On Wednesday’s Morning Focus John Cooke spoke with Clare Federation of People with Special Needs Chairperson Kathryn O’Shea.
Kathryn is travelling with a group to Dublin to take part in a national protest this afternoon which is being coordinated by the Disability Rights Coalition
It will call on Government to fulfil disability related promises made in the 2011 Programme for Government and will call for equal rights for people with disabilities
The Clare Federation for People with Special Needs is a registered charity which supports the sharing of information about disability as well as specific disability-related projects in Clare
Kathryn is living in Kilmurry and has an autistic son as she explained to John
Tom King – Vice Chairperson of the Centre for Independent Living and a Disabled People of Clare board member – will also attend the protest
Tom will attend today’s protest in a personal capacity – there are 600,000 people with disabilities, accounting for 13% of the population, lobby groups believe people with disabilities continue to be ignored, isolated and bear an unfair brunt of economic cutbacks.
Ennis Town Council says it is closely monitoring river levels in the town and has implemented a number of flood prevention measures on a precautionary basis
The Council is also advising residents and business owners in flood prone areas of the town to familiarise themselves with actions that can be undertaken immediately prior to a flooding event to reduce the risk to life and property
Recent heavy rainfall has resulted in above average water levels along the River Fergus. Council officials are monitoring water levels on a continual basis- John spoke with Ger Dollard, Director of Service and Ennis Town Manager, to get the details.
See www.clarecoco.ie or www.winterready.ie
Cathal Oakes is the Clare Area President of the Saint Vincent de Paul
He is stepping down as Area President shortly- he joined John in studio to speak about how the remit and demand for the services of SVP has changed in the economic climate of the last five years
He also discussed their pre budget submission; the complexity of cases they deal with; the experience of the biggest issues facing people; he will discuss why middle income backgrounds and educated people are reluctant to ask for help; and their Christmas appeal
If you wish to donate or volunteer with the Saint Vincent de Paul call 065 682 4188.
The Respond! housing association celebrated 21 years in Ennis on Sunday
It was set up in Ennis in 1991 by Pat Cogan (Franciscan Friar) initially in a voluntary capacity by the Friends of Respond and today has 5 housing developments throughout the town; Coopers Place near the market; Stonecourt in Drumbiggle, Waterpark View, adjacent to Stonecourt, Orchard Grove on the Gort Road, and Bridge View in Roslevan
Its ethos is to build communities, not houses, and its principles are social investment, not financial profit
John spoke with Respond! Western Region Manager Paul Hargedan.
Fáilte Ireland is calling for local communities in Clare to get involved in the development of a significant new driving route for the west coast
The Wild Atlantic Way is set to be Ireland’s first long-distance driving route for tourists, featuring a 1,400km driving route from Donegal to West Cork
The tourism authority will be holding a series of public exhibitions and consultation sessions along the west coast in November and December
Two meetings will be held in County Clare – as Paddy Mathews, Project Manager of the Wild Atlantic Way, explained – see www.failteireland.ie/wildatlanticway
• Kilkee – Thursday at 4.30pm to 7.30pm in the Stella Maris Hotel
• Doolin – Friday at 11am to 2pm in Hotel Doolin
Paul Wolfe of the Clare Citizens’ Information Service was in studio to answer listeners’ social welfare entitlement, employment and consumer law queries.
If you have a story, comment or query for the Morning Focus team email [email protected]
