Author name: highlandnews

Donegal can’t become a ‘wild west’ in deer culling efforts – Cllr. Micheal McClafferty

Donegal County Council Agriculture committee heard from the chairperson of the Irish Deer Management group in their most recent meeting. Cllr. Micheal McClafferty has long campaigned for the culling of deer following repeated road traffic collisions in the Glenties Municipal District. However, Cllr. McClafferty says he fears that Donegal will be come a wild west

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Technological Universities to develop student accommodation with government support

The Higher Education Minister is urging technological universities to plan ahead for the provision of more affordable student housing. The institutions have been told to prepare plans by March 15th as part of a government scheme to improve access to homes for third-level students. It’s the first time TUs have been given the opportunity to

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First Minister Michelle O’Neill pledges support for the A5 and the North West

Sinn Féin Deputy Leader  Michelle O’Neill has been elected the first nationalist first minister of Northern Ireland. Devolved government has been restored at Stormont, following a two-year boycott by the DUP over post-Brexit trading arrangement. The DUP’s Emma Little-Pengelly has been elected deputy first minister, while her party colleague Edwin Poots is the new assembly

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Steps can be taken to lower risk of lung and bowel cancer

Steps can be taken to reduce the risk of developing lung and bowel cancer. The HSE says almost 2,600 people are diagnosed with lung cancer every year. It’s advising people to be physically active and limit alcohol which lower your risk of developing these cancers. National Cancer Control Programme, Specialist in Public Health Medicine, Dr

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Traffic delays to be expected in Derry tomorrow at two GAA matches underway

Motorists in Derry are warned of an increase in traffic tomorrow as two GAA matches get underway in Celtic Park. Derry and Tyrone will play at 1:30pm in the Allianz Hurling League, while both counties will face each other again at 3.45pm in the Allianz Football League. PSNI say before and after both games there

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Pressure mounting on government to slash hospitality VAT

Pressure’s being heaped on the Government to slash the VAT rate to 9%. The Restaurants Association of Ireland is welcoming Fine Gael Senator Garret Ahearn’s call for it to be cut for restaurants and pubs. However, he this the reduction should exclude hotels. Restaurants Association Chief Executive Adrian Cummins thinks if a hotel provides meals

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Michelle O’Neill to be appointed First Minister of NI today

After a two-year boycott, power-sharing at Stormont is due to be restored. The D-U-P has agreed to a deal that means no checks or customs paperwork will be needed on goods coming into Northern Ireland from Britain. Today will also see the appointment of the North’s first-ever nationalist First Minister – Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill:

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Gardaí cracking down on speeding and phone use this bank holiday

Drivers are being warned to stay safe on the roads this bank holiday weekend. 19 people have been killed on the country’s roads so far in 2024, including one person in Donegal. Junior Transport Minister Jack Chambers says there are higher risks at this time: Meanwhile Donegal Gardaí say they will be conducting high visibility

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Over 1,000 vacant social homes brought back into use in Donegal since 2013

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has commended Donegal County Council after latest figures from his department show 1,074 vacant social homes were brought back into active use in the county between 2014-2023 under the Voids programme. €11 million was spent in order to renovate and refurbish the homes. The Voids Programme supports local authorities in preparing

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Crackdown on illegal immigration won’t guarantee a reduction in numbers seeking protection – Taoiseach

The Taoiseach says he can’t guarantee a crackdown on illegal immigration will reduce the numbers seeking international protection. The Government has taken steps to tackle the issue, recently adding Algeria and Botswana to the list of safe countries. There are also plans to see chartered flights deport illegal immigrants later this year. Despite this, Leo

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Donegal received €1.1 million in afforestation programme payments in 2022

Donegal received €1.1 million in afforestation programme payments in 2022. That’s out of a national pot of €61.4 million. €100,000 was assigned to forest road payments which seen the afforestation of 2.8km of roads in the county. This is the highest amount of afforestation along Donegal roads since 2017 and represents the third highest amount since

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Bishop Alan McGuckian appointed as new Bishop of the Diocese of Down and Connor

  Bishop Alan McGuckian, the current Bishop of Raphoe, has been appointed as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Down and Connor by Pope Francis. Bishop McGuckian was appointed as Bishop of Raphoe in 2017 and has since undertaken a number of responsibilities as a member of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. These include

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Arrest made in murder investigation of West Donegal woman living in Scotland

An arrest has been made in the murder investigation of a West Donegal woman who was living in Scotland. 61 year old, Ann Coll was found with serious injuries at a flat in Rutherglen on December 22nd. Following enquiries into her death officers have arrested a 37-year-old woman. Further enquiries are ongoing.

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Sinn Fein councillor “always believed” his party would be First Minister of NI

A Sinn Fein councillor says he always believed his party would hold the seat of First Minister in the North, and that a Sinn Fein Taoiseach will follow. Cllr. Jack Murray was speaking on this morning’s Nine ’til Noon show when he welcomed the immanent re-formation of an Assembly an Stormont. His party colleague, Michelle

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Farmers will continue to protest against EU regulation

Farmers throughout the country have vowed to continue protesting against EU regulations of the industry. Last night farmers in their thousands protested in solidarity with their European counterparts who say EU bureaucracy is severely impacting their livelihoods. This included a demonstration from Manorcunningham to Letterkenny and back, causing some disruption on the Polestar roundabout. Munster

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Fishermen want their vessels to be viewed as a place of business

Fishermen want their vessels to be viewed as a place of business. In a recent meeting of the Donegal County Council Fisheries Committee, members said that fishermen should qualify for more business support schemes to maintain their work. Chairperson of the committee, Cllr. Niamh Kennedy says what happens behind the scenes, usually at home, in

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Calls for more apprenticeships in Donegal heard in two council meetings this week

The need for more apprenticeships has been highlighted at two council meetings in Donegal this week. At the full council meeting, members agreed to write to Education Minister Norma Foley and Higher Education Minister Simon Harris asking them to provide more course places and supports to get people training to be electricians, plumbers, plasterers and

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LEO to prioritise support for start up businesses in Donegal

The Local Enterprise Office in Donegal supported 440 businesses in the county between 2020 and 2023. In a presentation to Donegal County Council’s Economic Development SPC yesterday morning, Head of Enterprise Brenda Hegarty said they invested €3.6 million over that period, and want to do more. Members of the Strategic Policy Committee were anxious that

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Donegal County Council beginning process to recruit more firefighters

Donegal County Council is beginning a process to recruit more firefighters. In a report to the council’s Economic Development SPC, Chief Fire Officer Joseph McTaggart said a series of open nights will take place at fire stations across the county as part of the process. It follows a debate at the full council this week

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