Author name: highlandnews

New system now in place for transporting goods in Northern Ireland from Britain

A new system is now in place for transporting goods into Northern Ireland from Britain. From today – lorries with goods for sale in the North will enter through a green lane – while goods travelling on across the border will use a red lane. The ‘green lane’ means less paperwork and no routine physical

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Justice Minister says efforts must intensify to reach agreement on new Garda roster

The Justice Minister says efforts must intensify to reach agreement on a new Garda roster. Rank and file gardaí remain locked in a dispute with Commissioner Drew Harris over the scheduled return of the pre-covid roster on November 6th. Minister Helen McEntee claims three of the groups representing gardaí are in favour of coming up

Justice Minister says efforts must intensify to reach agreement on new Garda roster Read More »

15 year old boy arrested in Derry after a number of incidents in Strathfoyle

Police in Derry investigating a number of incidents in Strathfoyle, including criminal damage to property and vehicles arrested a 15-year-old boy on Friday. He was arrested on suspicion of a number of offences including criminal damage, harassment and interference with vehicles. The arrest was in connection with a number of reports received in the Clonmeen

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Housing minister plans to bring report to cabinet in relation to planning corruption in Donegal

Darragh O’Brien, the minister for housing and local government, has told the Dáil he will bring a memo to cabinet this year in relation to the long-delayed report into planning corruption in Donegal. According to the Business Post, the minister responded to a question from Green Party TD Patrick Costello, who asked when the report

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Investigation into spinal surgeries at Temple Street Children’s Hospital needs to be independent – Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says the investigation into spinal surgeries at Temple Street Children’s Hospital needs to be independent. He made the comment while attending Fine Gael’s Small Business and Enterprise Conference in Waterford. It comes as it’s been revealed that non-medical grade springs were used in the spinal surgeries of three children. Deputy Varadkar also

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Fine Gael senator says tangible progress has been made to tackle cost-of-living crisis

Fine Gael says they have made tangible progress in building social and affordable homes this year. Budget 2024 will be unveiled on October 10th with an overall package worth at least 6.4 billion euro. There will be an additional multibillion euro package of temporary measures to tackle the cost-of-living crisis. Senator Barry Ward says they’ve

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Traffic disruptions in Portadown this afternoon due to parade

Police in the North are advising road users to anticipate traffic disruption in Portadown this afternoon, due to a planned parade. Marchers will meet on Church Street, before making their way along Market Street, High Street, Bridge Street, and the Lurgan Road to the Hospital Roundabout, before returning to Church Street. There will be temporary

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Sligo University Hospital ranks as third most overcrowded in the country this month

Over 10,000 patients went without a bed in Irish hospitals this month according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. Over 200 children were without a bed in September. So far this year, over 2,500 children under the age of sixteen have been treated on a trolley or chair. The third most overcrowded hospital in

Sligo University Hospital ranks as third most overcrowded in the country this month Read More »

Children must be better protected while they’re homeless – Focus Ireland

There’s a call on the Government to help end the ‘deepening child homelessness crisis’. Focus Ireland wants children better protected while they’re homeless. The charity is reacting to the record number of 3,895 kids who are living in emergency accommodation. Focus Ireland spokesperson, Conor Culkin says the Government must give homeless children a child support

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Derry City and Strabane District Council awarded funding to tackle chewing gum issue

Derry City and Strabane District Council has been awarded funding to tackle the sticky issue of chewing gum on city centre streets. A grant from the Chewing Gum Task Force, administered by environmental charity, Keep Britain Tidy, will go towards the council’s ongoing efforts to clean up gum and reduce gum littering. Plans are being

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Holding anti-abortion protests within close proximity to abortion clinics now illegal in the North

Its now illegal to hold an anti-abortion protest too close to an abortion clinic in Northern Ireland. New buffer zones have come into force – designed to protect women and staff from harassment and intimidation. Former Green Party leader Clare Bailey brought the bill to Stormont, and used to be an abortion centre escort:  

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25-year old man sentenced to over seven years for assault on Strand Road in Derry

A 25-year-old man has been sentenced to seven and a half years for an account of Grievous Bodily Harm with Intent and two accounts of Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm. The man who has been named as Michael Lynn pled guilty to the offences in November last year at Coleraine Crown Court, in relation to

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Proposed Letterkenny Cultural Corridor goes out to public consultation

The proposed development of the Letterkenny Cultural Corridor has gone out to public consultation. The plans are part of the creation of a vibrant Cultural Quarter in the town by improving pathway and public spaces between An Grianán Theatre, the Regional Cultural Centre and Donegal County Museum. The project focuses on the creation of a

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Calls for urgent clarity over selling and remortgaging of remediated defective block properties

There’s calls for urgent clarity from the Housing Minister as its emerged defective block homeowners who rebuild their properties will be unable to sell of remortgage them. CEO of the Banking and Payments Federation, Brian Hayes confirmed this week that mortgages can only be issued on homes built to current building standards. The issue has

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Deadline for All Island Rail Review submissions midnight tonight

The deadline for submissions on the All Island Rail Review is midnight tonight. The review published this summer proposes a rail link between Letterkenny and Derry. However, Steve Bradley, Chair of Into the West -a rail campaign for counties Donegal, Derry, Tyrone and Fermanagh says while there are indeed some welcome recommendations, there remain a

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Donegal Senator recalls horror crash 23 years ago during road safety statements

A Donegal Senator says people in the county have no other option but to drive because of the lack of public transport. Senator Eileen Flynn has called for more investment in public transport during statements in the Seanad on road safety. She says tougher sanctions are needed to crackdown on drivers driving under the influence.

