CLARE County Council can resume vital works on Parnell Street in Ennis despite the current Covid-19 restrictions, it has been confirmed. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, has stated that public realm works such as the Parnell Street regeneration can proceed under the current regulations.
Clare County Clare had halted works on the regeneration of Ennis’ medieval lanes amid concerns that the project did not qualify as “essential works” under the current Covid guidelines.
However, Deputy Joe Carey confirmed, “I spoke directly with Minister O’Brien regarding the need to progress the Parnell Street enhancement works. He advised me that a senior official from the Department of Local Government will make contact with the Chief Executive of Clare County Council advising them that Urban Regeneration works such as those currently stalled in Parnell Street are permitted under the current Covid restrictions and that the council should make arrangements to re-start the works as soon as possible.”
Minister O’Brien agreed to intervene on the re-start of the Parnell Street/ Laneways and Bow-ways Project on behalf of Ennis Chamber following a virtual meeting on Thursday.
The meeting was organised by Chambers Ireland, Ennis Chamber CEO, Margaret O’Brien to request that the Laneways & Bow-ways Parnell Street/ Public Realm project re-start, thus minimising disruption to town centre businesses, particularly those located on Parnell Street.
Minister O’Brien made a commitment to contact Clare County Council to discuss work re-commencing this project.
This follows weeks of constructive lobbying, behind the scenes by Ennis Chamber, led by Vice President Darragh McAllister, himself a trader on Parnell Street and CEO Margaret O’Brien.
Commenting on the meeting’s outcome, Margaret O’Brien said, “We are delighted that Minister O’Brien has agreed to represent our case for re-starting work on this important town centre project at this time. We would like to acknowledge the strong support we got on this matter from Joe Carey TD and Cathal Crowe TD.”
In raising the issue with Minister O’Brien, Margaret O’Brien pointed out that some local authorities have proceeded with public realm works during this lockdown/ Level 5 and she sought clarity on the matter on this basis.