Category: News

PRIMARY schools across County Clare are now among the most overcrowded anywhere in the country.

These alarming statistics from primary education in the county have been revealed this week in new study published this week, prompting the county’s Irish National Teachers Organisation supremo to describe them as “a wake up” call for the Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn.

The figures show that now almost 90 per cent of primary pupils in the county are in classes that are greater than the European Union average.

And almost 90 per cent of pupils in Clare schools are in classes of 20 or more, while over a quarter are in “supersize” classes of 30 or more children.

The latest figures show that 27 per cent of primary pupils are in classes of 30 or more, which translates into 3656 pupils in the county being in classes of 30 or more. In addition to this, 58 per cent of pupils are in classes of 20 or more and 15 per cent of pupils are in classes under 20.

The INTO said the figures showed the impact of government cutbacks on the ground in schools. The General Secretary of the INTO, Sean McMahon, the county’s representative on the national executive, described the findings as a wake-up call for the minister. He said Irish class sizes were now the highest in the EU and called on the minister to stop the rise in over-crowded classes.

“Irish class sizes are back to where they were a decade ago and getting worse. In 2002, average class size in Ireland was 24.5m the same as it is today. More than one hundred thousand children (112,821) are in classes of 30 pupils or more, up 10 per cent on the previous year,” said Mr McMahon

The INTO General Secretary, Ms Sheila Nunan commented that the primary school classroom is the frontline of the education service.

“It is where most children spend the majority of their time,” said Ms. Nunan.

AN Ennis woman is helping to raise awareness of the painful spinal condition scoliosis.

Eileen Farrell’s life turned upside down when she was diagnosed with the condition.

Eileen (48) first became aware of the condition after going to the swimming pool to partake in a session of water aerobics.

She says, “I was really shocked by what had happened at the pool. Normally I feel flexible and healthy after a session, but that day I was in agony before I even did anything”

Ignoring the discomfort, Eileen went to work the next day and, by the end of the day, Eileen had decided that she had to visit her GP.

When Eileen visited her GP a few days later, he diagnosed scoliosis and advised her of the different methods of treatment that were available to her.

Scoliosis affects more than four per cent of the population and, if left untreated, it can lead to fatal heart and lung problems.

The condition involves both adults and children but progresses more rapidly during the teenage years.

Spinal surgery is an extreme process that involves the insertion of two metal rods into the back, on either side of the spine, before the spine is fused back together.

Following the appointment with her GP, Eileen started to search the internet for an alternative method to treat her condition.

Eileen was eventually treated at the Scoliosis SOS Clinic in London.

She explains, “The initial consultation was very important to my overall treatment. I was educated by the consultant, who put my mind at rest. I was so relieved at the end of my consultation and I enrolled onto a course of treatment the very same day.”

Eileen began her course at the start of the following month.

By the end of the second week, her pain levels had reduced.

She added, “I was so happy when I was given my before-treatment and after-treatment scans. I looked like a different person. I was really pleased with myself for making it happen. My pain has gone and I look more upright; I have even grown a few centimetres as well.

“But most importantly I am back in the pool and hopefully not making too much of a splash.”

CLARE County Council is now issuing leaflet information to Clare households in relation to the regis tration of domestic wastewater treatment systems.

This registration of septic tanks is proving as controversial as the household charge among mostly rural homeowners.

The local authority has been charged with ensuring people are well informed about the issue well before the February 1 deadline.

The Local Government Manage ment Agency (LGMA) has developed a central online registration system and will manage the system on a shared-service basis for the water services authorities, including Clare County Council.

All septic tanks and other types of treatment and disposal systems for domestic wastewater are to be registered not later than February 1, 2013. However, there are savings to be made by registering before the end of this month. Registration payments received by September 28 will be subject to a € 5 fee with the registra tion fee increasing to € 50 thereafter up to 1 February.

“Under the Act, owners of domestic waste water treatment systems are required to ensure that their systems are on the register,” explained Mr. Paul Moroney, Senior Engineer, Clare County Council.

“No decisions have been made regarding the numbers or locations of inspections to be carried out, or the risk-based criteria to be used when targeting those inspections. Inspec- tions under the new legislation will not commence until 2013 and the commencement of inspections will be publicised in the national and local media,” he added.

“You should take care not to allow uninvited persons, or persons claiming to be septic tank inspectors, to enter onto your property in advance of the launch of inspections. You will be formally notified by your water services authority if your domestic wastewater treatment system is to be inspected. Inspectors will be required to carry identification and you should ask for this to be presented to you,” he concluded.

