Clare County Council Backs Rezoning of Lands at Stonehall

Fine Gael Senate Spokesman on Energy, Communications and Natural Resources, Tony Mulcahy has welcomed a decision by members of Clare County Council to back the rezoning of lands at Stonehall, near Newmarket on Fergus, to facilitate the development of a large-scale renewable energy projects.

The majority of Clare’s 32 Elected Members this evening voted in favour of rezoning an 80-acre tract of land at Stonehall, which was has been included in the Shannon Town & Environs Local Area Plan 2012-2018.

Senator Mulcahy said the move paved the way for third parties to develop green energy projects in line with the objectives for Shannon set out in the Clare County Development Plan.

“I wish to congratulate Clare County Council for its vision in facilitating the creation of a green energy valley that provides a reliable source of energy for Shannon Town, including the Airport and Free Zone. I also want to compliment the Council’s Elected Members, interested third parties and residents of Stonehall who contributed to today’s decision”, stated the Shannon-based Senator.

Senator Mulcahy said he supported one particular project that has already been earmarked for Stonehall, pending a successful application to the planning authority. 

“I have met with Carbon Sole Group on numerous occasions in recent months.  I believe that the company’s proposal to develop a 70MW Combined Heat and Power (CHP) facility at Stonehall would help to create and sustain hundreds of jobs directly throughout the region, as well as provide a clean, cheap and reliable source of energy to the surrounding hinterland, attracting employment intensive investment to the District Heat Network.”

“The company has informed me that it has selected Shannon as a possible location for the CHP, due to its close proximity to forested regions where bio-fuel could be sourced but also due to the size and layout of the town with respect to industrial & commercial areas that will benefit from future foreign direct investment (FDI) attracted to a Carbon Neutral Zone, as the town will be no longer reliant on fossil fuels and associated thermal energy price fluctuations,” he said.

Senator Mulcahy noted: “The rezoning decision allows the Carbon Sole Group Ltd, the technology delivery partners Green Exergy AB (Swedish company experienced in delivering efficient clean CHP) and other third parties interested in developing green energy projects in Shannon to progress their plans, and in doing so give Shannon town and its environs a valuable opportunity to secure both long-term energy security and a low carbon future.”

Senator Mulcahy said plans to develop the facility were already at an advanced stage.   He commented: “Carbon Sole Group’s grid connection application for a Shannon Biomass HeCHP has been deemed completed by ESB Networks and Eirgrid. The company is awaiting a decision from the Commission for Energy Regulation on priority despatch as per SEM market decisions, in line with renewable electricity and heat targets. The decision requires further clarity on the efficiency certification process with respect to “useable heat” as when distributed through district heat networks in order to facilitate extra capacity to attract future employment to Shannon and the regeneration of the industrial and commercial estates.”

Senator Mulcahy continued: “As spokesperson for The Oireachtas Committee on Energy & Natural Resources I have met with Sean Daly (CEO of Carbon Sole Group Ltd) and Rolf Lindgren (Vice President of Green Exergy AB). It is clear that both parties have the proven ability to deliver world-class biomass High Efficiency Combined Heat & Power and related green energy infrastructure/district heat network.”
   
“These investments in green energy and infrastructure will deliver increased GDP whilst reducing CO₂ emissions as proven in Sweden, a win-win for the Midwest region. More importantly, this is an investment in job intensive green energy, built on farming and forestry supply chains. This process will deliver direct employment in the operations and full-time equivalents in harvesting, haulage, installation of the district heating (DH) network, heat exchangers and servicing of such, further downstream attracting FDI to a sustainable regional carbon neutral economy,” Senator Mulcahy concluded.

L.I.T. Duo Named ‘Ambassadors Of The Year’

L-R: Dr Vincent Cunnane (CEO, Shannon Development), Michael Noonan T.D. (Minister for Finance), Padraig Kirby, Dr Fergal Barry, Jerald Cavanagh (all LIT), Tony Brazil (Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau) and Karen Brosnahan (Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau). Photograph Kieran Clancy.

 

Participants in a unique sports and business ambassadors programme, currently being rolled out in counties Clare, Limerick, Offaly and Tipperary, helped bring more than 35 million euro into the Shannon Region during 2010 and 2011. 

That is according to Shannon Development and the Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau who this week honoured 50 participants of the Conference & Sports Ambassadors Programme.

Among the award recipients were “Ambassadors of the Year”, Jerald Cavanagh and Padraig Kirby of Limerick Institute of Technology Library, who were honoured for their attempts to deliver key business tourism for Limerick. The duo have brought more than €2m worth of business to the greater Limerick area by organising major international conferences  on behalf of L.I.T.

