Category: News

WHILE flu activity in the mid-west has reportedly now peaked and is declining, all major local hospitals are maintaining a visiting ban until this year’s flu breakout subsides further.

The number of people presenting with flu-like-illness (ILI) to GPs has dropped to a rate of 110 per 100,000, down from 171.4 per 100,000 last week. The drop has occurred in all age groups except for those aged 5 to 14 years. This fall has also been seen in the number of flu related calls to GP out of hours on call services.

A spokesperson for the HSE reminded the public however that visiting restrictions remain in place at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Dooradoyle.

“Unfortunately some members of the public continue to visit the hospital and this puts the health and welfare of patients at risk,” she said.

Visitors are asked not to visit the hospital unless it is absolutely essential and visiting is restricted to critically ill patients only, one visitor per critically ill patient and confined to visiting times only.

Visitors who may be unwell or have flu like symptoms should not visit the hospital.

The elderly, children, pregnant women or young adults, those with chronic illnesses or vulnerable others are also advised not to visit

While attendance at the Accident and Emergency Department should only take place if absolutely necessary, outpatient, day care services and routine hospital admissions are not affected.

“We once again ask the public to cooperate fully with the hospital instruction, to protect the health of their family members and others and not visit the hospital,” the spokesperson said.

“All appropriate infection control measures are being taken to deal with this situation. These visiting restrictions will remain in place until the situation has been resolved.”

So far this season, 749 cases have been hospitalised with flu. Of these, 72 per cent have been due to the H1N1 (2009) influenza strain.

Over the past couple of weeks, the proportion of all hospitalised cases that have been due to influenza B has risen and now stands at 17 per cent.

The HSE explained that the rise in influenza B highlights the importance of getting seasonal vaccine for those in the at risk groups.

“It’s still not too late to get the vaccine from your GP.

“Although intensity is declining, influenza is still circulating in the community, and seasonal vaccination provides good protection against all types of flu,” the spokesperson said.

A TD elected to the 31st Dáil from the Clare constituency can expect to pocket over three quarters of a million euro in salary and expenses for a five-year term in office, figures secured by The Clare People this week have revealed.

These figures have emerged thanks to a Clare People audit of expenses secured by the three outgoing TDs going before the electorate later this month – Deputies Pat Breen, Timmy Dooley and Joe Carey, during the four-year life span of the dramatic 30th Dáil.

Fine Gael deputy Pat Breen tops the expenses league in Clare, having claimed over € 280,000 in the past four years, while Deputies Joe Carey and Timmy Dooley have each claimed over € 220,000 in expenses since being elected to Dáil Éireann in 2007.

However, Deputy Breen’s higher rate of expenses over the past four years also takes into account the first half of 2007, which corresponded with the final months of his first Dáil term between 2002 and May 2007, while he also incurred significant expenses by being a member of the Council of Europe.

And, while Deputy Breen tops the expenses in Clare, earning € 622,141 in expenses since first being elected to Dáil Éireann in 2002, he is the only General Election candidate in the county and one of the few in the country to publish details of his expenses, doing so through his website ww.patbreen.ie.

Expenses figures relating to the three deputies seeking re-election have been secured through the Freedom of Information Act and the Oireachtas website which, since last March, has been statutorily obliged to publish the monthly expense claims of every TD.

Details of TDs’ expenses have been published this week, just as one General Election candidate has told The Clare People that “expenses should be abolished altogether.

Independent councillor, James Breen, a member of Dáil Éireann who claimed expenses from 2002 to 2007, said “we should reduce Dáil expenses and they should be abolished altogether and oblige TDs to live on their salary with no expenses”.

Currently TDs earn a salary of € 92,672 for being a member of Dáil Éireann.

PLANNING permission for a planned train station at Crusheen is due to be lodged with Clare County Council in the coming weeks. The Clare People has learned that details of the much anticipated station will be release this February, when final plans are lodged with the planning section of the local authority.

While no firm timetable has been announced for the construction of the station, Iarnród Éireann confirmed last week that construction will commence in the summer of 2011 with the stations being completed by early 2012 – should planning permission be granted.

This follow a long running campaign by a local group to secure a stop on the Western Rail Corridor in Crusheen. The corridor, which was officially reopened last year, currently has stations at Sixmilebridge, Ennis and Gort. Locals believe that a large number of commuters living in the north and east Clare areas will use the service once it is completed.

