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THE staff and management of Hali- fax Insurance in Shannon have spent the last few months working that bit harder. It’s nothing to do with trying to increase profits or even combating the downturn in the economy, instead the group have been working their fingers to the bone to raise money for three very deserving charities.

And on the evidence of this work, they all deserve great big raises. Last Thursday the insurance company presented cheques totalling €34,000 to three charities.

The Irish Cancer Society were given €17,000 to continue their good work while Limerick’s Milford Care Centre received €8,500 and depres-

sion charity Aware receive €8,500.

The company’s charity committee introduced the challenge to Halifax Insurance Ireland Ltd and organised, promoted and encouraged colleagues to get involved in the events through- out the year. Each and every member of Halifax in Shannon was involved in some way or another in the fund- raising push.

The committee came up with a wide variety of events and activi- ties ranging from the sublime to the slightly ridiculous. Senior managers served tea and coffee to everyone at their desks, people washed cars, and the IT team sold their own desserts and produced a world class recipe book.

Other colleagues faced the bitter

cold of the Atlantic on St Stephen’s day while more than 20 others were sponsored to lose weight on the beach body challenge. They even held an Xtra-Factor night with their very own version of Louis, Simon and Sharon.

“This money will go along way to- wards helping us to create and deliver innovative programmes for the care of people with cancer, to fund can- cer research and to provide education and health promotion programmes independent of government policies,” said Kevin Delaney of Irish Cancer Society who collected a cheque for a AUC OF

“We are so proud of our employees for all that they have achieved,” said Caroline Holmes, Senior Manager

HR and Chair of the Charity Com- mittee.

“We have set all of our departments a challenge for 2008 so we can see how high we can raise the bar.”

Halifax Insurance Ireland Ltd was voted one of the top 50 companies to work for in 2007 and were awarded overall winner for Training and De- velopment by the Irish Institute of Training and Development (IITD) in February 2008.

THE vice-president elect of the Teachers Union of Ireland has hit out at schools that administer what her union has described as “academic hoy-Nus eles (ema

Enniswoman Bernie Ruane said that some schools are refusing to take in students who have special needs, often using a full roll as an excuse.

Every child should have a right to go to their local second level school but the reality is the schools are writ- ing an open administrative policy

but they are not implementing it,” said the St Patrick’s Comprehensive School, Shannon assisting principal.

The teacher with more than 25 years experience attended the TUI national conference as the newly elected vice president who is to take up her new role in July 1.

The active member of the TUI 1s very vocal on numerous issues af- fecting teachers and students not least of all the issue of “academic apartheid”.

At its conference last week TUI delegates said that the Department of

Education and Science continues to facilitate certain schools in operat- ing a system of ‘academic apartheid’ in their admission policies thereby enhancing the privilege of such schools.

According to TUI figures 10 per cent of second level schools do not take any students with special needs.

Certain schools continue to dis- criminate against students with spe- cial educational needs by not allow- ing them the right to be educated with their siblings, friends and neighbours the union of 14,500 members main-

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‘The corollary of this is that other schools with open admissions polices continue to act as magnets for pupils with special education needs, despite a chronic lack of resources.

“With much fanfare, the minister signalled her intention to carry out an audit of the number of students with special needs in schools two years ago but this information has yet to be presented despite several requests from TUI,” said the unions Assistant General Secretary John MacGabhann.

PLANS have been lodged for the largest ever residential housing

scheme in Clare with a €200 mil- lion proposal to create a new suburb of Ennis.

Ennis-based Crystal Partners Ltd is seeking approval for 471 residential units in the first phase of a master- plan that will ultimately deliver 700 new homes in the Gaurus area on the eastern outskirts of the town.

The first phase of the ‘Gaurus Vil- lage’ development involves an invest- ment of €125 million with the over- all value of €200 million put on the project.

The company ultimately plans to build 700 new homes which will al- most double the current population of Doora parish.

The overall site covers a 95 acre landbank which will incorporate a creche, a 16-teacher school and asso- ciated playing field, a neighbourhood

centre with shopping facilities and 14 residential serviced sites. There are also plans for walking trails and natural habitat areas including a 6 hectare lake.

The plan provides for an upgrade of Gaurus Bridge to include a footpath, cycle path, a pedestrian crossing of the river and a new water main.

The site was formerly used as a sand and gravel pit with lumber yard.