The charge can be paid online at www.protectourwater.ie or by cheque/postal order/bank drafts at a local authority office. Registration forms may be obtained from public libraries, citizen information centres, Aras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, and at the following area offices: Kilrush, Shannon, Ennistymon, Scariff, Ennis and South East Clare. For further information, contact or Lo Call 1890 800 800 or visit www. protectourwater.ie.

DEVELOPING the quays in County Clare would not only give a boost to local communities and provide a public amenity to locals but it would also help drive local tourism.

That is according to Green Party councillor Brian Meaney who proposed, “a plan for the development of underutilized quays in Clare be commenced by Clare County Coun- cil in partnership with other relevant groups”. The development should include the use of the quays as a public amenity he said.

Cllr Meaney told last evening’s meeting of Clare County Council that each area of Clare has a quay be it on lakes or the Atlantic Ocean.

Supporting the motion, Cllr Oliver Garry (FG) said that any such project should also look at the islands including the seven in the estuary.

In her reply, Director of Services Ann Haugh said the council does not have funding for a plan to cover “the many quay facilities which exist around the county’s coastline”.

“Where funding opportunities become available to facilitate improvement of quay facilities in the county they are pursued. Where it is considered through local knowledge or otherwise that there are development opportunities in relation to particular quays, these can be notified to us and we will consider same,” she said.

CLARE is the most expensive county in Ireland in which to purchase home heating oil. That is according to a countrywide survey carried out by the National Consumer Agency at the end of last month.

The survey makes depressing reading for financially stretched Clare families, especially those living in the Ennis area.

The national average price for 1,000 litres of delivered home heating oil was € 964.

However, Ennis recorded the high- est average price within a local area with the cost averaging out at € 974 – € 10 more than the national average and € 25 more expensive than the average cost of home heating oil in Dundalk, County Louth.

The National Consumer Agency conducted a telephone survey of 165 home heating oil suppliers on 29 August in 24 “delivery areas” across Ireland. The survey sought to quantify the price levels for the supply and delivery of 1,000 litres of kerosene (home heating oil).

When it came to surveying the Ennis area, the researchers found that there was just € 10 between the cheapest and most expensive 1,000 litres of oil.

Of the seven quotes sought in Ennis, the most expensive was € 980 while the least expensive was € 970.

The difference between the maximum and minimum quotes nationally was found to be € 85, as prices ranged from € 910 to € 995.

The lowest price, € 910, was recorded in the County Louth (Dundalk area), while the highest overall quote, € 995, was surveyed in Gal way County (East area).

The biggest difference between the minimum and maximum quote obtained within an individual area was found within the Louth, Dundalk area, € 80. The lowest range of € 10 was found in three areas including Ennis, Tralee/Kilarney, County Kerry and Sligo. While nationally the home heating oil pricing survey reveals that most consumers can make savings of around € 30 to € 40 if they shop around, in Ennis the saving is just € 10.

“You could save even more money if you haggle with your supplier rather than just accepting the first price they quote you. Once you have a couple of quotes, see if your own supplier can offer you a more competitive price. If not, you can switch to a more afford- able provider. It is also worth getting quotes from suppliers outside of your local area – they may be cheaper and happy to deliver to you,” a spokesperson for the NCA said.

“You can also reduce your energy bills by making some small changes in how you use energy in your home, for example, by reducing your heating to a comfortable 20°C. Lowering your thermostat by just 1°C can knock 10 per cent off your heating bill.”

The survey was published in the same week as an increase in the cost of electricity and gas was announced. THE PROVISION of a 10-bay bus parking facility and two free electric car (e-car) charging points in Ennis town centre are among a series of proposals included in Draft Bye-Laws for the Clare County Capital which go on public display this week. Ennis Town Council has prepared the Draft On-Street Pay and Display Bye-Laws 2012 in relation to the control and regulation of the parking of vehicles within the Town Boundary of Ennis. The Draft Bye-Laws go on public display tomorrow, Tuesday, Septem

ber 11.

Welcoming the publication of the Draft Bye-Laws, Mayor of Ennis Councillor Peter Considine said: “I warmly welcome any initiatives geared towards improving traffic flow in the town.

“I am particularly pleased with the proposal to allocate bus parking bays which will help to attract coach business to Ennis by facilitating operators with easier access to the town centre.”

