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IRISH food producers appear to be winning the battle against unwanted food contaminants appearing in the Irish food chain.

According to new research released last week just 24 positives cases of food residue contamination were re- corded last year. These positive cases were taken from more than 30,000 overall samples and represent a 0.08 per cent contamination rate. This represents a 50 per cent decrease on the 0.17 per cent recorded in 2006.

Of the 24 positive samples, 14 taken in the poultry sector contained residues of a feed additive approved

for use in poultry production.

Both the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and the Department of Agriculture declared themselves satisfied that these positives cases did not pose a specific risk for con- sumers of poultry meat.

Of the remaining ten positives, nine contained residues of author- ised veterinary medicines, while an individual sample of wild game was positive for an environmental con- ieDeaupar-balm

In the milk sector, where 1,134 samples in total were taken, two samples or 0.18 per cent contained residues at levels above the MRL for Anthelmintics, which are medicines

approved for the treatment and con- trol of parasites.

Of the two positives, one related to cows milk, while the other related to goats milk and were due to failure to comply with requisite post-treatment withdrawal periods.

Another reassuring aspect of the 2007 results for consumers is that no traces of banned medicines or growth promoters covered by the hormone ban were found in any samples.

This reflects the fruits of the robust approach taken by the department in the past as well as a responsible ap- proach taken by the farming sector. Notwithstanding this good outcome, the department will continue to be

vigilant in monitoring activities both at farm and slaughter house/process- ing plant level.

Meanwhile in the aquaculture sec- tor more than 650 tests for 2,219 de- terminants were carried out on 161 samples of farmed fin fish for a range of residues. As in 2006, no positive results were detected in the national monitoring programme for farmed finfish in 2007.

The Food and Veterinary Office (F VO) of the European Commission, as part of its ongoing programme of inspections in EU member states and in third countries, carried out an au- dit of Ireland’s national residue plan during April 2008.

PARENTS of 47 children who will shortly be without childcare found little comfort in the words of the minister for finance this week.

In response to parliamentary ques- tions from Clare TD Pat Breen (FG), Minister Brian Lenihan merely con- firmed what distraught parents and staff were told in a note last week – the civil service creche in Ennis was to close with just two weeks’ notice.

The minister responsible for the running of the creche offered no so-

lution to the parents’ urgent childcare needs or to the plight of the 16 mem- ber staff. Deputy Breen was later ruled out of order when he attempted to raise the issue again.

‘The minister for finance must re- view his decision and permit the tem- porary operator to remain in place until October, when a permanent operator can then be appointed,” said Deputy Breen before he was told he could not continue.

The Board of the Civil Service Childcare Initiative, who operates the creche on behalf of the minister

pulled the plug on the creche last Fri- day week. The department “hope’”’ to have a new operator in place to open the creche by October.

The current temporary operator of the créche, Linda Hayes, has said she was happy to continue running it un- til then. Ms Hayes began in the créche on a temporary basis six months ago when the department failed to attract WM AUUMBNDNoMOooE-llee

“The board is in ongoing discus- sions with a potential operator with a view to taking over operation of the creche for a five year period with

effect from October 1, 2008,” said Minister Lenihan.

“As the current temporary ar- rangement comes to an end on June 30 2008, parents of children in the creche were individually advised that the Ennis créche would close from June 30 2008, and of the dis- cussions to appoint a permanent op- erator from October. Two of the sup- port team have also been in place at the créche to offer advice,’ he said.

Parents have said that the only sup- port they received was a photocopied list of créches in the area.

THE Burren has dozens of new scholars and protectors this week following the graduation of children from nine primary school in the area from the Eco-Beo programme.

The programme, which is organ- ised by the BurrenBeo organisation, aims to give students and their teach- ers a unique insight into the Burren’s famous landscape and tradition.

“It was great fun. Different people came to the school and did a lot of presentation with us about the Bur- ren,’ said fifth class student from Tubber National School, Evan Fahy.

