Category: News

THE COST of renting a house in Clare continues to fall, despite anecdotal evidence of a recovery in the property market in the county.

The average monthly rent paid by Clare people in for the first quarter of 2014 was € 513 – a drop of € 4 on the € 517 per month average recorded over the same period last year. These figures represent a 25.2 per cent decrease on the average monthly rent of € 686 which was recorded for Clare in 2008. The report also signals a clear disparity in the cost of renting a domestic property in different parts of Clare.

The least expensive place to rent a home is Kilrush – with an average monthly rent of € 469 per month while Newmarket on Fergus was the most expensive Clare location at € 582 per month. Sixmilebridge comes in at € 576 per month, Shannon at € 573, with Ennis at € 511 and Killaloe at € 544.

These Clare figures are in contrast to the national average where a year on year increase of 3.5 per cent was recorded for the first three months of 2014.

The largest increase was in the apartment sector – where average rents have climbed by 5.6 per cent while the cost of renting a house has increased by 1.6 per cent.

THE Ombudsman for Children is to be asked to investigate a case where children in State care in Clare were unallocated a social care worker for more than three months.

Judge Alan Mitchell directed that the children’s Guardian Ad Litem also refer the matter to the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).

The children, who were found to have been neglected by their mother, have since been allocated a social care worker.

Figures supplied to the Clare People yesterday by the Child and Family Agency (CFA) show that there are currently 10 childcare cases unallocated in Clare.

The Children in Care team in Clare (CIC) is currently providing services to approximately 160 children in Clare.

The order that HIQA and the Ombudsman for Children consider a particular case involving social care services in Clare formed part of an extensive written judgment delivered at a sitting of the Family Law (District) Court on Tuesday.

Judge Mitchell was told by senior social worker Tina Wiseman that due to staffing difficulties, a “con- siderable case load” of the CIC team in Clare had been unallocated since November 2012.

The Judge said, “That’s a source of serious concern to me”. He said the un-allocation of childcare cases is something that the CEO of the CFA, Gordon Jeyes could hardly condone. He asked Ms Wiseman if it was worth highlighting these deficiencies both locally and nationally. She said, “I’m in total agreement with you. It is scandalous”. Ms Wiseman said, “I can’t stand over what has happened and at the end of the day, the children are in state care.” Judge Mitchell granted a full child care order on application from the CFA in respect of a number of children. The children’s parents were not present or legally represented in court. The children were represented by their Guardian Ad Litem. Judge Mitchell commended Ms Wiseman “for not trying to defend the indefensible”. After hearing the case Judge Mitchell ruled that the Court was satisfied the children “have been neglected that their health, development, welfare has been and is likely to be avoidably impaired or neglected and the child requires care or protection….” He ordered that the Guardian Ad Litem “refer this case to the Ombudsman for Children to request her to carry out a preliminary investigation under Section 8 of the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002 and to HIQA to consider the non allocation of a social worker to the child in excess of three months, without sufficient reason being acceptable to the Court and the Court finds this practice was not in the best interests of the child and may have adversely affected the child”. The court was told that Clare CFA social workers have written to Gordon Jeyes, and the Minister for Children to express their concerns over resource concerns. Judge Mitchell adjourned the case for review to October.

CLARE County Council will spend more on average on road maintenance and business and tourism development than most other counties in Irelan but less, per person, on housing in 2014 than any other county in Munster.

According to figures obtained by from local authority watchdog, Public Policy.ie, Clare County Council will spend just over € 91 per person on housing this year, compared to € 387 per person in Dublin, and the national average which stand at just over € 160.

In contrast to housing however, the local authority will spend more on average on road maintenance and business and tourism development than most other counties in Ireland.

A new analysis of spending trends across all local authorities in Ireland has revealed that Clare County Council will spend a total of € 98.4 million on services in the county this year, or roughly € 840 per person in Clare.

The councils spend on housing for 2014 will amount to just over 10 per cent of its entire budget for services. The lions share of the housing budget will be used to fund rentals accommodation schemes or leasing programmes. This will amount to more than 30 per cent of the housing budget or 3.5 per cent of the overall services budget.

The smallest slice of the housing budget will be spent on the administration of services for the homeless in Clare which will account for approximately 0.4 per cent of the overall housing budget or € 400,000.

