 Brooks for a very long time. He did not, did he? He's got mine for third time lucky today. Really? Yeah. So I thought I'd play. He didn't learn from the first two times. Iggy, briggie, hi. But hopefully that's it, no? Do you think? I don't know. I've done it three times. Do you know? You just keep going, don't you? Yeah, I don't know. Anyway, can we have a good show? You have a lovely day, Lee, and we'll see you for the last day of the week tomorrow. Yeah, tomorrow's fine. God bless you, Lee. Okay, it is nine o'clock time for news update, and it's over to Donald Kavanaugh. Thank you, Greg. Good morning. It's emerged the government still hasn't approved the Donegal County Council program to address the impact of defective blocks on its own social housing stock. The program was submitted to the government two years ago this month. Members were told at a special council meeting that at least 20% of the council's houses are affected. With more, here's Donna-Marie Doherty. The council has a social housing stock of approximately 5,000 units, and this week's special meeting on housing was taught that visual surveys show that approximately 1,000 council-owned social homes show evidence of pattern cracking, which is consistent with defective concrete blocks. Officials warned it's likely that the final number will be considerably higher. In October 2021, the council made a comprehensive submission to the department, seeking approval for the remediation of the council-owned damaged homes over a four-year program. The following February, the department part sanctioned the appointment of a dedicated project team, but it hasn't yet approved the program. In July of last year, the council submitted an approval request for a pile of project on 68 vacant social homes damaged by defective concrete blocks. However, approval has not been forthcoming to date. The council has began preparatory work on assessing those houses, pending departmental approval. Donegal County council is being asked to help resolve issues regarding access onto the beach at Port Salon. Damage to a pedestrian bridge means that people walking the bridge at the beach can now only access the rest of the beach through the local golf club, and that's potentially dangerous, as the route is close to the fairway, leading to the second hole. Responding to a motion from Councillor Jimmie Kavanaugh, Councillor Liam Blaney said the council put up the bridge 20 years ago, but no department is taking responsibility for it now. The council says it's working with the club in a bid to find a solution. Councillor Blaney says there's been plenty of talking. It's time for action. The dialogue has been on this last number of years, Donal, and I think it's time that there was action now instead of dialogue with enough dialogue done. As a danger for the people walking, they have to go up on the second fairway on Port Salon's golf club to get round the stream, to go back and walk the beach again. As unfair as the golf club, that nobody seems to take responsibility for fixing the bridge that's there. At the end of the day, there's only got a county council that put the bridges there in the first place, and I think it's only got a county council. Whatever section should be held, we should have responsibility for placing them. Family farms are being put at risk by drug debts racked up by young farmers, and Irish country living investigation has found people in rural areas all over the country are buying cocaine on social media, leading to an increase in the number of young farmers seeking help with their addictions. Drugs councillors say it's those aged 18 to 30 who are most affected. Katrina Morrissey is deputy editor with the Irish Farmers Journal. She says drug dealers are effectively viewing the farming community as ATMs. You know, the dealers see a farm and see money, and then ultimately have that person in debt which leads to further problems because once you're in debt, you're beholden to the dealer, and then you have the families when they do find out, you know, are willing to try and obviously get their family member out of trouble. They need to clear the debt. Whether now in Metair and Telus, it'll be largely dry with a mix of cloud and sunny spells. Today, some spots of drizzle possible near the coast. Cloud will thicken this afternoon in top temperatures of 11 to 13 degrees Celsius with light southwestern or variable breezes fresh along the coast. And that's Highland Radio News. We're back with news again at 10 o'clock. Regular updates on our website, highlandradio.com. But for now, from the news team, good morning. For unbelievable value, head to Aldi this Halloween with pumpkins in store now from 1.29. Children's Halloween costumes only 6.99. In store first of October, spooktacular snacks and tasty treats from 79 cent. And devilish Halloween decorations from 1.99 in store the first of October. So if you want to conjure up something really wicked, it's got to be Aldi, Ireland's most reputable supermarket. The county's number one talk show, the 9 to noon show on Highland Radio. And now it's time for the talk of the Northwest, the 9 to noon show with Greg Hughes on Highland Radio. Hello and a very good morning to you. It's just turning five minutes past nine on this Thursday, the 12th of October, 2023. How are you keeping? Good morning to you all. I hope you are very well indeed and you're on board now for the next three hours here in the 9 to noon show. And throughout the day here on your number one local radio station, Highland Radio. Donna Marie's in the hot seat today and she's taking your calls on 07491 25,000. If you want to join the conversation, we'll start your own. If you're listening from outside the Republic, 003537491 25,000. WhatsApps and texts to 0866025,000. 0866025,000. And of course, you can send your WhatsApp voice messages to that number as well. And you want to email the show, please? Comments at highlandradio.com. Busy morning for newspapers today. Let's start with the Chaconneau Tribune. John McIntyre has a full budget analysis. He's entitled it, A Budget So Easily Forgotten. But elsewhere, there's anger over tree felling on the Lytrum Estate. As a major tree felling operation is ongoing on the Lytrum Estate near Mulroy Bay, angry members of the community in Carrigart and Fanad says, they've only become aware of the development of the trees in recent weeks amid this disbelief to the felling of the ancient trees. Members of the community say they understand that a previous public notice seeking planning was located on a private road to Manavahan House and not visible from a public road. Locals said that at a recent notice seeking a felling licence was posted close to a public road near Mulroy Bay in recent months. The name and address of the owner is redacted on the schedule that locals have now sourced. He understands that in all, 16 locations on the estate are subject to the felling licence and the overall area involved is in the region of 150 acres and a number of the licences were granted back in 2022. On to the Donegal News, that mum, due to give birth a week before eviction, a man who's facing being made homeless in letter Kenny with his pregnant wife days after she gives birth, along with her three-year-old daughter, said he fears his family will not find another home. The family is one of 19, and we spoke to the mother in that family. It's one of 19 living in the forest, Balamukul, housing estate who are facing eviction. The man was told last Friday that he and his family will have to move out of their home in the first week of April. His wife, Alexandra, is due to give birth to their second child in the last week of March. As I say, we spoke to Alexandra on the programme and obviously incredibly distressed and worried, especially as it comes up to Christmas. The same story on the front of the Donegal Democrat. On the Derry News now. Clint Neuvel, the pharmaceutical company which has developed a successful treatment for the life-limiting condition erythopiotic, and apologies for not being able to pronounce that correctly. It's a shortened EPP. Well, it's preparing to mount a legal challenge in the form of a judicial review against the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. The company is also planning to issue civil proceedings against NICE in November. NICE is the organisation tasked with deciding which treatment should be available on the NHS. In England, it also aims to make sure that people have the same access to treatment and care wherever they live. On to the nationals now and the Irish Independent. Crisis hit RTE is facing a 95 million black hole in its finances, but the catch-strapped broadcaster won't say if a top executive got a golden handshake going out the door. A 40 million bailout from the taxpayer is being withheld until RTE provides a plan for delivering significant cutbacks and savings. However, a coalition TD is warning a blank check should not be offered to RTE. RTE will be slimmed down under a cost-cutting plan, but compulsory redundancies are being ruled out. Voluntary severance packages are sell-off of some land at the Montrose headquarters and the privatisation of two FMs still on the table. However, a complete move from the Donnybrook campuses being ruled out. The shortfall in licence fee revenue since the Ryan-Toberty payment scandal could now cost RTE 61 million over the next year, over this year and next. But the government are bailing them out. 16 million interim funding, I think, has been confirmed for RTE. That cost-cutting plan, or cost-cutting plans to be published in early November, and you can be sure then that 40 million, the balance of which will be forthcoming. No such funding rush for health in this country. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said that there will be a shortfall in the health budget next year. This is the Irish times. Just a day after budget allocations were announced, Mr Donnelly has admitted that the funding estimated by his department to be required by the health service next year was not granted in the budget. He told the Irish Times, like this year, it is entirely likely that a supplementary budget will be required next year because of health care inflation and patient demand. So you'd imagine at a time when clearly there's more pressure on the health service, not least because of a growing population, that the funding for the health service would go up. Now, as I say, there is a feeling out there, let's not throw good money after bad and spend the money that's there more efficiently, but there's obviously, we know there's more pressure on the health service, yet there's no more money for it. The government has allocated 1.1 billion supplementary estimate. It'll be brought before the door this year to meet the funding shortfall for the health service this year. But a recruitment freeze is being introduced in parts of the health service to address the massive overspend in the sector. In a further cost-saving measure, there will be no dedicated funding for new drugs next year. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has announced some 162 new hospital beds will be open next year, along with 22 critical care beds, Mr. Donnelly said at a breast, no, breast, press, I beg your pardon, press briefing on the health aspects of Budget 2024 yesterday. The health service executive has said it expects to incur a 1.5 billion deficit by the end of the year due mainly to inflation and increased patient demand. So there are going to be cancer patients who need drugs that won't be able to get them. There is a recruitment freeze. What does that mean in terms of services? It's so complicated and convoluted, it's hard to know. Not many beds opening there right across the country. And yet, we dig deep elsewhere. Maybe you think horse racing is really important or grey hand racing. Agriculture Minister Charlie McConnelogue, he confirmed 95 million euro for horse and grey hand rating. The majority of which 76 million euro goes to the horse racing industry. And you might say, well, of course, but the horse racing industry generates, I don't know, do you feel it generates anything for you? I mean, how many cancer patients would that 76 million fund for experimental treatment? And another thing about that money too, a lot of it's used for prize money. One of the allocations or part of the allocation a couple of years back, if I'm not mistaken and I'm open to correction, went to prize money. It was a 2 million euro prize that came out of this 76 million euro of taxpayers' money. Guess who won that prize? Because they're a horse one in a competition. O'Leary from Ryanair. Over 2 million euro of taxpayers' money, prize money from similar to this 76 million euro. He went into his pocket, which is remarkable, isn't it? Did you know that your money, which was allocated from the Department of Agriculture to horse racing, 2 million of that a couple of years back went into the pocket of Michael O'Leary because his horse won a race. It's astonishing, isn't it? That's, there you go. It's 95 million for horse and greyhound racing in total, as I say, maybe it's really important that the Irish economy may be further down south, but that's an awful lot of, that's quite a bit of cancer treatment, which won't be funded through the health budget. On to the Daily Mail now. And used car prices are continuing to soar, but they're not now rising at, sorry, they are now rising at their slowest rate since the start of the pandemic. Price rises have slowed as the supply of cars has been healthier in the past year and has been growing by an average of 5.4% over the past nine months. This according to Don Deal, the report from the secondhand car website outlines that 2007 Audi A4 cost 2,818 euro in September last year, but rose to over 3,000, 3,023 euro this year. The difficulties with importing cars from Britain because of duty charges from Brexit has meant deliveries are switching to source right-hand drive cars from other countries, such as Japan, the share of imports from Britain has slumped from more than 95% in 2018 to less than 27% now. Wow, that's quite a drop. I never realised it was quite as high, but by the time you pay all the charges, bringing them over, the money is, the profit is not necessarily there. The Irish Farmers Journal, Budget 2024, full coverage there. Their headline, 60 million euro extra funding for acres and organics, 200 euro suckler. Government maintains that payment, 8 euro BU extra payment for sheep farmers, land leasing reliefs, new hire funding for slurry storage, 8 million fund for tillage farmers, 5,000 euro stock relief boost. Budget 2024 provided a boost to sheep farmers with a new 8 euro BU payment to bring the sheep improvement scheme payments to 20 euro per yo. You, yo. And you can read more about that in a packed Farmers Journal there. Internationally, obviously, the big story continues to be the crisis in the Middle East, Gaza. Gaza was plund, or Gaza, I beg your pardon, was plund into darkness as Israel yesterday stepped up its blitz of the besieged coastal strip, waves of airstrikes destroyed high-rise buildings as the Jewish state prepared to launch a troops offensive. The lights went out as Gaza's sole power plant ran out of fuel while water and food supplies were either cut off or running low. The collapse of the electricity grid left the 148 square mile strip on its knees. The Gaza trip is tiny. 2.2 million people live there. The majority of them survive on international aid. I think about 75%. So you've got 2.2 million people in a land mass, much smaller than County Donagall, and they have no gas, they have no water, they've got no electricity. Now, of course, the Gaza strip is run by Hamas, but obviously the overwhelming majority of people in there are civilian population, and they are literally being starved out of it. It's against the rules of war. Although Israel has declared a war, this is not compliant with the rules of engagement. The entire population is being punished. And then I read on that platform, ex-Twitter that Elon Musk is, yesterday, announced just as the power, literally just as the power ran out in Gaza, he announced that all of Israel will have free access to the Tesla charges. He's a big player in the electric car market, as most of you would know. So as the power ran out in Gaza, he was announcing on his platform that Israelis would be able to charge their cars for free at his charging points. It just shows the difference in life, doesn't it? We'll be speaking about that a little later on. The Irish Daily Star, the Israel, the Irish Israeli citizen missing since Hamas attacked a music festival in Israel at the weekend has been confirmed dead, her family revealed. Kim Danty, 22, had not been seen since the event in the south of the country near the border with the Gaza Strip. In a statement, her aunt, Pat Cooper, a sister of Kim's leash-borne mother, Jennifer, said, with heartfelt sorrow, the Cooper family announced the death of their beloved niece, Kim Danty. And you can only just imagine the terror that must have been going through those people as they were being mowed down by gunfire. Shocking stuff, really, really is. On to the Irish Daily Mirror. Irish people have more difficulty in accessing mental health services than any of the EU's other member states, a major survey revealed. Research by the European Commission also revealed we have the third highest level of experiencing an emotional or psychological problem in previous 12 months. It shows Ireland as the highest proportion of citizens claiming that either they or a family member had encountered one or more issues accessing mental health services. The Eurobrometer poll revealed 44% of Irish people had trouble in receiving treatment for a mental health issue compared to the EU average of just 25%. So it's one in four. Across the EU, for us, it's almost one in two. Almost 75% of Irish citizens who encountered an issue in accessing mental health services said they faced long-waiting lists or delays before a diagnosis or treatment. And there is another area that requires massive, massive spending. And maybe, and I know there was funding announced for it and so on and so forth. And I get that, and I hear the words, but something is clearly, clearly amiss. We have an awful situation in this country in terms of mental health in our region here. We're leasing far too many people to suicide. That is just an absolute fact. Families devastated right across the county, right across the region, right across the country as well. And then you read stories saying that we are, 44% of us seeking help have a greater difficulty in doing so. In Europe, it's 25% of people. 25% is way too much. We'd be crying about that. But here it's almost one in two. And people need the help. And when they come forward with help, they need to be able to access all the help that they need. Yes, there is plenty of services there for people. If you feel you need to speak to someone, Smartens, Pieta, they're there, someone will answer the phone and what have you. But in terms of care, long-term care evaluation, too many of us are not getting the treatment that we need. And it's the families, it's the individuals themselves, it's their families, it's their children, their partners, the wider community that are faced with this devastation that we really can't, I mean, you don't talk about it as such because it's so sensitive. And is there ever a right time? Because it seems there's always a family that's dealing with this awful situation. But we're gonna have to figure something out one way or other. What we do, I don't know, open to collaborations, open to suggestions as to what we can do on this platform to help. 08, 660, 25,000 is our WhatsApp and text number for all your contacts. So give us a call on 07491 25,000. The newspapers are courtesy of Kelly Sentra Mountaintop Letter Kenny, the 2022 C-store national off-license of the year. The night or noon show is brought to you by Letter Kenny Credit Union, offering low-rate car loans with fast approval. Apply online at letterkennycu.ie or in office today. Get more, pay even less, download the Lidl Plus app now. Tap to activate your coupons and cut costs with exclusive super savers. Like 44% off Gala Apples now 99 cent. And board B at Proof Chicken Breasts Fillets worth $7.35 now $5.79. Just scan those Lidl Plus coupons at the tail. 