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THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has tersely dismissed a bid by Clare County Council to have two warning notices issued over the management of its Inagh landfill withdrawn.

In March, the agency served the fifteenth non-compliance notice on the council over the management of the €8m landfill.

The council replied with a lengthy defence. But, after a five-week interlude, the EPA has issued a one-line response.

It states that, “notwithstanding the information submitted by the council, the agency considers that the non-compliances should remain”.

Council officials are currently drafting a response to the EPA letter. Chair of the Special Environment Policy Committee, Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) said it was, “very difficult to comprehend the activities of the EPA at times”.

Accusing the EPA of nitpicking, Cllr McCarthy added that the agency was, “not giving clear directions or clear guidelines to the council. The Inagh site is a very well run site.”

The non-compliance notice centred on the council allegedly felling trees during the nesting seasons and on continuing odour problems caused by the landfill.

However, in a strongly worded five page response, the council formally requested that the agency withdraw the two non-compliance notices and claimed that the agency had acted outside its powers.

The council stated that, “the agency would appear to have arbitrarily issued a non-compliance in relation to tree-felling, which it can be argued is outside the scope of the licence as the issue of tree-felling is defined and protected within other statute.

“In the council’s view, the agency has in effect acted ultra vires in the issue of non-compliance notice as the basis for its issue is held by other authorities.

The council pointed out that the Forestry Service and the National Parks and Wildlife Service had both indicated that they had no reservations in relation to tree felling on this site.

The council also argued that ‘in no way can the tree-felling be considered as environment pollution and as such should not result in the issue of a non-compliance which is specifically linked to the Waste Management Act.”

SINN FÉIN is looking to its six cumann in Clare to find a candidate for the next election.

With confidence growing in the party following Pearse Doherty’s large Clare vote in the 2004 European election, the party said it was now preparing to find a candidate in the Banner County.

During his visit to Clare last Friday, the party’s leader in the Dáil, Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, said it was unlikely that the search would extend beyond the party.

“That isn’t our approach in the norm. We rely on first our own resources and talents,” he said.

When asked if the party would approach a high profile figure in the county to run for it, the Monaghan TD said, “I don’t think it is an approach we would prefer. We would prefer to concentrate on our own members.”

“It would be a requirement obviously to be a member of the party,” he added.

“In the last election (European), Pearse Doherty received 5,000 votes in Clare. That is a measure of the potential in the county.”

Deputy Ó Caoláin was in Clare in his role as Sinn Fein’s Health Spokesperson. Launching the party’s National Healthcare Campaign “Healthcare in an Ireland of Equals”, he visited numerous health facilities around Ennis.

Accompanied by local Sinn Féin activists, he met with Peadar McNamara, Chairman of Ennis General Hospital Development Committee, with whom he said he had a long standing working relationship.

He told The Clare People that he had been involved in a long series of correspondence with the lobby group, and had supported their work not only as a TD, but also as a resident on Monaghan town.

He then paid a visit to the Mid Western Regional Hospital Ennis, where he met with campaigners and staff and had a short walkabout.

Prior to his meeting at the hospital, the Sinn Féin TD visited a number of shopping centres in the town.

He also met with members of Down’s Syndrome Ireland who were having a flag day. The deputy said he was acutely aware of their concerns, as a sibling of a man with Down’s Syndrome.

He then met with the management, staff and service users of the Disabled People of Clare at their offices.

THE Clare People has learnt that senior Fine Gael officials visited the county in the last ten days to meet privately with the four candidates from last month’s convention.

The party is now believed to be close to making a decision about who should represent Fine Gael next summer.

It is understood that the party will stick to a promise made by party leader, Enda Kenny, to Cllr. Madeleine Taylor-Quinn, two years ago, offering her a place on the ticket.

Fine Gael General Secretary, Tom Curran, and the National Director of Elections, Frank Flannery, met with the candidates in an attempt to resolve issues to emerge out of the convention fiasco.

It is believed that they held out a Seanad nomination, in a bid to decide which of the candidates outvoted at the convention would be added to the Dáil ticket, for next year’s election.

This offer is thought to have been refused by Cllr Madeleine Taylor Quinn, in light of a previous deal she made with the party leader.

It is believed that Enda Kenny promised the former TD and Opposition front bencher a chance to run in the next general election if she put her name forward for the European election in 2004.

It is understood that having secured 22,000 first preference votes from the county in 2004, Cllr Taylor-Quinn is now insisting that the party adheres to the deal and adds her to the ticket.

