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RIVER levels in Ennis are being monitored twice a day in Ennis as authorities remain vigilant of flooding.

Records from Met Eireann show that the total accumulated rainfall recorded in County Clare from January 1 to November 30 stood at 872.2mm, more than the 845.1mm recorded during the entire of 2010.

In a statement, Clare County council says this December is also expected to see the mean rainfall total for the month being exceeded with further heavy rain forecast.

Ennis Town Manager Dollard said that river levels around Ennis are monitored twice a day and that the council would continue to monitor water levels throughout the winter period.

He stated, “Our experiences from severe flooding in Ennis, and East and North Clare in late 2009 have taught us that being prepared in advance is key to effectively managing flooding when it does occur.

As well as reviewing information contained on the council website, I would urge members of the public to visit www.flooding.ie to familiarise themselves with the range of actions that can be taken in advance of, during and after flooding events.”

Mr Dollard was speaking as Clare County Council launched an online advice and information guide to raise awareness of the importance of preparing for severe weather during winter.

The ‘Be Winter-Ready’ guide has been published on the council website, www.clarecoco.ie.

Work on flood prevention measures is currently underway at a number of locations around Ennis. Pipeline work has been completed on the Lough Girroga Flood Relief Scheme while additional site investigation works are due to start at Fioruisce on the Gort Road.

According to the council, the Watery Road/Elm Park Flood relief scheme will be placed on e-tenders. A temporary pumping system for the storm drain has been put in place at the Watery Road to cater for high river levels until permanent works are in place.

The council says it is monitoring the Fergus and Claureen river lev- els.

The planning process for the St Flannans, Toberteascain – Ballybeg Lake flood relief works has been delayed due to a requirement to carry out specialised works.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael TD Pat Breen has said that the Government remains committed to the construction of phase two of the Ennis Main Drainage Scheme.

Last week it was announced that the Office of Public Works (OPW) had terminated the tendering process with immediate effect.

Deputy Breen stated that Minster for State with responsibility for the OPW, Brian Hayes, is committed to funding the € 12.8m scheme, as previously outlined in the 2012 capital works programme.

THE Vandeleur Garden in Kilrush has the potential to be transformed into the new flagship tourist product for west Clare and become the county’s rival to Muckross House in Kil- larney. This new vision for Kilrush’s historic visitor attraction was unveiled at a meeting of Kilrush Town Council that took place in the Vandeleur demesne on Thursday night as county architect, Ruth Hurley, revealed plans to develop a major museum on the site. The interpretative centre-type project is set to be developed over the next two years as agencies such as Coillte, Shannon Development, Clare County Council, Kilrush Town Council, Kilrush Amenity Trust and the West Clare Economic Task Force throw their weight behind ambitious plans for the old landlord estate. The ruin of Kilrush House, the seat of the Vandeleur famil that was responsible for building Kilrush, was knocked by Clare County Council in 1973, but now the authority is to spearhead new development in the courtyard area of the estate on the back on a successful application for Leader funding. “There is an opportunity for something new here,” said Ms Hurley. “We want open up the courtyard into the centre and into a museum, so there is element of enticing people into the Vandeleur facilities. “The whole idea behind this is to get funding from Leader, with a view construction beginning in 2013. It’s about taking baby steps towards a bigger picture. A lot of places started like that. Muckross House started like that, so it’s about taking smalls steps. “The built environment is there. The heritage is there. It’s about giv- ing it a new freshness and enticing people in. With the support of everyone around the table and with the support of the people of Kilrush, hopefully we can push this forward,” Ms Hurley added.

“An initial meeting was held with Leader, just to see what their reaction was to the whole concept,” revealed Kilrush Town Manager, Nora Kaye. “Leader were very receptive to the whole visitor experience.

“There is a matching funding requirement should we be successful with Leader.

We will keep this project on a priority list, to ensure that we have a place in the queue for applications,” she added.

“I don’t see why it can’t become a reality,” said Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF). “There is massive potential here and I don’t think we have realised the true potential of the Vandeleur Walled Garden – from the historical perspective as well as modifying and adapted to modern demands,” he said. “The Vandeleur Garden is a gem,” said Cllr Liam Williams (FG), who is also a member of Kilrush Amenity Trust. “This is huge for west Clare,” he added.

THERE will be no increase in rates in Kilrush in 2012, but local authority chiefs have stopped short of implementing an appeal from councillors in the West Clare capital for businesses in the town to be given a boost by reducing rates for the coming year.

Rates for the new year are to remain at 2011 levels, with Town Manager Nora Kaye telling in her estimates of expenses for the next 12 months – that will be debated at a special budget meeting this Thursday – that she is “proposing a zero per cent increase in commercial rates, being mindful of the current economic climate and the difficulties that same poses for local businesses”.

