 McGraw has yet to finalise his plans. The key thing is that we deal with the issue of those who are on a normal average wage within our country paying high rates of marginal taxation. Other budgets that I have done, including in supply and confidence, have included changes in boat USC and personal taxation in terms of tax credits and I know Minister McGraw will consider all these matters and bring forward proposals soon. Police have confirmed that the items recovered during a security alert in Derry on Friday are understood to include six improvised explosive devices, ammunition and a machine pistol. A search of a heist was carried out in the Sturz Terrace area of Rosemind. As the policing operation continued into Friday evening, police came under attack once again with petrol bombs and masonry thrown at them. Finally, for weather, cloudy this morning with scattered outbreaks of rain becoming gradually drier and brighter through the day with highest temperatures of 15 to 18 degrees. That's all from Highland Radio News for now. We'll be back with news again at 10 o'clock. Until then, good morning. Jack, everyone asks me if you're teething when you cry but can you be teething all the time? Maybe you're hungry or you're sad and need a little cuddle or maybe it's something else. At the HSE's MyChild.ie and in the free MyChild books, you'll find the answers you need. From doctors, midwives, public health nurses, dietitians and lots of other experts. MyChild.ie. Expert advice for every step of pregnancy, baby and toddler health from the HSE. Hello, good morning to you. Four minutes past nine Monday, the 11th of September 2023. How are you all keeping? I hope you had a good weekend and got the most out of the last of the probably summery type weather we're going to experience. It's really busy around the place. There are lots of people still out and about socialising and spending it seems anyway, at least in the north of the county. I'm not sure what it was like where you are but anyway, as they say, I hope you're happy and well this morning. The lines are open for you now to get involved in the conversation, raise your issues, chat about whatever you want to chat about, 086, 6025,000, the WhatsApps and texts from outside the Republic, 0035386, 6025,000. If you want to give us a call, Donary and Neve will help you out there, 0749125,000. Again, from outside the Republic, 00353749125,000 and of course, need I remind you that you can, you can indeed email us from anywhere, comments at HighlandRadio.com and of course, watch the show if you wish as well there were there as well. Okay, let's crack on with a look at what's on the front and inside some of the papers today. The Dairy People Donegal News, their headline, Money Mule Warning. Students of Donegal ATU have been urged not to act as money mules by criminals in order to launder the proceeds of crime. The fresh warning from the president of the Students' Union, Barry Breslin, came after new figures show nearly what 17.5 million was transferred illegally through so-called money mule accounts between January and June of this year. The flow of cash represents an increase of almost 50% on last year. So someone come to you and they'll say, you know, my bank account's frozen or this, that and the other. I think the figure they normally are looking to wash through your accounts around about 10,000 euro. They'll offer you 500 euro, a thousand or something along those lines. And they won't just say, look, you're getting involved in some criminality here. They will try and frame it often a different way. But it can have really devastating impacts of your court. And you are likely to be caught, we're told, by the Guardi. And it also could inhibit your opportunities to travel for work or for life experiences as well. So if it's too good to be true, it's too good to be true. And they do target 18 to 25 year olds, particularly it seems. The very news this morning, a dairy mother is vowed to take a campaign for mandatory group B strep testing for all pregnant women in the north to storm. And Shannon Doherty, whose son Ryan almost died from complications arising from the bacterial infection, is also organising a fundraiser for out in the Galvan Hospital's ward six, where Ryan received life saving treatment. B strep is bacteria commonly found in the digestive tract, urinary tract and genital area. It rarely causes symptoms or problems in adults, but it can be fatal for newborn babies. I haven't heard that call before for all pregnant women to be tested for group B strep. I'm not sure when that might happen in their pregnancy. But obviously, that's a mom who believes it's really, really important. The Irish independent today kind of continuing by accident, not intention, a conversation we've been having on this program for the last couple of weeks. And it's in relation to young people getting access to mental health services, disability network services as well, but their focus is on CAMHS. More than half of the children and teenagers referred to the local child and adolescent mental health services CAMHS services are refused access in some parts of the country. Around 4,000 children referred to mental health services this year were not accepted by the HSE as the overall refusal rate increased by more than 10% in three years. Analysis of new data shows the number of children not accepted by the service varies dramatically depending on where they live. Cork and Kerry, the area with the highest waiting lists for children and mental health services, also had one of the highest refusal rates. More than half of the almost 1200 children referred to the service this year were not accepted. Figures compiled by the HSE show that in 2020, around 28% of the 17,436 children and adolescents referred to CAMHS were turned down. Now, presumably, there's a role here for GPs and others in referring younger people for these services. Now, I'm not sure if it's right or wrong that they are being refused. That's where youth come in. I mean, have you had experience of this where referral to CAMHS services or the CAMHS service was refused? Was it and is it the wrong decision? And maybe you can explain to us why that decision was made and what it meant. As I say, feel free please to help us highlight these issues 086 6025,000 the WhatsApp and text number. The Irish Times tells us that road safety lessons for leaving search students are being considered by Minister for Education Norma Foley in the wake of recent deaths involving young people on Irish roads. Ms Foley wrote to the Road Safety Authority last week seeking to explore avenues to enhance road safety education within schools, especially during senior cycle, though I think it should start much, much earlier. I think the younger ones are very busy in the leaving search and maybe use the leaving search to reaffirm stuff that's been put into their heads from a much younger age. I just I struggled to see how a minister thinks that the way to approach this awful situation is to do it in leaving. Sir, because even the best practice now I would suggest the best practice now is transition year earlier and then maybe reaffirm it in leaving sir. But I think leaving search students have an awful lot in their minds and it's a bit late at that point. But anyway, maybe we wouldn't teach leaving search students. We wouldn't start teaching stuff like recycling. Would we in fifth and sixth class, you start that much younger. Obviously sex education, they choose to start that at a very young age. Why when something such a life and death matter? Why wait till fifth or sixth year? But anyway, listen, maybe it's something and maybe you think it's the right time for me. It's just not well thought through reading on here, though, while there are modules on road safety, junior cycle, Ms Foley said measures targeting older students should be considered given that the group is more likely, most likely to be learning to drive. There have been a significant and saddening increase in facilities on Irish roads in the past year, many of which have tragically involved children and young people she wrote in a letter to Road Safety Authority Chairman Sam Wade. I'm aware of what they do already and I just simply don't think it is enough. The much hated USC could be cut somewhat this year in the budget. Well, certainly it's budget 2024, of course, that's announced in a few weeks. The Irish Daily Mail tells us that FINA fall and finance minister Michael McGraw are perceived to have been the big winners in the pre budget power game in the wake of revelations that the government intends to prioritize cuts to USC in the budget. As part of its pre budget process, the government has allocated 1.5, sorry, 1.15 billion for tax cuts and is now believed to be prioritizing significant cuts in USC as its signature tax policy. The hated universal social charge is seen as a FINA fall tax since it was introduced by the late FINA fall finance minister Brian Lennon as an all austerity measure in 2010. Tensions have been high between FINA fall and FINA gale over FINA gales attempts to seize control of the tax agenda via T. Shockley of Radkar's campaign for a 30% tax rate. It intensified after spontaneous a spontaneous article by three FINA gale ministers of state, which it wasn't spontaneous of course at all, of course, calling for significant tax cuts of a thousand a year for middle income earners. So that's what they're working on at the moment. On to the Irish Daily Star this morning, and T. Shockley of Radkar has said he does not believe that a legal mask mandate will be reimposed by the Irish government this winter. The HSE warned last month that the number of COVID-19 cases in Ireland was trending upward due to the emergency, the emergence of the transmissible airstrain. There were 305 people in hospital with COVID-19 at 8am on Friday morning. Some 46 new cases were admitted to hospital in the previous 24 hours with 32 discharges again. I don't want to go down this road again. If it's something we have to talk to, we have to talk to, but 46 new cases weren't admitted to hospital. 46 people were tested in hospital and had it. Again, this strange way of reporting it seems to continue. The T. Shockley said that there will continue to be waves of COVID-19, but thought it very unlikely mask wearing was to return. He said we're in a very different phase when it comes to dealing with COVID and also elections. Okay, that's the star. On to, I know this is something that comes up time and time again, but when a mother speaks out from the position she does, it's just something I don't want to ignore. A mum whose bullied daughter killed herself has backed a ban on under-15s using social media, declaring our kids are being lost in a virtual world. Aisling O'Neill's daughter Mia took her own life age just 16 after being subjected to a horrible campaign of online bullying. Aisling told the Irish son, with my youngest daughter, I'd be delighted if she didn't have a phone, except for contact reasons. I don't want her to have social media. A shocking report, as we mentioned from Cyber Safety Kids found that one in four primary school children have experienced online bullying with girls more likely to suffer from boys. But interestingly, in our conversation with a rep from that organisation, he was not of the viewer. It seems the organisation is not of the view that we should have, say, for instance, something as simple as photographical ID to ensure that people are the age that they are. Now, I know there's privacy issues there, but I don't know, maybe we need to talk about that more broadly as well. And finally, in the Daily Mirror, two sports stories here. Rory Gallagher has been temporarily banned from GEA activities four months after he quit as Dairy Football Manager over domestic abuse allegations. It was confirmed last night after reports. He led a training session this week at Cordeaux Club in County Monaghan. Ulster GEA said Rory Gallagher has been temporarily debarred without prejudice until the Ulster GEA safeguarding panel conclude their work. The GEA really in reaction mode with a lot of this stuff. And finally, those that wanted Louis Rubales out have got their way because Spanish Football Federation President Louis Rubales has said he is to resign following the controversy over him kissing Jenny Hermosa. He kissed the midfielder on the lips during the trophy presentation following Spain's victory over England in last month's World Cup Final, but the player insisted it was not consensual and she's reported it further up the chain, but he has said I'm out whilst investigations are ongoing. I think he believes he could not continue in that position. That being said, I don't believe he actually apologised or said he was in the wrong. Okay, good morning Marie, Audrey and the rest of you watching across our social media. It's great to have you on board. Oh, if you want to watch the program, you can do so on YouTube Highland Radio Ireland, where you can also watch on your smart TV, which has the YouTube app and also your forestic. It's also there as well or across your mobile devices, laptops, phones and tablets. And we're on Facebook as well. All of Highland's Facebook pages. You can watch the show there as well. All right, we'll be back with our first guests on the program today very shortly. The newspapers are courtesy of Kelly Sentra, Mountaintop Letterkenny, the 2022 Seastore National Off-License of the Year. The Ninth All-New Show is brought to you by Letterkenny Credit Union, offering low-rate car loans with fast approval. Apply online at letterkennycu.ie or in office today. Dunny Gold Denture Clinic, Letterkenny. Denture problems? We can help. At Dunny Gold Denture Clinic we customize, personalize and tailor your dentures to suit you. Call us for a free consultation on 9-1-25-25-3. Find us at Balli Rain, Letterkenny, beside Rossum College. Medical cards, welcome. For all your denture needs, call Dunny Gold Denture Clinic on 9-1-25-25-3 online at dunnygoldentureclinic.ie. McDade's Bathroom, Plumbing and Tile Showroom in Bunkranna is your one-stop solution for all your bathroom, plumbing and tile needs. 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With stores at Main Street Letterkenny and the Letterkenny Shopping Centre or online at armacola.com you can choose from their quality product range in a relaxed atmosphere and their sales staff will be happy to help you make the right choice whatever the occasion. Armacola Jewelers making moments magical for generations. Highland Radio time checks with Expressway, travel route 32 from Letterkenny to Dublin when you book online and travel for less. Expressway bringing you the time, OK, the time is just turned 19 minutes past nine. We're joined on the programme now by Grania Brennan. Grania, good morning to you. Good morning, Greg. How's everything? Well, it's as good as can be expected, I suppose. Hanging in there, I suppose. Your husband's not well at the moment. He is sick with colon cancer. He's sick with, well, it was head and neck cancer, but it has no spread to the lungs and to the bones, yeah. OK. And we're talking now about your experience of the emergency department and interacting with it. Tell us the story, Grania. Yeah, so he had just finished chemo and he got sick and was vomiting a lot and he had a temperature. So as advised, we rang out to the oncology ward and they advised us to go out to A&E, which we did, you know. So we lived a 40-minute drive from Letterkenny. We lived in Godahawk. Michael was very miserable at that stage. He was vomiting a lot. He couldn't breathe from whatever pain relief he did take. He had vomited it up. He couldn't take fluids. And he was in severe pain, as is the story with bone cancer in particular. So when, I mean, the oncology ward, the staff nurse told us that she would phone ahead. And so we went out thinking that we would have been dealt with, you know, in a reasonable amount of time. So we went and we were seen by the nurse right away, you know, which was fair enough. But the nurse told us that, you know, we weren't going to be seen for hours. She knew it was an emergency. But she said we wouldn't be seen for hours. And she said, when I say hours, I don't mean treat for hours. I mean, 10 hours. And at this point, your, your, your husband's very unwell. Very unwell. And I presume he presumed that he would be, maybe there would be some sort of a delay, but he'd be in a hospital bed or on the oncology ward, if that was where he needed to be. I mean, you can't get much. Yeah, exactly. But you can't get what point trying to make is he can't, like he's a sick man displaying, you know, obviously very dramatic symptoms. That is an absolute emergency. You would never have imagined, I imagine, that you'd be told that you could be waiting an unspecified amount of hours. Absolutely not. And the thing is, where was he going to sit? Like, he's a very sick man. He's very prone to picking up infections. And the waiting room was very busy. So she said you could sit in the car, you know, for 10 hours, sit in the car. Now, Michael is an extreme pain, you know, sitting on an in an in a car seat, you know, is very, very uncomfortable for him. And there was no way we could sit in the car for 10 hours. So what we did, we both, both his sisters were along with me and we decided to go back and home again. And, you know, to, to see how I mean, we knew he was very sick, but, but we couldn't wait for 10 hours. So we went in home again. And, you know, every, every bump and on that road is, is causing Michael pain. And he just begged us just to leave him alone for a few hours. He was that miserable. And eventually we called an ambulance because we thought, well, this is the only way we're going to go get into any, you know, at least get in behind the doors sort of thing. So the ambulance arrived and, you know, they tried to give him pain relief. But at this stage, Greg, we were, we were sort of playing, you know, catch up with pain relief because he had missed, you know, he had vomited, whatever pain relief he took that evening. And so, you know, he was in severe pain and they just weren't able to get a handle on it. They tried their best or whatever. And so out to any again. And, you know, sitting in a chair for four hours, you know, until I'd say we were out, we phoned the ambulance to half three in the morning. I'd say we were out in any at about, you know, between five and six o'clock in the morning. And that was us sitting. And he was discharged from the ambulance into the care of the hospital. Then was it in the ED? Or was it in that space behind the doors of the ED? Then he sat until 10. The space for the cubicles? Yeah. Is that area? Okay. So he sat there to 10, continued in severe pain. If you know what I mean, we were kind of lined up. I know that, I know that it's just outside the X-ray room, I think is in the general area. Okay. And he sat there then from five until 10. He wasn't seen until 10. Was he given any pain relief overnight at that point other than what the- I mean, I did ask. I phoned oncology ward again. He was in severe pain. And I said, what am I going to do? And they were like, well, our hands are tied. That's got nothing to do with us. They've got their own nurses and their own doctors. You're going to have to ask them. So I went up to it and they gave him some another form of pain relief, but it wasn't, you know, it just wasn't making much impact at all. So the palliative care nurses, I guess they came on duty at about nine o'clock, I'm assuming. And they came looking for us. And then, you know, the, you know, the ball started rolling in terms of getting him pain relief and, you know, and trying to get him that cubicle and all of that, you know. Eventually he did get a room. He did get a room, but not until six or seven o'clock that evening. So he's in that cubicle from 10 or 11 to six or seven o'clock in the evening time, you know. It was very, very uncomfortable. Yeah, is that a room on? Is that a ward or just a separate room? Sorry, Brian, you just... No, you know, one of those cubicles need... Understood. Right, okay. Yeah, I do. You know, the trolley or whatever and that, yeah. And then eventually got on to a ward that evening at 7 p.m. Yeah. Okay. Got on to the oncology ward, yeah. And we've had a similar story with this before. I'm not sure if your husband was... I'm aware that I didn't hear the... You know, apparently it's a red card that's received if you're a cancer patient. And that's supposed to... That's right, yeah. But that didn't work for you at all, of course. No, no. Sure, they knew it was an emergency because the oncology nurse, like he said, had phoned out, you know, had phoned ahead of us, told them, explained the situation, you know. And I'm not... It's just I've spoke to a few people off and on-air about this. And I'm not attributing this to any individual, I'm attributing to the system. But people I've spoken to... To the symptoms, right? Yeah, but people I've spoken to in your situation is they felt like the system has given up on him, that he's too sick for the effort, you know. Do you have that emotion? That it's all right to hear that again, Greg? That the system has almost given up on him because he is so sick? Yeah, I mean, I was sitting opposite him and he was in extreme discomfort and it's hard for me to watch that. And you're like, it's beyond your control. And it's just such an indignity for him, you know. He's lost so much true cancer already. He's only 43. And you know, the fact that's something that's totally avoidable. You know, that's totally avoidable. He needed a drip. He needed an antibiotic. He needed some pain relief. I mean, we shouldn't have to wait hours for that, you know. And I think part of the problem is being admitted through the ED. I think in the past, and unfortunately we see it with pregnant women as well, having to go through the ED, it's an extra layer of time and people that really is going to end up in oncology anyway, or a pregnant woman's going to end up on the Guiney ward anyway. It's just to compare everyone through these set of doors seems strange at the very least. Strange is the only word I can come up with. Well, yeah, unfamiliar. Like, you know, it just seems to be very disconnected. You know, there's no sort of, from what I see, there's no link between the oncology ward and the, you know, there should be a link, you know. I think all cancer patients, especially those that have an advanced stage of cancer, like Michael, and is in a serious state of suffering, should be seen to within a reasonable amount of time. I know there's pressure on the system, but within a reasonable amount of time, by like an oncologist or an oncology nurse who has his note in front of them, and knows exactly what his history is, you know, and what's going on with him. I don't think that should be that hard to organize. I think, you know, we need to change a policy here, you know. And obviously, too, you know, the both of you have worked hard your whole lives, contributed through your taxes and all. And, you know, you kind to do that. Are we kind to do that naively thinking that, you know, when it's needed? You'll be looked after. You'll be looked after, yeah. You think you'll be looked after at your, you know, this is our hour of need. This is our hour of need now. And that, that is just not good enough. We're not getting our money's worth at all from our taxes, you know, that if you want to look at it that way, you know. I mean, do you worry about if there's another event convincing Michael that he needs to go to hospital because after that. You see, this is it. You know, he's already had that experience. You know, let's say, and, you know, it's inevitable at this point, probably that he will get another infection. And what am I going to do? So I'm, I'm the sort of body that I have to make that decision. I have to say, look at Michael, we have to go to any game, you know, I have to sort of inflict that suffering on him. And that's not fair, you know. And sometimes, you know, it would sort of flicker through your head. Well, I just, well, I just leave him where he is and see, see how this goes. Do you know, isn't it terrible that you're in that dilemma? It is terrible, Grania, but it's so real because I've had this conversation with people more than one. I'm sure you've had. And it is that would they be better off not going in, even when you don't fully know what the consequences of that decision might be? I mean, it's a terrible situation. We've found ourselves in here, isn't it? It is. Yeah. And can I just say, Grania, as well, and recognize that it's very, very, very, very difficult for you. Because as you say quite rightly, you know, you're seen as the bad person, but you're just trying your absolute best. But you're the middleman, so to speak. And you're the firewall for the, almost for the HSE to some extent. And it's tough on you. It really is. With everything else that you've gone through, Grania, it really is. It is. I mean, they just, you know, like the nurse in the ED said, well, I was like, well, what should I do? Do you think? Of course, they can't tell you what to do. So they're like, well, it's up to you. And everybody says that, well, it's up to you. Well, it's up to you, you know. And yeah, it is up to me. And it's an awful pressure. And there are more people and caregivers like me that are under that same pressure, you know. And it's avoidable. I just think it's so avoidable, you know. It doesn't have to be that way. And I think that it's... And also to Grania, if I'm reading it correctly, it's not like I'm sorry tonight, particularly bad, or I'm sorry we've had to introduce this measure because of this, that or the other. It's almost as if to say, well, this is it. And now the staff have to work in this awful environment as well. But it's not like this is a once-off. There's nothing to suggest that you won't go through all of this again, God forbid, if you need to do this in three, four weeks. So it's not like a temporary problem you've stumbled across. You've actually just come face-to-face with the system that we have. Yeah, I mean, that's my will for you now, Greg. And I'm not one to go on radio stations. But I mean, I just... All that's gone through my head at the moment is at the moment he's in the oncology ward. But all that's gone through my head, what if this happens again and again and again? How many times might this happen? How many times? And his life has been extreme. Like it's shortened, there's no doubt about it. And this is how we're spending our time. His time is too precious to be fit in. There's another flip side to this as well because I'm sure you'll probably end up, if not this time, the next time, having the conversation about him being discharged and you not fully satisfied that you won't be back there the following day because he's not ready to be discharged. Exactly. Yeah, there is that as well. People do come across that, Grania. Yeah, it can happen. I've heard of it, you know. Yeah, so there's a lot of fear and not knowing. And I just think, I mean, I'm not alone here. I know I'm not because unfortunately cancer is very common. So I mean, what do we do? I was talking to a nurse about this and she said like, look, we have to write the letters and we have to write emails to the management and let them know that we're not happy with this. We want it changed. So I'm kind of calling on all family members, all caregivers that are going through cancer treatment and going through similar situations to write those letters, to write those emails and call for a change of policy. This is not on. Grania, listen, stay as strong as you can. It's a tough situation that you're going through and Michael's such a young man as well. I'm so sorry that you've had that experience but I appreciate you sharing it because maybe even conversations like this will make a difference as well and I'm sure that's your motivation. So best wishes to all of you. Grania is all I can say and I hope Michael gets out soon and is as healthy and pain-free as possible. Okay, great. Thank you very much. My best wishes, would you please? Thank you. That's Grania Brennan there from Gortle Hawk. Louise is online too. Louise, sorry for holding you but as I suppose you can understand I didn't want to rush Grania along. It's such an important issue. Well, not at all. You're fine. Okay, that's good. Thanks, Grania. Your experience is dealing with our health system as well. Can you talk us through? To be honest with you, I just feel like I'm one of the people that shouldn't have been on NANI as you were saying, like that people have been sent to NANI. I was sent down for a CT scan. The doctors said they thought that it was vertical and he's not sure that it was vertical and rather than go through private, he says just go down and set NANI. I pay private health insurance. I'm working, you know, we're talking about tax and everything else. We all pay our tax. You pay your 60 euros in the doctor and you're sitting from half, I sat from half one on Thursday until midnight. I'd seen a triage nurse asked, is there any way, you know, I could come back or is there any other way that I didn't have to go through NANI? Because I could see the other people waiting was in serious pain. But no, I was just told to sit and wait. I think your situation was such that you were able to maybe observe around you the experience more because you weren't there in an absolute emergency. No, I was like, no pain. Yeah, what struck you, Louise? First of all, there was children, there was babies sitting, there was about three newborns sitting waiting. I couldn't get up like, and I've been speaking to these people as well, because, you know, you've come in half hours, sitting there doing nothing. And they were like, we're just waiting to go through to pediatrics. We've been sent through NANI as well. There was a lot of elderly sitting, was their feet, one of them was sitting with their foot black. It was obviously like he was in serious pain. He wasn't even given as much of the pain at all. There was another young fella, Oshin. He was excited in first year, somewhere in Latter-Kinney. And he was actually had a physiotherapist. And as physio had said, no, you need an X-ray, first of all, before I even look at you. He's sitting from three o'clock to about 11 o'clock. Turned out he had actually a fracture as well. But the X-ray department was completely jam blocked. There was not even a seat. When I went in at half one, there wasn't even a seat for anybody in the room. And that's after you got the car parked? That's after I got the, I actually, I had a ramper up on the side of, like on the side of a garden bed. I was driving for 30 minutes. There was people I could see people moving the colons to get parked. I'm actually after only having a baby there six months ago, and it was the same when going into the maternity for your scans and everything. And I was told just send an email, I got an email address, send an email about the parking because the staff had the same situation. Yeah. You know, it's atrocious. It's like a third world system we have in this country. So we've got tricks, we've got maternity, we've got cancer patients, all going through the ED. Yeah. And you know, shout out to the staff, like they're doing their damnedest, like, but I don't know what, how we can change it. Like I'm only back from Australia there. I was there for nearly five years. I was in the Northern Territory. And I mean, it was crocodiles on the country. And their system, you know, everybody was scrolling about how bad their health system is. There's a second to none of my eyes. You know, you go into a doctor's surgery in the middle of nowhere. And you need an X-ray, an MRI or a CT scan. They have a clinic right next door. You know, you do pay extra for it, but or if you have your health insurance and you get it back at the end of the year in a way and you've got your results within the hour. Yeah. Whereas we're saying we're told you don't even see that. You don't see the acute hospital, which is there to deal with the most severe emergencies. You're dealt with all in this sort of multi-disciplinary health center that's not the hospital. Yeah. I left there at midnight there on Thursday. I called the doctors again the following day and I asked, like, you know, there's absolutely no need for me to be an A&E. Can you not send me private? And the response I got from the doctor was, go back down again on Monday morning at 8 o'clock. There'll be a change over doctors. Because the private, Aphidea and other Kenya, supposedly there's like a four-week witness. So, I mean, I have to ask the question, Louise, because it's as obvious as the nose on my face. You moved back from Australia. You're regretting that? I'll be honest with you. I moved back in the morning, where, like, we haven't hung up our shoes. Like, we, I have a lot of friends that's come back and they've left. And, like, I've got a three-year-old and we have a six-month-old and, you know, we have a lot of support here, family support, but I would never rule it out. Yeah. No way. And it's that competing priorities, isn't it? It's the services, the general life, and then, of course, that family unit, which is lovely to have around you. Yeah. Right, Louise, I hope you get sorted. I hope you get sorted. We used Drew back in this morning. Did you go? I didn't, no, I didn't. At the lesson, I'd rather just, I'm still not feeling the best. That's just whenever you're walking, you feel drunk, like, completely light-headed. It is dangerous, but I would rather wait the four weeks and have to sit down there again. It's terrible. Okay. Well, hopefully it's just you need your asshringe or something, Louise. I'm not giving you medical advice, but hopefully it's easy. Yeah, we can survive it, but I feel so sorry for the other people that's right in there. Yeah, and I know you were listening to Grah and you there, and I mean, it's 43 years of age, is very, you know, it was a very late stage. Oh, it's terrible, like... And there's limited time, as she said, and the fear of... And you spend it in a hospital. You know, just spend that time in a hospital when all she said that he needed was, you know, a drip for some pain relief and stuff. Some antibiotics. And, you know, it's terrible. Like, I'd love to know, is there anybody we can contact or is there some sort of a petition or, you know, is there anything that people can do? Like, I'm not wanting to come on a radio or anything like that, but something has to change, like... Yeah, I don't know what we can do, to be honest with you. And again, and we'll reiterate it, Louise, you did already. We're standing with the staff and the doctors and the... Yeah. We're not criticizing them. And then we're standing with them and saying, look, we recognize you should not be working in this environment as well. They know that, but I'd like to say it now and again, because people listening in might think, who don't listen regularly, might think we're criticizing them. And we know we're not. This is the system that they are struggling to stay sane in. Okay, Louise, to say, I do hope you feel better soon. It's nothing worse than that. I had a little bit of that myself at one point, and it's not pleasant. So hopefully you get sorted. Oh, I will survive. It's fine and great. All right, Louise, take care of yourself for it. You call some comments coming in, getting to those after this break. Watch the show live now on YouTube, Facebook, and at HighlandRadio.com. The 9-Till Noon Show is brought to you by Letter Kenny Credit Union with monster loans available up to 60,000 euro for all occasions. Visit letterkennycu.ie. Chicken casserole, vegetable penne pasta, and salmon terriacchi. All for 24 euro, 68 cent, when you save with a till with a five off 25 grocery voucher. Find all the recipes on our website. Done stores. Always better value. Terms and conditions apply. Voucher can be used on X-Inster grocery shop of 25 euro or more. Are you tired of the gym? Get stronger in just 20 minutes per week with bit 20. Train once a week with a personal trainer in a climate-controlled gym. The surroundings are quiet and peaceful and the machines are spotless. We guarantee measurable results within three months or your money back. So what are you waiting for? Try fit 20 today. Visit fit20.ie to book your free session. I've just had the Eclipse Cinema's experience. Wow, they truly have taken a night at the movies to a whole new level. Amazing recliner chairs, director's lounge VIP rooms, pizza and hot food served to your seat. Have a glass of wine and enjoy the film on the big screen. I'm so excited to be part of the show. I'm so excited to be part of the show. I'm so excited to be part of the show. Have a glass of wine and enjoy the film on the big screen. Try it for yourself at Eclipse Cinema's Bundorn and Lifford Sturban, where the stars shine brighter. By the way, the pizzas are amazing. You can book your seat anytime at eclipsecinemas.ie. The County Donegal Blackface Sheep Breeders Association annual female sale of cast, Jews, Hogwarts and Yolams will take place in Ballybuffet and Strenordermart. On Wednesday the 13th of September at 6 p.m. Three Yolams will be sold on the day in aid of the Donegal Hospice. The 9 till noon show with Letterkenny Credit Union. Simplify your debts with a debt consolidation loan from Letterkenny Credit Union. Call us on 074 910 2126 or apply online via our app or in office today. Take a step toward a new career at the Zeus Recruitment Event in Letterkenny this Saturday. Available positions include maintenance, electrical and machine shop technicians, process engineers, production operators and quality inspectors. Meet hiring managers and speak directly to the company to find out what's on offer. All at the Zeus Recruitment Event this Saturday the 16th of September from 10 to 4 in the Clanbury Hotel, Letterkenny. How we use electricity can be smarter, cleaner and greener. At Electric