The Clare People Archive

has learned that Clare County Council has contracted the CM International group to pub- lish a Clare County Enterprise Strat- egy detailing a new way forward for business and enterprise in the county.

This strategy, which will be pub- lished next month, includes at its core a co-operative approach to de- velopment involving both the Uni- versity of Limerick and the National University of Ireland in Galway.

The report came before the Strate- gic Initiatives and External Affairs Committee of NUI, Galway last ete

“The report came before my sub- committee detailing information from Clare County Council recom- mending enterprise strategies for County Clare. Basically what is pro- posed is that Clare County Council co-ordinate all the major organisa- tion in the area including the County Development Board, RRD, NUI Gal- way, UL and anyone with the inter- ested in enterprise,” said Cllr Martin Lafferty (IND), who is a member of

the governing body of NUI, Galway.

“The idea is to form a committee to develop enterprise in the county. They are looking specifically at in- creasing the quality and quantity of research and development, increas- ing innovation and the quality and adaptability of the labour force.

“Clare County Council wouldn’t have the expertise for this kind of project but they are looking to co- ordinate the expertise that is avail- able in the area. They are lucky that we are sitting here between the two universities, one in Limerick and one in Galway. Galway university have a close relationship in Clare County Council and will be carrying out this initiative on their behalf.

“We have a number of organisa- tions already in Clare like Shannon Development, Enterprise Ireland and the County Development Board it- self.

In the minutes recorded for last week’s meeting of NUI, Galway’s Strategic Initiatives and External Af- fairs Committee commitments were given for the university to take a “leadership” role in the process.

A commitment was also given, in principle, to share intelligence with their client base in the county and to “define and elaborate the scope, role of an R&D transfer facility in the area of bio-medical engineering” in the county.

EUROPE must allow for Irish fish producers a freer hand for the pro- duction of farmed fish and shell fish or the industry faces a troubled future. Addressing the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee in Brussels on Thursday, the IFA’s Aquaculture Executive Secretary, Richie Flynn, said that the EU strat- egy to support a sustainable fish and shellfish farming sector was vital to redress the balance of seafood im- ports into the community.

Mr Flynn was speaking at a special hearing of the Parliament on the Sit- uation and Perspectives of the Aqua- culture Sector.

“We are all aware of the growing importance of food production and food security. We see growing num- bers of health professionals urging consumers to eat more seafood as a matter of priority to promote the development of mind and body and prevent modern diseases,’ he said.

“We see a rise in interest in food that is sustainable, organic, eco- friendly and convenient. All of these factors have contributed to an ever- erowing demand from European consumers for more and more qual- ity seafood.

“We know how to grow fish and Shellfish in Europe. We have dec- ades of European experience, avail- able waters, the right climate and the

world’s most advanced technology.

“EU Aquaculture produces 1.5 mil- lion tonnes of seafood and supports 80,000 jobs. Yet the community to- day still imports almost 50 per cent of its seafood needs. Aquaculture worldwide – in Asia, South America and elsewhere – is the fastest grow- ing food sector in the world.

“But here in Europe we are in dan- ger of starving in a land of plenty. Our Aquaculture sector is stagnant. Production in some sections of the industry is actually falling. Small and medium enterprises are facing CHUM Ee UN Laon

Mr Flynn said that MEPs visiting fish farms in the west of Ireland over Easter had seen first hand the value

and potential of farming salmon, mussels, oysters, trout and cod and the future opportunities to farm dif- ferent kinds of fish in the deep, clean waters of the Atlantic ocean on the EU’s western extremities.

“The Parliament has a hugely im- portant role in ensuring that the de- velopment of aquaculture in Europe is led by common-sense legislation, practical research and development and a recognition that our valuable sea and freshwater resources must be used efficiently for food production,” he continued.

“The EU Strategy being developed by the commission must release the potential of the aquaculture sector, not restrict it.”

has learned that the taxi used in the shooting was found abandoned in Shannon that evening.

At least 15 shots were fired at six houses on St Ita’s Street in the St Mary’s Park estate in Limerick, at around teatime last Tuesday.

The gunman opened fire with a high powered machine gun.

The car, which had earlier been sto- len in Dublin, was found in the Cro- nan estate in Shannon, a short time after the incident in Limerick.

‘The car was subsequently techni-

cally examined and nothing of a sub- Stantial nature was found on it,” said a garda source. Gardai are trying to establish why the car was abandoned homey er beueleyee

The multiple attacks prompted widespread concern that the incident would lead to further tensions be- tween rival gangs in Limerick city.

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, the garda commissioner an- nounced that members of the Emer- gency Response Unit would be de- ployed to the city.

“IT am asking a unit of the Emer- gency Response Unit to come here to Limerick in the next few days to take up duty here to augment the armed patrols that are already in place,” said Commissioner Fachtna Murphy.

He said the ERU would be deployed in known trouble spots in the city.

ADDICTION is being glamourised, the head of the mid-west’s new coun- selling institute has warned.

The Minister for State at the De- partment of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey offi- cially launched the National Coun- selling Institute of Ireland, which is now based in the mid-west.

The launch ceremony at the insti- tute’s new premises at the National Technological Park in Limerick also marked the announcement of the start of four new professional degree courses which will get underway in the autumn.

These include a BA in Counselling Studies and Psychometric Testing, BA in Youth and Counselling stud- ies, BA in Counselling Skills and Addiction Studies, and a BA in Adult Guidance Studies.

“There is a red alert warning sign across all classes in our community regarding addictions which needs to be addressed,” said the President of the NCIT, Maria Carmody

‘In today’s celebrity society, addic- tions are being glamorised in the me- dia through pop stars, fashion idols, film and television stars, creating the very dangerous impression particu- larly among young people that this is fashionable, trendy or acceptable.”

SHERRY FitzGerald McMahon has a number of excellent commercial properties on its books at present, including a landmark office building at Quin Road Business Park, which would be ideal as corporate head- quarters. With 337.2 sq.m. (3,630 sq.ft.) of floor space, this bright, modern accommodation is fully fit-

ted.

According to Paddy Darmody of Sherry FitzGerald McMahon, * What we have here is a prime location to the front of park with adjoining oc- cupiers including Brian McCarthy Contractors Ltd., Decibel & Univer- sal Business Systems.

The accommodation is laid out over two floors and is fitted to a high standard including air condition-

ing. Accommodation comprises a reception area, six principal offices, a comms room, canteen and WCs” . This premises is close to Ennis town centre and the lease terms are negoti- able.

Across the road in the Clare Marts complex Paddy Darmody has a light industrial warehouse on his books. There’s 230 sq.m. (2,475 sq.ft.) of floor space and a_ secure yard of some 180 sq.m. (1,940 sq.ft.). This unit is suitable for many uses. The lease term is 4 years 9 months and rent is €20,000 per annum (exclu- SAVE

Those seeking a shop unit in Ennis should take a look at the two-storey shop unit at Harvey’s Quay.

Said Darmody, “With its central lo- cation, just 110 yards form O’Connell Square, extensive shop frontage and generous floor space of 2,400 sq. ft., this premises is ideal as a retail out- ae

This property is for sale or let. The asking price is circa €1.1 million or to rent it’s €50,000 per annum.

THE traditional selling period for holiday homes is fast approaching and as yet, agents specialising in this market are unsure whether or not the downturn in the property market will spread its tentacles to the coastal aoe

Aine Hussey of Sherry FitzGerald Hussey Madden, Ennistymon, is relatively upbeat about the prospects

for 2008.

“After a disappointing last quarter in 2007, 2008 kicked off with an un- expected but most welcome strong start, with a high volume of sales for the first quarter of our financial year.

This strong start may have been due to people holding off until the stamp duty issue was resolved in the Budget.

She added, “most of our sales early this year have been to people moving

permanently to the north and west Clare area. From Easter onwards is traditionally the start of the holiday home sales and we have found that the rate of enquiries has increased ten fold since St Patrick’s weekend, particularly for the popular costal villages of Lahinch, Doolin, Liscan- nor and Spanish Point with some strong offers already on the table. “The buyer profile of recent years doesn’t seem to be changing, with

the majority of our enquiries gen- erated by prospective buyers from Limerick, Dublin and the Midlands. However, despite the weakening sterling, we have increased our UK client base both for permanent and holiday homes”.

