Category: News

THE NUMBER of commercial flights using Shannon Airport each month continues to drop – despite the completion of the Shannon Airport Authori- ty’s (SAA) new board of management this month. Figures released by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) last week reveal the enormity of the challenge faced by the SAA’s new chief executive, Neil Pakey, with the number of commercial movements for May more than 6 per cent down on the same period in 2012. However a number of new routes connecting Shannon to America and a number of European holiday destinations have been announced in recent weeks and this is expected to have an impact on figures for later in 2013. A total of 1,667 commercial movements took place in Shannon last month. This represents a drop of almost half (45.5 per cent) when compared to May 2008 – at the height of the airports capacity. Indeed, last month represents the second worst May ever recorded in the recent history of the airport. Lower figures were recorded in May 2010 – but this historic low was brought about by the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland which crippled flight all over northern Europe. “After an expected challenging start to the year, not least due to the drop in military traffic, the additional new services that have come on stream in May and earlier this month are starting to reap benefits for us,” said a Shannon Airport spokesperson. “May was on a par with last year in terms of passenger numbers and in June we are beginning to see growth for the first time. “This is really promising considering the airport has only been independent for six months and is down to the additional new services we have been delighted to secure this year at the airport.” The continued decline of commercial traffic through Shannon Airport comes as traffic numbers coming through both Dublin and Cork have shown significant signs of recovery. Transatlantic passenger number dropped from 574,843 in 2008 to 287,923 last year. Over the same period European passenger numbers fell from 1,020,437 to just 236,699 – mostly on the back of a large pull out from Ryanair.

ORDERS from Clare courts that will see the Health Services Executive (HSE) notified of offences committed by parents described as “serial offenders” have been welcomed by one the country’s largest child protection services.

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) described the transmission of such information to health authorities as “absolutely vital” to the protection of children.

The society was commenting following directions issued by Judge Patrick Durcan in respect of two sep- arate cases at Ennis District Court last week.

Judge Durcan ordered that the Courts Services notify the HSE of the convictions recorded against a mother of two for public intoxication and a father of three sentenced to six months in prison for having heroin for sale or supply at the family home in Ennis last year.

Judge Durcan further ordered that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) furnish a list of all previous convictions to the HSE.

The man and the woman, who are both in their twenties, have multiple previous convictions.

Judge Durcan said when court has knowledge that children are in the care and control of “serial offenders”, it has a duty to protect them.

In the case of the man convicted of having heroin for sale or supply, Judge Durcan added, “I’d like to get the HSE involved here as quickly as possible.”

Caroline O’Sullivan, Director of Services with the ISPCC, said the society “absolutely welcomes” the orders to notify the HSE.

Ms O’Sullivan said, “Often the only way the HSE can intervene in situations like this is when issues like this are highlighted to them. We would welcome it.”

She continued, “We would abso- lutely welcome it. If you have a situation where parents are taking drugs or are out drinking every day there is an obvious concern about who is looking after the children; who is feeding them; who is tucking them into bed. On a physical level, that is obviously a concern but then you also an impact on an emotional level also. It is absolutely vital that this type of information is passed on.”

Ms O’Sullivan said the orders fitted with the Children First guidelines the State’s official policy on the protection and welfare of children.

She said demand for the Society’s services in the Mid West is “increasing all the time.”

AN Bord Pleanála has approved planning permission to develop outdoor café facilities on O’Connell Street in Ennis.

The Ennis based Duesbury Limited has sought planning permission for the conversion one car parking space at O’Connell Street, Ennis to extended pavement area for out-door seating adjacent to Poet’s Corner/Town Hall. The developer also sought fascia signage and surround to the existing central doorway and incorporation of existing Poet’s Corner porch with main bar area. That part of the Old Ground Hotel is classified as a protected structure.

Ennis Town Council intially granted planning permission with Town Manager Ger Dollard stating that the principle of outdoor seating would “improve the vibrancy and character of the street.”

The Council’s decision was appealed by the owner of the Ennis Cash Company, Oliver Moylan to An Bord Pleanála on a number of grounds, including public safety issues, precedent and the loss of valuable on-street parking space.