Ireland, we can help guide you there. You see, our new NetZero Hub has all you need to know about smart meter plans, home EV charging, solar panels and much more. Making your usage clearer, your trips greener, your home cozier and your world brighter. Find our NetZero Hub at Electric Ireland Darahi. Contact Marley Coaches for more information. Play Tuesdays from just £5 for six chances to win £300. With free food available, check out boilbingleclub.com or download our app for more info. Tonight, entertainment with the tumbling parties at the Mount Derrigal Hotel. Tickets on Eventbrite or pay at the door. 9-1-25-25-3, online at donigoldentureclinic.ie Some of your messages coming in here, or Greg, that poor family with their ED experience. What can we do today to change this dire situation? Are the politicians listening? People say the system needs changing, but where do you even start? It seems it's like trying to turn a huge ship around. The tape of the interview with Granny should be played to all the think-ins the political parties are having this week. Best wishes to Granny and her husband. I hope he's in better form today. Listen, it's very important. Taxations looked at USC. It's very important that if people who are working or even managed to get a pay rise, that they get the benefit of that and they're not taxed to the hilt on it. But that being said, it would be lovely if some of the conversation at these things were... Well, what can we do actually to improve the ED situation? What can we do about services for people in need? But the problem is, as you see, it probably wouldn't make the front of the Irish independence or the Irish times, and that's the facts. That doesn't mean it shouldn't be talked about. Right, Barry Bresens, president of the ATU, letter Kenny Students Union. He's with us now. Barry, how are you getting on? Not too bad, yourself great. I'm good. I'm good. Thanks for joining us. We talk about this regularly, and I make no apologies about talking it again because I just hope that maybe someone who's sitting on a bus with their headphones on or a mom or dad will pass on the information. Many, many, many, many, particularly students are getting caught out by the temptation of easy money in inverted commas and are being effectively conscripted as money mules. And it's not a hard thing to fall into. Let's just call it as it is. Yes, absolutely. Agreeing yourself, there simply raised an awareness of this issue because so many people aren't aware of the danger of it all. We have seen 50% increase as of last year just seeing an article there in the paper over the weekend there. So what we've been trying to tackle this on are and we have a contact with Anne Gordy-Shea-Connor and we have them in multiple occasions there last year coming in and giving their kind of standpoint of what they had dealing with it. We've also had Maureen Crawford, the sister of the town there as well, she came in because she herself has come forward. It's like, this is an issue. Like I have your students in coming to see you're dealing with this and they simply don't realise the seriousness of it because like, you can get a criminal record from this here and then that's the other application in line. So even with your studies, you want to take head off into J1 if you have a criminal record, that makes it a lot more difficult. And it's a money laundering criminal record as well, which the one thing I'll say that's good that we're talking about it now is as new students go into college, I remember I interviewed a senior guard in cybersecurity and I think it was around November or December or sometime. And I says, why aren't it was a campaign? I says, well, why don't you run these campaigns when new students are going back into college? Do you know what I mean? Because they're a fresh crop of victims effectively for these people anyway. So it's great we're talking about it. Now, can you talk us through what normally happens? What lines are normally spawned and what's normally offered to particularly students I suppose from the perspective of this conversation? Yeah, so essentially what's going to happen is some people can be sent into college as excited to be almost disguised as students. Simply there to recruit. There to have a friend, someone, hey, grand, usually get a reward going and then say, hey, sure, look, I made this here thing happen. If you're doing taking care of it, sure, look, if your friend asks for help out, chances are you're going to say, I should have gone anyway. But yeah, it's just simply being enlisted in a list of activities and you don't realize what you're getting yourself into. And so it may start off as a one-off job and then it keeps going from there and then they are caught and that's you. And sometimes they will sort of say, look, my money's, I'm buying a car, my account's been locked or something like that there. Can you loan, can I lodge the 10 grand into your account and then you withdraw it for me? So, but as the guards say themselves, ignorance is not a defense. If you are found to have been complicit in that even if they spun you a line, you could still be faced with, you know, the prospect of that conviction. Yeah, the evidence is there. There's no two ways about it. But as casual as possible, just as simply that you don't think twice about it. Yeah, there's nothing wrong with here. I'm simply helping out and they need something done. Yeah, sure. So I can see what I can do for them. So yeah, just take an advantage of your innocence in a way. Yeah. All right. Okay. So just be warned. Quick one while I have you, Barry. What's the buzz with the accommodation around letter Kenny and trying to deal with that at the moment? It's coming out of both angles. Lucky enough, we do have people coming forward from such as yourself. People who get reared is aware of the issue. But like I said, people are still looking for more and more. We know when they're on that Friday, we can go. We have people coming across like, I want to go for accommodation with the students and they haven't sat there much yet. People a year ahead of time like us. That's just the landscape we're dealing with, but still people have a room. We're always taking their applications. So yeah, please don't be afraid to give us a shout. And what Barry's reference there is the government initiative whereby you can give a room over to a student's old fashioned deeds. People might know it as an even if you're on, even if you're on benefits or supports like that there, it doesn't interfere with that. Have you any idea what the shortfall might be, Barry, just off the top of your head? I know it's an impossible to get an accurate figure, but I mean, is it hundreds? I'd say so easily. I know we've a lot of more people who say come from this random area and now choosing A to U as a college. So they can commute home. So commute home, some of these that they have a place. Now, it might not be what they had in mind, but that's just what we're doing at the moment. But we're doing the best we can. And if you do have any issues, our numbers are always here. We're always up on the phone. So please do not be afraid to give us a shout. All right. Okay. No harm mentioned in that, whilst we have it on, we might link that link from the A to U in case anyone wants more information about helping out with a room. All right, Barry. Thank you very much. Indeed, Barry Breslin, they're president of the A to U Letter, Kenny Students Union. Okay, back to some more of your comments. Greg, I've messaged about Grania and Michael's situation. It's been three years since we lost our father and brother to cancer within a three month period. This going through the ED policy is scandalous. So sorry, Grania, but well done for speaking out. This is not good enough. And just listener, when you went through this with your father and brother, did they also have to go through ED? Or was there a different policy in place? If you don't mind just giving us a buzz back or texting back just so I get a full grasp of the situation. Another caller says, this is ongoing on a daily basis. People in pain morning, noon and night. And our counsellors in government are doing nothing. It's a disgrace. Another, everyone should go on strike. The issue has to be addressed. Every business, schools, companies should gather at Letter, Kenny Hospital and demand change because what are our very own counsellors doing? But I mean, the counsellors are on talking about this as well. Again, I'm not, it's not my job to defend counsellors, but at the same time, you know, we've got there are counsellors that represent on a goal, on the regional health forum and they go to these regional health forums and they sit down in front of the HSE and they say, this is an absolute dire situation. What are you going to do about the hospital and so on and so forth? Beyond that, they don't have any power to do anything. And I genuinely believe the counsellor are standing with the people, could do more to raise awareness. Perhaps what my point is is that in terms of what they could actually do in terms of passing a motion, changing legislation, they are parallel to some extent, but maybe it is time that people got together and organise something and say enough is enough. Stand with the staff down there. You know, I don't think these things don't work if it's a political party to organise it because what happens then is that people of a different little party tend not to attend, but maybe now is now the time. Cancer patients should not have to sit in the ED with people with lots of infections. They should be able to get through to on the oncology ward and it's as simple as that. Can Michael avail of community paramedic instead of the ED asks another caller? I think Granny will have gone through all of that, but we can certainly pass that on. Nothing has changed since 2007. They were supposed to change this. I had to go through the ED in 2007, 2007 when I was a cancer patient. So thank you, that's answered that question in 2007. A listener was going through the ED. Was it this busy at that time though? When are people in Donegal taken to the streets? We are the Forgotten County and with our healthcare system it really shows. Let's make a difference ourselves because it is clear our government aren't going to do this for us. Greg, I was a cancer patient four years ago. I lay in the ED for 16 hours before getting a bed. One of the times I was sent to the ED with high blood pressure and the triage nurse was going to send me straight home until I mentioned chemo. She didn't even know I had cancer. I personally think that they should have a way of knowing this. But also, I don't understand why cancer patients have to go through the ED and not straight to oncology. I had to ring oncology for them to tell me you need to come into hospital. We'll ring through to the ED but it never made a difference to waiting times. Again, that's another person suggesting that this isn't particularly new problem. That's four years ago and we had someone 16 years ago in the same boat. That lady is best right to the complaints officer and meet them face to face, not call or email them face to face and demand to see them. I had to do this with my own husband and the system has to change. I know exactly how she feels. It's disheartening, scary and to see your husband terminally ill and fading away, I'll never forget it. The staff want us to be there but they need to be supported by management. And as I say, you know, this is your platform as well. We can make change. We do make change. And if you feel you want to share your story and come on and tell your story, it's not for content purposes because we've loads of stuff to talk about. It's in terms of, you know, getting the messages out there. A caller says, I'm just sitting open mouthed. My husband was seriously ill last year and it was bad then but I really fear if he or any of us for that matter needs to go back to hospital. Just so sad, small wonder people are leaving in their droves for it was, if I was young or we had papers, I think we'd be out of here too. And that's something I thought I'd never say. How some people feel when they have to engage with the health service. And I feel so sorry for Grania because she's clearly a young person herself as well and the husband's just 43. And it's tough enough to have to deal with what they're dealing, what they're going through. But that on top of that, fighting the system for basic healthcare. I mean, we're not really conditioned to be able to cope with that kind of stuff. And it's amazing that she is. Management in the ED is not great. It's that from 3 to 12 next day to get a hand x-ray. I think you also need to make sure they're doing x-rays. I think some people sit there waiting when there's no x-rays actually taking place. Listening to your call or on about the health system, the broken ED jammed, et cetera. But we still continue to take people in from other countries. Government are playing a dangerous game with people's health, both our citizens, hospital staff and the refugees. When are they going to manage this properly? The whole thing is going to crash and burn very shortly. You see, this is the problem. This is a bit of a... I think I respect your view. It's a bit of a distraction. I mean, how many of the people in the ED are refugees? How many people working in the hospital from outside the country? I don't think that... I mean, there's certainly pressure on the entire health system. But it's a bit of a pass. We're hearing from people in 2007 waiting for 15 hours to get seen when they had cancer in the ED. So we don't want to take our eyes off the price. It sounds like we end up... Rather than focusing and talking about what we can fix about health, we're sort of saying, well, let's not talk about that. Let's talk about another thing and say that that's what's causing the problems. But it's a much bigger historic problem that but I fully respect your view. But I really think when we start talking about different issues then and blaming it, we really are sort of giving people who make these decisions and have for generations a pass. The 9 till noon show with Letter Kenny Credit Union now offering mortgages from 40,000 to 600,000 euro with no hidden fees or transaction charges. Letter Kenny Credit Union 9102127 At Screw Fix, you can click and collect over 10,000 trade products in as little as one minute. So whether it's a power drill in Port Leish or guttering in Galway when you need it yesterday, just click at screwfix.ie and collect at your local store seven days a week. Ties and Seas applied for the Screw Fix.ie for full details. The Loganair Big Takeoff Sale is now on. Fly from City of Dairy Airport to London Heathrow and more. Save up to 15% off over 2 million seats during our biggest ever sale or get a whopping 20% off if you're a clan Loganair member. Hurry, book by the 12th of September. Travel from the 2nd of October. Subject to availability, exclusions apply. Promo code required. See Loganair.co.uk Loganair for all the times. Keep out the cold, cold, cold and ring Fleming for their full range of garage doors, agri doors, insulated doors, milking parlour doors. Fleming, 91, 48, 234. In the next 15 seconds you're going to find out where is the best place in the Northwest to buy a bed or mattress. It's rest text beds and furniture mountaintop Letterkenny where comfort meets style. At Dunigal Denture Clinic we customize, personalize and tailor your dentures to suit you. Call us for a free consultation on 9-1-25-25-3. Find us at Balli Rain Letterkenny beside Rossin College. Medical cards welcome. For all your denture needs call Dunigal Denture Clinic on 9-1-25-25-3 online at dunigaldentureclinic.ie Enter the Virgin Media Playhouse and unleash our best offer. It's time to play with our 100 euro gift voucher to spend your way when you choose full fibre 500 meg broadband for just 39 euro a month for 12 months and no activation fee. So switch today at virginmedia.ie Virgin Media It's playtime. TSNC's applies to virginmedia.ie subject to location and availability. New customers only 12 month contract 500 meg broadband 70 euro thereafter ends October 11th 2023. Live on air online and on the Highland Radio app. This is Highland Radio News. Good morning I'm Akilah Clark with the news at 10 o'clock. The chair of Dunigal County Council's de facto concrete block redress committee has hit onto the local authority and the housing department over the slow pace at which de facto concrete block homes are being remediated. The council is waiting the go ahead from the department to carry out works on 60 social homes for almost two years now. Meanwhile private homeowners who have submitted applications under the revised de facto concrete block grant scheme are still waiting months to be granted permission and funding to fix their properties. Council Marsha McDermott says serious questions need to be answered over application timelines as homeowners have waited long enough. These are things that we did put to the department and clearly they didn't listen. The department officials sometimes think that they know better than what we know here on the ground living it, breathing it, eating it every day of the week when it comes to the reality I think we know what works and what doesn't work. And some of the stipulations that they put in place just doesn't work and it's making the process too slow and it's something that really, really needs to be graphed out the sort of version they do that can't be done any longer. Local authority staff are engaging in industrial action indefinitely from today. Employees who are represented by the Forced Trade Union are refusing to carry out engagements with politicians. The union is calling for better pay and conditions for staff who they say are working above their pay grade. Connor Bryan, who was murdered in Castle Derrick last week is to be laid to rest today. The 28-year-old from the Straban area was stabbed in Castle Derrick's Main Street on Saturday, September 2nd and passed away in hospital a number of days later. His funeral mass will take place at 12 noon in St Francis of a CC church at Drumne Bay. Two men appeared in court last week charged with Connor's murder. The public expenditure minister says people on average wages will benefit from changes to taxation in the budget. It follows reports cuts to the universal social charge are under consideration. Yes, he was introduced during the recession in 2010 and applies to anyone earning above 13,000 a year. Pascal Donahue says the finance minister Michael McGraw has yet to finalise his plans. The key thing is that we deal with the issue of those who are on a normal average wage within our country paying high rates of marginal taxation. Other budgets that I have done including in supply and confidence have included changes in both USC and personal taxation in terms of tax credits and I know minister McGraw will consider all these matters and bring forward proposals soon. A Dinnigold senator says