Lunchtime Live

Primary schools across the country are being urged to teach French and other foreign languages. It comes as the French Ambassador to Ireland, Céline Place, said her embassy was helping schools by facilitating teachers who wanted to travel to France and by placing 90 French-language assistants in Irish classrooms across the country.

We want to know what you think? Should French and other international languages be taught in our national schools?  

Joining Andrea to discuss was Ciara McDonnell, who is a secondary school Spanish teacher, Mary McCarthy aswell as listeners to discuss.

Yesterday, we heard from parents who are caring for their disabled children. These parents are living in fear and unknown about what will happen to their children when they pass.  

Today, Andrea heard more stories from family members about their experiences

She was joined by Niamh O'Brien in Cork, Claire Hendrick in Dublin and Richie Ryan in Tipperary.

A study has revealed one of the reasons that Gen Z are having less sex than previous generations – they are simply too tired.  

70% say they have less energy than their parents, with 26% saying they are too tired to do the deed. Joining Andrea was  Irish Examiner Columnist Jane Cowan, Saoirse Hanley, Features Writer at the Irish Independent and Emily Power Smith, Sexologist

Lunchtime Live's Reasons to be Happy looks at some of the news stories that you might have missed that will leave you feeling more optimistic.

98FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

Many parents around the country are in a nightmare situation as they look ahead to what happens to their children when they pass away. For the 2,000 older parents who have adult children with intellectual disabilities and are caring for them daily, they are left with little to no resources...

Tony Murray doesn’t know what will happen to his daughter Aoife. The Founder of the Before We Die Campaign joined Andrea to share his family's story. Andrea was also joined by Sinead, who has two adult children.

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit can be a scary place for parents to find themselves in, but what actually happens in there?

Dr Lisa McCarthy – Consultant Neonatologist joined Andrea to discuss.

Cancer patients in Donegal are at risk of losing the same day Dublin flight service, as the Donegal-Dublin PSO contract is due for renewal at the end of February.  

A campaign has been launched to preserve the service, as any proposed changes could make same-day return travel impossible.  

The service has been described as a lifeline, not a luxury, and it’s removal would leave cancer patients to accrue extra costs through overnight stays and extra travel.  Andrea was joined by Bríd Sweeney, Donegal native and Mary Coyle.

For many years, parents have been asked to pay voluntary contributions to their children’s schools. Although described as “voluntary”, many parents feel under pressure to pay these contributions each year.

In many cases, parents have made these payments without being fully aware of how the money is used.

Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton is now set to bring forward plans for a new statutory charter aimed at strengthening accountability in schools. Under the proposed rules, schools will be required to inform parents of the total amount raised through voluntary financial contributions and to clearly outline how this money is spent.  

Andrea was joined by Wen Loughman Freelance writer, Noel Loftus  Principal of St. Attracta's National School in Roscommon and Jen Hogan Irish Times Journalist and host of the Conversations with Parents Podcast, to discuss this move and whether parents are contributing too much.

Nothing puts the fear of God in me quite like a light coming on on my dashboard when I’m driving.

Followed by absolute confusion and probably a hefty bill from my mechanic.

So, what can we be doing to keep our cars in good nick? Or what can we even fix ourselves?

To answer your questions, Andrea was joined by Joey Donnelly, Crofton Motors

We all have one, a messy drawer where we shove things in to get them out of the way...

So what is the psychology behind a messy drawer?

Does everyone have one?

And should we be taking time to clear ours out and feel lighter as a result?

Andrea was joined by Professional Organiser, Vera Keohane and Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin Brendan Kelly...