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REQUESTS for information from Clare County Council under the Freedom of Information Act have dwindled from 94 in 2002 to just 39 AUlOwe

And councillor Tom Prendeville (FF), who asked for the figures for last night’s meeting, said that it is “notable that in 2007 we are listing 30 per cent of the applications we Sr hag OOO ae

The councillor said that FOI re- quests had “gone down to a virtual trickle” and added that he believed that the introduction of fees for the service in 2003 “and the claiming of exemptions has acted as a barrier to the public. At a time of mistrust I would be concerned that the gov- ernment are standing over legisla- tion which appears exclusory,’ Cllr Prendeville told the meeting.

Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind) said he supported the Fiannan Fail council-

lor. “The Freedom of Information Act was introduced for one reason and one reason only – transparency. Since costs were introduced, enquir- ies have gone down. We can put no price on the availability of legitimate information.”

Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) said that when forming Government the charges for FOI queries were “a major bone of contention’, for the Greens. “But Fianna Fail are in no way in favour of abolishing them be- cause the Civil Service hated it (the Freedom of Information Act) from the first moment.”

Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) said that while he agreed there shouldn’t be a charge for legitimate information “there are vexatious requests which can cost tens of thousands of euro”.

The information on FOI queries which council officials compiled for the meeting also showed that in every year, the majority of queries concerned planning issues.

The second largest number of que- ries concerned roads and the third were seeking information about housing matters.

Corporate Services and Finance elicited 44 and 22 queries respec- tively and there were 55 environ- mental queries. Water services were the subject of 22 queries and human resources, 20. There were just two queries concerning motor tax and one concerning the library service.

So far this year, the freedom of information officer has received 19 queries, seven of which are still be- ing processed.

Since January 2002, the council has fully answered 114 FOI requests, part answered 91 and refused 110.

Ten queries were transferred, 18 were withdrawn and 52 were DOME OLOE

Exemptions because of sensitive information and other exempt areas under the act were claimed in 310 Or ose

CLARE County Council and Ennis Town Council have called a halt to the further expansion of Ennis be- cause the town’s public infrastruc- ture has reached breaking point.

Over the past week, the two local authorities have refused planning permission to three big residential developments valued at a total of €200 million.

As a result, the council will miss out on millions of euro in develop- ment contributions that would have been earmarked for essential capital

HOUSER PMU LCLAUD Ess

In one case, Clare County Coun- cil refused planning permission to Crystal Partners for 471 homes at Gaurus, while Ennis Town Council refused planning for 226 homes at Knockaderry, Tulla Road, and plan- ning for 97 homes on the Galway Road was refused to Luxury Homes (Galway) Ltd.

The primary reason for the refus- als was the inadequacy of the town’s sewage treatment works to accom- modate the developments with a new plant not expected to become operational for another four years.

The planner’s report into the Crys- tal Partners’ application stated that “substantial capital investment is required to upgrade the Clonroad- more treatment plant to facilitate any large-scale residential develop- ments progressing in the catchment. Without these works being finalised, constructed and commissioned, all new large-scale development in the catchment would be premature”’.

In a separate report, Ennis Town Engineer, Tom Tiernan pointed out that “it would be inappropriate to approve any further significant de- velopments which would be depend-

ent on the Clonroadmore plant”.

The first signs of a halt to develop- ment in Ennis came last year when the council only granted permission for a portion of the homes planned by Stephen Finn Properties on the SLUUIE WW Cor-rer

In the medium term, the ban on large-scale developments in Ennis will have an impact on the supply of |nCeyesterme-UeCeMeceleDCCMBKcneDLMBNOME-MNSICOOU0UE cant increase in house prices.

However, the development of homes in the environs of Clarecas- tle are expected to continue as Crys- tal Partners are to provide a sewage

treatment plant that will serve the first stage of a 500 house develop- ment in the area.

The development ban in the En- nis area follows the Health Service Executive calling on the council to give more scrutiny to planning ap- plications because of inadequacy of the Clonroadmore treatment plant.

The Health Service Executive made the call after raw sewage was pumped into the River Fergus from the treatment plant, on the grounds that it “represents a serious public risk and should be treated with the greatest urgency’.