Europe is very important to Johnny Gull. Senator Nia Blaney in recent days confirmed his intention to run as one of Funifold's candidates for the Midlands Northwest constituency and next year's European Parliament elections. His party colleagues Senator Lisa in chamber has also announced her intention. Senator Blaney says given the county's relationship with Northern Ireland a voice in Europe is vital. I think it's really, really important given our location and given our proximity to Northern Ireland. I think it's very important that we have that representation to look after our interests will be from the point of view of lack of infrastructure that we've always found hard to give up with the rest of the country and not just on the gulf of the whole Midlands Northwest or most of the Midlands Northwest regions are almost on our footing. Over half of the children and young people referred to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services are refused access in certain parts of the country. An analysis by the Irish Independent shows around 4,000 of the referrals to CAMHS last year were not accepted by the HSC with the refusal figure increasing by 10% in the past three years. It also points towards a so-called postcode lottery with the number not being accepted varying dramatically depending on where they live. In the CHO1 area, which includes Donegal, over 30% of those referred to CAMHS have been refused access this year. That figure has grown year on year from just under 20% in 2020. Whether night gliding this morning with scattered outbreaks of rain becoming gradually drier and brighter through the day, high as temperatures of 15 to 18 degrees. That's all from Highland Radio News for now. We'll be back with an update again at 11 o'clock. Until then, you can keep up to date with the latest local news on our website, HighlandRadio.com. Good morning. The obituary notice says for this Monday morning, September the 11th. The death has taken place of Elizabeth, Bessie Heaps, Nate Arthur, Ryan Mocky, Manor Cunningham. Bessie's remains will be reposing at her late residence this afternoon from 2 o'clock until 9 o'clock. Funer from there on Tuesday afternoon at half past 1, going to Ryan Mocky Parish Church, Main Street, Manor Cunningham for funeral service at 2 o'clock in herment afterwards in the adjoining graveyard, house private on the morning of the funeral plays. The death has occurred of Philip McLaughlin, Barr, Burry, Manchester, England, formerly Liefen, Linsford, Bunkrannock, County, Donegal. Funeral to take place on Thursday, September the 21st at St Bernadette's Church, Whitefield. And the death has occurred of David White, Ran Letter Kenney. Funeral service this afternoon at 2 o'clock in Trinity Presbyterian Church, Upper Main Street, Letter Kenney with burial afterwards in Gortley Cemetery. House is strictly private at all times, please. For more details, including any family health guidelines for wigs and funerals, please go to highlandvideo.com. There's nothing quite like a muck delivery in your own home or eating a quarter pounder with cheese in your PJs. There's nothing like tucking into a box set with a big muck or delving into your secret stash of dips then dunking a McNuggets in three of your favorite sauces. Because what you do in your home is your business. There's nothing quite like a muck delivery. Order now when the Uber Eats or Just Eat app. At participating restaurants only, serving times and delivery fees apply. See Uber Eats or Just Eat for full details. The county's number one talk show, The Nine Till Noon Show on Highland Radio. And you're very welcome back to the program. Good morning if you are just after joining us. Lots of you messaging in and lots of love for Gronja and Michael in particular following our conversation in the first hour of the show. Let's get through some or let's get to some of your opinions. What an awful story from Gronja. My husband died 26 years ago, very young. We were treated humanely in letter Kenny that time. Would have been taken immediately to oncology department many times. What's happened? They've gone backwards very much since then. Another same situation seven years ago, sitting with my terminally ill mother in the ED in agony for several hours. Again, this is seven years ago. Why is management never assessed in regard to the efficiency of the hospital? I've never heard of a hospital manager being demoted or dismissed for poor performance. The football manager or company CEO would be out on their ear if they didn't meet targets. That being said, this is a national situation and believe it or not, of course, not believe it or not. It is a fact because we've spoken to Mr Murphy. He is also advocating for more resources, more recruitment, more money for the hospital as well as the rest of the management team. Just for balance though, that's what the reality is. What an awful story from Gronja says another listener. Greg, there are only 11 beds on the oncology ward. That's what you're dealing with there. Okay. Thank you for that. My son had a heart issue and waited three and a half hours for an ambulance from Bong Kranath Elefricenny. He was put into ED and had to wait a further four hours. A heart issue. As a parent, I was terrified. So seven and a half hours before the son was seen, not sure what age they are, but seven and a half hours. So waited three and a half hours for the ambulance and then a further four hours in the ED. So you can imagine what mom and dad were feeling they're up to high dome. At Ballet Buffet, near Bank of Ireland, there's an on-mark crossing which will eventually cause an accident. A witness to a girl who got out of her car to cross the road and nearly got struck by a lorry. We constantly address this issue, but nothing happens. I did as much as I can at that time because I knew that, God forbid, if anyone happened, I wanted a clear conscience. I did as much as I could at the time that those were introduced to highlight that particular crossing. And in fact, I've witnessed on definitely two occasions myself, someone nearly being wiped out by a lorry. Even the former Donegal Road Safety Officer had his concerns, but still it's there. And if someone is knocked down and killed, will it change? Probably. Should it? Should we have to wait for that to happen before something changes? No. My caller says, it's a disgrace that people who are very sick, cancer patients, should not have to go through AED. What is going on? They're saying they shouldn't have to go through AED there, of course. And on to a couple of different things now. Vaping in enclosed areas is getting a joke. This is not fair on the non-smoker breathing in toxic fumes. Do you see that a lot? Is it something that bothers you? Share your stories. 08, 6, 60, 25,000. The Polestar roundabout, God help the drivers who can't use a roundabout when there isn't any traffic lights. There is three sets of lights to go through if you're coming from the Dryarch Road and you're heading out the Remelton Road, indeed. Is it three or not more? It's going to be interesting. I'm going to be fascinated to see when those lights are switched on, what goes on there. So also last week on Friday or Thursday we were speaking to a mum or dad, a parent anyway, I know that for a fact, who their child was not being asked or told or seatbelt wearing was not being enforced on the school bus. So they were careful about that. They were sorry, worried about that. And the question was being asked, should they take it up with the driver first or should they take it up with the company? I suggested the company. Well, sorry, even mentioning it to the driver rather than going above their head just to get a layer of the land. But anyway, a bus driver was on just after that conversation and pointed out what's kind of, you suppose, as a bus driver, bus drivers are not allowed to put seatbelts on a child. They can advise, but with safety protocols now, they're not allowed to go near the child. It's up to the parent to inform and educate. So the driver can say, right, everyone, seatbelts on, but they can't go up and put the seatbelt on. And there is a clear role here with parents to inform and educate their children, they say. I went to Manuth and we got the campus accommodation. We had three laptops on the go and two phones. The accommodation was very poor, mushrooms growing in the bathrooms. The maintenance came in and picked them. That's the one way to pick mushrooms. Can't it be compulsory to wear a high-vis vest to see many people walking at night barely visible? I don't know if it's should it be compulsory? I'm not a big fan of more laws and stuff, right? When we can sort of employ our common sense, but if a lot of people are walking and don't have high-vis, I don't know, the guards will pull over and if they've got them in the boot, say, would you stick that on? I mean, they can't enforce this such unless there's a clear and present danger, I'd imagine, but still. Right, okay. We are going to take the bingo numbers now and then we have loads more guests and topics. Get yours and your views into us. I'll remind you one more time, shall I? Of the numbers. I try not to do it so often because I know so many of you are regular listeners and I'm so familiar with them, but there's people tuning in all the time. 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Okay so as we've been covering now for a week or two in the program parents with children under the Children's Disability Network team across Donegal have received letters explaining they may lose out on services due to recruitment and vacancy issues the letter outlined that children with the most complex needs in terms of speech therapy occupational therapy and psychology services will be prioritized and then we heard from a series of parents in relation to that and then we had a further conversation on Thursday about really what kind of effort is being put in to recruit people in these disciplines between yearly panels and jobs being hard to find and so on and so forth. So we're continuing with that conversation now. Laura McGinnis joins us on the program now. Laura thanks for your time this morning I do appreciate it. Hi Greg thanks. No thanks for helping us to keep this on on the agenda Laura. What's your family situation? My eldest boy Rhys he's seven now he was born with a rash syndrome so he's been under the CDNT team from I think he was two three months old but it's literally just getting worse and worse as the months go on and the latest problem is like Rhys we all got them letters and Rhys would be classed as severe like he's under loads of teens in Croman and other Kenny and like his neurology department would recommend especially for his muscle issues that he gets physio at least once a month and it's on going about a year now since he's seen physio. And this is the type of stuff that needs to be consistent and ongoing for his best outcomes Laura. Yeah oh yeah. In terms of speech and language yeah what's the situation there? Non-existent. Rhys actually well he's in a special unit so he's in the local school but he would be in second class now but it actually got in the stage where the school had to come up with a communication plan through PEX and different things like they made up in the their own plan for him because well the speech there was finally came out of the Easter time to see the teacher finally so he was about three and a half years in the school at that stage but pretty much none I've not heard nothing since either. And again it's like all the stories we hear the best outcome for our children is when they get these services as early as possible and with some level of consistency. Yeah yeah no death because even his neurologist like Rhys' syndrome is extremely rare but the kids that are in like England America have they're far miles ahead of Rhys and the kids in Ireland like there's only think four or five in Ireland with Rhys' syndrome but these kids are completely behind on everything like we did Rhys it and walked early was just turn six and now like his hips and everything like we're waiting on a wheelchair now as well past seven months because he's outgoing the one he's in at the minute but now his hips and his back is the best starting to get affected now as well but it's just the whole across the board it's just gotten a joke now I think everyone's just had enough of it now and I'm not trying to pull at the heartstrings or anything but I really want us all to understand Laura from a parent's perspective and the challenge of raising Rhys as well listen you know I'm sure he's a brilliant boy but it's a challenge for you but when you sort of see children in similar situations far in advance of him just because of where they live it must be really really tough as a mum not a death and all I say if Rhys having and even doctors and nurses that do care for Rhys says if Rhys had been given the actual intervention what she was meant to have had he probably like he would still be disabled in every way but he would have far more better life skills like even the basics of getting Rhys to feed himself he was doing it great but with his syndrome it is progressive so his skills do lack backwards if he is sick he regresses backwards so it's like he's had multiple surgeries and even getting a physio they come out to the house and do physio like Cromman couldn't believe how bad it was up here at one stage just the basics that at any child never mind a sick child should get just doesn't happen anymore I think you also mentioned to Dunhamary about respite or the lack there are what's the situation there Laura well Rhys was approved like for a weekend or a few days during the week respite probably I think it was at least two years ago but the local one and then a show and then down in Cairndon Riverwalk I think it's called it's still closed off to the patients I think they're on about reopening it now soon but he is on the list for Balli McCill but as you probably know Greg Balli McCill can hardly keep up with better Kenny area getting people and never mind taking on the Sean kids as well I've had that from another parent before saying the same thing indeed yeah there's a line here and I think it came from you Laura another generation of disabled kids and parents destroyed yeah I mean that's a shocking thing to be able to say yeah because I was talking to a mum in the town her daughter now is probably in her 40s disabled as well and she says things have actually not changed in all the years I was chatting to a family over the weekend and they said one of the greatest problems they have is if anything happens to them because they're there they're there and they're able as much as you can to battle for the for the children but this lady was said she says well what happens if I get cancer or what happens if I you know she said something I won't say it on air but in other words she died really quickly a car crash actually well I don't think there's any harm in saying that she went to bed scared as to what would happen to her children if something happened to her because she doesn't feel yeah because like I know parents she's actually having not have a surgery because if the child was put into emergency accommodation the child could be sent down or to flag or mail anywhere there's no places local for emergency accommodation for kids and out the minute right it's it's tough this is something we all need to take an interest in Laura don't we because there are as I said before there are hundreds thousands of families around the region affected by this but it's hard to get everyone on the same page to sort of this is what I'm trying to do here to let the maybe the powers that be or the general population realize that so many people are being affected now some severely affected others not so but all of the children need the interventions as early as possible for all a variety of different reasons oh yeah definitely best wishes to everyone Laura thanks very much for helping us highlight the situation I really do appreciate it and I love to read on the rest okay take care of yourself Stephanie's with us as well Stephanie good morning to you how are you keeping hey Greg I'm good how are you I'm good okay what's the situation with your daughter I think it is yeah my daughter Ria she was born in 2018 um and everything seemed great when she was born but as time went on we started noticing different we things she was making eye contact wouldn't respond to her name things like that she was delayed in her milestones so in 2019 October her phm referred her to early intervention at was at the time um we waited then until April 2021 can I just ask four Stephanie before you go on you know when you got the letter saying right she's being referred at that time did you think okay now we're making progress we know there's an issue and now we're being referred to professionals to deal with that like almost naively did you feel like right we're making progress here before then it became apparent that the wheels move so slowly yeah well our phm don't make us aware that there would be a slight but overall it wouldn't be that long maybe six months to eight months she said at the time but it was a year and a half later before we were actually called so we had our first assessment and with early intervention you have to meet the criteria of needing at least three services so with that assessment Rhea met the criteria for the three services which was occupational therapy speech and language and psychology so with that we then got what you call a service statement and basically on that service statement that tells you when to expect to start receiving all these services so for occupational therapy we were given a date of December 2022 and for psychology we were given a date of New Year's Eve on 2022 as well so I instantly knew there was no way she was going to be sitting on New Year's Eve it just wasn't going to happen now to this day she still hasn't seen OT or psychology so what that time went on we hadn't seen these services so I made a formal complaint to the disability team and that was in May 2022 and in July 2022 they contacted me back to say that a recent High Court ruling on March 22 stated that the early intervention assessment approached use and artillery assessment did not meet the requirements of the disability act so therefore we had to start the process all over again and get re-assessed so in November 2022 they finally called us to reassess her and again she met the requirements needed and within a week of that they phoned me and asked me would I be willing to make a trip to a private clinic and Belfast to get re-assessed so I jumped at the opportunity and took it so in January of this year Rea was diagnosed with autism level one and she was referred by the Belfast Clinic for Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language now Rea did have four sessions of Speech and Language back in 2022 and after them four sessions we were starting to see progress oh really and