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WITH the days fast counting down to the beginning of the new Depart- ment of Agriculture scheme to cross- check the milk testing by co-ops, the IFA has come in with its support for the initiative.

According to IFA National Dairy Committee Chairman Richard Kennedy, the scheme, due to begin on April 1, is in line with the Gov- ernment’s Partnership commitment to the IFA.

This protocol of verification will cover the testing of all constituents used for payment, audit of lab pro- cedures, check calibration of ma- ATEN Tom AMV ICM URANO OComBUch UO LRCMECTo OL! back to farmers. Results of the cross-

checks will be published by the De- partment.

Kennedy commented that while this new protocol was welcome, it was only the first step in raising the standards of Irish milk testing to in- ternational best practice, paving the way for full accreditation of central, independent milk testing laborato- ju Coe

“I believe this move will help focus the minds of all in the dairy industry on the importance of proper stand- ards in milk testing, from sample taking, all the way to the returning of results to both farmers and proc- essors, he said.

‘However, I see it as merely the first step towards world-class ISO 17025 accreditation of a small number of

centralised milk laboratories, shared by all milk processors, which could easily be established on an independ- ent footing.”

Kennedy said the chances of achieving fully accredited, and ulti- mately independent, milk testing in one or a few central laboratories for all of Ireland’s milk have never been aoa Koa

“Dairygold have committed to out- sourcing their milk testing needs to a fully accredited third party lab by 2009,” he said.

“The West Cork Co-ops have de- cided to centralise all their milk test- ing into one, accredited laboratory. Connacht Gold are preparing to in- vest in new, accredited facilities and are willing to share those with other

neighbouring co-ops. The Chair- man of Lakeland Co-op has publicly expressed his support for a single, world-class milk testing lab.

‘Many other co-ops have declared to us they were seriously looking into accreditation for milk testing, and an increasing number of them have now recognised the importance for farm management purposes as well as accuracy of results, of testing every collection.

‘These strands all go in the right direction, but now they must come together. Co-ops must agree to share the use of a small number of fully accredited, world class standard fa- cilities – eventually ensuring that those are operated independently,’ Kennedy concluded.

A COUPLE who struck a ‘secret’ High Court settlement with Clare County Council in relation to a plan- ning application could be in line for a €2 million windfall.

Last year, the council granted plan- ning permission for a €7.5 million 31 unit housing development to Ber- nard Madigan and Mary Keane. The two had instituted High Court legal

proceedings against the council af- ter the local authority refused plan- ning for a previous application for 31 homes at the same site outside Inagh in April 2006.

Last year, the council finally grant- ed permission for the revised devel- opment proposal and the site has now been put up for sale, with a €2 mil- lion price guide from John Vaughan Auctioneers.

The council granted for the plan

having regard to the zoning of the land, the intended use of the proposed land and the pattern of development in the area, concluding that it would not seriously injure the amenities of the area and be in accordance with proper planning and development.

At the council’s March meeting, County Solicitor John Shaw (pictured right) declined to reveal the contents of the High Court outcome relating to the planning application that was turned down at the site.

In response to a motion by Cllr PJ Kelly (FF), Mr Shaw said that the matter “is one in which you will be aware there is aconfidentiality agree- ment which has not been waived by the other side.

“The case is settled. I am still not at liberty to disclose the terms of settle-

ment in an open manner. I am happy to discuss same and disclose them in detail to individual councillors pri- vately or at a closed meeting of the council in committee.

“Councillors will be aware that I have offered this facility previously and whilst I want to be as open as possible with members of the coun- cil I do have an obligation to protect the confidentiality of this agreement. In this regard and in an effort to be of assistance to the councillors I can say that ultimately there was no financial loss to the council.”

According to Vaughan’s website, the 4.9 acres site includes planning for eight detached, 14 semi-detached and nine terraced houses. It states: “This land is located in Inagh vil- lage and within walking distance of

all amenities offered by this village. This is a flat site which would allow for easy development. All services are available close to the land.”

TULLA residents are being asked to buy a brick and help build play facili- ties which will have local children jumping for joy for years to come.

Planning permission has now been granted for the development of a play area after a year of work by a com- mittee of parents sick of travelling miles to find a see-saw, and commu- nity representatives who want better facilities in the village.

“We take children to Shannon, Loughrae, Portumna – anywhere. There’s just nothing in east Clare,” said committee member and parent, Jim O’Sullivan.

