On Friday’s Morning Focus John Cooke spoke with Minister for Education & Skills Ruairí Quin about the debt deal secured yesterday and the school patronage surveys being conducted in Shannon and other selected areas of the country
The Department of Education has been asking parents in Shannon to indicate which patron bodies they would like to see running primary schools in their area
Parents of all children aged 0 to 12 years in 38 areas across Ireland are being asked the same
The survey can be accessed on line via www.education.ie and parents or guardians of primary school going children and 0 to 5 year olds – parents can contribute to the survey until the end of the day.
Pat Breen TD, Fine Gael and Senator Tony Mulcahy discussed the debt deal saying the deal agreed by the Irish Government to ease the debt burden on the Irish people from the Anglo promissory notes has delivered a significant boost to Ireland’s economic future
Deputy Breen commented on reports that he could be in the running for the vacant Junior Minister’s job in Government
Deputy Damien English remains the favourite to replace the late Shane McEntee, followed by fellow backbencher Andrew Doyle – but The Irish Independent reported earlier this week that Pat Breen is now in the frame for the Junior post
All three candidates are chairmen of Oireachtas Committees from which Junior Ministers are normally chosen from and its reported that Deputy Breen’s association with the Finance Minister Michael Noonan puts him in running for the job.
In our Morning Focus health slot John Dr Maire Finn from the Ennis Family Medical Centre joined John in studio to discuss tips and advice for those trying to give up smoking
The National Smokers’ Quitline is 1850 201 203.
Doctor Maire Finn is from the Ennis Family Medical Centre, and will be joining us again next Friday for more medical advice. You can always send us your thoughts and queries by email [email protected], but if you have concerns or queries about your own health right now please contact your local GP
Members of the Corofin Dramatic Society joined John in studio ahead of their upcoming production of ‘The Bog of Cats’ by Marina Carr being staged in Glor Theatre, Ennis from 14th-16th February
It’s a story of loss, abandonment and vengance set in 1998
Director John Clancy spoke about the production and explained the theme of the play and some of the cast gave listeners a taste of some of the drama they can expect from the production
Eileen Lahiffe who plays Mrs Kilbride, Grace Clancy plays Josie Kilbride and James Raleigh plays Carthage Kilbride provided some radio drama
Mrs Kilbride is Carthage’s mother and Josie’s grandmother, so this is a mother, son and granddaughter trio from the play
Grace is the Corofin Dramatic Society’s youngest member while Eileen is their of the longest serving members of the group.
If you have a story, comment or query for the Morning Focus team email [email protected]
