News

TRAINS will not run on the first phase of the Western Rail Corridor until at least December, even though work on the track is finished and the opening is already several months behind schedule. Iarnród Éireann would not reveal the cause of the delay but confirmed that trains will not travel between Limerick and Galway until December.

SOME progress was made on the Element Six dispute on Wednesday, with SIPTU opting to engage in exploratory talks at the LRC, following a two-hour meeting of members. A spokesman for the TEEU, the other main union at Element Six, also said it was extremely likely that they would enter talks with the LRC.

BELIEVED to be Muhammad Ali’s youngest relative in Ennis, Kai O’Grady has not ruled out a photograph with the sporting hero. At five months, his knowledge of The Greatest is minimal but his mother believes he could yet follow in the legendary fighter’s footsteps.

CLARE looks set to become the only county in Munster without a local Department of Agriculture office, if the Government proceeds with a national rationalisation of offices. The Government has approved a plan submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for a reorganisation of the department’s local office network. The plan involves a reduction from 57 to 16 in the number of offices from which the department will operate district veterinary, forestry and agricultural environment and structures support services in the future. The department has set a target of 12 months for the implementation of the plan.

TOWN councils might as well be declared defunct such is their low level of funding, according to a long-time local public representative. Speaking at a special meeting of Kilrush Town Council last Thursday, convened to discuss An Bórd Snip Nua’s recommendation to abolish all town councils, Councillor Tom Prendeville said, “Local government is on a life support machine for as long as I know it”.

WITH plans to reclassify the Ennis Bypass as a motorway due to go ahead this Friday, concerns have been raised that slip roads leading to and from the bypass will be “highly unsafe”, once the speed limits are increased. The Ennis Bypass will see its speed limit increasing from 100kph to 120kph, however, locals have highlighted issues with the new limits.

A COMPLAINT concerning the care and treatment of a 59-year-old Clare man with Parkinson’s Dementia and suspected Lewy Body disease in the Clare Mental Health Service has been sent to Health Minister, Mary Harney, The Clare Champion can exclusively reveal. This is the third complaint against Clare Mental Health Services. The Mid-West Health Service Executive (HSE) has launched an investigation into the latest complaint containing allegations of a serious nature submitted by his family to officials at local and national level.

Clare Fianna F´il TD, Tony Killeen has received a ringing endorsement from Taoiseach Brian Cowen by retaining his post in Wednesday’s reshuffle of junior ministers.