The Clare People Archive

MYSTERY surrounds the source of a small outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in the Tulla area.

Two people presented with the illness caused by a protozoan parasite at the Mid Western Regional Hospital Limerick.

No cases of the diarrhoeal disease were reported to the Mid Western Regional Hospital Ennis.

Clare County Council was notified of the illness and it carried out its own investigation. An environmental health officer took samples from the Tulla public water supply, but the presence of cryptospirosis was not detected in the water supply.

Cryptosporidiosis occurs throughout the world and in all age groups. In developed countries, Cryptosporidiosis is one of the most common causes of infective diarrhoea.

The disease can affect humans, poultry and other birds, fish, reptiles, small mammals (rodents, cats and dogs) and large mammals, particularly cattle and sheep.

In Ireland, the disease is not notifiable in animals and therefore the prevalence of the disease is not known.

Small traces of the parasite were found in the Ennis water supply last year leading to a boiling order for the town.

A temporary filtration system has since been put in place in Ennis, which continues to be monitored by the HSE.

This includes daily monitoring of raw and treated water for general coliform, E Coli, Turbidity, colour and chlorine. Weekly monitoring is also carried out for Cryptosporidium.

All samples of treated water to date have been negative for E Coli and Cryptosporidium.

MANAGEMENT at Shannon Airport have been urged to broker a deal directly with Ryanair to protect local jobs, should the low fares airline become the majority shareholder in Aer Lingus.

Fine Gael General Election Candidate, Councillor Madeleine TaylorQuinn told The Clare People that it was critical that Shannon Airport was on high alert on all matters relating to the transaction.

“I would urge management at Shannon to negotiate immediately with Ryanair in order to establish Shannon as Ryanair’s European Transatlantic hub,” she said.

“Because of the good record that exists between Shannon and Ryanair, the management at Shannon will be in a unique position to broker a special deal with Ryanair especially relating to Transatlantic traffic.”

She described as “farcical” attempts made by the Government to stop the sale of Aer Lingus to Ryanair.

“Questions have to be asked would they be happy with an Arab or US investor?”

But the former TD she feared the introduction of a rationalisation programme by Ryanair that could result in the loss of Air Lingus jobs in Shannon.

Fine Gael TD Pat Breen expressed some support for the takeover.

“I was against this privatisation move because I could see the national airline being taken over by a foreign airline interested in the valuable Heathrow slots for example.

Now that the privatisation has taken place, we have to run with it and I believe the Ryanair bid would not necessarily be a bad outcome on the Aer Lingus ownership issue.”

“I find it incredible that Fianna Fáil politicians including Transport Minister Martin Cullen who were gung ho about selling off the airline can now criticise the moves Ryanair are making on Aer Lingus. The fact is that once you sell off the family silver, it can end up anywhere, as we saw with eircom.

“That said, that an airline with strong Irish connections and a proven track record is attempting to take over Aer Lingus may be good for the company and good for Shannon.

“Every time Aer Lingus has a seat sale, Shannon loses out on the promotions to the benefit of Cork and Dublin. Ryanair has not neglected Shannon.”

Speaking in Shannon, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was not happy to see the Ryanair takeover.

“I stand for competition and not monopolies. I have always been against monopolies and that is why I helped Ryanair so much. Obviously to be consistent I don’t want to see a monopoly now,” he said.

LOCAL residents in south-east Clare have voiced their opposition against plans by wellknown local businessman, Peter Stritch, to construct a helicopter landing pad at Clonlara.

In response to the plan, Dr David Beckett said, “My family are already disturbed by the current helicopter activity and the smell of aviation fuel.

“Peter Stritch has been operating a commercial helicopter company under the name of Alpine Helicopters from this site for nearly three years and the business is growing.

“Many different helicopters use this site. They fly in all directions, all year round and seven days a week. In July of this year, a new helicopter was delivered in a container and assembled on site . . . The request for a new helipad is further evidence of increasing helicopter business activity,” said Dr Beckett.

In their objection, Joseph and Geraldine Quinlivan have told the council, “At the moment, we have helicopters flying over and around our house on a regular basis.