then where she was Rea can't talk but she's just she finds a very hard to understand and she has a different meaning from words to what we would and things like pronunciation and things like that that she needed help with so we were starting to see some progress and then on the fourth session we got told that they had to leave it there as there was other children they needed to see and they were called back in six months that was a year and a half ago so since Rea's diagnosis in January we have yet to be contacted by EIT about anything you like hundreds of other families got a letter through the post last week or the week before yes to say that there is no available psychologists or occupational therapists available in Donegal and that any child that needs speech and language it'll only be the severe children that will be seen so that's that's basically where we're at at the moment at the constant fight and that's dashed that's dashed hope right because there's no I mean they say we're trying this and we're trying that but we've learned from Leonard Watson and others that the and since we talked about this I've been contacted personally we're going to speak to a couple of them by four or five people who are either qualified or want to work in the area of OT speech and language and what have you but they can't get in here so they're having to go to work I personally know one who has all the call qualifications and she they will not retire so we can't ignore that Stephanie this is a this is a reality so they're screaming out for staff right we know people that are available to work and want to but they can't get those jobs and they're going over to the UK who are obviously mopping them up because it's like Christmas for them correct so what is the future how does this change so that the anger the frustration the upset is relieved somewhat from some parents because there doesn't seem a great deal of hope here and I hate to dash hope but do you know where I'm coming from Stephanie there's no there's no there's no hope like for me myself and I can probably speak for many other parents that is a constant fight day and day out and anything you learn is from other parents or from Google or places like that there is no help out there whatsoever none that's that's sad I they need a massive massive equipment right but again as you highlighted there's no advertisements for any of these persons now I just want to say whilst you're on the HSE is actively recruiting at the moment for and it just so happened I was on TikTok and Snapchat and I going around different platforms and I kept getting this advert have you thought about a career in the HSE we're currently recruiting for entry-level clerical officer positions now clerical officers play a vital role in the health service so this is not to say they're not pen pushers or what some people might call them they're very important staff and I recognize that okay and then there's a fancy video that follows this I've seen nothing like that for OT I've seen nothing like that for speech and language therapy I could only find one CDNT job available in Donegal on the HSE's own website now then someone said to me I'll put their advertising these jobs on Facebook what Facebook no I've never so I know I'm they are literally spending thousands upon thousands with Snapchat, TikTok another trying to hire clerical officer positions which is important and is connected to some industrial action that's ongoing but where is the outside the box thinking to keep our OTs our psychologists and our or all of our exports experts to keep them here or to recruit them to here nothing is happening that's and people like you Stephanie I don't know and I'm saying this right I don't know how you do it I genuinely don't know how you do it that's tough and you feel like you've been ignored and no one's listening or no one believes she or you just feel so isolated on a loan and that impacts the whole family it's not just myself or my daughter it's the whole family out of impacts and that's that's just I have no words anymore I don't that's a sad reality that we're all facing together and I really feel for the parents that have a tougher than I do like we're blessed in a sense that Rhea can talk and she can try and express herself and things like that but there's young kids out there that can talk and need more help than Rhea does and they're getting absolutely nothing that's so sad it is heart breaking it's so sad and it's a crisis that we're living through now that maybe there'll be a documentary or a book on in 20 or 30 years the children that were left behind or forgotten or however they might frame it or describe it we're living in this now Stephanie you know we are all together I know you don't feel it but we are with you as well with everything you're going through I don't mean us at Highland we are of course I'm on about the whole community listening because I think we're starting to get this sort of awareness now and trying to get it out there so that people don't feel alone Stephanie and you've helped in doing that and it's you know what's so typical even with the terrible and everything is relative you want the best for your child like everyone does but even in everything you've gone through you're still thinking of other people that are in a worse situation and that's it that's that's the type of people we are and it's amazing and best best wishes to you and the family and stay in touch with us thank you Greg thank you for bringing attention to it thank you very much it's critical and I've posted more information and some interviews we've carried on this before on my Facebook page as well there's a half an hour video there where we talk about access to mental health services and all and I just want a quick word too about those that are working in this area and I've spoken to them as well this isn't a criticism of anyone or even the necessarily the local management of these services who are working in very difficult situations themselves as well there's always another layer above people and this goes far beyond I think what's happening locally and I hope I'm not rung in saying that that not unlike the situation with the hospital this is not a criticism of the staff and the people working tirelessly and stretching themselves in the services this is to support you guys as well so that people who are higher up in higher pay grades that will never lose their job no matter how bad things go that maybe our politicians will get on board with this as well and put so much pressure on them that something has to be done so we it's not frontline staff versus us I see it as all of us as a community with the frontline staff trying to get them more colleagues get them more supports get them better conditions and look and have a better opportunity to look after our children so I hope that is clear in the coverage but I just want to clarify that this is not a criticism of of the staff or local management this is about support and families kids and their parents Katrina's back with us again Katrina thanks very much for joining us I appreciate you coming back on the program good morning to you good morning Greg how are you good good good now you had a meeting and Leonard Watson also attended this this is Spree Aga sport meeting so what came from that or what further information can you share with us so we contested Spree we have a monthly meeting the first first Tuesday of every month and that was last Tuesday and there was 29 families in attendance Spree are on board now to try and help the families in the area to see what they can do they have a survey going out now to see what services we need in the area and then Spree is going to go towards the HSC to apply for funding to see if they can facilitate the likes of occupation therapy speech therapy physiotherapy that stuff and to Spree now Albert was there at the meeting as was Martin and this is Alan D'Hartien Martin McDermott is it yeah yeah they were there yeah so um they were there at the meeting and they just sat back and then they took notes and like there was families there that everybody was in the same boat Greg like you know at the end of the day all we want is our as our children to have the best support going forward but at the moment the sport's not there and as I said to you before the Friday I was talking to myself and Kathy and I think it was Michelle you know like this is the very this is the vital part now where this needs to be early it has if it doesn't come early Greg it's delaying everything it's delaying getting help from you know speech and language it's delaying everything it's a knock on then like if you need financial support and you don't have your diagnosis it's harder to get that stuff so like this is what we're trying to get the help for now so so the family out there has the support that they need and like Albert was he was the key spokes the key business meeting that's happening next month I think um there was a man on Friday um Watson I can never resource Leonard Watson yep Leonard was on and I think at the same meeting that's the next month that Albert and Mark are gonna go and they took notes from the meeting in Spree on last Tuesday so like we're we're just like we're not backing down Greg is what I'm trying to say like you know we're not backing down and like Spree are so good at you know they're going to do this survey now and see how they get on could they get funding from the HSE to run it down there if it's private we don't know we're just we're just kind of trying to see how we get on but we're not giving up and we're going to keep going and as I said need to be a case that we need to do like you know I don't know a picket or or I don't know the word right word but that is like protest or or a demonstration whatever way you want to we'll do it we will do it yeah like and I said to you before Greg when you get into these services like my wee boy Ben has happily started school there he's only two weeks done they're coming on Wednesday and he loves school and he's happy at school but there's children unless you have these diagnosed it's harder for you to get into these delays everything to get the help yeah it delays everything it delays everything Greg like and it really does and I know I'm so lucky but like going forward like Ben still needs speech therapy he still needs occupational therapy he still needs all that there but we can't get that now now I have done courses what figures up on Bunkrana and these courses are brilliant but like there's families out there that they're just lost yeah and the courses are fine as well but like you know not everyone is going to have the time you know you could have two parents working you could have a single parent situation where they have to work life is tough as it is with cost of living they could be living in an effective concrete block house for God's sakes so it's great if people can sort of tool themselves up and effectively effectively become speech therapists themselves but it's just not going to suit everyone and even Spree and Sport brilliant organisation they do fantastic work but that's almost a desperate act in that you know they're saying well can we do some of this stuff because the HSE is not doing it you know what I mean it's not like that's not really the way it should be and we see iCare and other groups the Bluestack Foundation kind of having to do the same if they weren't there look at look at the services that would be lost if it wasn't for sort of you know independent organisations often run and supported by families that are affected doing this stuff but it is it's a glimmer it's a glimmer Spree and Sport I think even the put in the application might shine a light on the situation we're in Katrina but we need something we need some hope we need a commitment we need we need to see these jobs being advertised as I say I could only see one CDNT job on the HSE's website I've seen no social media ads for it but I've spoken to a lot of people who want to work in these jobs but they can't get the jobs and I know you talked last I know you talked last week sorry Katrina about the cost of living but some people aren't even getting the chance to go into the job and see if they can live because they're not able to connect to the jobs and that's crazy we're losing these valuable assets to other countries and regions it's it's hard to comprehend Katrina you know better than anyone it's it's do you know what Greg like it's just it's just about and I know there's families out there that are completely borne out I've seen it at that meeting like there was there's there was women there and men there and they were just like you know we like we don't have the fights left it's because they're fighting for so many years I'm only on this journey this past couple of years and that's why there's if I wanted I I will go after anything I can get like but I mean you're just being messed by as this what my mommy said at the meeting it's like being stuck in a maze and you get so far and then you're messed by a block and then you're like you have to go back and then you have to go another way and you have to go it's we shouldn't have to do this Greg we shouldn't like we really shouldn't unless one if you get and once you get under these services they're so good but it's just getting and I mean yeah yeah the people on the ground are brilliant at what they do and we heard earlier even three or four sessions improvements the staff are great but they're stretched they're under pressure and they need more colleagues even maybe better conditions but certainly more colleagues keep fighting Katrina and we'll chat again and you know maybe it doesn't have to be a thousand people maybe a hundred a hundred concerns parents and mothers whoever it might be it would be hard to ignore yeah like it's just about Greg not giving up and I know I know there's families out there that are just after what's in but I'm just going just dig that be the deeper come on won't it's just keep pushing because they're gonna eventually have to start listening to us you know we're not going away it has we have to get that out because our children are suffering and it's it's just not fair Greg it's not fair okay Katrina thanks for that as always Katrina Devon take care of yourself love to the family thank you very much indeed and I do recognize that there are some people listening that might go oh are you talking about that again but please bear with us please do it's just really important that these parents get a voice and get a platform and that's what we're providing and this is our children it could be my next child it could be your next child it could be your first you know what I mean so this is something that either affects us all directly now it could affect us or maybe affects us by one degree of separation so appreciate your bearing with us on that it's just so critically important I think right okay I have to take have to take a break we're gonna keep going of course on the show loads coming up between now and 12 including your comments that are coming in thick and fast lend your voice to the conversation 086625000 or call 07491 25000 the 9 till noon show with letterkenny credit union student loans now available and free banking for students from your local and friendly credit union call 9102126 or email loans at letterkennycu.ie at the central statistics office we're trusted to gather all 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SpexAvers.ie John can you get off my lap Hi Nathan Carter here and I'm delighted to say I've just had two installations from Cherrymore kitchens and bedrooms and I have to say their attention to detail is second to none with their sleek design and craftsmanship your dream kitchen is just a visit away so why not head over to Cherrymore kitchens and bedrooms and let the magic begin Cherrymore kitchens and bedrooms Donegall town more kitchens your way since 1996 visit Cherrymore.ie or call 97-258-222 to book your free design appointment now did you know you could double or even triple the interest you're earning on your savings if you switch to a European bank the ECB's increased increased interest rates several times in the past 18 months however Irish banks have been slow to pass it on to deposits despite charging higher rates for those with loans or mortgages Mark Cohn from moneysharper.ie is back on the show with us good morning to you Mark how are you keeping Morning Greg very well thanks great to have you on the show right okay so this isn't a workaround is it perfectly legal you're not shifting money overseas and I'm going to get a visit by revenue here are you No you're not I mean this is one of the advantages of being in the in the EU it's an open market let's not forget and that counts for your money as well so it is perfectly legal Greg you do still have to declare to the Irish revenue that you are your interest and how much you've returned and you still will have to pay your deposit interest retention tax of 33% there's no getting around that but the interest rate difference between what you can earn across the EU and what you can earn with your money here in Ireland is really significant is there any implications for the state because there is billions in this country in savings it doesn't really matter to the state if it's moved elsewhere because presumably actually it's better for the state because there are tax take increases yeah I mean on a state level no for the banks this could be significant if everybody all of us once decided to move their money so there's there's 130 billion on deposit right now in Irish bank accounts and on average that's getting around 0.1 or 0.2% whilst across the EU with ECB rates being as high as 4.25% EU retail banks are offering up to 4% so that 130 billion that people have got on deposit in Irish banks with an inflation rate of around 5% that's losing Irish savers about 5 billion annually so there's a big incentive for people to start the shop around and put their money where it's more effective and of course if they all do that all at once then there would be no money left in the Irish banks I think it's got a run on the banks isn't it maybe we don't want to see that but people are very defensive about the money to the point that many people actually don't even want to put it into the bank they'd prefer it just to sit under their mattress metaphorically or literally speaking so like what kind of protections are there because obviously the banking crash is still very fresh in our minds and what have you so where would you work as an example where could you deposit your money to get that 4% and what kind of protections are there for you Yeah Greg it's a great question so the first thing to deal with the protection so if you keep me on money in the EU the bank deposit protection scheme is EU wide so your savings will be protected with any single institution up to 100,000 whether you put your money in Ireland or whether you put your money in Germany or Lithuania