In his report, Senior Planning Inspector Keith Sargeant states that O’Connell Street “reflects a good balance of activities between desti- nation shopping, pedestrian movement/street shopping, and vehicular movement”.

He continues; “The satisfactory functioning of O’Connell Street as a road, a street and a place, is clearly finely balanced. However I do not consider the loss of one car parking space would be detrimental to the maintenance of the fine balance. In reality the prospect of a motorist obtaining a parking space on O’Connell Street, at any busy time, is remote.

“Figures in this regard are stated in the Planning Authority response to the current appeal. In contrast the opportunity to enhance the sense of place surrounding “Poet’s Corner” area of the street is an opportunity in the public realm which should not be denied for the sake of one vehicular parking space”.

In granting permission, Mr Sargeant states that the “proposed development would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity.”

The report states that “the proposed fascia signage and surround to existing door shall be omitted”.

The report continues, “There shall be no retractable canopy or canopies attached to the façade of the building, save with a prior grant of planning permission. Proposed new paving must also match the existing footpath on O’Connell Street.

A TOTAL of 304 people presented as homeless last year in Clare according to the county’s draft homelessness plan

More women (160) than men presented as homeless with the majority of people (122) aged between 20 and 29.

A total of 19 people under the age of 19 and 10 persons aged 60+ presented as homeless in 2012.

Most of those presented (212) said Clare was their county of origin.

The next highest number of people came from Limerick (27). Non European Union homeless people accounted for 12 with three coming from EU countries.

12 people from accession state countries presented as homeless in 2012.

83 people found themselves homeless due to domestic violence; 52 due to breakdown of an independent living arrangement; 34 people pre- sented as transient; 20 people were evicted from private accommodation and 18 people presenting as homeless had been released from prison.

According to the figures four people were discharged from acute hospital; three were discharged from a treatment centre and one person was homeless due to alcohol and drug addiction.

Cllr Mary Howard (FG) told the June meeting of Ennis Town Council that young mothers and children are now becoming homeless.

She added, “That’s what I find heartbreaking about this, the stories behind the figures. This isn’t partying kids.” Cllr Howard was speaking in response to earlier comments from Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) who claimed that some homeless people who secure housing through agencies could be the source of antisocial behaviour in housing estates.

“There is often no follow up (by these agencies) in the estates,” he added.

Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) said that while it is “unfortunate” to see people drinking in laneways, homeless people “seem able to get housing more than our local people.”

“There are people using this homeless thing, especially in Ennis where the problem isn’t as big as that,” he added.

Cllr Paul O’Shea (Ind) said he found the figure of one person being homeless due to alcohol and drugs as “disingenuous.” He also claimed that the number of young people affected by homelessness is growing.

A BUSLOAD of tourists were sent on an extensive tour of West Clare which would not be an issue if that was their original intention.

However at the time the bus driver was attempting to drive the less than impressed passengers directly from Mullagh to Kilimer in time for the ferry, but poor road signage sent him on a tour through Doonbeg, Bellaha and into Kilkee before making the journey back to Killimer. Needless to say the tourists did not make their intended crossing on schedule and were delayed reaching Kerry as a result.

Kilrush Town Councillor Tom Prendeville (FF) said it was time for the council to follow through on a promise to upgrade signage, especially on approach roads to the town of Kilrush.

As a result of the 35 kilometre detour an appointment to have food in Kilrush also had to be cancelled.

“That was lost business to Kilrush,” said the local councillor.

“I am all for promoting West Clare and keeping tourists as long as possible in the area to sample the many attractions we have here.

“Signage should certainly offer tourists alternative destinations, but in this instance it was misguided and deceptive.

“That can be a great source of annoyance and irritation for some visitors on a tight schedule,” he said.

There is some hope for disgruntled bus drivers and bemused tourists however as Síobhan Garvey, Marketing and Development Officer in Kilrush said that the National Roads Authority is currently re-signing the national secondary N67 route from Miltown Malbay to Kilimer.

This will include the Kilkee Kilimer approach roads.

“As part of the process that will also be removing unlicensed roadside signage. The installation of their new signage scheme will provide clear directional guidance to the visiting motoring public and will include some tourist signage,” she said.

The marketing officer recognised that signage has been an issue in the area.

