Category: News

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.

GARDA resources in Clare are stretched to breaking point with Clare Chief Superintendent, John Kerin, warning of “serious implications” if fresh blood is not allowed to flow into the force soon. Garda numbers in Clare have been reduced by 48 over the past two years and, according to Chief Supt Kerin, a number of retirements and career breaks are due to take place in the coming months.

Chief Supt Kerin also warned that he may have to take matters into his own hands and close number of smaller stations later this year because of a lack of manpower. This comes following the release of statistics for 2012 which show that gardaí in Clare have been performing welldespite the cuts.

“Four more members are leaving over the next two months and a number of others are looking at career breaks later this year. There is a rush of gardaí leaving in the months ahead. We have lasted well so far [during the recruitment embargo] but I simply can’t sustain the level or service that we are providing without new members coming in,” he said.

“The areas that will suffer are opening hours in rural stations and charities fundraisers that gardaí currently assist. I hope it doesn’t come to this but I have to be frank. We have done well up to now but there will be a serious implication on services if this situation does not change. If I don’t start getting more manpower, it may not be the Government who makes the decision about closing more stations [in Clare], I may have to do it myself because of a shortage of manpower.”

Speaking at last nights meeting of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC), former Mayor of Clare Pat Hayes (FF), called for an end to the recruitment embargo which has been in force for the last four years. “Maybe you can’t say it because of political reasons, but I can say it. There has to be a lifting of the embargo on recruitment for gardaí,” he said

Meanwhile, Chief Supt Kerin threatened to walk out of last night’s meeting if a motion of no confidence in Justice Minister Alan Shatter (FG) was allowed to be tabled.

The motion was suggested by Cllr Cathal Crowe (FG) but was ruled out-of-order by the chair of the JPC, Cllr Joe Arkins (FG).

As Cllr Crowe debated this ruling with Cllr Arkins, Garda Kerin intervened and threatened to walk out of the meeting if the motion was allowed to go forward.

ENNIS Town Council is to spend € 459,200 on the 2013 roadworks programme.

The programme was presented to councillors at yesterday’s monthly meeting of Ennis Town Council.

In his report, Town Engineer Eamon O’Dea said the council will provide € 120,000 from its own resources towards the maintenance of roads in the town, “which is significantly lower than funding in 2012 of € 175,000”.

He continued, “The non-national roads grant from the Department of Transport is € 339,000 which is € 78,000 lower than 2012. In Clare County Council’s Grant allocation from the Department of Transport under low cost safety schemes funds have been allocated to the Corrovorrin / Tulla Road junction and traffic light replacement at Captain Mac’s Cross on the Clare Road.”

150 residents have signed a petition to build a roundabout at the entrance to the estates at Oakleigh Wood, Derrymore, Cappahard estates on the Tulla Road.

The group say that measures are needed to cope with increased traffic on the road.

Town manager Ger Dollard said he met yesterday with residents of Oakleigh Woods.

He said it is an objective of Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council to develop a roundabout in the area. He said a detailed design had already been prepared but issues remained regarding land acquisition in the area.

The meeting heard that it could cost upwards of € 250,000 to build the roundabout.

Mr Dollard said funding for the project is an issue and that it would be unfeasible for the council to spend half of its € 459,200 budget for 2013 in one area of Ennis.

Council engineers are due to meet with residents on Thursday.

Town engineer Eamon O’Dea said traffic surveys and preliminary de- sign work has already been carried out for a roundabout at Corrovorrin.

Under the 2013 programme, the council is proposing to upgrade / construct footpaths in Golf Links Road (€ 15,000), Lahinch Road (€ 10,000) and The Crescent / Shannon Park (€ 15,000).

Pedestrian Crossings are proposed for Ashline, Kilrush Road, Frances Street (Tesco / Aldi), Carmody Street at Drumbiggle Road, Clare Road at St Flannan’s College, Clonroadbeg at Eire Óg, Gort Road at Ashfield Park – at a combined cost of € 52,000.