A spokesman for Crystal Partners described the project “as a vote of

confidence in the future growth and prosperity of Ennis”.

The application makes Crystal Part- ners well placed to become Clare’s largest developers.

Already, the company has_pur- chased lands formerly owned by the Diocese of Killaloe at Clareabbey, where it has secured planning per- mission for 219 residential units. The company is currently seeking permission for 240 residential units on the Kildysart Road outside Clare-

castle.

The Crystal Partners spokesman said: “Ennis is one of the fastest erowing towns in Ireland with a pro- jected population of 40,000 by 2016 and this project will attract people to Ennis from all over Ireland, particu- larly from Limerick and Galway. .

THE work done by Glor na hInse has been described as an exemplary model for others to follow.

Speaking on Saturday in Glor, when the Ennis Glor na nGael com- mittee was presented with first prize in the Irish Langauge Awards, Glor na nGael manager Nora Welby said, “This committee enjoys widespread Support in the community and em- ploys a highly effective means of planning. The committee’s approach to its work is an exemplary model that would be useful for other commit- tee’s involved with Glor na nGael”’.

Ms Welby praised the work done in providing Irish language classes for adults. She said, “Among the many achievements of the Irish language community in Ennis is the strong gaelscoileanna movement and over- coming challenging obstacles to pro- vide Irish classes for adults”.

Cathal Goan, Director General of RTE, was present to make the pres- entations at the ceremony.

The local Glor na nGael commit- tee in Ennis received €50,000 and a trophy, in national recognition of its achievements in promoting the Irish language in County Clare dur- ing 2007.

Second place was awarded to Rath Cairn in the Meath Gaeltacht, whose committee received an award to the value of €12,500.

Ms Welby added, “Youth provision also impressed the Glor na nGael adjudicators with Féile na hInse, the publication of a CD and the organi- sation an Fhéile Scoildramaiochta in Ennis ensuring provision for young people. Glor na hInse has a highly effective publicity strategy.”

On top of first place in the compe- tition, Glor na hInse won the Public Services Award, €700, sponsored by Gaeleagras na Seirbhisi Poibli.

She continued, “The committee

works closely with the state sector to encourage the provision of services through the medium of Irish. The li- brary received particular praise from the adjudicators on account of the Irish language resources its offers. There is also excellent cooperation with the County Council’s Irish lan- guage officer.

In total, Gl6r na nGael announced prizes amounting to more than €150,000 at the event in Ennis on Saturday.

Glor Shionna received national rec- ognition on Saturday night. The Irish language group won Duais Chonradh na Gaeilge, worth €2,000.

THE traditional selling period for holiday homes is fast approaching and as yet, agents specialising in this market are unsure whether or not the downturn in the property market will spread its tentacles to the coastal aoe

Aine Hussey of Sherry FitzGerald Hussey Madden, Ennistymon, is relatively upbeat about the prospects

for 2008.

“After a disappointing last quarter in 2007, 2008 kicked off with an un- expected but most welcome strong start, with a high volume of sales for the first quarter of our financial year.

This strong start may have been due to people holding off until the stamp duty issue was resolved in the Budget.

She added, “most of our sales early this year have been to people moving

permanently to the north and west Clare area. From Easter onwards is traditionally the start of the holiday home sales and we have found that the rate of enquiries has increased ten fold since St Patrick’s weekend, particularly for the popular costal villages of Lahinch, Doolin, Liscan- nor and Spanish Point with some strong offers already on the table. “The buyer profile of recent years doesn’t seem to be changing, with

the majority of our enquiries gen- erated by prospective buyers from Limerick, Dublin and the Midlands. However, despite the weakening sterling, we have increased our UK client base both for permanent and holiday homes”.

Holiday home purchasers in 2007 were waiting for adjustments in the markets including stamp duty before moving on second homes, now that the criteria’s have been met we see

strong demand for the 2008 season.

Asked which properties are cur- rently drawing attention, Aine said, “The School Road development of 77 homes continue to sell from plans and as usual there is strong demand for properties with sea views”.

All told, Aine is feeling confident and anticipates that the Clare coastal market will remain resilient in 2008.

“We are looking forward to a busy summer season.’

ENNIS Town Council has been ac- cused of “taking unfair advantage” by demanding over €300,000 in planning levies after “forcing” a fam- ily to lodge a planning application.

