Author name: highlandnews

Applications open for Historic Thatched Buildings Stream 2025

Donegal has received one of the largest allocations under the BHIS Historic Thatched Buildings Stream 2025. The fund is now open for applications to protect the heritage value of historic thatched roof buildings. All historic thatched structures in Donegal are eligible under this scheme and do not need to be on the Record of Protected

Applications open for Historic Thatched Buildings Stream 2025 Read More »

HIQA publishes reports following two nursing home inspections in Donegal

HIQA has published reports following two nursing home inspections in Donegal. No non-compliances were noted at St Eunan’s Nursing Home outside Letterkenny, while one non-compliance was noted at Killybegs Community Hospital. There were 38 residents at St Eunan’s Nursing Home on the Ramelton Road outside Letterkenny when the unannounced inspection took place in September. The

HIQA publishes reports following two nursing home inspections in Donegal Read More »

New Dunfanaghy Health Centre to be opened before Christmas

It has been confirmed that the Dunfanaghy Health Centre will be fully connected to broadband this coming week. General Election Candidate Pat the Cope Gallagher says he has been told that the splicing of the fiber optic cables to the centre will be completed by early next week, providing the connectivity necessary for the installation

New Dunfanaghy Health Centre to be opened before Christmas Read More »

Man arrested by gardai in connection with the Creeslough tragedy

A man has been arrested by gardaí investigating the explosion in Creeslough in October 2022 in which ten people died. RTE is reporting the man in his 60s voluntarily presented himself at Dundalk Garda Station this morning and was arrested shortly before 10am. Four men, three women, two teenagers and a young child died in

Man arrested by gardai in connection with the Creeslough tragedy Read More »

DCC shortlisted for ‘Local Authority of the Year’ award by Chambers Ireland

Donegal County Council has been shortlisted for the prestigious Local Authority of the Year Award at this year’s Chambers Ireland “Excellence in Local Government Awards”. The awards ceremony takes place in Dublin this evening, with Donegal County Council one of three local authorities that have been shortlisted. The council is also shortlisted in the Climate

DCC shortlisted for ‘Local Authority of the Year’ award by Chambers Ireland Read More »

NI Justice Minister promises resources to tackle increase in violence against women and girls

The North’s Justice Minister has confirmed extra funding is being made available to the Policing and Community Safety Partnership in Derry to facilitate its work to tackle violence in women and girls. It follows a marked increase in reported incidents of physical and sexual violence in Derry and the wider North West, a number of

NI Justice Minister promises resources to tackle increase in violence against women and girls Read More »

Over 12,000 children with disabilities are overdue their assessments of need

Over 12,000 thousand children with disabilities such as autism are overdue for an assessment of need. Latest figures revealed in an internal HSE document show it’s nearly 4,000 more than at the end of last year. That figure in Donegal currently sits at 272, the highest figure in the CHO1 area. At the end of

Over 12,000 children with disabilities are overdue their assessments of need Read More »

Council to invite OPW to workshop to disccuss flood relief schemes in Letterkenny

Donegal County Council is to invite the OPW to a workshop to discuss the Letterkenny Flood Relief Scheme. It’s on the back of a request from the Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District who believes the River Swilly should be preserved as an amenity as the development of the South of the town progresses.

Council to invite OPW to workshop to disccuss flood relief schemes in Letterkenny Read More »

New programme aimed at increasing physical activity for children launched in Donegal

A new programme to increase participation in physical activity for children has been launched in Donegal. The Active Play Donegal Programme aims to develop the capacity and skills of ‘Play Leaders’ within communities. Donegal County Council in collaboration with Donegal Sports Partnership and funded through the Healthy Ireland Programme and Slaintecare Healthy Communities Programme has

New programme aimed at increasing physical activity for children launched in Donegal Read More »

Leak reduction works in Letterkenny’s Gortlee area may cause water supply disruptions today

Uisce Eireann says as part of the National Leakage Reduction Programme, mains repair works in Letterkenny today may cause supply disruption in the vicinity of Gortlee Road and surrounding areas. Works are scheduled to take place from 10am until 1pm this afternoon. It may take up to fours after the estimated restoration time for supplies

Leak reduction works in Letterkenny’s Gortlee area may cause water supply disruptions today Read More »

Elderly woman seriously injured in Strabane in incident involving e-scooter and bike

An elderly woman has been seriously injured in Strabane after an incident involving two young males driving dangerously on an electric scooter and a bike. The incident occurred in the Melmount Road area within the vicinity of St Mary’s Primary School at around 4:50pm yesterday. Police are appealing to anyone who was in the area

Elderly woman seriously injured in Strabane in incident involving e-scooter and bike Read More »

Basic care missed and delayed at LUH due to staff shortages – ED nurse

A nurse at Letterkenny University Hospital says basic care is being delayed and missed due to ongoing staff shortages. Health unions held a lunchtime protest outside the hospital today in opposition to the HSE’s Pay and Numbers Strategy. SIPTU, Forsa and the INMO are seeking to highlight what they describe as the HSE’s suppression of

Basic care missed and delayed at LUH due to staff shortages – ED nurse Read More »

General Election Podcast – TG4 opinion poll analysis

Former Donegal Mayor Brendan Byrne analysis this weeks opinion poll published by TG4 focusing on the 5 seater Donegal constituency. It shows favorably for Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein as well as Independent Thomas Pringle. Reflecting on the poll and previous election results, we use local knowledge to break down what it could mean come

