The Clare People Archive

CLARE County Council has turned down planning permission for a tour- ist hostel and 29 homes in the village of Fanore. The Council made the ruling on a submission from Tom Considine af- ter the Council’s Conservation Offic- er, Risteard UaCronin strongly rec- ommended that planning be refused. Mr UaCronin said that the proposal had the potential to do irreparable damage to the archaeological land- scape and visual amenity and the potential to set an unwelcome prec- edent for development in the vicinity of recorded monuments.

He said that the site was located be- tween various archaeological monu- ments including Kilonoghan Church, a graveyard and an archaeological complex containing no less than 25 monuments on the Record of Monu- ments for county Clare.

“The complex is one of the most im- portant collections of archaeological monuments in the country, most of which date from the Bronze Age to the Medieval period. The provision of a housing development in this area would seriously impact on the monu- ments both visually and archaeolog!- cally, would be unsympathetic to the setting of these groups of recorded monuments and contravene the

county development plan.”

“The proposed development is situ- ated on the Burren Coastline over- looking the Aran Islands and on one of the most scenic and popular visi- tor routes in Clare.”

The Council also refused planning because of the lack of a centralised waste-water treatment plant to serve the proposal and ruled that the plan would represent a piecemeal ap- proach to development and would be contrary to proper planning and sustainable development.

The proposal would contravene the development plan objective of providing for the sustainable growth of Fanore and retaining the village’s

unique and distinctive character.

In the planning application, devel- oper Tom Considine, who is a native of the area, claimed that the proposal was designed to create a village feel with a suitable range of uses at the appropriate scale and density with effective and useable links into adja- cent lands to facilitate future devel- opment in the village”.

He maintained that the develop- ment was consistent with the provi- sion of the North Clare Local Area Plan and would encourage “further appropriate development in Fanore”’.

Mr Considine now has the option of appealing the council decision to An Bord Pleanala.

PLANS have been lodged with Clare County Council for a €5 million tourism development in Bunratty.

The plan has been lodged on behalf of Kieran Flanagan who is seeking planning permission for two blocks that include commercial units and a café restaurant.

The site has been zoned for the pur- poses of providing tourism/leisure facilities and is located within walk- ing distance of Bunratty Castle — the main attraction in the area.

According to planning documents lodged with the council, “the modest

size of the individual units ensures that the development remains at a scale appropriate to the surrounding village context. The design of the de- velopment successfully reflects tra- ditional design character in a mod- ern idiom and is thereby in keeping with the established character of BLUbevestAATy

“The proposed development will consolidate the tourist retail presence within Bunratty and provide sup- porting facilities for existing tour- ist attractions and accommodation in the area. It will serve to increase and expand the tourist retail offer of Bunratty and in turn increase the

attractiveness and vibrancy of Bun- ratty as a tourist attraction.”

‘The site is one of the limited sites within Bunratty which has been zoned for the purposes of tourism AN OCO MD (sR UN Kon

“The development is compatible with the zoning objectives for the area which is to reserve lands for tourism related purposes,’ the plan- ning application states.

‘The urban design strategy for the development is to consolidate the village streetscape of Bunratty. This is achieved by the proposed design form and layout, which presents a streetscape to the main road through

Bunratty and also the access road to the development.

“The target market for this devel- opment is the substantial number of tourists who visit Bunratty each year as well as the local population. It is envisioned that the units will provide outlets for small, specialised stores, selling high order comparison goods suitable for the tourism market, such as crafts, gifts or clothing

“The development will serve to increase and expand the tourist re- tail offer of Bunratty and in turn in- crease the attractiveness of Bunratty as a tourist destination”, the planning application concludes.

has learned.

According to new figures made available for the first time last week, the average price paid for farm land in Clare, Donegal and the counties of Connacht was just €15,293 per acre in 2007.

While this represents an increase of €1,206 on the 2006 average, it is still well below the national average per acre for farm land of €20,367.

This is according to the national

agricultural land price survey, which is carried out each year by the Irish office of Knight Frank.

On a national level, the price of farmland stabilised this year despite the difficulties experiences in many sections of the property market.

The national average price per acre was down €415 or 1.9 per cent on av- erage compared to 2006.

Despite the drop, indicators sug- gest that 2008 could see a return to increasing prices for farm land.

‘There was a welcome rise in farm incomes in 2007 and those farmers who sold land for development, road building in recent years will continue

to be keen to buy other land to farm in its place,” said Knight Frank part- ner and Head of Ireland Residential, Robert Ganly.

“If the volume of land sales in- crease with a moderation of demand, then land prices are likely to stabilise or decrease by just a single digit per- centage overall in the coming year.

