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YOUNG people from Every Moment Counts (EMC) Youth Group in Scar- riff and the Killaloe/Ballina Youth Initiative put their heads together at the weekend to raise some much needed funds to meet the transport costs of their youth groups.

Last year the transport costs for EMC Youth Group were a massive € 2,600, which they met by constant JaUUeTebR-BEcyDEnoe

The youngsters, parents and vol- unteers came together on Saturday

to push a purpose built bed from Youthreach in Scariff the 11 miles to the Family Resource Centre in Kul- laloe.

“In Scariff we have developed very strong cross county links with Coun- ty Kilkenny and County Laois and we have developed and run projects between us but we are finding it very difficult to cover transport costs to maintain these links,” said Tracey Doyle, EMC youth leader.

“We asked people to please be generous to this worthy cause.” The ‘bed’ was made by two Scariff men

who scoured the area for recycled stuff for the project.

“Little wheels would never have lasted the pace, so they went looking for bicycle wheels,” said Tracy.

Part of the high cost of transport 1s having to hire a bus and although the local bus hire company gives EMC a very good rate, Tracy said “there is still money being paid out.”

“What we were hoping was that if there is any politician out there that used a minibus when campaigning for the elections that would like to donate it to us we would be thrilled

to take it off their hands. Or indeed anyone who has a bus that would be willing to part with it – you never know. Other community groups could use it as well and we could maybe split the cost of insurance,’ said Tracey.

Once they have recovered from the exertions of the bed push, EMC members are planning another ses- sion of workshops, following on the recent successful “Drums not Drugs’, sessions and they are plan- ning a musical show which they hope to take on the road.

IT looks increasingly likely that the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mary Coughlan, will face many of the same challenges in her second term of office as she did in her first.

One issue that shows no sign of res- olution is the ongoing issue concern- ing BSE testing. Coughlan has come under renewed pressure to move on the issue of compensation for the cost of testing animals between 30 ZNeCe melo mse leyelaetce

Last week Clare farmer and Chair-

man of the ICMSA Beef and Cattle Committee, Martin McMahon, stat- ed that in line with the commitment given under “Towards 2016”, the De- partment should immediately agree to fund the cost of BSE testing cattle between 30 and 36 months until such time as EU legislation is changed to remove the requirement.

According to Martin McMahon, under the terms of Towards 2016, a commitment was secured that the Government would seek a higher age for BSE testing. The ICMSA has stated that it is very disappointed with the slow progress being made

on this matter with a conclusion now unlikely until well into 2008 at EU Aron

The Beef Chairman said that the matter was “perfectly simple – farm- ers cannot continue to carry this cost’.

“At a time when beef farmers are under severe pressure on prices and costs, it 1s essential that regulatory costs be kept to a minimum. BSE testing of cattle between 30 and 36 months cost farmers nearly €6 mil- lion in 2006 and farmers now want to see this cost removed immediate- ly,” he said.

“Given the delay at EU level in ad- dressing the BSE testing age and as recognition of the problems facing beef producers at this time, the IC- MSA 1s proposing that the Minister should immediately fund the full cost of BSE testing cattle between 30 and 36 months.

This would represent a one-off cost only as it would no longer be required once the EU rises the age of BSE test- ing. It would, however, immediately meet the commitment give under ‘Towards 2016’ and would remove a substantial cost on beef farmers at this time of depressed prices.”

BORD na gCon says that Meelick residents should not be overly dis- appointed about the decision not to go ahead with the €15 million new ereyhound racing stadium in their area.

CEO of the Greyhound Board, Adrian Neilan said that the decision “moves the project a few miles up the road. But what has to be stressed 1s that this will be a Mecca for people who go racing. It will be a fantastic ee usa ae

The CEO said that the new stadium – which is now to be located at the old Limerick racecourse site – will still be a boost for Meelick in terms

of jobs and spin-off business from tom bee. @

The problem with the Meelick site, he said. Was that it would be land- locked until 2010 when the new road connection will be complete. “Until then we couldn’t even get construc- tion machinery in to get started. It was a very long delay.”

