Category: News

THE Deputy Mayor of Phoenix, Arizona, will lead a delegation of almost 100 people to Ennis next week to participate in a comprehensive programme of events marking the 25th anniversary of the twinning link between the Clare County and Arizona State capitals.

Michael Johnson will be joined in County Clare by Phoenix City Council representatives and executives, business leaders and Phoenix Sister City personnel.

One of the highlights of Phoenix Week 2013 will be the participation in the St Patrick’s Day parade of 35 members of the Saint Mary’s Catholic High School marching band from Phoenix. During their weeklong visit to the Banner County, the Phoenix delegation will also meet Clare business and tourism interests on the business opportunities that the region offers, participate in the St Patrick’s Day parade, and receive a guided historic tour of Ennis as well as visit some of Clare’s best-known tourism attractions.

Speaking ahead of next week’s visit, Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Peter Considine stated, “It is very important that we celebrate the real and enduring association between Ennis and Phoenix. We all benefit from this association in terms of culture, education and business. I wish to congratulate all of those who have been involved over the past 25 years.”

“Since the formation of the twinning relationship in 1988, civic and community leaders from both sides of the Atlantic have visited each other on exchanges and have developed strong ties and personal friendships. Phoenix Week 2013 is an opportu- nity for all of us to celebrate the very special relationship that has been established,” explained T J Waters, Chairperson of Ennis Phoenix Twinning Board.

He added: “The twinning arrangement has presented tremendous opportunities for the residents of both Ennis and Phoenix. For example, political and business leaders, arts and cultural representatives, technical experts, teachers and students from each location have participated in regular exchanges. We look forward to welcoming our friends to Ennis next week. ”

Meanwhile, Ennis Phoenix Twinning Board will host a breakfast forum for visiting Phoenix business people and officials. The forum on March 15, which is supported by Ennis Town Council and Ennis Chamber of Commerce, will concentrate on opportunities for employment in the region as well as showcasing the tourism opportunities on offer in Clare. Topics covered will include transport infrastructure, links to third-level research projects and opportunities for global business.

Visit www.ennisphoenix.com or the Ennis Phoenix facebook page.

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.

CLARE’S expectant mothers are not getting the best pre-natal case possible, according to a member of Ennis Town Council, who argues that a 20week scan would provide for a safer delivery in cases where the baby may need urgent treatment.

Cllr Paul O’Shea (Ind) received the support of his colleagues as he called on the HSE in the region to provide a 20-week anomaly scan for all pregnant women in Clare as part of the routine ante-natal screening process.

According to the former Labour councillor, these scans are only provided at the discretion of the obstetrician or through private healthcare providers.

“This routine scan can determine if the newborn child should be delivered in a territory centre so as to ensure the best chance of corrective surgery upon birth, such as cleft pallets, cleft lips and minor heart condi- tions,” he said.

The HSE does not have any plans to introduce the anomaly scan as part of a woman’s pre-natal check ups however.

“The maternity services in the midwest are not in a position to provide a 20-week ‘anomaly’ scan as a routine measure. However, far from it being provided at the discretion of a consultant, women with a high risk of an anomaly are referred for a 20-week detailed anatomy ultrasound, which is provided by a cohort of our obstetricians/gynaecologists who specialise in foetal medicine. There are four such consultants in the mid-west,” said the local HSE spokesperson.

“This service is not provided on a private basis,” he added.

Cllr O’Shea is adamant that in the interest of safety for the mother and child, such a scan should be introduced, and soon.

“There is a major disparity here between international antenatal care standards. For example, in the UK, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommends that all women undergo a two-scan regime. Women in other European countries receive an average of four to five scans during pregnancy. In 2010, Prof Fergal Malone, Royal College Surgeons Ireland and Master of the Rotunda, agreed that a two-scan regime should be available,” he said.

“I have been contacted by expectant mothers who do not have the means to pay for anomaly scans and who feel discriminated against as they live outside Dublin.

He continued, “These routine anomaly scans are presently only provided under the HSE at the Rotunda Hospital and the National Maternity Hospitals in Dublin. There is an equality issue here, as expectant mothers in Clare attending the Mid West Regional Maternity hospital in Limerick are not provided with the scan, and it is only available at the discretion of the obstetrician or through private healthcare providers.”

