'Seek special funding' for St Martin's Avenue - councillors NAAS, 25 February 2000: by Trish Whelan. Members of Naas UDC should write again to the Minister for the Environment seeking special funding for the repair of houses in St Martin’s Avenue (above) which suffer structural faults, councillor Evelyn Bracken (left) told a meeting of Naas UDC this week. She said the money could come from the £50m which Minister Noel Dempsey TD said was available to administer to local authorities. The houses in question were built on unsure foundations by the council in the 1970s and suffer from major structural cracks. (It’s believed they were built over underground cells in the old jail. Another theory is that some were built over a tunnel which leads from St David’s Castle, through the Town Hall yard and St Martin’s Avenue to Jigginstown Castle). Town manager Terry O Niadh said officials could not make statements on how the houses were built because he said ‘we don’t know.’ “But we do know,” countered Councillor Timmy Conway (right). Chairman Seamie Moore said if that site was being used today ‘every jail cell would be filled in with solid cement ... and that didn’t happen’. He said people had bought their houses in good faith and it was up to members themselves to take a lead because the official view was contrary to theirs. Councillor Mary Glennon said the families should take the legal path because if she were in their shoes, that’s what she would do. At this point the manager stated that the Minister for the Environment has no function in the matter as the houses are now in private ownership. “Those houses were built by this Council on land that we all know was not right. We councillors should appeal to the minister ourselves, outside of the management, to ask him to rectify the situation,” replied Timmy Conway. Councillor Pat McCarthy said it was ‘ridiculous that a person buying a pair of shoes is protected by leglislation but anyone buying a house, the biggest purchase in a lifetime, if there are structural faults, there’s no comeback.” ED's NOTE: KNN covered this situation extensively in July of last year. Our full report is here. Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING Noreen McCabe, MNAPCP Anxiety, depression, loss, phobias, childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationships, personal growth, coaching for work-related stress. Strictly confidential. Moorefield Clinic, Newbridge. Phone (045) 432111 or call Noreen at (045) 431936; mobile 086 2496823; email dmccabe@tinet.ie

Credit Union buys new premises LEIXLIP, 25 February 2000: by Bill Trapman. Leixlip and District Credit Union has bought a new building at 7 The Mall, for £325,000. The Union’s board has now begun the planning and design phase of the project, which is hoped will be completed by August 2001. The decision to buy the building was made after the board examined the technological and other needs of the Union for the years to come. Refurbishment of the existing premises at 44 Main Street, and high rental costs which would be incurred during such work, favoured the acquisition of a complete new premises. The current building will be sold when the new one is completed. Maynooth-based architect Eamonn McCann has been appointed to design the new premises.

Corporate Magazine Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

Big lineup for Athy Library summer ATHY, 25 February 2000: by Brian Byrne. A number of events have been planned for Athy Community Library over the coming months. They include an exhibition of watercolours by Newbridge-based artist Rosemary Burns (below), which were commissioned by Kildare County Council for their Millennium Calendar. This will run from March 7-31. The National Gallery of Ireland will visit for talks and workshops for adults starting on March 18 with a talk about masterpieces in the gallery. Workshops will be held on Saturdays March 25, April 1 and 6, from 11.30am-12.30pm. Each will be limited to 20 people. Artist Tom Matthews will exhibit his cartoons from April 5-28, courtesy of the Arts Council of Ireland. His work is used by the Irish Times, Sunday Tribune and Image magazine. Pottery workshops for children, by Janice Turner, will be held every Saturday morning from May 6-24. Each will be limited to 10 children. Meanwhile, the popular storytelling season for children has begun and will run every Saturday morning from 11am for 10 weeks. Further information from 0507 31444 or email athylib@eircom.net

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email  THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114