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Well, the time now is 23 minutes past nine and very regularly on this programme we are contacted by people or their parents or guardians, upset at delays in their young people and not just young people getting on the road legally. Learned drivers are facing huge weights and there is an estimator which really is almost gaslighting because it tells you a date that you're going to be invited to apply for your test, but you keep checking it and eventually you'll note that the date keeps slipping. So something really needs to be done. I think we'd all agree, as does Fina Fall councillor Michal Nocton who's been raising this issue. Good morning to you, councillor. Thanks for your time. Good morning, Greg, and good morning to you, chair, listeners. So what's your... What have you been saying about this, Michal? Yes, Greg, you're right. I mean, basically I've been contacted, I'm sure other local representatives have been contacted also. Basically there's a huge weight in this in Donegal at the moment. Basically I've been contacted by parents and young people that've been waiting up to eight months to get a test for that. And we all know basically that Donegal is a rural county, we don't have the same infrastructure and we don't have the same trends and that. So there's a serious issue here for young people, especially for young people who go to college. And you know, you hear basically the shortage of houses and basically the price of accommodations and the likes of Letterkinny in Slago and also in Derry. And a lot of these people that are trying for their tests want to drive to college and drive home. So basically it's put another pressure on families at the moment. And basically I called at our MD meeting that we'd write to the minister and if we had to get extra instructors up here in Donegal to get the backlog cleared, that's what I'm calling for because definitely it's a matter of urgency at this stage because if it goes on and on and on next year, you're going to be able to people waiting over a year. That's unacceptable. Even eight months at the moment, that's totally unacceptable for young people at the state age, especially for Donegal, that is a rural county. And you mentioned public transport. Let's give you a South Donegal example. Let's say someone living in Ballantra was lucky enough to secure a job at Abbott in Donegal town, a brilliant employer, great prospects for them there. There's no way in and out unless they have a family member that will drive them in and out. They're waiting on a test. The local link is there, but it wouldn't get them in and out of work on time. There's no other real alternative for them. That's like five kilometers away. That's just, and that's not, say, they lived halfway up the Petticole road. Do you know what I mean, Miho? Like that is impossible. It would be impossible or it isn't possible unless they have someone driving them to and from work for young people to take up good jobs that are available there. Totally agree. As you say, Ballantra is nearly on the thoroughfare, but yet basically the connectivity with Donegal town wouldn't be there. And if you go to Petticole or England, Colin Keillor, or Kilkaravat, places like that, people need transport and need their caravats. And unfortunately, you know, there's a lot of young people and a lot of apprenticeships going at the moment and a huge amount of work in and around Kilkaravat as well. And a lot of people are going in there and getting trade and learning the trade. And these young people definitely want a car to get in and out of these places. Even you rightly said Donegal town. Like because, you know, if you're going to work, I mean, you're dependent on a family member. And, you know, we all know now, basically, the moms and dads are working as well and they're probably gone, gone earlier and that. So basically it's putting a lot of pressure on families, trying to get someone to bring them in or take them home and that. And that's a serious issue. But also it was a big one. I didn't get too great at busy. It's people going to college and kind of get accommodation. I want to travel a lot. No, I get you, I get you. But it's just that even the impacts on the economy for in the education sector or even when people start to work. Like I've heard stories and I'm sure they're true where there's maybe one or two people conducting tests and one of them goes on holidays and the other is on sick, for an example. And there's no tests for two weeks and it pushes everything back two weeks. You know, and we don't know how much cold weather we're going to have, how much frost we're going to have. There's no tests often when those conditions prevail through the winter. So even someone now saying that they might get a cold for a test at the start of July next year, there's no actual guarantee at all that that's when they'll actually be invited to sit there. Test, it's open-ended. So no one can make any plans. It's crazy. You're 100% correct, correct, correct, right? Because definitely this is the issue that I was making. And I even called at our end of the meeting to say, if, you know, tests had to happen on a Saturday and Sunday, you know, to get the backlog done, well then we should be looking at that as well. You're 100% right here. This is the problem that basically someone is going on. I mean, test doesn't happen then. I mean, you know, even continuing every day, we get to the backlog. But unfortunately, that's not happened. The bite happened this week, then the cancer next week, and basically, and to the backlog. So basically, you know, this is a serious issue. And then basically with GDPR, also local representatives, when we ring basically the training center, we have to have the person beside us. And that's impossible because basically these people are working and that. So the won't give us no information as well. So like basically, there's a serious issue here with it being people are basically, you know, are standing behind covers, not taking calls for most of the local representatives. Because basically, we're under pressure to make sure that these people get a test that I tried to push on. And whatever basically remedy has to come up with or whatever solution has to be done, well then that has to be looked at. But definitely here in Donegal, as I said, we're a rural county and we need to basically get this backlog done as soon as possible. What do you think do, I mean, do you think there will be any action on this? Definitely, I'm hoping that there is and that. And I will keep continuing on. And I also will be talking to, I mean, I put in a call just to check chambers office and that would you like to come back to me to highlight that this is what the minister, because basically this is a serious issue for the new people here in Donegal. And I say basically, we don't have the trans servants. We don't have the dark here. I mean, even all we're depending on the buses, but I mean, even that, you don't get buses that go at the same time for everybody and all parts of the county. And this is a serious issue that because basically, you know, maybe they might get a bus but they have to be up there at seven o'clock. There will be a sleigh of maybe eight to eight. But the college just starts at about half nine and that. Then basically, you know, they could get finished at four o'clock. They have to wait six, maybe to get laid back down again. And, you know, and it's unacceptable for the new people to have to wait around that. And, you know, if we get people out there and get instructors in there, because there's a lot of people that have retired and they're short instructors. Well, then, you know, they've worked in the garage, they've worked in the civil, they can be trained up and get these basically done. A lot of driving testers out there as well, they could go in and basically work part-time to get these tests done. Because the backlash at the moment is totally, totally unacceptable. Yeah, and I think also there must be questions asked as to the allocation of new testers. I mean, new testers were hired. I think it was the gentleman you mentioned earlier, Jack Chambers, the minister he announced in April, there were 75 new testers and said, they require two months training, right? So we'll well pass that now. I mean, are we getting any of these new testers into the Northwest or into Donegal more specifically, I wonder? Well, exactly, Jack. And this is the question that we're asking here. I mean, and if not, we definitely want them in here and definitely want extra ones in here to the type B to get the backlog done. That's what I'm requesting, that we get extra driving testers into Donegal to clear up the backlog and then basically, you know, that we keep a steady flow of instructors here in the county because they say, I keep saying this, it's a rural county, I mean, and we're dependent more on cars for this county than other county in Ireland. All right, well, maybe you might give us an update if you get a response from Minister Chambers, because there's an awful lot of people listening, would be very interested in that. But for now, thank you very much indeed. That's Fina Full Cancer. Mihoal Nocton there, 0860-25000. My girlfriend has been on a waiting list now for a driving test for over a year. She has started college and has no other choice but to drive. Do guards expect people not to take the risk? It's ridiculous. We have to wait this long. And I mean, no one could condone that, obviously, because it's a legal activity and the penalties are quite harsh. I think it's five points, is it, for driving? Your car can be seized and what have you. And that's going to affect your insurance. But this person says that she's at college and feels that she has no other choice, waiting over a year for a test. Easy Living Furniture's annual Oktoberfest sale is now on. Absolutely everything reduced, including sofas, dining, beds and mattresses. Save up to 60% on a huge range of products that are in stock and ready for delivery. And with 0% interest refinance available with no deposit, the decision is easy. Oktoberfest sale now on in Easy Living Furniture, presently Retail Park. For our latest offers and visit DMG Motors, Clark Road, Donegal Town, because your new seat is just waiting to see what's next. Before the airing, you may want to check out the website where you can find the details and the benefits of your service. These are the tips and tips for the car. You can always visit GovPunk.ie.com or go to the real-time site. Hey there folks of Lettercanny, Mark your calendars. It's the Lettercanny Motor Show, happening on Saturday the 14th of October on the pedestrianised Lower Main Street. Come and explore the latest car models, enjoy fun activities for the whole family and discover incredible deals that will get you on the road and stuff. It's the perfect family day out and we can't wait to see you there. The Lettercanny Motor Show is brought to you by the local franchised motor dealers and proudly supported by First Citizen Finance, Lettercanny Chamber, Donegal County Council, the Society of Irish Motor Industry and FPD Insurance. Visit LettercannyMotorShow.ie for more details. All right. We are speaking now to Councillor Donald Mandi. Kelly, good morning Donald. Thanks for joining us. Good morning Greg and good morning to all your listeners. It's good to have you with us. You've raised the issue of the need for car parking facilities at the bridal path entrance to Glenvey National Park. Describe the current setup for us, if you don't mind. Yeah, that's right Greg. It's a motion moved on Tuesday at our most fantastic meeting. Well anybody, I suppose a lot of people familiar with the area I'm talking about, it's on the north bar side or Glen Dole side of the bridal path there that leads down into Glenvey Castle. I suppose at the moment, Greg, there's only really realistically room for two, maybe three cars max there. And you know, this is a fantastic scenic area, a fantastic walk right down into Glenvey Castle. And at the moment, you know, that has become a very busy road from Glen Dole right down into La Barra, Deuterey and on to Don Low. And it also sees, I suppose, kind of heavier vehicles as years go on as well. And you know, the sad question the minute there, Greg, is that the road is very narrow. So when visitors are coming to do the bridal path, they're having to actually, in some cases that, you know, heavier vehicles couldn't get through. So that's the reason that I have moved the motion this week and asking that now Donegal County Council engage with the OPW to construct a new car park and after the road there, the bridal path where tourists and locals can come, you know, can park their car in a safe environment and go and do their walk. Because you know, it is a fantastic walk, as I say, and it does take a fair bit of time. But I think it's important that people can park there, they can park safely and they can go and enjoy the walk without having to rush back or worry is their vehicle on the road or is it blocking somebody else, you know, like Shetley, you know. Yeah, and just for those who may not know, Donegal, why would someone not use the car parks that are available at Glen Vane? Go on and right out to they actually want to park on the lower by side of the bridal path and walk right down and to Glen Vane Castle and do the walk back again. You know, and at the minute that option is feasible because there's no car parking available and people are worried that you know, I don't want to walk myself, myself, my wife and her son in the summertime, you know, and it's a fantastic walk but it does take a few hours to go down and, you know, and I myself was worrying, you know, as my car parks okay, you know, for this length of time am I blocking anyone, I'm not blocking the road so I think it's important, you know when we have such a walk on our doorstep, Greg, it's important to be publicized and promoted in the best way possible and I think if we construct the car park there it will entice more people to come and park and do the walk because I have been made aware too of situations where tourists have came, they have realized there's no parking there and they've actually turned and gone away, you know and that's something I don't want to see happening, you know What's the situation in terms of land? Would land have to be acquired? Would they have to work with you know, national parks or realistically who owns the properties? Is there a council land available there and how many car parking spaces do you think could realistically be provided? Yeah, well Greg I suppose to start with you know, Leningrad County has recognized the parking as an issue at this location and you know, the area is designated as a special area of conservation you know, and any significant relevant would require a natural unpacked statement at a minimum you know, or outside Fulton you know, low Pw and Glen Bay National Park as owners of the land there but there's one thing Greg that I can point out there you know, back to maybe say five, six hundred yards down the road, there's actually what was at one time and I don't see any reason why we couldn't expand that and turn it into a car park, you know if it could only facilitate 10, 15 cars, I think it would be a fantastic job, you know as I say when in Tysport people they come to the area but Leningrad County Council has recognized a motion that I've took it on board and I've asked that they seek every avenue possible to sign secure Fulton so listen, they don't come back to me on the day to state that they are willing to engage with the OPW and then they only have to sign to seek Fulton to have a car park constructed so just as positive Greg and something I will be keeping an eye on especially here in Donegal I mean, it's a fantastic county we have here with a wild and lantic way and we're so much to offer but it's important have the proper facilities such as parking in place for everyone to explore and enjoy it in the best way possible All right, listen thanks for your time this morning that's Councillor Donald Mandi Kenny there, 08 660 25000 if you agree or for that matter disagree Greg, the port-a-louse in the town park if only for dons and pennies there are no others, small children and the elderly should not have to use the port-a-louse which typically smell very bad I don't get it, well there are plans of foot if I'm not mistaken for the provision of public toilets there I call it says only one Councillor turned up to the defective block meeting in the station house hotel and that was Councillor Michael McBride it was so disappointing that our representatives weren't in attendance, I'd like to thank him for his comments on the night a few more here we could all be in business with all the subsidies they're getting if a business isn't sustainable it should be allowed to fail says the listener another plumber's rate per hour is 60 euro bringing more people into the country who have a trade and stop this price gouging I think people we've had a couple of comments about plumbers and electricians and the past about how much they charge it's very highly, very highly highly skilled and regulated often part of the economy here you can pay a tenner for someone to come in I'm sure there'll be people that do that for you but what kind of a job would they do for you and how would they stand over that Greg, it's only hands to keep people quiet this is more reaction from the budget and suppress people with a mess the country's in the government destroyed this lovely little country they say although it obviously would disagree with those comments we were talking to Paki Boney yesterday sorry for saying air so much because what happens is I glance down to make sure that or to try and make sure that the comments are on the same issue but sometimes I need that little to make sure I know what I'm talking about here Casement Park will host Euro 2028 Games how things have changed it's a great pity that some politicians in the north are still unwilling to share power and indeed block any spending on that development I was stopped by customs at a checkpoint on the new town road it was coming from dairy I had four drums of heating oil in the car they took it off me I thought I was allowed to take it out for my own use but was told I'm not allowed to bring any oil out wow haven't this is like a flashback to my childhood so does that mean the same for other fuels cold for an example what about petrol is that the this caller they had that experience they were stopped by customs at a checkpoint on the newton road they were coming in from dairy they had four drums of heating oil in the car and it was taken from them has anyone else experienced anything like that please let us know 08 660 25000 a caller says a new road was made into the pole star roundabout where can an ambulance get through in an emergency to get to hospital who was the brains behind that there is some concern and I've heard it before if you're talking