Morning Focus – Monday August 17th 2015

On Monday's Morning Focus with Pat Flynn

Fresh claims have been made about gaps in ambulance cover in Clare. Reports today say there was just one ambulance on call in Ennis on Saturday night, with none in West Clare for several hours. A report in today's Irish Independent says just one ambulance was in place to cover the 40,000 people living in Ennis and its environs on Saturday night. There were also issues in West Clare, where only one paramedic was reportedly available for duty in Kilrush. As a result, a decision was taken to take an advanced paramedic from a Rapid Response vehicle, which is based in Ennis and covers the entire county. This meant there was no rapid response vehicle in operation either. This is the latest in a long-running series of issues with local ambulance services. Last week, Limerick City and East Limerick was left with just one ambulance on Leaving Cert results night, while in Clare in July ambulances and rapid response vehicles were unabailable for dozens of shifts. Staff have said they could consider industrial action if their concerns are not addressed. Kilrush Councillor Ian Lynch and Ennistymon-based Senator Martin Conway outlined their concerns in relation to the issue.

CAO round one offers are out today and Guidance Counsellor of St Joseph's Secondary School, Tulla Olivia O'Connor gave studensts advice on what they should do next but advised those who haven't got what they need not to panic yet as second round offers will be out on August 26th. Meanwhile, some Clare students face annual rent bills of up to €7,500 in Dublin, if they can find somewhere to live. NUIG have sent out 11,000 leaflets to homeowners in the city in an effort to expand its student portfolio. Accommodation Officer NUIG Teresa Kelly spoke to us about the situation and plans going forward.

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There was widespread anger and some genuine concern in parts of Clare since Eircodes became available in July. The system uses addresses which link an area to their main postal sorting office, and in 5% of cases this means a property reads as being in another county. The rate in Clare though is much higher, as in Shannon and large parts of East Clare, a Limerick address is recorded, while it's Galway for some in Tubber and Ballyvaughan. We spoke to a representative of Eircode in July who told Clare FM that the confusion of the addresses may be reviewed but that hasn't happened yet. General Manager of Hylands Burren Hotel Ballyvaughan, Co Clare David Quinn told us how it has impacted his business.

All eyes are now firmly focussed on Ennis and the town's staging of the 2016 Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann. This year's event drew to a close in Sligo last night with a hanfding over ceremony, after 450,000 people had visited there over recent days. Chair of Clare Fleadh Executive Committee Micheál O'Riabhaigh told us about how the plan will develop from this point.

Young entrepreneurs in Clare with a business that is at least two years old are being encouraged by the Local Enterprise Office Clare to enter this year’s ‘Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur’ competition. The Action Plan for Jobs initiative is aimed at those aged between 18 and 30 and the Local Enterprise Office has an investment fund of €20,000, to present to a “best established” business owner, based in the locality. Supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through Enterprise Ireland, the competition is designed to seek out and support entrepreneurial talent across the country. The newly appointed LEO Head of Enterprise, Padraic McElwee outlined how people can get involved, While, last year's winner of the Best Start-up Business Regine Tierney of Celtic Fusion, Kilnamona said winning the prize changed her life.

“Thrive-abetes” is a one day conference for adults living with, and for parents of children with type 1 diabetes. It takes place on Saturday, October 3rd in Maynooth, Co. Kildare. The conference is being organised by Diabetes Ireland volunteers; Gráinne Flynn, Rebecca Flanagan and Christine Meehan, all living in Co. Clare. They want to spread the word about this conference to all corners of Ireland and have the largest gathering of people with type 1 diabetes in Ireland. This Type 1 Diabetes conference will focus on the psychological impact of living with a chronic, lifelong condition and aims to provide “Inspiration, Motivation and Information” to people living with type 1 diabetes.

Wildlife Expert John Murphy from Birdwatch Ireland spoke to Pat about Seabirds and the Bridges of Ross coming up on Saturday next, August 22nd.