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THE North Clare Farm Family Sup- port Service are inviting all Clare farmers to an information evening to discuss one of the most contentious and confusing issued currently faced eM Denture

Eligibility for the Contributory State Pension is an issue which ef- fects thousands of farmer in every corner of the county with the eligibil- ity of farm spouses a real hot potato.

The information evening, which 1s being organised in association with IFA Skillnets and the IFAC, is open to all Clare farmers and takes place in the Woodstock Hotel in Ennis this

evening, Tuesday, March 4.

Four expert speakers will be in En- nis for the evening, each of which will explore a different aspect of the application process for the contribu- tory state pension.

Pat Coen from the Department of Social and Family Affairs will give an overview of how to apply for the contributory state pension.

The Revenue Commission’s Kitty Maloney will examine how farmers are effected by PRSI and income tax. John Duane from IFAC will also be present and will explain the differ- ent situation that farmers could find themselves in regarding the eligibil- ity for the state pension.

Finally, Mary Shelly, IFA Farm Family Committee Chairperson, will give an update on the eligibility of farmers spouses for the pension.

“In the past a lot of farmers, maybe through lack of information, would not have understood the importance of maintaining their PRSI contribu- tions, and a lot of them would have been disqualified because of this,” said Gerry McDonagh of the North Clare Farm Family Support Service.

“Getting on top of this is something that could benefit a lot of farmers. Farmers need to make sure that once they reach the age of 56 that they must be making PRSI contributions.

“But it 1s a complex situation for

farmers, some of who might have worked off the farm for a time. Basi- cally any farmers who want to secure a state pension for themselves should try and attend on the night. It’s a very complex area.”

The cost of entering the event is €20 per farming family. However admission is free for all IFA mem- bers or present and future clients of the Farm Family Support Service. Complimentary tea and sandwiches will also be provided for all who at- tend. For more information, please contact Gerry McDonagh, Rural Development Officer North Clare Farm Family Support Service at 065 7072467 or 086 8544036.

BRAZILIAN beef is back on the table, literally, after the EU bottled it’s month long ban on beef imports from the South American country.

The farming organisations have been up in arms about the decision to recommence importing cattle from Brazil, with Clare farmer and ICSA General secretary, Eddie Punch, de- scribing the decision as stunning and ObTSeabrianetee

“ICSA has always maintained that nothing short of a full ban would ever be acceptable, and we have proven that the Brazilians cannot be trusted. It is inconceivable that the Brazilians should be taken at their word, without FVO inspections, giv- en their history of unreliability,” said the Cratloe man.

The ICSA, in one of a number of farm organisations, who have lodged complaint with the EU ombudsman, questioning the EU commission’s duty of care towards EU consumers.

Another is the ICMSA, whose pres- ident, Jackie Cahill, has condemned the decision by the EU Commission to permit the importation of beef from 106 Brazilian ranches to the European market.

“The news that the Commission has rolled-over in these circumstances is unfortunately as predictable as it 1s disappointing,” he said.

Meanwhile, the IFA are attempting to put a positive gloss on the situa-

tion, with President Padraig Walshe saying that saying that the decision to place the 106 Brazilian farms on a list for export to the EU will have no impact on Irish cattle prices as the volume will be no more than 2,000 tonnes.

According to the farming leader, the volume is negligible and less than | per cent of the 330,000 tonnes of beef imported from Brazil in 2006 and 2007.

“Nothing has changed in Brazil — the deficiencies still exist and their standards do not meet EU require- ments,” he said.

‘The Commission decision makes a mockery of European food trace- ability standards, with stringent regulations for European farmers and non-compliance for Brazilians. It is incredible in the light of the ad- mission by the Brazilian Agriculture Minister Reinhold Stephanes that untraceable beef had been exported by Brazil.”

IFA Livestock Chairman Michael Doran said that prior to the IFA cam- paign Brazil was exporting beef from between 10,000 and 15,000 farms to Europe, which failed to meet EU standards. “Initially, Brazil had at- tempted to have 2,800 farms cleared for export, but this was rejected by the EU because they failed to meet the necessary standards. After sev- eral rejections by the EU, Brazil reduced the list down to 106 farms involving 86,000 cattle,” he said.

ENNIS residents with low immune systems have been warned to boil the water as three young children from the town were diagnosed with Crypt- osporidiosis late last week.

One of the three, who are all under five years old, was taken to hospital suffering from what has been de- scribed by the Health Service Execu- tive as a serious disease.

