Tag Archives: Covid-19

O’CONNELL Street is set to be transformed in the coming weeks with plans for the introduction of a ‘parklet’ unveiled by the local authority. A parklet is an extension to the footpath offering seating and amenities. The measure has already proven popular in other parts of the country as part of efforts to support social distancing. CEO of Ennis Chamber Margaret O’Brien, reacting to the initiative, commented, “I’m looking forward to seeing how it will work.” Clare County Council have announced the move on a pilot basis from early August, however if successful the initiative may be rolled out to other parts of the county capital. Ms O’Brien commented, “Clare County Council’s idea for a parklet is something which seems to have worked in other towns and cities around the country. It’s a concept that started in the States and has also been popular in England. The parklet will be introduced on O’Connell Street with street furniture and a deck …

RESIDENTS of an Ennis housing estate are appealing for help from the council in clearing a significant amount of human waste and litter left behind after an encampment that sprang up on a vacant site beside their homes, earlier this month. While a number of caravans left the site beside Castle Rock on the Tulla Road last Tuesday evening, there are still concerns about the hazard posed by the waste, in terms of Covid-19. The area is also expected to be visited in the coming days by judges from the Tidy Towns, prompting further frustration among local residents. Councillor Johnny Flynn who raised the residents’ concerns at a meeting of Clare County Council welcomed the decision of those involved in the encampment to move, and the intervention of Gardaí, said a significant public health issue remains. “Often, we find ourselves incurring a major costs after an illegal encampment,” he said. “In this case, there is a major public health concern …

The Government has today announced the July Jobs Stimulus, a €7.4bn package of measures designed to stimulate a jobs-led recovery and build economic confidence while continuing to manage the impact of Covid-19. It contains over 50 measures to try to alleviate the impact of Covid-19 and the recent lockdown. Launching the Jobs Stimulus, the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD said: “The stimulus package announced today will protect existing jobs while creating new and sustainable employment options in the months and years ahead.  These measures will support small and medium businesses, give young people greater opportunities in training and education, support workers who have lost their jobs because of the pandemic and rejuvenate communities worst affected by the economic impact of the virus.  This is a comprehensive plan which will boost the economy and bring confidence back to towns and villages across Ireland.” The July Jobs Stimulus will provide a boost to the economy, building confidence and moving us towards a more …

The number of new residential address points added to the GeoDirectory database in Clare in the twelve months to June 2020 was 363 according to the latest GeoView Residential Buildings Report released by GeoDirectory and EY-DKM today. A total of 262 residential buildings were under construction in Clare in June 2020. Nationally, the number of new address points fell by 32.9% year-on-year in the twelve months to June 2020, the first indication of the impact that Covid-19 has had on residential housing supply in Ireland. In total, 16,617 new address points were recorded, with over half (50.5%) located in the Greater Dublin Area of Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow. Dublin continues to be the driving force in terms of residential housing supply, with 30.2% of all new address points found in the capital. This was significantly higher than the total percentage of additions in Munster (21.4%), Connacht (10.7%) and Ulster (4.1%). Leitrim (46), Roscommon (116) and Longford (123) were the …

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has been notified of 36 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. However there have been no new confirmed cases in Clare. The figure still stands at 369. There is now a total of 25,802 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. There were no new deaths announced at Tuesday’s briefing. There has been a total of 1,753 COVID-19 related deaths nationwide. The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread. Dr Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “Together, we have achieved so much in our ongoing effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our communities, making it possible to take steps to reopen society and the economy. “Today I am asking everyone to stay the course on the public health measures needed to suppress COVID-19, such as covering coughs, hand washing, use of face …

A total of 7,000 people in Clare are claiming the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The figure has dropped by 7,600 since May 5 when 14,600 people in the county were receiving the payment. According to the latest figures issued today from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, 313,800 people nationally will receive the payment tomorrow, at an overall cost of €97m. This represents a decrease of 31,800 on the 345,600 people paid last week and a decrease of almost 100,000 in the past two weeks. In the past seven days, 28,700 people have closed their claim for a Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Some 13,100 will be receiving their final payment tomorrow on tomorrow, July 21. The top three sectors in which employees are returning to work this week are accommodation and food services; wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor behicles and motorcycles and construction. As well as those availing of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, there are now over 67,700 employers who have registered with the Revenue Commissioners for …

OFTEN the targets of strident criticism in the past, HSE representatives received a standing ovation at Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council, in recognition of their efforts in battling Covid-19. At the council meeting, the HSE representatives, including Colette Cowan, CEO of the UL Hospitals Group and Maria Bridgeman, Chief Officer of the Mid West Community Healthcare area and Dr Mai Mannix, Director of Public Health in the Mid West, explained the efforts that were made in the region to tackle Covid-19,while they praised frontline staff but also gave the message that danger has not fully abated. Dr Mannix said that in 13 previous pandemics, there have been second and third waves, illustrating the risks that are still lurking. Ms Cowan said that the pandemic had arrived in the region on March 4, a week or two before it arrived in other parts of Ireland. She said this left the task of developing what she called “a hospital within a …

CLARE Sinn Féin TD, Violet-Anne Wynne, has called on the Department of Education to immediately clarify the finer details around the July provision transportation grant. “I have been contacted by a number of families who are still in the dark in terms of when this grant will be paid. In this unprecedented time of Covid-19 families are forced to budget every penny of their household income to ensure they can keep going. Every year the department would have normally supplied transport via a contract through Bus Eireann, this year that was stopped due to Covid-19, leaving families to have to arrange their own transport to and from schools,” Deputy Wynne stated. “While parents were happy to arrange same, they have since been left in the dark by the department on when they will be able to reclaim these expenses from the grant scheme. Some parents have told me how they have been making round trips of 130km twice a day …