Clare is one of highest spending local authorities in Ireland when it comes to development management – which includes, heritage, tourism and the development of the local economy.

Clare will invest near € 95 per Clare person on development management this year – nearly twice the national overage of just € 59.

The lions share of this budget will be spend on tourism development and promotions with more than € 5 million, or 5.1 per cent of the entire budget, earmarked for this area in 2014.

Clare County Council will spend less than the national average on both environmental services and recreational space in 2014. A to tal of € 12.78 million will be spend on environmental services in Clare this years with the largest section of this being on fire services as well ad street cleaning and aftercare for the Central Waste Management Facility at Ballyduff beg.

The majority of the county’s recreation and amenity’s budget will be spent on the library services in 2014 – which will cost almost four per cent of entire services budget.

OVER 100 people sought help from an Ennis based relationship counseling service last year, according to new figures.

Figures from ACCORD – an agency that provides counseling and other services for the Diocese of Killaloe – show that seven counsellors from the Ennis centre delivered a total of 785 Counselling Hours to 110 clients who were experiencing difficulties in their relationships in 2013.

A spokesperson for ACCORD said the level of State funding it has received since 209 has been reduced by approximately 40 per cent and a further cut of 15 per cent is expected this year. The figures come as ACCORD prepares to open a new office at the Carmody Street business park in Ennis on Friday.

ACCORD Ennis (formerly known as the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council) is one of 58 Accord centres throughout Ireland. It is the administrative centre for counselling, marriage preparation and relationship and sexuality education schools programme for the Killaloe Diocese, which incorporates both Ennis and Nenagh Accord centres

The first meeting of Accord Ennis was held on September 17 1970 and was chaired by Fr Willie Walsh, who worked with the centre until he was ordained Bishop of Killaloe.

Bishop Walsh continued to support the work of the centre and worked as National President of ACCORD until his retirement. Accord Ennis celebrated 40 years of its existence in 2010. During the 1970’s and 1980’s the centre was located at the Social Service Office in O’Connell Street in Ennis but services were provided around the county in Kilrush, Shannon and Scariff.

In 1988 when the new “Clarecare” building was opened at Harmony Row, Accord Ennis moved to this new location.

Last year nine Facilitators from the Ennis centre delivered 12 Marriage Preparation Courses to 210 couples, choosing to get married in the Catholic Church.

A spokesperson stated, “The Primary Schools Relationships an d Sexuality Education Pilot Programme was launched in the Clare area in 2013. Success in this work is evident from the large number of schools who have booked the programme for their 6th Class students in 2014. While the demand for Accord services continues to grow, we are always seeking to recruit new volunteers”.

Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Kieran O’Reilly will open the new office at the Carmody Street business park at 7.30pm on Friday.

A CLARE woman and former novice nun has further lifted the lid on the hor rors faced by women in the Magdalene laundry industrial institutions.

Kildysart woman Patricia BurkeBrogan, who was one of the first people to highlight the plight of the Irish women forced to serve in the Magdalene laundries, will this week publish a memoir which detailing her time with the Sisters of Mercy.

Burke-Brogan was forced to oversee the work of more than 100 women who were forced to work in a laundry in Galway.

Her experiences with these women led to her leaving the Sisters of Mercy, and writing the short story ‘Sun Flowers’, which was the first artistic work details the life of women in the laundry.

In her memoir, which is entitled ‘With Grykes and Turloughs’, she describes first entering the laundry.

“She [the Mother Superior] opens another heavy double-locked door. A deafening noise hits us. We’re in a room with huge machines from which steam is hissing. Prison bar patterns the roof-windows. The greasy walls are sweating. There is a stench of soiled clothing. Bleach fumes sting my throat, I gasp for air,” she recalls.

“Gradually I see that the room is full of women: elderly women, middle-aged women, and young girls all seem to merge with the gray of the womb-like washing machines.”

When the 21-year-old Burke-Brogan challenged the Mother Superior about the imprisonment of the women, who were held behind two sets of locked doors, she was told that the imprisonment was to “protect them from their own passions” and that “no one wants” the women in the outside world.

The book also describes a strike at the laundry, which took place short- ly after Burke-Brogan’s arrival.

