Category: News

SHANNON Airport can finally realise its full potential and chart a new future for itself away from Dublin Airport Authority control, as bodies like Shannon Development and Clare County Council and private sector interests step up to manage its affairs.

That’s the view of Shannon Development this week as the regional development agency has welcomed the new vision for the airport’s future that has been recommended to the Government by Booz and Company consultants.

Sources have revealed that developing a ‘Luton Airport model’ with Shannon, whereby it would remain in public ownership, but was operated by a private sector body that also included Shannon Development and Clare County Council.

“Shannon Development is a natural partner,” said Shannon Development chief executive Vincent Cunnane. “This is very much in line with what Shannon Development has recommended has revealed.

“We would be happy with that. We have believed for a long time that separation from the DAA is vital for Shannon to realise its full potential,” he said.

“I think that is the view of the region. I believe you need more competition in the airport sector in Ireland. What works for Dublin and possibly Cork, is not actually working for Shannon,” he added.

Shannon Development played a key role in the running of Shannon up until 1995, concentrating of a marketing and route development role within the airport – a link that current chief executive, Vincent Cunnane has described “some of the its most successful days, certainly its most innovative”.

A potential Clare County Council involvement in Shannon was endorsed in November when councillors gave their unanimous support to a local authority submission calling for public sector bodes to be given a frontline role in managing the airport.

The council said that its involvement would “have a number of distinct advantages in that the public sector authorities have a vested interest in the sustainable development of the region”.

The submission also called for the airport and adjoining landbank to be “vested in the people of the region through the democratically elected local authorities on a long-term basis”.

“The airport would remain in State ownership, through the public sector authorities in the region,” emphasised Clare County Manager Tom Coughlan.

“That could be the local authorities in the region, the local authorities with Shannon Development, it could be the local authorities, Shannon Development and Shannon Foynes port. It’s the public agencies operating in the region,” he added.

NEARLY 600 people in Clare face the prospect of a return to the dole queues in the coming months as the future of Community Employment Schemes around the county are left hanging in the balance this week. The Clare People has learned that 560 people in Clare are directly dependent on the Community Employment Schemes for work, while FÁS have confirmed that the jobs programme provides jobs and training opportunities “in every corner of Clare”. Last week’s Budget took the unprecedented decision to abolish the FÁS operated jobs support scheme and while they have been since given a temporary stay of execution, fears have been expressed locally that the county’s 32 schemes will begin the process of winding down operations over the next few months.

“This is an anti-rural Ireland measure, it just gets worse” blasted Mayor of Clare, Pat Hayes.

“Communities in rural Clare depend on the Community Employment Schemes to help them survive. They are the only light in some communities. The programme as we know it is gone because the payment per worker has been reduced from € 1500 to € 500,” he added. “These schemes go into every part of Clare,” a FÁS spokesperson told

LOCAL councillors have criticised comments from the Minister for Transport, Leo Vardakar, stating that Shannon Airport will make an € 8m loss this year.

Fianna Fáíl councillor Pat McMahon told yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council that there is widespread concern among staff at the airport about the statement.

The Newmarket-on-Fergus councillor described the figures as “highly debatable” and the product of “creative accounting”. He was speaking as councillors debated a motion tabled by Cllr McMahon and fellow Fianna Fáil councillor, Pat Daly.

The motion states, “We request the council to make contact with the Minister for Finance, Mr Michael Noonan TD, and urge him to set up an all-party forum of Oireachtas members and representatives of the councils from the West and MidWest, seeking the continuation of Shannon Airport as a top-class international airport”.

Some councillors expressed support for the proposal though some said a forum was not the best option.

Cllr Daly told the meeting that elected representatives should have a say in the future of Shannon Airport, which he said was suffering from the absence of a clear marketing strategy. He described Shannon as a “dying airport”.

