The Clare People Archive

THE Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) has stated that it hopes to increase Ireland’s output from wind energy by more than 1200 per cent over the next 14 years.

As of February of this year, wind farms in County Clare contributed just 32 megawatts to the 600 units produced nationally. This figure will have to increase drastically if Ireland is to reach the target 8,000 megawatts of wind energy projected by the IWEA before 2020.

Of this 32 megawatts, the vast majority is produced at the Booltiagh farm near Kilmaley and at Maonmore in west Clare. The Minister for Communication, Marine and Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey is to attend a major IWEA conference on wind energy at the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon this Friday.

“Despite the recent bad press, wind energy is a very clean and renewable source of energy,” said Niamh Kenny of the IWEA. “People are more concerned about the impact of wind farms in their own area, but when you ask them about it on a national context they are very much in favour of it.

“We are currently working at updating our best practices guideline for wind farms. We cannot be responsible for everything on every wind farm in the country, but we can set out best practice guidelines regarding planning and consultation with local people.”

The conference, which will be chaired by broadcaster John Bowman, will also be attended by Trevor Sargent, head of the Green Party aswell-as representatives from all other parties.

One of the central points will be the possibility of improved connections between the electricity grids in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK. This would allow for easier importing and exporting of wind energy and lessen wastage at peak times.

“The main purpose of the conference is to pose a number of technical question to the Minister and especially the one of interconnectivity,” continued Ms Kenny.

“At the moment the anti-wind movement is saying that wind energy is very expensive and this is simply not true.

“It is already much cheaper than gas and oil and as prices for these continue to go up it will become even more cost efficient.”

More than 200 delegates are expected to attend the conference which is called Towards an Energy Policy for Ireland.

AN TAISCE yesterday raised questions over Clare County Council’s competence in exercising its functions after An Bord Pleanala threw out the council’s controversial decision to grant planning permission for a house near Lemanagh Castle.

Earlier this year, professional advise from the north Clare area planner and the council’s conservation officer, Risteard Ua Cronin to refuse planning permission, was disregarded by the council’s senior planner, Liam Conneally and senior executive planner, Brian McCarthy.

Mr McCarthy disregarded the recommendations of the two lower ranking officials after visiting the site at the request of Cllr Richard Nagle (FF) and consulting with Mr Conneally.

However, the decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanala by An Taisce who raised questions over the manner in which the council arrived at its decision.

In its appeal, An Taisce said: “There is a lack of transparency in establishing the circumstances in which the recommendations of the Area Planner and the Conservation Officer were overturned and whether this was as a result of the initiative of the Senior Executive Planner or any managerial intervention.

“Whichever was the case, the manner in which this intervention occurred is not based on any memo or considered deliberation which is available for consideration on the planning file.”

In response to the An Bord Pleanala decision, an An Taisce spokesman said yesterday: “For a decision to be refused on such a large range of grounds raises major issues of the competence of the council in exercising its functions.”

“It also raises the hypocrisy of current Clare County Council policies to promote tourism in the county, while at the same time degrading the setting of one of the county’s premier heritage legacies.

“It reinforces mounting concern regarding Clare County Councils legal obligations with regard to protecting the safety and operational integrity of the county road system,” the spokesman added.

A DRIVE along the route overlooking Lough Derg near Killaloe provides a snap-shot of the contrasting approaches to the control of one-off housing by Clare and North Tipperary County Councils.

On the eastern side of the lake, a free-for all continues in Tipperary with houses dotted throughout the hill-sides, while in Clare, the county’s planners are managing to limit one-off homes in sensitive landscapes to the minimum.

It makes for disgruntled Clare citizens who wish to build their dream homes in the countryside, but at least applicants know that their neighbours’ lives are also being made miserable by the council’s strict hard-line policies being applied to everyone.

The council’s overworked planners have also battled against continued assaults on the County Development Plan by councillors, as the elected members strive to ease planning restrictions for one-off homes.

So it makes it all the more surprising that senior council planning staff conspired to contravene their own County Development Plan to grant planning permission to Anna-Maria Murphy for a home near the historic Lemanagh Castle.

When An Taisce appealed, the council compounded their error by brazenly outlining the reasons why planning permission should be granted, in a submission to An Bord Pleanala running to five pages.

This was one decision the council did not want to lose, stung by the publicity in The Clare People surrounding the original decision and the accusations by An Taisce over the lack of transparency in reaching the decision.

Without the intervention of An Taisce, the public would never have become aware of the circumstances around how senior staff ignored the council’s rule-book on one-off homes, prompting the question how many other such cases lie unknown in council’s files?

The person who should be most concerned about this episode is the county’s chief planning officer, the County Manager, Alec Fleming.

The saga undermines the authority of the Development Plan and officials’ efforts to defend it.

As a matter of course, in future when executive staff are planning to disregard internal technical reports on scant evidence, those files must be referred to Mr Fleming as an additional safeguard.

More immediately, Mr Fleming must present a report at the council’s October meeting on how the ‘Lemanagh’ decision was arrived at in order to restore confidence in the council’s decision making processes.

