Author name: highlandnews

Concerns have been raised over Letterkenny University Hospital’s new surgical hub being used as an overflow for the main hospital. Cllr Gary Doherty asked for specific safeguards at meeting of the HSE’s Regional Health Forum this week. The HSE say that the new hub will be self-contained with a physical barrier to the main hospital.

A Donegal Senator has raised the issue of funding for Local Improvement Schemes During a sitting of the Seanad Senator Manus Boyle welcomed LIS funding but called it far from significant Local Improvement Scheme funding is used for maintenance of non-public roads and can be applied for through local authorities. Senator Boyle highlights the extent

  Over 150 people gathered outside the Lifeline Inishowen premises in Carndonagh last night for a candlelit vigil in solidarity with the family and friends of Amy Doherty who was murdered in Derry last weekend, and over 60 other women killed on both sides of the border over the past six years. Eleanor Lamb of

Minister of State at the Department of Sport is to hold several public meetings in the coming weeks to discuss the Community Sports Facilities Fund. The Lake of Shadows Hotel in Buncrana is the venue for the event on Monday, March 30th at 6 pm, while the evening for clubs in the Letterkenny-Milford and Stranorlar

A new cross-border initiative aimed at building relationships between communities through the Irish language has secured almost €84,000 in funding from the PEACEPLUS Change Maker Funding Programme. The 15-month project will be led by Líonra Leitir Ceanainn in Letterkenny, working in partnership with groups in Carntogher, Co. Derry, and East Belfast. The organisations will bring people

Early Childhood Ireland says 57% of adults in Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan believe the government is not doing enough to address a shortage of early years places. The finding is contained in the group’s annual barometer, as government figures show up to 1,567 Donegal children are awaiting places in facilities in the county. Director of

Donegal County Council has granted conditional planning permission for a shop and forecourt close to the site of the Creeslough tragedy over three years ago. Ten lives were lost when the explosion happened, among them was 14-year-old Leona Harper, who was buying ice cream with her friend. Her mother Donna says the first they and

Uisce Éireann has confirmed that work will take place next week on Gola Island to enhance the Alternative Water Supply currently serving the community there. A temporary water storage tank and small booster pump will be installed on the island pier, with Donegal County Council’s existing facilities on the pier being used to pump water

Farmers in Northern Ireland say they’re closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East – and the impact on fertiliser supplies and prices. The Iran war has seen fuel costs skyrocket in recent weeks. John McLenaghan is the Deputy President of the Ulster Farmers’ Union, and runs a farm in County Derry. He says the

A Donegal born senator says there’s still more work to do, despite the drop in burglary and robbery. CSO crime figures yesterday showed burglary has fallen by 13 per cent and robbery by 11 per cent nationally, but the figures have remained unchanged in Donegal. Fianna Fail Senator Robbie Gallagher says gardai need continued support

A Sinn Fein member has told the Assembly at Stormont that there’s been very positive engagement between all parties and members of the European Parliament and EU Commission in Brussels. Foyle MLA Ciara Ferguson was part of a deputation from the Assembly and Executive which travelled to Brussels for a series of engagements around St

It’s emerged the National Standards Authority of Ireland review of IS:456, which was to have been completed and published by Tuesday next will now be delayed until sometime in April. That was relayed to Donegal Deputy Charles Ward in the Dail. He pressed for progress on schemes to remediate social homes, schools and creches affected

The Government and opposition have clashed over energy prices on the last day of the Dáil before the Easter recess. Sinn Féin says the coalition didn’t go far enough in its 250 million euro package to lower the cost of fuel. But Tánaiste Simon Harris says parts of Sinn Féin’s own plan are works of

A Strabane based business owner is working toward allowing tour busses to stop in the town centre. Currently, there is no designated parking space for a bus in the town centre which means tourists going through the north-west are unable to stop which has a negative economic impact. Owner of the Eco Basket, Niall Speak

Donegal TD Pearse Doherty has told the Dail it’s wrong that tonight’s crucial world cup qualifier will not be shown free to air north of the border. Addressing Tanaiste Simon Harris, Deputy Doherty said the government should act to ensure that Irish people have the chance to watch their national team, wherever they are on

After Government fuel relief measures yesterday, which reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel, local bus companies have expressed disappointment. Ineligible for a tax rebate, Government Ministers say the benefit will be felt at the pump for bus operators. However, this has received pushback with one operator saying the excise cuts don’t go far enough.

A Midlands-North West MEP has hit out at a proposal from the European Parliament due to be voted on today. The EU return regulations seek to establish return hubs in third countries away from the European Union. Maria Walsh MEP says this idea is similar to an idea brought by the UK Government by using

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has told the House of Commons that Northern Ireland is the most dangerous part of the UK in which to be a woman. Mr Benn was responding to SDLP leader Claire Hanna, who raised the recent murders of Amy Doherty in Derry and Ellie Flanagan in Fermanagh. Ms Doherty’s funeral

he Government and members of the Opposition have clashed in the Dail over energy supports. Temporary cuts to excise duty came in at midnight, with prices at some pumps dropping today. Sinn Fein is describing the measures as ‘lousy’ while Aontu say they’re an ‘atrocious insult’. Taoiseach Michael Martin told the chamber, the coalition has

  The North’s Justice Minister says attitudes need to change if the scourge of violence against women and girls is to be tackled in Northern Ireland. Speaking following the murder of Amy Doherty at the weekend, Minister Naomi Long said women need to be empowered to recognise red flags and seek help and support when

  A Midlands North West MEP is calling for a full cumulative impact assessment of all EU and UK trade agreements affecting beef and sheepmeat, warning that current policy is failing to measure the real pressure facing Irish and European farmers. Ciaran Mullooly was speaking after a new trade deal was signed with Australia this

A Lifford-Stranorlar Councillor has called on the HSE to include plans for respite care within the designs for the new Lifford Community Hospital. Cllr Gary Doherty highlighted that Donegal has just six HIQA-registered respite centres, with services often split between adults and children, with only 12 beds available every second week for children across the entire

A meeting of the Regional Health Forum has heard that the Kilmacrennan Health Centre is set to be sold by the HSE due to it no longer being suitable for delivering care. This was revealed following a question from Cllr Declan Meehan, who asked if the facility could be refurbished, given the lack of clinical

West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan has welcomed the introduction of a Sinn Féin Private members’ bill in the Stormont Assembly. The Areas with Natural Constraints Bill seeks to deliver fair and targeted support for farmers in severely disadvantaged upland areas by restoring financial support for farmers working in some of the North’s most marginal and

A meeting of the Regional health forum heard of new appointments to breast care at Letterkenny University Hospital . Two Consultant Breast Surgeons alongside a Consultant Breast Radiologist have been appointed. It is hoped that these appointments will be able to ease the waiting list for people seeking care. Cllr Declan Meehan raised the issue

A public meeting is set to take place this evening at 7pm in Scioból an Phobail, Mín na Craoibhe, Annagry to emphasise Ireland’s position as a neutral country. The meeting will be attended by former MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace, who will deliver speeches. Cllr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig has called this an