Category: News

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.

CLARE women were amongst the most likely in Ireland to find themselves in the care of a Magdalene Laundry, according to figures released as part of the McAleese Report published last week.

The report has identified, but not named, 261 different Clare women who each spent various lengths of time in a Magdalene Asylum or Laundry. This means that Clare had the fifth highest number of women in Magdalene facilities in the State. Only counties with much larger populations such as Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Tipperary had more women in Magdalene Laundries than Clare.

Indeed, the number of Clare women to have spent time in Magdalene Laundries is likely to be much higher than those presented in the report, as no details of any Clare facilities are mentioned in its findings.

This is despite claims by a large number of local people that a laundry operated in Ennis for many years during the 1940s and 1950s.

The vast majority of Clare women referred to in the report attended the Limerick City Magdalene Asylum. This facility was opened by the Good Shepherd Nuns in 1848 and contin- ued in operation until 1984. While entrants into this facility peaked on the 1930s, there was still a considerable number of girls and women being admitted to the facility in the 1970 and 1980s.

Indeed, according to the McAleese Report, a total of six women were admitted to this facility in 1981 – the last years than any new intake of women was recorded.

Members of the Magdalene Sur- vivors Together met with Taoiseach Enda Kenny (FG) and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore (Lab) yesterday to discuss the McAleese Report.

Both the Justice for Magdalenes advocacy group and the London-based Irish Women’s Survivors’ Network decline to attend the meeting.

The groups are anxious that they receive an opology from the State over abuses which took place in the laundries.

THE owner of a well-known hotel has expressed concern that Ennis is falling behind other areas of the country when it comes to attracting tourists.

John Madden of the Temple Gate Hotel called yesterday for a more unified approach to the promotion of the county capital, saying that groups currently involved in the tourism sector are “not working together”.

Mr Madden said he is concerned that Ennis is losing tourists to areas such as Westport, Cork and Galway.

He said, “Are there too many organisations? I don’t know but we need to be acting and working together.”

“There is a huge push going on in Limerick at the moment and it just seems that we don’t have the same push in Clare,” he added.

Mr Madden was speaking at a meeting of Clare County Council’s Community and Enterprise, Tourism and Emergency Services, Strategic Policy Committee (SPC).

He said the recent purchase of the West County Hotel by the Treacy Group could also be a huge boost to the town.

Mr Madden said the hotel’s reputation as a conference venue would continue to be “crucial” to bringing visitors to Ennis.

He explained, “I remember a time when there were up on 19 or 20 conferences a year in Ennis.

“If the West County can be encouraged along, we can get back to that stage again.”

He continued, “We had the AllIreland Darts Championships in the West County at the weekend and the hotels were full.

“I saw families of players coming back to the hotel with bags after shopping in the town. If we can get more of that (type of business), Ennis will do well.”

Mr Madden said all groups involved in the promotion of Ennis should meet and agree on a unified approach.

Director of Service and Ennis Town Manager, Ger Dollard told the meeting that groups such as Promote Ennis are working to bring more tourists to Ennis.

However, Mr Dollard said that both Promote Ennis and the Clare Tourism Forum will have to “gear up for a new reality” when the responsibility for tourism promotion for the mid-west is transferred from Shannon Development to An Bórd Fáilte.

Mr Dollard said initiatives such as the recent Purple Flag are aimed at bringing more tourists to Ennis.

Mr Madden told the meeting that businesses are concerned over the time it is taking for responsibility for the newly independent Shannon Airport to be transferred away from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) to the new board.

He said, “It hasn’t really transferred and it is a worry and the people that are going to suffer are businesses.”

He also called for Clare to be better promoted in the arrivals hall of Shannon Airport.

Mr Dollard said a two-person board has already been set up and further appointments are expected.

He said stands promoting Clare will be on view in new destinations serviced by Shannon, such as Phoenix and Washington.

