Author name: highlandnews

Health minister urged to sue BAM over Childrens’ Hospital delays

The chair of the Oireachtas Health Committee is calling on the Health Minister to sue BAM over the National Children’s Hospital. The long awaited and overbudget project is delayed again with Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill not confident the April 30th deadline will be met. She has written to the company to express her dissatisfaction and

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Eddie Fullerton murdered by ‘British agents’ – Mac Lochlainn

Donegal Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn claimed British military agents were responsible for the murder of Eddie Fullerton in 1991, in the Dail today. Deputy Mac Lochlainn said that the assassination of the Donegal County Councillor was the work of at least two agents and that he believed another was also involved. He believes one of

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Carberry calls on EU to take action on laughing gas

A Midlands-North West MEP has called on the European Commission to urgently step up action on nitrous oxide, which is commonly known as “laughing gas”. Nina Carberry is seeking that the EU formally recognise nitrous oxide as an emerging psychoactive substance of concern and incorporate it into the EU’s Early Warning System and accelerate its

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Taoiseach names Freddie Scappaticci as Stakeknife in Dáil

The Taoiseach has named the former British agent Stakeknife as Freddie Scappaticci in the Dáil. The Kenova Inquiry linked the former high-ranking British army agent to murders, kidnap and torture during the Troubles, but could not name him. Scappaticci died in 2023 aged 77. Families of victims have called on the British government to officially

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South Donegal reservoir cleaning works to continue this week

Uisce Éireann have advised that reservoir cleaning works will continue in south Donegal throughout this week. They have said that this may cause some disruption to supply, reduced water pressure and temporary discolouration. On Wednesday, cleaning works will take place at Cullion Boy Reservoir, part of the River Eske Water Supply Area as well as

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Meehan says Housing Minister must intervene in Lough Fern Heights impasse

Letterkenny Milford Municipal District has been told 31 families are in need of housing in Milford, while 17 houses at Lough Fern Heights are lying empty. Cllr Declan Meehan told members the houses were to have been acquired by an Approved Housing Body, but that hasn’t been done because of a disagreement over price. A previous

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Ward tells Oireachtas committee he built a DCB campaigner’s home in 1999

A Joint Oireachtas Committee has been told that the downgrading of dozens of remediation applications in Donegal is flawed, because it is based on an unproven scientific assumption that Mica is the cause of the deterioration. Marti McElhinney, one of those affected, told the committee that research proves the cause is actually pyrrhotite, but that is not factored

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Deputy Mac Lochlainn slates Government approach to asylum seekers

A Donegal Deputy has criticised the Government’s approach to asylum seekers. Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn was speaking during the second stage of the International Protection Bill. He said that asylum seekers were placed in communities that did not have adequate resources. Deputy Mac Lochlainn added that Donegal, in particular, has been unable to keep up

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Council praised for prompt action on Rockhill Road

Officials at Donegal County Council have been praised after they began emergency works last week at the Rockhill Road outside Letterkenny. A number of members had submitted motions at a Letterkenny Milford Municipal District meeting after the road was badly damaged due to weather and ongoing construction work in the area. Officials acknowledged the section

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Donegal listed as Ireland’s most active motor market

Donegal has Ireland’s most active motor market, with almost one in three drivers buying their car brand new according to a recent report. The new research, from Carzone’s 2026 Motoring report, showed that Donegal has been buying and changing cars much more often than other parts of Ireland. Nearly three quarters of drivers saying that

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15,000 signature petition to be handed over today calling for retention of Donegal – Dubliin air timetable

Representatives from Donegal Cancer Flights and Services are heading to Dublin today to hand over a petition, calling for the retention of the Donegal – Dublin air timetable. Yesterday, the Department of Transport decided to proceed with the signing of the PSO contract, meaning the afternoon flights will end next month. The decision has been

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West Donegal Councillor slams comments made by OPW Minister Moran regarding floodplains

A West Donegal Councillor says it is ‘unfair’ the Government has blamed homeowners whose properties were built on floodplains. The OPW Minister Kevin Boxer Moran yesterday issued a warning to local authorities that building on land prone to flooding will no longer be tolerated. He recently visited Elm Park in Buncrana, where homeowners are dealing

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Number of properties in Ireland affected by defective blocks risen to 9,500

The number of homes impacted by defective blocks has risen to 9,500, an Oireachtas Housing Committee has heard. This relates to more than 6,000 properties in County Donegal, as well as houses in Counties Mayo, Clare, Limerick and Sligo. Sinn Féin TD Eoin O’Broin says a redress scheme to support homeowners impacted by the defective

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Department of Transport to proceed with signing of Dublin – Dublin PSO flight contract

The Department of Transport have been heavily criticised for their decision to proceed with the signing of the new Donegal–Dublin Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract. This would mean the afternoon flights would end next month. Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has condemned the decision to sign off on the contract, despite widespread concern from

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Parents asked to discuss online risks with kids for Safer Internet Day