“The need for the development of community facilities, especially playgrounds and amenities for young people, is a prominent concern for the developing communities in not just Tulla but all of east Clare.”

€110,000 in grant money has been made available for the playground but another €40,000 is needed to make the youngsters’ dream a real- ity.

The committee members are hope- ful that kids will be swinging, slid- ing, running and climbing before the summer is over and with that in mind, they are asking locals to buy a notional brick to make up the cash needed.

“We were very fortunate and very thankful to Mick Kehoe for donating the site to us,” said Jim.

“Unfortunately equipment you find in a domestic garden is not robust enough to give decades of service in a public playground. A two-seat swing set costs €2,600 but adding in the required safety surfacing brings the cost of a swing set to over €5,000 and that is before other major items such as the ground-works, fencing and footpaths are paid for.”

The “Buy A Brick’ campaign in- volves donating €100 or whatever people can afford. The donation will go directly towards the building cost and everyone who buys a brick will

get a certificate to display.

‘People can buy a brick for them- selves or for friends and family. You can dedicate a brick for a special oc- casion anniversary, birthday or a me- morial for a loved one,’ said Jim.

“We recognise the fact that 100 is a lot of money for some families to donate so we would gladly welcome any contribution that people can make,” he added.

The playground committee would also welcome the support of any companies in the area who could make a corporate donation.

The committee will launch their campaign in the courthouse on Wednesday, April 2 at 8pm.

AN TAISCE has re-affirmed its op- position to the planned €10 million plan for an explosives factory on the Shannon Estuary.

A decision is expected in relation to the current plan in the next number of weeks. A previous planning ap- plication was refused by An Bord Pleanala.

It is now almost two years since Shannon Explosives submitted re- vised plans for an explosives factory at Cahercon pier in Kildysart. The company has already furnished the

council with substantial further 1n- formation. However, An Taisce, the Kildysart

Explosives Factory Opposition Group (KEFOG) and others oppose the project.

In a submission on the latest in- formation lodged by Shannon Ex- plosives, An Taisce’s Heritage Of- ficer, Ian Lumley states, ““We do not consider that the applicants have re- solved the key conflict posed by this development with the policy provi- sions of the West Clare Local Area Plan, 2003, including the specific ob- jectives for Kildysart to develop the

harbour area as a local amenity, tour- ism and leisure facility which will contribute to the tourism product.

‘No need has been identified for an additional explosives manufacturing facility in Ireland or no argument has been advanced that the capacity of the existing permitted manufactur- ing facility near Enfield in County Meath is not adequate to meet na- tional needs. . .

“We consider that the site because of its location sensitivity is, irrespec- tive of any proposal for an explosives factory, unsuitable for quarrying be- cause of its topography and relation

to this sensitive part of the Shannon Estuary. For this reason and in view of the unsuitability of the site on lo- cation grounds, we do not consider it necessary to comment on the other specific issues submitted by the ap- plicant, including the revised habitat and bat assessment. We recommend that this application be refused.”

In their objection, KEPOG state, “Development and day to day use of this land will be curtailed by the applicant. This is unacceptable. Pub- lic perception of the dangers of ex- plosives must be taken into account when considering the issue.

THE number of incidents responded to by the Doolin Unit of the Irish Coast Guard increased by 25 per cent last year. The Doolin Unit responded to a total of 30 incidents in 2007 compared to 24 throughout 2006. This increase in coast guard activ- ity has been mirrored throughout the country with overall incidents increasing by 8.5 per cent year-on-

year in 2007. According to figures released last week, incidents involv- ing the Coast Guard increased from 1807 in 2006 to 1961 last year.

Indeed the number of incidents has increased steadily in each of the last 8 years, growing from 1718 in 2000.

Last year’s rise mainly involved adventure sports with surfing, diving and caving incidents increasing by 31 per cent, 120 per cent and 400 per cent respectively.

‘Adventure sports are becoming the norm all over the place. If you look at Aileen’s wave under the Cliffs, peo- ple are surfing that now the same as if they were surfing in the beach in Lahinch,” said Matty Shannon of Doolin Coast Guard.

“People are getting into more ex- treme adventure sports. They get the newest technology and the newest equipment but that doesn’t mean that a accident won’t happen.

“There are so many different things that contribute to an accident, a lot of the time it is just luck.”

