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DOOLIN is set to become the centre of the Clare construction industry over the next two years as more than 100 jobs set to be created on two long-awaited projects on Doolin Pier.

As the Office of Public Works (OPW) prepare to start the tender process for the new Irish Coastguard Rescue Centre next week, an Bord Pleanála also gave the green light for the € 6 million Doolin Pier.

Construction work on both projects is likely to begin later this year with the rescue centre set to be completed by 2014 and and Doolin Pier expected to be operation for the beginning of the 2015 tourist season.

As well as pumping millions into the local economy during construction, the development of the completed pier is expected to drastically change the tourism industry in North Clare – making Doolin a major access point for the 70,000 plus tourists who travel to the Aran Islands each year.

“Clare County Council has invested considerable time and resources into ensuring that the Doolin Pier project is one that benefits all users of the existing pier. Once completed, this project will have significant, positive economic and social consequences for the people of North Clare and the wider region,” said county manager Tom Coughlan.

The Doolin Pier itself is expected to create more then 100 jobs locally, in the local tourism sector, once completed.

“It is regretable that this has taken as long as this to be decided upon. It is unfortuante that a project that was granted public funding around five years ago has had to wait until now to get the final go ahead, despite extensive public consultation,” said North Clare Senator, Martin Conway (FG).

“I am looking forward now to the construction of a new pier in Doolin which is going to create the bones of 100 jobs in the tourism industry – directly and indirectly.”

The pier was also welcomed be a large number of Clare politicians including Labour TD Michael McNamara, Fine Gael Senator Tony Mulcahy and Mayor of Clare Pat Daly (FF).

THE chairman and management of Shannon Airport Authority have welcomed the appointment of four new members to the board of the newly independent Shannon Airport Authority. The new appointees are US-based public policy consultant and transport expert Kathryn O’Leary Higgins, Managing Director of Clare FM and Tipp FM radio stations Liam O’Shea and Shannon Airport worker-directors Joe Buckley (Cargo & Technical Traffic Development Manager) and Kevin McCarthy (Airport Police Fire Officer).

The four new directors join existing board members, Chairman Rose Hynes, Airport Director Mary Considine and Pat Dalton, Chief Financial Officer of One51.

“I welcome these board appointments. The new directors provide us with the type of expertise and experience that is required to deliver the strategic vision for the airport, which is around achieving significant passenger growth and the development of the International Aviation Services Centre at Shannon over the next five years,” said Rose Hynes, the chairman of NewCo, the new company established to oversee the new independent Shannon Airport.

“I look forward to working with the new board members at this exciting and challenging time for Shannon Airport,” Ms Hynes added.

Shannon Chamber president Kevin Thompstone has described the new board appointments at Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) as a step nearer the completion of the change process at the airport.

“With a governance strategy now in place at SAA, plans underway to merge SAA and Shannon Development into a new entity, and the selection of a new CEO for the merged entity pending, the elements to drive the transformational change required at Shannon Airport are progressively being put in place,” he said.

“The SAA board’s complementary set of skills in public policy, transport, aviation, communications, change management, investment and planning, contributes the collective capability to chart a new future for Shannon,” the former chief executive of Shannon Development said.

ENNIS General Hospital has been given the green light not just to provide the first bowel-screening programme for Clare, but for the whole mid-west region and beyond.

Hospital Manager Frank Keane, who will remain on at the hospital until the new management structure is up and running, described the accreditation of the hospital’s endoscope service by the UK-based Joint Advisory Group (JAG) as “a major feather in the cap of Ennis hospital.”

The status was not easily achieved, he reminded journalists and medical professionals at a press launch yesterday (Monday).

“The National Cancer Control Programme announced at the end of 2010 that a colonoscopy screening would be provided to an isolated age group,” he said.

At that point, centres throughout the country vied for the tender to provide screening services. Ennis General Hospital was one of 15 centres picked as a potential candidate, but it still had a lot of work to do.

Firstly, the endoscopy unit only existed on paper at the time. Once it was built, it had to receive hardsought accreditation from JAG, which is the standards body for endoscopy throughout the National Health Service. In 2011, this accreditation was deferred due to the issues relating to the length of the hospital’s waiting list and waiting lists throughout the mid west.

In September last year, issues relat ing to waiting lists had been rectified and on February 28, Ennis General Hospital got the green light.

Mr Keane said that while Ennis will provide the screening service for all of the mid-west, and areas outside the mid-west, the hospital will continue to work with the unit in Nenagh who is also seeking accreditation if and when more screening centres are opened.

Advance Nurse Practitioners are also being employed at every unit. As there are currently no such positions in the country, these specialised nurses are being employed especially.

