Author name: highlandnews

Commercial rates will remain the same for 2025 – John McLaughlin

Next year’s budget for Donegal County Council was passed yesterday after lengthy deliberations and two adjourned meetings. The impasse was a 4.47% increase in commercial rates, which most elected members could not agree to. However, the executive was able to cut the projected expenditure by €1.5 million to cover the cost of keeping the rate […]

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Donegal County Council, County House, Lifford

Donegal County Council pass Budget 2025

After two adjournments, Donegal County Council has finally passed its 2025 budget. The revised document, which was presented this afternoon, includes no commercial rate increase. Council officials worked over the weekend to reduce the estimated spending plan by €1.5 million and introduce cost-saving measures. Cathaoirleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy, speaking at County House Lifford, expressed concern

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Donegal County Council set to pass budget at third time of asking

Donegal Council is set to pass its budget for 2025. When the budget meeting reconvened this afternoon after two previous adjournments, a revised document was presented which does not involve any rates increase. Members were assured there will be no major reduction in services. Opening the meeting this afternoon, Cathaoirleach Cllr Niamh Kennedy confirmed that

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Advisory committee formed in Creeslough to advise Irish Red Cross of grant applications

An advisory committee has been formed in Creeslough to advise the Irish Red Cross on how the Community Grant Scheme for the area should be spent. Voluntary, community and social groups as well as non-governmental and not-for-profit organisations, schools, sports clubs, and groups operating in the areas where those impacted by the Creeslough tragedy live

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Doherty concedes SF is most likely heading for the opposition benches

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has acknowledged that there is little prospect of his party Sinn Fein being able to form a government, and they will be concentrating on being a strong and effective opposition. This week, Sinn Fein is speaking to Labour, the Social Democrats, and other parties of the left. However, on today’s Nine

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Donegal people expected to spend an average of €615 per person this Christmas

People in Donegal are expected to spend an average of €615 per person on Christmas gifts this year. According to PayPal, the average spend on social outings in the county is expected to be €303 this festive season. 46% of Irish consumers surveyed say they would prefer to send money to family and friends to

Donegal people expected to spend an average of €615 per person this Christmas Read More »

Car seized and fines issued at multi-agency checkpoints in Inishowen

A vehicle has been seized and a number of fines issued during multi-agency checkpoints in Inishowen this week. On Tuesday, the Road Safety Authority, Revenue and waste enforcement officers from Donegal County Council assisted Gardaí at several checkpoints in the peninsula. Gardai say three vehicles turned away from the checkpoints. They were followed and this

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Fishing groups say EU quota agreements “probably as good as we could hope for”

Fishing groups say agreements on EU fishing quotas for next year were “probably as good as we could hope for”. European Fisheries Ministers reached agreement after prolonged negotiations on opportunities for Irish and EU fishers in the early hours of yesterday morning. While the overall quota is up 4 per cent, two of the most

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Taoiseach says it’s important to get new Government in place for January

The Taoiseach says it’s important to get a new government in place for January. Simon Harris says negotiating teams will continue to meet over the coming days, in the hope of agreeing a serious policy framework within the next few weeks. Meanwhile the Social Democrats are expected to announce whether or not the party will

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Derry City and border areas named frequent locations of vehicle ramming

A total of 58 police officers have reported injuries after being involved in incidents where police vehicles have been deliberately rammed this year. A large amount of this occurred in Derry. PSNI have recorded 40 rammings this year until the 30th of November. However, it’s believed the figure may not fully reflect the true extent

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Donegal County Council, County House, Lifford

Hopes agreement will be reached for DCC budget 2025 as talks enter third day

A meeting to discuss the Donegal County Council Draft Budget for 2025 is to enter its third session today. An increase in commercial rates to 4.47% has become a roadblock to members reaching an agreement. A number of private meetings have taken place between the executive and elected member groups since the initial meeting date,

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Major outage affecting Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp

Tech giant Meta is currently experiencing a major outage across all its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Users are reporting issues with accessing the social media sites right across the world. 888 Facebook users in Ireland have reported problems to the website Downdetector while 583 reports of issues with Whatsapp have been recorded over

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Donegal business man awarded €140,000 in court over social media post

Peter Casey, a Donegal businessman and former presidential candidate has been awarded €140,000 in damages for defamation, arising from a social media post. RTÉ reports that Acupuncturist, and former local and general election candidate Kim McMenamin made the post on Facebook in April 2023 to 2,000 followers. It was in relation to a property in

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Man convicted of PSNI officer’s manslaughter is sentenced after failing to return to prison

A 37-year-old man has been sentenced at Craigavon Crown Court today, Wednesday 11th December, for being unlawfully at large while under sentence. Shane Frane was given a sentence of six months, to run consecutively with the one he is currently serving. Mr Frane was released from Maghaberry Prison on January 17th last on an eight