Sources say that senior officials have now agreed that the deal was indeed made and should be adhered to.

Fine Gael sources also claim that the son of former TD Dónal Carey, Cllr. Joe Carey has been offered a Seanad nomination, but that there has been no suggestion that he is out of the running for the Fine Gael ticket.

Meanwhile, some members of the party in Clare believe that just two Fine Gael candidates should go forward, while others argue that a third candidate is necessary.

There has also been suggestions that a final decision is unlikely to be made until Fianna Fáil shows its hand.

On Sunday May 14, the Clare Fine Gael delegates elected sitting TD Deputy Pat Breen and Shannon Town Mayor Cllr Tony Mulcahy to represent the party in the next election.

THE Diocese of Killaloe confirmed yesterday that it was “quite unlikely” that any man would enter studies for the priesthood next September.

The Diocese’s Director of Vocations, Fr Iggy McCormack told The Clare People THE ENNIS Educate Together school is hopeful that agreement can be reached with Clare County Council over a permanent site for the school.

School officials have also hit back at claims made by the council that the present Gort Road site isn’t large enough to accommodate a permanent building.

The council stated that school management had not sought to renew the lease for the site which ran out eight months ago and that the site is unsuitable for development.

But school principal Sean O’Confhaola has hit back saying the school would be happy to develop the present site.

“The school would be more than happy to obtain a site of 1.86 acres instead of one of 2.5 acres if it would mean building a new school sooner rather than later.

“Many schools have been built on smaller sites in urban areas. In fact, a very small site for the Ranelagh Multi-Denominational National School won an architectural award last year.”

Mr O’Confhaola says the Council has a social responsibility for the school as 165 children were enrolled there. He hoped the Council would consider new school planning measures currently in place in six counties which would allow the local authority reserve a site for the school.

The school has been at loggerheads with the council over a permanent site. School officials have said they may not be able to take new students at the beginning of next term if the issue is not resolved.

CLARE County Council and The National University of Ireland, Maynooth, are currently conducting a major study on habitat change and the impact of rising sea levels along the Shannon Estuary and parts of County Clare.

It is hoped that the survey will identify areas where important natural habitats can be restored or enhanced and that it will help form better planning practice as well as contribute to research on climate change and the rise in sea levels in the future.

Earlier this year, the heritage map was commissioned as part of the Clare Heritage Plan Programme. The project was launched in association with the Heritage Council, Clare Biodiversity Group and Rural Resource Development.

The map will cover an area stretching from Ruan to Clooney to Shannon Airport and will include the greater Ennis area and the River Fergus estuary.

The work is being carried out by Mary Tubridy and Associates who were involved in developing an Environmental Education Strategy for the county in 2004.

Dr. Tubridy and Mieke Muyllaert will gather information for the map from aerial photographs and fieldwork.

Congella McGuire, Heritage Officer, Clare County Council, says the new maps will make it possible to learn about the diversity of plants and animals in the areas surveyed.

“A presentation on the work and update of the survey will be made available during Heritage Week from August 26 to September 3 in Ennis,” she said.

The Eilis Dillon award went to Snake’s Elbows by Deirdre MadA BOOK based on the folklore of

den, who was presented with a glass Clare has won a children’s author

sculpture and a cheque for €3,000. the €6,000 Bisto Book of the Year

Bisto Honour Awards were preAward for a record fourth time.

sented to Oliver Jeffers for Lost and Kate Thompson collected the gong

Found , Kevin Kiely for A Horse for her book, The New Policeman,

Called El Dorado and Eileen O’Hely and the sponsors of the competition

and Nicky Phelan, author and illushave decided to retire the perpetual

trator of Penny the Pencil . trophy by presenting it to her.

Also short-listed for this year’s The New Policeman tells the sto-

awards were Eoin Colfer for ry of a teenage boy, JJ, making the

, Gillian crossing into the fairy world to try

Lobel and Adrienne Geoghegan, auto buy time for his busy mother and

thor and illustrator of Fancy That , the judging panel said it manages to

Oisin McGann for Under Fragile “raise many complex issues about

Stone as well as Dairne Ni Dhonnchu the past and present but in a seem-

and Maria Murray, the author and ilingly effortless way.”

lustrator of Briona ag BrionngloideThe young hero hails from a long

ach along with John Quinn for Bill line of traditional fiddlers and is on

and Fred . a mission to get his mother some ex-

Almost 165 primary and secondtra time for her birthday. But as he

ary schools took part in a reading progresses on his quest, he discovers

scheme where they choose the overa disturbing family secret.