Kathleen Stack took up the position in Ennis on Monday last, and will coordinate with patients who take up the offer of this life-saving screening.

“Ennis hospital has a bright but different future,” explained Mr Keane.

THE Lahinch-based West Coast Surf Club (WCSC) say that they still have “serious reservation” about the impact that the constr uction of a new pier at Doolin will have on the local surfing waves around Crab Island.

The group, who along with the Irish Surfing Association (ISA) and a number of individual surfers, compelled Clare County Council to lodge a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) with an Bord Pleanála, say they are still available to consult with the design team for the pier on ways that the impact on the waves could be minimised.

In a joint statement, the WCSC and the ISA also said that they had serious questions over safe access for surfers to the water once the new pier is completed.

“The WCSC and the ISA welcome the conclusion of the review by An Bord Pleanala which will now allow the pier development to proceed. However, serious reservations remain regarding the decision and it is unfor tunate that the board in finalising their decision have not taken on board the serious concerns and recommendations set out in sections 7.1, 9.7 and 11.0 of the An Bord Pleanala Inspector’s Report,” read the statement.

“The pier development will impact on the surf environment in the area with the wave at Ballaghaline Point destroyed and a potentially significant impact on the world famous Crab Island wave.

“The WCSC and ISA again reconfirm their availability and that of their exper t advisors to meet with Clare County Council to ensure that the impact of any design and constr uction works car ried out for the new pier facilities on the waves at Doolin can be minimised. The WCSC and the ISA further note that significant concerns remain regarding the surfer’s access as proposed.”

FOUR decades of work in the local government sector was recognised last evening (Monday) when a civic reception was awarded to Joe Boland. Mr Boland worked for more than 40 years in the sector, including a 23-year term as Clare County and Ennis Town Manager.

Ennis Town Council hosted the event in recognition of what it described as the “significant contribution Joe Boland made to County Clare and especially to the development of Ennis between 1960 and 1983”.

Mr Boland was lauded for his direct role in spearheading the development of a strategic plan for industrial and residential development in the town, the delivery of major drainage and water supply schemes, the provision of the De Valera Library, and the implementation of a major and continuous Housing Programme which led to the replacement of derelict sites with open spaces and carparks in the town centre.

Addressing last evening’s Civic Reception, Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Peter Considine (FF) said, “During his term as County and Town Manager, the town of Ennis experienced a period of enormous change.

It was under Joe’s stewardship that every opportunity was grasped to ensure that Ennis would be able to be- come what it is today, one of the largest towns in the region with a proud economic, social, cultural and political history which is a legacy that we must protect.

“While the extension of the Ennis Urban Boundary took place in 1989, Joe also played an important role, prior to retirement, in preparing the ground for its successful conclusion. The extension of the Boundary for Ennis was significant in terms of income for the town. We must continue to build on this achievement so as to ensure that the town of Ennis remains the capital of County Clare in terms of tourism, economic development, community engagement and active citizenship.”

During his time as County and Town Manager, Mr Boland has also held the position of Chairman of Lisdoonvarna Fáilte Ltd from 1967 to 1983, Director of Syntex Ireland (Roche Ireland), Trustee of Clare Social Service Council (now known as Clarecare) from 1968 to 1983, Director of Craggaunowen Project from 1972 to 1984, and Director of Rent an Irish Cottage Ltd from 1976 to 1978.

CLARE’S six TDs and Senators declared a variety of commercial interests to the Dáil last year, including eight rental properties, two farms and a trip to France paid for by the Alternative Iranian Government in Exile.

North Clare Senator Martin Conway (FG) listed a trip to an international conference in Paris, paid for by the Iranian group, in the official list of interests submitted to the Dáil for 2012.

The conference, which cost € 395 between hotels and flights, was attended by former Taoiseach John Briton (FG) as well as members of former US president John F Kennedy’s family.

“It was an informative and important event but it didn’t cost the Irish taxpayers, high up or low down, for me to attend,” Senator Conway told The Clare People yesterday.

“We stayed in extremely basic accommodation. We flew in on Friday night, spent all day Saturday at the conference, and flew home early on Sunday. So it certainly wasn’t a holiday.”

Senator Conway also declared his interests in Conway’s Shop in Ennistymon, in addition to four rental properties in Quin, Tobertascain in Ennis, Woodview in Ennistymon and Ard Donagh in Ennistymon as well as his family home in Ennistymon.

Fellow senator Tony Mulcahy (FG) lists two rental properties in Shannon and a property for sale in Ballycasey among his commercial interests. Senator Mulcahy also listed his business property in Smithstown Industrial Estate in Shannon and his directorship of Clare School Meals and Catering Ltd among his assets.