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Concerns about house colours in Rathcoffey COUNTY HALL & RATHCOFFEY, 25 February 2000: by Trish Whelan. While in the past Kildare County Council policy was to allow very dull colours on houses in rural areas, the policy now seems to allow for very bright colours including purple, canary yellow and olive green, right in the middle of the countryside, Cllr Sean O Fearghail (left) told a recent housing meeting of Kildare County Council. And he said a lot of people in Rathcoffey ‘are very annoyed about what’s happening colourwise in the area’. He was backed by Deputy Emmet Stagg TD who said the colours of local authority houses is a serious issue and the current situation in Rathcoffey village needs to be addressed. County architect Brian Swan explained that the Rathcoffey scheme had been carried out by a consultant architect. He indicated the yellow colour was to match an existing house across the road. The other two colours used were blue and green. “When I heard there was disquiet over the colours, I interpreted that the actual mix of the colours is causing the problem,” he said. A more uniform colour scheme it was felt would be more acceptable than the ‘lego land’ approach. Mr Swan said the Council will attempt to remedy the situation and they would be continuing with the green colour. Cllr Senan Griffin interrupted: “This is absolutely diabolical and has to be changed. Unless ‘remedy’ means changing what’s there, it’s not a remedy. What’s there is totally unacceptable in my view.” Cllr Catherine Murphy said councillors could not have known while discussing the Part X procedure for the scheme that such colours had been planned. “There must be an acceptance that this wasn’t right if it’s going to be toned down,” she told officials.

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LISTEN TO the weekly roundup of Irish views and stories presented by Brian Byrne and Trish Whelan and broadcast from Vancouver on the Celtic Voices programme carried by Canada's largest independent radio network. You can stream it at 56k, or download to listen to later. Changed every Sunday.

Department 'must be pinned to the ground' - Army officers THE CURRAGH, 24 February 2000 (PM): by Brian Byrne. Army officers serving on the Curragh have given a cautious reaction to yesterday's announcement that agreement had been reached between the Army Chief of Staff and minister for defence on the numbers to be maintained. A spokesman for the officers' representative organisation RACO told KNN that the matter is still in negotiations, but 'nothing has been solved yet'. "The Department has put out a spin on this, trying to give the impression that it is all numbers," he said. "But it's much more than that, and the chief will be getting a comprehensive package. It is important that everything that is agreed is put clearly in both the White Paper and the Memorandum to Government, so that there can be no backsliding in the future on the matter." The spokesman added that in their experience of dealing with the department, it was important that they be 'pinned to the ground' on the details. "The law must be laid down to them," he said. "And we must have an expectation in the forces generally that there will be no further downsizing for a defined period of years." • Meanwhile, Cmmdt Brian O'Keefe of RACO this afternoon paid tribute to the work of Kildare politicians in getting the situation to the stage that it is. In particular he singled out Fianna Fail Deputy Sean Power (left) and Progressive Democrats Senator John Dardis for their work behind the scenes in helping the Army to 'get to the people that matter'. "Sean Power played a critical role," he noted. "Things would not have come to the position they are without their work." (See previous story below.) Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING Noreen McCabe, MNAPCP Anxiety, depression, loss, phobias, childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationships, personal growth, coaching for work-related stress. Strictly confidential. Moorefield Clinic, Newbridge. Phone (045) 432111 or call Noreen at (045) 431936; mobile 086 2496823; email dmccabe@tinet.ie

'Please buy our pitch' plea to county council NEWBRIDGE, 24 February 2000: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. Kildare County Council is to be asked to buy a three-acre field from Newbridge-based company Barlo plc and retain it as an amenity for the people of Newbridge. The field in question is behind the Ryston Social Club which was handed over to the community last year by Barlo ... but in the process a soccer club which had used the field for many years lost their ‘home’ and pitch. Now one of the founder members of Irish Ropes FC, town commissioner Murty Aspell (above), is to put down a motion to the commission calling on the council to buy the field. “It’s part of the green belt in the town and shouldn’t be used for development anyway,” Cmmr Aspell says. “Since we were put off the field last June, our club has been cut from three senior teams to one, and we’ve had to amalgamate with Newbridge Rangers to play on another pitch that actually rented by Kildare County Council from a private owner.” There’s a long tradition of football on the field, which for many years had the reputation of being one of the best pitches in the League. Prior to 1991 a team called Ryston Rovers had made the location their home, but when a more youthful team set up by staff in the Sealcon Division of Irish Ropes took over in 1991 it really began to move upwards in performance. “We eventually became Irish Ropes FC and were the first Kildare team to be promoted to the Premier League,” Cmmr Aspell - who managed the team for four years - recalls. Barlo want to sell the field for development, but Cmmr Aspell believes it is not suitable because there’s not sufficient access. “The only way into the field is through Ryston Avenue, which is already a very narrow road, and I’m certain the residents there don’t want to see the traffic in their cul-de-sac road increased. Besides, it is a perfect site for football pitches and other amenities, as it is right beside the Ryston Centre and Pitch and Putt Club.”