THERE are serious anomalies between the value the Revenue Commissioners is placing on Clare properties and their market value.

That is according to Diarmuid McMahon of Sherry FitzGerald Ennis who said it is using wide brush strokes to value houses, which make little of no sense in reality.

He explained that the Revenue is valuing all semi-detached properties in an area in the same price range irrespective of size.

Likewise detached modest rural family homes are being placed in the same price category as large houses or mansions.

The Ennis estate agent warned the onus is on the homeowner however to ensure that the value price is correct, even if the State under values it. The owner is liable for any underpayment of the new tax.

The Revenue Commissioners launched its website to help home owners to calculate how much they will have to pay in property tax from the second half of this year.

A letter indicating the same is expected in the coming days.

Meanwhile the property tax is prompting a director of a Clare based voluntary housing scheme to resign.

The inclusion of voluntary housing along with private landlords and local authorities as being liable for Property Tax (on family housing) has precipitated a crisis for Rural Resettlement Ireland, according to its chairman Jim Connolly.

“The Government has radically moved the goalposts. Neither I nor any other director over the years signed up to become tax collectors. The onerous responsibilities of being directors of charitable Companies Limited by Guarantee under the Companies Act make it almost impossible nowadays to recruit new directors. The latest addition of shouldering the responsibility for paying property tax on large numbers of social houses is the last straw,” he said.

“I have publicly declared my intention of resigning as a director of RRI if the situation described above is confirmed in the Finance Act. I cannot speak for other directors or other Voluntary Housing associations.”

DESPITE going more than two weeks without any rain, Clare recorded a year-on-year increase in the amount of rain which fell last month.

According to figures obtained from the Met Eireann station at Shannon Airport, the monthly rainfall last month was almost half what it normally is for the month of February. Despite the unseasonably dry conditions, last month actually represented a year-on-year increase in rainfall in the county from 38.6 millimeters in 2012 to 49.6 this year.

Indeed, last month’s dry weather is a continuation of a trend which has been seen in Clare over the last three years. Rainfall levels in February, March and April have been uncommonly low since 2011, with wetter than normal months of June and July also recorded.

Farmers and gardeners in the county can also expect a slower than normal start to the growing season this year, as average temperatures are down on previous years. The average ground temperature in Clare last month was just 5.3 degrees, compared to a posi- tively balmy 7.7 degrees for the same month in 2012.

Despite the positive effects of the recent dry spell, the low soil temperature will hamper the growth of grass and non-hardy vegetables and plants.

The recent cold snap could also have a detrimental effect on grass growth in the county. The sub-freezing of this week looks likely to knock back any early growth across the county.

This comes as many farmers throughout the county are struggling for winter feed as a result of last year’s poor silage harvest.

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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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.

A 36 PER cent increase in the numbers of houses sold in Clare last year may indicate that the property market is stabilising slightly, but one established auctioneer believes that growth in sales will drop again this year.

Diarmuid McMahon of Sherry FitzGerald Ennis believes that there was a surge in sales last year for a number of reasons, including tax relief on mortgages, but a lack of saleable property now on the market means the number of sales are likely to dip again this year.

“Availability is down on last year,” said the auctioneer.

According to the property price register, 565 properties were sold in Clare in 2012, compared to 414 in 2011.

Those buying were mainly first time buyers taking advantage of mortgage tax relief, and people with cash buying into the market at very low prices and prepared to keep the property for more than a decade.

“Prices have dropped an average of 50 per cent and often 60 per cent. Many places in Clare are selling for less than the construction cost. This cannot be sustained in the long term,” said Mr McMahon.

He said that there is currently development land in the Ennis area for sale for € 15,000 an acre with phase one zone development. This land would previously have sold for half a million euro an acre.

And while a lot of property was sold last year, the majority of it was stock that had been with estate agents for a long time.

“A lot of it was mopped up last year,” said Mr McMahon.

Much of the remaining property will remain on the books however as vendors are not prepared to drop prices any further, hoping that next year will not be worse, even if it is not better, explained the Ennis estate agent.

There is also very few new properties coming on to the market, he added.