“At a signal from the two ringleaders, all of the women except from the white-capped consecrated penitents, sit down on the flagstone floor. Some hold baby cloths in their hands and rock back and forth as they sing lullabies,” she remembers.

“Suddenly, three of the consecrated penitents join the mothers on the floor. To and fro, to and fro. Mothers grieve their babies.”

‘With Grykes and Turloughs is published by Wordonthestreet Publishing and contains a forward written by President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins.

A JUDGE has granted the State further time to serve the books of evidence on two brothers accused of assaulting a hotel worker in Shannon last year.

Mark Hayes (25) and Sean Hayes (24), both with addresses at Aidan Park, Shannon, appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday, on charges arising from the alleged incident. They are both charged with assault causing harm to the man at the Oakwood Arms.

Mark Hayes is further alleged to have caused criminal damage to a bar table.

It is alleged that a male member of the hotel’s night staff was seriously assaulted at around 4am on September 29, 2013.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) directed trial on indictment in the Circuit Court for Mark Hayes.

The DPP directed summary disposal of the case of Sean Hayes in the district court, on a guilty plea only.

The alleged facts of the incident were outlined at Ennis District Court in March to allow Judge Patrick Durcan consider jurisdiction.

Insp Tom Kennedy said a dispute arose between a member of the night staff and the Hayes brothers at around 4am on the morning in question.

Insp Kennedy said it would be alleged Mark Hayes became involved in a verbal dispute with a member of the hotel’s night staff.

The court heard it is alleged that Mark Hayes then punched the alleged victim, knocking him onto the ground. The alleged victim was punched again while on the ground, the court heard.

Insp Kennedy said it is alleged that while the man and Mark Hayes were “grappling”, Sean Hayes stood behind the alleged injured party, punching him repeatedly into the back and kidneys.

Insp Kennedy said the incident lasted a few minutes and was halted when members of the public intervened. Judge Durcan refused jurisdiction of the case of Sean Hayes in the District Court, meaning it will proceed to the Circuit Court.

On Wednesday, Insp Kennedy said the State required a further two weeks to serve the books of the evidence on the accused.

“I’m assured the books will be here”, he added.

Both men were remanded on continuing bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on June 18.

GARDAÍ are investigating early morning armed robbery at a business in Ennis town centre yesterday.

The incident occurred at around 7.30am at the Xtra Vision store in the market area of the town.

A man carrying a weapon entered the home entertainment and electrical goods store and made away with a quantity of cash. A member of staff was opening up when he was set upon by the assailant at the front door of the premises.

It is understood the man who carried out the robbery was carrying a hammer. Gardaí in Ennis are investigating the robbery and are looking at CCTV footage from the area.

The incident follows a similar robbery at a family run shop in Ennis last month

Gardaí have urged business owners in the town to be vigilant and take appropriate security measures such as lighting and security cameras to protect their premises.

A 15-YEAR-old boy charged with the false imprisonment of a teenager in Ennis last year is to be sent forward for trial to the Circuit Criminal Court. Jurisdiction of the case was refused by Judge Patrick Durcan on Wednesday after he heard an outline of the alleged facts of the case against the boy.

The Ennis boy – who was accompanied by his mother at Ennis Children’s Court – is charged with falsely imprisoning a 17-year-old at Quin Road, Ennis on August 19 last contrary to Section 15 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

He is also charged with unlawfully taking possession of a car without the consent of the owner or without lawful authority at the Quin Road, Ennis on the same date.

The boy is one of a number of people gardaí say were in a car that went on an “escapade” around Ennis last year. Three teenagers have been charged in connection with the incident. Inspector Tom Kennedy said it would be alleged the 15 year-old pushed the driver and forced him to sit in the car.

Judge Durcan refused jurisdiction. A book of evidence will be prepared and the case will be heard in the Circuit Court.

He adjourned the case for mention to tomorrow, June 11.

The boy was remanded on continuing bail. Two other teenagers have also been charged in connection with the incident on the Quin Road.

Patrick McCarthy (18) is charged with the robbery of a Sony mobile phone and € 5 worth of tobacco from a male on August 19.

