Category: News

SHANNON Airport would not be viable entity if its split from the Dublin Airport Authority, given its independence and forced to compete openly with Dublin and Cork for business.

This warning has been handed down by Fianna Fáil transport spokesperson Timmy Dooley in his submission to Booz and Company, which is set to deliver a report to government on the airport’s future by the end of the year. In the submission, secured by The Clare People this week, Deputy Dooley says it would be “unwise to consider changes to the ownership and management of the airport without having regard for the depressed state of the world economy”. Instead, Fianna Fáil, whose State Airport Act of 2004 sought to establish Dublin, Cork and Shannon as three separate competing state airports, has proposed the establishment of a new state company to have overall responsibility for the three airports.

“This company would operate as an umbrella structure similar to the CIE model and would ensure that a fair and competitive environment existed in which the three state airports could survive,” says Deputy Dooley.

“This company would be a state owned company with shares vested under the control of the Minister for Transport. A board of directors would be appointed by the Minister to give effect to such a mandate.

“Fianna Fáil suggests that separate trading entities be established at each individual airport and a clear memorandum of understanding be established between the Irish Airport Authority and the individual airport entities at Dublin, Cork and Shannon.

“Each individual trading company would be responsible for the management of the airport facility at the respective locations. Each company would have a separate board appointed by the minister and the shares vested under the control of the Minister for Transport.

“The mandate of these entities would focus on the necessity to provide vital connectivity to support and promote passenger access and cargo facilities to the respective regions having regard to long-term sustainability of the individual airports.

“It is recognised that a significant land bank asset exists at all three airports and it should be the responsibility of the respective trading companies to formulate plans for their development in consultation with local and regional State agencies and authorities,” Deputy Dooley’s submission adds.

TOURISM interests across Clare have been accused of lacking will and motivation to play their part in kick-starting the local economy by driving a co-ordinated plan for the the county’s biggest industry.

This broadside against hoteliers and tourist operators was delivered by former Mayor of Clare Flan Garvey during the 23rd annual Clare Tourist Council conference that was staged at the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon Thursday to Saturday last.

Mr Garvey, a founder member of the Clare Tourist Council in 1989 and a former chairman, launched his scathing attack on tourism interests over what he blasted as their “complete failure” to support the conference, out of “a selfishness where they are only interested in promoting their own interests and not Clare tourism”.

He made his comments during the conference that attracted a wide range of tourism interests from the local government sector, third level education, Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar and the European Union.

“The tourism operators in county Clare,” said Mr Garvey, “we promote their business but a lot of them ignore this conference and what we are trying to do for Clare tourism and what the Council has been trying to do at home and abroad for many, many years.

“We travel to promote their business and for some reason or other they seem to be in their own little closet, in their own little cocoon, fighting their own corner. People who are involved in Clare tourism should be working for Clare tourism,” he added.

The three-day conference attracted a number of keynote speakers, among them Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar, Declan Power of the Aviation Business Park in Shannon and Galway county manager Martina Moloney.

“All these people were coming together to promote tourism,” continued Flan Garvey, “but the support from Clare tourism operators wasn’t there. It’s alright for people to fight their own corner when looking for a share of the tourism market, but by having a co-ordinated plan for tourism is the best way forward, because that way everyone involved benefits.

“In Clare Tourist Council, we see the bigger picture. None of us are involved in tourism as an operator. I don’t make a penny out of tourism – I never did and I never will, but I have a passion for tourism, because I see it as saving the economy. I see tourism in Clare as being part of putting money in every house in the county,” he added.

SHANNON Airport losses over the past three years could be as high as € 25m but, according to one government TD in Clare, the airport should not be required to turn a profit to justify its existence.

Labour’s Michael McNamara has told the team of consultants hired by the Government to map out a new future for the airport that it should not be about profit, but instead maintaining mid-west’s key piece of infrastructure.

“The airport should not be required to make a profit, although this would be a bonus,” says Deputy McMamara in his submission to the team of consultants.

“If a government subvention is required to maintain a publiclyowned airport, then so be it,” he adds in the wake of a meeting with the consultants in the company of Jan O’Sullivan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

This is despite the fact that Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar has said “there aren’t subsidies available for the airport, there wasn’t during the boom and there certainly isn’t now”, while Shannon Airport Authority chairman Brian O’Connell has said “it is not sustainable for any business to continue in a loss-making mode”.

“Shannon Airport should remain in state ownership and control in one form or another. Possible synergies with state undertakings par- ticularly those which manage key regional transport infrastructures, should be considered,” says Deputy McNamara. “Shannon should be viewed as a key piece of infrastructure in the mid-west like railways and motorways. “I expressed the strong view that marketing the airport and the region needs to be improved to that end,” he adds.

THE PEOPLE of Clare have been urged to ensure a new centre for rape victims in Ennis remains open. The centre, which was officially opened on Friday, does not receive funding and is largely dependent on voluntary assistance.

The office, located in the Tracklands Business Park on the Clon Road in Ennis, is managed by counsellor Anne Ginnane, who is a native of west Clare. She told the large crowd that attended the official opening on Friday that it was a memorable occasion.

“Today marks a very special day for Clare, the opening of a new centre. I am very honoured and privileged to be part of this from the very beginning,” she said.

“I’m very passionate about this. I love the work I do. I am very honoured to be here working in this centre, bringing new hope, new light. This is a centre of hope and light. I hope the people who come here bring hope and light out into the world,” she said.

She read from a reflection written by a survivor, which focused on the “vision of hope shines on us” where there is “no-one to judge us”.

“It speaks volumes,” said Ms Ginnane, adding, “This woman is out there now, a therapist doing great work in healing.”

The Mayor of Clare, Councillor Pat Hayes officially opened the centre and told those in attendance that its survival is crucial.

“It is very important that we have the opportunity here in Clare to service the people, whether it be from Loop Head or north Clare, that people can come in in confidence and feel at home here,” he said.

“It reflects on society that this is an increasing problem. Maybe it is a case that people come out and face their issues and say we need help. There is an onus on us here in Clare, now that we have a centre, in whatever way we can do to support this service,” he said.

“Nobody knows anyone’s situation. Things go on in families. It is great to say it (the service) is there on the doorstep,” he said.

“People who go out and give their service and help in any way are a credit to that. This evening is a celebration of that. I would appeal to everybody. We need to get out there and support this because we need to hold on to services if at all possible,” he said.

INAGH native Damien Queally has launched a major appeal for the people of Clare to support children in the developing world this Christmas. Damien, who is the Programme Manager of Plan Ireland, yesterday launched the Plan Ireland Christmas appeal with the help of Irish rugby legend Malcolm O’Kelly.

This year’s Life Gifts catalogue includes a number of unique Christmas cards as well as a unique range of photographic canvas prints, all of which will help to raise vital funds to make a lasting improvement to the lives of the world’s most disadvantaged children.

“These gifts will give much needed support and materials directly to the children and communities Plan works with in the developing world. By choosing a Life Gift, like a set for school or a gift of child sponsorship, you are giving a child living in pov- erty the chance of a better life and a gift like this is essentially priceless,” said Damien.

Damien has been working for the charity as Programme Manager since 2008. After graduating from UCD with a Masters in Economics in 1999, Queally spent two years working in banking, before taking a career break in 2001 to volunteer in India and Uganda. Captivated by his experiences in these countries, Damien decided to leave banking permanently and began his career in international development, working in countries such as The Congo, Niger and Darfur.

Plan Ireland is a child-centred community development organisation, part of Plan International which itself was founded over 70 years ago. It is an independent organisation with no religious, political or governmental affiliations. Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume is the Patron of Plan Ireland. He and his wife Pat sponsor a

A NEW outreach centre for rape victims is being opened in Ennis, in response to demand from clients throughout the county.

That’s according to Rape Crisis Midwest, which will officially open its Ennis centre on the Clon Road at 4pm on Friday.

Demand for services in the midwest is significant, with 15 new calls received every week at its Limerick headquarters.