“There are plans to look in more detail at the Ennis approach road as a starting point by the Tidy Towns Liason Committee in the coming months.

“However both the Town Council and Tidy Town Committee are conscious that the NRA have not completed their signage project on the N67 and would like to see the outcome of this project so a clear plan can be put in place to deal with what signage needs to stay or be removed from the other approach roads in order to provide some unity to the entry – exit points of the town,” she said.

AT LEAST four Kilrush families have emigrated en masse and another young family with two children under the age of 10 are packing their bags this week for Canada.

The plight of families with no option but to leave the country was highlighted by Cllr Ian Lynch (FG) at Thursday night’s meeting of the council.

He said that in many cases these families are arriving in foreign soil with no immediate prospects, just a little more hope for a future.

However many of these families have no work organised in advance and in many cases are working off hearsay that there will be work available. There have been cases where the opposite has been discovered when they arrived in another country, leaving them homeless and penniless.

Cllr Lynch said he does not want to see the people of West Clare suffer the same fate as the homeless man who died on the streets of Ennis last month.

Adding to the plight of this generation are those that are now arriving home on the completion of their visas to a country here nothing has changed.

“When they come back they aren’t entitled to anything. There is a long wait for social welfare,” said Cllr Lynch.

The former mayor of Kilrush called on the Taoiseach to establish a department of emigration that will assist the thousands of emigrants leaving every day.

This office would ensure a central point to obtain information in relation to the new destination they hope to travel to.

The office would also assist those returning home by ensuring they have appropriate and correct information on social welfare entitlements and provide further direction on introduction back in to the work force.

Cllr Marian McMahon Jones (FG) said she was aware of one family that returned to Kilrush and although they were not entitled to any social welfare, they were looked after by the Government due to their circumstances.

Not all councillors agreed that people were misinformed about their decisions, as Cllr Christy O’Malley (FF) argued, “The youth by their nature are idealistic” and will travel.

Cllr Lynch added, “I always say young people should go and travel when they are finished their education but when you see young families forced to leave that is different.”

“It is a sad indictment that we are here discussing that not only our best and brightest emigrating but that when they come back that there is no hope for them, and the only thing we can see for them is social welfare,” said Cllr Liam O’Looney (FF).

MORE THAN 300 disabled Clare people are celebrating a significant victory this week as the government has been forced to row-back on plans to abolish the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant.

The you turn has been heralded as a major victory by Clare based organistion Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) – who committed to “waging war” against the proposed cuts in March of this year.

Following a number of protest meeting held in Ennis and in Dublin, the Government has agreed to set up an inter-departmental group, to look at alternatives to scrapping the disability payments.

Organiser of Disabled People Against Cuts, Ann Marie Flanagan, yesterday warned disabled Clare people that they must be ready to fight against any future funding cuts.

“We welcomes the news that the Government will continue to provide individualised payments to significantly disabled people.

This demonstrates the benefits of speaking out and having direct representation on decision making processes,” she said.

“The Government has decided that new statutory provisions will be established to provide individual payments to people with severe disabilities who require additional income to address the costs of their mobility needs.

“The Government has agreed that payments should temporarily continue to be made by the HSE to those persons currently in receipt of the Mobility Allowance for a further number of months, pending the commencement of a statutory scheme on the basis that this would prevent hardship and alleviate stress, anxiety and uncertainty among a vulnerable group in society and having regard to the exigencies that have arisen.”

Earlier this year the Department of Health decided to ax both transport schemes after Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, warned the age limit on the payments was in contravention of equality legislation.

It was claimed at the time that the scheme was discriminatory against old age pensioners and – according to the Department of Health, to roll out this scheme to all people over the age of 66 would cost an estimated € 170 million per annum.

New criteria for a new schemes to assist severely disabled people with transport needs is likely to come before Government in October.

It is not yet clear how many of Clare’s estimated 9,000 disabled people will qualify for this new scheme. Criteria for the existing schemes was already considered by disable groups to be very strict – with only 300 Clare people – or 1 in every 30 disabled people – qualifying for the payments.

CLARE County Council will be allowed to break the recruitment embargo later this year to take on 26 new staff members – many of whom will work as ‘street ambassadors’ in towns across the county.

