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A MAJOR new project, designed to overhaul the Irish fishing industry, was launched last week by Minister Mary Coughlan.

The aim of the scheme is to perma- nently remove older fishing vessels from the fishing fleet, replacing them with more modern vessels capable of trawling for different types of fish.

This voluntary scheme will remove older and larger fishing vessels with mixed catches of fish such as cod, haddock, monkfish, mackerel and herring thus increasing the quotas available to the more modern com- petitive fishing vessels.

This investment in the future of the

catching sector will permanently re- move some 75 boats from the Irish ji stol

“The aim of this scheme is to bring about a viable future for the fishing sector and support the economies of those coastal communities depend- ent on fishing,’ said Coughlan.

‘The Government has invested a €21 million budget for the scheme in 2008 with a further €2] million committed in 2009. I will pursue further funding, in line with the rec- ommendations of the Cawley report, as required, taking account of the take up under the scheme.

“This programme represents a very substantial commitment to bringing the Irish fishing fleet into balance

with available resources and ensuring that those remaining in the industry can be assured of a profitable future. The recently published Finance Bill contains a number of measures spe- cifically designed to reduce the tax burden on fishermen taking up this scheme.”

The scheme is open to vessel own- ers in respect of fishing vessels 10 years or more 1n age and 18 metres or more in overall length. Vessels must be operational at the time of decom- missioning and have a recent track record of fishing.

The level of payments under the scheme are determined based on criteria including the age of the ves- sel and its catch history but will not

exceed in any case €7,500 per gross oy ey ator

“The Seafood Strategy sets down the road map for the development of the sector. We must focus on sustain- ability of fish stocks and maximising the return from the fish catch.,” con- tinued the minister.

‘Already good progress has been made, in line with the Cawley strat- egy, on delivering a more innovative and co-ordinated approach to the marketing and processing of seafood in order to maximise the value at every stage from the sea to the ta- ble.”

The closing date for receipt of all applications under this scheme is Spm on Wednesday April 30.

A GIFTED mathematician who was last week sentenced to more than nine years in an American prison for armed robbery, is believed to be suffering from a mental illness that affects one per cent of the Irish popu- lation.

Niall Clarke from Kilrush was a top student in his final year at Trinity Se NSM Deer WatoremebicmecDeevE WANED ANI became concerned about his men- tal health. He started to get serious panic attacks.

His father Michael told a Maine Federal Court that his mother, Niall’s grandmother, suffered from paranoid schizophrenia.

The distraught father said he felt let down by the health services here for failing to help his son.

Before Niall was arrested for the robbery of Bank of America in Maine in October 2006, his father said that he had taken his son to a GP who, after a 10-minute evaluation, said that he would be all right.

On Tuesday last, Mr Clarke’s de- fence team argued that he had com- mitted the offences “while suffering from a reduced mental capacity”’.

Cork-born psychiatrist Dr Niamh Holohan, who is based in Bangor, Maine, gave evidence that the Kil- rush man had symptoms of schizo- eavne tb eee

She had been working with Ni- all for a year and told the court he had an IQ in the top two per cent in

the world and was “very honest and straightforward in explaining what happened”’.

The psychiatrist explained that Niall said he was driving through Maine when the idea to rob a bank came to him and “crystallised” in such a way as he just had to do it.

“Niall did not understand he had schizophrenia and did not understand the consequences of his actions. He needs therapy,” she said.

According to sources within the Clare mental health service, an aver- age of 45 people in Clare are diag- nosed with schizophrenia every year. The good news is that as many as one third of the population diagnosed with the illness can be completely cured, once treated.

Another third of the population can have “partial remission” but require

medicine for the rest of their lives to prevent the onset of the disease.

Others may require an “environ- ment of care’, whether in the home or institutionalised.

Following Mr Clarke’s sentencing, which is to include medical treat- ment, his father told reporters, “Niall appears to be in remission because he is in an institutionalised environ- ment.” The Kilrush father was in no doubt that had his son received the proper treatment in Ireland, he would not be in a high-security American prison today.

