Author name: highlandnews

North South Ministerial Council meeting is significant for Donegal

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine says today’s meeting of the North South Ministerial Council is doubly significant. One reason being, it marks outgoing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s final day. The second being the fact that it’s first meeting since the Northern Irish Assembly re-formed. He says for counties like Donegal, it’s important to see

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Leo Varadkar expected to step down as Taoiseach today

Leo Varadkar is expected to step down as Taoiseach today. He will attend his final engagement , the North South Ministerial Council, this morning. Leo Varadkar will meet with members of the Northern Ireland Executive – including First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly – as the North South Ministerial Council convenes

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Donegal sees largest increase to buy four bedroom semi-detached house in Ireland

Donegal has seen the largest increase in the price to buy a four bedroom semi-detached house in Ireland in the first quarter of the year. That’s according to the MyHome.ie Property Report published today. The price for a four bedroom semi-detached house in Donegal now stands at €235,000 which is 20.5% more than the same

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Moya Brennan officially named Donegal Person of the Year 2023

Moya Brennan was officially named as the Donegal person of the year for 2023 last night. Moya was lead singer with Clannad for many years, the band’s farewell tour ended in Seattle last October. She was inaugurated at the Donegal Association Dublin’s annual Gala Ball last night at the Bonnington Hotel. Her nomination was first

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Asylum seekers sleeping rough during Storm Kathleen

  The government is facing criticism for leaving asylum seekers on the streets during Storm Kathleen. Some were reportedly given temporary protection over the weekend, while others weren’t. Currently, over 1,600 people who’ve sought asylum in Ireland have not been offered accommodation – with many sleeping in tents outside the International Protection Office in Dublin.

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IMO president addresses HSE shortage pressures

  Waiting lists in Irish hospitals have been described as “frighteningly long” by the new IMO president. Donegal GP Denis McCauley addressed colleagues at the Irish Medical Organisation’s AGM this weekend. He referenced the chronic shortage of beds, consultants and GPs which have left thousands of people without the care they need. Dr. McCauley says

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Signs of progress at Gaza ceasefire negotiations

  There are early indications Israel has withdrawn all troops from Southern Gaza. It comes as ceasefire talks resume in Cairo, six months on from the attacks by Hamas. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been under increasing pressure internationally following the killing of aid workers in Gaza. Middle East Correspondent, Alistair Bunkall, says there

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Calls for more healthcare investment – SIPTU on World Health Day

  SIPTU wants an end to the HSE recruitment embargo. The union’s calling for urgent investment in public healthcare on World Health Day today. It says there’s major strain on emergency departments and acute hospital workers, made worse by the recruitment embargo. SIPTU Health Divisional Organiser Kevin Figgis says more investment is needed to ease

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Ciaran Mullooly confirmed as Midlands-North West candidate for European elections

  Former RTE Midlands Correspondent Ciaran Mullooly has confirmed he will be contesting in the upcoming European elections on June 7th. A member of the Independent Ireland party, Mullooly aims to empower rural communities and represent his constituents issues at the European Parliament. Press release in full: Mullooly confirmed for Independent Ireland in Midlands-North West

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Institute notched up great win away to Dundela – but Dergview lose again

Institute recorded a great 4-3 away win over Dundela in their NIFL Championship Promotion Group game. Goals from Charlie Dornan (an own goal), Connor Quigley, Liam Mullan and Michael Harris (pictured) ensured the points for the Kevin Deery managed side. Meanwhile, struggling Dergview – whose last win was in February – were beaten 2-1 by

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Three Donegal players on ROI Schoolboys side that loses to England

Donegal players Oisin Cooney, James McAteer and Darragh Coyle were part of the Republic of Ireland Schools side that was beaten 4-0 by  England in Walsall on Friday night.  In their two previous games, the  Republic of Ireland drew with Scotland 1-1 and lost 2-1 against their Northern Ireland counterparts. Jude Entwhistle (hat-trick)  and Ollie

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Children of Post Office Horizon scandal parents calling for “family fund”

Children whose parents were caught up in the Post Office Horizon scandal in the UK are calling for a “family fund” of compensation. Faulty software by IT firm Fujitsu saw hundreds of subpostmasters wrongfully convicted of theft and fraud. Now, their kids want financial support to help pay for things like education and counselling. Barrister

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Letterkenny driver arrested following positive drug test and excessive speed

