Month: February 2006

CLARE is to have a major new radio station, as competition opens for a new licence being offered by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI).

The new licence will allow a station to broadcast to Clare, Kerry, Limerick, north Tipperary and south-west Laois.

It is expected that media groups from Ireland and Britain will enter the race to get the valuable licence. Among the Irish groups expected to be in the competition is Denis O’Brien’s Communicorp, which owns a similar station in Dublin.

The new station will be aimed at the 15 to 34 year-old market and will have a ten year licence. The BCI are preparing for a searching review of applications which will look at proposals to air a mix of news, talk and music programming.

The Commission requires all licensed stations to broadcast at least two hours of news coverage each day. Applications will close on April 16 and the BCI may choose to hold oral hearings before awarding the lucrative licence. The number of independently owned radio stations on the Irish market has decreased in recent years, with big players such as Ulster Radio, Scottish Radio Holdings and EMAP entering the market.

THE Western Yacht Club will display its community spirit and its pride in Kilrush when it takes to the sea this summer in one of Ireland’s most challenging yacht races.

An 18-member crew set sail in the newly named Spirit of Kilrush, as part of the BMW Round Ireland Yacht Race this July.

As the crew undergo physical and mental preparations for the race, their enthusiasm has rippled its way through the town of Kilrush, gaining public support from the local people and businesses.

Supporting the venture, the Kilrush Chamber of Commerce has this week welcomed the vision and courage of crew members from the club, in proposing a community spirit between sport and business as part of the venture.

“Kilrush is a Maritime and Heritage Town. The businesses, along with the tourist industry, are proud to be associated with the Sprit of Kilrush team.

“Anyone that has the long term interests of Kilrush at heart should support this very welcome and proactive step from the Western Yacht Club,” said Tom Whelan, Spirit of Kilrush Crew Member.

Starting in Wicklow, the 704-mile race takes place on Saturday July 1, sails clockwise around Ireland, keeping all islands to starboard.

The Spirit of Kilrush is a Volvo 60 yacht, which translates as a 19.5m ocean racing yacht, capable of 35 knots, helped by 5,000 litres of water ballast.

She comes complete with a downwind sail area of some 4,490 square metres, upwind sail area 200 square metres, carbon fiber mast and the famous big boat coffee grinder winches.

All this means, that the Spirit of Kilrush is a high performance, light weight and very sophisticated race machine.

This ship has previously raced around the world in the famous Volvo Round the World Race.

Kilrush is quickly establishing a positive reputation for itself in maritime circles.

Already established as a maritime town, just last year the West Clare capital along with the Kilrush Western Yacht Club hosted the West of Ireland Off Shore Racing Association’s (WOIRA) annual race.

This race encouraged hundreds of sailing enthusiasts to the town making an estimated €200,000 for local businesses.

Secretary of the Kilrush club, Tom Whelan, said at the time that the town’s success in attracting the race to Kilrush for the second time in three years was due to its progressive and modern marina facilities.

NUMEROUS Clare schools are not covered by the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, resulting in unnecessary financial pressures for schools and parents.

Figures released this week show that as many as 50 per cent of primary schools are without access to specialised assessment of children with special learning needs.

INTO Executive Representative for Clare, Declan Kelleher, told The Clare People that NEPS staffing levels in the mid-west area, covering Clare, Limerick and north Tipperary, were very low, relative to the rest of the country.

“This means a lot of students have to go privately for assessment. Often the school shares the cost for such as assessment with the parents,” the Corofin teacher and union spokesperson said.

This cost is covered by the Government where NEPS is available.

In February 2005, 1,522 primary schools nationally were not covered by psychological service or NEPS.

This February, 1,655 primary schools were outside NEPS, an increase of 133 schools in 12 months.

Fine Gael Spokesperson on Education and Science, Olwyn Enright TD, said, “Between February 2005 and February 2006, the number of primary schools covered by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) has fallen in Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Limerick, Louth, Mayo, Roscommon and Tipperary. Today, 50 per cent of primary schools now have no access to the services provided by NEPS.”

Teachers in Clare have confirmed that the figures are equally poor here, although an actual figure was not available.

“When NEPS was established seven years ago, it was envisaged that up to 200 psychologists would be needed, 180 working with NEPS and the remainder working elsewhere in the education system.

“However, the current number of psychologists remains far below the target level, and with only 121 psychologists now employed, it is easy to see why so many primary schools still have no NEPS cover,” said Deputy Enright.

“Children who need psychological evaluation should have access to an educational psychologist so that their particular needs can be identified and met within the school system. Schools are under pressure now as they continue to wait for a national roll-out of a proper NEPS service. The track record of this Government on this issue is evident and unless Minister Hanafin opens her purse strings and provides proper funding, children with special educational needs will continue to suffer.”

