 yesterday is a key issue. He pointed out the way defective block homeowners are being treated differs starkly to the recent measures announced for defective apartment owners in Dublin. He accused the government of washing its hands of the situation and wrongly believing that the supposedly enhanced redress scheme has resolved the issues. You're expecting traumatised homeowners whose lives have been destroyed to try to engage a building contractors to try and make an amount of money fit that just can't fit. Will he meet with the councillors who are here today? Cross-party including his own government councillors who've called the scheme a sham. They've called out their own government and said they need to get up there urgently because I'm telling you so for now you're going to have people on the street again very very soon in Dunnegal, Mayo, Clare and all of these counties again. There are further calls for regional inequalities to be addressed with a particular focus on the northwest such inequalities have been highlighted further after latest CSO figures revealed people in Dunnegal have the lowest disposable income in the country at just over 18,500 euro. The Northern and Western Regional Assembly says the gap in the region and the state average has progressively widened over the past decade. Bosses at AIB Bank are to be called into the finance committee in Lentster House to face questions on debt write downs. It follows reports that former hurling star DJ Kerry had a loan running into millions of euro written down by 99%. AIB's chief executive told staff yesterday that all of the facts of the case were not yet in the public domain. Subsequent reports now suggest the bank also recovered and sold a number of properties. Help is at hand for smokers thinking about kicking the habit today is Ash Wednesday National No Smoking Day and the HSC says nicotine replacement therapies are free from local stop smoking clinics. It's part of a package of supports on offer to help people quit the HSC's smoking cessation service in Dunnegal is urging people in the county to engage with them. More on that on today's nine to noon show with Greg. Martina Blake national lead for the HSC's tobacco free Ireland program says therapies can double the chance of quitting for good. Nicotine has actually been defined by the WHO as more addictive than heroin. That's why we really don't advise people to quit on their own and most people who try to quit on their own unfortunately are unsuccessful. So we really advise that using stop smoking medication doubles your chances and using up smoking advisers support will double your chances again. And with the forecast cold and breezy today with sunshine and scattered blustery showers. Some of those showers heavy with hail and isolated thunderstorms possible. Wintery falls can't be ruled out over higher ground top afternoon temperatures six to eight degrees Celsius feeling colder due to a brisk northwesterly wind. It'll be cold against night as well. Temperatures tipping below zero in some areas hitting minus one in parts. It'll be a little bit drier tonight with some mist and fog and then a little bit of rain before dawn. And that's how in the news back with news info at 10 o'clock. There's no better time to switch to 48 get all data calls and texts for 12 99 a month and there's no contract so you're not tied down. Plus we're powered by three switch and save at 48 dot IE monthly membership very usage policy of 200 gigabytes 5000 calls and texts and terms and conditions apply one time activation fee of 12 99 C 48 dot IE the county's number one talk show the 90 noon show on Highland radio and now it's time for the talk of the northwest the 90 noon show with Greg Hughes on Highland radio and we are up on running and running for another Wednesday this one the 22nd of February 2023 it's four minutes past nine how are you keeping I do hope you're very well indeed a cold but fresh and bright morning this morning I hope you felt the same for you out there right okay loads coming up on the show you heard Donal flag when we talked about quitting smoke we've got business news there's so much in there over the course of the three hours so please stay where you are and get involved in the conversation as well it's been a cracking week for your interactions 08 660 25 000 watts apps and texts to that number or give us a call in 07 491 25 000 and emails come in at comments at Highland radio dot com if you want to watch the show don't forget on your smart tv on your fire stick go into the youtube app search us there you can watch us on your big screen or via the same platforms on your mobile device and you can also check us out on our website Highland radio dot com watch live there right um what was I going to say till year um I think the we're going to be announcing the community here award winner on friday very excited about that we're going to go through the entries a little later on today hopefully now I think there was a bit of a rush yesterday as well too but there's been a great response to it also finalizing the the music competition that we have running again I've been listening through the entrance to that over the last couple of weeks uh a good standard again it has to be said so we'll be selecting the finalists for that and looking forward to them performing live on the show so there's lots going on and we'll keep you updated as things progress but let's crack on with the papers this morning and it's an incredibly incredibly sad uh front page of the innish times huge sadness a passing of brave rock old McGinley and I think all of us when we heard this news our thoughts instantly went to uh to Rocko uh initially of course but to his family a massive uh gap now left in their lives tributes have been paid to boncran a teenager Rocko McGinley who has passed away after a battle with a rare brain tumour the 15 year old passed away on tuesday morning surrounded by his family he'd been diagnosed with an extremely rare type of life threatening brain tumour in october 2021 and again we wish uh Rocko's family and his friends in the wider community because I think um you know this uh his passing is going to be felt deeply by an awful lot of people we wish them all the strength that can be mastered at this incredibly incredibly difficult time on to the fin valley voice now work to start this year on the 10 million twin tans regeneration an exciting project um although this is a blurred photo print I'm not sure how much of this kind of uh read the uh team design team I think for the I'm coming back to that because I cannot I simply cannot read it it's been printed too small for me not the paper itself because I just got a front page and it's on a gray background and not a chance am I going to be fit to read that this morning uh let's go to the national actually do you know what I can I can open this up and do it this way try and keep everything in order because it's a an important story uh for the fin valley as well uh yeah let me see here uh the design team for the ambitious 9.8 million euro uh balabha facial roller regeneration strategy is expected to be appointed next month donagol caddy council also confirmed that the land valuation services will be on announced sorry at the same time following appointment of the integrated design team a program of works will be determined outlining proposed commencement dates the council spokesperson said it's understood that work will stop before the end of the year this kind of really changed the face of um balabha fey uh and uh strunaller I suppose as well I can't wait to see how that finishes how that finishes out and how it looks uh look forward to seeing work begin there um the cost of living package confirmed yesterday afternoon I don't know if you looked over what you thought of it there's been a mixed political reaction to it and representative groups as well the 1.3 billion cost of living package unveiled by the government has sparked a mixed reaction with business groups giving it a broad welcome but others saying once off measures for struggling households do not go far enough the cabinet signed off on a 200 euro bonus payment for welfare recipients such as pensioners loan parents and people with disabilities as well as a 100 euro child benefit top-up for families now for some families that's an additional 300 euro so it is go excuse me going to make a difference uh t shortly over i'd call said the measures were aimed at helping people and businesses get through the spring and summer and it would be uh the cost uh last cost of living intervention this side of the budget thomas to me hall martin predicted that while the opposition would dismiss the measures the public would welcome them when viewed alongside the one uh the 11 billion package in last year's budget ministers also agreed to extend the reduced vac rate on electricity and gas and for excise cut some petrol and diesel to be phased out between june and the end of october there'll be no extra 200 euro electricity credit this summer but the government signaled that the need for such payment next winter would be considered in advance of the budget now um i understand i don't want to we there's still a 200 euro payment at the end of march isn't there which is going to help again the cabinet agreed the waiving of exam fees for the junior cert and junior cert and the leaving cert sorry and to boost the back to school allowance by 100 euro that's all well and good but some parents receiving bills for 130 euro for mock exam papers so the junior and leaving cert will be free but why are people being charged 130 odd for mock exams but anyway what is being described as modest at charges for school transport in rural areas and to be reintroduced after they were dropped last year the coalition also approved the extension of the reduced nine percent vac rate for the hospitality sector until the end of august mr veradkar said it would be the final extension so that's that um shin fain leader mary lou mcdonnell criticised the package as silent on housing with nothing for renters or mortgage holders social democrats co-leader russian short all said it was wholly inadequate and we know mortgage holders some their bills have gone up by thousands of euro every single year sorry over thousands of euro a year uh because of rising interest rates of course so any bit of money that we have and we heard again in the news unfortunately we've uh cemented our position as the county with lowest disposable income so any increase affects more people here in a greater way that's just a reality it's not you know poor amount of thing from donagall it is the god's honest truth uh but if you're a multimillionaire you know here's another reminder in the arch independent that things are going to be okay for you a i b has reassured staff that kill kenny hurling star dj carry did not receive any special treatment when he had debts of 9.5 million euro written down to just 60 000 euro no special treatment they say mr carry secured a settlement in 2017 through which he had to pay just 0.63 percent of the original amount owed to the majority state owned bank arty's prime time revealed how mr carry received a 99.37 reduction in his debt however it's understood the sale of properties at the cake club in canticle dare and mount julietting canticle denic kill kenny also went towards relieving the debt therefore mr carry would have received an estimated write down of around 80 percent after the sale of his properties and the 60 percent settlement were taken to into account that doesn't change much for me if he's got high value properties uh you know they had to be sold uh against his debt he still had a very significant write down of money he borrowed that he didn't have to pay back uh politicians are now calling for aib to appear before the or octas finance committee to explain the move and to give an outline of a number of different cases at different values you know give us some samples of people who owe between 1500 000 euro and then those that owe between 5 and 10 million you know let us see exactly what's going on um in the irish daily mail this morning shoppers have been urged to buy local amid a shortage of certain fruit and veg due to poor weather conditions in europe impacted items includes broccoli cauliflower lettuce tomatoes cucumber peppers aubergines and courgettes not going to lie it's not going to impact on our house too much uh it should but it's not uh justin lenard managing director of jackie lenard and sons a whole self fruit and veg supplier in dublin told rte that spain's experienced 16 consecutive nights of below freezing temps over the last three weeks mr lenard said when temperatures go below zero plants stop producing and closing on themselves as a protective measure as a result there is just no product available to be harvest this is unfortunately a problem that is going to continue for uh two to three weeks if not longer because we're also coming towards the end of the spanish season he said so it's a short term measure listen yesterday we were talking about a shortage of drugs uh for people who are very very sick will survive won't we if there's fewer cucumbers and courgettes about but they're still in all maybe it's going to put pressure on hospitality that being said a lot of that stuff can be bought locally and it's grown locally very few air miles and you support local businesses and local jobs uh what do you think about this one um it's in the irish daily star it was kind of mentioned on the news yesterday but just thought i'd read it through and maybe it's a topic you might want to get involved in the government has approved sending 30 irish soldiers to train the ukrainian army defense minister michael martin brought the proposal to cabinet and was given the green light by his ministerial colleagues yesterday now we don't get a say in this it's just a few uh fellows around the table and women around the table that decide this mr martin said ourland has consistently since the war began provided non-lethal support and that the latest training is part of this agenda some of the most skilled members of the defense forces are being deployed to EU military camps in EU countries where they will train ukrainian soldiers so what do you think so we've got irish short so now we are uh military neutral we're not politically neutral uh that's just a reality uh if the truth be told and historically we've always flirted with neutrality uh but what do you think about this our army the army of ourland is going to be going over to train the ukrainian army in bulletproof vest that we've supplied as well to go in and fight uh young russian soldiers or soldiers of all ages does that compromise our um neutrality for what it is are you happy about that are you unhappy about it maybe you are the family of a soldier um and it's one of his colleagues or he or her who are going out to train uh ukrainian soldiers to fight in this war in ukraine are you for it are you against it 086625000 now it is possible those against it might be more motivated to text right because that's just a pattern in radio shows but if you think this is a good idea that this is us doing our bit i want you to hear i want to hear from you as well 086625000 so should the best of the irish army be going and joining with eu camp colleagues in camps training ukrainian soldiers on how to use weapons and tactics and what have you to fight in ukraine what do you think uh the experts were sending over it will include experts in bomb disposal demining engineering and trauma first aid the irish soldiers will be part of a pan european team called the eu military assistance mission in support of ukraine the government does not believe the mission conflicts with our long-standing policy of neutrality and they have advice from the attorney general that the mission does not legally right okay it doesn't compromise that morally what do you think uh but anyway it does not need approval in the door so this decision can be made without any of the people that you elected from whatever party or none having a say on it it's not the first time that irish soldiers have joined an eu military training mission though but it is the first time they have done so for a foreign army that is in an active war so this is unprecedented again what do you think 086625000 086625000 onto the irish daily mirror this morning leo vradkar has warned energy companies he'll not stand idly by if the firms do not pass discounts to customers that noise you can hear is the energy companies trembling in their boots big energy was quick to impose major price hikes on customers when wholesale prices rose last year because of the war in ukraine prices on commodity markets have since begun falling the lower than before the war started but the irish energy companies have not yet passed on the cheaper prices to households with the exception of pinnagy the t-shock said it only took a few months for the energy companies to put the prices up and i'm not going to stand idly by as they report massive profits this year and don't rebate some of that to their customers so what he's saying effectively and i have to agree with him on this one is that energy companies will argue that they hedged they bought electricity they bought gas they bought whatever they bought for a longer period you know to try and give price certainty and now they're locked into those prices higher than the wholesale prices but what leo vradkar is saying is okay that's fine but that's not good enough you have to offset some of the cost to customers by digging into your profits which is not unreasonable i don't think none of them are going to go broke finally a man arrested over the killing of an irish bishop in los angeles is the husband of the victim's housekeeper and had previously done work at his home authorities say auxiliary bishop david o'connell was shot in the bedroom at his home on saturday a swat tweame arrested carlos mendina following a six hour standoff at his home in terrence about 55 kilometers southwest uh of hacienda heights on monday la county sheriff robert lane confirmed very sad story that um but they have the person in custody right 08 660 25 000 that's the whatsapp and text number 08 660 25 000 or give us a call on 07491 25 000 07491 25 000 hopefully you had a lot of pancakes and stuff yesterday did you i made the mistake of saying i would eat a pancake every time uh real madrid scored now didn't sleep a wink uh right okay we are going to be back with our first guests on the show after we take this break stay right where you are the nine till noon show is brought to you by letter can you credit union offering low-rate car loans with fast approval apply online at letter can you see you dot i or in office today mr blue sky tell us what the lotto jackpot is an estimated five million euro play responsibly in store in app or at lottery dot i the national lottery it could be you dunleague all county council invites the public to take part in the first stage of the public consultation to inform the preparation of the draft town center first plan for milford which runs from thursday the 16th of february until thursday the 9th of march 2023 and will include an open drop-in event on wednesday the 22nd of february from 3 p.m. till 8 p.m. at the milford public service center for more information visit the project website milford town center first dot com connect hearing is open for free hearing tests our audiologist is available monday to friday for wax removal services at our letter clinic clinic in the courtyard shopping center we also offer a home visit for those who are unable to visit us our hearing is our social sense are you finding hearing more of a challenge call urshula today on 07491 13296 to make an appointment good hearing helps us to connect to our family friends and loved ones connect hearing connecting you to life now we heard concerns expressed yesterday by aim to representative mary t sweeney about new maps which have been drawn up that could mean that if you're in a red zone you could face a land tax 3 per cent per annum and there's a lot of catch all in it in that there's a lot of people's you know if you have a small plot for grown vegetables a larger back garden whatever it might be that unknowns to you that it could it's owned a certain way and it's been highlighted in this map and you could end up paying a tax on it and the argument was made that people weren't made aware of this the draft map has been drawn up now and people could find themselves facing quite hefty tax bills announced themselves that they would be well aware of it by the time and the tax started being leveraged against them and the call was made for this to be suspended in donningall to some extent until there is some clarity uh we're speaking to an elected rep now councillor paul canning on this issue councillor canning i'm not