Category: News

AT LEAST one woman from Clare travels to the UK each week for an abortion according to figures released to The Clare People . In 2010 seventy five women who gave addresses in County Clare attended clinics for pregnancy terminations in the UK, a figure 25 per cent higher than those who sought terminations just two years earlier in 2008, (60).

According to the figures, provided by the Department of Health in the UK, 216 women from the county made the journey to Britain between the years 2008 and 2010 to terminate a pregnancy. The Clare People were only supplied with the number of Clare addresses, not any of the names or addresses of those who used the UK services.

In 2009, the figure was 81. This number then dropped slightly to 75 in 2010, but still shows an increase of 25 per cent on 2008. This figure may be higher, as not all women give their actual address at abortion clin- ics in the UK. As many as 2,012 Irish women did not state their county of residence when seeking a termination between 2008 and 2010. Women from Clare represent 1.6 per cent of the Irish terminations carried out in England in these years.

Abortion numbers for Clare addresses are quite low in comparison to neighbouring Limerick and Galway. Approximately 460 women from Limerick travelled to the UK to seek terminations in the last three years, while Galway women account for 570 Irish terminations. However, these counties have large urban populations while Clare would be considered as a rural county.

According to prices quoted by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, the cost of a termination can range from £525 to £1,660 for a surgical termination during the 19 to 24 week mark. Anyone who may be struggling to cope with an unplanned pregnancy can call Cura in Clare at 065-29905.

ENNIS Chamber and Ennis Development Forum are to host a meeting for businesses and interested parties regarding the proposed Clare Road Development on Monday, February 27, from 6.15pm to 7.15pm in the Old Ground Hotel, O’Connell Street, Ennis. The proposed development for a 70,000ft shopping unit, which was refused planning by Ennis Town Council in January, is being appealed by the developers to An Bord Pleanala.

Organisers say that the purpose of the meeting on Monday evening is to inform the business community and others of the appeal process to An Bord Pleanála which has a closing date of Friday, March 2, for acceptance of submissions. All businesses are encouraged to attend.

Ennis Town Council refused planning permission to Michael Lynch Ltd for the five-hectare development at Clare Road, Tobertascáin.

Michael Lynch Ltd had sought permission for the (1) Demolition of all structures on site including five residential units, office block and all ancillary buildings; (2) Provision of a public plaza fronting on to the Limerick Road including both soft and hard landscaping; (3) A retail development including a food store incorporating customer restaurant and cafe, off licence sales area, dot com area and storage service area; (4) Separate ancillary two-storey retail and office block, a standalone two-storey office block, 610 parking spaces, provision for cycle parking, trolley bays and vehicular access to and from the Tobarteascain Road.

The developers had said the project would create 300 jobs in construction and between 180 and 200 permanent jobs.

However objectors, including town centre businesses, argued that the de- velopment would have a “significantly detrimental effect on town centre retail” and lead to a “decreased viability of the town centre”.

In its decision, the council deemed that the proposal is premature pending the upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant at Clareabbey and pending the implementation of the Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme.

The council also cited changes in the Planning and Development Act 2010.

A SENIOR official with the United Nations has welcomed a proposal to develop a humanitarian aid hub at Shannon Airport,

UN Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva recently spoke to the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade on the key humanitarian priorities for the EU over the coming years.

At its meeting, members of the committee discussed the chief humanitarian concerns for the EU with the Commissioner. Taken collectively, the EU is the world’s largest humanitarian donor and accounts for around 40 per cent of global humanitarian aid.

Committee Chairman, Pat Breen TD said, “We would like to thank Commissioner Georgieva for a clear, thought-provoking and insightful statement on the EU’s role in international co-operation, humanitarian aid and crisis response. The Commissioner outlined in some detail the extent of the EU’s humanitarian aid programme and its area of operations.”

According to the Clare Fine Gael TD, Commissioner Georgieva also said she looked forward to the feasibility study on the possible development of a humanitarian aid hub at Shannon, adding that in a time of increasing fragility around the world, there was always a need for more humanitarian capabilities. The committee heard how anticipating crises, moving quickly and targeting the most vulnerable not only saved lives and avoided the preventable misery of hunger and malnutrition, but provided for a more efficient and valuable hu- manitarian response at a much lower cost.

Deputy Breen stated, “Our meeting also provided us with an opportunity to consider the current crises in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel and South Sudan and the response by the EU and Ireland to the humanitarian needs in these areas. Commissioner Georgieva provided a valuable contribution to our understanding of the EU’s role in responding to crises, as well as outlining key priorities in the coming years.”

He added, “This is particularly important given Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union from January to June 2013 when we will be expected to lead discussions within the EU on humanitarian issues and Irish officials will chair the council’s Working Group on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid.”

CONCERNED parents, teachers and community leaders heard last night how budget cuts to education will be detrimental to school communities in Clare.

At a mass meeting held in the West County Hotel, Sean Mc Mahon, Clare executive member of the INTO, called on the Minister for Education and Skills to rethink his education budget cuts particularly to disadvantaged (DEIS) and to small primary schools.

“The budget approach is fundamentally flawed, misguided and will be detrimental to school communities throughout Clare. What is needed is a coherent, long-term and resourced strategy for sustainable schools into the future. Instead what we have are budget proposals aimed at forcibly amalgamating some small schools by cutting teachers.

“The department should wait for the outcomes of a value for money report which it is undertaking. INTO has submitted our views on the importance and benefits of small schools in rural communities. They are very much aware that a programme of amalgamation of approximately 1,000 small rural schools has already taken place in the late ‘60s early ‘70s. The decline of many rural communities was, in fact, blamed on that policy of forced amalgamations or closures,” he said.

“This budget is being used as a blunt instrument to cut frontline services in small schools and disadvantaged schools. The money saved is going from education to feed the massive debt created by greedy bankers and speculators.”

Decisions about small schools in rural communities should be about ensuring the best education for pupils regardless of location. This is a complex matter and many issues need to be considered before embarking on a policy that will see some schools close, the crowd heard.

“We need to look at enrolment patterns and trends, investment in school buildings past and present and respect for language and religious diversity,” said Mr McMahon.

“Primary consideration must be given to the needs of pupils, their parents and the wider community. We also need to come up with alternatives to forced closure and pressurised amalgamations.”

The Minister was called on to deliver the three R’s: reversal of budget cuts to disadvantaged schools; removal of retrospection (basing teacher numbers on the previous year) and realign the additional education support available to the number of pupils in the school rather than the number of class-teachers.

GREATER efforts must be made to promote Clare to the “untapped market” of US military personnel passing through Shannon Airport.

That’s according to Newmarket on Fergus councillor Pat McMahon who said yesterday that it is “economically criminal” that no dedicated marketing strategy is in place to promote tourist attractions to the thousands of American soldiers that use the airport.

In a motion at yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council, Cllr McMahon (FF) called for Shannon Airport to work more closely with tourism providers to market the banner county to US military personnel.

In his reply, Director of Services Ger Dollard said the Clare Tourism Forum had previously identified the opportunity to market Clare.

He explained, “Some elements have already been identified and these include an agreement for playing Clare ‘Live the Life’ DVD in four key locations around Shannon Airport: public restaurant (1), British Airways Lounge (1) and baggage reclaim area (2).

Mr Dollard stated that the forum is currently updating signage and bill – boards that promote Clare in the airport. He added, “Proposals are being discussed to include brochures and brochure stands in the departures area of the airport that will be filled with information / brochures on County Clare. This would be targeted primarily at military personnel.”

Mr Dollard continued, “It is recognised that a marketing opportunity does exist in terms of time period during which military personnel are located in the departures area. The Clare Tourism Forum will continue to work with Shannon Airport to promote the county in the best manner possible to this target group.”

He said that the council is also working with Shannon Development in relation to the Tourism Information Office, which has been relocated at the airport.

Mr Dollard told yesterday’s council meeting that a lot more could be done to market the Clare in the airport.

Commenting on plans to distribute the Clare Live the Life promotional DVD in the airport, Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) suggested that it be presented in a postcard to military personnel.