“We have been taking note of the amount of times and the times the helicopters have flown over and around our house since the end of August – it is at least 35 times in one day. . . “The area where we live is a built-up residential area and in our opinion a helicopter landing area would be totally unsuitable for it. Since the helicopters have started flying in and out to the Stritch farm we have had no privacy in our own back yard and sometimes, we can’t hear each other speak.

“We are also worried that should you grant planning permission for the helicopter landing area, the value of our house would greatly depreciate.”

Mr Stritch has told the council that the new helipad would be for own use and that the flight-path is not over any homes.

A decision is due on the application later this year.

THE Irish Tour Operators Association (ITOA) has warned Clare County Council that “budget-conscious ITOA members will have no choice but to remove the Cliffs of Moher from future itineraries”.

Last month, the council and the ITOA commenced talks on reaching a compromise on the council’s plans to charge €60 for large coaches using the attraction’s car-park next year.

The council published a compromise deal involving discounts of up to 35 per cent for coach operators that deliver over 3,000 visitors to the Cliffs each quarter and a sliding scale of discounts based on the volume of visitors each operator can deliver.

Correspondence released through the Freedom of Information Act shows that the ITOA was seeking a charge of €39 for coaches with 40 passengers or more and a sliding scale downwards with smaller coaches.

In a letter to the council’s Project Leader for the €31.5 million centre, Ger Dollard, ITOA President, Brian Murray has expressed the ITOA’s “deep disappointment” at the outcome.

”We have not been presented with any evidence to justify the level of charges and in the absence of transparency we have to assume that, in the longer term, Clare County Council intends to recover costs and make a profit on the site.

“If this is the intention, the ITOA does not accept that publicly-funded tourist facilities should be sold on this basis. We are also concerned about inevitable increases in the prices into the future and we have been given no assurances regarding this matter.”

Mr Dollard told The Clare People , “Clare County Council has engaged in a lengthy process of consultation and discussion with tour operators . . .

“The proposed charge structure has been revised on two occasions to address issues raised by tour operators. The second and final alteration to this structure represents a very fair and balanced approach to addressing the concerns of operators while at the same time funding the resources necessary to provide a first-class experience for all visitors to Cliffs of Moher.

”It is not Clare County Council’s intention to generate profit from operations at the site. All monies will go towards operating the attraction and further improving tourism infrastructure at the location.

“The council is disappointed that the Irish Tour Operators Association (ITOA) does not accept the very significant concessions on charges made by Clare County Council . . . ,” he said.

A US-based company employed by Clare County Council to aid the search for funding for the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre has told the council that its fundraising expectations are unrealistic.

New York-based CWB Marketing Group submitted a report to council last May, as part of the drive to raise the shortfall of €3 million for the €31.5 million visitor centre.

Clare’s mayor, Councillor Flan Garvey (FF), and the centre’s Project Leader, Ger Dollard, are due to embark on a tour of US cities later this month in a bid to raise funds.

Mr Dollard confirmed yesterday that the council had not utilised CWB Marketing since last June.

The May status report by CWB to council released to The Clare People through the Freedom of Information Act, states, “While the need for financial support for the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre is great, expectations as to how this need can be met through fundraising in the US are currently not realistic.

“CWB is certain that support exists in the US for such a project but that the time, effort and methodology required have not been realistically assessed by the council.

“It is often the case that those who are close and very familiar with a project feel the reasons for supporting it should be obvious to all and that a simple declaration of the need will result in an avalanche of support.

“However, those who are not familiar with a project do need significant reasoning and explanation before they come round to financially supporting it.

“Moving forward, should the council continue to raise funds in the US, it is recommended that a more robust direct mail programme be used to reach out to a more basic donor . . .

“It is also recommended that more realistic expectations be set for the progress and timing of results, as it is only natural that it would take many more months, even years, for an appeal as new as this to start making any headway in this sophisticated market.”

Commenting on the report, Mr Dollard said, “I think the context is that the project can gain support but, in CWB’s view, our expectations in terms of timescale are not realistic.

“It was never the council’s intention to launch a wide-ranging fundraising drive for this project but rather offer parties who may wish to support such a project the opportunity of so doing.”

Asked if there is a ‘plan B’ if the fundraising initiative didn’t raise the anticipated amounts, Mr Dollard said, “As previously outlined, the council is working on a number of avenues – and will continue to do so – to address the funding issue.”