about the concrete centre centre margin there that it could hinder emergency vehicle access I'm not really quite sure I think there is still quite a bit of space for cars to pull but we'll have to wait and see if anyone is in the ambulance trade by the way and I know you listen to us give us an off the record text if you have any concerns about access to the hospital with the new four lanes layout this listeners grandchild is severely autistic the family's had no help whatsoever from cdnt she's not had speech therapy or physiotherapy since before covid the only help she has received is either at home or at school where the staff are brilliant the child is non-verbal and does not eat without assistance when her mother applied through the social welfare for support about six years ago the application was nothing short of a book and now six years on she's received another form to fill out which they're saying is a review that needs to be completed why do they need to review the needs of an autistic child needlessly putting the family through more stress for what purpose they ask so being asked to jump through hoops and form filling and in six years no cdnt services for that child will the irish government be contributing to the redevelopment of casement park for euro 28 it could become a white elephant in west belfast only drawing a crowd on austral final day not very accessible to donning all fans and when the wolf tones play at fail in a hospital why not build a stadium for all sports and for it to be used for concerts for all communities a few people actually have come in with that comment as well a couple on health here now my mother was 71 and was a kidney transplant patient she waited eight hours in the latter canning hospitals emergency department when she did get a bed she had a stroke in her sleep I always associated that stroke with her in ed and waiting to be seen she died four months later and I accept nothing will bring her back but it's so sad nothing is changing if anything the department is getting worse and I'm so sorry for your loss any loss is difficult but then when there are things that you think that may have contributed to it whether they did or not it can make the grieving process much more difficult again ed will continue to be under pressure until ch01 address to provide a pathway out of hospital years ago a GP used to run a Saturday morning clinic as Paddy really said on the program this week we have well trained and experienced GPs who could be utilizing their skills why don't they work in collaboration with after hours again letter Kenny has 239 acute beds adult acute beds with over 150 people accessing ed every day don't the maths so do the maths it doesn't add up where was the provision in the budget when we talked about the provision for health in the budget and it's not where it needs to be I think the 9 till noon show with letter Kenny credit union simplify your debts with a debt consolidation loan from letter Kenny credit union call us on 0749102126 or apply online via our app or in office today autumn is here and so are the new arrivals at green shoes shop in store or online now from top brands like Doc Martens, Kate Appleby Tommy Bow and Riker also new balance wonders echo and many more shop okay and one for all gift cards accepted in store visit green shoes and discover the perfect footwear to compliment your style green shoes at market square letter Kenny shopping center for Kara and online at green shoes dot com the dunigal Texel breeders will hold a sale of 45 rams in stock mart this Friday 13th of October at 7pm online bidding via the Mart Bids app that's this Friday at Refo Mart do you rely on kerosene to heat your business you could be eligible for one-off payment through the government's new business user support scheme for kerosene this scheme is open from now until the 31st of October find out more in enterprise dot gov dot ie an initiative of the government of Ireland dunigal denture clinic letter Kenny we can help 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 ballet rain letter Kenny beside Rossum college medical cards welcome for all your denture needs called dunigal denture clinic on 9 1 25 25 3 online at dunigal denture clinic dot ie transform your home with a visit to McGinley's furniture letter Kenny located at the port link business park just off the port road you'll find a huge selection of top quality suites beds and mattresses also slide robes and custom made dining and occasional furniture with prices to suit every budget see the great choice for yourself at our showroom McGinley's furniture port link business park Port Road letter Kenny click McGinley's furniture dot com Highland radio weather updates with Arland West airport where you can now fly daily to London Heathrow with Erlingas and connect via Heathrow to over 80 destinations worldwide including Boston New York and more OK let's grab that weather forecast for you which I don't have in front of me but I will have it very very shortly I can tell you that I don't want to see a ton of rain over the next few days but anyway largely dry today Thursday with a mix of clad and sunny spells after a chilly start though a few spots of drizzle may occur near the coast cloud will thicken this afternoon highest temperatures of 11 to 13 degrees light south-westerly or variable breezes fresh along the coast on Facebook Sean says Greg any idea on the prices for completing the new ATV training courses in Arland thanks well I can't actually see the prices right in front of me I have saw seen some prices ranging between two and 500 euro but leave it with me I will find that out for you now Connor Pope is a consumer affairs correspondent from the Irish Times and he's with us on the programme now good morning to you Connor Hi how are you getting on? Good to have you on right OK now tell us the new TV show that you're involved with and I suppose how Donagall people in the broader north west can get involved Yeah well listen the key thing in what you just said is how your listeners can get involved so yes that whatever I say here I'm kind of relying on the participation of your listeners so basically the programme is going to be broadcast on RTE in the new year and it's going to feature on McGee the financial planner and TV presenter as the Taskmaster and he's going to give myself Amy Maloy social affairs correspondent with the Irish Independent and Siobhan McGuire a consumer journalist and podcaster also with the Irish Independent the job of fixing consumer problems and there are so many of them out there as you well know so these problems could be anything from being given the run around by a bank or a telecom company or having a broadband provider let you down or have an airline hold on to your money unfairly or unjustly or anything else out there that is causing a consumer concern and the idea behind the programme is all will give us these problems and we will go off and fight the corner of the people who have problems and hopefully get a resolution so that's the essence of the programme and I think it's a reflection of what so many consumers need because I've been doing this in the Irish Times effectively for donkey years and what really disparate me is that no matter how often we highlight failings of companies those failings persist and they're absolutely pervasive across our society so it's like companies are putting obstacles in the way they want to make it difficult for us to get resolution they want to stop us getting the redress that we deserve and sometimes you just have to stand up and say I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore and fight back and that's what we want to do on behalf of your listeners. Yeah but as you say sometimes the complaint mechanisms are designed to frustrate to the point where you just say stop it and give up you know yourself if you're looking to engage or buy a product of customer support often you have to press a button a million times before you're told to you have to email or something along those lines it's kind of I mean it's good to hear some of the worst offenders being called out on this because as I say it is naturally designed to be to frustrate and then the human condition this is we tend to give up That's exactly right and I'm glad you say that because I think that's built into the business models of too many of these companies that they say listen we just want new business once we get that business in we don't really care that much about our existing customers and it used to be like this it used to be different you used to have this notion of customer care where businesses would pride themselves on looking after the existing customers and what baffles me is that it actually costs more to bring in new customers than it does to retain your existing customers so if the companies were just better as looking after the people they have there wouldn't be this churn there wouldn't be this constant changing of our switching although it's not as constant as it should be but the bottom line is that businesses make it difficult and as you say every time you call they say oh yeah our phone lines are very busy it's like with an employee more staff or empower your staff to do a better job at fixing problems in the first instance But kind of just in relation to that I mean maybe we're getting better at it now but you know we're incredibly brand loyal in this country I mean you'll have people that's with the same broadband provider and they'll almost proudly tell you for 20 years or 25 years yet you know they could save a fortune if they switched or it could be the same with car insurance or house insurance or whatever it might be and I think maybe we are getting a little bit better at switching thanks to the likes of yourself and others who promote that type of stuff but if more of us voted with our feet or maybe the markets are too small that we end up going back to the same people but if more of us weren't happy with our customer service so maybe they would all have to up their game somewhat 100% but the difficulty is that sometimes it can be really hard to make those changes like sometimes there's a reason why less than 1% of the market generally speaking will change bank every year and it's not because all of the banks are doing a sterling job it's because people perceive it as being really complicated to change your bank there's a reason why more than 70% of the market never changes health insurance it's because 300 different health insurance policies on the market and people are put off and frightened by the complexities of the market so an awful lot of the time the way the businesses are structured are working against the best interests of consumers but the answer to that is to be more proactive and to be more empowered and say listen I'm not going to accept this but there's an example of this because it's gone back 10 or 12 or 15 years now I can't remember this oh it's the bank effectively for this for weeks stopped functioning as a bank there was huge problems with the bank people couldn't get their money lodged it was a massive issue and it was all stemming from the bank's UK parent company so it was a computer glitch that just went on and on and on you would have caused after that scenario there would have been an awful lot of people saying right I'm going to switch my banking to another bank very few people did but the essence of it is that too often people are let down by businesses and too often people are let down by service providers and that's what this program wants to do wants to say okay if you're going to let down your customers we're going to highlight your failings on the television we're going to get redressed for your customers the ones that are contacting us and we're going to show other people that the frustrations that they're experiencing are not unique and they're not alone they need to be done and I don't want to be too optimistic but I would like to think that a program like this might be able to make some minor changes to how businesses do business and if they say oh god we don't want a feature on this program so maybe we'll up our game just a little bit now maybe that's wishful thinking on my part but I think it would be good if that would be the outcome of the program but as I said at the outset we do need your listeners help because we do need the stories and I know that almost every single person listening to this program now will have a story to tell of how they've been let down and some of those stories will be ongoing and some of the people who are listening now will be mired in dealing with a big company or indeed a small company because it's not just about the big service providers it can be about a builder it can be about a bloke who installs windows it can be about a scam that you fall convicted to anything that you feel that we could help with we'd like to hear your story alright okay so that covers pretty much anything anything consumer related so people can email consumer at indypix.ie that's i-n-d-i-e pix-p-i-c-s.ie with your story and obviously include your contact details and Connor listen thanks for that when do you know obviously the turnaround on something like this is probably going to be pretty quick when are you hoping to do we know when it's going to air well it will probably be it'll be in the new year so in the early spring kind of time that's when we were looking to broadcast it alright thanks very much indeed Connor excuse me Connor Pope their consumer first correspondent from the Irish Times he's working with Anne Maloy and Siobhan McGuire if you have a feeling you've been ripped off scammed and you feel you've nowhere else to turn consumer at indypix.ie and we know from the work we do in this show there are an awful lot of people out there and unfortunately it takes going to the media often to go to the media often to get a resolution I call this is Greg how often should we be switching well my internet as soon as the contract is about to come to an end my phone wherever any time you're about to come towards the end of the contract start looking around your insurance price around your insurance every single year price around your broadband if you keep switching broadband effectively you will eternally play 35 euro because those are the offers out there so switch around keep switching a lot of people then go from 35 to 16 they go oh well stuff you know it works quite well and I don't want to post them old and back do so I'm sure you'd prefer to have that 25 euro in your pocket every single month and often even just threatening to switch will in and itself save you money some of the big providers that you can speak to on the phone like Sky for an example they don't want to leave if they the contract is coming up ring them say you're about to leave you'll be surprised often you can save some money all right back with more after the news and obituary notices 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 enjoy a great weekend of dancing with Terry Crayon in the clownry hotel letter Kenny on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th of October special guests Sinead Black and Jim Divine on Friday night with Gavin Gribbon and Johnny Brady on Saturday paid the door admission only 20 euro Friday and Saturday night doors open from 8 30 p.m. that's the Terry Crayon weekend at the clownry hotel letter Kenny creative landscaping works are the only all distributors of Millboard cladding and decking thanks to its unique polymer resin 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on a pedestrianized lower main street Come and explore the latest car models enjoy fun activities for the whole family and discover incredible deals to get you on the road and stuff It's the perfect family day out and we can't wait to see you there The letter Kenny Motor Show is brought to you by the local franchised motor dealers and proudly supported by First Citizen Finance Letter Kenny Chamber, Donegal County Council the Society of Irish Motor Industry and FPD Insurance Visit letterkennymotorshow.ie for more details Live on air online and on the Highland Radio app This is Highland Radio News Good morning it's 10 o'clock Donald Kavanaugh at the news desk It's emerged that the government still hasn't fully approved a Donegal County Council program to address the impact of defective blocks on its own social housing stock The program was submitted by the council two years ago this month Members were told at a special council meeting that at least 20% of the council's houses are affected With more here's Donna Marie Doherty The council has a social housing stock of approximately 5000 units The special meeting on housing was told that visual surveys show that approximately 1000 council-owned social homes show evidence of pattern cracking which is consistent with defective concrete blocks Officials warned it's likely that the final number will be considerably higher In October 2021 the council made a comprehensive submission to the department seeking approval for the remediation of the council-owned damaged homes over a four-year program The following February the department mentioned the appointment of a dedicated project team but it hasn't yet approved the program In July of last year the council submitted an approval request for a powder project on 68 vacant social homes damaged by defective concrete blocks However approval has not been forthcoming to date The council has began preparatory work on assessing those houses pending departmental approval Donegal County Council is being asked to help resolve issues regarding access on the beach at Port Salon Damage to a pedestrian bridge means the only way to cross a stream and continue walking on the bridge is to go through the local golf club and that's potentially dangerous as the route is close to the fairway leading to the second hole Seconding a motion from Councillor Jimmie Kavanaugh Councillor Liam Blaney said the council put up that bridge 20 years ago but no department is taking responsibility for it now The council says it's working with the golf club in a bid to resolve the situation Councillor Blaney says there's been plenty of talking It's time for action That's a number of years done and I think it's time for action now instead of dialogue with enough dialogue done It's a danger for the people walking they have to go up on the second fairway and Port Salon Golf Club to get round the stream to go back and walk the beach again It's unfair to the golf club that nobody seems to take responsibility for fixing the bridge that's there At the end of the day there's only Goal County Council that put the bridges there in the first place and I think it's only Goal County Council whatever section should be held PTSB has introduced a new feature on its app to help prevent fraud scams PTSB protect will alert customers if they get a text with a fraudulent link or block them from accessing suspicious websites on their phone it'll scan users text messages whether they're running the app or not but the bank has no access to info on the phone Donnie Gold Deputy Pothick McLaughlin has written to the health minister asking him to review a decision not to include Donnie Gold Town as a location for a surgical hub 40,000 inpatients are treated each year between Latter-Kenny University Hospital and Slago University Hospital and with Donnie Gold Town almost halfway between the two Deputy McLaughlin believes a hub there would take pressure off both facilities however he says true to form all the surgical hubs approved in the first wave are south of the Dublin-Golway line he says once again the north west is being ignored and that cannot be allowed continue Family farms are being put at risk