“Looking ahead, farmland prices through 2008 and beyond will be in- fluenced by a wide range of interna- tional and domestic factors and will perhaps only partly reflect trends in the general Irish property market.”

The survey also found that the amount of farmland sold nationally

last year dropped, following on from 2006 which saw no increase in the number of farmland sales on the pre- vious year.

In total there were 154 reported sales in 2007, representing a 41 per cent decrease from the previous year’s 261.

The total area of land sold in 2007 was 9,933 acres, a decrease of 30 per cent on the previous year.

The survey also showed that the av- erage plot size was down last year to 64.50 acres from 54 acres in 2006. This was a continuation of a previous trend, as plot size was also down in 2006 from the previous year.

FARMERS are being left out in the cold and excluded from offering val- uable assistance in the area of pro- ducing energy. According to the IFA National Environment Committee Chairman Tom Dunne, Irish farmers could have had a very positive input into the publication of the All-Island Grid Study, which was published last week.

“This study has failed to recognise the extent to which farmers can play a pivotal role in carbon emission reduction while providing a secure energy supply through renewable electricity, heat and transport fuel initiatives,’ he said.

“As far back as the year 2000,

the European Climate Change Pro- eramme clearly identified that the agricultural sector could contribute significantly to fulfilling the reduc- tion objective for Kyoto. Many of these objectives can be achieved through renewable energy produc- nto)

Early last week, Energy Minister, Eamon Ryan, published this ground- breaking report which for the first time examined a range of generation portfolios for Ireland, the ability of our power system to handle various amounts of electricity from renew- able sources, the investment levels required, and the climate change and security of supply benefits that would accrue.

‘Farmers are prepared to invest

in renewable energy production and can provide carbon-neutral energy. However for farmers to maximise their participation in renewable ener- gy production, the Government must provide a realistic feed-in tariff, sim- plified access to the grid network and the priority use of renewable en- ergy, continued Dunne.

“Wind only represents one of many renewable energy options. The im- plementation of the measures out- lined has resulted in a 16% increase in renewable energy production in Crasere teh vae

In July 2005 the Governments of Ireland and Northern Ireland jointly issued a preliminary consultation pa- per on an all-island ‘2020 Vision’ for renewable energy.

The paper sought views on the development of a joint strategy for the provision of renewable energy sourced electricity within the All- island Energy Market leading up to 2020 and beyond, so that consumers, north and south, continue to benefit from access to sustainable energy supplies provided at a competitive ON A

It is within the context of the All- island Energy Market Development Framework agreed by ministers in November 2004 and the undertaking to develop a Single Electricity Mar- ket that views were sought on how the electricity infrastructure on the island might best develop to allow the maximum penetration of renew- able energy.

A TWO and half year project cost- ing €27 million will come to fruition at New Road, Ennis this Wednesday when Clare County Council’s new Corporate Headquarters opens for LUI BALeASE ;

To facilitate the relocation to Aras Contae an Chlair, all county council offices in Ennis will remain closed to

he public today and tomorrow.

The completed facility will provide accommodation for 300 staff, as well as meeting rooms, a staff canteen, laboratory, mayor’s office and coun- cil chamber and three party rooms for the elected members. 320 car parking spaces are provided at the rear of the building.

The Corporate Headquarters build- ing incorporates a number of envi-

ronmentally-friendly measures and will operate as a naturally ventilated building. Some solar panels and a wood chip heating system have been installed. Following a tender proc- ess, Clare Wood Chip of Flagmount has been selected to supply the wood chip for the building.

Cllr Patricia McCarthy, Mayor of Clare welcomed the opening of the new offices and referred to the ease of

access to the various council services that will now be available at the new location. Mr Alec Fleming, Clare County Manager, added, “I would like to pay tribute to the council staff for their patience and co-operation in relocating from the old offices and the move back to Aras Contae an Chlair this week. I now look forward to the council providing a service of the highest standard from Aras Con- tae an Chlair.”

Mr Michael McNamara, Director of Services, explained that the building had been designed in a user-friendly manner.

He said, “The council was very conscious of the need to put in place the highest standards of accessibility to all parts of the building and serv- ice within. We have been working with the National Disability Author- ity with a view to attaining accredi- tation under the Excellence through Accessibility Scheme.”

Sections of the council were relo- cated to several sites around Ennis when the old offices on the New Road site were vacated in mid-2005. Following a tender process that gen- erated a lot of interest from many of the country’s larger developers, the firm of Michael McNamara & Co Building Contractors was chosen as the preferred option to design, build and finance the provision of the new building. The contractors com- menced work in January 2006.

