Category: News

ENNIS should take priority over other parts of the county when it comes to the allocation of staff by Clare County Council, a meeting has heard.

The view was expressed yesterday by Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) as concern was raised over the impact of localised flooding on roads and churches in Ennis and Clarecastle.

A section of the Kilrush Road near Gallows Hill; St Joseph’s Hospital, Ennis and the Parochial House in Clarecastle were highlighted as three areas prone to “ponding” and road flooding, at meetings of councillors in the Ennis electoral area.

In response to motions tabled by councillors Johnny Flynn (FG) and Pat Daly (FF) regarding flooding on the Kilrush Road, senior executive engineer Eamon O’Dea stated, “The council has used a power jetty to clear the outlet from the gully at this location. This gully discharges to a soak away in this grass margin on the opposite side of the road.”

He added, “The council is examining the existing storm drains in the area to see if this location can be discharged to a storm sewer, otherwise the soak away will be renewed.”

The committee chairman, Cllr Brennan, told the meeting that the issue had existed at the Kilrush Road for a number of years. He said that there is a danger that “someone will be killed there” because pedestrians are stepping onto the road to avoid the water.

He said the biggest problem in the Ennis area is the absence of council staff. He said that Ennis is the county capital with a population of 30,000 and as such, should take priority when the council allocates staff to work in particular areas.

“We have tried working from the outside in, maybe we should be working from the inside out,” he added.

Agreeing with Cllr Brennan, Cllr Flynn said there “is huge pressure on Ennis area offices because of a lack of staff”.

Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) raised the issue of flooding that occurs outside the old Parochial House, Clarecastle. Cllr Murphy stated that “rainwater from the Creegaun na Hilla estate flows straight across the roundabout (bypassing the gully trap to the side of the roundabout) and lodges at the entrance to the Parochial House, causing a lot of annoyance to callers to the house and to mass goers, particularly at night time.”

Mr O’Dea said the council will examine the road levels at this location and “endevaour to reduce the impact of rainfall run off in this area”.

A meeting of councillors in the Ennis West Electoral Area heard that church-goers found it difficult to attend Mass because of floods at the rear of St Joseph’s hospital.

Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) told the meeting that flooding was a specific problem for elderly residents in the area.

Mr O’Dea stated that the council will examine the location to “see if there is a feasible method to dispose of the storm water”. However, he added that “any works will be subject to available resources”.

NO VENUE in Clare has been granted permission to host civil partnerships between same-sex couples despite a number of civil marriages between heterosexual couples having already taken place in the county.

North Clare lesbian couple Bernadette Kenny and Heidi Hummel became Clare’s first same-sex civil partnership earlier this year but were prevented from hosting a ceremony in Clare because they were told that it would take more than two years for a officer to be free to come to Clare to perform the ceremony.

Despite this however, Management at the Cliffs of Moher have confirmed to The Clare People that a heterosexual American couple were allowed to celebrate a civil marriage at the world famous tourist site in June of this year – just six months after the civil partnership and civil marriage legislation came into effect.

The procedure for having a samesex civil partnership and a heterosexual civil marriage outside of a registry office is the exact same and requires an officer from the Civil Registration Service in Limerick to inspect the venue for health and safety reasons before the go-ahead can be given.

“If we had wanted to use a venue in north Clare or somewhere in the Burren it would have been a two year waiting time – and we were no prepared to wait for that long,” Bernadette Kenny told The Clare People yesterday. “They have a big backlog at the moment but it meant that we had to have our ceremony at the back end of a hospital in Limerick. There is no venue in Clare which is registered for this sort of ceremony.

“It would have been great to do it at the Cliffs of Moher or some other location up in the Burren but it would have taken so much time. There is so much paperwork involved already, especially if one person has already been married and then divorced. So of the rules governing this are very antiquated.”

A spokesperson from the Department of Social Protection has confirmed that no civil partnerships registered in County Clare to date.

“A venue may only be approved at each individual request from a couple. As no civil partnership has been registered to have taken place in County Clare there is no venue approved for County Clare,” said the spokesman. The Clare People contacted the Civil Registration Service in Limerick in relation to this but no response was received at the time of going to press.

THERE have been calls for greater supports to be given to residents whose lives have been made a “misery” by the behaviour of challenging families.

Officials say that both Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council work closely with the Health Services Executive (HSE), Gardaí and other agencies to deal with anti-social behaviour in estates as they arise.

The issue of problem tenants was raised at yesterday’s meeting of councillors in the Ennis West Electoral Area.

In a motion, committee chairman Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) queried, “what supports are provided to com munities outside of the RAPID area where challenging families are in rented accommodation?”

Cllr Meaney said the behaviour of “challenging residents” in private rented accommodation is a “significant issue” for Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council.

