Category: News

THE development of a cargo-hub operation in Shannon with the potential to provide employment for up to 5,000 people is dependent on the opening up a cargo pre-clearance facility at Clare’s international airport.

Local Fine Gael TD, Pat Breen, has admitted as much this week followed exploratory lobbying for a official round of bilateral negotiations between the Irish and US governments to extending the existing passenger pre-clearance facilities at Shannon to freight traffic.

“A huge selling point for us in promoting and encouraging tenants to set up their Cargo operations will be the availability of US Cargo pre clearance at the Airport,” he told The Clare People from Washington, where he opened negotiations in his capacity as Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs & Trade.

“I met with a number of key Congressmen to discuss this possibility. They included the Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Congressman Peter King, Congressman Chris Smith, Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee as well as Congressman Richie Neal, former Chair of Friends of Ireland and Congressman Dan Burton, Chair of the Europe Subcommittee of the House Foreign Relations Committee.

“They were all very supportive of the proposal to extend the Pre Clearance facility at Shannon to include freight and certainly the signing of the Heads of an Agreement has strengthened our case in pursuing this,” he added.

In May, The Clare People revealed that DAA backing for the cargo facility in Shannon to the tune of € 6m would only bring a longterm jobs dividend if it came on stream with a pre-clearance facilities.

“Lynx will only be a major success if the Irish and US government can reach a deal on the pre-clearance of cargo at Shannon,” an Shannon Airport Authority insider told The Clare People .

“This has been done for passengers and for Lynx project to realise it’s full potential it will have to be done for cargo traffic as well.”

This claim has been backed up by local Fianna Fáil TD and the party’s transport spokesperson, Timmy Dooley, who has challenged the Government to play its part in transforming Shannon into a new world-wide cargo hub creating thousands of long-term jobs.

“I am delighted after a prolonged period of time that the DAA are prepared to invest appropriate funding in Shannon to enable Lynx to build a facility there,” said Deputy Dooley.

“It’s a vote of confidence in the airport – the short-term potential is limited, there is long-term potential if the Irish government can secure a deal with the US administration for the pre-clearance of cargo at Shannon,” he added.

The DAA investment in the Shannon project will amount to infrastructural works on the ground – making the site identified accessible by road, providing connection to the airport taxi-ways and fencing – before Lynx would step in and invest € 2m over in building their temperature control facility.

The project was first heralded in 2009 when Lynx and the Shannon Airport Authority signed up to a memorandum of understanding to develop an international logistics hub in the Shannon Free Zone.

In 2009, the Mid-West Task Force called on the Government and DAA to back the Lynx project to, while Shannon Development chief executive and task force member, Dr Vincent Cunnane warning that “the airport will not survive on passengers alone and needs a cargo hub”.

A PROPOSAL to impose strict limits on the number of motions that can be raised by councillors at local area meetings was proposed at yesterday’s North Clare Area meeting in Ennistymon.

The proposal, which would see each councillor limited to just one motion per meeting, was suggested by Lahinch-based councillor Bill Slattery (FG).

Cllr Slattery says the measure would help staff members to deal better with individual enquiries.

According to Cllr Slattery, there is an increasing amount of repetition among the motions put forward by the elected members and the manpower is currently not there to deal effectively with requests.

“At the moment, we are allowed to put forward three motions each per meeting. Between the five of us, that amounts to 15 different motions every five or six weeks and we are all highlighting the same issues over and over again.

“I know that some councillors are waiting more than two years for some issues that have been highlighted to be resolved,” said Cllr Slattery.

“We all know that numbers have been reduced in the local offices all over the county and I think that their time could be better spent in dealing with a lower number of requests rather than a large numbers which contains a lot of repetition.

“I think that this should be done on a temporary basis, just until after the recession.

“If the money and the manpower was there I wouldn’t mind if we were putting in six or seven submissions each meeting.”

Meanwhile, a number of north Clare areas where flooding has taken place over the last two winters have been omitted from a National Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment being compiled by the Office of Public Works (OPW).

North Clare areas such as Doolin, Ballyvaughan and Miltown Malbay have not been included in the assessment, despite a number of unprecedented flooding events taking place in those areas in recent years.

The North Clare Area councillors will now make a submission to the OPW, requesting that these areas be included as part of the assessment.

This assessment, which is currently being conducted all over the country, is likely to inform the OPW’s strategy for tackling flooding for the next decade.

PRIMARY schools across Clare are now among the most overcrowded in Europe, damning statistics secured by The Clare People this week have revealed.

Department of Education figures relating to the pupil-teacher ratio in Clare and given to The Clare People by the Irish National Teachers Organisation this week have shown that the majority of primary pupils in the county are in classes greater than the EU average.

