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NEW JOBS are on the way for Shannon in a welcome good news announcement from a Smithstown even er DENA

Bolgers, a leading supplier of fabri- cated products from has completed a €4.5 million expansion and plans to increase it’s workforce by 25 per cent by the end of 2009.

The firm recently completed the building and commissioning of a second production facility at their base in Smithstown. Capital expend- iture on the investment was €4 mil-

lion which has brought total invest- ment on their Shannon site to €10 million.

Currently, Bolgers employ 75 peo- ple. It is forecasted that this will increase to 85 people by the end of this year and to 100 by the close of paulo?

The firm contributes in excess of €2.5 million per annum to the local economy.

Jan Bolger, the firm’s joint manag- ing director, said the move will allow them to launch a range of new serv- ices, including laser-profiling.

“Our success is a result of anticipat-

ing and responding to our customers’ needs and keeping our organisational capability aligned with the market.”, he said.

Bolgers have a turnover of €10 mil- lion, with approximately 87 per cent made up of export sales. This is up from 60 per cent in 2006. In the last two years, the acclaimed fabrication company has more than doubled in size. At present, they are experienc- ing strong growth in export markets, particularly Northern Ireland and the 1S

In March this year, Bolgers became the first European fabrication com-

pany to receive Silver Certificate for Caterpillar’s Supplier Quality Excel- lence Process (SQEP).

Caterpillar introduced this stand- ard in response to rising warranty costs. As a result, the company in- troduced the SQEP standard for all international suppliers.

Currently, Bolgers is the only Eu- ropean fabrication supplier to be recognised by Caterpillar with its ‘silver’ level certification.

“This 1s a tremendous achievement due to the hard selection criteria in place”, a spokesman for the company said.

WEST Clare has seen little commer- cial development under the current area development plan during a time of national prosperity.

According to Eilis O Nuallain, from the Forward Planning Section of Clare County Council there was a lack of applications for commercial planning permission since the area plan was enacted in March 2003.

“Within a period of growth it is strange that we didn’t get more com- mercial applicants within the settle- ments,” she said.

The planning expert was addressing a special meeting of the Kilrush area

councillors called to address the new west Clare area plan. The new plan must be adopted by March 2009, and the draft in place by September 25.

“It does seem that west Clare is not capturing what it should given its ad- vantage,” said Ms O Nuallain.

She told the councillors as part of her research she examined all of the planning permission requests in west Clare to see where the pressure points were.

“In situations where there was no pressure is it worth having land zoned?” she asked.

There are 36 settlements and five clusters in west Clare.

“If a cluster has not preformed or

developed in the period of a plan we need to discuss it. Leaving is as it is not doing any good,’ she said.

Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind) asked for a document outlining all the flood planes and storm drains in the area to be provided before the councillors agreed to any new plan.

Rezoning of land was also an issue of concern to council members.

“We need to take a serious look at what is zoned. There is land out in Cree that will never be sold and there are areas trying to develop,’ he said.

Director of Services and Kilrush Town Manager, Bernadette Kinsella assured the councillors that the plan would be the “members plan” and

the council officials would imple- ment it “whether we agree with all of it or not”’.

The west Clare area is now invited to have its say on the 2003 plans and how it worked or more importantly didn’t. On August 26, 27 and 28 council officials will be in Kilkee, Kildysat and Kilmhil to meet with the public to discuss the old plan and how the 2009 plan may work more SLUGS AUU DAY

People are invited to “drop in” be- tween 7.30pm and 9pm at locations yet to be organised and to make sug- gestions.

A draft plan will then be drawn up and the plan will go on display.

A NEW youth group in Ennis aims to assist young people to resist out- side influences and establish their own values.

That’s the message from the lo- cal Baha’i community members of whom started a two week project in Ennis at the weekend.

The aim is to make junior youth groups more widely available.

These groups, which are open to young people aged twelve to four- teen, are an initiative of the Baha’i

Faith and are a core activity offered worldwide by the Baha’is as a service to humanity.

