Tag Archives: Councillor Pat Daly

DUBLIN Airport officials have been told they should be careful what they wish for, after unprecedented overcrowding at the facility in recent weeks. At the May Council meeting, a joint motion from Councillors Daly, Crowe, Begley, McMahon, Killeen, O’Gorman and Keating, called on the Department of Transport to divert spare capacity to Shannon Airport. “Dublin has clearly been unable to cater for what it has while Shannon needs more passengers,” the motion outlined.  Councillor Pat Daly outlined that he had recently met a woman from County Offaly at Shannon Airport. “She thought it was brilliant,” he said. “That shows we should be marketing to the Midlands. It’s only and hour and half from Ennis.” Councillor John Crowe said, “We should be saying ‘I told ye so’. Dublin wanted it all for the last 20 years. They got it all and they can’t deal with it.  For a short-haul flight, you have to be there between two and three hours ahead; …

DISCUSSIONS need to be had with landowners in a bid to find a solution to “major traffic congestion on a daily basis” at a popular school on the outskirts of Ennis, according to a local councillor. Knockanean National School has experienced a “huge increase of pupils” in recent years Councillor Pat Daly informed a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District. He added that traffic issues have “been going on the last 30 years, and something needs to be done”. The councillor was told that while a design has been completed for an upgrade of the road, there is no funding available for the purchase of lands. Councillor Daly suggested that the council talk to the landowners with a view to acquiring land to allow for a widening of the road leading up to the national school from the Ennis side. He also asked would the council consider a Compulsory Purchase Order, adding that the local authority could make another application …

ASSURANCES have been sought on the Garda response to “intense violence” in a number of recent incidents that have gone viral in videos on social media.  Deputy Joe Carey asked Clare’s most senior Garda about the issue at this week’s meeting of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC). Chief Superintendent Seán Colleran said some of the incidents have resulted in court appearances.  “You will be aware of a number of incidents that have been circulating on social media, with really intense violence being portrayed,” Deputy Carey told the Chief. “I have fed that back to yourselves. Possibly, you’re not in a position to comment on those, with ongoing investigations, but it is a matter of concern in the community that this type of activity would be ongoing. I’d like if you could reassure the public today that An Garda Síochána are doing everything in your power to bring these people to justice.” Responding, Chief Superintendent Colleran confirmed that the force is …

A RISE in theft from shops is putting small business owners under severe pressure, Clare’s Joint Policing Committee (JPC) has heard.  An increase of 69% in reported incidents was revealed by Chief Superintendent Seán Colleran, who said the spike seems to coincide with the reopening of the economy. The figures relate to the period of November to January when compared to the same period in 2020/21. “The one thing about theft form shops is that there’s quite a high detection rate,” the Chief said. “Whereas the figure itself can be alarming, certainly we have strong investigative processes for that.” Nonetheless, the numbers were described by Councillor Pat Daly as “alarming”. “There are shops who can’t afford CCTV and they are being robbed every day of the week,” he said. “I would appeal to our Oireachtas members to see if grant support can be provided because every shop should have CCTV. In this day and age, there should be some sort …

FRUSTRATION with the waiting time for decisions on planning appeals has been expressed by members of Clare County Council.  A joint motion from Councillors Pat Daly, Mark Nestor and John Crowe made a call for staffing levels at the appeals board to be increased. The members also agreed that more planners should be appointed to Clare County Council to handle a predicted surge in applications in 2022.  “The normal planning appeals decision time with An Bord Pleanála is four months,” Councillor Daly told the December Council meeting. “In recent times, the decision process at the board has totally gone over control… So many appeals in Clare are with An Bord Pleanála for up to 12 months. “One, in particular is a proposed plaza for the outskirts of Ennis. Clare County Council gave its full planning permission 12 months ago creating up to 130 jobs and there’s still no decision [on the appeal]. The reply the frustrated applicant get from the …

DISCUSSIONS are underway with a view to installing a filter light for those travelling from the Limerick Road to Old Gaol Road in Ennis, the local authority have confirmed. Councillor Pat Daly highlighted the need for the light at the monthly meeting of the council at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District where he urged the council, “to install a filter right arrow on the traffic lights at the Clare Road, adjacent to the tyre centre, to accommodate traffic coming from the Limerick Road side who presently are finding it very difficult to turn right in the Gaol Road.” Ian Chaplin, Executive Engineer, responded, “The Ennis Municipal District recently installed two hatch boxes at this junction to assist access from Clare Road Tyres and the hatch box at the Captain Macs Cross side of the junction should assist the traffic flow as buses will not be obstructed when turning left out of Old Goal Road. The Ennis MD …

CHILDREN walking to a local school are being forced out onto the road due to localised flooding, writes Jessica Quinn. Calls are being made on the local authority to carry out works over the school summer holidays to address flooding issues, and a “current road safety hazard” at Doora National School. The Ennis Municipal District is now set to contact the school to identify their concerns. Councillor Johnny Flynn, speaking at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District urged the Council to, “carry out works over the summer school holiday period to reduce the current road safety hazard being experienced by Doora National School going children and vulnerable pedestrian road users”. The councillor said issues of speed and volume of vehicles at that location were problematic, and that the works would also address the winter localised flooding at the location which at times forces children out onto the road carriageway. He said that there are around 100 vulnerable road …

AN incentive scheme to encourage those who witness the “scourge of illegal dumping” to come forward and report it to the authorities has been proposed by an Ennis councillor. Councillor Pat Daly believes that an award scheme which recognises those who come forward publicly should be put in place, and he has received the backing of his council colleagues. Speaking at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District he urged that the Council “consider finding ways to incentivise civic-minded members of the public to report incidences of illegal dumping in the Ennis municipal district area and, where possible, make evidence available”. The councillor commented, “There are two types of people who see illegal dumping and want to report it. One is someone who gives the information and wants to stay anonymous, but the other is a person that has no problem reporting and is prepared to give evidence. “This is a suggestion, but some award scheme should be given …