The Clare People Archive

IT’S top marks all round for the lead- ing tourism enterprises of the region and the accolade has come from the most important source of all – the Kes ae

In what was the most detailed sur- vey of customer satisfaction in the Mid West, over 5,500 visitors gave their verdict on tourism attractions, hotels, restaurants, retail operations, activity centres and hostels.

Ratings on every count were very

Dympna O’Callaghan

“The difference in a good and great company is the leadership provided at management level. With three out of four businesses failing once their founder retires, business owners now recognise the need for effective leadership in their companies and are hungry to improve these skills and apply practical leadership ideas which will improve their impact as a leader, straight away,’

That was the message from Mike Gaffney of Galway-based Leader- ship and Management Development company LEAP, when he addressed a Shannon Chamber leadership sem- inar in Shannon last week.

positive with satisfaction on levels of excellent, very good and good reach- ing 80 per cent and over in every case. In no case did visitors register fair or poor ratings above 10 per cent.

“The survey has proved a price- less marketing tool and guide for the future but in a very difficult year, it has shown that the operations taking part in the survey are getting it right as far as customers from all markets are concerned” said Padraig Cleary, Regional Director for the Tourism Learning Network.

Over forty business leaders from the Shannon area attended this lively seminar and went away not only ques- tioning their leadership styles, but assessing their individual strengths and weaknesses as a leader, having been urged to “Know Thyself’.

Helen Downes, interim chief exec- utive, Shannon Chamber, comment- ed: “This event was timely in light of the current economic downturn. The attendees listened intently to Mike Gaffney’s authoritative words. They certainly left with a lot of food for thought knowing that leadership brings clarity to a business and that success is built on this clarity.

Commenting on the high level of at- tendance at the event, Mike Gaffney

The survey was carried out over a ten week period by over 50 members of the Tourism Learning Network as their major 2008 project in the three- year Failte Ireland programme which is now coming to a close.

The highest score recorded in the Survey was in the restaurant sector where the friendliness of staff won ratings of excellent from 65 per cent of those surveyed, with 28 per cent on very good and just short of 6 per cent on good. The combined positive satisfaction ratings for restaurant

added: “LEAP is delighted to be able to help owners with this pertinent challenge. We are delighted with the response we received from the busi- ness community in the Shannon re- gion to this event and we would like to thank everyone at Shannon and District Chamber who contributed to its success.’

The event ended on a positive note when the event’s sponsor, Smart Tel- ecom, offered Shannon and District Chamber members or new customers a 15% discount.

Shannon Chamber will host similar business-focused events in the com- ing months. Details will be posted on the Chamber website www.shan- nonchamber.ie.

customers surveyed came to 99 per one

The retail sector also scored highly with the friendliness experienced by visitors bringing high ratings while friendliness and hospitality also scored highly for participating ho- tels. Value for money and the warmth of welcome also won strong approval el ebO tease

The main shortcomings identified by visitors related to aspects of ho- tels, hostels and activity centres. The combined total of 18 per cent of cus-

tomers who registered fair and poor ratings for hotel bathrooms was the highest level of negative reaction. A further 13 per cent were not entirely happy with their hotel rooms.

Hostels and activity centres scored high on the scale in overall positive reaction from visitors but were found wanting in other aspects. Hostels were given lower levels of satisfac- tion in value for money while ap- proval levels at activity centres were lower in relation to equipment and value for money.

THE Burren Smokehouse completed a hat trick of success at the recent SHOP 2008 exhibition when the Lis- doonvarna company not only took the awards for best Irish product and best chilled/frozen product but also the top accolade of best overall prod- uct for its Honey Whiskey and Fen- nel Glazed Cold Smoked Organic Salmon .

The exhibition which was staged at the RDS is one of the main trade events of the year for a sector which is valued at an estimated €23.8 bil- lion with exports of €8.62 billion.

