Category: News

CONSULTANTS who were paid €150,000 for preparing the Ennis and Environs Development Plan this week came under fire in a Clare County Council review of the development plan process.

As part of the draft ‘Public Consultant Strategy for Planning in Clare’, the council reveals that an unnamed firm of consultants were paid €150,000 for their work on the Ennis and Environs Development Plan.

However, acting senior executive planner, Candace Ingram, said that the Ennis plan took longer than expected to prepare in the pre-draft stages, “due in part to the consultants who did not fully engage with council management and planners”.

Ms Ingram writes, “The extent of public consultation on the Residential Development Areas gave rise to levels of expectation amongst the public that were unachievable and produced draft master plans for the areas that were too conceptual and not robustly tested against engineering requirements or realistic funding levels.”

Ms Ingram reports that following an increase in staffing levels in the Council’s Forward Planning Unit, the consultants were no longer engaged in preparing the plan. She said the master plans for the residential developments areas have still not been finally completed although the technical assessment of proposals and agreements for standards of urban design and road layout are advanced and should be completed in 2006.

In relation to the preparation of the West Clare Area Plan, Ms Ingram writes, “Lack of feedback to the community was an issue that resulted in the Rural Action Project and Eiri Corca Baiscinn holding their own meetings during the consultation period on the draft plan to which planners were invited to attend.”

She said, “This led to a distortion of the development objectives of the plan because the Council has lost close involvement with its own consultation process.”

The document has come before the Council’s Special Policy Committee (SPC) for Planning and the document lays out the template for the future preparation of development plans.

At the Council’s SPC meeting, the Council’s Director for Planning, Bernadette Kinsella said, “This is a very important document and will serve as a template for other areas.”

Ms Kinsella said that the document will show that unreal expectations were created in some situations and that there is not one right way to engage with the public.

Discussion on the document was adjourned to allow members examine the document in detail.

A MAN who assaulted his girlfriend with the flex of a hairdryer has been jailed for five months. Oliver Boylan (38), a homeless man, who is originally from Dublin, pleaded guilty to assaulting Jennifer McMahon, on April 20, 2004.

Sergeant Frank Naughton told Ennis Circuit Court that Ms McMahon had been locked into her flat on O’Connell Street, Ennis. She told gardai she had been assaulted by her partner.

She said she had been struck in the face a couple of times. He cut the flex of a hairdryer and used that to assault her, said the garda.

He took her mobile phone and keys and left. She couldn’t get out, but eventually managed to alert a passer-by, who contacted gardai.

Sgt Naughton said the accused had been in a relationship with Ms McMahon for five years, prior to this incident. Ms McMahon told the court that for two years she was afraid of going into town, for fear of bumping into Boylan.

Defending barrister Michael Fitzgibbon said his client — who was jailed for two years in March for threatening staff at Ennis General Hospital with an imitation gun — has settled well in jail.

“Bishop Walsh has been to see him on a number of occasions and has offered him work when he serves his sentence, in the line of landscaping,” said the barrister.

Judge Con Murphy accepted that Boylan pleaded guilty and that he was endeavouring to put his life together. He imposed a sentence of five months.

THE Dáil has been told that Ennis General Hospital has reached crisis point, with Deputy Pat Breen (FG) describing conditions at the hospital as “appalling”.

The TD told deputies about recent shocking episodes at the hospital. These included:

• An elderly man with a heart condition who went to Limerick for tests and, upon his return, discovered that his bed was occupied. He had to stand for more than three hours because no chairs were available.

• A woman who presented to the hospital with a nose bleed. She was from west Clare and had travelled 40 miles to Ennis, yet after waiting several hours, was told to go to Limerick Regional Hospital.

“Today, 119 patients are occupying this 88-bed hospital, including six on trolleys and many more in day wards,” Deputy Breen said.

“That does not describe the discomfort, misery and loss of dignity suffered by patients who present for care. The waiting room is cramped and people are often forced to stand for hours due to the lack of seats. Despite these issues, we are told there is no crisis.”

But he stressed that medical staff were beyond reproach for operating in such conditions.