Ahead of the meeting, which will reveal that Kilrush Town Council will have a budget of € 1,348,896 in 2012 as opposed to € 1,387,843 in 2011, Ms Kaye has also told councillors that “due to the current climate, an increase has been provided in refunds and irrecoverable rates”.

The council decision not to cut rates for cash-strapped businesses in 2012 comes after a year that has been described as “very problematic” when it came to the collection of rates in 2011.

“Payments by customers continue to be very problematic. Rates collection at June 30, 2011 stood at 31 per cent in comparison to 39 per cent at June 30, 2010,” Town Clerk, John Corry revealed in September.

“Kilrush Town Council is dependent on rates income to maintain its operations as it represents 38.4 per cent of annual income. The slowing payment pattern highlighted above has resulted in a considerable negative impact on cash flow.

“Kilrush Town Council is acutely aware of the commercial difficulties which rate payers are experiencing, and has adopted a practical approach in terms of payment plans to facilitate rate payers.

“However, where customers fail to engage to deal with amounts outstanding, recovery of the debt by legal means becomes necessary,” he added.

Also included in the estimates is provision for the fact that “Kilrush Town Council’s allocation of the Local Government Fund will be cut by 8.98 per cent for 2012”.

It is also forecast that income for the council from parking will be down by € 45,000 in 2012. This is because of concessions that have been implemented in the town centre.

A NORTH Clare developer who had a € 10.5 million judgement order by Anglo Irish Bank secured against him in October has said he is in advanced negotiations with NAMA to work out a business plan. Airtricity applied to a court for committal for failing to comply with an instalment order imposed on John Flanagan, of Ballyvarragh House, Doolin.

Sean Costello, a business development manager with Airtricity, told Ennistymon District Court on Wednesday that € 16,784 was due. He said that no payments were made on foot of an instalment order. Payments of € 1,000 a month were to have been paid, but none had been made, he said. Solicitor Jim Finnegan, for Airtricity, said he was seeking an order for committal.

Mr Flanagan told the court that he had been a developer during the boom. He told Judge Aeneas McCarthy that Anglo Irish Bank secured a judgment of € 10.5 million against him in October. He said that he has not had income since September 2008 and has outgoings including a mortgage, rent, housekeeping and food.

He said that his wife is working part-time and earns € 166 a week, which, along with carer’s allowance for a child and children’s allowance, pays the bills.

“My wife deals with it. She keeps the house going,” Mr Flanagan told the court.

The solicitor told the court that a private investigator was hired by Airtricity. He asked Mr Flanagan was he in talks with NAMA. Mr Flanagan replied, “Yes, advanced negotiations. We are trying to advance a business plan.” He said he is not receiving a salary at the moment but expects to in the future. He said he anticipates that the negotiations will be finalised in January or February.

He told Mr Finnegan that he does not have any assets to sell. Asked did he propose to pay the money due to Airtricity, he said, “There was a judgement order secured against me but I wasn’t in a position to meet that.” He said that he was in regular contact with Airtricity in relation to the money due and said he has made nominal payments of € 18 per month.

He told the court that he has two girls employed part-time in an office in Liscannor for a company that manages property. “I don’t get any income from that company,” he said.“I receive no income from any company whatsoever,” said Mr Flanagan.

On hearing that Mr Flanagan hopes to have a business plan finalised early in 2012, the judge said he would adjourn the case until February.

HOPES that the country’s new President Michael D Higgins will visit his native Newmarket-on-Fergus this week have been dashed. Mr Higgins has been invited to attend the 50th anniversary celebrations of Ballycar National School on Thursday, but has informed the school management that he is unable to attend.

While the school has been in existence since before 1824, the existing building was built 50 years ago. President Higgins, who is originally from Ballycar, attended a previous building of the school.

School principal Noel Murphy told The Clare People that there are plans in place to invite the past pupil to visit Ballycar at a later stage. “He was invited but we got a letter back wishing us success with the event but he has a huge amount of engagements so soon after his inauguration. We didn’t think he would be able to make it at such short notice,” said Mr Murphy. “There wasn’t much time. What we hope will happen in the future is to join up with community groups in the area and ask him to visit,” he added. “We will plan it well in advance and invite other community groups,” said the principal. He said that staff and students in the school are eagerly anticipating the celebrations. “We are all very excited about it. Everybody is involved in the preparations,” said Mr Murphy.

“We are also celebrating the success of the school in developing our facilities to the up-to-the-minute standard resulting from recent major renovations and extension. As a result, we can offer our families the latest facilities. As a small school with four full-time teachers and two special needs assistants, we also give personal attention to the needs of all our families,” he added.

