Category: News

ENNIS Town Council is pumping raw sewage into the River Fergus, which is listed as a Candidate Special Area of Conservation, because old technology at one of its pumping stations cannot cope with the town’s growing population.

The station at Francis Street is operating beyond its capacity and during heavy rainfall, it automatically pumps raw sewage in to the Fergus less than 100 yards from nearby homes.

Confirming that the problem exists, Town Engineer Tom Tiernan said there were serious problems with the Francis Street pump station.

“The technology there was acceptable 25 or 30 years ago but unfortunately it no longer is. We have not been made aware of any safety or health risk and have explained the situation to anyone who has raised it with us”, he said

Green Party councillor Donal O’ Bearra said the council denied for years that the pump station was unable to handle the load placed upon it by an expanding Ennis.

“In 2003, it was demanded that I withdraw a “scurrilous” suggestion that this was happening but now everyone knows that it was true all the time.”

BUSINESS leaders in Clare have welcomed what they describe as a “pro-enterprise book of estimates”

But they support the Chamber of Commerce Ireland view that the increase of two per cent in the Exchequer contribution to the local government fund is “measly.”

Ennis Chamber President, John Madden, said that the allocation of €10m to provide 100 per cent nation-wide broadband coverage where it is not commercially viable for the private sector to do so “is certainly to be welcomed”.

“It is the way of the future that more and more people want to work or run businesses from home and it’s absolutely vital that we have broadband coverage.”

He added that he was in agreement with the Chambers Ireland summation of the increases to county councils.

“Local government is under funded while the day to day cost of running the services has increased enormously and it is businesses that will end up having to pay for it” the chamber president said.

Chambers Ireland’s Chief Executive John Dunne said that, “increased investment in upskilling our employees is particularly welcome. However, while overall Government spending is up by eight per cent, the two per cent increase in the Exchequer contribution to the local government fund won’t even cover the increase in wages. And, as local authorities look to meet the shortfall through increasing commercial rates and other businesses charges, this will inevitably feed into higher costs for business.”

There has also been a broad welcome for the commitment of €20 million under the CLÁR programme for the development of areas that have sustained continuous population loss.

And €26 million has been provided for the Leader 2000-2006 programme for rural development.

A 13 per cent increase in current funding for the Western Development Commission has also been promised and the Rural Social Scheme will involve expenditure of more than €43 million in 2007.

A NUMBER of objections have been lodged against plans to establish a €10 million explosives factory on the shores of the Shannon estuary by Whelan Group subsidiary, Shannon Explosives Ltd.

The main players involved in the seven-year planning battle, the Kildysart Explosives Factory Opposition Group (KEFOG), Cairde Chill and Disirt Teo and Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE), have once more voiced their opposition against the plan.

A previous plan by Shannon Explosives was refused planning permission by An Bord Pleanála in February 2003 and to date, the Whelan Group has spent almost €7 million on the scheme without a sod being turned.

The closing date for objections was last Thursday. Clare County Council confirmed that it had received 10 submissions, although there is overlap as two of the individuals, Pat Casey and Terrence Corry, are leading the KEFOG opposition to the plan.

In its objection, KEFOG state, “There is no evidence that there is a capacity problem in the domestic explosives market . . . Cahercon Pier is public property.

“The public have access to the pier at all times. The public cannot be denied access to the pier at any time.

In its submission, Cairde Chill an Disirt Teo state, “It goes without saying that any possible risk to health and safety must be avoided and it is a notorious fact that blasts at explosives plants and factories tend to kill large numbers of people.”

Tony Lowes of the Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) states, “It is inevitable that the development will deprive landowners in the area – to a measurable degree – of both their rights and – because of public perceptions – seriously depreciate the value of their properties.”

Local doctor, Dr Eamon Ralph, said: “As the nearest medical doctor to the proposed Shannon Explosives facility, I wish to express my concern that I have not been consulted in relation to any possible accident and emergency plan to be put in place.”

A decision on the application by the council is not expected until sometime next year. An appeal will be lodged to An Bord Pleanála, whenever that decision emerges.

TEACHERS in Clare’s overcrowded classrooms remain unconvinced that the 800 teachers promised by Minister for Education Mary Hanafin for next year will go a long way to easing their plight.

The minister plans to provide the teachers from the 10 per cent increase in funding to her department announced in the Government estimates.

Teachers across Clare are scepwtical of such promises, as half of them are teaching in overcrowded classrooms, despite years of Government promises. According to Declan Kelleher Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) Central Executive Representative for Clare, 100 of the 800 teachers promised have been employed for special needs, 200 as language teachers and a further 200 to cope with the rise in population in developing schools. Therefore 500 teachers will have no affect on the teacher pupil ratio, with 300 having minimal effect.

