Category: Uncategorized

Intensive course at weekends and Easter starting 24th February 2005 Successful participants will receive ACELS (Department of Education and Science) certification

Recognised by employers both in Ireland and abroad

Uncategorized

Be an Angel and buy one

THE Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) are encouraging people to be an Angel and buy an Angel this Oi tahsaenrty

The (IWA) has just launched its annual fundraising Angel pin cam- paign that is aimed at enhancing the lives of 20,000 [WA service us- ers. The aim is to encourage people to buy the pins which cost just €2 each. A nationwide campaign was launched in Dublin on November 15, and the mulinational staff from the Ennis branch will be out on the streets throughout Christmas urg- ing people to get involved in this worthy cause.

The fundraiser is a vital event for the Ennis branch of the IWA who have been helping to provide opp- portunities and avenues for people with disabilities to become more actively involved in the workforce along with participating more in the social aspects of their community. The resource centre in Hermitage Ennis is open four days a week and caters for up to 60 people with physical and sensory disabilities while there is also a simillar centre in Spanish Point which is open for one day during the week.

They offer a variety of different services for people with disability

including art and drama classes while also hosting workshops in computer and IT skills and provid- ing a door to door bus service. A personal assistant service is also available for people who might have difficulty getting around their homes. The IWA work in conjunc- tion with FAS and on Monday last 15 participants in the Ennis Pre- Employment Course graduated at a ceremony held in the Temple- Gate Hotel in Ennis. According to Colin McGrath, assistant living Service co-ordinator in Ennis, the Angel campaign is vital in ensur- ing the organization can continue to provide much needed services and hopes that this year’s fund- raising efforts can match last year efforts which saw the branch raise a OROL Oe?

“It’s massively important and it has been great so far this year, our staff have been out county wide from Kilrush to Killaloe.

“Without this sort of fundrais- ing we wouldn’t be able to provide fully wheelchair accessible buses or start new projects.”

Molly Buckley, CEO of IWA, said: “we are delighted to launch six Angel pins. Now it’s just down to the public to act like angels and show their generosity of spirit and pocket.”

Uncategorized

Zones pose health risk

MEMBERS of Clare County Council and Ennis Town Coun- cil have been warned not to put the financial interests of a small number of landowners ahead of the health of 30,000 people liv- ing in the greater Ennis area.

Last September, councillors from the two local authorities agreed to rezone two parcels of land on the outskirts of Ennis which have an area groundwater vulnerability rating.

These parcels of land are also situated in a zone of source pro- tection for the public water sup- ply for the Ennis area.

The Council’s planning de- partment warned that in the light of the boil notice issued in June, the rezonings “will increase the risk to human health.”

Since the councillors adopted the proposed changes, the Coun- cil has issued two further boil notices and the draft changes are

now on public display in order to receive submissions from the public.

In one decision, the councillors agreed that a cluster at Reskaun which contains 12 houses ac- commodate an additional seven homes and a cluster of 12 houses at Ballymaquiggan on the out- skirts of Ennis be extended to in- clude an additional three homes.

In his submission lodged with both councils, Cllr Brian Meaney described as reckless any decision to rezone the lands for housing

He states: “no rezonings in these two areas should take place pending the outcome of an investigation into the cause of the continuing water contamina- tion to the Ennis water supply.

“IT would urge the Council in the light of the two additional boil notices and the ongoing warnings to pre-school children and people in care to strengthen its reasons on why the rezonings

at Ballymaquiggan and Reskaun should not proceed.”

He added: “it also places an onus on the elected members to take a stance on the issue that would not undermine the Council’s case in seeking fund- ing from the Department of the Environment for remedial meas- ures to improve the Ennis water supply.”

“We cannot be seen on one hand to demand monies from Government to improve the sup- ply and endanger it on the other with reckless rezoning deci- sions.”

He added: “the ongoing con- tamination and threat of con- tamination of the Ennis Town Water Supply is a serious issue that the current review of the plan does not deal with.

“All land rezoning proposed in the review where a connection to the Ennis Town Water sup- ply is envisaged, be conditional that no development take place

until the upgrading of the En- nis Town Supply and connection and operation of the augmenta- tion scheme is complete.”

‘The proposed conditional re- zoning at Ballymaquiggan and Reskaun not take place.”

“Any further review or new plan include a plan objective requiring an appraisal of the de- sign capacity against the current use of the water and sewerage systems in the town.”

“This should include inform- ing members where flow capaci- ties are reaching their peak so that further development of the town is considered in a more in- formed manner.”

The rezonings and _ other changes to the Ennis and Envi- rons Plan will revert back to the council with a planner’s report before the Councils make their final decision. Both Councils are expected to debate the proposed rezonings at their monthly De- cember meetings.