On today's show we discuss the fact that students are returning to secondary school this week. Katherine Donnolly is the education correspondent with the Irish Independent, and she discusses this with Damien.
We also catch up with the mother of a Waterford student, Finn, who taught himself higher-level business and higher-level politics because the two subjects were not available at his school. He will receive a predicted grade for business because he attended grinds in January and February, but he has been told he will not receive an estimated grade for politics as he had not begun private tuition for the subject. Damien speaks to his mother Alex.
We also hear from Anne Marie Lally whose daughter Pranathi is recovering from heart surgery. She and her husband are preparing to have their daughter home-schooled while continuing to engage with her school.
And also Kim Murphy whose daughter Lexi has returned to school but they will be keeping a close eye on case numbers as she received a combined liver and kidney transplant in 2016.
And finally Annoushka Kazzie paid 4 and a half thousand euro last month in rent for this coming semester because she was told her room would be gone if she didn't. She is now worried she will not get her money back.
In the second hour of the show Damien hears from Stephanie Keating. Her 27 year old son Donnchadh is deaf and had an awful experience at a shop in Waterford yesterday. Stephanie wants to highlight how difficult it is for deaf people because of face coverings.
We also hear the tragic story of 16 year old Shauna Hickey who died by suicide last month. Now her family and friends are recording a version of her favourite song, 'Before you Go' by Lewis Capaldi, as her aunt Ally Maye explains to Damien.
Paul O Reilly, ASTI rep in Waterford and guidance counsellor at Waterpark College, tells Damien what secondary school teachers make of the grading system.
Damien also chats to John Ryan from Gigable, an Irish app recently launched in the Waterford region. Gigable has come to the rescue of local restaurants by helping them stay open during the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
And Carol Faughnan, Business Development Executive with TSSG discusses how industries are adapting to Covid 19.