Referring to a report prepared by POBAL, Cllr Meaney said houses and facilities in RAPID areas had been subject to vandalism, fire damage while missiles had been thrown at council staff.

He also praised the work of the programme, saying that RAPID funded services had helped to “increase the neighbourhood value of estates”. Cllr James Breen (Ind) said some people are moving into estates are making other resident’s lives a “misery”.

Town clerk Leonard Cleary ex- plained that the National RAPID programme has designated six areas in Ennis town for a programme aimed at “revitalising areas by planning, investment and development”.

He continued, “Ennis Town Council through its housing department provides a service to tenants of the local authority. Some of these tenants are in estates that are not in the designated RAPID area. The housing, environment and engineering sections of Ennis Town Council actively engage with communities in these estates in order to resolve issues.”

Mr Cleary added, “In situations where there are difficulties with private rented tenants or private home owners in estates, the council works with the other appropriate public agencies including HSE and Gardaí depending on the nature of the challenge presented.”

Cllr Meaney said that while it will be “very difficult” for Ennis Town Council to deal with non-RAPID estates, “we need to find a way of dealing with it”.

THE DAYS of teaching in prefabs in Quin may be coming to an end, after the local primary school got the green light for an eight-classroom extension.

Management at Scoil na Mainistreach has been notified that the school will be extended, with the project likely to be completed in 2013.

The news that the eight rooms and ancillary accommodation are to be added comes after years of campaigning by management, after the existing building became too small for the growing school population.

Currently there are 259 students in the school and this is expected to rise to more than 300 over the next five years as projected enrolments will rise further, based on numbers of births locally.

There are nine classrooms in the school, four of which are prefabs. There are nine mainstream teachers, along with three learning support staff.

School principal Anne Fitzpatrick said management was “delighted” to receive the letter from the Department of Education, outlining the go ahead for the project.

“We have no clarification at present on how the grant will operate. We are basking in the delight on something that has been going on for so many years. We have been campaigning for a long time,” she said.

It was initially proposed in 2001 that the school should be extended, given increasing enrolments.

Between 2005 and 2009, enrolments increased by more than 70 per cent and according to the census figures for this year, the population has increased by almost 40 per cent over the past five years.

“The projections are it will continue to grow over the next four to five years,” said Ms Fitzpatrick. “Enrolments are coming in at 40 each year. Baptisms are coming in at 40 each year. Three of the classrooms are totally unsuitable. They are inadequate in size,” she said.

Last year, two new classrooms were built on and while this was welcome, overall, it was not sufficient to cater for the numbers of pupils.

“In 2009, the board made a decision there would be no more temporary accommodation on site. We had been arguing for a long time that tempo- rary accommodation is not a cost effective solution,” said the principal.

“They expect it to be in place in 2013. We would be anxious to move ahead as quickly as possible to move on site for 2013. It is an absolute necessity. Even though we were slightly surprised, we are delighted that the department sees the absolutely necessity for this,” she said.

“There is gong to be a lot of hard work. The board (of management) has been outstanding, led by Daragh Hassett. We would like to give him credit for that. We have put a lot of hard work into this,” she said.

A FAMILY in east Clare telephoned the county council emergency helpline during the severe weather spell 27 times, but the calls were not answered. This was revealed at a meeting of the council yesterday, after the issue was raised by Independent Councillor PJ Ryan. He asked that the council ensure that adequate staff be made available to man the emergency number during the winter weekends and holiday periods.

In a written response from the council, it was stated that the council’s emergency phone operates throughout the year outside office hours. “The effectiveness of the facility was compromised during the very severe weather event of December 2010 when temperatures dropped to minus 12 degrees and the intensity of calls from members of the general public in relation to water services and roads related issues increased to an unmanageable level,” stated the council’s response from director of services, Nora Kaye.

She added that in such situations, additional call answering and technical support advice facilities were set up. “This issue has been examined during the year and criteria have been agreed which will facilitate identification of the need for additional support,” she stated.

Cllr Ryan told the meeting that due to problems with emergency numbers late last year and early this year, residents were not getting a reply when they called the emergency phone number.

“I had constituents in Kilkishen who phoned the number on 27 occasions and got no reply,” he said. “It is important that somebody is there.”

Fine Gael Councillor Johnny Flynn said that the problem is particularly acute in isolated areas where people are living alone.

Ms Kaye told councillors that a lot of lessons were learned from last year. “There is an improved system in place now,” she said.

GARDAÍ are warning people parking outside schools that cars are being targeted by thieves, after two areas were targeted last week.

Last Monday, a car parked outside Barefield National School was broken into at around 3.10pm. A handbag was stolen from the car. The following day, a car parked outside Kilmur ry National School, Sixmilebridge, was targeted at around 7pm. Property was taken from the car, while another car parked outside the courthouse in Sixmilebridge was broken into around the same time.

