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CALLS have been made for the gov- ernment to clarify its position in rela- tion to water charges for schools be- fore the beginning of the new school year this September.

As part of a heated debate at last night’s meeting of Clare County Council, Cllr John Crowe (FG), called on central government to tackle the problem before schools are thrust into more financial difficulty.

“The reality of this is that schools in County Clare are already operat- ing on a shoestring budget. They have to organise endless fundraising to keep the schools going.

“Coupled with this the grants schemes for minor works were cut

last week despite the promises that government would not cut back from the health or the education budgets,” he said.

“Charges should only be levied if the schools use up all of their allow- ance. The schools can’t afford the fees that are being put upon them and we need central government to tackle this situation.”

Speaking on that debate, Green Party councillor Brian Meaney, said that most school welcome the charg- Ae

‘“T’m on the board of management of a number of schools and this has been a bone of contention for some time. Boards of management are looking at this in a positive way rath- er than a negative way,’ he said.

‘School are places where values are learned and thought – schools have no problem paying the charges as long as funding is available in terms of capitation or in other ways to al- low them to meet the charge.”

CUlr Martin Conway (FG) com- mented that the water charges were an example of the underprivileged being hit the worst in times of reces- sion.

“It is a clear example that when we have an economic downturn that the people most in need will suffer,’ he said.

“When the belts need to be tight- ened it’s always the elderly and the young who suffer. The government need to be clear and unambiguous about this.”

IRISH fishermen could finally be set for a slice of good news if a new scheme for utilising over-catch is adopted in the EU.

Speaking at the Council of Agri- culture and Fisheries Ministers in Brussels last Thursday, Clare TD and Junior Minister in the Depart- ment of Agriculture, Tony Killeen, made a proposal to the European Commission for the introduction of a pilot project to address the discard- ing of catches by Irish fishermen.

The Irish Department of Agricul- ture and its agencies the Marine Institute and BIM, in conjunction with the Federation of Irish Fisher- men (FIF), are developing the pilot

project, which is proposed to run for one year.

It will target unavoidable by-catch- es, in particular in the prawn fish- ery, where large scale discarding of marketable fish such as cod, which are caught over quota, is a particular problem.

These fisheries occur in the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and off the west coast. The overall object will be to use more environmentally-friendly fishing gear to avoid catches of small fish in these fisheries and to reduce the occurrence of discarding of mar- ketable fish that cannot currently be landed under EU law if quotas are exhausted.

“The proposed project would be operated in conjunction with the pro-

ducer organisations that make up the FIF,’ he said.

‘The minister asked Commissioner Borg to give urgent consideration to this new proposal and to bring for- ward EU measures, which would al- low the new pilot project to be imple- mented as soon as possible.

“The additional quota will mean that this small quota can be set aside for unavoidable catches of cod by Irish fishermen in the Celtic Sea. This will help to reduce discarding of marketable cod in this fishery.”

The minister’s proposals, which he presented to Commissioner Borg, would mean that fishermen would be given an incentive to participate in the pilot phase. Vessels targeting prawns would have to be allocated

an additional discard quota by the EU, which would allow the landing of marketable fish that would other- wise be discarded. Fishermen would be allocated a share of the sale price of the fish to cover vessel-running costs. The remainder would be allo- cated to a charity.

Also at the Council of Ministers meeting this week, an amendment to the TAC and Quota Regulation for 2008 is due to be approved that results in an increase of 44 tonnes in Ireland’s allocation of cod in the Celtic Sea.

This increase came after sustained pressure by Ireland, after indications of improvement in the stock came from fisheries scientists earlier this year.

A GROUP which offers support to polio survivors and which 1s spear- headed by a voluntary board of 11 people, including Whitegate man, Hugh Weir, is the most recent char- ity to avail of a special telephone net- working service which makes com- munication easier.

The Post Polio Support Group, a national organisation with almost 750 members around the country is using the Commmunity Network system to keep in touch and for tel- econferencing.

Community Network Ireland is a unique service specifically for the voluntary sector, linking groups by phone so that people can be part of a support group regardless of their mo- bility or geographic location.

