On Tuesday’s Morning Focus the issue of property tax and how it pertains to unfinished housing estates was discussed
Presenter Marian Egan spoke with representatives Tom McNamara in Kilmaley, Joe Arkins in Ruan and Cathal Crowe in Meelick
Clare Councillors are calling on the government to cover the bill of addressing problems in the county’s unfinished housing estates
Clare County Council has passed a motion calling on the coalition to implement a new grant scheme which would provide funds for works in unfinished estates
Local representatives also called for monies raised in such estates from the local property tax to be ring-fenced for works in those areas during a meeting of Clare County Council last Friday
Clare County Council has 63 unfinished Housing Estates according to the Department of the Environment.
The Health Service Executive has been instructed to reverse the decision to destroy blood samples taken from newborn babies, known as heel-prick tests.
Minister for Health James Reilly has said that more than one million samples should not be destroyed.
The decision to dispose of the samples had been made because of fears that their retention without consent breached data protection legislation
Marian spoke with Chris Massey – Head of Advocacy with the Irish Heart Foundation – to get his reaction to the news
The IHF had been running a Stop the Destruction campaign (www.stopthedestructionnow.com), that urged members of the public to seek the return of more than one million cards containing samples taken from children born between 1984 and 2002
Contact 1890 432 787 for more information.
Gearoid Howard of Crimmins Howard Solicitors, Shannon and a volunteer at the Free Legal Advice Clinic provided by Clare Citizens’ Information Centre
Today he discussed the potential benefits of the proposed periodic payment schemes for injured parties.
The Irish Cancer Society hoped to raise three and a half million euro on its annual Daffodil day collection this year
It was held last Friday and thousands of volunteers nationwide took to the streets on a wet day to sell fresh daffodils and daffodil pins to raise money for cancer support services
Joanne Murphy – Midwest Community Fundraiser with the Irish Cancer Society thanked people who supported the fundraising drive and added that, since funds were down this year, people who still wish to donate may do so online
www.cancer.ie – by calling 1850 60 60 60 or texing ‘Daff’ to 50300 to donate €4
Contact the National Cancer Helpline on 1800 200 700.
The Environmental Protection Agency has today published a report into the level of household waste in Ireland
It found the amount of solid waste produced here has dropped by almost 20% in the past six years and is now below the European Union average
At the height of the boom the amount of waste generated in Ireland peaked, but the recession and a fall in personal consumption have had a positive impact on refuse rates
Fiona McCoole of the EPA explained that there’s a concern that a return to economic growth could result in a rise once again in waste levels
See www.epa.ie
Frankie Coote, Clare’s ISPCA Warden, joined Marian in studio for his regular slot covering aspects of animal welfare and owner obligations
Contact Clare ISPCA Shelter on 065 6820393
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