Commenting on the proposed provision of two free e-car charging points, Mayor Considine said: “Drivers of environmentally-friendly e- cars travelling throughout County Clare will benefit by knowing that the charge points that are proposed will be available for their sole use. The charge points will also encourage road users across the County to consider an e-car as an alternative to petrol of diesel vehicles.”

The Draft Bus Park Bye-Laws include the provision of 10 spaces for bus parking only in Friars Walk, close to Glór Irish Music Centre. Parking will be permitted 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Meanwhile, two spaces are to be reserved for free electric car charging points, one each in Glór Car Park and Abbey Street Car Park. Two-hour parking will apply to the spaces.

Meanwhile, the Draft Bye-Laws provide for two-hour parking at 477 spaces between the hours of 9am and 6pm (Monday to Saturday) at Abbey Street (13), Bindon Street (38), Buttermarket (14), Dalcassian Drive (10), Francis Street (120), Gort Road (46), Harmony Row (20), Limerick Road (9), McNamara Park (20), New Road (11), Newbridge Road (14), station Road (67), Cottage Gardens (new) (7), Summerhill (12), Lifford Road (Kellys Corner) (10), and Turnpike Road (66).

Four-hour parking is proposed for a further 160 paces during the hours of 9am to 6pm (Monday to Saturday) at College Road (28), Mill Road (46), Drumbiggle Road (32), Cloughleigh Road (new) (36), and Simms Lane (18).

The Draft Bye-Laws go on display today, Tuesday, September 11, and a copy of same may be inspected at the offices of Ennis Town Council during normal office hours from Tuesday, September 11, to Thursday, October 11, or on its website at www. ennistowncouncil.ie.

IT IS that time of year again – children are back at school, good intentioned individuals are joining gyms and the members of Clare County Council are discussing hedges.

Cllr Oliver Garry (FG) admitted that the issue arrives every year, as it still has to be resolved completely.

The West Clare councillor said that at previous meetings it was proposed to contact farming organisations and forestry groups to try and progress matters in this area.

“Could the Director of Services report to the members of the progress that’s being made, as this is a serious road safety matter all over the county?” he asked.

Under Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993, landowners and occupiers are responsible for trees and hedgerows on or inside their boundaries adjacent to public roads, and Clare County Council are the authority with the responsibility to ensure that public roads are kept free of obstructions which include overgrown hedgerows and verges.

There remains a grey area around issues of removed corners, hedges originating inside a boundary wall and growing on to the public are and roads with stone walls as margins.

Director of Services Ann Haugh confirmed, “Discussions have been held with the Irish Farmers Association and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association regarding the need for cooperation from landowners in terms of their responsibility.

“While landowners do have some concerns, the discussions were constructive and a response is presently awaited from both organisations. This response is expected within the next couple of weeks,” she said.

“We are hoping that the two organisations will come on board with the council and the gardaí in a public relations strategy with a view to being in a position to work constructively with landowners in the public interest.

“Equally I would hope that the debate pursuant to this of motion would generate constructive publicity to assist in persuading landowners to work in co-operation with the council and the gardaí on the matter.”

Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) raised some concerns that some of the letters sent out to landowners “seems quiet threatening”. He said they were not responsible for a hedge that grows over their wall.

Cllr Tom McInerney said very little progress has been made on the issue to date.

“I think it is very unfair to hold farmer responsible for hedges growing outside their walls.”

He questioned the fairness of people in rural Ireland paying the same charges as people in urban Ireland, who have footpaths outside their homes, and are then expected to cut hedges.

A MEMBER of Clare County Council has called for all surplus lands from the development of the Crusheen by-pass to be sold back to local landowners to prevent its use as “illegal encampments”.

Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) asked the Director for Service for Transportation to liaise with Galway County Council on the issue. He asked that “any portions of land acquired for the Crusheen by- pass, which were not completely used in the course of construction of the bypass” be sold back to local landowners, “rather than having them available for use as illegal encampments”.

“We cannot have people moving into the area upsetting people, farmers and the local community,” he said, adding that people who set up such encampments “should be taken to task”.

Supporting the motion Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said that there have been similar problems on the Ennis bypass.

ANY cuts to the already inadequate home help hours allocated to one elderly West Clare woman will have a devastating affect, not just for her but for her whole family.

Carer Margaret Scanlon is living in fear that the six and a half hours of home help allocated to her highly dependent mother-in-law will be cut again as the HSE take the knife to community services.

