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INTRODUCING safety and health education into schools could make the single biggest difference to keeping the next generation safe at work.

That’s according to Minister for Labour Affairs, Tony Killeen, who yesterday presented three Clare schools with awards for their work on the subject.

And the Health and Safety Authority has commissioned the National Council for Curriculum Assessment to look at ways of introducing risk education into the classroom right through from primary school to postprimary.

The project involved teaching students key safety concepts, risk assessment, work experience and preparation for the world of work, manual handling and ergonomics and understanding chemical safety.

Minister Killeen presented certificates to post-Junior Cert students and teachers in 15 post-primary schools, across counties Clare, Galway, Mayo and Roscommon for their participation in the training and roll-out of a safety and health module.

The three Clare schools taking part are Ennis Community College, Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon and St.Josephs Secondary School, Tulla.

The minister said that there are more than 300,000 workers aged 15 to 24 in the Irish workforce, according to CSO figures and European research shows that young workers, between 18 and 24 are 50% more likely to have an accident at work than their older counterparts.

“We need to bring the safety message into every level of education so that it’s the first thing we think of no matter what activity we are about to undertake.

“Whether it’s driving a car, serving food in a restaurant or operating a machine – the principles are the same.

“If we have the skills to identify hazards, assess the risk and do something about it, then we’re significantly reducing our chances of having an accident,” Minister Kileen said.

Minister Killeen paid special tribute to all the students who took part in the pilot project, adding that he hoped it would be the first step to the introduction of safety education into classrooms across the country.

Chairman of the Authority, Jim Lyons said, the initiative “is about taking the workplace safety message to the younger generation so that we can begin to foster that all-important safety first-mindset.

“With up to 70% of post-primary students in part-time jobs, the need to equip young people with the right skills to keep themselves and their co-workers safe is more important than ever.”

CLARE County Council has expressed “serious reservations” at plans to transform the Ballymaley Business Park in Ennis into a retail park.

Developers Galvin Construction, Ennis Industrial Properties and Gainsbridge Properties Ltd are seeking to change previously granted planning to three large retail warehouse units.

Instead, they want to develop seven large retail outlets, claiming they would generate some €20 million in retail revenues each year, on the back of a local market for “bulky goods”, estimated at €101 million. They also want to build two light industrial units on the 23 acre site.

The council has requested the developers to submit revised plans, stating it has “serious reservations”.

The reservations are based on the County Clare Retail Strategy, which identifies the Quin Road area as the only location close to the town centre with potential for a retail warehouse park.

“Furthermore, the loss of light industrial units having specific regard to the limited amount of industrial zoned land within Ennis town is of concern,” the council states.

There is also concern that the development “may result in a serious traffic hazard, as it represents a significant deviation from the existing use of the site and the traffic generated as a result of a development of this scale is substantial in terms of servicing these units and customers.”

The council emphasised the lack of pedestrian links into Ennis.

The developers must provide a pedestrian link between the proposed development, the nearby Tom Hogan Motors and the Ballymaley halting site.

The existing access road is described as “substandard” and unable to accommodate a development of this scale. In addition, the proposed junction arrangement has been deemed unacceptable, because of its impact on existing accesses onto the N18.

It would “adversely affect any access to the lands zoned for development on the opposite side of the road”.

The developers have been asked, when submitting their revised proposals, to significantly address concerned outlined, and to explain the various figures contained in its Retail Impact Statement submitted.

A decision is due on the application later this year.

THE number of pupils at Clare’s newest Steiner school is expected to double next September.

The founding teacher at Mol an Óige school in Ennistymon, Una Ní Ghairbhith, made the prediction on the basis of expressions of interest to date.

However, the school continues to await Department of Education recognition, its application having failed due to a “technical hitch” last month.

The school is to re-apply later this year, in time for the 2007-08 academic year.

“Currently, we have 13 on the roll and already have confirmation for a further eight for September, and based on expressions of interest, we should have double the number of pupils in the school for next September,” said Ms Ní Ghairbhith.

