On Friday’s Morning Focus John Cooke spoke with Shannon Parish Priest Fr Tom Ryan about the new class of poor that has emerged during the depression
He feels more and more families are falling into the poverty trap with few places to turn and are at risk of turning to money lenders
He is concerned for people in this state- and he thinks that the instances of this kind of borrowing are on the rise
Yesterday at the launch of its pre-budget submission The Vincent de Paul said it estimates around 200 thousand households have turned to moneylenders to make ends meet
In the meantime a report by the legal rights group FLAC found that people can wait for more than a year for an oral hearing into why their application for social welfare has been declined
The waiting time for a decision following a written appeal averages at around 32 weeks
FLAC has also criticised what it says is a lack of consistency and transparency in how decisions are made
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service is running a campaign ‘Say No to Doorstep Credit’ to urge people away from extortionate loan rates; to think before they spend, live within their means – and if they do borrow money check the APR of credit before borrowing – the higher the APR the more expensive the loan
Clare MABS office manager Denis Corbett joined John in studio to discuss the aims of the campaign and speak about the reality of the debt situation
Contact MABS National Helpline on 071 07 2000
Clare MABS office on 0761 072430
www.mabs.ie
In 2011, the Fire and Rescue Service answered seven bonfire-related over the Halloween period with an associated cost of over €10,000
Substantial costs were also incurred in removing bonfire waste materials and cleaning up after bonfires had taken place
Clare Local Authorities and Clare Fire and Rescue Service have issued a joint appeal in the run up to Halloween urging members of the public not to supply any waste material to persons who do not hold a valid waste collection permit
Robert Burns, Executive Engineer, Waste Enforcement Section, Clare County Council and
Adrian Kelly. Chief Fire Officer, Clare Fire and Rescue joined John in studio to discuss the issue and urge people to be responsible this Halloween.
In our Morning Focus health slot we speak with Dr Maire Finn from the Ennis Family Medical Centre – look them up on Facebook
Today Fr Finn focussed on thyroid issues
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
The county senior hurling final this coming weekend players on both sides admit the familiarity between the teams will make for an unusual decider in Cusack park on Sunday
Members of both Cratloe and Newmarket have shared previous honours at schools level while also playing together on third level sides
Kevin McGillicuddy of Clare FM Sport joined John in studio along with Jim Enright, PRO of Cratloe and club member and Clare referee Flan O’Reilly and Concepta O’Connor, PRO of Newmarket on Fergus and former hurler and die-hard Newmarket on Fergus supporter Mike O’ Leary
Throw in Sunday has been confirmed for 3pm and Clare FM’s live coverage of this Sundays County senior hurling final comes in association with Banner Carpets and Flooring Quinn Road business park, Ennis
The launch of a new linear Burren Walk is taking place at the Michael Cusack Centre, Carron tomorrow at 12 noon
It’s a 6km trail developed with National Monuments Service, National Parks and WIllife Service, Burren Connect, Fas, Clare Local Development Company and local landowners
Lots of festivities planned- Clare Hurling legend Anthony Daly will launch the walk
Michael Davoren, a board member of the Michael Cusack Centre, had a word about what’s planned this weekend.
If you have a story, comment or query for the Morning Focus team email [email protected]
