MAJOR benefits will flow from the completion of the new River Shannon Crossing and associated infrastructure, according to Clare County Council Chief Executive, Pat Dowling. Mr Dowling admitted the inadequacy of the existing route has been a source of frustration and debate over many years. “Today is a landmark event, signalling the exciting new future that such infrastructure will bring about. This project also brings economic, social and community benefits. With the two councils developing the new Killaloe-Ballina Town Enhancement and Mobility Plan (KBTEMP), he said this sets out ambitious plans inspired by the common goal of “two towns, one community”. He predicted the new infrastructure would enhance the area as a location for residents, businesses and tourists facilitating local, regional and national development for future years. Some of the benefits include safer roads and less town congestion, an alternative route to take through traffic and heavy goods vehicles out of both town centres, facilitate public realm projects in the …

THE Chief Clinical Director of the UL Hospitals’ Group has poured cold water on the proposed return of 24-hour emergency cover to Ennis Hospital and other Model Two acute facilities, despite a petition from a local lobby group that is supported by 15,000 signatures. The Mid-West Hospital Campaign has sent a petition calling for the restoration of round the clock casualty cover in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s Hospitals to the Dáil’s Petitions’ Committee after this was controversially removed for safety reasons in April 2009. In an extensive interview with the Clare Champion, Professor Brian Lenehan doesn’t support any move to have another ED in the Mid-West, despite the fact the group is the only one along the western seaboard that doesn’t have a Model Three Hospital. “I fundamentally believe as part of the additional bed stock we need a scheduled care hospital. “That could be a new development or the development of one of our existing hospitals, but I …

CLARE County Council has been accused in engaging in an unauthorised development in one of its social housing schemes over the alleged failure to abide by one of its own planning conditions. In recent correspondence with the council, engineer Mick Duffy called on the local authority to carry out an investigation into this alleged unauthorised development. However, responding to Clare Champion queries, the Council confirmed it would not be following up on the complaint as the issue regarding Condition 3 was addressed in March 2022 under section 179(6)(b) of the Planning and Development Act. “This section of the legislation exempts certain local authority development from the normal planning obligations where it is necessary to deal urgently with a situation which the Chief Executive considers is an emergency,” a spokesperson said. “Having regard to the ongoing housing crisis and the levels of housing need in the county, the Chief Executive, Pat Dowling utilised his powers under this section to ensure the …

A Quin-based terminally ill cancer patient has paid tribute to the late CervicalCheck campaigner, Vicky Phelan for leaving a legacy that will save lives in future generations. Ms Phelan, (48), who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2014,  died early on Monday morning in Milford Hospice, Co Limerick surrounded by her family. The Kilkenny woman, who had moved to live in Limerick, exposed the controversy around the national screening programme CervicalCheck, where she and other women were not informed that cervical cancer smear test results showing them to be in the clear were actually inaccurate. Speaking from Milford Hospice on Monday, John Wall said while family and friends knew Vicky would die at some stage, they could never be prepared for losing someone who has left such an indelible mark on peoples’ lives. In the first instance, he said Vicky would be remembered as a great mother, wife, sister, who had left a grieving husband, Jim, and her children, Amelia …

A GROUP of Clare firefighters have voted in favour of proposed industrial action in a dispute over pay and working conditions. While the final result of the ballot for industrial action in Clare hasn’t been made public, SIPTU Sectoral Organiser, Brendan O’Brien told the Clare Champion members in the retained fire service have voted “strongly in favour” of taking some form of industrial action. Mr O’Brien said the union hadn’t received any meaningful proposals to resolve this dispute from the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) or engagement from Clare County Council, apart from an acknowledgement letter. Having referred this matter to the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) and dealt directly with employers, Mr O’Brien said the union had to ballot its members for industrial action. Despite a number of recent recruitment drives by Clare County Council, Mr O’Brien claimed they had attracted very few new applicants in some cases because the overall package is not attractive enough for new entrants. Acknowledging …

THE parents of a Cross teenager, who suffered a rare spinal stroke that occurs in an estimated one in three million, have revealed the strong bond he developed with Dublin Gaelic football All-Star, Dr Jack McCaffrey. In an extensive interview with the Clare Champion, Diane Roche admitted when they first met Jack McCaffrey in Temple Street Hospital, they didn’t recognise him with his face mask, but were quickly informed by a nurse who he was. Her son, Liam was paralysed at the time from his neck down before he received extensive physiotherapy and other treatment in Temple Street and the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dublin placed him on a strong road to recovery. “Liam would be slagging Jack that Dublin senior footballers weren’t playing well and joked Jack would have to come out his retirement. When we saw Jack coming out of retirement, I said to Liam, you put that idea in his head. “I used to say to Liam …

A LOCAL support group for children with Autism has organised a Special Needs Trust Planning Seminar for all parents of children with additional needs. This information seminar, which has been set up by Ennis Voices for Autism will be delivered by Financial Wellbeing in the Temple Gate Hotel, Ennis on Wednesday, November 9 from 8 to 8.45pm. Allan Cuthbert founded Financial Wellbeing in 2008, a company dedicated to Special Needs Trust Planning. It gives him great joy to help ease the financial worries of parents who are raising a child with additional needs. This is his way of helping parents who are constantly faced with difficult choices and challenges dealing with their child’s future needs. Dolores Crowley is involved in Financial Wellbeing because she feels she can understand parents, having been a carer for her mother for more than 30-years and now for her son, David, who has additional needs. “I want to be there to give parents the knowledge …

AN Bord Pleanála has been requested to hold an oral hearing concerning a retention appeal for a controversial wind turbine near Parteen, which has been described as an “abomination” by a chartered civil engineer. Limerick Blow Moulding was recently granted retention permission by Clare County Council to retain a turbine despite a huge volume of objections from Deputy Cathal Crowe, Deputy Violet Anne-Wynne, Senator Timmy Dooley and numerous residents. On March 2, 2021, a council survey found the wind turbine was built about 37 metres to the north-east of the location, which was previously granted planning permission. The company gained permission for a revised site boundary and revised position for a single 800 KW wind turbine, 73 metres high to hub height, as granted under previous planning permissions at Gortatogher, Parteen. In a very comprehensive appeal submitted to An Bord Pleanála on behalf of the 100 Metres Tall Group, Mick Duffy requested an oral hearing given the significant issues arising …