THE oldest resident in the Drum- geely area of Shannon was the toast of the local primary school last week. Louis Quinlivan was chosen by the students and staff at St Sen- an’s National School to raise their green flag, much to the delight of everybody.

The school had the unique honour of obtaining its fifth green flag from An Taisce following an intensive ef-

fort to do their bit for the environ- ment. Mr Quinlivan was one of the original residents of Corrib Drive and over the years has played a key role in the tidy towns committee in the town. He and his wife Margaret are well-known in their local area.

According to school principal Sally O’Neull, it was appropriate that Mr Quinlivan would raise the flag.

“The last time we invited Eanna Ni Lamhna to the school and this time we decided to keep it local,” said Ms

O’ Neill.

The flag was won as a result of ef- forts from all 102 pupils at the school, under the guidance of green schools co-ordinator Margaret Murphy.

“It’s not just the green flag. It is linked up with everything that’s go- ing on here,” said Ms O’Neill.

For each flag a different theme prevails and this year’s theme was focused on reducing our carbon footprint. The themes of the previ- ous four green flags were also part

of this year’s campaign – ‘Reduce, reuse, recycle’ was the theme for the first flag; “Reduce, reclaim’ was the second flag’s theme; ‘Energy – save a little, it means a lot’ was the theme for the third flag while the school won its fourth flag two years ago on the theme, ‘Water is light, protect it’.

AN EAST Clare secondary school, which is already coping with twice the number of pupils it was supposed to cater for, may still not get a new school – because they had 59 enrol- ments less than was expected this year.

The plight of St Joseph’s in Tulla was raised at a Dail debate last week. The school is catering for 441 stu- dents in a building which was de- signed to house 270.

And half of all the schools’ accom- modation is temporary, with 11 out of 22 classrooms based in prefabs on a site which is too small to ever ex- pand to comprise playing fields.

Deputy Pat Breen had asked during a Dail adjournment debate that the minister for education give a letter to the school’s board of management stating that their long-term prefer- ence for Tulla is for a new school on AMES Kore ON ELo (OMSL KOR

The school has been in negotia- tion with a local landowner for a site which would allow them to erect a new building on a fully serviced site with planning permission for sport- ing facilities.

Contracts have been drawn up, but to go any further the schools needs the department’s letter.

Replying on behalf of the minister for education, Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney said that St Joseph’s had been awarded a grade 2 on the department’s system, but this was based on an expected enrolment of 500.

The lower enrolment figure means that the grading would have to be reviewed and she said it would “not be prudent for the department to give any such open-ended commitment which would, in effect, limit the de- partment’s scope for manoeuvre in the future, regarding the optimum solution for secondary school serv- ices in east Clare.”

“We are very proud of the loyalty of our parents, who are loyal to the high standard of education provided here at St Joseph’s rather than to the standard of the building,” said school principal, Jim Cooney.

‘The enrolments will be above 500 in the next three year. The primary school population has gone from 194 to 256 in five years – that’s a 32 per cent increase. We will certainly have the numbers.”

THREE people have been charged with violent disorder arising out of an incident in Ennis last October.

Michael Molloy (9), of Gordon Drive, Ennis; John Molloy (22), of Clarehill, Clarecastle and a young person are accused of violent disor- der, at Cloughleigh, Ennis, on Octo- ber 11, 2007.

Ennis District Court was told on Friday that the charges arose from matters last October and the DPP’s directions had only come through last Thursday.

Garda Dominic Regan told Ennis District Court last Friday that he met Michael Molloy at the depar- ture lounge at Shannon Airport that morning.

His solicitor William Cahir applied for bail but Inspector John Galvin said, “I’d be reluctant to consent. The DPP has directed trial on indictment. He was leaving the jurisdiction.”

However Judge Joseph Mangan pointed out that the accused had not been charged when he was met at the by Olea

Gda Regan said he had made en-

quiries with the accused’s mother the previous day.

“I told her charges were waiting for him. She told me he was waiting to face the charges. Yet we found him at Shannon Airport this morning,” said Gda Regan.

Judge Mangan remanded him in custody for a week. “I’m satisfied on the evidence he sought to evade jus- tice. I’m satisfied if left at liberty he would not attend to face trial,” said the judge.

Inspector Galvin also objected to bail in the case of John Molloy, on a number of grounds, including the seriousness of the charge.