According to Clare Fianna Fáil General Election candidate Dr John Hillery, the new station could prove to be a “shot in the arm” for the local economy. The construction phases of the project will provide a number of jobs for the local area while there could also make the region more attractive for business people looking to set up new operations.

The new station will feature a platform and ticket vending machine, with a number of help points for those with mobility and sensory impairments. Bicycle parking and car parking facilities will also be provided.

“It makes economic sense for a rail stop to be provided at Crusheen as it will become the only stop on the stretch of the Western Rail Corridor between Ennis and Athenry. Crusheen also is an ideal location for people coming from Ruan, Gort, Ballyline, Corofin, Tubber, Boston and elsewhere in north Clare as well as Tulla and other areas of east Clare,” he said. “I would like to congratulate members of the local community and Clare County Council for working together to putting forward the strongest possible case for the opening of a rail stop at Crusheen. I also wish to acknowledge the contribution of my colleague Deputy Tony Killeen in the campaign.”

THE number of people on the Live Register in County Clare is set break the all time record when new figures are released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) later this week. The figures will be released just days after one of Clare’s landmark hotels, The Clare Inn, went into receivership on Friday last.

Two hotel’s from the Lynch Group, including the Clare Inn, were placed into receviership last week but Managing Director Michael B Lynch said he will work with the banks to protect the jobs.

Managing Director Michael B Lynch told The Clare People yesterday “that the West County Hotel will remain under Lynch management and that it’s business as usual”.

Shannon-based company EI Electronics announced on Friday that it would be letting between 30 and 40 employees go at the end of February.

This follows a number of other jobs losses around the county in January with Finsa in Scariff announcing the loss of 52 jobs and east Clare builders Tom Hayes Ltd going into liquidation with the loss of 20 jobs.

According to Paul Woulfe of the Clare Citizens Information Service, he has seen a sharp increase of recently unemployed people using the service since Christmas.

“We have seen a large increase in the number of people coming to see us with questions about redundancy and issues related to losing their jobs. For many of these people, their companies cannot afford to pay them redundancy so they have to go through the long process of applying to the Social Insurance Fund,” he said.

THE pioneering work of renowned Clare musician Peadar O’Loughlin dating over 50 years has been brought to a new generation of traditional music lovers thanks to a decision by Na Piobairí Uilleann to re-release of the storied Seancheol ar an Seannós album.

The famous album, originally recorded in 1960 on the short-lived SPOL label set up by Breandán Breathnach, featured the legendary Kilmaleyman on flute and east Galway fiddler Aggie White.

“It is a measure of the musicianship of both Peadar and Aggie and indeed the depth of appreciation of Breandán Breathnach that this beautiful recording resonates today,” a spokesperson for Na Piobairí Uilleann told The Clare People .

In describing the recording as “an archival gem”, the Piobairí Uilleann has called the historic recording as “a perfect blending of fiddle and flute these two musicians illustrate in well chosen melodies the richness of Irish folk-music”.

“In his original sleeve notes, Breathnach extols the virtues of this wonderful duet and details Peadar and Aggie’s contemporary achievements as prominent traditional musicians during the 1950s.

“Aggie Whyte, who hails from the Ballinakill district in Galway, comes from generations of musicians; her father, Tommy Whyte, was a member of the famous Ballinakill Céilí Band. She was awarded the Gold Medal in the competition for traditional fiddle playing at the Oireachtas in 1958 and in the same year with Peadar O’Loughlin won the competition for duets at this musical festival.

“Peadar O’Loughlin, who had four years previously won the competition for flute playing, comes from Kilmaley, County Clare. He is an all-round musician, having many firsts to his credit for flute, fiddle and pipe playing,”

‘Seancheol ar an Seannós’ was officially launched as as part of the Breandán Breathnach Commemoration at Henrietta Street in Dublin. O’Loughlin, a longtime member of the Tulla Céilí Band, was awarded the Hall of Fame Award at the annual TG4 Gradam Ceoil awards in 2005.

FORMER Minister for Defence and Clare TD Tony Killeen (FF) has been given the un-coveted job as National Director of Elections for Fianna Fáil.

