Author name: highlandnews

NI Infrastructure Minister anticipates further legal challenges to the A5 upgrade

The North’s Infrastructure Minister says he expects there will be further legal challenges to the A5 upgrade if the go ahead is given for the plan later this year. Answering questions from West Tyrone MLAs Daniel McCrossan and Declan McAleer, Minister John O’Dowd said he and his officials have the report from Planning Appeals Commission […]

NI Infrastructure Minister anticipates further legal challenges to the A5 upgrade Read More »

KFO calls for targeted measures in management of inshore fisheries

The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation says it acknowledges need for improved management in inshore waters, but says it cannot accept any of the recommendations put forward by the government on how to limit trawling activity inside the six nautical mile zone. The KFO’s new CEO Dominic Rian says the recommendations are blunt instruments, which would impose

KFO calls for targeted measures in management of inshore fisheries Read More »

Woman and man arrested following Limavady drug seizure are released on bail

A 39-year-old man, arrested by detectives from the PSNI’s Organised Crime Branch following a search and the seizure of a quantity of Class C controlled drugs in Limavady today has been released on bail to allow for further enquiries. A 37-year-old woman also arrested at the scene was released on bail pending further enquiries earlier

Woman and man arrested following Limavady drug seizure are released on bail Read More »

Some elective surgeries being deferred at LUH tomorrow because of pressure on the Emergency Department

Saolta is reporting this evening that the Emergency Department at Letterkenny University Hospital has been extremely busy over the past few days with high numbers of people attending. So far today 111 people have attended the Emergency Department. They say the high number of people attending who need to be admitted for ongoing treatment means

Some elective surgeries being deferred at LUH tomorrow because of pressure on the Emergency Department Read More »

Update – North West Simon Community confirms it’s going into receivership

North West Simon Community has confirmed that it has made the difficult decision to wind up operations, due to the inability to secure increasedfunding. The charity will go into receivership in the coming weeks. The volunteer North West Simon Community board said its focus will be on ensuring the charity’s clients and service users are

Update – North West Simon Community confirms it’s going into receivership Read More »

Doherty urges OpenEir to restore internet service to Malin Head asap

A Donegal Councillor is urging Eir to ensure internet access is restored to Malin Head as quickly as possible. An outage was reported last Thursday, but when Clllr Albert Doherty contacted OpenEir this week, he was told that they are waiting for a contractor to erect two poles before they can erect necessary new cables.

Doherty urges OpenEir to restore internet service to Malin Head asap Read More »

Harris says Derry comments were taken out of context

The Taoiseach says comments he made regarding “his generation” being “more familiar” with Berlin and Paris than they are with Belfast or Derry have been taken completely out of context. Simon Harris made the comments as he addressed the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly yesterday. A number of Sinn Fein TDs were critical on social media, saying

Harris says Derry comments were taken out of context Read More »

Gardaí investigating attempted theft in Carndonagh on Sunday

Investigations are ongoing into an incident of criminal damage and an attempted theft at a business premises on the Church Road, Carndonagh last Sunday morning just before 12 noon. Gardaí say CCTV is being collected and viewed but are looking for dashcam footage in addition to this. Those with such footage captured between the hours

Gardaí investigating attempted theft in Carndonagh on Sunday Read More »

Gardaí are appealing to the public in relation to stolen car in Letterkenny

Gardaí are appealing to the public for assistance in relation to the theft of a Black Mercedes E Series with a partial registration number of ‘161 D 166’ in Letterkenny. It was taken from Carnamuggagh Close on Wednesday night last at around 11pm. The stolen car was then located on the Pearse Road in Letterkenny

Gardaí are appealing to the public in relation to stolen car in Letterkenny Read More »

Fears Deposit Re-Turn Scheme is harming small businesses – Cllr Harley

Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council is concerned that the Deposit Re-Turn Scheme is harming small businesses who can’t afford to get the machine installed. The money back scheme was introduced for plastic drink bottles and cans on February first. Cllr Martin Harley says the installition of the reverse vending machines is costly and some small

Fears Deposit Re-Turn Scheme is harming small businesses – Cllr Harley Read More »

60 PhD scholarships announced by ATU

60 PhD scholarships have been announced by Atlantic Technological University under the TU RISE scheme. The scheme aims to build research capacity between academia and regional enterprises in the west and northwest. The scholarships cover a broad range of disciplines such as Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering, AgriFood & AgriTech, Life Sciences, MedTech & Medical Devices

60 PhD scholarships announced by ATU Read More »

71 food-led hospitality business closures in February

Restaurants say the model they’re being forced to work with by Government, is making their businesses fail. A new report shows an average of two restaurants have shut their doors for good each day this year… with 71 food-led hospitality business closures in February alone. The Restaurants Association of Ireland says that’s coming at a

71 food-led hospitality business closures in February Read More »

Potential uses for AI in the public sector being examined in Buncrana this week

The potential use of AI in the public sector is the focus of a series of workshops taking place over the next two days at the Inishowen Innovation Hub in Buncrana. It’s part of the ‘ENAIBLER’ initiative being spearheaded by ERNACT, a €1.7 million European cooperation project designed to help regional and local public sector

Potential uses for AI in the public sector being examined in Buncrana this week Read More »

Givan outlines progress on school projects in West Tyrone

The North’s Education Minister has promised to give an update to West Tyrone MLA Maoliosa McHugh on the need for more capacity at Knockavoe Special Education School in Strabane. Minister Paul Givan gave Mr McHugh an update on education projects in West Tyrone, including confirmation that works at Gaelscoil Ui Dochartaigh in Strabane will be

Givan outlines progress on school projects in West Tyrone Read More »

