Plans for a major roads project in South East Clare, including the Bypass of Killaloe have been given the green light by An Bord Pleanala
On Thursday’s Morning Focus Marian Egan spoke with Project Manager Tom Tiernan, Senior Engineer with Clare County Council who welcomed the news
The 40 million euro development which involves the construction of a River Shannon Crossing, the bypass itself and other road improvement works on the link road from Ballina to Birdhill aims to end one of the worst bottlenecks in the region
In approving the road project, the planning appeals board concluded it would not have significant negative effects on the farming and business community in the vicinity, on protected flora and fauna nor would it have a detrimental impact on archaeological heritage in the area
Richard Rea, MD of the Rea Group and Agricultural Consultant in Tipperary also spoke with Marian
He expressed concern during the oral hearing last October about the impact of such a major infrastructural development in a residential area
Senator Martin Conway of Fine Gael has called for a tax incentive scheme to rejuvenate Ireland’s town centres
He told the Seanad that the development of out-of-town shopping centres has largely been a mistake, which he believes to be off-putting for tourists
He spoke to Marian and said he feels an incentive scheme, targeted at town and city centres, is a strategy the government should follow in an effort to bring shoppers back to Ireland’s main streets
Ennis Chamber CEO Rita McInerney agreed saying that some action is desperately needed to breathe new life into towns and assist the businesses there to attract people back into the centres for shopping, socialising etc
The second Eamon Moloney Memorial 10k run that is taking place in Ennis this Saturday
Almost 300 have already registered online to take part in the event that is raising funds for Sláinte an Chláir in Kilnamona
Marian was joined in studio by Veronica Moloney, the late Eamon’s widow and Marie Phelan, a cancer survivor and now Joint Treasurer of Sláinte an Chláir
Sláinte an Chlair- although affiliated with the Irish Cancer Society since it’s opening, gets no funding so must raise it all for themselves
For more information see www.clarecancersupport.com
Alternatively call 1850 211 630 or 087 691 2396
Organ Donor Awareness Week runs from this Monday
Marian was joined in studio by Diarmuid Meade from Clarecastle who is a double lung transplant recipient and kidney transplant recipient
Diarmuid explained his last surgery was in 2005 – it was a pre-emptive transplant so he didn’t have to go on dialysis
He is a Cystic Fibrosis sufferer – that’s why he had the lung transplant
Marian also spoke with thirty year old Eoin O’Neill from Newmarket on Fergus who received a kidney transplant 8 years ago after being on dialysis for 15 months
These donor recipients owe their lives and health to donors and their families
They wish to express their thanks and encourage people to consider donation
Organ Donor Cards can also be obtained by phoning the Irish Kidney Association Lo Call 1890 543639 or Free text the word DONOR to 50050
Visit website www.ika.ie
Legislation requiring all dogs to be microchipped is to be introduced by the Agriculture Minister
Simon Coveney says it will take some time to put the necessary regulation in place and measures will be taken to ensure it is cost-effective
The micro-chipping will apply across the board and Minister Coveney’s said he wants a central database to determine the number of dogs in the country
John Underhill of Burren Vets discussed this with Marian when he joined her in studio to answer listeners’ animal health queries.
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