In the 2002 Programme for Government Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats promised one teacher for every 20 pupils under the age of eight by the end of the Government term.

“So far they are a long way from that,” said Mr Kelleher.

The INTO in Clare completed a survey of class sizes in every Clare Primary School during October.

The survey revealed that for the school year 2006-07, more than a half of the county’s primary pupils would be in overcrowded classrooms. It shows that almost a quarter – 3,016 – of Clare primary pupils are in classes of between 30 and 34 children. Another 611 pupils are in classes of 35 or over (4.5 per cent) and 3,409 pupils are in classes of up to 29 pupils (25 per cent).

Minister Hanafin also promised, “investment in special education is to increase to over €820 million which will see the commencement of the EPSEN Act implementation.

A CEREMONY to remember the 125 women who have died violent deaths since 1996 is being held in Ennis next week. According to figures produced by Women’s Aid, 80 of these victims were killed in their own homes.

The ceremony will be held on Tuesday November 28 in the Ennis Town Council Chambers in Drumbiggle from 11am – 1.30pm and is open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

“We encourage as many people as possible to attend to show their support to ending violence against women,” a spokeswoman for organisers, Clare Haven Services said.

The ceremony is part of the 16 Days of Action, an international campaign focussing on violence against women running from November 25 – International Day Against Violence Against Women – to December 10, which is International Human Rights Day.

“These days are used symbolically to emphasise that violence against women is a violation of human rights,” the spokeswoman said.

This is the sixteenth year of this global campaign, which is supported annually in Ireland by women’s support services, community groups, and other campaigning bodies.

The ceremony will begin with the lighting of candles to remember the murdered women. SONAS women’s choir will perform.

The remembrance will be followed by the formal launch of Clare Haven’s information leaflet in nine different languages. This event has been organised with the assistance of Clare Women’s Network, the Irish Refugee Council and Ennis CDP and funded by the Deptartment of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Any groups wishing to attend the candle lighting ceremony or display stands should contact Clare Haven Services on 065-6891764.

Clare Haven Service provides information and support to women and children who experience domestic abuse. Between January and September of this year, the service provided refuge accommodation for 118 women and 96 children. They provide information and support at their drop-in centre in Ennis and at three outreach clinics in the county – Shannon, Kilrush and Scarriff.

This year, they have provided 282 support visits at their drop-in centre, 49 of which related to new clients. A total of 84 new help line calls were received and a further 571 phone calls were dealt with.

The service provides 24-hour confidential support to women living with physical, emotional, financial and sexual abuse. Clare Haven Services’ Helpline number is 065-6822435.

A CAMPAIGN calling for the relaxation of planning restrictions around Shannon Airport is to be taken directly to the Department of Transport amid claims that civil servants are discriminating against people wishing to build homes in their local area.

Shannon electoral area councillor Pat McMahon (FF) launched a broadside against Department of Transport officials at this Monday’s monthly meeting of Clare County Council.

“There is wholesale discrimination because people are being prevented from building houses on the back of claims that they are in red zones around the airport,” said Cllr McMahon.

“This doesn’t stand up because refusing planning permission in the townland of Ballycalla in needless. There is a cluster of houses there already and refusing permission for more houses is wrong.

“It’s near a cross runway that hasn’t been used in 18 years and has grass growing on it,” he added.

Councillor McMahon said that the guidelines for red zones were outdated.

“The criteria being used is wrong – just look at other airports, some of the biggest in the world like Heathrow, JFK and O’Hare Airport. Their red zones are not as prohibitive as you have in Shannon.

“I have consistently asked why but never got a proper answer. I’m demanding it now.”

Councillor Madeleine Taylor Quinn (FG) rowed in behind Councillor McMahon and proposed that a Department of Transport official be summoned to address a meeting of the council. This was unanimously adopted.

THE prospect of a new, state-of-the-art library for Ennis is one step closer with the identification of a possible site, Ennis Town Councillors have been told.

But the plan will have to be moved on quickly, the members were warned.

Council officials told the meeting that the plans to build a new library had met with a positive response from the national library body and from the Department of the Environment.

But they are aware that capital funding for library building projects “may not be available in the future so we must move this on.”

The site that has been identified is in County Council ownership and fronts on to Bank Place, taking in one-third of an acre of the Post Office Field.

Options for carrying out the development are that the County Council could undertake it from start to finish, or a joint project could be developed between Ennis Town Council and the local authority, as happened in the Lees Road.

The old library building would be sold to help fund the new project, which Town Manager Tom Coughlan said, would “not be repeated for the next 150 years so we need a state-of-the art facility.”

The part of the current library building that is listed would remain in public ownership, he said.

Before work can go ahead, Town Council members were told, the site would have to be re-zoned and the process of design and tender gone through.

ONE of the two victims of convicted paedophile Joseph Nugent has instituted High Court proceedings to secure damages as a result of the crimes perpetrated upon him.

The case – which was launched in June 2001 – is due to be heard on February 13 on the High Court personal injuries list.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has rejected claims by Deputy Pat Breen (FG) that Minister Michael McDowell was to blame for identifying Nugent’s victims.

The victim taking the legal action against the child rapist is now in his 30s.

Nugent (74) of Drumellihy, Cree was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment at Kilrush Circuit Court in November 2004 on one count of buggery and one count of indecent assault against the man who is taking the proceedings.

The man said that he was first assaulted by Nugent aged eight and the abuse continued until he was 15.

The man said that Nugent has never apologised.

He said, “There has been no apology. He doesn’t feel sorry for what he did. I will never forgive that paedophile for what he did.”

The man said that he was upset at reports that Nugent had transferred the land that he farmed out of his name.

The man said, “There should have been a move made to freeze his assets.”

He said, “I’m also very mad that there has been no compensation as there are still legal and psychiatric costs and it is wrong that I would have to pay that and I won’t be paying it.”

The man said that the outstanding bills amounted to around €8,000. He asked, “Why should I pay it?”

Meanwhile, the Dept of Justice has rejected Fine Gael Deputy Pat Breen’s claim that the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, answered the Dáil question on Nugent “in unusual and extensive detail about the case which clearly identified those involved”.

Last week, Deputy Breen blamed the Tánaiste and sections of the media for causing the controversy that followed his tabling of a Dáil question enquiring into the early release of Nugent.

However, a spokesman for the Department of Justice said, “The Department of Justice rejects any assertion that Deputy Breen’s Parliamentary Question was not answered in the normal way.

He said, “Deputy Breen asked the Tánaiste when a prisoner (with details supplied) would be eligible for early release and if he would make a statement on the matter.

“Where a Deputy requests a statement on a case, and to ensure that the Deputy asking the question is fully aware of the facts behind the case, it is normal practice for information relating to the conviction, sentence and nature of offence to be given by the Tánaiste in replies to such Parliamentary Questions.”

THIRTY new jobs are being created at GE Money’s call centre in Shannon.

The Shannon call centre is regarded as a centre of excellence and recognised globally as an example of best practice within the service industry.

The recruitment day will be held in Jury’s Inn, Lower Mallow Street, Limerick from 9.30am to 2pm on Saturday, November 25.

“The new jobs will be of interest to people who are considering returning to work, school leavers and college graduates, as there are positions available ranging from entry to senior level,” a spokeswoman for the company said.

The latest good news on the jobs front comes one week after another Shannon company, Digital River, announced it was to recruit 300 people.

The spokeswoman added that GE Money, “offers employees real opportunities and a realistic career path. Their personal development and training schemes are among the best in the world and internationally recognised.”

The company hopes to appoint up to 30 people from entry to senior executive level on foot of the open day.

“Working and developing talents within an international organisation like GE Money can open up many doors. Being one of the world’s largest companies, there are opportunities to travel, live and work in different places, build up experience and develop a strong career path. People who train with and work within GE Money become extremely recruitable, desirable employees. There are many success stories to reinforce this,” the spokeswoman said.

CLARE County Council planners gathered in the council chamber last evening to hear accusations of incompetence, failure to listen and shows of contempt.

The planning department were attending a special meeting to review implementation of the County Development Plan 2005-2011, a plan the council members say has been plagued with inconsistencies and misinterpretation by the planners since it was adopted in February 28 last year.

Cllr Michael Kelly (FF) accused the county’s planners of not listening to the councillors, an accusation that was supported by Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind). “The image of the planning section is at an all time low,” added Cllr Flynn.

Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) told the meeting “It is only in the last number of years members are being treated with contempt. Last Monday I asked for a list of the planners in Clare County Council and their qualifications. I still have not received the list.”

The Ennis councillor suggested rewriting the plan. “I want to start at page one and write it in a language that all can understand.”

Cllr Martin Lafferty (Ind) described the plan as flawed, while Cllr Christy Curtain (Ind) said he was concerned the text of the County Development Plan was “vague and ambiguous.”

He said there was inconsistency in the reading of the plan and there was “two sets of criteria being employed”.

Former mayor Pat Keane (FF) said while he was happy with the plan, the interpretation “There are some sites from practical perspective that cannot be sorted,” he said.

“We do want to issue as many planning permissions as we can, but as long as they comply with the public’s health,” he added. would have to be agreed upon.

“Every day people are suffering because we have not solved the problem,” he said.

And the suffering is to continue, as the next meeting on the issue will not take place until January.

The county manager Alec Fleming told the councillors that he did not accept what they were saying about incompetence in the planning department. He said issues surrounding wastewater, septic tanks and road safety went far beyond the County Development Plan.