ultimately plans to build 700 new homes which will al- most double the current population of Doora parish.

The overall site covers a 95 acre landbank which will incorporate a creche, a 16-teacher school and asso- ciated playing field, a neighbourhood

centre with shopping facilities and 14 residential serviced sites. There are also plans for walking trails and natural habitat areas including a 6 hectare lake.

The plan provides for an upgrade of Gaurus Bridge to include a footpath, cycle path, a pedestrian crossing of the river and a new water main.

The site was formerly used as a sand and gravel pit with lumber yard.

A spokesman for Crystal Partners described the project “as a vote of

confidence in the future growth and prosperity of Ennis”.

The application makes Crystal Part- ners well placed to become Clare’s largest developers.

Already, the company has_pur- chased lands formerly owned by the Diocese of Killaloe at Clareabbey, where it has secured planning per- mission for 219 residential units. The company is currently seeking permission for 240 residential units on the Kildysart Road outside Clare-

castle.

The Crystal Partners spokesman said: “Ennis is one of the fastest erowing towns in Ireland with a pro- jected population of 40,000 by 2016 and this project will attract people to Ennis from all over Ireland, particu- larly from Limerick and Galway. .

A VOLUNTARY housing associa- tion has moved to scale back its plans for a home to cater for people with mental health disabilities in response to local concerns.

Last year, Sli Eile Housing Associ- ation lodged plans with Ennis Town Solel Ronco noum- emo. qroee- koe isting home at Clonroadmore, Ennis to cater for a group of 10 people with mental health disabilities.

The chief executive of Sli Eile, Joan Hamilton, met with local residents prior to the application being lodged to allay local concerns.

However, in a submission, Christy and Brid Leyden stated: “It is not our wish to deprive persons with mental health disabilities supported hous- ing and while we feel that the lack of immediate access to social and recreational facilities makes the site unsuitable we are more than willing to provide a supportive community environment to help re-integrate pa- tients back into the larger communi- ty so that they can regain their social roles and identity.

“However, we feel that the scale of the proposed development leaves us with no option but request that the application for a 10 bedroom be rejected and replaced with a more manageable model.”

A separate submission lodged by

Paddy Coleman and Associates on behalf of Gerry and Mary Cronin stated that the proposal constituted “over-development of this backland site which would be out of charac- ter with the area, would be contrary to the zoning objective for the area, which is to protect residential amen- ity and allow for development ap- propriate to the sustainable growth of the settkement and would by vir- tue of proximity to site boundaries and be injurious to their residential PMOASOBL Blots

The council stated that the scale of development was excessive in rela- tion to the density, scale and charac- ter of any building in the immediate vicinity.

In response, Sli Eile has moved to reduce its plans. ““This house, which is now reduced in overall layout, pro- poses to now provide for eight per- sons with mental health disabilities,” the group says in a statement to the fo) tnererd e

“This dwelling allows for a relaxed atmosphere in a family network, do- mestic situation that encourages and supports people to progress to self- fulfilment.

“Every possible effort has been made to eliminate overlooking, over- shadowing, and locating the majority of private spaces so that no impact is made on any of the adjoining proper- Woe

DOOLIN residents are opposing plans to locate a park and ride facil- ity for the Cliffs of Moher in their AUN E:TSXon

The car park, with 120 spaces, is one of two which Atlantic Develop- ment proposes in order to service the cliffs with park and ride. The other is planned for Liscannor (see above).

Twenty Doolin residents, in their objection, state that “Doolin as a set- tlement suffers from being so spread out and lacking a strong central fo-

cae

It goes on, “The development of a facility such as this in Coogyulla, so far outside the village proper, will exacerbate this lack of focus and will result in a lost opportunity to the village. Located at Coogyulla, the development will draw the village further to this location as further de- velopments locate around the park and ride facility.”

The local residents argue that “no justification has been put forward for the selection of this site for the facil- ity. What makes it suitable and what

will the impact be on Doolin and its environs?

“There is no rural park and ride facility that we are aware of in the country that is of the nature and type that is now proposed and where the park and ride facility is not operated by the operator of the tourist facility for which the park and ride facility is to cater for.”