Figures have revealed that 17 per cent of Clare schools have 20 or less pupils; 63 per cent with between 20 and 29 pupils, with 20 per cent of schools with above 30 pupils.

“The EU average is 20 and the way you look at that is that in county Clare you have 83 per cent of pupils in classes that are above EU average,” said Clare INTO chief Sean McMahon.

“It’s a fairly shocking statistic that in 2011 one in five primary students in Clare are in a class of 30 or more, particularly when you take the geography of Clare into consideration. You have 124 schools in Clare and along the western seaboard you have a lot of relatively small schools, so that statistically implies that some schools have very large classes,” Mr McMahon added.

Meanwhile, INTO general secretary Sheila Nunan described the figures as “shocking” and represent “a wake-up call for the parents of Clare’s 13,000 primary school pupils in advance of the 2011 budget”.

“What we’re concerned and worried about is that the upcoming Budget is going to exacerbate things even more,” said Mr McMahon. “We are being told we are in fiscal situation where very little can be done, but when the Celtic Tiger was roaring among us very little was done for primary education.

“It’s wrong that children in primary school would pay the price for fiscal recitude. We are saying to the Minister for Education, not only do we not want class sizes increased, we want them reduced. We are the second highest in Europe when it comes to class sizes. The problems with the economy haven’t been created by primary school pupils. I fail to see why they should be the ones paying for it,” he added.

THE BODY of a Spanish national who was seen jumping off the Cliffs of Moher earlier this year has never been recovered, an inquest heard yesterday.

As Coroner Isobel O’Dea returned a verdict of suicide, she told the family of Laureano Peláez Garcia (44) that it was always difficult to have an inquest when no body has been recovered and said it was “particularly difficult for a family to try to come to terms with it”.

Mr Peláez Garcia, from Madrid, travelled from Spain to Ireland on April 2, 2011, and went to the Cliffs the following day.

The inquest heard details of statements made by several tourists who were visiting the Cliffs of Moher on April 3. One of them, Brendan Kenny, from the US, took a photograph of Mr Peláez Garcia, shortly before he disappeared.

He said that he saw a middle aged man sitting on a wall smoking a cigarette. “He was staring out towards the sea,” he recalled. He said he was a bit “freaked out” by this and felt it was “weird”. He said he then saw him blessing himself before running straight out off the cliffs. This was at around 1pm.

Another witness, Johanna Schmidt, said she saw a man taking items out of a rucksack. A short time after, she heard a scream and saw a man falling out from the cliff. Another witness recalled finding a rucksack with personal items including a wallet, watch and jacket, on the ground nearby.

Paul McDonagh, a driver with Bus Éireann, drove from Galway to the Cliffs of Moher that day. Mr Peláez Garcia got on in Galway at 10.30am and said he was going to Lisdoonvarna. However, when the bus reached Lisdoonvarna, he remained on the bus and got off at the Cliffs of Moher. Mr McDonagh told him that he would be leaving the Cliffs of Moher at 1.30pm and Mr Peláez Garcia said if he was returning, he would go at that time.

Mr McDonagh said that Mr Peláez Garcia asked him did he have children. He told the bus driver that he didn’t have any children. The bus driver noticed a lot of sweat on his forehead. He said he saw him walking up towards the cliffs but he then lost sight of him.

Tom Doherty, a ranger at the Cliffs of Moher, said that three girls approached him at around 1pm with a rucksack. They told him that a man had jumped off the cliffs. He said he could see the casualty at the base of the Cliffs in a pool of water. The tide was out.

He called for the rescue helicopter and boat. He said that that body was too near the cliff for the helicopter to approach and the sea was too rough for the boat to attempt to recover it. There was a three metre swell at the time. The area was surveyed by Doolin Coast Guard for 90 minutes, before the casualty then disappeared from view.

Searches continued for 10 days but the body was never found, he said.

Mr Peláez Garcia’s brother told the inquest that he last saw his brother a week before he went to Ireland.

Ms O’Dea explained to Mr Peláez Garcia’s family that medical evidence was not available because his body was never located. She said that the deceased had been positively identified through the photograph.

“In this instance I’m very much aware of the conversation Mr Peláez Garcia had with the bus driver. Unfortunately the appropriate verdict for me to bring in is a verdict of suicide,” said the Coroner.

She paid tribute to gardaí who carried out a thorough investigation and also lauded Doolin Coast Guard for its efforts to recover Peláez Garcia’s body.

THE burning of bituminous or socalled smoky coal has been blamed for having an impact on air quality in Ennis in a new report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

According to the EPA report on Air Quality in Ireland 2010, domestic solid fuel use is the other main source of particulate matter in air in Ireland and it particularly impacts air quality in areas where the sale of bituminous coal is permitted.