by drug debts racked up by young farmers an Irish country living investigation has found people in rural areas all over the country are buying cocaine on social media leading to an increase in young farmers seeking help with addiction drug counselors say those aged 18 to 30 are most affected Katrina Morrissey, Deputy Editor with the Irish Farmers Journal she says drug dealers are viewing the farming community as ATMs You know the dealers see a farm and see money and then ultimately have that person in debt which leads to further problems because once you're in debt you're beholden to the dealer and then you have the families when they do find out are willing to try and obviously get their family member out of trouble they need to clear the debt and RTE is exploring the possibility of selling off part of its Dunnebrook campus to raise revenue Director General Kevin Backhurst is among representatives of the broadcaster appearing before the Public Accounts Committee again this morning with more, here's Andrew Louth Kevin Backhurst says a complete sale which had been suggested is unlikely at this point he'll tell the pack that short term cash reserves are solid but will reiterate the plea for a reform of the public service broadcasting funding model he'll add that RTE is managing finances carefully amid a fall in TV license fee funding yesterday the media minister Catherine Martin confirmed the state's new economy and recovery authority known as New Era found a 21 million euro drop in license fee payments this year while a further 40 million euro loss is expected next year RTE will appear before the Public Accounts Committee from half nine this morning Andrew Louth Lancer House And looking at the weather forecast largely dry with a mix of clouds and sunny spells some spots of drizzle possible near the coast cloud will thicken this afternoon in top temperatures of 11 to 13 degrees celsius light south westerly or variable breezes fresh along the coast we're back with news again at 11 o'clock regular updates of course on our website hideandradio.com but for now from the news team good morning the obituary notices for this Thursday morning the 12th of October the death has occurred of Frank Curran Glen Carr Irish letter Kenny reposing at his late residence from 12 noon to 11 p.m. today with Rosary at 10 p.m. funeral mass tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock in St. Unan's Cathedral letter Kenny with burial afterwards in Conwell Symmetry funeral mass can be viewed live on churchservices.tv with family time please before the funeral tomorrow family flowers only please donations in lieu of desired to Donegal Down Syndrome Association care of Con-McDade funeral directors the death has occurred of Vera Kelly Ney Gallagher telling the screen Church Hill formerly of Drumless Shummer Church Hill Requiem Mass in St. Columbus Church Glen Swilly at 1 o'clock this afternoon with burial afterwards in the family plot in Temple Douglas Symmetry the house is strictly private please the death has taken place of Margaret Devlin Karooine Spinoog Burt funeral from her late residence this morning at half past 10 for 11 o'clock Requiem Mass in St. Angus's Church Burt followed by burial in the family plot in Burt Symmetry family flowers only please donations in lieu of desired to Donegal Hospice care of any family member or Terence Matlintock funeral director family time please from 10 p.m. to 11 a.m. the death has taken place of Joe Call number one Nixon's Corner Derry funeral from his late residence this morning at quarter past 10 going to St. Bathons Church St. Johnson for 11 o'clock at Requiem Mass with burial afterwards in the adjoining family flowers only please donations in lieu of desired to the Foyle Hospice care of any family member or Kelly's funeral directors Oakfield Ruffaux the death has taken place of Paul Sweeney Druma Canoe Church Hill funeral mass in St. Cullum Kills Church Glendon at 11 o'clock this morning followed by burial in Garton Symmetry the funeral can be viewed live on ChurchServices.tv family time please before the funeral the death has taken place of Winnie Winifred Boyle Ney Breslin Kornas Kilrain Glenties our remains are reposing at St. Connell's Church Glenties with funeral mass this morning at 11 o'clock followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery strictly family flowers only please for more details regarding wakes and funerals please go to highlandradio.com congratulations to our super value suppliers and food academy producers who won 94 awards at this year's Blosten Hair and Awards like our super value signature taste cashel blue cheese by cashel farmhouse cheesemakers winning gold and our food academy producer also winning gold for their multi grain loaf super value Ireland's number one award winning supermarket OK you're very welcome back to the program a listener earlier showing I think it was asked how much are the ATV tests from what I can determine 250 euro seems to be the cost of the test so in other words if you own an ATV and you want to operate it legally for work use on your property if you're a farmer or what have you it's a 250 250 euro charge for that training Greg why is there so little news reports from RT and local stations about the blockage of water electricity and food supplies to people of Palestine Israel is committing crimes against humanity and as usual our government issues warnings to keep quiet because of pressure from the EU and America I have been following this story quite closely I know President Biden has called on Israel to abide by the rules of war the EU has Ireland has condemned the collective blame strategy I've seen everywhere to be honest with you I hope you don't think I'm contradicting you obviously from a local radio station perspective we covered it in the newspapers this morning we have a guest coming in with us very very shortly but you know to dedicate three hours of a show where we're focusing on the northwest of Ireland we're not going to dedicate a ton of that if you know what I'm saying to international issues as important as they are because there's international issues all over the world so I've seen an awful lot of what you're talking about and as I say I referenced it this morning myself but that doesn't mean that I'm saying you're wrong if you know what I mean I can only just be honest in regards to the caller about customs taking fuel it is illegal to transport fuel without ADR a spill of kerosene could be detrimental to other road users so this is a caller who was stopped at a customs checkpoint although customs are they enforcing customs rules are they enforcing transport and transportation rules and maybe they both overlap but a caller earlier was taking three containers of home heating oil from the north into the republic they were stopped by customs and it was taken from them a few years back people were given a full license without taking any test if you have been driving for a good many years and on your driving lessons why don't they do the same now it's possible I think it's just with the that's I can't see that happening in modern society particularly with the terrible carnage we've seen on our roads this year but you know not particularly but road safety is going in the wrong direction an amnesty which was which was going back some time now I can't remember when it was precisely but I can't see something similar to that happening again the road from Dukery over Glendon is a hidden gem and is a fabulous scenic route that I bring many friends on what needs there is labis the whole way so traffic can pull in and pass was on the Isle of Mullen Scotland recently and from the side of the island is a singular road and labis so two-way traffic can pull in and let incoming traffic pass regardless of revenue control it's illegal in my opinion to carry oil in a vehicle other than a suitably made tanker okay now I presume then that precludes the fuel tanks I mean we if you go to your local service station and fill up with kerosene what are you transporting that in are you saying that's illegal and if it's illegal to transport kerosene in your vehicle how is it then legal for it to be sold at pumps in the Republic that's the one thing confuses me a little bit presumably you know people aren't putting it into a a metal tank or whatever it might be so how if it's illegal to transport home heating or regardless of being a cross-porder as that listener says how then is it legal for it to be sold at the pumps which you'll see quite a bit as it relates to the car park calls from councillor Kelly there at Glenveer call says no need for a new car park wasting more tax payers money again best of a good car park 200 metres up the road where buses do turn and cars do park putting more car parking spaces at the bridal path will defeat the wild look of the area the R254 road is not that busy and people can use the bus supplied by the park a car park will only encourage joy riders and boy racers who do speed trials in the park yep that's the same maybe obviously it's the suit of demand there I would have just driven in it's ridiculous that driving tests are cancelled if there is snow and just for us too generally surprise surprise on that issue Donegal forgotten again right okay I am going to take a break for the bingo numbers because it's jackpot day and I know a lot of you are keen to play so good luck if you are playing the numbers are just after this the county's number one talk show the nine till noon show on Highland Radio it's time for NCBI bingo on Highland Radio it's Thursday the 12th of October jackpot day you're playing for the jackpot prize of 21,400 euro on the pink sheet the reference number is s4 it's game number 41 the jackpot number is 69 this number can come out in any position from the next 10 numbers drawn and now here are your daily numbers 31 47 83 37 24 21 74 19 69 and finally 26 phone your claim to 9104833 before eight tonight leave your name contact number and the name of the shop where you purchased your book and we'll call you back the next working day get all your NCBI bingo information at highlandradio.com for all your denture needs call dunigold denture clinic on 9125253 online at dunigolddentureclinic.ie the cash it is here in vondoring used to often wonder is this a good time to use the dishwasher when they signed up to ESB networks is this a good time program they learned that there's more renewable electricity available when it's windy which helps us all on our journey to a clean electric future right does everything get right does everything get right does everything get right does everything get right does everything get right does everything get go to ESBnetworks.ie slash time to sign up today ESB networks energizing your everything the 90 noon show is brought to you by letter candy credit union digital loans now available apply online or via our app today and get your loan transferred directly to your current account okay you're very welcome back to the program now we're joined in studio by Dr Joseph O'Neill and Adrian McCurry letter candy Palestine committee member interfaith for Palestine letter candy gentlemen both of you thank you very much for calling in thank you very much Greg I think we can all agree the scenes that we are witnessing from the Middle East are just unbelievable aren't they absolutely shocking shocking yes absolutely terrible before we talk really about the current events can we have a little bit history Dr O'Neill as it relates to this parcel of land you know Palestine the Gaza Strip its relationship with the region thank you very much yes context is everything and the historical context is extremely important in 1948 three quarters of a million Palestinians were terrified out of their land by a number of massacres in 1967 a further 300,000 Palestinians were terrified out of the land again by a series of massacres any child who lives in Gaza has probably witnessed who's the age of 12 has probably witnessed about four invasions by the Israelis what is what is described unfortunately the word that is used in this context is genocide and a well known exiled Jewish Israeli academic Ilan Pappe as described this situation as a creeping genocide now genocide is a systematic attempt to destroy people not necessarily massacring them all in total but destroying their lives destroying their daily freedoms destroying their places of religious worship destroying their ability to walk out in the streets and go to the shops destroying their educational system and destroying the infrastructure so that's the background I think the that was a very simple summary of what's happening and what we have is not a conflict it is actually an ongoing creeping genocide of the Palestinian people and we have particularly the Gaza Strip a very small strip of land intensely populated 2.2 million people the majority of which are reliant on aid and obviously then I reliant on Israel for electricity, water and what have you pretty much they are in an open prison I think most people would agree because obviously if you can't move freely that's you know I don't think anyone could dispute that description that description offered but what is as far as we know Adrian what is life being like over the last number of decades for people living in Palestine and the Gaza Strip well basically as you described there's been an open prison effectively 2.2 million people and in the last 15 years they've been sort of subject to just constant bombardment in a way the structures that they rely on to live in have been decimated it's difficult to get goods in and out and it's just unthinkable the sort of conditions that people are living in there and particularly whenever half the population is under the age of 18 children and it's just unbearable in my opinion really and in terms of well we'll get to it maybe we'll get to some sort of a solution down the line but in terms of the events actually before I want to get to the events as well I'm sorry I just want to take this step by step so as it's everything's given sort of equal conversation obviously the latest escalation has been triggered though it depends how far you want to go back by the actions of Hamas now Hamas doesn't enjoy full support either in Gaza or Palestine more generally so do we have a sense of from within there everybody's suffering now at this point what the general populations reaction has been I think the support kind of on the Gaza Strip I think full support with sort of maybe we support them it's around about 65-67% so there's a lot of people that don't necessarily support Hamas so can you talk to me about that Dr O'Neill? I think we need to have our facts right here and of course there is massive Israeli propaganda we're leading to the airwaves Hamas was the democratically elected government of Palestine it is a popular government and it is loved by the people and it is fighting for the liberation of Palestine so you dispute sort of those internationally public statistics that Hamas has total support of the Palestinian people? I think there lies down to lies and statistics and I think what we don't hear we only hear one side of the situation about what's happening to the Palestinians and it's a very subtle sophisticated propaganda system and the elected government of Palestine of Gaza in particular is elected and they are protecting their people now when you're in a system a situation of genocide you know we totally disagree with any form of violence in our group but when you're in that situation sometimes if you're fighting against genocide history has shown us that if you don't stand up and fight for yourself the creeping genocide we've seen over the last 76 years will continue What is your view then Dr O'Neill of the action taken by Hamas at the weekend do you believe that was justified in the face of genocides you describe it? I think that what I need to say is that I'm the chair mainly of the interface for Palestine group which is a religious group we have some atheists and non-believers in it so we focus on the religious aspects of the issue and what we're dealing with from the point of view of our group is a sectarian genocide that's your description of what the Israelis are responsible for but just to the actions of Hamas there at the weekend what's your view of what it was I just told you that we would disagree with any form of violence taken out but we understand why people did what they did in 1916 we understand what people did in the war of Sargetto during World War II when they broke out of that prison and it has been described by David Cameron as the world's largest prison open air prison and it's a concentration camp and I think to put it in the Irish context we need to contextualize it the smallest county in Ireland is Laos Gaza is half the size of Laos it has 2.2 million people in it with no water no food no energy and the buildings in Gaza look like Hiroshima absolutely shocking the Israeli's have closed the prison gates there is no need there is no call for innocent Palestinian children to be murdered ruthlessly and continuously at this stage Adrian what is your views of you know in this day and age you talk of propaganda and listen it's rife I get that but in this day and age we have access to social media platforms telegram where what happens is you can see it and what happened to me and I can say this genuinely because I'm not coming with an agenda I'm not controlled in any way I don't have any particular you know I'm formulating as I'm going here but it seemed horrendous and I suppose when you're seeking to you know get international support from people that are passive up until now to see what was done to people who aren't soldiers or aren't involved in the military to me was horrendous it's unimaginable and I've kind of struggled with people's reluctance to condemn that but I get it because they can also reflect on what has been put upon the Palestinian people but for me the last couple of days have just been absolutely horrendous and you know again let me clarify someone might say to me well I can show you a few videos of what the people of the Gaza Strip have endured I get that right but I'm on I have to talk from the position where I am at emotionally right now I'm in a similar position Greg really you know I'm just sort of like a common person here living in Ireland and witnessing these events and sort of wondering what what the hell is going on and the only thing that I can sort of like draw you know fall back on to is like a failure in the wider international community to sort of like look at the agreement that was drafted there 30 years ago called the Oslo agreement and were one side of the signatories were complying with that agreement and the other side so and this is now being allowed to fester and it's now manifested as a sort of like horrible tragedy that's happening in that part of the world and it really shouldn't have been allowed to get to this stage really you know Ursula von der Leyen has commented attacks against civilian infrastructure especially electricity or war crimes cutting off men women children of water electricity heating with winter coming these are acts of pure terror that was the comments you made about Russia but nothing similar coming seemingly as it relates to the people of Palestine Dr. Ronil why is there the the and to be honest with you it seems a lot of the international leaders are being dragged kicking and screaming to sort of implore Israel to at least abide by the rules of war but why is it when we're talking about an oppressor of Ukraine versus as many would say Israel is an oppressor of the Palestinians that's a very good point there was an excellent radio interview with a Palestinian