Category: News

THE absence of facilities for wheelchair users at the home of Clare GAA will come under microscope at a meeting in Ennis today.

Clare County Council is being asked to write to the Clare County Board to highlight a lack of suitable wheelchair facilities at Cusack Park.

The request comes from independent councillor Ann Norton in the form of a motion to the September meeting of the Ennis Municipal District Committee.

Cllr Norton, who is also the manager of the Barefield based Clare Crusader’s Clinic for children with special needs, is urging the council to write to the county board, “in relation to the lack of wheelchair accessible toilets and the current wheelchair viewing area in Cusack Park Ennis”.

Cllr Norton identifies a number of areas the council should focus in its letter to the GAA.

She queries why there is no wheelchair accessible toilet facilities in the grounds and if the current wheelchair viewing area is up the required health and safety standards.

Cllr Norton also wants the county board to outline proposals for bringing the current “deficiencies in basic facilities up to an acceptable standard- including a provision for a weather protected and adequate viewing are of the pitch – not hindered by fencing”.

She asks that a structure be put in place to ensure “wheelchair users have a genuine formal access to avail of match tickets and parking permits to games both within the county and the country.

“The current system is not acceptable – especially as there is no wheelchair access to Clare GAA headquarters in Clareabbey Clarecastle when applying for tickets,” Ms Norton added.

ONE fifth of Clare homeowners’ property tax is leaving the county to pay for services in other cities and counties.

More than half of the Local Property Tax (LPT) paid by Clare households is going back to the National Government, with 20 per cent of it being used to fund less financially effective councils across the country.

Irate members of the council last evening claimed they were being penalised for being “the good boys in the class” as it managed last year on the third lowest payout from central government funds nationally.

It emerged in a circular from central government to the council as late as last Friday, that 34 per cent of the Local Property Tax Fund will be used for funding roads and housing, a fund previously provided by central government from motor tax and other grants, and separate from the local government fund.

In essence from the € 10.4 million it is expected to collect in property tax, Clare County Council will be left with just € 4.7 million for essential council services.

Of that just € 2 million can be used at the council’s own descretion for services such as hedge cutting or taking housing estates in charge.

If the members vote to reduce this tax by 15 per cent, as they are allowed to do so, this figure will be reduced by a further € 1. 56 million.

According to the circular directed by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and seen by The Clare People , “Based on its surplus position when expected 2015 LPT receipts are compared to GPG Allocations 2014, Clare County Council will be not be in receipt of equalisation funding in 2015.

“Part of the surplus up to the equivalent of 20 per cent of total expected LPT income (or the full amount of the surplus if that is less than 20 per cent) can be used as discretionary income by local authorities for whatever purposes they wish as part of their normal budgetary process,” the letter stated.

“The remainder of the surplus, if any, will then be available to the local authority to fund vital services in the social housing and roads areas thereby replacing Central Government funding for some of these services.”

The funding of social housing and roads was not understood to be among the services covered by the LPT as they were not previously covered by the Local Government Fund.

Cllr Tom McNamara (FF) asked if the people of Clare were now to receive a 10 per cent reduction in their motor taxation costs to compensate for the money going to roads.

Each year Clare motorists pay € 30 million in motor taxation through the offices in Clare County Council. Of the money collected just 8.5 per cent of it is spent in Clare.

LPT funding collected in Clare will now also go towards road works.

CLARE county councillors cannot vote to reduce the Local Property Tax (LPT) until after a budget report is prepared and brought before them.

Council officials have just two weeks to complete a draft budget that previously took two months.

Delayed direction on its expenditure from central government and a requirement by Revenue to know its decision by the end of the month has put the council under sever pressure.

Council CEO Tom Coughlan said the final decision on increasing or decreasing the property tax will remain with the council members.

Former mayor of Clare, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) said that people “need to be aware that our property tax will be leaving the county.

“There is a feeling that Clare has a surplus and we can now give money back. The reality is the people of Clare are going to subsidise the people of other cities and counties. If we reduce it by 15 per cent what are the implications?” he asked.

Cllr Richard Nagle (FF) said that the reduction might just be between € 30 to € 40 per household but that is significant in many homes.

“€ 50 to € 100 is a lot to people out there because they just do not have it,” he told last evening’s meeting of the council.

Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) asked that the county manager instruct the county solicitor to challenge the breakdown of the taxation in the courts.

WHILE Kilrush Town Council may have invested € 350,000 in the future of the Kilrush Sports Complex during its dying days, Clare County Council must now get permission from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to spend the money.

Weeks before it was disbanded, the town council ring fenced funding for the next development phase of the project.

Phase one, which includes the best astro turf surface in the county and meets FIFA standards, is to be officially opened in the coming weeks and the local community is anxious that the next phase begins soon.

Before Kilrush Town Council was abolished the members adopted a resolution in April, 2014 to ring fence funding of € 200,000 for the development of future phases of Kilrush Sports Complex and in May, 2014, a further € 150,000 was set aside as part of the adoption of the 2013 Annual Financial Statement.

It was also agreed that Clare County Council would co-finance any development of Kilrush Sports Complex.

