Month: August 2009

RECENTLY released figures from the European Student Barometer sur- vey show that Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) students rate their college more highly than students of other Irish and European colleges are ranking their own institutes.

The European Student Barometer is an online student survey which is conducted independently by the re- Search institute, Trendence; it’s the largest survey on career, education and employer topics in Europe. This year, over 195,000 students from more than 775 European institutes in 22 European countries answered the SHAY

In the “evaluation of university/col- lege performance” section of the re- port, LIT students ranked the college above the national and European rat- ings for practical course content, lec- turer/tutor availability and helpful- ness, course content and structure, teaching quality, accommodation availability, assistance with career planning, and inexpensive location.

In terms of practical course content, 86.4 per cent of LIT students believe that the college’s course content is good or better, as opposed to the na- tional average of 73 per cent who be- lieve their college or university have practical course content.

Active learning through a fusion

of theory and practice is a term which LIT has coined to describe the hands-on and practical nature of their programmes, and with statis- tics like this, the college says their programmes, which provide practi- cal learning for students, continue to thrive.

The report also queried students on their top reasons for choosing an institute or college. 62.2 per cent of LIT students said course content and structure are the most important fac- tors when choosing a college or uni- versity course.

Dr Maria Hinfelaar, President of LIT, said these sort of statistics confirm LIT’s choice to introduce exciting new programmes. “We have a great number of new pro- grammes that have been validated and are ready for their first in-take of students in September. These programmes have been developed with industry and professional bod- ies to fill gaps in terms of education provision in Ireland and will have excellent career prospects for these students when they have graduated. Programmes include: Business Stud- ies with Sports Management, Build- ing Surveying, Good Manufacturing Practice & Technology, Investiga- tion Techniques and IT Security, and more. These programmes will be available via direct entry application to LIT in August,” she added.

AN BORD Pleanala yesterday gave the green-light for contentious plans for a 64-unit housing estate in the south-east Clare village of Ard- ueeKeva Ut orem

In giving Joe McMahon planning permission to construct the homes, the appeals board ignored the strong recommendation of its own inspector to refuse and local residents’ opposi- tion.

Mr McMahon has been seeking to develop the site since 2006, and first applied for 176 homes at the site.

The application before the board 1s

the third application Mr McMahon made for the site.

However, the inspector in the case concurred with the views of local residents opposed to the plan.

At the end of his 15-page report examining the proposal, the board inspector stated that “whilst there would appear to be no technical bar- riers to a grant of permission in this instances, I have fundamental con- cerns that the scale, form and overall design of the development proposed and its relationship to the broader settlement would represent a poorly conceived and insensitive extension to the settkement which would de-

tract from its overall character and appearance’.

He added, “Whilst recognising that the form and intensity of develop- ment has been modified significantly from the previous application, the reduction in density and the revised form and layout are insufficient in my view to overcome the previous objections to the development.

“The proposed development, by virtue of its scale, design and layout, would constitute a suburban form of housing estate in a rural village which is not designated for major ex- pansion and does not have the range of physical, community, educational

and commercial services or the transport services required to serve such a development.

“The proposal would therefore fail to provide for the orderly, planned de- velopment of Ardnacrusha, seriously injure the character and amenities of the area and would conflict with the zoning objectives of the site,” he concluded.

However, the board over-ruled his strong recommendation to refuse.

It stated, “In deciding not to ac- cept the inspector’s recommenda- tion to refuse permission, the board had particular regard to the planning history of the site and to the reduced

scale of the proposed development and considered that the proposed development would be acceptable on these zoned lands.”

The appeals board gave the pro- posal the go-ahead “having regard to the residential zoning of the site, the pattern of the development in the vic- nity and the scale and layout of the proposed development”.

An Bord Pleanala stated “that the proposal would not seriously in- jure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity, would not be prejudicial to public health and would be acceptable in terms of traf- fic, safety and convenience”.

CLARE County Council is pursuing the liquidator of a collapsed County Clare building contractor to com- plete an unfinished pot-holed estate in the Burren village of Corofin.

Last year, Cronan Nagle Construc- tion folded with debts of almost €40 million after falling victim to the collapse in the property market.

George Maloney of a Dublin-based accountancy firm was appointed as liquidator where Cronan Nagle had assets valued at €17.1 million, leav- ing a deficit of about €20 million.

