Author name: highlandnews

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

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

There’ll be massive disruption to global air travel today. Heathrow airport has been closed down for today after a huge fire at a nearby electrical substation. Passengers have been told not to travel to the terminal ‘under any circumstances.’ Hundreds of flights have been cancelled, and 120 planes were diverted midair. It’s going to impact

A Donegal mother feels her son was used as a prop by Government. It’s emerged the Children’s Disability Services Grant scheme announced in October 2023 as emergency funding to provide services and therapies for children with special needs has still not been paid out. In June last year, Denise McGahern’s 9 year old son, Jack

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

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

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

One Donegal Social Inclusion Week will be launched next week. Donegal County Council urges all residents, groups, and businesses to celebrate inclusion, equality, and diversity across the county. The week includes diverse events organised with local partners. Christina O’Donnell is from the Social Inclusion Office. She is appealing to whose who are struggling with loneliness

The Dáil has been urged to expedite the publication by the National Standards Authority of the draft amendment to the IS465 standard, due to its crucial role in addressing the defective concrete block crisis in Donegal. Currently, the regulation only covers mica-related defects, which peer-reviewed research says not the cause of deterioration. Donegal Deputy Padraig

The government is facing renewed pressure to resolve the speaking rights row in the Dáil. The impasse means Oirechtas committees – to scrutinise legislation and other issues – have yet to be set up, two months on since the formation of the government. Opposition parties say the responsibility lies solely with the government, after it

Foyle MP Colm Eastwood has raised the issue of a disabled woman in the House of Commons today, saying she qualifies for less support under the Labour government than she would have under the previous Tory administration. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the reform of the system is necessary, and pledged to introduce a better

The head of the Climate Change Advisory Council says storms Darragh and Eowyn show how unprepared the country is for extreme weather events. As part of its annual review, the council is calling for a climate damage register and a climate observation system to track the impact of severe weather. It’s also calling for more

Hospitals across the country managed to avoid an expected surge of patients over the St. Patrick’s weekend. Government figures show 230 patients were on trolleys in emergency departments or wards yesterday, down from over 600 over the St. Bridget’s bank holiday weekend. It follows a call from the Health Minister and the CEO of the

The HSE has confirmed that plans are progressing to develop Ambulatory Cancer Facilities at Letterkenny University Hospital and other Model 3 hospitals within the West and North West region, while Galway remains the regional Model 4 Cancer Centre. Following recent revelations that treatment start time targets are not being met in Letterkenny, the hospital has

  New ESRI research highlights a need for better transport coordination and work placement support for young adults with disabilities. The report shows there’s a lot of positive news about the school experience for students with special needs, but sometimes supports can suffer, when children transition to further education or finding a career. Dr Eamonn