Tag Archives: clare county council

Friday, June 7, has been chosen as the day for the upcoming European and local elections. Tens of thousands of Clare people will cast their votes on that day to choose who will sit on Clare County Council and represent Ireland South in the European Parliament. The Minister for Local Government, Darragh O’Brien (FF) today made the order appointing Friday, 7 June 2024 as the polling day and 7am to 10pm to be the hours of polling at the European Parliament and local elections. The Minister has appointed Barry Ryan, a Principal Officer in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to be the chief returning officer for the European Parliament elections. He has also appointed returning officers for the three European Parliament constituencies in which 14 MEPs are to be elected for the 2024-2029 parliamentary term. Martin Harvey, Cork City Sheriff, will be returning officer for the five seat South constituency. The returning officers for the three European …

More than seven out of ten people living in the Crusheen area are travelling to work by car, according to preliminary research carried out by consultants appointed by Clare County Council. It has also emerged there has been a 50% increase in population to approximately 5,800 in the Crusheen area over a 20-year period since the 2002 Census. Mark O’Connell of Repucon Consulting outlined its initial work on the preparation of a Socio-Economic Study on the benefits of reopening the Crusheen Railway Station on the Western Rail Corridor at a recent Killaloe Municipal District meeting. Mr O’Connell told the meeting the consultants have seen what projects like this can do for rural regeneration and help the social and economic fabric of communities. The consultants plan to adopt an evidence-based approach by consulting with people in the locality of which about 4,500 people are older than 15. This will involve extensive community research, linking in with all the various community groups …

Clare councillors have called for a comprehensive framework to regulate burials, exhumations, and burial grounds at Clare burial sites, and are asking the Minister for Rural and Community Development to update the outdated legislation that governs burial grounds. Councillors Pat Hayes (FF), Mary Howard (FG), Cillian Murphy (FF), Pat Burke (FG), Shane Talty (FF), Joe Killeen (FF) tabled a joint motion at the March meeting of Clare County Council requesting the local authority to ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys (FG) to update the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878 and the associated rules and regulations for the Regulation of Burial Grounds Act, 1888 to provide a comprehensive framework to regulate burials, exhumations, and burial grounds. “A recent review of burial ground management in Clare referenced the need for updated and consolidated national legislation to support the oversight and management function of this essential service at local level to bring it in line with current burial ground …

RESIDENTS of one of Ennis’ most historic housing estates have been left “hugely disappointed” with resurfacing works carried out by the council last year in what has been described as a “cheap job”. Calls have been made for an inspection of the works at Hermitage to be carried out and for remediation works to be scheduled “urgently” as the estate prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary this year. The concerns of residents were highlighted at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District by Councillor Mary Howard (FG) who said, “The residents are not happy with the resurfacing works completed in parts of the area last year. They believe it to be uneven, thin and flimsy and they have noticed ponding and pooling of water throughout the area.” Concrete roads in Hermitage were covered with a Ralumac surface last year after local concerns were raised over the deterioration of the road surface. Paddy Tiernan, A/Senior Executive Engineer, outlined to the meeting …

Two motions about dog fouling, which were before the March meeting of the West Clare Municipal District (MD), gave rise to a good humoured debate amongst councillors. Councillor Liam Grant (GP)asked the council to address the serious dog fouling issues in Lahinch, requesting it to target several days to enforce dog fouling fines in an effort to stop the issue. The councillor said he wants to see something similar to the “slow down” days conducted by An Garda Síochána. He has also requested data on how many dog fouling fines have been issued by the local authority in Lahinch over the last three years. “In Lahinch, this came up as I was involved in a beach clean on the St Bridget’s Bank Holiday weekend, organised with a couple of different community groups…the amount of dog fouling – I think I counted 20 bags of poo myself,” he said. “There is a weird trend that is happening of people picking up …

MORE than €10 million is needed to complete the Ennis Northern Inner Relief Road, Clare County Council has confirmed. Clare’s Oireachtas members are now set to be invited to a special meeting of the Ennis Municipal District to hear first hand about the need for funding for projects in the county capital including the completion of a route connecting the Gort and Tulla roads. Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, Councillor Mary Howard (FG) described the link as a “necessary piece of infrastructure” for the development of the town and alleviating traffic issues. The councillor pointed out that, over the last number of years, the council has been planning for the future of the town including the upcoming introduction of a town bus service, cycle lanes and other projects. She requested an update on the status of the road planned through the grounds adjacent to Our Lady’s Hospital, linking the Gort Road with the Tulla Road. …

Clare County Council has been asked for answers to a number of questions in relation to its approval in June 2021 of a €10 million loan for Ennis 2040, with the council confirming a total of €2.2m has so far been advanced to Ennis 2040 to fund the work programme underway. At the March meeting of the local authority, Councillor Tom O’Callaghan (FF) called for a discussion to be allowed in relation to the council’s approval of a loan for €10 million. The details he requested were to include the cost of the loan and it’s duration, the schedule of loan repayments by the DAC, the list of assets owned by DAC currently, as well as the purpose of loans and if the council has guaranteed all liabilities. He also questioned whether the council is financially liable in any event of unfortunate financial misadventure. Chief Executive of Clare County Council, Pat Dowling, said he was concerned about the public focus …

Ennis councillor Johnny Flynn (FG) has made the surprise announcement he is to leave the political arena and will not contest the local election in June. “Coming up to an election, all politicians have to consider their position and with the election looming I had to consider it, and decided to give other candidates an opportunity.” He contacted his fellow councillors to tell them his decision over the weekend. And now he has made the announcement, many members of the public have thanked him for his service over the last after 20 years. “It is all about the constituents rather than the politicians really,” he said. Councillor Flynn has been interested in, and involved with environmental issues over his tenure at Clare County Council, and said there is “satisfaction” in leaving after the recent Clare Climate Action Plan 2024 – 2029 was adopted. “I am delighted with the final plan,” he said highlighting that the work done over the last …