On Tuesday's Morning Focus with Ciana Cambell
Mayo native John Sweeney contacted Morning Focus last Thursday saying he and his family have been without emergency accomodation since he turned down the Council's offer of a house in Kilrush. He previously moved out of the West Clare town having been threatened, and doesn't want to move back there. While some of John's youngest children are living with his brother in law, many of them have spent the last two nights in an Opel Zafira car. He says his supports were stopped after they turned down the offer of a house – Clare County Council and the Department of Social Protection have declined to comment on his case. John told us that since Thursday they have moved into a 3-bed house with family after three nights sleeping in the car but they are sleeping on the floor.
55% increase in the number of families in Emergency accomdation since January according to the Simon Community. A report by the organisation says the figures, which have been released by the Department of Environment, show further evidence of the housing crisis. General Manager of Mid West Simon Community, Jacqui Bonfield outlined figures relating to Clare and the Mid-West region as a whole and the article in question is ion your folder.
Eugene Drennan who's a member of the Irish Road Hauliage Association was disgusted over the stretch of road on the motorway between Junction 13 and junction 14 at Crusheen. There was road resurfacing works last week and he now feels that the condition of the road has detriorated significantly. This stretch of road has been a cause for concern in the past and there has been a number of road traffic accidents there. He wants an explanation as to why the road can be perfectly smooth one day and bumpy following road works. Transport and Infrastructure Ireland (TII) formerly the Natioanal Roads Authority (NRA) Spokesperson Sean O'Neill told Clare FM's Gavin Grace that gradients were intentionally put in the road to deal with bad weather in the area as a result of microclimates.
Director of the Ray Of Sunshine Foundation Olive Halpin is appealing for volunteers to travel to Mombasa with the charity. Both skilled and unskilled workers are being sought to help build schools and helth facilities. Dozens of bricklayers, carpenters and other workers have already pledged to travel. The foundation works with children in Kenya, some of whom have been victims of abuse and others trafficked in the sex trade from as young as three. Pat Murrihy from Kilrush has travelled four times with the organisation. Pat says it was a great experience. Having worked with 153 blind children, while building a school for them in 2012, Pat says “Every man cried a tear coming out of that place. It definitely changed me, it gave me a new perspective on life”. Pat is going for another two terms, the first of which in January.
John Lowe the Money Doctor addressed a number of topics this morning; high rents 'becoming a barrier to college education', no free fix for leaks if not registered with Irish Water, Irish pension savings reach record high, AIB to cut variable mortgage rates by 0.25% for all customers, Mortgage-to-rent scheme faces ‘cultural resistance’.
William Winder Rainbow Foundation was offering ten free sessions with counsellers and had to cut down due to a lack of funding. People came to them looking for bereavement counselling but they are unable to cover the cost. The foundation is not Government funded. Its run entirely by Founder Mark Winder and his wife for the last three years. Mark says the most important thing about the organisation is to bring families and communities together as when a tragedy happens, it's not just the family that's affected, its the whole community. There will be an event on Saturday at the Cliffs of Moher Hotel, Liscannor. Family day followed by a rock concert. North Clare Bikers who have been tirelessly fundraising for the foundation and raising awarenss for it, along with bikers from across the country will be attending.
The Clare County Council owned Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience attraction has launched a new partnership with ConnectIreland in an effort to encourage visitors to consider Ireland as a business destination. With the largest influx of tourists expected to Ireland’s most visited natural attraction this month, visitors are being asked to think about who they know and encourage international companies to consider Ireland as a place to do business. ConnectIreland is the company responsible for delivering the Government’s Succeed in Ireland initiative, in association with IDA Ireland. Director of the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience Katherine Webster spoke to us about the initiative.
And Frankie Coote, Clare ISPCA Officer and County Dog warden spoke to us about the death of a number of animals earlier this week after a battery was discarded carefully.