Two full-time and one part-time teachers are to be employed next term in response to the demand.

To date, the pupils have been educated by one full-time teacher and one-part time teacher, while others have also contributed.

The school is to hold talks tonight and next Tuesday on “Education for the Whole Child”, with Nell Smyth and Johnathan Angus as speakers.

Ms Ní Ghairbhith said that Steiner education revolved around the “head, heart and hand” of the pupil.

“One of the most rewarding things is that the pupils are so alive to the art of learning,” she said.

“We would never say that this is the way to educate your child. It is another way and people can come along and find out what we are doing here.”

Ms Ni Ghairbhith said that the teacher-pupil ratio at the school “offers a very individualised education”.

She added that it would have been a bonus to secure departmental recognition this year.

“It is disappointing that we failed because of a technical hitch, but there is great belief here in what we are doing.”

With no recognition, continuing fundraising and parents contributions are to fund the school.

Ms Ní Ghairbhith said that parents contributed €35 per week per child, and there was a scale of payments thereafter.

For two pupils it costs €45 per week and for three, it costs €50.

“The school supplies everything such as books, pens and music instruments,” she said.

There are talks tonight and next Tuesday on Steiner education at 7.30pm at the Ennistymon library.

For further information, contact 065 6836939.

THE Holy Family School in Ennis yesterday expressed its concern at the impact of a proposed move by Ennis National School, to a new site without proper planning, on the future educational needs of the town.

The school yesterday reiterated its call for a sociological survey to be carried out before Ennis National School or Cloughleigh National School relocate to new sites, in the wake of Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council proposing to rezone a site at Ashline on the Kilrush Road to facilitate the relocation of Ennis National School.

Chairperson of the Board of Management of Holy Family, Ciana Campbell told The Clare People , “It is a matter of urgency that the sociological study be carried out. It is not good enough that it is proposed to build a new school and wait for a new community to be built around it. We have consistently asked for the study and are still asking for it. We don’t know why it hasn’t been carried out.”

The Board of Holy Family is now likely to make a submission to Clare County Council on the proposed rezoning and the impact it will have on the school.

Principal of Holy Family senior school, Margaret Cooney said, “We are opposed to any move by any school without proper planning. The planning that needs to be done around the proposed move by Ennis National School hasn’t been done.

“The council’s planner’s report into the rezoning talks about a new community being created around the new Ennis National School, but there is no mention of the impact this will have on the present community. The report has talked about the environment impacts, but said nothing about the human impact,” she added.

Ms Cooney pointed out that Holy Family’s Board wrote to Bishop Willie Walsh in 2002 seeking an independent sociological survey to assess the impact on other schools.

“This hasn’t been done. With Ennis and Cloughleigh moving, there is nothing going to be put in their place. Holy Family is at capacity and these are huge issues that nobody is addressing,” she said.

Ms Cooney also said she would not allow prefabs to be erected on Holy Family School.

“Personally, I would like to see a single stream school remain at the Ennis National School site. With the expansion of Ennis, we should be talking about additional schools for the town, not just relocating existing ones.”

A THIEF roared at gardaí that he hoped they would “die a slow and agonising death” and tried to kick one of them in the face, a judge heard.

William Delaney, a Traveller with an address at Gort Road Industrial Estate, Ennis, pleaded guilty before Ennis District Court to stealing aluminium worth €1,000 at Quin Road Business Park on January 30. He also pleaded guilty to a charge under the Public Order Act.

The court heard that Delaney claimed he had been told by an employee of McCarthy builders that he could take the aluminium but that when gardai were called, he did not identify the person who had given him permission.

“He became abusive to a number of employees of the company and to gardaí at the scene,” a garda witness told Judge Joseph Mangan. “He roared that he hoped they would die a slow and painful death and he tried to kick a garda in the face.”

The man’s solicitor said that Delaney “was on medication on the day in question, although he is not offering this as an excuse and he is not offering this as an excuse for behaving without decorum. He has apologised profusely.”

