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THE Shannondoc out-of-hours GP service suffered a slight financial loss for the second year in succession, ac- cording to its latest figures.

In accounts lodged to the Compa- nies Office, Shannondoc reported a loss of €40,000 to the end of 2006 and this follows an operating loss of €45,000 in 2005.

Asked if there were any concerns over the operating loss, manager of Shannondoc, Larry Maher replied, “No, not at all.”

The accounts show that in 2006,

Shannondoc handled 86,932 calls – an increase of 9,722 or 12.6 per cent over 2005. The Killaloe area showed the highest increase at over 30 per cent, while triage nurses dealt with over 20,000 calls as nurses advise without the need to refer the call on to a doctor.

“Given that Shannondoc provides out-of-hours cover for 274,000 peo- ple, the call rate per 1,000 population per week is up from 5.71 to 6.1 calls per 1,000 population per week.

“People don’t realise the scale of the operation. It provides a very com- prehensive service, but it must be re-

membered that it is a family doctor service, not an emergency service,” Mr Maher emphasised.

The accounts show that Shannon- doc had a turnover of €5.08 million in 2006 — an increase of €300,000 on the turnover for 2005.

However, administration expenses for 2006 amounted to €5.12 million and this resulted in an operating loss of €40,000.

However, Shannondoc’s overall fi- nancial state remains healthy with an accumulated surplus of €100,000 at the end of 2006, while the co-op’s net funds stood at €499,000.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) contributed €3.8 million — up €300,000 on the 2005 contribution.

Prior to this year, doctors paid €10,000 each to fund the service but, this year, the rate decreased to around €6,000 per doctor.

In 2006, Shannondoc received €1 million in doctors’ contributions.

The service is also a major con- tributor to the regional economy, with salary costs coming in at €3.2 million.

The accounts show that Shannon- doc employs 38 drivers, 53 medical staff and 35 administrative workers.

THE Clare Primary School 5-a- side soccer tournament went ahead at the Lees Road astro turf facility last week with a huge turnout for the various competitions.

The smaller school competition went ahead on day one with 24 teams taking part in the boys competition. Lahinch NS had the better of An- nagh NS in the first semi final while Quilty beat Kilkee in the second with Lahinch prevailing over Quilty in the final on a score of 2-0.

A total of 20 girls teams took part in the girls competition. Newmarket NS beat Liscannor NS in one semi final and Quilty NS beat Lisdoonvarna in the second. The Quilty girls avenged the defeat of their boys counterparts when they won the final by 2-0.

The Lahinch boys and Quilty girls will now go on to represent Clare in the Munster finals later in the month.

In the bigger schools tournament, Ennis NS won the girls B event in a thrilling final which saw them pre-

vail over Kilrush NS after a tense penalty shoot-out and in the boys B event, Newmarket were 2-1 winners over Kilrush NS.

There was further success for Ennis NS in the large schools section of the draw when they beat the holy family in an entertaining final by 5-1.

“The event was a great success,’ said Tom Glynn, Clare co-ordinator of the event. “The facilities were top quality as were the referees, from Rice College.”

SPITTING is very serious and can lead to infection, a district judge warned, after he heard that a bar manager had been spat at after he ejected a man from the premises.

Marcin Tkacz (27), of Bruach na Sionna, Shannon, pleaded guilty to assault and two public order charges arising from an incident on Decem- ber 21, last.

Inspector Michael Gallagher told Ennis District Court that gardai were called to Durty Nelly’s bar in Bunratty amid claims that there were problems with a man who had been asked to leave.

“Gardai met the manager. He point- ed out the accused, who was sitting in the back of a taxi,” said Inspector Gallagher.

He said the accused was asked to get out of the taxi and he obliged. However, he became verbally abusive towards the manager Gary O’Toole and had to be restrained by gardai.

“Mr O’Toole alleged to gardai the defendant had already punched him in the face and pushed him against

the wall before the arrival of the gardai, when he was refused entry to the pub,” said Inspector Gallagher.

Defending solicitor Jenny Fitzgib- bon said her client had been out so- cialising with work colleagues.

He had a lot to drink and was “not in aclear state’, she said.

Mr O’ Toole told the court the 1nc1- dent lasted more than a half hour.

‘“T had asked him several times to

get a taxi. He assaulted me at the doorway. He swung a punch at me,’ he said, adding that he also spat at abbeee

Judge Tim Lucey said, “Spitting has become a very serious business nowadays, because of the possibility of infections especially. Where did he spit at you?”

Mr O’ Toole replied, “It didn’t actu- ally land on me.”

