The Clare People Archive

A “TECHNICAL HITCH” has put in doubt plans by Clare’s newest Steiner School to secure official Department of Education recognition in time for the opening of the next school year in September.

It may jeopardise the school’s entitlement to Government funding.

The department has informed the Mol an Óige primary school in Ennistymon that their application is not being considered by the New Schools Advisory Committee (NSAC), because the school changed patrons during the school year.

The Limerick School Project withdrew and in its place, the County Clare Vocational Educational Committee (VEC) stepped in.

A spokeswoman for the school this week described the delay as a “technical hitch”.

“All of us are frustrated with the situation and we are awaiting clarification from the Department and we are hoping that they will change their minds,” VEC Chief Executive, George O’ Callaghan told The Clare People.

“We are forever hopeful and haven’t given up the fight. The fact there was so many in favour of the school and so few against is very encouraging.”

Mol an Óige School was only started last September by a group of parents. The school is run on a voluntary capacity and follows the new primary school curriculum, using Steiner methods. As part of the public consultation phase for the school’s application for funding, a department spokeswoman confirmed that 21 responses were made in favour of the school with two against.

At Clare County Council’s April meeting, councillors unanimously endorsed a motion to support the school in its fight to secure recognition.

In a letter to TDs, Senators and councillors, the school said that if they were not considered by the advisory committee, they could not get Government funding.

“This is a huge burden on all parents involved, as to date we have been relying on all staff working voluntarily (including a qualified primary school teacher with 18 years experience) and constant fund-raising for all other running costs,” the letter states.

“We are not fully sure why the department are hesitant about giving Mol An Óige School approval that this is the first time the VEC has applied as a patron body for a primary school. If this is the case we suggest that they let Clare VEC’s involvement be a pilot project.”

CLARE County Council has given the go-ahead for ambitious plans to transform the old homestead of GAA founder father Michael Cusack into a visitor attraction.

Planning permission has been granted for a project spearheaded by the Michael Cusack Development Company to develop an interpretative centre-type facility in Carron.

It is hoped that the project, for which funding has been received from the GAA, will be completed in time for the centenary of Michael Cusack’s death, which occurred on December 6, 1906.

The Michael Cusack Development Company originally came together in December 2003 to determine the potential to develop a cultural heritage project, commemorating one of the architects of modern Ireland.

The company consists of a broad based group having strong commercial, tourism, educational and cultural backgrounds, representing the respective backgrounds of the Gaelic Athletic Association, Clare County Council, County Clare VEC, Michael Cusack’s GAA Club, Comhar Conradh na Bóirne and community leaders.

“Our key objectives are to commemorate and celebrate a dynamic force in Irish society, who brought the GAA into existence and ensure a project that is distinct, sustainable and viable,” a spokesperson for the Michael Cusack Development Company told The Clare People .

“At the heart of the Michael Cusack centenary project will lay a unique and stunning new visitor attraction that will celebrate the life and legacy of this extraordinary man, whose vision, passion and ability laid the foundation for modern Ireland,” the spokesperson added.

Phase one will see the renovation of the homestead, and ancillary works to include ground, road and wall repairs, landscaping, and the development of the Michael Cusack Park of Gaelic Sports.

Phase two will see the building of a new structure on-site, incorporating the functions of an exhibition centre, café, shop, community resource and research facilities. The inclusion of an information access point at the Cusack Schoolhouse will also be developed.

“From spring 2007, the Cusack Centre and Homestead will host an exhibition, research and archival facility, coaching development and a restoration of the historic Cusack homestead,” the Michael Cusack Development Company spokesperson revealed.

“Cusack’s legacy has left us the living gift of the Irish national games of hurling, football and handball for the enjoyment of all peoples.

“His memory will be held in perpetual honour here in his native home of Carron, where it will be cherished and displayed for generations to come,” the spokesperson added.

TOURISTs and locals face a long summer of gridlock if they want to view the county’s most famous natural tourism asset, the Cliffs of Moher. This is the view being expressed by many who have witnessed the major traffic congestion that took place at the site over the Bank Holiday weekend.

There were a number of reports of 50-minute tailbacks in both directions during peak times on Bank Holiday Sunday, with bus tour operators and private vehicles having trouble entering and exiting the temporary car park facilities.

The tailbacks were as a result of people parking cars on both sides of the narrow road which services the Cliffs, as well as an amount of congestion in the car park itself.

“Tourists were complaining to everyone they could find,” said local trader Gerry Cahill, who is embroiled in a long-standing argument with Clare County Council over his right to trade at the Cliffs.

“There was a queue both in and out of the car park, with people being held up by as much as 50 minutes at times.”

The problem was exacerbated by the removal of the double yellow lines along the road side last week, which prevented Gardaí from removing cars parked on either side of the road.

