Author name: highlandnews

Up to one third of Irish people suffer from chronic pain on a daily basis. Consultant in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology, Dr. Conor Hearty, says this has resulted in an increase in opioid dependency in Irish society. Overuse of pharmaceutical drugs like codeine can result in severe damage to the liver and kidneys, as well

Parents in direct provision feel their children are being excluded, and unable to participate in sport and other hobbies due to costs. New research commissioned by the Irish Refugee Council has found those in the system feel the current weekly payment is insufficient. Their weekly allowance is €38.80 per week for an adult, and €29.80

    Buncrana has been named Donegal’s tidiest town in the 2023 Supervalu Tidy Town Awards, which have been announced this afternoon by Rural and Community Development Minister Heather Humphreys. Ballyshannon Tidy Towns was among the groups presented with an award today. The Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys today announced Abbeyleix in

Brendan Howlin has announced he’ll not contest the next general election. The former Labour leader has been an elected member of the Dáil since 1987. He served as a Minister in three Governments, and is a TD for the Wexford constituency. The 67-year-old says the time has come for him to bring an end to

Parts of a dismembered deer have been dumped at a pier in West Donegal. The grim discovery was made this week in Maghery at a pier used regularly for water sports activities. Councillor Micheal Choilm MacGiolla Easbuig has hit out at those responsible. He says it shows total disregard for the local community:

The role played by members of the Creeslough community in the wake of an explosion in the village has been commended as tomorrow marks the tragedy’s first anniversary. Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh says Creeslough has given a lesson in community and what it is all about. Speaking on today’s Nine til Noon Show, Councillor Kavanagh says

Forsa workers in the HSE will take industrial action today, over a managerial recruitment freeze. The union says all clerical and administrative staff will be taking part in the work-to-rule action. It’s after the HSE CEO Bernard Gloster confirmed cost overruns have led to the decision to bring in a hiring freeze. Forsa spokesperson Niall

The Taoiseach says next week’s budget will deliver around at least an extra €1,000 to workers. It’ll come through tax cuts and one-off payments. Leo Varadkar says he wants to reward ‘work’ and make sure people ‘keep money in their pockets’. He’s told the Irish Independent a ‘generous’ tax package on Tuesday will include cuts

The Tanaiste remains committed to ensuring justice is delivered for Private Sean Rooney. The 23 year old army private was killed in the Lebanon in December last year. Deputy Ruairi O’Murchu earlier this year raised concerns that the family of Private Rooney would not get justice. Five members of Hezbollah have been accused of his

A Donegal Deputy has pressed the Government to ensure that traveller families receive energy credits they missed out on last year. Deputy Thomas Pringle claims Traveller families did not receive the same energy credit paid out to hundreds of thousands across the country. He asked Minister of State Ossian Smyth to ensure Travellers are not

There are further calls for the extension of a busy footpath in Milford. It lies between the Mulroy Woods Hotel and Milford Retail Park. Donegal Aontu Representative Mary T Sweeney says the issue was raised within the council back in May and needs to be resolved as a matter of urgency:

Ahead of the first anniversary of the Creeslough explosion on Saturday, gardai have issued an update saying the victims, their families, friends and the Creeslough community are in their thoughts, at this time. Gardai say they continue to work from an incident room in Milford, with support from a number of Garda sectors. The investigation

  The Cathaoirleach of Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District says the OPW needs to do more in the short term to prevent flooding, particularly in the vicinity of Raphoe and Castlefinn. Cllr Liam Doherty raised the issue at a plenary meeting of the full council, saying that in the wake of flooding in July, some areas

There is hope that the trial for the rape and murder of a Buncrana woman in India may see completion in July next year. Vikat Bhagat has been charged with the murder of Danielle McLaughlin in Goa, India on March 13th 2017. He has been in custody since then. There has been numerous delays in

The first group of parents who undertook the ‘My Child My Vision’ programme celebrated a graduation event this week, the project aims to give parents the tools to support their children transition from primary to secondary level. Errigal College in Letterkenny, Deele College in Raphoe, Finn Valley College and Scoil Mhuire Primary School in Stranorlar

HIQA’s has been charged with carrying out a review into the use of unlicensed springs in three spinal surgeries in Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin. It will also review controls, oversight processes and governance on the use of surgical implants across Children’s Health Ireland. The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly says the review will

A Donegal Deputy says it is important victims of sexual offences feel supported and protected. Deputy Thomas Pringle was speaking in the Dail during statements on the Criminal Law Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking Bill 2023. He says however, gaps in the legislation remain. Deputy Pringle says a dedicated approach is needed to tackle child

The Government is being urged to intervene in a bid to avoid a scheduled strike by health and community workers. The Section 39, Section 56 and Section 10 organisations such as the Irish Wheelchair Association, Rehab, Family Resource Centres and homeless organisations are to engage in industrial action in a row over funding and recruitment

The health watchdog says a number of hospital emergency departments are failing to meet minimum care standards due to overcrowding. HIQA is appearing before the Oireachtas Health Committee this morning to discuss its annual report for 2022. It has also called for performance issues to be addressed, and for improvements to patient care. The most

The Chair of the Buncrana Leisure Centre Committee says the publication this week of a planning application for a new swimming pool development is to be welcomed, and she’s hoping funding will be available and a contractor appointed within a year. The intention is to seek funding for a new facility under the Repowering Buncrana

An Oireachtas Committee has been told the Western Development Commission has led to tens of millions of euro in investment across the West and North West over the past 26 years. During a Rural Development committee discussion on grants and bridging finance for community groups, WDC Chief Executive Allan Mulrooney outlined the history of the

A member of the Committee for the Restoration of Carndonagh Day Care Services has challenged the HSE’s assertion that the service cannot be restored because issues identified during an audit are beyond mitigation. The committee will host a public meeting  to discuss the issue in the Colgan Hall on Friday night at 7.30. Carndonagh has

Deputy Thomas Pringle also weighed in on the matter, highlighting the issue of children in Donegal being dropped off by Bus Eireann before school supervision can begin. The Donegal Deputy put the question to the Education Minister, stating he raised the matter with her multiple times over the last month and failed to receive a