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THE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of four additional deaths related to Covid-19. Of the deaths reported today, all occurred in April. There has been a total of 4,835 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Friday, April 16, the HPSC has been notified of 420 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There has now been a total of 243,238* confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 211 are men / 206 are women 74% are under 45 years of age The median age is 32 years old As of 8am today, 183 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 50 are in ICU. 7 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours. As of April 15, 2021, 1,155,599 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland: 814,470 people have received their first dose 341,129 people have received their second dose

A quantity of suspected cannabis worth an estimated €50,000 has been seized by Gardaí in Clare. The discovery was made on Friday  during the search of a wooded area near Clarecastle. Two males were arrested, one in his mid-forties and one in his late fifties. Both are currently detained at Garda Stations in the Clare Garda Division under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Acting, 1996. They can be held for up to seven days. In follow up searches at a number of locations in the Ennis area, approximately €2000 of suspected cocaine and drug dealing paraphernalia have been seized. The operation is being led by Divisional Drugs Units from Clare and Limerick with assistance of the ASU and other local units. All of the drugs seized will be forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for analysis. The investigation is ongoing and further updates will follow.

YEARS of uncertainty for Moneypoint employees came to an end last week, with the direction for their plant being unveiled, and assurances that their jobs will be sustained into the future. In addition the construction of new infrastructure and support services are set to see the creation of hundreds of new jobs, providing a massive and overdue economic boost for West Clare. After coal burning ceases in 2025, the plant will continue in back-up mode, until the first phase of the new green energy development comes on stream three years later. The lack of a plan for a future after coal burning ended was a huge concern for west Clare, while significant job losses at the plant in 2019 meant the outlook was rather bleak, but one worker said that staff have been thrilled with last week’s development. “From the feedback I’m getting, everyone is over the moon and everyone is delighted. They’re going to use the site below to …

MAJOR changes to governance and staffing have been introduced recently in Cahercalla Community Hospital and Hospice to address shortcomings identified in the latest Health Information and Quality Authority inspection. That’s according to Cahercalla Board chairman, Dr Michael Harty, who has admitted the standard of care fell below normal standards during a major Covid-19 outbreak. A risk inspection by HIQA over three days on January 20, January 30 and February 1 found Cahercalla was non-compliant with 12 national regulations. While Cahercalla went 10 months without contracting any Covid-19 case, it had 23 confirmed cases among residents from December 28 to the end of January, of which four passed away, which was a matter of great regret to Cahercalla. Even though Cahercalla did fall short of HIQA standards during the Covid-19 outbreak, Dr Harty reassured families of patients the facility is now on a very strong footing and has addressed all the issues raised by the independent regulatory authority. Given Cahercalla is …

DISCRIMINATION is being experienced by the vast majority of Clare’s LGBTQ+ community, a new survey has found. In research conducted by a number of local agencies, including the Clare Public Participation Network (PPN), as part of the LGBTQ+ Clare project, 70% of those who responded reported facing discrimination because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. An online meeting will take place later this month as a forum for members of the community to share their views and experiences and address a sense of isolation, which a majority of respondents also reported. Another major issue of concern that emerged from the research is the need for social outlets and supports. 80% of respondents said they would like more opportunities to connect with community members. Over half of all respondents did not feel sufficiently connected and supported in their community.  One of those who gave her views to researchers said, “I would love a way to meet other LGBTQ people in Clare and just …

BETWEEN 50 and 100 jobs will be created to provide a new €50 million Synchronous Compensator in Moneypoint Power Station as part of the ESB’s exciting new €5 billion Green Atlantic development, reports Dan Danaher. This Synchronous Compensator, which will be the largest of its kind in the world, will provide a range of electrical services to the electricity grid, which would previously have been supplied by thermal-fired power stations. Its operation will enable higher volumes of renewables on the system. While Moneypoint plant manager, Sean Hegarty was unable this week to provide an exact number of new jobs in advance of signing this major new work contract for the site, he estimates a major construction of this scale usually requires between 50 and 100 people. It is estimated the construction of the new offshore windfarm will create up to 600 new jobs, pending planning approval. This new Synchronous Compensator will be sub contracted to a major manufacturer who may …

FRUSTRATION is growing among Parteen residents over the failure to remove a controversial wind turbine located near a local factory, reports Dan Danaher. A few weeks ago, Clare County Council requested a local developer to decommission and remove a controversial wind turbine erected near a Parteen factory on or before Thursday, April 8 following an alleged breach of a planning permission condition. According to a Council enforcement notice, the turbine and base structure as constructed is allegedly not sited at the location as permitted under planning permission initially granted in 2010 and is therefore not in compliance with this approval. If within the specified period the steps required under the enforcement notice have not been taken, the Council warned the developer may be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months. Seamus Madden, c/o Limerick Blow Moulding, was granted planning permission to erect …

THE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of fewer than five additional cases of Covid-19 in Clare along with 11 additional deaths related to Covid-19 nationally. Of the deaths reported today, three occurred in April, one occurred in March, two in February and five occurred in January or earlier. The median age of those who died was 88 years and the age range was 77-94 years. There has been a total of 4,831 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Thursday, April 15, the HPSC has been notified of 420 confirmed cases of Covid-19.There has now been a total of 242,819* confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 218 are men / 197 are women 74% are under 45 years of age The median age is 32 years old 147 in Dublin, 41 in Meath, 33 in Donegal, 26 in Galway, 18 in Limerick and the remaining 155 cases are spread across all …