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THE latest Residential Property Price Barometer from IPAV, the Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers, covering the first half of 2022, showed Clare had among the largest price increases in the country. In the three-bedroom category, Clare saw a price increase of 11.52%, the second highest in the country, while in the four-bedroom category Clare prices increased by 9.81%, the third highest in the country. In the two-bedroom apartment category, Clare prices were up by 10.56%, the second highest increase in the country. Pat Davitt, IPAV Chief Executive, said that while prices across the country increased over the six-month period, the rate of increase slowed towards its end. “In the first four months the overall increase would have been of the order of 10% but changes during May and June brought the six months figure to 6.36 per cent. “In the latter two months the practice of increasing reserves – where the price expectations of neighbourhood sellers tend to escalate …

European democracy is sometimes taken for granted. However, our EU democracy is unique as it places citizens’ well-being and rights at the heart of policymaking. We should treasure our values, freedoms and democratic systems, which are part and parcel of EU membership. This message highlights the forthcoming State of the European Union address – the EU’s most important annual policy speech. The speech is delivered every September by the President of the European Commission and takes stock of the past year, as well as setting out the Commission’s priorities and ambitions for the year ahead. This September 14, President Ursula von der Leyen delivers her speech as the EU emerges from the coronavirus pandemic crisis but is now facing with a new crisis: Russia’s unjustified war against Ukraine and its fallout, including pressing challenges in relation to energy supply. The European Commission has successfully coordinated the EU’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and procured safe and effective vaccines. It also …

The need to extend the opening hours of the Ennis Local Injury Unit (LIU) to a 24-hour basis has been highlighted by Senator Roisín Garvey after her “traumatic experience” spending two days on a trolley in University Hospital Limerick last June. Senator Garvey was referred from Ennis to UHL on June 4 after breaking her leg the previous evening. Senator Garvey recalled there were trolleys on the corridors and on wards when she was admitted to the ED in UHL. After spending about two days on a trolley, the Green Party Senator got a bed in a ward on Monday morning. “I was in a hallway and then I got moved into a ward corridor. I was nearly better off in the hallway downstairs than in the ward corridor because I felt I was in everyone’s way. I was moved in the middle of the night, which seemed strange. “When I was on a trolley on the ward I was …

GARDAÍ in Clare have warned “people of all ages and all walks of life are falling victim to fraud on a daily basis”. This comes as a man was scammed out of a “substantial” sum of money in the county after falling victim to fraudsters claiming to be from Eir. Sergeant Triona Brooks, Crime Prevention Officer outlines that gardaí received a report during the week from a gentleman who had received a call from someone purporting to be from Eir saying that their internet had been hacked. The caller requested that the man go online and enter his details. “He did this and then realised that it was a scam and he is at a loss of a substantial sum of money,” said Sergeant Brooks. “We need everyone to spread the word, people of all ages and all walks of life are falling victim to fraud on a daily basis. Anyone who rings, texts or emails you out of the …

A NEW petition containing 15,000 signatures supporting the upgrading of acute hospitals in the Mid-West including Ennis Hospital has been submitted by a lobby group to the Dáil Petitions Committee. This action was taken by the Mid West Hospital Campaign to put the spotlight on the need to tackle overcrowding at UHL and to address the situation of timely access to safe and proper healthcare in the Mid-West. The petition calls for the upgrading of Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s Hospital to Model Three acute facilities and the re-opening of emergency departments. It will be heard before the Dáil petitions committee this September 14. Campaign spokeswoman, Noeleen Moran said, there are 80 people lying on trolleys in the corridors of UHL and thousands more wait on lists for treatment. “We need our hospital upgraded and we need the emergency department reinstated. Clare people deserve timely access to proper healthcare.” A recent HIQA report highlights that UL Hospitals group is the …

GARDAI have issued home security advice following an incident in west Clare which culminated in a homeowner’s car being stolen. Between 11pm on Sunday night, September 11 and 7.30am on Monday morning, entry was gained to a house in the Churchfield estate in Doonbeg. The front door of the house was unsecure and the key to the owner’s van was taken from inside. Her van, a silver Hyundai IX35 registration number 141 CE 118, was stolen from the driveway. Meanwhile in Shannon last Friday, September 9, between 1.30am and 7am, entry was gained to a house in the Ros Min estate in Tullyvarragh and a black Samsung phone and a wallet was stolen. The front door was also unsecure in this house. Gardai have pointed out that one in six winter time burglaries involve entry through an unsecured access point and have issued the following advice. 1. Whether at home or going out, turn on some lights, use timer switches. …

SEPTEMBER marks Sepsis Awareness Month and the HSE is urging everyone to be aware of this highly lethal condition, to be familiar with the signs and symptoms and be ready to ask: “Could this be Sepsis?” This Tuesday, September 13, the HSE is raising awareness of Sepsis on World Sepsis Day. One in five people who develop sepsis will die, but with early recognition and good treatment, this risk can be reduced. Recent HSE figures reported in excess of 12,000 people were treated for sepsis in hospital last year with approximately one in five people dying as a result of developing sepsis. The true figure is likely to be much higher than this. For context, Sepsis kills more people each year than heart attacks, stroke or almost any cancer. Sepsis is a global healthcare problem with an annual death toll in excess of 11 million people. The illness usually begins as a simple infection. This can start anywhere in or …

FOUR projects in county Clare will share €197,754 in funding under the CLÁR programme. Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys has announced a total of €2.75 million to support 74 community projects nationwide in the latest tranche of funding under the scheme. The successful projects in Clare are: St Flannan’s NS Inagh – €50,000 (Inagh community car park – resurfacing car park, disabled parking and green school biodiversity) Doonbeg Tidy Towns – €47,754 (Fair green community sensory garden) Miltown Malbay NS – €50,000 (Multi-Use Games Area) Cloonanaha NS – €50,000 (Develop community garden and outdoor recreation area) Commenting on the announcement, Deputy Cathal Crowe said, “I’m delighted to see these four projects be successful today in their bids for funding under the CLÁR programme. “Not only do these grants benefit to schools and committees that they are allocated to, they also have a huge positive impact on these rural communities as a whole. “Our sports clubs, schools and …