The Clare People Archive

COURT sittings across Clare will experience significant changes in the new year if proposals to centralise the service, which is currently on the table, are adopted.

Under the changes, there will be specific dates for crime hearings, separate dates for civil hearings and other listed dates for hearings related to traffic offences.

Also, most of the hearings will be centralised to Ennis. While Kilrush cases will continue to be heard in the west Clare town, cases from north Clare are to be moved to Ennis.

Shannon cases are already heard in Ennis, while Killaloe courts currently sit in Ennis as a temporary measure while a new venue for the east Clare courts is being sought.

Up to six additional east Clare sittings will take place annually, after Athenry was moved from the district to the Galway district. It frees up the 11 Athenry sittings currently presided over by the district court judge responsible for Clare. Some of those will go to Killaloe, where a backlog has built up over the past few years, after Scariff and Tulla courts closed.

Under the proposals, there will be five crime sittings a month, two traffic days and two civil hearings, along with two days of family law sittings.

Crime cases will be heard on Wednesdays, with civil and traffic cases on Fridays.

“The bulk of Ennistymon is going back to Ennis, apart from a few townlands that will go to Kil- rush. Kilrush will stay as is,” said a spokesperson for the Courts Service.

The spokesperson added that if possible, courts will move back to Killaloe.

“If we can keep a court in Killaloe we will. A committee is looking at venues,” said the spokesperson.

The proposed changes, which are at draft stage, are poised to be implemented in January if they are adopted.

The separation of the types of offences heard means that less Garda resources will be wasted. In recent years, members of the traffic corps regularly spent hours sitting in court waiting for hours for their cases to be heard during the general court sittings.

“It will reduce Garda overtime, for example if there are 14 gardaí from Shannon sitting in Ennis court, at least seven will be on overtime, at the moment. Now, they can be put working on the days their court is sitting. It is a way of reducing State expenses,” said the spokesperson.

A Garda spokesman told The Clare People that hopes are high that the Killaloe courts still return to east Clare, having sat in Ennis since September.

Additional dates for Killaloe court sittings were requested by gardaí, after lengthy sittings prevailed in recent months.

“The logistics of bringing all the gardaí and witnesses from Killaloe to Ennis is a nightmare. There is no direct public transport service for people travelling the 35 miles to court,” he said.

A PROPOSAL that people can be buried on their own farm lands is to be submitted to the Minister for the Environment, after it was tabled by Independent councillor James Breen.

Cllr Breen has suggested that the Minister change the legislation in relation to burials whereby a farmer or his family, if they desire, could be buried on their own lands.

He told a meeting of Clare Council Council yesterday that this option should be available for those who wish to use it.

He said there is “nothing more sacred” than a man’s land, where “he was born and bred”. He urged his council colleagues to pass the motion and send it to the Minister.

Independent councillor Gerry Flynn supported the motion but add- ed, “It should be broadened. I think it’s very narrow. It should be broadened to include property owners with some land.”

Green Party councillor Brian Meaney said it would have to be regulated, but agreed that the motion should be submitted to the Minister.

Fine Gael councillor Joe Arkins said that while he sympathised with “the spirit of the motion”, he felt it would face problems. He said that while he was mindful of the attachment people have to their family lands, there could be planning considerations to bear in mind.

“You could have a situation even if this did come to legislation where there could be a two-month wait in advance and that might cause a difficulty,” he said.

“I think it could be fraught with difficulties. I think it is going to cause an awful lot of administrative problems. It’s going to cause headaches to beat the band and issues with pollution as well. I would urge caution,” he said.

He said that issues could emerge if a road was being constructed, or if a body was being exhumed.

He said he had “reservations” and “difficulties” with it.

Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Kelly noted as a farmer that “we are not allowed to bury animals on lands. We should think long and hard about this before passing it here at council level”.

It was suggested that the issue be put to a vote before the Minister is contacted.

However, Cllr Breen said that while he had no problem with a vote, councillors may vote with their own personal views in mind rather than those of their constituents.

It was then agreed that the motion would be submitted to the Minister.

CLARE County Council is to meet with Shannon Development, Enterprise Ireland and the IDA to discuss the delivery of job creation projects.

A decision to hold a briefing with the agencies was made by the council yesterday, after Fine Gael councillor Gabriel Keating expressed concern about the high unemployment levels that currently prevail.

Cllr Keating told the meeting that Clare should be prioritised as a location for foreign direct investment projects.

“Many west Clare communities are being wiped out,” he said.

He said that GAA clubs were suffering due to emigration, while unemployment in Kilrush had risen to 261 at the end of October.

“We need foreign direct investment projects to be set up,” he said.

“We need a co-ordinated approach,” said Cllr Keating, adding that a meeting should take place “before it is too late, if we have any chance of keeping our young people in the county”.

“I believe the IDA made 11 site visits to the county this year. While this is welcome, I want to see a greater spread,” he said.

Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Kelly said that “the exact same problem” exists in north Clare as was described in west Clare. “If people haven’t employment, they will not stay in the area,” he said.

“We will have no communities. The fabric of communities is being broken down,” he said.

Independent councillor PJ Ryan said that finance should be put in place in an effort to attract foreign direct investment. “Forty factory units in the industrial estate in Shannon at the moment are empty,” he said.

Fine Gael councillor Joe Arkins said the issue of job creation should remain on the council’s agenda at all monthly meetings.

“Rural Ireland is getting more and more isolated,” he said.

Fianna Fáil councillor Pat Keane said, “The only way jobs will be created is if people in their own county get together and examine every possibility that’s there.”

Fine Gael councillor Johnny Flynn said that in 1841, there were 284,000 people in Clare; in 1996 there were 97,000 but this has risen substantially in the past 15 years due to employment prospects. He said he fears of a similar decline as occurred in the past. “We need to use our resources on the west coast,” he said.

His party colleague Cllr Seán McLoughlin said, “We have too many agencies. The banks are going to have to be more liberal. People are willing to start small businesses but they just can’t get finance.”

Another Fine Gael councillor, Joe Cooney, said it was “very disappointing to see so many young people out of this country or to see young people at home with no jobs to go to”.

PUBLIC lighting is required to curb anti-social behaviour in unfinished housing estates in Clare, a meeting has heard.

The problems faced by residents living in unfinished housing estates was raised at the November meeting of Clare County Council.

Cllr Crowe called on the council to put a system in place in the event of developers of unfinished estates going into liquidation. The Sixmilebridge councillor stated that where estates have not been taken in charge, the Council should arrange for public lighting to be switched on in the interest of “public safety and to protest against anti-social behaviour”.

Cllr Crowe told the meeting that something has to be done for residents of unfinished estates; many of whom he said are “completely in limbo”.

Cllr Crowe said the chances of these estates being taken over as “unlikely”. “We have to start looking beyond the rules and regulations”, he added.

Cllr PJ Ryan (Ind) said there are going to “major problems” in unfinished estates.

Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) said the lack of public lighting is condemning residents of some estates to “months of darkness”. He said unfinished estates “cultivate and environment for anti-social behaviour”.

He said the council must “aggressively pursue developers that are still trading”.

Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) called on the council to compile a list of all unfinished estates in Clare.

In response, acting director of services, planning, land use and transportation Nora Kaye stated, “While there is merit in the above proposal, the reality is that the council’s resources are extremely limited in respect of taking in charge of housing estates. The provision in this year’s budget for the taking in charge process is € 55,000 for the county. With escalating public lighting costs, I do not consider that the Council is in a position to arrange for public lighting to be switched on and / or for the ongoing maintenance and energy costs of same”.

Ms Kaye continued, “The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government has been requested to consider funding proposals for a small number of estates where due to special circumstances of those estates, the public lighting issues are unlikely to be resolved in the short term. On a receipt of reply from the Department, I will update the Council further”.

A FAMILY in east Clare telephoned the county council emergency helpline during the severe weather spell 27 times, but the calls were not answered. This was revealed at a meeting of the council yesterday, after the issue was raised by Independent Councillor PJ Ryan. He asked that the council ensure that adequate staff be made available to man the emergency number during the winter weekends and holiday periods.

In a written response from the council, it was stated that the council’s emergency phone operates throughout the year outside office hours. “The effectiveness of the facility was compromised during the very severe weather event of December 2010 when temperatures dropped to minus 12 degrees and the intensity of calls from members of the general public in relation to water services and roads related issues increased to an unmanageable level,” stated the council’s response from director of services, Nora Kaye.

She added that in such situations, additional call answering and technical support advice facilities were set up. “This issue has been examined during the year and criteria have been agreed which will facilitate identification of the need for additional support,” she stated.

Cllr Ryan told the meeting that due to problems with emergency numbers late last year and early this year, residents were not getting a reply when they called the emergency phone number.

“I had constituents in Kilkishen who phoned the number on 27 occasions and got no reply,” he said. “It is important that somebody is there.”

Fine Gael Councillor Johnny Flynn said that the problem is particularly acute in isolated areas where people are living alone.

Ms Kaye told councillors that a lot of lessons were learned from last year. “There is an improved system in place now,” she said.

THERE have been calls for greater supports to be given to residents whose lives have been made a “misery” by the behaviour of challenging families.

Officials say that both Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council work closely with the Health Services Executive (HSE), Gardaí and other agencies to deal with anti-social behaviour in estates as they arise.

The issue of problem tenants was raised at yesterday’s meeting of councillors in the Ennis West Electoral Area.

In a motion, committee chairman Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) queried, “what supports are provided to com munities outside of the RAPID area where challenging families are in rented accommodation?”

Cllr Meaney said the behaviour of “challenging residents” in private rented accommodation is a “significant issue” for Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council.

Referring to a report prepared by POBAL, Cllr Meaney said houses and facilities in RAPID areas had been subject to vandalism, fire damage while missiles had been thrown at council staff.

He also praised the work of the programme, saying that RAPID funded services had helped to “increase the neighbourhood value of estates”. Cllr James Breen (Ind) said some people are moving into estates are making other resident’s lives a “misery”.

Town clerk Leonard Cleary ex- plained that the National RAPID programme has designated six areas in Ennis town for a programme aimed at “revitalising areas by planning, investment and development”.

He continued, “Ennis Town Council through its housing department provides a service to tenants of the local authority. Some of these tenants are in estates that are not in the designated RAPID area. The housing, environment and engineering sections of Ennis Town Council actively engage with communities in these estates in order to resolve issues.”

Mr Cleary added, “In situations where there are difficulties with private rented tenants or private home owners in estates, the council works with the other appropriate public agencies including HSE and Gardaí depending on the nature of the challenge presented.”

Cllr Meaney said that while it will be “very difficult” for Ennis Town Council to deal with non-RAPID estates, “we need to find a way of dealing with it”.

ENNIS should take priority over other parts of the county when it comes to the allocation of staff by Clare County Council, a meeting has heard.

The view was expressed yesterday by Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) as concern was raised over the impact of localised flooding on roads and churches in Ennis and Clarecastle.

A section of the Kilrush Road near Gallows Hill; St Joseph’s Hospital, Ennis and the Parochial House in Clarecastle were highlighted as three areas prone to “ponding” and road flooding, at meetings of councillors in the Ennis electoral area.

In response to motions tabled by councillors Johnny Flynn (FG) and Pat Daly (FF) regarding flooding on the Kilrush Road, senior executive engineer Eamon O’Dea stated, “The council has used a power jetty to clear the outlet from the gully at this location. This gully discharges to a soak away in this grass margin on the opposite side of the road.”

He added, “The council is examining the existing storm drains in the area to see if this location can be discharged to a storm sewer, otherwise the soak away will be renewed.”

The committee chairman, Cllr Brennan, told the meeting that the issue had existed at the Kilrush Road for a number of years. He said that there is a danger that “someone will be killed there” because pedestrians are stepping onto the road to avoid the water.

He said the biggest problem in the Ennis area is the absence of council staff. He said that Ennis is the county capital with a population of 30,000 and as such, should take priority when the council allocates staff to work in particular areas.

“We have tried working from the outside in, maybe we should be working from the inside out,” he added.

Agreeing with Cllr Brennan, Cllr Flynn said there “is huge pressure on Ennis area offices because of a lack of staff”.

Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) raised the issue of flooding that occurs outside the old Parochial House, Clarecastle. Cllr Murphy stated that “rainwater from the Creegaun na Hilla estate flows straight across the roundabout (bypassing the gully trap to the side of the roundabout) and lodges at the entrance to the Parochial House, causing a lot of annoyance to callers to the house and to mass goers, particularly at night time.”

Mr O’Dea said the council will examine the road levels at this location and “endevaour to reduce the impact of rainfall run off in this area”.