Designed for the retail, food and drink sectors to develop new busi- ness, launch new products and net- work, SHOP welcomed over 4,000

focused buyers and decision-makers to the exhibition

Commenting on the Clare compa- ny’s success, Garret Buckley, joint Managing Director, Expo Events, said that winning the overall award was a wonderful accolade for any business as there was huge compe- tition among exhibitors and an ex- tremely high standard. For the Bur- ren Smokehouse to win three awards was a truly outstanding achieve- ment.

THE developers of the €200 mil- lion Westpark development in the Shannon Free Zone have told Clare County Council the zoning of its site is out-dated and fails to address the contemporary issues facing modern business campuses.

The site is currently zoned ‘com- mercial’ but the owners of the 38 acre parkland site have told the Council that the ‘commercial’ zon-

ing should be changed to ‘enterprise and employment’ which would allow for the development of a variety of industries and allow the campus to adapt quickly and appropriately to changing market demands.

There are currently 700 people em- ployed in the business campus and in a submission on the Council’s South Clare Development Plan, Westpark say the main premise of their sub- mission is to secure a more flexible, dynamic and all emcompassing zon-

ing policy for the area.

“It is our contention that the zon- ing objectives and land use policies are overly restrictive, stifle business developments and do not allow the area to adapt to changing economic and market demands quickly”, their submission states.

Westpark is also seeking that the zoning would allow the development of apart hotel suites on the site.

“The lands are currently being un- der utilised and are ill-equipped to

meet changing market demands in a timely and efficient manner due to the prescriptive planning policies that relate to the site as present.

“The current economic climate suggests that it is becoming increas- ingly difficult to attract foreign in- vestment into Ireland, as the global market becomes more competitive. With this in mind, it is essential that innovative and adaptable enterprise zones are promoted so that compe- titeness is not hampered.

“Westpark would benefit enor- mously from a policy approach that promoted ancillary and supporting business uses within the traditional enterprise zones, as is now common practice throughout modern business campuses”

The submission states that the ra- tionale for providing the apart-hotels is that they “would act as a major pull factor for companies looking to invest in Shannon as they could pro- vide high quality accommodation.”

REGULAR readers will know that I’m a big fan of radios in cars. At home many of us turn to our televi- sion sets for entertainment, but while commuting we enter the varied world of radio.

My test car this week, the new Seat Ibiza, had great reception on its radio. I hit the scan button and straight away picked up good quality BBC2 and then Shannonside Radio. Amazing as I wasn’t up in the Dub- lin mountains, but in Baldonnel, the Irish headquarters of Seat.

Seat have just one button for the ra- dio, which acts as a volume control and station selector. It looks strange to see just one button where there are normally two, but like most things in life, you get used to it.

But before readers all go Radio Ga Ga, I can hear you saying, what was the car like to drive?

Well it’s a neat, solid, comfort- able and inexpensive supermini. The price of the car didn’t change in the budget, but emissions are low and the current tax rate of €150 will increase very slightly on January I.

There is room for three small adults in the rear and the boot is a decent SIZe.

This was my first-ever drive in a Seat. I have been reading up on

the company and found that it was formed in Spain in 1950 and initial- ly made cars for Fiat. In 1982 they broke away from the Italian giant

and built their own Ronda. The first Ibiza was produced in 1993 and this is the fourth generation.

Seat use the names of Spanish

districts for their cars and they are now a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen. I always think of the sun when I hear names like Cordoba,

Alhambra etc. Ibiza is an ideal name for a supermini as we associate the island as a fun place for young peo- ple.

I found the car very lively and well able to handle anything that was asked of it, whether on city streets or motorways.

Internally it’s like most other new cars nowadays and predominantly black, with just the odd touch of sil- ver to brighten up the décor.

Externally the car was silver colour and I just feel that there are too many silver cars around right now. It might have been even more attractive in a bright red or dark blue, but that’s just my opinion.

