Author name: highlandnews

‘Government has serious questions to answer on Disability Grant scandal’ – Doherty TD

The Government has serious questions to answer on the Disability Grant scandal. That’s according to Donegal Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty, after the HSE confirmed they didn’t receive approval nor funding for the grant announced by the Government days before last year’s local election. He raised the issue in the Dáil this week, that €3.4 […]

‘Government has serious questions to answer on Disability Grant scandal’ – Doherty TD Read More »

Planned water works to cause supply disruptions across Donegal

There are a number of planned water works taking place across Donegal today. Valve installation works may cause supply disruptions to Longlands and Convoy from 1oam until 2pm. Mains repair works may lead to disruptions to Mountain View, Heather Drive and Letterkenny from 10am until 2pm. Meanwhile, mains repairs in Calhame and Ballaghderg will take

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Calls for greater investment in regional airports following Heathrow fire

There are fresh calls for more investment in the country’s regional airports, following the chaos in Heathrow this week. The closure in London, caused by a substation fire, led to over a thousand flights being grounded. Writing in the Business Post, Shannon Airport’s CEO, Mary Considine, says it’s time to rethink our aviation policy, describing

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100 norovirus cases detected in Ireland as high rates of winter vomiting bug continue

There’s a warning of high rates of the winter vomiting bug at the moment. 100 cases of norovirus were recorded last week alone, according to data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. Anyone suffering from vomiting or diarrhoea is advised to avoid emergency departments, and contact their GP or pharmacist by phone instead. Monaghan-based GP,

100 norovirus cases detected in Ireland as high rates of winter vomiting bug continue Read More »

Several vehicles stopped in Donegal Town for excessively tinted windows

Gardaí in Donegal have stopped several vehicles in Donegal Town with excessively tinted windows. The vehicles’ light transmission levels were measured and fell well below the expected light transmission rate. Gardaí say the excessive tinting of windows creates enforcement issues for Gardaí in relation to driver recognition, the detection of driving offences such as driving

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Pope Francis makes first public appearance since hospitalisation

Pope Francis has waved to crowds from the window of the hospital where he’s been treated for double pneumonia. It’s his first live public appearance since being admitted five weeks ago. The 88-year-old is being discharged today and is heading back to the Vatican to ‘rest and recover’. These people have been gathering in St

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Irish UN peacekeepers safe in Lebanon following overnight airstrikes

The Tánaiste says Irish peacekeepers in Lebanon are safe, following an escalation in the region overnight. Lebanon’s National News Agency says 2 people were killed, including a child – when Israel responded to rockets fired from Lebanon, with airstrikes in the south of the country. Hezbollah denies it was involved. Simon Harris is calling for

Irish UN peacekeepers safe in Lebanon following overnight airstrikes Read More »

Outpatient appointments to now take place on weekday evenings and Saturdays

  Outpatient appointments will take place on weekday evenings and Saturdays, under new HSE plans. It follows an increase in hospital consultants working over the St. Patrick’s Day bank holiday weekend, in a bid to reduce overcrowding. HSE boss Bernard Gloster wants staff across the health service to be rostered outside normal office hours by

Outpatient appointments to now take place on weekday evenings and Saturdays Read More »

Sinn Féin calls for all-island approach to tackling US tariffs

Sinn Fein’s calling for an-all island approach to tackling President Trump’s US tariffs. It wants the Enterprise Minister to work with his counterpart in the Northern Executive to host an all-island summit to hear business leaders’ views on the threat. The party’s enterprise and employment spokesperson says mitigation steps need to be taken to protect

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Efforts to engage with banks and insurance companies on defective block issue takes significant step

Efforts to engage with banks and insurance companies on the defective concrete block issue that’s affecting thousands in Donegal has taken a significant step forward. The Banking and Insurance Focus Group has confirmed that key stakeholders including the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland, the Law Society of Ireland, Engineers Ireland, Insurance Ireland and the Institute

Efforts to engage with banks and insurance companies on defective block issue takes significant step Read More »

No Barriers Foundation welcomes recent discussions on Children’s Disability Service Fund

The No Barriers Foundation has welcomed recent discussions regarding the Children’s Disability Service Fund. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty in the Dail yesterday, spoke of how a Donegal mother felt her son was used as a prop by Government ahead of last year’s local elections. In June last year, Denise McGahern’s 9 year old son, Jack

No Barriers Foundation welcomes recent discussions on Children’s Disability Service Fund Read More »

Sinn Fein hasn’t ruled out running candidate in Presidential election

Sinn Fein says it hasn’t ruled out the prospect of running a candidate in this year’s Presidential election. Hopeful candidates would need the backing of 20 Oireachtas members or the support of four local authorities to get on the ballot. Micheal D Higgins ends his second term later this year, with the election for his

Sinn Fein hasn’t ruled out running candidate in Presidential election Read More »

Teachers across Donegal urged to back campaign opposing relocation of Donegal Education Centre

