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A REPORT published last week has highlighted the importance of local community action in responding to the challenges of social exclusion in today’s fast-changing rural Ireland.

The report, entitled “Making a Dif- ference: Social Inclusion in a Chang- ing Rural Ireland’, was published by Pobal and suggests that success- fully promoting social inclusion in rural Ireland will require engaging in joined-up thinking, in policy and planning as well as in implementa- tion.

As part of the National Develop- ment Plan, Pobal manages a number

of Government programmes that Support communities and commu- nity initiatives across Ireland.

“While rural areas have shared in the boom, they continue to experi- ence many deficits in economic and social infrastructure,” said ‘Tony Crooks, CEO of Pobal. “They are also facing new challenges, with the continuing decline in agriculture, new forms of social exclusion and a more diverse society,” he continued. “Community-based initiatives play an essential role in the promotion of social inclusion, complementing the work of statutory agencies.”

These community-based pro- grammes include the Rural Transport

Programme, the Rural Social Scheme, the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010, the Peace and Interreg programmes in the border counties, the Dormant Accounts Fund and the Local Development Social In- clusion Programme, which funds the local partnership companies.

“Many forms of social exclusion are complex and hard to address. Bottom-up approaches that are driv- en by community organisations allow the involvement of disadvantaged groups in the design and delivery of initiatives, and enable initiatives to reach the most socially excluded individuals and the most remote ar- eas, he continued.

The report states that more joined- up thinking is needed, at both national and local levels, if we are to address social exclusion in rural Ireland to- day, “Greater coordination between service providers, whether statutory, community-based or both, is needed in both planning and implementa- tion”, and says that coordination can help ensure that a full range of sup- ports is available to individuals and groups in need of assistance.

The report presents the key mes- sages from a conference, organised by Pobal, which brought together 220 participants, including policy makers as well as beneficiaries of the Pobal managed programmes.

THE Midwest could be staring down the barrel of a €42 million bill for polluting unless we clean up our act.

A leading renewable energy asso- ciation has claimed that the Midwest is living beyond its means, in terms of its impact on the environment.

Renewable Energy Skills (RES) has based the claim on figures from the European Environment Agency showing that Ireland currently has a carbon footprint of 5.0 global hec-

tares per person, more than double the global average.

The ecological footprint or carbon footprint is an environmental ac- counting tool that measures the land area required to support an individ- ual, business, community or nation, providing for its needs and absorb- ing its wastes.

It is quantified by calculating the land area required to produce the re- sources needed and dispose safely of wastes produced.

Cllr Johnny Flynn, Chairperson of RES and Ennis town councillor said

that “energy emissions in Clare are above the Kyoto target by 300,000 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide.

“This figure could rise to over 490,000 tonnes by 2010 leaving the county to face a bill of over €17 mil- lion in carbon levy.”

Meanwhile, Limerick county and city energy emissions are above the Kyoto target by 409,000 tonnes of CO2. By 2010, Limerick could be 713,000 tonnes over and face a bill of over €25 million in carbon levy.”

Meanwhile, the Limerick Clare Energy Agency, said that a number

of target actions aimed at reducing carbon emissions were included in the recently launched Government White Paper.

“Some of the targets for renewable energy production will be well with- in the abilities of coastal counties such as Limerick and Clare,’ said Pat Stephens, Manger of LCEA.

Mr Stephens, who has worked in building services design and energy management for more than 15 years and in the construction industry for more than 25 years, added, “to achieve our national targets, some

local targets will have to be more ambitious.

‘This includes the provision of bio- mass firing at Moneypoint generat- ing station by 2010 and ten per cent biofuels penetration by 2020.”

Other targets outlined by the Lim- erick Clare Energy Agency include the use of Pure Plant Oil (PPO) in local authority and public bodies ve- hicle fleets, a review of the National Building Regulations in 2008 and the introduction of smart metres for all electricity consumers over next five years.

yesterday that it would be a very different story if the election was not so close.

“I don’t see any point in the PDs pulling out now, not at this stage. We don’t know what has gone on yet, maybe it will come out before the election and maybe it won’t,” he said.

‘As a PD, I believe we were elected to hold up honesty and integrity in government.

“But at this late stage, I don’t see any advantage in collapsing the Gov- ernment just for the sake of it.”

The Fianna’ Fail/PD coalition looked destined to collapse over the weekend when a meeting of the Pro- gressive Democrats’ high brass was called to discuss revelations con- cerning the personal finances of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern.

