clare.fm - Agriculture and Environment

Calls for more improved illegal dumping policy to be implemented

kevin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:33:38 +0000

Calls have been made for joined-up thinking to tackle illegal dumping along the Clare-Limerick border.

Local represrentatives want Clare County Council to work with the city and county Councils of Limerick to carry out a co-ordinated clean-up operation in black spot areas.

Locals in South East Clare says illegal dumping has increased in the new year, and Councillor Cathal Crowe says co-operation already exists in many areas, and now should be extended.

Success for Clare FM in Listenership Figures

trudy — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:50:52 +0000

More radio listeners are turning their dials to Clare FM.

The latest results of the JNLR-IPSOS-MRBI listenership survey show that over 42,000 people listen to The PPI Local Radio Station of the Year, an increase of 1,000 in the last three months.

The station's market share has also held firm at 48%, meaning that more people are choosing Clare FM's mix of news, talk and music for longer.

Septic tank measures come into force

trudy — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:49:33 +0000

A Bill introducing new regulations for septic tanks is expected to be enacted today, after being sent to President Michael D Higgins to be signed into law.

The Water Services Amendment Bill passed in the Seanad by 31 votes to 19 yesterday afternoon.

Last month the Environment Minister Phil Hogan said it was necessary for the Bill to be enacted by today, on a demand from the European Court of Justice.

Electric Ireland lodge plans for Moneypoint wind farm

trudy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:49:48 +0000

Plans for a 30 million euro wind farm at Moneypoint where the turbines will be more than a hundred foot taller than Dublin's spire have been lodged by Electric Ireland.

The five turbines will also be more than twice the height of Liberty Hall, but will be lower than the two 228m chimney stacks at the coal-burning station in Kilimer.

The wind farm is part of plans by Electric Ireland’ - formerly the ESB- to deliver a third of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020, which will include more than 1,400MW of wind generation.

Concern as mining company seeks fracking exploration

trudy — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:55:20 +0000

Environmentalists and locals are raising their concerns about plans to develop gas fields in Leitrim and Fermanagh - using the controversial practice of fracking

Energy company Tamboran Resources says initial studies have confirmed the presence of a substantial natural gas field.

However the Australian company - which is proposing to invest billions in Ireland and the creation of 600 jobs- would use the controversial 'fracking' method to extract the gas.

Hundreds descend on Brigid's Well for Feast Day

trudy — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:53:00 +0000

Hundreds of people are set to descend on Liscannor for the annual pilgrimage to St. Brigid's Well on today, her feast day.

The shrine, between Liscannor and the Cliffs of Moher, dates back to pre-Christian times and is also the site for the tomb of local landlord Cornelius O'Brien.

Liscannor Well was regarded as a place of healing - crutches were left there as an indication that a pilgrim had been cured through the intercession of Brigid.

Spend for Clare's road down almost 2 million

trudy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:52:44 +0000

Spending on County Clare's main roads will be down by almost 2 million euro this year.

With 3 million 535 thousand 500 euro allocated to national primary and secondary routes in Clare for 2012 - the figures are down by over 1.9 million euro, though there an extra 125 thousand for safety works on secondary roads.

The allocations are down for other areas like pavement improvement works and the maintenance of both primary and secondary routes, a move which will cause concern following damage to some roads due to heavy rain this winter.

New Shannon Coastguard Helicopter

trudy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:43:44 +0000

Rescue services will be boosted in the West of Ireland today with the launch of a new Coastguard Helicopter.

The Shannon Based Coastguard Helicopter Unit will unveil their brand new, state of the art chopper later today.

It was built in the US, and is part of a €500 million Irish Coast Guard fleet replacement programme.

The event in taking place in Shannon at 3.30 this afternoon and is seen as a welcome boost to the busy services of the coastguard helicopter.

High levels of Radon found in over 20 Clare homes

trudy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:42:21 +0000

Twenty-two Clare homes have been found to have high levels of the cancer-causing gas radon.

New figures from the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland show that two homes in Ennis and Newmarket on Fergus had more than five times the acceptable amount of gas.

20 other homes, in Ennis, Clarecastle, Sixmilebridge, Ballymurtagh, Kilkishen, Killaloe, Newmarket on Fergus and Ruan saw readings in excess of acceptable amounts - 350 other Clare homes were given the all-clear.

Mid West rally against Household Charge

trudy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:41:52 +0000

A mass rally is to take place in Limerick tonight against household and water taxes.

Organisers are urging people to get involved and refuse to pay the charges - which campaigners say are taxes designed to bailout the banks.

The Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes group also says the charges could rise within a couple of years to a 1-thousand euro or more - leaving already strapped home-owners in a very difficult position.