Month: September 2005

PLANS to build the long-delayed €25m sewage plant at Clareabbey, Ennis, have taken a major step for- ward, it was confirmed this week.

A developer has dropped a series of objections against Compulsory Purchase Orders for the plant, made by Clare County Council.

The new plant will replace the creaking system already serving Ennis’s fast-increasing population and help reduce pollution into the River Fergus. It will cater for a pop- ulation of 50,000.

Earlier this year, the bid to de-

velop the sewage treatment plant was Stalled after the Killaloe Di- ocesan Trust and local landowner, Peter Anthony Liddy objected to the CPO in its current form going ahead.

The Trust subsequently sold 35 acres of land to a property devel- oper for €8.5 million and the de- veloper took on the objection.

The objections lodged resulted in An Bord Pleanala calling an oral hearing into the case held on Tues- day, September 6. However, County Engineer Tom Carey confirmed this week that the two objections were withdrawn at the oral hearing.

Mr Carey said that it was hoped that work would proceed on the new system next year. Currently, the contract documents are with the Department of the Environment and the Council is awaiting their go-ahead to proceed.

With the 35 acres of land being sold for €8.5 million, it is expected to cost the Council over €2 million to compulsorily acquire the lands.

The Environmental Impact State- ment (EIS) into the scheme was published at the end of 2002 and planning permission was secured for the proposal last year.

The EIS states that a ‘do noth-

ing’ option in relation to the current sewage works “is not viable” and “the existing problems will be ex- acerbated over the next few years as increasing demands are put on the drainage system and treated plants due to expanded environment”.

The EIS also point out that the failure to put in place the proposed new water treatment plant will re- sult in the Council contravening the EU Council Directive concering waste-water treatment.

In his objection, Peter Anthony Liddy described the Council’s CPO as “ill-conceived, uninformed and Ure ALN koe

THE Tanaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney will launch a €1.6 million one-stop-shop for children with disabilities, in En- eh

Minister Harney will officially open the newly refurbished Teach Boru on the grounds of St. Joseph’s Hospital, on Friday. Teach Boru has been equipped with state-of- the-art facilities to help identify and support children with special needs. The one-stop-shop service is doing away with the practice of

multiple appointments in count- less locations for children with disabilities and their families.

‘In the past, parents who were concerned about their child’s de- velopment have been left to run round a variety of services, both state and voluntary, in a number of different locations. Follow- ing national and international research and consultation with parents and professionals, we decided on a one-stop-shop ap- proach to provide a seamless service for children from birth to six years,’ said Margaret Galvin,

Project Manager of the Regional SBD Ae) yelolmeoascocmeeUl the professionals now see a child at the same time, in the same room, in Teach Boru. The team also operates an outreach service in Kilrush.

Six early intervention teams will provide services for children from birth to six with develop- mental delay. These will include clinical psychologists, occupa- tional therapists, early interven- tion specialists, physiotherapists and speech and language thera- pists.

OFFICIAL figures for one- off houses have been con- sistently over-estimated, according to a rural rights campaigner.

Prof Seamus Caulfield of the Irish Rural Dwellers As- sociation said that while 49 per cent of Clare’s popula- tion currently lived in the Open countryside, an aver- age of only 38 per cent of the planning permissions granted over the past year had been for one-off rural houses.

CSO figures had wrongly and consistently overstated the number of one-off hous- es by including houses in the

back gardens of Dublin city and all other cities and towns as one-off houses, for statis- tical purposes, he claimed.

Echoing Prof Caulfield, Independent MEP Marian Harkin said that planning decisions in Clare did not reflect the rural population of the county, or the need to preserve viable population in the rural areas.

She said it was essential to preserve the balance be- tween urban and rural popu- ETH Toyatce

“Tt is a major scandal that the people who have the greatest input into produc- ing our planning laws, have not even known the correct

statistics of the number and type of houses being built in the country,” she said.

