The Clare People Archive

THE Clare TD that “mistakenly” voted against his own party whip during a vote on the controversial Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013, criticised the timing of the vote. Labour’s Michael McNamara TD said, “I believe that TDs should not have been voting at 5 in the morn- ing unless legislation was urgently required, as in the IBRC liquidation. Relegating such matters to the small hours of the morning, 18 hours after the Dáil sitting began, is hardly indicative of a parliament that takes rights, or even legislating, seriously. “Instead time is allocated to ‘Punch and Judy’ private members motions every week. Government backbench TDs seeking to press the Taoiseach or Táiniste on legislative issues can only do so in the Order of Business where their questions are highly circumscribed and the answers given are frequently so general as to be meaningless,” he said. TDs were informed of the 5am extension of the sitting by text message at 9.57pm on Wednesday night. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin described the move as ‘farcical’, but Taoiseach Enda Kenny said it was “no harm that it went on until 5am”. “I really don’t want to extend the Dáil sessions right until the end of July – people have had a very long season as it is. But I am required to have a number of other pieces of legislation go through,” he said. Meanwhile Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams is proposing that that the sale of alcohol in the Dáil Private Members’ Bar is subject to the same laws as other establishments in the country. The bar remained opened through the night of the votes on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013, with many TDs reported to have consumed alcohol prior to votes. The infamous ‘lapgate’ incident involving Fine Gael TD Tom Barry and his colleague Deputy Áine Collins has also added to the debate.

A FRESH appeal for Clare County Council to reduce its rates has been sounded out in Shannon this week following the announcement that one of the town’s newest retail businesses has signed a new three-year lease to remain at the SkyCourt Centre.

Having trial-traded SkyCourt Shannon as a retail location for the past twelve months, the big brandsfor-less retailer Dealz has signed a further three-year lease with SkyCourt, confirming its commitment to the shopping centre as an attractive option for retailers.

In hailing the announcement, SkyCourt manager Pat Kelly has called on the local authority to undertake an urgent review of its rates charges.

“It’s a misconception that we are charging high rents. We offer very flexible lease terms. We don’t, however, control rates, which is a huge issue for retailers who want to open in the shopping centre,” he said.

“For a lot of the retailers in SkyCourt, rates payable to Clare County Council are higher than the service charge or rent and this is a deterrent to setting up and a factor in many closures. We too would appeal to Clare County Council to urgently review the rates payable in Shannon,” added Mr Kelly.

The announcement that Dealz is to remain at Shannon comes as a major boost to SkyCourt, with Mr Kelly saying that the discount store has “become extremely popular with Shannon shoppers, generating the level of footfall required to remain sustainable”.

Calling on the people of Shannon to support their town, shop local, and keep businesses open, Mr Kelly said that the retention of Xtra-vision at SkyCourt is the perfect example of where this level of support is needed. SkyCourt management has agreed with the new owners of Xtra-vision to ‘trial trading’ in the centre until August 2013 when they will review trade and make a final decision to remain open or close.

“This store has always traded well in SkyCourt. We need to encourage the people of Shannon to get down to the store and avail of the great bargains currently available in the shop, and in so doing help to keep the store open into the future,” said Mr Kelly.

“It would be very disappointing to lose Xtra-vision from SkyCourt; we simply have to prove the Shannon store’s viability,” he added.

Commenting on recent closures in SkyCourt, Mr Kelly said that while Shannon has lost three shops since Christmas, it’s very much a reflection of the recessionary times and an occurrence that is being mirrored in towns throughout Ireland.

CLAIMING to be a natural blond may not be as straightforward as once thought, especially if the tresses in question have a green hue.

Hairdressers and colourists in a number of salons in Ennis have said that hair dyes have been found to go off colour depending on where the client is living.

Ladies and some gentlemen have been reporting a green tinge on their blond locks, while brunettes and red heads are also finding their lovely locks changing colour after several washes.

The hairdressers have put the changes down to elements of copper in some domestic waters, with high lime contents also causing havoc.

“Lime is less and less of an issues now since the change to the Ennis water,” said one hairdresser, “but there are still some private water schemes where it can be a problem.”

Sean Ward, Senior Engineer with Clare County Council, said there have been no problems reported to the council. Referring to queries about Ennis water he said, “The council is not aware of any change to the chemical composition of the raw water from Drumcliffe spring either in recent times or over the many years for which it has been the town’s source both via the old and new treatment plants.

“Small changes were made in early March 2009 (when new treatment plant began supplying the town) in the chemical processes to produce the treated water, but there haven’t been changes since then,” he said.

“All our testing indicates compliance with all the requirements of the 2007 drinking water regulations.”

Asked about Tulla he said, “The water there comes from the Broadford borehole, at which the only treatment is chlorination, and this hasn’t changed. Testing hasn’t shown any non-compliances.”

Asked about private scheme with and example given of Darragh, he said some premises have private supplies and some (mainly those nearer to Ennis and Ballyea) are on the Killone group water scheme.

“This is a private scheme with its own source, but Clare County Council tests its water, and no non-compliances with regulations have been found,” he said.