or anywhere within the European Union so it is equally protected as essentially the thing that people need to know now as to where you can put your deposits if you once you start to think about how you shop around the first thing is you don't actually have to move outside of Ireland to get a decent rate because there are European players that are now entering the Irish market so the one that I would highlight for savers is the Dutch bank who are called Bunk B-U-N-Q and Bunker like the Dutch equivalent of Revolute so we know Revolute well in Ireland who are obviously based in the UK and operate here Bunk do the same thing but the reason I point out for savers is they're offering 1.56% so the best rate in the market for instant savings here in Ireland with through the Irish banks is 0.01% from AIB whilst Bunker offering 1.56 and they are regulated here in Ireland they have an Irish eye ban you could put your current account with them and their app is pretty much as good as Revolute so we all so what does that mean then in real terms so say just a round figure a thousand euro right so if you lodge that with Bunk that annual rate is an APR it's an annual rate sorry so what would your return be it's basic math isn't it what 14 114 what 14.60 yeah that's right you'd be I mean it depends how long you'd keep your money in I mean the number I have in front of me just to save me doing the mental arithmetic I was hoping to make you do a mental arithmetic yeah exactly exactly it's a Monday morning for a start great and I've got 25,000 over over three years right because what we do say and I know people might think this is a huge sum of money but for good financial wellness and I know this is very difficult to get but really you want to have six months of your income on deposit somewhere as an emergency fund so 25,000 if you look at the national wage is is is not a crazy number and I know not a lot of people have this but but enough do that there's 130 billion on deposits so correct so if you take that 25,000 and over three years that will give you an extra 750 with Bunk as opposed to on AIB so that's why it's worth people looking into this now that that's instant so you're not tying your money up and that's what you should be doing with an emergency fund but if you were really lucky and you had more money to do than the 25,000 and you could afford to tie it up longer you can get up to 3.35% via a German fintech called raisin and what raisin do is a portal so you log into them and they let you access banks right across the EU so there's a bank in France called You United that's offering over 3% for a one-year term deposit and the best one-year term deposit in Ireland is 2% from permanent TSP so again you know almost double the rates by shopping now the banks here arguing that they're doing us a favour actually the reason that they are not giving us when I say us I can't include myself in this but anyway the royal loss the reason they're giving us low interest rates in our deposits is because they're being very good and not passing on all the increases on our mortgages so it's actually they're working for us Mark they're working for us that's why we have the highest interest rates in the in one of the highest interest in the EU and one of the lowest deposit interest rates that is they're working for us yeah well forgive me for being slightly cynical I think I was a bit cynical in the question we go ahead and Ireland's quite unusual we've actually got more money on deposit than we have loaned out so if you were to choose how to make the most money you choose to keep interest rates deposit interest rates low and mortgage rates relatively low as well so I suspect that's what the banks are actually doing they're not really doing us a favour they make more money by choosing to keep the interest rates low so you don't have to you could move your money and benefit from the EU and I think that what would do of course is that would force the Irish banks worried about losing those deposits to look at their rates a little bit higher and you know this is the beauty of competition and there is competition if people shop around that would force the banks to give better returns to their savings we can vote with our feet isn't that the old saying Ecolos says do you have the same rights when it comes to the likes of Revolut I feel like when you can walk into the bank there's an extra layer of security and accountability I wouldn't agree with that I think that's perceived but you can tell me whether it's perception or reality yeah I mean the law is the same and I think we're finding the more and more you walk into your retail bank now the less and less empowered the retail bank staff are which will actually help you unfortunately so I think whether that was true in the past you know I think the days of the local bank bank manager being empowered to make decisions on their customers but half is pretty much gone gone I mean you do still see that in the credit unions but I don't think you really see that in the bank so I you know under the law you've got every cent you've got all the protections that you've got with the Irish bank all right and very finally do people have to do this work themselves or does your company work as an intermediary intermediary or giving advice in terms of availing of higher interest rates elsewhere or how does that work yeah this is pretty it's pretty straightforward I mean on moneyshoper.ie we do have articles that cover where the best current rates are and you can sign up via there but it's more of a do-it-yourself thing because if you sign up to Revolute it's it's as simple as that you just sign up to these banks and away you go but go to moneyshoper to get the information and sure while you're there look around okay listen thanks very much Mark take care of yourself Mark Cohn there we go through a last to connect with our family that's why Vodafone Red Family now rewards you with a minimum of 20 year off every month when you add broadband to your plan so moments like getting the dog they desperately wanted can be more rewarding after you fed it, walked it, cleaned it, played with it, walked it, taken it to the vet and walked it again search Vodafone Red Family or go in store Vodafone together we can offers objective in the third to sixth connection joining a Red Family account on a Bill Pay Mobile or Vodafone Homeworld Bank plan for full term see Vodafone.ie 4th slash Red Family if you want to grow up to be a champion you have to eat like a champion and the Aldi Super 6 Fresh Meat and Fish offers are a super choice of up to 27% off including two sirloin steaks were 5.49 now 3.99 5% fat beef steak mince was 4.90 now 3.79 extra large chicken fillets were 7.69 now 6.69 all 100% Irish and board B equality assured and salmon fillets two pack was 4.35 now 3.99 Aldi official fresh food partner of the Irish rugby team come on Ireland we're rooting for you starting to think about what's next then don't miss Ulster University's open days on the 14th to the 16th of September at our Dairy London Dairy campus come along to learn about our courses and discover where a degree from Ulster could take you discover why Ulster University is ranked number one in the UK for job prospects by student crowd register now at ulster.ac.uk slash open days prepare and protect your skin this autumn invest in long com skincare available at Michael Hennies department store purchase two or more long com products want to be skincare and get a full size product completely free offer available in store at Michael Hennies and online at Michael Hennies.com while stocks last want to live a more sustainable lifestyle but not too sure how to start join me Don and Marie Doherty every Tuesday at half past 12 for its hours to protect to learn all the tips and tricks ours to protect is funded by commission them on with the television license fee under the partnership between Highland Radio and the independent broadcasters of Ireland check out ours to protect dot i e for more info with all the stories that matter across the northwest it's Greg Hughes on the 9 to noon show on Highland Radio okay coming up Monday focus Brendan Deveney so much more stay right where you are as we get a news update now from mckay thanks Greg good morning local authority staff are engaging in industrial action and definitely from today employees who are represented by the Forza trade union are refusing to carry out engagements with politicians union is calling for better pay and conditions for staff who they say are working above their pay grade the chair of denigol county council's defective concrete block redress committee has hit out at the local authority and the housing department over the slow pace at which defective concrete block homes are being remediated the council is waiting the go-ahead from the department to carry out works on 60 social homes for almost two years now meanwhile private homeowners who have submitted applications under the revised scheme are still waiting months to be granted permission and funding to fix their properties Conor Brown who was murdered in Castle Derg last week is to be laid to rest today the 28-year-old from the Straban area was stopped in Castle Derg's mean street on saturday september the second and passed away in hospital a number of days later his funeral mass gets underway within the next hour at St Francis of a cc church at Drumne Bay the public expenditure minister says people on average wages will benefit from changes to taxation in the budget it follows reports accounts to the universal social charge are under consideration a denigol senator says europe is very important to denigol senator nia blaney in recent days confirmed his intention to run as one of fenefal's candidates for the midlands northwest constituency and next year's european parliament elections northern ireland is set to receive over one billion euro in the u.p. funding t shock lee of randker is announcing the allocation in belfast this afternoon and ireland is to contribute two million euro off humanitarian aid to morocco following an earthquake which has killed more than 2 000 people international search teams are arriving in the country to help with the rescue efforts those are the latest headlines we'll be back with an update again at 12 noon until then you can keep up to date with the latest local news on our website highlandradio.com okay mikaela thank you very much indeed aldi is back at the national flowering championships and rathanisca county leash from the 19th to the 21st of september meet our award-winning suppliers and sample their incredible products enjoy special guest appearances and much much more from ireland's most reputable supermarket you can also catch the finals of the national brown bread baking competition and be there when the grow with aldi 2023 winners are announced told you'd be intense are a marquee anyway see you there aldi every day irish every day amazing a caller says we need to hang on to the money in card best of both worlds we get paid in cash even direct debt but i do wonder sometimes if the more cash you have the more resources you have the less worried you are about cash i think for a lot of walls and she could be as far out as the old fan of light has but that if you are the type that say for instance you lost your job you'd be under pressure immediately or within a short period of months that you're more keen to be able to hold on to the tangible that is cash gregg i know three girls who trained as ot's in edinburgh they tried to get jobs here without any success so they all headed back to edinburgh and are in permanent jobs there i mean fair play to them but that's just a terrible situation we're going to be speaking to people if not today certainly tomorrow who are training in this area and don't see any future for them here yet we're being told that every effort is being made to hire these people so there is a blockage there that needs rid surely there is a law in this country or in europe that every child's entitled to the same treatment our services are holding back these children nobody else lawyers need to step up and take this on against the government this is against our human rights i heard a comment earlier stating we are the forgotten canty and for everything discussed this morning it really shows it's hard to shake that tag with all we're talking about isn't it um gregg my daughter is 15 with autism the system is so slow getting any support she attends i care in boncran only for them she would have no social outlet at all very difficult for all the family and i care as well to fantastic worker name check them earlier because i know exactly the work that they do i know the people that are are involved in it is families themselves and if they weren't doing it there would this be this massive gap in services and of course then i know efforts are being made to continue supports for people but up until relatively recently there was a cliff edge there in terms of supports as you move from you know young adulthood into actual adulthood oh kiddo right more on that and on stay right where you are monday focus is coming up as well but now we switch to matters on the fields of gaa because the deal debate it's a podcast you know and it's broadcast tonight just after the seven o'clock news or you can listen to it at your leisure via download or stream it it's presenter producer general general dog's body he's brendan deveney hi brent taking best your one hand radio what's the first one oh well are you on it now have to be yeah what else could i say i don't know i'll you invite me on to the deal debate and i'll blow it up yours as well yeah right okay heading towards now the real business end of the the club season i think brendan so i imagine there'll be a focus on on what went on at the weekend on the show tonight you've got a great team of people to discuss this with you yeah big big show that's it's been coming thinking fast four weeks in a row now of championship right across the board here and it's been a it's been hard to keep up with towns but it's been exciting and the way the draw was the way they've changed up the championship was kept a very fresh in terms of the group stages before you had the last games were often irrelevant to some of the teams that were qualified in that so the way it's left there everybody was fighting for something on the last day and we did a full roundup of all the games awesom was doing live commentary from neve connell glenswell here with gary mcdayden and the the rest of us was around the grounds i was down and down low and there was a park to see the big west coast derby so yeah it was great evening it was brilliant just listening in all the score lines coming through and and the permutations and that but now we have our four teams at the top there straight through on the quarter finals the next eighth play a pre quarter final to get in to join the top four and the bottom four playoff then for relegation so what jumped out from you from the weekend anything uh that surprised you or of note okay i suppose a rear top the group um top the whole standings uh four ones and four a lot of people might not seen that before the championship so they've pushed their way into that uh the only i suppose you're on a bit the top teams in the county the only one of those that they played was gredore and they won that match so they're up there on merits and unions after and they've con little care probably you would expect that those three to be in there it is gredore it's got the push out glance while they come in very close as well so listen they had a brilliant first half against neve connell michael murphy flying having a couple of goals and we're looking really good i think there were six points up with one one stage in that encounter but neve connell's experience in the second half just was was too much for them so it's interesting now that the draw was open for the pre quarter final Greg and i was at the low gredore course they drew each other again now in the pre quarter final and the relegations as well sent nalls big killy begs and they face each other now for for uh i suppose the winners will stay in the senior championship the losers will drop down in the intermediate so some teams are going to play back-to-back games there but certainly Greg i think where the standings are you know the teams that are have made it through the early quarter finals have proved themselves but the good performances there are some of the goals uh at the weekend there um against calcare you know like that was a game a lot of people thought calcare would one with a bit to spare but makes it ocean gallant as ever just an absolute score machine that had nine points and a 14 all uh draw match there so there's teams great pushing up you know trying to creep and clony late another good result uh 292 seven one over four masters as well so there's teams great that are certainly on up and up for years i think that the top teams in donny gall had it all their own way but that looks like it's changing a bit which will only be healthy for the landscape and senior football yeah and it gives the top teams a kick up the ass as well doesn't it you know i kick up the bomb sorry i should say it's good for the sport in general yeah indeed um you know when you're listening when you're hearing like listen the news come over from st michael's st unions with two each at half time i just couldn't get my head around that at all you know and then funnily enough in the game i was at you know it was seven six at half time to get over and there's only two points each in that second half things got very very cagey listen there's a lot at stake in that Greg and you know we've obviously talked about this a lot in terms of how teams play it went very defensive but then again you can understand with with things at stake it's funny that the unions said michael's game went the other way around you know get get over and don't know what a decent first half i thought really if if there's obviously an interview up with desi galler the manager after it was saying was that something that you plan to do but he says it wasn't it's just how the game developed and good over a lot of good ball players in that you can understand then it becomes this entrenched kind of counter tag i think from from a team that done low the best way is to go out in the front foot max you go try and one the match you know and desi saying this and they're just up from intermediate they're continually learning but certainly you know for years good or would have been a long step ahead of i don't know in terms of the the match ups but there wasn't much in the third weekend only a point so that's a fascinating one good end this pre quarter finals right so talk to us about how this works now for those who are just sort of get an interest in it at the moment that the makeup of it now so how many teams are left in so you have the pre quarter finals obviously there's a couple of slots available in the quarter