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CLOSE on 50 certificates were formally presented in Ennis Adult Education Centre to learners who took part in Clare Campus Skillnet courses. They were conferred by the Further Education and Training Awards Council of Ireland following courses of studies completed in the Ennis area in management develop- ment, presentation skills and English as a second language

By tar the biggest individual busi- ness representation was from the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis. All non-nation- als, this major group took its course in English as a second language in- house as well as at Ennis Adult and Community Education Centre.

They were joined for the occasion by the hotel’s manager, John Maher, as an expression of appreciation of their achievements.

Clare Campus Skillnet collabo- rates with County Clare Vocational Education Committee in the delivery of a diverse range of courses from basic skills to project management and green belt masters in technology management.

Its courses are original in that they are devised as the result requirements identified by local businesses and en- terprises who form a local network.

Clare Campus Skillnet Network 1s about 18 months in existence. In that time it has delivered programmes to network members in Clare that,

among other subjects, covered man- agement development, health and safety, manual handling, project de- velopment and softer skills such as presentation programmes and stress management courses.

What happens is that the network of local businesses and enterprises defines its own training needs and sets out a programme of training and education activities.

In this regard, deep appreciation has been expressed of the steering group comprising Barry O’Brien and Kevin Moore, Vitalograph; Corey Downes, Billpost; David Deighan, Shannon Development; Michael Byrne, Acton BV; Alan Flynn, Old Ground Hotel; Carmel Mitchell, Loyalty Build, and Richard Morton, Time to Market.

“Without this group, we would have been floundering without direction,” acknowledged Dr Sean Conlan, edu- cation officer with County Clare Vo- cational Education Committee, who formally presented the certificates. He also thanked Clare Campus Skill- net Network’s co-ordinator, Sinead Mellett and the network’s adminis- trator, Ina Reddan.

Dr Conlan went on to say that at this time of great challenge for all businesses, when unemployment has risen dramatically, the learn- ing agenda comes into more focus for everybody. Those receiving cer- tificates on the occasion, he urged, should see the occasion not as an end of the road but rather the beginning

of a new learning route.

“Then, maybe together, we can learn our way out of this recession and be well prepared to take advan- tage of the upturn when it comes, as it surely will in a year or two or ab Reromean OComcT-n (Gm

That was what Clare Campus Skill- net was all about as it set about putting together a funding application for the coming two years. Priority areas had been identified nationally as transfer- ability of skills and key competencies

for lifelong learning. This was what the organisation would be working on in the coming weeks with a view to getting a budget to continue the work at local level into the future.

Looking at the broader picture, he noted that at the last count there were 123 training networks in the Skill- nets programme overall, showing it had come a long way since its incep- tion in 1999 as a pilot project in en- terprise-led training.

The success of the concept of busi-

nesses, small and large, identifying and delivering in a shared way on their own training needs had ensured that the Skillnet Training Networks Programme had become a key player in training and learning delivery in Ireland.

RETAIL Ireland, the IBEC group that represents the retail sector, has called on all local authorities to cut commercial rates when voting on the matter later this month.

Retail Ireland has written to the Chairperson of every local author- ity as well as all City and County Managers to ask for a reduction of 20 per cent. In addition, the group has written to An Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD, Enda Kenny TD, Leader of Fine Gael, and to Eamon Gilmore TD, Leader of the Labour Party, to request that their councillors support such a move.

Retail Ireland Director Torlach Denihan, said, “Over the last year 30,000 retail jobs have been lost and the sector is struggling to avoid fur- ther redundancies over the coming months. Local authorities must play their part in the retail sector’s efforts to regain lost competitiveness and safeguard employment. As can be seen from the Consumer Price Index released last Thursday, retailers have cut prices aggressively over the last year.

“Over the last decade local authori- ties have been able to fund many projects through development levies and commercial rates paid by the re- tail sector. They now need to act re- sponsibly and help the sector retain

employment in view of the threat posed by the collapse in sales, aggra- vated by cross- border shopping.

‘Since 2000 the annual rate on valuation has increased by a cumu- lative 57 per cent nationally. Last year some local authorities took the incredible decision to increase the annual rate on valuation (Clare 3.8 per cent, South Dublin 3.63 per cent, Fingal 3.5 per cent, Wexford 3.5 per cent and Dublin City 3.35 per cent) despite the fact that the retail sector was in crisis. We are particularly dis- turbed that a revaluation exercise in South Dublin and Fingal is further aggravating the problem, resulting in some retailers facing increases of up to 50 per cent.”

TOP energy experts at the TOP Ideal Home Show in the RDS in Dublin proved that going green re- ally doesn’t cost the earth for Clare households by highlighting the mas- sive savings to be made by becoming more energy efficient in the home.

