Author name: highlandnews

It’s been confirmed this morning that Atlantic Technological University has been successful in its bid for a new vet school. It was revealed on Highland Radio last week, that the ATU was the preferred bidder, after University of Limerick withdrew its bid. The new dual-campus Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Bachelor program will be primarily based

Tourism groups are appealing to the government to stave off a growing crisis in the sector, before it’s too late. A new report out today – commissioned by a number of industry representative groups – shows VAT at 13.5% and Government-imposed cost increases have seriously damaged the commercial structure of the sector. The report’s author,

Donegal farmers are being advised to carefully consider the upcoming changes to Retirement Relief, which will take effect on January 1st. The changes, introduced in the upcoming budget, offer some benefits but also reduce thresholds for farmers over the age of 70. IFAC recommends that Donegal farmers consult with their tax advisors to understand how

A local councillor is urging Donegal County Council to take a more proactive approach to addressing the housing shortage by purchasing more homes from the private market. Cllr Michael McMahon says he’s aware of instances where homeowners are willing to sell their properties to the council, but the deals fall through. He believes that the

Cllr. Martin Harley has confirmed that the pedestrian pathway at Finn Valley College in Stranorlar will reopen to the public in April 2025. The secondary school is currently undergoing a major extension, which will include five new specialist rooms and three new classrooms to accommodate the growing student population. Cllr Harley has welcomed this long-awaited

An Inishowen Councillor says it’s unacceptable that there is still no clear pathway for the remediation of Donegal County Council’s own housing stock which is affected by Defective Concrete. Cllr Albert Doherty says a scheme was promised by the end of July, but that deadline passed. Officials from the housing department were to have met

Early Childhood Ireland is urging the Irish government to make a significant investment in Early Years and School Age Care in Budget 2025 to address the ongoing challenges facing the sector in Donegal. As the Dáil resumes later this afternoon, the organisation says this budget is the last chance for the government to keep its

A member of the 100% Redress Party says he’s disgusted at the behaviour of government politicians, both locally and nationally. Cllr Thomas Sean Devine has spent a number of weeks in hospital, and speaking during a meeting of Donegal County Council’s Defective Concrete Block Committee, he said he’s shocked at the number of doctors and

There have been calls for Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien to urgently engage with the Housing Agency on the need to pause all of their decisions to overturn the recommendations of engineers acting for homeowners, under the Enhanced Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme. Sinn Féin TD says he has written to the Minister O’Brien in

Gardaí have once again urged road users to not drug or drink drive after a worrying number of offences were detected by Letterkenny Roads Policing Unit over the weekend. Three drivers were caught drink driving 3.5, 7 and 12 times over the legal limit on Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile, on Sunday evening two drivers were

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic incident in Bunbeg on Wednesday last. The single vehicle incident, involving a motorbike, occurred at approximately 2.50pm on the R257, when the man aged in his 60’s was fatally injured. On the Community Garda Slot on today’s Nine til Noon Show, Garda Grainne Doherty made

Eight in 10 farmers feel rural Ireland isn’t receiving enough investment in infrastructure like roads and broadband. The same number also say the so-called ‘Green Agenda’ has negatively impacted their economic viability. The survey was conducted by the ICMSA ahead of the Ploughing Championships. President Denis Drennan says there’s no joined-up thinking……………………

Donegal County Council is being urged to reorganise its winter roads programme to ensure that public and school transport routes are prioritised. Cllr Declan Meehan says in recent years. there’s been significant investment in public transport in Donegal, particularly through the Local Link service. However, he says that will be undermined if services cannot operate

Households in Northern Ireland are being assured their tap water is safe to drink – despite reports of a bad taste and smell in some areas. The Stormont Minister for Infrastructure says there have been a number of complaints, and it’s related to the water quality crisis in Lough Neagh. Minister John O Dowd says

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