The judge asked did the accused have compensation in mind and Ms Fitzgibbon said he had €500 in court, which he was prepared to of- oe

The judge said, “Mr O’Toole, that is not in any way compensation for you being assaulted or being spat at, which is an assault in itself nowa- days. I hope you will accept it as a token.”

Mr O’Toole said he wished the money to go to charity and a recom- mendation of Cancer Research at Cahercalla Hospice was accepted by eemeelebum

ONE of the longest running chairty events in Clare tees of next week when the Lions Club of Ennis annual golf classic takes place at Ennis Golf Site

The event, on Saturday May 10, is the longest running golf classic in the region and many local charities have benefited from the proceeds over the years. This year all funds raised will go the Clare branch of the Alzheim- ers Society.

The Clare Branch of the Alzhe- imers Society was formed in 1996. Their office is located at Unit 17 Clonroad Business Park, Ennis.

Opening hours are from 9-5 Monday to Thursday and 9-4 on Friday.

Over 980 people have Alzheimers Disease in Clare. This represents al- most | per cent of the population of the County.

The Clare branch aims to increase awareness of Alzheimers disease, to provide care for sufferers and make information and assistance available to to carers, including research.

A vitally important home care/ home support service operates from Ennis providing care for approxi- mately 40 families. This enables families to keep their loved ones at home for as long as possible.

A Day Care Centre is situated at

Lower Drumbiggle Road, Ennis and is open 3 days a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9.30 – 4.00 pm. A qualified nurse and nurses aid are in attendance and transport is avail- able.

Support groups hold meetings on a regular basis for relatives and friends in Ennis, Ennistymon, and Kilrush.

The Lions Club golf classic stretch- es back to the early eighties and since its inception, dozens of local and national charities, including the Clare branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association, have benefitted.

Last year’s event was a huge suc- cess with Lions Club president Ea- mon O’Dea handing over a cheque

for €5,000 to Carmel Nelyon of the Irish Wheelchair Association.

The main sponsor for this year’s Golf Classic is again KECO Con- struction. Anyone who wishes to enter a team on the day should con- tact Ennis GC at 065 6865415. The cost per team is €160 and individual holes can be sponsored for as little as €100.

THE manager of Shannondoc con- firmed yesterday that there will be “significant” cost implications in re- lation to a successful Labour Court claim by SIPTU for improved rates of pay for the service’s workforce. Shannondoc provides an_ out-of- hours GP service to patients across

Clare and the mid-west, except for the Limerick city area, and employs 126 workers, with the vast majority on a part-time basis.

SIPTU sought the application of Health Service Executive (HSE) terms and conditions of employment for all its members and retrospection back to January 2005.

The success of the claim will mean

a nice pay-day for the SIPTU mem- bers as the money has been backdat- ed to August 2006.

SIPTU pointed out that such a claim was recommended by the La- bour Court in relation to arguments put forward by SIPTU on the South- doc service. Southdoc pointed out that the claim would cost €753,629.

Shannondoc put forward proposals

based on that recommendation but SIPTU argued that those proposals do not mirror in full the HSE cond1i- tions applicable in other areas.

SIPTU claimed that full pay, pre- mium rates and sick leave should be paid from January 1, 2005. The union believed it was a sustainable claim as it was formally lodged in May 2005 and Shannondoc acknowledged this in June 2005.

SIPTU also argued that its mem- bers should not suffer as a result of Shannondoc refusing to engage in discussions with the union until mid- 2007, especially as what was sought was applied by the HSE elsewhere.

Shannondoc maintained that retro- spection should be paid from August 2006 as this was agreed with media- tion of the Labour Relations Com- mission. The company viewed it as a reasonable compromise and the majority of staff accepted it.

Shannondoc pointed out that it was not a profit-making organisation but received funding from the HSE and the concession of any claim would be subject to HSE approval before fund- ing could be made available.

The Labour Court recommended that the HSE terms and conditions of employment should apply from Au- gust 1, 2006 with the implementation details agreed between the parties as early as possible.

Shannondoc General Manager Lar- ry Maher said that the cost implica- tions of the Labour Court judgment will be ‘significant’.

THERE was double All-Ireland suc- cess for Clare at the weekend as the Banner County claimed the Under 14/15 and Under 16/17 team cham- pionship titles at Clarecastle on Sun- day. In theUunder 14/15 event (team of six), Clare won their semi-final against Galway by 86 to 55 and came up against Kilkenny in the final. The home team was much too strong on the day and recorded an 82-59 win.