“This is an ongoing problem and, if something isn’t done, it will be like this all summer long,” continued Mr Cahill.

“This is supposed to be a car park and not a building site, and I don’t understand why they can’t sort it out.”

It is believed that the recent negative publicity concerning the cost of parking and admission to the new interpretative centre at the Cliffs is encouraging people to park on the narrow road and avoid paying.

“People just don’t want to have to pay high prices for parking at the Cliffs – especially Irish people who know that there is a public right of way,” continued Mr Cahill.

“There has been a lot of bad press about price hikes at the Cliffs and this is people starting to react to it.

“Gradually, Clare County Council are trying to erode the public’s right of way to the Cliffs.

“You could drive a car up there one time and now it is just a multinational mess of a place.”

Responding to these alligations Ger Dollard, Director of Services at Clare County Council said that extra staff had been put in place to deal with the problem on Monday.

“Easter Sunday is as busy as any day in August and there was a difficulty with people parking on the verge,” commented Mr Dollard. “We put on additional staff in the car park and the situation was much inproved on Monday.”

THE Environmental Protection Agency has been criticised for unfairly penalising Clare County Council, following the latest report on the quality of water in Clare’s lakes. The report showed that Clare had the joint second-highest amount of “non-compliant” lakes in the country, at 14.

In reaction, politicians were accused of lacking political will, while the EPA were criticised for negativity towards Clare County Council, even though it had helped identify water pollution.

“It is quite worrying. The council has done its best with the limited resources it has, but it is appalling that there has been no guidelines from the EPA on the issue,” said Steve Symes, a member of Clare County Council’s Environmental Special Policy Committee (SPC).

“There is a lack of political will to ensure that the public has clean water to drink. The Council has put in place resources, bu it will never be able to do the job adequately with those resources and it is not good enough that there has been no improvement in the water quality.

He further added, “Each Summer, like clockwork, Lough Graney and Lough Derg are closed off for swimming. We are not making any progress and central Government is not providing the assistance.”

Mr Symes was reacting to a presentation by the council’s Senior Executive Chemist, Mary Burke on the most recent Environmental Protection Agency report.

Ms Burke told the SPC meeting that the EPA had dropped the ball in reporting the statistics.

In its survey, the council had surveyed a large amount of lakes, while Limerick County Council had only surveyed two lakes.

Ms Burke said that the report’s finding were biased against the local authorities who had done the work.

Chair of the SPC, Councillor Pa tricia McCarthy (Ind), said that the council had adopted the correct approach in its comprehensive examination of the county’s lakes.

Councillor Brian Meaney (GP) said that the council was being punished by the EPA because of the thoroughness with which it approached the work.

“Obviously, the local authorities that surveyed the most lakes were going to feature very high on the list.”

A LITTLE-KNOWN Shannon-based aircraft engine leasing firm, which employs just 16 people, recorded a profit of over €35 million last year.

Accounts filed to the Companies Office by Shannon Engine Support Ltd (SES) show that recorded a profit of €35.74 million to the end of December 2004.

Staff at the company received, on average, a salary of €103,625, with the overall salary payout being €1.658 million. The directors received €385,000 between salaries and bonuses.

Of the 16 staff, seven work in customer support, four in marketing, two in finance and three in administration. The company’s net profit increased by €11.5 million on that recorded in 2003.

According to the accounts, “the company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Engine Support Holdings (a subsidiary of CFM International Inc) and is engaged in the provision of a range of aircraft engine management services to the international civil aviation industry, centred on the provision of comprehensive spare engine support and allied services.

“The company has had a successful year, operating effectively. It is expected that the business will continue to develop and that the company is well positioned to benefit from any upturn in the aviation industry.”

The company had a turnover of €86.9 million in 2004 and its operating costs were €49.2 million. Its gross profit was €37.7 million and less administration costs resulted in an operating profit of €33.85 million. Four of the company’s directors are French and three are from the US. At the end of 2004, the company’s fixed asset were priced at €455 million with current assets valued at €66 million.

The largest proportion of business was carried out in Europe where the company received €44 million in revenues; €19 million in the Asia Pacific region; €12.6 million in the US and €11 million in the “rest of the world”.

At the end of 2004, the company’s fixed asset were priced at €455 million with current assets valued at €66 million. The accounts also show that the largest proportion of the company’s profits came from “aircraft engine support activities”, where the company received €60 million. It received €25 million in respect of future engine maintenance costs.

A HOMELESS hostel for the growing number of homeless people in Ennis may be in place before the end of the year.

In the absence of a hostel, two homeless people died sleeping rough in the town in recent years, according to the Chairman of Clare County Council’s Special Policy Committee on Housing, Cllr Joe Arkins (FG).

