Month: July 2006

HOUSE building in the county has increased over the past 12 months, despite the reduction in planning permissions granted by Clare County Council.

But the 11.4 per cent reduction in planning permissions granted in the first three months of this year could lead to a significant drop in the number of houses being built over the coming years.

Figures revealed by the Central Statistics Office last week showed a marked decrease in the number of units granted planning permission in the past year.

During the first three months of this year 575 units were granted full planning compared to 716 during the same period last year.

Construction Industry Federation (CIF) Housing Executive Kevin Flavin told The Clare People that the 12-month figure showed a more significant reduction in planning permissions granted and a larger increase in the numbers of projects started.

The CIF executive pointed to a 19.7 per cent decrease in the number of planning permission granted between the 12-month period ending March 2005 and the same period ending March 2006.

Meanwhile, there was an estimated 27.8 per cent increase in building between the first five months of this year and the same period last year.

“Things are going very strong at this very moment in time, as in other parts of the country,” said Mr Flavin.

Commenting of the figure Clare County Councillor PJ Kelly said he felt they did not give a clear indication of building in the country as the figures did not account for withdrawn planning permissions.

He told The Clare People that the figures would not give a true reflection until the number of planning permissions applied for was compared to the number granted.

He said it was also his belief that the majority of refusals were in rural areas and for one off houses.

“It has been so difficult to get planning permission in rural areas,” he said.

Last year there were 2,487 planning applications with approximately 800 of those from rural areas according to the councillor.

Meanwhile, house prices in county Clare continue to experience huge growth increasing by 253 per cent over the last decade, according to a special edition of the permanent TSB House Price Index.

Compiled in association with the ESRI, the index shows that the average cost of a house in county Clare in 1996 was just €69,330. Ten years later the average cost had increased to €244,415.

Nationally house prices have increased even more – by 270 per cent over the past ten years.

A MAN who got irate when he saw the dog warden taking his dog away has been convicted of a public order offence.

Niall Considine (40), of Church Drive, Clarecastle, appeared before Ennis District Court, arising out of an incident in Clarecastle in July 2005. He pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour.

Inspector Tom Kennedy said dog warden Frankie Coote was dealing with a matter involving dogs owned by the accused, when he got irate.

“He threatened Mr Coote to let the dog out of the van or he would kill him. He made other threats to Mr Coote, to the extent that he called the guards,” said the inspector.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said his client would “not fully accept” there were words of that nature. He said one of the dogs was owned by the accused and his family and the other dog was owned by the accused’s uncle.

“Mr Considine says there were several dogs loose and two dogs were picked out,” said the solicitor.

He said the accused asked the dog warden not to take the dogs away and admitted he got irate. He said his client had now erected two steel gates at his house, to ensure an incident such as occurred on this occasion wouldn’t happen again.

Mr Coote told the court he had picked up both dogs earlier that day and brought them to the dog pound. The accused’s wife had followed him to the pound and he returned the dogs to her.

Judge Joseph Mangan heard that the accused had a number of previous convictions, including one for larceny. He imposed a fine of €250.

THE awards evening for this year’s Write a Book initiative, organised by Clare Education Centre and sponsored by O’Mahony’s Bookshop in Ennis, was held at Dromoland Castle on June 7.

Awards of books were presented by Tom Kelly, District Inspector of the Department of Education and Science to children in categories such as junior infants, senior infants and first to sixth class, while all the children who participated received a certificate of achievement from the Clare Education Centre.

Hundreds of children throughout Clare, with the help of their teachers, were involved in the process, which saw them create their own publications.

A huge and varied collection was presented this year on a wide rage of topics and many of the books will end up in school libraries or as cherished items from schooldays.

A total of 2,030 books were published through the project, with close to 185 teachers involved. Many more schools participated nationwide to celebrate child creativity.

THE Courts Service confirmed yesterday that it has resumed its search for a premises in Shannon to hold court sittings and has to date failed to identify new premises in Ennistymon.

It is now two years since the twice monthly courts at Shannon were relocated to the Ennis Courthouse following the re-opening of the 19th century courthouse in July, 2004.

Since then, Shannon residents have been forced to make the journey to Ennis Courthouse every second Thursday for the Shannon district court sitting with the attendant expense and inconvenience.

However, a Courts Service spokesman confirmed that following a review of court facilities nationwide, the need for court facilities has been identified in Shannon and the service has commenced a search for a facility to stage court hearings in the town.

He added, “the level of court business doesn’t warrant the Courts Service constructing a new building – instead we will be hoping to enter an arrangement with other agencies to allow us to use a building on specified dates.”

However, Barry Boland, Managing Director of Beaux Walk Properties, the company behind the €135 million redevelopment of Shannon said, “the people of Shannon could be justifiably very critical of all the public bodies who were all approached to locate in Shannon and declined.

