Planning For A Brighter Future In County Clare

An action aimed at harnessing the industrial and tourism potential of the Shannon Estuary is among a series of measures outlined in the Draft Clare County Development Plan 2011-2017.

The strategy has been unanimously approved by members of Clare County Council following a year-long review process. It will be placed on public display in two weeks before going through a 10-week public consultation period.

Once approved, the Plan will pave the way for the zoning over 700 Hectares of land for ‘Marine Related Industry’ at locations along the Shannon Estuary, the provision of Electric Vehicle charge points throughout the County, the implementation of a County’s first Wind Energy Strategy, the development of an inventory of community, social and cultural facilities throughout Clare, and a requirement for all new buildings and houses to have a low level access shower and toilet on the ground floor to ensure access for all.

The Draft Clare County Development Plan 2011-2017 sets out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the functional area of Clare County Council. When adopted the six year blueprint will replace the existing County Development Plan 2005 and it will be the sixth such Plan since 1964.

Mayor of Clare Councillor Tony Mulcahy welcomed the unanimous adoption of the Draft Plan. He noted: “The primary goal of this Plan is to position County Clare as a driver for local and regional growth through harnessing the potential of its unique location, quality of life, natural resources and other competitive advantages. Ultimately, the Plan seeks to make County Clare a better place to live in, work and visit.”

Commenting on the proposed zoning of large tracts of land along the Shannon Estuary, County Manager Tom Coughlan stated: “The Estuary because of its deep water, shelter and other natural advantages is a significant potential asset for the county and for the first time the Draft Development Plan introduces a chapter aimed at developing the Estuary for various economic and recreational uses. In addition to this, the Draft Plan introduces new proactive policies in relation to economic development and enterprise in the county including in rural areas.”

He continued: “The Draft Plan has a strong emphasis on renewable energy production, storage and distribution and for the first time contains a separate Wind Energy Strategy for County Clare aimed at further tapping into the potential of the significant wind resources of the county subject to the normal environmental safeguards. The Draft Plan includes also for the first time a chapter dealing specifically with Rural Development and Natural Resources.”

The Draft Plan also includes:
- A proposal that all new buildings and houses would be required to have a low level access shower and toilet. This measure aimed at ensuring the lifetime adaptability of homes in particular would be in excess of the minimum requirements of the current building regulations and will prevent the need for expensive retrofitting in many cases
- A separate volume a Record of Protected Structures for the county and includes a photograph and description of over 500 buildings and structures already protected and a further 200 that are proposed for protection
- An innovative and forward thinking proposal that in future certain developments will be required to provide facilities to allow for charging of electric cars and vehicles
- A Strategic Flood Risk Assessment carried out in light of new Guidelines issues to Planning Authorities on Flood Risk Management.

The Draft Clare County Development Plan 2011-2017 will be available in public offices, libraries and on the internet at www.clarecoco.ie in late January 2010. Public exhibitions and various stakeholder meetings will also be held around the County and written submissions will be invited. At the end of the public consultation period, the Manager’s Report on any issues arising will be prepared and submitted to Members in June 2010.

Road Gritting Operations Continue In Clare

Over 550 kilometres of County Clare’s road network have been salted and gritted on a daily basis since the outbreak of the current cold period of weather in mid-December 2009.

That’s according to the Clare Local Authorities who confirmed that National Primary and Secondary Roads, along with heavily trafficked Regional routes, will continue to be treated as freezing conditions are expected to last into the early days of next week.

All main roads in the County are currently passable with the exception of the N67 (Lisdoonvarna to Ballyvaughan at Corkscrew Hill). Motorists are advised to avoid the main Doolin to Ennistymon road and the High Road in Doolin (near Hearrity’s Cross) due to extremely icy conditions. Also, the roads around Ruan are very dangerous and should be avoided. In West Clare, the Carrhue Hill (going up to Cooraclare GAA pitch) is very dangerous. Road users are advised to exercise extreme caution on all other routes.

Nora Kaye, Director of Services, Clare County Council stated: “The Council continues to implement the salting and gritting programme and have been salting since the beginning of the current cold spell, which began on 18th December. Seven salting vehicles are in operation as well as other methods, including the use of pick–up vehicles at area level. The main roads continue to be the Council’s priority and every effort is being made to keep these main routes passable. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has issued safety advice as the cold weather looks set to continue and this advice should be heeded. The Council has been proactive in managing supplies of salt and a further delivery is expected in Limerick today.”

“People are reminded to check on older people, people living alone, people with disabilities and other vulnerable people, as this cold spell continues. Also, residents in housing estates are encouraged to clear their driveways and footpaths”, added Ms. Kaye.

The supply of grit to a number of locations around the county is currently being finalised and more details of the specific locations will be updated on the Council’s website.

Ms Kaye noted that weather conditions were unlikely to improve over the weekend. She continued: “There are still several days of cold weather to come, with Met Éireann predicting that this will last until at least the middle of next week and that temperatures may drop as low as minus 10?C at night. It is possible that further areas may be affected by low pressure or loss of supply, and that further areas may need to have supplies shut off at night to allow reservoirs to recover. If further supplies need to be rationed or shut off, we will advertise these details on local radio”.

The Clare Local Authorities, including Clare Civil Defence, Clare County Fire and Rescue Service and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, are working with An Garda Síochána and the Health Services Executive to ensure a co-ordinated approach for dealing with the various issues. Links also have been established with Met Éireann, AA Roadwatch, RSA, the Department of Transport and the National Roads Authority to ensure that up-to-date information is made available to the Local Authorities.

