Author name: highlandnews

The Donegal woman who is part of a five person strong Irish Farmers’ Association protest at the Bord Bia Head Office in Dublin was given a standing ovation after she appeared live on a video link at the annual general meeting of the Co. Donegal Executive of the IFA last night  in Letterkenny. Christine Friel, the Donegal representative on

The HSE has confirmed there are currently 379 people on the waiting list for new or additional home support services in Donegal with waiting times of up to 40 weeks. Cllr Gary Doherty was told at a Regional Health Forum meeting that the waiting list is reviewed on an ongoing basis, and a priority rating

The Government is being asked to meet stakeholders over the SNA cuts’ controversy. The Department of Education is trying to reassure people no cut is being made to Special Needs Assistants. The Government put a €19 million additional funding plan in place this week for SNA posts in the 2026/2027 academic year, after uproar from

The inaugural public meeting Donegal’s Local Community Safety Partnership has heard calls for more gardai in the county. Concerns were raised by local representatives about the increased availability of drugs in the county, while an increase in burglaries was also highlighted. This led Peoples’ Participation Network representative Joe Boland, the partnership’s Vice-Chair, to call for

The HSE has confirmed that measures will be taken to ensure the planned new Surgical Hub at Letterkenny University Hospital will not be used to accommodate Emergency Department patients during periods of surge capacity. The issue was raised by Cllr Declan Meehan, who said concerns have been raised by some staff at the hospital, who

Donegal’s Little Blue Heroes have been announced as Grand Marshals for the 2026 Letterkenny St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Letterkenny Chamber confirmed this afternoon that the children living with life-limiting illnesses, who have been made honorary members of An Garda Síochána, will lead the parade through the town. Outgoing President Jimmy Stafford says these children represent

The Leas Ceann Comhairle has again intervened in a Thursday row involving Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty and Tanaiste Simon Harris. The Government’s being criticised ahead of upcoming changes to rent rules, with Opposition parties describing it as a win for large investors. The reforms come into effect on Sunday, meaning landlords will be able to

  Junior Minister Charlie McConalogue says the enactment of legislation allowing for retrospective payments to be made to defective block homeowners up to the new maximum cap is to be welcomed. The Housing Minister James Brown signed the commencement order last evening, Minister McConalogue says this is another important step in the evolution of the

Once again, hospitals in the North West had over 100 admitted patients awaiting beds this morning. Today’s IMNO Trolly Watch survey shows 43 without beds at Letterkenny University Hospital, and 59 in Sligo, a combined total of 102. That represents 17% of the national of 595.

The Junior Transport Minister says there needs to be an honest conversation about road behaviour. Minister Jerry Buttimer was answering questions in the Dail this morning from Deputy Jennifer Whitmore, who said the government is nowhere near reaching its Vision Zero road safety targets. Both offered their condolences to the families and friends of recent

An online petition has been launched calling for the provision of new signage and speed ramp on the R236 into St Johnston. The petition organiser, Donna Marie Reynolds, says the road has been a serious concern due to numerous collisions, the most recent being Tuesday night’s tragedy in which two 19 year old men from

A new cross-border poll from Lucid Talk has found that 68% of respondents in the North West think West Derry, West Tyrone, and Donegal should become one economic sub-region. The poll findings were revealed by community relations charity Holywell Trust. It also found an overwhelming majority of respondents thought cross-border integration on issues such as

Market Square in Buncrana was flooded with people protesting the proposed cuts to SNAs yesterday evening, despite the government stating they would not go ahead. The assurance that reductions would not be made was for the 2026/27 academic year. Campaigners said the pause is not a solution or cause for celebration. One protestor, Geraldine Devlin,

The Regional Health Forum has been told that new pre-fabs are to be erected to augment the Emergency Department at Letterkenny University Hospital, but there will be no increase in capacity. Local Cllr Gerry McMonagle says an increase bed numbers and staffing must be prioritised, particularly as the frequency of ambulances waiting for long periods

The Donegal Local Community Safety Partnership has been told a debate is needed on garda treatment of rural pubs. Cllr Paul Canning told the meeting that bars in the Newtowncunningham, Killea and Carrigans area were raided at the weekend. He said the bars had stopped serving at half past midnight, but people were waiting inside

A demonstration is currently taking place in Buncrana in support of SNA staff. This is one of many protests due to take place after the review into SNAs was launched and subsequently paused by the Government recently. Bernie McKinney is an SNA in St Oran’s National School, one of the schools that were told would

The first public meeting of the Donegal Local Community Safety Partnership has taken place today in Lifford. This group has replaced the previous Joint Policing Committee It brings together local representatives, community groups, Gardaí, Tusla, the HSE, ETB as well as other groups together Speaking to Highland Radio News after the meeting, Chairperson Cllr Gerry McMonagle urged

Every school in the North now has a defibrillator on site. Stormont’s Education Minister visited Ballymoney High School in Antrim today to highlight the achievement. The scheme was announced in November 2024, and 476 defibrillators have been delivered to schools Paul Givan says it benefits more than just those in the school:

Deputy Charles Ward has hit out at the Government following the pause in the review of SNA allocations. This week, the Government had to make a U-turn on the review which would have seen cuts to special needs assistants in over 200 schools. Tánaiste Simon Harris says the Government got it wrong and the systems

The first public meeting of the Donegal Local Community Safety Partnership is under way in Lifford. The LCSP held its first meeting in private in November, with Cllr Gerry McMonagle elected to the chair. It brings together local politicians, community groups, Gardaí, Tusla, the HSE, ETB and other bodies and agencies. The Co-Ordinator of the

A Donegal TD has called on the national media to investigate the influence the ‘Big 5’ fishing corporations have on the EU. Speaking during statements on fishing quotas, Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn again claimed these corporations were central to the decision to set aside the Hague Preferences in December, effectively removing a mechanism designed to ensure

The HSE says it remains fully committed to the continued provision of safe, appropriate and sustainable primary care services in Tamney, Fanad, but has stressed the need for investment in an upgraded primary healthcare centre. The issue was raised at a Regional Health Forum meeting by Cllr. Declan Meehan, who was told a structured review

Capital approval has been granted for the proposed new 25-bed short-stay community hospital in Lifford. This was confirmed at a recent meeting of the Regional Health Forum alongside a new Primary Care Centre on a site owned by Donegal County Council. Local Councillor, Gary Doherty, has welcomed the confirmation but says there needs to be

Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien says he will do everything in his power to fix the issue of the lost midday air service from Donegal to Dublin. He gave the commitment at a meeting this afternoon with representatives of Donegal Cancer Flights and Services. The current Public Service Obligation contract, which includes the midday airlink and

Over 200 local councillors from all over the country are arriving in Inishowen for the Association of Irish Regions’ annual training seminar. The event takes place tomorrow and Thursday in the Inishowen Gateway Hotel, bringing together members of the Northern and Western, Southern, and Eastern and Midland Regional Assemblies. Local Councillor Jack Murray is Donegal

There will be no cuts to SNAs in the next school year. An extra €19 million has been agreed to fund SNAs after a meeting with Government leaders and senior ministers last night. It follows a public backlash to planned SNA cuts in almost 200 schools around the country. Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher