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CLARE Council should focus on securing additional Government funding for the €31.5 million Cliffs of Moher visitor centre so the site can be enjoyed as a National Treasure and not as a rip-off location.

That is the view of Fine Gael councillor, Joe Carey, who expressed his concern over the charges in a letter to the visitor centre’s project leader, Ger Dollard in August.

In a letter released to The Clare People through the Freedom of Information Act, Cllr Carey said, “These charges will drive people away rather than encourage them into our county.”

The council is proposing to double parking charge for motorists from €4 to €8 and increase the fee for coaches to €60 though it has offered two separate discount schemes to coach operators.

In a response to a previous letter by Cllr Carey, which also expressed concern over the charges, council official, Ger Dollard justified the charges.

He said: “We have done a price comparison with other attractions in this country and abroad and the charge rate per individual in many cases far exceeds those proposed for the Cliffs of Moher.

“It has been pointed out that the added benefits for County Clare in introducing these new charges has been completely lost in the debate over whether new charges should be implemented.

“The new charges will lead to the proper tourism and environmental management of the Cliffs and other tourist sites around Clare, which the tourist industry in Clare has been seeking for many years.

“I have no doubt that when the completed project is in place, value for money will clearly be demonstrated and visitors will appreciate the extent of what the council has implemented and that the charges will be very reasonable for what will be a world class visitor experience at a world class site.

The level of charges also came under fire from Eamon McKeon, chief executive of the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation, prior to the council revising its charges to coach operators.

In a letter last August, Mr McKeon said, “The Cliffs are located in Clare, but they belong to the people of Ireland. It is noted that a sizeable loan has to be serviced, but it also the case that a very sizeable grant has been approved for the project. We are very pleased with the development and anxious for its success, but the proposed level of charges is unreasonable.”

CLARE County Council has given the go-ahead for a new €25 million housing development on the outskirts of Ennis, in spite of concerns expressed over the development by the recently appointed editor of The Clare Champion.

The council has granted planning permission to developer Martin Casey to build 131 houses, a crèche and a shop at Shanaway Road on the western fringes of Ennis.

Austin Hobbs’s objection to the development focused on the impact the proposed development and its entrance would have on his family’s property.

The objection, which was made in a personal capacity, predated his appointment as ‘Champion’ editor and was made with his wife and another couple living in the area.

They also had the support of An Taisce who described the development as premature pending the provision of public services.

Another local resident, Ennis Town Engineer, Tom Tiernan facilitated the development in a personal capacity by entering an arrangement with Mr Casey to allow the housing development be part-accessed through his property.

A previous application for 131 houses by Mr Casey was refused because the entrance was not wide enough. However, the planner’s report on the latest application says the applicant has acquired land from the adjacent landowner to widen the entrance and a letter of consent has been submitted. In that letter, Mr Tiernan said he has no objection to Mr Casey’s application “even though a small portion of the site is located within our property”.

“As the proposed development is adjacent to my home, it would be inappropriate from me to contribute to the adjudication process in relation to the application and therefore I will not be doing so.”

Mr Tiernan declined to comment on any dealings he has with Mr Casey to widen the entrance to the development, telling The Clare People : “It is a private matter.”

Mr Tiernan and Mr Hobbs are neighbours and in the objection lodged on behalf of Mr Hobbs and the other residents, consulting engineer, Paddy Coleman states that the application should be refused on the basis “that the entrance and its location is totally inadequate, unacceptable and unsafe”.

Mr Hobbs stated that he has no further comment to make on the matter.

THE NEW formalised pre-planning service has come in for a hammering with calls for the county council to either set up a dedicated department for it or scrap it altogether.

Conflicting information, changes in restrictions and even reversals of advice given have dogged the process, leaving applicants frustrated, out of pocket and without permission, Councillor Martin Conway (FG) said. Pre-planning is a service which the council offered in an informal way before. But early this year, it became formalised with the service being offered on the council’s web site.

Cllr Conway has now called for a dedicated department to be set up within the local authority to deal with pre-planning.

“A house is the biggest outlay people are ever going to undertake and with the huge expense involved, it can save couples up to a hundred thousand euros if a parent can give them a bit of land. But that’s no good if they can’t get permission to build.”

The Fine Gael councillor said that he had been called on after couples were given advice in the pre-planning meeting only to find “that a very different view may be taken when they go ahead to apply for permission. Most pre-planning meetings are based on looking at site maps but, when planning is in and a planning officer goes out to look at a site, it can be a very different story. What a planner says about a map and what might be said about a physical site can be two very different things. This service needs to be provided properly if it is to be provided at all,” said Cllr Conway.

According to the council’s planning department, the number of preplanning enquiries received up to September 30, 2006 was 696. This compares with 483 for the full year 2005 and shows an increase of 52 per cent for the comparable January to September period.

