Category: News

IT IS not so much the possible hotel rates as much as the commercial rates that are concerning one possible bidder for an Ennis hotel that goes on sale at a basement price reserve this Friday.

An interested party in the sale of the Ashford Court Hotel on the Old Mill Road, Ennis, said commercial rates is a concern for most potential business owners.

According to the Valuation Office of Ireland, the commercial rate on the hotel to be sold as part of an auction of distressed properties, is set at € 185. The current rate set by Ennis Town Council is € 65.45 bringing the annual rate for this property to € 12,108.25.

The 27-bed Ashford Court Hotel is being sold on the instruction of receiver Kieran Wallace of KPMG at the Allsop Space auction in the Sherbourne Hotel, Dublin. Its reserve is not to exceed € 215,000.

Set on 0.072 hectares, the property will be sold with all contents to be included.

The Ennis hotel is not the only Clare property going under the ham- mer during the auction.

The Allsop Space auction will also feature the well-known Kilkee Bay Hotel.

The familiar landmark hotel on the Kilrush road into Kilkee will go to auction with a reserve not to exceed € 315,000.

A house in Mountshannon is also included among the 155 properties listed.

THE scale of the challenge faced by the newly independent Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) has been revealed with the news that the number of flight movements dropped to just 37 per day, last month – the lowest average monthly total for more than a decade.

This drop, which coincides with the airport’s first month of independence from the Dublin Airport Authority, represents a 10.7 per cent year-onyear drop in flight movements.

Despite these figures, the airport is expected to show an increase in flight movement later this year with a number of new services announced in recent months. It is hoped that the January figures represent a bottom- ing-out in terms of flight movement, which are expected to show significant gain later this year.

“The early months of the year are always the most challenging and particularly in the current climate but we are fortunate that we can look forward to increased traffic over the course of the year thanks to the commencement of new routes and a strengthening of existing ones. This wasn’t the case over previous years,” said an SAA spokesperson.

“On transatlantic routes alone we have 25 per cent increase in capacity during the summer season [from March to October] thanks to new routes coming on stream for Philadelphia and Chicago. The upswing kicks off next month with the return of Aer Lingus early on JFK New York and Boston routes, in time for the St Patrick’s weekend celebrations, and we also have Delta returning for the summer on JFK.

“Outside the US, we also have a new route announced for Faro, which is one of the most attractive sun destinations in Europe, as well as a doubling of our services to Bodrum in Turkey for the summer season. We will be very strong on the UK routes again this year and have recently added Glasgow to our schedule with Flybe.

“In addition to the gains we have already secured, the newly independent Shannon Airport will be marketed aggressively and competitively for other sustainable services.

“The environment remains challenging and these new services, which were hard won, will need to be supported by the public. But after a really difficult four years for the airport, we are confident that 2013 will be the turning point for us.”

It is also understood that the Shannon Airport Authority will soon officially announce the make up of its new board on management.

A NUMBER of new jobs are on the way for Shannon, following the expansion of local firm Tekelek in the UK market.

The Tekelek Group have announced the purchase of English-based company Ingenion Design for an estimated € 2 million. It is thought that this investment will help the company to expand into the markets of Europe and further afield and could provide a major springboard for the Clare company.

The company, which already employs 30 people at its Shannon headquarters, is understood to be planning to increase its staff to meet the increased demand expected follow- ing the purchase.

“Ingenion Design is an excellent strategic fit for Tekelek. Since its establishment in 1984, its innovative designs have been recognised by a series of awards under the UK’s Small Firms Merit Awards for Research and Technology (SMART) run by the UK’s Department for Trade and Innovation,” said Tekelek founder and managing director Peter McCarthy.

“Like Tekelek, it has developed many new technologies within its market and beyond through linkages with leading experts and universities. Its latest innovation, a novel method of measuring the calorific value of natural gas, was developed jointly with the research team at British Gas, and it now has an exclusive manufac- turing licence to produce this product for CUI Global.”

The product has already been tested and trialled across Europe, the US, Canada and South America and is set to transform Ingenion, with turnover expected to double in the next two years.

“This acquisition will give Tekelek access to new technologies, new sectors and new markets. Our Shannonbased workforce will expand incrementally over time from its current level of 30 employees,” continued McCarthy.

Tekelek has partnered with distributors In Australia, US, and other world markets. Founded in 1995, the company is a provider of level sensing and tank monitoring solutions for oil, LPG gas and water tanks.

CLARE County Council paid out more than € 688,000 in legal expenses last year.

At last night’s (Monday) meeting of the council, members asked if such costs had to be entailed.

Cllr Christy Curtin who requested the breakdown of the council’s legal expenses said, “The advice of law is a burden on our resources.”

He asked if the council could avoid the cost of legal advice in the future.

Director of Services Bernadette Kinsella told the members the county manager “was exploring other options”.

Of the € 688,830 paid out by the council on legal fees and for legal advice the majority of the costs were paid to Michael P Houlihan Solicitors.

County Solicitor John Shaw is a member of the firm, accounting for the majority of these costs.

