 Good morning. The family of Donegal, ma'am Michael Leonard, is calling on the Irish government to seek answers from British authorities about his controversial death in 1973. New finds obtained from the military records office in London have revealed that the 24-year-old cattle dealer was murdered by the RUC. The family from Petticoe are seeking a public inquiry and a criminal investigation into the killing. Researcher on the Troubles, Kieran McGart, says the finds he has uncovered allege the RUC lied about the killing. This is an Irish citizen who was an unarmed civilian who was murdered by the RUC and then the RUC deliberately lied not only to the family and to the media but also lied at the original in quest in 1973 to the whole life. Some students who have the point for third-level subjects may not be able to take up their studies because of the accommodation crisis. That's the bleak warning from the Union of Students, which says the accommodation crisis is preventing some individuals from undertaking degree courses. Ross Boyd is vice president of campaigns with the Union of Students in Ireland. He says the USI is calling on the government to cancel student contribution fees in order to reduce the financial burden on families. One in every 16 cars taking the NCT are on safety drive on a public road. Over 55,000 cars have been declared illegal by testers this year after undergoing a full examination. Jerry Baig has the lowest pass rate in the country at 39% while letter Kenny also has one of the lowest at 45.6%. NCT centred in Dublin, Limerick and Leish have the highest pass rates. Motoring journalist Dave Humphrey says cars are only categorised as illegal to drive if they have a serious problem. One of the biggest causes for a car having that type of failure is that it's got balls, tyres. The tyres are well below the minimum tread depth. So things like that need to have, you need to address these things before the test. But it's also worth bearing in mind that when your car fails in that case, you are not legally meant to drive that car away. That car is meant to be towed away. It's not fit to be on the road with other road users. Whether nice sunny spells and scattered charge today with highest temperatures of 16 to 18 degrees. That's all from Highland Radio. News for now. We'll be back with news again at 10 o'clock. Until then, good morning. Dad. Yeah. Did you remember my boots? Yep. And glasses? You said this ref needs? Did I say that? You did, yeah. Oh. What about extra batteries? Batteries? For the car. Because you're always worried about it running out. Ah, don't worry, buddy. If our battery runs out, the man from Aviva will come and help us. Cool. Aviva car insurance comes with breakdown rescue as standard. So if your battery runs out, we'll charge your car at the roadside, tow you to the nearest charging point, or bring you home, whichever is closer. For worry-free electric vehicle cover, it takes Aviva. Acceptance criteria, T's and C's apply, minimum premium with 310 euro. Car insurance is underwritten by Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC. Aviva Direct Art Unlimited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. The 9 till noon show in association with the Northwest Truck Fest. This Saturday and Sunday at Milford Mart with live music, family fun, a truck convoy and much more. And now it's time for the talk of the Northwest. The 9 till noon show with Greg Hughes on Highland Radio. Hello, good morning to you. Three minutes just turned four minutes past nine this Tuesday, the 23rd of August. And you're very welcome along to another edition of the 9 till noon show. We're back at base today. A big thanks to everyone who looked after us at beautiful Mallonhead yesterday. It was good to be up there. And also we were out in Dannings on Friday morning as well. So thanks to everyone who hosted us there as well. But we are back at base. The lines are open for you. Business as usual, of course. WhatsApps and texts to 086 60 25000 086 60 25000. If you want to give us a call, the lines are open for you right now. Caroline taking your calls on 07491 25000. Your emails coming to us via comments at highlandradio.com. We do stream the show across our website and social medias. If you want to watch the show and engage with us there, website highlandradio.com or on YouTube. It's Highland Radio Ireland. And hopefully, you know, our Facebook page is just search Highland Radio and engage with us there. Tell us where you're from, what not where you're from. We don't want your private information. But tell us where you're watching from and all that kind of stuff and get involved in the conversation. Right, let's start with a look at the newspapers this morning. Let's kick off with the Dairy Journal. I'm lost for words. Fifteen thousand visit the field of hope. In a shone, Geraldine Mullen has said she's lost for words at the response to her poignant field of hope over the weekend as 15,000 people walked its paths. And I saw some of the images of the people queuing and everyone who seemed to be connected with on social media was there. It was amazing. It's absolutely amazing. It's almost like the field of dreams. If you build it, they will come. It just resonated. And I think that's down to the high regard Geraldine's held in the high regard her husband and family are held in. And it was just the most amazing response and so fitting. And I drove past. I didn't get up on the days it was open, unfortunately. I just couldn't make it. But I did happen to drive past it yesterday and pulled over. And it looked lovely and amazing. And I can see why so many people went to it. And I can imagine many, many people were moved by it. The sunflower field was developed in conjunction with Katherine Carlin and the community in tribute to Geraldine's husband, John, son Tomas and daughter Amelia to mark the second anniversary of the wrong timely deaths on August 20, 2020. Speaking to the journal, Geraldine said that not in her wildest dreams could she have imagined the response with 1500 visiting on Friday, three and a half thousand on Saturday and 10,000 people on Sunday, 15,000 people. That's remarkable. I mean, if you were to work that out, I mean, that's 10 percent of the Donegal population. Put it like that. Now, I'm sure people came from far and wide, but that's what we're talking about. The equivalent of just shy of 10 percent of Donegal's population went to that on the weekend. Isn't that amazing? All right, let's switch the nationals now. The Irish and dependent, what do you think hospitals were doing whilst we were dealing with the worst of COVID-19? Well, they were engaging debt collectors to go out and chase you down for money. They spent a million euro on debt collectors, and I'll read the story here. HSC Ron Hospital spent nearly one million euro hiring debt collectors to chase patients for outstanding debts during the two toughest years of the COVID-19 pandemic new figures show. As the country battled the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 with hospitals suffering severe overcrowding and patients enduring often grueling weights on trolleys, the hospitals enlisted debt collector debt collectors to pursue unpaid inpatient charges and the 100 euro emergency department fee figures show the hospitals shelled at five hundred and sixty eight thousand in 2020 and another three hundred and sixty two thousand up to October of last year. Cork University Hospital spent the highest amount. And let's see if there's a figure for us locally here. I will dig that figure out. I didn't realise they had a breakdown here. We'll see if letter kind of University Hospital is mentioned. I don't see it as I run through the figures here, but we'll see if it was if it is contained in those figures on to the Irish Times. Now, an opposition call on Troy to make a statement. Opposition parties are calling on the Fina full minister of state, Robert Troy, to make a statement in the door outlining the full extent of his business and property dealings when politicians return from their summer recess. Mr. Troy is coming under increasing pressure to provide further details around the value of rental contracts he has with West Meath County Council. Now, it is slightly concerning, I think, for Irish politics here, because, you know, he has had to correct the record quite significantly. And we do know he's also made representations in the door, which could arguably benefit him and also not saying that was his motivation, but he could also have benefited. And then we have Michael Martin and Leo for our car rolling in behind him to say, OK, he's corrected the record. There's nothing to see here. I'm not sure how good that is for Irish politics and people's faith in it. I don't know what you think. Could it have been a simple mistake? And then even if it were a simple mistake, I just think this, you know, circling the wagons where we have both Leo for our car and me on Martin saying, you know, move on now, everything's OK. Well, it's not really up to them to decide that it's up to us, the people of Ireland to decide that, I think, to be honest with you. I don't think we can be told any longer that everything's sorted now. He said, sorry, he's fixed this, that and then move on. It doesn't work like that anymore. The Longford West Mead TD has been the centre of controversy for failing to declare details of his property interests. And last week made a wide ranging amendment to declarations made for various years in the ROCTA's register of members interests. He also apologised for errors in his returns while the Taoiseach and Michael Martin again defended Mr. Troy yesterday, opposition parties said more information and a full statement in the door were needed. Now, there is a declaration of interests, anyone, all of us have access to that and it can be important because it maybe helps us understand our politicians' views on certain things, their understanding of certain things, their interest in certain things. And that record, if it's not accurate, well, then the whole thing is a load of nonsense. And then we have, as I say, two leaders of the government rolling into defend him. I don't really think it's up to them to tell us, as I said, that there's nothing to see here anymore. Well, let's go to the Irish Daily Mail now. And loan applications to credit unions are soaring as cash strapped parents struggle to cover back to school expenses amid the cost of living crisis. The number of people seeking loans has spiked and the value of loans being sought has trebled in some cases as families deal with inflation not seen since the 1980s. The Irish League of Credit Unions yesterday told the Irish Daily Mail there's been a marked increase in the number of loan applications for back to school costs in recent weeks. And it is fair to say that they are advertising that as well. And they're advertising this specifically for parents. So there is obviously going to be people that are very much in need of it. But obviously, there is also a successful marketing strategy going on here just because someone takes out a loan. It doesn't necessarily mean they can't afford it. Parents could be making decisions for different reasons as well. Just to cover it in the round there. Well, this news comes as St. Vincent de Paul reported a 20 percent increase in the number of people seeking help so far this year with over 110,000 calls from households struggling under inflation at nearly 10 percent. Now, we know from this programme that lots of people are still waiting for their back to school allowance. It's possible that they're having to almost get bridging loans from the credit union or from the likes of support from the likes of St. Vincent de Paul, because they still haven't received their back to school allowance. And we all know the bills that are coming in right now. And we've talked about that quite extensively. I'm relatively lucky, actually, because the school that my son attends, they have the exchange programme, the book rental scheme. It's still not insignificant, but I looked at the price list for the books and I really, really, really wouldn't like to have to buy these books. The book rental scheme covers a big chunk of it. And thankfully, we're able to get away a bit handy on the uniform as well. But looking down through the price lists, looking down through the price of books, looking at schools that are insisting that school children also wear a jacket on top of a jumper, on top of a shirt, and then the trousers and black shoes as well. I mean, come on, that on top of if you had to buy the books, of course, you're going to be racing to try and borrow some money. If you're affected by that or have something to say, 08, 660, 25,000. Also, in all the papers today, there is coverage of the Rose of Trilley. What do you think of the competition? How did you think our Donegal Rose fared? The one thing I'll say about it is I watched some of it. It was a bit cringe, right? And I'm not going down this road of, you know, people quoting Father Ted and all that. It's all a bit lazy. I think the format needs changing. I really, really do. I think there's merit to it. My views were changed on this with my involvement with the Mary from Dunlop Festival, my small involvement. I think they do it differently and I think it's it's more modern. If that makes sense, I just think this the way I was watching something last night and I don't know if maybe I was just crabbing because I didn't get much sleep. But the format needs a shake up. It really, really does. But there's plenty of coverage in the papers today of it. And I wonder what you all thought of it. 08, 660, 25,000, does it say? It's really, I would take guidance from those entering these competitions as to whether there's a future for them. But I think that particular competition, they need to look at the format because it was like watching reeling in the years. On to the Irish Daily Star now. Cabinet asleep at the wheel on energy. The government has been accused of being asleep at the wheel after a row with the energy regulator over the looming winter energy crisis. It comes as T. Schochmehal Martin said the regulator should have told had an earlier warning system over what is coming down the line. The Commission for the regulation of utilities last week announced a it wants electricity companies to charge more for power during the rush hours of five to seven p.m. in the evenings. Now, this is I've been hearing this for two or three days. But what I still don't understand, right? If the Commission and I hope one of you can explain this to me. If the Commission for regulation of utilities starts charging us more for electricity between five and seven p.m., right? Because that's what they would do. How can we avoid that? Unless I don't know, maybe if you've got a smart meter, you can. I don't know how many how many of us have smart meters. But how can you save electricity between five and seven to to avoid higher rates of electricity? Because most of the electricity is it not done through. Even if you send meter readings, how is it going to register the fact that you didn't use this more expensive power between five and seven? If this were to happen, is it just the companies that they're going to charge this to? Because if they do, that just gets knocked on to us. So if anyone out there can explain how charging more for electricity between five p.m. and seven p.m., how we avoid paying more. OK, because we could also write no showers between five and seven, no washing machines, no dryers, switch off some of the lights, TVs, all that kind of stuff. But how in any way does that can we avoid increased electricity charges by doing that? Unless I'm missing something, I don't understand. I don't understand it. Just I think we're just going to end up getting where we're going to end up paying more, unless you have a smart meter and you can avoid it that way. I don't know. But it's a blunt instrument the way electricity is priced. How often do you come out and read your meter? They're certainly not going to read it daily to see how much you save between five and seven on a particular day. It doesn't make any sense to me. And I've seen it on newspapers, I've watched clips on TV. I've seen it reported on the radio. And no one has asked how does charging us a consumer more for electricity between five and seven? How do we avoid that? How does that discourage us from using less electricity? As I say, if someone can explain that to me, I'd really appreciate it. I can't understand why a journalist hasn't asked it yet, unless I am missing something. Let's go to the Irish Sun here. Childcare workers in Ireland are struggling to pay their bills with 40 percent seeking employment in other fields. Experts say the exodus because of poor pay is a threat to the industry's future. The grim forecast follows a survey carried out by SIPTO earlier this month, which included one thousand nine hundred and seventy seven managers and staff. Early years, teacher Deborah Reynolds said many services are struggling to hire and hold on to staff because of the low pay. Most early years educators are below the living wage of twelve ninety per hour, and they simply cannot afford to stay in their profession. And there are multiple jobs available at the moment to pay more than that. But then there is some talk of an agreement coming down the line of pay increases that could see their wages go up. But it is a sector that needs full attention and a full overhaul. OK, this is for all you dog lovers out there. I'm sure you know this already. The Irish Daily Mirror tells us that dogs cry tears of joy when their owners come home. A poodle loving professor found dogs had more tears in their eyes than normal when they reunited with their owners. Some of them have more tears on the floor to when they get excited. But their base level of tears did not change when they met strangers. And their tears do not fall like humans do. Professor Takefumi Kawishi began looking into the issue when his pet poodle had puppies. And he noticed that while it nursed the pups, it looked tearful. Right. So apparently when you come home, it brings tears to your dog's eyes. Is that something you've noticed? Oh, wait, 60, 25,000 or give us a call at 07491 25,000. We'll be back with more on the Ninetal Noon Show very shortly. The newspapers are courtesy of Kelly Centra, mountaintop Letterkenny. The Ninetal Noon Show in association with the Northwest Truck Fest this Saturday and Sunday at Milford Mart with live music, family fun, a truck convoy and much more. Top of your phone would unlimited data for just 15 euros at Tesco Mobile, which is the same price as 60 ultra fish oil capsules. I thought that comparison would be helpful, but now I realize it's not. Sorry about that. But I'm not sorry about the deal. Unlimited data for just 15 euros is helpful. This is supermarket mobile, Tesco Mobile. Every little helps. T's and C's apply. Unlimited data is subject to a fair usage policy. See Tesco Mobile.ie forward slash terms forward slash prepay data plus for plan details and service information. It's the right price tiles and wood flooring 70% off sale. Get up to 70% off on all your purchases. Up to 70% off all tiles, all wood flooring, all bathware. Everything's reduced in store. The 70% off sale at right price tiles and wood flooring stores nationwide. Sale now on. Ineshaun Credit Union has recently launched Cultivate, an agricultural loan at only 6.55%, APR 6.75%. Call any of their four offices for more information or to make an appointment. Ineshaun Credit Union, Bunkram. I count on a mobile and Moff supporting local farmers. Ineshaun Credit Union is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Looking for your perfect, exquisite, award-winning wedding venue? The Red Door Country House Fawn is situated on the main road to Bunkramma, just a short drive from Letter Kenney and the City of Derry. We are hosting a wedding showcase in conjunction with Perfect Bliss wedding events on Saturday, August 27th from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. And would like to invite you to visit on this date wedding showcase August 27th at the Red Door Country House Fawn Bunkramma. Now, we welcome on to the programme founder of autismdad.ie Jon Joe McGinley. Jon Joe, good to have you back on the programme. Thanks for joining us. Good morning, Gregor. Thank you so much for having me on and good morning to all you listeners. No, it's important to raise awareness of these issues. OK, you are highlighting the fact that webinars are replacing actual care for special needs children in Donegal. So tell us in a real world example here what's happening, Jon Joe. But as you know, I have an autismdad.ie and a lot of parents get in touch with me. I myself have two children, two boys that are on the autism spectrum, James and Joseph. And unfortunately, they have been receiving virtually no support over the last two years. You know, the Irish examiner yesterday highlighted the HSC's own figures that 60,000 children in Ireland are waiting for appointments and 16,000 are waiting for over a year. Now, one of my boys, Joseph, has been waiting for nearly two years. Though I dread to think what the actual figures are. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Do you think the anyone's being seen by these services? I mean, or do they simply not exist? And these, you know, it's a perpetual weight that will never be fulfilled. I mean, do we know as a fact, I know that probably must be how it feels. But, you know, like, are there active services running at the moment? I think, yes, it's actually quite a gratuitous that the Irish examiner yesterday ran with a story that the services have now been amalgamated into the child disability network teams. The problem with them is, whilst they have their management structures in place, they do not have what we would call the therapist in place. The vast majority of them, probably up to about 70 per cent of them, are not fully staffed. They are lacking physiotherapists, they're lacking occupational therapists, they are lacking dietician experts, and most worryingly for a lot of children, especially parents that are looking for a diagnosis. They lack the psychologists, in fact, in the north-west Dunnegal area that there is currently no psychologist because the excellent professional who was there is on maternity leave and it's not being filled. Again, that's down to a recruitment crisis. And I think that's the key issue that they're trying to cover up the recruitment crisis by focusing the support back onto parents. And that is starting with webinar support. Now, I'm not against webinar support if you're starting in the whole process where you're trying to get an overview as a new parent, where you're unsure of the needs that your child actually needs. But every child deserves, and every child is entitled to a personal development plan looking at their own individual requirements. Is it about occupational therapy? Is it about neuropathy? For a lot of children, the autism spectrum is about speech and language, to allow them to have at least the communication skills to help develop the social skills that are lacking because of the autism diagnosis. The key issue is that these professionals are not available. So a webinar is no use to parents who already know what their children require. A webinar is no use to parents if they're trying to put the support back onto the shoulders of the parents. But in relation to the lack of the staff that you talk of, and obviously if someone's on maternity leave or sick leave, you know, it seems to be a historic problem with the HSC, that there's no forward planning to try and cover these gaps. But when we talk about the lack of staff, I mean, do we know other jobs advertised? Are there any unions saying the reason we can't fill these jobs is because of the rates of pay or what have you? You know, like, we need to drill down, don't we? Maybe not you and I, John-Jo, but we need to drill down to what is the issue here? Where are the staff shortages? Is it country-wide? Is it unique to the North West? Is it the lack of available personnel? Are they going elsewhere? You know, I think until we start getting some answers to those questions, John-Jo, you know, the situation is just going to continue as is. I think that it's an excellent point and I think a lot of the issues are, it's a myriad of reasons. You know, there's currently, at the moment, what's reported to be a leaked memo from TUSLA doing the rounds amongst all special needs parents, where somebody is actually pointing out that the conditions are so bad in the services that the vast majority of trained professionals are thinking about leaving and a sizable majority, people, excellent professionals, excellent caring professionals that we've trained in this country are up in sticks and taking their specialties and their training off the other countries. Yeah, and we spoke to someone who worked within CAMHS in Donegal that said that exactly, that, you know, it's a very difficult space to work in and people are leaving for the exact reasons that you've outlined and that was someone who was working within the system itself. And again, this has to go back right to the heart of the HSE and government. There has to be a will to sort this out. The current will has been to set up these child disability network teams. You know, management structures in place, but no food soldiers in place. And now even the minister is saying that it's not fit for purpose and they're going to then transfer back the services into the schools and they're going to start a recruitment campaign. They're actually saying that they want to have a highly high proportion of people recruited by September. The last time I looked at the calendar, it was the 23rd of August. September is well upon us. What we've got is a lack of forward planning, a lack of vision that actually provide the services that our children actually need. Parents have to stop being silent. We need to rally together now and demand action. We need to demand that the HSE and the ministers responsible actually put not only a plan in place, but the structures and the people in place to deliver the services that our children not only need and require, but are entitled to and deserve to receive in this society. But we can't rely on people like you. Yeah, sorry, John, John, we can't rely on people like you constantly to raise this issue. I mean, this is serious. This is our children here. Like there are basic questions that need answers. And one of our elected TDs needs to take this as their hobby horse or something and continuously ask questions. You know, we can talk about aspirational things to where blue in the face of where, you know, what we need now is someone in the door to ask these questions as it relates to Donny Gaw. You know, we need this to be a motion at Donny Gaw County Council level. This is what we have politicians for. They're there to represent us and they're there to represent the parents and they're there to represent the children. And this is the type of issue that people should be elected to try and resolve. What I'm not saying they haven't mentioned this, John, John, you can correct me where the situation is, but a few questions. Like what is the situation as it relates to the funding in Donny Gaw for these services? How much funding is provided on an annual basis? How many positions are vacant? What is the level of recruitment? How many staff have been lost? You know, have they been serving as to why they left? Where have they gone? Is this unique to Donny Gaw? Is it unique to other parts? You know, these are the types of questions that you get paid over 100,000 euro a year to go into the door to ask. And I don't care what party you're with or if you're with no party. But this is our life and these are our children. And this is what's important. Exactly. And part of me feels that I don't want to come onto the radio moaning. I have to have an action plan myself. You're 100% right. It is the politicians need to take it forward. But what I've done as I've discussed with a few other parents is it's a small step, but it's a step we can take forward. I'm going to start now through autismdad.ie, through the Facebook and the Twitter account that we've got. I'm going to start a petition to get as many signatures as possible to present to each of the elected politicians in Donegal our TEDs, to ask them to urge them to put this at the heart of the discussions as we take forward. We've got a budget that's coming up in a few weeks time. Will special needs, will carers be at the heart of that budget? I don't think so, but they should be because carers are saving the state of fortune. But we can't be silent any longer. We have to have a voice, and we have to have our elected politicians to take our voice forward into the doll to say that our children deserve the port. We need to have trained professionals on the ground. We have to move away from a contracted out system of support where we actually have physical support for our children. Real occupational therapy, real speech and language, real dieticians, and more and more importantly, we have to improve the mental health services for our children. There are really great professionals in CAMHS, but the roadmap to support in CAMHS is long, winding and frustrated. And so many children are waiting, not only months, but years to actually get into the system. And as that delay happens, there's their condition deteriorates so much that by the time they actually get limited support, it's too late. The damage has been done. Two groups of people listening to this conversation today, finally, John Joe, there are those who are affected by this, and you're preaching to the converted. They know, and I know people that are, and I know the distress it causes to them because they want what's best for their children, and they're seeing their children go backwards or staying where they are. And that hurts you on a level that it's very hard to put into words, and it's frustrating and it causes anger and it causes upset and it's difficult. And then there are those who maybe aren't affected by this at all and don't really maybe get precisely what we're talking about, because in matters of health, we kind of have to be personally affected before it really gets us. That's just the way it is. So can you describe to me either using your own situation, John Joe, or just a typical example, not that there is a typical example, but I hope you understand what I'm saying, what does this actually mean? These gaps in this service, these webinars, replacing actual care for special needs children, these gaps in services in comms, Donagall, the fact that you're told that it will be months or years before your child is, so how does that affect a family in real life? What is happening to the family and the child? I'll tell you bluntly, Greg, and I'll tell people bluntly that the delays in children being seen by CAMHS are leading to children having suicidal thoughts, are leading to children taking their lives. What we have is no pathway for support. Even out of ours, is the support for a child that's distressed has mental health issues as a result of autism? Is it about going to Naudok and a crowded accident and an emergency? We sit there where people who are a whole range of illnesses that are suffering, but you have a child that has social anxiety, that has increased awareness, and their symptoms become harder and harder and increase and increase. Is a packed accident and emergency a place where you want to take a child, even if it's not on the autism spectrum, that is suffering from mental health issues? We have no pathway for support for our children into the child mental health system. And even when we do get there, it's one or two appointments and then it's months or even years before the children are seen. And it's heartbreaking as a parent to hear that your child has suicidal thoughts because they're not getting the trained support from a psychologist. The trained support as a citizen of this country, they are entitled to and deserve. That's the real impact. They're actually constitutionally entitled to that. It's not aspirational, it's not moral, it's constitutional. Just to explain what a webinar is, and the listener says they're of a generation where they're not familiar with the term, which is a very good point and I'm glad they texted in so we can explain that. A webinar is effectively, will you describe what a webinar in this context is, John Joe, so I don't actually give the wrong answer to the listener? Well, what you've got is basically an online presentation and in most cases it's not just one set of appearances to a whole group of parents. And again, that is to then identify the needs of the children. But the needs of the children need to be identified by trained professionals face to face. And again, this is great for parents that are perhaps starting out on the support journey. The vast majority of parents I speak to have children, eight, nine, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, we know the support they need. We know the support they've been missing out on for years. So effectively a webinar is either a live or recorded healthcare expert, giving advice and guidance to parents. The likes of John Joe here is that far down on his journey. He knows all of that, but if there is some benefit to it as a foundation laying exercise maybe for parents. Okay, Janice is with us. Janice, good morning to you. Hi, Grave, how are you? Sorry, Janice, I beg your pardon. I'm okay, Janice. You're all right. Your starting line in your text is Health Services are a nightmare. Talk to me as much as you're comfortable with about that. Well, I've actually spoke to you before regarding my daughter. You know, she was diagnosed with scoliosis last March. Yeah. It's coming from a faulty gene called Ash Bonnell. At that time last March, she was referred to the early anti-fantasy team, which we actually got on board by relatively quick. She was accepted on there in July. They decided that she needed occupational therapy, COT, speech therapy, physio and stuff. Now, the physio has been fairly good. The speech therapy, she didn't actually get an appointment until the end of January this year. So, you know, almost 12 months later, she had three appointments with her one week after the other. And then we were told, look, we're going to leave you at your own devices and see how she gets on. And we had to actually contact them to look for an appointment, which we do have now on Thursday, but you know, they're telling us to do labs, sign language with her. We haven't been gated as to where to go if we can do these courses. There's just no consistency at all. You know, and my child is three and a half and she's non-ferbal. She's not talking yet. How do they justify that? Look, we'll leave you now for a few months and let you get on your own devices and see how she gets on. Yeah, well, they don't justify it. Do they? They just leave you there. They just leave you there. Like, you know, she gave us a few basic signs. You know, my daughter's actually starting to make her own now, which is not going to make any sense to anybody else, you know, other than us as her parents. But it's just, it's very hard. You know, O.T. She had two appointments with two different O.T.s because, you know, they were changing jobs or changing areas. She actually hasn't had any O.T. Her mobility is not great. You know, and we just don't have any plans put in place on the house or anywhere else for her, like, because the services just aren't there. And how does that impact you and the family and your daughter? It's tough, Greg, to be honest with you. You know, as hard to explain, I'm one of these people that, you know, I find it hard to get started once it started and stop. But, you know, like we have a page on Facebook, Amelia's Scoliosis story, you know, all the details are there with un-reason, I suppose. But no, it's very hard even on the house. You know, like she can't go up and downstairs. We're trying to fight to get, you know, a grant so we can get a bedroom and a bedroom for her downstairs because she's also on a body cast for Scoliosis as well. And it's more beneficial to her to have the water running through the cast rather than being submerged in a bath. And a comment that was actually made to us by a health care professional was, you're just looking for an extra room in your house. Well, I mean, like, I mean, that's, that's, that's offensive. It is. Like, it's offensive. I mean, with everything that you're going through, what you're trying to do, it is clear that you're just trying to do what's best for your daughter. And for someone then to knock you down and suggest that really you're just looking for an extra room in your house. I mean, that person, that person should be reported and they should be disciplined as well for that comment. Yeah, it was disgusting, Greg, to be honest with you. As you say, you know, we're just trying to benefit her even if it was only a box room, enough for a bed. You know, we're not looking for a mansion, enough for a bed and a wet room just so we are unable to make her life that way but easier and give her what she rightly deserves, you know? Yeah. Okay. And so what are you waiting on and what timeline have you been given? I mean, it's the most basic stuff, seemingly, but so who are you waiting to see, Janice, and what timeframe have you been given? Well, we haven't been given any timeframe, to be honest with you. We're still waiting on the occupational therapist. I did contact him a few weeks ago. They stated that there was no consistency in stuff, you know, and what's happening. And I was amazed that it would be bought up in a meeting, their team meeting, and they were contacting me back. I wasn't given any timeframe. I haven't had no contact back. You know, Amelia hasn't had any physio for a few months, but the physio has been fairly good. You know, I did bring up my concerns to her about the consistency and stuff, and it did become more regular, but because we attend so many appointments, sometimes the clash, we have to cancel. But no, there's been no timeframes at all. And you might feel like... You might feel like a nuisance. I mean, I've spoken to a number of parents now at this stage who they were kind of effectively said, you know, yours is not the only child that needs these services, you know, that we're almost, almost guilted into not trying to pursue the best for their children. Yeah, well, the comments have been made that, you know, we do have a waiting list, there's a lot of children on the list, and I understand that. But do you know what? Go and apply a few more people, make these services more easily accessible for the kids that need it, you know? But yeah, you do, you feel like you're torturing them. It's just a constant battle. You feel like you're constantly fighting to try and get what you need for your child that they should be entitled to. It should be basic entitlement. All right, Ginny, there's some best wishes to everyone. Thanks for giving us an insight. It's really important that as many of us can understand this as possible. Thanks, Ginny, so I appreciate it. And best wishes to everyone, okay? All right, thank you. All right, take care, bye-bye. I mean, you know, and you can hear the strength in Ginny's voice there, John Joe, you know, not everyone maybe has the strength that she has, or maybe she doesn't, and it just sounds like that, if you know what I mean. But everyone's gonna be dealing with this