According to Schizophrenia Ire- land, this serious mental illness is characterised by disturbances in a person’s thoughts, perceptions, emo- tions and behaviour. The first onset commonly occurs in adolescence or early adulthood although it can also OLererty am -NkodanbO DB Kon

There are a number of signs and symptoms that are characteristic of schizophrenia. However, the expres- sion of these symptoms varies greatly from one individual to another.

Symptoms are divided into two groups: “active” symptoms that re- flect new or unusual forms of thought and behaviour; and “passive” symp- toms, that reflect a loss of previous feelings and abilities.

MALIGNANT cancers remain by far the most common cause of specified illness and death claims in Clare, ac- cording to the latest analysis of pay- ments made to customers of the Irish Life insurance company last year.

The analysis found that malignant forms of cancer accounted for 48 per cent of Clare death claims while heart-related illness accounted for 21 per cent of death claims in the coun- ty. This was roughly in line with the national rates of 47 per cent and 22 per cent respectively.

Accidental death accounted for 17 per cent of Clare death claims which was over twice the national rate of 8 per cent.

The average age for death claims in Clare was 59 while the average age for specified illness claims was 53 compared with the national averages of 58 and 47.

The average age for death claims in Clare males was 61 while the average for females was 56. The average age for specified illness claims in Clare males was 52 while the average age for female claims was 55.

Commenting on the results of the survey, Martin Duffy, Head of Un- derwriting at Irish Life, said that the company paid out more than €78 million in death and specified illness

claims last year.

“Cancer still remains the greatest single killer in Clare and unfortu- nately the number of cancer-related specified illness claims continues to rise nationally,” he said.

Mr Duffy added that the fact that 16 per cent of accident-related death claims were related to alcohol “re- flects a worrying trend” if this were to continue.

2006 was the first year when malig- nant cancers exceeded heart-related specified illness claims and this pat- tern was maintained in 2007.

The national survey of 392 speci- fied illness claims shows that Irish Life paid out a total of €24.7 million in 2007 — or an average of more than €63,000 per claim

The company paid €54 million in respect of 1,055 death claims nation- ally last year — or an average of just over €51,000 per claim.

The largest single death payment was just over €1 million in respect of a 50-year-old male professional who died of pancreatic cancer while the largest single payment in respect of a female was for €467,000 in respect of a professional who died of breast cancer.

An analysis of National 2007 Death Claims also revealed that alcohol was a contributory factor in 16 per cent of all accident claims.

ENNISTYMON students in have gone horse mad after making history for the town in the Hoofprints show- jumping inter-school challenge.

The craze started at an Irish nation- al schools event in Ballinasloe after a local team was the first ever from Ennistymon to enter. On January 23, students from the CBS Ennistymon and Scoil Mhuire joined together and formed a team to enter the na- tional show-jumping event.

“IT was out doing a hunt and was talking to kids that had been involved in the Hoofprints events before through their schools so I thought

that it would be good to put the idea forward to the students at school,” said CBS teacher Aisling Haugh.

In this competition there is usu- ally divisions or groups that separate beginners, such as the Ennistymon team, from teams that have entered in the event previously.

Due to this year being the first year it was held in the Creagh Equestrian Center in Ballinasloe it was made into one group which made it diffi- cult for all the novice groups to do well. “Next year I believe that the team will do better as every year will be more experience for the stu- dents therefore they will be getting better every time they go,” said CBS

teacher Aisling Haugh.

“Currently there are second to fifth years involved and it is open to all years aS we hope to have as many available as possible next year.”

The people involved in the event from the CBS Ennistymon were Brendan Collins fifth year and Ca- thal McMahon second year while the people involved from the Scoil Mhuire were Aoife Haugh and Jean Kelleher both from fourth year.

“The pupils performed well con- sidering it was their first time in the event and also had fun, so it was a good day over all,’ commented the teacher on the day as a whole.

