Author name: highlandnews

NHI says incoming government must increase funding for private nursing homes

A survey published this week by Nursing Homes Ireland says the average 60 bed public nursing home receives €2m more subvention per annum than an equivalent sized private facility. The survey, carried out by BDO also found disparity also in private and voluntary Fair Deal rates across regions, with an average sized nursing home in […]

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DCC award will be a springboard to more success – Kennedy

The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council says the council’s success at last week’s Chambers Ireland awards will pave the way for more growth and success. The council was named ‘Local Authority of the Year’ at the annual Chambers Ireland awards, and also took the ‘Supporting Sustainable Communities’ award for the Burtonport and Arranmore ‘Harbour to Island’

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Work started on New Advanced IDA Building Solution in Letterkenny

Work has begun on the New Advanced IDA Building Solution in Letterkenny. Donegal firm Glebe Builders started the works on the major development at the IDA business and technology park yesterday. The news has been welcomed by Letterkenny Councillor Ciaran Brogan. He says the development shows a commitment to making Letterkenny and the North West

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Derry researchers develop faster and more accurate method to diagnose Chronic Kidney Disease

Researchers in Derry have developed a faster and more accurate method for diagnosing Chronic Kidney Disease and predicting severe cases of Covid-19. The Personalised Medicine Centre at Ulster University says the pioneering research could also be key in preventing disease. Dr Taranjit Singh Rai is a Senior Lecturer at the University’s School of Medicine and

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Ulster University named University of the Year 2024 in UK and Ireland

Ulster University has been awarded ‘University of the Year 2024’ in the UK and Ireland by the Times Higher Education annual awards. The establishment was shortlisted in September alongside London Metropolitan University, the University of Stirling, the University of Leicester, the University of Sunderland, and the University of Surrey. Contributing factors to the success include

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Ulster Famers’ Union demands urgent update on A5 construction

There’s calls for Land and Property Service in Northern Ireland to urgently reach out to landowners who will be impacted by the development of the A5. Compulsory acquisition of land was due to take place on November 25th. That however, has not happened to date. The Ulster Farmers’ Union says the LPS have failed to

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DCC looking at ways of repurposing outdated signs for tourism promotion

It’s been confirmed that Transport Infrastructure Ireland will carry out a review of tourism signage in Donegal next year. It’s after members passed a motion from Cllr Martin Scanlon calling on Donegal County Council to repurpose existing signage infrastructure which may be out of date to promote tourism. Officials welcomed the suggestion, saying while such

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SVP in Donegal backs calls for more permanent supports, and urges people in need to come forward

The St Vincent De Paul organisation in Donegal is urging anyone in need of help over Christmas to contact them. Ahead of what will be their busiest month of the year, Rosa Glackin says social welfare boosts and other payments this month have had some benefit, but that will not last, She says more permanent

SVP in Donegal backs calls for more permanent supports, and urges people in need to come forward Read More »

Mullooley abstains in vote on new EU commissioners

Midlands North West MEP Ciaran Mullooley has abstained in the vote for the new College of Commissioners, including Irish nominee Michael McGrath. He says he did so because there is a lack of clear commitments and transparency from both the incoming Commission and the Taoiseach regarding the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, which could be signed next

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Graduate entry medical students at Magee to get acess to tuition loans

Graduate entry medical students at Magee University can access tuition fee loans from September. The announcement was made by Economy Minister for Northern Ireland Conor Murphy. Foyle MLA Pádraig Delargy says the action will remove barriers to education, strengthen staffing the NHS and promote regional balance in Northern Ireland.

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Supplementary pension for gardaí and defence forces must be re-instated – Mary T Sweeney

Aontú says they will follow through on the commitment in their manifesto to reinstate the supplementary pension for uniformed fast accrual workers. Donegal candidate Mary T Sweeney says better pension provisions will help boost defence forces recruitment, and replenish garda numbers in Donegal. She says morale is at an all time low, and this needs

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Simon Harris ‘lost’ leaders final pre-election debate

It’s a double-whammy for the Taoiseach in the polls this morning. An ‘Ireland Thinks’ opinion poll indicates Simon Harris lost the last televised leaders’ debate of the campaign. The Independent reports a survey of 418 people conducted yesterday shows the majority believe Tánaiste Micheál Martin did best in the RTE Prime Time debate, with 38%.

