Tag Archives: clare county council

THE Covid-19 pandemic has left it mark on Clare County Council’s coffers, writes Dan Danaher, following an 8.1% rise in the overall amount of uncollected commercial rates, which soared to €11.619 million on December 13 last. Numerous businesses throughout the county were forced to either scale down their operations or close for extended periods due to Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021. New figures obtained by the Clare Champion have revealed the rates arrears increased from €10.78 million at the end of 2017 to €11.619 million on December 13, 2021. A buoyant local and national economy helped the overall rates arrears bill to fall to €10,465 million in 2018 and it fell again to €10.043 million in 2019. However, the onset of the pandemic seems the most likely cause of an increase to €11.578 million in 2020 and €11.619 million in 2021. The figures, which were released under the Freedom of Information Act, show one large business in the county …

CLARE County Council is seeking an annual €3 million subvention for capital works to fund planned maintenance and upgrading of local Shannon Heritage sites, writes Dan Danaher. This was revealed at a briefing meeting involving senior council officials and Clare Oireachtas members on Friday. It is understood this is one of the authority’s key requirements before it will agree to the transfer of these key tourist attractions from the Shannon Group. The proposed grant, which will be subject to government approval, is being sought for about three years in view of the apparent deterioration in the condition of some of the Shannon Heritage attractions in the county. This would also help the council to cover some of the operational overheads to manage Bunratty Castle, Knappogue Castle and Craggaunowen. Deputy Michael McNamara said work is required to repair the roof on Bunratty Castle. Even though a lot of money was spent on improving the Walled Garden in Knappogue Castle a few …

TAOISEACH Micheál Martin has come under fire after an impatient response when quizzed about the future transfer of Shannon Heritage properties to Clare County Council. Responding to questions from Deputy Michael McNamara, the Taoiseach said if the council wanted to take over the sites, they should just get on with it. A due diligence process regarding the transfer of the assets, (including Bunratty Castle, Knappogue Castle and Craggaunowen) began last summer, but with the 2022 tourist season approaching, it still has not been concluded. It is understood that Clare County Council is looking for a commitment that it will receive around €9 million in capital funding over a few years if it takes over the assets, with significant improvement and maintenance works set to be required in the coming years. Clare TD Michael McNamara raised the future of sites with the Taoiseach on Tuesday, asking him for a commitment to provide Clare County Council with the backing it needs. “I …

It has been a long time since there was a parade in Ennis. The pandemic put paid to so many public celebrations. That’s why, on Saturday last when over 200 people took to the streets, there was a very brief sense that normal life was returning. There were people of all generations with banners and flags flying, grandparents gently steering small children along in the colourful crowd of marchers that set off, behind a Garda escort, from Áras Chontae an Chláir. But this parade was far from normal. There were no smiles as the gathering assembled at its focal point at The Height, in the shadow of The O’Connell Monument. Instead, stress and worry were clearly visible on the faces of children, parents and grandparents as they heard calls for action on their pyrite-damaged homes. They listened to stories of others whose homes, like theirs, have started to crack and crumble. They heard of the fear and insecurity for those …

CLARITY has been sought by several councillors on the impact of the new Residential Zoned Land Tax which the Government is to introduce in 2024. At a meeting of the Council’s Rural Development committee, members expressed concern about what the new tax could mean for land owners. In a presentation on the Draft County Development Plan 2023-2029, senior planner Helen Quinn also outlined what is known about the tax. “This is a new proposal from government and has been outlined in the Finance Act (2021), which was signed in last days of December,” she said. “It means that a tax of 3% of site value (will be levied) with the aim of activating land for residential purposes. It will replace the vacant sites levy which applied to residentially zoned lands and mixed use. The new tax will be operational from February 1 2024 and will be collected by Revenue.” Ms Quinn explained that the role of the local authority is …

MORE than 130 landowners in the Killaloe Municipal District have been contacted and reminded about their obligations to maintain hedges while the season is open until the end of February. The figure was revealed at last week’s meeting of the district committee, on foot of a motion from Councillor Pat Burke. The Whitegate member sought an update after raising the issue previously last November. There was widespread support when Councillor Burke raised the matter and told the meeting that drivers, particularly those in high-sided vehicles, were losing windscreens and wing mirrors on a regular basis.  In a written response to Councillor Burke, Niamh Madden, Senior Executive Engineer, said many landowners had complied with correspondence from the authority, but that a number of them had not.  “Between September 2021 and December 2021, one hundred and thirty five letters have been sent by the Killaloe Municipal District to land owners/occupiers outlining their obligations under under S70 of the Roads Act 1993 and …

CONTROVERSIAL plans to increase the size of the development of a primary healthcare facility have been given approved by An Bord Pleanala. Valley Healthcare Fund Infrastructure Investment Fund ICAV had lodged an appeal after Clare County Council refused permission for the plans at the former Braids site on Station Road. Last year in a split decision, the local authority refused to amend planning permission previously granted for a mixed use development that would increase the floor area from 7,250sqm to 8,008sqm with the provision of an additional floor set back at roof top level. The plans had initially included an additional deck of car parking which was later omitted by the developers. While refusing to allow the increase in size, the local authority gave the go-ahead to other aspects of the application seeking to amend the initial health care facility plans. During the local authority planning process the proposals had been the subject of a number of objections from local …

THE heat has been turned up considerably on Clare’s politicians over the level of support for homeowners affected by pyrite. As the Department of Housing continues to liaise with the Council over an application for access to a State grant scheme, emotions are running high for affected homeowners. More than 200 people marched through Ennis on Saturday afternoon in what was described as “the first of many” protests. The assembled politicians, including most of Clare’s Oireachtas members and several councillors, were warned that action is expected if they want to keep their seats. Dr Martina Cleary said Clare Pyrite Action Group (CPAG) is ready to field candidates in the local and general elections if they don’t secure access to an adequate grant scheme. “We didn’t create this, it’s their lack of legislation over decades that has created this,” Dr Cleary told the assembled media. “They better get their priorities right… Sure they’re only politicians, we can get rid of them …