Regional

THROUGH building connections with different organisations Ennis’ new town clerk Leonard Cleary believes “we can move mountains for Ennis”.Leonard, who has joined Ennis Town Council as town clerk, says “This is a unique and interesting time to join Ennis Town Council, during a recession and with major change on the local government horizon imminent”.The Corofin father of four began his career with local government in 1997. He spent the last five years a human resources manager for Clare local authorities and prior to that worked in the Community and Enterprise Department with the County Development Board, the RAPID programme in Ennis and also Kilrush Town Council where he worked as development and marketing officer. Before working with the local authority, he worked in the community tourism sector.He has studied at NUI Maynooth, NUI Galway, UCC and just a week before joining Ennis Town Council, he graduated with a Masters in Business from DCU. He has also taken the opportunity to …

A PROTECTED species of frog could present a planning hiccup for controversial plans to split Parteen in two to facilitate the preferred route for the €100 million Limerick Northern Distributor Road, a new group has claimed.The Environmental Group of Parteen has warned the emerging preferred route crosses rural farmland, which is home to a protected species of frog.Known as the common frog (Rana Temporaria) it is fairly plentiful in Ireland but is protected under an EU directive because of declining numbers in Europe. The directive aims to protect some 220 habitats and lists approximately 1,000 species, including the frog.The new community group in Parteen is considering organising a public demonstration in the near future to vent its anger and staunch opposition to the new route. Its main aim is to submit to and participate in the consultation process for the proposed Limerick Northern Distributor Road. In a statement issued to The Clare Champion, the group predicts a road of this …

THE long-running controversy to provide a permanent solution for the most dangerous junction in Ennistymon now looks set to cost in the region €700,000, it emerged this week. The latest revelation that Clare County Council will have to spend an extra €100,000 on a new environmental impact study (EIS) to facilitate proposed improvement works at Blake’s Corner provoked outrage amongst local county councillors this week.Councillors condemned the latest move, following new national planning regulations introduced last September as “bureaucracy gone mad”.Speaking after the Ennistymon Electoral Area meeting, Councillor Bill Slattery warned the final bill could exceed €700,000 when the cost of purchasing the two derelict houses – Blake’s and Linnane’s, estimated at €250,000 and €350,000, was taken into account.This doesn’t include the cost of a report commissioned by the county council, at a cost of between €10,000 and €15,000, recommending that the Blake’s and Linane’s buildings are deconstructed and reconstructed back from the narrow junction and the road widened. Councillor …

A SERIES of new measures are necessary to tackle the legacy deficit of an estimated €10 million facing public hospitals in Galway, according to a well known health activist.New HSE chief executive officer Cathal Magee says public hospitals in Galway are facing a two-fold challenge with funding their services this year.Galway University Hospitals, which includes UHG and Merlin Park,  started with overspend debts from last year believed to be in the region of €10 million, which will have to be taken into account when its final budget allocation is made.The hospitals, along with Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe and Roscommon General Hospital will have a single budget and one employment ceiling from now on.Mr Magee warned that certain hospitals, including University College Hospital, Galway, will struggle to deal with a legacy deficit. They are also facing the challenge of having a reduced budget allocation for this year, compared to last year.According to official figures presented at a recent HSE Forum meeting …

This dog is certainly one lucky pup having become the 500th to be saved from the county pound by Deirdre Ryan’s Rover Rescue.Trixiebelle, along with 18 other dogs were sent to new homes in Wales this week after being rescued by Deirdre. For the past three years, Deirdre has been working with the county pound to bring abandoned dogs to new owners in Wales, working with the UK pet rescue charity, Many Tears. Saying goodbye to Trixiebelle, she said she was delighted to see the dog go to a new home. Trixiebelle, a 16-week-old wire haired Jack Russell was found as a stray and spent two weeks in the pound. Efforts were made to find owners, with the dog’s image even put on Facebook.“Unfortunately, nobody came. It wasn’t until he came with me that we realised he was a little deaf; we thought she was just subdued in the pound. She was actually very lucky because it’s surprising that she …

LACK of finance is likely to delay work on the upgrade of the local wastewater/sewerage treatment plant. At this week’s meeting of Shannon area councillors, Councillor Gerry Flynn put forward a motion asking that the “Water Section of Clare County Council provide a report in relation to the wastewater/treatment plant upgrade and provide information concerning tenders and start dates for various parts of the project”.In a written reply to the meeting, senior executive engineer Eugene O’Shea stated, “As previously advised tenders were invited some time ago for the Advance Works Contract that includes upgrades to pumping stations 2, 4A, 5A and 12. These tenders have been received and are currently being assessed. Due to financial difficulties it is not possible at this stage to provide details on a start date for this project.”Councillor Flynn asked where the financial difficulties were, and Mr O’Shea said they lay with the council. “The financial difficulties are with the council initially,” he claimed.He said …

  AN innovative all-terrain wheelchair will now be available free to the general public at Spanish Point beach. The Hippocampe got its first taste of saltwater this week when Maureen O’Leary of Shyan, Kilmihil gave it a trial run, accompanied by Mister Miltown, Martin Quinn and a number of people from the locality.The specialised wheelchair, which will make a visit to the beach a far more enjoyable experience for the elderly or people with disabilities, was purchased from the proceeds of the Mister Miltown competition held in December. It has cost €2,000, which includes the provision of signage.Also known as the Mobi Chair, the wheelchair has been donated to the Brothers of Charity and it will be stored year-round in The Armada Hotel. “They are the correct people for the job as Pat Lillis and his crew brought the first wheelchair of its type in Ireland to Kilkee,” said Marie Killeen, a member of the Mister Miltown organising committee. “Through …

WHO will host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2013 is no longer a two-horse race, with Derry back in the running alongside Ennis and Sligo.Hopes that Ennis would become the host town for the prestigious competition were given a lift when the Ulster council of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann decided to reject Derry’s bid. However, at a meeting of the Ulster council on Tuesday evening, the decision not to endorse Derry’s bid was reversed. The Derry branch of Comhaltas had appealed against the decision of the organisation’s Ulster Council not to put the city forward as host. Saturday marks the decision day for which bid will come out on top and be named the host town, with the Ennis group optimistic that the Fleadh will be brought back to the Banner.Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann delegates from across the country will gather in Dublin on Saturday for the secret ballot vote to decide on where Fleadh 2013 will go.Ennis lost out on its bid …