crisis in their family in different ways. It's gonna be great upset, great anger, disillusionment, you know, there's a whole range there, John Joe. I know so many parents that have children with special needs, and a lot of them have the strength, and we have to have that strength because the only person people that are gonna be fighting for our children are ourselves, and we have to be their voice, they don't have a voice. And you brought up that fantastic point. What's happened here is we have great professionals, and they try to give as much support as possible, whether it's not enough of them on the ground. There is a recruitment crisis. That recruitment crisis has a knock-on effect, which means you get one or two appointments, and then they try and put it on to the parents. Well, here's a few therapies you can try yourself. And whilst we, over time, you do learn things, but we're not trained professionals. I'm trying to look at a broken record, but the key issue is there are not enough occupational therapists, dieticians, physiotherapists, and more importantly, psychologists on the ground, especially in Donegal, but throughout Ireland. That's the key issue. The HSC and the minister needs to start ensuring that we have a service that's fit for purpose and a service that these trained professionals want to stay in and be part of. And once we get to that situation, the parents will do everything they possibly can to work with these trained professionals. Please give us the support. Just one other question. How many, well, we can't answer, there's no answer to that question. Are many younger people, dependent on their age, being prescribed drugs in the absence of these types of services? And if so, what type of drugs and to what end? I can only go with my own personal experiences. Obviously we've had the cases down in Kerry. And my own personal experience is I had a dialogue and right at the start of the dialogue, the prescription of medication came right at the start. And I wasn't keen on that because I wanted to pursue other avenues, right? Now we have to be fair and say that a medical prescription is sometimes highly relevant for the individual. And so that helps. But I'm a great believer and I have my own personal viewpoint in that sometimes medication can be a replacement for the other services because they're not there. I would much prefer to see a defined pathway of support for children before they come to a medical route. My concern is if young people are medicated too soon before there's proper assessment, you then end up assessing them medicated. And if you're doing that, well then how can you make sure that the services or the supports are properly attuned to that child to get them off the medication ideally if that's relevant? It's hugely good. That's an excellent point. An excellent point, but I want to put my children into the hands of trained professionals. We have to give them the trust. I want to make sure that there are trained professionals there from a psychologist perspective, speech and language, OT and physiotherapy. Either trained professionals, they've went for use for the university for this. I just want them to be on the ground. I don't want to have it put onto the hands and the shoulders of the parents. We're not the trained professionals. Our children deserve the right to have this service. John, Joe, thanks. It's up to the politicians and the HSE. Well, but someone actually is going to have to take this. You know, I mean, what is it going to take? Someone has to take this as their issue. And you are, by the way, I'm on about to support the likes of you, John, Joe. You're doing everything you can, but there's almost a glass ceiling in what you can do. You know, we have people who are in positions of influence that need to get answers to these questions that need to shame the HSE because that's what it seems to take to embarrass them into action or at least to explain precisely what's going on here so that there's an understanding. So parents like you can maybe not have to spend so much time campaigning. John, Joe, thanks very much for your time. I appreciate it greatly. Oh, thank you, Greg. I really appreciate it. And have a great day. You too. And best wishes to everyone. It's I find it exacerbating and that's only listening to what other people are going through. John, John McKinney, their founder of AutismDad.ie. You can check out their website and socials if you want more on that. And Janice as well. Thanks to Janice for her contribution. The Nine to Loon Show brought you by the Northwest Truck Fest taking place this Saturday and Sunday in the grounds of Milford, March with proceeds to Ellie's Wish to Walk and MSR Lund, Donegal Branch. The big bucks are back. For Fridays, four winners plus one lucky Jack Jack Jack. Two thousand five hundred Euro every Friday and on the fourth Friday. Someone also wins 10,000 cash money. Welcome to HighlandRadio.com and get your 10 euro ticket. It's a whole new meaning to cash flow. Highland Radio. Summer's just got better. Nutrious Wienling Crunch offer directly supported by the Arrivo fodder support fund is now available at your local homeland store by 10 bags of Nutrious Wienling Crunch ATP. Get one free. The Nutrious Beef ATP pack enhances animal performance through maximizing room and efficiency. Teas and seas apply. Contact your local homeland or farm commercial specialist today. Visit nutrious.ie for full product details. At Hickey, Clark and Langdon Insurance Brokers, they compare quotes from all leading insurers so you get a great price. Home, motor and van, farm, quality home, travel and liability insurance, they quote them all. So if the worst happens, you're covered. For a competitive insurance quote today, call Hickey, Clark and Langdon on 911-2688 or pop into their office at Bali, Makul, Letter Kenney. Hickey, Clark and Langdon General Insurance is limited. Trading as Hickey, Clark and Langdon is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. With selected models readily available, it's time to treat yourself to a brand new car. Our Nissan lineup is unbeatable in their class. Call today or visit us in Letter Kenney or Malin or visit imotors.ie. The Northwest Truck Fest returns to Milford Mart this Saturday and Sunday. There's live music from Normand Warland in the marquee on Saturday night at 9.30. And on Sunday afternoon, Farmer Dan and Anne Bidding, this ad is sponsored by JD Recovery Services, Gil McCrennan and Donnie Galtag. Coming up after 10 o'clock, we've Tuesday's community guard information item. So stay tuned for that for the latest appeals and information for Amangarashi Akana. Via email, if government employees, teachers, et cetera, get pay rises in the face of soaring inflation, that simply feeds the inflation, making things worse for non-government employed tax players. I'm not quite convinced that pay rises are the root cause of inflation. I think inflation is going to hit high single digit figures here. And it's also safe, for instance, across in Britain on nearest neighbours, it's going to hit 18%. And that's without pay rises. I don't buy into this notion that pay increases drive inflation, personally speaking. But I'm not an expert, of course. But the inflation's where it's at now with no pay rises, okay. Rightio, people around the Northwest are on specifically are being asked to keep a look at for a missing Wallaby. Richard Beatty of Glen Park joins us on the program now. Richard, thanks for joining us. Thank you, yeah. Right, so for those, give us a description, what is a Wallaby? A Wallaby is like a small version of a kangaroo. It's the same character, long tail, it hops along with two back legs. And it's the same character as if a small kangaroo. All right, now, when did it go missing and from where? We are here based in the Glen Park estate just outside on the side of Gorton Glen Forest Park. And we have an open farm here on site. And on Sunday evening, we actually had Wallabies on the Glen Park estate. And I have two new ones to come in to join in with them here, which was delivered on Sunday evening about three o'clock. The seller had delivered this and put them in to get them put into the enclosure. It's in a bit of a quarter of an acre enclosure and there's plenty of room to move around. But this round, one of the Wallabies, which is missing, has seemed to jump the fence and a neighbour person coming down the road came in and said, seen the Wallaby on the main, almost Gorton Road and we're on the search for it since that. So it's bolted. In terms of its survival in our wilds, that's not an issue, is it? It's not an issue because the, and with the, I think the egg grass, egglings and the forage through here, there's plenty of cover, if you understand through. There's not going to be starves. That's not, I think it's a natural habitat that has around. But it's just the problem is when we are such a here, there are thousands of acres of woodland. And if I went towards the Gorton Glen Forest, the Mount Deacres here through trees is very hard to hang. And I was going to Oma Direction, and it's just a mountain grassland and field right around. And if you go into the field near the Wallabies, what to do is they sit down and they actually hide. You understand there's a height of eight just into the grass, so it's very, very hard to find. Yeah. But we would prefer it in the safe confines of a forest or grinned fields, I suppose, rather than near roads. That's right, yes, no, I'd rather that's in the fields, but we just have to keep an eye out in the area and we'll see anything to contact them, Park of State or contact the police and we can talk to, so if anybody sees it, stay clear, but not do any harm, but if you go near it, you'll only scare it off if you understand. Exactly. So there's no point spotting it in a certain place, going up to it, then reporting that, and it's bolted off half a mile up in the other direction. That's the motivation for staying clear of it. That's the thing, it's not going to harm anybody, it's not going to touch you, it's not going to harm anybody. So we're just setting an area somewhere and we're just trying to keep an eye out to keep looking for it. I mean, listen, hopefully Winnie will turn up and I'm sure he or she will, but it's also been a good opportunity for you to get the message about Glenn Parker State out there. You know, and I'm not saying there's any motivation there, by the way, Richard, don't get me wrong, but it must be whilst trying to get Winnie back, it's been great to get the opportunity to speak across the country about Glenn Parker as well. It is, yeah. Glenn Parker is such a, there's only a new business up and going over a year and it's went to the time of COVID. It's a new business for ourselves and it's actually for the small animals we have here. It's not a petting farm. All animals in their own areas and they've all tensed off securely in their own area. And this is just a complete freak by this animals jumps and it's bolted as you understand from the pence. So it is nice. So it's just a freak to see us here, but we think we're a neighbor of Senates on the main road and actually the pilot cars behind us, they just kind of pinpoint what direction the kangaroo you went in, as you understand. That's the problem of having a sighting anywhere tall or see the sighting where the kangaroo, where the wallop he was. We've had no knowledge of kangaroos from the chase. So how's it this mountain thing, if they're looking for a needle in the, if they're looking for a needle in the thousand acres, million acres, you understand this. I guess, yeah, I know, I know. What height is it? When it's hop on the board, you're chatting under the two, that's about two feet, two and a half feet high. It's only tiny with the, like an arrow on it. And it's down in, yeah, that's what you're, that's what you're, that's the sort of size you understand it's in. And you see it when it's eating grass, it's down in the ground. It's sitting down in this hunker, it's on its knees, which I hate eating the grass. It's even harder to see, you understand. Of course, and it will use that as its defense mechanism as well, won't it? Of course, to hide it. Yeah, as far as defense science is concerned, I'll bury it, hide it itself into the grass when it's outside the hedges. So we just keep our eyes, keep watching to the search part of it to just keep looking for it to see if we find it. And where would Winnie, where would, where's Winnie's natural home, if you know what I mean, like, where are they found? They're found with the more base than we get them. We actually purchased them from the south of England. Right. And the thing that we've here come across here, we've had before in the state before, there's never any problem with them. Just this one was a pretty good jumper by the science of things. Yes, but it's just lady came in and just something scared or bolted. I've never seen before the jumpers here. So they are quite animals, you understand? There's no problem with them. Oh, and very cautious and suspicious by the looks of it. All right, Richard, best of luck in your search. Thank you. Thank you much. Take care. That's Richard looking for Winnie, the Wallaby, any sightings, get in touch. It's a Northwest Truck Fest at Milford March this Saturday and Sunday with trucks from all over Ireland. Also, Brick-a-Brack and home baking stalls, plus live music, proceeds to Elly's Wish to Walk and MS Ireland, Donegal Branch. This ad is sponsored by Donegal Oil. Or any event across the county. Contact Gortley Sales and Hire in Letter Kenney on 9-1-2-6-2-7-6. Declutter this summer with Cherrymore Kitchens and Bedrooms, inflation-beating built-in wardrobe special offer. Get a two-meter long wardrobe with two free mirrors built in for 1,099-year-old. Check us out online or book an appointment viewing in our Donegal Town showroom today on 07497-258-22. 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Alled Irish Bank's PLC is an authorised agent and servicer of AIB Mortgage Bank UC in relation to the origination and servicing of mortgage loans and mortgages. Alled Irish Bank's PLC and AIB Mortgage Bank UC are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. All right, so remember last week we were talking to a lady who was living in Letter Kenney but was given short notice by their landlord to move out and ended up going to Milford and then had to get her children from Milford to Letter Kenney to school. But because of the short notice, missed the window of opportunity to apply for a school boss ticket. So we got on to boss Aaron and they said a lot of stuff, a lot of stuff, but the stuff that's important to the inquiry way we made, they said, our local school transport office has recently, has recently received correspondence from the family and they are working directly with them to resolve the matter. Okay, so hopefully a positive outcome to that. And I think by the tone of that email, we'll say Aaron recognize that it is a unique situation and it sounds like they are going to work with the family to resolve that. Hopefully the lady listening will be able to give us an update and we can chase it up further if that is required. A caller says, hi my child is aged 11 and has just received an autism diagnosis after being seen in Belfast. What do we do now? He's mild but needs input. Okay, so anyone out there with some advice, you can contact the likes of autismdad.ie and they'll be able to signpost you, I'm sure, but if any of our listeners want to help in the meantime, mild according to this listener, their child 11, they've got the diagnosis, but what happens next? Okay, loads to come in the second and third hours of the program stay where you are, we'll be back after the news and obituary notices. The nine to noon show brought to you by the Northwest Truck Fest, taking place this Saturday and Sunday in the grounds of Milford Mart with proceeds to Ellie's Wish to Walk and MS Ireland Donegal Branch. Crawford Tiles bathroom suites and wood flooring Castle Finn. Massive three day sale starts this Thursday the 25th. There's 20% of tiles on 30 Friday and Saturday only. Other products discounted in store. Remember 20% of tiles for three days only at Crawford Tiles and more Castle Finn. Call 911-439-42. Sheridan security, now introducing zero wire smart alarm systems. Zero wire, zero mess and a real peace of mind. With simple press the button, your alarm can be set or on set or download the free app and control it from your phone. Call us today on zero seven four nine one two six zero two five and get your alarm from 299 euro. Stay local, stay safe and protect what you value most with Sheridan security systems. Green Shoes, helping you get back to school ready with a variety of footwear and school bags from top names like Vans, Lily Kelly and Skechers. Also Sust and Wrangler, the most popular brands at great value. Shop in store at Green's Inlet or Kenny and Falkara and online at greenshoes.com for great back to school footwear and school bags. Exam results arriving, your future starts at Northwest Regional College. Visit our results days to confirm your place or apply for a course at our Derry, Sturban or Linovalli campuses. Call 048-71276000 or visit nwrc.ac.uk slash results. This is Northwest Regional College. This is your future. The Northwest Truck Fest returns to Milford Mart this Saturday and Sunday. There's live music from Normand Borland in the marquee on Saturday night at 9.30 and on Sunday afternoon, Farmer Dan and Ann Biddy. This ad is sponsored by JD Recovery Services, Gill MacRennan and Donnie Galtown. Good morning, I'm Akilah Clark with the news at 10 o'clock. The family of a Donnie Galtman killed in 1973 are calling on the Irish government to seek answers from British authorities. New finds obtained from the military records office in London have revealed that 24-year-old Michael Leonard, a cattle dealer, was murdered by the RUC. The family from Pettigo are seeking a public inquiry and a criminal investigation into the killing. Researcher on the Troubles, Kieran McArth, says the files he hasn't covered allege the RUC lied about the killing. This is an Irish citizen who was an unarmed civilian who was murdered by the RUC and then the RUC deliberately lied not only to the family and to the media but also lied at the original inquest in 1973. So the two lies. A woman in her 90s and her two sons are reportedly traumatized after a violent home invasion in Roscommon on Monday morning. It happened at a shop attached to a home in Ballantobre in the early hours when six men broke into commuter robbery. One of the sons, aged in his 60s, was assaulted in the process. He did not require a medical attention. Independent TD for Roscommon Galway, Michael Fitzmores, says Ireland needs to stop looking abroad for policing inspiration. Ireland is a different country to the UK. We are very rural, especially in the West of Ireland. We have a lot of people that are more elderly than other parts of the world are in certain parts of the country and we've got to make sure we look after them. A Danygol father has hit out at a lack of support and a fit for purpose system for children with additional needs. John Joe McGinn, a founder of AutismDad.ie, says he has two sons who are in the autism spectrum and have gone almost two years without support. Webinars are said to be replacing in-person care due to a lack of staff and a recruitment crisis. A psychologist is currently unavailable in the Northwest. Mr. McGinnley told Today's 9 till 9 show that children with additional needs deserve much better. I'm not against webinar support if you're starting in the whole process where you're trying to get an overview as a new parent where you're unsure of the needs that your child actually needs. But every child deserves and every child