General Election Podcast – TG4 opinion poll analysis Read More »

Harkin welcomes confirmation of Day Services in Ballyshannon, but says HIQA direction needs to be discussed

An election candidate in South Donegal says there needs to be a serious national conversation about a HIQA directive that residential and day services should not be offered in the same hospital building. Deputy Marian Harkin was speaking after the HSE confirmed day services are to be provided at Ballyshannon Community Hospital once staff are

Harkin welcomes confirmation of Day Services in Ballyshannon, but says HIQA direction needs to be discussed Read More »

Alzheimer Society of Ireland stresses the need for a National Dementia Registry

64,000 people in Ireland live with dementia – but it could be more. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is calling on the next government to set up a National Dementia Registry, to take the guesswork out of dementia care. The ASI’s Cormac Cahill says the register is vital to develop dementia-related services across the country…………

Alzheimer Society of Ireland stresses the need for a National Dementia Registry Read More »

Health unions to protest outside LUH today

Health unions will hold a lunchtime protest in opposition to the HSE’s Pay and Numbers Strategy at Letterkenny University Hospital this afternoon. SIPTU says staffing remains a major problem, with the HSE’s own employment census data demonstrating that many key, front-line roles have not benefitted from record levels of investment in the health service. SIPTU

Health unions to protest outside LUH today Read More »

Police investigate reports of suspicious behaviour in Limavady

Police in County Derry say they are investigating reports of a man acting suspiciously in the Roemill Road area of Limavady on Monday. Officers are currently in the area conducting enquiries. Anyone who may have noticed anyone suspicious is asked to contact local police on 101 quoting reference 332 18/11/24 or make a report online

Police investigate reports of suspicious behaviour in Limavady Read More »

Education workers who are assaulted need more support – Sweeney

A General Election candidate in Donegal says successive governments have abandoned workers in the education sector who have had to take extended sick leave because they were assaulted in the course of their work. Aontú’s Mary T Sweeney says she has heard many difficult stories of teachers, SNAs and other key educational support workers who

Education workers who are assaulted need more support – Sweeney Read More »

President stresses the need to uphold the rights of children

President Michael D Higgins is calling on the country and the world to think of children today. He’s issued a statement marking three significant anniversaries for children’s rights. Today is the 100th anniversary of the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child – the 70th anniversary of World Children’s Day – and the 35th

President stresses the need to uphold the rights of children Read More »

Serviced sites can be part of the answer to the housing crisis – McBride

Donegal County Council has been told there’s a demand for serviced sites across the county, particularly in Letterkenny. Cllr Michael McBride told a special meeting this week that there’s a demand for serviced sites at a reasonable price, which would allow people build their own homes. He says it’s a model that has worked well

Serviced sites can be part of the answer to the housing crisis – McBride Read More »

Bradley says FG will increase funding for disability services by 60%

Fine Gael says it will publish a new National Disability Strategy, that will see a 60 per cent increase in funding for disability services, if re-elected. It’s pledging to increase the disability allowance by 12 euro a week, as part of its health and disability manifesto. Latest figures show more than 11-thousand children are waiting

Bradley says FG will increase funding for disability services by 60% Read More »

Donegal Enterprise Awards Final to take place on December 6th

The Donegal Enterprise Awards 2024 are back for another year to celebrate the achievements of Donegal’s small business community across a range of sectors. The awards spotlight businesses within the Local Enterprise Office client portfolio and celebrate their entrepreneurial achievements. The Final will take place at Rockhill House, Letterkenny on Friday December 6 th .

Donegal Enterprise Awards Final to take place on December 6th Read More »

More snow expected, but the North West is expected to escape the brunt of it

Preparations are being made for widespread icy conditions tonight, with  all of the roads on Donegal County Council’s Winter Programme being gritted from 6 o’clock this evening, and agaoimn tomorrow morning. Temperatures are set to dip below zero over the next few nights. Met Éireann is due to issue an updated snow warning for Munster.

More snow expected, but the North West is expected to escape the brunt of it Read More »

Durkan and Lyons clash over Winter Fuel Payment

There were exchanges in the Stormont Assembly this afternoon between Foyle MLA Mark Durkan and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, after the minister announced a once off payment of £100 pensioners who will lose out when the Winter Fuel Payment is means tested, a requirement imposed by Westminster which Mr Lyons described as unwelcome and unexpected.

Durkan and Lyons clash over Winter Fuel Payment Read More »

Inishowen community group to appeal planning permission for battery energy storage facility

An Inishowen community group is to appeal a decision to grant planning permission for a battery energy storage facility. Donegal County Council sanctioned planning permission for the development on Gransha Road near Buncrana. FuturEnergy Ireland’s Ballynahone Energy Storage Development in Inishowen proposes to use iron-air batteries capable of storing energy for up to 100 hours

Inishowen community group to appeal planning permission for battery energy storage facility Read More »

NoWDOC Out of Hours Service to relocate in Letterkenny

  NoWDOC Out of Hours Service in Letterkenny is to be relocated. The HSE has confirmed that from 6pm on Tuesday, November 26th, the NoWDOC GP Treatment Centre will relocate from Oldtown Road to the Errigal Chronic Disease Management Hub, Kilmacrennan Road, which is opposite Letterkenny University Hospital. The NoWDOC GP Out of Hours Service

NoWDOC Out of Hours Service to relocate in Letterkenny Read More »