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) said Shannon might not be making a loss at all when depreciation and loan charges are taken into account.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said the problems at Shannon Airport stretch back 10 to 15 years. Cllr Cathal Crowe (FG) said the airport has “everything going for it” but a new management structure needs to be put in place. He said Shannon should be spoken about in positive and optimistic terms.

Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) urged all Clare TDs to put political differences aside and work together to secure the future of Shannon Airport. He said Fianna Fáíl TD, Timmy Dooley, should use his “years of experience in government” to help his counterparts in Labour and Fine Gael.

Concern was also raised over the number of US-bound flights using pre-clearance facilities at Shannon. Cllr McMahon tabled a motion stating that the council seek “detailed information from the Department of Transport on the potential for further development of pre-clearance type facilities at Shannon Airport.”

AN invitation has been extended to the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins to be named a freeman of Ennis. Ennis Town Council has written to the President offering him the freedom of the town. Last week’s monthly meeting heard that the council has not yet received an official response. If the Clare-raised former Labour TD does accept the offer, he would follow in the footsteps of Muhammad Ali. The former World Boxing Champion was named the first ever freeman of Ennis when he visited the town in September 2009. Councillor Paul O’Shea (Lab) raised the issue of conferring the honourary title on Mr Higgins at last week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council. Town Clerk Leonard Cleary told the meeting that the Council had not received a response from Áras an Uachtaráin. Mr Cleary also confirmed that the President would not be attending an event to mark the 10th anniversary of the opening of Glór in Ennis. In a letter, Aifric Hyland, secretariat, thanked the council for the invitation. She explained, “Your thoughtfulness in extending the invitation is very much appreciated but the President regrets that, due to the extent of his commitments, it is not possible for him to accept. “The President sends his good wishes and trusts that you will appreciate the reasons for his unavailability on this occasion”. Mr Higgins has strong Clare connections. He was raised by his uncle and aunt at their home in Ballycar and went to school in St Flannan’s College. Prior to taking up a job with the ESB in Galway, he worked in Progress International in Shannon.

HEAVY rain and high winds are forecast for the West Coast this week and Clare is on high flooding alert, as the county seeks to prevent the disasters of 2009 when so much of the county was under water.

Clare County Council are monitoring river levels as the weather worsens and have urged householders to be vigilant in case of flash flooding.

“Residents of the county can visit www.flooding.ie to familiarise themselves with the range of actions that can be taken in advance of, during and after flooding events,” Ennis Town Manager Ger Dollard told The Clare People this week.

A JURY has returned a verdict of accidental death in the case of a Limerick woman who died following a single-vehicle accident at Hurler’s Cross earlier this year.

Aileen Page died when the silver Peugeot 206 she was driving left the road and collided with a tree on a section of the M18 near Shannon.

Ms Page (36), from Beverly Close, Raheen, Limerick, had been on her way to work when the accident occurred in the early hours of May 7.

An inquest into her death at Clare Coroner’s Court last week heard that neither road conditions nor excessive speed were factors in the accident.

Agnieska Kusko came upon the accident when returning from the Mid Western Regional Hospital, Limerick. She rang the emergency services telling them that she thought someone was dead at the scene. Ms Kusko attempted to slow oncoming cars prior to the arrival of Gardaí.

A doctor confirmed Ms Page’s death at the scene.

Sgt Paul Slattery, who attended the scene, told the inquest that the “vehicle had apparently left the road and struck a tree before coming to rest on the road”.

Garda Michael Reddy, PSV investigator, stated that while the road surface was wet, it was not wet enough to collect surface water. He said the car sustained severe damage “due to multiple tree strikes on the driver’s side”.

Garda Reddy said there was no blow-out or tyre failure prior to the collision and no evidence was found of any fault with the car that could have contributed to the collision. He said Ms Page had worn a seatbelt. He explained that road conditions did not contribute to the collision; no defects were found with the car and there was no evidence of excessive speed.

Garda Reddy said it was not possible to establish the cause of the car going out of the driver’s control.