YOUNG people have been gathering all weekend to lay flowers and say prayers at a canal in Ardnacrusha which only days before was the scene of summer fun and merriment.

On Friday evening last the village of Meelick was shocked as news spread that popular local teenager Joe Kileen had drowned in the canal, which for generations of teenagers had been considered a dangerous rite of passage.

The 17-year-old who was described as “charismatic” and “upbeat” lost his life in the area of the canal known locally as “Head Race” while diving and swimming with a group of friends.

Just hours before the horrifying tragedy the ESB, who own the power station in Ardnacrusha that the canal serves, had warned against using the unguarded canal.

The eldest of a family of four from Kilavoher, Meelick, Joe attended St Nessan’s Community College in Limerick and before that the local primary school.

His former schoolteacher Cathal Crowe described the teenager as “a real up beat lad with great charisma. He had the biggest smile and wave when you would meet him.”

“I remember from school, he and his brother were tenacious and wiry soccer and football players. They were gifted and talented.

“He [Joe] was well liked by young and old in the community,” said the primary school teacher who is also a local county councillor.

“This tragedy has resonated with a lot of his age group. I would have taught a lot of his peers and they are all very shocked. The whole community is in shock. The life is gone out of the place. It has really hit home how fragile life is.”

Speaking about the area where Joe died, Cllr Crowe (FF) said it was almost a rite of passage for teenag- ers, an area that mothers have been warning their sons is too dangerous for generations. Unfortunately there have been several deaths there. Every generation can recall a tragedy in the canal,” he said.

“It is a beautiful amenity area in our community but we have to remember it is an industrial canal to service the power station and it is not safe for swimming. Right now is about laying Joe to rest, but this is something we must consider in the coming weeks,” he added.

Joe is survived by his heartbroken parents Marie and Pat (Douglas), younger brother Cian and younger sisters Jenny and Tara.

CLARE beachgoers have been asked to clean up their act, and council workers are providing more bins to help them do just that.

Clare County Council has employed additional resources to deal with the increase in litter that has resulted from what it calls ‘unprecedented’ visitor numbers to beaches such as Kilkee, Lahinch and Spanish Point.

The local authority says it is also installing additional, temporary bins along the length of the beach in an effort to minimise littering while litter wardens have been deployed to monitor littering activity. It is now urging visitors to Clare’s main beaches to take responsibility for their rubbish by bringing it home with them.

“Our beach is a fantastic resource for the wider community and it’s up to us all to ensure that we take home what we bring to the beach,” said Paul Moroney, Senior Engineer with Clare County Council.

“The council wishes to acknowledge those who have used the public bins to dispose of their litter. These bins are emptied regularly each day but often reach their capacity due to the unprecedented large volumes of visitors to the beaches. In Kilkee, we are finding that some people are dumping their litter along the seawall, on the beach or beside already full bins rather than bring their litter home with them. We are installing additional bins today to counteract the problem but would continue to ask the public to take responsibility for their own rubbish and leave nothing behind but their footprints,” he said. “Leaving or throwing litter in a public place is an offence that can be subject to an on-the-spot fine of € 150 or a maximum fine of € 3,000 if you are convicted of a litter offence in the District Court. Council litter wardens will take action where they deem necessary so we would advise the public to be wary of the law around littering. After all, indiscriminate dumping of picnic litter and other rubbish does not create a positive image for any beach or for local tourism.”

THE regeneration of a Kilrush housing estate is back on track, after council officials met with a resident who raised concerns that his home would be devalued by the plans.

Last month the John Paul Estate resident told a meeting of Kilrush Town Council that the proposed Wilson’s Road entrance would pass directly beside his house devaluing the privately-owned family home.

He also raised concerns that the road would result in a lack of privacy for him and his family.

Due to these concerns the council agreed to suspend Part VIII approval for the plan, which meant the project would not get the green light from the members until the issue was resolved.

Kilrush town clerk John Corry said these issues have now been resolved after a meeting between the concerned resident, Mr Corry and a council planner.

It has been agreed to situate the footpath further from the home in question allowing for more privacy.

Mr Corry said the family are happy with this, and the council has signed of on the Part VIII.

Under the plan, which has gone to tender and a builder appointed, three houses on Elm Drive will be demolished to create an entrance to the council estate from Wilson’s Road.

This phase of the ongoing regeneration plan aims to open up the estate and remove more of the alleys at the back of some houses, which were encouraging anti-social behaviour.

The work is still subject to Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government funding, but Mr Corry said the council are very “hopeful”.

“The fact that we have received funding for the first and second phase, was are making the argument that we are brining it to completion,” he said.

“The department indicated that it is the most high priority case in the county.”

BISHOP of Inis Cathaigh (Scattery Island) and Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn in New York Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano, was not expecting to have to pick up his own tab when he was invited to a special ceremony on the 6th century monastic island early next month.

A representative for the bishop emailed Kilrush Town Council last week asking if the bishop would be reembursed for his travel expenses.

The council, who issued the in- vite last year, shortly after he was appointed bishop, agreed at this month’s meeting of the council that they did not have the funds to cover the costs.

Kilrush town clerk John Corry told the members that the email was sent from the bishop’s office as preparations were made to book his flights.

