Regional

IT’S been a bad year for employment in Shannon, with a number of major job losses swelling the Live Register figures.In July, there was shock after Element Six, a long-time stellar Shannon employer announced plans to axe 370 jobs. While the number of jobs lost eventually turned out to be significantly lower, it was a major shock to workers.A protracted dispute over the level of redundancy ensued, with staff very angry that they were being offered less than what was available under previous arrangements. “I’m here 10 years and I was offered nearly €60,000 to leave last year and now I’m looking at €10,000 going out the door,” one employee told The Clare Champion. Following a protracted process, redundancy arrangements that were more palatable to workers were agreed.CEO Cyrus Jilla said that Ireland was no longer competitive on costs. “While we have made great strides over the years to make the site competitive, it is insufficient to ensure long-term viability. …

STUDENTS at St Michael’s Community College in Kilmihil have again collected a huge amount of food and toys in aid of the annual St Vincent de Paul Christmas appeal. Ruth Morrissey, a teacher of Irish and English at the school organised the collection. Everything collected will be distributed in the greater West Clare area.“The message we want to relay to the students is that we, by our contributions, can make a real difference in these people’s lives,” Ruth said. “This year, more than ever, contributions are needed, in light of the recession and the recent flooding. The food and toys collected in the school will be given to the local branch of St Vincent de Paul which is in Kilrush. It will then be distributed locally in the West Clare area. Each year, I am overwhelmed at the students’ generosity and spirit to help those less fortunate. They have an innate sense of compassion and a desire to help others, …

IT has been confirmed that Schwarz Pharma are set to make a number of workers redundant in the early part of 2010.In a statement, parent company UCB confirmed that jobs will be going. “Schwarz Pharma announced a proposal to reduce its headcount by approximately 29 positions as part of a restructuring programme. The goal is to achieve the jobs reduction through a voluntary severance programme and completion is expected by Quarter 1/Quarter 2 of 2010.”The statement confirmed that new arrangements will apply at the Shannon plant. “The company is restructuring following the completion of a third-party manufacturing project, the result of which was to decommission one of its three plants on the Shannon site. The company’s other two manufacturing plants on site will continue to operate to normal capacity.”Mayor of Shannon Seán McLoughlin said that the news reflected a worrying pattern. “You don’t see major headlines when 20 or 30 jobs are going but it’s happening all the time and …

THE Kilkee Town Council budget, which was adopted at the December monthly meeting, will result in a reduction of €3,164.96 on 2010 expenditure when compared to 2009 figures. However, rates have not been increased.The total estimated expenditure for 2010 amounts to €79,133.76.  The estimated income, excluding town charges, is €6,518.4. The balance of €72,615.36 is to be recouped by way of town charges. However, there will be no increase in the town rate, which remains at 4.61% as in 2009. The figure demanded from Clare County Council shows a decrease of €3,614.96 from that sought in 2009. A 15% reduction has been applied where possible to all non-pay-related expenditure other than statutory or fixed expenditure, which cannot be reduced.Meanwhile, the Irish Public Bodies Mutual Insurances has informed Kilkee Town Council that the cost of insurance premiums will decrease by 10% on that paid in 2009. A sum of €44,400 will be spent on salaries and wages, which shows a reduction …

CLONLARA looks set to experience significant growth over the coming years once new sanitary services schemes, totalling €9.1 million, are fully completed.Lack of adequate sewerage facilities is one of the major stumbling blocks that developers of housing schemes have to overcome before Clare County Council grants planning permission.It has been cited as one of the reasons why planning permissions for numerous developments in Killaloe have been turned down in recent years.However, this issue will not be a problem in Clonlara after Clare County Council signed a contract worth almost €1.6 million with Carty Contractors Ltd, of Ballisodare, County Sligo to provide new sewerage facilities for the sprawling South-East Clare village.County manager, Tom Coughlan predicted Clonlara would be very well served for its water and wastewater requirements as a result of the new sewerage project and the completion of the €7.5 million Gillogue Serviced Land Initiative Water Supply Improvements Contract in 2007.“Completion of this scheme will ensure that capacity is provided …

THOUSANDS of people living in South-East Clare will benefit from reduced waiting times following the opening of a new primary health centre in the heart of Westbury.That’s according to Clare health manager, Dr Fergal Flynn, who explained that more primary care services such as physiotherapy and speech therapy services would be made available to residents at the new centre, which was officially opened last week.“Previously, patients would have to travel to Shannon, Ennis or other centres for such services. If you also consider the travel time, how the patients and their families/carers may have to organise their lives around appointments, having these services available locally is very significant.  “Clients are seen in a more timely fashion by healthcare professionals whom they are familiar with, thereby often resulting in a more satisfactory outcome for both client and healthcare worker,” he said.Primary care development officer, Alice McGinley, said one of the major problems in the past with primary care was the fragmentation …

ELEMENTS of the budget were welcomed by Shannon Chamber president Ian Barrett at a breakfast briefing for members held last Thursday morning, as the country absorbed the detail of Brian Lenihan’s figures.“The chamber welcomes steps to take control of the public finances. It sends out the message that we are serious about it internationally,” he commented.He welcomed the message that corporation tax wasn’t being increased, saying the existing low rate was the single biggest factor in bringing foreign direct investment to Ireland.Mr Barrett welcomed the rates freeze in Clare. “Shannon Chamber lobbied hard on rates and I would like to applaud Clare County Council and the councillors for passing a zero per cent increase in rates and a three per cent cut in water rates.” He also welcomed a package for flooding relief and prevention.A presentation on the budget was given by Lesley Barrett and Eamonn Murphy of Grant Thornton.The credit review system mentioned in the Budget was described as …

CLARE County Council is being urged to provide additional disabled parking spaces at the Seán Lemass library.At this week’s meeting of local area councillors, Mayor of Shannon, Seán McLoughlin, asked that the situation be addressed and put forward three possible responses.They were: to widen the area in front of the library and put parking spaces with bumper to kerb parking; clean out the area at the back of the library and make it suitable for parking; or to provide disabled parking spaces at the back and front of the library.In his reply on the matter, however, engineer Eugene O’Shea said there are a number of difficulties to be addressed.“The road fronting the library is a private road and not in charge of the council. Widening of the area in front of the library is therefore not an option. In any event the road layout is not suitable for reversing vehicles due to inadequate sight lines and the vehicular access on …