Author name: highlandnews

There’s a call for the fitness test used during the recruitment of new Gardaí to be made easier. An ambitious recruitment campaign has continued throughout this year, however the number of Gardaí leaving the force is also rising. Fianna Fail’s spokesperson on Justice says he’s glad the Garda recruitment age is being raised from 35

Motorists can’t take any more financial hits according to a South Donegal Deputy. Transport Infrastructure Ireland has confirmed toll increases on ten routes around the country from January 1st. It’s the second increase in the last year with most car tolls increasing by 20 cent per journey and heavy good vehicle tolls by 30 to

Ireland has a chronic shortage of inpatient hospital beds. A new study by the ESRI suggests 1,000 beds are needed immediately to deal with the number of patients already seeking care. While 300 more beds will be needed every year to address population growth and a patient base that is getting older. The Government planned

Clerical staff in the HSE are staging a series of lunchtime protests around the country today and tomorrow. They’re demanding a halt to a ban on recruitment. A protest will get underway at 12:45pm at Letterkenny University Hospital. Ashley Connolly from the Fórsa Trade Union says their members are crucial to the delivery of the

The Donegal Joint Policing Committee has been told that people in Milford and its environs want reassurances that they will not lose gardai when the local station loses its district headquarters status. Cllr Michael McBride said while it’s welcome that Donegal will remain as a standalone Garda division, Milford will not be a district headquarters

In a meeting of Inishowen MD, a county councillor has raised concerns that those living in a housing estate that is not yet taken over by the council could face lengthy waits to get on the defective concrete block redress scheme. Cllr. Paul Canning has called on the council to look into this, as there

A Midlands North West MEP has called for the United Kingdom to re-join the EU’s Erasmus programme. The programme gives students in third level education the chance to study abroad for one year. MEP Colm Markey says students are losing out as the British Government’s replacement scheme he says, is a poor substitute and doesn’t

There was a heated moment in the Dáil earlier when the Sinn Fein leader said the Government’s emergency response to the school stabbing in Dublin wasn’t adequate. Mary Lou McDonald’s remarks prompted Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to call on her to withdraw her comments and not be mis-leading the Dáil. Fine Gael’s Josepha Madigan accused Deputy

A cabinet decision on the Ten T Donegal Project moving to the planning stage is expected to be made at the start of 2024, according to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Charlie McConalogue. Minister McConalogue says having completed the first three stages, the Ten-T Project is now at the cabinet approval stage. The

14% of people are expected to spend over €2000 this Christmas. A survey published by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission also found almost 1 in 3 three people are planning to borrow money to cover Christmas costs. The average household spend is predicted to drop to €1030, and those with children are expected to

Gardai in Donegal are stressing the importance of the Ask for Angela campaign as the Christmas party season starts to kick in. The campaign provides people who believe they may be in an unsafe situation the opportunity to seek help in a subtle way. Sergeant Charlene Anderson says it’s an important campaign, and during the

A woman whose home in Letterkenny was badly damaged in a fire on Sunday night last has praised the fire service personnel who tackled the blaze, but says they were hampered because a fire hydrant close to the house was clogged with mud and couldn’t be accessed. Karen told Greg Hughes on today’s Nine til

The Justice Minister is confident she will survive a motion of no confidence in her. Politicians will debate the Sinn Fein motion in the Dail this evening following the riots in Dublin. The Government is expected to comfortably defeat the motion. Helen McEntee has described it as a distraction but South Donegal Deputy Martin Kenny

Gardaí are investigating a burglary at Knocknamona Park, Letterkenny on Tuesday last, during which a woman interrupted an intruder in her home. He subsequently fled the scene. Urging people to upgrade their home security, Sergeant Charlene Anderson made this appeal for information on today’s Nine til Noon Show………   Garda appeal in full – Gardaí

Gardaí have not ruled out that a fire at a vacant house on Friday last in Killybegs may have been started deliberately. The blaze which broke out at around 10pm destroyed the property on the Donegal Road. There are no reports of any injuries. Garda Sergeant Charlene Anderson is appealing to anyone who may have

  The majority of younger people here who are diagnosed with cancer, survive. The latest data from the National Cancer Registry, shows how survival rates among 15 to 44 year olds is 86 per cent. The registry says those over 75 are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer, and also have lower survival rates.

The Tanaiste has again raised the killing of Donegal man Michael Leonard with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State. The 24 year old was shot dead in 1973 by the RUC near the Donegal-Fermanagh border. In response to a parliamentary question from Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty, it was confirmed that Micheal Martin has raised the

Traveller organisations say the swift introduction of hate speech legislation is needed now to protect them from online and in person abuse. The Irish Traveller Movement and Pavee Point are holding a special briefing this morning to outline how attacks on their communities have increased in recent years. They are supporting the Incitement to Hatred

A motion of no confidence in Justice Minister Helen McEntee is being tabled today. Sinn Fein’s putting it forward following the riots in Dublin last month, where buses, a Luas tram and Garda cars were set on fire, sparked by the stabbing outside a primary school on Parnell Square. The government is expected to comfortably

Donegal County Council is looking at implementing a 30 kilometre per hour speed limit outside all schools in the county, with a number of exceptions. The issues has been raised by Cllr Barry Sweeney at a plenary meeting of council, and also at the Donegal Joint Policing Committee. Officials said a national review finished in

A Donegal Senator has hit out at proposals to ban private cars from using motorway lay-bys. A review of the 2014 regulations commissioned by Transport Infrastructure Ireland recommends limiting motorway lay-bys for use by HGV drivers only. However, Senator Niall Blaney says that flies in the face of road safety, particularly as motorways frequently display

News, Sport, and Obituaries on Monday December 4th……..

50 new jobs are on the way for Strabane. Planning approval has been granted to local engineering company Fabplus to develop an industrial unit at Strabane Business Park. The business park had been laying vacant for quite some time with plans also in place for Omega Crushing and Screening Ltd and Letterkenny-based manufacturer Houston Precision

Claims checkpoints are loosing their efficacy have been questioned. Donegal’s Chief Superintendent Aidrian Glackin says social media and motorists flashing lights has rendered a checkpoint effective for just 20 minutes. Over 1600 traffic checkpoints have been set up in Donegal so far this year, compared to 2000 during the same period last year. Donegal PPM

Businesses in Donegal are being urged to protect themselves against the operation of organised crime gangs online ahead of the busy Christmas period. Donegal’s Crime Prevention Officer has warned businesses to protect their sales and revenues by identifying risks such as; knowing their product, knowing their customers, utilising a safe means of payment and using

A Donegal County Councillor is calling for a review of the management of Letterkenny University Hospital carpark. It comes after over €1,000 worth of damage was caused to a hospital workers vehicle in the carpark. Euro Car Parks currently operate the carpark with a percentage of the parking charges collected given to the hospital. However,

Ireland is unlikely to reach its renewable energy targets, according to 95% of industry experts. It’s among the findings contained in a new KPMG report, commissioned by Wind Energy Ireland. The report says Ireland’s current target of 80% of renewable electricity by the year 2030 has become ‘virtually unachievable’. CEO of wind energy Ireland Noel

Investigations are continuing into a house fire in Letterkenny yesterday evening. Emergency services worked to bring the fire in the Long Lane area under control. No one was injured in the fire. Gardai have confirmed that enquiries are ongoing. Councillor Gerry McMonagle says the blaze engulfed the house quickly: