Regional

RATE payers in the town have been urged to pay up if they can, amid warnings a reduction in the amount of money collected next year by Ennis Town Council could result in a cut in services. At this week’s annual budget meeting of Ennis Town Council, it emerged that 60% of commercial rates were collected last year. Councillors were told between 85% and 90% of rates would need to be collected in 2012 for the council to balance its budget.At the meeting it was agreed, amongst other measures, to maintain parking charges at their current level of €1.30 and commercial rates at the level adopted in 2009 of €65.45.Town manager Ger Dollard described this year’s budget as “difficult” adding “we have made choices we think are right for Ennis and the future”.He said the local authority is “hugely conscious of the issues out there and the issues facing the commercial sector and the need to support economic activity and …

ENNIS Town Council’s funding for the roads programme for next year has been cut to €175,000 from last year’s figure of €215,000 according to the local authority’s budget for 2012. However, the council will be making “significant investment” in the inner relief road in 2012, with construction expected to begin in February or March of next year.Outlining Ennis Town Council’s budget for 2012, town manager Ger Dollard explained, “Some difficulties were experienced during 2011 in the funding arrangements for the final section of the inner relief road. These arose from the limits placed on borrowing by the local authority sector and wider limits placed on the Government as part of overall financial agreements”.“These difficulties were resolved and the council is now in a position to proceed to construction for this section of road,” he added.Tenders have been invited and it is expected work will begin in February or March, he said. “The redevelopment of the Madden’s Furniture premises has now …

FRESH opposition has been expressed to plans for a proposed retail development on the outskirts of Ennis. A recent submission prepared for Ennis Chamber and submitted to the planning authority insists, “If one wanted to design a retail development which was likely to bring no benefit whatever to the town centre it would be hard to find a better way of doing it than what is being proposed.”The developers behind the proposal have made a number of changes to the original plans following a request for further information from the planning authority Ennis Town Council.This further information was deemed to be significant by the planning authority and the applicant Michael Lynch Ltd was requested to publish a public notice. Submissions in relation to the further information have now been received by Ennis Town Council from a number of parties, including residents groups, business organisations and local businesses. Among the revisions made to the plans for the site on the Limerick …

AN Ennis councillor’s proposal that the Government provide for all local representatives to have mandatory equality and anti-discrimination training has received growing support from a number of organisations. A recent meeting of Ennis Town Council voted against the proposal by Councillor Paul O’Shea. However, as well as receiving support from the Clare Intercultural Network, the proposal has also now been backed by Labour and Travellers’ representatives, Pavee Point.Labour’s Intercultural Group have pledged their support for Councillor O’Shea’s proposal that all public representatives should receive three hours of equality training. “Labour Intercultural Group supports the motion put to Ennis Town Council by Councillor O’Shea to introduce training in equality, anti-discrimination and racism for all public representatives. It is regrettable the council voted down the proposal. It is also regrettable that some councillors voted the proposal down on the grounds that ‘they don’t need training’,” commented Karen McCormack and JM Singh, co-chairs of the Labour Intercultural Group. “Most public representatives have a …

THE first-ever standalone town plan for Shannon is now on public display and it envisages the population growing to 12,000 by 2017. According to the document, Shannon’s population in 2006 was 9,222 and the population target for 2017 is 11,972, an increase of 2,750.It also states that 53.1 hectares of land is required for residential zoning. The plan states there are opportunities to improve the appearance of the town. “Opportunities exist to express Shannon’s strengths and assets with a new image that is fresh and welcoming. This could be pursued through improving the sense of place on arrival and on moving through the town in a way which would benefit residents but particularly visitors. Visitors can be workers from the Free Zone, attendees at sporting events, shoppers, people attending appointments, people using the airport and others who can support facilities, services and events. There is also an opportunity to improve sustainable travel patterns around the town and environs. The town …

SHANNON Development have welcomed a new broadband initiative at the Free Zone, which they claim will help strengthen its case when seeking to attract foreign direct investment.A new dark fibre optic cable will give businesses operating in the Zone and the Smithstown Business Parks an opportunity to avail of enhanced high-speed broadband services improving the region’s national and international connectivity. The new service is being provided by Aurora Telecom, a division of Bord Gais networks. Shannon Development worked with them to extend their planned Ennis to Cork fibre project to include the areas. They also facilitated Aurora with a site at Shannon for the point of presence (POP point of presence, it telecom switch).Doctor Vincent Cunnane, chief executive of Shannon Development said that the new service will offer industries in the Free Zone and Smithstown virtually unlimited resilient bandwidth well into the future, a key selling point for potential foreign direct investors. “As Aurora’s network is fibre-based, it ensures a …

Secondary school pupils from South-East Clare attending a Limerick College will benefit from state-of-the-art facilities inside the new two years, following official sanction for a €7.2 million capital investment project. Education Minister, Ruairí Quinn has given the green light for a dramatic overhaul of accommodation in St Munchin’s College, Limerick, as well as new sports facilities following over a decade of lobbying, which intensified over the last three years.At least half of the 540 students attending come from Ardnacrusha, Parteen, Shannon Banks, Meelick and Westbury.The project is to be carried out on a phased basis, with works due to commence on site early in the new year, following the appointment of a main contractor in January.The construction contract, which is expected to be awarded to a well-known Clare construction company, is scheduled to take place over a two-and-a-half-year period.While some of the ambitious plans submitted by the school weren’t funded by the Department of Education, management are still determined they …