“Over the past 10 years, €20 million has been promised, but aside from a portakabin on the front lawn, not a penny has been spent in upgrading the hospital. The hospital does not even have a CT scan facility.”

Deputy James Breen (Ind) said that the accident and emergency department in Ennis was so crowded a few weeks ago that patients were put in the reception area.

“I tabled a question to the minister regarding whether there was a health and safety issue and she replied there was not. What would happen if a chair blocked an exit door to the chamber and a fire broke out?”

Deputy Breen said that if Clare’s Government TDs were happy with what was going on, they did not want to be returned at the next election.

“Thanks be to God the people of Clare were not conned and I am delighted they saw through the Government parties during the last election campaign. They will see through them again next year when I am returned to represent their interests and speak out on their behalf.”

In response, Deputy Sean Power stated that if Deputy Breen “had his way, he would also be a Fianna Fáil backbencher now”.

PLANS have been lodged with Clare County Council for a €30 million retail park in Shannon.

Greenbrand Investments and Sean Halpin are proposing to develop a mixed-use park, consisting of a DIY anchor store, garden centre, three retail warehouses, 10 retail units, eight office units and one department store. The proposed development is located at Smithstown with 15,777m in gross floor retail space and 1,336m in office space.

The developers state that the proposal “will promote growth in a sustainable manner by concentrating development in an area adjacent to the town core, which will maximise use of the existing infrastructure”.

The plan “would improve the socio-economic profile of the town in particular the indigenous population, addressing the identified deficiencies in this sector”.

They promised their development would be a significant boost to the local economy and environment in the Shannon region and that it would integrate with the town centre.

“The proposed development is in an optimum location from a retailing perspective and in terms of retail planning policy,” the developers say. “From a planning perspective, impact on the town centre would be positive.

“The proposal will provide a state of the art, modern mixed use development, which will enhance the sustainability of the town in general. This will be to the benefit of the local community, visitors and workers in the town and will accord with the objectives of the Retail Planning Guidelines and the South Clare Economic Corridor Local Area Plan.”

They say their development will provide “a contemporary purpose built retail park of a scale or quality not currently present in the town or county. The proposed development could more than readily accommodate a wider range and choice of goods within one area.”

This proposal has been the subject of a number of discussions with the council over the last 12 months. At the advice of the council, the developers deferred lodging the plan on a number of occasions, to facilitate amendments to the development plan. They claim that the amendments have not progressed in the timescale advised.

“Notwithstanding this, we are satisfied the proposal will complement all council objectives pertaining to the site and surrounding area.”

A decision is expected on the application later in the year.

THE National Roads Authority (NRA) has prevented another individual along the EnnisKilrush road from securing planning permission. In refusing permission to Oliver Breen, An Bord Pleanála overturned the decision of Clare County Council and ignored the recommendation of its inspector.

This provoked an angry response from independent councillor, Christy Curtin this week, who said, “The Board should be guided by the advice of its own inspector.

“I am disappointed. I know the site and it is a case of merit.

“The Board and inspector are obviously not working in tandem and that is creating hardship for the likes of Oliver Breen who have been negatively impacted by the NRA’s hardline policy in west Clare.”

Almost one third of the 18 appeals the NRA lodged nationally last year were in the west Clare electoral area and it has been successful in all appeals – bar one – in Clare.

In the case of Oliver Breen’s plan for a home at Ballyduneen, Knockalough, Kilmihil, the Board’s Inspector ruled that the proposal would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

The NRA lodged an appeal, claiming that the proposal would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard due to extra traffic generated; set a precedent for additional development along this road; and was at variance with national policy in relation to control of frontage development onto national roads.

The Board ruled that, as the site is located alongside the National Secondary Route N68 at a point where a speed limit of 100 km/h applies, the traffic-turning movements generated by the proposed development would create a traffic hazard on this national road.

The Board also refused planning having regard to the low-lying nature of the site, including the presence of vegetation indicative of poor drainage. The proposed development would, therefore, be prejudicial to public health.