Young people from County Clare and other parts of Ireland gathered to undertake training in running a Junior Youth Group and as part of their training they will invite the lo- cal Ennis Junior Youth to participate in some short taster sessions with the objective of setting up a regular Junior Youth Group starting in Sep- tember.

The materials used in junior youth eroups are Baha‘ inspired but are not

specifically religious. Through study of the materials, service projects and other activities the groups are de- signed to empower young people to express themselves and to see them- selves as transformers of their own characters and of society.

Junior youth groups have been in1- tiated in all parts of the world, meet- ing with great success in diverse locations from Ennis to Mongolia to Australia. Fourteen year old Jani Song from Perth in Australia, who participated in a junior youth group, had this to say, “When you’re in high

school, you see the popular, or cool group and they often take drugs. You see people drinking or doing other sorts of stuff. And you kind of just want to do it because you want to fol- low the crowd.”

Anyone interested in finding out what a group is like, introductory sessions will be hosted during the second week of the project at Cois na hAbhna, Gort Road, Ennis in the afternoons. For further information on participating in the junior youth group, contact Maria McNamara at 086 3613162.

IF YOU are a shower-time singer or a office canteen comedian, the time has come to hang up that hairbrush microphone and get your hands on detom usted maenbetce

After organising a number of suc- cessful gigs earlier this year, the Shannon Gigs Club has decided to turn it’s attention to giving amateur local artists their big break.

At present the club is organising a Open Mic nights due to take place in the next couple of weeks.

The night has been organised to give locals artists a forum to play and per- form, and offer first time performers the chance to try their luck 1n front of a small and friendly crowd.

“What we really want to get off the eround is create a forum for local people to get up in front of a stage and give it a go,’ said event organiser Frank Sadlier.

“We are looking for all kinds of entertainers; people who can sing, musicians, comedians, anyone who would like to have a go at entertain- ing a crowd in any way.

“We are going to host them in the Back Bar of the Old Lodge Hotel which will be a nice location for any- one looking to get up on stage in front of an audience for the first time. It’s a nice cozy venue, not too small and not so big that it would make anyone who wants to perform too nervous.

“We’d like to see 1t become a very relaxed event, where people can bring a few friends along to cheer them- selves on and have a good night.”

Anyone interested in taking part should check out www.shannongigs. com for more information.

The Shannon Gigs Club would like to speak to all interested performers before the event and people will not be allowed to perform on the night without first registering.

“What we really want in a non- competitive outlet for local talent. But who knows, maybe someone who plays at the gig might get popu- lar with the locals and go on from there. Anything could happen,’ con- tinued Frank.

“We will be back to gigs later in the Autumn but for now we will be doing the Open Mic and see how it goes.”

THE Department of the Environ- ment has made a late intervention in a bid to prevent a proposed €50 million retail park on the outskirts of Ennis from proceeding.

It was thought that the way was clear for the contentious €50 mil- lion planning application by Stephen Harris to proceed after a report con- firmed the disappearance of a rare protected butterfly, the Marsh Fri- WUUC-DMYape Keyed mM elomSI Ken

After two years deliberating on the application, Clare County Coun- cil is due to make a decision on the plan proposed for a 48 acre com- mercially zoned site at Skehanagh, Clarecastle.

However, the Department of the Environment has made a last ditch move to stop the retail park from proceeding after telling the council that it is recommending that “plan- ning permission not be granted”.

Already, the council has favoured the Harris proposal over a rival planning retail park for the Quin Road area which was refused last year.

However, in its new submission, the department states that the ap- parent recent loss of an important population of the Marsh Fritillary in this area, which 1s possibly linked

to the failure of mitigation measures associated with the nearby Ennis by-pass, is a matter of serious con- cern that has yet to be investigated and pursued by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

The department goes on to state that the reports provided do not ad- dress adequately the serious con- cerns raised in respect of key nature conservation issues at the site.

