Tag Archives: clare county council

A delegation comprising officials and members of Clare County Council is in China to officially mark the county/province relationship, as well as establish a formal link between the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark and the Stone Forest Geopark (Shilin Geopark) in Yunnan. Officials and members of Clare County Council and officials and public representative of the Chinese province today (Wednesday) signed an agreement aimed at developing close industrial, tourism, farming, educational and cultural ties between the regions. Yunnan, which has a population of more than 46 million, is located in the far southwest of China and borders Vietnam, Laos and Burma. Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, John Crowe ,who tabled a council motion calling for a twinning arrangement between the two regions to be explored in 2012 following the visit of the Chinese President to Clare, commented, “This is a historic occasion for the people of County Clare and Yunnan Province. Though separated by thousands of miles, this agreement …

A “phenomenal” gap exists between the number of people in need of social housing in Clare and the amount of available accommodation, it emerged this week. According to figures released at a meeting of Clare County Council on Monday, demand for social housing or housing supports outstrips supply by more than 100 to one in some parts of the county. The figures revealed by Clare County Council show that as of May 1 this year, there were 3,273 people in need of housing, with just 59 vacancies countywide. Last year, 65 properties were “addressed” by the local authority and if this level of activity continued, it would take more than 50 years to clear the current housing list. The council was keen to point out that a significant proportion of those on the list are “interested in housing supports, rather than offering standard local authority housing”. Ennis The detailed figures were revealed following a request by Councillor Ian Lynch. They …

Clare County Council has been set a number of key targets in relation waste prevention activities. Among the policies and actions included in the new Southern Region Waste Management Plan, one of three such plans being launched in Ireland, is a 1% reduction per annum in the quantity of household waste generated per capita over the six-year period of the plan, a recycling rate of 50% of managed municipal waste by 2020, and a reduction to 0% the direct disposal of unprocessed residual municipal waste to landfill commencing in 2016. The preparation of new regional waste management plans for the regions has been underway since late 2013 following an evaluation of the previous plans, which covered 10 regions nationally. The Southern Waste Region encompasses local authorities in Carlow, Clare, Cork City, Cork County, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick City and County, Tipperary, Waterford City and County and Wexford. Welcoming the new plan at a launch event held at LIT Thurles, Tom Coughlan, chief …

Clare County Council has announced an additional €1.1m investment in service delivery and tourism, business and community development projects around the county during 2015. The announcement follows the publication of the local Authority’s unaudited annual financial statement (AFS) for 2014, which shows that the council ended the year with a €611k surplus on a total revenue expenditure of circa €105m. Clare County Council billed a total of €42.4m in commercial rates in 2014, which represents approximately 40.4% of Clare County Council’s revenue expenditure in the year. The council collected €40.9m in rates in the year. Announcing the unaudited AFS for 2014 at its May meeting, Clare County Council also confirmed additional allocations in 2014 to the Municipal Districts (€400,000), Shannon Area (€100,000), proposed acquisition by the Council of Holy Island on Lough Derg (€100,000), a Visitor Services facility at Doolin Pier (€100,000), Library and Museum Development (€100,000), and Kilrush’s participation in the 2015 International Entente Florale competition (€50,000). Provision has …

  DURING her visit to Clare recently, Tбnaiste and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton told The Clare Champion that issues relating to the provision of social housing in Clare could be eased if Clare County Council follows the example of their Limerick counterparts and rolls out the Housing Assistance Programme (HAP). During her visit to the offices of The Clare Champion, Barrack Street was closed off to vehicular access, while there was a significant garda presence patrolling the street. Minister Burton was speaking in the context of homeless issues in Kilkee and Lahinch, which were highlighted by The Clare Champion in recent weeks. “We’re approaching this on a case-by-case basis. This is a discussion we want to have with Clare County Council. Along with Jim Lynch, the overall manager of the Department of Social Protection Services in the Mid-West, we would like to see Clare County Council becoming part of HAP,” the Tбnaiste said. “It has been piloted by …

Clare County Council has confirmed that Phase 1 of the Ennis Market Rejuvenation project is now proceeding to tender stage and construction is expected to commence in the autumn of 2015 The €1.75m loan for the Market Rejuvenation Project, which also includes the upgrading of the streets adjoining the market area, is now in place. Clare County Council says a detailed design will shortly proceed to tender stage in relation to Phase One of the redevelopment of the market which will begin at Garraunakilla, the site of the current Farmer’s Market. Speaking on behalf of the Elected Members of Ennis Municipal District Committee, Mayor of Ennis Councillor Johnny Flynn welcomed the progress being made in relation to the project in consultation with local residents and business people. “This project will have a significant role in the rejuvenation of this area of the town, which is significant, both from an economic and heritage perspective considering Ennis has always been an important …

  A child would have drawn better boundaries for the municipal electoral areas in Clare, it has been suggested. At a meeting of Clare County Council, Councillor Bill Slattery said the West Clare Municipal District, which stretches from Ballyvaughan to Loop Head, is crazy and is actually creating a disconnect between officials in the district. “If you were to give a crayon to a child he or she would have drawn better boundaries,” he said. The council is calling on Minister Alan Kelly to review the impact of the new structures put in place last May under the reform of local government programme – Putting People First – Action Programme for Effective Local Government. West Clare independent councillor Christy Curtin moved the motion and told the adjourned April council meeting that the new organisation structures at the council’s headquarters and municipal district levels in relation to service delivery, customer response, engagement with councillors on policy implementation, cost-savings in overhead expenditure …

USERS of the Lees Road complex have been told to stick to the pathways, following an outbreak of rats in the area. Council clearing work for the West Clare Greenway cycle path is likely to be a factor in the recent sightings of an influx of rats close to the Clare County Council-owned Lees Road Complex, the manager believes. Local dumping may also be a contributing factor. Sightings of the rats have been reported since the fine weather in early April. The rise in temperatures and a milder-than-usual winter may also be factors in the unusual amount of rodents in the area, said Tim Forde, manager of the Lees Road Complex. A number of local residents and users of the complex have contacted The Clare Champion in recent days to report the unusual numbers of rats seen around the Lees Road area. “We’re aware of the situation,” Mr Forde told The Clare Champion. “We have been listening to the feedback …