County Coroner Isobel O’Dea said the medical cause of death was acute cardio respiratory failure consistent with injuries caused by a road traffic accident.

She said the only appropriate verdict was accidental death or death consistent with a road traffic accident. A jury returned a verdict of accidental death in accordance with the medical evidence.

Ms O’Dea extended her sympathy to the parents and husband of Ms Page. She described the death as “sad and tragic loss” of a woman on her way to work.

Insp John Galvin extended sympathy to the family on behalf of the Gardaí.

THERE will be no increase in rates in Kilrush in 2012, but local authority chiefs have stopped short of implementing an appeal from councillors in the West Clare capital for businesses in the town to be given a boost by reducing rates for the coming year.

Rates for the new year are to remain at 2011 levels, with Town Manager Nora Kaye telling in her estimates of expenses for the next 12 months – that will be debated at a special budget meeting this Thursday – that she is “proposing a zero per cent increase in commercial rates, being mindful of the current economic climate and the difficulties that same poses for local businesses”.

Ahead of the meeting, which will reveal that Kilrush Town Council will have a budget of € 1,348,896 in 2012 as opposed to € 1,387,843 in 2011, Ms Kaye has also told councillors that “due to the current climate, an increase has been provided in refunds and irrecoverable rates”.

The council decision not to cut rates for cash-strapped businesses in 2012 comes after a year that has been described as “very problematic” when it came to the collection of rates in 2011.

“Payments by customers continue to be very problematic. Rates collection at June 30, 2011 stood at 31 per cent in comparison to 39 per cent at June 30, 2010,” Town Clerk, John Corry revealed in September.

“Kilrush Town Council is dependent on rates income to maintain its operations as it represents 38.4 per cent of annual income. The slowing payment pattern highlighted above has resulted in a considerable negative impact on cash flow.

“Kilrush Town Council is acutely aware of the commercial difficulties which rate payers are experiencing, and has adopted a practical approach in terms of payment plans to facilitate rate payers.

“However, where customers fail to engage to deal with amounts outstanding, recovery of the debt by legal means becomes necessary,” he added.

Also included in the estimates is provision for the fact that “Kilrush Town Council’s allocation of the Local Government Fund will be cut by 8.98 per cent for 2012”.

It is also forecast that income for the council from parking will be down by € 45,000 in 2012. This is because of concessions that have been implemented in the town centre.

A KILLALOE man has received a three-month prison sentence after failing to pay compensation for his part in a burglary in the town in January.

James Tuohy (23) with an address at 21 Clarisford, Killaloe, was convicted at a sitting of Killaloe District Court in Ennis last week.

Tuohy and a co-accused, Vincent O’Reilly, had been ordered to pay compensation after both men were involved in the burglary of the Celtic Cat Jewelery Shop in January.

O’Reilly (21) with addresses at 4 The Rise, Cullenagh, Ballina, Tipperary and Fossabeg Scariff, did pay compensation and received a suspended sentence.

Solicitor for Tuohy, Tara Godfrey said her client would be in a position to pay compensation in a week’s time.

She said a change of address had lead to a delay in the receipt of a social welfare payment.

She told the court that at the time when the burglary was committed, Tuohy had been going through a “very traumatic” period due to his family circumstances.

She explained that he had attended the services of consultant psychiatrist and been prescribed medication. She described her client as a “very vulnerable young man”.

She said that Tuohy wanted to pay compensation but apart from social welfare payments, he did not have access to any other form of financial support.

The court heard that on the day of the burglary, Tuohy had taken medication and drank cans of Budweiser.

“He appears to have committed the offence when he was of an unstable mind”, added Ms Godfrey.

The court heard that Tuohy received a suspended sentence in December (2010) for a public order offence.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy said that Tuohy had committed burglary and been ordered to pay compensation, “He either pays it or he doesn’t”, he added. He noted that the accused “has convictions going back to 2008”.