The bulk of the firm’s assets consist of unsold housing stock.

However, the council has issued two separate warning letters to Mr Maloney in connection with the un- finished estate constructed by Cro- nan Nagle, relating to ten homes at Laghtagoona, Corofin.

The council acted after complaints over unfinished footpaths and pot- holes in the Corofin estate.

Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) said yes- terday, “House owners have paid through the nose for overpriced homes and developers should not be

able to walk away from their respon- sibilities.

“It is adding further insult to injury to these homeowners and I am glad that the council is pursuing the liq- uidator to have the estate completed. The uncompleted works should be done now.”

The council has stated that the de- velopment has not been carried out in accordance with the terms and conditions of the planning permis- sion.

In respect of an application for four luxury homes at Laghtagoona, the council stated that it “has serious concerns regarding the standard of work in this development”.

The council stated that the roads and footpaths are not constructed to the satisfaction of the council; sec- tions of the estate road have deterio- rated, with the result that the potholes are noted on the access roads within the development site.

The council states that the condi- tions of the planning permission be complied with in full, without fur- ther delay.

It has also come to the council’s at- tention that some of the public lights

within the development are not in working order, while no ‘stop’ or ‘yield’ signs have been provided by the developer.

The council stated that in the event the unauthorized development is continued i.e. that the conditions of the planning permission are not complied with, the council may issue an Enforcement Notice.

Any person found guilty of carry- ing out an unauthorized development is liable to fines of up to €1,950 in the district court and €12.6m in the circuit court.

In relation to the firm’s collapse, AIB is owed €22.4 million, while a number of other lenders and the Rev- enue Commissioners are also owed sizeable sums.

The firm was established in 1999 by Clare engineer Cronan Nagle, and built more than 400 sustainable houses in the west of Ireland. It also had significant property interests in Nigeria.

TOURISM ambassadors will be tak- ing the message that Clare is the place to come to the biggest Irish festival in the world.

More than 150,000 visitors will be getting information about Clare’s at- tractions, culture and heritage in a full-on drive to bring them here.

The Clare Tourist Council will, again this year, lead a delegation to the Milwaukee Irish Festival.

The Clare delegation that includes representatives of the Clare Tour- ist Council, Clare Tourism Forum, Shannon Development and the Cliffs of Moher will operate two stands at the destinations area, which receives a significant amount of visitors inter- ested in coming to Ireland.

According to Flan Garvey of the Clare Tourist Council, it’s especially vital this year that County Clare has representation at the festival.

‘Our experience shows that there are many Irish-Americans who are huge- ly interested in coming to Ireland but gravitate towards Dublin, if there are not other counties to draw them west of the Shannon. We have seen a sig- nificant return from our efforts over the last number of years, and we’re confident that we can have a positive impact on tourism to Clare through our presence again this year.”

Cuimhneamh an Chlair, the Clare Oral History and Folklore Group will also feature prominently at this year’s festival. The fledging group has been invited to speak about their initiative at the renowned hedgeschool lecture

series. According to Tomas Mac Con- mara, who will provide the lecture, there is a huge appetite for Irish cul- tural heritage in Milwaukee and the US. “When Irish/American visitors come to Ireland, they’re not interested in the type of Disneyland tourism that has been created by tourism agencies specifically for their consumption.”

Commenting on future tourism de- velopment in Ireland, he said that, “There is no need for us as Clare people to ape what is being done in France, England or America. Visitors come to Ireland for an Irish experi- ence. We should be proud of our own traditions, customs and identity; fos- ter and preserve those first of all for local people and the knock on effect would be an increase in people want- ing to experience this as it 1s.”

HISTORY will be made in north Clare this September as all three secondary level schools in Ennisty- mon will begin the school year with female principals for the first time Vole

This follows the appointment last week of Ann Tuohy as principal of the Christian Brothers’ Secondary School in the town – the first female principal appointed in the schools ROI (erase) ae

Ms Tuohy will replace current prin- cipal Michael Concannon who will retire this September after 40 years of service to the school.

Indeed, Mr Concannon was only the second lay teacher to be appointed to the school following the appointment of its first non Christian Brother prin- cipal, Michael Mulqueeny, in 1995.

This news follows the confirmation last May of Mary Joyce’s appointed as the official successor to former principal Enda Byrt at the Ennisty- mon Vocational. Ms Joyce, who has filled the role of acting principal for the previous 12 months, was the first full-time female principal appointed at the Ennistymon Vocational School in its 52 years history.

Mr Byrt, who is a former Irish international basketball coach, fin- ished his many years of service to the school last year and has returned to America where he coached basket- ball for a time in the 1990s.

Ms Tuohy and Ms Joyce are joined

by Ennistymon Scoil Mhuire princi- pal, Seosaimhin Ui Dhomhnallain, completing a full sweep of the main jobs in local secondary school edu- cation by women.

Scoil Mhuire has a long standing tradition of appointing a female prin- cipal to the all girls school.

As a Moy native, Ms Tuohy is no stranger to the area and 1s a past pu- pil of Scoil Mhuire in Ennistymon. She brings a wealth of experience to the role having thought for years at St Patrick’s Comprehensive School in Shannon

A spokesman for the school wel- comed Mrs Tuohy back home to north Clare.

“Both the staff and pupils of En- nistymon CBS welcome her to the

Monastery and wish her well in her new post,’ said the spokesman.

‘The school has often been referred to as a ‘small school’ but it was re- cently listed as 17th for students at- tending university in the national league of graduates attending uni- versity.

“Despite its size, the school offers a wide selection of subjects and the number of business people, academ- ics, farmers and sports people is greatly beyond proportion to the size of the school. For this the teaching staff and past principals must take a large share of the credit.”

Plenty of events to dig during Heritage Week

PLANNING permission to Hutch- inson 3G to construct a 120 ft high mast on Woodcock Hill near Cratloe has been refused due to fears that it would endanger or interfere with the safety of aircraft and pose a risk of a major accident taking place.

In making the decision, Clare County Council took into account an objection lodged against the develop- ment by the Irish Aviation Authority (CFV.

Earlier this year, Hutchinson 3G lodged plans for the development. The site is to provide broadband cov- erage in the residential areas, com- mercial premises and traffic routes around Sixmilebridge.

The six radio dishes on the mast were also required to connect with National Broadband Scheme sites in the west of Ireland.

In its decision, the council stated that it is considered that the proposed development would endanger or in- terfere with the safety of aircraft or the safe and efficient navigation and would pose a risk of a major accident occurring.

The proposed development is there-

fore contrary to the proper planning and development of the area

In its submission, Tom Cooney of the IAA Corporate Affairs stated that the proposed structure — which is 710 metres from Woodcock Hill Radar – will adversely affect the pro- pogation of signals trasmitted and received by Woodcock Hill radar.

He said: “The existing mast struc- tures on Woodcock Hill already in- troduce significant azimuth errors. Locating this mast at the proposed site will exacerbate an already sub- standard situation.

He added: “It 1s the opinion of the [AA that this structure will adversely impact on the operation of our Wood- cock Hill radar. Accordingly, we recommend that the council refuse planning permission for the mast.”

Hutchinson 3G told the council that the site will be the main transmission link for national broadband sites in the western region with six radio link dishes proposed.

Hutchinson stated that the appli- cation clearly demonstrates that the proposed development is required as part of the rollout of the broadband network under the National Broad- band Scheme.

A HIGH court bail application for the man accused of murdering Leslie Kenny in Kilrush almost two weeks ago will be made next Monday, a court heard yesterday.

Brendan O’Sullivan (24), of 10 O’Gorman Street, Kilrush, is charged with murdering Mr Kenny (26), con- trary to common law, at O’Gorman Street, on the morning of Wednesday, July 29 last. The defendant has been in custody since the date Mr Kenny was shot dead in the front garden of a house at O’Gorman Street.

During his second appearance be- fore Ennis District Court last week, Mr O’Sullivan was further remanded in custody, to appear in court again next Monday. On that date, the court was told that a bail application would be made to the High Court yesterday (Monday).

However, in court yesterday, de- fence solicitor Patrick Moylan said that application will not now be made until next Monday, at Cloverhill Courthouse. He said he was inform- ing the court that his client would be appearing in the High Court next Monday and therefore would not be in a position to attend the District Sous

The solicitor said that his client had been in custody in Limerick prison and has now been moved to Clover- hill prison, in advance of the High Court bail application.

Inspector Michael Gallagher, pros-

ecuting, pointed out that it was his understanding that the higher court would take precedence.

Mr O’Sullivan will appear before the High Court on Monday and is ex- pected to appear again at the District Court in Ennis on Monday week.

At his initial court hearing, Ennis District Court heard that in reply to charge after caution, Mr O’Sullivan said, “I didn’t intend to do this. I was trying to protect my family.”

His legal team told that court hear- ing that the accused would be fully defending the charge. His lawyers also revealed that an independent autopsy has been carried out, at the request of the defence. State Patholo- gist Professor Marie Cassidy has car- ried out a post mortem, at the request of the State.

that there was “strong sup- port” for the call for staff to occupy the plant.

“We had a long meeting with staff and that was one of the suggestions which had strong support. On con- sideration, it was decided that they would not go ahead with this plan. The reason that staff feel strongly

enough to stage a sit in is that they don’t trust what they are being told. Long before the announcement last week, it was known that there would be this number of jobs here after the cuts. But management employed this shock and awe tactic of saying all the jobs would go, just so people would be grateful for what they got.”

Both unions have said they will continue to explore all avenues to resolve the current dispute prior to taking industrial action.

While the company has indicated it is willing to keep an additional 160 jobs at the Shannon plant, on top of the 80 initially indicated, it employed over 600 workers up until late last year and up to 1,000 at one stage.

It is also offering redundancy terms worth a fraction of previous pack- ene

“We must save as many jobs as pos- sible,’ Ms O’Donnell said after an- nouncing the decision to ballot for industrial action. “But we also need far better terms for anyone facing redundancy in the present bleak en-

vironment.

“Workers at the plant are extremely apprehensive about the future and it is far from clear what the manage- ment agenda for the plant is. We re- quire a full and frank disclosure of all the options with them.”

TEEU Regional Secretary Pat Keane said, “We are all committed to doing everything possible to keep these highly skilled jobs in Shannon. The mid-west cannot afford to lose more jobs in manufacturing.

“We will exhaust every avenue to resolve the dispute locally, if we can, and use all the avenues open to us prior to taking industrial action, pro- vided that management adhere to lo- cal procedures. So far they have been far readier to talk to the media than to their own employees and unions.”

HAPPY US-bound passengers trav- elling to Philadelphia, Newark and JFK airports were celebrating being the first to travel to the US from Eu- rope without having to face further customs checks State-side.

“This will save me hours,” said Robyn Shephard as she boarded her New York flight.

Robyn was on holiday this time, but comes to Ireland regularly on busi- ness. “Ill be coming through Shan- non from now on,” she said.

US Ambassador to Ireland, Dan Rooney, who was in Shannon to see the US Border Protection and Cus- toms Preclearance facility in opera- tion for the first time last week, said, “The facilities are just outstanding. I think what it will do 1s it will get peo- ple to come here. The United States has always had a great relationship with Shannon Airport. It is very easy now to come to Shannon. Mainly it will help the passengers – they can come from all over, get here and get on with it.”

Airport Director Martin Moroney said that the service will open up very significant opportunities for business development over the years for Shannon.

“This is an historic day for our airport and, indeed, a milestone mo- ment in Irish-US relations. Shannon is the first airport in Ireland to have these facilities in place, and repre- sents a major upgrade of the pre-in- spection which commenced in 1986.

It is a very proud moment for us and we look forward to maximising this opportunity in the years ahead,’ he Sr nLe

Shannon Airport Chairman, Pat Shanahan paid tribute to all involved in getting the service up and run- ning. “A lot of effort has gone into the establishment of this service and we are indebted to the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey and his officials for all they have done, as well as their counterparts in the US Homeland Security Department and our team, of course, at Shannon Air- port.”

Mayor of Clare, Tony Mulcahy has described the opening of the services as “a landmark development for the County Clare hub and the mid-west region.”

The Shannon councillor said that the delivery of the new facilities underlined the resilience of the mid- west region and the argument for a fully independent Shannon Airport Authority.

But concerns were raised this week in an Oireachtas debate that Shannon may be put at a disadvantage when Dublin Airport opens its own facility at the end of 2010.

Charges for use of the facility are €10 per passenger. Deputy Pat Breen said that it is “farcical” that the Dub- lin Airport Authority is the body set- ting the charges for Shannon “in the full knowledge that its charges will be much lower,” he said.