He said, “We can’t do civic uses. We can design and build them, but the public bodies have failed to engage with us.”

Mr Boland said, “Except for us, no one has put money into Skycourt.”

The Courts Service spokesman said that the search for premises in Ennistymon has been unsuccessful to date. He said, “It has been quite frustrating and we are actively seeking alternative venues, but there is nothing there at the moment.

The spokesman said that the Courts Service is due to shortly advertise in its efforts to secure accommodation in Ennistymon.

The search comes after Judge Joseph Mangan expressed frustration with the current venue and stated that he will not sit in Ennistymon after September unless alternative accommodation is found.

Shannon-based councillor, Patricia McCarthy (Ind) said, “I would welcome the announcement. Shannon is Clare’s second town and does need a court. Already, we have lost Sixmilebridge court. Having the Shannon court sittings in Ennis is an inconvenience to everyone.”

RESIDENTS in the Moveen area of west Clare have called on Eircom to remove a telecommunications mast they consider illegal.

But, Eircom has warned that the removal of the mast would leave the area without Eircom or Vodafone coverage for a substantial period of time.

In a submission to the council, Eircom states that “the time required to find a further three suitable sites together with obtaining planning permission for masts of these sites will give rise to a prolonged service interruption or downgrade if the Moveen installation has to be removed.”

Last year, Eircom lodged plans with Clare County Council to retain the structure, near Kilkee, after planning permission for it expired on in May 2004.

The lodging of plans to retain the structure provoked widespread local opposition.

In the objection lodged on behalf of the Moveen East Protest Group, its chairman, Shay Hynes said the mast was an illegal structure, “which should be removed without further delay”.

“The existing mast doesn’t have planning permission and should have been removed since May 2004 in accordance with the original planning permission. Eircom Ltd has blatantly ignored the requirements of the original planning permission, has changed the use of the mast without permission, increased RF radiation emissions to unknown levels and ignored the enforcement order issued by the council.”

Mr Hynes said that the mast was in breach of existing guidelines “because of its proximity to dwellings with six homes within 300 metres of the mast”.

Sixteen other objections from local individuals and families have also been lodged against the proposal.

However, in its response, Eircom has stated that “locating the structure on a less elevated site would necessitate either much higher masts at other locations and or the location of further intermediary masts to relay the radio signal along the signal route. Furthermore, the size and construction of the mast as existing is what is required to carry the dishes necessary for a point-to-point radio digital telecommunications system

“A reduction in the height or width of this mast would seriously reduce its effectiveness as a telecommunications mast, affect the range and quality of customer services and may require the erection of further structures in the area in order to maintain the communications links now in place. The nature of the terrain indicates that at least two if not three mast locations would be required to restore the current communications links”.

A decision is due on the application later month.

IT WAS at the mercy of God that noone was seriously injured in an Ennis Traveller feud, according to a judge who handed suspended jail sentences to six of those involved.

Judge Carroll Moran made the comments at Ennis Circuit Court yesterday as he dealt with four separate offences in Ennis.

Before the court were Edward (Ned) and Christopher Mongan,from Clondalkin, Dublin; Bernard McDonagh (39), 1 Ashline, Ennis; Christopher McDonagh (31), Davitt Terrace, Ennis; Bernard McDonagh Junior (22), Considine’s Road, Ennis; and Peter McDonagh (19), Considine’s Road, Ennis.

Four of the six accused no longer live in Ennis and were ordered to remain out of the town.

Outlining details of one of the incidents involving the four McDonaghs, Sergeant Michael Haran said an incident occurred at Tipsy McStaggers pub, Drumbiggle Road, Ennis, on Christmas Eve, 2004.

The row spilled out onto the street and up to 60 people were present, the majority of who were intoxicated.

“The McDonagh family, totalling 40, were highly charged. Ten members of another family did not get involved,” said Sgt Haran.

He said Christopher McDonagh jumped out of a car and brandished a hatchet.

A garda who tried to take it off him sustained an injury to the hand in the process.

Christopher McDonagh subsequently “violently resisted” arrest and broke from garda custody.

Gardai had to call for back-up and reinforcements arrived from Shannon.

The four McDonaghs pleaded guilty to affray, while Christopher admitted possession of an offensive weapon in the course of a fight, and with escaping from custody.

Arising out of separate incidents, Edward (Ned) and Christopher Mongan pleaded guilty to affray; Bernard, Christopher and Bernard McDonagh pleaded guilty to violent disorder; while Bernard McDonagh from Ashline, and Christopher McDonagh, pleaded guilty to criminal damage.

Judge Carroll Moran was told that the Mongans live in Dublin and that the geographical separation helped the situation.