“This is in response to demand. We have delivering a service to the people of Clare since we opened up in the 1980s. We have found that people found the trip to Limerick quite hard, particularly those coming from the west,” said the director of fundraising with the organisation, Verena Tarpey.

The new centre will be operated on a part-time basis, two days a week; counselling services will be available on Mondays and Wednesdays by appointment. “Not only will there be long-term counselling but it will also provide support counselling for the family of a victim of a sexual attack. We also do court accompaniments,” said Ms Tarpey.

The waiting list for clients currently stands at four months, but those in need of immediate assistance are taken as priority.

“I think that more people are coming in looking for help. There is more awareness. There is also more awareness of the fact it is not something to be ashamed of either,” she said.

Fundraising will be crucial to the survival of the Ennis outreach centre. “We are receiving no government funding to pay for the overheads in Ennis such as rent and computer services. We get core funding for our service in Limerick. We made a huge decision to open it (Ennis). It is needed. We are relying on the goodwill of the people of Ennis,” she said.

“We have to stretch our resources. We want to do it to make the service accessible to the people of Clare,” she said.

The organisation is piloting a new education programme for transition year students in a number of schools in the mid-west, including Coláiste Mhuire in Ennis.

“We are piloting it in the mid-west and it is a first for Rape Crisis Midwest,” said Ms Tarpey.

“We felt that a pilot programme such as this would be beneficial to students. It educates them in relation to different aspects of the law of sexual offences and how alcohol can affect people,” she said.

“Students in particular would not necessarily want to avail of long-term counselling but they are aware of the different services that are available in the mid-west,” she added.

THE chances of another public toilet being installed in Ennis are somewhere between “slim and none”, a meeting has heard. Town manager Ger Dollard was speaking in response to a proposal aired at yesterday’s meeting of councillors in the Ennis West Electoral Area.

Cllr Tony Mulqueen (FG) called on the council to “provide a public toilet in Parnell Street car park, Ennis, for car park customers and taxis”.

Cllr Mulqueen told the meeting that the matter had been brought to his at- tention by local taxi drivers. He said drivers operating from Parnell Street car park had told him there was a need for the facility in the area. He said a public toilet would also help reduce the level of public urination taking place at night.

In response, town clerk Leonard Cleary explained, “Public conveniences have been provided in the market area and Abbey Street. It should be noted that a public convenience has a significant annual cost and daily management requirement.”

He added, “The matter can be brought to the attention of Ennis Town Council if the committee so desires.”

Town Manager Ger Dollard told the meeting that public conveniences “are hugely expensive”. He said Ennis Town Council had previously been criticised for the cost associated with maintaining public toilets. Mr Dollard said the chances of providing a new facility are “slim and none”.

Figures contained in Ennis Town Council’s 2010 annual financial statement showed that it cost € 70,000 to operate pubic toilets in the town.

ALL commercial waste produced in County Clare will have to be hauled outside the county from this Friday following the closure of the Central Waste Management in Inagh.

From this Friday, November 25, the landfill at Ballyduff beg will be closed to all commercial waste, with only waste for recycling and a small amount of domestic landfill waste accepted. This means that commercial producers in Ennis will now face a 145-kilometre round-trip to Gortadroma in south west Limerick or a 180-kilometre round-trip to the Green Star facility in Ballinasloe to properly dispose of their waste.

This move is the result of a decision made by Clare County Council in December of 2010 not to open a fourth cell at the Central Waste Management Facility at Ballyduff beg. The decision was made when projected figures from the council revealed that the landfill centre would become a loss-making venture in the years to come.

The revised figures are a result of the economic slowdown which saw a dramatic drop in the amount of waste being produced by the construction sector – resulting in a large drop in the price paid for disposing of landfill waste.

This dramatic drop in the price received for properly disposing of landfill also means that the Central Waste Management Facility in Bal- lyduff beg will be a loss-making venture for Clare County Council over its entire life-time and not the cashcow that some had described it as.

“A resolution was passed by the elected members of Clare County Council in late 2010 not to develop phase 4 of the facility once phase 3 had been completed,” said Paul Moroney, Senior Engineer with Clare County Council at Ballyduff beg.

