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Gardaí at Kilrush Garda Station are investigating the attempted robbery from a group of friends in Doonbeg last week. Clare crime prevention officer Sergeant Triona Brooks said, “On Wednesday evening, January 18, at 7.30pm, three friends got off a bus on Main Street, Doonbeg. “They were approached by three individuals who demanded that they hand over their property. “Thankfully the three friends ran and took refuge in a shop. “We are asking anyone who saw this incident or anyone who may have any information to please contact Kilrush Garda Station on 065 9080550.”

CLARE County Council has been allocated almost €3 million to support communities that are hosting refugees from Ukraine and other countries. The allocation is the third highest to a local authority in the country, representing the significant role Clare has already played in supporting international protection applicants. Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey said that the money will come from a €50 million Community Recognition Fund for sports clubs, community organisations, transport infrastructure and local groups. “The €2,925,549 awarded to Clare County Council recognises the significant role played by Clare communities in supporting refugees and helping them integrate into the educational, recreational and social life of towns and villages around the county,” Deputy Carey explained. “It is important that community representatives engage directly with Clare County Council over the coming weeks to ensure that high quality projects can be delivered, benefitting their towns and villages for years to come.” Projects that qualify for support include the refurbishment of local sports …

A CALL has been made for measures to support homeowners who have pyrite in their foundations, as well as in their blocks.  While Clare is to be included, in the coming months, in a grant scheme to remediate block work, this does not cover foundations. At the January meeting of the local authority, Councillor Ian Lynch called for the inclusion of Clare in the Pyrite Remediation Scheme, set up ten years ago to address pyrite in under-floors and foundations. The West Clare member also called for the removal of the controversial ‘damage threshold’ that homes will be required to meet before being able to access grant funding.  “I think that any house that has been identified as having pyrite and defective concrete blocks shouldn’t be subject to a damage threshold,” Councillor Lynch told the meeting. “What’s the point trying to fix the concrete blocks and the outside, and then waiting three or four years and finding that the household has …

DAMAGE totalling €7,500 was caused to a public convenience just a stone’s throw from Killaloe Bridge, according to a recent estimate completed by a district engineer. Killaloe Gardaí have investigated criminal damage to the public toilets at the Pontoon in Ballina. Over the past year, Killaloe Gardaí have confirmed there have been repeated acts of vandalism on these toilets, which are located along a very popular walking route a short distance from the Ballina Outdoor Heating Swimming Pool. Between 10pm and 12 midnight on Monday night, October 31, windows were broken in the toilets and paving slabs were pulled off the ground outside the toilets. This last act of vandalism was condemned as “appalling” by Waterways Ireland Operations Controller, Éanna Rowe. In response to Clare Champion queries, Marcus O’Connor, Director of Roads, Transportation in Nenagh Municipal District, said the council was extremely disappointed with the ongoing acts of vandalism of these public toilets. He confirmed all the windows to the …

PRICE gouging in the entertainment industry was widely condemned at a meeting of the local authority, now that major acts are returning to Ireland after the pandemic. The matter was highlighted by Councillor Pat McMahon who said that only Ed Sheeran had provided “reasonably-priced tickets” last year and played venues around the country.  Calling on the County to request that the Consumer Protection Commission would examine pricing of “high-profile concerts and major events in Ireland”, the Newmarket man, said he had been alerted to the problem by family, neighbours and friends. He outlined that after researching the matter, he became aware that two major global companies dominated ticket sales and concert bookings. “What amazes me it was no competition whatsoever,” he said. “If you look closely at the major concerts on in Ireland, only two major firms are mentioned all the time. I’m talking about the major concerts, The smaller concerts have smaller companies running them. It’s amazing in a …

PROPOSALS to sell Coillte lands to an overseas investment fund in order to meet climate targets through afforestation have been described by Deputy Michael McNamara as “a bizarre construct”.  Under the planned deal, thousands of acres are to be planted through the Irish Strategic Forestry Fund (ISFF) launched by Coillte and Gresham House. This aim is attract investors to plant as well as acquire forests across the country to meet Ireland’s climate targets. The Scariff-based TD launched a scathing attack on the deal. “It is a bizarre construct whatever way you look at it,” he said. “To give State funds earmarked for environmental measures to foreign investment companies to fund forestry practices that are not environmentally appropriate is just baffling.” He noted that once the crop is harvested, those profits will go back to funds based outside of Ireland.  Deputy McNamara accepted that forestry does have the potential to store carbon and to have environmental benefits, but he was adamant …

NATIONAL policy on rural Ireland has been condemned by a West Clare councillor, who said it has resulted in an “expensive refusal kit” for planning applications. Councillor PJ Kelly tabled a motion at the January meeting of the local authority, calling for the Minister for Housing and Local Government and Heritage “to indemnify Clare County Council against all costs and/or claims which may arise because the Council, in its County Development Plan, complied with Ministerial Directives on planning guidelines”. Councillors were widely critical of controversial guidelines, over several months, due mainly to the restrictions placed on the number of new homes to be permitted outside of Ennis and Shannon. Concerns were also expressed over the accuracy of population data used to inform the national guidelines, given the most recent Census and the shift to remote working ushered in by the Covid pandemic.  At the January meeting, Councillor Kelly said there was “a duty to protect our Council against any type …

A WEST Clare councillor has made a passionate plea for the region’s roads to receive a slice of the exchequer surplus of €5 billion.  Strong growth in tax revenue and an end to many Covid supports resulted in an exchequer swing of €12.4 billion at the end of last year from the €7.4 billion deficit recorded in 2021. Given the windfall, Councillor Ian Lynch has written to Ministers Eamon Ryan and Micheál McGrath highlighting the dire state of roads in the West Clare Municipal District. The Independent member made the case for an injection of €50 million for Clare County Council for road improvements, focusing on vital surface dressing and strengthening improvements.  In correspondence seen by The Champion, the Kilrush man told the Ministers for Transport and Public Expenditure said: “Decades of underinvestment in rural roads no longer allows for these finances to be tucked away for a rainy day the investment in rural roads must be made now. I …