The Board stated, “In deciding not to accept the Inspector’s recommendation to grant permission, the Board was not satisfied that the proposed development would not constitute a

traffic hazard and, on the basis of the soil suit ability test results, the Board was not satisfied that the site could be drained satisfactorily.

“The Board was also not satisfied that there was not a more suitable site on the overall family farm landholding.”

WHO should pick up the outstanding tab for the Cliffs of Moher interpretive centre was the subject of political wrangling this week.

Suggestions that Shannon Development, Fáilte Ireland, Central Government and money collected from the controversial project’s car park have all been cited in an attempt to pay off the €3.1 million debt.

But county manager Alec Fleming is adamant that the project will clear its own 10 per cent shortfall and maintain the centre’s running cost.

Fianna Fáil Senator Brendan Daly has called on Shannon Development to put up the short fall for the project in line with its tourism remit.

“Shannon Development has a sizable capital budget this year,” added the west Clare Senator.

The senator said that while he appreciated there was a difference of opinion between Shannon Development and the county council when the project began, the two bodies should now work together to make sure the venture is a success.

Meanwhile, north Clare council lor Martin Lafferty (Ind) believes Fáilte Ireland are more than capable of making up the shortfall. The state tourism promotion company underspent by €25 million last years, and the money was returned to the EU.

The council contributed half a million euro from the Planning Development Contribution Scheme in 2005 to the cliffs project. Cllr Lafferty asked why should people building one-off houses have to contribute to the Cliffs of Moher.

Fellow north Clare councillor Ri chard Nagle (FF) said he was sure that fees collected from the carpark would cover the over-spend.

County manager Alec Fleming has revealed that approximately €650,000 is collected every year in the car park. This goes directly into the council budget for the year.

He said he would not over worry about the €3.1 million debt as the project will be run in such a way as to maintain itself and pay the money back.

“This project is not set out to be a commercial project,” he added.

He said the project is to provide proper facilities to keep tourists in the county longer, as the majority of tourists just pass through.

The second reason for investing in such a project is for the county’s citizens.

“Many of the thousands of the people who visit the cliffs on a regular basis are from the county.”

PLANS to redevelop the Burren Exposure interpretative centre on the outskirts of Ballyvaughan have hit a stumbling block.

Clare County Council has refused two of four applications by Christy and Pauline Quill to redevelop the business, now known as Burren House. The Quills – who operate six Quills Ireland outlets in the Cork-Kerry region – purchased the business last June for close to €3 million. However, the interpretative centre has operated at a loss for the past eight years and no longer operates, while the Whitethorn Restaurant also made a loss in the last financial year.

In a submission on the need to transform the enterprise and provide more commercial space, the Quill’s consultants state that the main rationale for the additional retail space “is to subsidize the existing uses and ensure the viability of the enterprise.”

The submission states, “Without the proposed changes of use and the extension of commercial display area, our client will not be able to re-open the centre given its financial performance.”

The Quills lodged four applications: to change the use of the Burren Exposure from exhibition space to commercial space and exhibition; construct an extension to the sales area; construct an extension to the existing Whitethorn restaurant; and convert a boathouse for accommodation.

The plans sought to increase commercial space at Burren House by 235 square metres. The original centre was built in 1990 as a craft centre and restaurant and in 1997 an interpretative centre was added.

Christy Quill told The Clare People , “We intend to re-submit one of the applications and are confident it will get through.

“The restaurant and craft shop are going very well and our plan is to use the space occupied by the interpretative centre. I believe that what we are doing will enhance the site and the village and I don’t see us setting up in opposition to anyone else.”

The council refused planning permission to the two related retail applications.

“The council granted permission to the Whitethorn, concluding that it wouldn’t injure the amenities of the vicinity having regard to the rural nature, intended use and policies of the Clare County Development Plan.”

THE trial of a man accused of murdering Ennis taxi driver Liam Moloney last year will not go ahead today, as had been scheduled.

Anthony Kelly (53), of Emlagh na Muck, Emlagh More, Waterville, Kerry, is charged with murdering Mr Moloney, at Portlecka, Ruan, on February 11, 2005. The 56-year-old father-of-four was found dead in Ruan almost 15 months ago.

