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FOLLOWING the Taoiseach’s visit to Ennis on Saturday, a notice seek- ing planning permission for the de- velopment of Ennis Hospital will appear in the press at the weekend, according to Fianna Fail election candidate Senator Brendan Daly.

“The move is a clear signal of our intent to get work started on the En- nis Hospital development as quickly as possible” he declared.

“On his visit to Ennis, the Taoi- seach reaffirmed his commitment to the development which has the Government’s full financial backing and political support. It’s now time to progress the project.

“Vd urge the HSE to get on with

securing plannng permission so that the people of Clare can finally get the medical services they deserve. The Taoiseach’s ongoing support for Ennis Hospital should allay any local fears, largely stoked by cynical Op- position politiking, that the future of Ennis Hospital was in doubt.

‘When the project is complete, the people of Clare will have a new day ward, upgraded radiology, A&E and pathology departments.The wards in the hospital will also be refurbished.

‘“We’ve made real progress on 1m- proving our health services in Clare. We’ll continue to drive that progress with the full support of the Govern- ment and the explict commitment of the Taoiseach,” Senator Daly con- cluded.

GRAVE concerns about Crusheen Garda Station lying idle have been aired at a national Garda conference. The Crusheen station was closed due to damage in January 2005 and has since been refurbished.

However, a dispute between the owner of the building and the Office of Public Works (OPW) has prevent- ed gardai from gaining access to it, for work.

As a result, Garda Declan Keavey, who is based in Crusheen, is forced to work from Ennis, or from a car.

Clare representatives attending the annual Garda Representative Asso- ciation (GRA) conference last week in Westport, Co. Mayo raised the 1s- sue and received support from their counterparts across the country.

Clare delegate, Garda Tom Keane said the people of Crusheen were forced to suffer because of a dispute which they had no control over.

‘The Garda station has been ready for the past 12 months. It is disgrace- ful that the people of Crusheen do not have a station, an area where the population has increased substantial- ly,” said Garda Keane.

The conference heard calls for the OPW to be removed from all in- volvement in the Garda buildings programme.

The Clare delegates attending the conference raised a number of other

issues Of concern to them.

One of those was the procedure which is currently in place to deal with bullying and harassment. Under the existing procedure, grievances and problems are dealt with inter- nally. Rank and file gardai want this to be an external process.

“It is an internal grievance proce- dure and we feel it is not working,” said Gda Keane, who is the chair- man of the GRA’s Health and Safety sub-committee, which is currently compiling proposals for changes in this area.

He said that gardai were particu- larly concerned that complainants were victimised. Once a complaint had been dealt with, they were often subjected to disciplinary action.

“We are looking for an outside in- dependent body to investigate issues like that. There are a lot of issues. People should be entitled to make complaints and have them treated in- dependently,” he said.

The four Clare gardai attending the conference also called for an inde- pendent review on pay.

“The last commission on pay was back in 1979. We feel that the current system, which is based on concilia- tion and arbitration, does not work as it is too bureaucratic,” said Garda WO aler

He said that gardai will receive a pay increase of two per cent this year, which “isn’t good enough.”

A TALENT fulfilled is a joy for all the world. The life and talent of one of traditional music’s best loved young musicians, Joseph Browne, is to be further celebrated by the first ever series of musical bursaries offered to young musicians in his name, it was announced this week.

These bursaries, which are open to all young traditional musicians in Clare and Galway, come as a result of money raised during this first an- nual Joseph Browne Spring School of Traditional Music which took place in Gort earlier this year.

A Crusheen native, Joseph Browne tragically lost his life in 2005.

Two bursaries to attend the Meitheal Residential Summer School in July of this year, as well as three bursaries to attend the 2008 Joseph Browne Spring School of Traditional Music in February 2008, are on offer.

Young musicians of 13 years of age and over are invited to submit appli- cation for the two Meitheal Residen- tial Summer School bursaries.

Each applicant should include a written presentation of less than 1,200 words entitled ‘Me and My Music’.