“People die everyday, but in a wealthy society, we should be appalled that people are dying on our streets,” he said.

A meeting of the committee heard that, currently, there are 10 people sleeping rough in Ennis and eight young people sleeping rough in Shannon.

St Vincent de Paul has entered pre-planning discussions with Ennis Town Council about a property in Ennis, which the organisation is considering purchasing to use as a hostel, according to Cllr Arkins.

Community Welfare Officer, Margaret Coffey told the meeting that the county’s homeless problem was being exported, with Clare homeless people receiving accommodation in hostels in Limerick and Galway.

Ms Coffey told the meeting that there were two or three bed and breakfasts in Ennis that accommodated homeless people.

“But it is becoming more and more difficult to get accommodation and, with the dancing championships on in Ennis this week, the bed and breakfasts just want the people out.

“Over the Summer it becomes next to impossible to get accommodation. That is why it is essential that a hostel is opened.”

Ms Coffey said that the age profile for homeless people presenting went from 17 to 75 years of age.

She added that Clare Haven Services provides a refuge for victims of domestic violence where women and children are accommodated.

However, Ms Coffey said that when a man presented as homeless, who was also a victim of domestic violence, there were no suitable services to direct him towards.

Ms Coffey said that the absence of the hostel is a major deficiency in the needs of homeless people. A hostel had “been talked about for four of five years, but there has been little progress,” she said.

It cost €320,000 for the homeless unit, since its establishment three years ago by the council and the Health Services Executive, to cater for 1,301 homeless people presenting.

Last year, the Unit spent €157,000 providing for 490 people, with most of the money being spent on bedand-breakfast accommodation.

Cllr Arkins said that the provision of a hostel is not a solution to the problem, but is one of the tools that can be used in addressing the issue.

He expressed his preference for a centrally located site in Ennis, with no neighbouring properties, to avoid planning objections.

NO applications have been made for affordable housing units in Kilrush, since law introducing them was enacted five years ago.

According to Kilrush Town Clerk Fiona Mooney, a total of 258 “expressions of interest” have been received by Clare County Council from people throughout the county, hoping to buy their own home.

The greatest demand for homes has been in Shannon, with 86 applicants having cited the town as their first preference. This is closely followed by Ennis. A total of 69 applications have singled out the county town as their most preferred place to live.

However, only 14 affordable houses have been provided in Clare during the first five years of the controversial Part V of the Planning and Development Act, providing for cheaper homes.

No houses to date have been provided in the West Clare principal town.

“However . . . when a Part V legal agreement is finalised in respect of Kilrush planning permission, the Kilrush affordable scheme will be advertised,” said Ms Mooney.

According to the town clerk, negotiations are “live on a number of planning decision files and it is anticipated that the legal agreement for a number of affordable houses will be finalised this year.”

Under the Act, 20 per cent of all housing developments should be made available for affordable housing or sites for developers of all private housing schemes provide such housing. In 2004, the Government amended the act to allow developers make a financial contribution to local authorities in lieu of providing affordable housing or sites.

The amendment has resulted in Clare County Council collecting €365,840 from developers during the past two years, while just 14 house have been provided.

West Clare Councillor, Tom Prenderville (FF) has described the amendment as a “buy-out clause”, which has made “a veritable ass” of the intention of the original legislation.

Clare County Council, which operates affordable housing throughout the county, has invited applicants to complete an “Expression of Interest” indicating the applicant’s top three locations preferences in order.

This information is kept on a database and consulted when houses become available in a particular location.

CLARE County Council is seeking to increase by 500 per cent the number of homes provided through contentious Government legislation, in order to drastically reduce its housing waiting list.

The plans mean the council will provide 73 affordable housing units this year.

At the council’s monthly meeting last Monday, it emerged that the authority had provided only 14 affordable homes through Part V of the 2000 Planning and Development Act.

Part V requires developers to provide cash to local authorities towards the provision of affordable housing.

However, at the council’s Special Policy Committee (SPC) on Housing last week, the Acting Director for Housing, Josephine Cotter-Coughlan, said that the council intended to provide 73 Part V Affordable Housing Units this year.

The 73 Part V units form part of the council’s “expanded housing provision” in 2006, by which the housing authority intends to provide 312 new homes.

Ms Cotter-Coughlan said that the council intended to start 114 social houses. Twenty-four of these would be located in Corofin, 20 in Miltown Malbay, 19 in Sixmilebridge, 16 in Killaloe, 14 in Scarriff, 10 in Kildysart, eight in Shannon and three in Lisdoonvarna.

Ms Cotter-Coughlan said that 46 turnkey starts would be provided with 22 Clarecastle, 14 in Lisdoonvarna and 10 in Newmarket.

