Author name: highlandnews

A memo is expected at Cabinet today on adding countries to Ireland’s ‘safe list’. It’s part of efforts to crack down on the numbers seeking international protection here. There are currently 8 countries on that list including Georgia, Albania, and South Africa. Táinaiste Micheal Martin says there is nothing unusual about this type of action:

Donegal County Council will this week publish the draft map for the Residential Zoned Land Tax, with members again expressing serious concern about the measure. The tax was to have been imposed from Thursday of this week, but it has been deferred until February 1st next year. Officials stressed that lands zoned as ‘Strategic Residential

The DUP has agreed a deal to restore power sharing in Northern Ireland after a two year impasse. The party executive backed a deal overnight following an agreement with the UK government on post-Brexit trading. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald says they’ll now “engage with the parties and both governments to ensure” they “all

Learner drivers are still waiting up to a year for a driving test in Donegal. In October last year, the Transport Minister in response to a Parliamentary Question from Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle, acknowledged that the service has been under significant pressure to meet unprecedented demand. Minister Eamon Ryan says he expects agreed service levels

Irish exporters and businesses are being reminded of new post-Brexit rules coming into effect. From Wednesday the first phase of good checks affecting Ireland will begin in Britain, with the second phase expected in April, and the third by October. Exports from Ireland will now be subject to the same system that has been in

Donegal County Council has begun a review of it’s winter maintenance programme to examine the implications of including routes to all schools on the list. At November’s budget meeting, members agreed that schools should be prioritised after an earlier agreement to include an extra 125 kilometres onto the gritting routes. Road Service Director, Bryan Cannon,

Another crash has led to further calls for safety measures to urgently be installed on the Rahan Road in Letterkenny. In recent days a car went off the road at the Rahan/Listack junction. There has been a noted increase in traffic on the route due to long traffic delays experienced while works were being carried

Parents are being warned about the devastating impact measles can have as vaccination rates here fall. There’s been a 45-fold increase in measles infections across Europe between 2022 and last year. However uptake rates for the MMR vaccine here have fallen since the covid pandemic. It’s extremely infectious, with one infected person likely to spread

A Letterkenny business owner says thefts from businesses has become a major issue in the town. It’s after two women entered Simpsons, Letterkenny yesterday and filled a trolley before fleeing the store and making off in a red Skoda jeep at around 4pm. Anyone with information is being asked to contact Gardai. The shop’s owner,

Irish truck drivers are being offered €25,000 to smuggle illegal immigrants into the country. The Irish Road Haulage Association says truckers are being targeted every day by traffickers and stowaways. It’s claimed offers of between €5,000 and €25,000 are being made. Midlands North West MEP Maria Walsh says greater checks need to be carried out:

There’s a major cost burden on families affected by the defective concrete block crisis, according to the Mica Action Group. It isn’t surprised only 43 homeowners in Donegal impacted by defective blocks have been able to get full grants. Figures obtained by Deputy Eoin O’Brion show thousands of homeowners have yet to apply to the

An Inishowen Councillor is seeking an urgent meeting with tourism bodies to discuss the promotion of the peninsula. Councillor Johnny McGuinness says there is a fear among businesses that they will not survive the coming years if efforts are not made to increase tourist footfall in the area. He says businesses have experienced a drastic

Donegal County Council is being urged to do more to support households who are disposing of rubbish responsibly. Councillor Patrick McGowan says he is concerned about the ongoing illegal dumping taking place across the county which the Council acknowledged. He says under the new Climate Action Plan being developed by the Council, resources need to

Just 43 defective block homeowners in Donegal have been able to draw down full grants under the defective block redress scheme. Figures obtained by Sinn Fein Housing Spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin reveal that in Donegal and Mayo only 54 applicants have received full funding to remediate their properties since the redress scheme opened. Meanwhile, under

The HSE recruitment freeze must be lifted, in order to tackle long wait times in emergency departments. That’s according to Sinn Féin’s Health Spokesperson, who’s calling for more funding and staff to tackle the rising number of patients on trolleys. Last week saw record high numbers of people waiting for beds. Deputy David Cullinane says

The annual Bloody Sunday March takes place today. January 30th marks the 52nd anniversary of the day British soldiers shot unarmed civilians in Derry. 14 people died. The march gets underway at 2:30pm The main speaker at today’s event is Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action and one of the “Elbit Eight.” Kate Nash is

A committee has been set up as part of a fundraising campaign to support those whose homes were destroyed by lightning in Newtowncunningham earlier this week. Over 160 people turned out at a meeting in the village on Friday night where it was agreed the committee will meet on a weekly basis. The ‘Newtowncunningham Lightning

A Donegal Deputy says Ireland must join with South Africa in its case against Israel. It’s after the International Court of Justice yesterday ruled that Israel must take all measures in its power to stop anything in relation to genocide in Gaza. Sinn Fein is to bring a motion before the Dail next week urging

A Donegal born Lord will soon be able to receive a British Passport. It’s after DUP MP Gavin Robinson’s Private Member’s Bill passed its second reading stage in the House of Commons yesterday. It seeks to extend provision for British citizenship, including the right to hold a British Passport, to those born in the Republic

A plume of Saharan dust is on the way to Ireland. The dust is due to come over the country this weekend, with some expected to fall on Sunday. It’s being considered as unusual, given the time of year. Carlow Weather’s Alan O’Reilly says it’s because it will be milder than usual:

The chair of the Public Accounts Committee wants those responsible for the failure of Toy Show the Musical to be held accountable. Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley says the committee is seeking to extend it’s remit to compel RTE board members, past executives and management to account for the breakdown of corporate governance procedures when

There must be a much bigger impact on reducing the number of people who are homeless. That’s the view of Social Democrats Housing spokesperson Cian O’Callaghan after a slight drop in homeless figures. 13,318 people were living in emergency accommodation in December – down 1.5% on the previous month. In Donegal, 54 adults were homeless

The Tanaiste insists the Government and HSE are doing everything they can, to reduce the number of people being treated on trolleys at overcrowded hospitals. The Irish Nurse and Midwives Organisation says the high numbers on trolleys are leading to very dangerous situations for patients and nurses, who are trying their best to provide safe