Last December, the Central Criminal Court fixed today’s date for the trial to commence.

However Mr Kelly’s senior counsel, Brendan Grehan applied to the court last Thursday for an adjournment, pending the preparation of psychiatric reports.

This application was granted by Mr Justice Paul Carney, who adjourned the case to later this month. He will fix a date for the trial then.

According to sources close to the case, the trial is not now likely to go ahead for up to six months.

The case will be mentioned at the Central Criminal Court this morning and it will be formally adjourned.

THE residents of the Meadow this Sunday welcomed special guest Dr Willie Walsh to officially open the 16-home project developed by the Kilmihill Community Housing Association.

Built on parish lands, donated by the diocese, the project took on the name of the field in which it is built. The two-bedroom houses were designed to prevent elderly people going into residential care prematurely and keep people in their own community.

Local contractor Louis Keating finished the building work in April 2005 and the first resident moved in. That resident, Nancy Boland was on hand on Sunday to plant a commemorative crab apple tree. The Kilmurry McMahon woman was all smiles as she marked not just the Meadow’s official opening but also the approach of her first anniversary in her Kilmhil home.

Following 11am Mass on Sunday, the Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Walsh, unveiled a stone-cut plaque at the entrance of the housing complex. He then blessed each house individually and even called in for a short visit to all 16 homes. Afterwards, the residents and local community enjoyed refreshments in the on-site community centre before making a presentation to the bishop.

The last of the 16 houses in the Meadow were filled in March.

Husbands and wives, siblings and single people from Kilmihill and surrounding parishes have made the Meadow their new home in the last year. People have even returned from the USA and England to live there.

Members of this new community now look out for each other, with members of the wider community popping in from time to time.

Each house has two bedrooms, a kitchen dining area, conservatory and a bathroom.

The land for the project was provided by the parish and €55,000 was given in further assistance to fit out the Community Centre by Leader. It is in trust to the local committee and owned by the community. The residents pay a small rental income with many qualifying for supplementary allowance.

The Meadow in Kilmihill and projects like it across the country are saving the government millions of euro in nursing home fees every year. In the last number of months, some people have left nursing homes to live in the purpose-built and closeknit community.

The Department of Environment are anxious to create more places like The Meadow for elderly people to live as the elderly demographic increases.

THE Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, has confirmed that Shannon Airport will not have its €70 million debt cleared by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) when it becomes independent.

The Minister said there was no question of either Shannon or Cork escaping debt.

Mr Cullen’s view, expressed in the Seanad, runs contrary to that expressed by former Transport Minister, Seamus Brennan in July 2004.

Mr Brennan, also speaking in the Seanad, said that under the terms of the restructuring, both airports would commence operations debt free.

Minister Cullen said his job was to ensure that both airports were “set off” with the strongest possible commercial mandate for future development.

“That is the only agenda that the Government and I wish to pursue. Therefore each authority is required to prepare a comprehensive business plan and obtain our approval for these plans before any assets can be transferred.

“The Commissioner for Aviation Regulation made clear that he will not allow a charging regime at Dublin Airport to cover the costs of Cork or any other airport.

“That is the law within which we must operate.”

Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) said the inability of Dublin Airport Authority to “spin off” assets into the two separate companies had created a problem.

“There is no point dwelling on the reason this was allowed to occur or whether better or different advice should have been obtained,” he said.

“The intent at the time was to ensure the airports had sufficient capacity to manage their business, expand their market, generate increased numbers of passengers and provide better facilities for customers.

“A review of the progress achieved in realising the aims set down in the legislation is required. Policy could then be examined in light of the outcome.

“It is possible, for example, that the spin-off of assets to three individual companies will prove unnecessary.

“I propose such a review on the basis of the position at which we have arrived as opposed to the original aim.

“Given the substantial progress achieved to date, perhaps the establishment of three independent, statutorily constituted companies operating under the provisions of company law is no longer required.

“It is this proposal that is causing the problem.

“The airports are working well in the current hiatus.

“While I am not an expert in this area, I suggest that the Dublin Airport Authority be restructured to act as an umbrella encompassing all the State airports,” he said.