is entitled to a personal development plan looking at their own individual requirements. Some students who have the point for third-level subjects may not be able to take up their studies because of the accommodation crisis. That's the bleak warning from the Union of Students which says the accommodation crisis is preventing some individuals from undertaking degree courses. Ross Boyd is vice president of Campions with the Union of Students in Ireland. He says the USI is calling on the government to cancel student contribution fees in order to reduce the financial burden on families. The student contribution charge is the highest in the European Union and very much one of the main costs that can price people out of higher education. So very much calling on the minister for higher education and the government to prioritize those costs as well as student reform and very much specific targeted financial support for students who are the ones especially who may want to come to college but who may have the point but also then not be able to actually go in because of all these financial barriers. And searches are continuing in a bid to locate a missing wallaby in Tyrone. The kangaroo-type creature is on the loose after escaping from the Glen Park estate near Oma at around three o'clock yesterday afternoon. It was last seen on the Gortian Road and you're asked to approach the animal with caution. Richard Beattie of Glen Park estate says they are difficult to locate. The problem is when we are out such a year here there are thousands of acres of woodland. If I went towards the Gortian then forest the mountain acres there through trees is very hard to hang and I was went to Oma direction it's just the mountain grassland and field right around and if you go into the field near the wallabies what to do is they sit down and they actually hide. I understand there's a high rate of grass in the grass so it's very, very, very hard to paint. With a nice sunny spells and scattered showers today highest temperatures of 16 to 18 degrees. That's all from Highland Radio News for now. We'll be back with an update again at 11 o'clock. Until then, good morning. The obituary notices for this Tuesday morning, August the 23rd. The death has occurred of John Lon London. He prayers this afternoon at four o'clock in McBrushy's funeral home, Killy Beggs. Removable to London with burial at a later date. The death has taken place of Marjorie McGeady, Dunlough Gheedore. Her remains are opposing at her home rosary tonight at eight o'clock. Funeral mass in the church of the Sacred Heart Dunlough tomorrow afternoon at one o'clock and herment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Family flowers only, donations in lieu to the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland care of any family member. The death has taken place of John Steward, 37, Churchview Straban, reposing at his home. Funeral leaving his home tomorrow morning at 25 past 10 for requering mass in the church of the Immaculate Conception Straban at 11 o'clock and herment afterwards in Straban Cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers placed to the Foil Hospice care of Quigley Funeral Directors. The requering mass can be viewed live on mcmedia.tv. The death has taken place of Tara McAvenue, 78, Winchester Park, Kilfen and Derry. Tara's remains are opposing at her home. Funeral from there tomorrow morning at half past nine for 11 o'clock requering mass in St. Mary's Church like Mallon, travelling via her family home at Art Mallon Mallon Head fall by cremation at Lakeland's Crematorium Cavern. The death has taken place of Colomba, McGrory, 13 McGinn Avenue, Bunkranna, viewing at McLaughlin and McLaughlin Funeral Directors from two until four o'clock and six until eight o'clock today. Funeral mass in St. Mary's Oratory, Bunkranna at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning with internment afterwards in Cockhill Cemetery. Family flowers only, donations in lieu to St. Vincent de Paul's care of any family member. The funeral mass can be viewed live at ChurchServices.tv. And the death has taken place of Patricia McColgan, Carrick McQuigley, Red Castle. Funeral from her home this morning at quarter past 10 for 11 o'clock requering mass in St. Colomba's Church Drone followed by burial in the adjoining graveyard. Patricia's funeral mass can be viewed live on st.colombasdrone.net. Family time, please, before the funeral. For more details, including any family health guidelines for wakes and funerals, please go to highlandradio.com. Listen very carefully. Did you hear that? There it goes again. And again. You can now apply for the household benefits package online. It's there to help you with the cost of electricity or gas, and you can even get a free TV license. Over 70s automatically qualify, and others may also be eligible subject to qualifying conditions. To find out more, visit gov.ie forward slash household package. The quickest and easiest way to apply is online at www.mywelfare.ie, one package per household. Brought to you by the Department of Social Protection. All right, some of your comments coming in so far this morning. I want to get answers as to why Kashinakor in Pankrana is not open full-time as they have all injection boosters and schools are open to capacity. It's now time they talk to parents and guardians. My daughter gets two days as do others. They are the ones missing out. I believe we discussed this a few months ago. And was it staff shortages was the issue at that time. Greg, this may be a stupid question to the untrained eye, but just drove past Eroga Mountain and a whole pile of people are heading up. But why on such a dreadful, misty day that we can't see in front of you? Well, maybe it's brighter up at the top. I don't know what the story is. But I think if you were waiting for a clear day, completely clear day, there might be no one ever up there. But anyway, that's their choice. Hi, Greg. Could you let me know how the citizens assembly is elected? I don't believe it's elected. My understanding is invitations are sent out randomly and people choose whether to accept that invitation or not. That's my understanding. Anyone wish to correct me? 08 660 25,000. Another caller wants to know, why don't they open the old road coming from Balabafe? That way, take the biggest volume of traffic away from the Kilruss Junction, traffic coming to Kilruss from Balabafe mostly going to convoy, right? I think I know the little slip road you're talking about. That junction needs a roundabout. That's the only show in town as far as I can tell, to be honest with you. It's a major road and it needs a roundabout. Greg, does anyone know what the issue with traffic in Letterkenny was yesterday evening? I lifted the kids at the crash at 5.20 and got home at 20 to 7. This is just ridiculous. I wonder is it relating to the ongoing works we talked about yesterday? I mean, you've hit Letterkenny at a certain time. It is slow. The caller says, I enjoyed the Rose of Tray and so apparently did the audience too. I think they like to keep the tradition as it's always been. Maybe folks like it that way. Very possibly, exactly. And, you know, it's like everything. It's up to people what they like. And if you like the Rose of Tray in its current form, you watch it. If you don't, you don't watch it. And you just let other people enjoy it. That being said, this is the type of show where people have different views. So that's why I asked to invite those views in and I appreciate yours. But if people enjoyed it the way it is, good luck to them and good luck to everyone involved in it and watching it. A caller says, I can't understand why our government or the regulator can't do something about the increased electricity charges. The cost of electricity has gone up by 84% since this time last year. Yet the electric companies are announcing profits in the millions, if not billions, were being fleeced everywhere. Having a job is not good enough anymore. People would need two jobs just to survive now. We heard two statistics which show many people over 65 are returning to work, probably, because their pension won't cover the cost of living and they have to go back to work in other words, sorry, to make ends meet. As to why the government won't do anything on increased electricity, I don't know the answer to that question. All I do know is if they give us or not us, whoever is entitled to it, money to offset the increased cost of power, that money goes directly to the same companies that are already making record profits. I don't see the logic in that. I would love them to come up with something different, but bolstering the profits of companies that are already gouging their customers doesn't make a great deal of sense to me. And I don't think that's, and remember how we were reminded about how taxpayers' money is being used. I don't think giving these companies more of the taxpayers' money, albeit to try and ease the cost of, to offset the electricity costs for some people, that doesn't seem like a good way of doing it. There has to be an alternative, you'd imagine, wouldn't there? Okay, by the way, we have another 2,500 euro to give away this Friday. It's part of our summer mega cash draw here at Highland Radio. There's two and a half grand to be given away on the 26th of August on David's Jive Time show. There's another 2,500 to give away on September 2nd on the Naughty Alarm Clock. And then on September 2nd, we'll also give away 10,000 euro on this program. If you wanna be in with a chance to be in all three draws that are remaining, well, you can get your tickets right now. Go on to our website, HighlandRadio.com. You could win 2,500 on Friday, if not 2,500 the following Friday. If not, maybe even the 10 grand on the 2nd of September. But if you want to make sure your ticket is secure for this week, get in touch with us right now. On our website, HighlandRadio.com, you'll see where to enter there. Or you can give us a call as well, 074 9125,000 and we can sort that out for you. Now, it's up to you to enter. If you can afford to and do it for fun, tickets are 10 euro each or you can purchase six for 50 or 10 for 80. And as I say, two and a half grand available to the winner. On Friday, we had the check collected yesterday for our first draw. Another two and a half the following Friday and 10 grand on that same day. So if you wanna be within a chance to winning a total of 15 grand over those three draws or to being with the chance of winning part of it, you know where I'm coming from. Get in touch with us now by our website, HighlandRadio.com, you'll see where to enter there. But if you don't do it that way and you wanna speak to a human, well, we've got Katie, the closest we could find this morning. Give us a call on 0749125000. All right, here are the bingo numbers for all you players out there. It's time for NCBI Bingo on Highland Radio. It's Tuesday the 23rd of August. You're playing on the brown sheet. The reference number is S7. It's game number 34. The numbers are two, 46, 50, 57, 63, 19, 44, 54, 18, and finally, 65. Phone your claim to 9104833 before it's night. Leaving 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. The 9 Till Nunes Show in association with the Northwest Truck Fest, this Saturday and Sunday at Milford Mart with live music, family fun, a truck convoy, and much more. Fancy an adventure? Pack up the car and enjoy a day out with the National Trust in Furmana. Find magnificent mansions, treeline trails, and riverside rambles. Go butterfly spotting at Castle Coole. Hire a bike at Flans Court and explore Loch Earn by boat at Crom. Watch the sunset from your tent or glumping pod. Explore and re-explore adventure and re-adventure. Search National Trust NI to find out more. National Trust, for everyone, forever. Back to school at Brian McCormick Sports and Leisure, triple black footwear available in junior women's and men's sizes from fans and Adidas. Match it up with a backpack and tracksuit bottoms, ideal for back to school, from Nike, Adidas, Vans, and Under Armour. Look the part, play the part. Instore online, mobile. Click and collect on BMC Sports.ie. It's Aldi's best value back to school event ever with up to 45% of this week's Aldi's savers. Ryder Slice Mature White Shedder was 129, now 69 cent. Top of pure drink, six pack was 319, now 179. Kids Water 10 pack was 279, now 179. Pine Snack Pot was 369, now 299. Dairy Gold was 359, now 299. And Multigrain Half Low was 79 cent, now 69 cent. Aldi have savings after savings after savings. Just sayin'. The Community Garda information slot is brought to you by Sheridan Security Systems, protecting what you value most. Call today and get your zero wire alarm system from 299 Euro. Sheridan Security, 911 26025. Okay, and we welcome into studio, Garda Nal Maguire from the Falkara Garda station. Good morning, Tina. Thanks for joining us. Good morning, Greg. Right, so okay, let's crack on. And we are seeking the public's assistance as it relates to criminal damage in Carndona. Yes, Greg, on Saturday past Saturday morning, the 20th of August, sometime after 4.30 a.m., a lady was alone at home in Milbury Meadows, Carndona, when she was rudely awakened by a loud bang from downstairs. She was on her own and very frightened. She discovered that a four inch cement block was thrown through her kitchen window to the rear of the house. No entry was gained. Not sure what the motive was on this, Greg. But if anyone can assist us in identifying the suspect or suspects, then please contact my colleagues in Mulcranagh on 0749320540. That's Milbury Meadows, Carndona. Mm-hmm, all right. Criminal damage now in Clonmani. After 10 p.m. on Friday night and Saturday morning past, a person reported that the front of their home at Clontag, Clonmani, had some kind of oil poured onto it. This is a pretty unusual occurrence and the motivation again is not apparent to us or the householder and the householder is at a complete loss as to why this occurred. However, if anyone can help us in identifying the person responsible or has any information that can assist in identifying this person, then please contact again, the Guardian of Mulcranagh, 0749320540 and they'll pass on any messages to the investigating team. Bizarre one indeed. Right now, criminal damage in Ardraa. On Ardraa, on Saturday past, on the main street in Ardraa, several flower pots were vandalized between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. If anyone saw this happening or can assist in their identification, then please call the guards and clenties on 0749551080. Yeah, and indeed not the most serious of crimes, but a lot of effort goes into this stuff and you know, I don't know who's involved and is it the local tidy town? So someone's put a lot of effort into this and to wake up to that it's just completely pointless now, isn't it? I think it's a private individual that owns this and the ours between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. would suggest maybe the motivation behind this is probably just somebody drunk, Greg, you know. No, no, it's okay. Atboard motor gone from Glen Column Kill. Between Tuesday the 16th past and west of the 17th. So between 10 p.m. on Tuesday and 6 a.m. early on Wednesday morning, a boat engine was stolen from a MIRD boat at Do Not Glen Column Kill. It was an outboard engine and it's a Tohatsu 25 horsepower. It's a black engine, similar to a Suzuki engine. And should anyone notice this for sale or have any information in relation to the theft, then please contact my colleagues in Donegal Town on 0749740190. Yeah, and we can, we have in the past not saying it'll be the case here, but sometimes we can see a wee rush on that type of activity. So I suppose anyone with a boat out tied to a pier or mooring or whatever, there's someone out there lifting them, they might not lift another one, but certainly worth making sure your engine's well-secured or not on your boat at all for that matter. Yeah, that part of the country now seems to get hit worse with the sort of west Donegal and around that Donegal Town area, there seems to be, that seems to be a craze. And they're big money too. A lot of money, that's a 24, five horsepower engine. I don't know what year I think it was, but I'm sure whatever it was worth, it was worth a lot more to the man that owned it. Yeah, for sure. And again, just a reminder, not saying this person hasn't, but under the lid of that engine would be a good place maybe to Mark. Yep, yep, we have a thing about these engines, Greg, to have the wrong individual like serial numbers and stuff. So the owner has photographed that and has provided that information to us, which is very useful. All right, okay. Listen, that's it. Gardener McGuire, thanks very much indeed for your time. I appreciate it greatly. Thank you, Greg. All right, okay. That was a short but sweet Community Gardener slot for you this Tuesday. It returns next Tuesday, just after the 10 o'clock news. The Community Gardener Information Slot is brought to you by Sheridan Security Systems, protecting what you value most. Call today and get your zero-wire alarm system from 299 Euro, Sheridan Security, 911-26025. All right, a caller says, why is it that electricity-generated wind in Ireland is the same price as electricity generated by oil and gas? Well, there's many reasons that I don't know, but I do know that people were encouraged to get into wind energy generation and were guaranteed a minimum price per unit of it, okay? So even though it may well have been much cheaper and cleaner to generate wind, to generate electricity via wind, they were to incentivize people to get into the market, they were guaranteed a minimum price per kilowatt. I think it is. So that's part of the reason. Retrafficking letter, Kenny, from an earlier listener. It was traffic lights at Roadworks at Oldtown. It was letting four cars through at a time, six cars in front of me jumped the red light. I could understand their frustration. It was ridiculous, okay? You ask a question. Another one of our listeners is quick with an answer. Thank you very much indeed. Hello, Greg. Three and a half million euro worth of drugs discovered in Dublin last night. So big well done to the garden. That comes in from Danny, but we know it's on the tip of the iceberg, Danny. Rosa Trilly last night, it was very silly to ask Dahi to go into the bath of ice cold water. That's part of the crack, isn't it? That he's put into awkward and uncomfortable situations. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I didn't see it. I watched maybe 30 minutes in the middle of it. But this caller says, contestants speak too much about themselves and they speak too fast. Maybe it's excitement on nerves, but they speak too quickly. It's nerve-racking. These are just regular people. And can you imagine all the hype, all the buildup for a week and to walk out in front of these bright lights? You can see all the audience, hundreds of them in front of you and knowing it's being televised in half the country's watching. Who wouldn't be nervous? But yeah, indeed. Why do women never be out painting? Ask this caller. I don't know, it's just the question that came in. I'm gonna put it out there. Why do women never be out painting? Where is the women in boiler suits out painting? Ask the caller. That's a genuine person that is out in a bath and notices men out in boiler suits painting and is curious as to why women aren't out painting. I think many of us would know women on our lives that are not afraid of a paintbrush. But anyway, why are not as many women many men in different areas of care? The health service is built on the shoulders of women as an example. Maybe there's just different jobs for different people. I don't know. Radio. The only one thing I noticed on our way up to Mallonhead yesterday was that I thought maybe I'm not the most observant of drivers because I'm fixated on the road and to make sure I don't crash into anyone or they don't crash into I. I just was wondering if the signage to Mallonhead is as detailed as it possibly could be. Stuart's talking about a different area, though. Good morning to you, Stuart. How are you keeping? I'm good, I'm not so bad. Right, OK. You're talking about... I don't know what that is. Is it OK? It's not too bad looking out the window from here, but I also like here. Really? Hopefully it improves the afternoon. Where are you? I don't know. OK, all right. So you're talking about signage as it relates to Hallonhead. Is that right? Yeah, well, we've had no signage now for going on four years, and we've tried councillors, tried McCu, messaged Joel McCu and his, his aides, the ones that looks after the phone firm and sent them emails, letters. And we still have no signage now after about four years in Hallonhead. And it's a loop road and people are going up and they haven't a clue where they're going and then they'll turn and they'll come back down the same road again. So they're missing out. Like, I'm on the Wild Atlantic way. For some reason, they've stuck it on the Wild Atlantic way. And without signage, we have one stop sign with no writing on the road, which I would say if you had an accident would be totally illegal because the writing's not on the road as well. And then they have the writing on the road with another junction and with no stop sign. And once you get to the top, there's a T-junction and there's nothing to tell you to turn right, to take it back to Dunn-Famahey or the scenic route or anything. There's just absolutely no signage. And it has been, I've been phoning a message in them for four years in Donegal County Council. They've turned around and said, they blamed before COVID they said that they had temporary ones. During COVID they said that they couldn't get anyone to make them, they hadn't time to make them, they hadn't got the company or whatever. And then there's nobody to put them up. So then after COVID now, one of them has even turned around and said that they're not going to put signs up because the last ones were taken down. So I don't know, it's a bit of a... Oh, visitors. It's a bit of a sad situation. You never get the same answer twice. And I presume obviously this is an inconvenience for people wishing to visit Hornhead, but also... What's the inconvenience for tourists and locals alike? Because I have a farm on both sides and I'd be walking cheap on the road. I'm not the only one who's been on the road, not just walking cheap. But you'll meet the car and you send the dog out round, take the sheep back and jump the car up past and take a few photographs. I think it's great. You've got the road 10 minutes and they're turned and they're back atop of you again, coming the other way. And you're thinking, you've missed the whole point of coming to Hornhead in the first place. But the council refused. And every time you film, they're all on holidays or they're taking the day off. The world, they're refusing to speak to me now at this stage. And I'm not just one person here and Hornhead pushing this issue about signage. But what's the problem, Stuart? Why is there a system? I have a clue. What is the problem with them? They have a problem with Hornhead signage, just. And they're just, they're refusing even to speak about it now. And they put up to dead end signs, one going left, there's a road takes you way out to the back of Hornhead. So eventually they put a sign on that and then they put one up at the top that's facing the hulls. That's not even locking the right direction, the poles, something swinging round and round. It's just, I don't know what is the problem. If we push for years to get some lay-bys done and we have some done now, which is great. But like, we're pushing for years and years to get lay-bys because if you meet, that's all, at least camper vans are massive. Like the size of full buses. Like they're huge. When you see a camper van coming to a car on the back or on the back and maybe two motorbikes on the back, like they're a brave lump of a camper van. They are. And they're just refusing, like, I don't know what's the problem with Hornhead. And then we'll have signage over the road then as you head over, as we call it, over West. And they're going about spraying their signs. Like, we can't even get a sign. And they're spraying, they're trying to stop tourists or tourists know where they're going. I don't know what's their problem. That's the protest just that the English being on the sign is using. But what's the protest? There are tourists in this hotel to be filled in guests' house, to be filled in shops, looking for customers. Why would you stop people knowing where they're going in English, because these people don't speak Irish? Soundposts aren't for the locals. Soundposts are for tourists. Why do you think the signs have been stolen, the ones that were erected, I wonder? Or taken down? They were damaged. Because I brought them under the attic. I found them lying on the ground underneath. They were damaged. They were done 50 times, or 30 times, or 10 times. They were only done once or twice. Is there some resistance? Do you think there's some people that maybe don't want tourists going up to Hornhead? I haven't a clue. I really, it's got to the stage that it's a joke now when you phone them in the office. Right. They seem to, they came out of the waiting on your phone call every week to ask about signage. But it's not fair on tourists and locals alike. 100% yeah. And there's one other issue when I'm on the phone. There's a road crossing down in Hornhead a few years ago. And we've contacted the council now. We've met the council on the road and they're filling potholes on either side of it. And you ask them why they want to fill this and they say it's an illegal road crossing. So I've been speaking to the engineer and I said, would you not just fill it? And he said, no, it's not ours to fill. No, it's a severe pothole. But they're refusing to fill it. But they're not going to... What do you mean? Like, is this a crossroads or is it...? No, it's a road crossing. Somebody's dug up the road. Yeah. Put whatever across water or whatever. Didn't fill it. I filled it back in again. Tired of the whatever and it sunk and the council are now refusing to tariff. Point blank, totally refusing to tariff. And they said that the people that have done the road crossing, it's up to them. But sure, if they're not going to push the issue, like, we all pay road tax in Hornhead. Everybody pays road tax. And every day, you have to drive up onto a lane to get up round it. And, like, you're wrecking your car. Do you have a picture of it by any chance, Stuart, now? No, but I can send it, I don't like any... If you're going to pass the next time... That's an absolute joke. Okay, and so it is a... It's like an inverted... You know the way you get on the road, you get... If you're an etiquette, I think, to slow you down. Speed ramps. Like a speed ramp. Well, ours is the opposite. Ours goes down. It's an inverted speed ramp. Right. It's convex or conversal. And people are having to don't know about it. They can only need to put up cones at it. But it's been like that for years. And the council are refusing point-blank to fix it. And is the camper having to go over this, would they? It's just the main road onto Hornhead. They're refusing to touch it. But I can't understand what's the issue with Hornhead. Like, if they're not going to put up a sign or fix a complete dip in the road lane. Right, okay, well... Maybe I'll highlight it. Maybe Shane and I could have done something. But I mean, at the big time, it was sorted. You know what I mean? And I think you make a good point. It's not fair on locals. And it's not fair on tourists, because they're doing loops. They don't know where they're going. They've driven all the way up there. And they don't actually get to see Hornhead. That's correct. They're going to look at it post and then they come back down. They don't know that you have to go left and walk the way back up. And you're standing in the middle of the road with your sheep. Well, sometimes not every day. I don't walk them every day. You haven't seen Willie the Wallaby by any chance, no? I haven't really, but Willie the Wallaby there a few weeks ago. Thank God it doesn't. He wouldn't be able to find his way home with the lack of signs. I appreciate your sense of humour, but I also appreciate that this is... It's very frustrating. We will make our enquiries and see what the story is. I might drive up now and look at this trench to see what's going on. Yeah, just for the crack. All right, then. Listen, Stuart, we'll see what the council come back to us with, OK? Thank you very much for your time. All right, take care of yourself. 08 660 25000. 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With Truck Fest Ted, live music plus prize-giving for trucks in various categories, including the Decchi-Hullian Perpetual Trophy and George Trissie Memorial Trophy. This ad is sponsored by Donnie Galt Hires. Alright, a call that says the traffic chaos at the bottom of Letter-Kennie-Town was caused by roadworks going on just over the Old Town Bridge. I was caught in it and part of the problem is that the traffic lights going both ways are only a 10-second timer. Thus, only allows about three or four cars if it were increased to 30 seconds each way. I think it would make a bigger difference. Another, traffic was moving good until they put up lights at McGinley's garage. I think the lights are too slow at changing. Well done to Matthew Crampsey from In is Shown and the band Kyo last night on the Rosa Trilly. They were amazing. Well done, lads. Our Donnie Galt Rose is beautiful and her filming of Ruth Mullen's shoreline was stunning. Good luck to you, Katie. And, hi Greg, the electric charges. All they need to do is reduce the standing charge to 10 across the country. We'll see. Still no answer as to how charging more for electricity between 5 and 7, how we can avail... Sorry, avoid that. Still no answer there. Right, OK. Alison joins us now. Hi, Alison. Good morning to you. Good morning, Greg. How are you? Thanks for inviting me on. No, no, it's an important issue and we want as many people to hear your story as is possible. So, this is focusing on the importance of children wearing helmets. So, why did this become important to you in your life, Alison? Well, Greg, just last Tuesday on my oldest son, Ryan, that's 11 cycles a week and he was out last Saturday evening at half-second on the space just on the estate where we left wearing his helmet. And I had just gone in and I was brushing the floor and I had heard like a loud bang and my young son, Dylan, came in and said that my son had crashed into a car in our estate. So, what would have been like my son's fault, Greg, he would have been driven very fast and the car was actually stopped. So, what was him? You know, the crashed him, but he was taken by ambulance to hospital and the doctor just says, you know, that he was very lucky. Sorry, Greg. I just had a question. I thought that he was very lucky to be wearing his helmet because, you know, from a parent side of you, a lot of kids may will be thinking, you know, it's not cool to wear a helmet, but you know, on this case I think he was very, very lucky and there may be kids may come back to school shortly cycling like obviously we're still having good weather and I just think it's great to raise awareness of helmet wear. I mean, you didn't see Alison, but are we presuming that he hit the car with his front wheel and then was propelled forward and banged the helmet off the car then? Well, what happened, Greg, neither would have been a neighbour that's seen it on my son, would have been thrown on the bonnet of the car, Greg. And the doctors themselves told you that he had the helmet on? Oh, absolutely. They did indeed. He would have a few little cops at the side of his eye and he would have had a black eye and a few bruises on his legs but he's just so, so lucky now. Yeah, he took a bad old bang, didn't he? Yeah, he did, but he's such a good patient he never complained. And the problem is and you've highlighted though Alison how hard to convince the young ones to wear the helmet while cycling. In fact, some of them will say well, I won't cycle then. I don't want to wear the helmet. Any tips? Oh, absolutely. They used to like, you know, they would say that it just happened so fast, like I had just come in and I thought, oh my God, I don't believe this. But I guess, you know, as a parent, it's maybe talking to them about how you can stay safe and let us to protect our heads really and that if we did come off or bake the helmet is there to protect us. And is he back on the bike again yet? Will grade the bike but you wouldn't be able to go on the bike now? No. Okay. And you got an awful shot too Alison, I'm sure. Yeah, it was an awful shot but I think as a parent you know, you try to be brave for your children and the other little children would have got an awful shot as well. Okay. Well listen, I'm glad that he had the helmet on. He's lucky but then again, it's not luck, is it? Because he's made sure he was wearing the helmet and that's why his injuries were limited. But Alison it's a good reminder and as you say it's a timely reminder with hopefully more of our young people cycling to school if it's an option for them and doing so safely. Absolutely, it is indeed great. All right, have a lovely day. Best wishes to Ryan. Thanks Alison. Thanks Greg, thank you. Bye bye. Take care of yourself. Bye bye Alison. The Rose of Trilley is a promotion on tourism for Ireland worldwide. It is fantastic for Ireland's future. The Rose of Trilley makes us proud to be Irish and Dahi is a wonderful host that comes in from Eva the majority of people seemingly enjoying the show which is good, very good and I respect those views. Hi, I was wondering if someone could give me some info regarding pet restrictions on Donegal beaches. No signs at a few of the beaches I have been at just wondering if this has actually come into effect. Well, the public consultation process as it relates to dogs on blue flag beaches that has to have been gone through at this point. So there is no ban as far as I'm aware at the moment of dogs on beaches, on blue flag beaches that is. If you have a dog or a pet with you, you are supposed to keep them under control at all times regardless of any new laws. So for next year I believe between certain times and on certain dates dogs will be banned from sections of blue flag beaches unless they're assistance dogs but that's not in effect yet. But even yesterday I was somewhere I won't say where and someone let their dog off and the dog came running up to me with their smiles and what have you cute wee thing. It wasn't wee, it was quite big and it doesn't bother me particularly to be honest with you, but I was just thinking if that was someone who had a fear of dogs it would have ruined their day. A lot of people have a fear of dogs but the owner didn't mind, didn't see any issue with it at all which is fine, I don't mind but I also am conscious I try and think of other people as much as I can. Dear Greg and team via a letter Greg Hughes, mountain top letter Kenny coming in from Karen thanks Karen for taking the time to write Good morning Greg and team just an observation from my experience as Ulster Bank is closing and everyone has to get a new account elsewhere I did this for my weekly social welfare payment recently I had opened up an account with permanent TSP to which nothing was lodged until my social welfare is transferred over which will be in the next week or so in time permanent TSP have taken upon themselves to deduct 6 euro monthly from the account even though it's just been opened and now has well they're overdrawn by 6 euro so when my weekly pension goes into this account I will be down 6 euro straight away with Ulster Bank I only paid the fees for the large amounts, ATMs used etc my question is should banks make accounts used solely for social welfare payments exempt from the 6 euro charge as it is little enough money to begin with and with the cost of everything at the moment 6 euro would do a lot of folks like me living week to week on the payments I wait to hear people's responses thanks as always for a great show keep up the great work, thank you very much indeed now the problem is Karen some banks don't charge this and like for what you're using your bank for you may have been better off with a different alternative with an alternative because if it is just your social welfare payment 6 euro per month is not insignificant it's a couple of litres of milk for example quite a few of them in fact so I would suggest that maybe that account is not really suitable for what you're looking for because the level is too high on the amount of money going through if you were lodging your wages and it was the of the social welfare payment it might be okay but I just think to be down 6 euro before you've even got your money into it is not fantastic at all for you but anyone out there with any information they are not information opinions should banks make accounts use solar for social welfare payments exempt from the 6 euro charge I think so but how would you actually make an account I would think there's very few people would use an account only for that though that's the only thing Karen but listen thanks for your letter I really appreciate it right John Nevin of Newen's Newfield Inn it's between Newport and Mulrani in Cantimeo joins us on the programme now John good morning to you good morning Greg how is beautiful Mayo in Donegal how is beautiful Mayo this morning sorry how is beautiful Mayo this morning nice sunshine no rain a bit cloudy but that's all but it's grand as it always is right okay with the rain yeah of course it's the same as Donegal now you have brought in two robots Bella and Bertie to serve customers their meals now I'm curious how much of this is necessity how much of it is a wee bit of PR John set me straight well there's a bit of both I guess we introduced them about four months ago just to remind the listeners who we are we're Nevin's Newfield Inn we're situated in a place called Tiernair it's between two towns Mulrani and Newport on the western seaboard we're on the N59 and of course we're on the western way and of course we've got the greenway behind this as well so basically we have of course a lot of tourism in our area that's a big part of our business so obviously in the last 12 months the situation with staff there is a shortage of staff everybody in the country knows that and other things we looked at alternative ways of getting staff here number one and was there any other ways that we could facilitate the staff that we have making things easier for them and that's where these Bella bots came in but I mean they transport the food but you still have staff to take the food from the robot to the customer or does the customer take the food off the robot itself no basically what the robot does it takes the food from the kitchen and it's assigned to a particular table and then the waiter or waitress takes the food off and place it in front of the customer whoever's order this so you could call the robot a food runner supposedly and that takes the work off the waiter or waitress you know backing over into the kitchen getting food so basically what we look at is that the waiter or waitress that's working on the floor in the restaurant has more time to offer to the customer to attend to their needs so in terms of what the customer thinks what's your feedback you're getting because people are flocking to see Bella and the other