It’s just over a year since it was an- nounced that Meelick was to get the new stadium on a site near the Two Mile Inn.

The stadium design incorporated bar and restaurant facilities and a play area for children.

Subsequently, when the board ap- plied to Clare Country Council for planning permission, the local au-

thority asked for further informa- nto

It became clear at that stage that there would be a number of difficul- ties with the Meelick site.

But local councillor, Cathal Crowe said he is “bitterly disappointed. I recently organised a meeting in En- nis where local landowners, council road engineers and plunging staff and the Clare county manager were present. The non-attendance of a Bord na gCon official at this meet- ing signified to me that they had lost interest in the Lansdowne site. Many of the obstacles to the development of the stadium were discussed in depth at this meeting and I left in an optimistic mood that plans could be

progressed.

Cllr Crowe added that he believed that the location would not impede on the rural character of Meelick in TOA E NA

“Road frontage on the main Limer- ick – Ennis dual carriageway would have provided ease of access to the facility and a focal point for grey- hound enthusiasts from both Clare and Limerick to meet.

“The greyhound industry has thrived in recent years and one has only to look at the phenomenal suc- cess of the greyhound stadia at Cork, Shelbourne and Dundalk to see the scope of positive impact that this facility could have had on the local- ra A

SHERRY FitzGerald Hussey Mad- den, Ennistymon, has just launched a new development of homes locat- ed on School Road, Lahinch, with prices ranging from €290,000 to €450,000. Being sold off-plans, the 77 houses in this development are due for completion within 18 to 24

months.

In close proximity to Lahinch beach and golf course, selling agent Evelyn Madden explained, “these houses are situated on an elevated site and will offer excellent sea or countryside views. She added, “designed by char- tered architect Bernard O’Loughlin and under construction with home bond guarantees, this development

consists of a 77 homes, including de- tached, semi-detached and a court- yard style development, together with with a spacious creche”.

With nine different house types to choose from, this development is ide- al for those seeking a family home with all the advantages of living in a village combined with a coastal location. The development is within

strolling distance of Lahinch prima- ry school and is very close to shops, restaurants and other amenities. These houses will be sold in turn key condition and will include so- lar panels, oil fired central heating, wooden floors, tiling, bathroom suites and fireplaces as well as fully fitted kitchens. All external works will be completed including tar-

maced drives, lawns and communal ereens.

House specs on this development range from a three bedroom 957 sq ft terraced house priced at €290,000, through to the top end detached four bedroom homes encompassing 2,131 sq {t, priced at €450,000.

For full details contact 065 7072833.

OI ANA ae Ms lH eCOLUMB Re ReoNeclBOemseN what one candidate has dubbed the “exclusive club” of the Seanad for the first time since 1965.

In that year the late Dermot Honan (FF) was elected to the upper house taking the seat vacated after his fa- ther TV’s death in 1954.

Since then there has been a F’- anna Fail or Fine Gael senator from OE Ncer

With the unlikely exception that the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will name a

Clare politician among his chosen 11 nominees for the upper house of the Oireachtas, Clare, like Limerick, will remain without a senator for the next five years.

Clare County Councillors John Crowe (FG) and Pat Daly (FF) failed to be elected to the Seanad following six weeks and 11,000 miles each of campaigning.

Cllr Daly, who works for junior minister Tony Killeen said he be- lieved that “to win a seat you have to take an existing senator out of the exclusive club.”

“You could take Daniel O’Connell out of the square quicker than you could take out a senator.”

The Ennis councillor said he was disappointed not to get a place on the 11-seat Labour Panel, but believed he got a respectable vote.

“The way I view it over 90 per cent of the senators remain in their seats. I was trying to bring a fresh face to the senate,’ he said.

“TI thought I would have been an as- set and another voice for the people of Clare.”

He said he was not likely to run

again for the upper house, but said he should never say never.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael’s Cllr Crowe was within a few votes of being elected to the nine seater Industrial and Commercial Panel. The Sixmi- lebridge man who was one of 36 con- testing the panel was eliminated in the 25th count.