Christopher Philpot (Kilkishen) and Keith Hogan (Newmarket) won their games on a 14/15, 15/8 score, with Darren Cooney and Kevin O’Callaghan (both Kilkishen) re- cording a score of 8/15, 15/4 while Evan Corbett (Tulla) and Patrick Fitzgerald (Tuamgraney) won 15/10, RAE

This was a double for the Tulla Tua- mgraney pair as they were members of the under 12/13 team that won last years title, as was Barry Nash who did not play this weekend due to a bout of flu. Clooney’s Peter Duggan (captain) also played in the semi-fi- nal against Galway.

Not to be outdone, the Clare Under 16/17 team also went all the way and captured their own All-Ireland title. Also played at Clarecastle on Sun- day, the Clare team of Sam Edbrooke (Tulla), Chris Ryan (Clarecastle), Ryan O’Neill (Clooney), Liam

Clancy (Newmarket), Shane Crehan and Eoin McGrath (both O’C. Mills) overcame Wexford in an epic final, eventually emerging as winners by a single ace, 48 to 47. Great credit must go to the mentors of both teams who put in a lot of hours in the run up to the semi-finals and finals and Clare handball owes a debt of gratitude to people like Christy Philpot, Joe Cor- bett, John Clune and Owen Conlon.

The weekend just passed also saw the East Clare Construction-sposn- sored Boys Under 11 tournament, hosted by the Kilkishen club. There was a large turnout and the day con- cluded with Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3 finals. One of Clare’s great handball servants through the years, in the shape of Donal Flem- ing, was on hand to help organise, run and referee the various games.

Meanwhile, the Clare County Ju- venile Handball Committee held the annual Medal Presentation Evening at East Clare Golf Club on Sunday last. All players who won county, Munster or All-Ireland honours, in- cluding Sunday’s victorious team- event winners, were presented with iW eLoyDMmBaLeLO rN ECE

County Chairman Matthew Mc- Mahon addressed those present and highlighted the importance of a strong juvenile structure in keeping handball booming within the coun-

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THE Health Service Executive (HSE) has stated that the discharge of raw sewage into the River Fergus by Ennis Town Council “represents a serious public risk and should be treated with the greatest urgency”’. Correspondence released under the Freedom of Information Act by the Environmental Protection Agency outlines the number of complaints that have been made in recent times

over the pumping of raw sewage into the River Fergus from the pumping station at Francis Street.

The situation is not expected to be fully addressed until the provision of a new €75 million sewage treat- ment plant at Clareabbey to serve the greater Ennis area which will not be in place until 2012.

In one of the letters HSE Environ- mental Health Officer Fiona Healy said she witnessed the discharge of sewerage twice and on both occa-

sions, murky water spread throughout the river, leaving a layer of scum.

“IT have seen sanitary towels in the discharge and there has been a foul smell on both occasions,” she said.

Us Tee MC sc MA SULA OMEN MDAUercA bes 2006 and in a separate letter Envi- ronmental Health Officer, Brendan Mortell says the sewage overflow has been causing a nuisance for residents at this location for a number of years and should be given as high a prior- ity as possible, considering its close

proximity to dwellings.

In a letter to the HSE, Town Engi- neer, [om Tiernan said the discharge to the river following heavy rainfall was “not acceptable in this day and age. It is, however, outside the coun- cil’s control until such time as the upgrading of the station can be pro- ceeded with”.

In response the EPA serving notice, the Town Council compiled a report last October outlining the actions it had taken to minimise the problem.

HIDDEN messages reveal a positive attitude in a new exhibition currently on display in Ennis.

Final year arts student Grace O’Hara is the woman behind the work that can be seen in the front window of Mrs Quin’s charity shop in Ennis.

Embroidered in clothes donated by Grace to the shop, are motivational messages and positive mantras. Some of the messages are visible while others are hidden. The items are part of Grace’s final year project for the Limerick School of Art and Design. The items will then go on display in June at the final exhibition to be held

at the St George’s Quay campus.

Describing the technique as similar to that employed by graffiti artists, Grace said, “I embroider onto my own clothes and given them to char- ity shops. The work is anonymous in the sense that it doesn’t bear my name. The only recognizable feature is the style of the stitching used.

Grace continued, “The reward for me is the notion of the buyer sudden- ly finding the message, reading it and holding onto the positive thought. What I am hoping to do is to spread good will or karma and this proc- ess continues when the clothes get passed on again or end up in another charity shop.”

The project developed as a result

of the pressures Grace experienced during her final year of college.

After reading through self-help and motivational books, she felt com- pelled to weave a positive message into her own work.

