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THERE were celebrations in Liscan- nor last week with the news that the Government has promised almost half a million euro of funding to- ward the creation of a state-of-the- art creche facility in the village.

Just under €430,000 has been ear- marked for the creation of the service which could be up and running be- fore the beginning of 2008. The most likely venue for the new facility is on the grounds of Liscannor Primary School but no definite agreement has been reached to date.

Liscannor and the surrounding ar- eas have seen a large growth in popu- lation over the last decade and these creche facilities are now essential for the future growth of the area.

Plans have also been muted to es- tablish an after school service in conjunction with the new creche fa- Teta

“We are hoping that this will al- low us to put on a new building onto the primary building in Liscannor. We are aiming to have 20 preschool places in the new building, but we would also be looking at creating an after school service. The hope at

the moment is to be able to combine three existing rooms at the school to form the after school service,’ said creche organiser, Liz Bonito.

‘There is a huge demand in the area for something like this. We are cur- rently operating in the community centre but this new purpose building will make all the difference.

“We have been fundraising for this the whole time and so many people have been a huge help in getting this off the ground. It is the combined ef- fort of an awful lot of people in Lis- cannot.

“It’s thanks the parents who have

abd Cehncys MBs Mm Oe CoM el buwuss0lMmel Roles (om oy-KI parents, future parents and con- cerned people in the locality.”

The announcement was welcomed by local county councilor Richard Nagle.

“T am really delighted, there has been almost €430,000 allocated for the provision a play school service in Liscannor,’ said Cllr Nagle (FF).

“I made a number of representa- tions on behalf of the group and I am really hopeful that things will be able to progress as quickly as possi- ble from now on. It is a badly needed service for the area.”

FOR the third consecutive year, cus- toms officials at Shannon Airport did not confiscate any goods from pas- sengers arriving in Ireland from the US during the traditional Christmas shopping period.

This is despite an _ estimated 100,000 Irish people travelling to the US, many from Shannon Airport, and spending millions of Euro on Christmas shopping trips in the pe- riod between the start of November and the end of December.

While customs officers carry out random checks at airports as part of their daily duties, passengers stopped at Shannon during November and December did not have any items in excess of their allowance.

Information obtained from the Revenue Commissioners confirmed that the number and value of goods

seized from passengers and pas- sengers’ baggage between Novem- ber | and December 31 at Shannon was “nil”. The number and value of goods released on compromise pen- alties was also “nil”.

The figures revealed that the amount of duty and taxes taken from passen- gers declaring goods on importation was €1,262.66 – made up of €117.15 in duty and €1,145.51 in VAT.

At Dublin Airport, passengers returning from the US during the same period, with “goods lawfully declared”, paid €749 in duty and €3,430 in VAT.

While some items were seized, they were released to their owners follow- ing payment of duties and penalties valued at €1,031.

Passengers are allowed to bring home items worth no more than €175 before they must make a dec- laration.

COCAINE use in Clare has risen sharply and is the second most used drug in the county, with its popular- ity now outgrowing ecstacy.

The use of heroin is also continuing to increase in Clare, as addicts travel to Limerick to get their fix, accord- ing to gardai.

The head of the Clare Garda Di- vision’s Drug Unit, Sergeant John Brennan, said the trends in drug use in Clare had changed dramatically over the past few years and cocaine was now widely available.

“Our seizures of cocaine would be next to cannabis. It would have been very rare, going back three or four years ago.

“It has eclipsed ecstacy and am- phetamine,” said Sgt Brennan.

“It is the demand for cocaine that is causing problems. A lot of people with good wage packets are indulg- ing in cocaine at weekends. Once there is a demand, there will always be a supply,” he said.

While gardai in Clare have not made any major seizures of cocaine in recent years, they believe that a string of minor hauls is resulting in inroads being made into its supply.

‘A lot of individual seizures are be- ing made. There has been a substan- tial increase over the past number of years in the amount of cocaine vis- ible to us anyway.

“It seems to be deemed acceptable across the board, by all sections of the community,” he said.

He said the link between cocaine use and violence was significant as people who wouldn’t generally have violent tendencies resorted to vicious assaults after taking the drug.

“It is very obvious it is responsible for violence and public order inci- CSN

“It is commonly accepted that the use of cocaine leads to violence and it has been a factor in some of the se- rious assaults that have taken place,” |ntemncy-B (em

The majority of drugs are brought into Clare from mainland Europe, via Limerick, and gardai believe that cocaine and cannabis come in Koons

A number of prosecutions have been brought to court and a number of others are still pending, relating to possession of cocaine.