Supported financially and techni- cally by BT, the service also allows colleagues in the voluntary sector to stay in touch and attend meetings by providing them with an operator-led conference call service.

The Post Polio group has a number of members in Clare including Hugh in Whitegate and some in Killaloe.

Hugh said, “Many of our members

have decreased mobility and are get- ting on in years.

“They find it difficult to get out to our support group meetings, especial- ly during the winter months which can be very isolating for them.”

The Whitgate man added that the, ‘“PhoneChat, the name we gave to the service, allows polio survivors chat together on a regular basis and is a good example of peer support in ac- none

“The group can share information, exchange ideas or even just listen to each other.

“Working with Community Net-

work Ireland allows BT to offer its unique professional expertise to help build these communities through bet- ter communications,’ a BT spokes- man said.

Carmel O’Connor, Corporate and Social Responsibility Manager, BT added, “Not only is this service the first of its kind in Ireland, it’s a sim- ple and straightforward service that helps create opportunities for social inclusion and positive community engagement so that no matter where you live, what age you are or how mobile you are, you should not feel isolated or alone.”

PASCHAL Carmody was born in Tarbert, north Kerry, 60 years ago. From a family of 13 — nine brothers and three sisters – he attended the local primary school, before board- ing at Rockwell College in Cashel, SoA Ae Bye lae

While in his Leaving Cert year, he had a strong interest in biology and

science and decided to go into medi- cine.

In 1966, he went to university in Galway, where he studied for six years. He passed all but one exam during his years at university. After graduating, he served as an intern at the University College Hospital Gal- way.

During his year-long internship, he served under Dr Murphy for six

months and six months under Dr Bartholomew Driscoll, who special- ised in respiratory, dermatology and AMO Coges (ose

It was while working with Dr Dr- iscoll that he had his first experience with photodynamic therapy.

As the only dermatologist in the west of Ireland, Dr. Driscoll treated dermatology lesions with laser.

Dr Carmody then went to the Jervis

Street Hospital in Dublin where he worked for six months in accident and emergency, six months in the medi- cal wards and a further six moths as a Senior House Officer (SHO).

When he finished in Dublin he worked in Limerick for 18 months. He also worked as an SHO, then spe- cialised in obstetrics and gynaecol- ogy, and later paediatrics.

At the age of 29, he decided to spe-

cialise in obstetrics and gynaecology, but later changed his mind and went into general practice.

In 1976, just as he prepared to emi- grate to take up a position in Mon- tana, the Mid Western Heath Board asked him if he had an interest in taking a position as a GP in Killaloe, or Castleconnell, Co Limerick. He began working as a GP in Killaloe on October 1, 1976.

QUESTIONS have been raised over the long-term viability of a pro- posed wastewater treatment plant for Byer LeNOnee

Independent councillor Patricia McCarthy told yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council that the project was flawed and would fail to meet future requirements.

Speaking after Walter Walsh, senior engineer with water services, defend- ed the process, Cllr McCarthy said “I am not happy with the response. It is basically an admission that the plant will not meet requirements in the fu- ture. It is a shortsighted policy. If the Government are serious about pro- tecting the environment then maybe they should put aside the money for ra

“It’s a false economy. We will be back here in the 30 years time bat- tling with the department for more money,’ added Cllr McCarthy.

Mr Walshe defended the project, saying that despite financial con- straints, the plant would have suffi-

cient capacity to meet any demands arising from a growth in population.

‘There is provision enough to meet the present demand and a certain amount of extra capacity would be available. This would be a very good development for Broadford”’.

Fianna Fail councillor Tony O’Brien said the project should be progressed in order to stimulate development in the area.

He said, “I would be anxious that we don’t constrict development. We should get the best possible water treatment plant for Broadford”.

“We’re talking about areas that have stagnated and didn’t see any benefit from the Celtic Tiger. I wouldn’t like the message to go out there that we are holding back development in Broadford”.

JUST two months into his steward- ship of the Department of Agricul- ture and Minster Brendan Smith is already in open conflict with the Irish Farmers Association.