robot Bertie to see them in action oh yeah there is the people are thrilled to see them in action and they come here for different occasions of course big hits with the children and not so much with the children either even with adults so they are I'm amazed by myself honestly you know but and they're working out well for us not just maybe a gimmick it's also that they are making the way in the workforce and they are helping out and the robots prefer transporting chunky fries or micro-tips everything okay right and they sing to the customers as well they do they have you know Bertie to the if there's a Bertie at the table or whatever they say happy Bertie there will be singing I suppose after the announcement yesterday evening of our new Mayo football manager we'll be singing the green and red of Mayo hopefully in the months ahead yes Jim McGinnis would have been in good fit for that job I think I'm delighted for the man now let me ask you this you must be you have an interest in technology do you where did you source these robots well basically the idea one of our staff was actually abroad and you see them in action in Asia and when he came back then he just we checked up on the type of on the technology and we found a company and an agent in Ireland here who had the franchise so that's how we got in contact them first of all we brought one in as a demo model just to see how to work you know and after demo was over they took it away and I started getting phone calls they're listening you know we're coming down there next week yeah we'd like to be served by the robot or we'd like themselves happy Bertie and this was continuous so I had no choice but to then buy two of them because we found with the demo one was very much on its own you know yeah lonely is right and so they want a companion so they're more efficient with two and in terms of its autonomy does anyone have to control it or can the chef or whoever it is place the food on the plates that are contained within the robot and then it'll make its own way to the table how does that work yeah basically what the robots will be in the kitchen the chef or whoever is in the kitchen places the food onto the trays can take eight plates at a time and then the robot is a keypad so you just key in or touch the table number and press enter and away it goes to destination now of course you know there are those that don't like you know self-service machines and supermarkets because they think it costs people jobs you had the issue the staffing issue before you got these robots but have you had any push back that you know there could be one or two locals that aren't getting jobs because Bertie and Bella have their jobs and no one does at all what we find is that we haven't come across that at all actually and it hasn't cost any jobs here and if I think Greg it has created more jobs and in technology and what we have seen you know in our lifetime that's what technology does it's how we create jobs not eliminate them it may maybe do it with a certain job but it will create a new one we are 200,000 light in terms of staff for the hospitality industry the catering industry that's a fifth of a million extra staff we need I know this is a bit of a novelty and it's not going to be a solution to that but that's how many jobs are available how many are there to fill them yeah we have a big problem in hospitality all through the country at the moment and we have even seen in locally places have had to close down two days a week in order to give because they haven't enough staff basically and it's sad to see that especially in the summertime because everything should be how was the summer in Mayo separately I suppose you could say I mean up here a lot of people report in a relatively quiet July but a really busy August what was the story in Mayo that would be very similar to here we had the very quite early July it's busy August but not as busy as last year but then again it was all vacationers last year and this year more people have gone abroad okay listen brilliant stuff John thanks for that it's Nevins Newfield Inn it's between Newport and Mulrani in Cantimeo for anyone who's down that way and Bertie and Bella are on hand to sing the Hills of Donegal we'll have to get it programmed in maybe you know I can get that done too I'd say that's a good idea Greg exactly get the songs for every cant in the country good man John thank you okay thanks again thanks for having me on the program thank you so that's John Nevins Newfield Inn what do you think about that it's a bit of a novelty element to it there's just no doubt about that but still the birth information and tracing act is now here people adopted boarded out or the subject of an illegal birth registration can access their birth information where available from October a contact preference register has been established and it's now available on the website it's available on the website it's available on the website it's available on the website it's available on the website contact preference register has been established to enable these people and those connected to them to register their preference in relation to future contact with relatives this is an important issue for many and an information booklet has been delivered to homes across Ireland visit birthinfo.ie to find out more it's widely known that customers warm to and trust employees that present themselves well have your company name embroidered or printed on all your work uniforms contact CNN embroidery on 07491 28097 and get your staff looking their best you would hear a costume jewellery and some rare and exclusive engagement rings also your selection of antique china silver, furniture and decorative pieces worn antiques on main street at a canny celebrating 30 years in at a canny with 30% off this week only for all your health and beauty needs you can always rely on McGee's chemist if you need a prescription just call or order online at McGee's.ie and it will be ready for you in advance before you arrive for beauty and skin care there's all the big names at great prices in store and online and for your photo printing needs visit the McGee's photo prints app or click on the website link McGee's chemist main street at a canny for all your health and beauty needs and so much more call 911-21409 or visit McGee's.ie over time it's natural for your hearing not to be as clear as it once was the good news is advances in hearing aid technology may offer different solutions Sabrina Robb here from Donegal Hearing Clinic we provide peace of mind with hearing issues for a consultation at Donegal Hearing Clinic on 074 91 88470 or visit DonegalHearingClinic.ie life sounds brilliant with Donegal Hearing Clinic letter Kenny and Bunkrana Oak Fest 2022 returns this September the 10th and 11th at Oakfield Park Ruffo the two-day family friendly music event runs across two full days with loads of amazing acts headlined by Ryan Sheridan on Saturday the tickets are only 30 euro for the entire weekend with limited tickets remaining get yours today at OakfieldPark.com forward slash Oak Fest or ticketmaster.ie an exciting weekend not to be missed Oak Fest 22 at Oakfield Park it's the North West Truck Fest at Milford Mart this Saturday and Sunday with trucks from all over Ireland also Bricka Brack and home baking stalls plus live music proceeds to Elly's Wish to Walk and MS Ireland Donegal Branch under by Donegal on once again you're tuned to the 9 till noon show here in Highland Radio stay right where you are lots of interesting stuff between now and midday including a news update let's say good morning now to Makayla Clark thanks Greg good morning a woman has been left shaken after cement block was thrown through the window of her home in Cairndona the incident occurred on Saturday at around 4.30am in the Millbrae Meadows area at home on her own at the time the family of a Donegal man killed in 1973 are calling on the Irish Government to seek answers from British authorities new finds obtained from the military records office in London have revealed that 24 year old Michael Leonard a cattle dealer was murdered by the RUC the family from Petticoe are seeking a public inquiry and a criminal investigation into the killing a woman in her 90s and her two sons are reportedly traumatized after violent home invasion in Ross Common yesterday morning it happened at a shop attached to a home in Ballantubber in the early hours when six men broke in to commit a robbery one of the sons aged in his 60s was assaulted in the process a Donegal father has hit out a lack of support and a fit for purpose system for children with additional needs John Joe McGinnay finder of autism.ie says he has two sons here on the autism spectrum and have gone almost two years without support webinars are said to be replacing in-person care due to a lack of staff and a recruitment crisis Super-sized primary school classes exist in every county in Ireland that's according to the INTO which is called on the government to reduce average class sizes to the EU average of 20 an outboard motor has been stolen from a boat in Glen Colm kill the engine was taken from the boat murdered at Doon Alt sometime between 10pm on Tuesday last and 6am on Wednesday morning Gardier appealing to anyone who has any information or he may see the motor foresealed to come forward meanwhile investigations are underway to identify a person responsible for pouring oil on a home in Clomane sometime between 10pm on Friday night last and the following morning the oil was poured at the front of the property in the clincher area Gardier saying no motor for the incident has been identified those are the latest headlines we'll be back with again at 12 noon OK McKenna thank you very much indeed back after this really short break all right 10CT centres in Dublin Limerick and Leish have the highest pass rates in the country this year but once again Donagall features in the other end of the scale or at the other end of the scale with some of the lowest pass rates for NCT's in fact Derry Begg in Donagall has a pass rate of less than 39% of the average pass rate of the average pass rate of the average pass rate of 39% now we're joined on the program by David Humphries road test editor with a complete car.ie all right I mean people will be scratching their heads what's the big difference between you know the east and the west Dave I think you've got your theory I'm not sure about it but anyway let's hear it well I mean there's a number of different reasons for one of which being obviously in Dublin some roads are a little bit better and maybe people aren't using their car as much so therefore there's less wear and tear on it and so there's a number of different factors in it you know also even down anecdotally we hear that some test centres are not more lenient but there are less willing to fail things on very minor things so there's a difference with failure rates as well you have to bear in mind that you can fail on something very minor and then you have a more of a major failure and then you have a dangerous failure so the numbers although you see very low pass rates that's not necessarily a whole picture so it's very easy to look at the numbers and just see that and that's one of the reasons for it yeah I think though what we should be able to expect Dave is a consistency in terms of what is deemed a pass or what's deemed a failure do you know I don't think this is a space whereby we should have maybe some people in certain test centres particularly picky you know that should be audited you know the same car put through various centres because without that information we kind of are in the world of speculation and I think really we pay through the nose for this and we should have an audit of you know and maybe it can be random or what you know is there a difference between different test centres on standards absolutely yeah I mean this is the thing there's a we have test centres all over the country and you know we also have in fact that we have an ageing car population in Ireland as well so once cars get beyond a certain age they're then going to have to get a test every single year but we also see anecdotally a lot of people who really take little care of their cars and will send a true NCT to see what it fails on and only then remedy that now it's not a great way to do things but in one way I can absolutely understand why because motorists are having to pay through the nose and fuel costs are very high insurance costs continue to rise and then on top of that when you have to have a car NCTed every single year at 58 euro will go plus potentially another 28 euro for a retest it all starts to add up and people can be a little bit more reluctant nowadays when finances are hard at home to take that preventative maintenance rather than reactive maintenance to their cars yeah and while it might seem like a clever way of doing it you know the chances are you going to incur that extra 28 euro at least and maybe even more if it's another full test so it's a false economy arguably you know if you trust your local garage get them to have a look over it you should with your car you should be getting a check at least once a year and also things like spending money on tyres checking your tyre pressure every month it might seem like a silly thing to do but it can prolong the life of your tyres it can improve your fuel economy so reduce how much fuel you're using not to a huge extent but it all starts to add up yeah indeed and in terms of we don't know what cars are failing for because that would also give us a bit more information Dave wouldn't it yeah so for example I mean there are we frequently see the common things being things like brake lines so corrosion on brake lines tyres as well so if a tyre is below a legal minimum very common failure but we also see things cars failing on things like registration lamp bulbs for example which is a bit of a silly thing in the whole scheme of things it's not exactly something that's safety related but it is just one of those things that it can fail on that all helps to skew the figures now if something like that happens and it's just a bulb gone in most cases go and get a new bulb in and come back they'll just do a visual inspection and you pass that's fine but there are things like for example you can pass with an advisory so if your tyres are just above the legal minimum they'll say you'll pass but they will note on it that means that you're not going to get a whole year out of your tyres although a lot of people may think this is good to go for another year yeah and I can understand how you might think that everything you know thumbs up because really your NCT is a test of the car in that moment it does not in any way suggest the condition of the car even a day later and you know I've even heard examples of you know people getting a puncture on their way to an NCT test or they hit a pothole and that throws the tracking out and the next thing it can fail so there are all these things which are very very annoying and I can absolutely understand the frustration a lot of modders would face when it comes to an NCT it's one of those things that people don't really like to have to do yeah and you mentioned the light on the number plate and we've had people who've bought cars the garage has put the number plates on the cars and they've gone for the NCT when it was due after you know after the number of years that it is due and then it was failed because of the number plates like this and if anyone out there is some of the strangest reasons for failing your NCT get in touch with us oh wait 60, 25,000 so you know there's two things going on here multiple things but cars failing because of a bulb to use that example but there are thousands upon thousands of cars that fail and that should never be driven until such time as they're repaired that's a much more serious part of all of this Dave correct yes and that is ultimately that is the real purpose of the NCT is that we have all cars on the road that are at least to a minimum safety standard because this will affect everyone on the road it's not just the person driving the car if a car is dangerous or defective or not road worthy if that's involved in an accident chances are there could be other people involved in an accident if you're found to be driving a car that you know should not be on the road your insurance could be null or void it's just it's one of those things that there is I can see why people don't like the NCT but it is there to try and improve it for everybody but ultimately when as cars get older they need more maintenance and unfortunately it's not that easy not everyone can afford a new car you know people are in older cars not necessarily by choice but because of a necessity so I can sympathise with motors in that respect and as well as that too if you're looking at an age they face increased insurance they face increased car tax if they want to pay in for their car tax this is the government that are doing this they're charged a premium for paying every three months for their car tax which I think is horrendous if it was a private company I'd be angry the fact that it's the state infuriates me and yet it still rumbles on it should be absolutely no difference if that's your rate of motor tax per year where do you pay it in one go for one month or six months it should be the exact same there's no reason in this day and age why they should have to charge motors even more for doing that what will happen though is people might look at Dairy Bag and go I wonder what's going on there and go to Lettercanny or Donegal Town or one of the other test centres so it's hard to know what the publication of these figures achieved people almost shopping around for a more lenient test centre if it is down to we're pretty fussy absolutely that is a thing and bear in mind you don't have to get your NCT done in any particular centre you can get it done anywhere you want and actually earlier on this year when there was such a backlog of NCTs we had people going all over the country to try and just get a test so that their car was still with a valid NCT do you think there's any value or benefit in someone be it an arm of the state or wherever rates versus road traffic collision rates and factors there I think there's enough information in here that is worth looking at to see in terms of trends and if we need any targeted approach particularly in the important area of road safety Dave I think absolutely the government needs to do a lot more about road safety and driving standards in Ireland in my profession I drive all over the world with this job and I have to say in Ireland it is one of the poorest standards of road use in Europe it is very very poor here I think the education system needs to be overhauled I think we need to get start instilling it during the school years to try and educate people about this but also we now have motorists that are increasingly distracted mobile phone use is absolutely out of control so there are so many distractions in cars now and on the road there are a number of factors that can contribute to road traffic collisions and we always focus on the driver and rightly so because that's maybe where the message can be gotten through but there is also the condition of the vehicle and the conditions of the road and I think sometimes the last one a pass is somewhat given that you know a lot of road traffic collisions you know the road conditions can contribute to that but it's never talked about it's always you know talking about what the driver can do and can't do and that's important I don't want to conflate things here but I think our road conditions too is someone who travels extensively as part of their job test driving how do our roads hold up to our European counterparts and