Author name: highlandnews

The Justice Minister says he will ‘consider’ an enquiry into the Creeslough tragedy. 10 people were killed in the explosion in County Donegal, on October seventh 2022. Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan also says he has “no difficulty” in meeting the families affected. He says they deserve answers, but repeated his belief that other processes must

Representatives of Donegal Youth Council are to be invited to address the county’s Local Community Safety Partnership. At the body’s first public meeting recently, Tusla, Letterkenny Chamber and other agencies said it’s important that when the interests of young people are being discussed, they have a direct input into the conversaation. Michael McDevitt, the Youth

Across the weekend, two separate dog attacks on flocks of sheep were recorded in the Falcarragh area. This has resulted in the deaths of sheep ahead of the lambing period, which is set to begin, causing distress to both the farmers and the sheep alike. The financial loss to the farmers has been highlighted due

A Donegal Councillor has called for clarity from the HSE in relation to full time contracts for national ambulance workers. According to SIPTU, 80 newly-qualified graduates will not be offered permanent roles following their three years of training. The HSE says this is due to their lack of budgetary capacity to take on new members.

The National Ambulance Service has decided to no longer offer full-time contracts to graduating students. According to SIPTU, around 80 newly-qualified graduates will not be offered permanent roles following their three years of training. It says the HSE has told its members they don’t have the budgetary capacity to take on new members. SIPTU is

Letterkenny Cabs has announced its intention to reduce the provision of wheelchair transport directly. They say, because of rising costs, they are ceasing investment in their own fleet and reducing the quantity of wheelchair accessible transport. However, they hope to continue using a mixture of direct employees and agent drivers. Sean Gallagher, Managing Director of

Donegal Cancer Flights and Services have welcomed a formal reply that they have received from the Minister for Health, in relation to the Donegal – Dublin PSO timetable. Minister Jennifer Carroll Mac Neill said the Department acknowledges the serious concern and potential impact on cancer patients and other medical travellers in the North West. The

Local Enterprise Week begins on Monday with lots of events scheduled around Donegal to support local and small businesses. This event takes place across the 31 Local Enterprise Office branches nationwide. Head of Enterprise at the Donegal Local Enterprise Office, Brenda Hegarty, says there are lots of events scheduled. She’s detailed this week’s events:

The issue of seaweed harvesting was raised at a meeting of Donegal County Council’s Economic Strategic Policy Committee. Large corporations seeking licenses to harvest seaweed have been a cause for concern within coastal communities. This is particularly in relation to the effect mechanical harvesting can have on the ecosystem. Cllr Albert Doherty says marine regulation is

The EU Commission is being urged to upgrade the designation of Killybegs to a control port ahead of the implementation of new legislation. The issue was raised at the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries by Midlands North West MEP Ciaran Mullooly, who told the committee that what fishers in Ireland are seeking is common sense,

The Local Enterprise Office in Donegal hit or exceeded all targets set for them during 2025. The Head of Enterprise revealed this at a recent meeting of Donegal County Council’s Economic Strategic Policy Committee. Donegal’s Local Enterprise Office also highlighted numerous economic supports available to small and local businesses, such as funding to help businesses

The Donegal woman who is part of a five person strong Irish Farmers’ Association protest at the Bord Bia Head Office in Dublin was given a standing ovation after she appeared live on a video link at the annual general meeting of the Co. Donegal Executive of the IFA last night  in Letterkenny. Christine Friel, the Donegal representative on

The HSE has confirmed there are currently 379 people on the waiting list for new or additional home support services in Donegal with waiting times of up to 40 weeks. Cllr Gary Doherty was told at a Regional Health Forum meeting that the waiting list is reviewed on an ongoing basis, and a priority rating

The Government is being asked to meet stakeholders over the SNA cuts’ controversy. The Department of Education is trying to reassure people no cut is being made to Special Needs Assistants. The Government put a €19 million additional funding plan in place this week for SNA posts in the 2026/2027 academic year, after uproar from

The inaugural public meeting Donegal’s Local Community Safety Partnership has heard calls for more gardai in the county. Concerns were raised by local representatives about the increased availability of drugs in the county, while an increase in burglaries was also highlighted. This led Peoples’ Participation Network representative Joe Boland, the partnership’s Vice-Chair, to call for

The HSE has confirmed that measures will be taken to ensure the planned new Surgical Hub at Letterkenny University Hospital will not be used to accommodate Emergency Department patients during periods of surge capacity. The issue was raised by Cllr Declan Meehan, who said concerns have been raised by some staff at the hospital, who

Donegal’s Little Blue Heroes have been announced as Grand Marshals for the 2026 Letterkenny St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Letterkenny Chamber confirmed this afternoon that the children living with life-limiting illnesses, who have been made honorary members of An Garda Síochána, will lead the parade through the town. Outgoing President Jimmy Stafford says these children represent

The Leas Ceann Comhairle has again intervened in a Thursday row involving Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty and Tanaiste Simon Harris. The Government’s being criticised ahead of upcoming changes to rent rules, with Opposition parties describing it as a win for large investors. The reforms come into effect on Sunday, meaning landlords will be able to

  Junior Minister Charlie McConalogue says the enactment of legislation allowing for retrospective payments to be made to defective block homeowners up to the new maximum cap is to be welcomed. The Housing Minister James Brown signed the commencement order last evening, Minister McConalogue says this is another important step in the evolution of the

Once again, hospitals in the North West had over 100 admitted patients awaiting beds this morning. Today’s IMNO Trolly Watch survey shows 43 without beds at Letterkenny University Hospital, and 59 in Sligo, a combined total of 102. That represents 17% of the national of 595.

The Junior Transport Minister says there needs to be an honest conversation about road behaviour. Minister Jerry Buttimer was answering questions in the Dail this morning from Deputy Jennifer Whitmore, who said the government is nowhere near reaching its Vision Zero road safety targets. Both offered their condolences to the families and friends of recent