These enquiries are responded to by way of written replies, telephone calls and meetings with the area planners. To date this year, 164 meetings have been recorded.

A spokesman for the council said that “new procedures were put in place this year to facilitate pre-planning enquiries and meetings. The procedure provides for submission of a site map and clear details so that they can be plotted on map info and linked to any subsequent planning application.”

He added that it was “planned to extend the use of the internal office system to agents, who account for the vast majority of planning applications. This will allow direct access by them to a self service pre-planning system.”

AN TAISCE has been forced to withdraw an objection against a planning application for the second time in three months in Clare after concerns were expressed over the accuracy of the objection by a developer.

Last July, An Taisce withdrew its objection against a planned extension by journalist, Fintan O’Toole to his holiday home in Ballyvaughan after labelling his proposal ‘criminal’.

Now, the Director of An Taisce, Gavin Harte has informed Kilkee architect, Tom Byrne that the association is withdrawing its objection against Mr Byrne’s planned development for the erection of a single terrace of six, two storey holiday homes in Kilkee, because An Taisce’s Head Office found its submission by the Clare Association “not of a necessary standard”.

In a letter to the secretary of the Clare Association of An Taisce, Anny Wise, Mr Byrne a former member of the Dublin City Association of An Taisce, described the An Taisce submission as “wild and illconsidered”.

In the submission, An Taisce stated that it was objecting under a number of headings, pointing out that large estates of holiday homes needed good access and services.

In response, Mr Byrne wrote: “What exactly do you mean by this bland statement?

“The density proposed here is well within the guidelines set out in the West Clare Local Area Plan and the Clare County Development Plan. How does a scheme of six terraced houses constitute ‘a large development’?”

Arising from An Taisce’s decision to withdraw the application, Mr Byrne told Mr Harte: “I have no problem with observations/objections to any development, but when such an inaccurate submission is made on behalf of An Taisce then the process becomes farcical and potentially costly to the applicant.

“I trust the ongoing ill-informed submissions by the ‘local association’ will cease . . .

“I also trust that the ‘cut and paste’ and ill-judged mentality of such submissions will soon be a thing of the past. Such submissions needlessly add to the growing disregard which some have for An Taisce and their efforts.”

The Byrne plan is facing opposition from a number of local residents.

Advising that An Tasice withdraw its submission, Mr Harte said: “However we intend to monitor this application and in the unlikely event that the local authority decide to approve planning, it may be appropriate for An Taisce to make an observation on an appeal to such approval.”

PROBLEMS with planning are one of the main factors which make people in Clare less happy than those in neighbouring counties, according to a new survey produced by UCD.

The survey, which was presented at the “Towards Sustainability in the National Development Plan 20072013” earlier this month, rated each county and region of Dublin on a five point happiness scale.

People in Clare were rated as the fourth most unhappy in the country with only Dublin City, Dublin South and Waterford receiving a worse rating. Clare was grouped in the second tier on the unhappiness scale along with eight other counties. Galway and South Tipperary were group among the most happy counties while Tipperary North, Limerick and Kerry were group in the second most happy category.

Dr Mary Kelly, director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) called for a strategic environmental assessment to be carried out before the introduction of the National Development Plan 2007 to 2013.

“It will be too late in 2013 to look at it and say ‘I wish we had done this some other way’ so the time to try to determine the impact is before the plan gets underway,” said Dr Kelly. The survey was conducted by Professor Peter Clinch and Dr Susana Ferreira of UCD.

CLARE County Council has been strongly criticised over the non-disclosure of the details of two planning applications at the centre of legal actions.

The council, acting on the basis of legal advice, opted to keep details of the cases secret amid claims that it acted against legislation set out in the Local Government Act.

According to Councillor PJ Kelly (FF), the confidentiality agreement entered into by the council was contrary to Section 136 of the Local Government Act, which precludes any local authority from entering into such agreement.

In response to a motion tabled by Cllr Kelly in which he requested the number of planning applications not decided upon within the statutory period between January 1, 2005 to September 9, 2006, it was revealed that legal steps had been initiated in two instances.

One case has been rejected by the High Court and is currently being appealed to the Supreme Court, while in the second, the applicant’s case has been “adjourned pending steps being taken subject to a confidential agreement”.

At last week’s meeting of Clare County Council, Cllr Kelly (FF) expressed surprise at the fact the County Manager had not taken into account Section 136 and that the legal advisor was not present to brief the council.

“At least I expected the legal advisor to be here. We are told that planning today is a mystery that we don’t understand but are meant to believe in . . . we are dealing here with the ethics of confidentiality.”