Mr McCarthy, with an address at Westbourne, Watery Road, Ennis, is also charged unlawfully taking possession of a vehicle without the consent of the owner or without lawful authority. Insp Kennedy told Judge Durcan the DPP had directed summary disposal of the matters in the District Court. He outlined a summary of the alleged facts of the case to allow Judge Durcan consider whether or not to accept jurisdiction.

The court heard Mr McCarthy was one of a number of people who got into a car they waved down on O’Connell Street on August 19 last.

The court heard the driver was asked to go to a number of different housing estates and areas around the outskirts of Ennis.

Insp Kennedy said people were drinking in the car. He said the driver was assaulted at one point on the “journey” but not by Mr McCarthy.

Of the robbery charge, Insp Kennedy said that at one stage of this “escapade”, the car stopped on the humpback bridge on the Quin Road.

He said it would be alleged Mr McCarthy got out of the car and demanded money from a pedestrian.

Insp Kennedy said it is alleged the accused put his hands into the alleged victim’s pocket and took items.

He said Mr McCarthy then got back at the car, which at this point was being driven by another man.

Judge Durcan refused jurisdiction, meaning the case will now proceed to the Circuit Court.

Mr McCathy was remanded on continuing bail. The case was adjourned for mention to June 11.

A 19 year-old man also charged with an offence arising from the alleged incident on the Quin Road on August 19 last is also to be sent forward for trial to the Circuit Court.

He is due to appear before Ennis District Court tomorrow.

WATER from the Burren could be used to solve ongoing drinking water shortages on the Aran Islands following the discovery of a series of fresh water caves connecting North Clare with the islands.

The discovery of the massive cave network running underneath Galway Bay was made by scientists at NUI, Galway, who investigated the possibility following reports of fresh water currents in the sea by fishermen on the Aran Islands.

The cave network is understood to be in the region of 20 metres wide and runs for at least 50 miles. Further investigation is required on the unique underwater cave structure before its potential as a water source can be fully explored.

The massive underground river is made possible due to the limestone landscape of Burren, which can be dissolved by rainwater to form underground conduits.

“We were told about a well at a local hotel on Inishmaan that had an excellent supply of fresh water,” said Dr Tiernan Henry, Lecturer in Environmental Geology, School of Natural Sciences at NUI Galway.

“The islands can have water problems, they are always short, but this well went deep into the rock and was getting more water than falls on the whole island.”

These types of cave structures are similar to those at the Aillwee Caves in Ballyvaughan and Doolin Cave in Doolin. Indeed, there are a large number of underground cave network all around the Burren – only a fraction of which have be explored or mapped.

The Burren was last year given an award to recognise the work being undertaken to conserve some of Europe’s most outstanding natural and semi-natural areas.

The Council of Europe chose the Burren, stating the award recognises the European significance of the area, which has remarkable natural values, a rich flora and fauna, an important cultural heritage, traditional socio-economic activities and good management.

A MAN charged with possession of items with the intention they be used for theft will appear before Ennis District Court tomorrow.

Martin Ward (27), with an address at Gort Na Rí, Galway, was brought before the court on Thursday and subsequently granted bail.

He re-appeared before the court on Friday where Judge Patrick Durcan agreed to an application from defence solicitor, Daragh Hassett, to amend the terms of Mr Ward’s bail.

Mr Ward is charged that at Roscliff, Ballynacally, Ennis on June 4, when not at his residence, he had possession of bolt cutters, gloves and a torch with intention they be used in a theft. Mr Ward was granted bail at Ennis District Court on Thursday on a number of conditions including one that he stay away from all piers, quays, marinas and areas containing boats and boat engines.

His co-accused, a 33 year-old man from Ennis, was remanded in custody and is also due to appear in court on Wednesday.

Mr Ward’s case was called again at Ennis District Court on Friday.

Mr Hassett applied to have the bail conditions amended to allow his cli- ent sign on at a different garda station than the one previously agreed.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he wanted an assurance the State consented to the amendment before making any order. He said the case is a “very serious matter”, one where he had insisted bail conditions be written down.

Mr Hassett told the Judge he spoke with the prosecuting Garda Inspector, Tom Kennedy.

He said Insp Kennedy consented to the amendment. Judge Durcan made the amendment and remanded Mr Ward on bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on June 11.