A car parked outside a house in Fernhill on the Gor t Road in Ennis was broken into overnight on Thursday and a laptop and sat. nav. were stolen. In another incident in Ennis, three tyres were slashed on a car parked at Carmody Street, between 1am and 12 noon on Friday.

Four burglaries in the east Clare area over the past week are being investigated by gardaí. In one incident, a small quantity of cash was taken from a house in Bodyke, overnight on Wednesday. A house on the Tulla Road in Kilkishen was broken into at around 9pm on Friday. The owner of the house heard a noise and saw a flashlight, before noticing people going out a window.

A house in O’Callaghan’s Mills was broken into between 2.30pm and 10pm on Friday, after the back door was forced open. Bedrooms were ransacked but nothing was stolen.

Gold jewellery was stolen during a break-in at Mount Ivers, Sixmilebridge, between 11pm and midnight on Friday.

Cars were stolen in Ennistymon and Ballina, Killaloe, in the past week. One car – a Nissan Primera – was stolen at Church Street, Ennistymon, overnight on Saturday, while the other – a Toyota Yaris was taken from Ivy Grove, Ballina, overnight last Tuesday.

In Kilrush, a Connemara pony was stolen from a stable at Shragh, overnight on Friday, while property was stolen from stables at Kilkee Road, Kilrush, on the same night. The property included two riding saddles, reins and bridles.

Meanwhile, gardaí are continuing to investigate the seizure of € 60,000 worth of cannabis resin in a car in Ballina, Killaloe, last Monday. As par t of a planned operation, a car was stopped and searched. Two people from the Killaloe area – one in his early 30s and the other in his late 30s – were ar rested, before being released without charge the following day.

“That is the biggest one this year in the east Clare area. It is significant,” said a senior garda spokesman.

Anyone with information on any of these crimes should contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100 or their local Garda station.

PUBLIC lighting is required to curb anti-social behaviour in unfinished housing estates in Clare, a meeting has heard.

The problems faced by residents living in unfinished housing estates was raised at the November meeting of Clare County Council.

Cllr Crowe called on the council to put a system in place in the event of developers of unfinished estates going into liquidation. The Sixmilebridge councillor stated that where estates have not been taken in charge, the Council should arrange for public lighting to be switched on in the interest of “public safety and to protest against anti-social behaviour”.

Cllr Crowe told the meeting that something has to be done for residents of unfinished estates; many of whom he said are “completely in limbo”.

Cllr Crowe said the chances of these estates being taken over as “unlikely”. “We have to start looking beyond the rules and regulations”, he added.

Cllr PJ Ryan (Ind) said there are going to “major problems” in unfinished estates.

Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) said the lack of public lighting is condemning residents of some estates to “months of darkness”. He said unfinished estates “cultivate and environment for anti-social behaviour”.

He said the council must “aggressively pursue developers that are still trading”.

Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) called on the council to compile a list of all unfinished estates in Clare.

In response, acting director of services, planning, land use and transportation Nora Kaye stated, “While there is merit in the above proposal, the reality is that the council’s resources are extremely limited in respect of taking in charge of housing estates. The provision in this year’s budget for the taking in charge process is € 55,000 for the county. With escalating public lighting costs, I do not consider that the Council is in a position to arrange for public lighting to be switched on and / or for the ongoing maintenance and energy costs of same”.

Ms Kaye continued, “The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government has been requested to consider funding proposals for a small number of estates where due to special circumstances of those estates, the public lighting issues are unlikely to be resolved in the short term. On a receipt of reply from the Department, I will update the Council further”.

THE Bishop of Killaloe, Kieran O’Reilly has acknowledged the challenge posed by falling Mass numbers and the “flight” of parishioners from the Catholic Church.

In a pastoral letter, Dr O’Reilly says diocesan statistics show a decline in the attendance at Sunday liturgies. He also focuses on the “growing spectre of unemployment and emigration” and the impact the economic crises is having on families.

Dr O’Reilly states that, since his ordination, he has met with parish pastoral councils, finance committees and apostolic work groups, noting, “How much women contribute to the life of the parishes?”

He writes, “To all involved in parish life, I want you to know that your involvement and work in so many different ways, but especially in preparing children and young adults for the sacraments and organising liturgies, is valued and appreciated.”

Dr O’Reilly continues, “I have heard it said, when I am present in a parish for Confirmation, that many of those receiving the sacrament may not be in the Church again for some time. This “flight” from the Church is a challenge to our faith communities.” He writes, “This fact challenges us to raise questions about how the formation of our young people and their parents can be developed and improved. Coupled with this reality is the obvious decline in numbers now coming to Church on a regular basis. Recent Diocesan Statistics show a decline in attendance at Sunday Liturgies. This is a situation that calls for discussion and reflection over the coming months”.

