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THE impact of holiday homes on Kilkee has prompted a West Clare councillor to call for the reforming of a community based group.

Dr Tom Nolan called for the Kilkee Planning Review Group to be reformed, claiming that Clare Council Council wasn’t willing to engage with local representatives.

Dr Nolan (Ind), a member of Kilkee Town Council, was chairman of the planning group that fought against a number of tax-driven holiday home developments in Kilkee during the 1990s

“The questions of six-seven years ago remain unanswered and the infrastructure deficit remains the same. I think that it is time that a Planning Review Group be resurrected in some form because there isn’t a willingness from Clare County Council to engage with the people that represent the local people.

“The sad truth is that local people can and never will be able to live in Kilkee because the cost of housing. The only way local people will be able to live in Kilkee is that if developers are compelled to provide social and affordable housing in the area.

“No infrastructure, either social or essential, has been provided for the surge of holiday homes in Kilkee and it is not sustainable. Why doesn’t someone shout stop? It is baffling as to why Clare County Council has granted planning to these developments and you would have to conclude that the council sees Kilkee as a revenue raising area through development charges.”

Dr Nolan made his comments as concern was expressed over the impact a €25 million housing development would have in Kilkee.

Earlier this year, plans were lodged by Paddy Madden, Barry Madden, Jerry O’Sullivan and Paul O’Connell for a 60 home development at Dough, Kilkee. The houses are to be built on six acres of zoned land 250 metres from Kilkee’s Circular Road. The developers are to enter an agreement to give a monetary contribution towards social and affordable housing.

In an objection against the development, Kilkee woman, Martha McGreen states: “The area is losing the very charm that has made it so popular over the years and the very sense of identity of being from Kilkee is being eroded away. How can a person from the town now afford to buy here and with the zoning restrictions how can they even build if they have land?”

A decision is due on the application later this month.

A GROUP campaigning for maternity services in Clare has rowed in behind the campaign to safeguard accident and emergency services in Clare.

Spokesperson for the Maternity Service Group, Susan Killeen, said that the group is concerned about the Accident and Emergency Department in the Mid-West Regional Hospital Ennis, as it is the first point of call for emergency births in the county.

The lobby group has been campaigning for a midwife-led unit for Clare for a number of years, as well as promoting the choice of a home birth within the county.

There are currently no maternity services in Clare, with the exception of Kilkee based midwife, Sue Cole, who provides a private service.

Last year, 1,387 Clare women gave birth in the Regional Maternity Hospital, Limerick, one third of them by caesarean section.

A further 180 Clare mothers gave birth in the National University Hospital Galway.

Ms Killeen told The Clare People that home births were for the minority. But, the group would like to see a home birth service provided for the county by the HSE, so that women had choices.

She said there was no information provided on home births when looked for by expectant mothers in the county.

A seminar has now been organised by the Home Birth Association in Blackrock Cork on Saturday next. There is currently a pilot scheme on home births in Cork.

A couple who experienced such a birth will talk about their experience while experts provide further information.

A GARDA traffic unit focusing on the east Clare area is to be established in Killaloe within weeks, The Clare People has learned.

The unit, consisting of a sergeant and five gardaí, will compliment the existing Garda Traffic Corps, which is based in Ennis and covers the county.

The establishment of the unit will be paralleled by an increase in size of the traffic corps, based in Ennis, will also be increased in size. All of the changes are due to be finalised by June.

Garda sources say the establishment of the unit in Killaloe follows the increasing number of serious road crashes in that area over the past few years. Traffic members will also clamp down on a spate of crime in the area in recent months.

Overall, the Garda Traffic Corps in the division is to double in size by the end of next year.

This comes amid figures, which show a dramatic increase in the number of drivers arrested for drink driving, across the division. The number of drivers caught speeding is also on the increase.

“It was decided to locate the new unit in Killaloe, given the number of serious accidents there last year. We feel it is needed there,” said a Garda spokesman.

“It is hoped that this will create more visibility in rural areas. Traffic enforcement and crime prevention are the two main aims. The area has been susceptible to burglaries over the past 18 months in particular,” he added.

“There have been quite a number of fatal accidents on the N7 Limerick to Dublin road over the past year and we believe Killaloe would be an appropriate place to locate a second section of the traffic unit,” he said.

East Clare Councillor Paschal Fitzgerald (Lab) welcomed the decision to set up the unit in Killaloe, saying it was a necessary move.

“It is about time. We have been waiting for this for a long time. Speeding is an issue all over the country and it is great to see an initiative being taken,” he said.

He expressed hope that the increased Garda presence may assist in the fight against spiralling crime in the area, most notably burglaries.

“There are only three gardaí in Ardnacrusha. It is great to see the extra gardaí being put in the area. Visibility is important. Hopefully these gardaí will be seen in the housing estates,” he said.