Holiday home purchasers in 2007 were waiting for adjustments in the markets including stamp duty before moving on second homes, now that the criteria’s have been met we see

strong demand for the 2008 season.

Asked which properties are cur- rently drawing attention, Aine said, “The School Road development of 77 homes continue to sell from plans and as usual there is strong demand for properties with sea views”.

All told, Aine is feeling confident and anticipates that the Clare coastal market will remain resilient in 2008.

“We are looking forward to a busy summer season.’

THE vice-president elect of the Teachers Union of Ireland has hit out at schools that administer what her union has described as “academic hoy-Nus eles (ema

Enniswoman Bernie Ruane said that some schools are refusing to take in students who have special needs, often using a full roll as an excuse.

Every child should have a right to go to their local second level school but the reality is the schools are writ- ing an open administrative policy

but they are not implementing it,” said the St Patrick’s Comprehensive School, Shannon assisting principal.

The teacher with more than 25 years experience attended the TUI national conference as the newly elected vice president who is to take up her new role in July 1.

The active member of the TUI 1s very vocal on numerous issues af- fecting teachers and students not least of all the issue of “academic apartheid”.

At its conference last week TUI delegates said that the Department of

Education and Science continues to facilitate certain schools in operat- ing a system of ‘academic apartheid’ in their admission policies thereby enhancing the privilege of such schools.

According to TUI figures 10 per cent of second level schools do not take any students with special needs.

Certain schools continue to dis- criminate against students with spe- cial educational needs by not allow- ing them the right to be educated with their siblings, friends and neighbours the union of 14,500 members main-

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‘The corollary of this is that other schools with open admissions polices continue to act as magnets for pupils with special education needs, despite a chronic lack of resources.

“With much fanfare, the minister signalled her intention to carry out an audit of the number of students with special needs in schools two years ago but this information has yet to be presented despite several requests from TUI,” said the unions Assistant General Secretary John MacGabhann.

THE new REPS4 deal announced last week by the Minister for Agri- culture and Food, Mary Coughlan, has been described as “unaccept- able” by the IFA.

The organisations Rural Develop- ment Chairman Tom Turley attacked the decision, claiming that the move away from the early payments sys- tem, which he claimed has been a key feature of farmers joining the REPS scheme for the past 14 years, will impact negatively on uptake in the years ahead.

“It is now clear that the targets set out for the REPS scheme in the Part- nership negotiations will not now be

met. Farmers will be very reluctant to change from REPS 3 to REPS 4 until their five year contract period has been completed because by do- ing so they will be moving into a very different payment regime,” he PALO

“The REPS scheme has proven of enormous benefit to the rural envi- ronment since it was first introduced in 1994. Up to 60,000 farmers were in the scheme when REPS 3 closed for applications at the end of 2006.

“The scheme has shown itself to be one of the flagship agri-environ- mental schemes in the European Union delivering huge benefits to the countryside. Farmers who have been out of the REPS scheme for the

past 18 months and who now wish to join REPS 4 will have been without payment for two years following the Minister’s announcement.

“The objective for the scheme of having 70,000 farmers participating by the end of 2013 has been seri- ously jeopardized by the outcome of the discussions between Minister Coughlan and the European Com- mission.”

Earlier last week, the Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan, an- nounced a change in European Com- mission rules which would allow more than 3,000 REPS farmers to join REPS 4 when their existing con- tracts come to an end this year.

“The concession on REPS 4 is

a very significant one. As things stood, the new Commission Regula- tions governing REPS 4 would have meant that most farmers with REPS contracts ending in 2008 would have had to wait until 2009 to join REPS 4 and would not have got any pay- ment until early autumn of next year. However, we have secured a special transitional arrangement for 2008 so that these farmers will be in a posi- tion to start their REPS 4 contracts and get payment later this year,’ she said.