A meeting of councillors in the Ennis West Electoral Area heard that church-goers found it difficult to attend Mass because of floods at the rear of St Joseph’s hospital.

Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) told the meeting that flooding was a specific problem for elderly residents in the area.

Mr O’Dea stated that the council will examine the location to “see if there is a feasible method to dispose of the storm water”. However, he added that “any works will be subject to available resources”.

THERE have been renewed calls for safety ladders to be provided on walls along the River Fergus.

Clare County Council are seeking a water safety audit from Irish Water Safety on the proposal put forward by local Fine Gael councillor Tony Mulqueen.

In a motion tabled at yesterday’s meeting of councillors in the Ennis West Electoral Area, Cllr Mulqueen called on the council to provide safety chains and ladders “on the new wall constructed along the River Fergus”.

Cllr Mulqueen told the meeting that he had raised the matter 12 months ago and was not satisfied with the level of progress so far.

He explained that given the height of the river walls and the strength of water flow, it is his “fear that someone will fall into the river”. Cllr Mulqueen said that while improved flood defences near Parnell Street are excellent, ladders and safety chains should have been included as part of the Office of Public Work’s Ennis Main Drainage Scheme. “Are we waiting for an accident to happen,” he added.

Eamon O’Dea, Senior Executive Engineer, stated that the council are seeking a water safety audit from Irish Water Safety. He continued, “It is anticipated that this will be carried out within the next two to three months. The audit will be forwarded to the OPW for their consideration.”

Town manager Ger Dollard said the issue had not been brought to the council’s attention by any other agency. He said the provision of ladders and chains “would appear to be good practice”.

Committee Chairman, Cllr Brian Meaney (GP), urged the council to write to Irish Water Safety.

THE chances of another public toilet being installed in Ennis are somewhere between “slim and none”, a meeting has heard. Town manager Ger Dollard was speaking in response to a proposal aired at yesterday’s meeting of councillors in the Ennis West Electoral Area.

Cllr Tony Mulqueen (FG) called on the council to “provide a public toilet in Parnell Street car park, Ennis, for car park customers and taxis”.

Cllr Mulqueen told the meeting that the matter had been brought to his at- tention by local taxi drivers. He said drivers operating from Parnell Street car park had told him there was a need for the facility in the area. He said a public toilet would also help reduce the level of public urination taking place at night.

In response, town clerk Leonard Cleary explained, “Public conveniences have been provided in the market area and Abbey Street. It should be noted that a public convenience has a significant annual cost and daily management requirement.”

He added, “The matter can be brought to the attention of Ennis Town Council if the committee so desires.”

Town Manager Ger Dollard told the meeting that public conveniences “are hugely expensive”. He said Ennis Town Council had previously been criticised for the cost associated with maintaining public toilets. Mr Dollard said the chances of providing a new facility are “slim and none”.

Figures contained in Ennis Town Council’s 2010 annual financial statement showed that it cost € 70,000 to operate pubic toilets in the town.

INAGH native Damien Queally has launched a major appeal for the people of Clare to support children in the developing world this Christmas. Damien, who is the Programme Manager of Plan Ireland, yesterday launched the Plan Ireland Christmas appeal with the help of Irish rugby legend Malcolm O’Kelly.

This year’s Life Gifts catalogue includes a number of unique Christmas cards as well as a unique range of photographic canvas prints, all of which will help to raise vital funds to make a lasting improvement to the lives of the world’s most disadvantaged children.

“These gifts will give much needed support and materials directly to the children and communities Plan works with in the developing world. By choosing a Life Gift, like a set for school or a gift of child sponsorship, you are giving a child living in pov- erty the chance of a better life and a gift like this is essentially priceless,” said Damien.

Damien has been working for the charity as Programme Manager since 2008. After graduating from UCD with a Masters in Economics in 1999, Queally spent two years working in banking, before taking a career break in 2001 to volunteer in India and Uganda. Captivated by his experiences in these countries, Damien decided to leave banking permanently and began his career in international development, working in countries such as The Congo, Niger and Darfur.

Plan Ireland is a child-centred community development organisation, part of Plan International which itself was founded over 70 years ago. It is an independent organisation with no religious, political or governmental affiliations. Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume is the Patron of Plan Ireland. He and his wife Pat sponsor a