This article is from page 9 of the 2012-09-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 9 JPG
CLARE is the most expensive county in Ireland in which to purchase home heating oil. That is according to a countrywide survey carried out by the National Consumer Agency at the end of last month.
The survey makes depressing reading for financially stretched Clare families, especially those living in the Ennis area.
The national average price for 1,000 litres of delivered home heating oil was € 964.
However, Ennis recorded the high- est average price within a local area with the cost averaging out at € 974 – € 10 more than the national average and € 25 more expensive than the average cost of home heating oil in Dundalk, County Louth.
The National Consumer Agency conducted a telephone survey of 165 home heating oil suppliers on 29 August in 24 “delivery areas” across Ireland. The survey sought to quantify the price levels for the supply and delivery of 1,000 litres of kerosene (home heating oil).
When it came to surveying the Ennis area, the researchers found that there was just € 10 between the cheapest and most expensive 1,000 litres of oil.
Of the seven quotes sought in Ennis, the most expensive was € 980 while the least expensive was € 970.
The difference between the maximum and minimum quotes nationally was found to be € 85, as prices ranged from € 910 to € 995.
The lowest price, € 910, was recorded in the County Louth (Dundalk area), while the highest overall quote, € 995, was surveyed in Gal way County (East area).
The biggest difference between the minimum and maximum quote obtained within an individual area was found within the Louth, Dundalk area, € 80. The lowest range of € 10 was found in three areas including Ennis, Tralee/Kilarney, County Kerry and Sligo. While nationally the home heating oil pricing survey reveals that most consumers can make savings of around € 30 to € 40 if they shop around, in Ennis the saving is just € 10.
“You could save even more money if you haggle with your supplier rather than just accepting the first price they quote you. Once you have a couple of quotes, see if your own supplier can offer you a more competitive price. If not, you can switch to a more afford- able provider. It is also worth getting quotes from suppliers outside of your local area – they may be cheaper and happy to deliver to you,” a spokesperson for the NCA said.
“You can also reduce your energy bills by making some small changes in how you use energy in your home, for example, by reducing your heating to a comfortable 20°C. Lowering your thermostat by just 1°C can knock 10 per cent off your heating bill.”
The survey was published in the same week as an increase in the cost of electricity and gas was announced. THE PROVISION of a 10-bay bus parking facility and two free electric car (e-car) charging points in Ennis town centre are among a series of proposals included in Draft Bye-Laws for the Clare County Capital which go on public display this week. Ennis Town Council has prepared the Draft On-Street Pay and Display Bye-Laws 2012 in relation to the control and regulation of the parking of vehicles within the Town Boundary of Ennis. The Draft Bye-Laws go on public display tomorrow, Tuesday, Septem
ber 11.
Welcoming the publication of the Draft Bye-Laws, Mayor of Ennis Councillor Peter Considine said: “I warmly welcome any initiatives geared towards improving traffic flow in the town.
“I am particularly pleased with the proposal to allocate bus parking bays which will help to attract coach business to Ennis by facilitating operators with easier access to the town centre.”
Commenting on the proposed provision of two free e-car charging points, Mayor Considine said: “Drivers of environmentally-friendly e- cars travelling throughout County Clare will benefit by knowing that the charge points that are proposed will be available for their sole use. The charge points will also encourage road users across the County to consider an e-car as an alternative to petrol of diesel vehicles.”
The Draft Bus Park Bye-Laws include the provision of 10 spaces for bus parking only in Friars Walk, close to Glór Irish Music Centre. Parking will be permitted 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Meanwhile, two spaces are to be reserved for free electric car charging points, one each in Glór Car Park and Abbey Street Car Park. Two-hour parking will apply to the spaces.
Meanwhile, the Draft Bye-Laws provide for two-hour parking at 477 spaces between the hours of 9am and 6pm (Monday to Saturday) at Abbey Street (13), Bindon Street (38), Buttermarket (14), Dalcassian Drive (10), Francis Street (120), Gort Road (46), Harmony Row (20), Limerick Road (9), McNamara Park (20), New Road (11), Newbridge Road (14), station Road (67), Cottage Gardens (new) (7), Summerhill (12), Lifford Road (Kellys Corner) (10), and Turnpike Road (66).
Four-hour parking is proposed for a further 160 paces during the hours of 9am to 6pm (Monday to Saturday) at College Road (28), Mill Road (46), Drumbiggle Road (32), Cloughleigh Road (new) (36), and Simms Lane (18).
The Draft Bye-Laws go on display today, Tuesday, September 11, and a copy of same may be inspected at the offices of Ennis Town Council during normal office hours from Tuesday, September 11, to Thursday, October 11, or on its website at www. ennistowncouncil.ie.