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING Noreen McCabe, MNAPCP Anxiety, depression, loss, phobias, childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationships, personal growth, coaching for work-related stress. Strictly confidential. Moorefield Clinic, Newbridge. Phone (045) 432111 or call Noreen at (045) 431936; mobile 086 2496823; email dmccabe@tinet.ie GARDA PATROL Be on your guard when answering the door to a stranger. Don’t let anyone in until you are satisfied you know who they are and what they want. If necessary, check their story. And ALWAYS keep the door locked while you use the phone to do this. It is a good practice to ask them to call back at a time when you have somebody with you.

Corporate Magazine Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

Power to suffer from Army/Smith confrontation? THE CURRAGH, 24 February 2000: by Brian Byrne. The recent confrontations between the Army and the minister for defence Michael Smith could have serious repercussions for Fianna Fail in Kildare South. That’s the considered view of a number of Army personnel stationed on the Curragh Camp, who believe that Sean Power TD’s (left) seat is in real jeopardy. KNN has learned that an Army spouse candidate is almost certain to be run in the constituency in the next Dail elections, and such is the strength of feeling over the treatment of the Defence Forces by the current Government, that Deputy Power will suffer hard. This is in line with the feeling generally among FF back-benchers in Army locations throughout the country, who have expressed their own concerns to the party. The minister has promised to meet them next Tuesday after the Cabinet meeting to explain the contents of the White Paper and hear their concerns about the likelihood of more barrack closures. Under yesterday afternoon’s agreement, the forces strength is to be cut from 11,500 to 10,500, with the Chief of Staff having the authority to recruit a further 250 whenever he deems it necessary. The deal is seen as a compromise to head off a complete breakdown of relations between both sides with the publishing of a White Paper on defence next week. In discussions on the relationship between the minister and the defence forces generally, what has been called the ‘arrogance’ of minister Smith is regularly noted. And the denigration of his own forces by the minister over the Army deafness claims also rankles strongly, when many officers feel the matter was badly handled by the Department of Defence itself, but civil servants don’t want to take the blame. The last time an Army spouse candidate was run in Kildare was in 1987, when the constituency was then a five-seater. The candidate achieved 3,200 first preferences and was strongly in contention up to the end of the count. The traditional pro-FF voting pattern by Army personnel is no longer expected to hold up in the next election, and any transfers from a spouse candidate would now be expected to aid other main parties. Serving members of the Defence Forces are not allowed to stand for the Dail. Meanwhile, PD Senator John Dardis (above right) yesterday called on the minister to 'adopt a partnership approach' in relation to the White Paper. He said that 'calculated leaks' of the draft of the White Paper had 'damaged confidence' between the military and the civil service. "Bullying the military into submission serves no useful purpose," he said.

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email  THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114

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Supporting the cider drinkers NAAS, 24 February 2000: Dear Editor: Fair play to the UDC ... haven't they provided the cider drinkers of the town a bit of comfortable seating with poles at each end to support them selves when they get a few dozen too many on board, and an unobstructed line of fire for their cans into the canal (not even only a wee chain to obstruct target practice). All this in an area where those party poopers, the cop cars, can't easily get access to (and sure if they do see the boys in blue coming to interrupt their session, haven't they got three or four protected lines of escape?). An extra bonus is that now, with all this fuss about children's safety, no self respecting parent will allow their children near the area, so the aforementioned cider drinkers will not be pestered by the noise of children enjoying themselves as they quaff a few. The other minority group that the UDC are looking after are the boat people. There has probably been, oh, ONE boat in the past few years up this branch line. We surely need to keep access just in case one come up in the next five years (when was the last time you saw a barge negotiate the five locks to come up the dead end canal line to Naas?). If the reason for maintaining the harbour appearance is that it is called a harbour, I look forward to the fish farm in Fishery lane. Sure isn't such only to be expected from a UDC that calls a business area "Millennium Park" and has not yet finished real parks in the town and provide facilities for the children in Naas. The best facility for children at this time of year being the pool, supplied by Kildare County Council. With his tongue firmly in cheek - John Kavanagh PS: Much more seriously, the council would do well to remember the tragic death some years ago of a young member of the Waters family who used to live in the gas works. This young lad drowned when he fell from his bike into the canal.