Clare County Council Water Services update:
The extended period of cold weather has led to a 20 per cent increase in demand in all the Council’s water supplies. Most of the Council’s water treatment plants are at or near production capacity (see below water supply notices). Customers are requested to deal with leaks and bursts immediately, and to conserve supplies as far as possible. Water is rationed in some areas.

Clare County Council Water Services (the effects of increased demand are currently most acute in the following areas):
- Scariff & Tuamgraney: Supply restrictions are in place. At present the water supply is shut off between 1.00 am to 7.00am. This will reviewed later today. However, it is likely that the restriction will remain in place until early next week.
- Tulla: Supply restrictions are still in place. At present the water supply is shut off between 8.00 pm to 7.00am. This will reviewed later today. It may be necessary to continue shut-offs for some more nights, but the duration of shut-offs may be shorter.
- O’Briensbridge: Customers in elevated areas of the supply network, notably Kildoorus and Ardnataggle are experiencing low water pressure. In order to improve their supply Clare County Council are adjusting pressures in parts of the network.
- Cratloe: Parts of Cratloe are affected at different times, and the Council continues to seek leaks in the area and to balance the pressures between the different areas at different times of the day to improve water flows. A leak in the Ballymorris area has been fixed and this may lead to an overall improvement in the situation.
- Sixmilebridge: Water supply restrictions are in place. Water will be shut of between 8.00pm and 8.00 am until further notice. This restriction will remain in place until early next week, when a review of operations will be carried out.
- Newmarket-on-Fergus: Water supply restrictions are in place. Water will be shut of between 8.00pm and 8.00 am until further notice. This restriction will remain in place until early next week, when a review of operations will be carried out.
- Ballybeg-Rockmount area between Ennis and Clarecastle and higher elevated areas in the Ennis / Clarecastle environs may experience water supply loss or reduced pressure due to increased demand on the supply system. A number of properties throughout Ennis have no water supply due to stopcocks freezing. This situation is reflected throughout the county.
- Water demand to parts of North Clare supplied from the Ballymacraven treatment plant in Ennistymon is in excess of treatment plant capacity. Water conservation measures are in place, with some areas having a restricted or no supply on a rotational basis at night. Areas affected include Ennistymon, Liscannor, Lahinch, Lisdoonvarna and Doolin. Notifications of planned supply restrictions will be made through local radio advertisements.
- Watermain between Kilkee and Moyasta has been temporarily repaired, although supply from the main is restricted. The water treatment plant at Lislanaghan is in operation to cater for increased demand in the Kilkee area. Generally all areas in West Clare are receiving water, however some local restrictions in pressure and supply may occur.

Members of the public seeking advice pertaining to roads/water services related issues should contact their Local Area Office during office hours (9am-5pm). For out-of-office hours emergencies, persons may contact the Council’s 24-hour emergency telephone 087-4169496. Clare County Council’s website www.clarecoco.ie also is updated on a daily basis.

Local Area Office contact details:
• Ennis area office - (065) 6869534
• Ennistymon area office - (065) 7071017
• Kilrush area office - (065) 9051047
• Scariff area office - (061) 640815
• Shannon area office - (061) 362319
• Clare County Council Corporate Headquarters - (065) 6846337

Killeen Welcomes Relaunch Of Organic Farming Scheme

A scheme that has provided financial assistance to organic farmers throughout County Clare since 2007 has been relaunched following a review by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Junior Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen today confirmed that with immediate effect, farmers can once again apply for support under the Organic Farming Scheme and for grants under both the On-Farm and Off-Farm Schemes for the Development of the Organic Sector.

The Organic Farming Scheme is an agri-environment measure under the Department's Rural Development Programme 2007-13. Farmers may enter into a contract for a minimum of five years and could qualify for yearly payments of up to EUR283 per hectare during the conversion period and up to EUR142 per hectare when they have achieved full organic status. Following a review of the Scheme during 2009, applicants will now be required to submit a business plan and, if they have not previously taken part in the Organic Supplementary Measure in REPS, to undertake an approved training course.

According to Minister of State Killeen: “Despite the budgetary constraints the funding available remains adequate to ensure that the Programme for Government target to convert a minimum 5 per cent of acreage to organic farmland by 2012 can re realised. The changes in the Scheme are designed to ensure that the farmers joining it are those who have most to offer to the growth of the organic sector so that it can meet the increasing demand from consumers for organic produce."

The Clare T.D. said the Government is committed to developing the organic sector as an opportunity for Irish farmers and the Irish agri-food sector in general. He added; “I believe these Schemes are important initiatives in this development and I warmly welcome their relaunch. I understand there are a number of organic farmers and processors who are ready to make significant investments as soon as grants are available and I would encourage them to start applying now."

The Grant Schemes, which support investment by both producers and processors, had been a major success since their launch in 2007. They were closed temporarily in mid-2009 because applications on hands at that point were enough to use up the funding provided for the year. There had been a significant increase in interest in the scheme and a substantial increase in the number of applications and the amount of aid paid over the past number of years.

The number of successful applications increased from 82 in 2007 to 123 in 2009, an increase of 50%, while expenditure under the schemes went from EUR594,000 in 2007 to EUR1.5 million in 2009, an increase of over 150%. The on-farm scheme provides grant aid of 40% of the cost up to a maximum grant of EUR60,000. For off-farm investments, the maximum grant is EUR500,000.