elsewhere it's very hit and miss in Ireland there are some areas that are very very good but unfortunately I'm sure every listener will know there are certain stretches of road that either have absolutely the wrong speed limit they have a dangerous bend on them or the surface is very very poor and we have a very huge inconsistency in the standards of our roads in Ireland and you know an awful lot of money is spent on these roads but it's not necessarily doing the right work and you know we constantly see it even on social media you see people posting pictures of obscene potholes and poor road surfaces and it's only so much that a motorist can drive around these issues but those road surfaces are also having an effect on the NTT because they're increasing wear and tear on these cars as well so the motorist in a way is paying extra for this and if you strike a pothole you can claim back repairs from the local authority as well so you know maybe that will stiffen the cough Dave what's the I suppose affordable is a very sort of relative statement what's the best affordable car you've driven lately test driven in terms of affordability things like the Suzuki Swift it's a small hatchback it's quite a good car for what it is I hate to use the phrase but it's cheap and cheerful but the big thing is everything is going electric and unfortunately a lot of people want to have an electric car but they're still very expensive at the moment so hybrids are a little bit cheaper but I wouldn't totally be riding off petrol cars and even diesel in certain cases if you're somebody that does a huge amount of mileage a modern diesel car is still the cheapest way to do it I think the industry needs to get out in front of is battery warranties because I think we're getting from when people really started to move into hybrid and on full electric a lot of them are coming towards the end of the warranty and are starting to find themselves being faced with quite big bills in some cases to replace them I think the industry needs to get out in front of that an awful lot of that from users over the next year or two I don't know what you think Dave I think it's a very common misconception that batteries are spent in an electric car after six or seven years all the data I've seen that is absolutely not the case I would have no issue in buying a used electric car even six or seven years old pretty much every manufacturer will give a minimum of an eight year warranty on that battery and that will guarantee that it retains 100,000 miles in Donegal you wouldn't be long putting that up Dave that's really but also the same could be said for an engine as well other engines can be quite expensive as well I get you I understand but you don't think that's going to be a particular issue then no from what I've seen and I've driven every single electric car that's available on the market at the moment and I've looked into a lot of this in terms of the data and I don't see absolutely there will be the odd one that may have an issue what usually shortens the lifespan of an electric car is if you constantly fast charge it or rapid charges that will absolutely do but if you're just at home and you're doing your normal charging you charge it to 80% every time you should not have any issues with it and it would not be a concern for me I call this as my car passed the test but there was a pole to the left in the car when I took it to my mechanic there was two broken coil springs in the car and the NCT mechanic did not cop on certainly not Derry Bag I don't think that happened all right listen Dave thanks so much for your time I appreciated people can check out completecar.ie I'm sure for more from you Dave and the team thanks very much thanks for having me on take care of yourself I'll wait 60, 25,000 I failed the test over a light when she left the house the light was working and when she came back it was working and the car was only coming from the garage from having a service on for the NCT wow what a sickner that is why should a car only be allowed one year NCT test just because of an age it's age with low mileage it's not fair it is not fair a lot of it's not fair I failed because my dip bulb was put upside by the garage oh no right okay what did you do to the garage pay a half inch chip on the windscreen at the very bottom corner not in the view of the driver failed off the back of that that's another sickner that is another sickner all right keep them coming into us what is the most annoying thing for which your car failed the NCT if the medical experts get it wrong everything changes from misdiagnosis or delay diagnosis to surgical injury or even poor treatment all have physical emotional and financial consequences we're here to help so if your treatment didn't go according to plan speak to our experienced medical negligence team at McElhenney & Associates find us online our call 0749175989 McElhenney & Associates solicitors strain order in contentious business a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement Patterson's The Hall Lifford one of Ireland's largest kitchen and interior showroom open Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 30 p.m. kitchens, beds mattresses, furniture and garden furniture all under one roof 50% off our X display kitchens everything you need to make 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Visit nutrious.ie for full product details Ok and more feedback for our letter writer thank you very much it's really appreciated just for those who didn't hear she had to switch bank accounts switched her account over to a bank has had no money lodged into it yet she's going to be putting her credit um her social welfare payment into it but there's a six euro monthly charge regardless of transactions now for people who use the account a lot that might work out well in the long run I don't know it's horses for courses but anyway she's six euro over drawn already because no money has gone into the account yet it takes a while to switch over the social welfare payment but this caller says in regard to the social welfare payment there is no weekly charge if the lady transfers the payment into a credit union account now I don't know what that means in terms of debit cards can you have a debit card yet with a credit union account that might be um an issue uh to that lady getting the benefit why not use the post money card all the post office do these and you can check your app for your balance also you can tap and withdraw from any ATM machine okay that's something worth looking at look it's not a fate complete it's very easy to close an account um six a month six euro month is 60 72 euro that's two big bags of coal it's hard to believe it's only two big bags of coal but that's not insignificant so I would suggest maybe you close that account and I know it's complicated uh but I don't think it suits you and as I say 72 euro would be a decent uh it's probably a weekly shop depending how many are in the house that money is better off in your pocket than uh in the banks I would respectfully suggest tell that lady who's getting charged six euro by her bank most banks have no charges if you're over 66 now I'm not sure what the type of payment is but that's interesting Greg Karen might find she's at more than six euro per month I know if I ever went overdrawn in Ulster Bank uh they then charge me for being overdrawn plus you're 1250 in case you're overdrawn and a payment bounces uh that's a thing uh in regards being charged six euro for the social welfare post offices charges five euro monthly for the pension going into the account I have a small pension coming in from England and the maintenance charges five euro each month you see this is why some people and it's not for everyone are going to the likes of Chase and Revolute because there's no such charges with those type of uh accounts yeah I'm not promoting any particular account but you know people want to have access to a branch and I don't know um it's hard to know what suits who I want to complain about a cancel sign outside st. Joseph's hospital St. Auler it's obstructing the main road from Balabuffet to St. Auler and it's been there a week and is going to cause an accident okay it's a cancel sign outside st. Joseph's hospital St. Auler um in Northern Ireland if you test the car you get a year but here uh you might only get three or four months it is based on the birth date of the car when the last test was carried out that's true but also if I'm not mistaken in Northern Ireland you can go to a garage and they can test the car they're entrusted with that as well so you can go to the garage and say look I'm looking to pass the uh it's not the NCT um the MOT and correct me if I'm wrong I think they can do the bits of work that's required then they can okay it and it's all done in one seamless sort of motion which I would suggest saves the driver money because maybe there's a bit of room to be had there in terms of the cost here in the Republic uh you either fix your car in advance and have great trust in your garage and we've got some great garages but you can still take your car uh and it can fail um or you can do what was not suggested by Dave but what was noted by Dave where people will um go and get the car tested to find out what's wrong and then fix it thereafter a caller says my car passed the test but there was a pulling to I've read that one already two coal springs gone my car failed test because the letters on the number plate were 10mm too big not millilitres that's uh liquid isn't it millimeters too big and I had to go and get new number plates and come back to them I thought that was a bit of a money rake making money imagine going to work in your job is to measure letters with a ruler uh I bought a car from a family whose mother had died and in order to sacked the car I had to go back to the family and get a solicitor's letter it was awful the woman died but had to prove this and listen anyone who's suffered a bereavement they started getting uh letters through the post and closing accounts and bills for tv license and stuff it causes an awful lot of upsets okay right we were talking earlier on about mental health services for young people and we were speaking a couple of weeks ago uh from to someone who works within the mental health services and people are texting it's too difficult to work within but also we were speaking about younger people and their access to mental health services it's despicable what's going on um because they are trying to do their best for the young people but they're being made to feel like they're a nuisance and happen to contend themselves with webinars and such well Maria Walsh is a midlands north west MEP and joins us on the program now um and it's a coincidence of scheduling but it works very well given our earlier conversation which of course Maria wasn't privy to uh Maria good morning to you good morning thanks very much for having me on thanks for joining us right you're calling for a radical overhaul of the entire mental health system in Ireland it needs to be chucked out we need to start again don't we absolutely I mean there's some parts of the mental services of all ages that work but um in listening to and hearing the call from cams particularly Dr Flannery in the last 24 hours I mean what he's saying is uh is that is certain elements need that radical overhaul we have best shared practices in various other sectors I don't know why we haven't done that now um and it for me and I think we've spoken about it before um you can have you can throw a lot of money at this and a lot of money has been invested into mental health but when you're not connecting the dots when you're only looking at reactive care and not preventative measures then we're going to have this conversation in 10 years time and considering unicef just last year reported uh ages of 10 to 19 so our adolescents across the European Union there are 9 million young people suffering uh from mental health disorders and challenges so when we're looking at the reactive measure where they spend about 4% of the GDP that's 600 billion across the EU um something is not adding up and therefore when we look at the 72 hour waiting list that young people have to wait uh to get seen simply not good enough the people were speaking to to uh and our focus was on say for instance you know parents with children with autism and in terms of getting supports they're seeing their children deteriorate they're seeing their children with suicidal thoughts they're not being given any time frame uh they're being pointed to webinars and such I'm embarrassed I'm embarrassed by this um and as I say they're so frustrated and they're heart broken because they're seeing their children deteriorate in front of their very eyes they're being told it's a lack of resources but what does that mean because the money's washing around the system okay are we hiring people but they're not taking the jobs um are we is the wages too low what like what's going on we don't we see we can't get a handle on the problem to sort of try and fix it but the money's there where's it going yeah from I mean from from my perspective and the work that I do um in the European Parliament I fundamentally believe this needs to be treated across European Union exactly how we treated Covid that an EU mental health strategy that our EU ministers work together and that an EU dedicated fund comes because when we look at what works and what hasn't worked we need that best practices we need to tap into each other's talent pools and we need the best practices and experts in order to determine what we do to go forward and again this is not just about fixing tomorrow or the next day this is about making sure in the next 10 20 30 years we have supports in place that are adequate to meet the demands that people are needing now and have needed for many generations for me the legacy of mental health in this country and exactly as you said Greg I mean I as a public representative I am embarrassed that we live in a country that has leading experts in various other fields that have multinationals looking at our shores to invest in and then we have younger people who are living in a world where we stigmatize mental health and then are continuing to ask everybody to mourn the loss of it and then we're expecting as you rightly pointed out parents and communities to lift people who are not experts in their field so from my perspective to answer your question I think we need to do exactly similar to what Dr Flannier chaired yesterday on national radio and tap into our talent pool that are currently studying increase our rates of pay making sure if we do have experts to join up the dots and we do that we're pulling them from various sectors and that we're targeting preventative care so that a 72 hour wait limit is down to hours not 72 hours I mean you know what happens now you ring now doc or you take someone who's vulnerable to the emergency department there's no special resources you're in there with a lot of sick people people walk out and I know people have left the ED and are no longer with us because there's no system there we rightly did but I think we could we moved heaven and earth to limit the amount of people that might die from COVID-19 a lot of it was blind we didn't know what we were doing but we did absolutely everything to prevent death yet in our communities and I think sometimes the fact that it's not talked about publicly we don't get very reliable figures I'm not sure every death by suicide is recorded as such and it's so personal right? but we have people dying in great numbers in every corner of this county and beyond Maria way more than died from COVID and that is not to pitch one against the other we could make international news I know you want a European approach but if we declared a mental health crisis here and did absolutely everything we can to do our best for everyone you can't we're not going to eliminate it if we wanted to if the will was there we could I almost got all part of this chat I wanted to walk out of here after 10 o'clock after the first hour of the program because it's so devastating what families are having to go through absolutely I mean I can I can only agree with you I think I truly believe and I've I have seen families and communities and friends share the impact of a loss of a life and then the burden of responsibility comes upon them and that is simply not good enough that's not good enough it's not good enough for the life we've lost and it's certainly not good enough for the people then who are then under mental health challenges to try and figure out how the hell they're meant to wake up in the morning and do something on behalf of mental health I think we have and similar to what was called on and what we've spoken about before there is we would be lost without the volunteers of this country we would have been lost without them in COVID and we would be lost without them with mental health because I think unfortunately when we lose a life in our community you family members who are setting up amazing organizations or events for their loved one and rightly so and then we have people taking on as I said that responsibility to help another to upscale themselves to know what to look out for and how to help and that helps when you have an employer or teammates or a community that is aware of the different types of mental health issues and pressures but it is simply not good enough when they're expected to go to A&E and pick up their loved one and bring them home and go on Night Watch good enough in 2022 it's a very difficult conversation to have because we also believe conscious of the fact that there could be a triggering element to this and I understand that and we also implore anyone who is affected by this to ring the services that are there but we also have to recognize that you have to speak to someone and you are set in a path of intervention if required but we're asking people to make phone calls but we have to recognize that the supports aren't there where they should be it's a horror because how do you discuss it without the thought that I could in any way damage someone in having this conversation is very upsetting but we have to also talk to the fact that people do reach out for help and then it's not there the immediate intervention is there and hopefully that's it to get them back to where they can be they're passed around the place maybe they're prescribed drugs or something and that problem go away that way or whatever we just really need to stop talking about it and doing stuff for Maria for my understanding in speaking with experts over the last couple of years we have mental well-being mental health and mental ill health we can transition ourselves me and you into any one of them the mental ill health works with their GP or an expert but we have great services like Jigsaw and there's a brilliant organization there in letter Kenny and working with younger people but we also have more and more younger people going to university and tapping into ATU there in letter Kenny and we need to make sure we have supports there so that when they do experience something of a transition period bad breakup difficult paper issues at home financial pressures that they have a longevity to that preventative measure and not just reaction we also have Pieta House does fantastic work but I think we have a small pool unfortunately right now of experts and we're pulling on so many of them in terms of being qualified and we need to do we have to make sure that the services correct service when someone picks up that phone that services that they expect to get help from doesn't end up being a signposting surface because they might have one phone call in them yes yes no I agree and also we have to make sure