THE death of a former official driver for ex-Junior Health Minister Frank Fahey, who was killed in a road accident near Clarecastle, was recounted at an inquest in Ennis last week.

A verdict of “accidental death” was returned at the inquest of John Cahill (68) of Gort, County Galway, who died at Ennis General Hospital shortly after a red Volkswagen van – driven by a drunk driver – collided with his car at Knocknamana, Clarecastle, at 10.30pm on November 5, 2004.

Seargent Michael Haran told the inquest that shortly before the crash, gardaí had received a call about a van which had struck a wall on the Limerick Road in Ennis. Gardaí had gone to the scene, when they were directed to attend a “serious road traffic accident” near Clarecastle.

He said when he arrived at the scene, he found Mr Cahill’s car “in a very damaged state in the grass verge.” Sgt Haran said road conditions and weather were dry and that there were no skid marks on the road. He said, however, that a trail of water could be seen leading from the victim’s car across the road to where the red van had stopped some 40 yards away.

Sgt Haran also said he also saw John Joseph Hogan (43) of Killeen, Corofin, the driver of a red Volkswagen van, at the scene and that he was unsteady on his feet and intoxicated. Mr Hogan was later arrested on suspicion of drunk driving.

The inquest heard details of an autopsy carried out on Mr Cahill at the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick. Dr Peter Fawl concluded that Mr Cahill died from “multiple head and thoracic injuries, consistent with being involved in a road traffic accident.”

After being addressed by the Coroner Isobel O’Dea, the jury returned a verdict of “accidental death.”

Last July, at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, 43 year old John Joseph Hogan of Killeen, Corofin and Bushy Park, Ennis, was sentenced to three years imprisonment and was disqualified from driving for 30 years, after he admitting dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Cahill.

Hogan had been convicted of drunk driving on the day before the fatal crash.

However his disqualification from driving for that offence was not due to take effect for three months.

AFTER weeks of commentary, no comment, speculation and innuendo, the Junior Minister at the Department of Education and Science, Síle De Valera, has announced that she will resign her ministerial portfolio in December.

Last week the Minister was remaining tight lipped on her future as a junior minister, after the Taoiseach spoke of the party’s tradition, “that if somebody is not running in the next election and they hold a ministerial office . . . before the election they bow out.”

Hours following the broadcasting of these comments, the Fianna Fáil leader met with Deputy Sean Haughey in Dublin, who had expressed his disappointment at not receiving a junior post in the latest reshuffle of the junior cabinet.

That weekend, Minister de Valera issued a brief statement through her department saying that she “had a job of work to do” and “intended on completing it”.

Then last week, The Clare People ran a survey, which showed an overwhelming majority of Fianna Fáil councillors, felt their junior minister should resign her position.

On Wednesday, the minister issued another statement from her Department, giving the time of her resignation from the junior cabinet.

In her statement the minister said, “On November 6 last I went to the Taoiseach to advice him on my intention of not standing in the next election.

“At that meeting, I raised the matter of my stepping down as Minister of State.

“I was immediately told by the Taoiseach to carry on with the job in hand.

“I suggested that a time limit should be set for my stepping down as Minister of State. “The Taoiseach and I agreed that I would vacate that position in December 2006.

“To suggest that the Taoiseach was signalling for me to resign when he talked about the tradition in the party is a complete fallacy.

“The Taoiseach and I are friends for many years and we had an agreement on this issue dating back to November 6 2005,” she said.

Síle de Valera was first elected to the Dáil in 1977, and has represented the Clare constituency since 1987.

She has already outlined her plans to write her memoirs and to study for a PhD degree on her retirement.

THE couple’s home-help loaned them an electric heater to help them to cope with the recent freezing conditions. But James points out that this just heats the area where it is turned on. His wife’s severe medical problems require that she have a warm home.

While other residents living mid-way on the hill have a good water supply, James says he has been told that what is needed is a special pump to keep the pressure on the water as it climbs up the hill.

“When the water does come back, by the time it makes its way up the hill it’s nothing but a dribble. It would take half the day to fill a kettle,” said James.

Last week, the supply was off for so long, said James, that his neighbour “had to call in Dynorod because her toilet had backed up. There wasn’t enough water to flush it properly. I had a doctor’s appointment and had to wash in a kettle of water. I remember having to do that years ago, but I never thought I’d be doing it again at this age.”

A native of Killaloe, James worked for a time in England, but has been home for more than 20 years and living back in his native place.

SPECULATION is mounting

that US President George W

Bush is to make a refuelling stop

at Shannon Airport tomorrow

(Wednesday) morning.