A huge row erupted last week fol- lowing the decision by the minister to reveal that farmers paid an average of just £1,895 in tax last year, com- pared to €4,943 by PAYE employees and €12,927 by the self-employed.

IFA President Padraig Walshe re- acted angrily to the revelation, de- scribing 1s as mischievous and mis- leading. “The average family income from farming is a mere €18,100

a year, compared to the €48,300 earned by public-sector workers. There is no mystery about the low tax yield from farmers,” he said.

“The real problem is low incomes and the minister should face up to this. Presenting income-tax pay- ments as a measure of farmers’ con- tribution to the economy is mischie- vous and misleading.”

Smith reacted by rejected the IFA presidents claims, saying that pub- lishing the figures in this was was standard practice as part of the De- partment’s Annual Review and Out- look for Agriculture.

He also pointed out that at the time of the publication of the Annual

Review and Outlook, he drew par- ticular attention to the value of the agri-food sector, accounting for 8 per cent of employment and 10 per cent of exports.

Minister Smith also took the oppor- tunity to highlight the huge impor- tance of farming and the agri-food sector to the economy, both from an employment point of view and also as a major contributor to regional development. The minister outlined the further employment opportuni- ties that can be created in the overall biosector.

Indeed the minister also pointed out that, on the same day as he published the Annual Review and Outlook, he

also published a report showing that the agri-food sector contributes ap- proximately one-third of the net flow of funds into the economy generated by manufacturing exports which the minister noted he described as pro- viding “a timely and accurate indica- tion of the importance of the sector to the economy”.

The minister concluded by say- ing that the Department’s Annual Review and Outlook was a compre- hensive and valuable report, detail- ing the performance of the agri-food sector and providing a range of use- ful statistical data and confirmed that he had no plans to significantly change its content or presentation.

PEOPLE involved in the tourism business in east Clare have been celebrating, having — successfully completed a rural tourism course. The participants in the course were drawn from various sectors and were presented with their certificates at a special ceremony.

Meanwhile, the east Clare tourism organisation has welcomed the de- cision to extend the boundary of a tourism tax incentive scheme to take in the Lough Derg area as far as Kil- EW eyon

‘Tourism is an important part of our rural economy and we need eve- ry support we can get, particularly in the current challenging climate so

we were very pleased that this part of Clare is now included and quali- fies under the scheme,’ said Teresa Browne of the East Clare Tourism.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has just launched a new tax relief scheme for certain tourism facilities in the mid-Shannon area which includes areas in counties Clare, Tipperary, Offaly, Galway, Roscommon and Westmeath.

The scheme is being managed by Failte Ireland and Shannon De- velopment. Projects eligible under the new scheme include; education tourism facilities, visitor attractions, cultural facilities, wellness and self development facilities and amenities, facilities for water-sports activities, outdoor activity centres, equestrian

facilities, certain restaurants and cafés, boat rental and inland cruising facilities, training facilities for ad- venture centres and registered holi- day camps. They can be new projects or refurbishment to existing ones.

Relief is available by way of capital allowances over seven years for qual- ifying construction and refurbish- ment expenditure. Capital allowance will be granted at a rate of I5 per cent per year for the first six years and 10 per cent for the seventh year. The qualifying period of the scheme is three years, but applications must be made within one year of the start of the scheme.

During the launch event the Taoi- seach announced a new board to assess projects submitted under the

new scheme. The board includes John King and Joan Reynolds, both of Shannon Development.

Full details on the new scheme can be found in guidelines issued by the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tour- ism in consultation with the Muinis- ter for Finance which can be viewed and downloaded at www.arts-sports- tourism.gov.ie, www.shannondevel- opment.ie; and www.failteireland.ie.

The final component of Dromoland Castle’s €30 million expansion has secured planning permission. An Bord Pleanala has dismissed an ap- peal by a local resident against a golf facility at the five star hotel.

Last year, Clare County Council granted planning permission for 32 short-rent apartments, a 38-unit ac- commodation block for staff and the provision of a golf course operations facility.