“The proposed development is lo- cated in an area of active floodplain associated with the River Fergus and floods significantly. It is located close to the Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a flood assessment of the site and the proposed development, tak- ing into account cumulative effects of other development, is lacking.

“The proposed development will result in significant biodiversity losses in terms of wetland habitats of ecological value and invertebrate populations, including permanent losses of local extinction of the EU Habitats Directive species, the Marsh Fritillary butterfly.

“Permitting the development would be contrary to the aims of the EU Habitats and Birds Directive and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable develop- ment of the area,’ the department submission concludes.

I HAVEN’T test driven many Citro-

en cars in recent years, but when I do they have been motors to remember. The C6 stands out as sheer luxury; the C4 Picasso is remembered for all that glass at the front and Citroen’s first SUV, the C-Crosser which was launched at the end of last year, is also a massive motor.

Last week I was testing the new C5 and straight away let me say that without a shadow of a doubt this car oozes class. Externally it looks really cool thanks to those beautiful front headlamps and inside it’s so roomy and comfortable. The rear end 1s also very attractive.

When you sit in the first thing that strikes you is the impressive array of slave controls on the steering wheel. They are not really on the wheel, but incorporated into a separate section that doesn’t move with the wheel.

Right in front of you get a digital speedometer, so no excuses for get- ting any penalty points.

Then you notice how comfortable the driver and front seat passenger seats are. They literally hug your posterior. Unfortunately you cannot see out over the bonnet and have to use your judgment when parking, but like most things in life you get used to it.

All good ads create a bit of con- troversy. And Citroen’s ad for the C5 where they say that the C5 is ‘Unmistakeably German, Made in

France, had the bloggers on over- drive. I haven’t seen the ads on Irish television, but you can of course

check it out on You Tube. We are all supposed to be Europeans now, yet there is no better way to start a row

than compare traits from different oles aloe I liked the line from the brochure

which simply stated ‘Passion meets Logic.’

I drove a diesel model and it was very quiet. There is plenty of room for five adults and the boot is huge. It would I feel be ideal for taxi drivers or even for chauffeuring work.

The car was awarded a five-star Euro NCAP rating, making the C5 one of the safest cars on the road. You get up to nine front, side and curtain airbags plus a specially cre- ated torso-shaped bag for extra safe- ty. In the Dynamique model I drove you also get a host of extras includ- ing 17 inch alloy wheels, fog lights, auto wipers, etc.

It really is a beautiful looking car and would I think look well in any driveway.

Prices start at €27,850 for the 1.8 petrol, while the price of the 1.6 diesel version I drove has dropped to €29,850 from July 1. Citroen say they are the lowest CO2 emissions manufacturer, yet the C5 is rated at the C Road Tax Band which is €290 per annum. Still I suppose it’s not bad for such a large motor.

Overall a most enjoyable drive. In the words of the old song ‘C’est si bon.’

HOMEOWNERS in Clare are being urged to come together to slash the cost of rising energy bills.

Under the second phase of the home energy and saving scheme, any eroup of homes can come together to form a cluster – for instance via a residents’ association or a property management company.

Landlords with multiple dwellings can also apply. Third parties, such as local energy agencies or building contractors, can also gather a group of participants to form a cluster. The scheme has already been taken up by 1,000 homes in north Tipperary, Limerick and Dundalk. The next phase, which has just commenced, is open to 500 homes across Ireland.

All homes may have home energy

assessments carried out and an en- ergy saving report will be provided. The assessment is available from all registered energy assessors. This will cost the householder €100. Ap- plicants who apply in a cluster basis are eligible for grants of up to 30 per cent to a maximum of €2,000 per home from Sustainable Energy Ire- land (SEI).

“Its definitely worth it for home- owners,’ explained Vinnie Blake of the Ennis-based National Energy Assessors (NEA) Clare.

He continued, “In normal cases getting work like this done to make homes more energy efficient would cost around €500 per home. Under the scheme, when homes come to- gether, its only €100.”

