Author name: highlandnews

Donegal Airport has been allocated almost €1.3m. The investment announced this afternoon by the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers will go towards safety and security improvements. It’s part of a national €5.6 million package. The allocation will also assist Donegal Airport in meeting their carbon reduction targets. Minister Chambers says […]

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has clashed in the Dail with Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue over his response to letters from Aranmore Fisher Muireann Kavanagh. The minister accused Sinn Fein of being empty vessels when it came to fishing policy, Deputy Doherty claimed that Muireann Kavanagh has had to fight for the right to fish because

A road safety group says the penalty points system is not enough of a deterrent and the lack of Garda presence is leading to motorists taking risks. PARC road safety group is calling for high Garda visibility and speed checks to be constant features on the roads to halt the rising death toll. 69 people

A Youth Peace Summit taking place in Derry today will hear from over 80 young people across Northern Ireland and the border regions to discuss how they can contribute to the unfinished business of peace and reconciliation. South African campaigner and influencer Candice Mama is the keynote speaker at the event organised by the John

The Marine Minister is facing further calls for financial support for inshore fishers in Donegal. Councillor John Shéamuis Ó Fearraigh says fishing families are facing hardship and need support from Government as they continue to navigate cuts to fish quotas. Minister Charlie McConalogue confirmed at a meeting of Donegal County Council’s Fisheries Committee that he

A South Donegal Deputy has told the Taoiseach that there needs to be a change in direction in terms of regional balance. Speaking in the Dail Deputy Marian Harkin says the North West is missing out on the big-ticket items such as, large infrastructure projects, significant capital projects, increased investment in housing, in hospitals and

Health experts from around the world are meeting in Dublin today to find solutions to Ireland’s cancer inequalities. The European Cancer Organisation and Irish Cancer Society have released a report which found your chances of survival are highly dependent on where you live in the country. They are calling for renewed investment in the National

Over 100,000 children missed out on school dental screening last year. Over 50% of all primary aged children have missed out on screenings according to the Irish Dental Association, which says 75 more HSE dentists are needed to bring the staffing levels up to what they were in 2009. The Association is beginning its annual

Independent MEP Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan says his time in the European Parliament has made him less of a eurosceptic. The Midlands North-West MEP made the remarks during the final plenary session taking place in Strasbourg this week. He says many areas in the constituency are benefitting financially, with Donegal set to be €50 million better

A Donegal TD is urging the government to ensure that up-to-date science is used in the administration of the defective blocks scheme. Deputy Thomas Pringle said the Geological Survey of Ireland has recognised the role of pyrrhotite in defective blocks, but the Housing Minister and National Standards Authority of Ireland continue to say that there

Derry City and Strabane District Council is a step closer to completing a twinning arrangement with Bethlehem. A proposal that the two areas twin was made to Bethlehem City Council following a motion proposed in the Guildhall by SDLP Cllr Catherine McDaid in January. This week, the Mayor of Bethlehem approved the request. Councillor McDaid

News, Sport, and Obituaries on Wednesday April 24th…………..

The Stormont Assembly has been told the A5 continues to put lives at risk on a daily basis. Calling for an early decision following the most recent Planning Appeal, West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan raised the issue as the first anniversary approaches of the deaths of three members of the Mc’Kane and McSorley family near

The CEO of the Bluestack Special Needs Foundation says they want to expand their services, and an immediate aim of theirs is to open a base in Letterkenny. Wendy McCarry was speaking on today’s Nine til Noon Show as the Donegal Town based organisation launched its new fundraising initiative which will see a team trak

More than 80% of asylum seekers in Ireland are travelling from the UK through Northern Ireland. In response to a question from Senator Robbie Gallagher, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the number of people seeking asylum believed to be coming over the border had climbed in recent months. The revelation came during a hearing on

The €6 million Muff to Quigley’s Point Greenway will officially open this week. The Minister of State at the Department of Transport Jack Chambers will be in Donegal to officiate the opening of the development along with the €3.6 million Lifford to Castlefinn Greenway. Cathaoirleach of the Inishowen Municipal District, Councillor Terry Crossan says the

The Government says it’s building around 1,000 homes every week. The Coalition says it’s on track to meet, if not exceed, this year’s housing target of 34,500 homes. But Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien admits many people still can’t actually afford to buy a house.

An overhaul of the Local Improvement Scheme criteria aims to make the scheme more accessible. The change announced by Minister Heather Humphreys yesterday, requires just one herd number for a valid LIS application meaning propeties sharing a lane can individually apply for funding to carry out improvements. Councillor Patrick McGowan says the amendment is significant:

The North’s Economy Minister has expressed his support to have the Wild Atlantic Way extended into Derry. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood wrote to Minister Conor Murphy on the back of a recent report which revealed the tourism initiative generates more than €3 billion per year in revenue. He requested an assessment of the potential benefit

The British Government is facing further calls to provide financial support for the A5. The Irish Government has pledged €600m towards the delivery of the vital piece of infrastructure. West Tyrone MP Órfhlaith Begley has written to Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak pressing for a financial commitment to the A5. She says costs are escalating as

Disabled drivers say there needs to be better enforcement of laws on accessible parking spaces. The Disabled Drivers Association wants to see a text alert scheme that people could use to let the local warden know someone has parked illegally in an accessible bay. The scheme is already in use in Lucan and Rathfarnham villages

The Mica Action Group has written to both Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien and the CEO of the National Standards Authority of Ireland, asking if they are deliberately withholding critical information provided last year by the Geological Survey of Ireland. MAG Chairperson Lisa Hone says the latest research clearly shows that the primary cause of defective blocks

Families of the victims of the Creeslough tragedy are repeating their call for a memorial garden to be established at the site of the explosion. 10 people died in the explosion in October 2022. Relatives of those who died have expressed their disappointment at plans for the redevelopment of the site, which will see a

Donegal Senator Niall Blaney is calling on Justice Minister Helen McEntee to reverse her decision not to attend the Garda Representative Association conference. Delegates are gathering in Westport, Co Mayo today and tomorrow. Minister McEntee said she wasn’t attending the event after Garda Commissioner Drew Harris was refused an invite. Senator Blaney says the Minister