AN BORD Pleanala has found that Clare County Council contravened its own County Development Plan on two grounds to grant planning permission for a one-off home near Lemanagh Castle.

Earlier this year, two senior council planning officials, Senior Planner, Liam Conneally and Senior Executive Planner, Brian McCarthy disregarded professional advice from the area planner and conservation officer to refuse planning, and instead granted permission to Anna Maria Murphy for a home near the 17th century castle.

However, in a comprehensive decision, the appeals’ board ruled that, “the proposed development would set an unwelcome precedent for similar development in the open countryside in a visually vulnerable landscape by persons other than local rural persons or local rural workers”.

The order states: “The board is not satisfied, on the basis of submissions made in connection with the application and appeal, that the proposed development would not interfere with its archaeological and historical setting, nor conflict with . . . the Clare County Development Plan 2005.”

On the council’s general ban on non-locals which was disregarded in this instance, the board ruled that the development was located in an area identified as a visually vulnerable landscape.

“In such areas, it is the policy of the planning authority . . . to restrict dwellings to those required for permanent occupation by a local rural person of local rural worker. The policy is considered to be reasonable.

“The Board does not consider that the applicant meets the criteria which define a local rural person or a local rural worker. The proposed development would set an unwelcome precedent for similar development in the open countryside in a visually vulnerable landscape by persons other than local rural persons or local rural workers. The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

On the third reason for refusal, the board was not satisfied “that the proposed development will not have a significant and adverse impact on public safety by reason of traffic hazard, having regard to the proposal to route all traffic arising from the proposed development across a separate landholding, and via an existing access point . . . onto a busy regional road ”.

In addition, the board stated that it was concerned that the proposed access route across a separate property would result in the losses, in perpetuity, of the primary area of amenity lands of that separate property. The proposed development would, therefore, endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard.

A CLARE local authority found to have illegally dumped waste on local authority land last May has been forced to pay out more than €2,500.

Clare County Council ordered Kilrush Town Council to pay €2,580 arising from the incident.

Rubbish made up of soil, stone and various wastes was discovered by a member of the public on council lands on the Cooraclare Road across from the Teagasc Office last summer.

The waste material, gathered from a community clean up of a back lane had been separated into the various waste streams and brought to the licensed waste transfer station at Lisdeen.

However, as some of the waste was mixed with soil and stone, it could not be accepted into Lisdeen’s compactor unit.

Two trailer loads were then brought back to council land in Kilrush and inappropriately disposed of, contrary to local authority policy.

The waste was removed from the town council lands and disposed of at the Central Waste Management Facility at Ballyduff Beg within a working week of the council becoming aware of the matter.

Director of Services with Clare County Council, Ger Dollard, told The Clare People that the sum of €2,580 was made up of the €125 fine under the Litter Pollution Act 1997, the administration cost of the incident to Clare County Council and the cost of disposing of the waste.

He said the fine was imposed “having regard to the prompt and appropriate action taken by Kilrush Town Council to address the issue”.

Kilrush Town Council has conducted an investigation into how the waste was inappropriately disposed of and has acknowledged that the incident should not have happened in the first instance.

The council’s policy on waste has since been communicated to employees at all grades and levels.

“The local authority views the illegal disposal of waste as inexcusable considering there are four recycling centres, including two transfer stations, 54 recycling bring banks and a central waste management facility located in County Clare,” said Mr Dollard.

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind), Chairperson of the Environment Strategic Policy Committee welcomed Clare County Council’s handling of the case.

“This incident demonstrates Clare County Council’s commitment to following up on all instances of illegal dumping.

We need to continue to seriously tackle such illegal activity and it is imperative that the local authorities set an example in this regard,” Councillor McCarthy added.

LAST week’s torrential rain left a number of families trapped in their homes in the Glasha area of Doolin. Local residents have expressed their anger at the flooding, which they believe is the result of works carried out by Clare County Council more than seven years ago.

According to one family, the problem began when the council carried out works on the main Lisdoonvarna to Doolin road as part of upgrade work to the water system in the late 1990’s.

Glasha resident Treasa Flaherty claims that she has raised this issue several times with a number of local county councilors over the last five years but no action has been taken.

“I’m sick and tired of talking to them about it and nothing seems to happen,” said Ms Flaherty. “The lady next door could not even come out into her driveway last week, the water was right up to the door.

“Once any heavy rains starts at all, there is a flood. I have been talking to local councilors about it for the last five years and I am just sick of it.”

Ms Flaherty claims that works undertaken by Clare County Council have turned the roadway into a funnel, directing floods of rainwater onto her property.

“They did the water works about seven or eight years ago and as part of that they changed the roads outside the front of the house,” continues Ms Flaherty. “It is very high in the middle and very low on side which means that all the water is being directed straight at my house.

“My lawn and garden is getting the full impact of the flooding. It is doing awful damage to the garden and the wall is being totally destroyed.”

The Clare People contacted the county council local area office in Ennistymon in relation to this matter, but no comment was forthcoming at the time of going to press.