Mr Ahern’s then partner, Celia Larkin, is reported to have received £30,000 from Manchester business- man Michael Wall in 1996 towards

the renovation of a property.

This property, which was owned by Mr Wall, was rented to Ahern at a nominal fee.

Tm stcKmoeeoe mer Mbsom\y Eble tence businessman bequeathed the prop- erty to Mr Ahern in his will.

“It’s a difficult position for Mc- Dowell to be in. He is going to be criticised no matter what position he takes on this.

“We should hold a firm position on this. Only for it is so close to the election, it could be a very different StOry.

‘The grassroots members and gen- eral election candidates haven’t been

informed of what information Mc- Dowell has yet.

“This is a decision that will be made at ministerial level.”

Meanwhile, the Green Party yes- terday put pressure on Michael Mc- Dowell to put the information he has about the Taoiseach’s finances into the public domain.

“Michael McDowell also has a re- sponsibility in the national interest to put the information he has into the public domain, so that the statement from Bertie Ahern can be judged in the context of what Michael McDow- ell knows,” said party leader Trevor Sergeant yesterday.

SHANNON company, Peach Re- cruitment, will give local people a run for their money to benefit four charities with their third annual 10k run in the town on Sunday after- noon.

As this is the last time that the company will organise the Peach 10k Shannon run it is hoped that this year’s event will raise over €35,000, to reach an accumulated target of € 100,000.

Derek Barrett, Managing Director of Peach Recruitment, said that the event has been enormously success- ave

“The first time around we raised

€38,000 and over the past two years this event has raised in excess of €65,000 for charity, which is a phe- nomenal achievement for a locally organised event. For many partici- pants, this is the perfect opportunity to contribute to charity work on both a local and national scale. Our ab- solute priority for the run will be to raise as much awareness and money for each nominated charity as possi- ble. People are extremely generous,” he said.

This year’s nominated charities are local branches of Multiple Sclerosis and Children with Special Needs as well as Milford Hospice in Limerick and Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Dublin.

The company ensures that money raised locally stays locally.

‘We have supported lots of differ- ent charities but they are all chosen because people have been involved with them in some shape or form. For example, there is funding available for multiple sclerosis but not enough and we’ve specifically asked that the money will be spent on physiothera- py in the Shannon area,’ he added.

Runners can also nominate their own charities and they are asked to register with the company so that an official record can be kept of dona- tions.

Mr Barrett hopes that another eroup or company will keep carry- ing the 10k torch.

“We decided to finish up because we felt that we had dipped into the same well for three years running. We all help with stewarding and or- ganisation and people dig deep. Now someone else has a chance to get in- volved and contribute to charity.”

The Peach 10k Shannon Run will start at 1.30pm from Wolfe Tones GAA Club (where changing facili- ties will be open) and will continue around Shannon town before return- ing to the club for refreshments.

People can print off registration forms from www.peach.ie or call into the office in Peach House for forms and sponsorship cards. For further information telephone O61 362000.

CLARE senator and general elec- tion candidate, Timmy Dooley (FF), yesterday criticised his party leader, Bertie Ahern, over the decision to hold the general election on a Thurs- day.

Senator Dooley, who alongside Tony Mulcahy (FG) and James Breen (Ind) was given a five star rating by the National Youth Council of Ire- land, said he would like to have seen the election take place closer to the weekend to accommodate students

living away at third level institu- tions.

“Personally I am _ disappointed. I haven’t made a big issue out of it but personally I would have liked to have seen the election take place on a Friday or even on a Saturday,’ said Senator Dooley.

“It is a situation creating a balance between the students who want to vote and the people in the cities who would be going down the country for the weekend.”

Dooley was one of only five Clare general election candidates to re-

spond to a survey on young people’s issues conducted by the National Youth Council of Ireland. Each can- didate was rated according to their answers to a series of youth related question and given a Star rating.

Senator Dooley received a maxi- mum five star rating along with Tony Mulcahy and James Breen, while Madeleine Taylor-Quinn (FG) and Brian Meaney (Green) received four Star ratings.

Each of the respondents, except for Madeleine Taylor-Quinn, responded ‘yes’ when asked should the vote be

given to 16 and 17 year olds.

‘“T have had the view for a long time that children are more educated now than they were 20 or 30 years ago. With the improvements in technol- ogy and communications they know more about voting and politics than ever before,’ said Dooley.