Dr O’Reilly described the current levels of unemployment as “the most dramatic feature if Ireland that I have noticed”. He writes, “Time and again I ask myself, is the country about to lose a generation of young and not so young gifted people as we did in the past? We read and hear daily reports of what the cuts in public spending mean to many people struggling to meet their financial commitments, of how the sick, the handicapped, the elderly, the unemployed and the low paid seem to be the people to suffer most from these cuts. One outcome of this is the increasing number of marginalised people.

“Many families have financial commitments that they can no longer honour because of the economic situation, this is putting serious strain on families, and is a crisis that calls for a just resolution in the interest of the well being of our society. Hopefully, a strengthening of family ties and community solidarity will be an important factor in assisting people in such situations,” he adds.

CLARE County Council is to meet with Shannon Development, Enterprise Ireland and the IDA to discuss the delivery of job creation projects.

A decision to hold a briefing with the agencies was made by the council yesterday, after Fine Gael councillor Gabriel Keating expressed concern about the high unemployment levels that currently prevail.

Cllr Keating told the meeting that Clare should be prioritised as a location for foreign direct investment projects.

“Many west Clare communities are being wiped out,” he said.

He said that GAA clubs were suffering due to emigration, while unemployment in Kilrush had risen to 261 at the end of October.

“We need foreign direct investment projects to be set up,” he said.

“We need a co-ordinated approach,” said Cllr Keating, adding that a meeting should take place “before it is too late, if we have any chance of keeping our young people in the county”.

“I believe the IDA made 11 site visits to the county this year. While this is welcome, I want to see a greater spread,” he said.

Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Kelly said that “the exact same problem” exists in north Clare as was described in west Clare. “If people haven’t employment, they will not stay in the area,” he said.

“We will have no communities. The fabric of communities is being broken down,” he said.

Independent councillor PJ Ryan said that finance should be put in place in an effort to attract foreign direct investment. “Forty factory units in the industrial estate in Shannon at the moment are empty,” he said.

Fine Gael councillor Joe Arkins said the issue of job creation should remain on the council’s agenda at all monthly meetings.

“Rural Ireland is getting more and more isolated,” he said.

Fianna Fáil councillor Pat Keane said, “The only way jobs will be created is if people in their own county get together and examine every possibility that’s there.”

Fine Gael councillor Johnny Flynn said that in 1841, there were 284,000 people in Clare; in 1996 there were 97,000 but this has risen substantially in the past 15 years due to employment prospects. He said he fears of a similar decline as occurred in the past. “We need to use our resources on the west coast,” he said.

His party colleague Cllr Seán McLoughlin said, “We have too many agencies. The banks are going to have to be more liberal. People are willing to start small businesses but they just can’t get finance.”

Another Fine Gael councillor, Joe Cooney, said it was “very disappointing to see so many young people out of this country or to see young people at home with no jobs to go to”.

A PROPOSAL that people can be buried on their own farm lands is to be submitted to the Minister for the Environment, after it was tabled by Independent councillor James Breen.

Cllr Breen has suggested that the Minister change the legislation in relation to burials whereby a farmer or his family, if they desire, could be buried on their own lands.

He told a meeting of Clare Council Council yesterday that this option should be available for those who wish to use it.

He said there is “nothing more sacred” than a man’s land, where “he was born and bred”. He urged his council colleagues to pass the motion and send it to the Minister.

Independent councillor Gerry Flynn supported the motion but add- ed, “It should be broadened. I think it’s very narrow. It should be broadened to include property owners with some land.”

Green Party councillor Brian Meaney said it would have to be regulated, but agreed that the motion should be submitted to the Minister.

Fine Gael councillor Joe Arkins said that while he sympathised with “the spirit of the motion”, he felt it would face problems. He said that while he was mindful of the attachment people have to their family lands, there could be planning considerations to bear in mind.

“You could have a situation even if this did come to legislation where there could be a two-month wait in advance and that might cause a difficulty,” he said.

“I think it could be fraught with difficulties. I think it is going to cause an awful lot of administrative problems. It’s going to cause headaches to beat the band and issues with pollution as well. I would urge caution,” he said.

He said that issues could emerge if a road was being constructed, or if a body was being exhumed.

He said he had “reservations” and “difficulties” with it.

Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Kelly noted as a farmer that “we are not allowed to bury animals on lands. We should think long and hard about this before passing it here at council level”.

It was suggested that the issue be put to a vote before the Minister is contacted.

However, Cllr Breen said that while he had no problem with a vote, councillors may vote with their own personal views in mind rather than those of their constituents.

It was then agreed that the motion would be submitted to the Minister.