The President is scheduled to

travel to the Middle East, via

Shannon, on Wednesday. While

it has not been confirmed if he

will make a stop, a major secu-

rity operation, involving gardaí,

the Army and the US Secret

Service, has been underway for

some days at the airport.

A similar operation was in

place in May of last year, when “What really worries me is my wife. She has had to use babywipes for the last three days and if this continues, she’ll be back in hospital. Our GP has written to to the county council six weeks ago and our local Councillor, Tony O’Brien is doing everything he can, but still nothing is being done to fix the cause of the problem.”

An angry Cllr O’Brien (FF) told The Clare People that he had “raised this numerous time with the county council. There was a major leak discovered in the area just before Christmas and that was repaired, but that was not the problem. If there’s any water in Convent Hill, there’s none in Newtown. I’m told that what is needed is a new pumping station and I’m calling for it to go ahead now.” Cllr O’Brien said there are 42 new holiday homes being built and planning permission for 85 new houses.

“Up to €600,000 has been collected in development levies – that money has to be re-invested in providing the pumping station. What are they waiting for – for those houses to be occupied and for no-one in Killaloe to have any water?” the President was due to pass through Shannon.

However the President, who was travelling from Tbilisi to Washington, did not land, following much speculation in the area for several days.

On that occasion, 200 troops and at least 100 gardaí from Clare, Galway, Roscommon and Mayo, were on duty at the airport.

There were members of the Garda Air Support Unit and the Garda Mounted Unit on standby.

One of the largest security operations in the history of the State took place when President Bush visited Clare for the EUUS summit at Dromoland Castle in June 2004.

This latest speculation about President Bush making a stop at Shannon this week comes amid ongoing concern that US rendition flights are passing through Shannon.

Anti-war activists claim that CIA aircraft carrying hostages to interrogation camps are refuelling at the airport.

The Government says it accepts repeated assurances from US authorities that nothing untoward is taking place in Shannon. It was revealed in a Council of Europe report last week that gardaí forwarded two files on the matter to the DPP since 2004, but no action was deemed necessary.

Suggestions that President Bush may stop at Shannon follows US Vice President’s passing through the airport last month.

He passed through, on a refuelling stop, while travelling from the US to the Middle East.

Mr Cheney arrived at Shannon at around 7am on Monday, January 16, but did not get out of the plane. He passed through Shannon again later in the week, on his return journey.

MEN and women from County Clare are travelling in their droves to Galway to take part in a Fight Club style boxing tournament. White Collar Boxing is the brainchild of former Irish Olympian, Cathal O’Grady, who claims to have received a number of enquiries from Clare people about taking part in the Galway event.

This is only the second event of its kind to take place in Ireland, the other been staged in Dublin last year. It is designed to allow office workers a means of using up their excess energy as well as getting in touch with their primitive side.

“The philosophy is very similar to a fight club,” said Mr O’Grady. “The men are liberated mentally by the experience. Fight clubs were underground cult organisations whereas this is safe and structured. The primal attraction is very real though.”

The competitors are put through a rigorous ten week training process in which the average participant will lose a full 13lbs.

When their training is complete they each take part in a Las Vegas style boxing tournament in front of their family and friends.

Interestingly, the Galway event seems to be drawing a large response from women as well as men in the Clare area.

“We have had a number of people enquiring from Clare already,” said Mr O’Grady. “There are also a lot of women showing an interest which didn’t happen in Dublin. It seems to be something just in the West. There must be more of a spirit in the ladies out there.”

Like Fight Clubs, white collar boxing aims to improve the mental and physical health of those who take part in it.

“Our slogan is ‘when 9-to-5 is not enough,’” said Mr O’Grady. “A lot of people are stressed at work and are searching for something to identify with. This can give them a purpose to their lives again.”

Fighters use 18oz gloves and headguards for increased safety while fighters are carefully matched in age, weight and experience.

“Since it first began in 1988, there has been no reports of serious injury,” continued Mr O’Grady. “People have to go back to work the following day and they can’t do that with a black eye.

“It is very real, but well supervised.”

Training for the Galway event will take place in March with the tournament scheduled for June.

More information can be found on www.whitecollarboxing.ie.

A CLARE TD is warning that “a crisis” is developing concerning the decentralisation of Enterprise Ireland staff to Shannon.

It has been revealed that just 19 existing employees of the national jobs creation company have indicated their willingness to transfer to Shannon out of a total staff of 300 needed to make the move a reality.

Numerous residential and business developments have gone ahead in Shannon on the understanding that there would be an influx of business from the Enterprise Ireland decentralisation process.

Deputy Pat Breen (FG) has called for Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheal Martin to clarify the transfer arrangements to be put in place for Shannon Development staff, who would find themselves redundant after Minister Martin announced the removal of their enterprise support function last year.

