Jackie Maguire is the Chair of the Household Charge Project Board and joined Clare FM’s John Cooke on today’s edition of Morning Focus. So far 924,884 properties have registered for the Household Charge and it has €92.9 million raised to date. However householders who have not yet paid will receive reminder letters. 884,602 properties were registered for the Household Charge on or before 31st March 2012. Since this date a further 40,282 properties have been registered and paid penalties and interest of between €11 and €13 in addition to the €100 charge. 17,219 properties have been registered for waivers. €92,917,309 has been raised to date and money continues to be paid in daily. Penalties and interest continue to accrue for those properties which have yet to be registered. The County breakdown attached shows how many properties were registered in each County. The Household Charge still has approximately 17,000 applications on hand waiting resolution. People who wish to pay the Household Charge can do so online at www.householdcharge.ie by credit or debit card or by cheque, postal order or bank drafts at their local authority office. Alternatively they can download forms from www.householdcharge.ie and post to Household Charge, PO Box 12168, Dublin 1. While Clare FM’s Cliona Willmott took to the streets to gauge public sentiment on the issue of the household charge and to ask if they haven’t already paid it – will they do so once they receive a reminder letter.
Martin Collins of Pavee Point, the traveller representative group, joined the show to discuss last Friday’s meeting of the Joint Policing Committee. Also taking part in the discussion was Paul O’Shea, Ennis Town Councillor (Lab) and Dermot Hayes, both members of the Ennis Joint Policing Committee. Efforts to try and prevent further incidents of traveller feuding, taking place on the streets of Ennis, was addressed during the meeting on Friday last. Martin Collins – a high profile figure from traveller representative group Pavee Point addressed Councillors at the town’s joint policing committee about the ongoing problem. Figures from local community groups along with senior Gardai also attended.
Cllr. Paul O’Shea also discussed the installation of two public defibrillators in Ennis today following a recent campaign to raise funds for the life saving equipment. One will be located outside the O2 shop and another outside Specsavers, those that have been trained to use them have access to the equipment. If people want to train to use the equipment you can contact the Red Cross locally or see www.clareredcross.ie. It’s expected that two more defibrillators will be available in Clare’s County town in the coming weeks.
Clare FM’s Kevin McGillicuddy also joined John Cooke in studio to discuss how Clare’s wait for a first win in the Munster championship since 2008 goes on after suffering a 2-17 to 1-18 loss to Waterford in Thurles yesterday. Davy Fitzgerald lost out to his former charges in a game that was dominated by the decision to award a first half penalty against Cian Dillon for a foul on Eoin Kelly, despite the Deise forward having initially fouled the Crsuheen man. Clare also had an opportunity to win the game late on only for Patrick Kelly’s 21 metre free to be stopped by Stephen O Keefe We heard what Davy Fitzgerald said in reaction to the defeat at the hands of Waterford.
John Lowe, The Money Doctor joined Morning Focus to answer your personal finance questions. Today’s topics included the impact on mortgage holders if the ECB reduces its 1% rate next month, the Personal Insolvency Bill, CSO earning figures and domestic house price figures.
John Crumlish, Chief Executive of the Galway Arts Festival joined the show ahead of the annual event. John spoke about what people can look forward to at Galway Arts Festival this year and that the Box Office is opening today (091 566 577), how to book online, how ticket sales are going, he explained “Chic Week” which is running next week and how to watch preview interviews with some of the high profile artists coming to the festival on GAFTV. The Galway Arts Festival runs from the 16th – 29th July this year and the Macnas Parade takes place on Sunday 22nd July at 8.45pm through the streets of Galway.
John Murphy of the Clare branch of Birdwatch Ireland joined John in studio for his weekly bird and wildlife feature and answered your queries. If you have a comment or query for Morning Focus you can email the show at [email protected] or text Clare FM followed by your message to 53030