This one and a half hours, five days a week means that the mother of five can go to work to earn the only wage for the family since her husband was made redundant.

As well as working outside the home, she spends every available minute caring for her mother-in-law, teenage son who suffered a stroke when he was just four years of age and the rest of her family.

Just 18 months ago, when the HSE made its first cuts, her home help hours were reduced from two hours to one and a half. If they are cut again, Ms Scanlon is in no doubt that she will be forced to give up her job.

“There is no way I am putting my mother-in-law into a nursing home. Why should she have to move out of her home of the last 48-years?” she said.

In October 2010, Ms Scanlon applied for a Home Care Package, so grave was the situation. The HSE agreed that, as at least one of the two family members Ms Scanlon cares for around the clock was highly dependent, she was entitled to the package.

However, the package was “put on hold” due to lack of funding.

Ms Scanlon believes she will never receive that assistance now, and is awake nights worrying that she will lose the little assistance she has.

“It can be very stressful. We have five children and the whole of family life has been affected,” she said.

“People are not going out for the day during these home help hours. They have to go do the grocery shopping, or keep doctor or other appointments. Carers are annoyed and frustrated at what is happening,” she said.

“The old and young – the most vulnerable – are being hit by this again. Carers have to stand up for themselves. We do this because we love or care for the person, but it is not easy.”

CARERS are living in fear not only of the day when they are not around to care for their loved ones, but living in fear that the system that should be there to assist them will let them down.

One carer from just outside Ennis asked that her name not be used. She said that rightly or wrongly, she feared her case would not be looked on favourably if she “said the wrong thing”.

“You are very vulnerable and you may need these services again,” she said.

Rose (not her real name) is married with five children. Just over 13 years ago, when the children were still very young, her husband was diagnosed with a very rare disease of the brain and a stroke. Since then, he has suffered numerous side affects, further complications and a blood condition.

As a result, this still relatively young man requires round-the-clock assistance. The responsibility for his care lies solely with Rose.

The family have currently no outside assistance.

“The DPOC gave funding for a man to come two mornings a week. He was great – so helpful and respectful of my husband and his needs. Two years ago, the funding was cut and we lost the service,” said Rose.

Currently, the family have no home help, although Rose is applying for assistance.

“I have no home help hours and now I definitely won’t be getting them,” she said, resigned to a difficult winter.

“My husband cannot be left alone. For now, everywhere I go, I have to bring him with me or the children stay with him while I go out for something. They are great but they have to have their lives too,” she said.

“I am lucky. I know some people who have no one,” added the young mother, looking at the bright side of a sometimes very bleak situation.

“The cutbacks are terrible. I thought when he (Minister for Health, James Reilly) came in, he would be good as he is a doctor, but he seems as bad as the rest.”

SMALL businesses across Clare are foregoing the use of credit cards and debit cards in their shops as the cost of maintaining the service is crippling them.

Businesswoman Joanne Dillon from Kilkee accepts that by getting rid of the credit card service in her two businesses – Jo Soaps Launderette and The Flower Shop – a year ago she has lost some business, but retaining the service was costing her too much money.

“In July to August last year, I looked at my statement and I realised the credit card service cost me € 150, and I only took in € 100 in credit card payments that month,” she told The Clare People .

“It has been tough sometimes without the service, not so much for the launderette but definitely for the florist. I hate having to tell people to lodge the money into my account or send a cheque when they ring. It also means I have to follow up on bills,” said the young businesswoman.

“One Portuguese company rang me to supply flowers for them but I couldn’t because they needed to pay by card, so yes, I suppose I am losing some business.”

She said it was impossible, however, to continue with the charges associated with providing credit and debit card services as the standing charge for the machine and every transaction was costing her. “A lot of small businesses in town got rid of them for that reason. We would love to have it but we just can’t afford it,” she said.

This is not just an issue for businesses in West Clare, however. Rita McInerney of Ennis Chamber of Commerce confirmed it is an issue for a lot of small businesses in the county town too. A number of smaller businesses in Ennis have signs up saying they are no longer taking cards due to the cost.

“The charges on credit and debit cards are quite hefty. It is not just the bank charge, there is the charge from the credit card company and the cost of the technology involved and the leases,” said Ms McInerney.

She said she was hopeful that new technology that is currently being developed in Ireland would allow businesses to use their smart phones or tablets to make credit card charges, which would reduce a lot of the cost.