“Minister Martin has already spoken of ‘developing the indigenous enterprise base in the region’ and I am calling on him to utilize the skills base that exists with Shannon Development by enabling the personnel specialised in enterprise support to use their skills in Enterprise Ireland.”

Replying to a Parliamentary Question tabled by Deputy Breen, Minister Martin said that the number of applications for transferring to Shannon received from within the civil and public service, including his own department, amounted to 33, giving an overall total of 52 people, but that it was “too early to comment definitively on a timescale for the transfer of Enterprise Ireland’s headquarters to Shannon”.

A 13-acre site owned by Shannon Development is under negotiation as Enterprise Ireland’s proposed headquarters.

Deputy Breen said: “This figure is far short to the numbers and the quality of personnel required to run an effective national development agency.

“With just 19 of the existing Enterprise Ireland staff willing to relocate, the agency will be facing a crisis of appropriately-qualified personnel if immediate plans are not put in place and the uncertainty removed over Shannon Development changes.”

Deputy Breen added that a similar crisis was developing within the Irish Aviation Authority where 100 staff were due to transfer to Shannon under the Department of Transport’s decentralisation plans.

Transport Minister Martin Cullen said just two employees had indicated a wish to move and 11 expressions of interest had been received from external applicants.

Meanwhile, just 93 applications have been made out of the 779 posts moving to Limerick under the Revenue Commissioners banner.

THE promoters of Ireland’s first fullscale retirement village, accommodating up to 300 residents, will have to go back to the drawing board, if they are to secure planning for their €50 million project.

Clare County Council has expressed reservations on the ambitious proposals for the 75 acres of grounds on the historic 18th century Carnelly House, five miles from Ennis.

One of the obstacles that the developers, Stamer Ltd., must overcome is that their investigation into the site has established the site is a nationally important maternity roost for the rare and protected Lesser Horseshoe Bat.

In response, the council has concluded that the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), lodged with the application, doesn’t satisfactorily assess the significance of the impact of the proposal on bats.

The developers have now been asked to put in place mitigation measures for the protection of bats.

The council has also expressed concern over the impact of the proposal on the character and setting of Carnelly House, which is a protected structure; the design and architectural style of the proposed development and the impact of the proposal on the existing woodland, ecology, wildlife and habitat of the site.

“Whilst the Council has no objection in principle to the provision of a ‘retirement village’ on the site, there are concerns regarding the scale, height and layout of the proposal, with specific regard to the proximity of the care facility and amenities building, to Carnelly House.

“In addition, it is considered that the proposed layout and distribution of the cluster units and detached housing could impact on the setting of Carnelly House, within its parkland landscape.

The Planning Authority points out that “it is considered that the amended proposals to be submitted retain Carnelly House and its associated outbuildings as the central focus for the site

They must also achieve “an arrangement for the proposed residential units and care facility which results in the minimum impact on the important parkland setting of the House”.

RESIDENTS opposed to the multimillion euro extension of the Whelan Group’s flagship operation have called for an oral hearing to be held into the contentious proposal.

Last month, in spite of location opposition, Clare County Council gave the green light to the Whelan Group to extend its quarry at Fountain outside Ennis.

The company lodged plans two years ago for a 40 acres extension that would guarantee the jobs of the 110 people employed at the site. The council granted planning for five of the seven sections of the plan.

In their appeal to An Bord Pleanála, local residents, Michael Halpin, David Copley and John Hehir have requested that an oral hearing be held, “taking into consideration the many issues of public importance raised in this case, the EU dimension and the large number of submissions made”.

“There are many issues, not least the location of the development in Drumcliffe Springs catchment, an area of extreme vulnerability, and recent public concern about the quality of water in Ennis and environs with the recent ‘boil notices’ issued.

“Any spillage of diesel from any of the many trucks, or other machinery, would have catastrophic consequences for drinking water. Surely, the precautionary principle as enshrined in EU law is an appropriate measure in this scenario.

“We have been subjected over the past 25 years, to a deterioration in our quality of life as a result of serious vibrations from blasting, noise and dust and as the quarrying moves nearer to our dwellings and into yet another townland the proposals for the future look bleak indeed, should the appeal fail.

“We submit that the proposed development would result in the consolidation and intensification of unauthorised development on this site and would therefore constitute disorderly development and be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development in the area.

“The proposed development, being within the catchment of Drumcliffe springs, in the area of extreme groundwater vulnerability, would result in an unacceptable risk of groundwater pollution in this vulnerable area and would therefore be prejudicial to public health.”

They also claim that the proposal would give rise to vehicular traffic and pedestrian movements on the N85, which would endanger public safety because of traffic hazard and obstruction of other road users.

The company now has an opportunity to respond the residents’ claims and a decision is expected on the appeal in the summer of this year.