The HSE issued a statement say- ing that whilst no link has been es- tablished between the illness and the local water supply, caution is being ANGMAR oLe B

No other explanation for the cause of the illness had been offered at

time of print last evening.

The health service has contacted GPs and other health service provid- ers to make them aware of the need to investigate symptoms of gastro- enteritis and to report any suspected cases of the illness. Creches in the area are also being advised about the need for vigilance.

There are between 60 and 70 cases of Cryptosporidiosis confirmed in the mid west area every year, which includes Clare, Limerick and Tipper- ary.

The vast majority of cases occur in springtime and early summer. It can also be associated with outbreaks of PO KOLS ICSU LBL

Cryptosporidium are tiny parasites

that are mainly found in the faeces of infected animals or humans. Hu- mans are infected when they ingest contaminated food or water, or touch contaminated objects and then touch their mouth before washing their Ja DaLeKAN od 0B

In a special leaflet issued by the HSE west warning people of the ill- ness, it outlined the unpleasant symp- toms as diarrhoea, tummy pains and headaches.

The most common way is for the Cryptosporidium cysts to be passed from one person to another by direct contact. This is more likely if the source person has diarrhoea.

Thorough hand washing and dry- ing are the most important factors in

preventing this spread. Towels must not be shared.

Farm visits, or animals brought into school classrooms, may be a source of infection for children. Thorough hand washing reduces this risk.

Water in streams and lakes close to where animals graze maybe contam- inated with Cryptosporidium cysts.

“Very rarely contamination of wa- ter supplies can lead to outbreaks of infection,’ the HSE said.

The incubation period – time be- tween being infected and becoming unwell – is about two weeks. The ill- ness may last for a couple of weeks.

In people with weakened immune system, Cryptosporidiosis can be a serious and long-lasting infection.

KILFENORA is_ slowly — starting to return to normal after the week that belonged to Fr Ted. Hundreds of revellers, most of them dressed as priests, nuns and cups of tea, de- scended on the village for the first Fr Ted Festival ever to take place in OE IKe

The week was packed with many events, including an informal ques- tions and answers session with the Fr Ted creators.

“T think that the questions and an- swers session with Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews was one of the real highlights for a lot of people, it was really good. It was great fun,

people shouted up questions from the audience and they answered them. There was a lot of chat about how the series was made and questions like that,” said event organiser Janet KE Merirreaee

“We have a little play before that, a drama group from Athenry put on a reduced Father Ted over 15 min- utes with little segments from loads of the episodes. Besides that the one thing that people really loved was the Cole

“The lovely girls competition was a great success as well. Everyone had a ereat laugh out of it. Katie Vaughan from Vaughan’s Pub in Kilfenora won the competition in the end but it was a close one. She was great craic

though. I saw her yesterday, days af- ter the competition, and she was still wearing her crown and her sash.”

The festival had a big economic im- pact on the area, bringing a host of tourist to north Clare in the normally quiet month of February.

“People were staying in town and as far away as Lisdoonvarna and Ennistymon. Local people had their houses rented out and all the local bed and breakfasts were full,’ con- tinued Janet.

“We are definitely looking at run- ning the event again next year. We have to look carefully at the possibil- ity of making it any bigger because the infrastructure just isn’t here for that. We just about coped with the

numbers that we had.

‘“Kilfenora is the place where most of the series was filmed but some was filmed in Ennistymon, so mov- ing part of it to Ennistymon next year is something that we would look at. But Kilfenora is the real spiritual home of it.”

Following the Kilfenora Festival, the second annual Aran Islands Ted- Fest took place over the weekend.

THE Strand Restaurant and Guest- house, Kilkee and Murphy Black’s Restaurant, Kilkee are the latest es- tablishments to be awarded Seafood Circle membership by Bord lascaigh Mhara (BIM).

Both restaurants also have a lit- tle more in common than achieving Seafood Circle membership. Johnny Redmond, owner and head chef at The Strand Restaurant and Guest- house, and Mary Murphy (nee Red- mond), owner and head chef of Mur- phy Black’s Restaurant are brother and sister.

“My sister and I are thrilled we’ve both achieved Seafood Circle mem- bership,’ said Johnny Redmond.

‘More and more diners are order- ing seafood from our menus.

“The Seafood Circle plaque out-

side our doors will assure new and existing customers that both estab- lishments have excellent seafood and provide quality service.”

The total number of Seafood Circle members in Clare is now eight.