Sgt Brennan said the use of heroin continued to pose huge concerns for ee KerNe

“There is still a considerable amount of it. A lot of our people are going in to Limerick to get heroin. Some of the notorious drugs gangs in Limerick are cutting back the supply of cannabis, because it is more bulky, and are replacing it with heroin,” he Sr HLGe

He said that the popularity of ecsta- cy tablets has “dropped completely”’.

THE people of the Burren region have been invited to come on board with new projects which aim at cre- ating an overarching tourism man- agement system in north Clare.

The Burren Project, which is a combination of Clare County Coun- cil, BurrenBeo, Failte Ireland, Shan- non Development and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, has started work from a new base office in Ennistymon and hoping to shape the evolution of the tourism product in the area over the next few years.

“We are really hoping to work with everyone – voluntary organisation like BurrenBeo, the businesses, the

farmers, everyone who has an inter- est in the area,” said project leader Carol Gleeson. “It’s really a case of finding out exactly what is happen- ing and working in partnership with these people. “In the long term, what we want to do is have a Strategic overview and help integrate and co- ordinate a lot of the things that are already going on in the Burren. That is the aspiration the County Council would have for this project.”

The group are hoping to promote a diversification in the tourism market which would see more people com- ing in the off-season and visiting different places. They are also hop- ing to promote the environmentally sustainability of the area by promot-

ing ‘soft footprint’ eco-tourism and establishing a code for visitors.

“There are a lot of returns from that sort of tourism in the long run. We are looking for people who would stay longer, go for walks and eat in the restaurants. These people tend to come at any time and stay longer. It’s people who are interested in their health, active people and people who are interested in finding out more about what is actually going on in the Burren,’ said Emer McCarthy of the project.

“We are working closely with Bur- renBeo who have been providing info on the Burren for the last number of years. They have been working a lot with regard to education and have al-

ready done a lot of work especially in the schools. It is very much a part- nership approach, we really want to work together with people like Bur- renBeo, the IFA or anyone else who is providing a service for local peo- ple.”

Projects that the group is currently looking at include educational pro- erammes for school and _ visitors, the creation of a number of Burren viewing points, the establishment of a Burren Code about, a signage au- dit and the establishment of a Burren brand

For information contact Carol and Emer at cgleeson@burren. ie, emccarthy@burren.ie or O65 7072295.

A CALL was made yesterday to re-appraise spending on security at Shannon Airport after it emerged that it cost the State over €3 million to protect the airport last year.

Minister for Justice, Michael Mc- Dowell confirmed that the cost of ongoing Garda policing arrange- ments at Shannon Airport in 2006, including normal salaries, was ap- proximately €3.85 mullion.

Minister McDowell said that the Garda authorities allocated resourc- es in accordance with the assessed threat, so it was the Garda which ultimately determined the associated costs.

He was speaking in response to a Dail question from Green Party lead- er, Trevor Sergent.

He said, “I am informed by the Garda authorities that local Garda

management is satisfied that the con- tinuance of the ongoing policing ar- rangements at Shannon Airport is es- sential for the integrity of the airport itself and of both its employees and clients.

“Accordingly, I remain satisfied that Garda policing arrangements at Shannon Airport continue to be both necessary and appropriate.”

Last year, the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) made an estimated profit of €9 million from the 280,000 US troops that passed through Shan- non, keeping the airport in profit.

However, Green Party election can- didate, Brian Meaney said yesterday, “It is time to re-appraise the security operation at Shannon.

“A significant amount of Garda resources is being spent on the op- eration at Shannon and this must be having an effect on policing levels elsewhere in Clare.”

THE amount of waste landfilled at Ballyduff Beg last year was the low- est since the facility was opened in 2002.

Almost 34,000 tonnes of waste were landfilled last year, which is a significant reduction on almost 53,000 in 2005. Almost 44,000 tonnes were deposited there in 2004, and nearly 56,000 in 2003. During the first seven weeks of this year, almost 7,000 tonnes of waste were deposited there.

The annual report of the facility, presented to councillors yesterday, stated that the reduction last year was mainly due to a decrease in quanti- ties brought by one major collector.

The maximum licensed intake of 56,500 tonnes per annum was almost reached in 2003 and 2005.

