Author name: highlandnews

  Over 34,500 BER audits were completed in Donegal from 2009 until last year. That’s according to figures released by the CSO. 39% of those audited have a C rating. 8% has the worst possible rating which is G meanwhile 7% have been ranked A, which is the best energy rating.

Homes and businesses are notified of a burst water main that may cause supply disruptions to Upper Drumaweer, Cruck Elm, Greencastle and surrounding areas. A traffic management plan will be in place for the duration of the works, which are scheduled to take place until 2 o’clock this afternoon. Uisce Eireann recommend that an allowance

A 63-year-old man is to appear before Strabane Magistrates Court next month, following an arrest in the Ballycolman area yesterday. The charges include being concerned in the supply of Class B drugs, possession of a Class B controlled drug and possession of a Class B controlled drug with intent to supply. As is usual procedure,

A pay increase of just over 10% has been offered to public sector workers by the Government. Talks have been continuing overnight after they failed to reach an agreement in meetings earlier this month. Public sector unions had been pushing for pay hikes of 12.5%. Industry correspondent with the Irish Independent, Anne-Marie Walsh, says negotiations

A 48-year-old man was arrested yesterday in connection with an un-notified parade in Derry. It took place on April 10th last year in the Creggan area. He has since been released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service.

Almost 700 homes and businesses remain without power in Donegal this morning. Kilcar is the worst affected with 595 premises out, there is an estimated restoration time of 12pm this afternoon. ESB Network crews aim to have the final works for the county completed by 8 o’clock tonight.

The gritters have been out this morning since 6am to treat a number of routes on the Donegal Winter maintenance programme. The routes are as follows: 01: National Primary North 02: National Primary Central 09: Cill Ulta East 12: Binswilly 13: Stranorlar North 14: Stranorlar East 15: Stranorlar West 17: Donegal North 18: Donegal South

Energia is the latest energy supplier to announce cuts for electricity and gas customers. It’s reducing its electricity prices by 7.5%, and its gas by 5%. The changes are set to come into effect from March 1st. It’s the second time in six months Energia has reduced its domestic energy prices.

The head of Saolta is to become the Regional Executive Officer to lead HSE West and North West. As part of the implementation of Sláintecare, the HSE is organising service delivery into six health regions. Tony Canavan, the CEO of the Saolta University Health Care Group is to take up the role of Regional Executive

Over 640 new homes were completed in Donegal last year. CSO figures show that’s down 2% on the previous year. Of the 647 new homes completed in the county in 2023, the highest concentration was in the Donegal local electoral area with 167 completed there. Nationally, more than 32,600 new homes were completed last year.

PSNI in Tyrone are investigating a report that a cattle trailer was stolen from a farmyard on Moorlough Road in Artigarvan sometime between 7pm on Tuesday last and 3.15pm yesterday afternoon. The Nugent trailer has a registration of VRM N24 EWE and is silver in colour. Those who know of it’s whereabouts or who has

A man has been arrested in relation to offences surrounding an un-notified parade in the Creggan area of Derry on the 10th of April last year. The 48-year-old was arrested in the Maghera area this morning under the Terrorism Act. He has been taken to the Serious Crime Suite at Musgrave Police Station.  

A meeting has been organised in Trinity Court tomorrow evening in a bid to support three families in Newtowncunningham who has their homes struck by lightning earlier this week. Cllr. Paul Canning hopes a committee and fund will be established, telling of how one family essentially left with only the clothes on their backs. It

Police in County Derry have discovered what they describe as a ‘bog body’ dated over 2 thousand years. The Archaeological Unit within the PSNI body recovery team made the discovery during excavations in Bellaghy. They were alerted to human bones on the surface of peatland in October last year, and say a full investigation was

Gardaí in Donegal are urging the public to be on high alert when it comes to mobile scams, as last year seen a 30% increase nationally, while there has already been 114 reports this year so far. They say scammers will contact you via text, email or by phone purporting to be from familiar, reputable

Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue has confirmed €12.7m for 15 marine infrastructure projects that will address the impacts of Brexit on Irish coastal communities. The bulk of the money has been allocated to six projects in Donegal. The projects were previously put forward by coastal county councils under the Brexit Adjustment Local Authority Marine Infrastructure (BALAMI)

Rats, flies and biting insects were the top three pests in Ireland last year. The North-West region saw the highest amount of callouts for flies. Rentokil says the highest number of rat callouts in 2023 was in Dublin. Limerick meanwhile took the spot for issues relating to biting insects.

An independent information campaign is being launched this morning on the upcoming referendums in March. Voters will be asked their views on the definition of a family and a woman’s place in the home. Voters will be asked two questions in these referendums. One would provide for a wider concept of what a family is

In County Derry, a 30 year old man has been charged by detectives investigating reports that a number of masked and armed men entered licensed premises in Dungiven on Friday evening last. He is charged with professing membership of a proscribed organisation, possession of a firearm or imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of

There are still a few hundred homes and businesses without power in Donegal as ESB crews work to repair the last of the damage caused by storms Isha and Jocelyn. There are 22 outages being dealt, mainly concentrated in the Inishowen, Fanad, Letterkenny and Finn Valley areas. ESB Networks says they are now dealing with

Local community and voluntary groups are being invited to submit applications to DLDC under the Local Enhancement Programme 2024. A national fund of €6 million is being made available. The Local Enhancement Programme, funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development is designed to ensure local priorities are identified and met, so as to

A milk collection haulier who failed to declare over €160,000 in VAT to the Irish Revenue Commissioners a decade ago has been given a suspended sentence on the basis that “life has punished him enough”. 75 year old James Wauchope was a self-employed milk collection haulier working for  Donegal Creameries at the time of the

The Local Government Minister has today made an order appointing Friday, March 8th as the polling day for two referendums. One will ask whether the definition of family should be based on “durable” relationships rather than on marriage. The other will ask whether a reference to the role and duties of women in the home

Crews from the UK are due to arrive in Ireland this evening to restore power to those affected by storms Isha and Jocelyn. The ESB says around 12-thousand of its customers remain in the dark, down from a peak of 235-thousand. The worst affected areas are Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo, Cavan and Longford. Crews from

It cost a resident of a Dublin facility supporting adults with physical disabilities and neurological impairments €4,000 to holiday in Donegal. In a HIQA report published today, it was revealed that the provider, had a policy in place setting out that residents were responsible for the majority of staff costs if required, in addition to

Three candidates have been confirmed to contest the upcoming local elections for Fine Gael in Donegal. Councillor Barry Sweeney has been selected in the Donegal local electoral area along with Manus Boyle, the son of former County Councillor John Boyle. Meanwhile, Aaron Sweeny was selected to represent the Milford electoral area.

Uisce Éireann says it is working to restore normal water supply to a number of customers on the Lough Mourne Public Water Supply Scheme following a burst to a trunk water main yesterday. They say repairs to the burst main have been successfully completed, however customers may continue to experience outages and low pressure as

Donegal County Council Agriculture Committee were today given a presentation from the Irish Deer Management Strategy Group, by Chairperson Mr. Teddy Cashman. The group firstly reflected on past work complete by the former Deer Management Forum as well as a pilot program undertaken by Wicklow County Council. They then held a public consultation on the

HIQA has published a report following an unannounced inspection at The Rehab Group’s Lifford accommodation, with no non-compliances reported. There were six residents in the centre at the time. The October visit was a follow up to an inspection that took place the previous May, during which five non-compliances were found. Today’s report says the