“I would argue that giving them the vote at an early age would get them more involved and make them more interested in politics. If people were allowed to vote from 16 it would goa long way to tackling the problem of apathy in a lot of voters.”

THE killing of Liam Moloney was “meticulously planned and_ ruth- lessly executed and was followed by a cover-up”.

That was according to the Prosecu- tion Counsel Tom O’Connell, SC, in his closing speech to the jury on Friday.

He said he was “inviting” the jury to bring in a verdict of guilty of mur- der.

“The Prosecution has established beyond all reasonable doubt that An-

thony Kelly killed Liam Moloney, with the intention of killing him.

‘He lured him to his place of death by telling him a lie, that Liam Molo- ney would be introduced to the fic- tional Swedish woman, Anna Fred- erickson,” said Mr O’Connell.

He said the accused believed that Mr Moloney kept money in his flat. After he had killed him, he went straight to the flat and took around €600, before returning to his Kerry home.

“The motive, beyond any doubt, was to enrich himself, by stealing

Mr Moloney’s money after he had killed him,” he said.

He said that the accused later “‘dis- posed of every single item that might connect him with the killing’. These included Mr Moloney’s mobile phone and keys, Mr Kelly’s own clothing, along with an axe head, padlock and meat cleaver.

He said that the burglary was “cen- tral to the case”. He told the jury it was demonstrated during the trial that the accused was “unreliable” and had a history of lying but that he did not have a history of mental

illness.

Defence Counsel Brendan Grehan, SC, in his closing speech, said “there is no other issue in this, other than the issue of diminished responsibil- Aa

He said that if the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act — introduced for the first time last year — had not been in place, his client “would have no op- tion but to plead guilty to murder”.

He said in reality the killing was “brutal” and “a frenzied attack” which were the actions of “some- body out of control”.

He said the jury could conclude that the accused was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the killing and that substantially im- paired his judgement.

“The appropriate verdict is man- slaughter. I invite you to return a ver- dict of manslaughter,” he said.

Mr Justice Paul Carney told the jury that the defendant does not chal- lenge he did what is alleged.

However, he said the question, was he suffering from a mental disorder at the time, is “where the battle- ground is”.

PROPOSALS to develop a cricket eround in Shannon have been given the backing of councillors in the ie)”a0

Last week, a representative of the Munster Cricket Union Executive committee wrote to the town clerk Tomas MacCormaic, regarding the provision of a facility.

In the letter, Chris Thomas said there are more than 200 people of numerous differing communities within Ennis and Shannon, who have a keen interest in playing the game.

He said that the town council has offered the use of a facility at the back of the comprehensive school,

for playing cricket.

“I believe the area is formally iden- tified as RB and zoned for commer- cial/residential use. Unfortunately, in its current status, the area 1s not suit- able for playing the game and those wishing to use the facility do not in- dividually have the resources to pro- pose and undertake the development of same to an appropriate level,’ he Sr HLGe

“We would like to propose the de- velopment of the area into a safe and maintained facility that will serve the purposes of interested groups and the recreational demands of the greater community,’ added Mr Tho- Te TeIse

He said he believed the proposed

development would have a positive impact on the surrounding environ- ment and its current uses and would serve the needs of those who are keen to play cricket, following the success of the Irish cricket team in the recent world cup.

Councillor Tony Mulcahy (FG) said the group “obviously want to put down a more permanent structure in the area. We have to try to accom- modate all sport”.

He said it would be “pointless” to kit out an area which is zoned com- mercial/retail and said that there is a big open green space in the Cuil Cais area, which may be suitable for ule com

Independent

councillor Patricia

McCarthy said the area between Tra- daree Court and Cill Cais would be a suitable area.

“We sometimes forget we had a cricket club here many moons ago,” she said.

Cllr Greg Duff (Labour) said that councillors should be supportive of the proposal. “We should take posi- tive action to show we are welcoming of every community and support,” he said.

Shannon town manager Ger Dol- lard said it was “good to see such a positive proposal which is well thought out. Perhaps there are other locations which could be looked at. The all-weather pitch is not used at the moment,” he said.

THE future of the Irish sheep indus- try hangs in the balance this week as continued low prices offered by factories 1s on the verge of causing a mass exodus from the sector. The IFA has called on factories to up the price offered per lamb by as much €10 per lamb as a matter of urgency. Speaking following a _ meeting with the lamb factories in Dublin on Thursday, IFA National Sheep Committee Chairman, Henry Burns, said on sheep farmers need a price increase of €8 to €10 per lamb from the meat factories over 2006 price

levels just to stay in business.