His elimination secured the seat for Fine Gael’s Paul Coughlan from Ker- ry. “It was marvellous to have stayed in so long,’ said Cllr Crowe. “It was a fair challenge but I enjoyed every bit of it. Clare is well got all over the

country and it is well known.”

The Fine Gael councillor has not ruled out campaigning for a Seanad seat again.

“Politics is like a drug. The more you get the more you want,’ he said.

The councillor said he had no re- egrets on a personal level running for the Seanad.

“I was proud to represent the county and represent the party,’ he said.

“The one regret I have is that we don’t have a senator of the county. I’m not only disappointed for our- selves but for the county,’ he added.

THERE are opportunities for third level graduates and highly skilled staff to work in rural enterprises in the west of Ireland. That’s one of the key points to emerge from new re- search by the Western Development Commission (WDC) on rural enter- prises in the West.

The WDC’s publication “Rural Businesses at Work” concludes that retaining and attracting young peo- ple to rural areas is critical to the continued growth of rural enter- prises and for the establishment of new businesses in such areas. Rural enterprises are at the heart of the Western Region’s future given that 68 per cent of its population live in rural areas, compared with 39 per cent of the population of the state. While in county Clare, 67 per cent of the population is rural.

Speaking at the launch of the publi- cation, Gillian Buckley Chief Execu- tive of the WDC said “Our research shows that there is a close fit between the needs of employers and of staff. SW ilorteomalbeveubercmolbnsen lento wm DOMMEDesDErDee eas have a demand for graduates and Skilled workers, while the WDC’s LookWest.ie campaign shows that many skilled workers have a strong desire to work and live in the West”.

Buckley added, “Recent CSO fig-

ures showed 16 per cent of adults in county Clare have a third level de- gree. This is positive news for enter- prises in the county as it provides a pool of locally available, highly edu- cated workers”.

The new WDC publication profiles ten businesses in different sectors including traditional and high-tech manufacturing, professional servic- es, natural resources, internationally traded services, tourism, retail, and the creative and construction indus- tries. The profiles show the diversity of firms operating in rural Ireland and give an insight into how they operate, including how and why they first came into being.

“This study lifts the lid on rural enterprises,’ said Buckley. “It shows that it is possible nowadays to run a successful business in almost any sector in rural Ireland, particularly if you have access to the latest in- formation technology and can net- work easily with customers, suppli- ers and peers. It also underlines the importance of high speed, affordable broadband to rural areas. It 1s essen- tial that universal broadband access be a national priority and hopefully the National Broadband Scheme an- nounced earlier this year will be ful- ly implemented as soon as possible’”’, she added.

The Skillnets initiative was _ par-

ticularly praised by those involved in the study because it delivers training for small businesses without requir- ing long distance travel, as well as providing an opportunity to network with other business people in a simi- lar situation.

“When a small business owner wants to attend training that only takes place in Dublin there are sev- eral costs; the cost of the training, the cost of travelling to Dublin and the cost of being away from the business for two or three days. Small busi- nesses are more likely to upskill if they can do it locally without losing days for travel,” Buckley said.

For those companies who primarily service the Irish market, the key con- cern was how a general slowdown in the national economy would affect their performance. Given the signifi- cant role of businesses that largely depend on the local market, particu- larly in rural towns and villages, this is a very real concern for the viability of rural economies generally.

“The research shows that the rural economy can sustain a broad range of different enterprise models but that there are gaps in infrastructure that must be addressed if they are to grow and if new enterprises are to set up in rural areas,” Buckley said.

AN BORD Pleanala has overturned a ruling by its own inspectors and Clare County Council to give the go- ahead for a contentious holiday home development near Lahinch.

Last year, Clare County Council re- fused permission on grounds linked to the famous west Clare railway that has been defunct for over 40 years.

Tom O’Keeffe of Roslevan, Ennis had lodged plans with the council to construct 20 holiday homes at Creg,

Lahinch with the plan later being re- duced to 12.

However, the council refused plan- ning permission on three grounds including that a number of the homes would be built over the line of the west Clare railway.

