Author name: highlandnews

Justice Minister’s meeting with Britain Home Secretary postponed

The Justice Minister’s meeting today with Britain’s Home Secretary over UK migrants arriving into the Republic of Ireland through the North has been postponed. Her talks with James Cleverly were called off last night, after Rishi Sunak’s comments over the weekend that it shows his Rwanda policy is working. Minister Helen McEntee will bring proposals […]

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JPC hears more gardaí needed in Gaeltacht areas of Donegal

It’s been claimed that Gaeltacht areas in Donegal are badly served by Gardaí. At the recent sitting of Donegal’s Joint Policing Committee, PPN representative, James Trearty says he feels Gardaí are losing touch with people in rural areas with many Garda stations unmanned. Superintendent David Kelly who is based at Milford Garda station says with

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Tidy Town groups and residents associations not applying for funding because of bureaucracy

A Donegal councillor says many Tidy Towns groups and residents associations are not applying for funding for small grants because of the level of bureaucracy and red tape imposed by the council. Cllr Patrick McGowan says this isn’t an issue in other areas and the council should streamline its procedures. Cllr McGowan says he’s discussed

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Terraced housing affected by defective blocks needs to be streamlined – Cllr McMonagle

Concerns have been raised regarding terraced housing that is affected by defective concrete blocks. Cllr. Gerry McMongle says confusion regarding eligibility and the logistics of remediating a numerous houses that are conjoined is slowing things down. Cllr McMonagle says there is still room for improvement in the enhanced scheme as barriers remain in place:

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European Disability Card will ensure freedom for those with disabilities

  Ireland’s youngest serving MEP says a newly passed European Disability Card can ensure true freedom for Irish people with disabilities. The new pass gives the holder equal access to discounted tickets, reserved seating, free travel, and personal assistance across the EU. Maria Walsh, MEP for Midlands-North West, says the government needs to sign up

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34 cases of vandalism logged at parks and heritage sites across Ireland

There has been 34 cases of vandalism logged at parks and heritage sites across Ireland. Included is an incident in Mullyvea in Donegal which seen an interpretive board being shot with lead last Autumn. A few months prior to this another interpretive board was stolen from the Duntally Wood Nature Reserve in the county. The

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Uninsured driver caught speeding with cannabis and amphetamine in system

A driver in Carndonagh, who was initially caught speeding, was later was found to be uninsured and then failed a road side drug test yesterday. The motorist in question tested positive for cannabis and amphetamine. The car was seized and a court appearance is to follow. An Garda Síochána can test for cannabis, cocaine, opiates,

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Taoiseach expected to address aggression towards gardaí and politicians at commemoration today

Abuse towards politicians and attacks on Gardaí are top of the agenda for the Taoiseach as he attends a memorial in Monaghan this lunchtime. Today marks the 50th anniversary of the death of a Senator, who was murdered by the IRA in 1974. This afternoon’s events commemoration centre around a “man of peace” and yet

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Phase two of consultation of Donegal County Council Draft Residential Zoned Land Tax Annual Map 2025 open until end of May

Phase one of consultation on the Donegal County Council Draft Residential Zoned Land Tax Annual Map 2025 closed on the Monday the 1st of April. Phase two will remain open until Friday the 31st of May. Donegal County Council say the second phase only allows for submissions from landowners requesting a change in land use

Phase two of consultation of Donegal County Council Draft Residential Zoned Land Tax Annual Map 2025 open until end of May Read More »

Marine Minister to welcome letter that could see pollock fishing reinstated

The Minister for the Marine is welcoming a letter he is due to receive in relation to a regulation that could enable inshore fishers to catch pollock. There was a ban imposed due to depleting stocks. The letter is off the back of a meeting between an Arranmore fishing family and European officials in Strasbourg

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Investigation launched following bomb-scare at home of Justice Minister

An investigation’s underway following a bomb-scare at the home of Justice Minister Helen McEntee. Today’s Irish Daily Mail reports the late-night threat forced the evacuation of the Minister’s husband and young family. The Minister herself was not at home when the threats were made. It’s understood Gardaí regarded the alert with the ‘utmost seriousness’.

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95 bikes collected in Milford for schools in The Gambia

95 bicycles collected in Donegal are currently being refurnished before they are sent to The Gambia. It’s after Letterkenny Rotary Club organised a collection as part of their annual School Bikes Africa appeal in conjunction with Donegal County Council and Bryson Recycling. The bikes were collected from the Milford recycling centre, and have now been

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Donegal non-residential land prices most expensive in Connacht and Ulster

Donegal has the most expensive non-residential land in Connacht and Ulster for the third year in a row. For holdings under 50 acres, good quality land cost €13,400 per acre. The same figure in 2022 was €12,143. The findings were released in a new report by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland. Nationally, Donegal is

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Gambling awareness needs to start at younger age – Gambling Support Counsellor