when you talk of students that what we do and when I say we I mean we as a country does not exacerbate their poor mental health i.e. them not being able to go to college because they can't get accommodation or whatever now I'm not trying to throw everything into the one pot here but you yeah you talk to some of the triggers right can you imagine you know being all set to go but you can't get a room or your family can't afford it or you know all that so I mean you you're a member of your government the part of your member of is in government here Maria you know you've got access that I don't have and that other people don't have I mean what what is what are the ministers with responsibility saying to you when you implore them and I know you would do so with passion and as a as a person not simply as an elected representative what are they saying to you tell us what reaction you get in speaking with ministers and in speaking with EU officials too because within that capacity I do believe an EU mental health strategy and a directive and something that I'm calling for an EU year dedicated to mental health that we see funding and we see awareness and actually to your point we we really start that European or international if you'd like call that everyone has mental health and therefore we all have to understand the implications of it from speaking with governmental colleagues you know I'm certainly putting pressure on our own fill a will representatives and have been coming up to this budget in particular when you compare ourselves to Sweden or Germany or France Germany has a just under 12% spend on mental health alone France just over on the 15% so there's no reason why well two big member states but there's no reason why by population we should be lagging at the percentage we're doing way down the list and I mean from their perspective they are trying to connect the dots and I gotta give them some kudos they're trying to connect it but it is simply not fast enough and we're not looking at it exactly are we doing as our climate crisis or COVID particularly our COVID pandemic with the urgency and the emergency that we are losing thousands of people across the island of Ireland due to mental health and then we're having an exacerbated challenge because community members what we spoke about just now are feeling the impact and then are trying to fix it and this is the messages that I'm imploring to our all party governmental colleagues we have a very good minister in mental health but I certainly would like to see a senior minister in this role and a specific department that is only looking at the preventative measures that support us so leaning into what Dr Flannery said and he has expertise in this field that we're tapping into those that are already in college we're increasing rates we're looking at expertise and that we're not having this conversation in a year's time when we're looking at another budget and saying well we can only afford less than 6% that is simply but I mean even if we were serious about this the budget could reflect the support for people in the community that you talk of the volunteers, carers for example that would be easy done I just worry Maria that if this was more tangible if this was something whereby we could put definitive figures on and maybe there was a protest or something it would be addressed with the urgency that we've seen other crises addressed with but I just think because it's not it's easy to ignore and I know you have to give Kudos to certain ministers and all that type of stuff but whatever the ministers are doing however well intentioned it is we're going backwards we're not going forwards so they're wasting their time. I agree I agree with you and this is where again from a European perspective but I got into politics and many reasons because I lost too many in my community for mental health so for me I don't mind calling out the fact that actually it needs to happen that we're being realistic and to your point that if we really understood as public reps the numbers we are losing and we'll continue to lose if we don't treat this as exactly what it is an outcry a pandemic it is a silent pandemic and therefore all budget all policy needs to reflect the urgency of ending that pandemic and the amount of people it affects that the lives last the opportunities that gone but also to coming across mums who they're at the period of the life where they should be happy and they've got the news of a son or daughter and their lives have devastated they're never to be probably got still 20-30 years of good physical health but they've been predestined by a child avoidable in many cases and it's just absolutely horrendous that their lives are changed eternally and but that's just one group then it's the people themselves that feel so desperate and we see unfortunately we see it with the physical health side of things as well I know too many stories and I think they also deserve light and certainly comment and gratitude in this conversation we're having is those that are working in the mental health services now who are working no doubt around the clock to make sure every little bit of resources given to those that are coming in that are making that phone call and who are trying to hold two pieces of string together to the next day and hope that a budget or the speed of which this is needed happens. I'm not sure if it braves the right word I think it's refreshing and direct it to compare this directly to our response to COVID I'm not sure how popular it is or what the reaction is but I think it's the perfect example of what we need to do and how we need to approach this because we saw the buy-in from the majority of the general population I can only imagine more that we'd be even more united on tackling something that affects us all Maria Walsh unless there's anything you wish to add, thanks very much for your time this morning I mean what you shared earlier if there is people out there that are triggered to learn more about mental health there is resources please know if you are listening to this that you are wanted on this earth and and be safe and be well and know from myself and yourself if you don't mind me including that every bit of conversation and push that can happen to make sure again as I shared we cannot continue to stigmatise mental health and then ruin the loss of it and also just it's important too that we all know to speak to someone because I personal experience of this through my job where one message hello someone that was enough to start a process that a few people got better from or got into a better space from so that's why it's so important just to vocalise it, verbalise it, write it down because there are people that will help ok listen Maria thanks for your time this morning thank you very much Maria Walsh Midlands North West MEP The Nine Till Noon Show in association with the North West Truck Fest this Saturday and Sunday at Milford Mart with live music, family fun at Truck Convoy and much more Gear up for the club championship at Michael Murphy Sports and Leisure where you'll find all the essentials to carry you through the season shop the full range of Onales Mourn Shorts Socks and Sassoon Mouth Guards and get the new Michael Murphy Ghost Gloves with enhanced grip from just 15 Euro shop in store or get free next day nationwide delivery when you spend 85 Euro online at MichaelMurphySports.ie Are you frequently asking others to speak slowly, clearly and loudly is listening to the TV or radio becoming harder If your hearing is affecting your everyday life connect hearing are here to help Our clinics in Leisure, Kennean and Low are open Monday to Friday where you can avail of our hearing test wax removal and repair services Take that first step to better hearing Call us today on 07491 13296 Connect Hearing Connecting You to Life Hello from Team Hope We're the people behind the annual Christmas shoebox appeal We know you don't usually hear from us at this time of year but we wanted a quick word with all the teachers as thoughts turn to the new term We want to say thanks Thanks for looking out for our kids for inspiring them, encouraging them and being one of the important connections in their lives Thanks for making a difference to the children who received the shoeboxes too Thanks to everyone that helped Team Hope to make children smile Okay, you're very welcome back to the program 08 660 25000 is the WhatsApp and text number 08 660 25000 I'll give us a call on 07491 25000 07491 25000 Right, okay Just to give you some numbers It's been a difficult program today It's been a bit heavy and I understand that And just to give you some telephone numbers here for those of you who might need them AWARE can be contacted on 1-800-80-48-48 That is AWARE You can also call Pieta House on 1-800-247-247 and Samaritans are there for you as well on 1-1-6-1-2-3 and you can also visit your mental health yourmentalhealth.ie or 1-800-111-888 So any, you know our number if you need any of your own numbers get in touch with us and also to really, it's important that if you're feeling down or sad or whatever or what we've been talking about makes you feel bad or worse that you call those numbers because there's amazing people they're, you don't know them as such but they're in the community to help because we are good, we come together when we need to and we will on issues like that I'm trying to take one more quick break rather than just completely switch from one subject to another this next topic is important as schools are set to reopen that's coming up for you in just under two minutes Stay where you are Home, motor and van, farm, quality home travel and liability insurance they quote them all so if the worst happens, you're covered for a competitive insurance quote today called Hickey Clark & Langen on 9-1-2-6-888 or pop into their office at Bally McCool Letter Kenny Hickey Clark & Langen General Insurance is limited trading as Hickey Clark & Langen is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland sales and hire, long-term and short-term quotes available for parties, festivals, weddings or any event across the county contact Gortley Sales & Hire in Letter Kenny on 9-1-2-6-2-7-6 Are you one of Donegal's next female entrepreneurs? Ambition is a pre-accelerator program run by local enterprise office Donegal Ambition focuses on early-stage female entrepreneurs promoting the skills and resilience needed to develop globally scalable ventures attract investments and create jobs Ambition is open to female founders, entrepreneurs or those with a strong start-up idea with potential to be globally scalable who have links to Donegal Apply before the September 7th deadline at localenterprise.ie forward slash Donegal on how you can help support these charities while having lots of fun on Wednesday the 24th of August It's an all-west truck fest at Milford March this Saturday and Sunday with trucks from all over Ireland also Brick-a-Brack and home baking stalls plus live music proceeds to Elly's Wish to Walk and MS Ireland Donegal branch this ad is sponsored by Donegal on Okay, I think we've all had to come to terms with the fact that schools are back many reopening next week and what's going to happen is our roads are going to change we're going to see school buses that we didn't see before and you know it's been two to three months since we've been at it young people out on the roads getting to and from school we've had really long days of course so we'll start seeing some changes in terms of darkness in the morning or darkness at night and as I say you know we've got out of the habit so let's refresh ourselves as to what we need to keep our eyes open for and our ears open for our awareness as clear as it can be Sam Wade is Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority Good morning to you Sam Good morning Right, okay so firstly the basics I suppose they are the basics and you know if we start there we'll be doing well we're going to see more traffic different type of traffic on the road over the next while again Yes and what we've launched today with Minister Norton the Back to School campaign and Assistant Commissioner Hillman and Garda Chicana and it is a not just a reminder to all road users you're right it's actually the roads are getting busier again post COVID but it is that time of year Back to School and it's really to remind all road users to be respectful of children and traffic wardens children trying to get to school in the morning and also when they're being picked up in the afternoon getting home but two things that has changed really from our perspective there's more children walking and cycling to school which is a good thing for active travel and health and wellbeing but road users need to be mindful of that and need to be respectful of giving children and traffic wardens the time and space and particularly giving way to the traffic wardens when the children are crossing the road outside the school gates Yeah and no motorist wants to be involved in a collision with a young person I don't think there's anyone listening it'd probably be some of the worst nightmares of most we avoid that by you know making sure that we do everything to avoid it Yes I would ask and it's not just motorists it's van drivers, alloy drivers, cyclists other people who are using different forms of mobility to slow down slow down coming to schools and what one of our actions is within the government road safety strategy is to implement more speed limits and variable speed limits particularly outside schools not just in urban areas but also in rural areas I'd just like to say a point on that Sam and I've been banging on it about this for a number of years for some reason throughout the summer the variable speed limits were still coming on while schools were closed there might be different views on this but all I see is motorists flying past because they know schools are closed they may not be aware when schools are reopened again I just don't understand why we don't switch off the variable speed limits so that they have the impact when we need them when schools are off all summer or all Halloween or over Christmas and that's a good point that RSA with the TII organisations along with local councils and that's we're always improving things and where there's the opportunity to enhance particularly outside schools but you make a good point that the importance is for all road users to be aware of the school terms and within the next week schools are getting back not just the junior and national primary schools but also the secondary schools so this is like school children of all ages and it's for everyone to be mindful of of the movement of traffic of that additional risk after the summer break there's a carrot and stick approach here let's get to the stick now because there are increased penalties for failing to stop at a school ward and sign they've been doubled the fines yeah and this is the minister announced doubling of fines not just for for people disrespecting the traffic wardens the school wardens but this is something that RSA we welcome that announcement and it is an enforcement measure and it's a a timely reminder of the enforcement measure because we want our schools and we want our kids to go to school in a safe manner and get home in a safe manner so that we could educate them for the future in regard to road safety and they can then bring that with them this is a lifelong learning experience and RSA one of the positive actions we've part of the back to school campaign and RSA we've launched the virtual online learning portal and that's a tremendous resource for principals and teachers and school kids to have access to and children are like sponges and they want to please so we have to make sure that they see this information this portal that you talk of it's for the general population to access so initially we're for principals and teachers who wish to avail of these resources RSA will continue a blended approach RSA have done and will continue to go into schools physically but principals and teachers can have access to these learning modules along with the school kids can the general public access them these portals so at this moment we've obviously developed the software and the learning resource at this moment the initial stage is actually sharing the materials with the teachers and school kids so if we want to educate our children before they go back to school you're talking about warning us through opening next week you're telling me that if we want to try and educate our children before they go back to school that parents and guardians can't access these tools to try and make our children as safe as possible this is an additional innovative measure RSA as has in Garda Chicana we've previously and have continued to go into schools and share the road safety message with us children, school children of all ages this is an additional measure which we can scale up the dissemination of that knowledge and the kids will have access to these materials previously RSA we went into schools and shared that information knowledge but the kids now will have access to this insight knowledge and from an education point of view will have access to it on their iPads when they go home after these sessions and access either iPad or their smartphones so it'll be resource that they'll have on going access to so what's information then in terms of this road safety message is available for parents on the RSA website so the information the information initially as I said is available to teachers and the kids but yes and this is where we will be launching the portal and this will be in addition to previous in classroom training set. Do you have any tools on the RSA website at the moment now for parents to go on access to work with their children on? There is a considerable amount of resource educational resources available to the general public not just parents and that's in the rules of the road in terms of... Where is that on the RSA website? Hello Sam? Sorry is that available on the RSA website Sam? Yes it is. Okay great so people can search that out and this is not part of the curriculum this is up to schools whether or not they access this portal would you be encouraging schools to ensure that they do? I would encourage all schools to avail of the resource you're correct I'm saying it's not compulsory or a mandatory part of the education curriculum and this is an area which I myself we've looked at other countries and what other countries do in this space and some of the leaders in route safety it is actually part of the national curriculum an example of that is Norway where Norway is one of the safest countries in western Europe and they actually this these materials this resource is part of their national curriculum from kindergarten age upwards so that's an area that I'm interested RSA are interested in exploring with our co-workers and colleagues not just in transport but in the education department also. We also have to make sure the TII and local authorities that when they're building new roads around schools that they ensure they have cycle paths and safe walking spaces for children I presume as well. Yeah I know there is previously Minister Norton and Minister Ryan announced additional investment in cycling infrastructure and that's gone back to the actions in the route safety strategy there is focus on speed limits also particularly outside schools not just in urban areas but rural areas also. Sam listen thanks for your time and for the work that you do we appreciate it okay thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you Sam, Sam Way Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority back with you tomorrow morning at nine have a great day stay tuned John Bresens on his way.