Clare Students And Teachers Urged To Take Up Canada Language Programme

Junior Minister Tony Killeen is urging Clare students and teachers with Irish to apply for the Ireland Canada University Foundation’s Irish language awards before the March 5th deadline.

The Clare T.D. says the scheme offers students and academics “a wonderful opportunity to gain valuable teaching practice, to experience living in Canada and to use their Irish in a new and exciting environment”.

Funded by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, the Foundation is providing Irish-language teaching assistantships and visiting lectureships at Canadian universities that offer courses in Irish. The third-level institutions involved are Concordia University in Montreal in Quebec and St. Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In addition, the Ireland Canada University Foundation is calling for applications for a Visiting Irish Language Professorship at the Department of Celtic Studies at the University of Toronto.

According to Minister Killeen, “This programme will help to make the academic community in Canada more aware of the Irish language and its rich heritage as one of the oldest vernacular languages in Europe. It will place the language on a par with other European languages being taught abroad.”

“Clare students and teachers have less than six weeks to submit their application and make the most of this opportunity, so I strongly urge them to hurry and apply for these exchange scholarships for universities across Canada”, he concluded.

The Programme is funded from Ciste na Gaeilge (The Irish Language Fund), which is used to support Irish language organisations and Irish language projects. The goal of the fund is to promote the use of the Irish language.

Further information about the awards is available from www.icuf.ie or email info@icuf.ie.

Day-time Water Supply Shut-Offs Ended In Clare

Clare County Council says that all day-time shut-offs of water supplies throughout County Clare have ceased.

The Council says, however, that overnight shut-offs of some supplies, which are essential for water conservation, will continue until further notice.

Sixmilebridge Shut-Offs
Friday 22nd - 8.00 p.m. – 9.00 a.m. (next day)
Saturday 23rd - 8.00 p.m. – 9.00 a.m. (next day)
Sunday 24th - 8.00 p.m. – 8.00 a.m. (next day)
Monday 25th - 8.00 p.m. – 8.00 a.m. (next day)

Shannon Shut-Offs
Friday 22nd - 8.00 p.m. – 9.00 a.m. (next day)
Saturday 23rd - 8.00 p.m. – 9.00 a.m. (next day)
Sunday 24th - 8.00 p.m. – 8.00 a.m. (next day)
Monday 25th - 8.00 p.m. – 8.00 a.m. (next day)

Newmarket on Fergus, Cratloe, Bunratty, Kilmurray, Kilkishen, Deerpark Group Water Scheme,
Cappa Rossmanagher Group Water Scheme Shut-Offs
Friday 22nd - 8.00 p.m. – 9.00 a.m. (next day)
Saturday 23rd - 8.00 p.m. – 9.00 a.m. (next day)
Sunday 24th - 8.00 p.m. – 8.00 a.m. (next day)
Monday 25th - 8.00 p.m. – 8.00 a.m. (next day)

Tulla and Broadford Shut-Offs
Friday 22nd - 8.00 p.m. – 8.00 a.m. (next day)
Saturday 23rd - 8.00 p.m. – 8.00 a.m. (next day)
Sunday 24th - 8.00 p.m. – 8.00 a.m. (next day)
Monday 25th - 8.00 p.m. – 8.00 a.m. (next day)
There are no planned shut offs during the day in Tulla and Broadford, but this will be reviewed on a daily basis and may change.

Scarriff & Tuamgraney Shut-Offs
Friday 22nd - 8.00 p.m. – 8.00 a.m. (next day)
Saturday 23rd - 8.00 p.m. – 8.00 a.m. (next day)
Sunday 24th - 8.00 p.m. – 8.00 a.m. (next day)
Monday 25th - 8.00 p.m. – 8.00 a.m. (next day)

Westbury, Shannon Banks, Parteen and Clonlara Shut-Offs
Friday 22nd - 8.00 p.m. – 8.00 a.m. (next day)
Saturday 23rd - 8.00 p.m. – 8.00 a.m. (next day)
Sunday 24th - 8.00 p.m. – 8.00 a.m. (next day)
Monday 25th - 8.00 p.m. – 8.00 a.m. (next day)

Ennis Area
The water supply in Ennis has been restored. However, some areas of the town may continue to experience low pressure.

Details of water restrictions are available on Clare County Council’s website www.clarecoco.ie.

Farmers Receive Clarification On Non-Principal Private Residences

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has outlined the conditions that exempt some farmland properties from the 200 euro charge on non-principal private residences.

Minister John Gormley T.D. was responding to a query from Junior Agriculture Minister and Clare T.D. Tony Killeen who raised the issue after receiving numerous representations from the Irish Farmer’s Association.

Commenting on the background to the levy, Minister of State Killeen said: “The levy was introduced by the Government in 2009 as a mechanism for broadening the revenue base of local authorities through the introduction of this charge on non-principal private residences. The charge of 200 euro per dwelling is being levied, collected and retained by local authorities.”

Minister of State Killeen added: “The charge only applies to property used or suitable for use as a dwelling and the Department has issued guidelines to local authorities to help assess what may be deemed habitable. Minister Gormley has informed me that if a former residence is used for farm storage or as an outbuilding and has no sanitation or services, it is unlikely to be considered habitable. However, it is for the owner to assess this liability in the first regard. Where a person is unsure as to whether his or her property is liable, he or she should contact the local authority for advice.”

Minister of State Killeen said he sought a clarification from the Department after receiving numerous representations from the IFA as well as farmers in County Clare.