Author name: highlandnews

The launch of the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy in Northern Ireland took place yesterday. However, SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin has emphasized the importance of adequate funding for this initiative. While £3 million has been allocated to the strategy over two years, MLA McLaughlin believes that many will find this figure shocking, especially […]

The government is being called on to take a targeted approach to tackling child poverty in the upcoming budget. Research from the Children’s Right Alliance shows two in three people support an increase in social welfare supports for children in low-income families. This would comprise a six euro increase for children under 12, and a

The Chair of Donegal County Council has proposed a mutually beneficial plan that would create a ‘retirement village’ while also addressing the county’s pressing need for social housing. Cllr Niamh Kennedy suggested at yesterday’s special housing meeting of Donegal County Council that many isolated older people in rural areas would like to move to more

West Donegal councillor, Cllr Michael McClafferty, is calling for a closer examination of empty houses in Donegal that could potentially be acquired by the council for social housing. He suggests that this includes not only abandoned houses but also council houses that are not being used as intended. Cllr McClafferty is encouraging the public to

The City and Growth Deal for Derry and Strabane will go ahead as planned. MP Órfhlaith Begley has received confirmation that the regeneration projects will continue following the shock announcement on Friday that they were to be paused. The deal includes a new health hub, a new North West Regional College building, a new civic

The economic benefits of the Irish Open are set to leave a lasting legacy in Northern Ireland, with Donegal hoping to enjoy a spin off from it. Almost 100 thousand people attended the golf tournament in Royal County Down in Newcastle over the past week. Visiting golfers contributed over 100 million euro to the North’s

Sligo Leitrim and South Donegal TD Marian Harkin has confirmed she will be a candidate in the next General Election. Making the announcement this morning,  she said she will represent the whole constituency, and has a special affection for Donegal since her days as an MEP. Speaking to Highland Radio News, Ms Harkin says she

The level of cross border cooperation between Donegal, Derry and Tyrone has been praised by Taoiseach Simon Harris, who is making his first official visit to Derry today. At the centre of the event is his delivery of the John Hume Tipp O’Neill Peace Chair lecture at Ulster University’s Magee Campus. Speaking ahead of the lecture, Mr Harris said John

There could soon be traffic lights governing the junction of Pearse Road and Oldtown Road at the ‘Old Dunnes’ roundabout in Letterkenny. As works got underway to put lights on two roundabouts on the Ramelton Road, members of Letterkenny Milord Municipal District have been told the junction is being included in the priority list of

A Donegal Councillor has called the continuous water outages in Gaoth Dobhair ‘unacceptable’. It comes as many residents without water at the weekend and businesses having to close due to a lack of supply. Cllr Micheal Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig has requested an urgent meeting Uisce Eireann in relation to the issue. He says the

  A heatwave is on its way as the country prepares for temperatures in the early-to-mid 20s as early as tomorrow. Met Éireann has confirmed the welcome weather will stay with us until possibly next weekend. Cathal Nolan of Ireland’s Weather Channel says this heatwave is the one we were promised during the summer months

Dublin Airport is warning passengers to expect delays throughout the day. It comes as an ESB power outage in the north Dublin area this morning caused long queues in Terminal 2 and delays to 15 flights. Media Relations Manager at the DAA, Graeme McQueen, has the following advice for passengers due to fly out of

There’s a call for a commitment to build Casement Park in Belfast. Sinn Fein is making the call, saying it’s “very disappointing” and “a huge blow” funding for the stadium won’t be going ahead. The GAA is seeking a meeting with the Northern Secretary of State over the UK Government decision not to fund the

The Minister for Public Expenditure rejects that there was a deal with Apple to give them preferential tax treatment. During the week, the EU’s top court ruled that the European Commission was right to demand that 13 billion euro in “illegal” tax breaks for Apple should be repaid. There have been various ideas thrown around

  Fine Gael has a five point lead over Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein in the latest opinion poll. Today’s Business Post / Red C Poll also shows Sinn Fein’s support continues to slide. Fine Gael is the most popular party in the country and is on 23 per cent support, up 2. Editor of

Donegal County Council’s Parks Section is examining the possibility of erecting a canopy at the new performance area at the Bernard McGlinchey Town Park. This week, members of Letterkenny Milford Municipal District voted to name the performance area after the late Ted Ponsonby, one of Donegal’s foremost musicians, who passed away last year. The motion

The Finance Minister is indicating a €3 billion boost to infrastructure spending in the upcoming budget. The money is expected to come from the State’s sale of AIB shares, and drive the delivery of affordable housing in particular. Better water and energy services will also be paid for out of this pot. Minister Jack Chamber

Ryanair’s boss has again criticised Dublin Airport’s passenger cap. The airline has called on the Irish Aviation Authority to issue additional slots to avert a potential crisis at airports this Christmas. The annual 32 million passenger cap at Dublin Airport has already been surpassed however the aviation hub has the capacity to serve 60 million

The Government must give the same supports to asylum seekers if it’s going to charge them for their accommodation. That’s the call from Doras as coalition leaders consider significant changes that would ask them to make contributions. It’s hitting out at the sub-standard accommodation provided for asylum seekers, many which are converted warehouses, pubs and

A HSE decision to cancel transportation for people with disabilities to disability day service units has left families in distress, according to Senator Nikki Bradley. She says almost 40 people with disabilities in Sligo and Donegal have been impacted by the failure of the HSE to provide transportation to day care services. She said she’s

Donegal County Council is seeking funding for a safety project at the junction on the R250 Letterkenny Glenties Road leading to the church in Glenswilly. Cllr Donal Mandy Kelly says there have been several collisions at the junction, and steps are necessary to make the junction more visible and the road safer. He says this

Some tourists in the North have been left disappointed after going to visit the Derry Girls mural in recent days. A nearby pub in Derry city has put up a new awning – which is now blocking part of the street art. Badgers Bar isn’t commenting, and the BBC reports that Derry City and Strabane

The First and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland are in Dublin today for a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council. It’s the 28th meeting of the council since it was formed in 1999 – and Simon Harris’ first as Taoiseach. Its purpose is to boost North-South and Anglo-Irish co-operation. Speaking on his way