doctor in Gaza yesterday he made exactly the same point he said Palestinian history now is pre-Ukraine and post-Ukraine and what Ukraine has shown us it says as a massive double standard if you're a white Christian we open our doors to you that's great I think Ireland is fantastic that it's taken the Palestinians but if you're a brown Muslim are Palestinian Christian and you've been undergoing a creeping genocide for 76 years there has not been the same response there has not been the same outrage and public speaking now what I would say I might say is that we are an apolitical group we're interfaith and but we have to mention Sinn Fein here Sinn Fein have been very very forthright they have many faults I'm sure but they have been very forthright for the rights of the Palestinian and has people before profit particularly Richard Boyd Barrett has spoken very severely to the Israeli ambassador and that's gone viral what we are disappointed with in our group is the relative silence relating to the Palestinians from Fina Gale, Fina Fall and the other parties so you know top marks to Sinn Fein and people before profit for their stand of integrity and the Palestinian issue that's not to say that we can criticize them for other aspects of I don't have the exact quotes in my head but in Fina's to me Hill Martin I think he did there were some nuances to his comments maybe it didn't go quite as far as he I can't recall off the top of my head the comments from Leo Faradkar so Adrian the problem is it seems beyond actual repair this situation Israel now has and this is why the actions of Hamas as of what I've witnessed are unimaginable what the terror that people will put through innocent people whatever happens to people who decide to fight for their country that there is an associated risk with that but just to innocence and then of course all of the attack on the innocent children particularly in the Gaza Strip are more vulnerable to bombings there's a terrible loss of children's lives over the course of an awful long time but what is the solution because the weekend's actions there are people probably would argue that this is an Israeli false flag because it's given them now the international backing to go in and whoever gets in the way doesn't matter if they can go in and they are determined to wipe out Hamas and whoever gets in the way is standing in their way now it's irrelevant it's collateral even the hostages it doesn't matter so whatever we've witnessed before I think we're going to see something far worse for the people of Palestine going forward that turned into a statement you know what I mean it's a difficult one and I don't have any answers to it all I can think of is people having respect and responsibility and sort of having wisdom in this situation and this is again where I'll go back to the international community this subject has been on the table within the UN for years and no action has been taken nobody has sort of stood up to not enforced but to sort of like respect the decisions that were made within the UN with regard to these this situation particularly with regard to the rights of Palestinians and the indigenous people of that land and just try and facilitate peace and justice as best as they can and it's as I said earlier like it's manifested in this situation now where it's been allowed to fester and it's now it's now just a horrible tragedy really you know and again and they even sort of maybe more right leaning people seem confused because they're supporting both Russia and Israel at the same time which it beggars believe to me and it just goes to show that people adopt positions and really perhaps don't fully understand precisely what's going on I don't engage with them but I think you understand the sort of connections here and how all this works and then we have this situation whereby in the Middle East we have both the Israelis and the Palestinians openly reporting the casualties whilst in Russia and Ukraine they're actually keeping those cards very close to the chest it's just interesting the differences that we're seeing what is the solution Dr. Joseph O'Neill and I mean you know not what you wish it to be because that may be unachievable but in reality what is the solution here can you imagine the bitterness and the hatred how it's going to be magnified even furthermore with what is to come especially when the ground invasion from Israel begins I think two points one is I don't think this problem will get solved in our lifetimes so we need to keep working at it the other thing I would say that has come across to me time and again is Palestinians are very forgiving people they're very forgiving and that has been my experience the last 15 years indeed it's a situation now what can we do well I'm the chair of an interfaith group so we have a three point plan it's very simple it doesn't seem like very much but it's something and some other trees are set maybe a drop in the ocean it's my drop in the ocean and we have three point plan is pray pray if you're a non-believer be mindful of the situation every day even for a short period talk about Palestine briefly and when it comes up the topic comes up don't be afraid to discuss it and nobody should accuse you of being sectarian for discussing you know the longest and best documented genocide in history which is what's happening in the Palestinians and finally to act and act in whatever way is appropriate for your own current situation our interfaith group in particular one of our members is a Jewish Israeli holocaust survivor he's a famous artist and we have an exhibition of Palestinian paintings by him it's an olive branch to the Palestinian people an exiled Jewish Israeli artist and it's been travelling all around Ulster and it's visited all nine Ulster counties it's currently in the Conway Mail Heritage Centre in West Belfast so the other actions you can do are very simple most countries in the world formally recognise Palestine over 70% over 10 countries in Europe formally recognise Palestine including the Vatican which doesn't do things in a hurry and we would say the people should write to their TDs and their councillors and say Ireland it's a very simple measure but it's very symbolically important Ireland should formally recognise Palestine the second thing people should do in South Ireland is to support Senator Francis Black the singer and senator supporter occupied Territories Bill wherein Ireland legally promises not to buy products from a militarily occupied area like Palestine I've been doing interviews about that for a very long time about the pop pressure on Israel through they make diggers and clothes and electrical products it's never really it seems like an obvious thing but I think the complexity of it for most people it's not complex it is because I'll tell you why as soon as you try and mention it or ask a question I'm a propaganda machine and I've experienced that and I don't mean that with any way disrespect for whatsoever and I understand where that comes from because of what people have been through but people are afraid to say anything and educate themselves because they're afraid of what's about to come and we've seen that and I get it with a number of contributors from Palestine and often the first tone of the question people go on the defensive and then you're back out of that with absolute respect to you Dr O'Neill but I think that's the problem people don't fully understand and maybe they're getting a better understanding of it now I think the word here is boycott boycott was invented in Ireland in 1880 and was a very successful peaceful way of getting people's rights Ireland's famous for it and what we're talking about basically is a simple boycott don't buy people's products we had a very successful peaceful boycott against apartheid don't have their sportsmen here don't have their artists here and don't send artists to Israel to support the cultural propaganda program on a very simple local level we had our meeting of our Palestine group yesterday and we say there's other things you can boycott locally Marx and Spencers here routinely in lettercanny routinely sell dates from Israel we shouldn't be buying those because the profits from those dates Tesco is routinely selling peppers and again the profits from those peppers is going towards the genocide and people can pick and choose and people can actually if they feel a little bit stronger they go to the manager very politely say look I don't think we should be selling these products and finally there's medications there's a drug company called Tiva it's one of the top drug companies in the world it has generic drugs it has a big factory in Wexford or Warford it's an Israeli company the profits from those drugs goes towards the genocide of Palestinians I've changed my Tiva drugs I've gone to my GP and said I'm sorry but I really don't want to be taking these drugs from the company could you change to another Jerry and they do it without any comment whatsoever I wonder has the actions of Israel and some might say some might say Hamas to Adrian if we live in a world now whereby I don't believe we've ever been more divided be it Jewish people Muslim people Christian people even division within those religions whether you're not stern enough or you're too liberal or what have you then we have huge influencers like Elon Musk who as the Gaza electricity was cut off decided to make charging your electric vehicle in Israel free with everything we are so divided now I think it empowers countries to take actions or groups to take actions because they know people are stuck in their views there's no do you get where I'm coming from again and question that sort of rambled into a statement but I just fear that the world is now in such a space whereby we're going to see more and more of this because people will seemingly back something regardless just because it aligns with a general view that they formed in their mind you know there's severe fragmentation going on there within societies and like talking about social media like it contributes to that there as well where people sort of follow their own kind of tunnel vision in a way and don't kind of like have a broader open view about what's going on and getting better context about the situation instead of just listening to the headlines and following like the the main media out there with the stories that they're basically broadcasting so it's a very difficult time and it takes it takes time to sit down and learn these things as well like which is a huge investment in effort required from someone to do that there and it's kind of like contradictory in a way where history is supposed to sort of like inform us you know make us more intelligent but now it's kind of like being used as sort of like a weapon to basically narrow our thinking and get us all to sort of like think in a certain way but you know within a group think kind of setup so it's not helpful but yeah unfortunately people are going to have to put the effort in and explore these matters a bit more broadly themselves. Okay well if people have heard or are interested there's a peaceful witness day this Saturday at Tesco around about from midday to 2pm there's also a monthly the first Friday of each month there's peaceful witness days where they generate the same place so if people want to go down and stand in solidarity with people then they can't will we ever see maybe where a country like ours which is neutral and should be I think using our platform for peace the situation whereby different groups can cohabit on and around about and say enough is enough I think that's the role we perhaps it's just compassion really like expressing that there Okay Dr Joseph O'Neill and Adrian McCarry both members of the letter Kenny Palestine committee isn't that correct and you're obviously of interfaith for Palestine letter Kenny thank you both very much for calling on thank you very much I greatly appreciate it we'll be back with more after the break on 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 seasonal loans now available for Christmas apply online or via our app today and get your loan transferred directly to your current account the Donegal Tech Cell Breeders will hold a sale of 45 rams in Rafoe Livestock Mart this Friday 13th of October at 7pm online bidding via the Mart Bids app that's this Friday at Rafoe Mart Do you need a little extra help staying in your home? At Bluebird Care we offer a wide variety of Qmark approved personalised home care services across Donegal and are fully trained and committed staff will always meet your care needs with kindness, compassion and dignity to get your personal home care assessment plan visit bluebirdcare.ie or call our care team today on 07491 29562 and bring care home Join us on the 14th of October at the letter Kenny Motor Show as we showcase our range of 241 Kia's and 241 Nissan vehicles that will be available to order for January 241 our sales team will be on hand to answer any questions you may have iMotors, your home for Kia and Nissan in Donegal Visit BluebirdApplebee.com Hope you enjoy my shoes Donegal Denture Clinic Letter Kenny Denture Problems We can help At Donegal Denture Clinic we customise, personalise and tailor your dentures to suit you Call us for a free consultation on 9-1-25-25-3 Find us at Bally Rain Letter Kenny Beside Rossum College Medical Cards Welcome For all your denture needs call Donegal Denture Clinic 253 online at DonegalDentureClinic.ie The night old news show is brought to you by Letter Kenny Credit Union Offering low-rate car loans with fast approval Apply online at letterkennycu.ie or in office today Hey there folks of Letter Kenny Mark your calendars It's the Letter Kenny Motor Show Happening on Saturday the 14th of October on a pedestrianised lower main street Come and explore the latest car models Enjoy fun activities for the whole family and discover incredible deals that will get you on the road and stuff It's the perfect family day out and we can't wait to see you there The Letter Kenny Motor Show is brought to you by the local franchised motor dealers and proudly supported by First Citizen Finance Letter Kenny Chamber, Donegal County Council The Society of Irish Motor Industry and FPD Insurance Visit letterkenymotorshow.ie for more details Congratulations to our super value suppliers and food academy producers who won 94 awards at this year's Blossom Hair and Awards Like our super value signature taste Casual Blue Cheese by Casual Farmhouse Cheese Makers Winning Gold and our food academy producer Clonikilty Gluten Free Kitchen also winning gold for their multi-grain loaf Super Value, Ireland's number one award-winning supermarket or online at homeland.ie Bank of Ireland's new app feature lets you know if your bills are going up or if you've won too many subscriptions it'll even show you comparison of your spend over the last six months so if you're getting constant deliveries could someone answer that please sorry you'll know to maybe keep an eye on the online shopping seriously tailored money insights with the Bank of Ireland mobile app because your financial well-being is our priority Bank of Ireland, begin Bank of Ireland is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland Terms and conditions apply Highland Radio Weather Updates with Ireland West Airport where you can now fly daily to London Heathrow with Air Lingus and connect via Heathrow to over 80 destinations worldwide including Boston, New York and more OK, largely dry today with a mix of cloud and sunny spells after a chilly start though a few spots of drizzle may occur near the coast cloud will thicken this afternoon temperatures 11 to 13 degrees light south-westerly or variable breezes fresh along the coast OK, we heard yesterday from a spokesperson for one of the redress focus groups and it's underlined the work that's being done by them and now if you wish to engage with them learn more information there is a new website which has been launched and it's a lovely website actually it is called or the URL is redressfocusgroups.ie Roshine Gallagher is chair of the redress focus groups and is with us now good morning Roshine, how are you getting on? Good morning, getting on great, yeah Alright, it's good to have you with us so just give us a brief outline of the formation of the redress focus groups it's always good, you don't know when new people switch in Roshine just so people understand Well I suppose a few years ago I started talking about a support hub and I knew that we had to get something together to get support in place for the entire county and I kind of pushed away at that and I realized it wasn't really working out but I would keep pushing on anyway and so before Christmas I suppose maybe even back as far as August, September I started thinking about the idea of bringing in volunteers to help with the crisis because I knew there were so many people that were able to and willing to help with so many issues but they didn't have a platform to begin that work or to start from so in January fast forward we did a lot of talking about whether joy and branded tyranny joy and Kermit did when we formulated the redress focus groups so we are all homeowners so it's a homeowner led initiative so we started in January by doing call-outs for volunteers in various locations and that's how it all began really and it's not just helping people and campaigning on the technical side of things it's recognizing to the emotional stress which we've heard even just a fraction of on programs like this it's to assist in that as well because there's this people I know affected by this hatred of the property that they're in they don't want to do anything to it they don't care not everyone of course Roshin but they're just so broken by it that they just don't feel there's any point in doing anything you know and then that permeates out through life as well too Roshin absolutely support and empowerment are two of our main focus this and redress focus groups and the mental health supports although there are a lot of mental health supports in the area Greg no one knows more than you about how stretched those services are so we have nothing in place specifically for supports of mental health support for people living through the effective box crisis we banded about this number of 5,000 7,000 I mean and they have shown independent at a great article we're looking at that number 7,000 being in a show and alone we're looking at 20,000 people if you look about how many people are in those homes you could be looking at what 80,000 people I know five outside in a show and I have a small friends group I know five outside in a show and a cluster that are their defective concrete properties but they people haven't even really taken the step to establish that yet but they know themselves if that makes sense so that's as I say I know five and one person with a relatively small sort of circle if that makes sense so unfortunately we don't have a number we don't even have a true accurate estimate of a number but I mean the reality is you take a drive around Donegal there's even a village that you will drive through and Donegal I won't say where it is in 10 years time there will be one building in that village that's that's stanton you know it's a serious crisis and one of the things that we that I we have such an acute awareness of the enormity of the size of this I don't know why but I just seem to be able to grasp it and I think there's a lot of people the people that need to grasp it are not grasping the enormity of the situation so creating awareness in this way bringing people and homeowners that feel frustrated or control of our own fate of our own