Prices start at €14,850 for the 1.2 ‘R’ type, while the ‘S’ type I drove costs £16,290. After the recent budg- et we know that diesel is definitely the way forward and next year a 1.4 diesel model will be available. Seat now has 37 dealers in 23 different fo) t Tea lene

Pll finish with another mention of the radio controls. In addition to the main button there are slave controls just to the left of the steering wheel. They are so discreet, they are almost hidden away. And if you are not into radio, an iPod jack is standard.

THE amount of land zoned for hous- ing in west Clare is not justifiable on the basis of current or predicted de- mand. That is according to the Draft West Clare Local Area Plan 2009 – 2015, which also states that a third of all houses in west Clare are unoc- cupied.

Eilis O’Nuallain, Senior Executive Planner said that even with a high population growth prediction, the land identified as available for hous- ing is 903.85 hectares or 1,390 per cent more than required.

“The current pattern of applica- tions outside settlement boundaries suggest that a sizeable percentage of homes will be sought on unzoned land which will not place a demand on the quota,” she said.

Members of Clare County Council have argued that not all of this land 1s accessible. “There are people sitting on land parcels that see it as money in the bank. They do not want to sell,” said Cllr Pat Keane (FEF).

The draft plan also maintains that 597 new houses will be required in the next three years in the west Clare area, in what is described as a low growth scenario.

Senior Executive Planner in For- ward Planning, John Bradley, main- tains that in the current economic

climate the initial low growth sce- nario for the population of the west is now regarded as the high end of projections.

The low growth projection indicat- ed that by the end of the area plan the population would reach 18,191 peo- ple – an increase of 1,202 people on the 2006 census.

In a high growth scenario a popu- lation projection of 19,856 for 2015. This increase of 2,867 would require 1,019 houses to be built in the area.

As population growth is uneven throughout the area, house vacancy rates range from seven per cent to 65 per cent moving east to west.

According to the population sur- vey for 2006 contained in the plan, as many as 65 per cent of the houses in Kilfearagh and Kilkee are vacant, 55 per cent of the houses in Queerin are vacant, and 46 per cent of those in Rahona.

In its projections the draft plan maintains that Kilmhil will have a population decline of 48 people by 2015, and therefore predicts that 19 less houses will be required in the area. A population decline of 45 is predicted for Knock and 17 less homes.

Councillors said that the predic- tions and survey did not take into ac- count holiday homes and homes no longer fit to live in.

PLANS to remove settlement enti- tlements from the villages of Cool- meen, Darragh, Leitrim and Lisdeen has met with opposition, with one local politicians describing the pro- posal as “anti rural”.

Amid the pages of the draft West Clare Area Plan 2009-2015, due to go on public display next month, Clare council planners have said in order to address the quantum of overzoned land, four settlements have been pro- posed for removal from the settle-

TPeCoUOLASS BAS

“These settlements have showed little or no planning activity over the last six years and have some serious access difficulties,’ Eilis O’ Nuallain, Executive Planner, told members of the West Clare Area Council, as they saw the draft for the very first time.

“Leitrim is a lovely area, but it is in a structurally weak area. It may work to its advantage; no longer a settlement it would not have those limitations. It wouldn’t stop bailing in Lisdeen,” she said.

“You are hitting the small old core

communities. I won’t accept that. A Statement like that 1s anti-rural,” said Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind).

Fine Gael Cllr Oliver Garry said he did not understand why the settle- ment status should be removed.

According to the draft plan and its maps, 60 per cent of west Clare is de- scribed as structurally weak. Struc- turally weak areas have been rec- ognised as an area where “there is a level of economic decline exacerbat- ed by continued depopulation. These problems must be addressed through levels of growth beyond the housing

requirement of the local population. SUMNER Ceyer Dame) IOC DMmS le e-lKorca ami tee gests that any demand for residential development in such areas should be accommodated.”