The pupils enjoyed the day they de-

cided to stay longer and do the indi- vidual class ride in the end.

Participation from both schools was a good point in itself as it shows the ability of the two schools to work together. The group intends to hold a sponsored ride in the coming school terms for team fundraising.

“This year there is a lot of interest so I though of fundraising for cloth- ing for the team next year,” said Ais- ling Haugh.

“IT see good potential for the schools teams in the future if this interest continues in the events.”

The schools team is participating in upcoming events in Kilkenny, Wick- low and Claregalway.

FARMING representative and poli- ticians have welcome the changes to the Forest Environment Protec- tion Scheme (FEPS) announced last week, hailing them as a major oppor- tunity for Clare farmers.

Speaking following the announce- ment, newly-elected IFA Farm For- estry Committee Chairman, Pat Hennessy, welcomed the changes.

“The new package includes land- owners now being able to receive a FEPS premium of €200 for each hectare of woodland planted, regard- less of farm size, and will encourage larger farmers to plant,” he said.

“The scheme has also been made

more attractive for farmers with small holdings as the minimum planted area allowed has now been reduced from eight to five hectares for farmers with less than 30 hec- eho

Meanwhile, Clare TD Tony Killeen has also welcomed the announce- ment, saying it will be of benefit for both small and large Clare farmers.

“This is a major development in the forestry schemes and it should be particularly suitable for farmers in Clare. It is good news for both small and larger REPS farmers with en- hanced incentives in all categories.”

“Clare farmers that plant eight hectares or more will now receive a FEPS premium of €200 for each hec-

tare of woodland planted, regardless of farm size. For owners of farms of 30 hectares and less, the minimum plantation size has been reduced to five hectares.

“In this case the FEPS payment will be €150 per hectare. The FEPS premium 1s payable in addition to the existing Afforestation Scheme grants and premium available meaning that a farmer planting eight hectares could, for the duration of FEPS, earn an annual tax-free forestry premium of up to €6,000 without affecting his/her Single Payment.”

The FEPS Scheme was introduced on a pilot basis in early 2007 to pro- vide a new option for farmers look- ing at forestry. FEPS offered an ad-

ditional premium, to the existing LOO per cent planting grant and yearly premium payments available under the Afforestation Scheme, of up to €200 per hectare for five years de- pending on farm size.

The scheme was targeted at partici- pants in REPS and was designed to encourage farmers to establish and maintain high nature-value forestry through a number of different meas- ures, particularly in the area of en- hanced bio-diversity and water qual- ity protection.

All forestry payments are tax-free, providing less than 50 per cent of a farm is planted, will not affect a farmer’s single payment entitle- ments.

NIALL Clarke’s family has said they are pleased with the jail term handed down last week in the US.

Clarke showed no emotion as the 33-month sentence was imposed by a federal judge last Tuesday. His father Michael and sister Michelle attended the sentencing. Niall’s mother Mary was not present, having returned home to Kilrush, after spending some time close to her son in the US over the Christmas period.

Michael Clarke, who is due to re- turn to Kilrush within the next week, said he had expected a term of ap- proximately 10 years for his son and was pleased with the length of the sentence handed down.

When Clarke was arrested initially, Suggestions of a 25-year term were made, but the Clarkes expressed re- lief that the term was not this long. The family had requested that Niall be afforded proper medical treat- ment in jail and they were also happy that the judge recognised this.

Niall’s father and sister stayed on in the US following the sentence and have had the opportunity to visit him in the jail. Michael Clarke expressed concern at not being able to get treat- ment for Niall in Ireland, for his mental illness, three years ago.

“My mother was a paranoid schizo-

phrenic,’ Mr Clarke said last Tues- day. “My earliest memories are of watching the police come and force my screaming mother into a police car so they could take her to a mental hospital. As a kid, I learned to cope.

“When I saw Niall’s behaviour, the hardest thing I’ve done as a father was to sign the form for his (invol- untary) committal,” he continued. “I didn’t do it easily. I begged for help for my son.”