sure if did you get an opportunity to listen to mary t sweeney yesterday and if so what do you feel if anything needs clarification unfortunately i i didn't and i'm driving here so you could ask me i'm on my way and i've heard um the situation was that we we were on um you and i discussed this kind of at the end of end of october started november around that time it was around the time that the the the date was open for submissions um so it was it was highlighted on your show um donningall county council also had it up on their website the only now um the the only situation or the only gray area for a better word is the established development that's there um it's it's there are people there that whenever you look at the map you see established development um and that could be their house but it also could be their backyard or their backyard and or whatever um now and that's probably why i didn't hear that's probably what mary t was on about um in relation to that uh that plot of ground um if there's infrastructure in place i.e. if there's a footpath if there's lighting if there's surf if there's water if there's surface water uh then they are they are liable for the for the tax if if the site can uh avail of planning promotion now that's a big f because the planning rules and regulations you don't you're not very fuel alone you know to go onto the backyard of somebody involved all day house it doesn't happen um the other the other the the the other situation is in relation to what i'm speaking specifically because it's probably larityanai um there's a lot of there's a lot of land that the that has been zoned um the only zoning that is that is relevant here is your residential um your um mixed opportunity site your reserve residential and your your uh established development now the problem being and there will be challenges in relation to the reserve i think there'll be a lot of the the big land owners will take a challenge to the department and so far as the reserve residential does not guarantee them getting planning promotion on it because the primary residential has to be uh used up uh first so it's it's not just over the line to the extent that you know that everybody thinks that what does this mean though in terms of how will this all be sorted out because you know if you look at the maps there's big swathes that seem to be identified right for this particular tax how how are they going to enforce it drill down into uh all of the the criteria that you talk of deal with individual land owners is it going to be up to the public to engage in appeal and try and get an exit although uh or or are the council going to be calling around to people like how is this all going to be processed it sounds incredibly complex with complex with so many land owners within these boundaries yeah i would say they are going to throw the blanket they're going to throw the blanket on everything and it's up to the individual landowner themselves then to make a case now um and anybody that hasn't made the submission which from the from the force november to the force of january um they there there is a process that they can appeal to the board um but it's unfortunately like everyone it's not everybody's up to speed with the processes and the planning so it is going to be very it's going to be very difficult for people in relation to getting it getting it started um i would i would say that this will this will tease itself out um after we have to make a decision on the on the first of april in relation to the submissions that have been made as councillors we have requested an extension of time on it um the the date for the first of january date was a night was a national date that everybody had to abide by um we we have requested for an extension of time now the the forward planner said that he would look into that to see if we have there's an avenue there because the target is january of 2024 and so far as we're rolling it out and you know and i know when everybody knows what that when revenue starts sending out the letters uh at times they are very difficult to deal with so we we we need to get it sort of prior to that um so in relation to the councillors and the elected members we are well aware of it the we are in discussion with the the officials and the planning section um where we have a plan on spc today it will be brought up today again in relation to if there's any further engagement with the department in relation to that but it is worrying for people because simply because the proper knowledge and the proper information yeah isn't and i know you're trying to explain it to me but i'm still not really fully getting it you know like in terms of say for instance there's a a company or a holding company or an individual in letter kenny right um there's a big flat piece of land and it seems right for development and you wonder why is there not a bus stop there or something do you know what i mean i can kind of get that all housing obviously because this is about housing but who's going to get caught into this in terms of someone in bonkrana in uh donogaltown in ballishana in letter kenny who have a small holding of land no intention ever of developing on it right are there going to be people then that are going to start getting tax bills because they might say look it's i'm i'm not a developer here i've got this bit of land uh you know i grow some spuds in it or something i'm never going to seek planning permission for it i don't have the resources to build on it and i don't really want to sell it do you know what i mean so are there going to be people affected like that and if so to what scale do you think from what you've seen so far the the the person with the small but a land is safe enough when i call a small but but a land it's it's it's on you can't build on it you can't apply you can't get planning on it the small garden is okay a hundred percent you just send a letter you will just be asked to send a letter and to the revenue or whoever's dealing with in in relation to the revenue stating stating the obvious and show the map to state that now if you have if you have five acres of ground um adjacent to your property and you're in the middle of one of those towns and you have the footpath the lighting the sewer the surface water um etc you will be asked to uh look at development that for the purpose of residential um if if you refuse or if you don't they they will be taxing you to this extent a three percent um it's up to you to make that argument now if you say yes i'm going to engage with Donegal County Council and i am going to apply for planning permission for that site then you're actively engaging with the system and so far as uh uh producing houses or uh planning to produce houses you will be exempt until until those houses are developed but the argument was made that you know people the person you talk of there might this might like perhaps have potentially gone over their head but the big boys the big uh players in this would have had all the resources to make sure they got that their exemptions or what have you uh you know they've also got the government you know uh in a corner really in that if the big developers who might have access to the big swathes of land they're saying that we can't afford to build the government has to give them breaks to make them build you know it all works out nicely for the big boys but your small person of boy or girl you know what i mean i'm just saying boys for the sake of it uh in in rural Ireland it is they that are going to be tossing with revenue in the council over their pocket of land i mean it it do you believe that this do you believe that this is a good move and do you think it will achieve like do you think an extra house will be built in Donegal off the back of this for all the hassle it's going to cause people yeah i think um the just to go back to the big boys the big boys are getting no exemptions um uh unfortunately because we need we need developers to to start building houses um and at the minute it's not happening um and the problem the problem we have then is we have land owners that are hoarding land to try and get the the land value up in price um but it's getting the maximum rate as you say there is genuine people in towns and villages that that um that have pieces of land and they're nervous as to what's going to happen to them the planning the planning system within Donegal County council is is is very good and so far as they have plans for villages and towns and our major towns and they strategically look at locations of where there is land that needs to be used for the for the purpose of services for community for development and for housing and that's we we need to get into that space there is no point in a person having four or five acres stuck in the middle of letter Kenny town center and not not making use of it it doesn't help the town and just i just want to go back to to what you say about the big boys uh they don't have an ad i would strongly disagree with that they've got access to politicians they've got lobby groups many elected politicians are these landowners are these developers um and you you know the government's already hinting that it's going to have to do something for developers to get them back building uh the way the country needs to be and without them doing that the government can't reach its targets you know so i would suggest the big boys are in a far better position than um you know someone who has a bit of land in a town or or within some of these boundaries within in in Donegal what's your advice to people and you're quite right to point out that you did come on and talk about this and i didn't reference that yesterday because i simply forgot to be completely honest hands up um what should people out there be doing now check the maps uh how are they who i mean who's going to go through all of this land and see if it would if it would qualify for planning permission i mean the amount of work in this is unbelievable i don't know how this council between that uh defective concrete and everything else that's going on how this council is going to do all of this type of work yeah well and the first thing and i anybody that has property that is is below the quarter acre need not worry because the the backyard and um there's not going to be planning permission there and in relation to that anybody that is above that threshold feel feel free to give any elected member um a ring and advise them because that elected member then will they can get a map and they can go and they can bring that map to the the council or bring it to the plan and spc but but get it highlighted by through the elected member and they will give them an indication as to a b and c uh and release that the other the other big issue that we do have you know and people don't seem to want to talk about it is um we have a lot we have applications and letter kennies no don't put any other town we have applications in there for for housing and for residential and for um for student accommodation that's getting objected to left right and center by just simply because not in my backyard so these things even though it's paying for people these things have to be ironed out if we are going to develop the bigger towns and in this context all right come here um the you didn't make the protest in doblin or the demonstration or the meeting in doblin yesterday i mean you know yourself i think you knew i'd have to ask you about this uh could you did you have a clash of um appointments or did you make your choice not to go we had um we had a peace plus um i'm the chairperson of the peace plus um and it has it has got a lot of mention those last words because of the riverine project but i'm the chair of the peace plus um and we had our launch we had our launch yesterday a very good launch um we have we have seven and a half million um euros coming in and to this county um there'll be a couple of million for capital spend but there's the there's three or four million for actual programs and we have we had the peace for this last four or five years and we rolled we gave out over five million and and programs that that helps yep that's that's really significant if that launch if that launch wasn't on yesterday would you have gone down the situation was that's a hypothetical question yeah um at that launch hadn't been there i'd speak to my colleague to see how things went yesterday okay well we'll leave it at that thank you very much indeed councillor paul canning um just given some clarification on that issue as he quite rightly pointed out we had talked about that uh issue previously with him 08 660 25 000 08 660 25 000 right uh it is break time watch the show live now on youtube facebook and at highland radio dot com the 90 noon show is brought to you by letter kenny credit union digital loans now available apply online or via our app today and get your loan transferred directly to your current account callahans gala and go burt your one stop family shop drive in to our newly renovated spacious forecourt fill up at our upgraded modern fuel pumps and save with our keen go fuel prices located on the main letter kenny to dairy road where the ideal pit stop on your dunny gall journey fast-flow fuel self-service or attended with a smile sure it's all go at callahans michael murphy sports and leisure have all the equipment you need to get fit this year add to your home gym collection from the new range of weights skipping ropes resistance bands and exercise balls with free next day delivery on orders over 85 euro at michael murphy sports dot ie for over 20 years car zone has been the trusted name in ireland's motoring marketplace bringing one million car buyers and sellers together every month and now buying or selling a car has never been easier on car zone with expert tools and advice download the car zone app or check out car zone dot ie car zone ireland's trusted motoring marketplace stop highland radio are going to scotland from monday the first of may to thursday the fourth of may with the very best of music and we would love for you to join us stay in at 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airport thinking of a sun holiday this summer with the family flight to alicante malaga faro lansarote mayorka and melanne with ryan air ireland west airport don't just take off take it easy all right cold and breezy with sunshine and scatter blustery showers the most showers will be heavy with hail and isolated thunderstorms temperatures six to eight degrees okay we are joined in studio now by students from st columbas college and also a teacher as well nicola harris p teacher uh good morning all of you thank you very much for joining us um ashlyn molland thanks for calling in uh katey dowds is with us as well hi katey um sheena ryan all transition your students hi sheena hi and nicola harris p teacher how are you nicola i'm good thank you good morning it's good to have you in right okay so we're talking about your transition year mini company it's called mind over matter ashlyn do you want to explain a little bit about it to us um so our mini company is called mind over matter and we focus on creating a positive mindset for young sporting people and is that kind of to deal with pressure or to perform better or is it just generally in life or um it deals with a lot of different aspects in the sport like dealing with injuries or not making the cut or not starting for a team so it deals with lots of different ways of like building your resilience back up in sports and that happens a lot really i mean if you take part in sport it's going to happen isn't it all three of us like are very heavily involved in sports and we all experience losing and winning and everything so yeah it's an interesting one katey um uh talk to me a little bit about mind over matter from your perspective what what do you think what problem do you think this is fixing beyond what ashlyn has mentioned there well with us being heavily involved in sports we seem like that a lot of people do struggle with having a positive mindset in sport and there is a big dropout at our age in sport so we wanted to try and create something that will create more of a motivational and positive environment in the sporting club or in a some sort of sport that we wanted we wanted to create something positive and make a difference and katey do you feel this is about empowering the sports person yourselves or is it maybe about educating coaches or trainers or selectors to understand that you know every action has a reaction sort of a thing well in our pack we're kind of focusing on both of them we have um our carry board display that we have around the sporting club that will help all teams and the players and creating a motivational mindset and then also in the pack we have the coaches advice card so it's going to help coaches deal with a player who's struggling to be positive and struggling to keep a positive mind um sheena how did you research this because you want to make sure that the advice and information you're putting out there is the right advice and information so we did loads of market research on our wristbands we sent it out to all the first years and we got their results back and they were all positive and they helped us pick out which band which material to choose and then we also sent out a pie chart to all those about 300 all different sporting between basketball Gaelic and soccer so with those results that we got back we're all positive that people were struggling with the resilience and sports and will this chain take a little bit of a mindset change asking because you know you might have some coaches that think well if you're not tough enough to sort of be switched out or to not be selected that maybe you're not tough enough for the team do you know what i mean because you have to be you know resilient and all that type of stuff and there's no space for weakness is that is there something there that needs to be addressed to change attitudes i wonder yeah like that's something that we're trying to focus on as well because coaches have a big impact on players and like their opinions matter to the players so that's what we're trying like some coaches wouldn't think that this is an important idea and that's where we're trying to show them that the mindset does make a big difference in the sport so we're trying to change coaches opinions on mindset and sport and everything as well because yeah but if they consider this they might actually get better out of the players and Katie you know at younger age levels there are measures put in place to sort of give everyone a go or to increase participation and not to have that person sitting on the bench and all that type of stuff and then there's kind of a cliff edge i suppose when you get to a certain level or a certain age do you know what i mean so this maybe would just have a bit more understanding through through all the age disciplines what i'm trying to say is effectively you know what we this is replicating what we're already seeing with younger kids where it's all about participation getting on inclusion you know we need to see that for older ones as well presumably to keep them interested in the sport yeah because whenever you're growing up kind of in sport you're kind of left yourself then whenever you get to an older age so like you know whenever you get older you kind of maybe struggle with confidence or struggle with maybe like go into training or go and go into a competition so we just wanted to make something that will help and that people have like a backup option and they have this here to help them and to build resilience sheena you know elite sports people you know your your katie tailors and others and even in teams they do have you know they do work with psychologists uh and what have you you know this is kind of in the same space isn't it it's recognizing that you need to maybe you everyone's not going to have one on one stuff for sport but you recognize that you will get more out of a player if you can look after them emotionally as well yeah because a lot of people just look at the physical side of it like you need to really look at the mental side as well because that does improve your performance in the sports so i feel like if the coaches were there to help then it will be easier for the players and they would stay in sports for longer because i'd say there's probably when you get to this age you're juggling a few sports and the coaches don't know say if you lost the final um the day before and then you're going playing another game then the next day for different sports then if the coaches kind of knew this then this advice then would help them with their players yeah it's interesting because i was down in Dublin at the end of last week and is it norah flanagan norah flanagan was speaking about this and talking about the pressures on young people being you know if you're if you're playing basketball football rugby could be in there as well in gaelic and you know if you're a good player you might play two disciplines in the one day not even not picking good players up that's the truth you know what i mean uh and it's an awful lot of pressure and there comes a point where you have to choose and some people say well i can't choose and they just pack it in so we could be losing the future stars of rugby boxing whatever it might be because we're putting so much pressure now i've focused because use of transition use students an awful lot maybe on younger players but some of the problems in terms of dealing with injuries i've spoken to you know former inter county players that have struggled with that as well being dropped from a game this is not is it specific to young people or i presume it applies to anyone engaged in sport at any level yeah it applies to all different sporting clubs and organizations obviously we started off targeting young people as we're young people ourselves but it's available to anyone like it's for our clubs as well like obviously the older people are going to be looking at the posters as well so we aim to help everyone in sporting clubs in any organizations habits have been formed you know the same people have been involved for a long time do you think it will take a while for people to look at something like this and say you know what there's something to it maybe there's a better way of doing things maybe they have to change what they've been doing for 10 20 or 30 years do you think it will take a while for this to change i'll ask you sheena yeah well it'll always take a while because i know coaches have their own way of dealing with their players and like whatever like their sayings and how they coach like every coach is different some's tough love some's arm around the shoulder some's yeah okay i get you so it will take a while for them to adapt to this if they're looking to invest in it right katie tell us about the school dragon den when was that um it was a couple weeks ago we went to dragon stand with our our money company and we actually won the dragons den so now we're going on to the leo enterprise competition and done i got and we're also um going at the end of march we're going to the px bow with our money company and what happens at this school dragons den is it similar to the tv show if you've watched that you have to stand up and pitch it do you yeah we just stood up and we pitched our idea and we showed everyone that was at it like what we intend to do and where we want to go with it and how how we want to help people which is more nerve-wracking um asheen pitching at the school's dragon den or this they're both very nerve-wracking but why did we get ourselves involved in this we just wanted to make things better i have to speak to agents like you i'm on about maybe in the egypt night right okay so so then on to the leo final so that's a another presentation is it asheen yeah that's on next wednesday now but if we don't have to present the same as the dragons den where we do your powerpoint and everything it's just a stand but that would be my worst nightmare standing up with the clicker and having to explain stuff it would just be my worst nightmare uh right well so fair play to use to for doing it uh like you did so uh she you know what's next then because this is this is obviously to transition your project right but it's more it not that there's any insignificance in that but this is a bigger deal do you know what i mean this is something that you can kind of keep going with isn't it yeah well we've luckily got a grant from donnie allsport's partnership and we're sending out a pilot pilot study and for six for three schools and three sporting clubs and this is just kind of to see to really put our pack together and then they'd give us feedback and then we can tweak it then so then when we put it out then for people that are actually buying it to have the best pack that there could be brilliant so when you research uh an experience of this and and talk to other younger people is there a difference between the challenges facing girls and boys or is it or does everyone you know experience the same uh in terms of you know winning losing making the cut due to injury i mean obviously all the problems are the same but is there any sense that girls are treated different to boys in this regard or vice versa no evidence of that would be great if there isn't no our pack has kind of just aimed at everyone excellent so there's no particular problem that needs focusing on all right that's good isn't it refreshing all right nicklaharis um very proud obviously uh what's your take on on all of this i mean it's well needed i think yeah across all sports at all ages yeah definitely especially when you're when you're involved in sport with so many sports and sing columbus all around within clubs within our community that these this is a common experience with these you know some of these players go for nine or 10 trials and might not make the final cut and talking to parents at school leaving during parentage meeting last night they were saying that their own kids would really benefit from some of these strategies that these girls are putting out there yeah but for us to produce elite sports people though there has to be a winning mentality there right so we're not trying to get that out of them are we we're not trying to wrap them in cotton wool we're trying our best to make sure we set up an environment that maximizes their their potential yeah yeah well you and i know if you put yourself forward for something and if you don't get it uh doesn't not even out of sight of sport you have to build resilience you have to deal with losing you have to deal with not making the cut you have to deal with failure to to to experience success so i think it's for for everybody in society to build resilience yeah and also for people to support them in and to understand that you know because we have to deal with that individually and awful lot yes and we all have different coping coping uh strategies and abilities yeah yeah so they've stuff like self-talk and they have different ways of keeping dairies and um so it's amazing what the man can do what you give how you can change your mindset it's everything really is it wasn't everything but it's a big percentage of it all right okay girls anything you want to add anyone you need to thank um oh i'd like to thank ballet sports for sponsoring our gear um these are all looking very small all together thank you uh i don't think the nicola did you get involved with the amorellis their sisters their their brothers actually the relays and the bellies are brothers i'm gonna say yeah you just not have to get on to steven and martin get to the gear as well yeah i think the focus group you want to talk yeah we'd also like to thank the focus groups we met with a group of people down in the a2u and that are kenny to get their feedback on our idea and some of the people were keith caught in michael harris caron godrey darren mcgrannaghan and danny muney so they really helped us with our idea and like they kind of reviewed the pack for us and then we also met with sarah murray she's a sports psychologist and she reviewed the pack as well and we just want to thank them all because they really helped us like build up our idea and everything yeah that's great input to have some of the names you mentioned there i mean all right tell the whole class uh katie what are we supposed to be saying it's thanks for miss cook or better is that what they could have told you to say take just look it out for each other yeah you're doing well at your back i'm wondering about what's your name miss cook okay what's what's her role in all of this well she was just kind of helping us review our report on our powerpoint and just okay well listen well done it'll be interesting to see where it goes from here in terms of it being distributed did i hear a figure of 300 or has this been sent out to clubs already or what's the story no that's just the feedback we got back from but like i'm thinking if there's any you know there could be schools or groups list i'm not sure you're helping me nickel i'm not going to lie to everyone i'm joking um it's the packet maybe because what i'm saying is there's going to be schools or groups listening and they might wonder well when can we get our hands on this do we know the answer to that question yeah well we have our instagram and facebook's and everything that people can contact if they want to get the packs so we're starting off with our pilot story first for the six packs and then we'll perfect them and then we'll start selling them then so our instagram and facebook is mind over matter 255 so if anyone wants to get in contact with us there nickel it's great isn't it to to be able to bring in students like this um you know they recognize problems facing people of their own age and coming up with the solutions and we're talking to them you know i was at a recent recent conference and they were talking about young people engaging with the media right and there's no young people there okay to talk about why we're not you know what i mean i'm thinking no if you want to fix problems that affect young people you get them involved in the solution in the conversation and that's what what's happening here isn't it yeah i think they're very brave to to make a step and to their spokespeople for a lot of young people at their age um we're just saying that maybe it's the coaches and the parents are listening today i know that their age group aren't listening but they have young ambassadors out there they have um like the twitter and facebook how they the instagram how they communicate with each other so we get the message out there as well yeah brilliant okay right um ask you on the scale of one to ten how bad was this compared to how bad you thought it was going to be coming in here am i going to ask the same question to you katie is all right wasn't it yeah it was correct she's saying you're taking it all on your stride anyway come on what do you want to say no it's just it wasn't as bad as i thought good okay nightmare for nicola though it's okay they did really everybody did really well uh nicola it's the future bright do you think in terms of our future sports star you're seeing them coming through st columbus college of course and um yeah i think these girls um with this pack alone well you know that they uh they they're going to start selling this pack and that'll help help our own school and uh the clubs in society these young girls are all playing um kitty made her debut with her senior ladies there this year at a 16 year old and we have ashina who plays um gaelic from mcculls and shina plays gaelic and soccer uh under 16 counties so these girls themselves are are putting a lot of time and effort into sport i think that'll help them and help other young um athletes at their age group yeah for sure and it's important too there's a buying though from the older people the coaches and the parents and stuff oh definitely sure they're all teams you guys know why in team that's a tie but there's a me oh no there is a me it has to be a me too yeah i'm only joking listen nicola harris it's been lovely having you and thanks for coming in and supporting the girls it's really important uh ashina mullen well done to you and continued success in your sporting career and in the development of this uh katie uh douds and uh shina ryan as well all transition year students in st columbus college in strunaller another strong argument as to why as much as possible transition you need to be retained in its current form uh because if you started having to really study hard for exams now maybe you couldn't dedicate as much time to this really important uh project we appreciate all of you coming in thanks so much thank you very much thank you all right we'll be back uh with more after the break the nine till noon show with letter kenny credit union now offering mycu current account and debit mastercard bringing full banking features delivered with the same local trustworthy service of your credit union breedon's furniture culley maville with over 40 years of experience in furniture and floor coverings they've got irish made furniture suites beds mattresses dining flooring slide robes and occasional furniture great prices and large selection now available at breedon's home furnitures culley maville dunigall county council invites the public to take part in the first stage of the public consultation to inform the preparation of the draught town center first plan for milford which runs from thursday the 16th of february until thursday the ninth of march 2023 and will include an open drop-in event on wednesday the 22nd of february from three p.m till eight p.m at the milford public service center for more information visit the project website milford town center first dot com are you ready to experience something extraordinary cultural gems in croatia ancient temples in asia art in italy anything and everything is possible with travel department pick a destination and a date and will take care of everything flights accommodation excursions expert local guides and all that planning for guided group tours to dream destinations booked today at travel department dot com irish owned and operated for over 25 years travel department let's see more we at highland radio love irish music and we want to show our support throughout irish music month this march in partnership with hot press magazine we're asking you to support the irish musicians artists and bands who make every party every drive home and every day magic that's right to celebrate irish music month on highland radio we're asking you to support irish artists and musicians by buying irish albums irish tickets irish t-shirts and irish music merch irish musicians have shown that they are right up there with the best in the world so let's support them by buying irish proudly supported by highland radio hot press ibi and the bai sound and vision fund all right just as we head towards the news at and thanks again to the the young people from st columbus coming in the future is always bright and we love to shine a spotlight on it here on this program and again another three people who we can be incredibly proud of really bright futures ahead of them and future stars of sport by the looks of things as well do i have time to quickly mention the highland flinging it's in glasgoats from the first to the fourth of may that's just around the corner you can see how quickly this year's going can't you we're heading over to the fort when i say we use our i'm not allowed four-star crown plaza hotel in glasgo and we have live music on may first may second third as well david james is there deckland nerney robert mosella host of other brilliant performers there's crack during the day as well of course and in the bars you get your accommodation you get your coach travel you get the ferry you get breakfast you get dinner you get the three nights of entertainment lots and lots of fun to be had time during the day as well if you want to go and explore glasgo as the hotel is quite close to glasgo your friends in scotland can come over and go on the nights out with you as well because tickets will be available locally for the nightly concerts it's just a hundred euro per head to book right now if you want to and then you can pay in the balance of four seventy five over the course of the next few months so then you'll have something in may to look forward to give us a call if you want any further details on that oh seven four nine one twenty five thousand oh seven four nine one twenty five thousand it is the nine till noon show here in highland radio we'll be back with more after the news and the obituary notices lie on air online and on the highland radio app this is highland radio news good morning it's donemary darty with the news at ten o'clock some people with disabilities are still waiting for their clarification as to when they will be able to make their own decisions donnie gall deputy thomas pringle raised the issue in the doll this morning with the disabilities minister he says the people affected by the assisted decision making act 2022 are left in limbo and that it was sad that the minister response had no set date for them to work towards the doll has been told that more massive defective block protests are inevitable if the government doesn't engage with affected homeowners in a realistic way urging minister dara o brian to meet with councillors and donnie gall who had traveled to lanster house yesterday deputy padrick mclaughlin said equality is a key issue pointing out that the way defective block homeowners are being treated differently towards recent measures announced for defective apartment owners in dublin he accused the government of washing its hands of the situation and wrongly believing that the supposedly enhanced redress bill will resolve issues you're expecting traumatized homeowners whose lives have been destroyed to try to engage a building contractors to try and make an amount of money fit that just can't fit will he meet with the councillors who are here today cross party including his own government councillors who've called the scheme a sham they've called out their own government and said they need to get up there urgently because i'm telling yourself and now you're going to have people on the street again very very soon and donnie gall may all claire and all of these counties again further calls have been made for regional inequalities to be addressed with the focus on the northwest and donnie gall such equalities have been highlighted further following the latest cso figures which have revealed that people in donnie gall have the lowest disposable income in the country at just over 18 500 euro the northwest the northern and western regional assembly says the gap in the region and the state average has progressively widened over the past decade help is at hand for smokers thinking about kicking the habit on national no smoking day the hsc says nicotine replacement therapies are free from local stop smoking clinics it's a part of a package of supports on offer to help people quit the hsc smoking cessation service in donnie gall is urging people in the county to engage with them more on today's nine tenon show martina blake national lead for the hsc's tobacco free item program said therapies can double your chances of quitting for good nicotine has actually been defined by the who as more addictive than heroin that's why we really don't advise people to quit on their own and most people who try to quit on their own unfortunately are unsuccessful so we really advise that using stop smoking medication doubles your chances and using up smoking advisor support will double your chances again the finance minister says he expects to aib to be consistent in how it treats all of its borrowers the bank will be asked to appear before an or octas finance committee to address why dj carries 9.5 million euro debt was reportedly written down to 6000 euro news reports also suggest aib has seized and repossessed a number of golf properties once owned by the former calcanny hurler raising 1.8 million euro towards his debt minister michael magrass says aib will have to explain its approach in dealing with redundant loans they will engage on the valid questions not at the level of the individual customer but about their their practices and their policies and how they approach different situations where somebody's heavily indebted has a limited number of assets how do they work that through and how can they demonstrate and prove that they are consistent in the treatment of all borrowers because for me that is the fundamental principle at stake here and now to weather for this morning today will be cold and breezy with sunshine and scattered blistery showers some of the showers will be heavy with hail and isolated thunderstorms possible while wintery falls can't be ruled out on over a higher ground the highest afternoon temperatures of six to eight degrees were feeling colder due to a brisk northwestery wind that's all for now we'll be back with more news at 11 o'clock the obituary notices for this wednesday morning the 22nd of february the death has taken place in drumbarton scotland of iris cinnamon nay wallace formerly of glenalla millford her remains will arrive at sin column kills church of ireland glenalla on tomorrow thursday at five o'clock to repose overnight funeral service on friday at two o'clock with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery family fires only please donations if desired to sin column kills church of ireland glenalla the death has taken place of john charles stuffy how he got drum