She said that 49 starts for voluntary housing would be made this year, with 30 in Killaloe, 10 in Clarecastle and nine in Mountshannon.

The council is also planning to commence work on 30 “affordable homes” at Kilkee.

Ms Cotter-Coughlan said that the council also intended to purchase land at Newmarket, Lisdoonvaran and Ennistymon. Currently, the Council has a landbank for social housing in 10 settlements throughout Clare, including Ballyvaughan, Miltown Malbay, Kilkee, Corofin, Broadford, and Corofin.

However, there is a demand for social housing in 36 settlements and for affordable housing in 30 settlements.

The meeting was told that the council currently didn’t have enough land to complete its housing programme and was currently short 40 acres of land for sites.

Ms Cotter-Coughlan said that a major obstacle to achieving targets in the provision of housing are the continual difficulties in securing funding from central Government in the provision of water infrastructure in a number of towns and villages.

She said, “It is a major issue.”

AN 18-YEAR-OLD youth from Galway, facing a charge of dangerous driving causing the death of two Clare teenage girls in 2003, has been jailed for six months in London for burglary.

The jail term imposed on David Naughton means a bid to extradite him in connection with the deaths in October 2003 of Stacey Haugh (16) and Lorna O’Mahony (13), both from Kilkee, will be delayed.

Naughton, who resided at a voluntary residential care unit in Galway before he skipped bail over two years ago, pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary of a dwelling in 2004, shortly after arriving in the UK.

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that Naughton appeared in court on April 11 and received a six-month sentence in a Young Offenders Institute. Seven other offences were taken into consideration.

Naughton had previously appeared in court in England on a string of motoring charges, including aggravated taking of a vehicle without the owner’s consent.

It’s not clear how much of the sixmonth term he’ll serve, but gardaí are expected to seek his extradition on his release.

He is alleged to have been driving the car in which the two girls died. It hit a wall at Carrigaholt.

A bench warrant for Naughton’s arrest has remained in force here, since it was issued at Ennis District Court after he failed to appear for a hearing in February 2004.

After he was originally remanded to St Patrick’s Institution in Dublin, Naughton was granted bail at Ennis District Court.

He was later returned to St Patrick’s for breaching his bail conditions, but granted bail after telling a court that he had been assaulted by other inmates while in custody.

Soon afterwards, the accused fled to England.

In May 2004, Naughton first came to the attention of police in England.

The CPS confirmed that when Naughton appeared in court on those charges, his guilty plea to being carried in a motor vehicle taken without consent was accepted. But other charges were withdrawn, because police could not be sure whether Naughton was driving the vehicle at the time.

He was due to be sentenced for the burglary at Wood Green Crown Court on March 20.

On that date, however, probation reports sought by the court were not available and sentencing was adjourned until last week.

A DISTRICT Court judge has expressed amazement at the failure to ensure that witnesses for the prosecution against a garda were available when the case was fixed for hearing.

Judge Joseph Mangan turned down an application by the State to have the case against a Shannon-based garda adjourned because three witnesses, including the main witness, would be unavailable to attend.

Inspector Tom Kennedy had sought an adjournment in the case of Garda Pat Keating, of Woodlands, Cahercalla, Ennis, who faces one charge under the Public Order Act arising out of an incident at the Shannon Knights carpark, Tullyvarraga, Shannon, on March 13, 2004.

Inspector Kennedy told Judge Joseph Mangan that three of the State’s 12 witnesses would be unavailable to attend court for the case which was fixed for hearing on this Thursday (April 20).

Inspector Kennedy said the main witness, Ms Eavan Drysdale, would be out of the country on that date and that the trip had been arranged before the hearing date was set. Garda Keating was recently acquitted in the Circuit Court of threatening Ms Drysdale.

The Inspector said that two others would also be unavailable and that one of those would be sitting exams.

The Judge asked whether the State had ascertained what dates witnesses would not be available prior to a day for the hearing being set.

When told that the State had not done so, Judge Mangan replied, “That amazes me.”

Judge Mangan said that the State should have known whether its witnesses would be available on the day a date for the hearing was confirmed. He asked that Ms Drysdale appear before him in the afternoon to clarify the position in relation to her availability.

When the mother of two appeared in court later in the day, she told Judge Mangan that she had been asked by her employer to travel to Sweden on a business trip and that this had been confirmed two weeks ago.

Solicitor Daragh Hassett, acting as agent for Garda Keating’s solicitor, objected to the adjournment.

“Mr Keating already has his council booked to travel from Dublin for the hearing.

“He has made numerous attempts to have this summary matter dealt with as soon as possible.”

Mr Hassett added, “Mr Keating is on desk duty until this matter is disposed of and cannot return to active duty then. He is also suffering a loss of income as a result.”