The report states, “As a result, levels of particulate matter in smaller towns are similar or higher than those in cities or in towns above 15,000 population, where bituminous coal is banned.

“To help with this, from 2011, new regulations will require that all bituminous coal placed on the market in Ireland for residential use has a sulphur content of no more than 0.7 per cent.

“In addition, the sale of bituminous coal has been banned in four additional towns in 2011 – Ennis, Clonmel, Carlow and Athlone.”

However, according to monitoring data on the EPA website, air quality in Ennis is currently considered good.

In June, the Minister for the Environment, 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.

The proposed restricted area of Ennis includes Ennis and environs, comprising the following electoral divisions: Ennis Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 Urban; Clareabbey; Doora; Ennis Rural; and Spancilhill.

Under the Air Pollution Act, sellers found in breach of the ban could face fines of up to € 5,000. Amendments are also being made to allow fixed payment notices or ‘on the spot fines’ to be applied in respect of relevant offences.

Micheál Ó Cinnéide, EPA Director said, “The EPA welcomes the change in legislation regarding bituminous coal, which will have a positive effect on air quality.

“However, we must also work to reduce traffic emissions through reducing travel demand, emphasising sustainable transport modes such as cycling, walking and public transport and improving the efficiency of motorised transport.”

NEW casual trading byelaws aimed at improving the operation of the Ennis market are due to come into effect next week.

Under the byelaws, the market will be further extended into the Guaranakilla area, while a trading area for special events and purposes such as Christmas markets will also be established at the Lower Market Street car park. Changes will also be made to the orientation and layout of stalls. At present, stalls are positioned fac- ing onto the main road, a system that allows traders to monitor each other’s stalls.

Councillors voted through the byelaws at the July meeting of Ennis Town Council following a lengthy period of public consultation.

A controversial proposal that would have allowed for the towing away of cars parked in trading spaces on trading days was removed from the final draft.

Trading shall be permitted during the seven days immediately preceding Christmas Day with trading also permitted for special occasions “as determined by the council”.

Members also voted to remove proposed restrictions on the sale of Christmas trees. A move to designate a section of Guaranakilla strictly for parking was defeated following warnings from town manager Ger Dollard that it could have serious implications for trading in the market.

The byelaws state that “no broadcasting or speech or music from a mechanical or electronic amplification system shall take place from any stall or any vehicle and no loud play- ing of radios or music reproduction appliances shall take place at any stall”. The sale of alcohol is also prohibited under the byelaws.

The fee structure ranges from € 660 to € 50 per trading bay per day, for a special event license. Persons caught trading without a licence can be prosecuted by an authorised officer of Ennis Town Council as well as by the Gardaí. Anyone found in breach of the byelaws could be liable to a fine of up to € 1,270. The byelaws are due to come into effect on October 1.

THE ORGIN of unpleasant odours detected in Shannon has not yet been identified, according to the EPA.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and Clare County Council are investigating the presence of an unsavoury smell in the town.

Both authorities are carrying out odour checks in an attempt to pinpoint the source of the smell which has been reported in Smithstown and Ballycasey in recent weeks.

The reports that a smell was in circulation prompted widespread concern in Shannon, after another smell emerged over two years ago and lingered on for some time.

In a statement released to The Clare People yesterday, a spokesperson for the EPA confirmed that an investigation into the odour complains is continuing.

“Both authorities (the EPA in Clare County Council) have been carrying out odour assessments in the area over the last couple of weeks. Odours have been detected during some of these assessments but their precise origin has yet to be determined.

“It is important to note that differ- ent types of odour have been detected during some of these assessments, and there are also a number of different activities in the area, so it is difficult to identify the precise reason for the main odour which is predominantly giving rise to nuisance in the area,” said the spokesperson.

Local Senator Tony Mulcahy (Fine Gael) said that the root of the problem must be pinpointed as a matter of urgency.

“The EPA need to get to the bottom of it as soon as possible. These things seem to keep going on. This has to be stopped. There are health concerns,” he told The Clare People .

A spokesperson for the county council said, “These complaints were investigated by Clare County Council and this investigation is ongoing. It is acknowledged that there is an odour present. The matter has also been referred to the EPA for investigation.”

In March of this year, the EPA put monitoring measures in place in the town and indicated at the time that it would continue for up to a year.

The EPA’s mobile laboratory which is located in the town actively analyses the quality of air in the town and surrounding areas.

IN A SIGN of the extent to which Clare students are relying on state support to attend college, over 1,000 applications for third level grants have so far been received by Clare VEC.

