Month: October 2011

A PILOT project that has been credited with reducing speed on the Tulla Road could be extended to other roads around Ennis, a meeting has heard. Electronic displays that show the speed of passing cars have been installed in the area by Ennis Town Council for road design purposes and the recording of traffic flow data.

The council is providing four 50kph activated electronic speed display signs on the Tulla Road at locations outbound after Tulla Road and Railway Bridge and Roslevan roundabout and in bound near Hillcrest and Cappahard Lane as a pilot scheme.

Through the scheme, the council will be able to download traffic flow data from the signs and this information can be used for road design purposes and data will be forwarded to the Garda traffic corps.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Ennis Joint Policing Committee, Town Manager Ger Dollard said speed control measures in place on the Tulla Road have received a positive response from gardaí. He said the scheme had been quite successful and consideration has been given to extending it to other roads around the town.

Figures contained in a garda report on crime in the Ennis sub-district show that there have been no fatal collisions for the first nine months of 2011.

The report, which was presented at yesterday’s meeting, shows that there have been two serious injury traffic collisions in Ennis this year, compared to three in the same period in 2010. There has also been a reduction in the number of non-serious injury traffic collisions in Ennis so far this year, from 28 in 2010 to 23 in 2011.

Supt Peter Duff told the meeting that drivers are now more conscious of the importance of road safety due to greater public awareness of the issue.

Yesterday’s meeting at the Civic Room, Waterpark House, was attended by the Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind), Cllr Brian Meaney (GP), Cllr Mary Howard (FG), Cllr Mary Coote Ryan (FG) and officials from Ennis Town Council including Town Manager Ger Dollard, Town Clerk Leonard Cleary and Niall O’Keefe from the council’s housing section.

Community representatives Robert Wilkie and Mary Leahy also attended the meeting. The gardai were represented at the meeting by Supt Peter Duff, Insp John Galvin and Sgt Paul Slattery.

GARDAÍ will only impose nighttime pedestrianisaion in Ennis town centre if the situation warrants it, a meeting has heard.

The matter of closing Ennis’ streets to traffic at night was raised at yesterday’s meeting of the Ennis Joint Policing Committee.

Rita McInerney, CEO, Ennis Chamber, asked if pedestrianisation was going to be introduced perma- nently in the town centre or on “adhoc basis”.

Insp John Galvin explained that Gardaí only take the decision to close the streets to cars and other vehicular traffic if there is a large number of people in the town centre area after closing time at the weekend. “We call it as we see it,” he said.

Supt Peter Duff said Gardaí had noticed that there are less people now spilling out onto the streets after pubs and nightclubs closed. He said the fact that people are not out socialising as much is probably reflective of the current economic situation.

The meeting also heard that Ennis could be a “test case” for a UK awards scheme that recognises a town’s nighttime activities and services.

Town Manager Ger Dollard told the meeting that while the Association of Town Centre Management (UK) is not currently taking applications from Irish authorities, the council would examine the criteria required to achieve Purple Flag status.

The award recognises UK towns where improvements have been made to the experience of going to the town at night. According to the Association of Town Centre Management, it is aimed at raising the standard and broadening the appeal of town centres between 5pm and 6am

In order to qualify for Purple Flag status, successful towns must meet four standards – wellbeing, appeal, movement and place. Towns are judged on a number of criteria including active policing, safe late night car-parking, public transport, public utilities nightlife and street activities.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG), who proposed the awards scheme two years ago, said the UK authority are keen to use Ennis as a “test case” for introducing the Purple Flag in Ireland. Cllr Flynn said a working group had been set up to examine the proposal

INCIDENTS of anti-social behaviour at an Ennis playground have “settled down considerably” since the introduction of CCTV, a meeting has heard.

There was praise for the set of measures implemented this year at a € 240,000 children’s playground in Tim Smythe Park at yesterday’s meeting of the Ennis Joint Policing Committee.

The playground was the focus of incidents of anti-social behaviour when it opened earlier this year.

Reports of vandalism, bullying and intimidation led to calls for improved security measures including CCTV and fencing.

Residents in the area also expressed concern over the high number of cars parking in the area when the playground opened.

Town Manager Ger Dollard told yesterday’s meeting at Waterpark House, Ennis, that the playground is now “operating to a standard that we would accept”.

Praising the impact of the new CCTV system, double yellow lines and pedestrian crossing, Mr Dollard described the overall development of the playground as a “success story”.

Welcoming the report, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said the playground at Tim Smythe Park is a “world-class facility”.

He said that he acknowledged that initial concerns have now been addressed. He said that anti-social behaviour had “settled down considerably”.

Cllr Mary Coote Ryan (FG) said residents had been “very concerned in the early days” but are now happy that the problems had been addressed.

Mr Dollard told the meeting that good progress had been made over the past 12 months in the area of pedestrian crossings.

He said crossings are now in place at the Maid of Eireann, Tim Smythe Park and Ennis Golf Club while further work is expected at a number of sites around the town.

He also appealed for people using the Western Relief Road in Ennis to jog on the footpath. Mr Dollard said there had been reports of joggers jogging on the road at night.

He said that in the interests of safety, people should use the footpath and also wear appropriate clothing.

A NEW people’s think-tank has been set up in north Clare with the purpose of pooling ideas and reinventing a future for the people of the Burren.

The first Mind Meitheal, as it is known, will take place at the Kilnaboy X-PO this Wednesday, with local people invited to come and share ideas or to simply listen.

Unlike other think-tanks, the Mind Meitheal is open to all local people and a particular emphasis has been placed on attracting young people and Burren farmers.

The think-tank has been set up by local artist Deirdre O’Mahony, who reopened the Kilnaboy Post Office as a community space known as the X-PO in 2007.

“We have such a mixed group of people using the X-PO, because of all the different groups involved, so we have already been hearing the mixing of ideas here.

“There are lots of different ways of generating ideas. Obviously, places like universities are good for things like that but I feel that somewhere like the X-PO is an ideal place for people who might not always feel comfortable sharing their ideas to get involved,” said Deirdre.

“It is a small and informal place and I think there won’t be as much of a reluctance for people to put forward some strange and unusual ideas. We are really looking for people like farmers, for blow-ins and locals, but I suppose the one group who we really want to come are the young people of the Burren.

“Common Agriculture Funding (CAP) is going to change in 2013 – how are we going to be able to imagine the future of the Burren, its people and its landscape after that?

“How are we going to find these young people with a future? Because it is not going to be like the farming that we have in the Burren now.”

The first Burren Mind Meitheal will take place at the X-PO in Kilnaboy this Wednesday, October 19, from 8pm and will continue on a monthly basis after that.

The Mind Meitheal is one of a number of new events which have been launched at the X-PO this October.

“The X-PO is open to absolutely everybody and we are very interested in anyone coming along and getting involved.

“We have a number of different clubs here already and more people are always welcome to the clubs or to set up something for themselves,” continued Deirdre.

For more information, email xpo. community@gmail.com

A WOMAN yesterday told a court that getting caught with drugs was the best thing to happen to her brother, as it forced him to make changes in his life.

The man’s sister told a judge that her brother’s involvement in drugs devastated his parents, but that his family was fully supporting him every step of the way in his efforts to get his life back on track.

Carpenter Ian Kelly (41), of Capparoe, Scarriff, pleaded guilty to cultivation and supply of drugs.

Garda Aidan Sweeney told Ennis Circuit Court that on foot of confidential information, he obtained a search warrant and carried out a raid on the accused’s house, on the evening of June 21, 2010.

He said that the accused lived there with his partner and partner’s two children. “He was very forthcoming. He showed me the garden shed he was using to grow cannabis,” said the garda.

He said that the end of the timber shed was concealed into compartments and 23 cannabis plants were growing. 17 of the plants were small, he said. There was a number of shelving units and aerators in the shed.

Cannabis leaf, valued at more than € 4,700, was seized by gardaí during the search, along with 10 grammes of amphetamines and a small quantity of ecstasy. The total value of the seizure of the cannabis and the plants amounted to € 8,000, said the garda.

“He took full responsibility. He said he was addicted to drugs. It was for self-medication mostly. From his phone records, he was selling the drugs to approximately three peo- ple,” said the garda.

Defence Counsel Elaine Houlihan, BL, said that her client’s partner was not aware of his actions.

She said there was no cash seized during the search, adding, “He doesn’t have any of the trappings of wealth. He had an addiction to cannabis, amphetamines and alcohol at the time. He wasn’t a street dealer. He was dealing to a small group of friends,” said Ms Houlihan.

She said that two days after the discovery of the drugs, her client went for treatment and has not come to the attention of gardaí since. She said her client wouldn’t fit the “usual profile of a person who comes before the court in terms of previous convictions” and the garda agreed with this.

Ms Houlihan said that her client came from a respected family and that his father is a former school principal. “He has brought a degree of shame and hurt to his family,” she said.

The accused’s sister, Ruth Minogue, took the stand and said that “for years, he was a mess” but that her brother is now determined to get his life back on track.

“As a family, we tried but he was the only person who could help himself. His life was a complicated mess. Being caught was the best thing that happened to him because it forced changes in his life,” she said.

She said that her parents were “absolutely devastated, but we are behind him all the way”. She added, “He is trying as hard as any individual can try to get their life back on track.”

Judge Carroll Moran said, “This is a very serious matter and in the normal course of events would warrant a prison sentence.” However, he said the circumstances in this case were extraordinary. He said that the accused “made serious efforts to address his drug addiction” after he was caught, adding, “and he is now clean of illicit drugs”.

“I accept he wasn’t a street dealer. He was dealing to a small number of friends,” said the judge. He said he accepted Ms Minogue’s evidence and said he was taking into account the fact that the accused was making a serious effort to turn his life around. “He is going to have to abstain from drugs for a substantial period of time,” said the judge.

He imposed a four-year jail sentence, suspended for four years, on condition that the defendant does not commit any crime during the next four years; that he obey the directions from the Probation service and abstain from drugs.

NEW figures indicate that the number of assaults, drug seizures and incidents of arson are down in Ennis for the year so far.

There were 23 incidents of assault causing harm in the first nine months of the year, compared to 25 for the same period in 2010.

Minor assaults are down from 81 in 2010 to 63 in 2011.

The number of on-street drug searches that took place in the first nine months of 2011 stood at 278, compared to 316 for the same period last year.

The figures were presented at yesterday’s public meeting of the Ennis Joint Policing Committee.

Supt Peter Duff of the Ennis Garda District told the meeting that criminal damage caused by fire had fallen from 27 (2010) to 13 (2011).

The report compared recorded incidents of crime in Ennis from January to September (2011) with the same period in 2010.

Arrests for drugs for sale or supply are down from 46 (2010) to 35 (2011) while the number of people caught in possession of drugs has reduced by almost 50 per cent (131 to 66).

Public order offences have fallen from 406 (2010) to 395 (2011) while robbery of persons fell from 10 (2010) to two (2011).

In relation to drug searches carried out under warrant, the figures show a reduction from 151 to 84.

Supt Duff told the meeting that a cannabis growhouse had been de- tected on the outskirts of Ennis during the summer.

He said a quantity of mephedrone had also been seized in Ennis earlier this year, a discovery that led gardai to conduct a follow-up search of premises in Lissycasey.

He said that both matters are now before the courts.

There was also a small reduction in the number of incidents of sexual offences recorded by gardaí (27 to 21).

Supt Duff said many of the cases are historic in nature and relate to alleged offences that took place in the 1960s and ‘70s.

He said people are now more confident about reporting sexual offences that occurred in family or institutional settings.

The meeting was attended by local councillors, council officials and community representatives.

Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) expressed concern that apart from representatives of Ennis Chamber, no members of the public were in attendance.

UP TO 50 new jobs are to be created in the retail sector by a Clare company over the next 12 months, which will bring to 150 the number of people employed in the region.

Zest, a food hall that opened in Ennis’ Market area in June 2010, has announced they have purchased the old Avoca site at Bunratty, which will be developed in the next year as part of the expansion plans of the company.

“This fulfils a long-held wish to see the site resurrected and vibrant again in such a historic heritage area, since it burnt down four years ago when owned by Avoca,” a spokesperson for Zest, the retail arm of EFG Inflight Ltd based in Shannon told The Clare People .

Zest has also announced that they successfully won the tender to operate a café as part of the newly restored Limerick City Gallery of Art at The People’s Park, Pery Square, due for completion before Christmas this year.

The café, located in the beautifully restored Carnegie Building will afford an opportunity to Limerick residents to enjoy the range of Zest foods, handmade breads, cakes, pastries and meals.

“Our retail brand Zest! has enjoyed tremendous success since opening in Ennis last year, and we are keen to develop the brand further. The acquisition of the old Avoca site at Bunratty, together with our new presence in Limerick at the LCGA, will allow us to serve more of our customers who have been very loyal and supportive to us,” Ean Malone, Managing Director of EFG Inflight Ltd, stated.

“Our success is testament to our wonderful staff and chefs who have worked hard to build this brand, and developing further units will afford us an opportunity to create new lines and products,” he added

It is envisaged that the two new developments will produce another 50 jobs for Clare and Limerick over the next 12 months, adding to the 100 staff currently employed full-time by the company in Clare. Financial Director Fiona Barry stated, “The purchase of the Bunratty site is an indication of our long-term commitment to the area, and our desire to create much-needed employment in the locality.”

EFG Inflight Ltd is a wholly owned independent company, and has been in operation for four years based at Knockbeg Point, Shannon Airport. It primarily services the international inflight catering and private jet requirements, corporate catering and related services.

AROUND 60 people attended a meeting at Barefield Community Hall on Thursday night to highlight concerns over recent Traveller encampments in the area.

The meeting was called after a number of caravans and vehicles moved into a section of road leading to the M18, near Barefield village, over the past two weeks.

Residents and landowners have raised concerns over allegations of rubbish dumping and the presence of dogs on popular walking routes.

There was a feeling of “anger” at the meeting, according to one man who attended. Sean Corcoran, Chairman of Barefield Tidy Villages, said locals are frustrated that action was not taken to force caravans to move from the side of the road.

The meeting was also attended by local councillors and members of the gardaí. Mr Corcoran said some local people have been “heckled” and feel “intimated”.

“People are losing patience with the whole lot of it. We are no farther down the road than we were 20 years ago. € 20 million has been spent in the past 10 years (on Traveller accommodation). It seems that whatever they want, they get.”

Mr Corcoran said the community have sought a meeting with Clare County Council. The issue was raised at yesterday’s meeting of the Ennis Joint Policing Committee.

Town Manager Ger Dollard said council staff are working on a daily basis, with all parties to try and resolve the situation.

He said, “The council is aware of issues regarding illegal encampments in Ennis town and environs. It is also noticeable that there has been some movement in recent days between encampments. The council has had daily contact with the gardaí in relation to issues arising and will continue to work with the gardaí and other parties to try and resolve the situation.”

Mr Dollard added, “Council staff have also been involved on a daily basis in managing the situation. We are fully aware of the difficulties that such illegal encampments cause for both the settled and Travelling community and our aim is to secure their removal as quickly as possible.”

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) told the meeting that Traveller encampments are causing stress to communities around Clare.

According to a council report prepared by Bernadette Kinsella, Director Of Housing, Social and Cultural Services, 201 statutory notices instructing the removal of temporary dwellings from unauthorised encampments were issued in the past two years.

CLARE has been held up as a model for how the nationwide Rural Transport Programme can be a lifeblood to a community.

The success story of the Clare Accessible Transport (CAT) initiative that is operated in east Clare was hailed by the junior minister for transport Alan Kelly during a visit to its Feakle base on Wednesday.

“It was a great opportunity to show Minister Kelly the integrated transport model that has been developed in Clare since 2003 as part of the Rural Transport Programme,” a spokesperson for CAT revealed.

“The Minister saw one of CAT’s low floor buses which are essential to the delivery of a fully integrated service. The vehicle design maximises resources, particularly for rural areas by enabling everyone from the same locality to board the bus easily, avoiding the need for different types of buses to serve the same areas.

“CAT’s collaborative approach to investment in the service was emphasised as a means of providing excellent value for money while meeting the transport needs of people living in isolated parts of the county,” the spokesperson added.

The CAT schedule offers responsive and flexibly-routed public transport that is open to everyone. The number of people registering with the service since the first bus went out in 2003 is approaching 4,000, with passengers making up to 4,000 trips per month.

“The dispatchers who operate the travel centre are noticing an increase in bookings to connect with national transport services to Limerick, Cork, Dublin and Galway as well as calls for shopping, work and training. More and more people are calling in to find out about their local bus service and the annual Driver CPC training that CAT provides,” the spokesperson added.

A GROUND-BREAKING service developed by the Brothers of Charity in Ennis is to get national exposure this week when the ‘Home Share Clare’ initiative is showcased on RTÉ.

The service that provides short breaks to adults and children with learning disabilities will be featured on this Wednesday’s Nationwide programme.

Over the past three years Home Share Clare, which is dependent on fundraising and charitable donations has successfully placed over 40 adults with families.

“Families of people with disabilities are telling us that one of the supports that they may need to enable them to continue to care for their family member at home are short breaks,” a spokesperson for the Brothers of Charity revealed.

“Short breaks give them a break from their role as carer and also provide their family member an opportunity to be with others and benefit from new experiences.

“The uniqueness of this initiative is that care is provided for people in family homes and can really be seen as a home away from home. Individuals enjoy the opportunity of developing new relationships and being part of new communities whilst enjoying a short break,” the spokesperson added.

With home-sharing the person seeking the service is carefully matched with a person/family that often have common interests and hobbies. “The family of the person requesting the respite meet and often build up relationships with the home sharers,” the Brothers of Charity spokesperson said.

“Breaks can be planned and crisis can be responded to quicker and more efficiently than more traditional ways of providing respite.

Home-sharing is a two way process in that the families who provide the respite gain hugely from the experience of having a person with an intellectual disability stay in their home. “Sustainable and unique relationships can develop that will last for many years to come.

“Home-sharing is a crucial way to support and expand the informal networks of families and build on capacity and strength of communities.

“Home share families are assessed, trained and supported by Home Share Clare,” the spokesperson concluded.