This application should outline the applicant’s musical journey, includ- ing past musical experiences, mu- sical influences, important people in his/her musical life, what music means to the applicant now and where it could go in the future.

Young musicians who wish to ap- ply for this bursary should also sub- mit a recording of their own playing on tape or CD.

Meanwhile, there are three bursa- ries on offer for next year’s Joseph Browne Spring School of Tradition- ZV MAY RUS Com ders sel matbemRKe)ee Malco) aee ary 14 to 16, 2008.

The competition is open to all

ages, with one bursary each being awarded to seven- to 10-year-olds, 11l- to 14-year-olds and 15- to 19- year-olds.

Each applicant is asked to submit a written presentation of up to 800 words entitled “Me and My Music’ while a recording 1s not required.

All applicants should send their presentation to the Joseph Browne Spring School of Traditional Music, Cnoc Maol, Crusheen, on or before Wednesday, May 9, 2007 with name, address, contact number and age.

For further information, contact 087 0674335 or www.josephbrowne. oes

A WOMAN has won her battle to transform a 19th-century school building into a holiday home.

The former primary school is lo- cated at Ballyfaudeen, Liscannor, in a remote, sparsely populated rural area. Nora French lodged plans to convert it last year.

The school dates from 1882 and has not operated for around 10 years.

However, Clare County Council turned down the proposal over site

drainage issues. Ms French appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala.

The board inspector who investi- gated the case agreed with the coun- cil, stating that the proposal would be prejudicial to public health. The inspector was not satisfied that the site could be drained satisfactorily by means of a new Envirocare unit with peat-based system and outfall to an existing trickling filter on site.

However, the board over-ruled its own inspector to give Ms French the go-ahead.

It stated that having regard to the long established use of the existing building on the site as a school, the proposed development would not be prejudicial to public health and would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable de- velopment of the area.

The appeal lodged on Ms French’s behalf stated that the building had become derelict since its abandon- ment.

“Taking account of the prominent location of the building, and its his-

tory, it is appropriate to preserve and protect the local community spirit as many of the school attendees con- tinue to live in the area.

“Appropriate and imaginative re-use will provide for the general enhancement of the area. The ‘do- nothing’ scenario for a building in this location does nothing more than present a ‘no-confidence’ vote in the multiplicity of projects, which are undertaken countrywide to provide remediation for sites with similar drainage issues.

“On a broader note, the develop- ment is located in an area in which the houses to serve the increasing tourist market are not being permit- ted, and are only infrequently com- ing available on the local market.

“At the outset, it 1s important to make the distinction between a pro- posal for development on a green- field site and a proposal for rede- velopment of a building, which is constructed, has been used and is part and parcel of the local commu- ia Ae

THE trial of three people charged with the manslaughter of Kildysart father of five Vincent Hehir last year 1s set to go ahead at Ennis Cir- cuit Criminal Court in June. Inspector Michael Gallagher in- formed Ennis District Court on Friday that the relevant books of

evidence had been served on each of the three accused and that the Director of Public Prosecutions had ordered that all three stand trial for the alleged offences in the Circuit Court.

The three men, Michael Bryan Finn (33), of Ennis Road, Kildysart, Noel Murphy (22), of Crovraghan, Kildysart, and Mark O’Connor (18)

of Rosscliffe, Ballynacally, Ennis are each facing a charge of man- slaughter, arising out of the death of the Mr Hehir on September 6 Tie

Mr Hehir died in hospital three days after being found unconscious outside a pub in Kildysart. He had travelled to Kildysart from Ilford in London to visit his family and

collect his five children, who had been on holiday with his parents for the summer. Mr Hehir managed the popular Black Horse Pub in [I- OKC

Judge Aeneas McCarthy remand- ed all three men on continuing bail and sent them forward for trial to the next sitting of Ennis Circuit Criminal Court on June 19.

AFTER a long and peaceful win- ter, Ballyvaughan has well and truly woken in the last week as the Burren in Bloom Ballyvaughan Celebration breathed fresh life and energy into the village.

Now in its third year, Burren in Bloom is beginning to carve out a name for itself as one of Ireland’s foremost nature-based festivals.