keen formerly of lower main street letter kenny john charles's remains will repose at his late residence today and tomorrow from 2 p.m to 10 p.m with rosary both nights at nine house private police on the morning of the funeral funeral from there on friday morning at quarter past 11 to sin patrick's church drum keen for rickweal mass at 12 noon interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery family fires only please donations in louis desired to the society of sin vincen de paul care of any family member the death has taken place of neil mcbride churna league carandana family removal from beach hill nursing home list fanon boncran at five o'clock this evening going to his daughter and devlin's residence at win park glen toher carandana removal from there on friday morning at quarter past 10 to the church of the sacred heart carandana for rickweal mass at 11 o'clock with interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery family time please from 10 p.m to 10 a.m family fires only please donations if desired to beach hill nursing home care of any family member the death has taken place of an galler her glacia guidore removal from eternal light chapel of rest mount and top letter kenny at three o'clock this afternoon going to her late residence rosary nightly at eight house private please from after the rosary until 11 a.m and on the morning of the funeral funeral mass in chuck public column kill knock follow on friday at 12 noon with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery the funeral mass can be viewed live on kiran rorty funeral directors facebook page family fires only please donations in lieu of desired to ms ireland care of any family member or kiran rorty funeral director the death has occurred of jimmy brennan chapel road done low remains reposing at bedlin's funeral home this evening from five o'clock with rosary at nine and again tomorrow from 12 noon with rosary at eight funeral on friday in synchronic's church done low at 11 o'clock followed by burial in maheri cemetery the death has taken place of treason mckay nay boil 134 bali coman estate straban formerly of orchard street straban reposing at her home from 11 o'clock this morning funeral from there tomorrow evening at half past five to the church of the immaculate conception straban with requiem mass on friday at 12 noon interment afterwards in straban cemetery family time please from 11 p.m to 11 a.m requiem mass can be viewed live via the parish webcam the death has taken place of jimmy bradley wadge 37 castle park bonk rana remains reposing at his late residence leaving their tomorrow morning at 10 for 11 o'clock requiem mass in st mary's church cock hill with burial afterwards in the adjoining graveyard donations if desired to st maria's reviera main street bonk rana the death has taken place of nellie warney vignilish middletown derry beg originally of brinelech guidor her remains will repose at roti's funeral home derry beg until rosary tonight at eight o'clock followed by removal to the family home which is private please to family neighbors and friends funeral mass in st mary's chapel derry beg tomorrow afternoon at half past one with interment afterwards in maharagalan cemetery the funeral mass can be viewed live on kirin roti funeral director's facebook page the death has taken place of rocco mcginley one chimicole road bonk rana his remains will repose at his home from today removal from there on friday morning at quarter past nine going to st mary's oratory for 10 o'clock requiem mass with burial afterwards in cock hill cemetery family prayers only please the nations if desired to letter king university hospital pediatric ward family time please from 11 p.m to 11 a.m the death has taken place of sheamus sweeney letter fad termin removal from eternal night chapel of rest carna mugga letter kenny today at 12 noon going to st column kills church glendon arriving at one o'clock to repose overnight funeral mass tomorrow morning at 11 with cremation in lakeland's crematorium cavern on saturday at one the funeral mass can be viewed on church services dot tv the death has taken place of ivan pots maharagalan castle film funeral from there this morning at 20 past 11 for requiem mass in st columbus church dunney loop at 12 noon interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery requiem mass can be viewed live via the parish webcam for more details including any family health guidelines for wakes and funerals please go to highland radio dot com never forget the first time we arrived at our beautiful lot our cozy base for the next week of fun we cycled through the forest for hours and washed down the rapids again and again and again dad couldn't even hit the board at archery and when the ducks wouldn't stop following our boat we'd never giggled so much it really was something special and that's why we love to go back start your story today center parks ireland family forever book now at center parks dot ie the county's number one talk show the nine till noon show on highland radio okay you're very welcome back to the program coming up after 11 o'clock we'll have kiran in studio with the latest business use previewing the business matters podcast also we're going to be hopefully giving you some helpful and useful advice if you think now is the time to stop smoking you know i mean obviously people try and come up with new year's resolutions or they might choose lent to try and decide how to do it so if the timing is right for you now hopefully we'll be able to give you some hope because it is an incredibly anxious thing to even think about if you're a smoker nicotine an incredibly strong drug we know that of course and even just the mere thought of packing in cigarettes would fill you with trepidation and fear and then you might have people around you that go oh you love smoking so much you'll never give them up you'll never give them up and listen it's they don't mean anything bad by it but it happens so hopefully we'll be able to support you give you some useful advice and sort of help you understand that you can do it if you really want to and that's the important thing i think and it'll probably form part of the conversation after 11 is he kind of have to be in the space where you now want to make sure that you're as healthy as possible into your later life or that you reach later life i think it's indisputable the um the health impact smoking has on people so maybe today's the day that you go you know what i'm going to do it well we're going to keep bring some advice to you let you know of the sports that are out there to help you on that journey and sort of layout for you when things start to get better because you've stopped smoking today even with the supports that are there i'm sure it'll be difficult for a day then the next day then the next day but do you know what by the summer by the summer you could be completely cigarette free no smell in your clothes no smell in your car um you know some people don't go to things because they don't have access to a cigarette they might not go to the cinema uh or go i know i know personally people that didn't like going on holidays you know for a lovely one week's holiday they didn't go on holidays because they couldn't tolerate having to go into an airport and the flight and not having access to a cigarette for five or six hours i don't know if that's you but i certainly know people that were like that so if you've any questions about packing in smoking and also i also know there's people out there who you know the they might feel the only thing i can enjoy is a bloody cigarette and the people on the radio you know i'm switching off and i get that and hopefully you don't switch off i do understand that everyone's in different spaces in their lives with different opinions but if we can reach you know a dozen people who want to give up sigs doesn't have to be the first day lent but just it's a good time to talk about it uh then hopefully we'll do something good today right and what did you give up for lent by the way i'm still working it out and it's alright because i haven't done anything yet today so i can still make a decision i can pretty much pack everything up because i haven't done anything yet drank water that's about the height but are you giving up anything interesting for lent let us know 08 660 25 000 well done to the girls from st columbus you should all be very proud of yourselves so well spoken and explained and i think we as a as a county can be proud of them as well re the land tax the caller says there's no mention of quarter of an acre there's no automatic exclusion for the person with five acres and the closing date for exemption from the draft map was the first of january 23 past and you must register and contact revenue if your home is over one acre i did not hear all the interview but did cancillor can explain the big issues the micro homes and sites what happened those homes owned on the rz lt map that have not paid their hab or explain what happens if someone didn't know and did not pay so what we're going to do this is obviously a very complex and it's one of those stories that you realize once you start doing it in effect an awful lot of people so this might be one of those where we need to get a panel in or to get some other experts on so we can field questions like the very questions put across by that listener because i if i'm doing something i want to do it to a point where i don't so confusion uh that we bring answers as much as we can so leave that with us please uh a call of please it's nothing but a land grabbed by government now but the big question is who are they going to build homes for all guys settle down do you know what i mean there's a huge demand on housing uh in this county uh all finafall councillors were obviously under the whip not one of them went to Dublin yesterday i for one who voted finafall will never in my lifetime vote these people uh that we voted to represent also i'm sure i spotted a couple at least one or two finafall heads didn't i not um i just just leave that in a bane just for a moment to make sure i don't misrepresent anyone obviously i think uh there's going to be disappointments at the turnout a lot of people didn't go uh but i just wanted to double check that no finafall councillors went just to make sure we're as far as possible um but i wonder what will come from yesterday i think the things are going to start escalating again uh right hi greg russia would now be totally within its right to target all irish soldiers since arland has become an enemy combatant of russia and a deadly participant in the ukrainian war we have bloodthirsty terrorists running the Dublin government democracy and neutrality is now dead in arland this is the last nail in the coffin war mongry is now the rule of the land but look at that comes in from raiment i get what you're saying raiment and that's the reason i asked the question but you know we have facilitated wars in the past you know we had uh was it uh uh british army planes flying out over south thanigal to target german u-boats uh if that's correct i think it is anyway we did allow them to fly over our land for better access to drop their bombs rather than having to fly up and around um and there's other examples as well uh uh shannon's use during the uh invasions of the middle east or the actions over there you know we we've already we've flirted with neutrality the problem is is really a lot of these decisions are made a lot of these decisions are made without uh seeing what the public think to see what the people think i'd be interested to see what people within the army think as well 08 6 60 25 that's maybe they are all for it i don't know uh gregg apparently some government councillors didn't travel to the demonstration in doblin so now we have a people before profit party in a party before people's party which we've had for uh decades uh that's their view on that um we were talking yesterday about kanaban kabba okay this is the pregnant the drug that some people take uh when pregnant to a can of um kabba caravan isn't it caravan okay okay thank you caroline um that the argument being made put across is that uh this drug is incredibly useful in easing extreme sickness of people who are pregnant women who are pregnant um but you have to get a prescription from a consultant for it to get it for free and you often don't see the consultant until later on in the pregnancy and for some uh you know that's going to be too late in terms of preventing their illness but also preventing going into hospital and we were speaking to a gp yesterday who said look he can prescribe it but then there's a huge cost to it and it's very expensive this call assess during my pregnancy i was given an injection for sickness prescribed by gp administered by the community wedwife midwife in the gp surgery i then developed covid so it was housebound felt extremely sick pregnancy related i called the gp to see if i could get the oral form of the vaccine to try to help sickness the nurse in the gp called me back said we should take nothing for pregnancy sickness left me feeling very anxious about the injection i received my point is education is key communication of research will reassure professionals and pregnant women i'm not sure about the injection i haven't heard about that um um gregg wonder what today snowflake music fans would make of the 70s punk band the sex pistols and they're never mind the bollocks album we should probably uh need heart defibrillators and trauma counselors in every school that comes in from jim but jim jim there's albums and music out now that uh would make uh that album by the sex pistols sound like church music you know what i mean there's a lot of stuff out there at the moment that's what i'm saying you see we focus on songs like maybe it's cold outside or fairy tale from new york but the chart is full of songs with incredibly offensive language now i don't want that stopped you know because people can you know i listen to all different types of music my kids do as well you know it doesn't change who they are it doesn't change their attitudes towards people but this is in the context of focusing on certain songs and certain books you know if you're going to do it do it across the board but maybe don't do it uh no wonder our hospitals are inundated we don't put enough funding into community-based care like the uh it's not an injection that that that is an oral drug i believe i'll double check that but my understanding was taken orally but anyway like that drug doctor al-fari mentioned if such measures can prevent hospital admission surely funding stream should be available same for many cases not enough primary care services and funding basic gp services not what they need to be here or in northern island causing huge problems but yesterday we already came up with some situations that could easily be resolved in the pharmacy and if they're resolved in the pharmacy the person doesn't have to go to a gp go to the gp for prescription for conjunctivitis pharmacists can do that uh so that frees up spaces in the gp and if the space is in the gps that frees up spaces in the ed and if it frees up spaces in the ed then hopefully it frees up spaces in the hospital or in terms of people coming out the other way do you know what i mean we're coming up with solutions here uh they just need to be taken seriously by the hsc uh no i've just read that i suffered with uh hyperemesis in my last pregnancy it's all consuming i stood in my gps office at eight weeks crying begging for caravan with caravan i was able to adjust about function it cost me 48 euro every 10 days i was still incredibly unwell my entire pregnancy and lost all the joy connected to pregnancy this needs to be made easily available to all women immediately and more education about the effects this has on women and and you're quite right to caravan very effective for a lot of people but for some people the sickness is so bad that caravan only takes the edge off it and there's still hospitalizations and illness and dehydration and all that type of stuff uh so caravan excellent for some can only take the edge off it for others does anyone in balaba fae strunola have any idea what is going to happen the traffic when this new water main starts on main street strunola after st patricks weekend for three months it took me 20 minutes this morning to get through the town no roadwork uh no road works as the council any plans in place didn't hear about this until now i think there's certain people on certain roads around balaba fae strunola then are going to see quite a significant increase in traffic you know that unofficial bypass that's there it's not a very safe one but people are going to use it to avoid any further delays we'll try and find out i think it's important to let everyone aware because a lot of people travel through the two towns as well as live in them to find out what the story is with these roadworks we'll certainly work on that and bring it to you well in advance of their commencement date it's time for ncbi bingo on highland radio it's wednesday the 22nd of february you're playing on the blue sheet the reference number is s18 it's game number eight the numbers are 65 44 68 7 3 54 81 69 19 and finally 33 phone your claim tonight 104833 before eight tonight 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 rock and old years and dance hall days is back for the last time this smash hit show where the cast take you on a roller coaster ride of nostalgia with over 40 hip songs from the 50s and 60s don't miss this record breaking musical filled with musical memories at the millennium forum dairy thursday the 23rd of february tickets in the box office the new tfi live app from transport for ireland makes getting real-time information and planning your journey on tfi buses trains and trams easier than ever the tfi live app combines the real-time ireland and journey planner apps which are no longer supported from the 22nd of february you can also search for timetables save your favorite trips and stops and more download the tfi live app on android and iphone for free today see transport for ireland.ie chagisk will hold a tillage meeting this thursday february 23rd at apm in angren and hotelbert topics include crop margins for 2023 crop and seed options for 2023 and growing oil seed rape in dunigawl speakers are shea felon chagisk crop specialist tim o donovan technical director seed tech and austin dygnan manager of dunigawl rape seed oil company all are welcome the nine till noon show with letter kenny credit union now offering mortgages from 40 000 to 600 000 euro with no hidden fees or transaction charges letter kenny credit union 9102127 okay we're joined on the lines now by elaine mcginley community development worker with lyphic clan lee resource center good morning elaine good morning and also joining us uh johann follerton development worker uh with better together communities in partnership program with the triax neighborhood management team hi adjuan hello there right can you talk to us about the triax neighborhood management team it's an interesting name or the triax initiative uh yeah so um that's the organization that i'm working for uh to roll out this cross-border program called better together which is funded for the international fund for ireland um and so i can tell you a little bit about that program now if you'd like yeah go ahead all right so we're rolling it out in four different uh cross-border communities that's clay left third bunk rana and moth um and that will be throughout 2023 we're providing all sorts of uh training options uh to build the capacity of third sector organizations and groups and residents in those areas now what are what are they though what's the third what did you what was the phrase you used third level or third third so your third sector organization so well um you know so like your community grips and organizations um and the training areas as well so you're talking about training in first aid committee skills health and safety but we're also open to any suggestions that the communities themselves would identify as uh training gaps you know so um for example child protection like that would be a necessary training for anyone who wants to be working in the community sector and the cross-border element of this uh juan sorry if people are sort of looking to establish things there has to be a cross-border element of it obviously to to fall under this program i'd imagine yeah a hundred percent so um the other uh aspect that we of the program that we've got a fund and allocated to um is uh allotment regeneration garden and classes couldn't and road safety workshops but also cancer awareness so like the pink ladies who's one of our partners the pink ladies cancer support group um they um operate and in dairy and they're