He said this would boost the “in timate circulation” of the DVD in homes around America. “We would be hitting a market that we are not hitting,” he added.

A LONG-TERM cancer sufferer could only get relief from the disease by taking cannabis, a court in Ennis has heard. Jacquelene Corris (40) told gardaí that she grew 13 cannabis plants in the back kitchen of her home in Ennis for personal use to cope with a medical condition.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Corris, with an address at 4 Connolly Villas, Ennis, pleaded guilty to cultivating, without license, plants of genus cannabis. She was also charged with unlawful possession of cannabis.

Garda Francis Brennan gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. The court heard that Garda Brennan carried out a search of the accused’s home at 4 Connolly Villas on October 24, 2011. Thirteen cannabis plants, valued at € 5,200, were found in the back kitchen of the premises, the court heard.

Garda Brennan said there was no evidence that the cannabis was to be sold. He said the plants were for Corris’ own personal use. Insp Tom Kennedy said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed summary disposal of the matter. Judge Aeneas McCarthy accepted jurisdiction.

Solicitor Joe Chambers told the court that his client, who is self-employed, suffers from long-term cancer and has the “cancer gene”. He said cancer is an ongoing problem for his client who has undergone numerous operations. He added, “The only relief she can get is from taking this plant.”

Mr Chambers said that Corris cooperated fully with gardaí and has since “varied her ways”. Judge McCarthy adjourned the matter until April 4 for preparation of a report by the probation and welfare services.

AN ENNIS woman accompanied her six-year-old daughter to a Valentine’s Day audience with pop superstar Justin Bieber last week.

Aileen Roberts Routh, who is originally from the Kilrush Road area of Ennis, is the mother of Avalanna Routh, the young cancer suffered who last week captured global media attention when she met Bieber in Manhattan.

Avalanna, who suffers from AT/ RT, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer, saw her dreams come true as she played board games and ate cakes with the pop idol.

The once in a lifetime opportunity came about after Avalanna’s sister and her babysitter started an online appeal to have the Boston girl meet the teen singer.

Thousands of people around the world responded to the campaign via social network sites Facebook and Twitter.

The teen singer later wrote on Twitter: “That was one of the best things i have ever done. she was AWESOME! Feeling really inspired now!’ before adding: ‘#MrsBieber really inspired me.”

Another tweet from Bieber to his 17 million followers read: ‘Best part of my day’.

Avalanna’s dream was realised thanks to help from the Jimmy Fund, a charity that has helped children fight cancer for more than 60 years.

Her meeting with Bieber garnered huge public attention in America with family appearing on the popular Today Show .

“It was wonderful, just another fun moment,” said Aileen of Avalanna’s meeting with the singer.

Avalanna was diagnosed with AT/ RT when she was nine months old. AT/RT typically affects the brain, but the tumors can occur on the spine and elsewhere in the central nervous system.

She has received treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. The average survival time from diagnosis is approximately 12 months, according to America’s National Cancer Institute. As a result of an intense, multipronged therapy regimen, developed by doctors and other researchers at the Dana-Farber/Children’s Hospital Cancer Center, a few young children have been cured, while others, including Avalanna, have been given a better shot at long-term survival.

Speaking to American media, Ms Roberts Routh, who has lived in America for the past 10 years, said her daughter has fought a brave battle against cancer. She said, “She’s beaten all the odds. It’s a very aggressive, rare disease, and she’s been in treatment for five and a half years.”

THE headquarters of Ennis Town Council has been identified as a possible venue for humanist funeral services.

Green Party councillor Brian Meaney has urged Clare County Council to consider the options available to it in providing a suitable location for a humanist funeral service.

Cllr Meaney tabled a motion on the issue at yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council.

In his reply, Ger Dollard, Director of Services, stated, “According to the Humanist Association of Ireland, a non-religious funeral ceremony will generally be held either in a crema torium, the undertakers rooms or at the graveside.”

He continued, “The association has produced an information leaflet which is available on their website www.humanism.ie and also states that there is no reason why such a service could not be held in any other suitable venue. In this regard, the location for the service does not appear to be an issue.”