Senator Mulcahy also amended his declaration in November of this year to include statutory gratuity payment received from his time as a member of Shannon Town Council and Clare County Council.

Fianna Fáil TD Timmy Dooley listed two rental properties in Dublin among his declared interests. The properties are located in Charlotte Quay in Dublin 4 and Moyville in Rathfarnham. Deputy Dooley did not list any Clare properties among his interests.

East Clare Deputy Michael McNamara (LAB) declared income from occupation as a barrister at law and from his farm in Tuamgraney amongst his declared interests.

Deputy Pat Breen (FG) listed the income from his farm in Lisduff, Ballynacally amongst his assets while Deputy Joe Carey (FG) listed no commercial or property interests besides his family home at “the Land” in Clarecastle.

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THE bowel cancer screening service at Ennis General Hospital will save lives.That is according to consultant gastroenterologist Dr Maeve Skelly who explained that Irish men have the worst survival rate from bowel cancer in Europe and the fourth worst survival rate in the world.

As many as 970 people die from bowel cancer in Ireland every year.

Now people aged between 60 and 69 years of age from the mid-west area, and slightly outside the region, will be invited to take part in a bowel screening programme at the state-of-the-art and highly accredited endoscopy unit at Ennis General Hospital.

“This is a great development for the people of the mid-west. Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in Ireland, and we have known for some time that screening for it can prevent cancers and save lives,” said Dr Skelly.

Although the cancer is slightly more common in men, both genders will be invited to take part in the screening programme.

People in their sixties will receive a letter inviting them to provide a sample of their bowel motion through a system called a FIT test. For the vast majority of people, this sample will not contain any trace of blood and they will be reassured that no more action is needed.

Dr Skelly explained that 94 per cent of people will be found to have a clear sample and assured that they are bowel cancer-free. A small percentage of people, approximately six per cent, will be found to have traces of blood (FIT positive) and they will be contacted by the nurse specialist based in Ennis hospital who will arrange for them to have a colonoscopy. This is a camera test of the bowel, which takes approximately 40 minutes and will be done in Ennis hospital as a day case.

Many of the colonoscopies will be normal. Some people, approximate- ly 50 per cent of those invited for a colonoscopy, will be found to have polyps, which are benign growths in the lining of the bowel. These will be removed at the time of colonoscopy to prevent the patient developing cancer at a later date.

Some people will be found to have cancer and they will be fast-tracked to surgery in the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick. This hospital already does more colorectal cancer surgery than any other hospital in the country so it has considerable expertise.

Dr Skelly paid tribute to all HSE staff in the mid-west for securing the screening service.

THE Clare County Council delegation’s trip to New York this St Patrick’s Day is estimated to cost one third of last year’s cost.

In 2012, a six-person delegation to the Big Apple cost in the region of € 12,000, with the council cutting costs by staying in the residence of the Consul General of Ireland in New York.

According to a spokesperson for the council, this year’s trip is estimated to cost € 3,000 as Mayor of Clare, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) and the County Manager, Tom Coughlan, travel to New York and Chicago. However, the St Patrick’s Day trips are not limited to the leader of the council chamber and council executive.

Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) will deputise for the Mayor of Ennis and travel to New York; Kilrush mayor, Cllr Mairead O’Brien (Ind) will represent the West Clare town in New York; and Shannon’s mayor, Cllr Michael Fleming (FG), will continue a 16year Shannon tradition by jetting off to New Jersey.

Mayor of Kilkee, Claire Haugh (FF) will not be going abroad this St Patrick’s Day.

Each mayor said that they would be representing the interest of the local people and encouraging investment in Clare during the trips.

Cllr Meaney will be in New York on the invitation of the Clareman’s Association. The Ennis councillor said that he does not use his town council expenses during the year, and believes that this would be a good use of those recourses.

“We didn’t send anyone last year, as we were afraid how it would look from a financial point of view. To me, that was a mistake,” he said. “It is important that we use every opportunity to ensure links with the Diaspora are maintained. It is important to encourage inward investment.”

Kilrush Mayor Mairead O’Brien’s expenses for flight and accommodation are set at € 1,177. Anne Haugh, Town Manager, will also be in attendance but the cost of sending the council official is not yet known.

The trip of the Shannon mayor, Cllr Fleming, to New Jersey on the invitation of the Union County Emerald Society is not known but last year the cost came to € 1,917.26. It is expected to be similar this year, according to Shannon Town Clerk Liam O’Connor who will accompany him on the trip.