Recently opened in Ennis NEA Clare offers a range of services for

the local market, including: building energy rating (BER) certificates, en- ergy audits, air tightness testing and thermal imaging.

According to Mr Blake, a former senior environmental engineer with Limerick-based subsidiary of the US multi national, Analog Devices, “the energy challenge which faces every home and business owner is becom- ing critical to how we run our homes and businesses.”

Meanwhile local Green Party councillor Brian Meaney has called for industrial parks in Ennis to be designated as carbon free zones as part of an overall strategy to attract foreign investement and re-invigor- ate industry.

“We are on the cusp of the third industrial revolution,’ said Cllr Meaney.

“The escalating cost of fossil fuels and the acknowledged ‘peaking’ in production have kick started an in- vestment cycle in renewable energy of enormous proportions. Analysis in any of the [Irish business media of venture capital funding in the US and Europe clearly demonstrates that the mobile investment capital is con- centrated in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors.”

Councillor Meaney added, “It should also be borne in mind that while there is no history of solar manufacturing or development in Ireland, if you breakdown the con- stituent parts, we have extensive silicon fabrication and optics exper1- ence with the like of Analog devices and Vistakon; these are core skills that would be vital in attracting new investment.”

THE reinstitution of the Western Rail Corridor has moved a step closer with the granting of planning permission for the redevelopment of Gort train station last week.

The corridor, which is currently on schedule to connect Ennis to Galway by early next year, had faced long de- lays if planning permission had not been granted for the Gort railway station.

The old Gort station, which is a listed building, will now be com- pletely overhauled and transformed into one of the largest stations on the

proposed rail corridor.

Galway County Council last week granted permission for Iarnrod Eire- ann to construct two new 90 metre platforms, an 80-bay car park, a pe- destrian bridge, a platform and bicy- cle shelters.

Earlier this year, the rail com- pany got permission to upgrade Craughwell and Ardrahan railway Stations.

Meanwhile, the campaign to secure a rail stop at Crusheen on the West- ern Rail Corridor continued this week with the instigation of a major postcard writing campaign to politi- EE

Hundreds of postcards featuring an image of the old Crusheen rail station have been sent to politicians over the last week.

“The campaign is continuing and we are making progress but it is slow going. We are in contact with larn- rod Eireann on an ongoing basis and we are very hopeful that this situa- tion will be resolved but it will take a concerted effort from all concerned,” said Mike O’Doherty of Crusheen Development.

“We are still very hopeful that a station can be up and running in Crusheen before the rail corridor 1s introduced. We are not going to put

a time limit on the process but we would like to see it happening sooner rather than later.

“It is definitely still possible for us to get this station up and going. We have already received the support of a number of people including Minis- ter Eamon O Cuiv.”

Mr O’Doherty also confirmed that Crusheen Development were cur- rently waiting for a response on a number of new proposals from Iarn- rod Eireann.

He also confirmed that that organi- sation would stage another public meeting before the end of August to discuss the way forward.

that there is no proof that the vaccine is effective five years after inocula- tion, and studies supporting it for that period of time have been carried out solely by the drug companies supply- ing the vaccine.

‘At the time these girls can be sexu- ally active they are left wondering if it is working, and if they will need a booster.”

The experienced practice nurse,

who is an advocate of vaccination and cancer screening programmes, also has reservations that just 50 per cent of the population are being vac- cinated against HPV, the sexually transmitted infection that affects 80 per cent of the population – male and eet N ee

The Kilmihil nurse said that if the vaccine is to go ahead both genders should be treated, so as to interrupt the transition of the HPV virus and ensure true community immunity. As well as contributing to cervical cancer HPV also contributes to rare cancers such as penile cancer and anal cancer in men. These cancers are also more common in men that have sex with other men, leaving men without the vaccine exposed.