The court heard that the aluminium was recovered. Delaney has seven previous convictions, Judge Mangan was told. The judge jailed Delaney for five months for the theft and two months for the Public Order offence. He set bail for an appeal at €750.

THE injuries sustained by a Shannon man in an accident in Spain may not have been as a result of a hit-and-run, it has emerged.

Ger Keane is in a critical condition in hospital in Spain with serious head injuries, following an incident while on a golfing holiday in Malaga last week.

It was initially thought he was the victim of a hit-andrun accident. However, a friend of Ger’s, who had travelled on previously holidays with the group, but was not available to travel to Malaga, said a clearer picture is now emerging.

“It seems that Ger came across two of this friends being mugged and went to get help. He was on his way back with a security guard and he may have jumped to get out of the way of a car and his head hit the footpath,” the friend said. “His injuries look like he may not have been hit by a car. Nobody actually saw what happened so it is not certain at this stage.”

Members of Ger’s family have travelled to Spain to be with him. Ger, who is in his early 40s, is well known in sporting circles in Shannon, particularly through his connection with Park Rangers soccer club, where he has played and coached youngsters.

AFTER years of controversy, setbacks and a long battle for planning permission, the Pol an Ionain cave in Doolin will officially open its doors to the public this Friday.

The cave, which boasts the world’s largest free-hanging stalactite, will employ up to 20 local people during peak periods and could cater for as many as 65,000 visitors a year.

The cave was the subject of an extended battle for planning permission which saw the developers taking their case to the High Court being allowed to begin work on the site.

“It is done and dusted as far as we are concerned,” said Helen Browne, who is developing the cave along with her husband John. “We wouldn’t be human if we were not disappointed that it took so long but that is life, I suppose.”

Clare County Council granted planning permission to develop the cave in 2000 but this permission was overturned by An Bord Pleanála in February 2001, before the developers took the matter to the High Court to resolve the matter.

The cave will operate on a yearround basis, with tours — consisting of no more than 20 people — being run on an hourly basis.

“I think that it will be a big positive for the locality. It will help to make the tourist season longer and provide some employment,” continued Ms Browne.

“It will operate alongside Ailwee Caves. Caves tend to form together in limestone areas and it is not be uncommon for a number of clusters to operate in one area.”

The stalactite was discovered in 1959 and is believed to be the largest known free-standing stalactite in the world, measuring almost 24 feet.

It was developed using non-explosive drilling techniques to protect the ecology of the cave and its surrounding area. Sensor equipment has been installed by Hull University in England, which is designed to protect the delicate structure of the stalactite from any erosion.

To facilitate visitors’ access to the cave, an 80-foot metal stairs was installed at the cave using a specialist crane yesterday (Monday).

The stalactite was formed over millions of years with the slow dropping of water and limestone from a tiny crack in the caves ceiling.

CLARE County Council’s new €27.5 million headquarters will not be in place until 2008 — one year later than originally scheduled.

Demolition work is expected to commence on the council’s increasingly dilapidated old HQ on Ennis’s New Road in the next number of weeks, with construction work expected to last 20 months.

This imposes a new deadline of January 2008 on the development.

However, in April of last year, councillors were told in a report that work would be commencing on the project in June last year and be completed over a 20-month period to February 2007.

At the signing of the contract with Michael McNamara and Co last December, county manager, Alec Fleming, said that he expected “construction of the corporate headquarters to commence in early spring”.

This failed to commence and independent councillor, Patricia McCarthy said that the delay “is not satisfactory”.

“It is a pity that there is a delay, but now that work has started, I would hope that the contractor would finish the work within the deadline and that there would be no cost-overruns,” she added.

Currently, the council’s offices are located at various venues around Ennis.

Cllr McCarthy commented, “The current situation is very awkward for the public, staff and public representatives.”

Cllr Martin Conway (FG) said, “My biggest concern is the additional costs as a result of delay as the council is paying large rents for various offices across Ennis.”

Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind) said that he was disappointed with the delay.

“The current set-up is not good for the harmony of the organization with departments at different locations around Ennis.”

Over the past number of months, the contractors have relocated the machinery yard and other facilities to Beechpark on the Kilmaley Road.

A spokesman said, “The work at Beechpark is now completed as scheduled and the Machinery Yard, together with record storage facilities and archive storage facilities, are now provided at the Beechpark site.

“The transfer of the actual facilities and records has taken place over the past few weeks.”

McNamara’s are actually on site in New Road at present, preparing for the demolition and subsequent construction of the new headquarters.

The contract in the works was not signed until last December due to the complexity involved in the 35-year agreement.

THE arrest of a west Clare man in connection with the murder of Limerick bouncer Brian Fitzgerald has been described by gardai as “significant”, and the DPP will decide soon if charges are to be brought.

The 48-year-old man was arrested at Barefield, on the outskirts of Ennis, shortly before 6pm last Thursday, in connection with the death in November 2002.

He was detained at Mayorstone Garda Station in Limerick under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act, before being released 24 hours later.

Gardai say a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, who will decide within weeks if charges are to follow.

The man’s house was searched on Thursday evening, following the arrest which was conducted by Limerick gardai, who were working in conjunction with officers from the Clare garda division.

“This development was significant, in the investigation, which is continuing,” said a garda source.

The man who was arrested had been outside the jurisdiction for several months and returned to his home in County Clare during the past fortnight. While several people have been interviewed in connection with the death of Mr Fitzgerald at his Corbally home, just one man is serving time for the murder.

James Martin Cahill (30), from Birmingham, who has strong west Clare connections, was jailed for life last November for murdering Mr Fitzgerald.

He was offered €10,000 by a gang to murder the father-of-two, after he refused a gang member entry to the nightclub where he was a bouncer. Cahill, who pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Fitzgerald, told his sentencing hearing that he would testify against those who he said paid him to carry out the murder.

“I will testify against people. That’s why I feel my life is in danger,” he told the Central Criminal Court, during his sentencing hearing six months ago.

He said he felt his life was in danger in prison and said that others involved in the case should be brought to justice.

STAFF at Shannon Airport have claimed that they were told in advance that EU aviation inspectors were to inspect security at the airport, and procedures were stepped up before they arrived.

Sources say that everything was put in place to avoid a repeat of last year’s embarrassing security lapse, when a Department of Transport official smuggled a knife through a baggage checkpoint.

After the security officials from the European Civil Aviation Council had given Shannon a “very high rating”, airport management treated staff to a celebratory night out in the Clare Inn hotel. But speaking ahead of last Thursday’s night out, staff remained sceptical about the manner in which the audit was carried out.

“We were aware when the inspectors were going to be in Shannon. There were three or four inspectors and they were accompanied by staff from the Department of Transport here. Everything and everyone was in place this time,” one airport police officer said.

“If it was a surprise inspection and we were not told they were coming, I am sure there would be no party tonight,” a fire and police officer said.

The good news for the airport has come almost a year to the day after an inspector from the Department of Transport managed to smuggle a Swiss Army knife through an airport security check.

This most recent audit took place during the first week in April when officials inspected equipment, systems and procedures at Shannon. Attempts by inspectors to smuggle various items including an imitation bomb through airport security checks were thwarted.

Security at Irish airports was stepped up significantly last year, following a series of embarrassing incidents.

Asked to comment on the news that Shannon had achieved such a high rating, a spokesperson would only say, “The Shannon Airport Authority does not comment on security issues.”

The SAA is currently attempting to cut over 200 jobs at the airport and can only recruit internally for its police and fire service. Nine recruits are currently in training.

“If we were at full strength and not keeping the place running on overtime, there would be no security issue, because the staff would be in place to do the job properly,” another officer said.

“It is costing the airport hundreds of thousands on overtime. We can have as much of it as we want, but what we want is a full strength service, nothing more.”