Morning Focus began with a look back at the news of last week of the scaling back of Shannodoc services in Kilrush, Ennistymon and Killaloe prompted outrage among listeners to Morning Focus. We've had listeners getting in touch to share their anger and their fears at the reduction in the out-of-hours GP service – particularly against the backdrop of falling numbers of doctors in rural areas and chronic overcrowding at the region's Emergency Department. As recently as yesterday, we learned of a review of services provided by Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs) – all adding to concerns about health care provision in the county. Sorcha Daly is among those to get in touch with the show. On Sunday afternoon last (Oct. 9), her 3-and-a-half year-old son had a severe asthma attack. Sorcha was able to rush him to the Shannondoc service in Kilrush. She believes that if the service hadn't been open, he wouldn't have survived a journey to Miltown Malbay or to Ennis. Sorcha describes herself as a 'frequent flyer' with Shannondoc, due to her son's asthma, and she's very concerned about proposals to re-locate the Kilrush service to Miltown Malbay on weekdays, and to close weekend services from 7pm. Sorcha joined Gavin on the line to discuss the matter.
Gavin then spoke about Budget 2017 which was unveiled in full by the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure today (Tue., Oct. 11). Key features will include a helping hand for first time buyers, higher welfare and pension payments and tax cuts. It's also set to outline the biggest health budget in the history of the state. Working parents will benefit from a major scheme to help with the cost of childcare. Niall O’Connor, Political Correspondent joined Gavin on the line to discuss the budget.
Clare FM also took to the streets of Ennis to get a sense of what people wanted to see in the budget.
A study of Irish dairy farmers has found that continuing mental distress leads to anxiety and depression and can also lead to increased farm accidents. The survey carried out by University of Limerick, NUI Galway and Teagasc, found that mental distress in Irish dairy farmers comes from “time pressure, bureaucracy, financial pressure, work unpredictability and the presence of farm hazards”. To discuss the situation in this county, Gavin was joined by Martin McMahon, Clare County Chair of the ICMSA.
John Lowe, Independent Financial Advisor, joined Gavin on the show to talk about the budget and Abhaile, a new mortgage arrears relief scheme.
Members of Clare County Council could be going underground for their next meeting, with moves afoot to gather in North Clare's famous Ailwee Cave. A motion was tabled by Cllr James Breen calling for the November meeting of the authority to be held at the cave to mark the tourism attraction's 40th anniversary. Nuala Mulqueeney, Director of the Ailwee Cave joined Gavin on the line.
Morning Focus then took a look at a possible connection between visits to Grandparents houses and childhood obesity. As we all know, with childcare costs rising, many of us rely hugely on relatives, friends and neighbours to help us look after our kids. What we may not know is that, when we do that, we could be putting children at higher risk of obesity than those who go to creches. A recent study found that children in formal childcare settings, like creches, had a more regulated system of meals and snacks, with healthy-eating policies in place. This wasn't the case in more informal settings. The study also suggested the best way for parents with informal childcare arrangements was to plan meals in advance and avoid a situation where carers simply give their charges whatever is available. To discuss the findings, Gavin was joined on the line by Laura Erskine, mummypages.ie.
We then had Frankie Coote, Clare County Dog Warden, on for his weekly section.
Since the start of this academic year, a number of Irish universities have been running workshops to help new students to survive college life. And it's not just the ususal issue like finding your way around and budgeting that are being addressed. This year, a number of colleges have decided to help students look at the issue of sexual consent. It's after an alarming number of students reported non-consensual sexual experiences. Gavin was joined on the line by Trinity College's Welfare Officer, Aoibhinn Loughlin. To-date, more than 400 first years have taken part in the college's first programme on consent.
Morning Focus then looked at how almost 90 per cent of teachers at primary school level are female. New EU figures show Ireland has one of the largest gender imbalances in education in Western Europe. There's also a divide in secondary schools, where 7 in 10 teachers are women. Union the INTO says there needs to be initiatives to address the low number of men training to become teachers. Brendan Horan, INTO Rep for Clare & Tipperary, joined Gavin on the line to talk about the imbalance.
Gavin then spoke about Seeking Vision’s 5th Annual Blind Walk. Our eyesight is something that we're often guilty of taking for granted – or even abusing, with long hours spent in front of screens. Well, next Thursday (Oct. 13) is a day to be grateful for our vision and to think of those who are without sight. To mark World Sight Day, Seeking Vision will hold its 5th annual walk. The 'Walk a Mile for the Blind' event begins at 11am at The Square in Ennis with special guest Anthony Daly. Pat Murphy from Seeking Vision came on the line to promote the walk.
Gavin’s next guest was prompted by a counselor’s advice to write about the difficult journey she and her family faced when their mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Anne Joyce spent a time in denial about her mother Nelly's symptoms before she was diagnosed. According to Anne, Nelly wasn't exactly herself. She was repeating herself, forgetting to take a shower, cremating the brown bread and driving the car like a bat out of hell. The diagnosis prompted all kinds of emotions until Anne and her family gradually learned to relate to their mother in a new way.
Morning Focus finished with a look at Dyspraxia Awareness Week (October 9-15), Dyspraxia Ireland, the organisation which provides information and a national support network for parents, teenagers and adults, will hold an awareness raising event in Ennis tomorrow night (Wed.s, Oct. 12). Details will be provided about the supports available to students with Dyspraxia and how to support a student in school. Catherine Whelan, Spokesperson Dyspraxia Ireland & mum of child with dyspraxia, joined Gavin on the line.