looking to um expand their reach to the dunagall area so you know you're getting your cross-border aspect through linking these organizations on a cross-border basis um and address the shared needs that uh communities all along the border are experiencing Alain McGinley do you have a particular interest in in in a particular development yeah i'm interested in organizing a ladies group in lyford um we're we're delighted to be involved in this better together program it gives us great opportunity in the lyford colony resource center to get women to live for women in lyford together in the one room um i suppose personally uh thinking on if i needed to get involved in a group i would have to go to stirban whether it was breastfeeding support or any of those just simple wee things and stirban's the nearest place to us lyford ladies our letter carry and i think it's time that we had a ladies group in lyford there's great support for it and interest in it and i suppose being the county town too we could do with some more focus groups uh in lyford um you know you talked very earlier about hyperemesis i i suffered from that myself too and three pregnancies and there was no group of women that i could have went to to talk about this other than talk to a doctor so i think i think it'd be great this this better together program really does give us the chance to get women together and to continue this crossbarger connection with lyford answer band and dairy and other places as well but for us in the lyford colony resource center we're definitely focusing on a women's group to be um to come out of this better together program yeah and it can be a very lonely place when you're suffering with something and and you know obviously your gp supports you as best you can but they're a medical professional and they're waiting to see the next patient to have the support of other people that understand uh would would certainly and that's just one example and a very fine one as well is there a sense that lyford sort of you know in terms of service provision or supports up until now elaine has been well sure look at it's available across the border or sure it's only a trip down to letter kenny that's not really the reality that to some extent you know that lyford's been a little bit left behind with some of these services and others yeah i think so um don't get us wrong we're very happy to go to stirban and we have great connections in stirban through family and you know education and things like that and we'll always be linked to stirban but i think that it's time that lyford maybe we are a bit forgotten we are the county town and sometimes people forget about that and things move to other areas don't they go but i think even just in the community sector we need to start to stick together ourselves and i think it's even to start with this women's group um i feel that it's a good start for us you know and we can progress from that we can organize other groups from that i think when a crowd of good women get together in the one room sure who knows what the possibilities are endless all right juan so this is a perfect example then of of a a good project perhaps a qualifying project so do you want to give us some more examples or maybe a call to action for people listening out there that might be able to engage with triacs to their benefits um yeah yeah definitely well so um specifically about for lyford we have a pink ladies workshop on on the next monday on the 27th at 10 30 a.m and they're going to be looking at understanding um your feelings and emotions um to write a cancer diagnosis or perhaps even if you're one of the support e friends or family members of someone with a cancer diagnosis um and they'll also be talking about managing stress and keeping a journal and yourself esteem and confidence everyone's welcome to that it's not just for women um but it's all um for men and women and people of all ages um and then just more broadly for the program as a whole we also have our our launches coming up we had our first launch there in lyford on the 13th and it was really great um it was a very vibrant afternoon um lots of different people um discussing you know the opportunities in lyford that they can get throughout from as a result of the program but um going forward now on the 7th of march um we have our launch in boncranah that's in st mary's hall at 2 to 4 p.m and then on the 26th of march we have our moth launch which is in the resource center again at 2 to 4 p.m and tonight we have the collet launch which is in the football club between 7 and 9 p.m um and who should attend these launches uh juan okay so community groups from those areas um but also if any um community groups from other areas want to come in so for example we had the mill river conservation group come up to lyford um and it was really great to see the synergies between that group here addressing the health of rivers and also the pink ladies here addressing the health of people through our environmental awareness um and the pollution in our environment that can have an effect on our bodies you know so it's really about making as many different connections as possible in bridging um as many different uh residents and community groups all right joan if anyone wants more information about the triax neighborhood partnership or uh you know a list of upcoming events uh or anything i might have missed out in terms of my questioning uh where's the where should people contact or is there a an online resource yeah so we have the usual social media platforms so uh facebook instagram and twitter you can also get me in the office on 04871 261 916 or by email which is joan at triax neighborhood management team dot org okay anything you want to add lane no um just that the people of lyford hopefully uh get behind us in this and come to the lyford clawley resource center and support the the local area and um let's push lyford forward listen the greatest advances in our towns and villages come from uh the local community organizing you know that that truth be told and then maybe going to seek support from local elected representatives or funding agencies or bodies but the real work begins when the community gets together and identifies what's needed and works together to sort of achieve that and great things are being achieved all the time right across the region so keep up the great work elaine thanks for your time this morning great to chat to you thank you all right and same to you joan follerton lovely to speak to you as well thank you okay thanks all right take care that's elaine mcginley their community development worker with lyford clawley resource center and joan follerton who's a development worker uh if you want any of the contact details that were listed there get in touch with us we'll retain them here and pass them on to uh you right let's take a quick break watch the show live now on youtube facebook and at highland radio dot com for over 20 years carzone has been the trusted name in ireland's motoring marketplace bringing one million car buyers and sellers together every month and now buying or selling a car has never been easier on carzone with expert tools and advice download the carzone app or check out carzone dot ie carzone ireland's trusted motoring marketplace hello thanks for waiting could you hold the line yeah no problem now how can i help you hi i'm looking to make some updates to my insurance policy have you tried our online portal i thought it would be easier to call yeah yeah no you're gonna have to log on to amend your policy thanks for calling no no wait i don't know my password get the feeling that your insurer doesn't want to talk to you at local insurance we understand your needs call today for a bespoke quote or find us online at local insurance dot ie local insurance we'll get you 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theft of 24 sheep from a farm in east donnie gall the sheep were at ballet bow st johnson 19 sheep were male five were female black in color sorry five were black in color and they were female the theft took place between 5 p.m on wednesday february 15th and 11 a.m on friday february 17th um now we're joined on the program by adrian gallagher chair of the ifa sheep committee in donnie gall good morning to adrian thanks for taking the call good morning great right morning listeners as we sort of said yesterday a significant enough operation that maybe someone might have noticed something overnight does this kind of crime come as a surprise to you and your members well as well as sheep farmer greg it probably doesn't it probably doesn't come as a prize most of us who would have had experienced this in the past you know uh unfortunately it happens and there's you know we're quite restricted in what we can do and the sb actually kept kept them in the act you know where are these sheep being sold you know where's the money in these sheep you know like it's not like me uh that i would steal the major in and all of a sudden if i had a front garden do you know what i mean that there'd be 25 sheep there so what's going on yeah well i suppose uh i suppose that's yeah that's one of the facts one of the facts of the person that has taken them there must be a registered flock owner so there must be there must have a haired number and they must be able to offload these sheep so they must have an outlet for them right they must be a registered owner and they must have local knowledge in the area and so to offload them obviously they're meant to be all sheep are tagged when the others are on a tag and sheep must follow if you sell them they must have a dispatch docket so there's a paper trail there what sheep that are sold be it farm to farm or into the factories or to the march so there should be a paper trail now if sheep are stolen obviously you're getting them for nothing so they're prepared to take any kind of money because any money is a profit for you all right but let me ask you then so say there's 25 sheep right there's 25 tags those tags are removed 25 tags have to come from somewhere so exactly as far as the database is concerned or the body that distributes these tags where did the new 25 replacement tags come from them and who can apply for them exactly yeah yeah and this is where this is where that the dbo do have a have a an input here i mean they everything is dispatched and everything's recorded so if you're i mean all of a sudden seeking new tags this to me a year then that should be raising larnbell's what the department and i would say in this case in a row you know they should they would be aware that so that is one of the outlets that you could you could go down and go down that avenue what and see because yes farmers don't generally they generally just order the tags to for the newborn lambs that are coming out and say in april and may when they're tagging them generally the larger the order enough tags to cover their lambs or the newborn lambs into their into the flock every year so that would be one avenue that the dbo could look at to see who is seeking tags in different times of the year or seeking see more tags than they would expect to to i mean to breed in terms of lambs you know so certainly yeah that's what avenue one one would say opportunity for them to go out and look and seek information on it um what do you think happens to well let's not talk about this because we don't want to complicate an investigation so we'll just say say happen tonight right another 25 sheep were stolen where are they likely to be going do you think are they loaded into a lorry and taken to loud or to roam or well there's i mean it depends it depends on the sheep that are taken if the cheaper factory thought then the chance are they've gone to the factory you know and there's only a handful of factories currently in Ireland so i mean if you have a suspect it'd be very simple to ring up the factory and see that suspect x supply stock well Adrian can i go back to the tags here right because say for instance i stole 25 sheep i would need those tags to be sitting around for some while wouldn't i surely there'd be a red flag if a newly uh if a newly issued tag are they dated if it turned up at a mark do you get where i'm coming from like there seems to be this loopholes here that could be closed yeah well there wouldn't there wouldn't be dated tags aren't dated but i mean if i go and seek tags they i ordered up to say 250 eid tags today right there's a record of them now what day or when i i enter them into the sheep's ears then it's not recorded you know so there won't be a record that way uh obviously yeah somebody has taken the sheep the chances are they've gone to the factory they're probably re re tagged and gone down and and and and somebody else's flat number you know yeah and they and they're killed that way but no there is a paper trail there and there is an opportunity for the guards the dvo and the factory and the farmer to look together and try and look at this and come to some kind of conclusion you know all right so in your mind what is the function of the tag um you know why were tags introduced well the function the function of the eid tag is for traceability yeah you see there you see and this this is why this is why the powers that we need to crack down on this then so because it's clearly not working because we have this is one instance how many sheep are stolen annually so there are a lot of sheep being traded entering the food supply presumably uh and they're stolen sheep with fake tags effectively so they need to you know to maintain the integrity of the the the the the the sheep meat market the lamb market here then they need to seriously crack down on this themselves yeah that's true Greg I say and this is where I'm coming from I mean the dvo and and at the part of that culture need to be need to be a lot more stringent on on who's seeking tags and on on ticker times of the year and to see and and to cause and why they're seeking tags and why and why they're seeking tags beyond their number I will say of of expected lambs to be born on on on ticker flower and at those red flags and and the dvo do come out and do inspections they do inspections if you haven't ordered tags in the last year or two and they will do inspections to you if you're ordering additional tags so I mean the dvo do come out and do it and I know whether they what the outcome is on it I mean I haven't actually I've no experience of that but you're right in saying that it's an opportunity for farmers to go out I mean I mean obviously when when sheep are re-tagged I mean you have no records then of what medicines have been used by the Duran Duran about they're all that could have been those the previous week and and and I mean maybe they weren't actually fucked for slaughter for the person to take them all they're not going to know this and they're going to head and stay to the slaughter so there is there is a there is a rush there as well as where stock could be entering into the food chain that may that may shouldn't be and it's particularly annoying too because you know as much as anyone Adrian the amount of effort and care that goes into raising sheep to keep and protect them from dogs and every other bloody thing that's going on all the money that it costs to to medicate them to feed them and then to know that they're taken from you and it could be sold for pitons really because as you say you know whoever steals them they're going to pass them off it doesn't you know I don't know what the second hand stolen market might be but it's a real stickler for the farmer we're going to go to the factory what and they'll they'll get the fact you know for the price per kilo so I mean they're they're happy enough uh I suppose from a farming point of view they'd be they've been pardoned for us to uh I suppose to to lock all gates there's no harm in installing CCTV or even the sample trail cameras are very very effective you know I suppose a good to if you have out farms to uh inform the neighbors and and the locality I mean that I mean normally just say you feed you see the ticker at home and that make them aware that you'll be on on the farm at that time or at your ticker type of Jeep and if you see any different Jeeps other than your own to know let you know or get or just to take take the registration of it or whatever like you know how to inform you that there was somebody up looking at them cheaper and that lay in a particular time you know so it's important for farmers to be vigilant and to go out we'll see and check your stock you know quite often like you know I mean in the case we have last week where the person you know either either very short one go there on I know it's when the stock were have disappeared like so that's good like because you can you could you could follow that up very quickly like you know and I suppose you know the farming community in ways the broader community as well which many many off the farming community are connected to it have to keep our eyes out as to you know does something look a little bit odd a little bit out of place you know ring your neighbour and say were you moving sheep last night or whatever livestock it might be you know I think we're going to have to do our bit to sort of make Donegal an unattractive place for people to do this because it's one case after another we were speaking to a farmer not too long ago who had a lot of sheep stolen from the Barnasmole Gap area and I mean the people stealing these sheep know what they're doing you know it's not an easy thing to do you have to you have to see what's going on who's about at what times you know round them up get them in get them away pass them off do you know what I mean there's obviously very experienced professional people not giving them any credit who are involved in this so we're going to have to do our bit to absolutely yeah all right yeah yeah it is actually it's very important to the neighbours yeah they do look out actually yeah and the person does I must have local knowledge they must have a night but that's even worse though if there's no local knowledge Adrian yeah it is actually yeah yeah okay nobody nobody can buy some carpet or carry them up here to steal sheep yeah okay well that's that's worrying but you're right of course and you know best the income the income from sheep farmers is very very low at the moment like you know well look at if you've a certain amount you're probably doing it because at a tradition or love or something you're not doing it to pay your mortgage you know we're obviously there's different scales but you know and there's a lot of money has to go out to get them to the to the point where they were stolen all right Adrian listen thanks for that I appreciate your time I wish we talked about something else but you know yourself all right Adrian Gallagher he's chair of the IFA sheep committee again anyone any information get these sheep back to its owner the theft took place between 5 p.m on a wednesday february 15th and 11 a.m on friday february 17th they were taken from ballet bowl st. Johnston according to the guard at information 12 the sheep had a red marking sprayed on the head forward blue sprayed on their back 19 sheep were male and 5 black in colour were female right okay Greg good morning good morning to you too Martin does anyone know what was meant by the answer to Greg's question to Paul Cannings as to why he didn't attend yesterday's meeting regarding the defective block scandal he said he'll speak to his colleague about it I'm not sure if he's referencing minister Charlie McConnell over there but the answer is on the record uh for for you there's a scam going around your package cannot be delivered and you have to follow a link the number is and they give a number here the numbers are relevant because they can clone the number um don't click a link about packages in your texts please there's a few going around still um in conclusion with something so important that could affect your future as a nation I truly believe a referendum is only appropriate in the circumstances that are potentially that for the future of the nation and I presume you're talking about neutrality there it might be one they're afraid to ask the public on I think the majority of people truly believe we're actually in a neutral nation uh both um in terms of you know politically as well as you know in terms of thoughts on the ground but we're not we've taken aside um and taken aside quite strongly to the point whereby we're we're training up Ukrainian soldiers and we're sending out stuff as I say like flak jackets and that type of thing um or maybe they could hold a referendum and there'd be a 35 turnout because people don't really care I don't know the answer but you wouldn't know unless you ask I suppose the 9 till noon show with letter Kenny credit union do you need to switch your