By Tristian Whitney Gardaí encouraged parents to talk regularly and openly with their children about their online activity as a part of Safer Internet Day. A spokesperson said that children were ‘engrossed in the online world’, and that was important parents were aware of the dangers they may encounter while online. Parents were asked to

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INMO say industrial action may be needed to highlight hospital overcrowding in the West and North West

The INMO is calling on the Government to de-escalate what it calls the “chronic level” of overcrowding in hospitals in the west and north-west, with a union official saying industrial action in the region can’t be ruled out. Its data shows of the 711 admitted patients awaiting beds across the country this morning, nearly 60%

INMO say industrial action may be needed to highlight hospital overcrowding in the West and North West Read More »

St Eunan’s College students want to see petition reach 10,000 signatures

Students at St Eunan’s College in Letterkenny say there must be progress on the campaign for a new extension after they were excluded from the ca[ital programme investment announced last month, despite being on the priority list and having planning permission in place. An online petition has over 3,600 signatures, with paper petitions also being

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Gardaí urge parents to discuss risks of dangerous quad driving

By Tristian Whitney Donegal gardaí have reiterated their ‘zero tolerance’ policy to dangerous quad driving on public roads, and urged parents to discuss the dangers with their children. This follows incidents over the past week in the Carrigans, St. Johnston, Manorcunningham and Newtowncunningham areas. A spokesperson said that quads were powerful machines, and that misuse

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Car keyed in Donegal Town

A car’s been damaged in a weekend incident in Donegal Town which Gardai are treating as criminal damage. Sometime between 7.15 and 10.30 on Saturday evening last, the bonnet of a car parked on The Diamond  was keyed, with substantial damage reported. Anyone with information is asked to contact Gardaí in Ballyshannon on 071 98

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Double trouble for speeding driver after two detections in one hour

Buncrana Roads Policing Unit issued a Fixed Charge Penalty Notice to a driver after detecting a vehicle travelling at 90km/h in a 60km/h zone last night. Less than an hour later, the same vehicle was detected travelling at 174km/h in an 80km/h zone. The driver was arrested and charged to appear in court. The vehicle

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Defective concrete block meetings to be held in Leinster house today

The Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage will meet twice today to discuss Defective Concrete Blocks with key stakeholders. From 3pm to 5.30pm, the committee will hear from officials from the Department of Housing, the Housing Agency, the County and City Management Association, the National Standards Authority of Ireland and Engineers Ireland. A

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Two new special classes allocated to Donegal schools

Two new special classes have been allocated to schools in Donegal. They will be located in PCC Falcarragh and one at Scoil Naomh Chaitríona, Ballyshannon. Nationally, 38 new special classes have been sanctioned, bringing the total to 301. Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has welcomed the announcement, saying the new classes will provide vital

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People in Donegal urged to attend Irish Blood Transfusion Service clinics

People in Donegal are being encouraged to donate blood this week, as stocks hit a low. The Irish Blood Transfusion Service are holding clinics in Buncrana and Carndonagh this week. Paul McKinney, Director of Services and Logistics at ITBS, says recent bad weather has caused clinical attendance to plummet. He added that the process is

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Letterkenny University Hospital’s Emergency Department ‘extremely busy’

The HSE has warned that Letterkenny University Hospital’s Emergency Department is extremely busy, with high numbers of people attending the department who need to be admitted to hospital for ongoing treatment. Last week, LUH had 1037 attendances at the ED with just under half of those self-referring. The hospital is advising that patients who attend

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Derry City and Strabane District Council agree budget for 2026/27

Derry City and Strabane District Council has agreed its budget for the incoming 2026/27 year and set a District Rate increase for ratepayers of 4.48%. The budget for the year will see an average rates bill increasing by £27.79 per year, or approximately 53p per week for the average domestic ratepayer. The budget was set

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Pilot programme providing domestic violence training to beauty professionals in Sligo and Leitrim

A new pilot programme is providing training to hair and beauty professionals to help them recognise signs of domestic violence. The specialist training is being offered to salon staff in Sligo and Leitrim. It’s hoped the course will deepen people’s awareness of the signs of someone being affected by abuse. Dr Caroline Forde from the

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7,394 people on the Live Register in Donegal last month, down 3% on January 2025

There were 7,394 people on the Live Register in Donegal at the end of January, a fall of 305 on the same period last year. That’s a year on year drop of just under 4%. Decreases were recorded in all but one of Donegal’s eight social welfare offices. The only increase was recorded at the

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Government must follow through on Boxer Moran’s promises – Doherty

A Donegal TD says the government must follow through on promises made by OPW Minister Kevin Boxer Moran at the weekend to reduce the red tape surrounding flood mitigation works, and in particular, make it easier to carry out smaller local projects to address specific problems. Deputy Pearse Doherty was speaking he and Deputy Pat

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The Greg Hughes Podcast: Donegal Person of Year Packie Keeney

  Episode Spotlight: Packie Keeney – A Lifetime of Service & Storytelling In this special episode, we are joined by the Donegal Person of the Year 2025, Packie Keeney. From the early days of telecommunications to the birth of local radio, Packie’s fingerprints are all over the modern history of our county. We sit down

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