The Lynch Group had initially op- posed the luxury apartment plan, but chose not to appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanala. However, local resident Ken Power objected.

In his appeal, Mr Power said: “The buildings will be at least 27 feet high

and will be visible from the front of my house…the proposed building will devalue my houses and should be relocated in a different site within the Dromoland Castle which has a lower landscape sensitivity.

“The mixing of pesticides and her- bicides on a large scale for a golf course in the vicinity of households with young children is not accept- able… .”

The board ruled that “having regard to the zoning objective for the area and the pattern of development in the area, it is considered that the pro- posed development would not seri- ously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity, would not be prejudicial to public health and would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety and convenience.”

THE HSE has confirmed that it is considering establishing a satellite kidney dialysis unit in Clare, accord- ing to junior minister Tony Killeen.

The Clare branch of the Irish Kid- ney Association has long since ar- gued for a life saving dialysis unit for the county.

The treasurer of the Clare branch, Peggy Eustace, said, “Ideally we would like to see a satellite unit in Ennis. At the moment our patients have to endure a long and difficult journey to Galway and Limerick

three times a week.”

According to Ms Eustace 85 people are currently receiving the life sav- ing haemodialysis treatment in an over stretched unit in the Mid West- ern Regional Hospital, Limerick.

This unit is catering for 20 people from Clare, 18 from Tipperary and 44 from Limerick city and county.

A further 16 patients must travel to the Wellstone clinic in Galway while work begins on a new satellite unit on the Dock Road in Limerick. Seven of these patients are from Clare.

Most recent research shows that in two years the need for dialysis in

the Midwest has increased by 41 per cent. This is significantly higher than other regions in the country making the case for a unit in Ennis all the

stronger. Four patients in the Midwest will require haemodialysis treatment

within the coming weeks, with many more in a pre-dialysis stage. Minister Killeen received confir- mation of the proposed development following a meeting this week with the Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney. “A satellite dialysis centre is cur- rently being established in Limerick

to alleviate some of the pressure on the Dooradoyle facility. This will provide some relief for Clare patients in the short term. In the longer term, the HSE has said it would like to ex- plore the possibility of establishing a satellite unit at Ennis General Hos- pital.”

“The HSE stated that this option would be evaluated in light of the demand and throughput of patients. However, this is not likely to be de- veloped in the short-term. The HSE confirmed that there are currently 22 patients for Clare receiving haemo- dialysis treatment,” he said.

WHEN the West Clare Currach Club went in search of Maggie May, there wasn’t a Rod Stewart CD in sight.

The men and women of the Kilkee based umbrella club were instead in search of the old turf boat preserved in the mud near Blackweir Bridge, Lisdeen, Kilkee.

The club members set about ex- cavating the boat, believed to more than 100 years old, last week with an aim to learn more about the old ship.

The group has taken measurements and photographs of the boat in the

hope that they may some day have enough information to construct one of these long forgotten boats.

Turf boats were unique to the Shan- non estuary and as club member Dixie Collins explained, “they would have been no use around Loophead or the other side of the peninsula in north Clare.”

Carrying anything up to a 15-ton cargo, turf boats would have moved items up and down the estuary be- tween Limerick and Clare.

“These boats would bring lime- stone down from Askeaton and turf back up from west Clare. These

boats were unique for their purpose,’ he said.

While the boats move up and down the estuary on the tidal currents, the large sail also helped with naviga- ntOne

These boats developed to meet lo- cal needs and their ability to land on the Shannon mudflats enabled them to unload and load their cargo eas- ily. Floating off on the high tide us- ing tide and wind to carry them up or down river.

These boats were in constant use around the Shannon estuary over a hundred years ago. At one stage 20

of these boats worked out of Poul- nasherry alone.

The Maggie May has been in the sand for as long as anyone can re- member, but the West Clare Currach Club are hopping that some local people may have pictures or extra 1n- formation on the 35-foot boat.

Mr Collins has asked people to con- tact him or a member of the club or email info@westclarecurrach.com.

“We are doing this project so that the history of the boat doesn’t die. We are interested in the social his- tory and any folklore surrounding the boats too,” he said.