Mr Dollard told the meeting that the Clare Tourism Forum will spend up to € 10,000 this year on signs at Shannon Airport. Ma n u fa c tu re rs o f Bo x P ro file Cla d d in g a n d Co rru g a te d Sh e e tin g a ls o ma n u fa c tu re rs o f No n -Drip In s u la te d Ro o fin g , All Fla s h in g s , Cla p p in g s a n d Gu tte rs e tc Sp e e d y d e live ry, ke e n e s t p ric e s fo r a ll yo u r n e e d s in Ro o fin g Ag ric u ltu ra l o r In d u s tria l

TOWN councillors from Clare’s four different authorities who plan to run for the next local election have one major fear in common, that there respective towns will be forgotten in a new larger local authority.

They say that the major driving force behind their intention to stand is to ensure that their town and the surrounding area will continue to have a voice.

“I would prefer to be standing for Shannon Town Council than Clare County Council. I think town councils have a lot to offer and I think the current situation with the councils being disbanded should be reversed,” said Shannon’s Greg Duff (Lab).

Kilrush town councillors Ian Lynch (FG) and Marian McMahon Jones (FG) know what it is like not to have town representation at county level, and it is with this in mind that they both had decided to contest a county election, even if the town councils had remained.

“It is of the up most importance that we have a strong voice from West Clare,” said Cllr McMahon Jones.

“The town of Kilrush plays a huge part in the development of West Clare. Kilrush needs a councillor on the county council to ensure that the town and West Clare are represented and the concerns and needs of the electorate served,” said Cllr Lynch.

And while Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) may be preparing to contest the county council election, he will forever be a “townie” at heart.

“Look I’m going to have to see what the results of the boundary commission are but I would be intending to go. I would like to see people from the town have someone from the town to vote for. You could have people running that wouldn’t be inclined to have the same love for the town as a townie. I’d be inclined to run just to give people in the town a chance to vote for a townie,” he said.

Cllr Michael Fleming (FG) is keen to represent his town and area but realized getting the opportunity will not be easy.

“It is going to be difficult for anyone to get elected to these new municipal districts, but for people like me who contested their first election in 2009 it is going to be even harder. But despite that I am willing to throw my hat into the ring. I would be a lot happier to run for Shannon Town Council and not this new district,” he said.

A KILMHIL-BASED construction and civil engineering company has plans to develop, upgrade and expand the Kilrush Marina, which is hoped will bring more business and employment to the area.

During the next five years, L&M Keating will invest € 3 million in the marina, at the end of which it should take ownership of the landmark.

In a deal with Shannon Develop- ment, the West Clare Company will construct a new pavilion building, landing pontoon, fixed and floating breakwaters and additional car marking.

It also sought planning permission from Clare County Council to extend the 120-berth marina pontoon to 160 and will carry out much needed dredging and land reclamation works.

When the work is complete, if Shannon Development is happy with the standard, the ownership of the marina will be signed over to L&M Keating, the company that built the marina’s centre for € 400,000 in 1998.

Managing Director of the company, Louis Keating is both excited and confident about the project. A keen sailor, he hopes to turn it around to what it was 20 years ago.

“The most useful thing we are going to do from a user’s point of view is that we are going to automate the lock gate, which is a contentious issue. Currently, the lock gates only work business hours and we are going to make them 24 hours a day. That will be a huge bonus to marinausers,” he told The Clare People .

Dredging the marina also remains a top priority.

The new building planned on site will be for public use, providing access for dolphin tours and visits to Scattery Island. Plans are also in place to upgrade the boat yard, formally Doherty’s Timber Yard.

“We are going to make it a smart, clean boat yard and hopefully get back the marine businesses – boat repairs, engine repairs and electronic repairs – that were there up to relatively recently, but for various reasons they have gone away. I think by drumming up a bit of business and providing nice facilities, we will get them back in,” he said.

“In terms of jobs, actually employed by the marina, there won’t be any change in numbers but I hope the marina industries will come back.

“My vision is that in five years time you would have eight to 10 people working there – let’s say five all year around and 10 through the summer.”

“I’d be making a serious drive to get in more yachts and more business. It is a fantastic facility. It is fundamentally the best marina on the west coast. I am hoping to drum up business on the west coast and further afield. I actually believe there is a market with the UK boat-owners that are paying probably three to four times the berthage that we are paying in Kilrush.

“We will be on a serious marketing drive once we get the development we are planning done.”