The residents also contend “that this development should include an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) given the nature and extent of the development and its context. The

location is being put forward without any assessment of its impact on the sustainable development of Doolin and its environs.”

The residents argue that an EIS should be lodged as the park and ride is part of the wide Cliffs of Moher tourist attraction and cannot be con- sidered in isolation but must be con- sidered in association with the park and ride facility at Liscannor

“The social and economic aspects of the location and scale of park and ride facilities should now be consid- ered in the context of Doolin and the

wider north Clare area.”

The objection also includes a let- ter that the council’s former Cliffs of Moher project leader, Ger Dol- lard, wrote to Lisdoonvarna Failte in 2006.

He said, “The implementation of the mobility management strategy will require wide consultation with the communities involved as well as a very practical assessment of the feasibility or otherwise of particular proposals.”

A decision is due on the application next month.

CLARE’S GPs believe that the death knell has already sounded, albeit very lowly and slowly, for acute serv- ices at Ennis General Hospital.

Following a meeting of some of the county’s most experienced general practitioners and hospital consult- ants, the medics issued a detailed statement, predicting the hospital’s death by a thousand cuts.

The doctors have no belief or con- fidence that 24-hour acute medical, surgical, accident and emergency and intensive care services would continue at Mid Western Regional

Hospital Ennis (MWRH-Ennis).

The meeting strongly maintained that should the hospital lose any fur- ther services, it would be impossible to continue as an acute hospital.

“All available evidence to date in- dicates that Government health strat- egy 1s to centralise all acute services in Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick (MWRH-Limerick) and its proposed co-located private hospital. Acute services now provided in En- nis and Nenagh will be withdrawn,” the statement issued by the Clare fac- ulty of the Irish College of General Practitioners stated.

The statement outlined how the

consultant staff of the hospital wrote to the health minister two years ago, stating that it was unsafe to continue practising without a CT scanner. The scanner has not been provided, and the collective opinion is that it will not now be installed.

“The persistent failure to address these concerns serves to illustrate the lack of interest and commitment which exists within HSE manage- ment to address the serious clinical concerns of senior medical staff,” the statement read. “Further evidence of the lack of interest in the develop- ment of services at MWRH-Ennis is indicated by the dereliction of HSE

management in replacing consultant staff who have resigned or retired.” During the past six years, the radi- ology department has been forced to operate using the services of a series of locum radiologists. The general physician who retired five years ago has not been replaced, and the med- ics have little hope that the general

surgeon who retired in January and the second surgeon to retire later this year will be replaced.

“The closure of 24-hour services will be gradual and final. The timeframe for this process is uncertain, but it will probably occur over the next four years, but possibly sooner,” the Clare Faculty of the ICGP predicted.

AT least five lives will be saved eve- ry year in Clare that would otherwise have been lost once the major trauma bypass protocol is implemented in May, according to the HSE.

The protocol, announced by HSE Network Manager, John Hennessy, means that between 15 and 25 pa- tients from Clare will be brought di- rectly to the Mid Western Regional Hospital Limerick, bypassing Ennis.

Speaking in Ennis on Friday, Mr Hennessy said that the new standards for the management of trauma were set down some time ago by the Medi- cal Council.

“The recommendations are clear. Severely injured patients must be brought to a hospital that is specifi-

cally geared for it. In the case of the mid-west, that would be a regional trauma centre such as the regional hospital in Limerick.

“What we are proposing and pre- paring to implement in Clare has already been implemented in north sbi o)eoe- aan

Accident and emergency consult- ant, Mr Cathal O’Donnell, based in Limerick and Clare, said that out of every four patients that will be taken directly to Limerick, one will live that would have otherwise have died.

Approximately 20,000 patients a year attend the accident and emer- gency service.

“The driving force behind this is to try to save lives,” he said.

The major trauma bypass protocol

has been implemented in north Tip- perary for the past two months, with four patients in total taken directly to Limerick, bypassing Nenagh.