The scheme, which is part of the government’s Pathway to Work programme, was criticised at last nights meeting of Clare County Council, for not offering unemployed people any realistic career progress.

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (IND) branded the scheme as flawed, because the majority of position mentioned are unskilled and offer little options for further training.

The new street ambassadors, as well as roads and water operatives and some clerical staff, will be picked at random by the Department of Social Protection – with a pool of candidates then being sent forward for interview by Clare County Council.

The staff members will be employed on a part-time basis on a fixed term, 22 month contract.

To qualify, candidates must be on Job Seekers Allowance for more than two years.

“We should have been told about the job positions on off long before this stage. I have serious reservation about this,” said Cllr McCarthy (IND).

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) argued that working as a street ambassador could give a candidate confidence as well as other skills that might be useful for obtaining future employment.

“I think this is a very worthwhile project,” he said.

According to Eddie Power of the council’s Human resources Department, the local authority will have the final say in who is hired to take up the position.

TWO West Clare businesses will take up the mantle following the decision of Fáilte Ireland not to reopen tourist offices in the principal towns of Kilrush and Kilkee.

The national tourism body has instead issued licences to Crotty’s in Kilrush and Any Occasion Gift Shop in Kilkee to provide Fáilte Ireland “Visitor Information Points”.

The licences were awarded after the contract went to tender earlier this year. The licences have been issued until the end of the year at which point they will be put to tender again.

For the staff at Crotty’s the addition of the Fáilte Ireland tourism information point is a natural progression for what they do every day.

Owner Rebecca Brew explained that the majority of the staff have taken part in familiarity trips to different destinations around west and north Clare already, and as all of the floor staff are from the locality, local knowledge will add to the tourist and visitor experience.

This is the first time Fáilte Ireland awarded a visitor information point licence to a food and drink business, and Ms Brew believes that the location of Crotty’s is ideally placed in the Square, Kilrush to provide such a service.

“I see Kilrush as a lovely place to visit; full of architecturally impressive buildings with a great history located in the town is our Marina where one can access the Ancient Monastic island of Scattery or go dolphin watching on the Shannon estuary. The Vandeleur walled gardens are gorgeous and free to all and can be accessed in two minutes from the town via Turret Lane, at the end of Moore Street, giving the Kilrush woods and gardens a town park feel, great for walks and cycling,” added the woman with all the local knowledge.

Paul Williams at Any Occasion Gift Shop in Kilkee is just as pleased to be helping tourists on a more formal basis. The entrance to the shop will be designated as a tourist information site.

“We tend to get asked these (tourism) type of questions anyway because of the type of business we have,” he said. Paul and the staff are already well informed on local tourist attractions, as the business is part of the local Chamber of Commerce and Loop Head Tourism.

Mr Williams is also optimistic about the tourism season ahead, as recent awards for the peninsula and the good weather has already seen an improvement in the tourism industry locally.

AS MANY as 250 Claires, Clares and Clairs from as far away as Hawaii, Australia and Europe have already signed up to be part of a record breaking attempt in Ennis on June 23. Organisers of the Gathering Event are now asking home grown Claires and those from all over Ireland to join in the attempt to break the World Record held by the Mohammads of Dubai, by having the largest ever gathering of persons with the same first name.

As many as 250 people from all over Ireland, the UK, Europe, and as far away as Australia and Hawaii have so far registered to participate in the event with many hundreds more expected to sign up closer to the time.

The largest gathering of people with the same first name is 1,096 Mohammeds in Dubai in 2005. The Clare event is being oraganised by the Clare Volunteer Centre, supported by the Gathering Clare Steering Committee.

“This is a family event where everyone from babies to grandparents are welcome to attend. You don’t have to be from County Clare, you may not have even heard of County Clare but you will share a name that is synonymous with being ‘clear, bright and famous’,” explained Sharon Meaney, Manager of the Clare Volunteer Centre:

The Electoral Register shows that there 608 people aged 18 or over named Clair, Claire or Clare in County Clare alone so there is clearly a large pool of people in the region that can contribute to this world record attempt.”

“The Guinness World Records insist that the only proof of identity we can accept is a Birth Certificate,” added Ms Meaney.