“Phase 3 is scheduled to be completed by the end of this week. As a result, and in accordance with the resolution passed by councillors, the landfill will close to commercial customers.

“Small quantities of domestic waste will continue to be accepted from members of the public at the Ballyduff beg facility. The recycling centre will remain operational as normal.”

The Ballyduff beg facility has been a controvertial point for the people of Inagh for a number of years with a number of local residents complaining about smells and vermon activity at the facility.

Clare County Council was sited by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for breaches of its license on a number of occasions in recent years.

The Central Waste Management Facility in Ballyduff beg will remain open to all domestic customers from Tuesday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm and on Saturdays from 8.30am to 1pm.

THERE have been renewed calls for safety ladders to be provided on walls along the River Fergus.

Clare County Council are seeking a water safety audit from Irish Water Safety on the proposal put forward by local Fine Gael councillor Tony Mulqueen.

In a motion tabled at yesterday’s meeting of councillors in the Ennis West Electoral Area, Cllr Mulqueen called on the council to provide safety chains and ladders “on the new wall constructed along the River Fergus”.

Cllr Mulqueen told the meeting that he had raised the matter 12 months ago and was not satisfied with the level of progress so far.

He explained that given the height of the river walls and the strength of water flow, it is his “fear that someone will fall into the river”. Cllr Mulqueen said that while improved flood defences near Parnell Street are excellent, ladders and safety chains should have been included as part of the Office of Public Work’s Ennis Main Drainage Scheme. “Are we waiting for an accident to happen,” he added.

Eamon O’Dea, Senior Executive Engineer, stated that the council are seeking a water safety audit from Irish Water Safety. He continued, “It is anticipated that this will be carried out within the next two to three months. The audit will be forwarded to the OPW for their consideration.”

Town manager Ger Dollard said the issue had not been brought to the council’s attention by any other agency. He said the provision of ladders and chains “would appear to be good practice”.

Committee Chairman, Cllr Brian Meaney (GP), urged the council to write to Irish Water Safety.

ST VINCENT de Paul has appealed to the people of Clare to donate whatever they can in the run-up to Christmas. Donations vary from cash, vouchers, hampers, clothes, toys and non-perishable goods.

Over the coming days, businesses across the county will receive letters from the organisation requesting donations to help cash-strapped families.

The president of St Vincent de Paul in Clare, Cathal Oakes, said that this year, teenagers’ clothing is particularly in demand.

“We are looking for all clothes, particularly teenagers’ clothes. We are finding it quite difficult to get them. Also, if people are dropping in foodstuffs, we prefer non-perishable,” said Cathal. “People are always very generous,” he said.

“Toys are very good but most of the time we prefer to give out vouchers. We give out vouchers all year round. With vouchers, people can buy what they want,” he added.

He said that while people have been very kind and give what they can to the organisation, the amount of goods received is down this year, in the face of increasing demand from those struggling to make ends meet.

“The exact figures on the general collections are down a little bit, but that’s to be expected. People are still amazing. We are still holding our own. The shop is our key source of funding. It is run very, very well,” he said.

In recent years, the organisation has expanded and teams have been set up across the county. Currently there are around 140 volunteers working in Clare, while 45 visitation teams liaise with those who require home visits. Teams also work in the hostel, the shop and work specifically on education.

“We have teams all over the county, including Kilrush, Killaloe, Newmarket, Shannon, Clarecastle and in east Clare. They all operate by fundraising locally, under the umbrella of Clare. It is hard to make money in east Clare and there are a lot of requests there, but the overall Clare area backs each one individually,” said Cathal.

He said that people are looking for assistance for a variety of reasons such as inability to pay bills, car maintenance or to buy clothes and food.

“There is a big increase in the number of people with debt on multiple levels, for example the ESB bill isn’t paid or the mortgage goes into arrears or the car insurance isn’t paid,” said Cathal.

The organisation is renting an extra room for December to store the goods that are donated in the run-up to Christmas. Those wishing to drop in items can do so at the St Vincent de Paul shop on Parnell Street, Ennis.