The figure, which is believed to be significantly above the number of applications received at the same point last year, was given to members at the monthly meeting of Clare Vocational Education Committee (VEC).

George O’Callaghan, Chief Executive Officer with Clare VEC, told last Thursday’s meeting that the number of applications was higher than 1000. Mr O’Callaghan appealed to applicants to complete and return all documents, saying a failure to do so leads to a delay in the application process. He also praised the efforts VEC staff working in the grants section.

In his monthly report to members, Mr O’Callaghan states, “Over 1,000 applications have been received so far. A large number have already been processed initially. Great credit and thanks is due to the staff in the grants section as well as staff from other sections that have assisted in the process.

He adds, “However as in previous years large numbers of applicants are not submitting full documentation with their applications which leads to delays in processing those applications.”

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Peter Considine (FF) commended the efforts of VEC staff. “We don’t always fully appreciate the work that goes in,” he added.

Mr O’Callaghan congratulated students in schools around the county and at the Adult Education Centre for their results in the Leaving Certificate.

A SUNKEN boat became the unlikely saviour of a couple who got into in difficulty in the water off North Clare yesterday afternoon.

A man and woman were winched to safety yesterday afternoon after their dinghy capsized in water between Ballyvaughan and Blackhead. The couple were rescued from the waters about 200 metres off the Clare coast when their dingy overturned in rough seas.

The couple were thrown into the freezing water but luckily managed to make their way to an upturned sunken boat in the water. After climbing onto the hull of the sunken vessel, the pair were able to contact emergency services using a mobile phone. The Shannon-based Coast Guard helicopter flew to the scene and winched the two people to safety. They were flown to University College Hospital Galway where they were treated for possible hypothermia.

Meanwhile, the search will continue today, September 27, for a man missing from around the Cliffs of Moher since last Friday. The man, who is believed to be from County Cavan, was last seen in the North Clare area some time of Thursday afternoon. The man is described as being in his 30s and is believed to have gone missing from the area around the Cliffs of Moher.

Ennistymon Gardaí as well as members of the Doolin Unit of the Irish Coast Guard conducted extensive in the searches for a missing man of Friday and Saturday while the Shannon-based Coast Guard helicopter was also involved in the search effort as was the SARDA search dogs.

Following unsuccessful searches on Friday and Saturday the search party was joined by members of the Kilkee and Killaloe Coast Guard on Sunday. After an extensive search of the area the operation was called on just after 9pm as a result of deteriorating weather conditions.

The Doolin Unit of the Irish Coastguard and the Shannon-based Coastguard Helicopter continued the search yesterday but again were forced to stand down the operation for the night without locating a trace of the missing man.

THERE is “substantial” support for the development of a new standalone all-Irish secondary school in Ennis, a meeting has heard.

The draft results of a survey carried out by researchers on behalf of Clare Vocational Education Committee (VEC) show that 69 per cent of respondents favour the development of a new all-Irish secondary school. Gaelcholáiste an Chláir, Ennis’ only second-level Irish school, is currently located on the grounds of Ennis Community College. Clare VEC undertook the survey to determine the views of people towards education through Irish at second level.

A sub-committee — Flan Garvey, Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG), Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF), Maolíosa Ni Chleirigh — was established to examine the issue. Details of the survey process are contained in a report by Dr Sean Conlan, Education Officer with Clare VEC.

The report states, “The draft report has been received from the researcher, Dr Flan Giaquinto, and will be reviewed by the project steering committee and will be presented to the VEC at the October meeting. Enrolment at the school in 2010/11 was 137. Mr Conlan states that numbers at the school are expected to rise over the next eight years. He explains, “Department of Education and Science regulations now require stand alone Gaelcholaistí to achieve enrolment of 400. Over 800 questionnaires were returned. Initial indications are that there is considerable interest among the public in education through the Irish language at second level. There is evidence also that the numbers of at the school will rise year on year for the next eight years.”

The matter was raised at the September meeting of Clare VEC by Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG), who requested an update on the research process.

In response to Cllr Keating’s questions, George O’Callaghan, Chief Executive Officer of Clare VEC, said no deadline had been set for submissions. He said the survey results are currently being processed and would be presented at the committee’s October meeting.

Dr Sean Conlan told the meeting that 850 survey questionnaires had been returned, describing the level of interest from the public as “quite a good response”.

Mr Conlan said the draft findings of the survey indicate that 69 per cent of respondents are in favour of a standalone Gaelcholáiste, with around 27 per cent of respondents recommending that the school remain where it is. “There was a substantial majority in favour of a standalone Gaelcholáiste,” Mr Conlan said.

Welcoming the report’s findings, Cllr Keating said great efforts are being made in west Clare to promote the Irish language.