He convicted Tuohy and imposed a three-month prison sentence. Judge McCarthy added that he would not impose the suspended sentence handed down last December. Recognances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

Solicitor for O’Reilly, Christopher Lynch told the court that his client was in a position to pay compensa- tion.

He said that since the offence was committed in January, his client has moved away from Killaloe.

He said O’Reilly did have issues with drink and drug abuse but has now sorted his life out and has enrolled in an adult education course in Nenagh.

“He’s keeping himself out of difficulty”, Mr Lynch told the court.

Judge McCarthy convicted O’Reilly and imposed a six-month prison sentence.

He suspended the sentence for a period of two years on condition that O’Reilly be of good behavior.

KILRUSH Town Council is set to spend € 32,870 in 2012 on providing a public toilet in the Martyrs Square in the town centre – this is despite the fact that the facility, which has been described as “the most expensive piece of retail property in Ireland”, only nets € 1,300 in revenue to the local authority.

The extent of the annual cost of the toilet, which is leased by Kilrush Town Council from Street Furniture Limited, is contained in the estimate of expenses that will go before the nine members of the local authority at this week’s budget meeting.

In light of these figures, it’s expected that Thursday night’s meeting in the Town Hall will hear renewed calls for the council executive to extricate itself from the leasing arrangement it has with Street Furniture Limited for the provision of the rarely used facility.

At the September meeting of Kilrush Town Council, it was revealed that the town authorities are tied to a 20-year contract with Street Fur- niture Limited for the toilet that was signed in 1999 and doesn’t run out until 2019.

The latest figures provided by the council have revealed that the provision of the toilet cost € 201,301.51 between 2005 and 2010, while over the course of the same six-year period, income to the council from the public’s use of the facility was just € 9,940.49.

Mayor of Kilrush, Ian Lynch has led calls for the council to try and extricate itself from this contract, which he has labeled “a huge drain on Kilrush Town Council’s resources at a time when we need every penny we can get”.

Mayor Lynch has also gone so far as to say “what can they do if we don’t pay it? They can’t get money off us that we don’t have”.

Town clerk John Corry has revealed that the council “would have to pay 25 per cent of the basic rent for each remaining year on the contract together with the costs of removing the universal superloo. As eight years remain in the contract, the current cost would be € 75,000”.

A BAN on the sale of smoky coal and the growth of unregulated doorto-door operators is “crippling” the coal trade in Ennis, a meeting has heard.

Local fuel merchant and independent councillor, Frankie Neylon says businesses are struggling because of the legislation, which he described as “flawed”.

In June, the Minister for the En- vironment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD, announced that – with effect from August 1 – Ennis would be added to the list of towns and cities covered by the ‘Smoky Coal Ban’, under which it is illegal to market, sell or distribute bituminous or ‘smoky’ coal.

Under the Air Pollution Act, sellers found in breach of the ban could face fines of up to € 5,000.

Cllr Neylon told the December meeting of Ennis Town Council that traders in the town are encountering “huge problems” with the ban. He said the restrictions in place on local fuel merchants are “crippling the trade”.

He said the legislation was intended for cities and not towns of Ennis’ size.

He said there is no ban in place to prevent sellers from bringing smoky coal into Ennis, a practice he said was common.

Cllr Neylon said that if the gov- ernment are serious about banning smoky coal, “they should ban it at source”.

“Every night of the week there are people coming into town selling smoky coal,” he added.

Cllr Neylon said his own sales are down 53 per cent on last year.

A report released in September by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that the burning of bituminous or so-called smoky coal has had an impact on air quality in Ennis.

Cllr Neylon said that if unregulated coal sellers are allowed to operate in Ennis then “emissions are going to go through the roof ”.

Town Manager Ger Dollard said the whole purpose of the ban is to improve air quality in Ennis.

He said Clare County Council, the body responsible for enforcing the ban, is willing to meet with local fuel merchants in order to discuss and resolve any difficulties.