News

IMPROVEMENTS in relation to storage, premises and infection prevention in a Kilrush Nursing Home have been requested by an independent watchdog. While a Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) report found St Theresa’s Nursing Home, Kilkee Road, Kilrush was striving to implement systems and controls to protect residents from the risks associated with infections, improvements were required in relation to storage, premises and infection prevention and control governance and oversight to comply with infection control. A HIQA inspector found auditing practices in the centre were not effective. Two external audit type reviews were seen by the inspector, but these were not sufficient in detail to drive infection prevention and control practices and renovation plans. Additional nursing management roles had recently returned and been recruited and the inspector could see where further plans for role responsibility including auditing and supervision was starting to take place. A number of infrastructural issues impacted effective infection prevention and control. The sluice room was co-located …

A JUDGE has stated that children “might as well be weeds on the side of the road” if a parent doesn’t provide for them and ensure that they get an education. Judge Mary Larkin made her comment at Kilrush District Court where she warned a mother of two school-shy children that she faces spending time in prison if her children’s attendance at education doesn’t dramatically improve. One of the children, a 16-year-old girl had a 100% absence rate and missed all available school days in 5th year in school before leaving school for Youthreach last summer. Solicitor for the Child and Family Agency (CFA), Kevin Sherry said that the girl’s school attendance has been ‘horrendous’ and ‘dire’. Mr Sherry said that the girl had an 82% absence rate in Junior Cert and is in danger of losing her Youthreach placement after missing 60% of days. Solicitor for the mother, Patrick Moylan told the court that his client’s daughter just wouldn’t …

A DECISION is expected next month on an application to create four serviced sites in Quin, with outline permission for four detached homes on them.  Concerns had been raised by local authority planners over a number of aspects of the proposals, but the developer has recently responded to a Further Information (FI) request, in a bid to address these.  Jimal Investments applied in September for permission to demolish an existing house and store at Quingardens, and to create four services sites with an access road and connection to public services. Outline permission to construct four houses and garages on the serviced sites was also sought.  No objections were made, but in November, the Council contacted the company seeking FI on three aspects of the plans – storm water drainage; bat roosts and the site layout.  The letter from the local authority expressed “serious concerns” over arrangements proposed for the discharge of storm water. It asked the developer for calculations of …

CLARE Senator Róisín Garvey has said she is “honoured” to take up the role of the Green Party’s leader in the Seanad. The Green Party decided shortly after the formation of the current government to rotate the position of its Seanad leader in tandem with the rotation of the cathaoirleach of the Seanad. The change means that Senator Garvey takes over from Senator Pauline O’Reilly who had served in the position since 2020. She said she is excited to take on the responsibility and will use it to put people’s needs to the fore in the upper chamber, particularly around water quality, nature protection and regional balance. Senator Garvey, the party’s spokesperson for Rural Development and Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said, “It’s a great honour for me to take on the role of Green Party leader in the Seanad. It’s a position I intend to devote myself to over the coming two years and I plan to use it to …

THE long-awaited construction of the Ennistymon Inner Relief Road has been hit by an unexpected delay after a local couple whose florist business and family home are being put at risk lodged a Judicial Review. John and Sheena Clancy, Bogbere Street, Ennistymon, who are plaintiffs in a Judicial Review application, which was made on November 14, challenging recent planning approval granted by An Bord Pleanála. The family run West Clare Flowers in the heart of Ennistymon. This review taken by Augustus Cullen Law Solicitors was adjourned and the couple were given liberty to amend their statement of grounds. It was mentioned again in the High Court on November 21, and it is adjourned until January 30 for mention. The defendants listed in the case are An Bord Pleanála, Clare County Council and the Attorney General. In their objection to the appeals’ board, John and Sheena Clancy, Bogbere Street, Ennistymon, outlined the process has had a significant stressful impact on them …

AN initiative that aims both to aid water rescues and help preserve the safety of those doing the rescuing was launched in Lahinch this week. The provision of Rescue Throw Bags for each squad car in the Kilrush Division is one of a number of initiatives agreed by Water Safety Clare, An Garda Siochana and the Irish Coast Guard. The Gardai are most often the first to arrive at the scene of a water based incident. On arrival at a scene the Gardai are dependent on the availability of Public Rescue equipment and their own experience, initiative and knowledge. Members of the force regularly place themselves at risk in these situations. This is evident during Water Safety Ireland’s “Just in Time” annual awards ceremony where many of the recipients of Rescue Awards are Gardai who have gone beyond the call of duty to save others. Incidents occur throughout the year in all types of waterway, weather and water conditions. The …

A-27-year old gym enthusiast who told a court that he wasn’t able to lift a shopping bag or do the shopping after a ‘glancing blow’ with another car has been awarded €8,000 by a court in a personal injuries claim. At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford stated that Patrick Joyce’s car had “a glancing blow” with another car where the “wing mirrors did hit off each other”. Along with awarding father of three, Patrick Joyce €8,000, Judge Comerford awarded his then pregnant wife and front seat passenger, Helen Joyce €11,000 in personal damages. Ms Joyce told the court as her own pregnancy went on, her back pain got worse and she had the pain “nearly every day”. In the assessment case where the other driver, a Clare man, accepted liability for the collision, Judge Comerford also made a material impact award to Patrick Joyce from the damage to his Volkswagen car at €1,254. Judge Comerford said that he was …

DESIGNS for three homes proposed for the village of O’Callaghan’s Mills have been revised by the developer, after planners described them as “highly suburban” and “not acceptable for a village setting”.  East Clare Construction have just submitted a response to a Further Information (FI) request from the Council. This 12-page document includes fresh house designs which the company have described “suitable for this village”. The developers have also responded to other issues raised by the local authority and reduced the proposed floor level for one of the sites. They have corrected a misprint on the previously-submitted layout map to show the correct ground level, removing the perception of a sharp gradient where the proposed access road connects to the R466.  The company, whose directors are listed as Joe and Teresa Cooney of Ballymacdonnell, Bodyke, have also clarified their intentions for another parcel of zoned lands in their ownership close to the development site. The FI response said that, “any further …