Earlier this year, Ennis Town Council granted Michelle Madden planning permission to redevelop the family-run furniture showrooms at Station Road, Ennis.

Mrs Madden lodged the application

after the council issued a Compulso- ry Purchase Order (CPO) for lands at the address to facilitate the develop- ment of the Ennis inner relief road.

However, the local business family were shocked after the local author- ity demanded €332,020 in levies if they wished to proceed with the de- velopment.

The family face a bill of €255,500 for car-parking facilities although the council don’t plan to provide car- parking in the area. The council is

also demanding €76,520 for a con- tribution to public facilities benefit- ing the development.

It is not known how much money the Maddens received in compensa- tion for the CPO.

However, consultants for Mrs Mad- den state in an appeal lodged to An Bord Pleanala seeking to delete the council’s financial demands, that the council “is taking unfair advantage of the situation”.

The consultants state that “Mrs

Madden has been forced to apply for planning permission in this instance and that all financial contributions should be dispensed with in this or Won

‘No allowance has been made for the fact that Mrs Madden’s business premises is long in existence. No al- lowance has been made for the dem- olition of existing areas of the build- ing and no allowance for the fact that substantial areas of the building are to be retained and compromised by the demolition to allow the CPO to proceed and further compromised by the resultant development”

The consultants states that Mrs Madden has been compelled to apply for the application by the actions of the council.

In response, Ennis Town Council has told An Bord Pleanala that the contributions were calculated in good faith, properly applied and that there was “no exemption from develop- ment contributions in circumstances where there is a CPO on site.”

The council asks, “Why should one development not be charged for parking when other businesses who extend their floor area or build new are charged for parking as per the scheme or provide it on site.”

They argue that the application has to be dealt with as an issue that is completely independent of any road development proposals.

A decision is due on the appeal later this year.

AFTER 40 years and the odd meet- ing with a US president, Newmarket- on-Fergus man Joe McCormack has retired from Aer Lingus.

In a long career with the national carrier, Joe observed the many A aT betexeh Met IM ST MVom Cot OE-Com aCe Lingus, from the boom times of the nineties to the ending of the Shan- non-Heathrow link.

Joe left Aer Lingus around the same time as his friends and col- leagues Tony Lillis, Flann Fahy and Michael Culligan, and says he’ll miss the place.

“It’s a bit strange alright, particu- larly in the mornings,” he says.

“I would have been used to get- ting up early for the morning shift. But you have to move on, and any- way sure I’ll find plenty to keep me LeU A

Joe started and ended his career with Aer Lingus working in the load- ing section of Shannon Airport. He left the job as a supervisor, though with dwindling staff numbers, Shan- non has become a different place.

There was a time, Joe remembers, when the airport was busy, bustling re tleren

He explains: “For a while there, in

the nineties when you might have 150 people working during the day, you start at 6am and not finish till 12 that night. There might be 12 or 14 teams working in loading. It was very busy.

“You would be handling up to 50 flights, when it got really busy. The night shift was hectic. We worked very hard, but it’s definitely a lot qui- eter now.”

Its no surprise that along the way Joe met one or two famous faces on their way through travel.

“You got to meet a lot of different people. I remember meeting Telly Savallas and Bill Clinton. Bill Clin-

ton came over and talked with a few of us and shook our hands. I remem- ber Abba coming too, they came over to us. But the thing was, you wouldn’t go over to someone unless they came over to you.”

Joe may have retired but the Mc- Cormack family tradition continues at Aer Lingus. Joe’s daughter Emma works in the personnel section of Aer Lingus in Shannon and has been with the company for nine years.

EU laws governing the control of bluetongue has come in for stick this week from Clare farmer and Chair- person of ICMSA’s Beef and Cattle Committee, Martin McMahon.

“If bluetongue arrives in Ireland it will not only lead to considerable movement restrictions, but also lead to livestock mortality, poor animal health and performance, as well as imposing considerable additional costs on farmers with the negative impact on farm incomes that comes from that,’ said Mr McMahon.

‘The starting point in our efforts to control the threat of bluetongue must be to ensure that EU rules at least do

not hinder Ireland’s ability to keep the disease out. And ICMSA’s view is that the current rules are unfortu- nately more of a hindrance to our ef- forts than they are a help.