current account or loan we are now offering mycu current account and debit mastercard bringing full banking features and competitive rate switch your loans and it's a great place to visit, eat and enjoy your meal. It's also great to get some rest. All the best for you and I hope you enjoy your meal. I hope you enjoy your meal and I hope you enjoy your meal. time to Larkins of New Mills or 4074-91-266-97 and at our family, look after yours. Attention all home and business owners, are you looking for the best value for money when it comes to plumbing and tile solutions? At McDade's Bathroom Plumbing and Tiles, our experienced staff are ready to provide top quality services and products that meet your needs and exceed your expectations. Our focus is on providing expert advice and top quality products. McDade's Bathroom Plumbing and Tiles showroom in Bunkrana is dedicated to delivering great value for your money. Visit our showroom today. If you have magic moments or great memories sitting on your phone or in the cloud, have them printed at McGee's Chemist Letter Kenny. Get larger 7x5 prints for the same as 6x4s. 35mm and film from disposable cameras also printed and digitalized. Use the in-store kiosks, download the McGee's PhotoPrints app or visit McGee's.ie. Photos printed instantly within an hour or in by 10 ready by 5. Hold your memories in your hand with McGee's Chemist Letter Kenny. Highland Radio weather updates with Ireland West Airport, Sala, Nunes, The Beatles, you can now fly to Liverpool 8 times a week with Ryanair this summer. Ireland West Airport, don't just take off, take it easy. Right, it's chilly isn't it? Today continuing cold and breezy with sunshine and scattered blustery showers. Some of the showers will be heavy with hail and isolated thunderstorms possible, while wintry falls can't be ruled out of a high ground. Highs temperatures of 6 to 8 degrees but feeling colder due to a brisk northwesterly wind. Right, okay, let's say hello to counsellor Jackie Healy Ray. Good morning to you counsellor, thanks very much for taking the call today. Good morning to you, Greg and everyone in Donegal this morning. Right, we were going through figures not so long ago in Donegal and they they're not a million miles away from the figures you received from Kerry County Council. It revealed 23% of those offered accommodation solutions from either Kerry County Council properties or approved housing bodies properties. Turn them down. You've described them as laughable and unreasonable reasons. Tell us a bit more about it. So, yes, so as you stated, Greg, 23% of holding offers, holding offers, offers given to applicants in 2022 were refused. And when you're refusing a local authority house, you have to give a reason as to why you're doing so. And some of the reasons that Kerry County Council outlined to meet our meeting on Monday were simply really laughable in that one person, for example, turned it down because there wasn't enough room for their motorbike. Another person turned down a house because it was an older house and wasn't a brand new house. These reasons certainly in a housing crisis and the one that we have, which is which has people in dire need of accommodation across the country. It's totally unacceptable. And I have no problem with people who require housing and have certain needs. We have situations in Kerry sometimes where the where the county council don't always get a voice. Great. Sometimes housing, housing and houses are offered to people that are wholly unsuitable because, for example, they might have a child with with special needs or there might be an older person that needs certain adaptations to the house and that the house is unsuitable. And while those are far and few between, they do happen and slip through the crack sometimes for somebody to turn down the offer of a housing solution simply because the house isn't brand new or because there isn't enough room for their motorbike or because there is the garden shed out the back isn't big enough. That to me is just certainly unacceptable because there's a big difference between housing need and housing want. And unfortunately, given the unprecedented crisis that we have in this country at moment, local authorities across the country cannot put up a catalog in front of applicants and say, Oh, yes, pick through that there, see which one suits you and come back to us. So do you think so? Let's say there is a scenario rate and just there was a recent development in Boncran out the most recent figures I have. And the houses were offered in 23% refusal rate there as well. So it's an interesting interesting that the figures are quite similar. But let's just say there's a scenario whereby there are there's a family living in a house, right? And the it's a private loaned house, but they're getting assisted by the council in paying the rent and they're on the housing waiting list. Do you think there is a particular problem that they feel that they're in a decent housing situation, and they're prepared to wait for their forever home and they're prepared to turn down homes that don't match that criteria? Do you think that's a lot of what's happening? Or what do you think is leading to this level of of refusals? Well, given the reasons that were provided to me by Kerry County Council, that doesn't seem to be the reason. But where are the people living then Jackie? Do you think you know what I mean? Where are you living whereby you could turn down, you know, long term accommodation because it doesn't house your motorbike? Do you get But but but again, I don't I don't believe that the root of the problem is that they're living in a rented property that is suiting their needs at the moment. No, don't get me wrong. I would imagine that some of that could be the issue because one of the another reason that was given by Kerry County Council for someone refusing a house was because it was an approved body house rather than a Kerry County Council property. And again, that reason doesn't wash with me because the only reason the only reason why somebody would turn down what I call an HB house as opposed to a local authority house is because you cannot buy an HB house. Now, while I support everybody's right and entitled to have the aspiration to one day own your own home in Kerry anyway, especially at the moment, if the local authority build the brand new house, you can purchase that in either. It's not eligible to the tenant purchase scheme. So therefore, you're not going to own that property either. And the reason that Kerry County Council will sell those properties is because those properties are to such a high standard of finish that there's no comparative property on the market being carried. Therefore, they've nothing to put it up against to compare and contract and they be selling at such a discounted price compared to the investment that they're actually putting into these developments. So it's not feasible for them to be selling those types of houses. Alright, do you have any rules in place whereby there, you know, maybe you're allowed one refusal or what's the story in Kerry County Council? The current rule at the moment is that in any 12 month period, you can if you turn down the offer of two houses, you're then suspended for 12 months off the housing list. That to me seems very relaxed and flexible. I think if you're offered a house that suits your housing needs, not your housing wants your housing needs. And if you subsequently refuse that, I don't believe that you should be considered for another property. You should be you should be put that back down to the bottom of the list. Because I have plenty people that are coming to me Greg on a daily basis that would gladly hit the offer. So it came out yesterday. I've had people on the phone to me saying where these houses being turned down because I take them. Yeah, well, listen, as I say, back to you and shown another set of stats here, 35 to 40% of offers turned down. That was an increase on recent years. Those are the latest figures I could grab here from our our news site that was in June 2021. So just finally, where are these people living then? What do you believe their scenarios might be that they can, they can turn down houses for some of the reasons that you've given, you know, they're not clearly couch surfing, are they? Or are they living on this? I'll tell you what it is in a lot of cases. It's an over exaggerated sense of entitlement that because that they seem to think that, oh, there's a certain development that has been built up here, they're brand new houses, they'll turn their nose up at the offer of an older house. Because they say no, no, no. Despite the fact that they might actually thoroughly need the accommodation. They're saying to themselves, no, I'm not going to Okay, I get to live on live on that side of town, or else no, I'm not going to take an older house because it's older. I'm going to wait for the new house. Alright, thanks very much for your time. Councillor Jackie Healey Ray there. The county's number one talk show, the nine till noon show on Highland Radio. Okey dokey. It is 11 o'clock time for a news update. We say good morning again to Donald Cabinet. Thank you, Greg. Good morning. The finance minister says he expects AIB to be consistent in how it treats all its borrowers. The bank will be asked to appear before an oracus finance committee to address why DJ Kerry's 9.5 million euro debt was reportedly written down to 60,000. New reports also suggest AIB has seized and repossessed a number of golf properties once owned by the former Kilkenny Hardner, raising 1.8 million euro toward his debt. The doll has been told that more massive defective block protests are inevitable if the government doesn't engage with effective homeowners in a realistic way. The team came in the door last night from Deputy Potter McClugton, who urged our O'Brien to engage with councillors who had traveled up from Donegal to protest outside Lenster House yesterday, a number of them from government parties. Some people with disabilities are still waiting for clarification as to when they'll be able to make their own decisions. Stoney Gull, W. Thomas Pringle raised the issue in the doll this morning with disabilities minister Audrey Gorman. W. Pringle told the doll the amended assisted decision making act passed last year still hasn't commenced. Minister O'Gorman says there are complex discussions being held at the moment he expects to announce progress within weeks. The National Ambulance Service is not meeting response target times for emergencies, according to the HSC. In cases of life-threatening illnesses such as cardiac or respiratory arrest, ambulances are expected in under 19 minutes, 80% of the time. However, in 2022, the service responded to those cases in under 19 minutes in 72% of cases. Resources are the main recent targets are missed, according to the Dublin spokesperson who appeared before the O'Roughness Health Committee this morning. And help is at hand for smokers thinking about kicking the habit on National No Smoking Day. The HSC says nicotine replacement therapies are free from local stop smoking clinics. It's part of a package of support on offer to help people quit. The HSC's Smoking Sensation Service in Donegal is urging people in the county to engage with them. More on that on the show with Greg over the course of the next hour. And we're back with News Headlines again at 12am. OK, Donald, thank you very much indeed for that. Yes, indeed, Wellness Wednesday falls on Ash Wednesday. Traditionally a day when people try to go off something for Lent, our focus today is going to be on stopping smoking later in the hour. Kieran will join us with some business use and so much more besides. So don't tune out, stay right where you are. When you need help with natural gas or LPG appliances or pipes, don't take any chances. Stay safe and always use a registered gas installer for installation, servicing, repair or removal. Otherwise you're putting yourself and others at risk and breaking the law. Find a registered gas installer at orgii.ie. With 2-3-1, well underway, are you calling in for a look? Shall call in for a cup of tea or a coffee and let ourselves know. Shall call in for a cup of tea or a coffee and let our sales executives show you the options available in our new key range. With an unbeatable range of vehicles, there's only one garage to visit for your next purchase and that's iMotors. Visit us in letter Kenny or Mallon or visit iMotors.ie Dunleagall County Council invites the public to take part in the first stage of the public consultation to inform the preparation of the Draft Town Centre first plan for Milford, which runs from Thursday the 16th of February until Thursday the 9th of March 2023 and will include an open drop in event on Wednesday the 22nd of February from 3pm till 8pm at the Milford Public Service Centre. For more information visit the project website Milfordtowncenterfirst.com with our keen Go Fuel prices. Located on the main letter Kenny to Dairy Road were the ideal pit stop on your Dunleagall journey. Fast flow fuel, self service or attended with a smile. Shirts all go with Callaghan. Aldi's play rugby sticker promotion is kicking off again. Collect official Irish rugby stickers every time you spend 25 euro in Aldi. Help fill your local primary schools poster for a chance to win 50,000 euro to upgrade the schools playing facilities and scan your sticker for a chance to win your weekly shop. Now that's a win win situation. Start collecting now Aldi official fresh food partner of the IRFU details of aldi.ie forward slash play rugby promotion runs until April 23rd. Alright Wellness Wednesday we're talking about cigarettes or stopping smoking because of course as I mentioned before the break it is that time of the year where people might choose to go off something for Lent. Maybe it's smoking is smoking cessation advisor at HSE West. Good morning to you. Thanks for joining us. We're also enjoying also joined by Marion Potts former smoker for me. Okay you can say that comfortably. Right okay Fiona. Um you know, someone needs to be ready to stop smoking before really don't they so this today is really an opportunity for us to talk about it or for someone to stop preparing themselves for it. We're not necessarily saying are we that if you don't feel up to it today or you're not in the right brain space then maybe today's not the right day today. Yeah but I suppose it is it allows us to bring up the conversation about it. Yeah. Which is probably apt from the point of view that we know that the majority of people who do smoke tobacco don't want to and 50% make a quit attempt every year so the chances are by bringing it up it may well be that we can capture some people who actually might be interested in stopping. And then there are those that do want to stop but even the thought of doing so fills them with dread and fear and anxiety and they choose the path of least resistance and kick the can down the road. Exactly. I'll give up one of 21 I'll give up one of 25 I'll give up one of 30. And I suppose that's why we're really encouraging and we have a very friendly stop smoking service here in Donegal with four practitioners and there's 15 clinics throughout the county so even just to make a phone call you might be ready at the moment but it might be just to get engaged and then whenever you are ready you might be more likely to more likely to actually get involved with the program. When did you start smoking? Well I started smoking when I was 13 and smoked right through it I was 27 and then I had the babies and that was a good enough reason to give the cigarettes up and it was quite easy because you were thinking about your kids and then time went on 23 years later then I lost my dad in the February and then I lost my brother in July and then I lost my other brother in October so I had lost three members of my family within seven months and the grief took over and then because it was so long since I had gave up the cigarettes I forgot the reasons why I gave them up and then you know I had a swore that I would never have smoked again but the grief took over and I started up again. They were one of your crutches your grief in terms of your grief and I suppose in that moment when you made that decision it probably seemed like an insignificant decision with everything else you were processing and did you start smoking how long goes that Marion? 2014 then did you smoke consistently up until the time you gave up? Well I probably gave up I gave up it was a year yesterday and then a couple of years ago I was trying to give them up You kind of off on and off type of smoking Well I had day 24 years we could say so but I But in your second comes the smoking and then when you start back up again it's like you're back in just from the day one you know like me I was up in the morning before my coffee last thing at night waiting up in the middle of the night and having a cigarette so I was really addicted So how then after when you restarted smoking and you're working through the grief and loss then did you sort of start going I'm actually back smoking properly again and why did you want to stop again? Because I was constantly getting chest infections My health was terrible My energy levels was gone I was absolutely scunnered by myself that I was being in a jail constantly thinking about the cigarettes I was smoked tobacco so the whole process it was taking up my whole thoughts get the tobacco, get the roll-ups get the tips go into the shops constantly thinking about it constantly rolling them up constantly you know the whole It's not a casual habit It's a habit that takes up so much of your brain power Yeah and I think too sometimes we go to the ultimate Fiona when we talk about the dangers of smoking in other words death you know what I mean one and two get cancer these are very well proven I don't think anyone really disputes well I heard a few things during COVID we'll not even get down that route very few people would dispute that these are incredibly dangerous if this was a new product they would never come to market simply would never ever come to market so if you're generally decent got decent health really we only think about being death but it's not severely impact people's everyday lives the shortened lives obviously as I've mentioned thankfully we're living longer now but we want those last extra decade or two that we get now to be in good health don't we but if you smoke for 30, 40, 50, 60 years you know those years could be a nightmare absolutely so as well as you you've highlighted the fact that tobacco use is the biggest contributing factor to chronic disease so when we're talking about chronic disease things like asthma, COPD emphysema respiratory issues in general also cardiac issues and cancers absolutely but I think in fairness you've highlighted the whole control issue as well control is a huge reason I'm really honest Marion because I don't think a lot of people would want to admit that that it is actually all consuming do you realise that before you gave up the second time you said well jeez I did that well that was the whole process what was going on whenever I was smoking then I tried to give them up for five months but I didn't I thought because I'd done it the first time I could just go to Turkey and it was going to work out the second time but it was just completely different because you're still dealing with your grief and you don't have the babies as the motivator exactly you don't have anyone to put in front of yourself you just have to love and care enough about yourself to make such a sacrifice how many of us actually can say that about ourselves and also too we're going to go through the stuff that we often do but I want to sort of make a different approach in that you notice your health disimproved very very quickly and I think maybe what a lot of people don't realise is how quickly your health can bounce back how quickly climbing a set of stairs when you get to the top it's not quite as difficult as it was when you were smoking or bringing the bin up the drive or even lifting I don't think people realise lifting is something like walking up a set of stairs you lift a kid up then you put them down and you're puffing but very quickly you can bounce back from that your health does start to improve really quite quickly doesn't it well my journey was when I was offered five months I did a look for the help and I tried to struggle on it myself and it was a big issue you know because I was always that thought was there what if I do it again and you know all the kind of negativity and I tried hard on my own I had on three stone in five months you know because I was handling it properly and and then last year I had been sitting on my computer oh no I actually went to the doctor and it was constantly getting chest