“They showed us load of pictures and slides about the Burren and we

learned so many different things about our own area. We went on field-trips and we also were paired with a school in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. We tried to teach them all about the Burren.”

Besides Tubber, students from Kin- vara, Kilnaboy, New Quay, Corofin, Kilfenora, Doorus, Kilshanny and Boston National Schools took part in this year’s programme.

“T learned a lot of thing about the place where I live. We learned a lot about the winterage for example, where the cows graze outside in the winter to help the Burren flora and fauna come up in the spring and Summer,’ said Ita O’Connor from Tubber. “The cows graze and keep

down the brush and scrub and that lets the flowers grow.”

The students also put together an award winning video inspired by their experiences. “The video looked at different ages of the Burren; start- ing at the Stone Age and the Ice Age and going right up to the present time,” said fifth class student Sibeal Hanrahan.

“We did dramitisations of the peo- ple who would have lived in the dif- ferent ages of the Burren. There was one scene where people were in Ca- herconnell cooking up some fish and another down in the Ailwee caves.”

“I’d like to be a farmer when I grow up and I’d like to farm in a way that would be good for the Burren, said

sixth class student James O’Grady.

“IT live on a farm now and I don’t think I would have to make many changes on the farm to be able to farm in a way that would help the Burren.

“T think it has thought them a great since of respect for the beautiful place in which they live,” said Tubber school principal Ann Comyn.

“T think that they all feel privi- leged to be living in such a weird and wonderful part of the country. It has developed a great since of pride of place within the children.”

ENVIRONMENT minister John Gormley will be in Clare this Friday to join the Mayor of Clare, Council- lor Patricia McCarthy (Ind), in offi- cially opening the new extension to Killaloe Fire Station.

Adrian Kelly, Chief Fire Offic- er, Clare County Fire and Rescue Service said that the completion of the extension and upgrade works to Killaloe Fire Station would ensure that Killaloe and surrounding areas would continue to be served by a quality fire and rescue service.

The new facilities include a recon-

figured appliance bay to include a 4WD vehicle, new drying room fa- cilities, a watch room, lecture room, male and female facilities, a breath- ing apparatus maintenance room, a resurfaced drill yard, security fenc- ing, a boundary wall and automatic gate. General refurbishments and re- decoration was also carried out.

“T would like to congratulate eve- rybody involved in delivering these new improved facilities.

“Of course, we should not forget the dedicated fire fighters who put their own safety on the line day in day out to protect members of the local com- munity,” said Mayor McCarthy.

CLARE academics across a range of ages proved this week that they have brains to burn, scooping not one but several awards.

North Clare students Darren O’Gorman and Laura Sims jointly won the main individual prize at the Northern Ireland Young Scientist

of the Year Competition. The pair, who are both Leaving Certificate students in Mary Immaculate Sec- ondary School in Lisdoonvarna, won the coveted Individual Award for 17 to 19 years with separate research projects.

Indeed there was more success for Darren who was also awarded the Queen’s University Award for Bio-

logical Sciences. The Kilfenora man was also one of just five projects nominated for the BA Crest, which entitles him to take part in the UK Young Scientists and Engineering Fair which takes place in London in March 2009.

His project was entitled “An Inves- tigation on the Effects of Temporary Limestone Lakes or Turloughs on

Leaf Morphology of Ranunculus Reopens”. Earlier this year he repre- sented the school at the Irish Young Scientist of the Year using the same project

Sinead McNamara, Amie Barrett, Catriona Callinan and David Crowe, all from Mary Immaculate, also took part in the competition.

Meanwhile Marie Clancy from Clare, a student of DIT Cathal Brugha Street, today won a National Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) award for her project which examined the prevalence of listeria monocytogenes in the dairy farm en- vironment in west Clare.

Marie’s assignment explored the oc- currence of listeria monocytogenes in the dairy farm environment on three different farms located in County Clare during the summer of 2007.

Environmental samples were tested to see if listeria monocytogenes was positive at different locations on the farms. Following on from the study, recommendations were made to the farmers who took part.

