Author name: highlandnews

European Parliament publish draft report on Donegal DCB fact finding trip

The European Parliament Petitions committee has published its draft report on the fact finding fieldtrip to Donegal which took place in October. The findings will be discussed at the petitions committee in Brussels on Tuesday. The draft report contains six recommendation to local, regional and national authorities of Ireland and to the European Commission, one

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Vandals set rubbish on fire inside Buncrana Community Leisure Centre

Buncrana Community Leisure Centre was broken into and vandalised yesterday afternoon. CCTV footage revealed three individuals in the centre switching on electrical appliances before gathering rubbish and setting it alight. It’s understood Gardaí are at the scene conducting investigations. Chair of the Leisure Centre, Rosina McLaughlin is appealing to the community to stay away from

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Uncertainty remains for residents of Radharc na Sleibhte

A Carndonagh councillor says that uncertainty still hangs over the heads of the residents at Radharc na Sleibhte about the facility’s future. In December, the closure of the mental health residential and respite centre was proposed as part of the planned reconfiguration of the Donegal Mental Health Service. Cllr. Albert Doherty says while a letter

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More industrial action could be on the cards for NI

A mass public sector strike in Northern Ireland ended at midnight – but it looks like more industrial action could be on the cards. Teachers, health workers, and bus and train drivers were among those involved in yesterday’s walk out. Unions representing public transport workers are meeting today to decide their next steps. Meanwhile NIPSA’s

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Dail told ‘totally inappropriate’ for child maintenance to be assessed as means in social welfare tests

The Dail has been told that it is totally inappropriate for child maintenance to be assessed as means in social welfare tests. Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle says a review of child maintenance being counted as income is long overdue. He says, particularly for one parent families, this is deeply unfair with recent findings by Growing

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Calls for road layout change on Pearse Road to help struggling businesses

The Mayor of Letterkenny Municipal District says businesses on Pearse Road in the town are struggling, and it’s imperative that Donegal County Council make changes to the road lay-out there in order to make the area more approachable. In particular, Cllr Bradley wants the traffic island beside McDonalds on the junction of Pearse Road and

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Resumption of beef imports positive for Donegal beef sector – Minister McConalogue

The Agriculture Minister says China’s resumption of beef imports is a positive development for the beef sector in Donegal. The resumption of exports was confirmed following a meeting between Minister Charlie McConalogue and Chinese Premier Li Qiang yesterday. The market was closed to Ireland after a case of atypical BSE – or mad cow disease

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Man arrested in connection with discovery of 14 people in container at Rosslare port released

A man arrested in connection with the discovery of 14 people in a shipping container at Rosslare Europort has been released without charge. A file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Gardaí were alerted to nine men, three women and two young girls arriving into the country in Wexford on January

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330 new housing commencement notices received by DCC in 2023

Just short of 33,000 new housing commencement notices were received by relevant authorities last year. That’s the highest on record and is up more than a fifth on 2022. Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien described the figures as impressive and says they indicate housing supply continues to increase. In Donegal, the number of notices received was

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HSE to meet to discuss future of Letterkenny counselling services

It’s been confirmed that the HSE is to hold a meeting to discuss the future of the Letterkenny counselling service currently operating from the Raphoe Diocesan Centre. If money to fund a full-time director is not made available then the service will cease to operate from March. There are currently 120 people availing of the

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Landmark reforms of the child maintenance system before Dáil today

‘Landmark’ reforms of the child maintenance system are being brought before the Dáil today. Over 16,000 lone parents are expected to benefit from the changes including the exclusion of maintenance payments from the social welfare means tests for the first time. It means parents on reduced pay rates will see their payment increase and others

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Letterkenny Milford to MD write to Minister for clarity over fire hydrant responsibility

A Fire Service representative told Letterkenny Milford Municipal District this week that Uisce Eireann have been briefed on the urgent need to clear a blocked hydrant at Long Lane outside the site of a house fire in December. However, he could not state whether that work has been done. Cllrs Gerry McMonagle and Jimmy Kavanagh

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Tusla committed to maintaining counselling service in Letterkenny

Tusla says it is committed to working with the Raphoe Diocesan Pastoral Services to maintain counselling services in Letterkenny. Senior officials from the Child and Family Agency met with the service this week. Following what has been described as a productive meeting, Tusla has committed to continue to work with the counselling service to help

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Deputy Pringle calls on Government to reverse counselling service funding decision

Deputy Thomas Pringle has called on the Government to reverse a funding decision that’s leaving Donegal’s only child and adolescent counselling service to close. He’s says the news has shocked the county and the many families it has helped. Deputy Pringle questioned the Minister of State for Health, Mary Butler, on who’s decision it was to not fund

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Man arrested in connection with discovery of 14 people in container at Rosslare port

A man in his 30s has been arrested in connection with the discovery of 14 people in a container at Rosslare Europort in Wexford last week. He was taken into custody in Rosslare this afternoon for an alleged offence under the Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Act 2021 – and is being questioned at a

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Fears Ireland may become go-to place for international scammers

A Donegal Deputy says there is a worry that Ireland will become the go-to place for international fraudsters if Government doesn’t enact protection systems for citizens. The Compliance Institute has found that hacking, phishing, online scams and fraud were the top financial crime threats in Ireland. Deputy Pearse Doherty says he raised the issue at

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Tourism bodies urged to capitalise on major golf tournament coming to Donegal

Tourism bodies are being urged to capitalise on a major golf tournament bound for Donegal this summer. Ballyliffin Golf Club will host the R&A Amateur Championships in June with coverage of the event set to be broadcast to 500 million viewers worldwide. Councillor Martin McDermott says the opportunity must be seized by tourism groups in

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