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Donegal based Palestinian man welcomes council vote on Occupied Territories Bill

A Palestinian man living in Donegal says the unanimous decision by Donegal County Council this week to support the Occupied Territories Bill is hugely significant, and brings Ireland one step closer to being the first EU country to adopt such a measure. The bill was first moved in 2018 by Senator Frances Black, and this week’s motion,

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Planning permission granted for major housing development in Derry

Planning permission has been granted a major housing development in Derry. A total of 674 new homes are to be delivered. The residential development in the Clooney Road area of Derry is part of a wider housing scheme at Ballyoan being delivered by South Bank Square in partnership with Choice Housing. The scheme will be

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Healthcare workers vote in favour of industrial action

Healthcare workers have voted in favour of industrial action over concerns about a ‘staffing crisis’. 95.6% of those represented by the INMO, Forsa and Unite, voted in favour of the motion, following a six-week, in-person ballot. According to The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, over 2,000 nursing and midwifery posts were left unfilled in 2023.

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Catastrophic collapse in bed numbers at Donegal’s community hospitals – Mac Lochlainn

A Donegal Deputy says there’s been a catastrophic collapse in the number of beds in the county’s community hospitals. Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn says data he’s received from the HSE shows the number of beds in Donegal’s Community Hospitals has fallen from 442 in 2004 to just 304 today. That, he says, is a drop

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Emergency Humanitarian Aid scheme for Storm Bert flooding approved

An Emergency Humanitarian Aid Scheme has been approved by cabinet for those impacted by Storm Bert. It’s understood that Killybegs and Pettigo will be included in the scheme after intense flooding on Friday night. Fianna Fáil General Election candidate Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher says he has received the confirmation from government buildings:

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Podcast: Listen or watch the 3rd and final General Election debate

Today we had the 3rd and final General Election debate focusing on the Donegal constituency. Our guests were Claudia Kennedy – Fianna Fáil, Thomas Pringle – Independent, Nuala Carr – The Green Party, Noel Jordan – Sinn Féin, Eamon Mc Gee – Irish Freedom Party and Kim Mc Menamin – Irish People’s Party /National Alliance.

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Body exhumed from Monaghan grave as search continues for Joe Lynskey

A grave in Co Monaghan has been exhumed by experts searching for one of the Disappeared, Joe Lynskey. A former monk from Belfast who later joined the IRA – he was abducted, murdered and secretly buried in 1972. The remains were taken from a single grave at Annyalla Cemetery, which is located between the towns

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Update: Major water burst affecting South Inishowen to be resolved this afternoon

South Inishowen residents have been without water since 4pm yesterday afternoon, with disruptions expected to last until around 2pm today. A major burst has left Buncrana dry, causing significant frustration among residents. Cathaoirleach of the Inishowen Municipal District, Cllr Jack Murray, acknowledges the anger felt by many. He says teams are working diligently to resolve

Update: Major water burst affecting South Inishowen to be resolved this afternoon Read More »

Failure to recruit more Home Helps in Donegal will cost more in the long term – Doherty

A Donegal councillor says the HSE’s Pay and Numbers strategy is hampering the recruitment of Home Helps in Donegal. Cllr Gary Doherty told a meeting of the Regional Health Forum he accepts that targets were met regarding the number of hours provided in Donegal, but asked why the targets were not adjusted to reflect the

Failure to recruit more Home Helps in Donegal will cost more in the long term – Doherty Read More »

Temporary traffic lights being installed at Castlefinn Bridge

Temporary traffic lights are to be installed at Castlefinn Bridge after lorry collided with the current set yesterday evening, rendering them useless. Safety on the road linking Castlefinn and Castlederg is a regular topic of discussion, as two cars cannot pass each other because the road is so narrow. Cllr Patrick McGowan says there are

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Emergency Humanitarian Aid Scheme to be approved following Storm Bert

The Cabinet will today be asked to approve the opening of an Emergency Humanitarian Aid Scheme for those affected by Storm Bert. It’s aimed at small business, community, voluntary and sporting bodies damaged by floods during the extreme weather which hit  Donegal, Cork, Galway, and Kerry last weekend. Once the scheme is approved, affected groups

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Public services should not be limited to online only – Age Action

Age Action is calling for the next Government to ban public service providers from only providing their services online. The representative group for older people says there should be more funding for digital skills training to ensure their members aren’t left behind in the modern world. In the lifetime of the next government, there will

Public services should not be limited to online only – Age Action Read More »

Two arrested following discovery of drugs during Derry vehicle search

Officers from Derry City and Strabane District Support Team arrested two men on suspicion of drug-related offences in Derry yesterday morning. Officers on patrol in the city stopped and searched a vehicle in the Rossville Street area of the city at around 11.15am. During the search, a small quantity of suspected Class C drugs was

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