Mr O’Connor said the Shannon delegation would promote the town to various investors and dignitaries.

During their trip to New York and Chicago, Mayor Daly and Mr Coughlan will meet with the wider Irish community representatives, United Airlines and city officials/representatives, enterprise agencies, Clare Association Chicago, Clare Association New York, Consul Generals of Ireland in Chicago and New York.

They will also take part in the St Patrick’s Day parade.

A NEW Garda text alert system aimed at helping to reduce the incidents of crime is set to be rolled out in Clare over the next month.

Details of the system were outlined at a meeting in Ennis on Thursday night to discuss crime and cutbacks to Garda budgets.

Chief Superintendent of the Clare Garda Division, John Kerin, told the Fianna Fáil organised meeting that the system is in the final stages of development.

“We’re very close to it. Why it’s delayed so long is that we want to make sure it’s done properly and the messages going out are controlled. We’ve had incidents up the country where individuals have put out messages that this person or this car have been around the area and people have been attacked by neighbours because they thought they were up to no good in the area. But they are actually there on genuine business,” he said.

He added, “I’ve to look at how I can do it on an 18- or 19-hour basis from a central location in Clare. We’ve nearly completed that and I’m hoping to roll out that in the next four to five weeks.”

Chief Supt Kerin stressed the importance of establishing community alert and neighbourhood watch schemes. Citing an increase in thefts on farms and the incidence of daytime burglaries, Mr Kerin also said there is an onus on people to take common sense security measures to protect their property.

He said, “The amount of houses that are broken into through unlocked doors and windows in the evening time is unbelievable. The statistics are very, very high. When I joined the Guards and up to about 15 years ago, most of the burglaries were being done in the dead of night when we were all asleep. But the re- ality now is that most burglaries are being down between 2pm and 10 or 11 o’clock at night, when people are gone to shops or up to mass or wherever. Even if you’re leaving the house for 10 or 15 minutes, lock it, talk to your neighbours and ask them to keep an eye on your house.”

The meeting heard that levels of crime have fallen by 33 per cent in Clare over the past five years. Mr Kerin said there has been a 42 per cent reduction in the level of assaults in Clare in that same period.

He added, “Despite a popular perception that burglaries are up, they are actually down by 163 in Clare over the last five years (-31 per cent). Having said that there were 364 break-ins to houses last year which is on average of one a day.”

Mr Kerin said, “Thefts, all kinds of thefts, are down by 304 crimes in that period but there was still 1,119 thefts in Clare last year. That’s an average of between three or four per day.”

THE closure of nine garda stations has left a “vacuum” in parts of Clare, the county’s senior garda has said.

The closures earlier this year in rural parts of the county left 17 stations open in Clare.

Chief Superintendent of the Clare Garda Division, John Kerin, was speaking in Ennis on Thursday night, where he also warned that ongoing cuts to resources may soon start to impact on the ability of Clare gardaí to police charity races and events.

He said, “The closure of nine garda stations has definitely created a vacuum around the county and there is no point in saying otherwise. It is a challenge for us as a garda management.”

Mr Kerin told a meeting oragnised to discuss cuts to garda resources that the biggest loss arising from the closures was the presence of a guard in the community.

The meeting heard a total of 48 gardaí have left the Clare division since March 2010, including two superintendents and one detective inspector.

Chief Supt Kerin told the meeting that four more retirements are anticipated this year, while a number of Clare gardaí are considering taking career breaks in Australia.

A further 25 to 30 guards are also expected to retire from the Clare Garda Division by August 2014, the meeting heard.

Describing the cuts in resources as a “very, very serious situation”, Chief Supt Kerin said he may have to con- sider withdrawing the availability of gardaí for charity events.

“We will continue to do the best with the number’s we’ve got but people have got to understand, if you’re in a business or you’re a farmer whatever, if you have x-amount of resources today and they are gone from you tomorrow, you can’t deliver the same services that you used to be able to do. It’s a matter of trying to do your best with what you have. But it’s not easy”.

He added, “I’m hoping that we can still go out on Saturdays and Sundays and stop traffic for people that are doing charity work. We love getting involved. From our perspective, they are great and they build up a lot of goodwill for us with the public and a lot of our own people are involved with it. But if I’ve only got X-amount of resources on Saturday and Sunday, I can’t put two or three guards doing that (charity events). It’s going to be very difficult to say no to some of these people but that’s the way things are going to go unless things change and unless things change very quickly.”

Mr Kerin said he and other senior gardaí will meet with any communities who are concerned about crime in their area.

Mr Kerin told the meeting a substantial amount of garda resources are now being used to deal with antisocial behaviour in some parts of the county.