News

THE lack of a definite date for the removal of the precautionary boil notice attached to the Ennis water supply and concern over the delay in tackling excess lead in some of the old pipe network around the town has prompted a renewed call for an independent investigation into difficulties with water quality and quantity.Councillor Johnny Flynn has repeated his call for a thorough independent review of the new permanent €7.5 million Ennis water treatment plant and the lack of decisive action to eliminate the risk of further lead breaches in the town’s supply.

There have been a small number of suspected and confirmed cases of swine flu amongst pupils in Mid-Clare primary and secondary schools. One pupil at St Joseph’s Secondary School in Tulla has been confirmed with swine flu. It is understood that the child developed flu-like symptoms last weekend and is now being kept at home while treatment is administered.

AN outbreak of indiscriminate dog fouling in Kilrush has led to some local people picking up unexpected injuries, it emerged at last week’s monthly Kilrush Town Council meeting. It was also pointed out at the meeting that dogs caught fouling while on a leash will lead to their owners being fined, while bizarrely, owners whose dogs foul while not on a leash, will not be punished.

While approximately 20 people were arrested in Kilkee last weekend, Kilkee Garda Sergeant Gerry Lernihan has described the number of incidents as “very minimal”. Up to 20,000 people visited the resort town for the third annual three-day Cois Fharraige music festival.

THE dispute over redundancy terms at Element Six could come to an end in the next week.Unions and management are due to meet under the auspices of the Labour Court this Thursday and the court is likely to issue its recommendations in the coming days.

A BUS used by the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) to provide transport to people with disabilities in rural areas has been vandalised for the second time in six weeks. Last weekend one of the specially equipped buses had its front windscreen smashed and its side wing mirror pulled off the vehicle while it was parked outside the Clare’s offices of the IWA at Centre Point Business Park, Orchard Lane, Ennis.

WORLD Suicide Prevention Day was marked in Ennis last Thursday by Mayor Frankie Neylon, who lit a candle at the Samaritans Centre on the Kilrush Road. The lighting of the candle was to symbolise the support the Samaritans offers to people during the darker times of their lives.