Breakfast Briefing

Ireland ranks 11th out of 15 EU countries in this year’s Sustainable Progress Index, commissioned by Social Justice Ireland.

The index looks at 3 areas: economy, society and environment.

Ireland is ranked 10th out of the 15 countries on the economy.

On the social index, Ireland is in the middle of the ranking, in 6th place.

Ireland, however, scores last on the environment index, which suggests we are facing significant challenges in meeting our environmental targets.

Dr Seán Healy of Social Justice Ireland joined Shane Beatty on Breakfast Briefing:

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More than 2,000 women and 500 children a month received support from a domestic violence service between September and December last year.

The figures, from Safe Ireland's second 'Shadow Pandemic' report, show a slight increase on the previous six months.

Demand peaked in November, when almost 2,200 women and over 600 children received help and there were 6,400 calls to its helpline.

Edel Hackett from Safe Ireland says a large number of women and children made contact for the first time:

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Dental treatment for medical card holders across the country is in 'complete chaos', according to the Irish Dental Association.

It says state spending on dental care for these patients has fallen by 30 per cent, as dentists are pulling out of the State's Treatment Services Scheme due to the cost of taking part in the initiative.

Clare and Kerry have seen the biggest drops in funding by 48 per cent and 45 per cent respectively.

Irish Dental Association Chief Executive, Fintan Hourihan joined Shane Beatty on Breakfast Briefing:

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Level 5 restrictions could be in place until May with Ministers expecting almost no measures to ease next month.

The phased re-opening of schools is likely to be the only major easing of the current lockdown amid fears around the new COVID variants.

It's likely to start on March 1st with Leaving Cert students, along with junior and senior infants, but a final date hasn't been formally signed off.

Professor Anthony Staines, Professor of Public Health Systems at DCU joined Shane Beatty on Breakfast Briefing:

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The mother of a teenager with a debilitating skin condition is pleading for family carers to be included in Covid vaccine priority lists.

Liz Collins’ worst nightmare came true when she and her husband Gary both tested positive for the virus, leaving them deeply concerned over who would care for their 17-year-old daughter Claudia, who has Recessive Dystrophic EB and requires daily care at their home in Terenure.

Liz, who is a parent ambassador with DEBRA Ireland, joined Shane Beatty on Breakfast Briefing:

 

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