Cllr Kelly also accused Mr Fleming of acting in a “de-facto” fashion in agreeing to the confidentiality agreement and said that case law prohibited such agreements. Cllr Kelly added he had a “rough idea of the geographic location of one of the cases” due to the talk he had overheard in local “watering holes”

Mr Fleming defended his actions, saying he always acted in the council’s best interest and assumed the legal advisor was well aware of any existing legislation.

However, there was sharp criticism from others in the chamber at the lack of a written response to the motion. There were calls from Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) and Cllr Martin Lafferty (Ind) to make more information on the relevant cases available.

“I ask whether you can get access to the file, if those files aren’t available to the public, I want them to be identified. We are going down the wrong road . . . this is a sad day for the planning authority in Clare,” said Cllr Lafferty.

Clr Richard Nagle (FF) said it was naive to think the file numbers would be released.

IMELDA King Kennedy believes we all have a purpose in life and for her that means giving help to those who need it most.

Imelda has just released a CD entitled “Amazing Grace” in aid of the Alzeihmers society of Ireland.

Imelda has lived in Ennis for over 20 years and from her work with the Soroptimists International Society has worked closely with people providing care for people suffering from Alzeihmers.

Through providing quality dementia-specific care and supporting carers and families, the Alzeihmers Society of Ireland raises public awareness about the condition

Today, more than 35,000 people in Ireland have dementia, of which Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common form. The risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease increases with age with its prevalence rising from approximately 1% in people under 65 years old to more than 25% for those over 80 years. Although rare and more commonly associated with older age, Alzheimer’s Disease can also occur in people in their 40’s and 50’s.

A voluntary worker for 28 years, Imelda says she received the inspiration for recording the album after observing first hand the dedication of staff and of families dealing with Alzeihmers.

“I was motivated and inspired to record the album by people I know and those who care for those with Alzeihmers. My purpose in life is to serve for the betterment of others. I have a purpose in life, a special talent to sing, a unique gift to give to others. When I channel this gift for the service of others, I experience the joy and exultation of my own spirit”

It was always inevitable that Imelda would be involved in music. As a young girl in Newmarket, music played an important role in the family home. At the age of six she was already performing for school and church choirs.

Imelda trained as a singer under the tutelage of Dr Veronica Dunne in Dublin and also with Mary Fulham and Olive Cowper. She attended the Ursuline Convent in Thurles and went on to graduate from the Royal Irish Academy.

Imelda has also enjoyed success on the festival circuit, winning awards at Feile Luimni and Feis Cheoil.

Apart from performing regularly with the Cathedral Choir in Ennis and the Clare Music Circle in Newmarket-on-Fergus Imelda practices a form of musical therapy known as Spirit of the Voice.

Spirit if the Voice deals with a concept known as microtonal healing, a process where the tone of the voice is used for therapeutic purposes.

“The sacredness of the voice has long been recognised in prayerful utterance, song and word and breadth convey the power of the creator and can be used as a transformer and healer” says Imelda.

Sales of Amazing Grace have been going well and Imelda now plans to record a second album in aid of the Alzeihmers Unit in the Clarecastle Day Care Centre. Amazing Grace is on sale at the offices of the Alzeihmers society at the Clonroad Business Park. Copies can be purchased Price: €10 including lunch

by contacting Imelda 087 278 6717.

childhood care and education.

FIANNA Fáil is maintaining the support of more than a third of the people in its traditional stronghold of Clare, while Fine Gael has 18 per cent of the vote.

According to the most recent poll taken in the county between September 18 and October 2, 35 per cent of the electorate said they would vote for the party, with 18 per cent opting to give their first preference vote to Fine Gael. 22 per cent were undecided, four per cent opted to support the Green Party, three pre cent Sinn Fein and three Labour.

When asked to give votes to particular candidates however, Fianna Fáil’s first preference vote increased to 42 per cent and Fine Gael’s to 33 per cent.

According to the TNS/MRBI poll for TG4, Minister of State Tony Killeen would top the poll with a surplus of five per cent, a marked increase on his 2002 outing when he received 16.32 per cent of the number ones on offer.

He received a quarter of the first preference vote in the poll of 500 people.

Not surprisingly the junior minister received 30 per cent of the first preference vote in the Corofin, Ennistymon and Ballyvaughan area. He also received 29 per cent of the vote in the Ennis area, which for the poll included Shannon and Sixmilebridge, and 25 per cent of the number ones in what is considered Timmy Dooley land – Meelick, Tulla, Scariff.

Independent James Breen who topped the poll in the last election harnessed a strong first preference vote again -18 per cent – in areas similar to Killeen.

He received 22 per cent of the first preference vote in the Ennis/Shannon area and in North Clare, while he polled ahead of Killeen in the west.