However Mr Cahir said there were no charges in relation to any recent incident and that the DPP has had six months to make a decision on the or Won

Bail was granted, with conditions AMATO oem

The young person was also granted bail to appear again in court next month.

CLARE County Council has refused planning permission for the coun- ty’s largest ever residential housing scheme although they approve of the plan in principle.

In March, Ennis-based construction firm, Crystal Partners lodged plans for a €200 million development that would ultimately deliver 700 new homes in the Gaurus area on the eastern outskirts of Ennis. The 471 residential units in the first phase of the development would have almost doubled the current population of the Doora parish to almost 3,000.

The council concluded that while it approved of housing development on the 71 acre site, such a move was pre- mature pending the construction of a new €75 million sewage treatment plan at Clareabbey.

The council does not expect the Clareabbey plant to come on stream for another four years and permission was also refused because of deficien- cies in the public water supply.

The Gaurus plan faced initial op- position from local residents and planning was refused on a number of other grounds apart from the lack of sewage and water supplies.

The council ruled that the mix of

apartment units in large blocks would be inconsistent with the existing char- acter and pattern of development in the area. The planners were also con- cerned about possible negative effects on the existing ecology, habitat value and hydrogeology of the site.

The council also stated that the pro- posed works to Gaurus Bridge, in- cluding the removal of both parapet stone walls and the building of foot- path and cycle paths on each side, would have a direct negative impact on the integrity and amenity of this structure and would be contrary to the Ennis and Environs Plan.

The council also ruled that the pro-

posal would present a serious traffic hazard.

The first phase of the Gaurus Village plan was valued at €125 million by the developers with the overall value of €200 million put on the plan.

Along with the 471 residential units, the planning application also provided for a creche, neighbour- hood centre with shopping facilities and 14 residential serviced sites.

The masterplan also provides for a 16-teacher school and an associated OeNenrteasatellen

SEVEN months into existence and Scou Mhainchin National School in Ennistymon has found the perfect way to bring all of it’s 145 students together. The amalgamation of the convent primary and CBS schools into one school has been marked with the creation of a special student garden.

The garden – which includes a veg- etable, insect and bird section – has been worked on by all pupils and teachers at the school over the last Kayes selon laetce

“We were looking for a whole school project that would involve all the students from baby infants right

up to sixth class. So we started off talking about planting a tree but fair- ly soon the that idea spiralled into the garden,’ said school principal Helen Sheridan.

‘Now we have an insect garden, a vegetable garden and a bird garden. It’s a work in progress – the garden will grow with the children and with the school.”

The garden has been constructed with the principles of organic farm- ing and sustainability at heart. The school has reused old twigs to make fencing, used moss to make special habitats for insects, used seaweed and sand to make fertiliser and prop- agated much of the plants that they are SOWIng.

“Tt like another classroom, it’s like an extension to the school. Every class goes out, does their work and then they do a lot of follow-up work in class. It’s really practical science” continued Ms. Sheridan.

‘The insect garden has native grass- es and flowers that attract insects and we have also built some ‘insect ho- tels’ using mosses and sticks to cre- ate somewhere where insects collect and we can observe them.

‘The site was extremely steep, you couldn’t actually walk on it because it was so steep. So the kids learned how to make wattle fencing and they made terraces for the vegetables to erow. They have also used seaweed in that area as a natural fertiliser. It’s

been great and the kids have done all the work.

“The junior infants have made feeders for the bird garden by get- ting pine cones and rubbing them in peanut butter. The older classes are weaving a willow tunnel which will be bird hive and we are planting na- tive trees like ash and birch to attract the birds.”

When the garden becomes more established, the school plans to har- vest the vegetables produced for oc- casional treats for the students.

THOUSANDS of homes and doz- ens of commercial properties over a wide area east of Ennis have been left without adequate emergency fire and ambulance cover following the closure of the Tulla Road for works being undertaken by the local au- thority and Iarnrod Eireann.

Clare County Council is carrying out work on the sewer infrastructure in the area of the railway bridge at Corrovorrin while Iarnr6d Eireann is undertaking a major upgrade of the railway bridge in advance of the opening of the Western Rail Corri- dor.