Additional pedestrian barriers are proposed for Rice College / Christian Brothers and Holy Family School at a cost of € 7,200.

The council is to spend € 20,000 on the provision of line marking and € 15,000 on the replacement of road signs in compliance with An Bord Teanga.

In his report, Mr O’Dea stated, “A total of 6600 square metres of road were re-surfaced in 2012 including significant works at Lower Parnell Street, Station Road, Coote’s Cross, Kilrush Road and Lower Market Street carpark. Footpath replacement was carried out at the Crescent and Shannon Park and a new section of footpath provided at Gaurus. The adjustment to the pedestrian crossing at Kelly’s Corner is being completed from 2012 funds.”

THERE have been renewed calls for the development of a purpose-built all-weather soccer pitch in Ennis in light of Clare teams choosing to train and play in Limerick.

The prospect of installing a € 500,000 astro turf soccer pitch in the Lees Road Sports Complex was raised at yesterday’s monthly meeting of Ennis Town Council.

In a motion, Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) urged the council to look at the “possibility of developing an all- weather full-size soccer pitch in the Lees Road Sports Complex.”

Cllr Guilfoyle, who is involved with second division side Ruan United, told the meeting that no soccer games were played at Lees Road between December 20, 2012 and February 3, 2013.

He said this represented a loss of income to the council.

Cllr Guilfoyle said the grass pitch directly across from the dressing rooms could be converted into an all weather surface.

He said, “There are maybe 10 soccer teams altogether using Lees Road. If we had an all weather pitch, we could have teams playing at night during the week with floodlights.”

The meeting heard that two soccer teams – Turnpike Rovers and Connolly Celtic – recently paid € 150 to play a friendly game on the University of Limerick’s all weather pitch.

The Clare soccer team conducted most of their Oscar Traynor Trophy preparations on pitches in UL and the Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT).

In his reply Town Clerk Leonard Cleary said the council has explored the possibility of developing new all weather facilities at Lees Road.

He stated, “Ennis Town Council has recently researched the cost of developing an all-weather full-size soccer pitch in the Lees Road Sports Complex.

“This research was based on demand from the public and customers for such a facility in the context of ongoing inclement weather. The cost is estimated to be in the excess of € 500,000.

“Due to financial constraints on the council it is not possible to fund this project from our own resources.

“However the council will pur- sue any grant fund available if announced.”

Mr Cleary told the meeting that the council had also contacted the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) regarding the matter.

Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said that while he supported Cllr Guilfoyle’s motion, he would like to see it expanded to include all sports teams.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said that a recent meeting of the Lees Road management committee had heard that it would cost an estimated € 10,000 to upgrade the current all-weather pitch to the required standards.

CLARE Youth Service’s Shannon film project hit the big screen last week with their double entry in the Fresh Film Festival at the Lime Tree theatre in Limerick. Their short film entitled ‘Dairy Milk’, a remake of the peculiar Cadbury’s Dairy Milk advert where two school children show off their amazing eyebrow gymnastics, impressed “Fresh” judges and was put through to the finals which will be held on March 20 in the Odeon Theatre Limerick. Resident filmmaker to the project Emma Sams remarked, “All the young people involved with the project are delighted with the result. Fresh Film Festival is one of the larger film festivals for young film makers in the region so it’s a great feeling to see your film go through to the final stages.” The remake was originally made as an advert to go with the main film, which was also entered into the festival called ‘Drug Love Dealers’. The film followed a young couple through the possible pressures of teenage life and the choices they make in dealing with them. Project participant Nicole McKee said, “While we are a little disappointed that our main film did not get through, we are delighted that the ad did. It took a long time to make and it was very tricky to get some of the camera angles right so we learned quite a bit about film making just from doing it. The group are delighted to be returning to Limerick for the second round in March and also hope to start on their next project soon. Anyone 14 to 17 years of age interested in getting involved with the film project in Shannon can contact the youth worker in Shannon, Thomas O’Hara, on 085 8019666 or email tohara@clareyouthservice.org.