Gardaí in Letterkenny detected a driver travelling at 131km/h. When Gardaí stopped the vehicle, it emerged that it was not taxed and the driver then tested positive for cannabis. They were then arrested. A fixed charge penalty notices will be issued and a court appearance may follow. Gardaí are urging the public to never drive

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Psychiatrist calls for public health warnings on social media

A psychiatrist is calling for public health warnings to be added to social media. Speaking at the Irish Medical Organisation AGM in Kilkenny today, the chair of the consultants committee says dependency on social media is affecting dopamine levels and causing device addictions. Professor Matthew Sadlier says social media is increasing levels of anxiety as

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Early years educators deserve increase in wages – SIPTU

  The government is being called on to increase the minimum wage for early years educators. SIPTU members within the sector are holding their inaugural conference today, with recruitment and retention the focus. Representatives are urging the State to provide funding to raise pay rates from 13 to 15 euro per hour. The Union’s Head

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Career choice supports available to Donegal students

A new initiative of Education and Training Boards Ireland, FET Skills Box, was launched at the National Construction Training Campus County Offaly this week. The skills box will be available to every second level student in Ireland, and contains FET Career Charts. The career charts will outline FET career options and education routes for multiple

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Public should avoid coastal areas tomorrow with the arrival of Storm Kathleen

The public is being advised to stay away from coastal areas tomorrow, as Storm Kathleen hits the country. A yellow wind warning will be in effect in Donegal tomorrow morning from 5am until 8pm, producing very strong and gusty southerly winds. Possible impacts include fallen trees, difficult traveling conditions, coastal flooding and wave overtopping. Director

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Over €3 million in funding allocated to schools in Donegal

€3.2 million of funding has been allocated to support digital learning in schools and minor building works in county Donegal. Minister for Education Norma Foley made the announcement today. It’s from a national pot of €50 million for Information and Communications Technology to all recognised primary and post-primary schools across the country, while a separate

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Heather Humphreys announced as Deputy Leader of Fine Gael

Heather Humphreys says she’s “honoured” to take up her new position as Deputy Leader of Fine Gael from today. The Minister for Rural and Community Development takes over from Simon Coveney, who stepped down from Cabinet earlier this week. Minister Humphreys, who is a TD for Cavan-Monaghan, was first elected to the Dáil following the

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Fine Gael to hold first Ard Fheis under Simon Harris this weekend

Fine Gael is holding it’s Ard Fheis in Galway this weekend. It gets underway this evening, and will be the first under new leader Simon Harris, who took over from Leo Varadkar last month. The set-piece will be a speech by the incoming Taoiseach tomorrow evening, where he will outline the party’s key priorities with

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Donegal hoping to benefit as new CCTV funding package is announced

The Justice Minister has announced one million euro worth of funding for community CCTV schemes. Helen McEntee says the money is available, not only for new schemes, but also to extend or upgrade existing CCTV schemes which are “incomplete or obsolete.” Donegal County Council Joint Policing Committee has already submitted applications to augment the Letterkenny

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City of Derry of Airport honors long serving members of Airport Fire and Rescue team.

  Dedicated Airport Fire and Rescue team members were brought together this week to mark their years of service, ranging from 20 to 30 years. They were awarded with service medals issued by the department of transport, White Horse Hotel, and a nostalgic look back over the years with presentations from Airport Management and retired

City of Derry of Airport honors long serving members of Airport Fire and Rescue team. Read More »

Pringle would consider supporting Harris if he got commitments on the People’s Document

Independent Donegal TD Thomas Pringle says he would consider supporting Simon Harris as Taoiseach if he promised to fully embrace and implement the People’s Document published last week by Defective Block campaigners. However, Deputy Pringle told today’s Nine til Noon Show he would have a number of serious questions, not least why the government hadn’t

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Another Independent candidate declares in the Glenties Electoral Area

Another Independent candidate has declared his intention to contest June’s local election in the Glenties Electoral Area. 37 year old Jonathan Stewart says he wants to bring a wealth of experience and a heartfelt commitment to addressing key issues facing the community. **************** Release in full – Jonathan Stewart, a dedicated community member with a

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Donohoe has no plans to provide extra cash as farmers seek more support

Farmers are reiterating their call on government to put supports in place to help them get through what they’ve described as a ‘catastrophic’ winter. The call from the IFA comes as even more heavy rain and high winds are expected when storm Kathleen hits Ireland this weekend. IFA President Francie Gorman says some farmers are

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