Tag Archives: Deputy Joe Carey

ASSURANCES have been sought on the Garda response to “intense violence” in a number of recent incidents that have gone viral in videos on social media.  Deputy Joe Carey asked Clare’s most senior Garda about the issue at this week’s meeting of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC). Chief Superintendent Seán Colleran said some of the incidents have resulted in court appearances.  “You will be aware of a number of incidents that have been circulating on social media, with really intense violence being portrayed,” Deputy Carey told the Chief. “I have fed that back to yourselves. Possibly, you’re not in a position to comment on those, with ongoing investigations, but it is a matter of concern in the community that this type of activity would be ongoing. I’d like if you could reassure the public today that An Garda Síochána are doing everything in your power to bring these people to justice.” Responding, Chief Superintendent Colleran confirmed that the force is …

FARMERS in North Clare are being “terrorised” on their own lands and a Garda Inspector has been assigned to look into the issue.  Clare’s Joint Policing Committee (JPC) was told, at its quarterly meeting, that a proactive response is needed from Gardaí, after the issue was raised by two Dáil deputies. The matter was highlighted by Deputy Cathal Crowe who handed over a number of registration numbers to the Chief Superintendent.  “There’s a group of farmers in the Liscannor area who are being terrorised at the moment,” he said. “Very frequently, people come onto their land with shotguns, hunting for rabbits and foxes, and, as a farmer is entitled to, they approach them to clear them, only to be told the gun will be used on them. This is happening repeatedly. “It’s one thing to be terrorised on the streets, but to be terrorised on your own property is an entirely different thing. So, they work together and they’re in …

THE founder of the Clare Pyrite Action Group (CPAG) has said she fears campaigners here could be forced into a ten-year battle for redress.  Dr Martina Cleary voiced concern that Clare homeowners are being driven down the same route as those in Mayo and Donegal, who campaigned for a decade to get access to a State-sponsored grant scheme. It follows a briefing from Clare County Council on Tuesday for members of CPAG and Oireachtas representatives. Officials outlined their ongoing efforts to respond to queries raised by the Department of Housing over a report seeking access to the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme. While a rigorous process of core sampling on five private homes formed part of this report, it has now emerged that the Department’s queries will necessitate further investigations of these properties.  Dr Cleary said the council expressed determination to meet the Department’s request for proof of a causal link between structural damage and the proven presence of pyrite. …

SIGNIFICANT progress is set to be made within weeks on the transfer of ownership of the old Garda Station in Lissycasey, which will help with the process of it being brought into community use. In a statement Clare TD Joe Carey said, “Work has been ongoing for some time to bring the former Garda Station in Lissycasey back into use for community purposes. “This transfer has been stalled due to legal issues but significant progress has now been made. Minister Patrick O’Donovan has confirmed to me that he anticipates that these legal issues will be resolved in full this month. “On conclusion of these legal matters, the Minister advises me a new lease can then be drawn-up between the OPW and Clare County Council who will co-ordinate its use thereby enabling local community groups in Lissycasey to avail of the premises. “This is really positive news for the community of Lissycasey and I want to express my thanks to Minister …

THE notorious Brennan’s Cross in Meelick is an “accident waiting to happen”, a local Dáil Deputy has claimed. Deputy Joe Carey has called on Clare County Council to realign Brennan’s Cross in the interest of road safety as well as providing public lighting, footpaths and infrastructure from the Knockalisheen Centre back into Meelick. The Fine Gael Deputy has made representations to the council for road improvement works in Meelick following a recent visit to the area with Councillor John Crowe. Several residents had been in touch with Deputy Carey in relation to the dangers posed to pedestrians, cyclist and motorist using both Brennan’s Cross and the Knockalisheen Road. Deputy Carey warned these issues will be exacerbated when the new road linking Coonagh to the Knockalisheen Road, which is currently under construction as part of Phase One of the Limerick Northern Distributor Road, is open to traffic. “It’s my understanding that a section of the Knockalisheen Road is planned to close …

GOVERNMENT funding of €524,000 has been approved for Clare County Council to proceed with the design and planning stages of a major regeneration project for Scariff Town Centre. The funding will pave the way for a further application of funds to provide a multi service innovation and engagement hub in the east Clare town, to add to the ever growing network of remote working facilities in the Banner county. The project will also deliver improvements to the public realm in Market Square and the town centre, and provide enhanced parking and ancillary facilities. The application was submitted under Category 2 of the Government’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and will facilitate a further application under Category 1 of this Scheme to make these plans a reality. Fine Gael Deputy Joe Carey welcomed the funding saying, “This regeneration project will be a game changer for the town of Scariff and its large hinterland. He added, “I want to acknowledge the huge …

Sale of land depends on securing planning THE HSE has been urged to lodge a planning application for the development of a new €25 million community hospital in Ennis at the earliest opportunity. The call was made by Deputy Joe Carey after the HSE confirmed it intends to lodge a planning application for this project in the first quarter of 2022. Jim Curran, HSE national director of capital and estates, said the HSE has “sale agreed” lands comprising 5.09 acres of Diocesan property near the Turnpike in Ennis for the provision of a new 100-bed community nursing unit. However, the sale of lands is subject to planning permission for the development of a community nursing unit. This project will see a new state-of-the-art facility, providing a 100-bed HIQA compliant community nursing unit for long stay residents including 88 single, four twin rooms and four palliative care facilities. A full design team was appointed in March 2021 following a tender and …

SERIOUS questions have been raised over the council’s application to have the defective blocks grant extended to Clare, The Champion has learned. Despite an assurance from the Housing Minister in August that a decision would be made within “a matter of weeks”, his Department is challenging several aspects of the council’s submission. In November, Minister Darragh O’Brien told Clare Oireachtas members his Department’s concerns were not “insurmountable”. However, a letter issued on Monday poses far-reaching questions. The document queries whether pyrite is the only cause of damage to the five homes tested. “It is unclear whether the presence of pyrite has manifested itself in structural wall damage, or if the walls are damaged either wholly or partially by another cause,” the seven-page letter states. The document adds that while the technical report has confirmed excessive amounts of pyrite, “it has not been stated however that the damage which has been documented has manifested due to the presence of reactive pyrite, …