Almost €16 million in Government funding is being invested in new facilities for the elderly in County Clare. St Joseph’s Community Hospital in Ennis will receive the largest portion of the funding; €12 million is being provided for the construction of a new state of the art 50-bed unit, as well as major refurbishment of the existing building.
Bernard Gloster, the HSE Midwest Area Manager, joined Gavin on the line this morning to discuss the funding. A further two and a half million will also be invested in Raheen Community Hospital in Tuamgraney over the next three years, while Regina House in Kilrush will receive 550,000 euro in the coming year. In addition to this, 730,000 euro has been announced for Ennistymon Community Hospital as part of an overall spend of over 1.3 million euro. Labour TD, Michael McNamara also joined Gavin on the line. The funding comes as part of a development plan for 90 centres nationwide, in order to bring them in line with HIQA standards.
Legislation discussed this week by the Government will see fathers entitled to two weeks paid paternity leave. June Tinsley, Head of Advocacy at Barnardos, and Patricia Callan of the Small Firms Association joined Gavin on the phone to discuss the issue. The new statutory benefit will be at a rate of €230 a week, the same as maternity leave and based on the same PRSI contribution requirements.
The Tulla Road is finally to receive a new roundabout in a bid to improve safety measures in one of Ennis’ main arteries. A quarter of a million euro has been allocated for the construction of the roundabout for the Oakleigh Wood/Cappahard area. Kevin Keenan, the Interim Chairperson of the Oakleigh Wood Resident’s Association spoke to Gavin about the welcomed end to a decade long campaign.
Ennis-born artist Mick O’Dea has been commissioned to paint President Michael D Higgins. Mick spoke to Gavin this morning about the honour of getting to paint the President and having the final product hang in Aras an Uachtaran alongside portraits of past presidents.
A Clare native has been appointed to one of the highest-ranking positions in the defence forces. Brigadier General Peter O’Halloran spoke to Gavin this morning about his promotion to Assistant Chief of Staff of Oglaigh na hEireann (Defence Forces Ireland). Brigadier General O’Halloran’s previous experience includes 6 tours with the UN, 3 with the EU, and 1 with NATO. Commandant Tom O’Shea and Captain John Forde also joined in on the discussion on the phone.
The stakes will be high and the competition intense this weekend as up to 300 bridge players descend on the town. John Duggan, the PRO for Ennis Bridge Club spoke to Morning Focus about the 21st Ennis Bridge Congress, which takes place from January the 29th to the 31st at Treacy’s West County Hotel.
A meeting on the development of Lisdoonvarna’s historic Spa Wells takes place tonight with a view to gathering further public into a feasibility study currently underway. Paddy Dunne, Chariman of Lisdoonvarna Failte spoke to Gavin about the Spa Wells, which visitors have come to for hundreds of years to enjoy the supposed health benefits of the waters. One of the options currently being explored is the restoration of the spa facilities which date to the Victorian era. The meeting will take place at the Pavilion Theatre, Lisdoonvarna.
Later on in the show Gavin spoke to Jane O’Donovan, a third-year student at Shannon College of Hotel Management. Jane is running an authentic German restaurant night on Monday, February 15th. The event will include a four-course meal based on authentic German ingredients centred on the theme of the Oktoberfest.
Ennis man Brian MacCoitir is among a group of Irish cavers who have just returned from an expedition into the deep jungle of Papa New Guinea to explore an underground region never before seen by man. Brian spoke to Gavin about his experience where he and a team of 15 had been based at the village of Fogoma’iu, where they dealt with the height of Papua’s summer and humidity of 90-100 per cent, day and night.