“Trauma care is changing, it 1s evolving, it is becoming more com- iene

“More complicated treatments, more expensive treatments, multi- disciplinary ways of treating people are being developed all the time, and the capacity to deliver that high level of care is best provided in a big cen- tre,’ said Mr O’ Donnell.

The decision to move patients di- rectly to Limerick will be the respon- sibility of the paramedics.

Advance paramedics have been Operating in the mid-west for three years, and six are expected to be based throughout the county by

May.

“Their up-skilling has led them to make more difficult decisions all the time, and more complex, but they have been well trained for that and, as medical director of the ambulance service, | support them,’ said Mr O’Donnell, “I am certainly very con- fident of advanced paramedics and paramedic staff to look after these patients very well.”

Mr Hennessy admitted, however, that staff were concerned about “re- source issues for their particular ar- eas” once the policy is implemented.

Chief Ambulance Officer, Pat Daly said he was happy with the situation but resources were always an issue.

“You never have enough resources. That has been a constant problem for the ambulance services. But what

resources are there I think are ad- equate,” he said.

The ambulance chief said that if ad- vance paramedics were not available in Clare during a major trauma, one could be requested from Limerick to meet the ambulance.

The air ambulance, being made available from the air corp, will be available to take patients from one hospital to another but not from the scene of an accident to hospital.

“T would imagine that the potential for more use of air ambulance will become a more significant reality in the future.

“It does represent a real opportu- nity to make use of new technology and get patients to the right place far quicker than traditional methods would,’ said Mr Hennessy.

GARDAI are conducting a major in- vestigation into alleged interference with bank cash point machines in County Clare, a judge was told last Neto)

On a day when a number of peo- ple were before the court on charges connected with the investigation, the Ennis District Court heard from Inspector Tom Kennedy that there is a “widespread investigation” into claims that ATMs were interfered with last month.

Among those charged in relation to the investigation into damage to ATMs were Mirren Gavrila of no fixed abode, Dublin and Cosmin Merla of Apartment 710, Two Mile Inn, Ennis Road in Limerick. They were before Judge Joseph Mangan accused of three counts each of criminal damage to ATMs, causing €1,100 worth of damage to each ma- abe slen

Garda John Corkery told the court

that it is alleged that the two dam- aged the card reader on the Bank of Ireland ATM in Kilrush on March 12 before travelling to Miltown Malbay, where it is alleged they damaged a second Bank of Ireland ATM.

The third charge relates to another Bank of Ireland ATM in Ennisty- mon, which the two are charged with damaging on the same day.

Judge Mangan declined jurisdic- tion and Inspector Kennedy asked for an adjournment to prepare a book of evidence in the matters.

The solicitor representing the two accused said they are Romanian and have been in Ireland for one month. Neither has previous convictions in Romania and there was a person in court who would be willing to put them up in the house which he is renting in Sallins, County Kildare, the court heard.

Judge Mangan remanded the two in custody to appear again in Kilrush District Court on April 23 for a Book of Evidence.

A JURY returned a verdict of acci- dental death in the case of a woman who died last year following a road traffic accident near Daragh.

76-year-old Mary McGuane died on September 23, 2007 after she was struck by a motorbike while out Weenies

The coroners court in Ennis heard last Wednesday that Garda Frank Ryan arrived on the scene of the ac- cident at approximately 12pm. Ms McGuane’s body was identified by her son-in-law, Michael Ryan and was removed to Ennis General Hos- pital shortly afterwards.

Pathologist Dr Elizabeth Mulcahy told the court that analysis of blood revealed no evidence of alcohol in Ms McGuane’s body.

Dr Mulcahy told the court that death was due to extensive injuries including transection of the spine consistent with the deceased being involved in a road traffic accident.

Advising the jury on their options, County Coroner Isobel O’Dea said, “*T put it to you that the only appropri- ate verdict is a verdict of accidental death. I extend my deep sympathy to Mary McGuane’s family and ex- tended family.”

The foreman of the jury said mem-

bers were all agreed on a verdict of accidental death.

On behalf of the Garda, Supt Gabri- el O’Gara extended his sympathy to Ms McGuane’s family.