Mr Shannon has called for people to take more personal responsibility before they put themselves in harm’s WENA

“People never think that it will happen to them, they think that ac- cidents only happen to other people. People have to be responsible for themselves, we are a response serv-

ice. We are a response service and we are volunteers. We cannot be in the station all day every day waiting for something to happen. So people must realise that it will take 15 or 20 minutes for us to get to them. They need to take responsibility for this themselves,” he said.

The coast guard figures also show a 75 per cent increase in incidents in- volving shore anglers and 38 per cent increase in nuisance calls.

MOTORISTS in the Killaloe and Scariff electoral areas will see more than €7.73 million spent on upgrad- ing and maintaining their national and non-national road network this year.

With funding under the national and non-national roadworks pro- gramme coupled with council re- sources, the Killaloe electoral area will be spending €935,000 on res- toration works and the Scariff elec- toral area will be spending €2.124

million.

€455,000 has been allocated to maintenance and surface dressing of roads in the Killaloe area while Scariff will spend €655,000 on the same works.

A grant of €/750,000 has been made available for improvements to the Tulla to Kilkishen road under the specific works programme.

Six roads in Killaloe and seven in Scarf will be funded under the dis- cretionary improvement grants at a cost of €150,000 and €100,000 re- spectively.

Discretionary maintenance grants of €75,000 have been earmarked in discretionary maintenance for Broadford junction, Drummin and bridge maintenance in the Killaloe area.

In Scariff discretionary mainte- nance funds will be used to do work at Coolready and Dooras at a total cost of €60,000.

Regional route maintenance plans will see €160,000 spent in Killaloe and €220,000 in Scariff while lo- cal route maintenance budgets have been draw up to allocate €272,000

and €559,000 respectively to Killa- loe and Scariff.

The figures are part of a county- wide budget presented to councillors at the last meeting of Clare County Council.

Breakdowns were given for each electoral area and elected members were told that the road works pro- gramme for 2008 has been prepared based on the level of funding provid- ed by means of grants from the De- partment of Transport, the National Roads Authority and also from Clare County Council’s own resources.

TWO of snooker’s greatest legends go head-to-head in an exhibition match in Ennis on Saturday. Jimmy ‘Whirlwind’ White and Alex ‘Hur- ricane’ Higgins brew up a storm for charity at the West County Hotel. The event has been organised to help raise funds for the Niall Mel- lon Township Trust which was es- tablished in 2002 to provide homes to the impoverished communities in

the townships in South Africa. Three locals from Clarecastle will travel to South Africa later this year to assist in the ongoing work there.

Jimmy White, who has played in Ennis before, has won a total of 23 professional titles. He has also been runner-up six times in the World Championship. As an amateur, he won the 1979 English Amateur Championship and the 1980 World Amateur Championship.

Alex Higgins, from Belfast, was

twice World Champion and twice runner-up. One of the best-known faces in snooker for many years, Hig- gins was famous for his frequent ar- guments, both on and off the snooker table. One of the most serious of these clashes was when he head-butt- ed a tournament official at the UK championship in 1986.

Although the Niall Mellon Town- ship Trust has only been in existence for six years, it is the largest provider of low-cost homes in South Africa,

producing 20% of such houses in Cape Town and 15% in the Gauteng region. Since 2002, over 3000 volun- teers have travelled to work on their projects in South Africa.

Next November, three volunteers from Clarecastle – Fiona Donnellan, Emma Clancy and Amy McEnery – will head to Cape Town South Africa as part of a 2000 strong team to build houses in the Shanty towns.

This weekend’s event will be spon- sored by KECO construction and

the Shannon Masters Snooker Club. Tickets are €25 while VIP passes are available for €50 from the West County or by contacting Kevin on 086-3034043 or Fiona on 086- TOW ieee

VIP tickets will entitle holders to a champagne reception and to meet and greet the players before the match. There will also be an auction on the night for a chance to play a frame against either of the two. The event will begin at 8pm.

CALLS have been made for an all- out ban on jet skis on Clare beaches in order to protect the safety of swim- mers, surfers and other water users. These calls follow recommenda- tions made by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board last week in which it was suggested that jet skis should be licensed and those using them should have to undergo mandatory mecbnepeNtes Last Thursday, the board published its report into the death of jetskier Alan Joyce in Mayo in 2006. “IT have been ap- proached on numer- ous occasions over the last 18 months by swimmers, mostly on Lahinch beach, as well as people in west Clare, about the dangers of jet skis. They are rid- ing roughshod in the water and not showing respect to people swimming or to surfers,” said north Clare Coun- ty Councillor, Martin Conway (FG). “It has been suggested that there should be a jet ski licence for any- one who wants to use a jet ski and in order to get the licence you have to go through a certain amount of train- ing. I would go one step farther. We also need to take cognisance of the people who are swimming and surf-

ing and whose safety is being put in jeopardy as a result of these jet skis.