The majority of those looking for a new home are first time buyers or young families.

However a lot of the property available is not necessarily suitable to their needs.

CALLS for Ennis Town Council not to accept representations from Clare TDs and engage in a form of “blue flu” strike action have been rejected by councillors.

The proposal was tabled by Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) at the March meeting of Ennis Town Council.

In the motion, Cllr Meaney stated, “Having regards to the proposed abolition of town councils and the refusal of Clare TDs to, in any way, contribute to the costs of running of Ennis Town Councils services despite their ongoing representations to avail of these services. Taking account that they have no mandate to town councils and should concentrate on national matters. I humbly request that the council no longer assist the impression hawked by our Oireachtas members that they have a function in local authority matters. I request that this council cease to accept representations from our Oireachtas members and request them to direct such representations to the elected members of Ennis Town Council.”

Explaining his reason for submitting the motion, Cllr Meaney referred to a letter sent by the Impact trade union to members of the then government parties, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party, in March 2010.

The letter stated that in response to cuts in public service salaries, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) had requested that that all public service unions commence a work to rule as part of a campaign to reverse the cuts.

Andy Pike, Impact Assistant General Secretary, stated that the campaign included a bar on processing all political representations from government TDs, senators and coun- cillors.

Cllr Meaney said the letter had left a “sour taste” in his mouth.

He told the meeting that if a trade union could stop councillors making representations, then the council could do the same to TDs.

Cllr Meaney said TDs had treated the council chamber with “disdain”.

He said the motion would illustrate the unhappiness with the decision to abolish town councils if members had the “nerve and steel” to pass it.

Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said the council could not direct staff not to deal with TDs representations.

Cllr Brennan did however express annoyance that the outcome of some private council meetings on housing were disclosed to members of the public.

The council did pass a proposal from Cllr Brennan that correspondence for the mayor and councillors be sent only to those recipients and not TDs.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said he could not support Cllr Meaney’s motion.

He added, “I think we should be working with our Oireachtas members instead of throwing dirt at each other.”

Cllr Paul O’Shea (Ind) criticised Cllr Meaney’s motion, describing as “bordering on the ridiculous”.

Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) expressed support for Cllr Meaney, saying it was one of the “better motions” to come before the council.

He said by abolishing local authorities, the Government are “taking the voice away from the people”.

In his reply, town clerk Leonard Cleary stated, “Ennis Town Council is obliged to have regard to the 2001 Local Government Act and the regulations commenced subsequently. In this regard the council is required to brief Oireachtas members on council services. The council is also required to engage with all other arms of the State including the Oireachtas.”

Cllr Meaney’s motion was not passed. A second proposal, calling for the council to engage in a “blue flu” style strike action in relation to TDs representations, was not supported.

JOHN O’DWYER’S Builders Providers and DIY Store in Kilrush is to close its doors at the end of the month with the loss of seven of the eight jobs.

Owner, John O’Dwyer described as “rotten” the realisation that he had to close the store on the Cooraclare Road, six months after the Ennis store ceased trading.

He said that some of the staff were with him for more than 10 years and had worked at the Quilty store, making the decision all the more difficult.

The hardware store owner did not attribute the reason for the drop in business, which led to the store’s closures, solely to the drop in the building sector.

“The general spend of our customers is down, even in paint and white goods. So much has gone out of people’s household budgets, and the weekend trade which was once very busy has been down significantly,” he said.

“The weekend trade has been affected. We were a good employer one time. Three years ago, we had 52 staff. At the end of March, we will have just 18 staff members left,” he said.

Mr O’Dwyer said that all vouchers and guarantees from the Kilrush store will be honoured at the Miltown Malbay store and customers should not be concerned.

He added the Miltown Malbay store will continue to trade, looking after customers not only in that area but also customers from Kilrush and Ennis.

“When we closed Ennis, we managed to keep a lot of our customer base, and delivered directly to them. We hope to keep our Kilrush base by providing the same value delivery service,” he said.

Optimistic about the future, Mr O’Dwyer said that the company owns both buildings in Ennis and Kilrush, “so if things pick up, we look forward to opening them again.”

The seven staff at the Kilrush store were given a month’s notice that the shop is to close on March 30.