As the flooding crisis continues to affect large parts of the country, Muintir na Tíre, the National Association for Community Development, commended the work carried out by community groups. It also made a number of recommendations to Government, including that the Memorandum of Understanding with the insurance industry be amended to guarantee insurance cover for homes and businesses in areas where flood prevention measures have been completed by the OPW. Gavin spoke to Muintir CEO and Inagh native Neil Garvey.
New figures on overcrowding at UHL revealed an 18 per cent increase at the region's main hospital over the course of the past year. The figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation came just months after the region's main hospital published its Winter Resilience Plan aimed at limiting trolley numbers to eight per day.
Mary Fogarty, INMO Midwest Industrial Relations Officer, spoke to Gavin.
The INTO is to ballot primary school teachers on industrial action in February. It follows a dispute over the ban on promotion in schools. The teachers' organisation is calling for an end to the eight-year ban on promotions, saying more leadership is needed in primary schools. Sean McMahon, former President of INTO and principal of Mullagh NS spoke to Gavin.
Clare County Council announced a series of public consultation events on a new six-year strategy for the future development of County Clare over the coming years. The county development plan sets out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the functional area of Clare County Council.
Ahead of public information events at Kilrush Community Centre (Tuesday, 19 January), Miltown Malbay Resource Centre (Wednesday, 20 January), Scarriff Library (Tuesday, 26 January), Hylands Hotel, Ballyvaughan (Wednesday 27 January), Sixmilebridge Library (Thursday 28 January) and Áras Contae an Chláir, Ennis (Monday 1 February), and the deadline for public submission at 4pm on February 29, Gavin spoke to Brian McCarthy, Senior Planner with Clare County Council.
This month, employees began to feel the impact of some tax changes from Budget 2016 in their pockets. For those on the minimum wage, there’s an increase (at the top rate) of 50c per hour, but how much better off can someone really expect to be?
Paul Wolfe of Citizens Information in Ennis explained what the changes really mean.
Smartvote is a new app that aims to revolutionise the way Irish voters make their election choices. The app helping voters better understand which candidate suits their views. Smartvote is a product of UCD’s innovation Academy was trialled in the Carlow-Kilkenny by-election, and has expanded nationwide in time for the general election.
The app is being promoted by the Union of Students of Ireland (USI) and Gavin spoke to it president Kevin O'Donoghue.
There's a new decluttering craze sweeping the globe and Morning Focus producer Fiona McGarry spoke to Gavin about the KonMari Method and what it means 'to kondo' your home.
Pemba Support is an Ennistymon-based charity which has raised tens of thousands of euro for the island of Pemba off Tanzania.
Retired teachers Neilus and Pat O'Doherty from Ennistymon, travelled to the island of Pemba off Tanzania with VSO (Voluntary Services Overseas) during 2007/08. They got some funding from home which they used for educational and income-generating projects and for the alleviation of poverty projects. Current projects include agricultural initiatives with bees, goats and vegetable growing. Pemba has also received support from Bothar to give livestock to local farmers.
Ahead of the Pemba AGM Pat O'Doherty spoke to Gavin.
The issue of loneliness can be particularly tough in January. The excitement (and sometimes excess) of Christmas can leave people feeling deflated, but the problem is particularly tough for those who are elderly and who may not have the network of family and friends that most of us take for granted. The organisation ALONE offers a befriending service to give companionship to older people who are socially isolated. Over 250 trained and supported volunteers do frontline work in the community; providing companionship and supporting older people to continue living in the community.
Here in Clare, ClareCare offers a phone services to reach out to the elderly and the lonely. Sean Moynihan CEO of Alone spoke to Gavin.
John Underhill of Burren Vets discussed the stomach problems that pets and other animals can have.
Irish country superstar Derek Ryan brings his 'One Good Night' tour at glor, Ennis, and ahead of it he spoke to Gavin.