Cllr Meaney said that while he did not agree with Mr Dollard’s reply, he had not asked for a full and detailed response on the matter.

Cllr Meaney told the meeting that the provision of humanist funeral services will become more frequent as the so-called “more liberal generation” grow older.

“There will be an increased demand for this type of service,” he added.

Cllr Meaney said he had discussed the matter with another fellow member of Ennis Town Council. He said the council’s headquarters at Waterpark House in Drumbiggle could be a suitable site for humanist services. He said the proposal would first require the approval of the Ennis town manager, Ger Dollard.

CLARE VEC has been urged to write to Minster for Education and Skills to highlight concerns expressed over admissions policies in Limerick schools.

The February meeting of Clare VEC heard claims that children living in south east Clare had been refused admission to several schools in Limerick City.

Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF), a teacher at Parteen National School described any decision by a school to turn down an application as an “awful crush to the confidence of the student”. He said parents were concerned at the policies.

Cllr Crowe told the meeting that south east Clare is not serviced directly by a secondary school with many students going to schools in Killaloe, Shannon or Limerick.

He said it had been brought to his attention that Gaelcholáiste Luimní had turned down applications from young people in south east Clare. He called on the Clare VEC CEO, George O’Callaghan, to write to Gaelcholáiste Luimní, highlighting these concerns.

Cllr Crowe said the letter should be sent to the Gaelcholáiste as it is under the patronage of another VEC (Limerick City).

Mr O’Callaghan said the VEC had no authority to intervene in the ad- missions policies of schools in Limerick.

He said that while a letter could be written to “register” the committee’s concerns, it would be unfair to single out one school. He suggested that a letter be sent to patrons of all schools in Limerick City.

Cllr Peter Considine (FF) said school admissions are also an issue in Ennis. He told the meeting that the admission policies in place at Rice College and St Flannan’s College meant many students are not being accepted there.

Cllr Crowe claimed that the is aware of some Limerick schools where admissions are based on names being drawn randomly from a drum, something he described “as a very crude process”.

Cllr Crowe continued, “This has caused a lot of hurt. These are people living in our county and I’d like a letter to go the Minister outlining these concerns.”

NONE of Clare’s Government TDs were in attendance last night for an “emergency” meeting of Clare County Council to discuss the proposed transfer of water services from Clare County Council to the new Water Ireland organisation.

Michael McNamara (LAB) and Fine Gael Deputy’s Joe Carey and Pat Breen each sent letters of apology for not attending the meeting. Only Deputy Timmy Dooley (FF) and Senator Martin Conway (FG) attended the meeting, while Senator Tony Mulcahy was en route to the meeting but was forced to turn back because of an urgent family emergency.

The three Government TDs were heavily criticised by some members of Clare County Council, with some members suggesting that the meeting be suspended to accommodate the attendance of the Government TDs.

“This is not good enough. We have an opposition TD and a member of the second house. I commend them for coming today but what are they going to be able to do wfor us? This is a fruitless exercise to continue with this without the Government TDs. I welcome Deputy Dooley and Senator Martin Conway on being here but, in truth, it is not good enough,” said Ennis Green Party Cllr Brian Meaney (GP).

The local authority went ahead with the meeting, despite the absence of the Government TDs but have decided to reconvene a similar meeting before an upcoming council meeting.

Shannon Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) described the move to establish Water Ireland as privitisation by the back door. “This will do nothing to improve the water quality n this county. This is privitisation by any other word and the public will be thrown to the wolves. The best that Clare County Council can hope for out of this is limited agency work and the current staff will be thrown on the scrap heap. I say shame on Fine Gael and Labour,” he said.

Senator Martin Conway (FG) said that it would be “wrong and foolish” to discard the wealth of knowledge that exists within local authorities but Deputy Timmy Dooley (FF) said that the proposal in its current form would cost almost 4,000 jobs.

“I am concerned about the threat to the jobs of thousands of local authority workers. My understanding is that this will affect something like 3,600 workers across the county and, if this project is brought forward using the framework that is currently in place, then these jobs are at risk,” said Deputy Dooley.