Detached properties, the most frequent home type across County Clare, have the potential to be much more energy efficient and owners of this housing category could knock more than €1,000 of their home heating bills. With over 22,000 such property types in the county, Clare households could be missing out on substantial savings.

While detached properties offer the greatest saving potential, ‘greener’ energy behaviour can also offer sig- nificant reward for other home types,

such as one or two bed apartment cir- ca 750 sq foot – €742; 2 bedroom ter- raced house circa 950 sq foot – €898; 3 bedroom semi detached house cir- ca 1,250 sq foot – £1,070

TOP Tips reflecting the company’s mantra, ‘going green doesn’t cost the earth’ were given to visitors at the TOP Ideal Home Show this year and expert staff were on hand at the TOP Biodome to suggest specific recom- mendations on how people can make some small inexpensive changes and save up to €1,180 per year, depend- ing on their house type. TOP is high- lighting to the people of Clare that they are literally burning money by not making their homes more energy efficient, as well as the environmen- tal implications.

TOP is Ireland’s leading fuel im- porter and distributor and this is the second year the company has been

the title sponsor of the Ideal Home Show.

Speaking at the opening of the TOP Ideal Home Exhibition, Gener- al Manager of TOP, Gerard Boylan, said, “Changing people’s attitude to going green is hard but the environ- mental experts at the TOP biodome will be making it clear in financial terms, that being environmentally Savvy is a sensible choice.”

Mr. Boylan continued, “Unfortu- nately, having a home that is energy efficient has always been viewed as the expensive option but we’re trying to educate people that the opposite is true by showing the actual savings they could be making. We’re trying to put the savings in perspective for people – going green in 2010 could be the difference between going on holiday and not. It’s that simple,’ he concluded.

A CLARE businessman, who along with his partners is paying ©20,000 in interest on a planned retail park in Shannon, has made a last ditch at- tempt to save the development.

Last month, Clare County Council refused planning permission to Sean Halpin and Greenband Investments for the neighbourood component of a €60m retail park planned for Smith- stown in Shannon.

Mr Halpin confirmed that he and his business partners purchased the 17.5 acre site zoned for commercial development for €8 million in 2005 and have since paid ©2 million in interest.

Confirming that interest payments are costing ©20,000 per month, Mr Halpin said, “The interest is some- where north of €2 million. This is not some cosy arrangement with the bank where we have interest rolled up.”

In all, Mr Halpin estimates that the exposure to date is €10.5m.

Now, in a last ditch bid to save the development, they have lodged an ap- peal with An Bord Pleanala against the council’s decision to refuse plan- ning to the neighbourhood compo- nent of the scheme.

The council stated that the centre would have an adverse impact on the vitality and viability of Shannon town and contravene Department of the Environment retail guidelines

relating to the location of neighbour- hood centres.

The Greenband development was due to create 250 direct jobs, 200 in- direct jobs and 180 jobs during the construction phase.

In their appeal, the developers “se- riously contest the reason for refusal of the neighbourhood centre of the proposed scheme.

‘The proposed development would in fact not detract from the town cen- tre but serve the remainder of the proposed development and immedi- ate surrounding areas.

“The reasons for refusal cited by the council do not accord with the retail planning guidelines, which specifically recognises the local role

neighbourhood centre’s play in the retail hierarchy.”

However, the plan faces outright rejection, with the McAllen family lodging an appeal against the coun- cil decision to grant planning to any aspect of the development.

The local family state that their health and safety is of paramount importance and “any detrimental environmental impacts in the area, that put our health and safety under threat, will be subject to full legal ac- tion on our behalf.”

‘There 1s an over-intensification of commercial use on the site; loss of privacy and the design is of poor ar- chitectural quality.”

A decision is due in 2010.

AS the close of the Clare camogie season comes in, Clare Camogie Board in conjunction with the Clare Camogie Suporters Club are hosting an awards night this Satur- day, November 21, at the Auburn Lodge Hotel, Ennis.

Medals will be presented to the Munster U16 Camogie Champions on the night, along with the U14 In- ter-County Blitz winners from the Galway Blitz.

As this is the 75th Year of Clare Camogie, the board have intro- duced the inaugural Club Star Awards. “These are a small to- ken of the appreciation which the board has for those who work so hard at club level but may never reach county teams, but without whom clubs would not survive,’ explained a spokesperson.

The medal and award recipients have been asked to be in the Au- burn Lodge for 7.30pm for a photo call, and presentation to begin at 8pm with buffet and disco after- SE K6 he

THE appointment of Micheal Mc- Dermott as new Clare senior football manager might just be a rallying call for an upsurge in the fortunes of the flagship football team in the county — that was the message delivered to the county board meeting on Tuesday by chairman Michael O’Neill as he con- firmed that the Cavan man has been given a one-year term in the post.

“It’s an indication of the interest we had in the post that there were four in the running,’ said O’Neill “and it went right down to the wire. We made a mighty trawl. We had Aidan Moloney, Michael Lillis, Micheal McDermott and Ger Lawlor. Aidan informed me last Friday he was pull- ing out of the contest. Micheal Mc- Dermott will manage the team with Liam McHale and James Foran, while one other person will be added to the team.

“T would appeal to football people. Every effort was made with this ap- pointment and we want anyone who has any ambitions to wear the coun- ty jersey to come forward,” added O’Neill.

Meanwhile, Munster Council del- egate PJ McGuane, who was part of

the committee that selected the new manager, said Clare must aim high in 2010. “The carrot is there,’ said McGuane, “because we are in Divi- sion 4 with Waterford and Limerick, while we play Waterford in the first round of the championship and if we beat them we have Limerick in the semi-final.

“The league will be a great barom- eter of our progress. Our first game

is against Wicklow. That will be a barometer. I would ask everyone to throw their weight behind the team for the next year.

“We are a Small county with a small pick but there’s an old saying that if you don’t aim high, you won’t strike high,’ added McGuane.

PEOPLE who damage the property of others must pay for it, a judge said yesterday, as he ordered compensa- tion to be paid in a car damage case.

Jim McDonagh (19), of Dun na hInise, Ennis, admitted a charge of criminal damage at Gort Road, En- nis, on October 5 last.

Inspector John Galvin told En- nis District Court that a man called to Ennis Garda Station on October 5 and complained that his jeep had been damaged.

“He was driving along and his jeep was approached by the accused. It is alleged the accused got out with a stick and started breaking windows and damaging the paint work,’ he SrHLOe

He said that the accused admit- ted taking part, in interviews with gardai. The amount of damage caused was €1,920.97.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said that her client had not been fur- nished with details of the amount of the damage until yesterday. “My cli- ent doesn’t have that sort of money in court,” she said. She said there was a background to the case.

“My client was coming along in a car. The injured party made a ges- ture to his own mouth. He was act- ing in a state of heightened emotion. Emotions boiled over,’ she said.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy asked, “Is there some sort of feud going on, be- cause if there is, it’s time the court stepped in before things get out of hand?”

Ms Godfrey replied, “Things seem to have calmed down. It’s hoped that matters will resolve themselves.”

Ms Godfrey said she understood the compensation would be €500 and said her client is on social wel- fare. The judge told her, ““He should have thought of that before he dam- aged somebody’s property.’

The solicitor then asked for an ad-

journment “to accumulate a fraction of the money”. The judge said, “I’m not talking about a fraction. This man (the victim) is out of pocket. Who does he (the accused) expect to pay for this car?

“If people cause damage to other people’s property, they pay for it,” added the judge.

He imposed a six-month detention sentence and suspended it on condi- tion that the cost of the damage be paid within three months.

A BAG, containing €2,800 worth of drugs, was thrown from a car into the river while gardai were in pursuit, a CLoLtD am Nor DKC MoI KOKerh Ys Michael McMahon (22), of Plunkett Drive, Kilkishen, and Keith Ryan (20), of Orchard Drive, Clarecastle, admitted possession of drugs for sale or supply on August 28, 2008. Inspector John Galvin told En- nis District Court yesterday that members of the divisional drugs unit in Clare were on patrol on the Quin Road in Ennis on the date in question. SW eleavaeelelateeeme. car parked beside a soccer pitch. TRAE Tete hom OD’s Michael McMa- hon and Keith Ryan was the passenger. The car pulled away and travelled in the opposite direc- tion to the gardai. He said that Ryan threw a brown carrier bag out of the car and into the river. Gardai pursued the car for a distance of five kilome- tres. During some of this time, the vehicle was driven dangerously. The bag was taken from the river

and it was found to contain cannabis herb, valued at €2,803.

The court heard that McMahon had a small number of previous convic- tions, while Ryan had none.

Defending solicitor Daragh Has- sett said that both men are unem- ployed plumbers. He said that they went overseas on holidays together in the summer and during the holi- day, Michael McMahon’s brother

drowned. He said _ that the two accused “intend to stay trouble-free for the rest of their lives”. Judge Aeneas McCarthy im- posed a nine- month jail term on McMahon and suspended this OVNMCCey NCD LALOveMmNer-NE he be of good be- haviour for two years. He said he was taking the mitigating —cir- cumstances into consideration. He adjourned Ryan’s case for two months and directed that a probation report be carried out on him.

A SCHOOL principal arrived at work in Ennis to find what she thought was a dead woman lying in a foetal position at the entrance to one of the prefabs.