It is now understood that, in accordance with a Department circular (03/2009), it is necessary to obtain its approval for any capital expenditure.

John Corry, Meetings Administrator, West Clare Municipal District and former Kilrush Town Clerk, explained; “It would therefore be necessary for Clare County Council to seek such approval from the department in order to spend capital resources on any future phases of development at Kilrush Sports Complex. It would also be necessary for Clare County Council to plan for any capital resources which it would be investing in Kilrush Sports Complex and same would need to be discussed in the context of Budget preparations for 2015.”

In the last months a state of the art 75 metre by 38 metre astro turf pitch together with fencing, flood lighting and CCTV has been constructed as part of phase one of the facility on the Cooraclare Road.

The pitch was constructed at a cost of € 309,000. Kilrush Town Council provided € 190,000 towards the cost of this pitch.

Clare County Council is providing € 60,000 with € 59,000 being funded by a Sport Nation grant secured from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and Irish Public Bodies. Kilrush Town Council also funded the cost of the purchase of goals for the facility, the cost of professional fees incurred in designing the complex and the cost of upgrade works to the running track at Gallery Park. It has also recently been agreed by the Management Committee of Kilrush Sports Complex to carry out improvement works to Gallery Park Pitch at a cost of € 20,000 plus VAT.

The next phase of development proposed is the upgrading of the grass pitch on lands leased from the Department of Education.

A MAN who illegally parked in a disabled parking space at Ennis Courthouse has been disqualified from driving for three months.

At Ennis District Court on Friday, father of five Luan Heta, with an address at Park Avenue, Ennis, was also fined € 300 by Judge Patrick Durcan who has imposed stiff penalties on drivers convicted of such offences in recent months.

Mr Heta pleaded guilty to parking in a disabled person parking bay at Ennis Courthouse, Lifford Road, Ennis on March 26, 2014.

Defence solicitor Daragh Hassett told the court his client had business in the Courthouse on the day but could not get a parking spot. Mr Hassett said the court was particularly busy on the day in question.

He said Mr Heta forgot to pay the fixed charge penalty notice because of family difficulties he was experiencing at the time.

“He is very, very sorry,” Mr Hassett said.

Mr Hassett said he was aware this was a serious offence that the court has a particular view on. Asking the court not to disqualify his client from driving, Mr Hassett said his client has young children in school and any disqualification order would impose a hardship on the family.

Garda Liza McDonagh told the court that Mr Heta has eight previous convictions including for breach of the peace, assault and assault causing harm. Judge Patrick Durcan said that in his experience Ennis Courthouse is unique in the amount of parking spaces available for drivers.

Judge Durcan also noted that Mr Heta is a man with a “very violent history”.

In response, Mr Hassett acknowledged there was a time when Mr Heta “used to raise his fists regularly in this town” but he has matured with age.

Judge Durcan imposed a € 300 fine and by way of ancillary order, disqualified Mr Heta from driving for three months. Mr Hassett said he had been instructed by his client to appeal the decision.

Judge Durcan fixed recognisances at Mr Heta’s own bond of ˙€ 300 and an independent surety to be approved by the court of € 600.

THE majority of teenage girls in Clare are now availing of the cervical cancer vaccination programme introduced in 2010.

A total of 88.9 per cent of first year students in Clare secondary schools have received the three vaccines as part of the human papillomavirus vaccination (HPV) programme, which ensures Clare is well above the HSE target of 80 per cent up take.

Overall, the figures show that 680 girls received the vaccine doses in the 2012/2013 academic year.

The vaccine protects against seven out of 10 cervical cancers, so health expert maintain that it is still important for girls to have regular smear tests when they are adults.

Critics of the vaccine programme maintain that it does not go far enough as it only targets 50 per cent of the population, even though the sexually transmitted infection that can lead to cervical cancer affects 80 per cent of the population both male and female.

As well as contributing to cervical cancer, HPV also contributes to rare cancers such as penile cancer and anal cancer in men.

Meanwhile 42,000 girls have benefited from the vaccine nationwide last year.

Labour TD Michael McNamara said he was glad the vaccine has been so well received in the county.

“It goes a long way towards ensuring our young girls are effectively immunised against the causes of cervical cancer.

“While we don’t have any com- prehensive data in Ireland yet as to the effectiveness of the HPV programme, we do know that in Denmark, where it has been widely used since 2007, there has been a 50 per cent reduction in pre-cancers, which are required to develop cervical cancer,” he said.

The 2014/2015 HPV programme will see the number of doses reduced from three to two doses, as new data has shown that two doses are just as effective as three. In addition, a Meningococcal C (Men C) booster is being introduced this year for first year boys and girls. The booster is recommended because immunity from the vaccine routinely given to babies can wane over time, so this provides additional protection.

As many as 250 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, and 80 women die from the disease.

EVER wanted to own a bank, or the bank building to be more accurate? Well now you can – in the town of Kilrush.

The AIB bank on Frances Street in Kilrush is to go under the hammer on September 16 as part of the Allsop Space sale.