‘Unless the factories are capable of returning a viable price to farmers for lamb, above the costs of produc- tion, the sector will continue to de- cline. Farmers are not going to sub- sidize lamb production by eroding their single farm payment,” he said.

‘Factories and agents talking down prices and trying to buy lamb cheap- er are acting highly irresponsibly and inflicting further damage on an already difficult situation.”

An IFA National Sheep Committee delegation led by Henry Burns met with representatives of Meat Indus- try Ireland including Kepak, Irish

Country Meats and Dawn Meats on the excessive cuts in lamb prices last week.

With production costs for spring lamb running at €90 to €100 per head, Burns commented that the meat factories know and accept that farmers cannot produce lambs at un- viable prices below the costs of pro- duction.

He continued that the IFA put the economic facts very strongly and clearly to the meat factories. “The meat plants accept that lamb prices must rise in order to restore viability at farm level,’ he continued. “The factories indicated they expect pric-

es to stabilise for the month of May. Last year lamb prices were in the or- der of €4.50/kg for most of May.

‘The factories said all of the main retailers will complete the changeo- ver to spring lamb this week and this should drive consumption and boost demand.”

He continued to say that Bord Bia have brought forward to this week a nationwide radio advertising cam- paign on Radio | and 16 local sta- tions, which should also increase domestic demand and that there was a major level of responsibility on the factories to stabilise the market and ee (one

THE jury in the trial of a man, accused of murdering hackney driver Liam Moloney, will retire to consider its verdict today.

Anthony Kelly (54), a native of Ruan, has denied murdering the father-of-four, at Portlecka, Ruan, on February 11,

2005.

Mr Moloney, who was sepa- rated, died af- ter sustaining 17 blows to the head, while his throat was cut from side to side.

The accused has admitted the killing, but says he was of dimin- ished responsibility at the time.

A judge and jury of seven women and five men has heard evidence in

the case over seven days.

According to the Prosecution, the accused carefully planned the killing and lured Mr Moloney to his death.

It claims that the accused’s mo- tive was robbery, as he went straight from the scene of the killing to Mr Moloney’s flat and stole money.

The defence, how- ever, has claimed that Mr _ Kelly suffered from a mental disorder at the time and this diminished his re- sponsibility.

At the outset of the trial, Kelly pleaded guilty to six other charges, including rob- bing Mr Moloney and taking his car, on the same date.

REMEDIAL works, costing €4.5 million, will be carried out on 100 lo- cal authority houses in Shannon.

Forty-eight houses in the Inis Ealga area and 53 former Shannon Develop- ment houses will be upgraded, under a Clare County Council scheme, the details of which have just been an- nounced. The work on the dwellings is likely to start later this year.

The cost of the works to the Inis Ealga homes will come to €2.4 mil- lion, while work on the former Shan- non Development homes will cost €2.1 million. The project will be

funded by the Department of the En- vironment, Heritage and Local Gov- ernment.

The scheme is being carried out un- der the Government’s policy of ‘de- livering homes, sustaining communi- ties’, and will be delivered as part of the overall regeneration and develop- ment of Shannon town.

The remedial works to the Inis Ealga houses will involve both inter- nal and external improvements. The houses, which were built in 1984, will be rewired. Smoke alarms will be in- Stalled in the kitchens and bedrooms, while the kitchen units will also be replaced.

Clare County Council’s housing staff Nora Keane and Tony McNama- ra outlined details of the scheme, at a meeting of Shannon ‘Town Council FNM isle .@

Mr McNamara said that the propos- als are a result of surveys which were carried out over a number of years.

“We hope to be going to tender as soon as possible. There are some is- sues in relation to fencing at the back of Inis Ealga,” he said.

He said that 15 kitchens will be re- placed, which are of poor or average fey sTebialeyer

Independent councillor Patricia Mc- Carthy said he would welcome the

investment in the houses and asked When the work is likely to com- nates (een

Ms Keane said the best case scenar- 10 will be a start date of October.

Cllr McCarthy said that down- Stairs toilets should be installed in the former Shannon Development homes.

Independent councillor Gerry Flynn said he had hoped Rossbracken houses would also be improved and pointed out that the schemes are “fabulous”’.

A number of councillors expressed concern that houses in ‘Tradaree Court were not included under the current programme.