THE way is now clear for the smooth relocation of 300 staff to Clare Coun- ty Council’s €27 million HQ after a dispute with IMPACT has been re- solved — for now.

Last month, IMPACT members voted four to one for industrial action in relation to disciplinary procedures that the council have in place.

The vote threatened to disrupt the council’s relocation from_ offices around Ennis back to the recently completed HQ, which is set to be

open to the public on Wednesday.

However, the vote by 130 members of its 270 strong membership at the council overwhelmingly voted for industrial action.

In response to the threat of industri- al action, the two sides met last week and agreed to refer the council’s con- tentious disciplinary procedures to a third party.

The third party will be a profession- al in the industrial relations field.

According to a spokesman for IM- PACT, the union are anxious that members be afforded proper union

representation in disciplinary proce- dures and that the employees be made aware of allegations before them.

The spokesman said that an issue that will be addressed by the third party will be staff transfers with only 24 hours notice as a means of disci- plining a staff member.

The IMPACT spokesman said: ‘The council denies that the transfers are carried out to discipline people, but we take a different view.”

The spokesman said that the dis- pute had the potential to disrupt the council’s relocation if it was not re-

solved.

He added: “We are asking that the council deal with people in a civi- lised way.”

The major logistical exercise of re- locating to the council’s new HQ was continuing last night.

As well as providing office accom- modation for 300 staff, the new cor- porate headquarters incorporates a number of environmentally friendly measures and will operate as a natu- rally ventilated building. Some solar panels and a wood chip heating sys- tem have been installed.

SPANISH Point is set to become one of the world’s leading sites for the production of wave energy following the launch of the Ocean Energy Ini- tiative last week.

The new initiative, which guaran- tees a price of €0.22 for each KW hour of ‘blue’ energy, has made Ireland the world’s most attractive market for the generation of wave energy.

Spanish Point was identified by the Irish Marine Institutes as one of Ire-

land’s top four sites for the produc- tion of wave energy. Indeed, it was short-listed as a possible site for the creation of Ireland’s first test facility for wave energy.

“Places like Spanish Point are now going to get more and more attractive because investors will be able to see exactly what price they will be able to get for the energy in the long term,” said Andrew Parish, of pioneering wave energy company, Wavebob.

“Investors will be able to go into Spanish Point, examine the prevalent wave strength and predict with cer-

tainty exactly what revenue they will be able to make. This will make it much easier to get financial backing for large-scale projects.”

“The real key is that we will have market stability. This makes it attrac- tive for developers such as ourselves to invest and it also makes it easier for us finance major projects.”

With a host of new wave energy generators at the prototype stage, the wave energy market is expected to boom over the next 10 years.

“We are relying more than 90 per cent in Ireland on fossil fuels. So by

having this tariff for renewable en- ergy, it encourages more alternative clean sources of energy into the mar- ket, which will actually make energy cheaper in the long run,” continued Mr Parish.

“Fossil fuels are going to get more and more expensive as time goes by, and wave energy is going to become a reality.

“Not only will Irish companies be looking at developing sites like Spanish Point, but international com- panies will be there too. It 1s very at- tractive for them.”

IN WHAT proved to be a turbulent week for the meat Industry in Ireland, Glanbia finally removed themselves from the once lucrative involvement in the meat industry.

A deal, reported to be worth less than €10 million, is in place to sell the remains of the company’s inter- ests in the meat industry to a man- agement-led consortium.

The company will instead focus more heavily on areas such as cheese, nutritional ingredients and consumer foods with a nutritional emphasis.

Glanbia’s meat business was one of the leading pork slaughterer and processor in Ireland and it processed

1.2 million animals last year. That represents almost half of all the port slaughtered in Ireland in 2007.

Employing 850 people, the busi- ness operates from four facilities in Ireland, including two modern slaughtering plants at Roscrea and and Edenderry.

It also operates the only pork-head boning facility in Ireland in Offaly and a bacon curing and processing facility in Leitrim.

Along with the slaughtering of animals, the company 1s also one of the largest pig-farming operations in Ireland, with 4,500 sows across six ie Nesny

Meanwhile, Teagasc last week an- nounced details of development plan

to strengthen the pig industry in Ire- land.

The plan was compiled after an ex- tensive consultation process with all the main stakeholders in the sector.

The key issues facing the Irish in- dustry are addressed including the competitiveness of Irish pig produc- ers and how it compares to the in- dustry in other European and inter- national countries.

The report found that around 7,000 people are employed in the sector in- cluding about 1,200 on farms. Cur- rently, close to 500 pig producers in Ireland produce 3.6 million pigs annually. The Irish industry exports approximately 60 per cent of its pro- duction and is worth €250 million

annually. The report also states that pork is the most consumed meat in the world accounting for 38 per cent of meat consumption worldwide.

‘“Ireland’s position as a world leader in pig productivity has recently been overtaken by a number of its main competitors,’ said Brendan Lynch, Head of the Teagasc Pig Production Unit.

“A key factor in improving produc- tivity in future is to improve skill levels at farm level.”

During 2007 feed ingredient prices worldwide soared. Typically feed ac- counts for about 70 per cent of the cost of producing a pig and high feed costs in Ireland require very efficient use of feed on the farm.

IRISH farmers have been told to re- main vigilant following the discov- ery of a fourth swan infected with bird flu in England on Thursday.

IFA National Poultry Committee Chairman Ned Morrissey said last week that reports of the bird flu in England reinforces the need for poultry growers here to maintain the highest levels of vigilance.

‘Producers here have implemented extra measures such as the installa- tion of water chlorination systems to ensure the health status of their flocks is protected,’ he said.

“Flock owners are safeguarding

their domestic flocks by having the highest levels of bio-security meas- ures in place, to avoid any exposure to wild birds.

“Poultry producers meet the high- est veterinary standards at all times, and are particularly vigilant at the moment to protect the health of their flocks.”

The new outbreak has renewed calls for the routine vaccination of all free-range, organic and hobby birds in the UK against the deadly flu virus.

The Elm Farm Organic Research Centre has been campaigning for such a preventive strategy for more than two years. The Defra institute

has a stock of 10 million does of vac- cine but so far they have been offered only for use to save rare birds and collections in zoos.

Richard Sanders, senior policy re- Searcher at the centre, said the latest outbreak at Abbotsbury was now “a trigger point” and gave a definite in- dication the virus was circulating in wild birds.

Sanders has urged Defra to release its stocks of HSNI1 vaccine to start an orderly programme of preventive acer eeeloele

However, a spokesperson from the British Department of Agriculture siad late last week that there was, as yet, no evidence of a large infection.

‘There is currently no evidence to Suggest widespread disease in the wild bird population but enhanced surveillance is taking place and poultry keepers in the area are re- minded to remain vigilant,” said her spokesperson.

Britain’s first case of the strain was in a wild swan found dead in Cel- lardyke in Scotland in 2006 and there have subsequently been outbreaks at poultry farms in eastern England, most recently in November 2007.

The virulent HSN1 strain has killed more than 210 people worldwide since 2003 and millions of birds had either died from it or been killed to prevent its spread.

ONGOING traffic congestion in Sixmilebridge is of a huge concern to locals, who fear that a major ac- cident will happen, unless the issue

is addressed.

That was the message delivered during a debate on a proposal to widen a bridge in the village, at a meeting of Shannon area councillors last week.

Clare County Council Senior Ex- ecutive Engineer Donal Hogan said he has asked the roads section to look at the possibility of widening the bridge.

He said there have been several new residential estates completed in

the area, while a major new commer- cial development is also mooted.

“The width of the bridge would be a major factor in the satisfactory operation of the bridge,’ said Mr Hogan.

“It is a protected structure. That is one of the issues,” he added.

Independent councillor Patricia McCarthy said that traffic conges- tion in Sixmilebridge “is actually dangerous. It is very hard to solve the problem. Maybe we should go for a ring road.”

CUlr Gerry Flynn (Independent) said the council has recognised that a problem exists.

“It would make a lot more sense if money was spent on the southern

Ring Road. I wouldn’t support what you are proposing. I think that’s wrong and would be a stop gap,’ said Cir Flynn.

Cllr John Crowe (FG), who lives in the area, said he had proposed the footbridge but “I don’t mind that be- ing put on hold.”

“I feel there should be an overall job done on it. A few years ago New- market was choked. That’s gone now to Sixmilebridge,” he said.

“If road design are coming in and doing an overall job and if it’s going to take that bit extra time to do it, at least do something that is going to be there for generations to come,” said Saver

Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) said the

problem exists and “will not go away. It will get worse. There could be a major accident”.

Shannon Town Manager Ger Dol- lard said there are issues in Sixmi- lebridge.

“The area engineer iS saying as Sixmilebridge develops, strategic decisions will be taken. There are is- sues which need indepth discussion,” he said.

Referring to suggestions regarding a relief road, he said, “It was devel- oper-led. I don’t think the council has acquired any lands in relation to that road. It is an issue that needs to be addressed. As Sixmilebridge de- velops further, the problem is going to get worse.”