infections and I went to the doctor and the doctor says to me Marion you know you could have COPD had a really bad chest infection and this was in my mind but obviously the cigarettes they are telling you no giving them up you know and I sat at the computer and it was an article come up from the Sun it was in conjunction with the HSE do you want to join the group just click the button and the addiction was saying are you crazy what are you doing because obviously I didn't want to give them up I loved them that much but I pressed the button and I was like oh what have I done now I pressed that button you don't want to give them up and a million and one excuses was running through my brain about why I had done this because obviously I didn't want to give it up and so I pressed the button and the next stage was I got an email from the Sun saying oh we're going to like you join up the group and I was like oh no I've done that for a long time thanks I don't want this but then the positive part of my brain was saying look control yourself just go it's interesting you mentioned the brain because the primary function of the brain is to keep us well and to keep us alive that's what we do and a lot of that happens subconsciously we don't have any conscious control out of it and because nicotine is so addictive and the other elements of a cigarette your brain is telling you on and on to yourself that you need to keep doing this because this is how you function better you know what I mean and we have to fight that or reprogram it in some way I'm not a psychologist but that's kind of what's going on so we have to convince the brain I know you're telling me I want a ciggy but I'm telling you that we can take this thing out of our lives and then we'll both be better for it so we have to sort of work on programming that element of it as well so I want to talk about the positive as well which is all of its positive Fiona about how we can bounce back now it's difficult different for everyone some people might have to give up cigarettes because they are quite seriously ill or what have you but let's just take a so how quickly then might your body start recovering from smoking the dangers of smoking it depends on what your diagnosis is so we just focus maybe for the time being for people who are smokers they're puffing a bit right they're blowing a bit and they're getting on a wee bit you know what I mean I think that maybe probably catches a big cohort that aren't being told by the GP that if you continue so suppose the most significant factor is within 24 hours of stopping smoking carbon monoxide which is one of the poisonous chemicals in tobacco smoke has left your body so the kind of symptoms that that will give you is exactly what you've described like a bit of shortness of breath maybe a bit more tired than perhaps you would normally be maybe having a cat nap in the evening when you sat down which you never have done before and we'll often put it down to getting up a bit older that's the reason whereas in fact what we find is when people stop smoking that isn't happening so the benefit starts straight away so as I was one of the we were talking about in the office earlier on myself and Marion in relation to the benefits for any age so like I've had people in their 80s who already have diagnosis of things like COPD but their day to day symptoms can improve in smoking so it's never too late to stop because that carbon monoxide which replaces itself for where oxygen should go has gone I actually described very much like if you can imagine your body's a bit like a car engine and when we're smoking tobacco it's a bit like having dirty petrol in the car engine it's going to eventually start chugging and sluttering and just not going very well whereas when you stop smoking it's like having clean petrol in the car engine so it's going to run much much smoother compared to before and in terms of sort of things like lung capacity providing there hasn't been damage from COPD which cannot be reversed but it can be so within the first three months there can be a dramatic change in your breathing and your lung capacity and blood how your blood performs processes oxygen all that kind of stuff well that's all to do with the carbon monoxide so within 24 hours that already has started to improve things like your blood pressure can improve your cholesterol can improve so we often take high dose medications to help lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol whereas if you're a tobacco user the single most important thing that you could actually do for either of those conditions is to stop smoking alright okay we're going to talk more about this right the elephant in the room though is and well you're not going to talk about it is that a lot of people have successfully given up smoking through vaping it's different in England the NHS sort of see this as a tool we don't hear right so is that does that help or hinder what you're doing here because you know what happens is people are replacing one addiction with another right now they say the Royal College of Surgeons say it's 95% less harmful but it's still 5% equally as harmful I'm not going to get into those figures because they could be disputed Public Health England actually I'll have to double check that but I think you know more about this than me but anyway so you know why not go in get a vape cut out a lot of the stuff that's in a cigarette but you still have the habit you can still have it before your coffee why not that route which is another path of least resistance versus some of the techniques we're going to talk about so suppose we will work with anybody in relation to any adult any over teens who wants to come to the programme if they choose to use electronic cigarettes as part of their programme we will work with them with that we have to be we're an evidence based service so we have to go with what the evidence says and we know that the evidence is very strong in relation if you use the appropriate combination the ketamine placement therapy along with the appropriate behavioural support which is what we would offer then you are four times more likely to be successful at quitting so we don't need the electronic cigarettes per se the unfortunate thing and exactly as you've described about 70% of people in Ireland don't come anywhere near stop smoking services don't come anywhere near the GP will actually try to do it by themselves with very limited success and end up smoking vaping at the same time and also what we're seeing now is an increase in teenagers who have never smoked but actually have an addiction so strong to vaping that we're probably going to see programmes like this for them absolutely and nationally they're looking at that at the moment that's where we're at there is a tsunami coming down the road unfortunately and the health research board a few years ago actually did some research on exactly the cohort you've described young teenagers starting to vap and there are now five times more likely to start smoking whereas our tobacco rates for young people have been reducing since 1995 and they've now started to go up again and we have never been more sort of acutely aware in following the money do you know what I mean and what big business and big organisations do look at the tobacco companies look where now they're investing their money they're moving the money from cigarette creation into vaping and stuff and one feeds the other so you know what I mean as I say we're all acutely aware and like to call it out but that's another example okay we're going to hear more from Fiona Boyle smoking cessation officer at the HSC West and Marion Potts who's a non-smoker after we take a quick break if you have any questions for either of the two of them and I think obviously Fiona always has fantastic advice for us but Marion's been there and done that as well recently okay and is typical I'm not saying you are but you're the professional right and me and Marion were the mugs I know but you're but you know what I'm on about it's just the practical things like because you talked about the weight gain as well you know that's not because that's also a health it has a health impact so we're starting to smoke but we're replacing it with something else okay so we'll have more from Marion and Fiona but we're going to take this quick break stay right where you are and get your loan transferred directly to your current account check out these special offers at Simpsons supermarket Glencar Letter Kenny there's walkers chasing onion 12 pack 1 euro 50 air and brew 8 pack cans 2 euro 50 chicagotown take away pizzas 4 euro 50 rooster tank hei chi potatoes 4 euro 50 and there's odlems pancake mix only 1 euro while there check out Peggy's kitchen coffee for great food tea and coffee only 2 minutes from Letter Kenny hospital Simpsons supermarket Glencar Letter Kenny read value every day if you're having any hearing difficulties at Donegal Hearing Clinic we can help if your hearing loss is slight but you want to look into it or it's got to the point where you have no other choice we'll do what it takes to resolve your problem it may be as simple as a wax removal Donegal Hearing Clinic Pierce Road Letter Kenny and Midtown Business Park, Bunkranna call us on 07491 88470 or visit donegalhearingclinic.ie life sounds brilliant with Donegal Hearing Clinic Letter Kenny and Bunkranna 60 seconds to plump her skin almost 9 out of 10 women say they have dehydrated skin new generation Hydra Essential from Clarins formulated for 24 hour hydration it helps skin naturally boost its hyaluronic power by day it hydrates and plumps at night replenishes moisture levels Hydrated skin is radiant skin visit your local Clarins stockist for a complimentary skincare consultation and Hydra Essential sample while stocks last Clarins Donegal County Council is inviting applications for funding under the regional festivals and participate of events program 2023 the closing date is March 16th program guidelines and an application form can be accessed on the Donegal County Council website and social media OK now we're in the company of Fiona Boyle smoking cessation advisor at the HSC Marion Potts former smokers gave them up for a second time and is all the better for it and we're focusing on what we can do and the positives that come from that. OK let's take in Frank though in the conversation. Hi Frank Good morning Greg, morning Fiona Fiona's listening to you go ahead Frank Yeah I started smoking at age 12 and I don't know long Fiona was in that job but she wasn't that long when I went to her I was in my late 50s probably early 60s and with her help I give up the cigarettes and my life today because of her and now 76 and it's a brilliant service How did your health and life change once you gave them up Frank? When I came the cops that I had disappeared I was able to walk by K things I couldn't do was able to do And what age did you give them up 56 did you say? I was later than that it must have been few people could tell you that Well anyway listen come here we're not drilled down to my point my point is this though for you to get to a position in your health where you began to be able to walk 5 kilometres that you were able to get rid of that tickly cough and it's going to be different for different people but there's a great bit of hope in that that you know that later on in life that you could see the differences that you actually got out walking stuff that you couldn't do before what we might reserve for maybe 25 30 year olds Frank it's very positive I think that that kind of change had you had you had that kind of change and still active and put a year after I give them up I put the money that I was spending on cigarettes aside and I bought a boat 12 months later what kind of boat? what kind was it a week have on it? No no no a pond? I like boats Frank I want to talk about boats now it's an inflatable or fantastic excellent brilliant so you were able to deliver that to yourself with all that money you say brilliant Frank lovely story and I think the key thing that came from your comment is that you believe that you're around today and healthy and active because of your initial engagement with Fiona and the sport that you received and I think that's a beautiful message Frank to end the call on thanks Frank and thank you very much bye bye and this is an absolute clarity in that Fiona absolutely and I think I remember him now that he recognises that he's where he's at now because of the supports and I suppose that's something just great in relation to that often the fear of engaging with us is what will prevent a lot of people from actually joining the service it's the same thing why we won't go into a GP and get our bloods tested because we think something's going to come from it not that's not good but again it's the brain tricking us to some extent outside of our full control so Fiona I'm ready right so I want to engage in your services so talk to me about how okay so the initial so you can refer yourself into the service or you can get a health professional to refer you in so ordinarily what we would do is we do an assessment on you so we get some your past medical history have you got any physical issues related to your tobacco use we would check your psychiatric history as well in relation to mental health because that can have an influence on some of the medication that we might use we would also do what we call a decisional balance so we would actually ask those questions so what is it that you currently enjoy about smoking because often people will say there is some elements that I might enjoy often as well we have lots of clients who they've never asked themselves that question they just presumably enjoy because they've done it for so long so we ask them what they enjoy what don't you enjoy so what is it that's driving you know to think about stopping smoking then we look at what are those concerns that you might have such as three stone and weight that's a huge concern for a lot of people even before they think about stopping smoking but also what are you hoping to get out of it so we need to make sure that we're going to be realistic so if somebody's got really bad COPD and they're expecting to run the double city then obviously that's another expectation. Can I chuck another cohort in there if you don't mind people who went to the doctor worried there was something wrong with them they're smokers and the doctor has given them a clean bit of health now is the time you're in a perfect position to go from there you know often we use the trigger of bad news the doctors just says you know your bloods are pretty good you're a bit low on vitamin D but we can sort that out lung capacity not too bad. Give them up now you've got it you know what I mean you can pretty much really really help to maintain at least that if not improve so rather than us being get a health scare and stop smoking get some good health news and stop smoking. So we would have done in fact over the last two to three weeks we would have actually done some meetings with the GPs in the evenings for their clinical medical education meetings where like that we're advertising the fact that there is free nicotine replacement therapy now for anybody who joins the service whether you've got a medical care or not but also that whole brief intervention piece so it's having those conversations with their patients whether or not there's a condition happening or whether or not there's a potential for a condition to happen and GPs are very positive towards our service as well so if you have that conversation with the GP the GP can either refer you on themselves or they might give you a business card for us or contact us yourself. Right so you've asked me the questions legitimate questions too for the best of my care in terms of physical health currently mental health history and what have you then what happens? So we would look at then how ready are you to do this? I'm ready to go. Okay so the three questions I will specifically ask you is how important is it for you right now to do it? Have you got any other competing priorities? So if there's a lot of stuff going on in your life now may not be the best time and how confident are you in your own ability to be able to do it. If your confidence is low which it often is then we might do some work on the confidence side of it first of all. So in other words I go look at I think with everything that's going on the cost of living I think if I try to do this now I'm going to be banned Jacks you don't say right good luck come back you will say right well what can we do then to get you into a better place. So this whole services client centered Greg it has been from the get go way back in 2004 so it's very much about having the conversation as to where the client is at and then trying to support them to move along. The one thing that we are specific with the client is that at some stage there will be a quit day. So it's moving towards that quit day. It doesn't have to be that day. In fact from our perspective it's often better if it's not that day because we won't have done the preparation work with the client. So it's very much about keeping the client centered working out what it is that's the obstacles in their lives, what are the dilemmas, what are the triggers that they normally go through and actually getting them to try and deal with those triggers even prior to stop and smoking and maybe in conjunction with some of the nicotine therapy as well depending on the individual. Started smoking at age 12, gave them up at 57. Thank you Fiona, without your help I probably would not be here today. I'm now 76. I wonder is that Frank? In terms of his statistic yet? It is, I don't think it is anyway. Re-giving up smoking I've been trying for years and still trying now using patches and steer clear of anyone smoking. It's like shock to my blood. Oh right, I'm like a shock to blood okay. My question is I can't stop using the patches soon as I'm two days off the patches. I need nicotine. I can get more patches but they take a good 8 to 10 hours before they start working. Are the patches safe long term? So this is someone doing it by themselves and they have an absolute dependence on the patches. Please call us, first of all. In relation to the patches, any of the treatments that people use for stop and smoking, we would encourage them to use them for 12 weeks. So you would be on the high strength patch for the first 8 weeks, then you're going to a medium strength patch for 2 and a lower strength. It sounds to me like that person is trying to fix the roof on a house where the walls need a bit of protection first. And no matter what they do, it's always they're going to keep going around in circles. That's why you so listener, please, you seem to be really keen to do it. You want to do it. Get on the phone to Fiona and the team and they will offer you the supports that aren't there at the moment to help you through this whole thing. That's what you're there for yeah. And I want to be speaking to this lady or gentleman in 20 years time saying well, we had that I made that call and now look where I'm at. Right. Okay, go ahead. I think just Greg in relation to that as well. So often whenever people are thinking about stopping smoking, they look at the addiction side of it and they might use negative implicit therapy. They often don't use anywhere near enough of it. But the other two aspects of tobacco addiction that we would very much hone in on is the behavioural aspect of it. So the habits that we've created over the years on our addiction, but also the emotional attachment. So most of us would have been teenagers when we started smoking. And at that stage, we were learning how to deal with life. And often if we smoked or vape, that's what we do instead. So it's about supporting them to develop new skills that they can actually utilise at those times when they might be stressed, they might be anxious, they might be celebrating. So it could be positive emotions as well. It's amazing too because again, the psychology of it around that time when you're a teenager, you're coming to a next stage of your life. So you're surrounding yourselves with a support system. Exactly. You know, before you head on to adult life and cigarettes can form part of that. So it's ingrained and your brain again is saying no, we need that because that was bugged us when we were teenagers. How did you deal, Marion, with the habit stuff? You talked about first thing in the morning, a ciggy, cup of coffee, even the whole process that you went through in terms of making the cigarette. Do you know what I mean? There's a routine there. I'm sure you probably do it on the clock all the time. So how did you break that? Or did the easing off the addiction help in that regard or what? Well, I did. I used I initially had used the