These are Cullinans Seafood Res- taurant and Guesthouse, Doolin; Morrissey’s Seafood Bar and Grill, Doonbeg; René Cusack, Ennis; Bar- rtra Seafood Restaurant, Lahinch; Vaughans Anchor Inn, Liscannor; and Burren Smokehouse, Lisdoon- Weve Ite

The BIM Seafood Circle recognis- es and awards hospitality and retail businesses that consistently deliver the highest standards of seafood and Service.

During February and March 2008, 132 Irish restaurants, pubs and sea- food retailers will be awarded BIM Seafood Circle Membership.

has learnt that the most up-to-date results of tests on the Ennis water sample show traces of the parasite cryptosporid- Lebeee Town Engineer Tom Tiernan has told the paper that the results re- ceived by the local authority as late as yesterday are no cause for public oleae “It was a very, very low level and well below the level necessary to re- vise the notice issued about it,’ he STH (em The local authority in conjunction with the HSE issued a reminder to

the 30,000 water consumers in the Ennis area on Friday to continue to observe a partial boil notice, after three children were reported to be suffering from the disease Crypt- osporidiosis.

Cryptosporidiosis 1S a parasitic disease affecting the intestines of mammals that is caused by Crypt- osporidium.

According to a Clare County Council spokesperson, “the partial boil notice was put in place because the supply is considered to be at risk and is designed to protect children under five, persons whose immune system might be compromised and visitors to Ennis.”

The partial notice has been ongo- ing since May 2005 when five chil- dren fell ill with Cryptosporidiosis.

Mr Tiernan said that there was no proof at the time to link the water supply to the children.

When asked why the boil notice re- mains if the water 1s clear Mr Tiern- an said the supply is “more vulner- able’ because there is a temporary water treatment plant in place until the new plant is completed in 12 months time.

‘There is nothing in the water. It is precautionary,’ he said.

The town engineer assured the public that the reminder was a precautionary response to the con-

firmed cases of cryptosporidium, and there is little or no evidence to suggest that the illnesses are as a re- sult of the water.

According to the engineer the wa- ter 1s tested up to four times a week for the cryptosporidium parasite. It cannot be tested on an ongoing basis every day as it takes several days for the results to be determined.

Mr Tiernan admitted that the re- sults of last Thursday’s sample, which was received by the council yesterday, showed traces of the par- asite however.

He said that the sample showed minute levels of the parasite and “was way below concern levels”.

THE people of the Burren are being given their final chance to get their spoke in ahead of the launch of a number of exciting new tourism ini- tiatives in the area.

The Ennistymon based Burren Connect Project is asking for any last suggestions before a range of new projects designed to foster a partner- ship approach to visitor management and environmental protection in the Burren will be unveiled.

Some of the most interesting ideas put forward by the project include the provision of information hubs at various locations throughout the Burren, the creation of designated viewing points for tourists and an

information booklet for hospitality businesses in north Clare and south Cr Ea

“The project team is currently fi- nalising the delivery of a number of programmes on information provi- sion and education, traffic manage- ment, conservation and access at Poulnabrone and Fanore, market research, and investigating the suit- ability of the Burren for designation as a Geopark,” said Carol Gleeson of the Burren Connect Project.

“In 2008 the team will continue fo- cusing efforts on education, training, socio-economic research, develop- ment of trails, traffic management, conservation and amenity projects, and ongoing monitoring and man- agement of developed areas.”

The Burren Connect Project was established in 2006 with funding from the Failte Ireland Development Scheme Fund, in partnership with Clare County Council, Shannon De- velopment, National Parks and Wild- life Service, National Monuments Service and Burrenbeo.

“The issues surrounding the pro- tection and sustainable use of a land- scape are complex and multiple. A truly sustainable approach to tourism can only be achieved with involve- ment and contribution from local communities,’ continued Carol.

“Thus, an important part of the project’s remit is to facilitate such contributions. The project will con- tinue to hold public consultation meetings on issues that have a direct

impact on communities in the Bur- ren.”

Recent public meetings organised by the Burren Connect Project have concentrated on such issues as traf- fic management on the Coast Road, signage and branding.

‘Future meetings will be advertised in local newspapers, parish newslet- ters and on local radio. They will also be posted on the new project website, which will feature a dedicated dis- cussion area, where people can offer suggestions and feedback in an open public forum,” said Carol.

PASSENGER numbers on the En- nis-Limerick line have increased by almost 40 per cent since the line was re-opened in 2004.

Figures released yesterday by Irish Rail show that 200,000 journeys were made on the line last year, an increase of 39 per cent on the 144,000 journeys that were recorded on the line in its first full year of op- eration in 2004.