The evening will include the staging by pupils of a play written by sixth-class pupil Ailís Hankinson. There will also be songs, a cake and craft sale, an exhibition of photos and children’s projects and the launch of a book on the history of Ballycar School. The book, ‘Ballycar National School – A History of the School, Pupils and Teachers’ was compiled by local author Colm Liddy, whose children attend Ballycar.

The book is a full-colour, 44-page publication profiling the history of the school. It features many old photographs, including those of the President when he was in school. The book also contains profiles of all current pupils, stories of the fascinating lives of past pupils and an interview with President Higgins.

THE TOWN rate in Shannon will not change next year and remains at € 2.11 for the third successive year. That is according to the Town Manager, Bernadette Kinsella, in her annual draft budget which was presented to the local town council last week.

Expenditure in Shannon is projected to drop by € 4, 500 next year – from € 149, 500 to € 145,000. Income will increase from € 39, 500 to € 41,000 in 2012, according to estimates.

The amount of money spent in a number of areas will reduce next year, including office expenses and advertising; light, heat and power; travel and subsistence; audit fees; training and the town twinning programme with Guingamp in France.

The one area where spending is poised to increase is the community scheme which is estimated to increase from € 35,000 to € 36, 500 next year.

Recoupment of the community scheme is also expected to increase, from € 21,000 to € 22, 500.

“This scheme has been very positively received in the town and has done much to tackle the problem of litter throughout the area,” said the Manager.

In her report to the council, Ms Kinsella stated that the draft budget has been prepared “in a continuing difficult economic climate”.

“This is reflected in a reduction of funds available from Clare County Council and the maintenance of commercial rates at 2010 levels in recognition of the demands being placed on the business community,” she stated.

The level of demand “does not, for the second successive year, necessitate an increase in the town rate,” she added.

General office and operational expenses have been reduced by € 1,000, which has been done “on the basis of cutbacks under all of these cost headings and will require strict monitoring and review to ensure expenditure remains within budget provisions”.

The council’s annual budget meet- ing was told that a draft Shannon Town and Environs Local Area Plan is currently in preparation to cover the period 2012 – 2018. This will replace the existing Shannon component of the South Clare Local Area Plan 2009 – 2015.

The integrated plan will be in place next year and will form the basis for a high level strategy that will promote the opportunities available within Shannon, the airport lands, the free zone and Westpark, according to the council. An extensive consultation process will get underway in the coming weeks.

A BAN on the sale of smoky coal and the growth of unregulated doorto-door operators is “crippling” the coal trade in Ennis, a meeting has heard.

Local fuel merchant and independent councillor, Frankie Neylon says businesses are struggling because of the legislation, which he described as “flawed”.

In June, the Minister for the En- vironment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD, announced that – with effect from August 1 – Ennis would be added to the list of towns and cities covered by the ‘Smoky Coal Ban’, under which it is illegal to market, sell or distribute bituminous or ‘smoky’ coal.

Under the Air Pollution Act, sellers found in breach of the ban could face fines of up to € 5,000.

Cllr Neylon told the December meeting of Ennis Town Council that traders in the town are encountering “huge problems” with the ban. He said the restrictions in place on local fuel merchants are “crippling the trade”.

He said the legislation was intended for cities and not towns of Ennis’ size.

He said there is no ban in place to prevent sellers from bringing smoky coal into Ennis, a practice he said was common.

Cllr Neylon said that if the gov- ernment are serious about banning smoky coal, “they should ban it at source”.

“Every night of the week there are people coming into town selling smoky coal,” he added.

Cllr Neylon said his own sales are down 53 per cent on last year.

A report released in September by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that the burning of bituminous or so-called smoky coal has had an impact on air quality in Ennis.

Cllr Neylon said that if unregulated coal sellers are allowed to operate in Ennis then “emissions are going to go through the roof ”.

Town Manager Ger Dollard said the whole purpose of the ban is to improve air quality in Ennis.

He said Clare County Council, the body responsible for enforcing the ban, is willing to meet with local fuel merchants in order to discuss and resolve any difficulties.