“It started over three years ago, when a man called Padraig Cleary suggested that we start doing more in Ballyvaughan to promote the area to tourists. Out of that came the Burren

in Bloom and the Christmas market,” said Jim McCarthy, chairperson of the Burren in Bloom committee.

“The original concept was not to have a festival but more of a celebra- tion of the spring and the flowers of the Burren. We started hanging the May bush on the doors as a way of welcoming the spring and warding off any evil spirits.”

A key element of Burren in Bloom is a series of illustrated talks which take place throughout the month at the Burren College of Art in Bally- vaughan. Following good turnouts for both John Kirby of the Burren- Life Project and John Murphy of

Birdwatch Ireland during the week, expectation is growing that this will be one of the best attended and most exciting series to date.

Gordon D’Arcy of the Burren College of Art will host a talk this evening, Tuesday, May 8, on the sub- ject of songbirds and the Burren.

Other to appear over the next few weeks include David Lyons, James Moran, Mary Angela Keane, Sharon Parr and Brendan Dunford.

“T always think that for something like this to really catch on takes about five years or more.

“This is just our third year and things are building nicely. We have

had inquiries this year from the UK and New York as well as all around Ireland,’ continued Mr McCarthy.

“It’s working well, people are grad- ually getting to know the name. We know that people are staying longer in the village and, with the bank hol1- day weekend, things are really start- ing to get going.”

The celebration will also include a number of guided walking events in the Burren, Irish music nights, a jazz quartet and a whole series of nature related events building to the Buds of May Barbecue on May 26. For more information check out www.bally- vaughanireland.com

AHEAD of the Clare Community Forum information night at the Tem- ple Gate Hotel on this Tuesday night, Fine Gael election candidate Cllr Joe Carey (FG) has called for strategic and comprehensive community sup- ports to bolster a vision of a stronger mid-west region.

Without strong and vibrant commu- nity infrastructure, the region will be ill-equipped to meet the challenges ahead, Cllr Carey said.

The construction of the Ennis by- pass and the resurgence of adjacent communities, such as _ Crusheen, Clarecastle, _Newmarket-on-Fergus

and Barefield means that proper facilities need to be put in place in these areas as a matter of urgency.

‘There are many areas where we need to be doing more in terms of playground facilities, activities for teenagers, recreational facilities, and generally implementing a vision for post by-pass Ennis. Currently this is not being done in any coherent or constructive manner’, said Cllr Carey.

The lack of adequate playground facilities continues to be a major is- sue for many communities, he said.

“I know for instance that residents in Quin are having to take on the 1s- sue themselves to try and get play-

ground facilities built in their vil- lage. And they are not the only ones. When funding has been earmarked for these initiatives, it 1s inconceiva- ble to think that people have to lobby to get basic facilities for their local area. It’s just not on”.

“IT am proposing that Fine Gael in government will appoint a Cabinet Minister for regional planning and development with sole responsibility for delivering a policy based on the principles of proper planned regional development”, he concluded.

A MAJOR insurance company has admitted that the wording of its mo- tor policies could be misinterpreted and is not clear on what type of driv- ing licence a motorist requires to be certain of being insured to drive a vehicle.

The revelation came at Tulla Dis- trict Court, when two men were prosecuted for a number of motoring aoe ;

Mohamed Salem, of Carrig An O1r, Ennis was driving a lorry which was stopped by a garda, at Moymore, Tulla, in January.

Mr Salem was charged with driv- ing without insurance and a driving licence, not having the correct road tax and with having a bald tyre. His employer, Mr Gerard Clune, former- ly of Clune Murphy Construction, was charged with five offences.

Garda John Ryan said when he stopped Mr Salem and demanded production of his documentation, he tendered a Libyan driving licence.

Defending solicitor Sse bs Loughnane said AXA’s insurance certificate stated that a driver with a

“full driving licence” was insured to drive the vehicle and that Mr Salem’s Libyan licence was sufficient.