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email

LISTEN TO the weekly roundup of Irish views and stories presented by Brian Byrne and Trish Whelan and broadcast from Vancouver on the Celtic Voices programme carried by Canada's largest independent radio network. You can stream it at 56k, or download to listen to later. Changed every Sunday.

'Not safe for our children' - parents around harbour NAAS, 23 February 2000: by Trish Whelan. Parents in the area around the Harbour of Naas say those responsible for the harbour pedestrianisation are not looking to the safety of their children. “We cannot understand the mentality of the people who think the canal and the Basin Street area will be a nice and safe area for our children to go and feed the swans or even pass through on their way to school when the people concerned won’t even erect a railing around the area in question,” says local parent Mary Burke in a letter distributed to all homes in the area. She says all it will be is an accident waiting to happen and a dumping ground for people to dump their rubbish. “Already there is a sofa in the canal and the work is not even completed.” Instead of people using the area she says they will be avoiding it like the plague. “How could anyone plan out an area so near a canal without first thinking of the safety issues? In this situation, no safety issues were thought through. If they were, the first thing that would have been done would be a railing all around the area. Who cares about nice areas if your children are not safe while they are in them?” She added: “With all the money the council have, or will have, surely they can provide a 5-foot railing all around the area to complement the railings which were erected around the apartments on the far side of the canal? We the people of the area will continue with our campaign until the canal area in Basin Street is made a safe place for both adults and children alike.” Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING Noreen McCabe, MNAPCP Anxiety, depression, loss, phobias, childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationships, personal growth, coaching for work-related stress. Strictly confidential. Moorefield Clinic, Newbridge. Phone (045) 432111 or call Noreen at (045) 431936; mobile 086 2496823; email dmccabe@tinet.ie GARDA PATROL Be on your guard when answering the door to a stranger. Don’t let anyone in until you are satisfied you know who they are and what they want. If necessary, check their story. And ALWAYS keep the door locked while you use the phone to do this. It is a good practice to ask them to call back at a time when you have somebody with you.

Corporate Magazine Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

Upset residents to issue their own 'parking tickets' NAAS, 22 February 2000: by Trish Whelan. Lakelands Residents Association are to ‘ticket’ the cars of motorists who park in the estate instead of using the designated car parking for staff and visitors to Naas Hospital. “These people are choking our access to our estate as well as blocking individual homes,” according to Residents Association chairman, Tom O’Keeffe who said the 'ticket' leaflet will advise people where parking is available in the grounds of Kildare County Council, while asking them to move on. He said while the situation is ‘probably tolerable’ at night and at weekends, the problem starts with hospital staff. “By 9am our estate is jammed and this interferes with people leaving children to school or going to work,” he said. He strongly criticised the failed efforts of the Eastern Health Board to make motorists park elsewhere, saying their message is not getting across. He said up to last week people at the main gate of the hospital were directing cars into Lakelands. He also said the situation has been exacerbated by the double yellow lines on the road outside the hospital with cars now using the other side roads to avoid getting parking tickets. Mr O’Keeffe was in the public gallery when the matter was raised at last week’s meeting of Naas UDC. Afterwards he said he appreciated the support from the councillors over the situation. At that meeting, Cllr Mary Glennon said there were no notices outside the hospital telling people to use the carpark at Ballycane Church and people at the hospital gates were not advising motorists that this car park was available. A shuttle service is now operating all day from Ballycane. A letter from the EHB was read out at the meeting expressing its disappointment with the UDC’s stance on the present situation. The town clerk had met with the Project Manager and had asked for a formal response for last week’s UDC meeting. This detailed parking for staff and visitors on the left hand side of Ballycane car park. Notices are being distributed to ensure staff, patients and visitors are aware of the facility. Barriers will be erected in the hospital grounds for staff who need their cars for work. The EHB also say they have asked staff not to park in Lakelands estate and ‘should show common courtesy for those using the road.’ It was pointed out that at any time, up to 100 staff members are using cars to go to work and the Board may consider collecting staff to reduce this. Another problem stems from the 55 construction people employed on the site, which in December is expected to rise to 150. It is a condition of permission that all contractor traffic is to be accommodated within the site and ‘under no circumstances’ are any contractor cars to be parked out on the road. Cllr Pat McCarthy noted the lack of security in Ballycane carpark and asked if bye-laws should be introduced to protect estates suffering from indiscriminate parking. He was advised that not all of Lakelands has been taken in charge by the council and as such there is nothing to stop people from parking there, providing they are not causing obstruction. Town manager Terry O Niadh said the car park at nearby County Hall is available at night time and at weekends and this might afford some relief to Lakelands. In view of the ‘positive efforts’ being made by the Hospital, UDC chairman Seamie Moore proposed the matter be left until next month’s UDC meeting. In the meantime, UDC officials say they will be keeping an eye on the situation. Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING Noreen McCabe, MNAPCP Anxiety, depression, loss, phobias, childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationships, personal growth, coaching for work-related stress. Strictly confidential. Moorefield Clinic, Newbridge. Phone (045) 432111 or call Noreen at (045) 431936; mobile 086 2496823; email dmccabe@tinet.ie GARDA PATROL Be on your guard when answering the door to a stranger. Don’t let anyone in until you are satisfied you know who they are and what they want. If necessary, check their story. And ALWAYS keep the door locked while you use the phone to do this. It is a good practice to ask them to call back at a time when you have somebody with you.