Niall Clarke, however, refused to be committed and because he was not a danger to himself or others, he could not be forced to seek treatment, his father said.

Speaking outside the courthouse last week, Clarke’s solicitor Eugene O’Kelly, said, “What makes this so sad is that it could have been pre- vented. In a few short years, Niall’s gone from college to criminal, from prodigy to prison.”

Clarke briefly addressed the court before being sentenced. “I’d like to apologise to the bank tellers. I’m very sorry, he said.

OI Ea ODOM Mus VRCCOAUSD ODD OTSMmCIRb es dent while studying Computer Sci- ence at Trinity College Dublin and won a top Enterprise Ireland Student Award in 2002. As a result of his Leaving Certificate, he was awarded a scholarship by Trinity College to study mathematics.

IN SEEKING to distinguish the En- nis Book Club Festival, organizers have introduced some novel events to this year’s programme.

Standing out among the numer- ous readings, workshops and writer interviews are less obvious features of a literary festival, like Chocalate tasting, cookery glasses and speed dating.

Anyone looking to indulge a sweet tooth can head along to Chocalat on Barrack Street for any of the number of chocolate tasting sessions taking place there over the weekend.

The event itself ties in with the ap- pearance of Joanna Harris, author of the mega selling Chocalat, long side Irish writer Roddy Doyle at glor on

Sunday night.

TV gardener Diarmuid Gavin will offer his tips on the best books for gardening earlier that day in glor while tv chef Neven Maguire will give a cookery demonstration, also on Sunday.

The festival will open on Friday night with a speed dating style net- working session for book club mem- leTouce

But the main attractions for the festival, which runs from February 29 to March 2, are the writers them- oa Aone

From the Godfather of Irish crime fiction Ken Bruen, to the acclaimed American poet Richard Tillinghast, the festival has again succeeded in drawing a diverse range of writers.

Galway writer Bruen will read from

his work in the Old Ground Hotel on Sunday night. His novel *Priest’ – the fifth in the mesmerizing Jack Talyor series – was recently shortlisted in America alongside books by Michael Chabon and John Banville, for the prestigious Edgar Award.

The three-day festival will also feature Roddy Doyle, a Dublin dramatist, screenwriter and Booker Prize winning author of “The Com- mitments’, “The Snapper’ and “The Van’; British author Joanne Harris, who wrote the best seller ‘Chocolat’; Hugo Hamilton, winner of the Roon- ey Prize for Irish Literature; Morgan Llywelyn, an esteemed author of his- torical fantasy, fiction and non-fic- tion books; Dermot Bolger, the au- thor of eight novels and winner of the Samuel Beckett Award; and Nuala O

Faolain, Irish Times columnist and author of ‘Are You Somebody?’; Ne- ven Maguire, an award winning ce- lebrity chef; and Lorna Landvik, au- thor of the best selling novels ‘Patty Jane’s House of Curl’ and ‘The Tall Pine Polka’.

Author and former hostage Brian Keenan will also speak at the festi- val. The Belfast native who was held hostage by Islamic Jihad in Lebanon for four and a half years will par- ticipate in the Sunday Symposium to talk about memotr.

Keenan is the author of four books including ‘An Evil Cradling’, the 1991 winner of the Irish Times Lit- erature Prize for Non-fiction.

A full programme of events is available from www.ennisbook- clubfestival.com

eaKeleiomayael take over responsibility for the float from a team of transition years stu- dent from Scoil Mhuire in Ennisty- mon who yesterday push the float from Miltown to Ennistymon. Leaving from the Falls Hotel before 10, the Clare People group expect to arrive in Kilfenora before noon where they will take part in the Ted- Fest parade. Following the parade they will leave on the second part of their journey and are expected to ar- rive in Doolin before 5pm. TedFest will continue in Kilfenora this evening with the staging of the

first ever All-Ireland Blondes-only Snakes and Ladders Championship, acoustic Karaoke with the singing Postman, the All-Ireland Open Elvis lookalike contest, the Lovely Girls Contest and the Pat Mustard Memo- rial night featuring Mrs O’Reilly and the Hairy Babies.