The achievements don’t stop there however as two Clare primary schools were honoured in the Awards of Science Excellence. St Tolas Na- tional School in Shannon and Par- teen National School were presented with the awards last week.

CONTRACTS for Corofin’s new sewerage scheme were officially signed in north Clare last Thursday. SW tlemNO rele OULCO MA “IIMS a cmmr-y0 estimated 750 homes, represents a massive boost to the infrastructure of the area.

The €1.9 million contract was signed by Tom Carey, Director of Service and County Engineer for Clare County Council, Patricia Mc- Carthy, Mayor of Clare, and Padraig Burke of Ward and Burke Construc- tion Ltd, Galway last week.

Officials are now hopeful that work on the project, valued at €1,894,247.28 in total, will com- mence immediately.

The contract is due for completion within 12 months, by which time the local authority expects the upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant design-build-operate contract to be well advanced. When completed, to- tal upgrade works on the schemes are expected to cost over €7million.

“T am delighted that this contract is beginning and look forward to the completion of the entire scheme over the next 12 to 18 months. We

are conscious of the urgency with which we need to progress the en- tire scheme,” said Tom Carey, Clare County Engineer. “Approximately 750 homes will benefit from the pro- vision of these high quality sewerage treatment facilities.”

Also present at the contract signing was Mayor of Clare Cllr Patricia Mc- Or Tad

“T look forward to the hugely 1m- proved service being put in place to facilitate the future development of Se KeyTTA MAY eNO omne (or DBD OTcMm Ua IN OMA elem Eos nificant environmental considera- tions of such infrastructure for future

generations,’ she said.

“Schemes such as this, while com- ing at a significant price to the coun- cil, are of urgent necessity given the European and national standards that we are obliged to meet.”

Contract three entails almost 3km of new and replacement foul sewer- age network and provision of almost Ikm of storm surface water sewer network as well as upgrading of 900m of watermains for the village.

The contract programme is struc- tured such that there will be minimal disruption to the village centre dur- ing the summer period.

SIXMILEBRIDGE’S _ status as Clare’s fastest growing village was yesterday confirmed when planning permission was granted to a €60 million commercial and residential development.

The development, by Fordmount Ltd, 1s expected to open in 2010, increase the population of Sixmile- bridge by 300 and provide a much needed jobs boost to the area.

The plan which Clare County Council passed includes the provi-

sion of a mixed-use scheme compris- ing residential, retail, community and commercial uses on a nine acre site bounded by the village’s Limer- ick and Clonlara Road.

The development, with a gross floor space of 13,367 square metres, will consist of 79 residential units, 26 four-bed detached houses, four four-bed semi-detached houses, 22 three-bed semi-detached houses, ten three-bed end of terrace houses, two three-bed mid terrace houses and four two-bed mid terrace houses. It will also include a convenience an-

chor store, nine “comparison retail units”, an office/commercial/com- munity suite, five non-retail services units, a bank facility, a hot food take- away and acréche facility.

The retail/commercial/apartment elements of the proposal provides for 2-3 storeys. The provision of 140 car parking spaces at lower ground floor level and 136 car parking spaces at surface level will serve the houses.

According to planning submission lodged by Fordmount Ltd with the Council, “it 1s anticipated that the proposed development will have a

permanent positive impact on the hu- man environment in Sixmilebridge”’.

The council granted planning per- mission having regard to the location of the site within the urban core of Sixmulebridge, the nature and pat- tern of development in the area and the policies of the South-East Clare Economic Plan.

The development would not seri- ously injure the amenities of the area or of properties in the area.

As part of the 49 conditions at- tached to the planning permission, Fordmount Ltd is to pay €781,000

towards public infrastructure and an additional €200,000 towards the upgrading of a bridge over the Owen- garney River.