Corporate Magazine Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

Council to 'deal' on contraventions for affordable housing? COUNTY HALL, 22 February 2000: by Trish Whelan. Kildare councillors are to be asked to approve some 13 material contraventions of the development plan where developers are prepared to do business with the council on foot of its recent advertisement on affordable houses. Some 16 locations have been identified by a project team led by KCC official Charlie Talbot (left). However not all councillors were happy with the idea, saying that affordable housing could come from land already zoned, as in the County Development Plan. Charlie Talbot said meetings between developers and landowners have already taken place on foot of the council’s advertisement late last year. He said the Council’s approach would be to seek 50% of houses on unzoned land. “Why aren’t we buying land on the open market like other local authorities are doing for affordable housing,” councillor Sean O Fearghail (left) asked. He said Kildare County Council has ‘an appalling record over the past 10 years in relation to buying land for housing.’ He believed ‘a lot of people are going to have to bite the bullet in this challenge of affordable housing’ but Kildare does not want ‘high density concrete jungles.’ Councillor Tony McEvoy said councillors can’t hand over ‘carte blanche’ to officials the right to proceed without any criteria and then come back and ask them to agree material contraventions. “KCC had enough land zoned to bring to a population of 192,000 - an increase of 60,000 on the figures of the last census - to the year 2006. The Council has facilitated landowners and developers to an extravagant extent and has zoned itself out of the picture when it comes to meeting its own needs for its own people.” Cllr Emmet Stagg TD (right) said he was stunned that this would be presented to councillors as 8,000 acres had been zoned in the County Development Plan. “We’re entitled to 20% of that in development acres for affordable housing without zoning any more! That’s 1,600 acres we would be legally entitled to from builders and landowners and would provide 12,800 affordable houses in the county,” he said. He asked why the Council then needs to go hunting for unzoned land saying ‘it’s a scam to get more zoning in a county that already has 8,000 acres zoned, at least’. At present there are 12,800 families on the council’s housing list. Councillor Senan Griffin (left) believed that people want to live close to where they work and zoned land may not be available in some areas. He couldn’t envisage anywhere with 20 houses to the acre, as suggested in the Bacon Report and wanted this constrained to seven houses to the acre to treat all people as equals density-wise. Charlie Talbot said affordable housing is a priority of the Council to those priced out of the market. He said the authority could ‘pay top dollar’ for land on the open market and tie up all money in the Affordable Housing initiative ... and powers under the Planning Bill are not yet law so it is necessary to act now. He added the Council has a target to provide 1,000 affordable houses this year. He said councillors can vote for or against the materials contraventions when they come before them for decision.

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email  THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114

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Poster campaign against power plant DUNSTOWN, 22 February 2000: by Brian Byrne. A decision on the controversial gas-fired power station at Dunstown Wood (above left) near Two Mile House is now expected on March 3. In the meantime, a strong campaign by local residents against the proposal includes a widespread poster campaign both near the site (above right) and in surrounding towns and villages. The 400Mw station would have a 50-metre stack pushing above the treeline of the woods perimeter. According to the protestors, the plant will release cooling water into the Liffey at Carnalway, the location of a popular swimming spot. It is expected that any permission will hinge on a material contravention for the land on which the plant would be built, and councillors are being lobbied by local residents for their support against the proposal. The site is also on land preserved for game. NEWS OR VIEWS? Something happening in your community that's bothering you? Or do you simply want to share the news from your village or town in County Kildare? You can, by phoning 086 8267104 emailing us at KNN

A special page for the work of Kildare authors. Chronicle of a Small Village Ballymore looks back on its past.