The Corofin man, who is retiring from politics at this election due to health concerns, told The Clare People that he wasn’t surprised when the call came from Fianna Fáil’s new party leader Michéal Martin on Sunday.

“I have some reservations in being able to do it, both physically and in terms of experience, but I have a strong team around me,” he said.

“The downside of this is that I will have to spend a lot of time outside Clare and in Dublin during the election, but I will be there in Clare as much as possible supporting the two candidates.”

A BUNRATTY singer has thrown his hat into the ring, in an attempt to represent Ireland in this year’s Eurovision song contest.

Gari Deegan (27) is involved in one of the acts vying for a place in the competition in May, having received an phone call from a music promoter a few weeks ago. Gari is part of a four-person band which will take to the stage on The Late Late Show on Friday week to participate in the Irish final of the competition. Although Jedward are the hot favourites to secure the right to represent Ireland in the Eurovision, nevertheless Gari believes that he is in with a shout.

His call-up came out of the blue and he grabbed the opportunity to shine on the national stage.

“I got a phone call from Willie Kavanagh of EMI in December. I thought it was a joke. I had recorded with songwriter Ray Fean who is originally from Shannon and who is based in Belgium. EMI got hold of one of the songs I sang, ‘Ode To A Woman’. He said he had put together a group and asked was I interested in getting involved. I was honest and said I was not a fan of Eurovision but I said I would go and see how it goes. He asked me to go to Dublin and we recorded at Windmill Lane Studios,” he explained. Gari and his fellow band members, Shane Creevy (Dublin), Marlyn Bane (Galway) and Tammy Browne (Kildare), have been signed up by EMI records and their grouping has, as of yet, not received an official name – Gari refers to them as a “mystery quartet”!

“We are not going to have a name until nearer the time,” Gari told The Clare People .

Gari did not know any of the others prior to meeting them to record the Eurovision entry, but has enjoyed getting to know them over the past few weeks and says their four voices blend well together. They will sing a motown-type song titled ‘Shine On’, in their efforts to win votes.

Gari has performed musically for several years, while he also models with Assets in Dublin. He features in television advertising, the most recent of which has been his role in the 3 mobile advertising campaign. He is also a DJ with Spin South West and divides his time between the midwest, Dublin and London. Although a big music fan, he has never had any major fondness for the Eurovision – but is slowly coming around and has enjoyed the past few weeks! “I have got rid of all the hesitation of Eurovision now and will go for it,” he said.

In advance of the live performance on The Late Late Show on Friday week, Gari and his fellow Eurovision hopefuls will feature in a documentary to be shown on RTÉ television this Friday evening. Gari is urging the people of Clare to support him on Friday night week, by casting their votes. “The vote will be divided into 50 per cent from a jury of industry professionals and 50 per cent public vote,” he said.

“The focus will be on Jedward. They are favourites to win it but you would never know. We are going to go and enjoy it. The song is good,” he said.

TWO West Clare water treatment plants provided approximately 2,000 cubic metres per day of water to Ennis and Clarecastle during the freezing weather, despite suffering severe leaks.

According to figures from the Water and Sanitary Services in Clare County Council, before the thawfreeze problems at the end of December and beginning of January, the combined production of the two Doolough treatment plants were approximately 13,500 cubic metres per day.

During the period December 20, 2010, to January 6, 2011, the average production was approximately 20,700 cubic metres per day – an increase of 53 per cent on normal supply.

As about 2,000 cubic metres per day of this water was sent to the Ennis area to ensure domestic and industrial supply in Clarecastle, the amount of water being lost in the area to leaks was estimated at 18,700 cubic metres squared.

During the later half of this month the two plants were continuing to lose 25 per cent of their combined normal supply to leaks indicating that there was still a lot of work to be done in locating and repairing leaks at west Clare’s largest treatment plants.

The Gortglass Lake treatment plant lost 500 cubic metres, or 50 per cent of its usually supply, every day during the bad weather due to leaks.

Council officials attributed the relatively few cases of water loss in west Clare this winter to “good spare capacity” in west Clare treatment plants and the large sizing and relatively new condition if much of the network.

There was therefore little or no need for overnight shut-offs to allow reservoirs to replenish as had to be done in the rest of the county.

