On Monday’s Morning Focus Marian Egan spoke with Leigh Gath of the Leaders Alliance Campaign – Limerick and Enable Ireland advocacy volunteer
Leigh is Thalidomide effected and has no arms or legs
She and others began the Leaders Alliance campaign to force the Government to rethink cuts it is making to the HSE budget which is forcing the HSE to make a 3.7% cut to services for people with disabilities this year
This cut, along with previous cuts, now brings the total to 11%
In real life terms what this cut means is that many people are going to be forced into institutional care (nursing homes) against their will if their PA hours are cut because the budgets for respite, day services and residential centres are also being cut
Leigh invited people to attend a meeting to be held this afternoon at 1pm in Enable Ireland Adult Services building in Quinn’s Cross, Mungret, Co. Limerick
Tom King, Vice-chairman of the Centre for Independent Living and of People with Disabilities in Clare also encouraged people to attend and gave an update as to how the campaign is going nationally.
A family whose son was shot dead by gangland criminals left Ireland yesterday to escape the threat from criminals in the city.
Steve Collins, his wife Carmel and their adult children flew out of Shannon airport yesterday afternoon
The family said it felt they had no option but to emigrate because they have lived under the constant threat of attack by the McCarthy-Dundon gang
Mr Collin’s son, Roy, was 34 when he was shot dead in his casino in April 2009, four years after members of his family testified against Wayne Dundon
The family has been under 24-hour armed Garda protection since then
Barry Duggan, Midwest Correspondent with The Irish Independent had a word with Marian.
Tom Tiernan, Project Manager and Senior Engineer Clare County Council announced the council will host an additional public information meeting in relation to the Limerick Northern Distributor Road tomorrow from 3 pm until 8 p.m in the Radisson Hotel, Ennis Road.
Ed English, Chairperson of the Northern Distributor Concerned Residents announced plans for a sponsored walk they will be holding on April 28th
The intention of the walk is to assist with fundraising efforts to enable them to engage an independent planning expert to give input into the proposed route which we will submit to the consultation process.
Sergeant Joe Downey, Crime Prevention Officer with the Clare Garda Division joined Marian for this week’s Garda Focus where he appealed for the public’s assistance with information regarding crimes recently committed in the county. Contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 68 48 100.
The Money Doctor John Lowe joined Marian for his weekly personal finance slot and he spoke about recently announced changes in AIB fees for current accounts
AIB has tightened the conditions under which it offers free banking to customers holding personal current accounts.
It said the changes are aimed at recovering costs, including what it calls the "significant" cost of providing money transmission services.
Currently, to qualify for free banking, customers with current accounts must make at least one purchase a quarter using an AIB debit card and at least one payment using phone and internet banking.
However, from 28 May customers must keep their credit balance above €2,500 for a full quarter to escape maintenance and transaction fees.
As always the Money Doctor is happy to answer listeners personal finance questions www.themoneydoctor.ie
The Clare Branch of the Irish Kidney Association launch for Organ Donor Awareness week will be held tomorrow at 7.30 pm in the West County Hotel Ennis
Mike Kelly, Coordinator of Counselling services at Donor House, is among the speakers- he will speak on non compliance and depression
Dialysis patients, their carers, dialysis patients on the transplant pool and members are welcome to attend
The Clare branch are looking for volunteers to help promote the organ donor card and to help with fundraising during the Irish Kidney Associations Organ Donor Awareness week campaign Sat 31st /Thurs 5th April
Mike Kelly had a word with Marian
Contact Peggy Eustace on 087-9849004.
John Murphy, wildlife expert and Chairman of the Clare branch of Birdwatch Ireland joined Marian in studio to answer your bird and wildlife queries.
If you have a story, comment or query for the Morning Focus team email Focus@clare.fm