THE crew of a transport lorry was left stranded for over six hours after their vehicle became bogged down in flood waters in Clare last Friday.

The driver and his colleague, who were delivering Guinness kegs to pubs and hotels in the north Clare area, were plucked to safety by a good Samaritan truck driver, who steered his heavy vehicle through more than five feet of water. The men jumped onto the front of the second truck which carried them back to dry land.

The drama began at 7am on Friday as the Guinness lorry, operated by a contractor on behalf of the drinks’ company, was making deliveries in the north of the county. Following overnight heavy rain, low lying fields flooded the R476 road at Lemenagh Castle near Kilnaboy.

Truck driver Ray Collins from Limerick explained, “There was a sign back the road which said the road ahead was flooded. When we got there, another truck drove through no problem, but as we were almost through, the truck just stopped”.

Mr Collins and his colleague Gary Shinners, also from Limerick, had to jump onto the rear of their vehicle when the cab began to flood.

“It looked very deceiving. Before we knew it we were in six feet of water. We called the company to let them know what was happening. When the felt the water at our feet in the cab, it was time to get out. We climbed onto the trailer were we stayed. It was too deep to dry and walk out. We weren’t in any danger, but all the time we were there, only one person actually asked if we were alright, or if we needed a phone.”

At around 1.30pm, a passing truck driver offered to help and drove his vehicle into the floodwaters. As his truck came nose-to-nose with the stranded Guinness lorry, Mr Collins and Mr Shinners jumped onto the front of the vehicle and were taken to safety.

“There was no sign of the water going down and if it got any higher, we were going to use the barrels to try and get out,” Mr Collins said.

It was late on Friday evening when the stranded lorry was eventually towed from the flood waters. The Corofin to Lemenagh Castle road remained closed for two days.

A YOUNG woman who stole soothers and false fingernails from a chemist in Ennis has been warned she will face a spell behind bars, if she reoffends.

Judge Angela Ní Chondúin made the comments in the case of an 18-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to stealing the items at Boot’s Chemist, O’Connell Street, Ennis, on September 2 last.

Ann Molloy (18), of Bay 2, Ballaghboy Halting Site, Quin Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to one offence. The value of the stolen property was €17.40 and it was later recovered.

Garda Regan told Ennis District Court that he arrested the accused shortly after 2.30pm on the date of the offence. She made no reply to charge after caution.

Defending solicitor Siobhán McMahon said her client’s mother was due to have a baby and she was excited at the impending birth of her sibling. The solicitor said the accused’s parents were both unemployed.

Judge Angela Ní Chondúin said, “We are looking at custody.”

She said she would order the accused to carry out 100 hours community service, in lieu of two months in jail.

The judge said she would adjourn the case for three months and warned that the accused must not get into trouble in the interim.

“She is not to come to adverse Garda attention before that. If she does, forget the community service. It will be two months custody,” warned the judge.

THE proposed €1.2 million Shannon Recycling Centre has attracted 12 tenders, Clare County Council has confirmed. Construction work for the centre, which will be operational by the summer of 2007, is expected to commence before the end of the year.

“The project, which involves an investment of some €400,000 from the council’s own resources, was given a significant boost earlier this year when it was allocated €800,000 in funding by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government,” said Ger Dollard, Shannon Town Manager.

“We need to continue to encourage and support all those who are genuinely interested in properly managing waste. This centre will accept the full range of materials including glass, plastic, paper, timber cans, clothes and electrical and electronic wastes. It should significantly improve the already very high recycling rates achieved by householders in the county,” added Councillor Patricia McCarthy (Ind), Chairperson of Environment and Emergency Services and Consumer Protection Strategic Policy Committee.

In addition, the council has announced plans to open up over 100 acres of land for residential and commercial development in the town. The local authority is currently considering six tenders for the construction of a southern primary road in the Tullyvarraga area of the town.

It is anticipated that construction of the new multi-million euro road network project will commence in November 2006.

IF someone behaves like a ‘lout,’ he should accept that a criminal conviction goes with the territory, according to a judge.

Judge Angela Ní Chondúin made the comment in a public order case, before striking out the charge.

Aidan McCarthy (19), of Clarehill, Clarecastle, pleaded guilty to being intoxicated in public, on Abbey Street, on September 1.

Garda Crowley told Ennis District Court that gardaí received a report that a man was walking up O’Connell Street hitting windows and the accused was subsequently arrested.

Defending solicitor Tara Godfrey said the accused, a barman, had no previous convictions and the incident was out of character. She said her client could pay money to the court’s poor box and asked that he be given “one golden opportunity”.

Judge Angela Ní Chondúin said, “I am not mad about the idea of the poor box. I think a criminal record will straighten him up, rather than taking a few hundred euro off him. If you want to behave like a lout and get drunk in public, the criminal conviction comes with the territory. He should know a lot more about drink than others, because he is a barman.”

She then adjourned the case to allow the accused to come up with €300 for the court poor box. The money was later paid in.

“I take it we won’t see him back here again. I am striking it out,” said the judge.