The facility’s expenditure last year was €1.78 million for landfill, €223,000 for the recycling centre and €7,000 for composting. Pay- ments to suppliers of goods and serv- ices accounted for 38 per cent of the landfill operating costs; machinery was 33 per cent, with payroll 29 per Cone

The gate fees last year were €125 per tonne, for quantities up to 10,000 tonnes per annum and €120 per tonne, for quantities over that. These fees are reduced by €5 per tonne this year.

The income budget for the facility is €3,750,000 this year.

The report confirmed that off-site odours have been detected from time to time, as a result of inspections by the council and the HSE.

‘The main odour being reported 1s that of landfill gas, with some reports also of fresh waste odour. Landfill gas consists mainly of methane and carbon dioxide, which are green- house gases, but are odourless, but a small fraction of landfill gas is made up of volatile organic compounds, Some of which are odorous,” stated the report.

Two non-compliance notices, cov- ering four subjects, were received by the Environmental Protection Agency, in the year ending March 2007. Odour off-site and the felling of trees outside the dates specified in

the licence were referred to, 1n one of the notices. The council asserts the trees were felled in late February, to facilitate construction of Phase 3 of the facility, which got underway last August.

The report also pointed out that complaints were made about ma- chinery noise and surface water run- off, relating to Phase 3 construction.

According to the report, the prob- lems raised were discussed at the Community Liaison and Monitor Committee meetings.

“Odour management in particular has been a recurring subject. Com- plaints about site noise, early entry to site and late departure, and quality of surface water run-off, have been raised at this stage,” it stated.

LISDOON VARNA National School are on the road to repeating last years heroics in the Credit Union All-Ire- land quiz competition as their U13 team qualified for the national final last week.

The team saw off stiff competition from schools from all over Munster to finish first in their age grouping. It was however, a bitter sweet evening for the school as their U1] team nar- rowly missed out on qualification themselves, finishing third in their age group.

“We give them encouragement at

the school but they do most of the work themselves, off their own bat. Each of them gets a lot of support and help at home as well but at the end of the day they do all the work themselves.” said school principal John Hehir.

‘Both teams qualified to represent the school at the regional final in Limerick. The UI3 team won it and got through to the nationals but the U1] team finished third.

“Only the first two teams qualify so the U1] team were very unlucky not to make it. They were unlucky but at the same time they will have learned a lot from the experience and they

have more years in front of them.”

Indeed, this year the U13 team fea- tures three students, Orla Burke, Rob- ert Hillery, and Eimear O’Sullivan, who claimed the U1] All-Ireland last year.

The team in completed by Eleanor Collins who will be looking to taste her first All-Ireland success in Dub- lin on April 1.

“It is a 32 county, All-Ireland com- petition, so there will be more than 100 teams involved. All these teams would have come through two or three qualification rounds to make it this far so they really are the best of the best,” continued Mr Hehir.

“The whole competition is very well run. From local level in En- nistymon, through the other rounds in Ennis, Limerick and on to Dublin. The Credit Union deserves a lot of credit for it.”

Lisdoonvarna has been one of the most consistent performers in the competition over the last decade. The came joint sixth when they first reached in national final in 2001.

They came second in 2005, first in 2006 and have given themselves eve- ry chance of a great finish this time around.

The competition takes place in Dublin’s RDS on April 1.

SUNDAY has to count. To get any- thing from this league Clare knew at the start of the year that two home wins were vital. In reality, Wexford should have been a banker. It wasn’t. Clare looked stale and had no appe- tite for the two points in a game that was surely earmarked as a chance to return to on-field matters. Because of all that’s gone on, this is vital to Clare but already the fizz is going out.

As a buffer to the sideshow of Feb- ruary, the party line was thrown out that training was tough but go- ing well. It didn’t look that way last Sunday week and now the task of beating both Waterford and Cork in Cusack Park is on Clare’s shoulders. It weighs heavy.

The scribes who openly stated that Tony Considine wouldn’t see out his two-year term as manager of Clare had the first domino fall their way. While a home defeat to Wexford – considering the injuries Clare had and their previous tepid challenge of Down – isn’t a league breaker, it will become that should Waterford arrive in Ennis and take the points.

And that’s the likely result. All the momentum is with the visitors. They travelled to Wexford for their league

Opener and destroyed them by Il points. On Saturday they played Cork in the re-fixture and looked comfort- able throughout with four points to Spare at the end, Ken McGrath and Eoin Kelly backboning things.

