The Clare People Archive

SOME schools aiming for the Trans- port Green Schools flag take to their feet or make use of pedal power. But youngsters at Flagmount National School have shown they have real bottle and on Friday, launched a working raft, made from empty plas- tic milk cartons.

The pupils at the school made the raft last term under instruction from local couple, Sandra and Stephan Schwitilla who have been involved in similar projects in their native Germany before coming to settle in Currakyle.

The youngsters collected 840 two- litre milk cartons and recycled wood to build the handsome vessel, which can comfortably transport 28 chil- dren.

It was launched last Friday amid a festive atmosphere at Whitesands and, said school principal, Pat Mc- Namara, “It functions very well. It’s an amazing piece of work and we’re so delighted that Sandra and Stephen agreed to show us how to do it.”

Mr McNamara said it was “amaz- ing to see them all hammering, fix- ing and screwing it together. The children collected everything needed for the raft – it’s all recycled material. Bottles, wooden frame, nails – even the screws have been collected up from other things. They’re so totally involved with the work, it’s marvel- olin

The raft was made in four sections and test-runs carried out on each one before it was finally assembled for the launch.

Fully kitted out with life-vests, the young mariners took to the water amid shouts and cheers of encour- agement from teachers and parents gathered on the shore, or in their own

boats on the lake.

And the vessel sailed out on the water powered by youngsters using hurleys to row.

“They even managed to make the most use of those,’ the principal said.

After the rafts’ maiden voyage, there was a barbeque on shore to cel- ebrate the amazing achievement.

Now the next task 1s to find a safe place to store the vessel and the school is holding a competition to name the raft.

Parents themselves, the Schwitillas offered to help the school with their fourth green flag project, which in- volves looking at travel and how the carbon footprint of travel can be re- duced.

The school recently completed it’s third green flag award on the subject of water and water conservation.

CELEBRATING ten years in the saddle, the East Clare Chernobyl Cycle has once again taken off for Belarus to raise money to help chil- CHU PO MONNuom Nucor

The cycle has taken place each Sep- tember and was first undertaken in 1999. This year, the route will take the intrepid riders on a 230 kilome- tre route over two and a half days, during which time they will see what has been done in the schools and orphanages with the money raised

through last year’s cycle.

Of the money raised last year, €20,000 went to provide a launder- ette for the orphanage at Gantsivi- chi and €8,000 was spent to buy 88 doors for a similar institution in An- topol.

In another orphanage, Malech, a lot of work had been done previously and this time they needed just €3,000 to buy gardening equipment.

The institutions, which the cycle helps, had little or nothing in the way of proper facilities before the east Clare riders became involved. In

many cases, there was no hot water or proper sanitary facilities.

Eighteen cyclists took off last week and will be viewing all of the projects which were started last year.

“We go to each project and see what has been done and get to meet the people there, to see how they’re getting on,’ said Pat O’Connor, one of the original cyclists and organis- ers of the trip. Each year, cyclists raise sponsorship to fund whichever projects are needed in the coming twelve months.

As this is the decade anniversary of

the trip, there will be a special cel- ebration and presentation at the Oak- wood Arms when the cyclists return at the end of the month.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years,’ said Pat. “We’re going to be real celebrities this trip. The Belarus- sian Minister for Education is going to meet us this time and there will be a piece about the project on Belarus- sian TV and radio. And we’re going to be bringing a gift for the minis- ter from Clare County Council, so it will be a real international event,’ he told

AN ODOUR circulating 1n the Shan- non area is annoying local residents, who want the matter to be investi- gated. The problem is caused by a blockage and Clare County Council is working on the issue.

At a meeting of Shannon area coun- cillors last week, Councillor Patricia McCarthy asked for a report to be presented, outlining the reasons why sewage odours are in existence, par- ticularly in the Ballycasey/Tullyvar- raga areas of the town.

In a written reply, from Clare

County Council, she was told that the main cause of the odour was a block- age in the inlet pipe leading to the pump station near Carraig Lia. This blockage has now been cleared. ‘However, there are large quanti- ties of solid materials coming to this pump station, which on occasion blocks both pumps, as well as the in- let line,’ stated Senior Executive En- gineer in Shannon, Eugene O’Shea. In order to alleviate the problem, works are underway at the pump station located near the Aidan Park traffic lights. This should reduce the loading on the pump station near

Carraig Lia. Mr O’Shea said that both pump houses will be cleaned out as part of the works, before the end of the month.

Cllr McCarthy said she was driving past Bunratty last weekend when she pale] B eee mete 0

“The whole town is stinked out of it,’ she said. She pointed out that checks should be carried out every week.

Independent Councillor Gerry Flynn said there was a smell in Shan- non last weekend and he has received several complaints about it. He asked why an upgrade of the water system

in the town had not been delivered. “The scheme in Shannon was to start in 2008 and that didn’t happen. We are into 2009. Quite a lot of in- frastructure has been loaded on to the system that we have,” he said. “Was it a funding problem that we didn’t start in 2008? With the current economic situation, when would you envisage it would start?” he asked. Engineer in water services Hugh McGrath said there have been a lot of delays in the planning process in Ennis, Shannon, Kilrush and Kilkee. He said there have been delays in get- ting approvals at the various stages.

CCTV in Ennis is set to be expanded after members of Ennis Town Coun- cil recommended that a new bank of cameras be installed in several areas of the town.

The cameras will be installed at Drumbiggle Road green area, Clancy Park, Cornmarket car park, Hermit- age, Pearse Avenue/ Childers Road, Shallee Drive, John Paul Avenue, Considine Road and Island car park.

A report on CCTV was presented to members at the September meet- ing of Ennis Town Council.

The aim of the report was to deter- mine whether or not the “proposed development was consistent with the proper planning and sustainable de- velopment of the area having regard to the provisions of the development plan and giving the reason and con- siderations for the evaluation”’.

The council’s report found that “most of the locations of proposed cameras are zoned other settlement land where the objective is to con- serve and enhance the quality and character of the area, to protect resi- dential amenity and to allow for de- velopment appropriate to the sustain-

able growth of the settlement”.

No submissions were received by the council on the matter.

“Tt 1s not considered that the pro- posal contravenes the zoning objec- tive for the area. There is no objec- tion in principle to the proposed development. I recommend that the development proceed,” concluded Ellen Carey, Executive Planner with Ennis Town Council. CCTV cam- eras are already in place in 13 other locations around Ennis.

Meanwhile, the next meeting of the Ennis town Joint Policing Commit- tee (JPC) will take place at Water-

park House on October 5.

Cllr Paul O’Shea (Lab) told Sep- tember’s meeting of Ennis Town Council that he had concerns about the timing of the meeting.

Cllr O’Shea called for the meeting to be held in September saying it was of “paramount importance” that it take place as soon as possible. Cllr O’Shea added that serious issues re- lating to crime had arisen in the town over the last number of months.

Town Clerk Eddie Power stated that several meetings had taken place be- tween councillors, council officials and the Gardai, as issues had arisen.

PREVENTING crimes such as bur- glary and theft across the county will be one of the priorities for Garda Community Safety Week, which takes place throughout this week.

The theme of the week’s nation- wide campaign is ‘Older Adults in the Community’. The purpose of the theme is to focus on the positive con- tributions of older adults in the com- munity, particularly through their involvement in various community partnerships and crime prevention initiatives, operated in partnership ede mee:NuOreNB

“It is recognised that older people can be targeted. However, the impact can be reduced if crime prevention advice is actioned,’ said the crime prevention officer in Clare, Sergeant Joe Downey.

“Every effort should be made by all to take all necessary precautions to secure their property and protect themselves from any form of attack. The main focus of this week is on burglary, theft from cars and theft from shops,” said Sgt Downey.

He pointed to advice in helping to prevent burglaries, thefts from cars and thefts from shops. These in- clude fitting quality security locks, installing intruder alarms and mark- ing valuable property so that it can be positively identified if stolen and later located.

“Form Neighbourhood Watch, Community Alert or Business Watch

eroups for your area. Be a good neighbour and report any suspicious behaviour to the gardai,’ advised Sgt Dre atlas

A number of specific points should be remembered in an effort to prevent thefts from cars, he said. These in- clude locking all doors and windows, fitting an immobiliser or alarm and avoiding parking in isolated places.

Thefts from shops can also be pre- vented, by taking various measures. “Making it difficult for customers or professional thieves to take goods can greatly reduce the incidents of theft,” said Sgt Downey.