A CIRCUIT Court judge has expressed concern over the shortage of treatment facilities for people seeking help with drug addiction.

Judge Gerard Keyes was speaking at Ennis Circuit Court on Friday where he presided over three sepa- rate cases where the absence of residential treatment facilities emerged as an issue in sentencing.

In all cases, the accused had suffered or are suffering from serious drug addictions. The men are all aged between 20 and 24.

Sentencing was adjourned in all cases pending reports on the availability of places at residential drug treatment centres.

Judge Keyes said greater availability of drug treatment and rehabilitation facilities would save money for the State in the long term. In the case of one West Clare man described as having a chronic heroin addiction, Judge Keyes said that if the accused went back on the streets without access to appropriate services, “the chances of re-offending because of drug use would be high.”

A letter of support from homeless campaigner Fr Peter McVerry was given to the court in the case of another man who developed an addiction to heroin at the age of 15.

He said, “Fr McVerry is doing what the State should be doing and that is what concerns me.”

Judge Keyes said that the absence of suitable facilities for people seeking to break their addiction to drugs is making difficult for judges to structure sentences appropriately.

He said in one case there was no place to go after prison for one 24year-old man who had benefitted from addiction counselling services in prison.

MORE than 2,000 anglers and environmentalists took to the street on Sunday to protest against a proposed organic fish farm to be situated off the Fanore coast. The farm, which will be the largest fish farm in Ireland if the Department of Agriculture decided to grant it a license, is being proposed by government agency Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM).

A number of groups, including government agency Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) are against the proposed farm – claiming that it will result in pollution and an infestation of sea lice.

A lone piper led anglers and environmentalists from Clare, Galway, Mayo, Dublin and Donegal through the streets of Galway yesterday in the largest gathering against a fish farm ever to take place in Ireland.

BIM claim that the fish farm would be a major employment boost in the North Clare area and could create as many as 500 local jobs. These claims have been contested by organisations such as IFI, who say that the likely number of jobs created will be closer to 40.

In a meeting last Friday, BIM chair man Kieran Calnan, reiterated the organisation’s claims about the fish farm. “The benefits that would come from such a development, including 500 jobs and an increase in seafood exports by € 100 million per annum are very significant,” he said.

“As a responsible State agency in existence for more than 50 years, we have planned this project while adhering to the strictest environmental standards and we are certain that there will be no negative impacts on the marine environment, or the inter- ests of other stake holders.

“We believe that the environmental investigations, which we have carried out supported by scientific input from the Marine Institute, clearly show that a large scale organic certified salmon farm could be developed in Galway Bay.”

BIM also claim that they have a list of international companies which have already expressed an interest in operating the fish farm if it is given the green light.

“We are hugely encouraged by the level of support for this project that we are receiving from the seafood and associated industries on the west and north west coasts,” continued Mr Calnan. “These rural regions have few economic alternatives and it is essential that a project like this sustainable deep sea project proceeds if we are to stem the flow of emigration from our coastal communities.”

THE Garda hierarchy in Clare are in favour of proposals that would see two of the county’s largest Garda stations be closed at night.

Clare’s most senior Garda, Chief Superintendent John Kerin, said that he is 100 per cent behind closing Garda stations in Ennistymon and Killaloe between the hours of 9pm and 7am.

Speaking at last night’s meeting of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC), Chief Supt Kerin said he would rather have a garda out on the beat at night than sitting at a desk.

“I am strongly in favour of Ennistymon and Killaloe being closed to the public between 9pm and 7am. We have a modern communication system in place and at present all 999 calls come into Ennis Garda Station,” he said.

“I don’t want a garda in Ennisty- mon doing paper work at night when he could on a motorbike or in a squad car protecting the area. These closures will put an extra garda on the streets protecting their community at night. I am hoping this will come into place later this year but it won’t come in until April 22 at the earliest.”