patches and you know, they were fine, but I actually found the nicorette spray which is instant on your tongue or the side of your cheek gave me that quick hit. So it got you through that? Oh yeah, definitely. Little period of pressure. Okay. 100%. And also, you get the chewing gum as well. So there's variations what you can do. You know, I started off in the batches and it was the nicorette and a wee piece of chewing gum and I can honestly say in the past year, I've never craved a cigarette. I think it's really important that you attend the group sessions is fantastic because as Fiona says, you don't need to give them up, you know, joining the group therapy but because you're doing it in a group with other folk, it's fantastic the support of other people. Because what we do without that. What we do, Marion, we announce that we're going to give up cigarettes and we tell everyone around us and then instantly put the pressure on because the worst thing could happen is that you're seen as a failure amongst the people you care about. Do you know what I mean? Whereas you're in a state whereby you're talking to other people that will kick you out and go, do you know what? I actually think I can do this. Other people are empowering you with that information. You're not committed to actually right, you have to give up this now in this state. So you can go in for a few weeks and you're sitting with other folk and you're feeling their pain. You can see their nervousness about you going the same journey as you and even that psychologically known that there's other people with you on this journey. That helps a long way. Now also too with you now your clothes don't smell of cigarettes you don't, if you can go visiting my chest is completely I've never had the chest of vision. The health side of it's fine but I want to get to the sort of like, so in other words even visiting right, you don't have to worry about visiting someone if this is an unsmoking house if it's a long car journey, if it's a flight ferry you know what I mean you don't have the, I don't think people who don't smoke realise how smoking affects an awful lot of what you do even going in for lunch you go Christ, an hour? Every minute of the day you're looking, if you're in the airport you're looking to go out at the front door to have a cigarette how am I going to cope on this flight for two hours you know it just takes over your brain it's a nightmare I'm totally free now I don't have that at all actually even in a year it's totally faded that I'm forgetting already you know how controlling it was and is it intertwined too with your life experience too in what you were coping with, that great last that unfortunately as we get older we encounter it unless it's us that goes but has that helped in that process as well has it been, have you connected it with your grieving process at all or is it something separate for you oh I definitely it's been through the grief but the problem is you take on the cigarettes you get over the grief and you're left with the addiction which is crazy can you help someone who becomes angry when they stop smoking and are always looking for a route I live with someone like that there's a lot going on there isn't there this is, you're not speaking here now to the person who gets angry you're speaking to the poor unfortunate that has to be enjoyed this person dreads I would say when the other half says I'm going to give up the sigs you know so the anger thing do we use that as an excuse for something as well sometimes as well not to do it I don't know well it's certainly a natural withdrawal so whenever your body is to so nicotine's got a half life of two hours so essentially when you have a cigarette most people will have another cigarette within the next two hours because their levels are going low when you decide to stop smoking obviously your levels are going to go low low depends if you're using the right treatment then you should keep them more comfortable where you're less likely to have those anger issues but if you're not using the treatment properly if you're not using treatment at all you will go into withdrawals quickly so those withdrawals will only last a short time but it's about how to deal with them so nicotine replacement therapy can certainly help there but also that's that whole emotional piece that we talked about do you give me exercises that people can employ all of that absolutely so as it was the anger tends to last for a couple of minutes but we tend to spout off about it I'll take the fifth amendment on that one oh I was totally a passive so come here what I would say again if that person wants to speak to ourselves but also what I would go back is to look at why are they stopping in the first place so are they stopping because they're getting a bit of grief from at home so are they stopping because they feel they have to rather than they want to to what that person might do and if it's the partner you need to actually go on the journey with them because they'll benefit in the long run and say right come here I'm going to work with you whilst you work with the smoke and cessation team and working through those little spells at the same time I think people struggle on their own and that itself would make you more maybe angry or anxious or whatever you don't understand me equip yourself with the tools which I had done this time in the past it really does help because I feel like that I was just going to say that a lot of people don't realise is when we smoke we use deep breathing and time out a lot and that's one of the things that often people when we stop smoking we forget to do so if somebody who smokes 20 times a day that means they're taking anywhere between 200 and 400 deep breaths just to smoke and then they decide I'm stopping smoking but yet they're not doing the deep breathing but yet we know that's the bit that actually is the relaxing part it's simple but it's complex in a way right so then the carbon monoxide level will stop dropping really quickly when do we get over the hump of the worst we're talking averages here when do we get over the hump of the worst cravings through the process with you so generally speaking the withdrawals last for about 4 to 6 weeks in general so withdrawals when we're talking about there are things like mood changes identified anger so it could be bad moods low moods irritability easily annoyed anxiety or restlessness can often be a trigger as well or withdrawal things like constipation can be a trigger coughs can be withdrawal and then the most common withdrawal is cravings and the coughs one's interesting because I know a number of people that said I tried stopping smoking and my cough got worse so they started smoking again and that can be the case so if we think about it I try to explain things simply great because that's how I understand them you've also met me before so if we think about in relation to smoking so when we're smoking a cigarette especially if we do it for a long period of time there are 7000 chemicals coming into our body every time we take a drag of a cigarette so it's almost like they're compounding down when we stop smoking all of a sudden the body and all the different senses get a chance to actually we're cleaning the chimney really to an extent yes so it actually gets a chance to relieve itself so in fact the cough is actually a good sign that your body is actually trying to repair itself providing it's not infected obviously if it's infected it needs to get looked at but generally speaking allow the cough to be there and stuff's better out than in so see as a positive byproduct of what you're doing because your body's it's trying to recover so just going back to your question first 4-6 weeks is roughly when the withdrawal will be there obviously depending on what's going on in your life can have a factor there they tend to last longer than that are things like the sleep issues that some people might have and also the constipation they tend to last longer but the cravings if you're equipped with the tools as to how to deal with it which is certainly a lot of what we would discuss in the clinic they tend to last much shorter and if you change your diet a little bit or do a bit of exercise maybe you can't have come to sleep being the constipation side of things say for example right okay how do people get in contact so we've just developed a new website so stop smoking doneigall at hse.ae live from this week also my own phone number is 0872514790 which will retain perfect and then we just let you know we have three other stop smoking practitioners throughout the county so we've got Sarah Thompson up on a show and we've got Don Hannah in sort of East and South Donegal and then we have got Kara Curt over the west given a go folks there's a bit of negativity here but the positivity of this would far outstrip the difficult time I would hope for most of you out there you are far more likely to quit smoking with the smoke and cessation advisor ringing the phone line or accessing the website does not mean that that moment you have to stop smoking a process begins and there's a professional team that knows what works and they will work with you and support you tool you up equip you with the patches or whatever you might need but also tips on how you deal with the inevitabilities of giving them smoking in terms of moods and what have you right okay yes go ahead who sorry Keir so there's free nicotine replacement therapy available for everybody now so even if you don't have a medical card which we can get your free medication through there as well then that's great also we have two we work with the initial development partnership and also the DLDC and we're running some group programs as well it's called we can quit and it's like as you described there Marion it's very much that camaraderie piece as well so you can access a group program or you can access a face-to-face one-to-one service and could I just present Marion with her one-year certificate for having done so well thank you she was a year of quit yesterday let's have a look that's actually quite fancy I wonder maybe you got special treatment with the frame I'm not sure everybody gets the certificate but yes you do but look at Marion I'm delighted to hear the things are going so well for you particularly with everything that you've been through and that now you're in your second phase third phase really is a non-smoker and you really feel powerful and strong in it don't you which is wonderful and great to hear that your health is improving as well Fiona lots of people listening and they've been texting and you've really genuinely made a difference in their lives which I think is a gift for you to have but also to receive that from people alright let's do it thanks so much for calling in thanks very much Briggs more after the break watch the show live now on youtube facebook and at highlandradio.com every time you spend 25 euro in Aldi help fill your local primary schools poster for a chance to win 50,000 euro to upgrade the schools playing facilities and scan your sticker 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Facebook and Instagram there's never been a better time to go full lethal let's hear it from our customers it's great value for money there has a big family they should be shopping in little but they'll be they'll have a holiday at the end of the year go on, go full lethal today Highland Radio Weather Updates with Ireland West Airport Salah, Nunes, The Beatles you can now fly to Liverpool 8 times a week with Ryanair this summer Ireland West Airport, don't just take off, take it easy OK, cold and breezy with sunshine and scattered blustery showers some of the showers will be heavy with hail and isolated thunderstorms tempered around 6 to 8 degrees now, text us just yes if you following on from our last conversation feeling powered to give up smoking we're not looking for you to come on in necessarily but just text us yes if you feel that that last piece has given you that final push that you needed Cairn O'Donnell is in with us now to talk about the podcast but first we'll get some news and I think this was discussed on the show we don't eat Thursday or Friday last week I wasn't here so I missed it The Milford Town Plan Cairn Yes indeed Greg, Donegal County Council has appointed GM Design Associates to prepare a town centre first plan for Milford so this project is being funded through the town and village renewal fund programme which is part of the consultation process that I think began last week and runs until Thursday March 9 the public is invited to come along to an open drop-on event today between 3pm and 8pm at the Milford Public Services Centre It's your turn, your future get in there very much Leo Webinar coming up The first steps to export success webinar will take place on Monday March 6 this online event is aimed at businesses that are considering to enter national markets or who are early stage exporters The webinar has been organised by the local enterprise offices and in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and Bore Bia and will be hosted by the presenter of RT's The Business Richard Curran so just check out Leo's socials for more on that Greg Alright, so okay inflation remains a concern Cairn? Yes, Irish consumers sentiment is only up but inflation remains a key concern and that is according to a new survey by Deloitte The findings show that 76% of Irish respondents are concerned that the prices of everyday purchases will go up and while that's down 2% the last month it remains the highest of all 24 countries Yeah, indeed and yet we have the strongest economy in inverted commas in Europe That's a strange sort of a balance and we have a prediction of 3% interest before the end of the year but I always it amuses me and not in a good way when they talk of a fall in inflation let's say from 9 to 7% as if this is good news but prices are still going up 7% instead of 9, you know what I mean It's not been fact done Yeah, we're in an inflationary economy Building Better Business Event taking place soon Yeah, the keynote address at the Building Better Business event in the Northwest is taking place on Friday March the 3rd at Donegal ATU will be delivered by the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Simon Coveney is the first in a series of free events for businesses that will highlight the opportunities and challenges presented by digital transformation and decarbonisation He was on the show last week missed the opportunity to have a chat with him There's quite a lot of events happening in the Northwest, Greg It's good to see it Right, okay, slow down in House Price Grouf I'm glad you hear the bottom of that I'll just read below The annual rate of increase in house prices fell to 7.8% in December, that's according to the Central Statistics Office's latest residential property price index This was done from 8.5% in November and from a height of 15.1% in March 2022 That's a massive increase in just under a year or massive decrease I should say And yet the latest prices for households show a medium or a middle price of £305,000 for a home in 12 months to December So the highest price, Greg, was £430,000 in Dublin and the lowest was £152,000 in Longford And just like the inflation figures whilst we're talking about a drop in house prices We're not actually talking about a drop in house prices and you made this very clear We're talking about a reduction in the increase in house prices so someone looking to purchase a house Yes, it's not at 15.1% of buying a house is going to increase by 7.8% a year on year which is massive because between approval for a mortgage and actual purchase, you're wondering where am I going to get this shortfall here And also in places like Donegal I don't know if there's much property changing hands I want to get a real sense of what's going on here All interesting news as ever Right, OK, what's this week's podcast all about, Ciaran? Yeah, it's keeping with the building thing, Greg On this week's Business Matters, I am joined by the director of Build Cost, Liam Langen Liam established the Quantity Surveying Practice with former work colleague Jason Tully in 2012 The company opened the second of us in Lauderdakini last year and currently employs 22 people Build Cost has recently secured contracts in the UK and is planning to have a bigger presence there in 2023 During our conversation, I asked Liam what the best lesson was that he'd learned and business? I've learned a lot of lessons some the hard way but I think probably the best lesson really is to surround yourself with a very, very good team I suppose I'm lucky, it starts with your parents your big influence on you, they're very supportive when I was going through college and when I went to Dublin Forest very fortunate then with the business partner Jason we interact very well together doesn't mean we don't challenge each other as well because I think you have to have that but look, we've worked really, really well together before Build Cost, and that's still true I suppose then when I got married to my wife Anne she's been a real rocker support as well and then looked at the team that we have so I think probably the team and then maybe second of all it's just to have an open mind as well because things do change and you might not always have the best idea yourself so seek help from people that are better place to give you that advice and another business employing, growing and the general population may not be aware what they're doing, so that's another advantage of your podcast Kieran Liam himself and a former work colleague decided to sort of go on their own 11 years ago Greg it was a two person team but that has grown now to a team of 22 and it looks like expanding a game maybe this year they've worked on local projects they've worked on national projects and they're as well starting to dip their toe into the UK market so a great success story and the fact that they've opened the office in Lower Kenne last year shows that they're coming back home as a native of Don Fanny so he's coming back there's roots here in Donegal as well in terms of business interest and just to remind listeners there's a huge bank of Business Matters podcasts available for you to listen to at your leisure, how many is it now Kieran one, three, two, Liam is three and as I say it's not like the news necessarily whereby we're on about what's happening today these podcasts are timeless for the most part you get a fantastic insight into how businesses are run, how they're established, the challenges, there's a lot of crossover and it's interesting like programs like Dragon's Den and Shark Tank in America and Canada, a lot of people who start in businesses watch those shows because they get tips about the mistakes people make, the things you need to get right and here we have a resource for anyone in business who are looking to start a business of the best business brains across the Northwest, they talk about their failures, they talk about their successes and they talk about their challenges a fantastic resource for anyone interested in business but also it is a conversation about people and the people of our community and our region and how they're doing for themselves so there's something for everyone in the Business Matters podcast, the latest episode as you've just heard is available for you right now on our website highlandradio.com in the listen back section and also available for you on Spotify and iTunes a lot of people also would listen to it as a schedule, show on a Sunday Kieran after the 6 o'clock news Greg on so leaving and if anyone wants to get in contact with you any feedback, any suggestions in terms of content and what have you, maybe they think they want to come on the show or whatever, how did they get in touch with you just drop me an email please Greg businessmatters at highlandradio.com Kieran listen I look forward to chatting to you next week thanks so much for joining us it's been a pleasure as always ok it's pretty much the end of the show for today quick comment here today here you're right Greg Arland is training soldiers to fight in Ukraine so we could presume that the protesters are partly correct when they say there's been an increase in mostly young military men disguised as refugees but possibly foreign mercenaries here training to fight in Ukraine Arland is no longer neutral then they're not training here a lot of the young unvetted males I've never been vetted myself either there's a mix there because there's undocumented there's those ripping up the passports there are those that are coming over to try and make a better life for themselves and their families and come on their own it's a complex one we don't have time to get into it today we're back with you tomorrow morning at 9 any comments or calls we didn't get to we'll get