“We’ve had different receptions before and we haven’t had to pay expenses. I was proposing to reply on the basis that we certainly would be delighted to welcome him but that we don’t have the budget to cover that,” the town clerk told the members. All members were in agreement. Cllr Liam Williams (FG) said, “We look forward to his arrival and we’ll host a reception for him.” While Scattery Island no longer functions day to day as a diocese, the ancient title is bestowed on a newly ordained auxiliary bishop by the pope. On August 22, 2006, when Bishop Caggiano was ordained Auxiliary Bishop he was given the ancient Irish title. When he arrives on the island in August he will be the first bishop of Inis Cathaigh to do so in living memory.

A TOTAL of € 4.06 million has been collected from households in County Clare from last year’s household charge.

The € 100 tax per household proved controversial at the time, and has since been replaced with the property tax. The Revenue Commissioners have not yet provided an analysis by county of the Local Property Tax collected to date.

However Clare people have proved to be compliant with the former household charge with more than 80 per cent paying up.

Clare county councillor Christy Curtin (Ind) believes the Government should return money taken from the council coffers last year because just over 60 per cent of property owners had paid the charge.

The high compliance rate and the amount of money collected makes a good argument for the funding to be returned he maintained.

The General-Purpose Grant allocation from the Local Government Fund was reduced by € 243,631 in July 2012 as a penalty set by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

This reduction was based on the level of household charge compliance achieved up to July 2012. This adjustment was confirmed by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government in September 2012.

The household charge introduced in 2012 has been replaced by the Local Property Tax, which became operational on July 1, 2013, resulting in a half year Local Property Tax charge in 2013. A full year charge will apply from 2014 onwards. In 2013 there is not a direct allocation to Local Authorities from the Local Property Tax.

Niall Barrett, Head of Finance at Clare County Council, said the Minister of Environment, Community and Local Government has indicated that of money collected from Local Property Tax in 2014, 80 per cent of the amount collected for a county will be remitted to the local authority where the tax is raised.

“The remaining 20 per cent of the tax collected nationally will be redistributed on an equalised basis to local authorities within the context of the annual allocations of the General Purposes Grants,” he said.

TO BEE or not to bee – that is literally the question facing Clare County Council as it considers designating Ireland’s first Honey Bee Sanctuary in the Burren.

The native Irish Black Bee is under threat and non-profit Banner Bee Keepers are supporting the Native Irish Bee Society to preserve the bee natural to the area.

The society has now proposed that the Burren be designated a sanctuary for the endangered bee.

There are several threats to the native honeybees in Ireland. The gene pool has been drastically reduced by the varroa mite – an exotic parasite which originated in Asia.

Up until the mid-nineties, Ireland was one of the few varroa free zones left in the world. It arrived in the country with imported honeybees. The tiny little mite has resulted in the near eradication of feral colonies of honeybees that existed in the wild from time immemorial.

“Importation of honey bees is a practice which beekeeping bodies and most beekeepers in Ireland do not condone, as many more bee pests and diseases could enter Ireland in a similar way in the future,” explained Frank Considine of Banner Bee Keepers.

“There has been an upsurge in interest in honey bees in the last few years and some people are tempted to import honey bees. This can have dire consequences for the native bees which can cross breed with them and become aggressive,” he said.

“This in the long term could have a devastating effect on the sustainability of the native honey bee in Ireland. Some parts of Ireland have larger populations of pure native bees than others. It is hoped in the future, that these localities will become conservation areas for this endangered sub species of European honey bee.”

Supporting the need for a bee sanctuary, Cllr Brian Meaney (FF) said this is a necessary project but it will be quite difficult to develop, as it will need to include a number of bodies including the council, the OPW, and the National Park and Wildlife.

BORD Fáilte has refused to pay out for proper signage highlighting the tourism information point in Kilrush. That is just one of the many accusations levelled against the national tourism promotion body, who closed its two tourist offices in West Clare this year.

Instead it tendered for two private businesses to take on a Bórd Fáilte-supported Tourist Information Points, but Rebecca Brew the proprietor of Crotty’s in Kilrush who won the tender is not enamoured by the support to date.

She said that the information stand for the thousands of booklets and leaflets was inadequate and Bord Fáilte sent a plastic A4 sign to indicate where the information point was that was also inadequate.

The businesswoman added that Crotty’s was happy to provide the service and would purchase a sign “but the sad fact is we have four paid staff who are trained to provide information and we can’t get € 100 for a sign”.

Crotty’s staff were sent on information trips by the business and not by Bord Fáilte so that they could tell tourists about facilities all over Clare.

“We are doing the best in the capacity we have,” said Ms Brew.

Kilrush town councillor Tom Prendeville (FF), who has been critical of Bórd Fáilte’s support of West Clare tourism, said that he would sponsor one sign.

He criticised Bord Fáilte for closing the tourist office in Kilrush and Kilkee and insisting whoever took on the responsibility of the information point would take on all of the overheads.

He added that € 150,000 is given by Enterprise Ireland to the Dublin Horse Show every year but a € 100 for a sign in West Clare cannot be found.