The North Clare Area Plan 2005 states that developments should only be allowed on or adjacent to the west Clare railway which will not conflict with or restrict the recreational po- tential of the line.

In his appeal, Mr O’Keeffe point-

ed out that the railway bridge to the south-east was removed presumably by the council some 40 or 50 years ago and that over the years, the west Clare railway has been ploughed out across the subject site and was not now visible except for the bridge abutment and a small area adjacent to it.

The west Clare railway — immortal- ised in song by Percy French — was closed by the Government in 196] with the 27-mile line from Ennis to Miltown Malbay losing £23,000 per

annum.

However, the council’s view was endorsed by the board inspector who recommended refusal on four sepa- rate grounds with one of those re- lated to the preservation of the west Eee eee

The inspector was overruled, An Bord Pleanala recommending instead that planning permission be granted as the proposed development would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicin- ity, would be acceptable in terms of

traffic safety and convenience and would, therefore, be in accordance with the proper planning and sus- tainable development of the area.

The board explained, “In deciding not to accept the inspector’s recom- mendation to refuse permission, the board took account of the zoning of the site, the final design and the in- formation received in response to the section 132 notice.”

The board also ruled out one home that was located across the route of the west Clare railway.

FINAL preparation are being made for this year’s Merriman Summer School which takes place in Lisdoon- varna from August 19 to 25.

This year’s school marks the 40th Anniversary of the event and is enti- tled Changed Utterly? Ireland 1967- 2007. The school brings thousand of extra tourists to north Clare each year and 1s now and essential part of the local tourism scene.

‘That week is a quite week around Lisdoonvarna. Holiday makers are starting to go home and September hasn’t hit. The Summer School is very important for the tourism of the area,’ said local organiser, Marian O’Callaghan.

“It is a very high profile event and it gives Lisdoonvarna a lot of very pos- itive publicity all over the country. It shows people that there is more to Lisdoonvarna, that it’s not all about September.

The school will be directed this year by well-known broadcaster and arts consultant, Doireann Ni Bhriain, and focuses on the massive changes that have taken place in Ireland over the last four decades.

“One of the highlights of this year school will be a concert by the Lis- morahaun Singers in Corpus Christi Church in Lisdoonvarna on August POAC) e mA Ebert

“This concert will feature Naomi O’Connell who began her singing with the Lismorahaun and has gone

on to win countless prizes.”

The school will be opened this year by eminent historian, Professor Gearoid O Tuathaigh of NUI Galway, who will set the tone for the week of debate, discussion, music, poetry, set dancing and general good fun.

Other highlights include a discus- sion on the changed role of the Irish female involving Nuala O’Faolain, Anne Enright and Marian Finucane, an examination of Ireland’s new- found wealth by economist, John Bradley and former Minister of State, Eithne Fitzgerald.

As the week draws to a close, Irish Times journalist and commentator, Fintan O’Toole and historian Di- armuid Ferriter will take a look at how the lessons of the past might in-

form our future on the island.

A series of local history seminars will also profile some local historical personalities including George Un- thank McNamara by Dr Peter Har- bison, Thomas Johnson Westropp by Maire Ashe Fitzgerald, Brendan O’Regan by Bernard Share while Conor Keane will look at Curious examples of Gaelic signage and place-names in Clare.

For more information check out WwWww.merriman.ie

WHEN Adam Coleman, director of Lahinch-based business _ solutions company, Interventions took the helm at A Clare Industry Service Tourism (ACIST) skillnet, the aim was to provide training for 435 peo- ple in the first two years.

Six months short of that target they have trained 536 with more courses in the pipeline.

Interventions is the training bro- kerage for ACIST and has organ- ised all kinds of training for the 70 companies which are now on board and now Limerick and Galway based businesses are also joining.

The organisation has become so succesfull that it has been decided to hold open recruitment days with plans being laid to apply for addi- tional funding from Skillsnet Ltd, through the Department of Enter- prise and Employment.

ACIST, which is a not for profit organisation, set up with a training and business networking grant of €300,000 from the Skillsnet parent body.