A 62-YEAR-OLD Welsh national suspected of committing sex crimes in the UK was arrested in Lisdoonvarna last Wednesday evening, The Clare People can reveal.

Roger Michael Batt, who used the alias name ‘Gardener’, was arrested at a house in Ballycanoe, on foot of a European Extradition Warrant. He is accused of three counts of rape, four of sexual assault and three of arson, in Fulham.

The arrest was made as part of an operation involving gardaí based in the Extradition Section of Garda Headquarters, and local gardaí. Batt was arrested at 7pm and taken to Ennistymon Garda Station, before being brought to Dublin, where he appeared in court. The case was adjourned until today (Tuesday), when he will re-appear in the High Court.

A warrant had been issued at the Magistrate’s Court in York, on August 18 last.

According to Gardaí, Batt had been living in rented accommodation, with a woman from the UK.

“We do not know how long he had been living there. He had not come to Garda attention,” said a Garda source.

This is the second time in seven months that a man in his 60s, wanted on foot of a European Arrest Warrant, has been arrested in the Ennistymon Garda District.

Cedric Harry Ludlam (61), from Yorkshire in the UK, was arrested in Miltown Malbay on March 29 last. He was wanted for questioning in the UK for alleged rape and sexual offences, involving adults and children.

THE suicide rate among women in Clare is almost 27 per cent higher than the national average, while male suicides are 8.4 per cent less.

However, according to the first annual report of the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) published this week, men in Clare are three times more likely to commit suicide than women.

Clare Psychiatrist Dr Moosajee Bhamjee told The Clare People that the majority of these men were young, a very different picture to two decades ago.

“Twenty years ago, it was older males that were committing suicide. Now it seems to have changed. The pattern suggests that females attempt suicide or self-harm and do it by softer means. Men are more drastic or severe.”

The figures support the outspoken psychiatrist’s analysis. According to the NOSP report, an average of 12.4 people take their own lives in this county every year. The earliest figures from the Central Statistics Office show that just two people of Clare residence died by their own hand in 1980. In 1985, this number had multiplied by more than five, bringing the total number of deaths to 11. In 2005, 15 people died from suicide in Clare.

Dr Bhamjee has attributed the rise in these tragic deaths to a number of social and community issues. He said that younger people are more likely to commit suicide at the weekends as alcohol and drugs reduce inhibitions.

He pointed to excessive alcohol, community and family changes, stress, bullying in the workplace and depression as some of the reasons behind the increase. He said that death by suicide also increased in spring and autumn as the change of seasons were internationally linked with depression.

“We need more counsellors and easy access to the counsellors. We need more psychologists if we are to provide a speedier service,” he said.

He said people should also go for help earlier.

“If the person has a social problem and it is solved or if the depression is treated, they don’t make another attempt.”

THE construction of a €100 million road has lengthened the car journey between Shannon and Limerick.

The finding has been made by the Clare VEC and could result in a windfall of up to €100,000 in retrospective payments in grant monies owed to Shannon students studying in Limerick’s third level colleges.

Students qualifying for grants receive an annual “adjacent grant” of €1,245 if living within 15 miles of the third level college they are studying in and a grant of €3,110 “non adjacent grant” if living beyond the 15-mile radius.

However, the survey commissioned by the VEC in recent days has now placed Shannon outside the 15-mile radius of Limerick as a result of the works completed on the N18-19 three years ago.

CEO of Clare VEC, George O’Callaghan confirmed yesterday the construction of the new road had resulted in a greater road distance between the two centres.

“Following a re-evaluation of the distance by the VEC, we found that the distance between Limerick and Shannon due to new access roads to Shannon has resulted in Shannon being at a longer distance from Limerick,” he said.

He said that Shannon-based students in Limerick would qualify for additional grant monies in the current college year. The are now set to receive an additional €1,855 each.

Mr O’Callaghan said that the survey was carried out as a result of a query from a Shannon-based parent of a student going to college in Limerick.

Shannon-based councillor, Tony Mulcahy (FG) said that he drove from Mary Immaculate College of Education in Limerick to a student’s house in Shannon town and the distance was 15.9 miles.

“Since the road did not open until November 2003, we are talking about retrospective payments for 2004 and 2005 and I would estimate with the large number of students from Shannon studying in Limerick and the numbers receiving grants, the VEC will have to pay out around €100,000.”