The Kilfenora Community Hall will be the setting on Tuesday evening for an informal public chat with Father

Ted creators Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews.

Wednesday will see the ‘Ted Trail which will take in the Paro- chial House, the Chinese pub, Mrs O’Reillys house, the Song For Eu- rope waterfall and the caravan park jgxoeem see

Kilfenora’s place in Fr Ted folklore will be insured at the festival when Graham Linehan and Arthur Math-

ews will unveil a commemorative plaque to mark the event at the Kil- fenora Community Centre. Organisers are looking for a busi- ness interested in sponsoring the plague. Anyone interested should contact Janet at 087 6277000.

TWO pupils from St. Annes school were Selected for the Munster schools team that won the interprovincial soccer title in Tullamore last week. The Munster team won all their games without conceding a goal.

Michael O’Shea from St. Annes school was one of the players select- ed. Michael is presently studying for his leaving cert at the school.

Aaron Connolly was also a starter on the Munster team and scored two goals in the final game. He was one of the youngest players on the team and will feature again in the coming years. Aaron is currently doing his junior cert at St. Annes.

School coach Damian Walsh was

delighted with both players and it is a great honour for the school to have an international player.

The tournament is organised and run by the FAI. There were a number of training sessions in Cork for the Munster team prior to the tourna- ment. Colin O’Brien of Cork City was in charge of the Munster team and he was ably assisted by a number of FAI coaches. After the tourna- ment ended the FAI coaches from all provinces selected an Irish team to play in the home countries quad- rangular tournament which this year takes place in Scotland in April.

THE driving force behind the Ennis Tidy Towns committee, Donal Grif- fin, has resigned after 13 years as Chairman.

Mr Griffin announced his decision at the AGM of the Ennis Tidy Towns Committee on Thursday night.

He said he was very proud of the progress made by Ennis in the annual Tidy Towns competition. The princi- pal highlight of his time, Mr Griffin stated was Ennis being named Ire- land’s tidiest town in 2005.

He also highlighted the challenges faced by a growing town like Ennis in trying to maintain the high stand- ards achieved so far.

Last year Ennis was again success-

ful in the Tidy Towns competition (1) Gold Medal status (2) County Award (3) Category G & H Building a Bilingual Society Award and (4) Notice Nature Biodiversity Award.

In his address Mr Griffin said En- nis’ had achieved global recogni- tion for its achievements in the Tidy Towns.

He said, “Our success has been recognised locally, regionally and nationally and internationally. We peaked in 2005 winning Ireland’s Ti- diest Town. In 2006 we won Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre. As a town with over 25,000 population we are unique in these achievements. Winning a Silver Award in 1997 in the Entente Florale and Gold in 2002 put us on the map internationally. We

also entered and won Pride of Place Award in 2003 which is an All-Ire- land competition”

Mr Griffin said partnership be- tween Ennis Town Council, Shannon Development, Clare County Council and FAS along with the important role played by resident’s associations and schools, was at the heart of En- nis’s success.

He said, “I would like to thank all the schools both primary and sec- ondary for their involvement and for their interest in the environment. In particular for inviting us to give a presentation on the Importance of Caring for our Environment”

“I congratulate Scoil Chriost Ri on being awarded two Green Flags one for waste recycling and one for ener-

gy conservation and Ennis National for achieving a green flag for waste recycling last year. Ennis CBS is, I believe, is in the process of applying for a waste recycling green flag this year’.

Mr Griffin said many challenges lay ahead for Ennis.

He said, “In trying to maintain the high standard achieved to date, En- nis 1s facing many new challenges in 2008 such as a rapidly increasing population, the planned drainage of the Fergus, the completion of the inner relief roads, the upgrading of Market Street and the laneways, etc. It is vital that we hold on to our Gold Medal Status which we have for the last seven years and that we continue to develop”’.