This includes most of the central area of the west Clare peninsula, with the exception of a large area around Kilrush town and Kilmurry Ibrickane. According to the draft plan in structurally weak areas there is no “significant advantage for hav- ing in land zoned for housing”.

This policy also seeks “to encour- age the redevelopment of derelict or

vacated sites that present opportu- nities for development in the open countryside as an alternative to new one off housing developments.”

The brief for tourism within the draft has also been altered to encour- age activities with more local reve- nue generating potential than holiday home construction.

“The only reference before was holiday homes. The area is still suit- able for holiday homes, but we are looking at others that would bring economy to the area, for example hostels,” said Ms O’Nuallain.

“we have returned to days we thought we would never see in education again”.

He said the only hope is that when the parents and teachers stood up to Minister for Finance Brian Leni- han’s aunt Mary O’Rourke in 1987 the proposed cuts in education were overturned.

The President of the INTO main- tains that if the current cuts proposed by the Government are not over turned, the Ennis primary school area, which includes the county town and Shannon, will loose a total of 35 Keres ace

In east Clare up to eight teaching posts are under threat, north Clare could lose two teachers, while west Clare is expected to lose up to seven teachers.

“Schools that had enough pupils on its enrolment for another teacher next September now cannot appoint the teacher,” said Mr Kelleher.

In Tulla next year rather than secur- ing an extra teacher to cope with an increase in pupils the school faces the loss of one of its current teaching

staff. The school is facing a 30 pupil to one teacher ratio.

In such cases junior infants are pro- tected with smaller class sizes, which could result in 35 and more pupils per class in senior classes.

Parents in Lahinch have begun a petition in an attempt to prevent the cutbacks negatively affecting the lo- cal school.

Teachers of English to non-national pupils are also facing huge cuts, re- sulting in knock on effects across the

education sector.

“There is a Minister for Integra- tion, and the key to integration is to be able to use the English language. It is a key learning service,’ said Mr Kelleher.

“Many of the parents of these pu- pils haven’t the language to articu- late their view points, so it 1s up to us. This budget is hitting the vulner- able,’ said Mr Kelleher.

“This is the budget from hell,” he added.

TEENAGERS with disabilities are losing up to €7,200 a year in funding for subsidising support requirements and helping families with respite.

That’s according to Shannon coun- cillor Tony Mulcahy, whose 16-year- old daughter is one of the many Irish teenagers receiving the disability al- lowance.

The Fine Gael councillor was criti- cal of the Government’s decision to remove the disability allowance from teenagers until they are 18- years-old.

‘Those that have it will keep it, so my daughter will continue to get it. But this is not about one person, it is about all the other teenagers and their families who will now go with- out,” he said.

Until now, children with special needs or a disability received the domiciliary care allowance worth €299.50 a month until the age of 16, at which point they automatically re- ceived the disability allowance.

The Government has extended the first payment to those aged 18 and removed the disability allowance.

Under the 2009 budget, the disabil-

ity allowance will increase to €204 per week, leaving a difference be- tween the two payments of approxi- mately €500 per month.

Councillor Mulcahy said that the travel pass also came into place at 16, as did the medical card, but these will also be lost due to the new OA atetene

The availability of a medical card for 16 to 18 year olds with disabili- ties will now depend on their fami- ly’s income.

The issue was raised in the Dail on Wednesday by Deputy Kathleen Lynch who said there was over a two

year waiting list for occupational therapy, speech and language thera- py and social skills training.

“Families use the allowance to bypass the waiting list and seek the care and intervention necessary for their children. A cut in their allow- ance, €7,000 a year, will result in many children not getting the help they so urgently need.”

Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin said the pre- budget age limit was established in RSP

“It was linked to ability to work at a time when most young people

would have left school by the end of 16 years to enter the workforce,” she ene

“The social welfare system does not, in general, provide benefits which could be viewed as encour- aging early school leaving and, ac- cordingly, 18 is normally used as the minimum age for qualification for means-tested payments in a person’s own right.”