Ms Harty believes that the vaccine

programme should be postponed un- til the cervical screening service has been rolled out nationwide and more is understood about the three-course injection available in Ireland since PAU ies

“Vaccination does not mean that screening will cease in the future, that will have to continue so I be- lieve it is more important to use the finances to get the programme rolled out nationwide first. Then wait a few years until the vaccine has been prov- en elsewhere,” she said. “The time is not right for a knee jerk reaction.”

“There is no epidemic of cervical cancer. More women die from breast cancer, and more women in Ireland die from heart disease than breast cancer and cervical cancer together,’ she said.

In research for a paper she is writ- ing, Ms Harty studied New Zealand, which has a similar population to Ireland.

“There they decided not to run with the vaccine programme,” she said.

The nurse believes that if the vac- cine is so powerful that it should be supplied almost immediately to the developing world where no screen- ing is available and where 80 per cent of the world’s cervical cancer deaths occur.

This 1s one of the few points of view that Ms Harty and the drug companies supplying one of the HPV vaccines are likely to agree on.

In its information on its HPV vac- cine GlaxoSmithKline said “lack of screening makes the need for a vac- cine against cervical cancer even

more pressing.”

Ms Harty believes that as a screen- ing service will be required in Ireland even post vaccine that the funding for the vaccine should be used instead to ensure a nationwide cervical screen- ing programme.

The pilot cervical screening serv- ice was rolled out in the mid-west in 2000. In 2008 the service still has not reached women outside Clare, Bile. e-iCw ulm Blnoe-vay

Under the service the Irish Cancer Screening Programme provided free Smear tests to 20,278 women each year.

The uptake among eligible women was 62.2 per cent last year. The de- tection rate of women with invasive cancer was 1.5 per cent while 3.7 per cent were referred for a colposcopy.

EVER feel you’re not making the most of your talents, stuck in a rut at home or at work or could achieve much more if only you had the op- portunity? Then the Higher Educa- tion Grant Scheme could give you the opportunity you’ve been waiting for, to re-train, qualify or pursue the career you’ve always wanted. Even if you have found the course of your dreams but are worried about money the scheme may be able to help.

“In a recent case a man went into Shannon Citizens Information Cen- tre (CIC) who was unhappy at work. He’d spent years working as an elec-

trician in a specialist company but felt frustrated and limited career- wise. His hobby and real interest was photography but he felt it was too late (and too expensive!) to re- turn to education. The information officer suggested he might consider a photography qualification (for ex- ample, a degree) and explained the range of educational grants available to him. Now in his second year at the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art & Design, the former electrician is doing extremely well. Although his income has changed, he receives a Higher Education Grant to help with the costs of returning to education,” said Paul Woulfe, Manger with the

Citizens information Service in the

eee ANe The Higher Education Grants Scheme provides means-tested

grants to eligible students on ap- proved courses. Application forms are available from your local author- ity or VEC. If you are already on a social welfare payment, the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) al- lows you to study at second and third level without losing your benefits. You must meet certain criteria to be eligible for the BTEA.

A candidate is deemed a mature candidate for the purpose of a grant if he is at least 23 years on | Janu- ary of the year of entry or re-entry

to an approved course of third-level education in an approved institution. Eligibility is normally calculated by comparing the reckonable income of the candidate in the year ending December 31 of the year in which he enters the course with the means test tables of the scheme in that year. In the case of mature students who are deemed dependent on their parents, reckonable income of their parents must be assessed. A mature student is deemed dependent on his parents if he ordinarily resides at home with his parents.

In the case of our electrician, his income entitled him to 75 per cent of the maintenance grant (part-mainte-

nance and full fees) as his earning in 2007 was below €42,235. The grant is worth ©2,565 per year to him. Students who qualify for grant as- sistance also have the student service charge paid on their behalf.

The non-adjacent rate of main- tenance grant shall be payable to all mature candidates who qualify, having been assessed either as a de- pendent or independent mature can- didate.

Make sure you apply early and study all the documentation, seeking assistance if necessary advises the Citizens Information Service.

The deadline for applying for the grant is August 29.