The second highest payment made by the council was to Dublin-based senior counsel, Dermot Flanagan SC. He received € 96,469 for representing the local authority at two An Bord Pleanala oral hearings last year.

The hearing into council plans to construct a new bridge crossing at Killaloe lasted 10 days, while a separate oral hearing into plans to construct a contentious pier at Doolin lasted one day.

The Shannon bridge crossing proved the most expensive project from a legal standpoint last year, adding up to € 134,614 in total.

Extinguishing a right of way also proved legally expensive at a cost of € 93,006. The legal costs pertaining to Traveller accommodation for the year came in at € 89,726 and the Ennis Water Treatment Settlement at € 76,73.

Payments to Michael P Houlihan Solicitors included legal work on the acquisition of land and wayleaves; civil claim water services; extinguishment of right of way; enforcement cases relating to planning and the environment; the Killaloe Bridge Crossing; Traveller accommodation and other miscellaneous services.

A sum of € 59,339 was made from the council to James Connolly SC for a number of legal issues, with Patrick G Quinn receiving € 49,740 for legal work on a number of issues.

CLARE County Council could be set to scrap all planning permissions charges for new commercial buildings as part of a new plan to make Clare the most business friendly county in Ireland.

The local authority confirmed that they will be examining a number of possible changes to the planning process in the next month, including a proposal to wave all planning contributions.

This comes following a commitment by the Clare County Council to Shannon Airport Authority and Shannon Development to help give the Shannon area a kick-start for new commercial development.

A motion, put forward by Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) at yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council, requested that any waver for planning costs in the Shannon area be extended countywide.

“Under the act planning levies are not mandatory. A local authority can decide what levies they set in different areas. It is my opinion that rates collected after the first three years would cover the costs of waving the planning levies,” he said.

“We should take an initiative here and bring some business to Clare. This would, for example, give Crush- een a huge competitive base over somewhere like Gort. It would give the North Shannon an advantage over the South Shannon. This would create building activity in Clare and it would create a rates base for the future in Clare.”

The motion was seconded by Cathal Crowe (FF), who said that this waver could have the same effect as Ireland’s low corporation tax has nationally.

“The manager has already waved this for Shannon Airport and its hinterland. I think it is important to look at this as a countywide exercise,” he said.

“This would give us a real edge as a county. It would be like Ireland’s low corporation rate, except on a county basis. This would make Clare the best place in Ireland to do business.”

Clare County Council gave a cautious welcome to the proposal, but did indicate that money collected from planning development contributions don’t go directly into the council’s yearly budget – they are earmarked for works associated with the development itself.

“Careful consideration will have to be given to the extent of incentives that can be offered as a balance has to be struck between the need to support economic activity and cost recovery from services provision,” said a spokesperson.

CLARE County Council’s water safety officer has literally found himself between a rock and a hard place, as a “traditional bathing area” in Kilrush has been deemed unsuitable. The bathing area at Alveroo, known locally as The Rock, is missing the one thing that gave the bathing spot its name.

Former mayor of Kilrush Liam O’Looney (FF) now wants Clare County Council to replace the rock at the 150-year-old bathing area, before the summer season. He is supported in his request by the other members of the town council.

Water safety officer Liam Griffin has concerns about returning the rock however, and has advised against it. “I have visited the area known as The Rock, Cappagh, Kilrush, in order to carry out an inspection. As an International Life Saving Federation of Europe Risk Assessor, I would not recommend this location as being suitable for bathing for a variety of reasons. In that regard, I would recommend that the local authority should not carry out any reinstatement of the concrete section or conduct any works that would encourage the public to bathe at this location,” he said.

The water safety expert added that it was policy to select suitable bathing locations throughout Ireland, “which are regarded as safe and suitable to recommend to the public to use as bathing areas. All recommended bathing locations in the county have been comprehensively risk assessed with a view to public safety.

“In County Clare we have 12 such designated beaches, which are recommended for bathing. Ten of those locations are located along the west coast of Clare. We have one such location at Cappagh, Kilrush, and this beach enjoys Blue Flag status. Two lifeguards are employed at this beach during the bathing season.”

Cllr O’Looney said he was disappointed with the water safety officer’s response, adding that no specific reasons were given for his conclusion. “I think people are going to continue to swim there,” he said.

Cllr Ian Lynch (FG), who is also a member of the RNLI, argued “placing the rock there does not make it any less safe. If anything, putting the rock back would indicate end of the water.”

Mayor of Kilrush, Cllr Mairead O’Brien (Ind), was also concerned that the life buoy at the marina had gone missing three times in the last six months. She said in a bid to counteract the situation a special talk on water safety was to take place at the local secondary school.

THE roads grant for Kilrush has been cut by 17 per cent this year to € 115,000.

For the last three years Kilrush Town Council had been allocated € 139,000 from the Discretionary Block Grant to Urban Authorities.

At this month’s meeting of the town council, executive engineer Derek Troy said the council was requested to direct as much as possible of this funding at road and footpath strengthen, remedying road and foot- path defects and maintaining and improving drainage. The work identified to be completed this year in the town is work on the main thoroughfare – Francis Street.