Clare had a run out themselves at the weekend. Travelled to Na Piar- saigh on the Ennis Road in Limerick and had five points to spare over a Limerick side that had a number of new faces.

Clare, on the other hand, had some familiar names and gave starts to Fer- gal Lynch, Gerry O’Grady and Frank Lohan after injury problems. And at least the presence of the latter two on Sunday, should they start, will be a

calming influence in the full back line. It was a sector Tony Considine was quick to take the carving knife to against Wexford, hauling in Colm Forde after just 15 minutes.

The form of Tony Carmody should be on the up as well. He’s had three games for Clare since he was talked back into the set-up by a group of sen- ior players, scoring well throughout. At times against Wexford he showed flashes of what he’s capable of but a flicker of sharpness was missing. He bagged four points against Limerick at the weekend and the extra game should propel him further again.

Diarmuid McMahon and Barry Nu- gent were both missing against Lim- erick with injuries, but the problems seem to be abating generally.

It’s not yet crunch time for Clare, but it’s approaching. Two back to back losses in Cusack Park would be a tough one to swallow and Water- ford come with the scent of blood on i eCod Dam BT ON

The bottom line is simple: just like the last time, Clare need a win and a performance against Waterford. If not, their backs are to the wall.

MEMBERS of Clare County Coun- cil have voted to adopt a public con- sultation strategy for the preparation of Development Plans in the county.

They accepted it, after a debate on the issue at yesterday’s month- ly meeting of the Council, during which some councillors voiced their views on the formulation of develop- ment plans.

Councillor Patricia McCarthy (Ind) said, “It’s about communication with the ordinary people out there.”

Councillor Martin Lafferty (Ind) said, the document was “very well written. My experience of the last plan was it came in as an item. There wasn’t one word. It was proposed, seconded and adopted,” he said.

Councillor Tom Prendeville (FF) said it was not about a development plan as such. “We are talking about

local representation,” he said.

“The Department has laid out, in euldeline form, how we should con- sult with local groups. I would ask members to go forward,’ he added.

Councillor Richard Nagle (FF) said, “It is up to members here if they want to amend or change the County Development Plan. What we are talking about here is the public consultation strategy.”

“Some people seem to totally un-

derestimate the knowledge of the electorate. What we are talking about here is that we have a clear ap- proach,” he added.

He said that the document should be put on view for public consulta- tion, in libraries and public offices.

The Director of Services in the Planning Section, Bernadette Kin- sella said the document sets out how the council wished to engage in the process of consultation.

WHILE the politicians are on the campaign trail which they hope will lead them to the Dail, a Clonlara girl is on a votes trail of a very different kind last week.

You’re a Star competitor Maeve O’Donovan was raising support for her bid to win by visiting schools in her area and rallying support from the local community.

SRT eB WY ETAVor rasa oee EK Mh (cle) ats knock-out at the Helix in Dublin and was preparing for her next perform- ance at the weekend when she took time out to meet youngsters at Clon- lara and Parteen national schools.

The curious kids were delighted

to have a budding star in their midst and were full of curiosity about what it is like to appear on TV and per- form for an audience of thousands of critical people.

For 16-year-old Maeve, taking part in the competition has been a lesson she will never forget and one which many professionals would give their eye teeth to experience.

“lve learned so much from being involved and I could never have en- visaged staying in to this stage when it all started,” said Maeve.

The secondary school student stood out as the last female competitor in bolle iowa UNl ele

Fellow-Clare competitor Susan O’Neill from Ennis was voted out at

an earlier stage.

But Maeve has made firm friends among the other competitors. Speak- ing last week, she said that if she was eliminated, she would like to see Scuba Dice take the prize.

“They were getting such a hard time but I think they’re brilliant,” said Maeve.

With two songs to sing for Sunday’s heat, Maeve was upbeat during her school visits last week.

“When I’m jut singing one song, I get a bit nervous but by the time I get to the second, I’m into my stride and I can perform better,’ she said.

Sunday was week nine of a gruel- ling 12 weeks of competition which sees one hopeful act voted out by the

audience each week.

The prize is a valuable recording contract which could kick-start a showbiz career for the talented win- ner.

And she was non-plussed about the previous week’s criticism of her outfit for the show, an item which prompted radio presenter Ray Darcy to leap to her defence on air.

“We have stylists who advise us what to wear and I asked for some- thing a bit more casual for Sunday,” Maeve said.