Month: October 2014

CLARE businessman, Brian O’Neill believes he will be in a position to take on more staff over the next 12 months as a result of last week’s budget.

With the county’s business community giving the budget a guarded welcome last week, the Ennis hostel and cafe owners believes that the budget will help restore customer spending in Clare and help small business right across the county.

“We have 35 employees here at the Rowan Tree and each of them are waiting to see exactly what benef t they will have in the budget. But it seems that most people will have a few more euro to spend in their pocket each week. From an employee perspective it seems like this is the beginning of turn in the economy. It’s all about getting people spending money again,” he said.

“The 9 per cent tax rate for tourism will help to retain jobs right around the country. It’s been a very successful policy, creating 23,000 jobs directly and indirectly since it was introduced. when it was introduced we cut our prices straight away in the cafe bar and that led directly to the creation of two new jobs in out company in Ennis.”

With tourism number coming through Shannon Airport continuing to rise, Brian O’Neill believes that increase activity in the tourism sector will drive employment in related areas in the months ahead.

“If you look at Shannon Airport and what has happened down there, there has been a sea-change down there since independence and everyone in Ennis will have seen more tourists around the town during the summer. That has brought a sense of positivity to people, that has lifted people spirits,” he said.

“The vast majority of money spent in the tourism and hospitality trade goes straight back into the local economy – whether that is more sausages bought from the local butch- er or more staff taken on. So more Clare families are back in work, more revenue comes back into local households and more local people with money to spend. That is where the big win will be for County Clare.

“There has been a little lift in the restaurant side, people are starting to eat out a little more, and there has been a big lift in the accommodation side of it. I think that is going to continue next year so my outlook is very positive for addition jobs being created in the next 12 months.”

YOUNG Clare farmers will continue to be forced from the land in the year ahead as Budget 2014 does little solve the growing problem of an aging farmers population in the county.

North Clare farmers Michael Davoren says the budget will be cash-neutral on his farm, but expressed his disappointment that no funding has been made available to reintroduce the Farm Retirement Scheme.

The budget will see the reopening of a number of environmental schemes on farms as well as a new scheme to encourage landowners into leasing unused land.

“Farmers would see this as being a fairly good budget.

“There was nothing negative in it, except for the water charges and sure farmers have always paid water rates.

“The leasing of land is good, the opening of some new schemes is also positive, but on the downside there is still a big issue with farmers retiring and that has not been tackled. “The age prof le of farmers in Clare is old, something has to be done in future budgets to encourage farmers to retire earlier and to keep young farmers on the land,” said Mr Davoren.

“The change to the taxation system around land leasing might help get some more land active, but it won’t tackle the big issue.

“Where does a farmer go at 60? There is only a living for one family on a farm, so if he gives his farm over to his son, what does he live on for the next six years?

“So farmers have to stay in business until they are 66. A proper farmer retirement scheme is something that will be needed over the year.

“I think, for me, this budget will be cash neutral.

“The fact that agricultural diesel hasn’t gone on, or customs and excise hasn’t gone up on any of the materials is a good thing.

“But this budget won’t have a signif cant effect on me or on many farmers.”

MORE than 100 local people are involved in an organised, round-theclock, blockades to prevent water meters from being installed in part of East and South Clare.

So called ‘meter-watch’ groups have been established in six Clare towns and villages including Shan non, Newmarket on Fergus, Killaloe, Westbury, Meelick and Parteen, to prevent Irish Water and sub-contrac tors from installing meters outside people’s homes. The groups, which are all operat ed on a voluntary basis, schedule a number of volunteers to be present in each area from 7am to 6pm each day, to workers from installing meters. According to Meter Watch member David Houlihan, the six Clare groups are becoming more organised and even starting to coordinate and organise their activities together.

“There has been big opposition, people have come out and told them [the Irish Water subcontractors] that they don’t want the meters and when people come back from work they have installed them anyway. That’s when people started getting annoyed. That’s when we started gathering together and blocking them from installing the meters,” said Parteen man David Houlihan. “People have started organising group to be there all time to stop them from installing the meters. Someone has to be present all the time. They keep coming back trying to put them in and someone has to be physically there to stop them each time. We have group set up in each area and they have the numbers of other residents who will come out and help. We have numbers for peo ple in other areas as well, who can come over and show support if need ed. There are a lot of people involved now, but we need it, people need to go to work and see to their children. According to Mr Houlihan, meter watch will continue until the Gov ernment rows back on the introduc tion of water charges. “We are all paying charges and this is a tax too far. People just haven’t got it. People are outraged with this,” he said. “All the groups help each other out now. It has become a massive amount of organisation – phoning people and making sure that someone will be there all the time. The contractors started coming earlier and they don’t give out notices anymore, so it’s be come a cat and mouse game between us.”

A CLARE family expect to be homeless this Christmas as they do not expect to have a house for at least another two and a half months.

Mother of seven Caroline Sherlock who is living in a seven-foot caravan on the side of the road with her young family says she now fears the winter ahead. She said she met with off cials from Clare County Council on Friday last who said there may be a suitable house available in a couple of months. There has been no reply to a query in relation to this meeting from the local authority at time of print. Caroline and her husband John have raised their children aged two to 12 years old in the Ennistymon area and lived in private accommodation before the lease expired last June. They received a good reference from the landlady.

Prior to that, the family lived in a house in special traveller accommodation but were forced to leave as the couple feared for the safety of their children.

Since then, they have lived on the side of the road in areas such as Cregg beach, Lahinch and even in an alley way in the town of Ennistymon.

The family have been moved on and have now set up camp on the side of the road between the local mart and graveyard. Ms Sherlock said she has requested a disposable toilet and bins from the council but has also been turned down.

“We have no electricity, not toilets, no bins or running water. The children are doing their homework by candle light or battery lamp,” she said, adding that she fears her children who attend local schools every day will fall behind if they cannot complete their homework.

Ms Sherlock said the family has lived in this area for 18 years and don’t want to upset people by parking in places that are inconvenient. She said the family parked in a f eld beside the mart last week as they thought it was public ground. “Once we were told it was private property we moved,” she said. The family now live nearby on the side of the road. “I don’t want to be near the gate of the graveyard. We have dead in there ourselves. We don’t want to be impose on anyone,” she said. “We are just looking for the bare basic ways of living.” “If they can’t give me a home, and they can’t if they don’t have one, then can they give me a mobile home somewhere safe?” pleaded the mother.

“The trailer won’t be able to withstand the winter. It already has holes in it from moving it around and we can’t afford a new one,” she said.

“I am trying to protect my children and keep them from harms way. We have to go somewhere. We can’t disappear off the face of the earth.”

A WEST Clare teenager has pleaded guilty to assaulting a garda sergeant in Kilrush earlier this month.

Michael Linnane (19) was in a highly intoxicated state when he punched Sgt John Moloney, Ennis District Court heard.

Sgt Moloney was giving chase to Mr Linnane who f ed after gardaí were called to an incident at Hector Street, Kilrush on October 7.

Insp Tom Kennedy told the court gardaí received a call from the accused’s mother at around 11.20pm.

The court heard Mr Linnane was trying to force his way into his mother’s house. When gardaí arrived, Mr Linnane left the premises attempted to f ee the scene. Insp Kennedy said the accused threw an item at Sgt Moloney and threw punches at him. Insp Kennedy said Mr Linnane was eventually restrained and arrested. The court heard Mr Linnane was in an intoxicated state at the time. On Wednesday, Mr Linnane, with an address at Hector Street, Kilrush, pleaded guilty to the assault of Sgt Moloney at O’Gorman Street, and an offence of engaging in behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. Mr Linnane, who was on bail when the offences were committed, has previous convictions for criminal damage, assault and a f rearms offence. Defence solicitor Gearoid Williams told the court he had been instructed to apologise to Sgt Molo- ney on his client’s behalf.

The court heard Mr Linnane attended a residential treatment course in the week’s prior to the incidents in the Kilrush. Mr Williams said his client relapsed into the “bad old ways and the drink”.

“He had been drinking all day and doesn’t remember what happened”, Mr Williams said, “Sober, he’s f ne. Drink does not agree with him. He does terrible things when he has too much to drink”, he added. Mr Williams said his client has lived a “most disturbed life” and developed addiction problems at an early age. Judge Patrick Durcan said, “What you outline Mr Williams is truly horrif c”. However Judge Durcan said the other side of the coin is that Mr Linnane resisted arrest, attacked and abused a member of the gardaí.

He said such treatment of the police force could not be let pass without ju dicial action. Judge Durcan told Mr Linnane he struck him as a f ne, in telligent, young man. “But I will not have any member of the garda suíochana insulted, abused or demeaned in this manner”, he added.

He imposed a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months on condition Mr Linnane enters into a bond to be of good behaviour and obeys the directions of the probation services.

Mr Linnane was also ordered to complete 120 hours of community service.

A CHARITY worker who verbally abused gardaí as they dealt with a f ght in Scariff has avoided an imme diate jail sentence. At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, Darren Steele (44), originally from Cork but with a former address at Bohatch, Mountshannon, pleaded guilty to public order and drugs offences.

He pleaded guilty to public intoxication and engaging in behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace at the Square, Scariff on May 16, 2014.

He also pleaded guilty to possession of a small quantity of cannabis at Killaloe Garda Station on May 16.

Mr Steele further admitted an intoxication charge on June 4.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court gardaí were called to deal with a row outside a pub in Scariff on May 16.

He said they found a number of people in the area including Mr Steele.

The court heard the accused was drunk and proceeded to remonstrate with gardaí.

Insp Kennedy said Mr Steele told the gardaí to f*** off and called them a waste of space.

He was arrested and brought to Killaloe Garda Station where a small amount of cannabis was found on his person.

Insp Kennedy said Mr Steele has 124 previous convictions, mainly for public order offences.

Mr Steele told the court he was drunk and did not even know he had cannabis in his pocket.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett said his client was out for a night in East Clare and found himself on the edge of a f ght. “He was watching this and he tried to tell gardaí what he saw”, Mr Hassett said.

“He didn’t need to do that. The gardaí saw plenty”, Mr Hassett added.

The court heard Mr Steele, a father of three, “battled the drink for years” and was homeless for a period in Cork.

Mr Hassett said his client has secured accommodation and volunteers with the Simon Community in Cork, often serving meals to the homeless.

He asked the court to consider a suspended sentence.

Judge Durcan imposed a 10-week sentence on the breach of the peace charge.

He suspended the sentence on condition Mr Steele enters into a bond to be law abiding.

Mr Steele entered into the bond.

AS MANY as 20 women and young girls are selling sex in Clare every day – many of whom are the victims of sex traf f ck ing. That is the opinion of Cllr Mary Howard (FG), who yesterday said that young women are being brought into Ireland to work in the sex industry – many of whom don’t ever realise what country they are in.

Clare County Council yesterday passed a motion calling on the Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald (FG), to introduce legislation crim- inalisation of the purchase of sex, rather than the sale of sex.

“Here in Ennis we have about 20 girls and young women working in the sex trade. The average age for women entering into prostitution is 14 years of age. They’re young women; someone’s sister, mother or daughter,” she said.

“I believe in social justice and I believe that the system is controlled, by men, for men, and I believe that we in this room have a obligation to tackle that.”

UP TO 1,000 people protested against water charges in Clare on Saturday. Supporters of the group ‘Clare Says No to Water Charges’ gathered in O’Connell Square Ennis at 1pm and marched through the county town chatting slogans: “ From the r iver to the sea, Ir ish wa ter will be free, ” and “ Enda Kenny not a penny ”.

‘Clare Says No To Water Charges’ organised another public meeting in Ennis on Monday night pledging to take a more militant approach.

Meanwhile more than 100 local people are now involved in an organised, round-the-clock, blockades to prevent water metres from being installed in part of East and South Clare.

So called ‘metre-watch’ groups have been established in six Clare towns and villages to prevent Irish Water and sub-contractors from installing metres outside people’s homes.

THE Chief Fire Off cer for Clare has been requested to investigate f re safety standards at St Joseph’s Hospital in Ennis.

The call was issued last week by local councilor James Breen (Ind) in response to a report by health watchdog HIQA on safety standards at the hospital.

In an email to Clare County Council, Adrian Kelly, Chief Fire Off cer states that since 2008 there has been an extensive f re safety upgrade at St Joseph’s Hospital.

The email states the upgrade included a full f re risk assessment and the granting of four f re safety certif icates to the hospital. Upgrades were carried out to f re escape routes; f re detection and alarm systems; f re doors; compart mentation; pre f re planning; f re safety management and fore brigade access. “A full f re exercise was carried out between f re f ghters in Ennis f re brigade and staff at the hospital in 2011.

“The premises is due to be re-inspected shortly but it accepted there has been extensive work carried out in order to upgrade f re safety stand ards at St Joseph’s Hospital”, the email states.

The email was disclosed to councillors at the October meeting of the Ennis Municipal District Committee. The report by HIQA carried out following an unannounced inspection in August was critical of the geriatric hospital for not acting on recommendations following a serious f re relat ed incident in March during which a patient was injured.

In her report last week HIQA’s inspector Mary Moore reported that staff at the hospital said they did not have time to supervise residents while they smoked. The report was also critical of f re safety procedures including the lack of availability of proper f re blankets in certain parts of the hospital.

Since the report was published the HSE has issued a statement saying that it will co-operate with the coroner in relation to the patients death.

Meanwhile Bernard Gloster, Area Manager, HSE Mid –West said there are no plans to build a new hospital.

“We want to assure the public that the inspection carried out was routine as part of the regulatory process and inspections happen in both public and private facilities all over the country,” he said.

“A substantial part of the concern in the report is to do with the f re safety precautions. These have been addressed and the inspector conf rmed satisfaction with the actions put forward.”

The work undertaken includes the replacement of f re hose reels with f re extinguishers; having corridors renamed and permanent signage erected.

In its statement the HSE also said, “The Report makes reference to the recommendations of an internal investigation following an incident in March 2014.

“The HSE is limited in its capacity to comment at the present time on these matters, we can, however, conf rm that a resident sustained in juries in an apparent smoking related incident.

“The recommendations from the investigation into that matter were being implemented at the time of the inspection but were not completed, hence, the comment in the Inspection Report.”

THE residents of Woodstock View in Ennis have failed in their bid to prevent Woodstock Golf and Country Club from changing nine holiday homes at Garville Court into houses.

A local residents group, in the name of William O’Doherty, appealed the case to an Bórd Pleanála earlier this year, after Clare County Council granted permission for the company to transform the holiday homes into full-time dwelling.

Their appeal claims that the development would have a serious negative effect on the local tourism trade, greatly increase population density in the area and also cause a potentially dangerous traff c hazard. “The recent closure of Woodstock Hotel represents a signif cant loss of positive tourism infrastructure and employment in the local area. The proposal to convert nine of the existing holiday homes, adjacent to the Woodstock Hotel, would represent a further serious erosion of our local tourism infrastructure and undermine one of the key objectives of the current County Development Plan,” said the residents in their initial submission to Clare County Council. “Any conversion of the develop- ment from established clustered holidays homes to residential units would represent a dangerous precedent for the proper planning and development for the county as a whole and would undermine many of the objectives of the Development Plan and the Joint Housing Strategy for Clare Local Authorities.”

The Bord decided to uphold the decision, and Woodstock Golf and Country Club will now be able to develop the properties as full time residences rather holiday homes.

“It is considered that the proposed development would not adversely impact on the amenities of the area, would not seriously injure the amenities or depreciate the value of property in the vicinity of the site and would, therefore, be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,” said the an Bórd Pleanála inspector.