lives has been taken away from us with this scheme you know and the lack of supports that are available so redress focus groups gives that power back to the people and they own the crisis they own redress focus groups and they are now in control of their own fate and I think it's really important to because you know it's it's very hard to deal with everything but I think it's really important for people that are affected by this or want us you are affected by this defective concrete issue when there are redress focus group meetings held for an example that they go and attend because the people that are involved in this need support as well you know and they've got a lot of information to disseminate and to pass on and it's very easy I suppose and a cold evening or whatever it might be if there's other stuff on not to but I think when these meetings are held it's really important as many people and they are well attended but as many people as possible go to them because those involved in them rushing and I'm not speaking on the behalf of please correct me if I'm wrong but there are also people that are dealing with this themselves and then giving of their time to try and help other people so there needs to be a sort of a backflow of support there as well because it's draining I'm sure to be part of this process it is absolutely and the dedication and commitment that's been shown by the volunteers that are coming on board with all homeowners almost all of them are homeowners but of course some of them are not they're they're defect they're affected indirectly which is another thing people aren't aware of being affected in various different ways like for example last night the mental health and youth focus group we had a meeting that began at 8 30 last night and didn't finish to 10 p.m. and actually Caitlin was dialing in from Italy so it was 11 p.m. with her so the dedication and the commitment from volunteers and allies is unbelievable it is unbelievable and in turn that is going to empower other people to say well you know I can take part in this I can volunteer I can take control of my own fate as well and they'll be encouraged to do that through the volunteers have achieved in such a short space of time as well but yes the meetings they weren't as well attended recently but the next meeting that we're having is the 24th of October and then the final meeting we're having is the 5th of December both of them are held and I'm green in hotel but I want to really make it clear that because we are only getting started we're only getting going we understand that a the website is not going to be able to be used by everyone we understand that we need physical supports and tangible supports that people can you know we need a leaflet to go out to houses and people that are not online and we also intend to do meetings throughout the county so I don't want people in different areas of the county to feel that this is just a specific area I think people understand that I hope to do because there's a lot of a lot of stuff that's on going at the moment the website itself is people in other counties and even in Northern Ireland that we can be a bit of a help to them and show them what can be done okay and the website is live now it's I'm always afraid of giving out the wrong address redressfocusgroups.ie and those watching and myself here looking at it now it's exactly how I like my web pages it's simple if you know what I mean about redress groups info news contact that's what's there an invitation to become a member help and advice and then the media center and that's it you click through and it's designed to be user friendly and manageable and I know a lot of work has gone into that regard and it's it's that's what's there now it can grow from from here on in now that the infrastructure is there absolutely and so I have to first of all thank Michael McGinty of Mina Design and his team and and also Brent Tierney Joyce up Tierney Joyce.ie myself and Brenda and Michael we worked on this every single day and as I like Michael approached me and said what about a website and I was like so amazed that someone would offer something like that I mean this is such a big deal at all in their free time they actually took time out of their day's work to do this to work on this they did it all for free as a donation to the crisis to the people and what they have done is phenomenal it's this sort of thing should have been done a long time ago government should be doing this should be supporting this should be funding this redress focus groups is wrong with absolutely no funding whatsoever everyone is doing everything voluntarily which is it's a bit worrying going forward because of the commitment that it takes to organize and run redress focus groups and I will not be able to come at the time that I have been able to come in the last few months and that's a bit of a concern but we keep pushing on lots of people like the Lord and you know we're out there and a few people taking it open and there's a head of steam that it needs to be maintained as well but it's there right now for you to go and check out and it supplements you know what's happening in terms of the work on social media through the Facebook pages and Twitter X etc the in-person meetings the campaigning and everything else that's going on but the focus groups are delivering results they are supporting people and it's a long road and it's a chipping away bit by bit but if people stick together and unite and work together people won't be beaten you know this is a this is a series of battles but it is a war that will be that will be won you know and obviously that word has connotations the homeowners have proven this from day one you know you've got the science and you've got the all the other things the homeowners have done and we have proven that if you work together you can make change happen so you have two choices you can come and join the reduced focus groups feel empowered and be supported and take control of your own fate or you can feel like this is hopeless yes the scheme is not but for purpose it is absolutely awful we're left with the scheme that we are but we've got to work with what we have right now there's people saying you know that we can't be saddled with loans the back in an insurance group are not asking for loans so that is misinformation there are people that cannot live any longer in their homes and they need the money to be given to them bridging finance it's bridging finance which is not a loan we need to be able to move on with what we have and we need to have hope we need to encourage each other and we need to make sure we can get through this crisis because if we give up and we don't do that where are we going to be? Redressfocusgroups.ie and people like Roshin and the others need your support as well because they can't do it all themselves dealing with their own problems with their houses and family listen and I really have to mention the volunteers thanks so much for having me on this morning but without the volunteers we can't do any of the work and you'll see on the website there's a progress report of what the volunteers have actually done and achieved in such a short space of time I would always have been the one answer in anybody on social media now you'll have Jess, you'll have Debbie and I'm also so grateful to Garrett Hart so it is a culmination that if we do we can pull ourselves out of this hole Thanks Roshin, take care of yourself back with more after the break and enjoy easy online payments later make this Christmas unforgettable with LKBikes visit us today in store or online at LKBikes.com with no deposit the decision is easy Oktoberfest sale now on in easy living furniture presently retail park looks like we're in for a cold spell perfect weather to chill out in a steaming seaweed bath on Sligo's shores talk of scattered chairs too perfect weather for sea swimming off the coast of Waterford sure you're already wet it's fear swingy out there perfect weather to be swept off your feet whatever the weather it's always perfect weather to keep discovering with great short breaks forecast right across Ireland plan your next one now at discoverireland.ie and showcase your business apply before Monday the 23rd of October at 12pm by a local enterprise.ie forward slash Donnie Gall or email info at leo.donniegallcoco.ie for more information with all the stories that matter across the Northwest it's Greg Hughes on the 9 to noon show on Highland Radio now it's a minute past 9 time for a minute past 11 I beg your pardon time for a news update and it's over to Donald Kavanaugh thank you Greg good morning thank you for joining us and I'll see you in the next video thanks for watching thank you to Donald Kavanaugh and that's potentially dangerous as that route crosses the fairway of the second home seconding a motion from Councillor Jimmie Kavanaugh Councillor Liam Blaney said the council put up the bridge 20 years ago but no department is taking responsibility for it now the council says it's working with the golf club in a bid to find a solution Deputy Patrick McLaughlin has written to the health minister asking him to review a decision to not include Donnie Gold Town as a location for a surgical hub 40,000 inpatients are treated each year between letter Kenney University Hospital and with Donnie Gold Town almost halfway between the two Deputy McLaughlin believes a hub there would take pressure off both facilities however he says all the surgical hubs approved so far are south of the Dublin Galway line 77% of Irish households believe a car is absolutely necessary for family transport 4 in 5 use the car as their primary motive travel which is almost 4 times the number who mostly use public transport Research by Liberty Insurance also found only 2% of Irish people believe to have access to a car and Donnie Gold County Council has pledged to examine the possibility of providing a car park at the start of the bridle path on the Lendon side of Lendvay National Park the issue was raised this week by councillor Donald Mandi Kelly who told letter Kenney Milford and Isabel District that just a few parked cars on that road can create blockages discussions are to be held with the office of public works to explore the possibility of them developing a parking area at the location and we're back with headlines again at 12 noon don't forget regular updates on our website dot com thank you Donald from Marvel Studios what I'm about to tell you is going to be hard to believe again Loki Season 2 is on its way join the god of mischief on his mission you better run to save the multi versus past present and future time slipping you know that yeah you've seen that streaming exclusively on Disney Plus 18 plus subscription require T's and C's apply the county's number one talk show the 9 till noon show on Highland Radio some of your comments here if Hamas can smuggle in thousands upon thousands of rockets into Palestine I'm sure they have no problem getting in a bit of food and water they want to see Palestinians killed to stir up hatred against Israel believes listener was Iran is assisting them in the transport of weapons many feel but to be able to smuggle food to feed many millions I'm not sure I poor condemn the killing of all innocent human being says a listener how can you applaud Sinn Fein and people before profit they've no problem with abortion the crew killing of thousands of helpless little babies refer to mothers referring to mother Teresa's quote thank you for speaking the truth about Palestine the western media in a narrative that's repeated daily full of untruths and propaganda I pray for the poor Palestinians hi Greg I was just comparing the size of the Garver Strip to parts of Donegal the Garver Strip would fit into Inner Shown twice dreadful what's going on and these people have nowhere to go I think people don't realize or maybe they are beginning to realize how many people are jammed into a tiny little space that they can't move from really at all and with us now good morning and good morning Greg how are you I'm okay we're talking about the fuel allowance and what's your view on it well it's it's a cap that they have on the means testing as far as the fuel loans is concerned they have a cap on it of 500 per week and anything over that then you're not entitled to the fuel allowance I would be a 75 year old lady and a quite active thank God I'm lucky but I would the fuel allowance means test that they don't pick into consideration any outcomes that somebody would have so like I mean I am slightly over which means I'm not entitled to the fuel allowance at this age and it's not just me that I'm speaking for I'm speaking also for people that would be the bracket of maybe 20,000 annually which is not an awful lot in this day and age to be living on with the price of everything like I would have an awful lot of outgoings in the line of my rent, my master's my home security, keep my house safe my petrol, tax, so my car insurance, car loan my coal I have a few loans in the credit union home insurance or electric just to name a few and I'm sure everybody is in the same boat and in the south was maybe something similar which leaves you over the 500 bracket and with them doing what they have done at the moment they haven't even looked at that they have that cap on it of 500 which I feel they should have done something about that and it happened so on It's a thousand for a couple just in case anyone is listening whilst they won't take into consideration your outgoings what they do take into consideration though is any savings one might have day, or for inheritance purposes or whatever it might be, the cost of your property, anything over 50,000 euro is counted by the way, or any investments. So really they don't mind assess. I understand that. But my point being is that you are assessed for what you might have in terms of collateral, but you're not assessed because a lot of those are natural money that you can access on a weekly basis. But you are, you're not assessed for your outgoing. So in other words, it's not equal. It doesn't give a fair, it doesn't have a fair representation of people's different positions. That's exactly my point. That's exactly my point. And I'm going to, well, I'm still going to try and see what I can do about this. I'll go to citizen's advice again on the situation and see if they have anything they can throw light on that I can put forward to them. At this stage, I don't think so. But I mean, in the winter time, I would burn at least two bags. They want us to burn the smokeless fuel, which at the moment it's 23 euro a bag, which is reduced at the moment. But it will be gone back up again as the winter goes on. Like last year, that that bag of fuel was 2850. So I've burned at least two, if not going on to my third of the weather start. That's 60 euro a week. And the thing what I don't understand about it, Anne, is the big push on at the moment that's going to become ever more so as we move forward is encouraging people or compelling them to contribute to their own pension, which presumably for many people might bring them towards or over that 500 euro per week. Whereas it's another argument say, well, maybe I'm better off not doing it. I'm not suggesting that for a second. But it's not no, it's not incentivising people is it to sort of contribute to their retirement if it's used against you then for an allowance like heating your home? Well, why don't why don't even look at the fact that, you know, like people have done their work all their life that paid all their dues and they come to their pension age and they get their pension. Now I worked in with the health service all my life, like me and it was Donegal County Council, then it went on to the division also of the Northwestern Health Board, et cetera, then the HSE. And I worked right up until I had had about 33 and a half year service. And then I had to go because I had to go out early because I had arthritic issues going on. It was work related, you know, like I mean, I worked as a clerical officer and with your head bent forward, you know, like I had this thing going on with my neck and I was worried sick that it would end up bent. Yes. And my fingers, the joints in my fingers, like there's a lot of arthritic problems in my mother's side of the family. So I had these issues that I couldn't close even my forefinger whenever I was writing, you know, I just just to do what's where and tear at work, you know, not that you just don't us. But whenever you come to this age of 66 or whatever and you get your pension and then you go on to 70 and there's these different incentives up and able to get your fuel allowance or you go on to your 70 plus. Why did they not even look at the fact that, you know, whenever you're 70 or 70 plus that the lift at the cap? Because if you worked in a job and a government job, you're paying your dues all your life or any other work related situation, you're paying your dues all your life, you paid your tax, you paid your stamp and all that there to be able to have these extras whenever you got to your pension age. Why did they not sort of think and look at it with 70 maybe 70 plus? We left the cap slightly and maybe given allowance of not this 500, but maybe had it up to about 650 to 700. Like I thought as if you were asking them to do too much, but a little bit to give that leeway for people that were in these sort of jobs that was going to knock them. I think it's sad that you go into your older years and there's these little perks, but you can't get them. Yeah. And even in your case, it would only help because it was pretty much cover one bag of the two bags that you would use in a week. It's 33 Euro for 12 weeks. So you're not looking for a freebie. You're looking for some help, a return on your contribution. However, however one wants to describe it whilst you were speaking and I was listening to you intently, I was going through the NFS to form, which you have to fill out if you're over 70 for the fuel allowance. And everything is about how much you have any income pensions from outside Ireland, other payments from inside Ireland, and nothing of course, as you've already pointed out, and that takes into consideration the growing cost of living your outgoings. Yeah, which is unfortunate. They haven't made, they even had made no loans of about 150 on to that itself, you know, or even 200. That's not not an awful lot like because even listening to the budget at the moment, the things that they're doing and I just feel so angry, like, you know, I really do feel angry and I'm sure not the only one. Yeah, what's bothering you? It's bothering me trying to keep on top of the financial situation because I would have had commitments that I was I'm able to cover. But it's just that it would have been nice to be able to get my fuel allowance. That's just all I was asking for. And I don't think it was an awful lot. And all the years that I've worked and paid my dues to just ask for 33 Euro a week extra. Yeah, I know what you're saying. And I mean, and when you're in your working years, you don't really anticipate this stuff. I don't think I don't think people consider it kind of comes, it hits you, you know, if you're lucky enough to live into your 70s or 80s and we're in good health, you know, when you're in your 30s and 40s, you're really considering what life might be like. Did you have a different, did you have a different notion of what life might be like post retirement plan? Yeah, you know, I'm just, I just feel saddened, but you know, I let down, I think is another way I'm extremely disappointed to be quite honest. I am extremely disappointed, but there's absolutely suppose