The dramatic evidence was heard at Ennis District Court yesterday, which was told that the young wom- an was naked from the waist down, was semi-conscious and was cov- ered in flour, while a classroom had been thrashed.

The 18-year-old woman, from En- nis, remembered very little about what had happened, having drank vodka that night. Her solicitor said yesterday she could have died from hypothermia.

Arising out of the incident, she was charged with burglary, but after hearing the evidence, Judge Aeneas McCarthy dismissed the charge.

The acting principal of Clough- leigh National School, Fiona Power, told the court that she arrived at school shortly before 8.30am on No- vember 28, 2008 – the morning after what she described as the coldest night of the year.

She said she noticed that the door of one of the prefabs was opened and she saw “what looked like a bundle of clothing lying on the floor. As I got closer I realised it was a person lying on the ground. I was afraid first of all that she was dead.”

She said she touched the woman and when she heard her mutter, she realised that she was alive.

“She was only partially clothed. She was lying on the bare concrete and a mixture of flour and liquid was emptied all over the floor. She looked as if she had been rolling on the floor. Her hair was matted,” she said. There were a couple of bottles

in the vicinity, including a vodka bottle, she said.

“It was a freezing cold morning,” she said. Ms Power and another teacher brought the young woman inside and tried to warm her. She was taken by ambulance to hospital.

Ms Power said the room had been thrashed, there was writing all over the walls and tables and the “floor was an absolute disgrace. Books had been thrown all over the place and filing cabinets had been opened.” She said the prefab had been locked the previous evening.

Under cross-examination by de- fence solicitor Tara Godfrey, Ms Power said that the young woman was drenched to the skin and was not wearing any clothes from the waist down. “Her feet were on the jamb of the doors,” she said.

Garda Jason Lardner recalled be- ing called to the school that morn-

ing. He said he tried to speak to her, but she was unresponsive and ap- peared semi-conscious.

‘Her eyes were open but she was unable to speak to me. There was flour on her face and black marker on her forehead,’ he said.

He explained that the door to the prefab had been forced open. Tables and chairs were thrown all over the place, while writing on the walls had sexual references. He said the wom- an told gardai she had been drinking the day before. She went to an apart- ment on the Mill Road at around midnight and had vodka, but did not remember much after that, until she woke up in hospital.

Ms Godfrey asked the garda, “Am I the only one concerned about her … naked from the waist down and with sexual references on the wall?” Garda Lardner replied, “My imme- diate concern was for her safety that

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Ms Godfrey submitted to the court, ‘In the case of burglary against my client, the threshold hasn’t been reached.”

She said the accused could have died from hypothermia that night, given the cold.

“There’s an awful lot more doubt and fear in my mind that something else could have happened,” she said.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy said, “I have serious concerns about what happened this girl. She was cov- ered in flour and was naked from the waist down and there was graf- fit: with sexual connotations on the walls.”

He said he was not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt and dismissed the charge.

‘Her semi-conscious state that morning also causes me concern,” he said.

COUNCILLORS are calling for a full road safety audit to be carried out at each primary and post-prima- ry school in the Ennis area.

At yesterday’s meeting of council- lors in the Ennis East electoral area, Councillor Johnny Flynn initially called on the council to carry out a road safety audit of all schools in En- nis East.

Cllr Flynn told the meeting that an audit was necessary as there had been a “significant” number of traffic accidents at schools in Ennis.

In response, Senior Executive En- gineer, Eamon O’Dea said that the council did not have the resources to carry out the audit.

Mr O’Dea added that there had been significant investment in road signage and road markings.

He stated, “The council would be obliged to look at this proposal on a countywide basis and it would not be possible to have it carried out within our resources. There has been con- siderable investment by the council into road signage and road markings

in the vicinity of schools and the em- ployment of school wardens at many of the national schools.”

He added, “The council is willing to discuss any issues that may exist on an individual basis with the relevant

school authorities and this is usually carried out in the pre-planning phase when schools are seeking permission for improvement works.”

Cllr Flynn said he was disappoint- ed with the council’s response. “I’m

disappointed that we are not looking at this a bit more. I think we could take Ennis East as a trial area. The number of accidents and incidents outside schools is significant.”

Cllr Flynn added, “There is a sig- nificant need for this. Ennis East would become a pilot area.”

ClUlr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said he would support the motion if it was amended to include all schools in the Ennis area and not just those in En- nis East.

Clir Flynn agreed to amend his mo- tion to include all schools in Ennis.

Cllr Flynn had initially proposed that Clare County Council carry out a road safety audit at each primary and post-primary school in the Ennis East in terms of adequacy of vehicu- lar set down/collection, facilities for cyclists/pedestrians (including cross- ings), school warden needs/requests, public lighting, speed limits, effec- tiveness of signage, school bus facili- ties, etc, and make recommendations for planned phased improvements if required.