Teachers across Donegal are being urged to row in behind a campaign opposing the relocation of the Donegal Education Centre from Donegal Town to Letterkenny. A meeting last night was told that Education Minister Helen McEntee has effectively wiped her hands off the situation, stating that the decision is ultimately a matter for the centre’s

Teachers across Donegal urged to back campaign opposing relocation of Donegal Education Centre Read More »

London bound flights from CODA cancelled as a result of huge fire affecting Heathrow Airport

All London flights from the City of Derry Airport have been cancelled as a result of a huge fire which has closed Heathrow Airport. The UK’s counter terror police are investigating what caused the blaze at an electricity substation. It triggered power cuts across west London, and has left travellers stranded all over Europe. Downing

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Five donegal community groups receive €38,000 in wildlife funding

Five community groups in Donegal have received funding of over €38,000 from Community Foundation Ireland, in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, to protect and promote local wildlife. Spraoi agus Sport Family Centre in Carndonagh received the largest grant at €12,000, followed by the Barrack Hill Town Park Steering Committee with €10,000. The

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Donegal mother says son used as ‘prop’ in funding announcement

A Donegal mother says she feels her son was used as a ‘prop’ by the government for a photo opportunity. Denise McGahern, mother of nine-year-old Jack, who lives with cerebral palsy, expressed her disappointment following a press conference in Letterkenny a number of months ago. Jack was invited to the event, which announced over €3

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Letterkenny University Hospital third most overcrowded in Ireland

Letterkenny University Hospital remains the third most overcrowded hospital in Ireland today. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) recorded 37 patients waiting for beds this morning. Of those, 8 were in the Emergency Department and 29 were in hospital wards elsewhere. University Hospital Limerick was the most overcrowded, with 74 patients on trolleys, while

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Big turn out to Save Donegal Education Centre Committee meeting last night

The Education Minister appears to have effectively washed her hands off the relocation of the Donegal Education Centre from Donegal Town to Letterkenny. A packed meeting last evening heard that Minister Helen McEntee has taken the stance, following an assessment, that the decision to close the centre in Donegal Town at the end of this

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Tanaiste to raise need for new Scoil Mhuire NS, Milford building with Education Minister

The Tanaiste has confirmed that he will raise the need for a new school building for Scoil Mhuire NS, Milford with the Education Minister. A new school is desperately needed as the current building is in a serious state of deterioration with children being taught in corridors and store rooms. There’s also grave concerns over

Tanaiste to raise need for new Scoil Mhuire NS, Milford building with Education Minister Read More »

Commencement notices issued for almost 90 new homes in Donegal in February

Commencement notices were issued for almost 90 new homes in Donegal last month. That’s the second highest figure in the country. The Department of Housing says there was a 79% increase in the number of commencements issued between March 2024 and February 2025. Commencement notices were issued to nearly 1,000 homes across the country last

Commencement notices issued for almost 90 new homes in Donegal in February Read More »

Second protest to be staged outside LUH over cancer services

A cancer survivor and campaigner has confirmed she will hold another protest outside Letterkenny University Hospital on Monday, 31st March. The protest is over the provision of cancer care at the hospital and the lack of resources available to staff. Concerns have been raised regarding delays in cancer patients starting treatment in Donegal. Yesterday, in

Second protest to be staged outside LUH over cancer services Read More »

Letterkenny third most overcrowded hospital in Ireland today

This morning, 385 patients have been admitted to hospitals nationwide but are waiting for beds. The INMO reports that 254 of these patients are in A&E departments, while 131 are in other hospital wards. Although University Hospital Limerick has the highest number of patients on trolleys, with 59, Letterkenny University Hospital is also under considerable

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USI demands government upholds college fee reduction promise

The Union of Students in Ireland is calling on the government to honour its commitments to reduce college fees. The group says politicians need to increase public funding for higher education and provide immediate clarity on the future of fee structures. Recent budgets saw once-off, one thousand euro cuts to the contribution fee, but it’s

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Ballybofey tops Ireland’s commercial vacancy rates again

Ballybofey has once again been named as the town with the highest commercial vacancy rate in Ireland, at 36.4%, according to GeoDirectory. The national commercial vacancy rate has reached a 12-year high. Donegal itself is the second highest county rate in the country, at 20.1%. GeoDirectory CEO Dara Keogh states that geographical location is a

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Meeting to get underway this evening in relation to Donegal Education Centre

The Save Donegal Education Centre Committee is holding a meeting this evening. The committee asserts that adequate consultation was not carried out with relevant parties, specifically the centre’s staff, regarding the move, which has been strongly rejected by the management committee. They also argue that the planned relocation of the education centre from Donegal Town

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Donegal Deputy slams “one-line” mention of defective blocks in Housing Commission report

A report published by the Housing Commission last May is facing criticism for its inadequate treatment of the defective concrete block crisis. Donegal Deputy Charles Ward has highlighted that the crisis is mentioned in only one line of the 250-page document. He argues that while the government claims to be implementing one of the largest

Donegal Deputy slams “one-line” mention of defective blocks in Housing Commission report Read More »