round quarter finals proper do we know any pairings at this point is a no yeah so the top four teams and we say ruus and juniors need conical care they're through they're in the quarter finals waiting so we've a pre quarter final much like we had in all erlan series where donnie golburn uh against toro on that that states to get in the a quarter final so the quarter final parents and as glenn swally glenn fun good or is this airplane don't know shall mccullough's are playing four masters and clan need to play our draw so the top the four one in teams from that will then join them those four at the top that i mentioned they play in our quarter finals and then at the bottom st. nulls st. michael's mullford and killie begs and say st. nulls face killie begs and st. michael's face mullford so that is to see who is going to get relegated great and go down into the intermediate division some tasty ties in there isn't there in some schools to be settled results to be reversed it's going to be pretty interesting indeed john harn and darry boner are your guests uh darry boners of the donnie gol news of course isn't he uh to look back on the weekend's action and to look forward to the permutations as well uh and what else is enough there to be good because obviously then you've got the other looking at the intermediate yeah i'm gonna say that yeah everything all the ga news of the week we've got our intermediate parents as well boncran are playing fan of gales malin bandone terman are playing leave colomba down and playing red hughes and in the relegation at that level it's letter kind of gales need breed and need where i've been bought so yeah we'll go on to that we'll go on to junior reg any any g news stories and you'll always get a a few good words from john jazz harn of course uh he's never scared of a comment and jazz it's good to have it's good to be a john jazz that's that's the handle i like it all right uh you can listen to the deal debate it's an association with sarah's kitchen assistant sarah's letter kenny it's on air just after the seven o'clock news this evening and to be honest if you have any interest in donningall g8 where else would you go uh because uh you're gonna have a um you're gonna be right across it all there brent it's always a pleasure thank you so very much all right take care of yourself just after seven tonight or then you can listen back to the pod uh whenever it suits you and as i say it's a really good show even if you're not all into the g ea especially when it sort of gets to the end of it where it's all interesting and knockouts and stuff will uh listen to that tonight you'll not be disappointed the county's number one talk show the nine till noon show on highland radio the nine till noon show with letter kenny credit union simplify your debts with a debt consolidation loan from letter kenny credit union call us on zero seven four nine one zero two one two six reply online via our app we're in office today tickets get your ticket Arsenal Chelsea Leeds Liverpool Manchester United Spurs and more home games at all the gold score don't be shy only takes a minute to win it it's cabry fc's biggest football ticket giveaway ever 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approaching 11 16 on this monday morning the 11th of september how are you all keeping care thank you so much for uh choosing to have your morning with us greatly appreciated a caller says anyone know why we can enjoy all 48 matches from the rugby world cup a professional tournament live on free to air tv while some of the best games from our own amateur gea championships are behind paywalls well do we know the real reason we probably suspected but they will say well look at we're showing more games now than we ever did and if we didn't do this behind the paywall these games wouldn't be shown and so on and so forth but i think you make a very strong point and it's the same with the football world cup soccer that is uh and the women's world cup all of the games are on the telly uh but when it comes to our own national sport some of the biggest games behind that paywall that you talk of uh uh this is from a listener here are then five year old was due to start school september 2020 we wanted to get his hearing checked before he started big school as he had been showing signs of extreme anxiety which a lot of the time was from how he'd hear things like loud noises crowds etc the doctor checked him over and said he'd request an audiology appointment for him i had asked about a time frame and he couldn't say how long but there wouldn't be a hope of being seen before school started he advised us that going private would be quicker he referred us for a private appointment and we got seen within a couple of months so then last month the public appointment came where he had his hearing checked in the hospital and then uh there on saturday his follow appointment with the actual surgeon to discuss the results this being the same surgeon we saw three years ago in case people are wondering we kept the public appointment as our son would still show signs of struggling with his hearing but this time i knew what questions to ask etc this surgeon comes to scally practice occasionally and i'm not sure if he's the only one that deals with such appointments i call it says the emergency department in letter kenny has not got the staff to deal with emergencies the receptionist area is no way private the entire emergency room hears all your business especially when you have to ask a friend that's in shock due to a fall uh that you have asked her all of her health questions in front of a crowded room the triage room should deal with that indeed and it's come up before we got a commitment from the hospital manager that he would look in at the privacy side of things like i've had stories of of people being asked really personal intimate questions when was the last time you had sex you know stuff like that there um to do the menstrual cycles and all that type stuff in the earshot of everybody else uh the kind of conversation they would never know ordinarily have of course in front in front of strangers uh good time to keep the fight going and let the politicians know about it the elections and next year it suits them if you get weary please don't give up that comes in from listener Ava hi Greg while the people of Ireland struggle with rising food food fuel costs our t-shocks a way to Belfast to give away a billion to Northern Ireland for some rebuilding regeneration money uh that we're giving in our high taxation money that should be used to build much needed housing well i mean there's many people listening that their opinion is very firmly that Northern Ireland is Ireland and that maybe that's paving the way for a border pole uh right okay let us get behind the headlines a little now because you might know that uh local authorities uh those working with the force of trade union working in local authorities are beginning industrial action today but what's it about and how might it infect you or affect you sorry Richie Carruthers is assistant general secretary of the force of union and it feels like a long time since i've spoken to you good morning to you Richie good morning how are you good and great to have you back on the show right so um i suppose from a county council perspective how many staff are we talking and what is the nature of the action so we've got to go all we've got upwards of uh 500 members who will be involved in this action uh nationally there's 12 000 workers who are involved in the local authority sector for for so we're the largest union in the local government sector now i should say that this right isn't uh new it's been going on for for a long time we've been trying to resolve it but essentially 10 000 council jobs were lost following the financial crisis and services were only maintained because staff have taken on additional duties above their pay grades across the the public sector and local authorities suffered the greatest reduction in staff numbers during the austere the year years and it resulted in what we've described Greg as significant grade drift so people working above their grade like we're after one thing one thing only it's fairly straightforward ask uh we want the management to introduce a job evaluation process which is essentially an analytical tool used in an organization to see if the post holder is being paid correctly for the work that they're doing or expected to do so can i can it does it so from a lay person or someone outside it sounds to me then what happened there was a lot of redundancies the remaining staff put the shoulder to the wheel uh took on extra duties uh no one questioned at the time because it was a national emergency that some of those duties would ordinarily uh go to someone on a higher pay grade but it became normalized and now here we are uh 15 odd years later and it's all been blurred now and people that are doing work uh that should they should be compensated more for yeah well i mean i think that that's it in a nutshell um i think uh what the job evaluation tool does and it's a common place across the hse and in the higher education sector lots of places in the private sector use it every local authority in the six counties and in england scotland and will uses it so there's no guarantee it's evaluation exercise to ensure that people are graded properly uh there's no commitments or guarantees for people who go into that process the human rights and the quality commission have confirmed that the job evaluation tool is good in terms of ensuring equal pay for work of equal value uh and we're now dealing with a local government management sector which is simply just tone deaf to the the reality that workers are no longer willing to act at a higher level and be paid at a lower level as it were and 85 percent of our members voted yes in a ballot to give us a mandate for action up to include the strike action uh so we kicked off the industrial action this morning Greg uh and that means that all of our members will will be refusing to engage in non-statutory political representations so verbal written and email from politicians and last wednesday i wrote to every councillor senator and tb in the country confirming the action would take place and apologizing in advance for the impact that this may have on the critical work of an elected representative so can we can you give us a can you give us an example of of a typical content from a politician that will now not be cooperated so politicians would particularly councillor would make routine contact throughout the working day of local authority staff ask inquiring about things that might be happening in roads or water or developmental works so that won't be responded to mandatory or statutory engagements will still be responsible responded to so workers will still prepare agendas for meetings and municipal district meetings and and help with the administration of the democratic structure as it were but that informal day-to-day contact is not uh won't be out here too but the councillors and the politicians will go back and say look i can do nothing i can do nothing for you the the staff won't work for me and blame you guys for that i mean is it not really the the the public that's going to feel the heat on this and you'll get the usually be the bad guys so actually the opposite has happened surprisingly uh or maybe not surprisingly like in bug and say council of the weekend uh the political leadership of all the main political parties and the the independent group and signed a motion to go to council supporting the uh the the force action so up and down the country we've had really positive feedback from councillors, TDs and senators uh and and in this county and doing all we've had a lot of feed a positive feedback and support because i think people realise that hard pressed local government staff have had enough and they're you know really people are working above grade and i think it's seen by people in the political system that it's no longer sustainable so once you're right we're not in dispute with politicians this is workers exercising their democratic right and not to do part of their work as part of the the ongoing dispute and i assume the staff are saying look we're not we're not looking for pay rises we're looking for the pay we're working what you do that would be the the argument and as you say if this evaluation tool is used there's no guarantee that that someone might get a pay rise i mean obviously they'll suspect they'd have a fair chance of it but this is about being paid uh as you should be for the work you're doing rather than seeking a pay rise so so it's a precursor step actually it's just the ability to have your job independently uh assessed or allow to see if you're doing work at a higher level and i should say this there is no guarantee that that would be the case but there's a recruitment crisis in the local government sector i remember speaking to you years ago during the financial crisis and dunny ball lost a disproportionate number of those those jobs so local government was once the employer of choice that's now no longer the case people are voting with their feet and there's a recruitment and retention crisis in the local government sector as people go and workouts were including the private sector so we think that this is a good to to keep people to maintain people to ensure that we have people across the six public services centers in dunny ball for instance to deliver key services to to to the public and uh like we would prefer not to be in this position the ask is modest just give us the process on which to deal with with the issues to ensure that people are validated uh properly and the local government sector management grega should say this they've said two things in the same breath which is contradictory they've said in the one hand everybody's created properly and there's nothing to see and in the same breath they say if there is job evaluation it's going to cost a fortune and everybody will be regretted I would I would say in response to that it can't be both it has to be one or the other right so the dispute is well they don't trust they don't trust the mechanism as far as they're concerned now is the status quo moving forward why upset the apple card uh and they fear obviously that this this evaluation would rejig things to the point where people would have to be paid more money Rich you've got a broad mandate from from your members uh force members how does this escalate because you know of course this is the type of action whilst it's important and it's significant it falls off the the news cycle really quite quickly uh so you know what what is the next action when are we likely to see that I don't think it's going to go away anytime soon I think that the part the political response has been really overwhelming and politicians have been writing the minister Daryl Bryant seeking from the intervene uh and and county councillors have been placing down emergency motions at council meetings but there will be an escalation over the common weeks as a result of this and and definitely could result in workers pulling out and putting boots on the ground with full blown strike action so a small window of opportunity Greg exists for the the local government management to engage in a sensible solution focused discussion under the auspices of the workplace relations commission my phone is on and I'm waiting to hear if anybody wants to make contact within the political system or within the local government management agency to go back to negotiations and back to talks but the right isn't going to go away by simply pretending it doesn't exist now um the local government management agency who you reference they're saying that you know yes both both parties went into the WRC and the matter could have been referred to the labour court but instead you decided to commence this industrial action and say that this is contrary to the provision of the public sector pay agreement building momentum what do you say to that what says you uh well that's you know I've heard this line throughout um we the dispute was supposed to take off in late June as a result of discussions between myself and the leadership of the LGMA we referred the row to the WRC and the terminology we used was that both parties would engage constructively and meaningfully in order to resolve the row we had two goals of it at the WRC it was neither constructive nor meaningful uh and therefore talks broke down um this isn't legitimate because workers are kept fed up and they're now open with our feet but but but it is avoidable and it is solvable right so we remain available for meaningful discussions under the auspices of the WRC Greg you've been covering industrial disputes most of your career certainly for all the time you've been working in Highland it normally ends in some negotiation somewhere where people can live with it will require given take on both sides but we can't negotiate on our own and the LGMA need to put their shoulder to the wheel and need to be serious and go back to the negotiating table otherwise this is going to continue and it's going to escalate all right well between the jigs and the reels I don't think Dara O'Brien's going to be booking uh a month in downings next summer but anyway thanks very much for your time take care all right that is Richie Carothers assistant general secretary of the force union and the reference there of course is that it's minister Dara O'Brien who is the go-to guy there and he's hearing plenty from Donegal listening open to discussion but certainly hearing plenty it is the 9 till noon show at half past 11 how are you all back with him all back with more for you very shortly watch the show live now on youtube facebook and at highlandradio.com the 9 till noon show with letter kenny credit union now offering mortgages from 40 000 to 600 000 euro with no hidden fees or transaction charges letter kenny credit union 9102127 don't miss the big baby event at 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the environment okay now as part of it's monday focus time by the way as part of palliative care week 2023 the all-arland institute of hospice and palliative care is calling on people in the northwest to become better informed about its benefit the campaign reaches its milestone tenth year this autumn will take place on the tenth to the sixteenth of september so we're in that week now this week and this item aims to educate people across the region about the positive impact that it can have on life quality and to encourage them to learn more about the services available should they need them in the future Karen Charnley is director of all-arland institute of hospital sorry hospice and palliative care and is with us now good morning to you Karen good morning Greg it's lovely to have you on the program are we getting better talking about this stuff now i get a sense maybe it's because i'm getting older and i'm really