“For example, under the existing rules, if a vaccination programme is introduced, then zones have to be es- tablished and movement restrictions put in place. In addition, Ireland’s trading status for live exports would ost ahem

He continued, “It is absolutely ab- surd that we would face extra restric- tions because we vaccinate to try and prevent the disease. What kind of logic has you disadvantaged for trying to prevent a disease?

“It is ICMSA’s firm view that we

need to strengthen our defences against bluetongue in the whole of Ireland. In this context, preventative vaccination for bluetongue should be considered as soon as the vaccine be- comes available. And we should be able to carry through this preventive measure without being disadvan- taged by the EU.”

Meanwhile, Minister for Agri- culture, Mary Coughlan, last week noted that a draft proposals from the EU Commission in relation to blue- tongue has been compiled.

The Minister said that she and her officials had been pressing the Com- mission to make every effort to en- sure that those countries that are free of bluetongue remain disease-free

and the latest proposals from the Commission should be seen in this context.

“Following the introduction of im- port control measures last month, which suspended the importation of certain cattle and sheep from blue- tongue-restricted zones, I had again asked the Commission to consider revising the conditions under which live animals may be exported from bluetongue-restricted zones in the light of the then emerging informa- tion,” she said.

The new proposals will be dis- cussed at a meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) in Brus- sels on March 31.

STAYING safe at work has paid a double bonus for employees of a company in Clare.

CRH-owned Clare-based com- pany Roadstone Provinces has an- nounced that its employees have raised €10,000 for the Midwest S1- mon Community during the first six months of its partnership with the homelessness charity.

Launched in July last year, the CRH Simon Safety Challenge is an all-island initiative designed to assist the Simon Communities of Ireland’s important work in tackling home- lessness.

For every accident-free quarter (three months) achieved at any Road- stone Provinces company location across the country, a sum of money was donated to the Midwest Simon Community. Company locations that achieve a full accident-free year will have the opportunity to donate an ad- ditional 25 per cent bonus payment on top of the four combined quar-

terly donations, to be awarded at the end of the year.

In the first six months of the CRH Simon Safety Challenge, CRH staff across Ireland raised a total of €328,/44 for the Simon Commu- UI AYA

The challenge is on track to meet its national objective of raising a to- tal of €1 million by the end of June this year.

Speaking at the announcement of the monies raised to date, Michael Keating, CRH Safety Challenge spokesperson said, “There has been a fantastic response to the safety chal- lenge from our staff in Clare, who have really gotten behind the drive to help raise money for the Simon Sreseaveeltvayi nam

According to Sarah Birchett of the Midwest Simon Community, “This CRH-led initiative is a great example of how the business world can link with a charity to help raise awareness and promote a better understanding of a complex social problem like homelessness.”

PLANS to provide a skateboard park as part of major developments at Shannon Leisure Centre have been put on the back-burner after the centre turned down a grant of €50,000 towards the facility.

The funding was to have been provided out of the Town Council’s Community Development fund and had the full support of town man- ager, Ger Dollard, but controversy arose earlier this month about the allocation of the money.

The council had received two let- ters, from Wolfe Tones Camogie

Club and Newtown FC. In their proposals both clubs said they have spent considerable sums on provid- ing facilities but have a shortfall for finishing their projects.

Both asked the Town Council to contribute to their funds. But fund- ing in the Community Develop- ment pot is built up over a number of years and is limited, meaning the Council can only contribute to one major project every five years or so.

Speaking at the March meeting of Shannon Town Council, in her capacity as an elected representa- tive and a member of the board of directors of the Leisure Centre, Cllr

Patricia McCarthy said the solution was for the centre not to avail of the funding.

“At the risk of being accused of having a vested interest in all of this, I want to say that Shannon Le1- sure Centre have no intention of get- ting embroiled in any controversy, ’ she said.

“It was not their desire to seek to gain any preferential treatment. The Town Council was aware that the Leisure Centre were doing a major project. We (the centre) were asked to consider a skateboard park, we considered it. It’s adding a mini- mum of€56,000 on to the bill we

already have.

“We put a request in for money to the town council to support this. The town council agreed. But the board is now seriously concerned about the amount of damage that’s being generated and the amount of ill feeling that’s being generated against the Leisure Centre.

“The simple solution is that the Leisure Centre are quite happy to withdraw their letter and are quite happy to reject the offer of €50,000 and to let the town council provide the skateboard park themselves if they so wish and that will solve it,” she concluded.