As well as resurfacing and new street markings, Mr Troy said the council also plan to draw up special parking spaces for buses and coaches. “It will be included but we will loose a few parking spaces,” he said.

The member of the council agreed however that the new bus spaces were necessary to promote tourism in the town.

The remaining budget will be al- located to road repair parking and public lighting, as well as signage and draining improvements. Repairs to footpaths “in the interest of safety and accessibility” will also be undertaken.

In issuing the grant, the Department of the Environment and Local Government also directed that expensive reconstruction should be avoided by timely resurfacing.

“This is particularly relevant in the case of worn concrete surfaces. Ideally resurfacing should form part of a programme extending over a limited number of years,” it stated.

A KILRUSH Town Councillor has proposed a novel approach to community policing, in light of “the increase in malicious attacks on the elderly and those residing in rural areas” and the closure of rural Garda stations.

Cllr Ian Lynch (FG) said that a community alert scheme that would use a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) would allow a concerned or distressed resident call up to 15 other members of the community with one call.

The system can include up to 300 people on one circuit, but best results have been achieved with 15.

“This will prove especially beneficial in rural areas, with the closure of rural Garda stations leading to increased response time to emergency calls by the nearest members of An Garda Siochána,” he said.

“I am not trying to get rid of the 999 call. With the removal of the Garda station there may not be an immediate reply, and a garda would not be there in eight minutes as was promised a few years ago.”

The system would be especially beneficial to the elderly living alone. If they were concerned that someone was breaking into their home, pressing one button would alert numerous, neighbours and members of the community of their distress. The council agreed to write to the Minister for Justice asking that this proposal be considered and rolled out nationally.

“OH GOD!” Those were the words quietly whispered by Cllr Christy O’Malley (FF) as he was welcomed back to Kilrush Town Council on Tuesday night, as he listened to words of praise from his fellow councillors.

The former mayor of the town was nominated by his Fianna Fáil colleagues – Cllr Tom Prendevillle and Cllr Liam O’Looney – to fill the “Casual vacancy” arising from the death of Stephen O’Gorman in December.

“What do I say about Christy that has not been said or written,” said Cllr Prendeville, to which a bashful Cllr O’Malley was heard to whisper “Oh God”.

“He will light up this council because he is a very articulate and very intelligent man,” added the man charged with the nomination.

He paid tribute to the soon to be appointed councillor’s common sense, and his singing ability.

Cllr O’Looney described Cllr O’Malley as a welcome addition to the council. “He will defuse many a situation,” he said.

Members of the council that had not previously worked with Christy welcomed his “wealth of experience”, while old comrades spoke of a “very constructive and honest man”.

“It is lovely to see you here again. It was very sad for this council to see Stephen go, but it is fitting that you replace him,” added Cllr Marian McMahon Jones (FG).

Officially accepting the nomination under the Local Government Act, town clerk John Corry said that Mr O’Malley had been nominated by the Fianna Fáil party, and that the soon to be councillor had written to the clerk accepting that nomination.

“It is the only nomination I have received, so I am happy to receive it.”

As has become expected from the bi-lingual former Garda sergeant, Cllr O’Malley accepted the nomination in both Irish and English.

“All those glowing remarks. Were ye really talking about me?” he said.

He said he was honoured to take the seat vacated following the death of Cllr O’Gorman and paid special tribute the late councillor’s wife Geraldine and family, whom he described as dignified and caring at a time of great pain. “I hope to work in a cohesive, positive unit,” he said.

PUBS in Ennis and throughout Clare are facing a struggle for survival, the Chairman of the Ennis branch of the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) has warned.

Local publican Charlie O’Meara said the trade has taken a battering in the recession with turnover in some premises down 50 per cent to 60 per cent.

He said the closure of pubs in the town over the past five years has served as a blow to the local economy.

“It’s terrible to see some of the flagship pubs in the town that have gone. I was walking around the town today and to see the amount of businesses lying idle is shocking. We need that bit of continuity in businesses. It’s terrible to see new businesses opening and closing every six months,” he said.

Mr O’Meara, who now leases Moroney’s after 15 years running The Usual Place, said pubs are under enormous pressure to survive.

He explained, “Turnover is down 50 to 60 per cent but publicans are still paying the same amount out in overheads.”

He added, “I don’t think our TDs realise the pressure pubs are under. If any other industry had the rug pulled from under them like the pub trade, they would be petitioning the Government. The farmers certainly wouldn’t be quiet about it. There are an awful lot of pubs out there in trouble at the moment. They’re just hanging in there.”

Mr O’Meara said the reputation of the pub trade has also suffered in recent years.

“Certainly the pub industry has suffered a lot of negative publicity in recent years but people forget the amount of employment that pubs have provided, particularly for young people. Pubs were always a great source of part-time employment for students at college.”

He added, “We as an industry have made submissions to TDs but I don’t think they realise the pressure we are under.”

Mr O’Meara said, “The whole culture has changed. It’s more a foodbased industry now. Businesses have to adapt but I think we’re seeing the end of the traditional Irish pub.”