The Clare People Archive

PEOPLE in Clare are 1.1 times more likely to live in poverty compared to the rest of the country.

According to a Combat Poverty report, the Midwest is at the highest risk of poverty in the country, with those living in Limerick City 1.3 times more likely to live in poverty.

The study used a combined meas- ure that looked at both income levels and levels of enforced deprivation of basic necessities.

The income level for an adult is defined as below 60 per cent of the average income levels for the popu- lation and basic necessities include the ability to afford adequate cloth- ing, food and fuel.

The report showed that the Banner County’s unemployment rate was be- low the national average of 8.8 per cent, at 7.6 per cent.

The study also reports that more than a fifth of the Clare population have left school with no education or only primary education, while a quarter have third level education.

A total of 34 per cent of the popu- lation are dependant on others for food and shelter.

Meanwhile 3.1 per cent of Clare people are over the age of 65 and liv- ing alone, a figure similar to Limer- ae

The aim of the statistics, gathered through the national census for the report “Mapping Poverty”, is to in- crease the understanding of the loca- tion of poverty. The higher poverty rates were found to be in the Border, Midland and Western regions.

A GARDA was kicked in the face and a man was bitten on the ear, in a incident out- side a nightclub in Ballina, Killaloe, in the early hours of Sunday. A melee broke out at around 2am in what has been described as “a highly volatile situation.”

Two men – aged 19 and 26 – were arrested, before being released without charge. One was a local and the other from Limerick.

It’s believed that the incident was started after a bottle was thrown down a stairs and a crowd gathered. The man who received the ear injury was taken to hospital where he was detained overnight.

“Things could have been far worse if gardai were not there when the incident oc- curred. A large crowd had gathered and one incident led to another. Two people broke away from the group and one person was assaulted,” said a Garda spokesman.

THE Garda Commissioner, Noel Conroy, has said that Garda resources to combat anti-social behaviour in Kilrush will be kept under review, but in the context of demands countrywide.

According to a letter from the Commissioner’s office to Clare’s Minister for La- bour Affairs, Tony Killeen “the needs of the Kilrush District will be fully con- sidered within the context of the overall needs of the Garda Districts throughout the country.”

Garda numbers in Kilrush have increased by 16.6 per cent in the last seven years. There were 35 members of the force, of all ranks, in GUT ar ote lameatomn one mmoymmed hy compared to 30 in January 1, 1998.

The letter also stated that four superintendents had been allocated to the West Clare district over the past eight years.

He outlined a number of initiatives implemented by the Clare Division over the last year.

“Operation Acid” was initiated to stop incidents of

intimidation and criminal damage in Kilrush in late 2004 and earlier this year.

“Operation Night watch” was implemented in each urban centre throughout the county on weekend nights, to ensure public order and anti-social behaviour was addressed.

“Strict enforcement of Liquor licensing laws and the inspection of licensed premises during opening hours for underage drinking coupled with an increase in foot patrol presence has helped reduce incidents of public disorder,’ he said.

A SUCCESSFUL weekend at the All-Ireland Fleadh in Donegal saw Clare musicians and dancers take home a total of nine All-Ireland titles and 158 medals.

The biggest wins went to young Alisa Mc- Mahon from Tradraighe CCE, who won two All-Ireland titles in the under-12 Rogha Gleas eM NeM wk-by oy

Corofin’s Eimear Arkin took one gold med- al, along with several silver and bronze, for her Comhra Gaeilge.

Cathal Mac An Ri agus Tara Breen won

the Ceol Beirte and Siobhan Hogan won the senior flute competition. ;

In the group competitions, Inis Og claimed the under 18 Banna Cheoil competition, while the under-15 Grupa Cheoil title was won by the Burren Group.

Mullagh won the under-18 set dancing com- petition and Craobh na Coradh took home the senior Grupa Cheoil title.

But there was disappointment for Turlough- more Ceili as they once again came second in the senior Banna Cheoil.

A prize winners evening will take place in Cois na hAbhna in Ennis on September 17.

ENNIS has been selected for one of the first five prestigious Regional Resource Centres, under the new €27m five year Development Programme of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eire- ann.

It will be hosted by Cois na hAbhna, Clare’s traditional music centre and will service counties Clare, Limerick, Galway and Kerry.

There will be an outreach centre in Kil- rush, where the Church of Ireland has do- nated the local church.

The first five Regional Resource Centres, which are at the hub of the Development Programme, will be Dundalk, Ennis, Dub- lin, Gurteen and Cashel.

The five year plan aims to make our cul- tural assets a part of everyday life, visible, accessible and fully realised in terms of the

benefits they bring to the economy.

Dr Charlie Lennon, the well-known tra- ditional musician and composer, introduced the first year’s progress report of the pro- gramme and said that Comhaltas were pleased to announce that it was “now well ahead of target.”

THE Irish Rural Dwellers Association has called for an urgent meeting in Clare with Environment Minister Dick Roche.

The Kilbaha-based lobby group, which is made up of 26 members nationally, wants to discuss its concerns over the New Housing Guidelines published by the Minister.

In a submission, the IRDA

argued that individual plan- ners have “extraordinary powers of decision-mak- ing” when it comes to visual amenity, seeking personal details, and establishing housing need.