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Nama Chief defends sale of Donegal property for over 90% less than what it was worth

The head of Nama has admitted the sale of a Donegal property subject to loans of €10.3m for just €265,000 is “shocking”, but insisted the agency had no alternative. The sale is reported to have happened following a campaign of intimidation and threats. The property, which consists of 14 occupied residential units and 28 unoccupied

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Defence Forces may be called in to provide extra security at Leinster House

The Defence Forces may be called in to provide extra security at Leinster House. The Fianna Fail parliamentary party has made a submission to a task force on protecting politicians, saying the use of the army should be ‘explored’. It follows the aggressive targeting of politicians as they arrived and left the Dail last week.

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‘Don’t know how much longer families in need of CAMHS can continue’ – Cllr McMonagle

A Donegal County Councillor has issued a stark warning over the county’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. Councillor Gerry McMonagle says he doesn’t know how much longer families in need of the service can continue. So far this year, over 30% of young people in Donegal referred to CAMHS have been refused access. There

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Serious concerns raised over non-functioning safety signs outside schools

Additional safety concerns around schools are coming to the fore. Safety around schools in Donegal has been thrown into the spotlight in recent times after a number of near misses involving pupils. There were previous calls for footpaths to be put in place at schools in rural parts of the county however, the issue of

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Garda

Action to crackdown on theft of Japanese vehicles in Letterkenny welcomed

Action by Gardai to crackdown of the theft of Japanese imported vehicles in Letterkenny has been welcomed. Gardai have confirmed that as of September 22nd, five people were arrested in connection with the theft of 16 such vehicles. A warning was previously issued that the theft of Japanese imported vehicles was becoming a weekly occurrence

Action to crackdown on theft of Japanese vehicles in Letterkenny welcomed Read More »

Donegal County Council on track to meet 2030 environmental targets

Donegal County Council has been told that they are on target to achieve ambitious environmental targets by 2030. In a report to members at the authority’s September meeting, officials said the target is to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 51%, and increase energy efficiency by 50%. They said both these targets are realistic, and initiatives

Donegal County Council on track to meet 2030 environmental targets Read More »

The Score – 28/09/23

Former Harps player Joe Boyles reflects on the happenings at Finn Harps, both on and off the field. In our local soccer segment, we’ll focus in on Aileach FC of the Inishowen league and Donegal Junior League Premier Division leaders Kildrum Tigers. It’s a busy weekend of championship action for the men and women. We’ll

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Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill ‘too little too late’ – Deputy Pringle

The Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill is too little too late. That’s according to Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle. Speaking in the Dail today, he says the country appears to be going backwards in its efforts to tackle sexual and gender-based violence. Deputy Pringle says with a two fold increase in sexual assaults against

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill ‘too little too late’ – Deputy Pringle Read More »

Michelle O’Neill convinced patience with DUP Stormont blockade is running out

Sinn Fein’s Vice President Michelle O’Neill is convinced patience is running out with the DUP’s blockade of Stormont. With the assembly in flux since March 2022, the first Minister Designate says there’s no reason for Jeffery Donaldson’s party to continue its boycott, with parts of the Windsor Framework coming into effect this weekend. Michelle O’Neill

Michelle O’Neill convinced patience with DUP Stormont blockade is running out Read More »

Justice Minister accused of being ‘hands-off’ in dispute between Garda Commissioner and GRA

The Justice Minister has been accused of being “hands-off” in the dispute between the Garda Commissioner and rank-and-file members. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has called for Helen McEntee to intervene after delegates of the Garda Representative Association announced it would strike on November 10th. They will also opt out of over time every Tuesday in

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Traffic lights on Four Lane road must be closely monitored

Gardai are being urged to monitor the operation of traffic lights on the Four Lane route in Letterkenny once they become operational. Work on the project is nearing completion, with lights erected at a number of points between the roundabouts, and on the Polestar Roundabout itself. Councillor Donal Coyle says its vital the traffic lights

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Renewed road safety concerns for children at Carrigart School

There are calls for immediate action to ensure the safety of children attending Scoil Eoin Baiste at Umlagh in Carrigart. A public meeting was held over a year ago after which a petition gathered and a motion raised through the Council calling for traffic calming measures. However, no progress has been made since. Now, locals

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Uisce Eireann works may lead to water supply disruptions in Dunfanaghy and Moville

Hydrant repair works may cause supply disruptions to Rockhill, Dunfanaghy and surrounding areas this afternoon. Works are scheduled to take place until 3pm. Meanwhile, new connections may cause supply disruptions to Rosebank, Ballynally, Moville and surrounding areas in Co. Donegal. Again, the works are scheduled to take place until 3pm this afternoon.

Uisce Eireann works may lead to water supply disruptions in Dunfanaghy and Moville Read More »

IMO says health system needs ‘radical reform’

Radical reform is now the only viable option for the Irish health system. That’s the warning from the Irish Medical Organisation as it releases its pre-budget submission. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is already under pressure for budget overruns, despite continued pressure on services. IMO President Dr. John Cannon says Ireland has less beds in the

IMO says health system needs ‘radical reform’ Read More »