all winner. The action is divided between East

“It has been a privilege to partner Clare, Kinvara and Tir na nOg.

with Children’s Books Ireland since Galway-based Thompson was pre-

the inception of the awards and now sented with the trophy and a cheque

as we retire the perpetual trophy to for €6,000 by Education Minister,

Kate Thompson, we are looking Mary Hanafin and the chairman of

forward to working together on the the judging panel, Damien Kiberd.

further development of the awards,” Sponsors of the competition, RHM,

said RHM Ireland marketing mansaid a new trophy will be commis-

ager, Paul MacGabhann. sioned for next year. She previously won the award for her books, The Beguilers The Alchemists Apprentice and Annan Water .

A BID to build the world’s biggest number of sandcastles and enter into the Guinness Book of Records is being made in Oranmore, County Galway next week.

Following the official opening of the Marine Institute’s new headquarters next week by the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, a monster “Pirate Party” and Family Fun Day will take place on Sunday June 11 to celebrate World Ocean Day and to uncover some of the treasures from Ireland’s 220 million acres of ocean territory.

The event is part of celebrations right across the globe to highlight awareness of our oceans and, in particular, is twinned with the World Oceans Festival in Tramore, where the Marine Institute is sponsoring a Guinness Book of Records sandcastle-building competition. The Pirate Party casts off at 11.00 am and finishes at 5.00 pm in the new building at Renville, Oranmore. Admission is free.

Instead of a ship, the buccaneers have pirated a 45-meter long marquee that will be crammed with displays and demonstration tanks. Lectures will take place in the main auditorium of the building.

THE battle-lines have been drawn as a campaign to prevent the erection of an ESB mast gathers momentum.

Residents attempting to prevent the ESB installing a 30 metre high mast at one of its substations at Cahercalla More, are to take their case to the High Court.

The first legal steps have already been taken, with solicitors acting on behalf of residents seeking to appoint a barrister who will apply to the court for a leave of appeal that will kick start the legal battle.

The controversy has rumbled on since An Bord Pleanála overruled the decision of its own inspector, and that of Clare County Council, to grant the ESB permission to erect the 80 foot high telecommunications mast.

The board’s inspector had strongly recommended against the move, saying it would set an unwelcome precedent in the town.

The proposed site sits in the middle of a densely residential area. The Eire Óg GAA grounds and Cahercalla Hospice are also located nearby.

Residents must finance their action from their own pocket, because Ennis Town Council opted not to pursue a judicial review on foot of receiving legal advice. The locals could incur costs in excess of €80,000, but are determined to fight on.

Spokesperson Noel Mulhaire says that residents living in nearby Riverview have given their support to the campaign.

“Our solicitors have been working over the past week and we have started legal proceedings. It will be expensive and we are going to have to pay the costs, but there is no way we can let this thing go ahead. We have got good support from locals living in Riverview and we have to try and continue to raise money.”

Since the decision by Ennis Town Council not to pursue legal proceedings, there has been no contact between locals and the ESB. Mr Mulhaire says confidence is high that the mast can be stopped.

“We have received good support from councillors, TDs and members of the Oireachtas. We have received strong legal opinion that it couldn’t go ahead and that An Bord Pleannala’s decision to overturn the inspector was outside their jurisdiction. By going down the judicial process, we hope that it can be stopped”

The campaign has also received support from the Rossport Five. Mr Mulhaire said that plans for a protest march were being discussed.

CLARE County Council’s summertime ban on dogs at beaches was being openly flouted within one hour of coming into force at the county’s most popular beach last Thursday.

Dog-owners face fines of up to €1,270 if found on the beach with their dog between 11am and 6pm each day as part of the beach bye-laws introduced across Clare’s beaches on June 1. The ban extends to dogs kept on the leash.

However, at sun-drenched Lahinch last Thursday, the council had yet to erect any signs informing people of the new bye-laws. There were no officials patrolling the beach in the early afternoon to catch anyone in breach of them.

Dog-owner Michael O’Halloran travelled from Clooney in east Clare on Thursday to bring his two labradors for a walk on the beach.

“I have bought two new leads for my two dogs today and I have been told that I can’t walk them on the beach.

“I think it is ridiculous. It doesn’t make any sense. I intend to bring them on the beach. It is a crazy law,” he said.

