MORNING FOCUS THURSDAY 30TH OCTOBER
ALONE, the charity that supports older people in need, has condemned the fifteen week waiting lists currently facing Fair Deal Scheme applicants. ALONE believe that nursing homes are not always the answer, and strive to keep older people living within the community by providing suitable accommodation, home supports and social outlets. ALONE’s model of supportive housing in the community makes sense to the individual, community and the economy. Director of Nursing St. Terea's Nursing home Kilrush Yvonne Moroney and Sean Moynihan Chief Executive Officer of ALONE spoke with john about the issue.
In the run up to Halloween, Clare County Council is urging members of the public not to supply any waste material to persons who do not hold a valid waste collection permit. Clare County Fire and Rescue Service says that substantial costs are incurred each Halloween in responding to bonfire-related incidents, as well as cleaning up after bonfires have taken place. In 2013, the Fire Service attended 7 bonfires at a cost of €8,800. Ger Fallon, Clare County Assistant Chief Fire Officer, detailed the dangerous side of Halloween with John.
Jonathan Irwin is best known as the man who, following the tragic death of his son at 22 months old, set up the Jack & Jill Foundation so that other parents would not have to go through the hardship his family did to nurse their sick child at home. He is also an outspoken critic of the state's lack of support for these families. What is less well-known is his intriguing background. He was very involved in the Irish horse-racing industry and ran Goffs bloodstock sales for many years, including at the time of the kidnapping of Shergar, which is detailed in the book. Jonathan joined John for an indept chat about Jonathans remarkable life story. You can find out more about the Jack an Jill foundation http://www.jackandjill.ie/
The Reserve Defence Forces are at present actively recruiting for volunteers in the Army Reserve in Co Clare. Clare has a long and proud reputation with the military and it is up to us now to keep that tradition going. They are looking for male or female volunteers of good character age between 18 and 35 and that want to try something different in the military on a part time basis. Comdt TJ McCarron of the Reserve Defence Forces spoke to John about the work of the organisation.
Following several weeks of fevered voting across the island and discussions by the judging panel, Calor, Ireland’s leading supplier of rural energy solutions, has today announced the An Sean Dún Community in Ennis, Co. Clare as the unanimous choice for the Calor Sustainable Community Champion 2014. As the first winners, the An Sean Dún Community can give a bursary of €7,500 to a charity or local organisation of their choice, which they are awarding to 18 Primary and Secondary Schools around Ennis to deliver similar sustainable projects and educational awareness programmes. Cormac McCarthy from the An Sean Dún Green Community joined John to talk about his estates efforts.
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