Tag Archives: Ger Dollard

By Jessica Quinn THE controversial apartment complex in Ennis known as The Fairways has been put on the market for just €75,000, with members of Ennis Town Council urging that the property described as a “blight on the landscape” be bought by the local authority. Last summer the privately owned building near Marian Avenue hit the headlines when it was heavily criticised by council members calling for something to be done with the derelict site that was deemed not fit for human habitation. This week at a meeting of Ennis Town Council, Councillor Brian Meaney requested that a loan be raised to purchase and renovate the apartment complex for the provision of appropriate social housing. He acknowledged that the property is in “very poor condition” however he said that sum of €75,000 for the complex is “paltry”. “It’s well within the ability of Ennis Town Council,” he added. Responding to the motion, town clerk Leonard Cleary stated, “This property is …

By Dan Danaher and Carol Byrne LORD Inchiquin, Conor O’Brien, is up in arms over the lack of Government funding and planning for the Brian Boru Millennium celebrations. In an exclusive interview with The Clare Champion, the head of the O’Brien clan, who is the 32nd indirect descent to Brian Ború, issued stinging criticism against Ministers Leo Vradkar and Jimmy Deenihan, claiming the national launch in Trinity College in January came “18 months too late”. During his last meeting with Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan, the 18th Baron of Inchiquin proposed the Government allocate €150,000 to organise celebrations in Killaloe, Clontarf and Cashel, which could have generated €600,000 for the country if Armagh agreed to contribute a similar amount. However, this proposal wasn’t taken up and instead county groups only received a relatively small amount of funding. Accusing the Government of adopting a very “short-sighted” approach, he recalled last January he was advised by Tourism Minsiter Leo Varadkar that groups could apply …

LEGAL costs which could be more than €500,000 for Ennis Town Council’s defence of two High Court challenges to national legislation are “significant cause for concern” for the local authority. In 2013 Ennis Town Council were involved in two separate cases as a defendant. One case related to the Ennis Casual Trading Bylaws 2011, representing a challenge to the Casual Trading Act 1995 and in particular the status of casual trading on market rights. The council incurred legal costs of €147,000 in relation to this matter. Currently, the council is involved in a separate High Court case regarding the deregulation of the taxi regime. A number of sample cases are being heard in relation to this, including one involving Ennis. The legal costs relating to this are estimated to be in the region of between €300,000 and €450,000. Concern about the cost of the legal battles in defending national legislation to the local authority was outlined at this week’s meeting …

THE redevelopment of Ennis’ market has moved a step closer this week with members of Ennis Town Council agreeing to seek a loan for the proposed plan for Garraunakilla. The council will be looking for a loan of €1.75 million from the government to facilitate the proposed works, with the construction of the covered market itself expected to cost less than half a million while much of the funding would also be spent on improvements to the general area. Members of the council gave their backing to the planned re-vamp of the market on Monday evening, with council officials stressing that this is just “one step in a process”. According to town manager Ger Dollard there will be full consultation, funding will have to be sourced and a tender process will have to be gone through before any works are carried out. He emphasised, “the users of the market will have to be happy with the facility, we want this …

ENNIS has so far escaped the brunt of Storm Brigid, however town manager Ger Dollard has warned, “the danger has not passed.” He outlined that river levels are in the “red zone”, with a high risk of flooding still in place. And he urged members of the public to remain vigilant as stormy weather conditions are expected to continue. The town manager was speaking at a meeting of Ennis Town Council this week where he pointed out that the town’s flood defences have been working well. “Despite the very heavy rain and high tide Ennis has performed exceptionally well over the last number of weeks,” he said. He outlined that there have been major improvements to flood defences in recent years with a number of works carried out at various locations including the Gort Road Flood Relief Scheme. While work on phase 2 of the Ennis Flood Relief Scheme continues. And he stated that since the flooding of 2009 the …

THE number of anti-social complaints about residents of local authority houses in Ennis has fallen. In 2012 there were six non-drug related anti-social behaviour complaints made to the council, while in 2013 that figure was five latest figures have shown. There were no drug related anti-social behaviour complaints made in either 2012 or 2013. A total of 46 complaints relating to nuisance or breach of tenancy were made to the council in 2013, up slightly from 44 in the previous year. While the number of warning letters issued is also down, from seven in 2012 to just two in 2013. The figures, contained in the annual report for the estate management unit of Ennis Town Council, show an overall downward trend in issues surrounding local authority housing in the town. Town clerk Ger Dollard attributed this to the council’s policy of early intervention, adding that CCTV and the support of the gardai have also been of assistance. The report was …

AN estimated €1 million is expected to be spent on the provision of a proposed new off-street car park in Ennis’ town centre, it has been revealed. Full details have yet to be released, however Ennis Town Council have confirmed that the council proposes to acquire additional land in the county capital for the car park. According to Ger Dollard, Ennis town manager, “The council proposes to acquire additional land for off-street car parking in the town centre area and the estimated costs of acquisition and development of this land are of the order of €1 million. A report will be presented to council when contracts have been signed for the purchase of the site.” In relation to the future of parking improvements for the town, Mr Dollard added, “The council will continue to improve and enhance car parking facilities throughout the town. These improvements will include new parking provisions, upgrading existing car parks and associated equipment and capital investment …