I will, I will do a paper trail on it and see where I can go with it, you know, if it can do it for somebody else, if it doesn't work for me, maybe it might do something for somebody else, you know, if it does, it does stay in touch with us and if there's any information you want us to get out there if in your endeavours, okay? Yes. All right. Okay. That's lovely. Thank you very much. Take care of yourself. Okay. A caller says I'm with air for decades. I discovered something this year that my contract end date is was the 15th of October. I contacted air on the 20th of September and got a new contract. My next bill I discovered the price changed to out of contract spend days on it on to air, but I only got a goodwill credit which didn't make up total my received loss. The price change in contract is due to the method how air issue bills, which is one month in advance will be where and contact air a month prior to the end of your contract. Could you call back and tell me on the quiet what you're paying and for what services if you don't mind just for the crack and we'll see how much above what potentially you could be paying your pain because you've been with them for decades. So if you don't want to, that's fine. The information is not for publication or anything as such. But what what's what are you paying air and what services are you getting? Oh, wait, six. Well, you know the number get back in touch with us. You only require an ADR to carry fuel if you have the capacity to carry more than 999 liters. I love this program, you know, people have so much information. I couldn't figure out how people could transport fuel from a service station pump to their home. If you require a license. So that kind of answers that I appreciate it. Early years childcare advanced course third years in the ATU that were being taught in the Northwest Regional College started three weeks ago with four students numbers from before the course began. Email received by the students last night to say that they were canceling the course due to the low numbers. They gave an option to defer or to go into second year in the letter. Kenny campus meaning participants would have to repeat a year. Any more information on that now it doesn't affect a lot of people. But what's going on? We need lots of people trained in those areas. Hi Greg, I was in hospital at the weekend because a hospital consultant advised my GP that I needed to be admitted due to concerning blood results. I had a relatively short wait in the ED nine hours to get a bed. The bed was at the end of a corridor with a screen in front of it. I was admitted on Saturday and discharged on Monday evening. I didn't see the consultant I needed to see and was sent home with a prescription and the promise of an outpatient's appointment. Fortunately, my GP is excellent and is trying her best to make sure I'm okay. I feel for the GPs and now who now have to try and manage issues which should be managed by consultants. I think the principles says another listener. I think the principles in secondary schools should be lectured on the drugs problems facing young people. It starts well before college. It's so offensive to society in runes lives. More education in schools. Is that what you're saying? Should be done. Jamie's thank you weekend is taking place in Burtonport Community Centre this coming Saturday. There'll be an indoor Mammy's market, good quality pre-loved baby and children toys, clothes and equipment from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Sunday the 15th of October, a vintage tea party from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. It's in aid of Temple Street Children's Hospital bombulance, Little Blue Heroes, Bloodbite Northwest and Donegal Cancer Flights and Services. So it's Jamie's thank you weekend taking place. And it is on the dates I just mentioned. I just wanted to double check there. The 14th of 15th of October this coming weekend, it's in the Burtonport Community Centre. Mammy's market, you don't see too many of those by the way. So get along and you can get your good quality pre-loved baby and children's toys, clothes and equipment from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and then a vintage tea party from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. On the Sunday and the... This is a thank you to amazing services that we never know when we may use them or need them. We hope that we won't, but all too often we do. Temple Street Children's Hospital bombulance, Little Blue Heroes, Bloodbite Northwest, Donegal Cancer Flights and Services. So if you want to support those events, pick up a few things at the Mammy market and have a vintage tea party on the Sunday, please do so and support Jamie and his thank you through his family. OK, I'm glad I got to mention that because that's the one I was trying to mention yesterday but I only had a link but I have the full thing now so thanks to Don LaMarie for that. OK, back shortly. At ESB Networks we're connecting Ireland to a clean electric future and as part of the national smart metering program we're now installing smart electricity meters in your area. Your new smart meter will reduce the need for estimated bills, help you to manage your electricity usage more efficiently and enable you to access smart electricity products and services. We'll contact you before your meter is installed. Find out more at ESBnetworks.ie slash smart meter. Do you need a UK address? Save hundreds of euros on custom charges shopping online with Space Hub Dairy. We provide a full virtual office address mailbox service for all your business and personal use. Save your business hundreds possibly thousands on custom charges with Space Hub Dairy call 048-7187-8077 for more details. Find out how the budget will affect your farm and family in this week's Irish Farmers Journal. 60 million euro in extra funding for acres and organics. Government commits 200 euro per suckler cow. 5000 euro stock relief boost for farmers. Sheep farmers to get extra 8 euro per yaw. New limit on land leasing tax reliefs. 8 million euro fund for tillage farmers and new higher times funding for slurry storage. All inside this week's Irish Farmers Journal. You cannot afford to miss it. Every Volvo made goes through a rigorous quality check process before it leaves the factory. Every pre-owned Volvo available through our Volvo Select program goes through that same process again with all the quality, power and guarantee you expect from Volvo. Own a pre-owned all electric Volvo C40 or XC40 recharge with a minimum 12 month unlimited mileage warranty and Volvo assistance as standard. Get used cars, recharged at McGinley Motors, search Volvo Select or visit Volvo cost.ie Terms and Editions supply. The Shimus Grand Festival, a weekend of the best in traditional music, singing and dancing. Clon Manny from the 13th to the 15th of October. Concerts featuring Thomas Drain, Paula and Melanie Hilton and the amazing Frankie Gavin. Tickets on Eventbrite or pay at the door. Check out Full Program on Facebook or log on to ShimusGrantWeekend.com. Clon Manny 13th to the 15th of October is the place to be. Welcome to the 32 from Letty Kennedy Dublin. When you book online and travel for less Expressway, bringing you the time asked. The time's 20 past 11. Now, if you're a regular listener to this show, you would know that I think we all accept that, um, drugs are rife right across the country. No longer an urban situation, whether that was ever a myth or not, I don't know, but, um, they are available everywhere and the dealers are exploiting every avenue they can to make money. Um, Jeanine Kennedy is Irish Country Living Editor and joins us now. Jeanine, good morning to you. Good morning. How are you doing? I'm good. I'm good. Right. Now, your publication has, uh, conducted an investigation into, um, drug activity in urban and rural areas. What were the jump out findings for you? Well, honestly, I think we all are aware basically that drug use is on the rise, cocaine use in particular is on the rise in the entire country. You know, we always thought it was more of an urban issue or maybe it was occurring in towns, larger towns. I think certain classes of people as well, too, that was out there for a long time as well, but sorry, Jeanine can continue. Yeah, no, that's totally fine and you're absolutely right. It was a certain class of people and certainly it was a more expensive drug on the market and, uh, and for farming families in particular, I think a lot of, uh, people would have assumed that agricultural families would be kind of far removed from those situations. I think in recent times it's been shown that that's just not the case. Um, increasing use of social media in terms of accessing drugs has made it available anywhere, uh, anywhere in the country and at any time. And what we've learned is that a lot of drug dealers see Irish farms as more like, uh, cash availability, so they see nearly as ATMs and, uh, while we wanted this series to not be an alarmist kind of thing, you know, we're not trying to create headlines or anything, but we did want to create awareness and know that there were supports out there, I suppose, for families who would have been affected by, uh, cocaine addiction. Yeah, and, uh, so it's we don't really have, uh, an idea of the full extent of it. We know cocaine's readily available. We know it's widely used. We know it's widely used, uh, in all areas of society. Do you think, then, within, say, for instance, the agricultural community with it, with usage follows addiction that there is a maybe more people than we would have anticipated living in rural farming communities who are addicted to cocaine? Absolutely. Um, this week our health writer wrote, uh, spoke with Sarah Cassidy, uh, who works in rehabilitation, and she was saying that it has become increasingly the case that she's dealing with young farmers generally aged between 18 and 30. They're the most often impacted, and what she's saying is that they will start with something else, maybe a gateway drug like marijuana, uh, and move on to those kinds of things, but the problem is that, you know, with any kind of addiction, there are going to be things like relationship breakdowns, um, on farms there are additional problems, you know, it can affect things like succession, uh, it can affect, uh, familial breakdown, it can, uh, put family farms into serious debt as well, and it can also increase on-farm accidents, uh, or the occurrence of an incidence of on-farm accidents. So it is really, uh, something for farming families to consider, and also know that, I suppose, um, where in the past few decades, people would have wanted to keep this kind of thing quiet, that it's really important, you know, we've become aware of the things like mental health, you know, being able to talk about mental health issues and financial issues, a lot of farmers face these issues, and it's becoming increasingly okay to talk about these things and bring them to your community, your wider community, and this is a similar subject, you know, it's okay to look for help and look for support. Yeah, because often, um, uh, the evidence shows, and by the way, just for context, we are the fourth globally, the fourth, uh, highest consumers of cocaine in this country, so let there be no doubt it is a very, very significant problem, but what happens is there's drug usage in the late teens, uh, and on through the 20s, and then the problems really start to hit home, you know, in the mid 20s, and beyond, at that point, the addiction is well established, the debts have been built up, the real threat to the family assets, or the personal assets there, uh, if they're not already gone at that stage, there's a real threat to them there. Not to mention that you're dealing with criminals who will leverage against you to get money from you and keep you addicted. Yes, and if you read the article in this week's edition, you'll find that, um, in a lot of cases, the guards are quite helpless in this area as well, not necessarily helpless, maybe that's the wrong word to use, but there hasn't really been a way of getting farming families out of this debt once it's occurred. The hands are tied. So we're talking, yeah, we're talking tens of thousands of euro, up to 30,000 in some cases, um, and, you know, it becomes, um, an additional stress and it really, really impacts farming families. So in addition to needing to go to rehabilitation, you're also dealing with the stress of this debt. So obviously Irish Country Living is doing its bit in investigating this and highlighting it. Is it time that we saw more activity, I wonder, from farming groups to sort of say, right, okay, there's some evidence now that there is an issue, um, and we need to go off of pathways and support and signposting for people who, before they find themselves in a difficult situation, a situation that's more difficult to get out of. Absolutely, and, um, aside from, uh, we've listed in the article, uh, some areas where people can go for help if they feel like there might be a problem within their family with a loved one or with themselves even, but for farming organizations around the country to be aware that this is happening on farm and to encourage people, like I said, that we've developed these mental health programs for farmers, these physical health programs for farmers. We also need to approach addiction, and honestly, it's not just cocaine, you know, there are serious gambling addictions that we need to deal with alcoholism, um, and all of these addictions are an illness at the end of the day, and they need support to be able to get out of these problems, these situations. Um, so I think that there's a huge amount of work that we can do within the country to help to make it okay for people to come forward and say I have this problem and I need help. Yeah, no, I think that's an interesting point that we don't hear enough of, uh, Janine, because, you know, the society's set up that people will be will be will be judged or scrutinized or whatever, uh, and that could be a barrier to seepink seeking help. Okay, people can read more of course in this week's Irish Country Living. Thanks for your time. Thank you so much. Bye-bye, Janine Kennedy there. 086625 Hi Greg, can you ask your listeners, did anyone notice a string of lights going across the sky last night at around 845pm? If you did, and they do pass over here from time to time, it's 99% likely that that was uh, Starlink satellite, the satellite broadband system that operates um, in our orbit and it does cross over, uh, Donegal, um, from especially when they're launched, after they're launched, they're in low orbit for a while, they cross over us, and then they go up higher and then we can't see them. So anytime that a string of lights has been observed above us, I've been able to check back and it coincided with uh, a launch of uh, Elon Musk Starlink satellites, so I would suggest that's what that is. I call this as my husband gets illness benefit for himself, me and two children, we don't get fuel allowance. My council house has not been tested, although I have alerted Donegal County Council, they've now filled the many cracks and are going to paint over it. Like, papering over the cracks probably has, Mike. I thank God due to being unable to pay a mortgage I sold the property back to DCC a few years back and that I have no children or a partner to worry about the future when the cracks open up and the nightmare experiences and financial and health, safety horror stories that I've heard about all of Donegal in Ireland. My fear is that the politicising, uh, by my fear is that the politicising by going for election will divide the opposition and stored the decline of the political parties that are currently in government and oversaw the crisis unfolding and sat on their hands as this caller sees it for many years. The council, you heard in the news there, the council's hands are somewhat tied in what they can do as well. I do know they're calling out to people's properties and if there is remedial work that can be done, they are doing so, but the department and just heard from Donegal here and we can have a look at this now. Department approval still not received for DCC remediation of social houses affected by defective blocks. I'll read the story here just to put a bit of context from Donal. It's emerged that the government still hasn't fully approved a Donegal council program to address the impact of defective blocks on its own social housing stock. The program was submitted two years ago this month. There's an extensive report from Donal Kavana on our website islandradio.com on that story. So that's why the council can't do anything because the housing department has yet to approve their remediation plan of their own property. What a fantastic interview. Thank you Greg for the insight. Is that the interview we had as it relates to the Middle Eastern crises? It's a shocking and sad testimony to humanity that Israel is being cheered on by some international leaders, corporate leaders and mainstream media as it commits genocide in Gaza justified by heading the heading of the right to defend itself. While the actions of a mass cannot be condoned, it's not surprising the act as they did that this is that line is a game where I feel a bit uncomfortable at any point to go in and kill in some people men, women, children, babies. I know you're not condoning it and I know you say you're not surprised by it, but I don't know. It's just horrific what's been going the videos that have been shared. But reading on, and my apologies, Israel has illegally occupied Palestinian lands and inflicted horrific human rights abuses upon the civilians of Palestine for decades, blockades, preventing access to medical aid, construction materials and machinery, regular cut-offs of power and water supply, a legal eviction of Palestinian families with their homes handed to Jewish settlers, regular shooting of unarmed children, abduction detention in jail, targeting of women and children by snipers, UN and Amnesty International reports, proving all of this, all ignored for decades by world leaders and the media, and on it goes, it's a long message and I think I've got the crooks of it out there, but thank you very much for sending that in. Now just before the break, Woroski's Christmas lights you know the work Woroski's do, lots and lots of people, it's part of their Christmas to go up and see the lights but it all has to be funded, and there's a night of music and crack in McGinley's Bar in Kerry Keele it's tomorrow night, Friday night from 9pm, a host of local musicians and comedians will perform, okay well done Woroski's Christmas lights, night out tomorrow in McGinley's Bar, Kerry Keele if you want to go along. Now offering mortgages from 40,000 to 600,000 euro with no hidden fees or transaction charges. 