“It was at the mercy of God that persons weren’t seriously injured, including members of An Garda Síochána, who went to defuse the situation.”

He said he was taking into account that peace has now been established between the two families and that the accused were “at a low risk of reoffending.”

He imposed sentences of three years, suspended for three years, and ordered each to keep the peace for that period.

AN ENNIS man convicted of criminal damage and theft has had his sentence reduced on appeal, after his solicitor asked that he be afforded ‘light at the end of the tunnel.’

Jamie Clune (28), of John Paul Avenue, Ennis, was jailed in the District Court for 11 months, along with two nine-month terms.

Referring to one of the incidents, Sergeant Michael Haran told Ennis Circuit Court that Clune stole prescription forms from a doctor’s surgery and attempted to use them to obtain drugs in a number of pharmacies in Ennis.

He told the court that since these cases were dealt with, the accused has been convicted of possession of a knife, failing to appear in court and for a public order offence, and was sentenced to 12 months in jail, at Ennis District Court in May.

Defence solicitor Tara Godfrey said while her client didn’t “expect to get a non-costodial sentence,” she was asking for light at the end of the tunnel.

Judge Carroll Moran said, “These are serious matters.

“He has got a lot of convictions. I can’t roll them all in and not give some extra punishment for these matters.”

He said he would reduce the 11-month term to nine months, and that would run concurrently with the two nine-month sentences imposed in the District Court.

He said this would run consecutively to the 12-month sentence imposed for possession of a knife, bringing the total to 21 months.

“The intention is 21 months, which is the appropriate discount,” said Judge Moran.

AN ambitious programme of initiatives and events with an emphasis on the less well-off was announced by Cllr Flan Garvey (FF) in his maiden speech as Clare’s mayor last Friday.

The Inagh councillor told the local authority’s annual general meeting that he had ‘finally won the race’ and was ‘absolutely delighted’ after he was the unanimous choice of the 32member Council to become Mayor.

Green party councillor, Brian Meaney was elected as Clare’s deputy mayor. The two will share a mayor’s allowance of €35,000 for the year.

The election pact forms part of a deal agreed between Fianna Fáil and independent councillors two years ago that leaves Fine Gael with only two of the ten posts on the Council for the next five years.

The new Mayor said he wanted the council to establish a Merit Award Scheme for Clare people and the 2007 Budget would include a contribution to the developing world. He said that a 22-day trip to the Clare Valley in Australia would take place next year for the 21st anniversary of the twinning with the Clare Valley.

CLARE’S newly elected mayor, Flan Garvey, may have been the first member of his family to join Fianna Fáil but he was never in doubt as to the political allegiance of his parents.

Inside the cover of his mother’s prayer book was the signature of her hero – Eamon deValera, while his father was a lifetime supporter of local TD and president Paddy Hillary.

The family’s civic service can be traced back to the new mayor’s grandfather, Johnny Murphy, who served on the Board of Guardians in Ennistymon at the turn of the last century.

Twenty-one years ago he marched for the first time with the soldiers of destiny in the council election and was last week elected first citizen of Clare.

Taking the chain of office from outgoing mayor Cllr Pat Keane, he said his first priority was the provision of a proper health service for the people of Clare and the promotion of local industry.

A keen environmentalist, he has already installed solar power, wind power and waterpower in his north Clare home and is currently installing woodchip heating.

The new mayor was the driving force behind Clare’s twinning arrangement with Newry and Mourne. He is currently studying for an MA in local history and folklore in the Institute of Technology Tralee, where he is also chairman of its governing body.

SEVENTEEN staff at Aer Arann’s call centre in Shannon are to lose their jobs at the end of next month, due to outsourcing.

The news emerged, as Aer Arann yesterday resumed its direct flight between Shannon and Dublin, which will run five days a week.

A spokeswoman for Aer Arann confirmed to The Clare People that the call centre, at Shannon Airport, was to close on August 31.

Work will be outsourced, but the company could not confirm if this would be in Shannon.

“We have decided to outsource the work to a third party,” said spokeswoman Jennifer Mooney.

“We are getting another company to do it, possibly in Shannon, possibly not,” she added.

She said the decision was a company move and Aer Arann would be speaking to the 17 staff who currently worked at the Aer Arann premises at Shannon Airport within the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Shannon Airport has been chosen by Airports Council International (ACI) Europe as the Best Airport in Europe, for the one million to five million passenger category.

Airports were judged on excellence and achievement in the areas of operations, facilities, customer service, security, retail and community relationships.

The judges stated that Shannon Airport “continues to impress with its can-do spirit in constantly looking for improvements in its retail offerings, facilities and passenger/airline facilitation”.

Shannon is the first Irish airport to receive an ACI Best Airport Award and it adds to its two consecutive Best Irish Airport Awards from the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland.