This article is from page 9 of the 2007-08-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 9 JPG
TWO years after being built at an estimated cost of €175,000 to the tax-payer, a custom-made bat-house located along the route of the €205 million Ennis by-pass has failed to attract a single bat.
Due to security concerns, Clare County Council has refused to dis- close the location of the bat-house to the public and it appears that the council has also failed to inform any members of the endangered Lesser Horseshoe Bat community as to the whereabouts of the hi-tech home.
The tiny Lesser Horseshoe Bat is protected under the EU Habitats Di- rective and is listed as a vulnerable species.
As part of its contract for the by- pass scheme, GAMA Construction is required to put in place a series of measures — including the construc- tion of a purpose built bat house – to ensure the continued good welfare of the bat along the route.
However, in a report drawn up for the company by environmental con- sultant, Howard Williams of Inis En- vironmental Services, it confirms the absence of bats at the new home.
In the report released under the
Freedom of Information Act to