talking about how i feel but do you know it is it kind of wee bit like wheel writing and stuff maybe you know when we are in good health for those around us are we tend to either avoid or just choose not to talk about you know hospice and palliative care well we commissioned a survey to inform palliative care about people's perceptions and we found that 40 percent of adults prefer not to think or talk about palliative care and 50 percent of adults think that palliative care if someone's receiving palliative care it means that they're in the last days or weeks of their lives so for us this shows that misconceptions about palliative care persist which mean that some people who could benefit are less willing to seek it and potentially missing out on the quality of life benefits that palliative care can provide some people can live long and the aim is uh fall or fall as possible lives whilst receiving palliative care yeah but it isn't just about that end end of life i suppose in some instances it is last days and weeks but what we that palliative care can be received from diagnosis and prognosis onwards within someone's journey and um the the thing is is we don't want to talk about it but lots of us who've had someone who's passed on either under the care of a hospice or in palliative care and all both it is often a positive a positive element of a very difficult experience and that's where it gets difficult to talk about but that's why people fundraise so much for these types of services because they understand how they can improve people's quality of life with a terminal diagnosis yeah i suppose people and i suppose it's understandable maybe people don't want to think and talk about it don't want but what we'd encourage for encourage people to learn more about the benefits of palliative care also to have those conversations with family members and friends you know loved ones and about how they'd want to be cared for where they'd want to be cared for because i suppose the research evidence suggests that you know that those conversations can be really supportive when the need arises in the future that people can feel that they're honouring meeting someone's wishes so hold me by the hand and lead us through it then you know sort of what we're talking about here when to have the conversation how to have the conversation even maybe how to plans or preparations in in finding what resources we might be talking about locally because i think that's where the problem is then it becomes we perceive it to be complicated so talk us through Karen what we're talking about here well i suppose thinking of different information sources i'd encourage people to look on the palliativehope.com we have a series of websites with a lot of information around this area and also the one of our member organisations the Irish Hospice Foundation have developed the think ahead pack which really is a is a document but it gives people the prompts they'd need ask them the questions to allow people to start planning ahead for the care that they'd like but what we've very much said i know even with my parents at home having those conversations about well where would you like to be cared for do you would you like to be cared for at home or would you prefer if the need arises and symptoms arise would you like to be cared in the hospital or a hospice having those important discussions and thinking ahead about the type of care people would want it it's kind of important to have those those discussions yeah and how do you have them is there any advice on that because you know i know in my parents situation god rest the two of them that if and i had a fantastic relationship with both don't get me wrong but if i went in and i says to my dad who was 16 in his head to the day he died can we talk about he i would have been chased do you know what i mean now obviously you can't compel people to have these discussions but how is the best way to approach that i wonder i may be taking the prompts maybe at the you know if someone's i know my own father again using him as an example he had a serious problem with his eyes and that did open the opportunity to have some of these discussions to say well what you know how would what are the plans for the future where have you set out your plans so sometimes there might be good opportunities suppose we can't force anyone to have these discussions but i think it's raising that it would be useful to have them with with family members and also to the other side of it and we're all different but we kind of fall into similar categories i think i would say there are people maybe who are getting a little bit older that there's a bit of stress and anxiety as to what might happen to them do you know what i mean and they don't want to bring it up either so actually probably for for some if not many would be a welcome conversation we may never need to go down this route or but if we do do you know what i mean so there's a piece of mind and a person feels they have control over their over their future well and i think it's for all concerned that you you know as a family member that you're being clear about what type of care they want because i suppose we all have different views like some people may want to be careful completely at home other people would be happy to you know be cared for in different settings i would also flag that say and you mentioned around local hospice services so don't go all hospice this week they've got a wide range of events taking place throughout the week so in letterkenny university hospital hospital they're having information stores from 12 to 4 in the staff dining room in donagall hospice they're having an open day on wednesday from 2 to 4 and they're encouraging people to come and visit the hospice or they've also got pop-up stands in letterkenny shopping center and macklehenny's in ballet boffy on friday from 11 to 3 as well so they're really supporting palliative care week and we're very appreciative of that and pardon my ignorance caron when we talk about the planning and the conversation it's not like booking things or or securing things is it it's knowing people's wishes and what what they might want given what circumstances may arise isn't it so it's really planning to it's really planning isn't it to fulfill their wishes rather than actually to say right you're going here and you're going there and you're going there you know what i mean no you wouldn't be booking someone in somewhere but it's to have start having those conversations that's why i'm like the thinker head form it's really you know only people google but also if people visit the palliative hub dot com there's lots of resources but it's those prompts about thinking of the future but i suppose like during palliative care week we're keen to kind of highlight the benefits of palliative care and how it supports people's physical social emotional and spiritual needs and puts the person at the centre of the care and that if people were under the care or you know when the need arises under the care of palliative care that they'll be those services are there to support them with planning ahead as well so um so sort of jumping backwards to the maybe something might talk to at the start so like what is do people resist engaging with palliative care what do they do as an alternative do you know what to mean well i suppose sometimes and we we'd hear that people yes but are resistant to accessing those services or might not seek them out because they often think oh it's the last days or weeks of life when in fact people can be under in receipt of palliative care for a wide long period of time and it might be that the access services and then a discharge from services as they no longer require them so i suppose again thinking of a family friend to have that they he was in receipt of palliative care service was in the inpatient unit the unit was able to support them with symptom management he was discharged back to home he's currently under community palliative care services and he's still he has advanced cancer still receiving treatment as well as part of that so often people sometimes think palliative care last days last weeks and there's no other treatment being provided when in fact it can be that you know palliative care can come in and out as needed and is there as a supporting service along with people's other medical specialties be it if they've advanced cancer heart failure renal wrong conditions neurological conditions and the like and in providing these services and supports and people do it to the absolute best of the ability a lot of the time it is sort of interacting with other areas of of health service and presumably you know the same challenges exist for palliative care providers in engaging with the other areas of health that do for the you know the population as a whole but I suppose that being said though there is a level of knowledge and experience there that would mitigate as much as is possible those frustrations yeah I suppose is palliative care teams are well used to engage in with people's other medical teams as well so that is really the focus of those services as well so yeah what other interesting findings or findings of an old came from that survey in your view Karen well we did find with the survey results that people do have a good sense of palliative care so there was positives as well that for example nearly 1810 adults agree that palliative care also supports families, friends and caregivers seven in ten think that palliative care should be considered as early as possible when diagnosed with a life-limiting conditions so there is a number some of the stats that are showing that people do have an understanding but there still are some misconceptions and that's why we're this is our 10th year of running palliative care week so but there's still more work to be done in terms of supporting people to learn more about palliative care and its benefits yeah for sure where can people get more information well I'd encourage them to look on our website which is the palliativehug.com and on there there's lots of campaign resources and leaflets we also have videos of people's palliative care experiences we there's also a wide number of events taking place and I've already mentioned some that are taking place within your own county but there's details of a lot of events both face to face but also online events that people can register and attend and we'd encourage them to share their experiences on social media using the hashtag palcareweek10 but the palliativehug.com has got a lot of information on it so I would encourage that as a first stop to then find in other services that and supports that are out there all right Karen listen it's been lovely having you on the show thank you very much indeed Karen Charney there who is a director of all island Institute of Hospice and palliative care we are in the midst of palliative care week 2023 kicked off yesterday as you heard some great events there for people to attend if you so wish now I want to mention to you it's a year out but the spaces aren't necessarily open-ended either David James is leading Highland Radio's Hooli to Saloo in 2024 it runs from the 14th to the 21st of September 2024 and it is your summer sorted late summer sorted for this type of event there's music for Margo John McNichol Robert Marcell Hugo Duncan Claudia Buckley Matt Levy Sean Cuddy Olivia Douglas Gavin Gribbin Jim Devine Schnee Black The Ryan Turner Band and on and on it goes there's two more here but I mentioned Shawnee Crampsey and Trevor Lockery so for 817 euro per person you get access to all of those stars with night time shows poolside shows you get seven nights B&B in the four star soul coaster Dorada Hotel seven nights dinner B&B so your dinner and your breakfast is sorted your hotel accommodation is sorted and all your entertainment is sorted for 817 euro per person so you can spread that out in your mind 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10 p.m. right here on Highland Radio Right, we're joined on the program now by Councillor Donal Mandi Kelly thanks for taking the time to speak to us Donal good morning to you Hello problem Greg good morning to you and good morning to all your luster great Right okay so you finally got to sit down with Ishka Ayer and formerly Irish Water a long time coming a useful meeting do you feel Yeah Greg the lesson I suppose anytime you get out scared and the senior executives or officials in front of you it's it's positive for more going lesson as you stated that was definitely a long time coming something that pushed hard for myself as did other counselors as well for a long number of years but lesson we finally got to meet them face to face and what's part of rig every counselor got their opportunity to I suppose raise raise issues on their own and behalf of their constituents and you know that that was very very important and I feel it was part of person there's a lot of there's a lot of issues to be aimed at what's that scaring as well and that's what we keep doing that pushing forward but I suppose that's easy to do when you've got dates and timelines which we have for some of the issues and of course you're going to be focusing on the letter Kennean surrounding areas Bombay and Tolley Gay residents in those areas are subjected to regular outages 11 in 14 days what was the update for Mishka Erin in relation to that situation yeah Greg is a fully aware of the trunk and I've been pushing hard for the residents so Bombay and New Miles pull again common areas and as you said there are 11 outages and 14 days and that has actually increased since the meeting as recent as yesterday and the day before there's no water either I was very strong unless most officials of Mishka Erin and I wanted this addressed as a matter of urgency I did ask them because they had stated to me before that they were committed to addressing this issue in the first quarter of 2024 and thankfully this is still scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2024 and is it actually work or explorer to work do they recognize the problem for that area and have a plan in place for early 2024 to actually fix it yeah that's what they're telling me Greg listening that they carried out had analysis assessment on what that is showing up at the moment seems to be issues with boss and vows but they have as I stated the happy put on the infrastructure on the ground there for them residents they haven't come at it looking into this now and to address it on the first quarter of 2024 and another another thing I also raised them Greg regarding and that area was well well you know I raised very strongly that the look at the lot there there it's a lot that's up between them the mountains in church needy and and and church there between kind of what the one miles are you know and this listen as I said in the meeting it might be viable but it was snaps and that a vast Irish water to look under because I think it could be a solution the resolving issues along that area there bombing new malls and all because that would feed right down on to it and listen that they took it on board and they are going to look on to it and you know I think it's something that could work out positive but Greg the most important thing is as this the works that are scheduled for 2024 Irish water did clap to me at the meeting that they are going to be pushing forward on so you know that's a good news story for the rest and stuff of these areas and I will be I will be keeping pressure on to ensure that this work goes as soon as possible you also got a commitment that work is going to start in November in and around the Ross Bracken and Mannequin areas but there are rather hot spots were there any is there any particular areas whereby they didn't have anything positive to say well listen your rate of getting Greg that works and that's very welcome the Ross Bracken and Ray Moche they already start now in November of this year the one they're going to be really in a 2.6 or 2.7 kilometers of new pipes there new infrastructure for all them rest and so that should resolve the problem there listen there's all our contractors have issues in their own areas that that they weren't happy with and weren't been addressed and I suppose even as Michelle there you know I raised the issue there and a house I said in particular there that I've got a number of calls and that the Kinney is own hull and there seems to be a problem there with the storm why there seems to be connected to the sewers and listen I have been pushing and looking into this and the Duneagall County Council they have said that it's under the authority of Irish weather and Irish weather don't seem to want to take responsibility for it so I have asked for answers on this no I didn't get the answers on the day but they are very back to me and I will be following and open it because this is something that needs to be addressed but I've stopped there and metal threads and some own hull and we're seeing pictures as well where we're one's having rain Greg the sewers has actually come out of the storm lanes you know and it's absolutely shocking all right okay but listen there's a lot of work for the Irish weather they need to need to commence with and they need to get the finger out you know and we another thing were very strong ones were was the connection fees I mean that's absolutely ridiculous some of the connection fees the cost such people have been asked them and just give me maybe one example Greg if you don't mind no go ahead that's that's actually a house not fire from yourself well they've done a native 180 meters of mains piping to run and you know they were they were Irish Wather give them a value of 43,064 euro to take 100 meters of mains Wather up to the house you know that's just absolutely shocking and you know when I asked them to narrow this down that I'd worked out of the standard connection fee of 2,272 euro the cost of taking the 180 meters was working out of 27,381 euro but the problem is there is a not that they and cause another four and a half thousand it's terrible but the problem there is we don't have time they've farmed that out to private companies to do that though so that might be difficult to get some movement on yeah well that's just on Greg we're just gonna have to keep the finger on and keep pushing forward on because that's just that's only one example let's just right through the county and the conflict that matter where people have been given ridiculous costs for connection fees you know and a shocker now Donald thank you so much so thank you so much for your time this morning and we'll get an update for you as soon as you get anything back from them on the other concerns you raise with them for now though thank you Councillor Donald Mandy Kelly that's where we have to leave it on the program today thank you to the team behind the scenes Donna Marie Daherty and also Neve Shields we'll be back with you tomorrow morning at nine stay tuned John Bres...