“The jet skis should be banned from areas where people are known to swim and to surf. Really we should have designated areas for jet skies where they wouldn’t be compromis- ing the areas of people who are in- volved in other water sports.”

Cllr Conway suggests that desig- nated areas should be set up where

jetskiers can use the water. “Putting a jet ski into a place where there are a lot of swimmers and surfers is akin to putting a motorbike into a_ playground. If someone is swim- ming and they get hit by a jet ski, they’re gone. There is no second chance with these things,” he continued.

“If you look at Ballyvaughan, there are jet-skis everywhere. Maybe Bal- lyvaughan might be an appropriate place for jet skis. Maybe harbours are a more appropriate place for jet skis but I know that they are also very prevalent in Fanore and Bally- vaughan as well. When you have a situation like that, you have to regu- late it. We have had these by-laws for the dogs on the beach but this is a much more lethal piece of equipment and there don’t seem to be any regu- lations on them.”

SECURITY for older people is the focus in Scariff this month, with the Community Alert Group reminding people that they can avail of grants for personal and fire alarms.

The group was formed in 2004 and has eight voluntary members.

The purpose of the group is to ap- ply for funding to help with the in- stallation of security devices for older people.

Available at a reduced rate are smoke alarms, out-door lighting, door locks and the social monitored rE veene

“Last year when we had a push, most of the older people in the area got the social monitored alarm and we want to urge people who may not have one or who have qualified for it in the last year to get it installed,” a spokeswoman for the group said.

“The social monitored alarm is the most popular device as it offers a great sense of security and safety. Many of our parishioners already have this alarm and we would en- courage them to wear the pendant at all times, especially if they are alone for any length of time.

“It is of no use if it is left hanging on a hook on the wall or tucked in-

side a drawer, as without the pendant you cannot activate the alarm.”

The system works through the phone system and is activated by a special pendant carried on the per- son. Once the alarm is sounded, the monitoring company will first try ringing the alarm’s owner.

If they cannot answer, each of three nominated keyholders will be con- tacted until someone can be found to go to the person’s aid. If none of the keyholders can be contacted quickly, the monitoring company contacts the emergency Services.

The Department of Community, Social and Family Affairs is now

giving a full 100 per cent grant for the alarms. However, there is an an- nual monitoring fee of €98.

‘We want to make sure that every- one is aware that there is a grant for these and other security aids and that we can apply for that grant for peo- ple aged 65 and over and for those in receipt of a disability pension,” the spokeswoman said.

For more information, contact any member of the Community Alert Group including Chairman Do- nie Bane on 061-921469, Secretary Carmel Gooney on 061-921226 or Treasurer Geraldine Rodgers on 061- 921269.

CLARE’S efforts to preserve the past for future generations have been given a major boost with the announcement that the fund for con- serving the county’s built heritage is to be increased by more than 20% this year.

Environment Minister John Gorm- ley has announced funding of €172,000 to Clare County Council under the 2008 Built Heritage Capi- tal Works Programme. This will be OTe mle leikore mm oy am se lommecel ous COUMUTN(eloMmLES Architectural Conservation Grants Scheme which supports the repair and conservation of buildings on the Record of Protected Structures.

The money is part of a funding package amounting to almost €25 Million to support built heritage projects in 2008. The provision rep- resents an increase of 42% nationally on the amount spent last year.

The Minister commented, “Invest-

ment in built heritage conservation is vital for the safeguarding of our architectural heritage, and the in- creased level of funding which I have secured this year underlines the Gov- ernment’s commitment in this area. | am confident the increased package of funding measures will encourage an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to built heritage conserva- tion as a whole.”

“The conservation of our historic buildings makes our towns and vil- lages more attractive to tourists and locals alike and can often act as a catalyst for further heritage projects in an area as it enhances local aware- ness in our built heritage”, said jun- ior Environment Minister and Clare TD Tony Killeen.

“Tam very happy to announce this funding for Clare County Council, an increase of over 20% on last year’s allocation. This allocation will sup- port the conservation of significant buildings all around Clare.”