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THE temporary Covid downgrading of National Driving Licence Service (NDLS) offices across the State, including the Clare office in Ennis Shopping Centre, has now been made permanent. The move was confirmed in the Dail to Deputy Michael McNamara by Junior Transport Minister Hildegarde Naughten who said, “The current NDLS contract, which was put in place with the front office service provider in 2021, no longer offers a walk-in service.” Customers would have to avail of the online service instead, she said, and a “verified MyGovlD account, which requires a public services card (PSC), is needed” to avail of that. “This is despite a Data Protection Commission investigation into the legality of the Public Services Card which found that there was no lawful basis for a person to be told they needed the card for anything other than accessing social welfare or benefits,” Deputy McNamara explained. In the Dáil on Thursday evening, Deputy McNamara raised the issue of difficulties encountered by …

TWO large Bauxite Residue Disposal Areas (BRDA) totalling an estimated 450 acres are akin to a “ticking time bomb” on the site of the largest European alumina facility located near the Shannon Estuary, a Dáil deputy has claimed. In a hard-hitting statement issued in the Dáil this week, Deputy Paul Murphy of People Before Profit claimed “there is a toxic time bomb ticking at Rusal Aughinish Alumina Limited (AAL) near Askeaton”. . “I remember visiting it when it was Aughinish Alumina, almost ten years ago, and meeting local campaigner Pat Geoghegan, who I believe the Taoiseach met when he was Minister for Health. I saw a massive, red mud storage area, which is now so big it can be seen from space. “It comprises 50 million tonnes of toxic waste. Uranium, lead, mercury and hazardous salt cake are contained within it. “It seeps into the estuary, it kills wildlife and it threatens public health. It is a result of bauxite …

THE Department of Education is advising that schools in county Clare stay closed on Friday February 18 due to the Status Red wind warning. The department stated that remote teaching and learning should commence where possible, in line with schools’ remote teaching and learning plans. It also advised schools to keep up to date with the current weather warnings which are carried on all national and local news bulletins and in particular any change in the status warning for their area. Also, due to the weather warning all Bus Éireann services in County Clare will be suspended on Friday morning, February 18, between 1am until 10am. This suspension will also apply to all routes operating into or out of the status red warning area. Due to the extreme nature of Storm Eunice and the threat of multi-hazard weather events as confirmed by Met Éireann, the Department of Education is advising that schools in counties where Status Red wind warnings are …

CLARE’S weather warning for Friday has been upgraded from orange to red and will be in effect from 3am to 8am at least. Storm Eunice will track quickly over Ireland tonight and Friday morning bringing severe and damaging winds. Southwest winds veering northwest will reach mean speeds in excess of 80 km/h with gusts in excess of 130 km/h. Some coastal flooding, especially at high tide. An Garda Síochána wishes to advise the public that a red weather warning has been issued for a number of counties. For further information, please go to the Met Éireann website: https://t.co/ioxYmvi8Xv https://t.co/w03u6HYhKh — Garda Info (@gardainfo) February 17, 2022 Clare County Council is advising members of the public to avoid unnecessary travel where possible, but if you must travel, please slow down and take care when driving, and charge mobile phones before travelling. It is also advised to secure any street or outdoor furniture. The public are warned electricity wires are always live, …

Dan Danaher spoke with the couple who sold the winning €30.9m EuroMillions ticket in Ballina NATIONAL Lottery chiefs are remaining tight-lipped on the identity of the €30,928,078 EuroMillions jackpot winner who has redeemed the lucky Quick Pick that was bought in Ballina. Michael and Siobhán Larkin are still celebrating after it was announced that their store, Larkin’s Gala Service Station in Ballina sold the winning ticket from the draw on Friday night. They have scooped €25,000 from selling the winning ticket as well as much local and national media attention. Arrangements are now being made for the 17th EuroMillions jackpot winner, since the game was launched in 2004, to claim their truly life-changing prize following contact with the National Lottery. In July 2005, Dolores McNamara from Limerick, was Ireland’s first and biggest EuroMillions winner scooping over €115 million. Ms McNamara now lives near Ogonnelloe. Siobhán Larkin, who owns the business with her husband Michael on the Ballina to Birdhill road, …

COMMUNITIES across North Clare have until March 24 to stake their claim for a chance to host the now famous statue of the mythical Púca.  Last month, a majority of residents of Ennistymon rejected the planned sculpture, following a long-running controversy over the nature of the design as well as the public consultation process. After the Council confirmed the change of plan, applications are now being accepted from other areas interested in giving a home to the two-metre high bronze artwork.  The local authority this Thursday publicised a list of criteria that communities will need to meet in order to be considered as the new home of the Púca. For the moment, applications will only be considered from the North Clare Electoral Area and details of the exact location as well as written consent from the landowner must be provided. In addition, applicants must show “demonstrable community buy-in” through meetings and surveys. They must also prove they can create a …

COUNCIL CEO Pat Dowling vowed that the major opportunities offered to the region by having the 2027 Ryder Cup played in Adare won’t be spurned. Just after it was announced that the tournament would be played in Adare, Dublin Airport came out with a now infamous tweet, in which it claimed it was the “key gateway” for the competition. This resulted in a significant backlash in Clare, due to the slight on Shannon Airport, and something of the wording of the tweet was reflected in the motion Ian Lynch brought before Monday’s meeting. Nearest international airport to @TheAdareManor ? @ShannonAirport !😀 pic.twitter.com/l7uicA0UAe — Ryder Cup Ireland 2027 (@RyderCupIreland) July 31, 2019 “As the ‘real gateway’ to the planned Ryder Cup in 2027 I am requesting Clare County Council to establish and lead a joint marketing campaign with Limerick, Tipperary and Kerry County Councils to ensure a united approach that will maximise the potential of Shannon airport and the Shannon Estuary …

THERE is a Status Orange weather warning in place for Clare from the early hours of tomorrow morning with disruption to travel anticipated. Storm Eunice will track quickly over Ireland tonight and Friday morning bringing severe and damaging winds for a time. Southwest or cyclonic winds becoming northwest will reach mean speeds of 65 to 80 km/h with gusts up to 130 km/h. Some coastal flooding, especially at high tide. #StormEunice will bring challenging and disruptive conditions on Friday due to very strong winds, heavy rain and snow. ⚠️Weather Warnings for #rain, #wind and #snow are in place. ⚠️Keep an eye on the latest warnings and updates over the coming days 👉🏾 https://t.co/BoUueCIxKa pic.twitter.com/0od83XSror — Met Éireann (@MetEireann) February 17, 2022 The warning is status red for counties Cork and Kerry. while other counties issued with orange warnings include Galway, Waterford, Wexford, Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Carlow, Wicklow, Laois, Offaly, Dublin. Currently Met Eireann says the warning is valid …