Morning Focus – Tuesday 17/12/19

Today on Morning Focus, we heard from a Shannon Mother whose son has experienced extreme delays in receiving his chemotherapy.

Agnes O’Shaughnessy, the mother of a young Shannon boy who has a rare form of cancer has spoken of being terrified after suffering several delays in chemotherapy – one lasting for as long as 11 days. Agnes’s son Alex (10) has rhabdomyosarcoma, and is among a number of families caught up in the nightmare of having chemotherapy sessions cancelled at Crumlin Hospital. She says Alex has had a cumulative 20 days of delays, and is worried about the impact on her son’s health. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar admits this is “terrible” and “wrong” but added “it’s not a good idea” to have children with cancer in a hospital when it is “chock full of children with infections”.

If you missed our interview with Agnes, you can listen back below:

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Next on Morning Focus, we spoke to Chairperson of Clare Bus, Ger Hoey as the company, also known as Clare accessible transport, have been successful in a tender process by the National Transport Authority to allow them continue to operate all of its 12 existing bus routes. It’s believed to be a two-year deal. The company is still facing a financial shortfall, however, following the NTA’s move to withhold funding this summer. It’s understood the sum in question is 139,000.

If you missed it, you can listen back below:

Next on the show, we heard from Clare FM’s James Mulhall and Robyn Flanagan who attended the official opening of the LIT campus in Clare. The Limerick Institute of Technology opened its Ennis campus yesterday. LIT has been offering courses in Clare for 15 years but now, for the first time, a dedicated campus is up and running here. Around 100 students are already undertaking courses there now, with capacity for 500 in total, so it’s hoped there will be significant growth – and quickly.

Next on Morning Focus, Clare FM’s Ben Sweeney spoke to Fr Harry Bohan as he addressed Clare County Council yesterday (Dec 17th). Clare County Council has been told that a ‘sense of place’ is key to keeping communities alive. That’s according to Sixmilebridge Parish Priest, author and sociologist, Fr Harry Bohan who was invited to speak at yesterday’s monthly meeting of the local authority. Fr Bohan spoke about the origins of the region’s airport and gave his thoughts on what needs to be done to support the region and rural areas.

If you missed it you can listen back below:

Next on Morning Focus, we discussed Census statistics with have shown a worrying trend for Rural Clare. According to these statistics, the population of rural Clare will be wiped out in just over 30 years if the current trends continue. Fresh analysis of Census data says Clare’s population grew by 11-hundred in the five years to the Census in 2016 – but that there’s also been a marked decline in the population in the most remote areas. That’s the equivalent of three families each week – a rate which would see rural Clare empty by 2053. Councillor PJ Kelly is a Lisseycasey based representative and joined Gavin and Ben in studio to discuss this issue further.

To wrap up today’s Morning Focus we had our Animal Welfare Update with Clare County Dog Warden, Frankie Coote.