The special transitional provisions are the outcome of intensive discus- sions on the interpretation of the Reg- ulation between Department officials and their counterparts in the Com-

MARY Coughlan has missed a golden opportunity to restructure the milk sector and make it more attrac- tive for young farmers. That is the opinion of Macra President, Cather- ine Buckley, who last week hit out at the Minister for her “disappointing” performance on the milk quota re- eul(qnunwperce

Last Wednesday, Coughlan an- nounced the allocation of the two per cent increase in milk quota.

“It was a lost opportunity by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisher- ies and Food to bring about real re- structuring to the industry,” said Ms

BLU alos

“We are constantly reminded of the poor age structure of the dairy in- dustry by all involved, yet when the Minster is given a golden opportuni- ty to readdress the issue and target a portion of the quota increase to new entrants, she chooses to instead allo- cate quota through a mechanism that favours larger and more established OJ ROLeLU once

Macra na Feirme had called for the targeting of a portion of the two per cent increase in national milk quota to young farmers who want to enter CREDO mys ercemOLULMAYelOm-DuoMebNBuS LOR VaUbOT-ce ble to do so by traditional routes such as inheritance or partnership.

“The real benefit of quota increases to the industry would have been re- alised if this approach was taken,” continued Buckley.

“Larger and long established pro- ducers are the real winners, while new entrants are ruled out from what has become a closed industry unless you have deep pockets to purchase | UCele: Kom) tIKcsmmlelomnnleleinm iam

Speaking at the opening of the new Emmental Cheese facility at Tip- perary Co-op last week, Munister Coughlan defended her position.

The Minister said that she had con- sidered a number of allocation op- tions that had been suggested to her by various organisations.

However, she was satisfied that allocating two per cent additional quota to every active producer active today, April 1, 2008 was the fairest and most equitable manner of al- location in that it rewarded farmers proportionately for the efforts they had made individually to building up their farm enterprises.

“In making this decision I am con- scious of the fact that further quota increases will be agreed in future years as the EU moves in the direc- tion of quota abolition in 2015. I will publish a notice giving effect to this decision shortly. The additional quo- ta will be available to producers with effect from April 1,” she said.

WEST Clare’s newest football club has been hailed a success with more than 200 members signed up since its inauguration less than five weeks ago.

The Kilrush Ladies Football Club has a total of 182 players ranging in ages from four to 40, making it one of the fastest growing clubs in the eee as

The founders of the club attribute the overwhelming success to local support and a strong local base.

At the launch of the club just over a month ago more than 300 people turned out to support the venture.

Guests of honour on the night were

the 1970s ladies who played for the town in the Cailin Ban competition.

Not only were the ladies attributed the honour of being life-long honor- ary members of the club; they also joined the younger members in the St Patrick’s Day parade.

The young members of the club even won a prize on the day.

Those involved in the club said that the huge support they are receiving locally points to the need for such a club for so long.

Although in its infancy the club hosted this year’s under-12 West Clare Football Blitz, which included well-established teams such as Co- oraclare, Doonbeg, Western Gaels and Kilmihil.

The junior team has already played two games, with the under 16s also having fielded a team.

The club can now boast two nurs- ery groups, with under six and under eight age groups.

These young players learn basic skills of football and simple drills.

There is also an under 10 founda- tion group, and under 11 develop- mental group.

The Kilrush club enters competi- tions for the under 12, under 14 and under 16 age groups as well as for its junior team.

Plans are in place to have a minor ore ROOMoAoIMUCUE NTA

On the night of the launch the Munster Ladies Football chairman

Michael Ryan was very impressed with the enthusiasm for the game among the Kilrush ladies.

He told those gathered that girls who met involved in the game avoid potential trouble down the road. He encouraged the parents present to support the club for this very reason.

The community are also showing its support for the girls as sponsor- ship for all jerseys has already been found.

The recent church gate collection was also well supported, as was the Holy Thursday night quiz.

The next fundraiser for Kilrush’s newest teams will be a bag pack in Super Valu Kilrush on April 4 and a