She said the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies said in its budget submission that the payment may al- low a child to fall into the depend- ency trap too early.

INSTITUTIONAL — respite care could be a thing of the past for peo- ple with disabilities as Home Share Clare grows in popularity.

The Brothers of Charity Services initiative encourages friendships that see people with disabilities spend time with new friends and families, giving their own family a break from a full time caring role.

Developed in 2007 by the Broth- ers of Charity Services in Clare, the service offers people the opportunity

to live within a family home, experi- ence the local community and at the same time build new relationships and friendships.

To date nine people have availed of the Home Share service while six more individuals and families are being assessed.

‘The person we place can enjoy a break or a holiday in a homely at- mosphere and their parents and sib- lings will have a break from their full time caring role. In return, families and the person get the opportunity to learn more about disability while

caring and sharing in their own home,’ explained Nicola Garrehy, Children’s Co-ordinator.

The Brothers of Charity main- tain that the new service leads to a more lasting and unique relationship, which can be nurtured for many years to come.

“Tt is more natural for the individ- ual involved. This is evident in the strong bonds and attachments that have been developed over the year,” said Ms Garrehy.

“Tt instils confidence in the indi- vidual. They know it is a friend-

ship because it is not someone from school or someone that’s being paid that they are spending time with,” she said.

Ms Garrehy explained that experi- ence working with disabilities is not necessary to take on the role of home Stee

Personal qualities are more impor- tant than qualifications or experi- ence, she said.

Careful consideration goes into matching individuals, with personal- ities, interests and availability taken into consideration.

Training and support is provided before Home Sharing even starts and throughout the experience.

Those that sign up are asked to commit to five breaks a year. This can range for a day out to a week’s Tey eCer-Nie

Ms Garrehy said that in the experi- ence of the initiative people meet up far more often that the required five times as friendships form.

Those interested in getting involved with Home Share are asked to con- tact Patricia O’Meara by calling 087 6680081.

PARENTS and teachers from across the county are planing to march on the Dail tomorrow as Clare’s primary schools face losing up to 50 teachers, and every post primary school likely to lose at least one teacher.

For many of the county’s secondary schools the loss 1s much higher, as primary schools in Ennis report that under the current budget cuts they will loose 12 teachers. The figure was provided by the Ennis Education Forum – a group that represents pri- mary schools in the Ennis parish.

Secondary schools in the county capital are also set to suffer. A pub-

lic meeting in Colaiste Muire, Ennis last Friday heard that the reduction in English language teachers would result in the loss of four teachers at the school.

That meeting also heard from Fi- anna Fail TD, Timmy Dooley. He said the government would attempt to minimize the effect of the cuts, but added, “Neither do I want to give you false hope and say that I can change or redress the budget provisions that are there. We have to work to the best of our ability to minimize the impact. I do not see that the provisions will not be overturned as announced”.

Angered parents from Tulla Pri- mary School, who face losing one

teacher next year despite an increase in pupil numbers, have organised a bus to travel to Dublin to join the pro- test. Buses organised by the INTO will also leave Ennis at 1.30pm to- morrow.

Margaret Cooney, principal of Holy Family senior school encouraged parents to voice their concerns on the streets of the Dail. However Ms Cooney said, “There is no evidence to suggest that they will go back on them but I hope that sanity will prevail. We had the second highest teachers pupil ratio in Europe and now we’re on our way to having the highest. That’s extremely serious”.

INTO President Declan Kelleher

has this morning welcomed the for- mation of the Alliance for Primary Education, made up of teachers, management bodies and the parent’s etree e

Protest marches against the educa- tion cuts have also been organised for every Saturday until Christmas, starting on November 8 in Galway. The second march will be held in Tullamore and is scheduled to end at the Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s office. This will be followed in by marches in Cork, Donegal and Dublin.

“We picked Saturday as we did not want to sacrifice school hours. What- ever has to be done will be done,” said Mr. Kelleher.