Clare County Council's new multi-million euro corporate headquarters have been officially opened. The Mayor of Clare, Councillor Patricia McCarthy unveiled the premises at New Road, Ennis on Thursday.

Àras Contae an Chlàir, which has been delivered at a cost of €25 million, provides accommodation for 300 staff, as well as meeting rooms, staff canteen, laboratory, Mayor's office, Council Chamber and three party rooms for the elected members. 320 car parking spaces are provided at the rear of the building.

The Corporate Headquarters building incorporates a number of environmentally friendly measures and operates as a naturally ventilated building. Solar panels and a wood chip heating system have been installed.

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Following a tender process, Clare Wood Chip of Flagmount was selected to supply the wood chip for the building.

Sections of the council were relocated to several sites around Ennis when the old offices on the New Road Site were vacated in 2005. Following a tender process that generated a lot of interest from many of the country's larger developer, the firm Michael McNamara & Co. Building Contractors was chosen as the preferred option to design, build and finance the provision of the new building.

The contractors commenced work in January 2006. The first phase of the works involved the construction of a Machinery Yard headquarters at Beechpark on the R474 Ennis-Kilmaley Road. Work on the construction of the new base has continued since the new machinery yard was completed in May 2006.

Àras Contae an Chlàir opened for business on 21 January 2008.

(JM)