EAST Clare is reeling from the shock announcement that Finsa Forest Products, the area’s main employer for over 50 years, is to close its doors, with the last remaining employees at the chipboard factory in Scariff being laid off before Christmas. The last remaining 20 jobs left at the landmark industrial plant are to go, as the factory that has been part and parcel of East Clare life since the late 1950s finally shuts its doors . The closure has been described as a hammer-blow to the region, with Mayor of Clare, Pat Hayes, leading the criticism of a decision that he has labelled as “a disaster for the region that what was once East Clare’s biggest employer is now gone. For the people who face losing their jobs before Christmas, it is very hard, but it is also hard for the entire region because it shows up that East Clare is now an unemployment blackspot,” added Mayor Hayes. The closure of what was once Scariff’s flagship employer comes less than a year after the most recent round of cutbacks at the factory saw 52 people laid off in early January. As recently as 2009, there were 160 people employed at the plant, while at peak production it had 300 workers and was responsible directly for another 200 jobs. The development of the chipboard factory had its genesis at the inaugural meeting of the Scariff Development Association in 1957 when Nenagh-based industrialist Jeremiah O’Driscoll revealed that German industrial firm Aicher Chipboard wanted to expand into Ireland. A site in Scariff was subsequently selected and thanks to a government grant of £186,000 and a local contribution of £40,000, the factory costing £486,000 was built. The first sod on the factory was turned 53 years ago while Chipboard Ltd, Scariff went into full production on December 17, 1959 – 52 years ago this coming Saturday.

THERE is now “light at the end of the tunnel” for residents of John Paul Estate in Kilrush – the town’s biggest council estate that’s now in the final stages of a major refurbishment overhaul costing over € 1.5m.

These positive vibes for residents in Kilrush Town Council’s biggest property was sounded out as details of the final two phases of the redevelopment programme was revealed to members of the local authority by Town Clerk, John Corry.

“It is certainly positive times for John Paul Estate,” said Mr Corry. “We fought hard for three or four years after the completion of the first phase in 2008. There were a lot of dark days, for both ourselves and people who were residing there and for a time there was no light at the end of the tunnel, but thankfully we have got there. A lot done, more to do is the motto, but we are well on our way,” he added.

The latest and final piece of the John Paul Estate jigsaw will see the refurbishment of 21 houses, after work on 11 houses on the estate and anotehr seven on Wilson’s Road was completed last month.

“The 21 houses are mainly in Sycamore Drive, but on is on Elm Drive,” revealed Mr Corry, “and the contract has been agreed and has been entered into with the contractor L&M Keating. The contract sum is worth € 790,000, which is a significant contract. It has been broken down into two phases.

“Phase one is the refurbishment of 11 houses, which has already commenced and works are well advanced of four of the houses, four bungalows that will completed by February.

“We have to do the 21 houses over two phases because of the significant works that are involved it’s required that the houses be vacated. We had to break into two phases, so as to have enough temporary accommodation. It’s envisaged that the 21 houses will be fully complete by the end of April.

“It’s significant work when you consider what’s already been done. There are a total of 18 houses that have already been refurbished and when you add these 21 houses, it is a significant investment on the part of Kilrush Town Council.

“We were delighted with the quality of workmanship. From the point of view of the tenants who have been residing there longterm, it has certainly given them renewed hope,” added Mr Corry.

In praising the council’s housing strategy, Mayor of Kilrush, Cllr Ian Lynch said “the real work begins now, because we need to build a community back there. We have to manage it and try to get people interested into managing it themselves”.

THE newly refurbished Moore Street should be given special designation by the Department of the Environment as a pilot project capable of kick-starting new life into the economy of the west Clare capital.

That’s according to members of Kilrush Town Council, who on Thursday backed a move to approach Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, seeking ‘special status’ for the street as the refurbishment works are finally completed ahead of this Saturday’s party to mark what has been hailed as “the rebirth of Moore Street”.

The refurbishment works were due to be completed on Friday last, but have been delayed by a week due to the scale of the work involved and the recent inclement weather.

“It’s all systems go,” Kilrush Town Clerk John Corry told last Thursday night’s monthly meeting of the local authority.

“It is a very significant job and they have made substantial progress. Kerbs are being installed at the moment and the contractor is on site this Monday commencing the tarmacadam works.

“There will be a lot of progress made within a couple of days and the contractor is envisaging completion by the 16th or 17th of December. A temporary order for the closing of the road from the 10th December through to the 23rd of September appeared in the paper. It won’t be required for that length of time,” Mr Corry added.

“We needed to get it done and there was never going to be a right time to do it. The contractors are out there morning, noon and night and they are giving it socks to have it ready,” said Mayor of Kilrush, Cllr Ian Lynch.

The call for a special incentive scheme for new traders was proposed by Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF), who said “we have to go one step further now.

“It’s one thing to rejuvenate the street itself and get the road done, but there are still a lot of vacant premises on Moore Street. I do believe that this Council, in its wisdom, should make an application to the Minister for the Environment, so that we can use Moore Street as a pilot project and get it designated so as to new people into those vacant premises and bring life back to the street.

“What has been done has been tremendous but we need to go that little bit further. It would really put the icing on the cake – there has to be a concession, whether it’s rates or whatever for people who go in there.

“People who own the properties have to be prepared to offer pepper corn rents. It is a very exciting time for Moore Street,” added the former town mayor.