Watersports enthusiasts to surf comprehensive new online portal

The Mid West Regional Authority (MWRA) has announced details of an ambitious new plan to develop and promote the watersports sector in the Mid West Region.

The Mid West Watersports Project, which will be launched in Ballina on 30th April, is aimed at boosting the marine leisure sector and its positive economic and environmental impacts in North Tipperary, Clare and Limerick. The Authority intends to build on existing marine leisure initiatives in the region to help inform and develop new opportunities for sustainable development of water sports on our rivers, lakes and coastline. It is anticipated that the Programme will help attract thousands of additional visitors to the Mid West Region each year when it is up and running.

The MWRA is part of a continuing European Programme for developing and promoting the watersports sector in Europe’s Atlantic Area. For the period 2009-2011, the Regional Authority through participation in the NEA 2 Project will be implementing a number of measures to help stimulate the marine leisure sector in the Mid-West region.

According to Marie Collins, Project Manager, “Over the next three years, the Regional Authority will design and implement a comprehensive online portal for watersports in the region, working closely with the Region’s local authorities, tourism business sector, tourism bodies and local watersports centres.” Ms Collins added, “Through the National Sport Federations we will also develop a series of training programmes in environmental awareness and social inclusion, promoting the marine leisure sector and creating opportunities for all people to become more involved in the sector. The MWRA will be providing more local and regional information on the implementation of this exciting watersports programme over the next 3 years through the website www.mwra.ie.”

The NEA 2 Project is a co-funded initiative under the INTERREG IVB Atlantic Area Programme and comprises 23 Partners from five EU Countries: Ireland, UK, France, Spain and Portugal, working together to deliver sustainable development of the marine leisure sector. The other Irish partners participating in the project are the Irish Canoe Union and Ards Borough Council.

A regional launch of the Mid West Watersports Project will take place in the Lakeside Hotel, Ballina on Thursday 30th April 2009 from 2-4pm. The event is geared towards watersports clubs, activity centres, marine leisure businesses and tourism promotion bodies in the marine leisure sector. It will feature a number of presentations on the various elements of the project, Marine Leisure and the environment, including how to improve the environmental credentials of your centre or club. Anyone interested in attending should contact the Regional Authority at 067-33197 or by email info@mwra.ie. For more information on the European Programme, please visit the NEA 2 website at www.nea2.eu.

Watersports enthusiasts to surf comprehensive new online portal

The Mid West Regional Authority (MWRA) has announced details of an ambitious new plan to develop and promote the watersports sector in the Mid West Region.

The Mid West Watersports Project, which will be launched in Ballina on 30th April, is aimed at boosting the marine leisure sector and its positive economic and environmental impacts in North Tipperary, Clare and Limerick. The Authority intends to build on existing marine leisure initiatives in the region to help inform and develop new opportunities for sustainable development of water sports on our rivers, lakes and coastline. It is anticipated that the Programme will help attract thousands of additional visitors to the Mid West Region each year when it is up and running.

The MWRA is part of a continuing European Programme for developing and promoting the watersports sector in Europe’s Atlantic Area. For the period 2009-2011, the Regional Authority through participation in the NEA 2 Project will be implementing a number of measures to help stimulate the marine leisure sector in the Mid-West region.

According to Marie Collins, Project Manager, “Over the next three years, the Regional Authority will design and implement a comprehensive online portal for watersports in the region, working closely with the Region’s local authorities, tourism business sector, tourism bodies and local watersports centres.” Ms Collins added, “Through the National Sport Federations we will also develop a series of training programmes in environmental awareness and social inclusion, promoting the marine leisure sector and creating opportunities for all people to become more involved in the sector. The MWRA will be providing more local and regional information on the implementation of this exciting watersports programme over the next 3 years through the website www.mwra.ie.”

The NEA 2 Project is a co-funded initiative under the INTERREG IVB Atlantic Area Programme and comprises 23 Partners from five EU Countries: Ireland, UK, France, Spain and Portugal, working together to deliver sustainable development of the marine leisure sector. The other Irish partners participating in the project are the Irish Canoe Union and Ards Borough Council.

A regional launch of the Mid West Watersports Project will take place in the Lakeside Hotel, Ballina on Thursday 30th April 2009 from 2-4pm. The event is geared towards watersports clubs, activity centres, marine leisure businesses and tourism promotion bodies in the marine leisure sector. It will feature a number of presentations on the various elements of the project, Marine Leisure and the environment, including how to improve the environmental credentials of your centre or club. Anyone interested in attending should contact the Regional Authority at 067-33197 or by email info@mwra.ie. For more information on the European Programme, please visit the NEA 2 website at www.nea2.eu.

McCarthy Calls For EV Charging Points Across Clare

Councillor Patricia McCarthy has expressed her hope that green motorists who choose to buy electric vehicles (EVs) may be able to refuel them on main streets across County Clare within two years.

The Independent member of Clare County Council has called on the local authority to request the ESB to consider installing charging stations at strategic locations throughout the County. Her call follows the announcement by the ESB to install charging points in the country's main towns and cities to allow the rollout of EVs in the coming years. “The Government wants 10 percent of all cars, trucks and buses on the road to be powered by electricity by 2020. Furthermore, petrol and diesel are likely to incur higher taxes in the coming years to encourage a changeover to electric vehicles. We need to prepare for this transition at local level,” explained Councillor McCarthy.

Councillor McCarthy, who is Chair of Clare County Council’s Environmental and Emergency Services and Consumer Protection Policy Strategic Policy Committee, commented, “Electric cars are clean, help reduce our carbon footprint, make little noise, and are ideal for commuting and city driving. It is anticipated that the driving range of fully charged Electric Vehicles will improve with each technological advancement. For example, Nissan has designed and produced an EV with a driving range of 160km.”

Meanwhile, in a written response to Councillor McCarthy’s recent motion on providing charging points for EVs, Ger Dollard, Director of Services with Clare County Council stated that the costs associated with installing charging points were significant. He continued, “Currently issues need to be addressed in relation to safety, payment arrangements and logistical difficulties. The Council will continue, through the Limerick Clare Energy Agency, to monitor developments in this area with a view towards implementing a scheme at a future date.”

Mr. Dollard added, “The electric car market is targeted at meeting city traffic issues of space and pollution and cars are designed for economy and environmental impact. There are currently a small number of manufacturers of electric cars. There is presently no official data on the number of electric cars in Ireland but research would suggest that there are few or no electric cars currently in existence. As a comparison, the city of Westminster (England) has 12 charging stations for a population of 232,000 in an area of 8.5 sq. miles.”

“The majority of electric car owners’ charging would be carried out at their home or place of work. In relation to public electric charging points, the city of Dublin Energy Management Agency (CODEMA) has done some work on the feasibility of introducing electric power points in public places. The Agency is currently awaiting more detailed technical and legal information. The technical information relates to the safety of the charging units while the legal information relates to the ownership of charging points on a public street and the charging for electricity,” he concluded.