A new report has revealed the challenges relating to technology that Clare parents are grappling with.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Schooldays.ie, which is a website that provides resources to parents and teachers, has published a report highlighting the views and experience of parents in Ireland.

The 'Parents Of Ireland Survey 2026' features responses for 1,878 parents nationwide on a range of issues.

These include special educational needs, mental health services, reform of the Junior and Leaving Cert, bullying, mobile phones, the Irish language, parenting styles and family finances.

Owner of SchoolDays.ie, Richard Murphy, says he hopes the report lays bare the challenges faced by parents in a rapidly changing world.

A key finding of the survey is that almost 30% of parents have had to seek an assessment of need for their child and of these, one in four have found the experience to be 'very poor'.

More than a quarter have said their child has had to look for mental health services and 30% of these deemed the process 'terrible', with over 60% forced to wait six months or more.

In addition, just under 30% of respondents said the exam points system is 'not very fair' to those with additional needs.

Deputy Assistant General Secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland, and teacher at St Flannan's College in Ennis, John Conneely, claims schools aren't sufficiently equipped to support students who require extra assistance.

Job losses are expected in Ennis as the parent company of a longstanding retail store in the town has entered administration. Modella Capital, which owns fashion accessories retailer Claire's went bankrupt in late December and has stated that last-ditch efforts to save the chain have failed. Claire's had been operating in the Dunnes Store Shopping Centre in Ennis since 2003, and the latest developments have put 2,500 jobs at risk across Ireland and the UK. Clarecastle Fianna Fáil Councillor Tom O'Callaghan has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan it's vital the unit is repurposed in a timely manner.

John Conneely, Deputy assistant General Secretary of ASTI, and science teacher at St.Flannan's College Ennis, joined Alan Morrissey on Morning Focus to discuss the findings of a new parents survey.

A newly published Parents of Ireland Survey 2026, which captures the views of nearly 2,000 parents nationwide.

The survey highlights growing concerns around access to special educational needs assessments, long waiting times for children’s mental health services, pressure on family finances, and attitudes to issues like compulsory Irish and mobile phones in schools.

John will give us his perspective from the classroom and from the wider education sector on what these findings mean for schools, parents and policymakers.

Image (c) by Syda Productions via Canva

If you are wondering what to do with your Christmas tree, Clare County Council has free Christmas tree collection drop-off points.

To tell us more about it Karen Foley, Environmental Awareness Officer and AIE Officer with Clare County Council spoke with Alan Morrissey on Wednesday's Morning Focus.

Photo (c) Clare FM

On Wednesday's Morning Focus, Alan Morrissey was joined on the show by Regina McInerney from Corofin.

Regina took part in the Olympic Torch Relay ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games.

The relay saw the flame travel thousands of kilometres across Italy, celebrating Olympic values and the country’s rich cultural heritage along the way.

Photo (c) Regina McInerney

Gemma O’Connor is the Live Stranding Coordinator with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group.

Earlier this month, Gemma helped coordinate a major rescue operation in Ballyvaughan, County Clare, where eight dolphins became trapped on a dropping tide.

Thanks to a carefully managed response involving IWDG volunteers, local kayakers and support agencies, all of the dolphins were successfully refloated and guided safely back to sea.

Gemma was on Wednesday's Morning Focus with Alan Morrissey about that dramatic day, the teamwork involved, and the vital work of responding to live strandings along our coast.

Photo (c) Irish Whale and Dolphin Group via Facebook

Clare County Council is closer than ever to erecting CCTV at illegal dumping blackspots, with a commitment of March of this year.

However, despite this, the practice is still widespread.

The latest incident has seen bed boards, mattresses and several industrial plastic bags and refuse sacks discarded at Gallow's Hill in Meelick, which has been blighted by the behaviour.

The Cratloe Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat O’Gorman has been highlighting this on social media.

Pat O’Gorman spoke with Alan Morrissey on Wednesday's Morning Focus.

Photo (c) Pat O'Gorman via Facebook

It's being argued that newly-published legislation will provide the "perfect" solution to construction delays currently being seen in Clare. Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan has tabled a bill intended to overhaul the judicial review process while "ensuring balance and protection of the common good". Under the proposed changes, a judicial review can't be sought on purely technical grounds, applicants can only claim costs where the final decision provides a significant benefit to them, and only those directly affected by the development can make an objection. Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat Daly say the current system is a "joke" and displays a "mistrust" of local authority planners.

A Clare-based chemical solutions provider worth €65 million has acquired a Cork-based firm. Chemical Solutions Group, which has its headquarters in Shannon, has agreed terms to acquire wastewater and effluent treatment chemicals specialist Celtic Water Care. The group, which already comprises Chemifloc, GI Chemicals Ireland, GI Chemical Solutions UK, and Chemilab, deals with potable water, wastewater, environmental and hygiene applications. Its CEO, Kevin Quinn, says the acquisition is a "win-win" for both parties.

If your New Year's resolution is to watch more films, you're going to be busy.

A smorgasbord of films are due for release in 2026: from the retelling of the Saipan showdown between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy, to Irish Oscar hopes resting on the performances of Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal in Hamnet...to a feelgood true story about a Neil Diamond tribute act!

For a preview of the must-sees and avoid at all costs flicks , Alan Morrissey was joined by Clare FM’s Colum McGrath.