Author name: highlandnews

The President of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors says the group has serious concerns about the effectiveness of the new garda operating model, particularly in terms of its impact on predominantly rural divisions such as Donegal. The AGSI annual conference is taking place at the moment in Killarney. On today’s Nine til Noon […]

The public is being warned that scammers are impersonating an Garda Siochana, claiming a fine must be paid. The recipient of the call is typically told they are under investigation for a crime. The fraudsters will then ask for bank details. Garda Grainne Doherty says someone who is under investigation will never contacted over the

A caravan was burnt out on the Neil T Blaney Road in Letterkenny on Sunday. Gardaí have launched an investigation as a result. On this morning’s Community Garda Information segment on the Nine ‘Til Noon Show, Garda Grainne Doherty made this appeal:

A county councilor says that Donegal County Council is missing out on some opportunities to remove social houses with defective concrete from their records. Councillor Ali Farren says he knows of one man who is aware of the condition of one such home and is looking to buy it regardless. Currently, the council does not

There are stark differences in the standard of living between those north and south of the border. An ESRI report shows household income in the Republic is 18% higher than in the north. This analysis by the ESRI found that the population in the south is growing faster than the north, largely due to strong

A councillor says more planning is needed to ensure that when a scheme to remediate defective concrete in social homes is agreed, Donegal County Council is ready to act. As it stands, it’s estimated that at least 1,800 social houses will need to be remediated. At present, only 81 of those homes are vacant, and

The Chair of Donegal County Council’s Defective Concrete Committee says there’s an obligation on all agencies to get behind the latest evidence on what is causing homes to crumble in Donegal and further afield. Cllr Martin Mc Dermott was speaking following the 2025 Defective Block Conference which took place in Burt at the weekend. The

A GP in Buncrana says after a lull, delays at Letterkenny University Hospital are becoming an issue again, with patients asking not be referred to the hospital because they fear an elongated wait in the Emergency Department. Dr Ciara Steele says a lot is being done on the ground, with the development of an Acute

  An Ulster University Professor who’s been involved in research into defective concrete and its effects says the current review of the IS465 standards governing the DCB redress scheme may be the last chance for people to make their views known on how the standard needs to change. A new draft standard which reflects the

The government is being criticised for its failure to guarantee the 2026 roll-out of the living wage. It was revealed yesterday the government’s timeline for the wage increases may be extended due to the current trade tensions. The current minimum wage of 13 euro 50 cent was due to increase to a living wage next

The auto-enrolment pension scheme is being delayed beyond the September rollout time frame. The delay is due to administration issues. The scheme will apply to almost 800 thousand workers between the ages of 23 and 60 who are employed but not enrolled in a pension. David Quinn, Managing Director with Investwise Financial Planning, says it

Letterkenny Milford Municipal District has been told the council must prioritise a masterplan for land beside the Public Services Centre in Letterkenny. Cllr Michael McBride had previously suggested the land be used as a base for Letterkenny Cricket Club, which currently has to travel to Drummond, Limavady for home games, but was told no decisions

Over 50 car passengers killed or seriously injured in the North in 2023 were travelling with a driver aged 17 to 23. Over three quarters of these passengers were aged 14 to 20. That’s according to the latest Graduated Driver Licensing Monitoring Report, which shows an increase in the figure since the previous report. Reacting

The Taoiseach says housing remains a key issue for the government. Speaking at the national conference for the youth wing of Fianna Fáil, he says there remains great opportunities for young people in Ireland. A housing summit earlier this week heard that as few as 25 thousand homes could be build in 2025, half of

A defective concrete homeowner in Donegal says the government must heed the research into what is happening to homes in Donegal and elsewhere, and amend the redress scheme in a way that reflects reality. Chris Duddy was speaking in Burt yesterday, where the 2025 Defective Block Conference took place. This year’s event was focussed on