THE number of people arrested for drink driving over the bank holiday weekend almost doubled, when compared with the same period last year.

Nine drivers were arrested on suspicion of the offence between Friday and yesterday (Monday). Three of these were in Ennis, while the rest were in various parts of the Clare Garda Division. This compares with five arrests during the same weekend last year.

It represents an increase of 14 per cent on last year and a phenomenal 54 per cent increase on the number arrested two years ago.

The head of the Clare Garda Divisional Traffic Unit, Inspector Kevin Moynihan, said the rising trend of arrests for drink driving was a concern.

“It is a worry, but it seems to be mirroring the national trend. There is a high level of enforcement. Hopefully people get the message,” said Inspector Moynihan.

The number of arrests for drink driving each year is continuing to rise in Clare. A total of 283 people were arrested during the whole of last year, which was an increase of 10 per cent on the previous year.

Garda sources said a “significant” number of people from Eastern Europe were arrested for drink driving in Clare in recent months and said this was contributing to the overall figure being so high.

Meanwhile, new measures which will see penalty points imposed for a further 31 offences are due to come into effect at the start of next month.

These include illegal overtaking, failure to obey traffic lights and failing to obey stop and yield signs.

Gardaí using the new hand-held computer system, introduced in recent weeks, say it is working well, with no major problems to-date.

THE Central Waste Management Facility at Ballyduff Beg could face another rap over the knuckles from the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) following the latest alleged breach of its licence.

Local resident Perry Longe told The Clare People that documents which were required to be available for inspection at the Waste Management Facility were not available on last Thursday, March 16.

The EPA licence states that written documentation which relates to the licensed activities and “copies of the environmental monitoring results and reports” have to be kept on site and available for inspection at all times.

“I asked for both and they didn’t have either. They said that the documents had been removed to head office so that they could prepare for the court case,” said Mrs Longe.

“This amounts to another breach of the licence. They must have €20 million gone into there and if they cannot afford to keep duplicates then there is something seriously wrong.”

Last week it was revealed that local residents John Long along with Tom Harvey and his children Damien and Edel had instigated legal action against Clare County Council, over the operation of the facility.

The four people, who all have houses in close proximity to the Waste Management Facility, are seeking damages as well as the closure of the landfill facility at Ballyduff Beg.

They have been advised by their legal representatives not to speak to the media while the case is pending.

“I feel that it is a vindictive act in retaliation for the court case which is being taken by some of the local people here,” continued Mrs Longe.

“Nobody knows how long these documents might have been missing for. Between March 1 and March 16 there is no way of knowing.”

In January, the Community Liaison Committee for the facility sent a letter of complaint to the EPA informing it of alleged breaches in the licence over the Christmas period.

These breaches concern the closing of the facility’s ninth landfill cell, which the committee have claimed was disturbed without informing the EPA in writing, in compliance with the licence.

The waste management facility has threatened to divide the local community in recent years with local councillor Flan Garvey (FF) receiving a soiled article about the dump, anonymously, in the post before Christmas.

A CAMPAIGN by two Clare Steiner Schools for official recognition has hit a snag with the news that the Department of Education has been unable to process their application for recognition.

The Department of Education has informed Clare VEC that it is currently not in a position to process the application for recognition of the two primary schools at Raheen Wood School Tuamgraney, Scariff and Mol an Óige, Ennistymon.

The Department has cited technical difficulties in the dual application as the reason for the delay. The difficulty in the process is believed to centre on the issue of Clare VEC serving as patron for both schools.

However Clare VEC believe that the Department have wrongly interpreted the regulations concerning patronage and believe that the organisation is entitled to serve as patron for both Mol an Óige and Raheen Wood.

CEO of Clare VEC, George O’Callaghan, confirmed the delay at last Thursday’s monthly meeting of the board.

He said that he would be meeting with Department officials to further discuss the matter.

The Board of Clare VEC had previously accepted a proposal to become conditional patron of the schools provided both received official recognition from the Department of Education.

In order for the application process to be finalised, the schools must first agree to the curriculum as set out by the department.

In the case of Mol an Óige, recognition would allow them to pursue a permanent site for a school building.

“There was some suggestion that there might need to be a change of patron, but it is certainly the case that Clare VEC are entitled to act as patron,” said Cllr Flan Garvey (FF).

THE Courts Service has moved to dispel any concerns about the future of court sittings in north Clare.

A spokesperson for the service has said that steps are been taken to find a more suitable venue than than the Teach Ceol premises in Ennistymon, used for district court sittings for more than a decade.

Last week, The Clare People revealed that District Court Judge Joseph Mangan might refuse to sit in Ennistymon after September.

The judge cited cold conditions and poor acoustics as his reasons for his statement.

