Environment

A SURVEY has revealed that up to 25,000 people in Clare continue to dispose of unflushable items down their toilet causing numerous sewer blockages and creating nasty byproducts that end up on our beaches and shoreline. The survey, conducted by Irish Water and Clean Coasts, urges the public to ‘Think Before You Flush’ wipes and other sanitary items down the toilet. It revealed that those aged under 35 are twice as likely to dispose of ‘flushable’ wipes down the toilet, compared to those aged over 35. The most common items being flushed down the toilet are hair, wipes (any), paper towels, toilet wipes, dental floss, cleaning wipes, any other type of wipe, tampons, baby wipes, facial wipes, cotton buds, cigarette butts. The utility has produced a video to push the message, which offers a brief glimpse of some of the mess that can be created by these habits. According to Irish Water, no wipes whether marked ‘flushable’ or not should …

ACCORDING TO Clare County Council, the structures are in place to make sure Clare benefits from the development of renewable energy off its coast. That was the message at the September meeting of the County Council from Director of Service Liam Conneally who said development contributions are still likely to be required, even if the development is off the coast. He was responding to a motion from Kilkee-based Cillian Murphy inquiring what mechanisms were in place for Clare to benefit given “the extremely significant future investments that will be made in off-shore renewables in Clare, and in the absence of rates income for these off shore developments”. Councillor Murphy wished to clarify how, under planning legislation, these developments could deliver added income through levies for the provision of housing, amenity, waste, roads and other infrastructure necessary to ensure ourcommunities can capitalise on the increased economic activity. A written reply provided by Mr Conneally said, “The Maritime Area Planning (MAP) Act …

BACK to school blues were eased for the pupils of Flagmount National School with recent Forest School workshops in the leafy Lough Graney Valley. The event, called ‘Wild Plants Can Sing’ was part of the Forest School pilot project, funded by the Heritage in Schools Scheme.< Workshops were facilitated by Marina Levitina and Áine Ní Flatharta. Children got an opportunity to spend time outdoors in nature, as part of an inspirational process that offers opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences among the trees. Principal of Flagmount NS, Louise O’Kelly said the workshops were thoroughly enjoyed and very beneficial. “We are very fortunate to have Forest School in our parish,” she said. “Forest School integrates wonderfully with all our subjects particularly Geography and Science. Unquestionably, Forest School brings Geography and Science to life outside the classroom, fostering a deeper connection with nature. “This year, we also welcomed children from Ukraine to our school, nature is …

THE creation of a new government office tasked with getting one million electric vehicles on Irish road by 2030 has been described by a local Dáil deputy as akin to providing for “pigs driving cars”. Deputy Michael McNamara opposed an amendment to the 2021 Road Traffic and Roads Bill concerning electric vehicles on the basis it is not grounded in reality. In fact, the Independent Deputy claimed this amendment is as useful as an amendment “providing for pigs driving cars or pigs flying and the absolute necessity to regulate that”. While Deputy McNamara admired the hopes and ambitions of Energy Minister Eamon Ryan and isn’t opposed to electric vehicles, he stressed at some stage policy has to be grounded in reality. “I do have a problem with forcing cars off the road. There are very few charging points in rural Ireland even now. A bigger problem, however, is that most people in the Dáil would drive perhaps 50,000 km annually. …

A PLANNING saga involving a controversial wind turbine erected on the outskirts of Parteen took a new twist after Clare County Council granted retention planning permission. An Enforcement Notice issued by Clare County Council on March 8, 2021, requested Limerick Blow Moulding to decommission and remove a wind turbine erected near the factory on or before Thursday, April 8, 2021 following an alleged breach of a planning permission condition. However, the wind turbine, remained in situ, though it was not operational. The company applied for retention permission for a revised site boundary and revised position of a single 800 KW wind turbine, 73 metres high to hub height, as granted under previous planning permissions at Gortatogher, Parteen. Employing 70 people, with more than half living in Parteen, Clonlara and Killaloe, Limerick Blow Moulding manufactures food packaging for the Irish Dairy industry, and pharmaceutical packaging for export into the UK and Europe. Seamus Madden, c/o Limerick Blow Moulding, was granted planning …

THE operation of the soon to be decommissioned Derrybrien Wind Farm could be be transferred to a local authority to salvage something from what has become a costly debacle. Deputy Michael McNamara suggested a county council could make a new planning application with the explicit undertaking that any and all profits made from the controversial windfarm go back into protecting the environment of Slieve Aughty. That was one of the suggestions made by the Clare Deputy to salvage some positive dividend for the taxpayer amid claims the total overall loss to the state could be as high as €70 million. Following a lump sum fine of €5 million and a daily fine of €15,000 plus legal costs imposed by the European Court of Justice ruling in November 2019, the Derrybrien Wind Farm may exceed an estimated €18 million depending on when the EU decides Ireland has fully complied with its ruling. The penalties were levied after it found Ireland had …

FUTUREPROOF Clare has called for a public inquiry into seven payments totalling €4,103,625 by Shannon LNG since 2009 to Kerry County Council for a development that now looks unlikely to be built on the banks of the Shannon Estuary in view of a new government review. A new controversy has emerged concerning plans to develop a €650m liquefied natural gas (LNG) project for the Shannon Estuary between Tarbert and Ballylongford, which have been lodged to An Bord Pleanála. Last December, the entire 600-acre site of the proposed LNG terminal strategic public land in North Kerry was sold by the Shannon Group State Body to Shannon LNG for €25 million. Shannon LNG previously had an ‘option to purchase’ agreement on the site, which was agreed with Shannon Development in 2006. The project to build a major gas terminal, importing frozen gas and liquefying it then feeding it onto the Shannon Foynes gas pipeline is almost 20 years old. Shannon LNG has …

AS A decision is awaited on proposals to grant a licence for mineral prospecting in East Clare, a new song and music video has been launched to highlight concerns about mining.  Keep Tulla Untouched, which is made up of landowners in the affected townlands around Tulla and Bunratty Upper, joined forces with TAU and the Drones of Praise to launch a track featuring Dempsey and Clannad’s Pól Brennan.   The video for ‘Eist le Ceol ón Chré’, includes Dempsey and Brennan, as well as nine-year-old Joris and seven-year-old Thuan Ligtvoet. The boys are sons of founder members of Keep Tulla Untouched. The video takes inspiration from a line in the song, ‘It’s a dream for the children’, and features Dempsey dressed as a mystical warrior figure, calling on people to protect the land. “The video is beautiful,” said Jacintha van Roij of Keep Tulla Untouched. “It was shot in Leitrim, where our friends are protecting 47 townlands from gold mining. …