Author name: highlandnews

A Midlands North West MEP says he will oppose a Green backed proposal in the European Parliament that would introduce mandatory medical tests for new drivers and license renewals. Colm Markey says it is a ridiculous idea which would only serve to introduce an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy to the process. He says Ireland already

The Finance Minister says he believes the cost of living crisis will ease this year. Households across the country have seen dramatic increases in their everyday living costs in the last two years. Energy prices have fallen, as have prices for other goods and groceries, with a number of supermarkets announcing cuts in recent days.

The Department of Housing has established a new sub-group to examine issues relating to the mortgageability of homes remediated under the defective concrete blocks scheme. However, Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty says it’s vital that the group includes homeowners and key stakeholders on a permanent and inclusive basis in order to get the creases ironed out.

A young mother from Castlederg was left having to clean dog faeces off her child’s buggy twice this week alone. Local Councillor Ruairí McHugh is appealing for dog owners to clean up after their dogs as more people will be out walking to fulfil their New Year resolutions. He reminded those of the £80 on

A Glenties MD Councillor says he’s ashamed following Donegal County Council’s refusal to fill in potholes at the Errigal carpark. Cllr. Micheal Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig says given the efforts put into the tourist attraction by locals, the council could spare the resources to support what he describes as one of the county’s main attractions.

Student doctors and nurses will be subsidised to study in Northern Ireland in a new drive to get more medics into the HSE. They’ll be exempt from paying the much higher fees students in the North face. UK students pay over €10,000 a year in tuition fees for medical universities. However, as part of the

The Mica Action Group has highlighted an issue with the Defective Concrete Block Scheme which means rebuilding work under the scheme will be carried out under 2007 building regulations in the case of private homes, while social homes will be rebuilt under the current regulations. MAG Chair Lisa Hone says this is a very irresponsible

Siptu’s Divisional Organiser says low paid workers from Donegal will benefit when the National Minimum Wage becomes the National Living Wage by 2026. On this morning’s Nine til Noon Show, Martin O’Rourke told Greg Hughes that the rate will be calculated as a percentage of national median earnings, which are lower in Donegal than they

A Donegal Deputy says the Government’s failure to deliver affordable homes in the county is making the housing crisis worse. Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn has been responding to the latest Daft.ie report which this week, revealed that the house prices in Donegal continue to rise. The average cost of a second hand home in the county

Donegal County Council is being warned that safety measures urgently need to be installed at a dangerous junction outside Letterkenny before it’s too late. It’s after two serious crashes at the Keeloges junction in recent weeks. Councillor Donal Mandy Kelly previously called for crash barriers to be installed on the route. He believes a full

10,000 free STI testing kits are being ordered every month from the HSE. The high volume of take up is being highlighted by the Minister of State for Public Health, Hildegarde Naughton. Deputy Naughton says the service is successfully reaching key population groups, who prefer not attend a face-to-face service:

Sinn Fein has called on the Minister for Health to urgently address the proposed cap on hospital parking charges. The Irish Cancer Society yesterday hit out at reports that measures to help ease the financial cost on patients and visitors will be further delayed despite being first examined 5 years ago. Reducing parking costs was

College students are set to benefit from an increase in the maintenance grant from next week. Budget measures to increase the grant will come into effect this month with some students set to benefit by almost 350 euro. The Student Assistance Fund will also receive a once off rise of 1.4 million euro to help

It’s vital Killybegs campus grows within the Atlantic Technological University. That’s according to Killybegs native and Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle. He says the unique position of the campus between the Sligo and Letterkenny bases shouldn’t be overlooked. Killybegs ATU recently received government funding to facilitate apprenticeships. Deputy Pringle says he thinks government is heeding his

Hope remains that the Ballybofey-Stranorlar Bypass will get over the line. Members of the Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District held what has been described as a positive meeting with Transport Infrastructure Ireland in recent weeks. Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Councillor Martin Harley says in the coming months, he along with fellow Councillors in the MD

There could be a new price war on the way in the electricity market. Yuno Energy, which has only been in business for a couple of months, has announced its second price cut. It’s slashing the cost of its electricity supply by around 500 euro a year, and its expected other energy firms will follow

Businesses in Donegal Town are being strangled by the recent introduction of a one-way system. That’s according to the Mayor of Donegal Town. In November, there were calls for the traffic management plan to be revised as a high volume of traffic was being forced into the Diamond area leading to traffic delays in the

There’s calls for tech grants to help older people live more independently. Midlands North West MEP, Colm Markey says Government schemes to help older people live in their homes for longer are outdated and need to be revised. He believes funding for the Seniors Alert Scheme should be amended to include assistive technology. Mr Markey

An elderly man in the Kilmacrennan area has been left frightened and traumatised after a vandalism incident outside his home on Monday night. Paving stones were pulled up at his front door, pots and plants were thrown around outside his home and his back gate was damaged. On today’s Nine til Noon Show, Dennis Sheridan,

A public meeting is being held next week to discuss ongoing works at Portsalon pier. Works began at the pier in July. However, there was much concern as it was understood the project needed to be completed by October 31st to ensure funding from the Brexit Adjustment Fund could be drawn down. It’s since been

The leader of the Ulster Unionist Party has called on the DUP to end its boycott of the institutions in Northern Ireland. The DUP withdrew from the Northern Ireland Executive in early 2022 over concerns with post-Brexit trading conditions. Assembly elections in May 2022 have been unable to form an executive since. UUP leader, Doug

The ‘Naloxone’ programme which reverses the effects of overdoses – will be extended further into the community this year. The Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy says its lifesaving effects were highlighted during recent overdose cases in Dublin and Cork. Hildegarde Naughton’s anxious to see more people trained up to use

The Cathaoirleach of the Glenties Municipal District says the prohibiting of the building of housing on the N56 is hampering efforts to address the housing crisis in Donegal. Councillor Michael McClafferty says it remains a huge stumbling block in providing much-needed accommodation in the county. Last year, all members of the Glenties MD presented a

House prices are set to continue rising this year. That’s according to a new residential market review by property advisors, DNG. It’s recorded an increase in the average price of a second hand home, nationally, of 4.3% last year. DNG’s Director of Research Paul Murgatroyd says the increases were fuelled by the continued accommodation crisis:

The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council has vowed that housing and the defective block crisis will remain high on his agenda in 2024. Many homeowners affected by the defective block issue have been stuck in limbo in attempts to get their properties remediated under the Enhanced Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme. Councillor Martin Harley says