Chief Supt Kerin also confirmed that it may take some time for a new inspector to be appointed to Ennistymon.

“I have asked that an inspector be placed in Ennistymon but that cannot be done until people are promoted on the inspectors list,” he said. “I am not very happy that the amalgamation will take place without there being an inspector in Ennistymon. I don’t believe that a superintendent in Kilrush can cover everything in North Clare.”

Following recent comments in the media which likened Ennistymon to a “holiday camp” for gardaí, Chief Supt Kerin said that such comments were not helpful and untrue.

“The people in Ennistymon have dealt with three of four serious murders over the last number of years. They are dealing with people taking their lives at the Cliffs of Moher all the time. There are a series of burglaries and breaking all the time,” he said. “I’m not saying that Ennistymon is any better or worse than other areas but it is certainly not a holiday camp as was suggested by one person in the media recently.”

CLARE people commuting by train to and from Galway will be able to purchase tickets online before the end of April.

The lack of an online booking option has been identified as one of the main reasons why the numbers using the service have not met expectations since the Ennis to Athenry section of the Western Rail Corridor was reopened in 2009.

There was more good news for the service as new figures reveal that passenger numbers on the route jumped by almost 5 per cent in 2011. The total number using the rail service between Galway and Limerick rose from 224,166 to 235,555 in 2012.

Figures provided by Irish Rail for the Ennis to Athenry section of the track showed that just 34,235 used the midsection service in 2012.

This figure is a slight reduction on 2011 with the growth in passenger numbers being largely driven by passengers travelling from Ennis to Limerick and from Athenry to Galway.

A spokesperson for Irish Rail acknowledged that the majority of the growth in 2012 was generated in commuter journeys between Ennis and Limerick and Athenry and Galway, but insisted that the midsection of the track will be strengthened by the advent of online booking.

“We have been working ourselves and with stakeholders to grow demand on the route, and undertook a number of initiatives in the final third of last year which have yielded improvements, including free car parking at Gort and Ardrahan and targeted promotion of student commuter tickets and adult taxsaver tickets. We will ensure that there is continued targeted promotion of the service as part of our commercial plan,” said an Irish Rail spokesperson.

“We have committed to extending the online system to this route as soon as possible. Currently, our online system supports bookings only where the train has an electronic reservation system on board.

“We are currently working to modify this to support all trains on all routes, and we expect this to be completed in the next two months,” they added.”

AMONG the many targets set out by the HSE West in its blueprint and budget for health services in the region is the target of providing 3.1 million hours of home help to 13,460 people in the HSE West area. Closer examination of the figures, which depend on assumptions and optimistic predictions, shows that this is just an average of 4.4 hours per person per week. A total of 846,780 hours of home help service are to be provided to 3,601 people, resulting in a breakdown of 4.5 hours per week. For many dependents on this service, it will mean fewer hours; for others a little more. The HSE West Service Plan 2013 has a number of targets set out in its plan for the year ahead, including cutting waiting times in the region’s hospitals to six hours, at which point 95 per cent should be discharged or admitted. It also states that no adult will wait more than eight months for an elective procedure, in-patient or day case, and no child will wait more than 20 weeks. It has set the waiting time for Out Patient Department appointments as no longer than one year, while it aims to cut the maximum wait for an “urgent colonoscopy” to four weeks. “No person will wait more than 13 weeks following a referral for routine colonoscopy,” it stated. It also outlines plans to provide 2,238 home care packages; support over 5,000 people with NHSS (Fair Deal) residential care places and provide for a minimum of 589,889 hours of personal assistant and home support services. And while the service must cut its staffing numbers by 4 per cent it has promised to prioritise the recruitment of frontline Primary Care and Mental Health posts and Integrated Care Diabetes Nurse Specialists across the region. The implementation of the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme and preparation of three sites for the National Cancer Control Programme Colorectal Screening initiative is also on the wish list.