Despite this, planning reg- ulations and guidelines had been produced, which were geared to restricting the preservation of viable rural population and pressuring people to live in towns and villages, she said.

“Recent CSO figures have revealed that for the first quarter of 2005, a higher percentage of plan- ning permissions for one-off houses were granted in the Dun Laoire/Rathdown area of Dublin city than in the whole of County Clare – a patently ludicrous situation”, said MEP Harkin.

Ms Harkin said that a sub- stantial campaign sustained by some national media and “influencers” had led to the creation and maintenance of a prejudice against grant- ing planning permission for one-off houses, in every county of Ireland including ETc

“This situation must be changed by insisting on the creation of an accurate ba- sis for housing statistics and analysis produced by the CSO and the Economic and Social Research Institute, so that planning regulations and planning decision are in future based on facts rather than the present fantasy,’ she said.

CLARE County Council has secured an exclusion order against a couple living in a housing estate in Ruan, after a court heard their neighbours were subjected to hardship and ‘serious threats” as a result of their behaviour.

Mark and Louise Woodbridge had resided at Toormore Es- tate in Ruan, prior to their eviction by the Council over a week ago.

Brendan Murphy told Ennis District Court that he lived with his wife and family directly across from the home the Woodbridges had resided in. He is a tenant of Clare County Council.

He said he moved in at the end of July and became aware of the Woodbridges at the beginning of August. He said the

couple were fighting amongst themselves in their garden on one occasion and were ‘loud and vulgar.’ He said there was an instance where they hit their own car and shouted abuse at each other.

He was awakened one night to hear a lady screaming for help and she then “turned her anger towards us,’ Mr Murphy told the court.

He said his family received death threats, threats that the windows on his house would be broken and that his car would be damaged, while his children were called “vulgar” names.

“We couldn’t leave our house. There were serious threats that gangs would come down from Dublin with guns and kill us,’ he said.

The troubles continued on a daily basis, he said. Louise Woodbridge would lean out of the window of her house and

make threats to her neighbours.

He said he did not know the Woodbridges and this type of activity could take place at any time of the day or night. “We were terrified of them. We don’t know the people. We didn’t know how serious their threats were,” he said.

Clare County Council estates manager Dan Keane told the court that he notified the Woodbridges about the court hear- ing. However the couple did not appear.

Barrister Pat Quinn said he was applying for the interim or- der made a week previously to be confirmed as an exclusion order, to remain in place for three years. He pointed out that the couple had obeyed the interim order.

Judge Joseph Mangan said he was acceding to the applica- nto

A LIMERICK man who assaulted a bar staff member after he was refused entry to a pub during a festival in Sixmilebridge, has been jailed for three months.

But Thomas Power (43), of Sul- lane Crescent, Raheen, Limerick, will not serve time, if he carries out 200 hours community service.

Shannon District Court was told that the accused struck a Mr Hunt, after he was refused entry at The

Mill Bar, Sixmilebridge, on Janu- ary 8, 2005.

Defending solicitor Daragh Has- sett told the court his client was in Sixmilebridge for a festival that day. A session was taking place at the back of the bar and when he was not allowed in, he hit out.

He said his client had problems with alcohol and had “fallen off the wagon” over the years. He said the incident was a “watershed” for his client and he had not drank al-

cohol since it took place.

Judge Joseph Mangan adjourned the case until November, to allow for a community service report to be carried out and remanded the accused on bail until then. He 1m- posed a number of bail conditions, including that the accused abstain from alcohol, stay out of licensed premises, stay out of Clare, except for court attendances and report to Henry Street Garda Station in Limerick once a week in a “sober and orderly condition.”

THE new Telemedicene service was launched by Albert Reynolds in hospi- tals in Ennis last week.

The Mid-Western Regional Hospi- tal, Ennis and Cahercalla, will benefit from the this new consultancy service.