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Uisce Eireann dealing with burst pipes in Letterkenny and Buncrana

Uisce Eireann says repairs to a burst water main in Letterkenny may cause supply disruptions to customers in Hawthorn Heights and surrounding areas this afternoon, with works are scheduled to take place until 5pm. Meanwhile, repairs to a burst water main in Buncrana may cause supply disruptions in Lisfannon Heights and surrounding areas until 6:30

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Road safety message must be emphasised – NW Road Safety Partnership

The North West Road Safety Partnership has launched its Christmas Road Safety Campaign, aimed at promoting safe driving during the festive season across the North West of Northern Ireland. The group covers the Derry City and Strabane, and Causeway Coast and Glens council areas, but is stressing that with 18 deaths on Donegal’s roads so

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McConalogue welomes overnight agreement on EU fish quotas

Agreement on fish quotas for 2025 has been reached by the EU’s Agriculture and Fisheries Council. The negotiations, which began on Monday and concluded in the early hours of this morning. Marine Minister  Charlie McConalogue says the outcome is positive, as the talks resulted in the successful application of the Ireland’s Hague Preferences for a

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Donegal councillors briefed on ongoing social housing developments

The Carndonagh, Gleneely and Malin social housing units, for which contracts have just been signed, are part of the Donegal County Council’s design and build programme, which also includes 34 units in Letterkenny, 18 units at Nas Mor, Letterkenny, and 16 units at Oldtown. The Drumrooske site is one of a number of turnkey projects,

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Three hospitalised following crash involving bus and car in Manorcunningham

Three people have been hospitalised following a crash between a bus and car in the Manorcunningham area earlier. The car and bus carrying 13 passengers collided at around 10am this morning near Magherabeg National School. Three people have been transferred to Letterkenny University Hospital as a precaution. Emergency services remain at the scene. The road

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Emergency services at scene of crash between Manorcunningham and Newtowncunningham

Emergency services are currently at the scene of a crash between Manorcunningham and Newtowncunningham. A car and a bus carrying 13 passengers collided at around 10am this morning near Magherabeg National School. It’s understood a number of people have been injured but none of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening. The road is closed

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Contracts signed for almost 70 new social homes in Donegal

Contracts have been signed to deliver almost 70 new social homes in Donegal. 21 social houses are planned for Barrack Hill, Carndonagh, 10 at Carn Road, Gleneely while contracts for a turnkey acquisition of 35 social housing units at Drumrooske West, Donegal Town have also been signed. In addition, contracts are due to be signed

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Assembly votes to extend post-Brexit trading arrangements in NI

The Stormont Assembly has voted to extend post-Brexit trading arrangements in Northern Ireland for another four years. 48 MLAs voted in favour and 36 against. During the debate unionists argued the Windsor Framework threatens Northern Ireland’s place in the UK. While those in favour of the trading arrangement said it protects from the negative economic

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Gardai continue to question woman about disappearance of Kyran Durnin

Gardaí are still questioning a woman about the disappearance and murder of schoolboy Kyran Durnin. The woman who its understood is aged in her 20’s was arrested yesterday, on suspicion of his murder. She’s been detained overnight at a Garda Station in the east of the country. Kyran, who would be eight if still alive,

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Nearly 8,000 Donegal farmers to receive €5.3million under Eco-Scheme

It has been announced that over €5.3 million is to be issued to nearly 8,000 farmers under the 2024 Eco-Scheme. The commencement of the Eco-Scheme balancing payments will bring the total paid under the scheme since October to €289 million, with 113,625 farmers now in receipt of a payment nationally. Donegal Minsiter Charlie McConalogue says

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Government urged to include “clear positive ageing policies” for older people in Ireland

There have been calls for the new government to include clear positive ageing policies for older people in Donegal. Active Retirement Ireland says new measures should be made to implement national initiatives to reduce isolation and enhance social inclusion. They are also urging the incoming government to increase funding and support for local community programmes

Government urged to include “clear positive ageing policies” for older people in Ireland Read More »

Supply disruptions due to burst water mains in Letterkenny

Repairs to a burst water main may cause supply disruptions to Crievesmith, Crieve, Rockhill, Bomany, Roughtan, Ballyconnelly, Foxhall, Conwal, Tullygay and surrounding areas. A traffic management plan will be in place for the duration of the works. Works are scheduled to take place until 7pm this evening. It is recommended that those affected allow 3-4

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Calls for government action to tack mental health crisis in the travelling community

There have been calls for immediate government action to tackle the mental health crisis in the travelling community. Members held a protest outside Leinster House this afternoon, to coincide with International Human Rights Day. The National Traveller Mental Health Network says nobody is giving them a “fighting chance” when it comes to mental health. Senator

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