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Counties need more staff to combat litter LEIXLIP, 22 February 2000: by Bill Trapman. Understaffing of county councils is one of the key factors why Ireland has put in a 'dismal' performance in terms of litter compared to other EU countries. That's the view of Leixlip-based councillor Catherine Murphy (left), who says the eleven worst-staffed councils are all in Leinster, including Kildare. The best-staffed council in the country is Leitrim, with a council staff member for every 101 inhabitants. The worst, ironically, is Meath, the home of the minister for the environment, Noel Dempsey TD, with a staff member for every 206 people. Kildare's ratio is 1:167. "Those promoting industry and tourism consistently point to a clean image as being extremely important," Cllr Murphy says. "Yet organisations such as IBEC and chambers of commerce consistently call for a cap on public expenditure which hits the local authorities hardest, particularly those in developing counties. The increased capital funding to local authorities means that their staff time is taken up with associated work, and traditional maintenance work is being left undone. "It is not good enough that the minister should draw up anti-litter proposals if implementing them is made impossible by his own department's failure to address the staffing issues associated with them."

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Crucial army technicians being taken by the Celtic Tiger THE CURRAGH, 21 February 2000: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. The Army Signals Base Workshops on the Curragh are finding it difficult to retain the number of skilled technicians required to properly maintain the communications systems in the Permanent Defence Forces. This is partly because of the attraction of the civilian ‘Celtic Tiger’ where a shortage of skilled people mean that a trained technician at the basic rank of private can earn between £20,000-£30,000. But it also reflects a lack of training facilities following the closure of the Army Apprentice School at Devoy Barracks in Naas (above). In the last year also, a number of the scarce technicians were ‘poached’ by the gardai, in a ‘safe’ exit route from the Army by which they didn’t lose pay and benefits for leaving the forces early. This loophole has been closed since January of this year. The situation will be further exacerbated as more sophisticated communications equipment comes on line this year. If proper training facilities and a more attractive career in the forces don’t materialise, it is increasingly likely that maintenance of the equipment will have to be done by civilian companies, with potentially serious cost and security implications. The situation is just one specific example of the overall difficulties being caused by the current downsizing of the defence forces, which is seriously undermining morale at all levels. And officers at senior level say bluntly that it is equally undermining the capacity of the Permanent Defence Forces to carry out the work they are currently charged with ... let alone further duties which are in the pipeline with the PfP and the EU. A memorandum of reaction to the upcoming White Paper on Defence, widely leaked over recent weeks, reveals that officers in the PDF believe the Department of Defence - in both military and civil branches - is ‘dysfunctional in the extreme’, a situation which mitigates against efficiency and effectiveness and is ‘not in the interests of the State’. In an unprecedented move for serving officers, a number from their representative group RACO briefed Kildare journalists this week on their concerns, and expressed their firm conviction that Minister for Defence Michael Smith is ‘being led up the garden path’ by ‘mandarin’ civil servants in his department. “These are people with all power and no responsibility,” a RACO spokesman told KNN. “They never put themselves in the front line. They are never interviewed. They know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. They should be made answerable ... they should be asked ‘why’?” In the White Paper, the minister wants the authorised strength of the PDF to be reduced from the current 11,500 to 10,500. In fact, because of slow recruitment, the current actual strength is already below 11,000. Members of the defence forces are convinced that the civil side of the Department of Defence is aiming to reduce the strength eventually to 8,300 - the lowest of a number of options proposed by the Price Waterhouse report of 1994. (ED’s Note: Over the next week, KNN will run a number of stories on this matter, to provide an overview of the national situation and in particular how it reflects in County Kildare, which has an army tradition stronger than most counties in the country.) Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

A special page for the work of Kildare authors. Chronicle of a Small Village Ballymore looks back on its past. GARDA PATROL Be on your guard when answering the door to a stranger. Don’t let anyone in until you are satisfied you know who they are and what they want. If necessary, check their story. And ALWAYS keep the door locked while you use the phone to do this. It is a good practice to ask them to call back at a time when you have somebody with you.