Carlow woman Evelyn Carroll was on Lahinch prom with her cocker spaniel, Wally.

“A total ban on dogs? What is the world coming to? Ah my God. A curfew? It’s lucky they don’t smoke. What next?” she asked.

Ms Carroll vowed that she would break the new bye-laws.

“It is a beautiful day. I’ll definitely be walking Wally on the beach. I love breaking rules, living on the edge.”

Unaccompanied dogs were also seen on Lahinch beach in the first hours of the ban.

However, the new council ban won the support of mothers of young children at Lahinch.

“I would be very much in favour. My two youngest are scared of dogs and it upsets them to see dogs bounding about.

“My children were building a sandcastle yesterday and a dog fouled nearby with the owner carrying on and he had to be asked to clean it up,” said mother-of-three Sophie Coughlan, on holidays from the UK.

“In the UK, people are very good about scooping, but dogs wouldn’t be banned on the beach.”

“I would be in favour of the new law because I would be very anxious when stray dogs come close to my children. It is not safe,” said mother Jane O’ Shea.

Opposed to the outright ban, Cllr Joe Carey (FG) said if Clare County Council enforced existing laws, there would be no need to introduce the dogs ban.

Cllr Carey said that it was open to the council to enforce the Control of Dogs Act 1986 and 1992 and the Litter Pollution Act 1997.

“There are old signs at Lahinch warning people that they face fines of up to €1,270 if they don’t have their dog on a lead on a beach.

“As far as I’m aware, no-one has ever been fined for having their dog off the lead in Lahinch.

“It is the responsible dog owner that is losing out.

“No-one wants to see any dog fouling or running loose and if the existing laws were enforced, there wouldn’t be the need for this new law which has the potential to damage Clare’s tourism industry if not handled properly.”

However, chair of the Council’s Environment Committee, Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind), said that those people flouting the law were doing all dog owners a dis-service.

“The council is introducing a softly-softly approach at the moment by making people aware of the new laws, but those that flout the laws will be fined.

“There is a silent majority in favour of the new dogs ban and they are hoping that it will be a success,” she said.

Cllr McCarthy said that signage relating to the new laws would be erected on Clare’s beaches at the weekend and that gardaí could now also be called if dog-owners persisted in taking their dogs onto the beach during the prohibited times.

AN OFFICIAL report which gives bathing waters in Clare the thumbs up has been welcomed by the county’s mayor.

The EPA’s Bathing Water Quality in Ireland Report 2005 has found Irish bathing water quality to be among the highest in Europe with 96 per cent of bathing areas assessed in full compliance with European Standards.

In Clare, 100 per cent of bathing waters assessed complied with EU minimum standards including all the top summer holiday spots such as: Ballyallia Lake at Ennis, Ballycuggeran, Bishopsquarter, Cappagh Pier at Kilrush, Fanore, Kilkee, Lahinch, Mountshannon at Lough Derg, Spanish Point, White Strand at Doonbeg and White Strand at Miltown Malbay.

Despite meeting these EU standards, a slight reduction in bathing water quality was registered at Ballyallia Lake at Ennis.

The news was welcomed yesterday by the Mayor of Clare, Pat Keane (FF).

“We are delighted to hear this news. It is an indication of how hard the county council has worked for many years to get this result. Now the hard work has paid off – we have the bathing water up to the required standard and we want to keep it there,” the mayor said.

Nationally, a total of 131 designated bathing areas, both seawater and freshwater, were monitored by local authorities throughout the 2005 bathing season.

Commenting on this year’s bathing quality results, Gerard O’Leary, Programme Manager, EPA said: “The EPA are pleased to report that Irish bathing waters remain at a good standard not least in Clare where all but one bathing area assessed complied with both EU minimum mandatory standards and stricter guide values”.

“However, nationally there is a mixed picture with improvements in some areas and deterioration in others. A notable finding in the report highlights the positive effect of wastewater treatment facilities on bathing water quality reflecting the need to invest in treatment facilities in areas of deterioration.”

A total of 131 beaches around Ireland were assessed for compliance with two sets of EU standards: minimum quality standards and more stringent EU Guide Values. The key findings are that: • 126 of the 131 bathing areas (98 per cent) complied with mandatory EU standards. 128 bathing areas complied in 2004. • 191 of the 131 (91 per cent) bathing areas complied with the much stricter EU guidelines standards. 115 bathing areas complied in 2004. • Five bathing areas out of the 131 failed to comply with mandatory EU standards.