A retail impact assessment lodged with the application stated that by 2012, the development would gener- ate €12.8 million and comprise of €8.2 million from convenience sales and €4.6 million from comparison sales. The retail assessment states that “the proposed development will not have an adverse effect on Sixmi- lebridge or on any other centre in the catchment area”.

has learned that a new main contractor has been em- ployed to complete the multi-million euro projects by Mowlam Health- Neos Work recommenced on the site yes- terday.

The Killimer Road nursing home was last month the subject of a number of pickets by subcontractors claiming to be owed tens of thou- sands by main contractors Siteline Construction.

Ennis based builder Josie Canavan said he was owed more than €60,000 while the main painting subcontrac- tor and plastering subcontractor claimed they were owed €46,000 and €11,000 respectively.

Speaking yesterday, Clare based roofer Ger Mungovan said he was

being forced to pay taxes for jobs that he was never himself paid for.

“We worked on the site for a good three or four months. We started working there in the April of 2007 and had three people working there most of the time but we would have around 5 or 6 there at the busy times,’ | aTemny-N (GE

“IT managed to get some money from Siteline at Christmas time. At the time they owed me €26,000 – I lost it with them on the phone and they paid me €18,000.”

A spokesman for Mowlam Health- care, the group behind the new nurs- ing home, confirmed to

STUDENTS at St Joseph’s training centre have been learning about the work done by the Clare branch of the Sy Neer Dule-N eke

Members of the Samaritans recent- ly spoke at the centre at the invitation of students who were keen to learn about the services provided by the organisation.

The visit, one of many carried out by the Samaritans to different com- munity and educational groups, also inspired a fundraiser.

Last week Gerry Dobbin, Deputy Director of Outreach Services for the Samaritans and Mary Lynch, Direc- tor of the Clare and Ennis Samaritans took receipt of a cheque for €140

from Michael Molloy, John Paul Sweeney and Margaret Sweeney, from St Joseph’s.

The money was raised following a darts and cards tournament organ- ised by staff and students.

Gerry Dobbin said members of the Samaritans were delighted to be given the opportunity to speak at the centre.

“We were invited to speak about the kind of work we do, which is something we are always interested in doing with any group. For us it was great and we really welcome the interest shown in our work by St Joseph’s. We were delighted to be able to speak there and we were re- ally well received,’ said Mr Dobbin.

He added, “These kind of visits

are something we try to do as often as possible with as many different eroups and organisations as possi- ble. It gives us an opportunity to talk about the service we provide. We’re willing to go and talk to any group who are interested.”

Located in the Gort Road industrial estate, St Joseph’s training centre has developed over the years into a highly active and diverse learning environment.

Programmes on offer include an array of FETAC courses, with one group of students aiming towards a full cert in FETAC Level 4. Students and instructors involved with St Jospeh’s acclaimed coppercraft pro- gramme have, in the past, enjoyed a close association with museums in

Clare and Cork city, making copper wall hangings that reflect the Travel- ler way of life and culture.

The Samaritans are available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair.

A YOUNG west Clare man has ap- peared in court facing 11 charges in connection with a hit-and-run acci- dent in which two pedestrians were injured in Ennis last January.

Donal Holohan (22), of Aylroe, Kildysart, is charged with dangerous driving, failing to stop a vehicle in-

volved in the occurrence of injury to Sean Cuddihy, not having insurance, failing to produce insurance, not having road tax, failing to display a current vehicle licence and failing to be accompanied by a qualified driver, at Clonroadbeg, Ennis, in the early hours of January 13 last.

He is also charged with failing to stop a vehicle involved in the occur-

rence of injury to Tommy Walsh, driving under the influence of an intoxicant and driving with excess alcohol in breath, at Friar’s Walk, Syabavhy

He is also charged with driving a vehicle which was dangerous to the public, whereby it caused serious bodily harm to Tommy Walsh, also at Friar’s Walk, also on the same

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Inspector John Galvin told Ennis District Court last Friday that the DPP has directed that the case be tried in the circuit court and the case was adjourned for preparation of the Book of Evidence.

Defending solicitor Patrick Moylan consented to this and the accused will re-appear in court next month.