First up this morning we heard about Fianna Fail's threat to veto aspects of the Programme for Government. Fianna Fail has warned it'll veto Fine Gael’s commitments in the programme for government to remove a €1,650 tax credit for high earners and to abolish the universal social charge (USC). Micheál Martin’s party has also said it is “very unlikely” to support a proposal in the programme to provide military-style training for disadvantaged young people. A series of Fine Gael policy proposals have now been shot down by Fianna Fail, raising concerns in the government about the viability of the minority administration. Dep Timmy Dooley was on the line to tell Pat more.
Next we heard about new hopes for retaining the DPOC transport scheme. A Clare FG TD says he's confident that a special transport for people with disabilities in Clare can be retained. The personalised service run by the Disabled People of Clare (DPOC) group had been set to end on Friday (May 20), leaving up to 50 people without transport to work, education, and other appointments. At the eleventh hour, DPOC representative have met with the HSE and Deputy Joe Carey says significant progress has now been made. The ultimate aim is to bring the DPOC service under the remit of Clare Bus, with the support of the National Transport Authority. Deputy Carey says there will be a transition period, but he's optimistic that nobody will lose out in the meantime. He was on the line with more details.
Ireland has a historic problem with bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle and since 1989 has been culling badgers in an effort to eradicate the disease. Clare now has the hightest rates of bovine TB in the country. However, badgers are an important part of our heritage and ecosystems and the Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) is concerned that decades of intensive culling has resulted in the loss of badgers from large parts of agricultural land in Ireland. The IWT says the policy must now be considered a failure and they are calling on the incoming Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, to end the cull. Padraic Fogarty, Irish Wildlife Trust's Campaigns Officer and Willie Hanrahan, Clare County Chair of the IFA gave their views to Pat.
From guitar workshops to classes in cup-cake design, there's something for everyone at Clare Youth Service… The organisation has two centres in Ennis and reaches teens across the county to facilities in Kilrush and Shannon, as well as a network of youth clubs. With training courses and the Leaving Cert Applied also being offered, the service is decidated to helping young people to reach their full potential. Recently, the Clare Youth Service held an Expo to tell the public about everything it offers. Morning Focus producer Fiona McGarry went along to find out more.
Students from Clare and the Midwest area who're hoping to pursue a course in Business Studies could be eligible for financial help through a bursary system from the Irish College of Humanities and Applied Sciences (ICHAS) in Limerick. The college has announced a bursary scheme for its Business Certificate and Degree Programmes which begin in September. The scheme has been set up to support those who mightn't otherwise be able to afford third-level education. Senior Lecturer Henry Dickinson at the ICHAS was on the line now to tell us more.
We all know the value of entrepreneurs and self-starters to our (slowly) recovering economy, but it can often seem that starting your own business is reserved for young people. Not so, according to a new organisation aimed at encouraging those over 50 to take a leap into entrepreneurship. The Ireland Smart Ageing Exchange (ISAX) has launched an exciting new programme for mature entrepreneurs (aged 55 plus) who're seeking to put their lifetime experience, talents and wisdom to good use by starting their own business. Called Ingenuity, the programme, which is sponsored by Bank of Ireland, will be delivered by Clare Local Enterprise Office (as well as other LEOs) and the DCU Ryan Academy. A free information seminar providing takes place tonight (Tue, May 17) Savoy Hotel, Limerick on Tuesday from 6pm. to 8pm. Anne Connolly, Chief Executive at ISAX was on the line with more details.
Next, Frankie Coote, Clare County Dog Warden was in studio to tell us the latest.
Then we heard about new ways to volunteer. It's National Volunteer Week and the Clare Volunteer Centre is encouraging not-for-profit organisations to consider new ways of involving people. A new study carried out by volunteer Ireland found over half (53%) of organisations who enlist volunteers said they could not survive without them. According to the Clare Volunteer Centre, charities, community organisations, sports clubs and social enterprises could all benefit greatly from looking at different and innovative ways to engage volunteers. To find out more, I'm joined in studio by Clare Volunteer Centre Manager, Sharon Meaney and two long-time volunteers, Claire Burke and Sean Lenihan.
The Loophead Penninsula's set for a big influx of Star Wars fans and other visitors over the next couple of days International crews will begin filming around Kilbaha today, with a no fly zone in place until Thursday night. Loophead Lighthouse, an landmark on the Wild Atlantic Way, will also close temporarily to facilitate filming. Scenes from the eighth installment of the Star Wars film franchise are also being shot at other locations on the western seaboard. We heard from Clare FM's Stephen McDermott who was feeling the Force on the Loophead Penninsula this morning.
Finally today we heard about a golf classic in support of services for senior citizens. Taking place in Shannon on Friday next (May 19), the event, which has run annually for the last five years, goes towards the mortgage premises used for day services in Shannon. Sean McLoughlin from Shannon Golf Club told us more.