She said “The origin of my work stems from the personal stresses that we all endure in everyday life. When I was doing research for this project, these positive messages be- came my motivational tools to cope with stress, as did the calming craft of embroidery. It helped to soothe away my worries.”

Grace received important support from her lecturers in Limerick and the staff at Mrs Quin’s Charity shop.

“Lucy and all of the staff at Mrs

Quin’s were very helpful in letting me use the window. My tutors in Limerick, Sean Taylor, Mike Fox and Amanda Dunsmore gave me great help throughout my years in college.”

None of the clothes currently on display are on sale, as they will be used in the June exhibition in Lim- erick. After completing her degree Grace hopes to pursue a career in Koreans

“The nice part about the work is people do not realize they have bought a piece of art until they in- spect the clothes closely or they may just think it was designed that way”.

The work is on display in Mrs Quin’s charity shop until May 12.

MARY Coughlan met the man with his finger on the button controlling European Agriculture on Thursday when she held her last face-to-face meeting with Peter Mandelson before the start of the World Trade Talks. Speaking after the meeting, Minister Coughlan reaffirmed her “deep con- cern’ about aspects of the current world trade talks.

The negotiations in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) involve over 150 countries and have now been go- ing on without a resolution for seven years. The talks cover agriculture, manufacturing, services, trade rules and trade facilitation but have been

concentrating heavily on agriculture in recent months.

The Director General of WTO has indicated that he proposes to call a ministerial meeting in May to dis- cuss agriculture and manufacturing trade.

“Ireland is a trading nation and as such we have a strong national inter- est in seeing a successful trade round and a strong WTO,” said Coughlan. ‘However we are deeply concerned at the imbalance in the current nego- tiations.”

As things stand, we see EU and Irish agriculture are being asked to carry a disportionate burden in the overall effort to conclude a deal.”

Minister Coughlan said that she

drew the Commissioner’s attention to the dramatic changes in world food markets since these negotia- tions commenced.

“I pointed out that many EU Gov- ernments now share our conviction about the need to maintain a strong agricultural production base in Eu- rope.”

But this critical fact is being ignored in the WTO process to date.” contin- ued Minister Coughlan.

“The agrifood sector in Ireland, built up over years to become the huge contributor that it now is to our economy must not be damaged by a WTO agreement which fails to take account of the new realities emerg- ing in world food supply.”

The minister emphasised the very real difficulties for Irish agriculture and the food industry from some of the proposals emanating from the WTO in Geneva.

Minister Coughlan outlined in detail the dramatic impact of hugely in- creased imports of beef and the con- centration of these imports on high value cuts of meat.

She called on the Commissioner to ensure a meaningful level of protec- tion for our industry.

She also said that our concerns were not confined to the beef sector and underscored to the Commissioner the difficulties some of the propos- als would generate for our dairy, pig- meat and sheepmeat sectors also.

UP TO a quarter of all family doc- tors in Ennis are not taking on any new patients.

Chairman of the Clare branch of the Irish College of General Prac- titioners (ICGP) Dr Michael Harty said that 25 per cent of general prac- titioners in the county town have closed their list.

“In areas of population growth the number of patients is out stripping the number of GPs. In the rest of the county I wouldn’t be aware of any that have closed their list,” he said.

The Clare GP representative con- firmed however that the work of all GPs has increased significantly in the last number of years, an issue that 1s to become even more serious as a huge shortage in the profession is predicted.

“In general terms the work of the GP has increased by 50 per cent. Part of this is due to the population increase but one of the major factors for the increase in workload is the transferral of patients from hospitals to GPs,’ he said.

These transferrals include Warfarin and diabetes clinics.

“We are doing a lot more interven- tion than we used to,” he said.

The Kilmihil doctor said that the public also has greater expecta- tions and are more health conscious, which leads them to visit the doctor

more often.

There are currently 2,500 GPs in Ireland a number that is decreasing due to the older age profile of the profession.

The issue is about to reach crisis point however as not enough doctors are coming on stream to replace cur- rent GPs planning to retire.

“There are a large cohort of GPs that are within 10 to I5 years of re- tiring,” he said.

It takes 11 years for a student to go from first year medicine to a fully qualified GP.

‘We need to plan in advance and at the moment that is not there,’ added Dr Harty.

He said that 121 GPs qualify each year.

This number was to reach 150 but the HSE withdrew funding last year.

Initially it was hoped to bring the number of GPs trained every year to 180.

A survey carried out by the Irish College of General Practitioners showed over 50 per cent of GPs had problems recruiting partners to their practice, while 66 per cent had dif- ficulty-recruiting assistants.

Minister for Health Mary Harney admitted this week that there is a need to increase the number of GPs in the country.