Month: March 2007

CLARE County Council took in more than €10 million from its con- troversial scheme that targets devel- opers to fund public infrastructure, last year. The figure represents a 57 per cent increase.

In figures to be published at tomor- row’s adjourned meeting of Clare County Council, members will be told that the council raised €10.38 million through the Developer Con- tribution Scheme.

The figures show that the council raised €3.86 million through water charges and €3.48 million through sewerage charges.

The council raised €.17 million in car-parking, €1.18 million in road contributions, €.63 million in amen- ity and €1.11 million in recreational and community.

The council’s Director for Planning, Bernadette Kinsella said, “The lst of Projects of Public Infrastructure and facilities which are to be funded out of Development Contributions collected in 2006 is currently being compiled as part of the preparation of the Annual Financial Statement.”

She said that, “it 1s intended that this list will be available for the April meeting of council”.

She was responding to a motion put down by independent councillor, Cllr Martin Lafferty (Ind).

The scale of contributions received is a good barometer of the county’s reese) eORYs

The figure reflects the scale of de- velopment growth going on through- out the county.

The scheme was put in place in the face of much opposition from coun- cillors and the building industry, who ETD sem MAW: UU OU E-N be

The council adopted the new scale of planning contributions in 2003. In the space of 18 months, the cost of water and sewerage connections to new homes almost doubled.

Those hardest hit in the new scheme are householders living in areas serv- iced by the Government-sponsored Serviced Land Initiatives (SLI).

During the first phase of the charg- es, householders in a number of SLIs were asked to pay €5,000 for water and sewerage connections.

The monies accrued from “recrea- tional and amenity” will go towards the implementation of the council’s play policy. This will result in a play- eround, costing between €300,000 and €400,000, in each electoral area.

In the early stages of the scheme, the council came under fire for not spending the money fast enough.

In the first full year, the council raised €10.4 million, but managed to spend only €4.69 million of the overall sum.

PREMIER Group has received an award for the respect it demonstrates for the work-life balance among its staff as part of the 50 Best Compa- nies to Work For in Ireland scheme.

This is the third consecutive year the mid-west recruitment company has been named as one of the 50 best companies to work for in Ireland.

The company, the pioneer of spe- cialised recruitment in_ Ireland, serves the mid-west region, including Clare, Shannon and Limerick from its office on Henry Street in Limer- ick, where it employs 16 people.

Work life balance means putting in place a range of flexible working arrangements which help workers to combine employment with other responsibilities and choices in their Tere

The awards are decided according to a detailed assessment by the Great Place to Work Institute Ireland fol- lowing an independently conducted survey of staff.

Mr Micheal Martin, TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employ- ment, made the announcement, prior to an awards ceremony in the Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel, Dublin, attended by over 600 guests.

Minister Martin congratulated Premier Group on its achievement: Your organisation 1s one of fifty who have demonstrated exceptional com- mitment to attitudes and policies that make your organisation a great place to work. By promoting best practice

in the workplace, you are helping to make Ireland a better place in which to work and live.”

Maria Ryan, Regional Director of Premier Group, who manages the Limerick office, said: “We encour- age staff to balance their work and personal lives by offering tangible benefits such as gym memberships, contributions towards childcare, flexible working arrangements and holiday and gift vouchers. We work hard to attract the best staff and we want them to enjoy coming to work in a pleasant environment. We are delighted to be chosen from thou- sands of applicants to be among the top 50 companies for the third year uebevepestoam

She added, “Our consultants are our best asset, due to their unfailing dedication to delivering on behalf of clients and candidates and their high level of qualification and extensive industry specific experience and this award recognises their outstanding contributions. We pride ourselves on working to standards which define best practice recruitment service in Ireland.”

The Best Companies study sets out to identify and recognise the finest employers — and therefore the most satisfied workforces — in Ireland and throughout the European Union. The Irish study is the largest annual labour force survey undertaken in this country. This year more than 100 Irish companies were surveyed with a total workforce of more than 90,000.

This compares with just seven ar- rests, during the St Patrick’s week- end last year.

14 of the arrests were made in the Ennis District, which also takes in the Shannon area. There were six ar- rests in the Killaloe District and one

in west Clare. There were no arrests in the north Clare area.

The 21 arrests bring to 125 the number of people arrested for drink driving in the Clare Garda Division, so far this year. This compares with 66 during the same 11-week period in 2006 – an 89 per cent increase.

Several additional checkpoints set up over the weekend, as part of a na- tionwide crackdown on drink driv- ers. The arrests were made at differ- ent times of the day and night, with a significant number made on the evening of St Patrick’s day and again on Sunday evening.

The increase is due to a combina- tion of the enlarged Garda Traffic Corps in the division – a new traffic

unit was set up in Killaloe last year – and a tendency by some people to ignore repeated warnings.

The Head of the Clare Garda Divi- sion Traffic Corps, Inspector Kevin Moynihan said the latest figure is WOrTying.

‘People have to realise the figures don’t lie. People should adjust their habits accordingly, if they want to re- tain their licences. In relation to road safety, if people have alcohol on them while driving, there is a danger they will get injured or killed,” he said.

A number of drink driving cases which were heard in court in recent weeks yielded particularly high read- ings, with a number of drivers three or four times the legal limit.

A YOUNG man who is accused of driving a noisy sportscar is to bring his car and a mechanic to court, to prove that the noise is not excessive.

Jason O’ Toole, of Drumline, New- market-on-Fergus, appeared before Ennis District Court on Friday, ac- cused of not having an exhaust si- lencer fitted to his Honda Prelude car, at Station Road, Ennis, on August 20 last year.

Garda Cyril Daniels of the Clare Traffic Corps told the court that he stopped the accused on the morning in question. “In my opinion, it was not fitted with an exhaust silencer,” he said.

Mr O’ Toole, who represented him- Self in court, said the car’s exhaust system conformed to Honda stand- ards. He said he later brought the car

to Shannon and Henry Street Garda Stations and the gardai who inspect- ed the car expressed views that the noise was not excessive.

“TI didn’t see any reason to change the exhaust system. That is the stand- ard for a Honda Prelude,” he said. “There was nothing malfunctioning with the exhaust. It is in no way ex- cessive,” he said.

He said he would accept the noise level of his car would be louder than a Ford Mondeo or Ford Focus but added, *““The manufacturers make the cars these ways.”

He told the court that he had carried out research on the matter and had been told that the issue of exceed- ing the decibel limit – 80 decibels – was purely on the basis of opinion. There was no means of carrying out a mechanical test. ““There is no way my car is over 80 decibels. I have re-

searched this,” he said.

Inspector Kevin Moynihan, pros- ecuting, told the court the defendant could call a mechanic to give evi- dence, in his defence. He said that the legislation stated that the opinion of a garda in a given case was relevant.

“The defendant has admitted the noise iS more excessive than any normal car. On the day, Garda Dan- iels was of the opinion the noise was excessive. It is up to you to decide, on the evidence before you,” said Inspector Moynihan to Judge Joseph Mangan.

The judge asked the defendant, “Would you bring the Honda me- chanic to court? … Would you bring the car to court?” and the accused replied, “Yes,” after he had told the court the car was at home.

The judge adjourned the case for a peeKeyeleee

GREATER responsibility should be conferred on individual electoral ar- eas in order to enhance the delivery of services within the county.

That’s according to west Clare councillor Christy Curtin (Ind), who says electoral areas should be given a more expanded role in the decision making process.

He called on the county manager to outline his system of monitoring for the delivery of council services and management guidance within each electoral area.

Cllr Curtain stated, “The electoral area is the key unit within the coun-

cil for the implementation of policy decisions and the delivery services throughout the county. It embraces a defined landmass and its own charac- teristics and infrastructural needs”.

He added that the role and influ- ence of specific electoral areas had diminished since their creation eight years ago.

“However, its role has been limited and restricted since the creation of electoral areas in 1999 due primarily to the absence of a planning services clinic and a management ethos and co-ordination in each area. In this case, I strongly advocate that in or- der to redress the situation, the man- ager would as a matter or urgency

review the present arrangements for an expanded role and a mechanism for a broadened engagement with the communities of each electoral area.”

Clare County Council says the de- livery of services is constantly moni- tored.

According to Michael McNamara, Senior Executive Engineer, “There is a system of regular management team meetings which monitors the delivery of services from both a functional and a geographic perspec- tive.

“The annual budget, which in- cludes a report from the county man- ager on each of the services, sets out the programmes and the targets to be

delivered in the following year. This is supplemented by performance indicators across each programme ea cele yoy

“If circumstances do not allow for the delivery of a particular work programme, the members would be informed of the circumstances pre- vailing as regards that programme. Directors of services are delegated functions as area co-ordinators/man- agers. The area co-ordinator/manag- er 1s responsible for co-ordinating all services in their assigned electoral area, he said.

Clare County Council has six elec- toral areas – Ennis, Killaloe, Kilrush, Scariff, Ennistymon and Shannon.

GORT’S Adrian Feeney became the latest candidate to throw his hat in the ring for the General Election When he announced his candidacy last week.

Feeney, who has been Chairman of Gort Chamber of Commerce since 2004, will run in the hotly contested Galway East constituency as an inde- pendent candidate.

Indeed, Feeney may be one of three non-party candidates to run in this constituency come election time, as Kinvara group RESCUE have not ruled out putting forward a single-issue candidate to campaign for Seamount College. Cairde Cuan Chinn Mhara could still announce a candidate to campaign for a sewer- age treatment facility in Kinvara.

Community issues are likely to form a large part of Feeney’s mani- festo. “These days, our economy is booming. The country is awash with money,’ he said. “I know that with- out the volunteers, many vital com- munity services and facilities simply would not exist.

‘Almost everything requires fund- raising. As chairman of Gort chamber for two years, I know how much time and energy is spent trying to source

funding and fill out grant application forms for community projects. This should not be the responsibility of volunteers or community organisa- tions. It makes no sense to me.

“What are we paying taxes for? Surely if there 1s a need within acom- munity, it should be met by our gov- ernment. Why are we paying twice for the one facility or service?”

This is not Feeney’s first attempt to enter the world of politics as he ran an unsuccessful campaign as an In- dependent Community Candidate in the 2004 local election.

“We elected representatives to speak on our behalf. Public office is about accountability. I am ac- countable to my employer. Who are politicians accountable to, if not to the community? What they have produced is a litany of failures,” he continued.

“Tuam is still without a hospital. Gort is still without a reliable water service. Kinvara still waits for a sew- erage treatment plant. 50,000 gallons of raw sewage pour daily into the waters of a prime tourist area.

‘“Kinvara School is threatened with closure. Farmers spend their time form-filling and dealing with ap- plication procedures for grants and payments.”

CLARE County Council has refused planning permission for a housing development in west Clare because it interferes with the defunct west OE Teoma Dea e ha eneler

The planning authority refused outline planning permission to M&S Bond for outline planning permis- sion for 16 homes at Dough, Kilkee.

The council made its ruling after an objection was lodged against the proposal by the West Clare Railway

company and the council’s Conser- vation Officer, Risteard UaCronin.

Mr Ua Cronin said, 1n an internal memo now released with the deci- sion, that “it appears from the draw- ings that it is proposed to construct the homes on the former west Clare DOME RYas DDO Loa

He said, “This appears very inap- propriate as plans are very much advanced to provide a steam railway service between Kilkee and Kilrush which will require this section of the line to be protected for this pur- eNom

Mr UaCronin pointed out that the line was protected through the Clare County Development and the West Orewa ter walle

The planner’s report points out that the “development is located on the line of the old west Clare railway where it is the policy to safeguard the route of the railway and to con- serve and promote it as a transport corridor for public use”’.

It ruled that the plan would be prej- udicial to the proper planning and development of the area.

“The proposed development rep-

resents piecemeal haphazard, dis- orderly development and conflicts with the long-term sustainable and comprehensive development of these lands.”

According to Jackie Whelan of the West Clare Railway Company, “This application would allow for the de- struction of part of the original track bed of the west Clare railway in or- der to provide a road access to the site.

“We have understood that the track bed of the development may take place upon it unless the development

is of a heritage and recreational na- ture, leaving the whole, existing way open to the general public for recrea- tional walking, riding, cycling pur- Leon mel Ken

“Indeed, two citizens have, during the past 12 months, fallen foul of this directive and have been required to replace the track bed that they in- tended to, and partly, destroyed.

“We believe that our plans are in accordance with the council’s inten- tion for the line and that the track bed of the railway should be left alone,” said Mr Whelan.

OXFAM Ireland is calling on gar- deners all around Clare to get in- volved in their annual Spring grow for Africa scheme. OxfamGarden is aimed at getting experienced garden- ers and enthusiastic amateurs alike involved in raising plants, as well as funds to help some of the worlds poorest people.

The charity organisation are invit- ing people to get involved by simply buying a four back of seed from any of their Oxfam shops nationwide of from www.oxfamireland.org

“I consider it an honour to be asked to be involved with the Oxfamgarden Grow for Africa campaign,’ gar- dening guru Dermot O’Neill at the launch in Dublin last week.

“You don’t need to be an expert to get involved. By growing the Oxfam Ireland range of seeds you are con- tributing to a worthwhile and valu- able cause while at the same time reaping the pleasures and joy of erowing plants too.”

Oxfam are also calling on more experienced gardeners to volunteer to become OxfamGarden expert or to donate old tool to your local shop.

The charity are also hoping to get school, resource centres and commu- nity groups involved in the project.

“We hope Dermot’s support for Oxfamgarden will encourage other gardeners to get out their trowels and Grow for Africa,’ said Peter Tomlin- son, Oxfam Ireland business devel- opment manager.

‘The beauty of this scheme is that everyone involved wins. Customers love the plants, growers get a real sense of achievement from seeing their handiwork sold in our shops and, of course, we raise funds for Oxfam Ireland’s vital work.”

Oxfam is committed to ending poverty and suffering in developing countries. They promote understand- ing of the causes of these injustices, and campaign for a world where every man, woman, and child can live free from hunger, poverty, and oppression.

Although the work in most coun- ties in the world their current focus in on Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Malawi, Uganda, Sudan, Chad, South Africa and Ethiopia.

Seeds can be bought at any Oxfam shop for just €1.50 while seed mats are also available from €5.25.

THE Farm Relief Services has this week announced a major addition to their service team in East Clare with the arrival of Dutch born hoof care operator Roland Dross.

Mr Dross, who now lives in Bod- yke, brings with him a state of the art hoof care crush with is believed to be the only one of its kind in Ireland.

Born in Holland, Dross perfected his trade in Denmark before return- ing to Ireland recently with his Irish wife and four children. He will most- ly cover the East Clare area.

Roland comes from a long line of dairy farmers in the Drenthe region of Holland, his father has a Holstein Friesian herd of 110 cows and a poul- try farm of around 14,000 chickens, so farming has always been a way of life for him.

After agricultural college, he traveled to Canada to broaden his knowledge and gain dairy manage- ment experience. He then travelled to New Zealand to round off his dairy experience before meeting his Irish wife in Holland in 1994.

In 1997 he moved to Denmark Where he bought a dairy farm of

70 Holstein Friesian cows and 120 acres. Over the next 9 years, he suc- cessfully managed, modernised and expanded the farm to 360 acres and a milking herd of 165 Jerseys.

He switched to a computerised feeding system using transponders on the herd and built a new dairy and free stall in 2002. He also carried out the entire hoof trimming on his herd, using his own crush and found this enjoyable and interesting and an area in which he would like to spe- cialise.

Late last year however, he sold the farm following a family decision to

return to Ireland and pursue a future in hoof care. The next three months were spent gaining intensive hoof trimming experience with a Dutch expert Gerwin Cnossen in Germany and Denmark.

Roland will now work for the Farm Relief Service and he will mainly be based in east Clare as well as in parts of Galway, Limerick and North Tip- oe Nae

To view a video of his unique cattle crush check out www.klovbeskaeren. dk/sider/main_video.htm or for more details contact Liam O’ Rourke, Farm Services Manager at 063 90666.

that they “join with the community in offering support to

Mary Shannon during this traumatic time, for her and her family”’.

The statement continued that those involved in the organisation felt that the three-year suspended sentence served on her perpetrator “was nel- ther fair nor consistent with other rape sentences. This man pleaded not guilty to rape, thus forcing Mary to give evidence of her experience. He was found guilty by a jury, yet the fact remains his crime goes unpun- ished”.

The statement said that it is “ex- tremely difficult for women to come forward and report rape or domestic abuse. It is worrying that the outcome of this trial will discourage women

from disclosing rape and abuse, thus leaving them in a potentially danger- ous situation and undoing all of the good work and practices that many agencies in this country have striven hard to achieve”.

The Clare Haven statement added that they “commend Mary on her courage to waive her anonymity and in her determination to challenge the system, and we offer her our full sup- port now and in the future”.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Rape Crisis Centre in Limerick said they were “horrified” at the sen- tence.

She said there was a “huge swell of phone calls from women after the

sentence and every one of them ex- pressed support for Mary. The other thing that most of them said was that if they were raped, what would be the point in reporting it?”

The centre recently ran a major me- dia campaign under the title of “An- other Silent Night”, urging victims of rape and sex abuse to speak out, report the crime and seek help.

“Tt is so difficult to convince wom- en to report rape, it’s so hard to get a rape case as far as court, and then When you do get a conviction, the rapist gets a suspended sentence. It’s sending out the message to perpetra- tors that it’s fine – go ahead and do it. After all, what will they do to you?”