“Installing CCTV systems will

help to deter thieves. The cameras should be highly visible, with warn- ing signs on display. A camera should be placed to record all who enter the shop. Access to the recorder should be strictly controlled.

‘“High-value goods should be in di- rect sight of the counter staff, while staff should always be encouraged to be observant.”

Garda Community Safety Week runs through until next Sunday, Sep- tember 27.

A NEW< satellite District Veterinary Office could be established in Ennis at a fraction of the cost of providing centralised services in Limerick. According to Clare IFA, serious questions have also to be answered concerning the Department of Ag- riculture’s handling of the situation - with the department-owned Ennis offices to be closed in favour of the office at the Raheen Business Park in Limerick which costs the taxpayer almost €33,000 in rent and charges rele spaslevelaee Followings revelations last week that it would cost between €6.5m and €1l0m for the department to get out of their arrangement in rela- tion to the Limerick offices, it has emerged this week that they have paid €1,556,703 in rent and a further €147,319 in service charges since the lease on commenced in May of PAU Oey It has also emerged that the depart- ment had first intended to close the Limerick offices but changed their mind when the prohibitive rental ar- rangement became clear. “This will be a huge inconvenience to Clare farmers and will be a mas- sive drain, both in time and money. This raises serious questions over the procedure for procuring proper- ties being used by the Government. It seems obvious that the Government was weak in their management of this and it raises some serious ques- tions,’ said Michael Lynch, Clare President of the IFA. “There will have to be some sort of facility in Ennis. In the current cli- mate a limited number of services to be maintained in Ennis would be very cost effective. If we could retains some facilities, especially in relation to questions about the differ- ent government schemes and disease irradiation it would make a huge dif- ference.” In all, 42 offices are to be closed by the department and services cen- tralised to 16 upgraded facilities in a restructuring move which will see a saving €30m but the loss of 400 jobs. According to Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith, this is on the basis of several criteria including ownership of buildings. “If this was one of the criteria used and it was applied to the Ennis of- fice, it would be remaining open,” said Clare TD, Pat Breen (FG). ‘The Ennis office is not costing the department anything in terms of rent or leases. Also, the argument that centralising the service will provide better value for money does not wash either. Where are the cost savings in this proposal?”

CLARE County Council has con- firmed it was awaiting approval from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to carry out a wide range of accessibil- ity works in 17 towns and villages throughout the county.

Finance totalling €371,000 has been allocated for the proposed works under the Disability Strategy Funding for 2009.

The prioritised works awaiting ap- proval were identified as part of a countywide accessibility audit of all

public buildings, facilities and amen- ities owned or controlled by Clare Local Authorities.

An integral part of the audit proc- ess was the consultation through workshops and at local level with the various stakeholders – people with disabilities, disability groups, carers of people with disabilities and the elderly.

According to Mayor of Clare, Councillor Tony Mulcahy, “I warmly welcome the fact that the proposed works are spread throughout the county and include the provision of drop kerbing and tactile paving in

seventeen different towns and vil- lages.

‘Elsewhere, improvements will be made to disabled car parking facili- ties at Drumcliffe Graveyard, and at Lahinch and Killaloe where the works will be carried out by Clare County Council staff,”

Mayor Mulcahy added, “I also wel- come proposals to expand the audio stock, DVDs and number of large print books for use through the lh- brary service, which continues to be a vital resource to the people of CET rome

Commenting on the scheduled

works, Mr Tom King, Chairman of Disabled People of Clare, Chairper- son of the National Policy for the Centre of Independent Living, and National Director of People With Disabilities in Ireland said, “It is reassuring to learn that despite the current economic climate all fund- ing allocated to Clare under the Dis- ability Strategy Funding in 2009 will be spent on accessibility measures in the county.

“T am also delighted that the works included in the proposals awaiting Government approval have been ex- tracted from priority measures iden-

tified in the access audit.”

Mr King continued, “Especially in view of the difficult economic circumstances, I fully support and welcome the use of the council’s own staff to execute the proposed works.

Mr King said, “In addition to assist- ing with maintaining local employ- ment, the execution of these works will also provide training in terms of accessibility works and serve to in- crease awareness of the principal of universal accessibility and the obliga- tion on service providers to meet the needs of those living and visiting our feta ae

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Big stink over Quin odour

UL extension plans come under fire