AXA _ Insurance _ representative Paul Quinlan admitted the wording of the policy could lead to misin- terpretation. He said AXA did not verify what driving licence was be- ing submitted when an application for cover was made but that the “in- tention would be a full Irish driving licence”.

Judge Aeneas McCarthy agreed that the wording could be misinter- preted. He said that if Mr Salem had an accident, technically he would not be insured but in a civil action, the insurance company would be held li- able. The Judge said however that un- der the provisions of the Road Traf- fic Act, under which the proceedings were taken, a driver must hold a full Irish driving licence.

He acquitted Mr Salem on three of the four charges, but convicted him on the bald tyre charge and fined him €100.

Judge McCarthy convicted Mr Clune on all five charges and fined him €1,250. Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

THERE wasn’t a bad word to be heard around the corridors and class- rooms of Mary Immaculate Sec- ondary School in Lisdoonvarna last week as a year-long project designed to promote consideration in the com- munity came to an end.

The programme, which was called The Promotion of Courtesy Care and Consideration, was organised by the Home School Community Commit- tee and saw students from every class in the school work and think about how their locality could be changed into an even more friendly place.

A major aspect of the programme saw students from the school forge close ties with the people who attend the day care centre for the elderly at the Stella Maris.

This culminated in a special night with Fanore poet and author John O’Donoghue, which was organised by the school in support of the Stella Maris.

“He gave a wonderful talk and raised €1,000, which we were ab- solutely over the moon about,” said Maureen Droney of the Home School Community Committee.

“The money will go to the Stella Maris who are looking to buy a big- ger bus which will allow them to bring more people to the day centre. There is a great demand for the Stella Maris and indeed they are looking to open up for a third day each week.

“We had a lot of people who attend the day centre who came out for the night but there were a few people who would follow John, who trav- elled long distances to be there.”

John was joined on the night by his nephew and tenor with the Lismo- rahaun Singers, Peter O’Donoghue, and Leaving Certificate student Bri- da O’Donoghue, who played violin.

“During the year, the students vis- ited the elderly people and this gave them great life. You would even feel it on the streets that there was a real community spirit,’ continued Mau- reen.

“Next year, we will be focusing ona different theme. We will have a little break now and decide what to look at next year. We still hope to have a Courtesy, Care and Consideration week next year but the main focus will be somewhere else.”

Throughout the school year, the entire school community of Mary Immaculate took part in some way with a variety of events involving the

Courtesy, Care and Consideration Programme.

Teachers spoke about politeness and ethics in relation to their own subjects, each class drew up a char- ter of good behaviour, a poetry com- petition took place and a different poem was read aloud on the school intercom each morning to serve as a thought for the day.

MINISTER of State at the Depart- ment of Enterprise, Trade and Em- ployment Tony Killeen has published a second progress report on National Workplace Strategy. According to the minister, “The report highlights significant new initiatives to support workplace change and innovation in the public and private sectors.”

The report outlines key develop- ments in implementing the Strategy’s recommendations since the group last reported. The High Level Group, which is chaired by Minister Killeen, involves key Government depart- ments and agencies working together with the social partners to support workplace change and innovation in

the public and private sectors.

“IT am happy to be able to report that, building on the endorsement of the work of the group in the Frame- work Social Partnership Agreement Towards 2016, we have seen sig- nificant progress and the launch of important new initiatives across the five strategic priority areas of the Na- tional Workplace Strategy,’ Minister GTN ore yaork

The minister welcomed the fact that the National Workplace Strategy has reached an important juncture, Where the messages and objectives agreed and adopted at a national level by Government and the Social Partners are now to be targeted at workplace level to employees, trade unions and managers across the pub-

lic and private sectors.

“The new Workplace Innovation Fund will play an important role in supporting this process,’ the Minis- MEST BLOE

“The real success of the National Workplace Strategy will be meas- ured in terms of how it succeeds in influencing meaningful change at the level of the workplace.

‘“W hile this is no easy task, we have every reason to be optimistic. We know from our long experience with social partnership that our capacity to solve problems is best served by working together. The strategy gives us a unique opportunity to turn our creative problem-solving instincts into a source of sustained competi- tive advantage.”