According to the Irish Rail Busi- ness Manager for the mid-west, Jim Gallivan, the 200,000 journeys that were recorded on the line last year represented an increase of 20,000 on the 180,000 journeys recorded in paul ete?

The 2006 figure was, in turn, an increase on the 166,000 journeys on 2005.

‘The steady increase is very posi- tive as it reflects that passenger num- bers on the line are on a continuous upward graph,” said Mr Gallivan.

However, the line has been closed since the first week of February due to flooding.

Mr Gallivan yesterday conceded that, at the earliest, it would be March 15 or 16 before the line would be re- opened. “All we can say at this time is that the line will be re-opened in March, sometime after those dates.”

Mr Gallivan confirmed that it was costing Irish Rail €4,000 to €5,000 a week to provide buses to replicate the train timetable. He also con-

firmed that there had been a 20 per cent drop off in passengers who were opting not to take the replacement bus service.

Mr Gallivan confirmed that the Office of Public Works (OPW) had engaged consultants to carry out an assessment of the flooding at the scene. He said passenger traffic on the rail-line had allowed Irish Rail to meet all operational costs in running the service. The service was facing increased competition from road transport but at peak-time, the train was the fastest method by far of get- ting into Limerick.

“If you are travelling by road when you get to the Coonagh roundabout outside Limerick, it could take you 10 minutes or an hour,’ he said.

WITH 556 people seeking the help of Clare County Council’s Homeless Unit last year both the council and the local health service have been accused of turning their backs on the homeless and making it difficult for them to get accommodation.

A recently established voluntary eroup, Homeless Education Learn- ing Project (HELP), has already helped find accommodation for five homeless men.

However, they say their task is be- ing made difficult because of all the bureaucracy they have to deal with.

HELP was set up last month by lo-

cal women Josephine O’Brien and Ann Quinn and two others to provide support to the homeless in Ennis. To date the service has helped at least three Polish men and two members of the Travelling community find ac- commodation.

“We are trying to take them off the street if we have the money. Some- times this means paying for B&B. We are out all day chatting and listening to them and they are very angry with the system,” said Ms O”’ Brien.

“We have been trailing around the town from the county council to the health board since before Christmas and still getting the same answer. We know of at least seven people who

are sleeping rough in Ennis but we are sure there are lots more.

“The county council and HSE need to step up and do something. The community welfare workers at the council and the health board are all in the same circle and are all hop- ping from one venue to the next and we are getting nowhere,’ Ms O’Brien re HLGe

‘There is one particular squat where some of the homeless stay and it is in a desperate state. It is all boarded up and it is just an awful place to visit never mind sleep there. There could be four or five at a time in there.

A PRIMARY school in Shannon has reduced its litter by a massive 80 per cent, as part of an environmentally- friendly initiative which has been undertaken over the past year.

St Aidan’s school is preparing for its very first application for a green flag and these plans are currently reaching their final stages.

Under the initiative, which is run by An Taisce, schools can apply for green flags every two years. The scheme is a reflection of a school’s efforts towards keeping the environ- ment clean.

A new composter has been pur- chased for St Aidan’s, while packag-

ing has also been reduced over the past year.

“We have cut down on packaging on lunches and the children take all their rubbish home in their lunch boxes,” said co-ordinator Brenda OE Te co

The school has put an end to the use of paper towels and the students bring in face cloths instead.

“We have cut down the litter that goes to the landfill by 80 per cent and we have also cut down on recy- cling by 80 per cent in the past year,” added Ms Clarke.

“We used to have 16 to 18 refuse sacks and two huge bins and now we have just two sacks,” she added.

As part of the school’s initiative,

an environmentally-friendly day was organised last Friday, February 29.

According to Ms Clarke, the school adopted the theme ‘Extra Day, Extra Green’, for Friday, which was the ex- tra day for the leap year.

“All the children were encouraged to bring in their lunches in reusable containers and the only snacks were fruit,” she said.

“We are trying to make the chil- dren aware of the amount of lit- ter that is caused by packaging and more aware of the use of paper in the school,’ she added.

An added incentive is a fun compe- tition run by the teachers every week. The children with the least amount of packaging get prizes at the end of

the week!

So why is the school now applying for the green flag, for the first time?

“We had looked at it for the past few years, because we were recycling pa- per and cardboard. It had been in the backs of our minds for a while, but needed the support of everybody in the school,’ she said.

The full backing has been given by the 14 teachers and 280 students and hopes are high that the flag can now rom-lesbeA (ore b