He said his court sitting at the Teach Ceol in September might be his last and an alternative venue would be required.

“The Courts Service is very aware of the limited facilities available to the court in Ennistymon.

“Court officials are actively involved in securing alternative and improved facilities for the court sittings.

“The regional manager and the chief court clerk for the district have visited several locations in this regard and have made efforts such as contacting the county council and different groups and auctioneers in the area, to see if facilities are available,” said the spokesman.

He said that, currently, there didn’t seem to be “any suitable venue available,” adding that the Courts Service was open to suggestions.

“We will consult with Clare court users in the coming weeks,” he added.

He stressed that this was not part of a plan to move all of the rural courts into the newly-renovated courthouse in Ennis, where both the Ennis and Shannon court sittings currently take place.

A FIVE-FOUR decision by the members of An Bord Pleanala has saved the former Holywell restaurant building in Ballyvaughan from demolition.

The building will be transformed into a language centre, following the Appeals’ Board overturning of a decision by Clare County Council.

Twice previously, the appeals board had refused planning to Wolfgang and Sibylle Dietls to retain the restaurant, forcing the couple to shut down the business last September and relocate to Ennistymon.

If the board had refused the plan to transform the building into a language centre, Clare County Conncil was set to go into the Circuit Court to demand the demolition of the building.

In explaining its decision, the Board stated that the present proposal to retain the extension for purposes directly related to the main established education/language school use, rather than a new commercial use. They said it would be acceptable in terms of its visual impact and would not set a precedent for further commercial development in this area.

A modified extension will comprise of two classrooms, a study, games room, toilets, kitchen and students’ dining area, all at Newtown, Ballyvaughan.

“We are very happy with the decision and it makes life easier for us. We will be putting in classrooms now into the building,” said Wolfgang Dietl.

In their appeal, the Dietls claimed that a decision to refuse permission would compromise the viability of the entire school and would have the most serious repercussions for the whole of the Holywell venture.

They stated, “The education/language school and restaurant were dependent on each other to make the enterprise financially viable. If the language school is to survive as a stand-alone business, it is crucial for us to have the necessary facilities to increase their student intake.

“Holywell has not only acted as a language school and restaurant, but also as a cultural and social facility for the village which is devoid of such amenities . . . it has hosted concerts, lectures, a film club along with evening classes in languages, computers, traditional music workshops, yoga and creative writing. These unique and educational events are focused at and for the benefit the local population.”

THE Kilrush RNLI lifeboat was called to a fisherman in distress on Sunday evening.

A woman walking along Beal Beach, on the Kerry side of the Shannon Estuary, spotted the boat in trouble and raised the alarm.

The Kilrush lifeboat launched at 6.15pm and went to the assistance of the 17-foot opendecked angling boat with one person aboard.

The lifeboat escorted the boat to shore, returning to the station at 7.15 pm.

No one was injured in the incident.

“The Kilrush lifeboat proceeded to the area and provided standby assistance to an angling boat from Beal Beach area to Carrigaholt Pier,” a spokesperson for the lifeboat crew said.

The voluntary lifeboat crew on Sunday included, at the helm Ian Lynch, crew Noel Fulham and Charlie Glynn with John Lamb, Lifeboat Operations Manager, in charge of launching operations. Those who assisted on shore were John Kiely and John Lamb.

Press Officer for the Kilrush lifeboat Charles W Glynn again reminded those using boats, or other water bound vessels, to follow all safety procedures. Mr Glynn said to always wear a lifejacket, and do all the simple, but vital checks, including those on the engine and fuel. Always tell others where you are going, and carry some means of calling for help, such as VHF, or mobile phone, the spokesperson warned. He also reminded all sailors to keep an eye on the weather and tides.

THE Health Service Executive, Mid West Area has denied that anyone has suffered food poisoning as a result of eating meals from the catering department of an Ennis hospital.

The statement was in response to shocking revelations in last week’s edition of The Clare People about standards of catering at St. Joseph’s Geriatric Hospital.

An independent inspection of the hospital’s catering department uncovered a major food poisoning risk, caused by a service, which “falls short of the level of quality control desired”.

The report highlighted poor work practices including food being prepared far in advance, the primary cause of food poisoning. The HSE claims that the catering department is compliant with requirements.

“Over the last five years, over €560,000 has been expended on the upgrading of the main kitchen and ward kitchenettes at St. Joseph’s Hospital. This has included electrical upgrade works, a cooling system, general refurbishment and purchase of equipment”

The HSE spokesperson said that a review of policies, processes, and procedures in the catering department was conducted recently, in order to streamline the catering operation and create further efficiencies.

“This review was carried out with a view to preparing for the final phase of rationalisation of HSE catering services in Clare, which will involve the transfer of catering from Ennis General Hospital.”