Welfare Officer with the University of Limerick (UL) students’ union, Sinead Hickey yesterday called on the students who missed out on the full grant in 2004 and 2005 to be fully reimbursed.

She said: “This should have been noticed when the road was being constructed.”

Mr O’Callaghan said that the Clare VEC would be visiting the issue of retrospective applications in the near future.

LABOUR Party Leader Pat Rabbitte has put his faith in east Clare councillor Pascal Fitzgerald to follow in the footsteps of Clare’s last Labour TD Dr Moosajee Bhamjee.

The would-be Tánaiste attended the Labour Party’s Selection Convention in Ennis on Friday to see the councillor of just over two years selected to represent the party in Clare.

Cllr Fitzgerald is equally confident that he can gain a seat in the hotly contested Clare constituency, believing that the complacency of others and a need for change leaves the way open for a Labour seat.

“TDs are getting very confident that they will retain a seat, but things have changed since the last election. Shannon and Ennis have expanded and have a different population.

“Look what happened at the local election in Killaloe where there were four new seats,” he said.

A life-long Labour supporter, Cllr Fitzgerald was first elected to Clare County Council in 2004.

To secure a seat in the next election, the Labour party will have a huge task ahead. It must keep ahead of the Green Party in first preference votes. Labour will then hope that the Fine Gael, Green and Labour pact will come into play, securing the Labour candidate transfers from the Green’s and any possible protest independent candidate.

The Parteen councillor will still have an uphill battle to come in ahead of the larger parties and the sitting TDs.

Labour last had a Clare TD when Dr Bhamjee was elected with 5,113 first preference vote. He secured his position with transfers from Fine Gael and Independents, and by dislodging Clare’s two west Clare TDs Madeleine Taylor Quinn and Brendan Daly. The party lost its seat when the colourful psychiatrist decided to retire from politics in advance of the 1997 election.

In 2002, former ASTI president and Ennis Town Councillor Michael Corley polled just 1,720 first preference votes. Just days after his official selection Cllr Fitzgerald was already preparing for battle.

“I don’t see the Government delivering,” he said. He was critical of the PDs saying that the party should stand up and be counted. He reiterated his leader’s call for better healthcare, the need to address anti-social behaviour and educational needs.

Speaking in Ennis after his Clare representative was selected, Mr Rabbitte said it was time to go to the polls.

“How can the crisis in policing, in our hospitals, in public transport be addressed in circumstances where the two parties are scarcely speaking to each other?” he asked.

THE man behind the €135 million Skycourt redevelopment of Shannon Town Centre has expressed his disappointment at An Bord Pleanala for refusing planning permission for the next phase of the project.

Upholding a decision of Clare County Council, the appeals board refused permission to Shannon Town Management Company to construct large retail extension to the Skycourt development.

Barry Boland said: “I am very disappointed that the board has taken a very unrealistic view on what can and cannot be achieved in Shannon.”

The planned development involved the construction of a 3,616 sq.m. building comprising one two-storey retail unit and two smaller retail units, plus a garden centre of 626 sq.m along with a two-storey 4,068 sq.m. building that included a upper floor medical centre.

The board refused planning permission arising from the failure of the proposed development to provide for an adequate mix of uses in the town centre location.

As a result, the board ruled that the proposal would be premature in the absence of an agreed master plan and would constitute disorderly development.

The board inspector pointed out that the original masterplan for the town centre identified as a key principle, the increased provision of nonretail cultural, entertainment and night time facilities.

However, in their appeal, Mr Boland’s company said that every cultural, community or cultural floorspace offered to local and central Government in the redevelopment of Shannon Town Centre had been spurned.

The developers expressed frustration at the lack of involvement of the public sector in the redevelopment of Shannon town.

“In the original masterplan, it was envisaged that there would be significant public sector commitment to the achievement of goals: Clare County Council District Offices; the Courts Service and a Community Arts Centre.

“It was intended that there would be early delivery of theatre cinemas, hotel and other elements.

“There is a need for public service providers to take responsibility for the provision of public services as originally envisaged in the masterplan, rather than placing total reliance upon private sector initiatives.

“If there has been a failure to achieve all the provisions of the masterplan to date, a significant amount of that failure arises from the indifference of the local, regional and public authorities to participate in the urban regeneration programme.”