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Soldiers laid to rest ATHY & NURNEY, 21 February 2000: by Bill Trapman. The three young Kildare soldiers killed in the Lebanon last week when their minibus crashed near Beirut were buried on Saturday. Ptes Jonathan Murphy and Declan Deere were laid to rest in Athy, while Pte John Lawler was buried in Nurney. Both burials took place with full military honours. Msgr Foley of Athy told 2,000 mourners in St Michael’s Parish Church that ‘Murph and Deckie’ were such close friends, they were ‘almost like brothers’. In Nurney, Fr Paul McNamee said John Lawler had been a ‘rock of support’ for his family. All three had served with B Company of the Third Infantry Battalion, which is based at Connolly Barracks on the Curragh.

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'No safety fence' for canal harbour NAAS, 21 February 2000: by Trish Whelan. Naas councillors have been persuaded to wait until the local canal harbour pedestrianisation is completed before making any decision as to whether a protective fence should be placed around the harbour edge. Town manager Terry O Niadh told them that he had looked at different harbours in recent months and it was not usual to have railings in harbours at all. His comments followed discussion on a motion by Cllr Evelyn Bracken asking for a 3ft railing around the perimeter of the harbour. She said nobody from the area is happy with the present situation which has seen the old railings and stone wall removed in favour of open plan. Cllr Mary Glennon said the canal basin is a main thoroughfare for people and she was sorry to see the stone wall go. Cllr Charlie Byrne recalled a number of ‘close shaves’ over the years, even with the railings in place. But he said the present situation is highly dangerous. “Maybe what’s planned in nice ... but at the end of the day, it’s safety that counts.” Cllr Seamie Moore (right) had concerns about the margin between the chain links and the edge of the water. “We can consider a modification when we see the bigger picture.” He said the plan is shifting the emphasis of the pedestrian walkway to the centre of the road. “If we are to err at all, we should err on the side of safety.” Mr O Niadh advised councillors to wait until the work is completed before making any decisions. He said thousands of people pass by harbours each day but conceded that people going home through the area ‘under the influence’ might have a problem. Cllr Bracken was unhappy with the official report and said she wanted a new railing installed in place of the old railing and not six feet from the water’s edge. She noted that a petition is being undertaken by a local resident for a new railing to be put in place. “It’s particularly necessary to have the railing right around up to Sarto Road,” she said. Cllr Willie Callaghan said he was ‘astonished’ to see no protection planned around the canal and he objected strongly. Town clerk Declan Kirrane said the design proposed had been brought to the council table and had been brought back for final decision in June of last year before going through the normal Part X procedure. A report by the town clerk said the design, as approved by the Council, does not include for railings around the water’s edge. However, a series of bollards linked by chains will be provided at a distance of two metres from the edge of the water. 'It is traditional that the water’s edge of a harbour, particularly a canal harbour, is not railed off either in areas used by pedestrians or by other vehicles', the report said. It was agreed to wait until the scheme is completed, and monitored, before any decision to make alterations is taken. NEWS OR VIEWS? Something happening in your community that's bothering you? Or do you simply want to share the news from your village or town in County Kildare? You can, by phoning 086 8267104 emailing us at KNN

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Flooding costing rejected by councillor LEIXLIP, 21 February 2000: by Bill Trapman. Kildare County Council engineers, in response to a motion from Cllr Senan Griffin, have provided a costing of £100,000 to correct the problem of flooding at Dun Carrig Estate, Leixlip. Cllr Griffin refused to accept the costing, saying that he could visualise how the Council could be held responsible if the flooding continues to occur at a number of houses in the estate. Flooding is caused during periods of heavy rainfall, cascading from the Captain’s Hill, down the retaining wall into the rear of a number of houses in Dun Carrig. Cllr Griffin has expressed the view that the situation is totally unacceptable to the residents concerned and should be corrected by laying a surface water pipe along Captain’s Hill.

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Musical Society Race Night CLANE, 21 February 2000: by Trish Whelan. Clane Musical Society are holding their annual Race Night in The Village Inn - Manzors, tomorrow night. The programme will consist of ten races, the last being an auction race. Meanwhile, society members (above) are in full swing in their rehearsals for this year's show, Sweet Charity, which is scheduled to be presented in The Abbey, Clane, in the week 19-25 March.

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