It also outlined concerns at “planners’ powers to over- turn reports by consultant engineers and other profes- sionals on matters as funda- mental as, public health and NCA ae

“The fact that the Gov- ernment felt it necessary to publish these guidelines is recognition of the planning turmoil relating to single ru- ral housing in all areas,” said acting secretary of IRDA, Clare-based Jim Connolly.

PUY Oi romm ethos menie vited to address an IRDA conference “Rural Housing – A Rural Right” at the Kilkee Bay Hotel, on Wednesday August 31.

THE SCRAMBLE by hotel operators to build and extend new hotels in Clare’s tourist desti- nations, in order to take advantage of tax 1n- centives, is meeting with mixed results.

Clare County Council has granted planning permission for the fourth hotel along Lahinch Main Street, but plans to extend the Liscan- nor Bay Hotel have been thrown out by the Council.

In giving the go-ahead for the Lahinch pro- posal, the Council granted planning to Wil- liam Stackpoole to demolish a cottage on Main Street and construct a small hotel.

Permission was granted despite an objec- tion from businessman, Donal Kenny, who owns the nearby Kenny Woollenmills and the Avondale apartments.

Mr Kenny argued that if the Council was

to allow the development proceed, it would greatly reduce the amenity and value of his property.

As for the proposal for a significant exten- sion to the Liscannor Bay Hotel by Brian J O’ Higgins, the Council ruled that the propos- al would be contrary to the proper planning and development of the area.

The two applications formed part of what the Council’s Head of Planning, Ger Dollard described as “25 years of development” ear- lier this year. In order for the developments to avail of the tax incentives, they must be com- pleted by July of next year.

In all, the Council has received planning ap- plications for 588 holiday homes, 133 apart- ments, 9 new hotels, extensions to 6 existing hotels, a cinema, department store, leisure centre and 2 marinas.

THE west is to bear the brunt of the biggest job cuts in the health sector, raising fears that the service will be set back 20 years.

There are worries that two of Ennis’s hos- pitals will be severely effected, when the HSE puts in place its “Value for Money Pro- eramme’, by cutting 153 jobs in the Western area.

According to a circular to the Directors of Human Resources and other senior health ex- ecutives, which has been seen by The Clare People,, the largest number of job losses will be in the west of the country, which includes County Clare.

Voluntary organisations associated with the former Mid Western Health Board will also to be affected by the cuts.

Areas such as recruitment, training and de- velopment, including nursing and midwifery planning and development units, population health and health promotions are being target- ed in a strategy to reduce posts in the health sector by 600 before the end of the year.

Irish Nurses Organisation spokesperson Patsy Doyle said nurses are particularly con- cerned about cuts in recruitment and the nurs- ing and midwifery planning units.

“We are genuinely concerned. We have been waiting for an additional night nurse for A and E in Ennis for over a year,’ she said.

Nurses also believe that a shortage of staff at St Joseph’s Hospital in Ennis will not be PYOCGb Ken NoLem

The midwifery planning and development unit under threat, ensures that nurses are available when others retire, and provides post grad courses and inservice for nursing SEIOE

“Cuts to this service will set us back 20 years,’ claimed Ms Doyle.

A spokesperson for the HSE Mid West Area said the organisation was aware of the propos- als . “A great deal of consideration will have to be devoted to this matter including exten- sive discussions with the various trade unions and professional bodies,” he said.

The circular to the HR directors said, “Op- portunities for non replacement due to retire- ment, transfers, promotion etc., particularly in those areas referred to above shall be criti- cally examined in meeting these targets,” the memo continued.

New posts being created by the HSE in 2005 under the A and E and the Intellectual Disability development plans, will not be af- fected.

GARDAI fear that three shotguns stolen in Clare over the weekend may be used for armed crime and have issued a warning to people to keep their firearms secure.

Two “Beretta” under and over double-barrelled shotguns, with a combined value of up to €7,000, were stolen from a car parked outside a licensed premises at Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, on Sunday evening. The owner of the car, a man from East Clare, had been attending a clay pigeon shoot in Kilmurry earlier that day.

A double-barrelled shotgun was stolen from a house at Kilcarroll, on the Kildysart road in Kil- rush, between noon and 6pm on Saturday. This was the second time a shotgun was stolen in the Kilrush area in the past two months. A shotgun was stolen from a parked car at The Square in June.

Gardai are asking owners of firearms not to leave their firearms in vehicles, either locked or unlocked.

“These guns end up in the hands of criminals, who use them for shootings, killings and robber- ies. We are appealing to all gun owners to be ex- tra careful with regard to where they leave their guns. If guns are not cared for as they should be, their licences will not be renewed,’ said Ennis Superintendent John Kerin

A LIMERICK woman ac- cused of a number of fraud offences in Shannon has been remanded on bail at En- nis District Court.

Anita Hayes, of 65 Delmege Park, Limerick, is accused of

cashing a stolen cheque for €1,900, at AIB in Shannon. She is also accused of pass- ing a stolen Laser card to purchase a combo television at Xtra Vision in Shannon. It’s alleged the offences were committed last January. She is also charged with forgery of a cheque.

Inspector Michael Gal- lagher said he was concerned that the accused was facing a number of “very serious” charges. But the accused was remanded on bail – on her own bond of €100 and an independent surety of €500 – to appear again in court next month.