“However, even though consumers may not have been as directly affected, the leaks and losses of treated water caused by the weather were, and still remain, just as important an issues in west Clare as in the rest of the county,” explained Sean Ward, Senior Engineer with Clare County Council.

“Unsustainable additional expense has been and is being incurred in locating and repairing leaks, and in treating and pumping the additional quantities of water being demanded by the network.”

CLARE’S only retiring member of Dáil Éireann, Deputy Tony Killeen, is set to receive over a quarter of a million euro lump sum for his years of service in Leinster House, which also takes into account his time as being both a Minister of State and full member of Cabinet.

The lump sum pay-off to Fianna Fáil’s biggest vote-getter in Clare over the past two decades with 19 years Dáil service to his name is part of overall payments to retiring TDs, which is set to cost the Irish exchequer over € 10m during the next cou- ple of years.

Deputy Killeen will receive a € 276,163 once off payment for the 19 years he represented Clare in the Dáil, while his pension will be worth € 68,984 when it kicks in.

Deputy Killeen first entered political life when he was elected to Clare County Council in 1985. He retained his seat in the 1991 election and he served as both chairman of Clare County Council and the Shannon Status Committee before winning his Dáil seat in 1992 and retaining it in subsequent elections in 1997, 2002 and 2007.

Deputy Killeen’s distinction of holding down junior ministerial and full-ministerial portfolios over the past seven years will ensure that he will benefit from better pension terms than retiring deputies who were backbench TDs.

Under the pension structures for retiring TDs, former ministers are deemed to be office holders and are therefore paid an office holders’ allowance on top of their TDs salary.

Deputy Killeen was elevated to ministerial rank by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in 2004 when he was made Minister of State for Labour Affairs. After the 2007 election he became the first ever Minister of State for Environment and Energy, while in 2008 he became Minister of State for Fisheries and Forestry. His elevation to full Cabinet status came in 2010 when Brian Cowen became Taoiseach and made him Minister for Defence.

Deputy Killeen is one over 40 current Dáil deputies, who have announced their retirement ahead of the General Election, the most high profile of these being the man who appointed him to Cabinet, Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

LABOUR’S hopes of winning a Dáil seat in Clare for the first time since 1992 received another major boost this week with the confirmation that a second member of what party leader Eamon Gilmore has called “our extended family” has come out in support of Michael McNamara’s bid to be elected to the 31st Dáil.

Labour’s most successful candidate at local government level elections in Clare over the past half a century, former county councillor Martin Lafferty has backed McNamara’s campaign to become only the third Labour candidate after Paddy Hogan and Dr Mosajeé Bhamjeé to be elected to Dáil Éireann.

“I’ve met him and I’m impressed with him,” Lafferty told The Clare People this week, “and I’m backing him to get elected to the Dáil. I will do my canvassing in my own way and I have been out looking for support for his bid to get elected to the Dáil and I will be asking all the people who voted for me down the years to vote for McNamara,” added Laffterty, who was a member of Clare County Council for 33 years between 1974 to 2007.

Lisdoonvarna man Lafferty was elected as a Labour Party candidate in the Clare County Council elections of 1974, 1979, 1985 and ‘91, before leaving the party in 1992 in opposition to the party decision to go into coalition with Fianna Fáil.

“I left Labour because before the General Election in 1992 party leader Dick Spring said that ‘the culture of Fianna Fáil was a cancer of Irish society’. Labour said they wouldn’t go into coalition with Fianna Fáil but they did, so I owed it to my supporters to leave. But now I’m supporting the Labour candidate, because I am impressed by his credentials,” added Lafferty.

Lafferty’s is the latest former Labour stalwart to embrace the party’s cause in Clare once more, following on from the decision of former mayor of Clare and current member of both Clare County Council and Shannon Town Council, Cllr Patricia McCarthy to back Mr McNamara’s Dáil bid.

“The support of the extended Labour family is crucial to the party’s chances of winning a seat in Clare,” party leader Eamon Gilmore told The Clare People on a visit to the constituency two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, current mayor of Clare Cllr Christy Curtin, who is another former Labour Party member, has declared that “the jury is still out on who I will support in the election”. However, The Clare People can reveal that party activists are hopeful that behind the scenes the county’s First Citizen will back Mr McNamar’s Dáil bid, without compromising his independent status.