News

CLIMATE change is predicted to increase the risk of flooding in Clare, and measures like dredging of rivers, cannot be seen as quick-fix solutions, members of the county council have been warned. The topic was discussed in detail at the monthly local authority meeting on foot of a motion from Councillor Gabriel Keating. The Fine Gael member asked the council to engage with the relevant statutory authorities to dredge rivers “to prevent ongoing flooding of our lands in the interest of good environmental and farming practice”. A response from the council, pledging to work with those agencies to ensure dredging can be carried out where it is appropriate and subject to a range of environmental considerations, was welcomed by Councillor Keating. A number of members, including Councillors PJ Kelly and Pat Hayes noted that confusion tends to arise between the number of agencies involved in the management of waterways, as to who is responsible when there is a threat of …

THE Diabetes in Pregnancy service at University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL) has served mums and mums-to-be throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, thanks to innovative ‘virtual clinics’. According to the UL Hospitals’ Group, these clinics provide convenient access to health services at a time when social and physical distancing remains so central to minimising the threat to public health of the coronavirus. A virtual clinic is one in which the patient and clinician interact in real time, via a video link or phone call instead of the traditional face-to-face appointment. Staff and patients of the Diabetes in Pregnancy Service at UMHL are using the ‘Attend Anywhere’ video platform and telephone calls to conduct a total of 92 virtual consultations every week. This technology is enabling the Diabetes in Pregnancy service to host four Gestational Diabetes clinics every week with a total of 24 patient ‘slots; one weekly clinic in Insulin Initiation with six patient slots; while also allowing for 20 scheduled calls …

COMMUNITY playgrounds are facing huge hurdles in securing insurance cover, with the county council being urged to step in to support them. The matter was raised at this month’s meeting of Clare County Council, where Councillors Cillian Murphy, Ian Lynch and Joe Garrihy tabled a motion calling for new playgrounds and those whose policies had lapsed to be taken in under the council’s policy. “We could soon be looking at two-tier communities,” Councillor Murphy said. “Those who have community playgrounds and those who don’t, if this situation isn’t resolved. This is a grossly unfair and utterly risible situation.” The Fianna Fáil member said he was aware of two community groups who would not be able to draw down their core funds for playground facilities, if they are unable to get insurance cover. “In one case a group has spent €275,000 and is ready to go, but the playground has to have insurance cover,” he said. “Significant time and energy has …

FUNDING to pilot a trial introduction of communication boards at amenity sites in the county is to be sought in response to calls from an Ennis councillor. Councillor Ann Norton, at the monthly meeting of Clare County Council urged that the local authority put up the boards in locations such as John O’Sullivan Park (Lee’s Road). She explained that the boards use photographs or symbols and support those who may find it difficult to express themselves including people with disabilities, limited language skills and elderly people. Siobhán McNulty, acting director of social development responded, “The installation of communication boards would be a welcome addition to Clare County Councils amenity sites and in this regard we will seek a funding stream to pilot a site and trial this initiative. That said the premise of these boards is that they are interactive and given current Covid-19 restrictions we would not be in a position to commence a pilot at this time. We …

CLARE Beef Plan have expressed grave misgivings about the shortcomings of a proposed new classification system for suckler beef. Bord Bia and the Department of Agriculture have proposed a new Irish grassfed beef Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) for submission to the EU for approval. Clare Beef Plan is concerned Bord Bia intends to market grassfed beef regardless of whether the PGI submission is accepted by the EU or not. For PGI status, it appears that all producers must be Bord Bia QA-approved, which is another cost for suckler farmers from which no benefit flows. The PGI is restricted to heifers and steers less than 36 months and beef cows up to 120 months. Since the over-riding consideration for the PGI is meat quality and this quality is to be determined by inspection, Beef Plan chairman, Joe Woulfe argues these age limits make no sense. He said the implication is that the meat of a 10 year-old cow is of the …

Dan Danaher and Fiona McGarry RESTRICTIONS on hospital access for the partners of pregnant women are continuing to cause concern, and have prompted a campaign being lead in Clare by the local Women’s Network. The organisation said it has received contact from a number of people affected by restrictions introduced in response to the pandemic. One woman who contacted the network was critical of the fact that people are not being prevented from attending house parties, while partners and husbands are banned from attending appointments. “I have had to go to my appointments alone,” the woman, who chose to remain anonymous, said. “I am always fearful that I could get bad news or something might happen and I have no one with me whose job is just to support me. It’s not fair that people can gather in houses and meet in pubs but I have to go through my entire pregnancy without anyone. It’s an awful burden to have …

SUPERMACS’ owner Pat McDonagh is hopeful that “perseverance pays at the end of the day” as reignited plans for a motorway service station on the outskirts of Ennis are set to be lodged for planning permission in the coming days. This will be the fast-food chain’s fourth application for a Barack Obama Plaza style development adjacent to Junction 12 of the M18 at Kilbreckan, Doora. Mr McDonagh confirms that that the newly proposed €10 million development will be a scaled down version of previous plans for the site as well as being “a smaller version of the Obama Plaza”. If the plans are given the green-light the development is expected to create around 130 full and part time jobs. Asked what he feels the chances of getting planning permission this time around he says, “I’m always optimistic. There’s room for it, and I think it’s badly needed to be quite honest on that motorway. Mr McDonagh believes there is demand …

A TOTAL of 28 tickets for motoring offences were logged in a two-hour period, in a special Garda operation outside Ennis on Thursday (September 17). Using new mobility apps, which have number plate recognition technology installed, members of the Clare Divisional Garda Roads Policing Unit, carried out a major operation on the dual carriage way between the Clareabbey roundabout and the junction with the M18. The operation, which was rolled out under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner David Sheahan, also led to the seizure of four vehicles, including a truck, and the detection of one person driving under the influence of drugs. “In a nutshell, these devices and the new apps that they carry are taking Gardaí out of the dark ages and into the 21st century in terms of technology,” said Inspector Paul Slattery, head of the Roads Policing Unit. “When you see a Garda looking at a device on the side of the road, they’re not checking social …