Environment

WHILE Clare was under a red alert for a number of hours last Friday morning, the damage wasn’t as bad as had been feared, but on Sunday Storm Franklin caused more problems than had been expected, writes Owen Ryan. There was an orange order in place in the county for much of the day, and Cormac Falvey of the county’s fire service said that there had been a number of calls, although there was little structural damage. “There was nothing special really, there were 20 storm related calls from 10am on Sunday until 1am on Monday. The peak of that was from 17.00 and 19.00. I think all bar two of those were down to trees down, the other two were down to poles down on roads.” While storms often hit coastal areas hardest, that wasn’t the case on Sunday with inland areas suffering more of the damage. “There were five different stations mobilised down over the course of the …

ENTRIES are still open for the Primary Science Fair 2022, which will take place virtually in schools across the country on March 29 and 30. Since 2001, the Primary Science Fair has been an integral part of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE), allowing younger students, from third to sixth class, to develop their interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) in a non-competitive environment and encouraging them to become future participants in the overall exhibition. Following on from the success of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in January of this year, the Primary Science Fair is now seeking project entries from primary school students before the closing date of Friday, February 25 2022. Organisers hope that engaging in the Primary Science Fair will open the world of science to younger students and ignite a lifelong interest in all things STEM-related. The projects will be showcased and presented to past winners, judges, and BTYSTE alumni …

MINISTER for Transport Eamon Ryan faced questions on a range of issues when he met Clare county councillors on last week’s visit. Topics like the future of farming, limits on development in Clare and the impact of increased carbon levies were all on the agenda. While the Green Party have some support in Clare there is no doubt there is also a large degree of animosity towards them, and that was reflected in much of what was said by the councillors. However there was also a large degree of respect towards Ryan for coming to Clare to engage with them, and for the fact that he stood by his views even though many of those he was addressing disagreed with him. Mr Ryan told the meeting that the scale and speed of the change required to deal with climate change is “beyond compare”. He also said that he believes a consensus must be built, if it is to be effective. …

IT was back to school for Environment Minister Eamon Ryan when he visited Ennis last week. The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport paid a visit to Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg where he joined in with their walking bus. The walking bus has proven to be a massive success with pupils at the Gort Road primary school since its introduction two years ago. And on Friday the Green Party Minister got to see first hand how the children have been doing their bit to help the environment by walking to school. During the visit the minister also spoke with principal Dónal Ó hAiniféin on the importance of cycle lanes for the town, as well plans for the school’s new extension. Mr Ó hAiniféin told us,“Like other schools we have been dealing with traffic issues for many years, the dropping off and pick up in those 15 or 20 minute period when things are quite busy. “Instead …

WHILE Eamon Ryan wanted to stress how aware he is of the importance of farmers in preserving the environment, he would have been left with few illusions about how suspicious farmers are of his party after last week’s meeting. Councillor Pat Burke left little room for doubt where he stood when he addressed the meeting. “I’m a full time farmer and I’m not a fan of the Green Party” He claimed that the party is “very anti-rural” while he stressed the care that himself and many other rural dwellers have taken good care of their environment for many years. Councillor Burke said that he had contacted the office of Minister of State for Land Use & Biodiversity about ash dye back, but hadn’t heard anything at all in return. He also told the Minister that his department has been able to find money for cycle lanes and the likes around Ennis, but hasn’t been able to do anything for a …

TWO large Bauxite Residue Disposal Areas (BRDA) totalling an estimated 450 acres are akin to a “ticking time bomb” on the site of the largest European alumina facility located near the Shannon Estuary, a Dáil deputy has claimed. In a hard-hitting statement issued in the Dáil this week, Deputy Paul Murphy of People Before Profit claimed “there is a toxic time bomb ticking at Rusal Aughinish Alumina Limited (AAL) near Askeaton”. . “I remember visiting it when it was Aughinish Alumina, almost ten years ago, and meeting local campaigner Pat Geoghegan, who I believe the Taoiseach met when he was Minister for Health. I saw a massive, red mud storage area, which is now so big it can be seen from space. “It comprises 50 million tonnes of toxic waste. Uranium, lead, mercury and hazardous salt cake are contained within it. “It seeps into the estuary, it kills wildlife and it threatens public health. It is a result of bauxite …

TWELVE Clare communities are getting support so they can step up local efforts to protect native plants and animals by developing biodiversity plans. The supports are being provided by The Community Foundation for Ireland in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage as part of a joint Environment and Nature Fund, which is now in its third year. Funding is being provided under two strands so Clare communities can respond to a biodiversity emergency which has seen many native species under immediate and ongoing threat. Under the first strand grants are being provided so that 10 Clare groups can assess the impact of the emergency amongst native species in the countryside, woodlands and along riverbeds.  These groups are: Lisdoonvarna Fáilte CLG; Quin Tidy Towns and Development; Ballynacally Tidy Towns; Newmarket-on-Fergus Tidy Towns; Kilkeedy Community Group; Ogonnelloe Community Centre CLG (trading as Ogonnelloe Exchange); Cooraclare Tidy Towns; Ruan Tidy Towns; Barefield …

THERE has been a welcome in East Clare for a period of additional consultation on a multimillion Euro windfarm proposed for the slopes of Slieve Bearnagh, writes Fiona McGarry. Controversy surrounded the initiation public consultation phase for the Carrownagowan Windfarm, which was submitted as Strategic Infrastructure in November 2020, because public health restrictions prohibited gatherings and meetings during the window for submissions. Over the course of last year, An Bord Pleanála sought Further Information on the 19-turbine proposal from developers, Coillte. The board has now judged the material received to be ‘significant’, meaning that it must go on public display, with an opportunity for members of the public to make submissions on it until 5.30pm on March 14. “The information received by An Bord Pleanála was deemed to be significant so it’s now very important that people review this material and make themselves aware of what is involved,” said Councillor Pat Hayes. “The period for submissions on the new information …