The survey outlined the west as Fine Gael Deputy Pat Breen’s stronghold, with 26 per cent of the KilrushKildysart vote.

He also polled well in east Clare at 15 per cent, but showed just seven per cent of the vote in Ennis and Shannon.

Senator Brendan Daly is, according to the poll, the most likely to take the seat vacated by Síle deValera.

Not surprisingly, Daly’s stronghold is in the west, where he polls 20 per cent of the vote, six per cent behind Pat Breen.

The senator is also strong in east Clare at 18 per cent and in north Clare at 11 per cent. If he is to secure the fourth seat with ease, he will have to build his support in the urban areas of Ennis and Shannon, where he showed a first preference vote of just five per cent.

Former Mayor of Shannon Tony Mulcahy received eight per cent of the first preference vote polling ahead of colleagues Madeleine Taylor Quinn on seven per cent and Joe Carey on five per cent of the vote. Brian Meaney (GP) showed at 6 per cent first preference.

Mulcahy received 17 per cent of the vote in Ennis/Shannon, but got no vote in the west . The poll shows that a lot of his votes were personal with just 48 per cent transferring.

WORDS of caution have been issued in relation to the latest political poll in the county.

Among its critics is Councillor Joe Carey (FG) who polled just seven per cent of the first preference votes in Ennis (five per cent in the constituency), despite topping the poll in the county town in the last local election.

“There was an over-emphasis in this poll on Shannon. Both Shannon and Ennis were coupled together as an individual polling area, thus diminishing the influence of the Ennis vote,” he said.

“Given the fact that Ennis and its environs is by far the biggest population area in the constituency, with over 30,000 people, one has to question the validity of such a poll.”

“Because Ennis was not given a proper weighting, this poll dramatically underestimated my vote. As an Ennis-based candidate I was put at a disadvantage. The same can be said of the Green Party candidate, Brian Meaney,” he said.

“It’s not the first time TG4’s poll was way off the mark, as evidenced by the poll which was conducted before the 2002 General Election,” he added.

While believing that the poll showed her “well positioned to win a second seat for Fine Gael” in Clare, Cllr Madeleine Taylor Quinn was equally cautious of the poll’s finding.

She said when last TG4 sampled her support – just two years ago on the eve of the European Elections – they underestimated her actual vote on the day by 50 per cent. She added that, in recent years, for various reasons, Irish political polls had become less accurate and required a wider margin of error.

“A final point I will make is that even when it is viewed with appropriate caution, the TG4 poll casts in a rather peculiar light the last poll published in the county just a fortnight ago,” she said.

Deputy Pat Breen, who according to the poll will retain his seat, said “With four candidates in the field, there was bound to be fragmentation of that first preference vote, which will make the gaining of a second seat all the more difficult. I have always stated that my preference was for two or three candidates seeking to regain two seats in the county.”

Meanwhile, Deputy James Breen said he was happy with his showing but said the only poll that matters was the one on the day of the election.

THREE local landowners have opposed plans by Michael Lynch Ltd to construct a road-link to the Ennis bypass that would open almost 60 acres of land for commercial development on the outskirts of the town.

The Lynch project is the latest in a scramble by developers to exploit the commercial opportunities provided by the opening of lands by the €190 million Ennis by-pass.

One of the options put forward for the Lynch lands near Clareabbey is the development of a 42,000 capacity G.A.A. stadium.

The company has lodged an ‘expression of interest’ in the Clare County Board’s search for new stadium and the proposal to provide a new county grounds at Clonroadmore is the focus of the Lynch bid.

However, three landowners, Richard O’Connell, Pat Hynes and Paddy McInerney have come together to oppose the plan on the basis that the development of the distributor road takes no account of their right of access to their lands.

They claim that the proposed distributor road cuts through the existing farm and right of way and makes no allowance for a sustainable access to their lands which are zoned as ‘other settlement’ in the Ennis Development Plan.

The three also point out that the proposed new road would raise land levels around their property.

This week the Council planning department confirmed that the application was invalidated on a technical issue and it was open to the applicants to re-submit their application. It is understood that the company has now opted to re-submit their plans.

The proposed development of a 1.5 km long single-carriageway is to connect the Clonroadmore industrial estate where the Lynch company headquareers is based and the western relief route of the Ennis by-pass.

One option put forward by the company is the development of the stadium along with a 70 bedroom hotel, gym, all-weather pitch offices, conference centre, 240 houses, a public park around Clareabbey as well as a train stop and park and ride facilities.

Another option involves the development of 400 residential units, retail warehousing, a public park around Clareabbey along with the train stop and park n ride facilities.

However, before any of these scenarios can be contemplated, the company has to secure planning permission for the road and it points out that this is a key objective of the Ennis Development Plan.