Author name: highlandnews

MEPs have voted not to introduce mandatory regular medical tests for motorists. It had been proposed that car, tractor and motorcycle drivers should be tested every 15 years, and drivers of trucks and buses every 5 years, in an effort to reduce road deaths. The EU is aiming to reduce road fatalities by 50 per […]

The second phase of a plan to encourage investment in towns across the country by tackling vacancy and dereliction has been launched. 26 new towns were added to the ‘Town Centre First’ scheme today, with each to receive 30,000 euro to fund a redevelopment plan. In Donegal, Glenties has been added to the scheme, which

The Northern Ireland Assembly has passed an SDLP motion supporting the need for an All Island Rail Policy, and seeking to implement the recommendations of the recently published strategic rail review document. The Assembly also accepted a DUP amendment seeking to include a number of areas excluded in that review document, most notably the entire

An Inishowen Councillor believes tourism bodies need to restore the faith of businesses in the area. Councillor Martin McDermott says there is a huge opportunity to expand and promote the tourism offering in the peninsula. To do that however, he says financial assistance and collaboration between Failte Ireland, Go Visit Inishowen and Donegal Tourism is

Those responsible for a recent spate of vandalism on businesses in Buncrana are being urged to reflect on the hurt they are causing. Substantial damage has been caused to properties on the town’s Main Street with the windows of one business smashed. Councillor Jack Murray says efforts of the Tidy Towns group is being hampered

A new organisation representing nursing homes say a new funding model is needed to stop more facilities closing down. The Alliance is hosting a major conference in Limerick today to plan for a viable future for the sector. Over 50 homes have closed over a four year period, despite Ireland’s population growing and getting older.

A legal challenge to the UK’s Troubles Legacy Act will be ruled on today. Belfast High Court will decide whether sections of the law are incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. The focus will be on provisions allowing an end to police investigations, inquests and civil proceedings into Troubles atrocities, and the potential

The Media Minister claims the former chair of the RTÉ board indicated she would resign last week. Appearing before the Oireachtas Media Committee last night, Minister Catherine Martin said Siún Ní Raghallaigh suggested she would walk away if she received a letter seeking a meeting. Minister Martin was going to send a letter after Ms.

The Changing Places facility at Letterkenny Retail Park is expected to open in the coming months. Funding for the project was secured from the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund after a motion was first brought before Donegal County Council in 2021 by Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh Two other public toilets are also being delivered as part

The CEO of Saolta says the Performance Management Improvement Unit Team which was deployed to Letterkenny University Hospital last November has led to major improvements, but there is still a long way to go. Tony Canavan said as a result of the team’s intervention, coupled with a huge effort by staff and management locally, major

A Glenties councillor says he was disgusted to discover rubbish that had been dumped on the side of the road. Cllr. John Shéamais Ó Fearraigh said he came on the waste while he was driving in the Corveen area. Among the bin bags there was nappies, books and clothing. Cllr. Ó Fearraigh says those at

The Government has been criticised over the lack of mental health supports for defective block homeowners. Speaking during the Mental Health Bill, last night Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn said that the defective block crisis has taken a severe toll on the mental health of families. He says the reality is stark:

Defective block campaigners appeared at the Oireachtas Housing Committee this afternoon. Counties Donegal, Mayo and Clare were represented. In her opening statement Mica Action Group PRO Angela Ward asked the government if they had the empathy to understand the strife experienced by homeowners affected by defective blocks. Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn, from the area of Inishowen

The European Parliament has approved a plan to wild 20 per cent of land and sea by 2030. The Nature Restoration Law is an attempt to increase levels of biodiversity across the bloc, but has been opposed  by farmers’ groups. The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association says affected members will need financial support make

Almost €120,000 worth of suspected cannabis has been seized in South Donegal. 6kg of the drug was seized during follow-up searches conducted by Gardai in Ballyshannon on foot of the discovery of a grow house in Donegal Town last week. The find brings the estimated total of drugs seized to €751,500 after over €630,000 worth

Gardai are appealing to all car owners to ensure their vehicle is locked while unattended. It’s after a small sum of cash was stolen from an unlocked car in Carrigans in the early hours of Saturday morning last. A short time later, a car in St Johnston was also entered, nothing was taken but damage

Gardai in Donegal are again urging people with suspicions about unexpected callers to their homes to contact them. The appeal was made on today’s Nine til Noon Show by Community Garda Grainne Doherty, who detailed two calls received by gardai in the county in the past week. Up to now, no offences have been reported

The departing Bishop of Raphoe has said he feels like he is leaving home. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that Bishop Alan McGuckian, who has spent the past six years in Donegal, is to move to Belfast, and take up the position of Bishop of Down and Connor, Ireland’s second largest diocese. Last night,

New figures show town centres need help as the number of vacant commerical properties stands at its highest rate since records began. A study by GeoDirectory shows the average number of vacant commercial units stood at 14.35 at the end of last year, up 0.3% on the previous quarter. The commercial vacancy rate in Donegal

More than 2 in 5 Irish parents have cut back on their own meals to ensure there is enough to feed their children. That’s the startling new finding from the annual Barnardos and Aldi Food Insecurity Research report released this morning. 25% of families say the cost of living crisis means they have reduced spending

High business operating costs and concerns about the economic outlook for the year ahead were topics of discussion at the Irish Hotels Federation’s Annual Conference. The meeting was held yesterday. Recent research undertaken by the IHF found that only 47% of hoteliers have a positive outlook for trading conditions over the next year, compared to

The North’s Economy Minister says he will do all he can to ensure increased investment in the North West City Region, but told the Assembly that there are other regions that feel equally left behind. Responding to questions from Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin, Minister Conor Murphy said the Executive will do what it can, but

  Buncrana Plaza is set to reopen to the public on Saturday 9th March with a local celebration. Events and fitness classes will resume the following week. The Plaza will reopen on a phased basis with the small hall upstairs opening first. Manager Ursula McDaid said it has taken a long time to get to

The Garda Commissioner insists the force is working hard to identify those responsible for arson attacks on refugee accommodation. A number of buildings linked to – or rumoured to be linked to – asylum seekers have been burnt down in recent months, including an incident in Buncrana when a building which was planned to house