A Gambling Support service provided therapeutic sessions to 2,591 people in Donegal last year. The Gambling Therapy & Support Service is a two year pilot project operating from the Finn Valley Resources Centre. Figures indicate that gambling addiction is more prevalent among men in the county with women said to find it more difficult to

Gambling awareness needs to start at younger age – Gambling Support Counsellor Read More »

Arranmore fishing family say they got a fair hearing in Strasbourg

  The Minister for the Marine is to receive a letter from European fishing officials regarding the case of 14 year old Muireann Kavanagh from Arranmore Island. The inshore fishing sector says it’s been banned from fishing pollock due to depleting stocks, while super trawlers remain active in the vicinity. The Kavanagh family traveled to

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Water supply issues today in the vicinity of Letterkenny and Convoy

Uisce Eireann says repairs to a burst water main may cause supply disruptions at Bellanascaddan and surrounding areas between Letterkenny and Kilmacrennan. Works are scheduled to take place until 2:45 this afternoon. Meanwhile, a power outage may cause supply disruptions to Corradooey, Rooskey, Findrum, Blackrepentance, Convoy and surrounding areas until 4 o’clock this afternoon. In

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Minister hopes premises can be found to facilitate Carndonagh Day Services

While in Ballyshannon for the official opening of the new local Community Hospital today, Junior Minister Mary Butler, who has responsibility for older people, is meeting with campaigners seeking the re-opening of day services in Carndonagh. The service ceased over Covid, and hasn’t restarted, as the settings are deemed to be inappropriate. On today’s Nine

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Government acting like headless chickens when it comes to immigration – MacSharry

A Sligo Leitrim and South Donegal TD says the government is adopting what he termed a “headless chicken” approach to immigration, particularly in relation to the policy on Ukranian refugees. Deputy Marc MacSharry told Greg Hughes on today’s Nine til Noon Show that successive senior government figures seem more interested in looking good on the

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Gardai consider enhancement of Coastal Watch in Donegal

Gardai in Donegal say they continue to work in partnership with other agencies to deter crime along the county’s coastline and waterways and to keep rural communities safe. It’s after Gardai met yesterday with the Killybegs Coast Guard to discuss enhancing Coastal Watch in Donegal. The multi-agency initiative is aimed at preventing and detecting the

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‘Penny not dropping with Government that DCB scheme is not working’ – Deputy Doherty

The Taoiseach has been told that the penny is not dropping with Government that the enhanced defective concrete block grant scheme is not working. At an Oireachtas Committee meeting this week, Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty set out to Simon Harris the stark reality that the defective concrete block crisis is affecting people’s mental health and

‘Penny not dropping with Government that DCB scheme is not working’ – Deputy Doherty Read More »

Gardai attacked, fires started and six arrested a site of house earmarked for asylum seekers in Co Wicklow

Gardaí say they came under attack last night at the site of a house earmarked for asylum seekers in County Wicklow. 6 arrests have been made after fires were lit at the scene in Newtownmountkennedy. Footage emerged on social media showing a blaze outside Trudder House which is being planned for use to accommodate asylum

Gardai attacked, fires started and six arrested a site of house earmarked for asylum seekers in Co Wicklow Read More »

New Ballyshannon Community Hospital officially opening today

The new Ballyshannon Community Hospital will be officially opened this morning by Junior Health Minister Mary Butler. The 80 bed hospital is being opened on a phased basis, and when fully operational, will include over 50 long term and 20 short stay and respite beds. The first patients were relocated from the Rock in February,

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International media outlets to showcase Donegal globally

Donegal will be put on a global spotlight with a group of 10 influential media outlets from America, Canada and Europe visiting today. It’s part of a joint initiative between with Fáilte Ireland to promote the Wild Atlantic Way. The group have already visited Sligo and Mayo. Caroline Cullen, International Publicist for Failte Ireland they

International media outlets to showcase Donegal globally Read More »

NI Communities Minister urged to do more to support rural towns and villages

  The North’s Communities Minister says he wants to do more to fund the regeneration of smaller towns and villages. Gordon Lyons was responding to questions from West Tyrone MLA Declan McAleer, who told the Assembly that while the department has a regeneration scheme, regulations only allow it be used for projects in areas with

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Derry man arrested in connection with interception of £42k worth of suspected drugs

A search has been conducted and a man arrested in Derry following the discovery of £42,000 worth of suspected drugs at the start of the month. Police intercepted the parcel containing 3kg of suspected herbal cannabis on Tuesday the 2nd of April. A search was then carried out in Beraghvale earlier today, which seen a

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Gardaí call for road safety following excessive speed and drug use detected

Gardaí in Donegal are again asking the public to not take risks when driving. It follows one driver being detected 51KPH over the 100KPH zone in Letterkenny on Tuesday, and another motorist failing a drug test in Ballyshannon in the early hours of this morning. The Letterkenny driver will now receive a fine of €160

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