This new service will allow doctors from all over the world to offer online ob TFs slot

Special tributes were paid to fami- lies that played a major role in bringing the service to Clare.

Marie O’Sullivan initiated a fund- raising drive after her sister Caroline, died from cancer when she was 13.

She wrote to schools asking students to donate a euro each for cancer treat- ment.

This led to the Ireland Children for Children Foundation leading a drive to bring Telemedicene to hospitals throughout Ireland.

On Wednesday, Marie’s fundrais- ing efforts were recognised with the

installation of the new technology in Ennis Mid-Western.

At Cahercalla Hospital another Tele- TNasLON (CAI emN To M’s (CONE RM UDER oI OLsOe

During this ceremony Andrew and Loretta McLoughlin also presented a cheque for €13,500 to the hospital in memory of Anna McLoughlin.

Anna McLoughlin died from cancer in 2002.

Mr Reynolds paid tribute to the ef- forts made by all families who had helped in the fundraising efforts.

He also revealed that the service may become more widespread throughout Ireland.

‘The Department of Health and the new health authorities are considering making it a new national programme and putting proper structures in place.

“They are planning to talk to us about bringing it to more a adult hospi- tals,” said Mr Reynolds.

The former Taoiseach is currently chairman of the the Ireland Children for Children Foundation.

has learned that 6,513 parking tickets have been placed on cars parked in the town up until last week, an increase on 6,369 during the same period in 2004.

But, there has been a sharp increase in the number of mo- torists taken to court on the issue. Twenty-one per cent of cases (1,367) came before the

courts, after the fines were not paid and the reminders ig- nored. This compared with just nine per cent (573) last year.

At Ennis District Court last week, the majority of offend- ers were fined €100, but some were handed down fines of €1,250.

Of the 6,513 tickets issued by the town’s four traffic war- dens so far this year, 11] per cent (716) were cancelled on appeal; 30 per cent of driv- ers (1,954) paid their €19 fine within 21 days; 21 per cent (1,368) paid after receiving a first notice; a further 15 per cent (977) paid €40 after re-

ceiving a second notice; two per cent paid €52 after receiv- ing a court summons, with the remaining 21 per cent being taken to court over the issue.

The biggest number of tick- ets are issued to drivers who do not pay and display in the car parks, including at Abbey Street, Woodquay and Parnell Street and people who fail to display parking discs. But drivers parking on double yel- low lines are also regularly pe- nalised.

Ennis town council staff of- ficer Barry Keating said every ticket was followed up and every driver was given “every

chance” to pay.

The money from the fines imposed in the district court goes into a central Government fund and is allocated from there. But, the money earned from the fines paid goes into the day-to-day running of the council, he said.

“People still want to park outside of the shop. They would rather take the chance and they are getting caught,” | aTemcy-HKCb

He advises people working in Ennis to avail of long-stay car parks at Glor and Clough- leigh where a fixed rate applies for the entire day.

A 42-YEAR-OLD Dutch profes- sional musician involved in an air-rage incident on a Ryanair flight into Shannon has_ been fined €1,000.

Harry Gustaaf from Nymegen in Holland pleaded guilty to be- ing drunk and a danger to him- self or others, on board a Ryanair Dusseldorf-Shannon flight on Saturday, September 3.

Mr Gustaaf also pleaded guilty to offensive behaviour, despite been asked by a crew member to desist. Inspector Tom Kennedy told the Shannon District Court that the State was withdrawing the summons charging Mr Gus- taaf with engaging in threaten-

ing, abusive and insulting nature with intent to cause a breach of the peace.

Garda Brian McCarthy told the court that on charging Mr Gus- taaf, the accused said: “I took a plane from Germany to Ireland.

““T had a few drinks and didn’t hassle anyone.”

According to a statement from Ryanair air hostess, Elizabeth Lynch, Mr Gustaaf had become ageressive on board, punch- ing the headrest in front of him, making advances towards the exit and swearing at her, when he was asked to sit down during the flight.

Defending solicitor Catriona Carmody said Mr Gustaaf was a professional musician with the Royal Symphonic Orchestra in

Holland and had been involved in establishing a shelter for the homeless and prostitutes in Hol- land.

She said he had no previous convictions and the incident was completely out of character.

She said the flight had been de- layed and the accused had a few drinks in the airport while wait- ing.

He was travelling to Ireland to visit his mother in Mayo and he didn’t remember the full extent of the incident.

“He is extremely embarrassed and very worried over what hap- pened and apologises profusely for his actions,” she said.

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed fines of €500 for each of the two summonses, payable forthwith.

OANA See beebeblocmm on lece tled to cash to help with back-to-school expenses may be missing out be- cause they don’t know Weare LEL-UOER YA

The Department of Community and Social PaWOE-U NUMER CK IBDOOT-I Comma O:II 50,000 families nation- wide are missing out on the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.

The allowance helps towards the cost of uni- forms and footwear for schoolchildren. The Scheme operates from Ist June to 30th Septem- ber each year. The al- lowance is €80 for each eligible child aged 2-11, on or before 30th Sep- tember 2005 and €150 for each eligible child aged 12-22 years.

People who may quali- fy include those who are getting a Social Welfare payment, a Health Serv- ice Executive (HSE) payment, a Back to Work Allowance (Em- ployees), a Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, or a Back to Education Allowance; and _ those who are

ENTERPRISE, Trade and Employment Minister Micheal Martin is to enter into a process of discussions with unions representing Shannon Development about the company’s future, follow- ing a meeting of the parties last week.

Talks involving SIPTU, the NUJ, the Minister and his of- ficials will commence over the coming weeks and are not expected to end until at least October.

A spokesperson for the unions told The Clare Peo- ple they would be asking the Minister to justify his pro- posal to transfer its industrial portfolio to the IDA.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, on a visit to Clare on Saturday, sought to justify his Muinis- ter’s decision.

“The analysis, which is in the public domain, was that this was the best way forward and the Government made a decision on that basis. It’s a democracy and people are entitled to put forward their counter views and they have done that, and I understand Minister Martin is looking at those issues,” he said, after

meeting a deputation from Shannon Development.

Radical proposals from SIPTU to overhaul the role and structure of Shannon Development, including the abolition of its present board, were rejected by the Govern- ment.

The SIPTU document was lodged prior to Minister Martin announcing a reduced mandate for Shannon Devel- opment in July. The Board of Shannon Development also lodged a 10-year plan with the Miunister. Both papers were ignored.

The SIPTU document stated serious concern about the reasons behind the Gov- ernment’s focus on changing Shannon Development.

“We are deeply concerned that an overly simplistic, al- most chess-like game with the company and the Shan- non region’s future is being played out from a remote dis- tance in Dublin. In our view, this is motivated by an exces- sive and dangerous over-con- centration on the neatness and tidiness of admiunistra- tive structures.”

It proposed a more inclusive board, with members drawn from organisations such as IBEC, the Mid-West Region-

al Authority, the Shannon Airport Authority and local chambers of commerce.

Reduced staff numbers, from 165 to 120/130 through voluntary redundancy and natural wastage, were also eebaviteee

It claimed that rents from properties in the Shannon Free Zone accruing to the agency, amounted to a net figure of between €lm and €1.5m, rather than the €6 million previously thought. The figure doesn’t take into account the substantial capi- tal investment that the Shan- non Free Zone requires.

Among the new roles for the agency, the paper pro- posed Shannon Development would undertake major new development projects in stra- tegic areas of opportunity such as the Burren.

The document stressed that the “new role for Shannon Development will not result in any duplication with other national, regional or local public bodies.

It envisaged a dedicated unit of experienced people, solely concerned with find- ing and building relation- ships with new private sector investors, in Ireland, Europe and, in particular, the USA.