Member companies pay a small joining fee but the returns are worth every penny, says Interventions D1- rector, Coleman.

“What we provide is training and development across the board, tai- lored to the individual company’s needs. It’s training that small compa- nies, particularly, could never access with this kind of subsidisation.”

An example of that access was the

arranged two day visit last year of French cheese making guru, Jamal Kebchaoui, who gave instruction to two cheesmaking companies which are members of Acist. And a follow- up tarining visit is planned for later this year.

A keystone of the ACIST mindset is that they “engage expert trainers – people who been there and done that, actually worked and suceeded

in thier field’, said Coleman.

Companies involved vary from the huge multi-nationals such as Gen- worth to the three surf schools in Clare and companies which make chocolate, market goods, provide lifting machinery or hotels, pubs and restaurants.

ACIST tailors training to the needs of each member company as well as organising networking events and

nase BD OTSASe

Two major courses run by ACIST are the Applied Management and Applied Marketing courses, which can be done in modules and one of the latest initiatives from the organi- sation is the Loyalty Programme, with which companies and services give discounts to other members, en- couraging members to do business with each other and network.

ACIST has even also organised English language courses for polish workers and are planning to organ- ise Polish classes for members in September. “It’s a training need and we re meeting it”, said Coleman.

The bottom line, Coleman stresses, is that membership is a win/win situ- ation for businesses. “Our brief is to see how we can work with compa- nies to improve their situation. They can take advantage of training and development opportunities which are organised to to suit their needs, in their time and conducted locally.”

The ACIST expose days are being held in Genworth Financial Offices in Shannon on July 25 between 4pm and 8pm and in the Temple Gate Ho- tel in Ennis, also from 4pm to 8pm.

Everyone is welcome and Coleman predicts a large rise 1n companies wanting to join.

“Training can start at any time that the members want after joining but it would be important that new mem- bers sign up soon, because we need to do a trainig needs analysis with each new company very soon, as we will be reapplying for funding.”

Further information available at www.skillsacist.com.

THE HSE has this week announced that a 15-station satellite dialysis unit for the Midwest will be up and run- ning within the next six months.

The unit is a response to what the Irish Kidney Association has de- scribed as a crisis in the dialysis Service.

The Haemodialysis Unit at the Mid Western Regional Hospital Limerick has been unable to take any new pa- tients for the last number of months due to overcrowding.

Renal patients were instead sent to Tullamore, Tralee and Galway.

This week the HSE said that it had been working to provide the addi- tional capacity needed to enable pa- tients receive their dialysis as near as possible to their homes.

As part of that work a short term, 15-station satellite dialysis unit has been commissioned for Limerick.

A tender competition was held for the provision of the unit and the suc- cessful company has been notified within the last week.

The new facility is expected to

be operational within the next six months, according to the HSE.

Patients treated in the satellite unit will remain under the care of the referring consultant and multidisci- plinary team from the regional hos- pital.

SU ilem eR Sa seme slepeeComKen one Busnr-)| patients to Galway in the interim.

‘As a further measure and because of the urgent needs of this area in the Short term, the HSE has entered into a further contract with a dialysis pro- vider in Galway which will be able to accept mid-west patients imme-

diately and will help to avoid more protracted travel times for mid-west patients to Dublin and elsewhere,” a HSE spokespersons said.

“While we regret the inconven- lence that this travel imposes on some patients in the short term, we are confident that it will provide sig- nificant relief for the particular pa- tients affected while we are working on achieving self-sufficiency for the region over the next six months.”

‘Because of the urgent need for ad- ditional capacity the HSE has also funded a home dialysis programme

for medically suitable patients in the Limerick area as an alternative to hospital dialysis.”

As part of its long term plan the Mid Western Regional Hospital Limerick is currently developing a capital plan for an extension, which will expand the existing dialysis unit in Doora- doyle to 25 stations.

Each year in Ireland about 170 peo- ple reach the “end-stage” of renal failure and need treatment to replace their non-functioning kidneys. Ap- proximately 30 Clare people require dialysis three times a week.