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Visit imotors.ie or call into our showrooms and letter cannae or Mallon. At Centra, shop smart and feel good with great offers until Sunday. Like Meretti 12 bottle pack, only 15 euro. LucasAid 6 bottle pack, only three euro. And KitKat two finger bars, nine pack, only 150. So shop smart, feel good. Centra live every day. Enjoy a call sensibly. Radio, let's go to Donogholtan. It's Mayor Porick Kennedy joins us on the show now. Good morning, Porick. Good morning, Greg. And congratulations on your award at the weekend and your team that's a well-deserved award. Appreciate it, Porick. You're very kind. Right, OK. What's going on in Donogholtan at the moment in terms of traffic? Well, it's kind of a bit up in the air at the minute, Greg. We're doing a new one-way system. And I guess it's probably just a bit up in the heap at the minute, which is people getting used to the whole layout of it. But I do think when it does settle down, I do think it will be a good job and it will help the flow of traffic around the time. Now, people might get confused and say, it's one way around the diamond already. So, Porick, what has changed? What area is one-way now? Well, it will be... You can turn right down by the old Ulster Bank and then you'll turn left, going across Castle Street. And you can take a left again and that'll take you back onto the diamond. But you can't come leave the diamond and go over... So, you can't any longer come in from Kili Bags, turn left at Timonies there and park at the post office. You would have to go round the diamond, turn left at Charlie's there and back up the other way. Yeah, and you can't go over to Connell Street. You know, if you were going over to the Bosco Centre or over the Mount, you can't leave the diamond and go over past the old post office or the past the castle there. That's one-way coming into the town, you know? And I suppose when you were coming and I guess, you know, everyone was notified about it. But I suppose when it happened there, and it kind of just caused a whole heap of turmoil for a while, but I think it is settling down. I know with the help of the Eamon Livestop Mart and Shauna and Porrigan, the Bosco Centre, they have opened up their gates and helped alleviate the park. And, you know, and that's all we'll settle down. So, what problem do you believe this? And I know you're not very responsible for this, but what problem do you believe this was trying to fix? I think it probably is, you know, thankfully we have a problem in Danygall with people and business and people coming through the town, and it was up in a heap. And I suppose this is part of the whole plan. They're going to redevelop the diamond and down at the pier. And I guess, and I know that they're in talks to with the buses to maybe build a new bus stop or a new bus station to take the buses off the diamond. And that will help at all as well. It's all part of the plan, you know, and I do think overall it will be a great job for Danygall and, you know, we're welcome. But say, for instance, you're coming in, say, for instance, you're coming in down past the chapel. You're coming from the Lennie, Kenne direction and you wanted to go to the castle, right? OK? Yeah. You would... I think automatically you'd probably drive past the turn-off down past the Old Osterbank and you would drive round the diamond and then you'd get to the right-hand turn there at the castle bar and there's no entry there. So... No, no entry there. So at that point, then, you're expected, then, to drive out to the roundabout and go round the town again? Not what you could... You could just proceed on and take the next right and then that'll take you down round New Roe there and you could park down round New Roe there down near the Forge Bar and down along there, you know. Yeah. The steps to the castle that way, of course. You know, it is... It sounds... It sounds complicated at the minute, but you know what, it does... it well-blends itself to the one-way system. But I suppose the fear is that... you know, it could take away some of the character a bit like Main Street, Letter County. You know, Letter County, Main Street was always a bustling Main Street and then it sort of, you know, went one way and then it sort of... tried to do away with all parking on the Main Street. You know, so you're afraid it's a balancing act of all of that, really. Yeah. Like, as I say, and I'm not trying to be objectionable, Park, I'm trying to figure if the problem it's fixing because, you know what I mean, obviously, with any change you want to progress, but I'm just... I'm trying to think of all the times I've driven around Donegal Town, what problem this has been identified and what's being fixed here. Stay with me, Porig. Raymond Rooney's owner of Peter Mann's shop there, which you would know was opposite the old Osterbank, which we were just talking of. Raymond, what is... Firstly, do you know why they've done this? Well, Greg, I'm not privy to all the conversations in the Council, but the reality is it's the easy congestion around town and, in reality, if you think about it, next to Donegal Town is 550 years old and all the roads are quite narrow in their design and they're not designed for two-way traffic for buses and heavy goods vehicles and for me, the Council, what they're doing is that they're designing a town or a traffic management plan that's going to be sustainable today and tomorrow in the next 20 years and every busy town, and Donegal Town is a successful, busy town, every busy town, be it Leicester, or everywhere, how they manage congestion around the town is that they introduce all of the highway systems and we're no different. We're probably a victim of our own success. Are they going to stop buses parking outside the hotels there, I wonder, or the double parking that takes up one lane all the time? To be honest, I'm not too sure, but that's the elephant in the room and, in reality, what they've done by putting all the traffic up to Carnal Street and onto the diamond, they've hastened a decision that will come that they have to address and that's the buses on the diamond, double parking at the Bank of Ireland, all that, you know, they've put them at the corner. But those are the root causes of the congestion as far as I can see as a road user. Yeah, well, that's one of the issues. For me, it's narrow streets and delivery trucks and buses trying to get up and down and the roads weren't designed five or 50 years ago to be used for heavy goods vehicles. So I think it's just a reality that... Two stages at the moment, the works ongoing at the moment or it's bedding in maybe might be a better way to describe it. What is the feedback from the business community as to any impact it's having? Well, in reality, parking has not been reduced in what Donegal time was always a difficult place to park. Obviously during construction a lot of the on-street parking will now disappear. So that's made a difficult situation very more difficult. I have heard rumors, I don't know how true or not it is that St John Bosco have been approached maybe to open up their parking space for the duration of the construction but that's only just a rumor. I heard that the other day I don't know but anything that the council could do or to alleviate parking during construction and even after construction I kept it on your show before talking about parking. Just for people that want to go in there and shop and visit and what have you because you know yourself and Park does too, lots of people love to visit Donegal. What parking at the moment has been lost? Well on-street parking as you said as they bed in their construction as they come in taking the road so all widen the footpaths all the on-street parking that would have been there will disappear. It's a major effort no doubt and so Raymond once it's completed what kind of are you satisfied it won't have a negative impact on businesses do you think it will make Donegal Town even more popular? I think it's it's I'm absolutely in for it. I think it will ease congestion on the smaller streets it will create a flow of traffic but like I said before unless they address the elephant room which is the double parking of buses and double parking in and around the diamond area any progress will halt they start to dress and the council know well we've been lobbying them for years and they're well aware of it So in other words the full benefits of this new one-way system and the movement of traffic won't be felt until such time as people desist from double parking at the IAB as you mentioned there and also the heavy bus traffic that's there as well Yeah that's that's exactly it. Thanks very much for that owner of Peter Mann's shop which is opposite the old Ulster bank there thanks very much Raymond Porig so do you think that's the general sentiment that you know obviously these are the cracked eggs for the omelette that we're chewing on at the moment and when it all beds in and when that works finished that the town will be better for it Oh I think you know for the period with the Australians and all that traffic will ease you know well and flow of the traffic around the town and stuff you know and I guess the council definitely need to take a look at either we put a multi-storey car park somewhere or development department You and I are both old enough to know the plans for that I think there were plans for that a few times in different places but anyway maybe we're in a different era now we'll have to come around because it's not that cars are getting less and less it's more and more and like I hope that the council are looking after the residents on these streets as well and the sister of them and that the traffic warden has a bit of sympathy too with people as well over this time as well you know a bit of an oxymoron there just to understand the point that you're trying to make okay listen thank you very much for your time I do appreciate you taking the call and thanks to Raymond as well congratulations again to you and your two it's very nice of you to say thanks the mayor of Donegal town there Stella's boutique hi Stella Stella can you hear me hello we'll take a break then we'll get Stella through hopefully we'll see you next time or visit our website to book your time new donors are vital visit giveblood.ie to check eligibility and clinic details because we count on you find out how the budget will affect your farm and family in this week's Irish farmers journal 60 million euro in extra funding for acres and organics government commits 200 euro per suckler cow 5000 euro stock relief boost for farmers sheep farmers to get extra 8 euro per yo new limit on land leasing tax reliefs the new euro fund for tillage farmers and new higher times funding for slurry storage all inside this week's Irish farmers journal you can't afford to miss it check out sister Sarah's the ultimate gastropub experience in letter Kenny with a fresh exciting new menu why not celebrate your special occasion in one of our three private function rooms you can catch all the live sport on our 12 screens daily with some of the best live music and entertainment in the northwest every weekend in sister Sarah's you'll love from Wednesday to Sunday Sheridan security now introducing zero wire smart alarm systems zero wire zero mess and a real peace of mind with a simple press of a button your alarm can be set or on set or download the free app and control it from your phone call us today on 074 912 6025 and get your alarm from 299 euro and protect what you value most with Sheridan security systems Donegal GEA fans Myka Murphy sports has 30% of all official Donegal GEA leisureware show your support for Donegal in style and grab your favorite leisureware at unbeatable prices but hurry this sale ends this Monday the 16th with free next day delivery on orders over 85 euro shop and save online at MykaMurphySports.ie Highland Radio Weather Updates with Ireland West Airport where you can now fly daily to London Heathrow with Air Lingus and connect via Heathrow to over 80 destinations worldwide including Boston, New York and more. Largely dry today with a mix of cloud and sunny spells though a few spots of drivel drizzle may occur near the coast cloud will thicken this afternoon temperatures 11 to 13 degrees now we were talking about the changes in the traffic road layout in Donegal town one of the issues raised there was the issue of buses parking on the diamond very convenient of course but it does interfere with the flow of traffic and we do know plans are a foot I'm not sure if they were mentioned plans are a foot for a new transport hub for Donegal town the buses eventually will be moved off the diamond to where I can't think of just off the top of my head but I wanted to speak to Stella as boutique. Hi Stella no it's like you're there sorry I beg your pardon finally get to speak to you how have you found football business has been since this work began I'd say it has dipped a bit but football it's mid-october so it's hard to judge you know it's hard to judge and to be quite honest with you I will happily tolerate the disruption now for a more efficient system in the future I mean at the same time if we deal with the bus situation and hopefully this work that's going on now will create the flow so that the buses will be able to move because up until now you couldn't put them anywhere else because they wouldn't be able to go the flow wasn't there so if that happens and we get all parking I think it will all be for a positive result yeah because all towns are busy towns it's great that they're busy but Donegal town can be a little bit like others too there are no go times or it feels like that you would often see cars on the approaches when it's clear there's a few buses about and it's generally busy doing a U-turn and heading off whatever their business might be you don't want to see people being discouraged especially with a bypass town you want as much flow of traffic as possible exactly and like we have two hotels on the Diamond and both hotels host bus tours and there's nowhere else for them to go they have to drop them off and pick them up outside there but it all happens it seems to happen at the same time as BAI or bus air and buses are coming so it does create a total good luck and you're trying to taxi the local link and the school transport exactly everything yes it can't be that's good and that will have you but it has to be to the benefit of all businesses and it just requires a little bit of reorganization so you're welcoming the works anything that increases the flow of traffic through the town and stopping in the town is to be welcomed and you're prepared to suffer this inconvenience which is actually not at a bad time I suppose maybe rather than in the peak of season you're happy enough to go along with it where are you okay Stella are those who want to visit you I'm just on the edge of the diamond just between between the design and the blueberry tea room nice cup of coffee and what kind of stuff do you sell Stella what kind of stuff do you sell I sell all sustainable clothing ladies clothes the only thing I'll do for you Greg is a pair of socks as long as they're organically sustainable that will do you sustainable clothing needs okay Stella listen hopefully a few people will pop down and see you now too as well thanks for coming on I appreciate it that's Stella of Stella's boutique thanks to Raymond Rooney of Peter Mann's another good outlet and also Porig Candy who was on discussing that stuff with us as well right shall we go to some comments Greg in relation to the mental health crisis I studied for five years to become a psychologist I spent two years an assistant psychologist and then had to leave because I don't have a doctorate I applied for it four years in a row but there's only nine places per year in most universities and the cause is mentally and physically tough so I've all this experience and a master's degree that I can't use how frustrating is that another caller says there are 15 ramps from the top of Glencar to the Cathedral I personally go over them four times every day and I have no doubt it's not good for my car I would love to know what do our taxis think as I'm sure they go over them a lot more than I do could I cancel not put up a number of speed cameras as I'm fully supportive of slow driving in our towns I would say if you spoke to taxi drivers that operate in urban areas with ramps versus those that operate outside there's little bushes and what have you in parts of the four corners that would go more routinely I would imagine around an urban area than they might in a you know where it's more rural driving then again I suppose that rural driving can also create its challenges I just want to mention a couple of competitions if you don't mind well one competition but also a that social media competition is still running isn't it Arnya that social it is of course right I'll mention that in a moment but I just want to give this a quick mention too if you're a fan of musicals you're going to be a fan of sister act it's a divine musical comedy eagerly anticipated brand new production of the Broadway smash hit musical sister act it's on its way to the Bordgash energy theatre in Dublin now we've had great interest in this so if you want to be part of the Highland Radio family heading down to Dublin please get your calls in as soon as you can because it's a cracking Christmas present you can join Highland Radio as we make this unforgettable trip to the show on Friday the 23rd of February 2024 which I think the 74 days to Christmas you know so the end of February just around the corner the trip what does it include luxury transfers coach travel down there bed and breakfast at the four star city north hotel in Dublin you get a really good ticket for the show so if you want to get on a bus be taken down there parked outside the hotel you get in have your bed and breakfast your great ticket to the show and then a few hours the following morning for a bit of shopping sounds lovely for the end of February doesn't it well if you want to get it just for someone as a Christmas present or just to treat yourself 07 4 9125,000 with more information 07 4 9125,000 or you can also visit our website Highland radio.com so I just wanted to mention this social media competition that's running as well it's an association with our friends at Foy and Company so Foy and Company are giving one of you a lucky winner the chance to win well if you are the lucky winner you've won it already but they're giving you one of you the chance to win a 200 euro voucher to spend in one of their stores to be in with the chance of winning you just head on over to our socials and follow the rules over there make sure you are following both Foy and Company and Highland Radio on both Instagram and Facebook that's Highland Hub by the way the winner will be announced on Monday the 16th of October T's and C's apply now this is a very important thing and it's not just for competitions we run here but I think for lots of people that use social media to run competitions just to advise you that winners will only be announced from the Highland Radio official accounts some people with very little time with very a lot of time in their hands create clone pages and send out numerous messages saying oh you've won this we will announce it on our page it will be announced on our page and that's how you will find out so please be aware of fake account pages impersonate in Highland but it's not just Highland it's a whole go of different companies that would run competitions so get on to our socials Instagram and Facebook and you could win that 200 euro voucher to spend in one of the Foy and Company stores alright and all you have to do is follow the tame instructions let me see when you go to town fortunate to have a bypass diverted thousands of cars away from the town centre congestion just shows how commercially successful and how busy a tourist hub it is it's a lovely town to visit just needs more parking indeed and it is a lovely town tomorrow on the program we start things off with the Friday panel we have a great panel as always lined up to discuss some of the big stories of the day a week we want you involved in that I'll remind you of that in the morning that's entertainment coming up tomorrow so much more besides so please rejoin us at 9 but for me Greg Hughes and the team have a lovely Thursday stay tuned John Bresnan is coming up around the north west next