A spokesperson from Allied Irish Banks PLC confirmed to

RELOCATING homes inland is not an option for the residents of the town land of Cloughnainchy near Seafield whose houses had been flooded during the high tides and storms last winter, or a solution to further floods this winter.

Local resident Danny McCarthy ruled out the relocation proposal likely to be offered to some homeowners in other parts of the country as the Office of Public Works and Local Authorities begin work on addressing flooding and coastal erosion.

Last evening (Monday) the residents of Cloughnainchy, Quilty, re- ceived confirmation that € 200,000 has been released by the OPW to begin work on a feasibility study at Tromore West. This is the area along the coastline which includes Cloughnainchy, where the sea invaded 14 homes and swept away an acre of land out to the sea in January.

Clare County Council put the cost of addressing the coastal erosion and flooding issue in Cloughnainchy at € 4.7m. The feasibility study will fully cost storm and flood defence works at this site, which will then be presented to the Government department who will decide if work is feasible.

Mr McCarthy was hopeful last night that the study could begin immediately and that work on prevent- ing the natural disaster of earlier this year could begin soon.

“We are hoping it begins long before April when it was initially thought work would begin at the earliest,” he said. “We have already lost six months when nothing was done.”

Mr McCarthy, whose home was one of 14 flooded in the area, said the committee worked very hard with Clare county councillors to get the work even to this preliminary stage.

He ruled out any suggestion that moving the three to four houses nearest the coastline would be a financially savvy solution.

“This is a tourist road as well. Hundreds of people walk the two mile sandy beach, it is not just about the houses,” he explained.

According to sources close to the OPW suggestions have been made that it may be less expensive to build new homes for families affected by flooding than to begin substantial coastal protection works.

Former Minister for State with responsibility for the OPW Brian Hayes told The Clare People yesterday (Monday) that relocation was not likely to be a suggestion for Seafield and was never considered for this area during his time in charge.

“This is also private land and not public land,” he pointed out.

He confirmed that the OPW may consider it as a solution in some areas if there are yearly flooding events and it makes economical sense.

A TOTAL of 15 Clare schools feature in a new ranking of the top 400 secondary schools in the country.

Scoil Mhuire in Ennistymon is the highest ranked Clare school at 46th place, a jump of eight places on the North Clare School’s previous rank.

The school is also rated at 19 in the top 20 all girls schools in Ireland. Compiled by The Sunday Times, the list places Scoil Mhuire eighth in the top 20 schools in Munster, excluding Cork.

Colaiste Mhuire, Ennis ranked in 16th place in that particular list.

Colaiste Mhuire, at 74, is the only other Clare school that is listed in the top 100.

The remaining Clare schools selected by The Sunday Times are: Rice College, Ennis (106); Mary Immaculate School, Lisdoonvarna (126); Meanscoil Na mBraithre, Ennistymon (150); St John Bosco Community College, Kildysart (157); Scariff Community College (184); St Joseph’s Secondary School, Miltown Malbay (215); Ennis Community College (225); St Flannan’s College, Ennis (240); St Anne’s Community College, Killaloe (265); Kilrush Community School (249); St Caimin’s Community School, Tullyvarraga (304); St Joseph’s Secondary School, Tulla (318); St Michael’s Community School, Kilmihil (343).

The top 400 secondary schools are ranked by the average proportion of pupils gaining places in autumn 2011, 2012, 2013 at one of the nine universities on the island of Ireland, main teaching training colleges, Royal College of surgeons, or National College of Art and Design.

Data was collected from 30 third- level institutions in the Republic and two in Northern Ireland.

Where schools are tied, the proportion of students gaining places at all non-private, third-level colleges is taken into account. Schools offering only senior cycle and new schools were excluded.

A PROPOSED new road would not just by pass the town of Ennistymon but the whole Blake’s Corner issue, according to one Clare politician.

Labour Deputy Michael McNamara said he would be suggesting to Clare County Council and the NRA that they consider bypassing the North Clare town, as it would make more economical sense than rebuilding a preserved building piece by piece at a different location.

The Clare TD said the proposal to move the preserved building is an old issue and would not ultimately solve the traffic issues of the town, merely at best ease them slightly.

He believes that a new road possibly along the track of the old West Clare Railway or a similar route that avoids the centre of Ennistymon would provide for better access to Lahinch and the Cliffs of Moher for tourists, and free up the town for business.

“As it is, coaches do not stop in the town. If it was easy to access and there was no traffic jam issue perhaps bus drivers would include it as a point to stop for refreshments,” he said.

“Removing Blake’s Corner is irrelevant now and was an issue for ten years ago. We are trying to solve a problem of the future not the past,” he said, adding that more and more busses full of tourists are travelling to the cliff of Moher every year and need to be accommodated.” We need a new bridge and bypass. “Obviously money would be an issue and a by-pass would be a significant cost, but dismantling Blake’s slate by slate and brick by brick will also cost a fortune. I believe this cost would go along way towards a bypass. “In the long term it would be more cost effective and I would rather see the money go towards a new crossing and road that will solve the traffic issues of the future as well as the present and past,” he added.