The Conference & Sports Ambassadors Programme was introduced two years ago to increase the Region’s share of the lucrative national and international sports tourism market. Since then, 300 ambassadors have been actively working with the Bureau and Shannon Development to help attract thousands of people to the region through a range of business and sports events.

Commenting on the background to the Programme, Mr. Tony Brazil, Chair of The Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau explained: “The Ambassadors programme was devised to increase the Shannon Region’s share of the lucrative internationals sports and business tourism markets. People from around the Shannon Region counties of Limerick, Clare, Tipperary and South Offaly, involved in sporting and business activities at any level, were asked to become an Ambassador. The Programme has so far received a tremendous response.”

“Under the Programme, Shannon Development and the Bureau supported the efforts of Programme Ambassadors by funding site visits, offering guidance and advice and helping to secure funds through the Fáilte Ireland Conference Ambassadors Fund.  The events that were hosted in the Region last year would have otherwise taken place elsewhere in Ireland or Europe were it not for supports that have been put in place by the Programme”, Mr. Brazil stated.

Events held in the Region as a result of the work carried out by Programme Ambassadors have included the European Duathlon Championships in Limerick, the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists Conference, the World Single Speed Cycling Championships at Ballyhoura, the Thurles International Hurling Festival, and the Genealogy & Family History Conference in Clare.

According to Dr Vincent Cunnane, Chief Executive, Shannon Development, “Sports and business  tourism in the Shannon benefits a range of businesses from the accommodation sector, transport services, pubs, and restaurants, right through to visitor attractions, sports facilities, and the retail trade. I would like to compliment all those involved in showcasing the region to sports governing bodies, corporate bodies and charitable organisations through the Ambassador Programme, as in doing so they have helped provide a significant boost the Region’s economy.”

Dr. Cunnane added: “Shannon Development’s approach continues to be proactive and like our Ambassadors we are out there using our contacts and networks to identify new events. We are very fortunate to have the support of the Regional Conference and Sports Bureau which offers a free advice service to anyone trying to bring an event to this Region.”

Addressing this week’s Ambassador Recognition Awards ceremony, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan TD described the Programme as “innovative, just like the Shannon region”. 

Minister Noonan added that the continued success of the Programme centred on the future management and growth of Shannon Airport. He noted that there would be change in the near future at Shannon Airport and said that this change must ‘be embraced’ to allow the region to fulfil its goals.

The Ambassador programme is administered by Karen Brosnahan, Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau and Adam Skerritt, Shannon Development.   Organisations that may view the Shannon Region as a potential event location can contact Karen or Adam on 061-710267 or visit www.conferenceandsportsbureau.com.

L.I.T Brings Third-Level Education To Clare

Limerick Institute of Technology (L.I.T.) has assumed control of the Ennis Regional Learning Centre in what is regarded as a significant boost for the delivery of higher-level education in County Clare.

The project administrator of the renamed ‘LIT Clare - Ennis Learning Centre’ campus, which is one of three facilities providing third-level education in the County, said the move will help to widen participation in higher education in Clare by providing flexible and local access to third-level programmes.

Announcing details of the 2012 Higher Certificate in Business Computing, Anne Griffin said the Centre would seek to provide participants with qualifications in a sector that will continue to require suitably qualified graduates in the years ahead.

According to Ms. Griffin: “The aim of this Higher Certificate programme is to give students an educational experience that will provide them with a knowledge base in a variety of learning streams related to business studies and computer applications. The programme also will provide students with the opportunity to develop skills for lifelong learning.”

An Open Day will be held at the LIT Clare - Ennis Learning Centre, located on the first floor of Clare County Museum building in Ennis, on Tuesday April 24th between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM. Individuals interested in applying to take part in the 2012 Business Computing course will get an opportunity to meet with lecturers, staff and current students.

The two-year, full-time Higher Certificate course, which is being offered by L.I.T.’s Department of Information Technology, will provide graduates with the opportunity to pursue an Ordinary Degree (level 7) and Honours Degree (level 8) in Business Computing at L.IT. 

“Information Technology is one of the fastest growing professions and our Business Computing course provides students with the business knowledge and IT technical background, through a hands-on approach that provides a real grasp of technology, development tools and paradigms in demand by industry,” explained Ms. Griffin.

She continued: “The course is suitable for school leavers, mature students or those wishing to go back to education, and offers graduates a wide variety of career options in accounts administration, business analysis, software development and data administration.”

The LIT Clare - Ennis Learning Centre was originally named the Ennis Regional Learning Centre, when it was officially launched in 2008. The original facility was an initiative of the Shannon Consortium, an educational partnership between Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, Limerick Institute of Technology and Institute of Technology Tralee.

Visit www.lit.ie or phone 065-6866844 for further details, including Programme information and entry requirements.