Further DCB grant update issued by Donegal County Council

Donegal County Council says just over a million euro has been paid to 15 approved applicants under the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme in recent days. This overall payment encompasses both the Ancillary Grant and Remediation Grant Payment Claims, which brings the overall payments issued to date by Donegal County Council to homeowners to

Further DCB grant update issued by Donegal County Council Read More »

Bus Eireann pledge to introduce accessible busses on route from Derry to Galway

Bus Eireann says it intends making accessible buses available on the Route 64 Derry to Galway service, with July 1st the target date to implement the plan. It follows a meeting between Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh and senior officials, including the head of the Expressway service. Cllr. Kavanagh says at the moment, callers to Bus Eireann

Bus Eireann pledge to introduce accessible busses on route from Derry to Galway Read More »

FF select Fionán Bradley to contest local elections in South Inishowen

Fianna Fáil has selected Buncrana schoolteacher, Fionán Bradley, to contest the local elections in South Inishowen along with outgoing councillor, Paul Canning. The party also selected sitting councillor, Martin McDermott, to run in North Inishowen. Fionán Bradley says he will be seeking to retain the seat being vacated by long-serving Councillor, Rena Donaghey, who announced

FF select Fionán Bradley to contest local elections in South Inishowen Read More »

McConalogue expects construction go-ahead for Scoil Iosagain “within days”

  Minister Charlie McConalogue says confirmation to proceed to construction is imminent on a newbuild school for Scoil Iosagain in Buncrana. Following on from confirmation of additional funding last week for the Department of Education’s school building programme, Minister McConalogue says he expects approval for the school to move to construction in the next few

McConalogue expects construction go-ahead for Scoil Iosagain “within days” Read More »

Residents call for speed reduction along the N56 amid rising safety concerns

A call to see speed reduced by 40km/h has been made by residents along the N56 leaving Dungloe towards Glenties. Lisa says there are access issues for residents, as well as dangerous walking and cycling conditions, therefore a barrier must be put in place as well as a speed reduction to 60km/h. She told Greg

Residents call for speed reduction along the N56 amid rising safety concerns Read More »

More importance needs to be given to local heritage – Jimmy Duffy

Over €7 million in funding was announced to protect archaeological monuments across the country – none of which was designated to Donegal. The fund aims to support communities to conserve, maintain, protect and promote local monuments and historic sites. However, Donegal is the only county that will not receive any of said funding. Local historian

More importance needs to be given to local heritage – Jimmy Duffy Read More »

LUH among hospitals with largest staff increases

A record number patients have been treated in Irish hospitals. The HSE has published key healthcare figures for 2023 showing a reduction in waiting times. However there have been large increases in both funding and staffing, productivity hasn’t matched up. It reported Letterkenny University Hospital experienced one of the largest increases in staff. These hospital

LUH among hospitals with largest staff increases Read More »

Two drivers found under the influence of drugs in Donegal yesterday

Two drivers in Donegal were found travelling under the influence of drugs yesterday. The first motorist tested positive for cannabis on the Drugwipe 6S roadside testing device in Buncrana. Meanwhile, in Letterkenny a second driver was arrested at a mandatory intoxicant testing checkpoint last night after showing positive for cocaine. Their van was seized as

Two drivers found under the influence of drugs in Donegal yesterday Read More »

Taoiseach to meet with RSA today to discuss spike in road fatalities

The Taoiseach and senior ministers are due to meet with representatives from the Road Safety Authority today. They’ll be discussing the ongoing spike in road deaths, with this year on course to record the highest number of deaths in 15 years. According to the Irish Independent Simon Harris will ask what measures can help curb

Taoiseach to meet with RSA today to discuss spike in road fatalities Read More »

Reduced speed limits vital on Ramelton Road outside Letterkenny – Coyle

There are calls for the speed limit on a stretch of the Ramelton Road outside Letterkenny which has been seen a number of fatal crashes over the years to be reduced. Councillor Donal Coyle believes the speed limit on the R245 from Thorndale to just past the Golf Course Road and Kiltoy Junction needs to

Reduced speed limits vital on Ramelton Road outside Letterkenny – Coyle Read More »

Donegal County Council wish for HSE to co-fund LIFESTART programme through TUSLA

Donegal County Council has agreed to write to the HSE with a view towards the body co-funding the LIFESTART programme in Donegal through TUSLA. The programme currently supports the parents of over 550 children in the county while over 200 children are on a waiting list. Councillor Michael McBride says those of the waiting list

Donegal County Council wish for HSE to co-fund LIFESTART programme through TUSLA Read More »

Most Rev. Alan McGuckian installed as Bishop of Down and Connor

Bishop Alan McGuckian has been formally installed as Bishop of Down and Connor at a special mass in Belfast’s St Peter’s Cathedral. Prior to his appointment to the second biggest diocese on the island, Bishop McGuckian was Bishop of Raphoe, and he was prayed for at churches in Donegal today. During his homily, Bishop McGuckian

Most Rev. Alan McGuckian installed as Bishop of Down and Connor Read More »

Donegal had least amount of penalty point offences compared to rest of country

  Last year Donegal received the least amount of offences which incurred penalty points for drivers, when compared to other counties. The analysis of figures, released by the Road Safety Authority, was conducted by the Sunday Independent and published today. Offaly held the largest number, with around 1 in 20 of all registered drivers in

Donegal had least amount of penalty point offences compared to rest of country Read More »

Fergal Landy named as Labour’s candidate for Midlands North West constituency in EU elections

    The Labour Party have selected their new candidate to run for the Midlands North West constituency in the upcoming European elections. Fergal Landy has been named as the party’s candidate and he will also run in the local elections for Galway County Council in the Athenry-Oranmore local electoral area. Press release in full:

Fergal Landy named as Labour’s candidate for Midlands North West constituency in EU elections Read More »