Fine Gael Councillor and former Limerick fire chief Johnny Flynn has said while the works are worthy and essential, the planning had not been well thought out. He made a lengthy submission to the council regarding the works and highlighted safety 1s- sues and the need for consideration to be given to emergency fire and am- bulance cover for that part of town.

“Public safety has to be the number one priority here. I had suggested that a fire appliance and ambulance be based on the eastern side of the bridge at Corrovorrin so they could quickly respond to emergencies in that part of town. I put this in my submission and didn’t even receive a

reply,” he said.

On Saturday afternoon, the emer- gency services were sent to a road traffic accident at Ballymacahill. The fire brigade had to take a seven kilometre detour by the Quin Road and Gauras while an ambulance had to take a similarly long detour out the Galway road. These diversions added between seven and 10 minutes to the response times. Fortunately, the accident was not serious and the emergency crews were not required.

“If that had been an incident where a car was on fire with persons trapped, whatever chance we would have had of saving them was gone out the win- dow with the detour we had to take. This is a tragedy waiting to happen and I can understand why people are not happy about it,” an emergency worker said.

According to Cllr Flynn, “There was no need for the road to be closed on Saturday. There was no work going on there and some provision should have been made for the emer- gency services to gain access.”

A council spokesman said _ the Irish Rail work involves replacing the bridge deck and widening it and this could not be carried out while maintaining traffic flow. The time it would take for a fire appliance or ambulance to get through would be longer than the round trip.”

LENGTHY court proceedings relat- ing to a feud involving three traveller families became heated amidst al- legations that a threat was made in Open court.

While another case was being heard in the district court late on Friday afternoon, a member of one of the families involved in the feud

shouted, ““He’s after threatening me that he’s going to break my neck.”

The claim was backed up by anoth- er member of his family, who sug- gested that a man at the other side of the courtroom had made gestures.

However none of the 12 gardai present in the courtroom at the time saw anything untoward.

Judge Joseph Mangan asked the man who was alleged to have made

the gesture why he was in court. He was told, “Just here to see how they are getting on.”

Judge Mangan replied, “You can read about it in the papers,’ and told him to leave.

‘I don’t want to see you here again during these cases unless you have a summons or a charge,” said the judge. Later, after bail was refused for three members of the Mongans

family, their solicitor Ted McCarthy said they were in fear of going to Limerick prison, “as they have re- ceived threats”.

Inspector John Galvin said _ that gardai would convey that message to the prison authorities.

Another accused, Patrick Mol- loy, was remanded in custody for a week to St Patrick’s Institution. His solicitor William Cahir said there

were fears of threats in Dublin. “I’ve got threats to say [ll be getting it,” Patrick Molloy told the court.

Inspector Galvin said that message would be communicated with the prison authorities.

Mr Cahir then pointed out, “The fears are very well founded and very genuine.” The judge later changed his ruling and remanded Mr Molloy to Limerick prison.

CLARE is playing host to two of six centres countrywide which have organised events for Biodiversity Mi (ered @

Seedsavers are hosting a Biodiver- sity open day which is being held in Scariff on Sunday, May 25.

Entry is free and there will be a full range of activities on the day, includ- ing demonstrations on blacksmithing and coppicing as well as activities for children and an organic café, where visitors can sample delicious organic food and wine and live music.

For those interested in seeing the results of Seedsavers’ years of graft- ing and gathering native and rare species, there will be guided walks in the orchard and garden.

There will be a display of rare sheep and poultry breeds and talks on a wide range of biodiversity-re- lated subjects.

There are free shuttle buses to the gardens all day as parking is very limited.

The Centre for Environmental Training and Living (CELT) are or- ganising free nature walks on May 20 and 22.

Evening walks are with Andrew St Ledger of CELT and Woodland League, a trained wood carver and Heritage Council ‘Heritage-in-

Schools’ teacher.

On Tuesday, May 20, participants should meet at 6.45pm at Tuam- graney Heritage Centre. The walk is in Raheen Ancient Oak Wood and

includes Brian Boru Oak said to be 1,000 years old.

On Thursday, participants should meet at 6.45pm, at the shop in Flag- mount, and the walk is in Cahermur-

phy Oak Wood Nature Reserve. ‘Notice Nature’ is the theme of this year’s Biodiversity Week and public and school events are being organ- ised at centres around the country.