Author name: highlandnews

A number of Irish citizens are believed to have left Gaza through the Rafah crossing into Egypt. Tánaiste Micheál Martin travelled to Cairo overnight, where he says he’ll continue to work to help more citizens to leave. It’s reported 20 to 30 of the 40 Irish citizens who are trapped in Gaza will be leave […]

Gardaí are warning the public to be extra vigilant of where they’re investing money, following a substantial rise in investment fraud. There’s been a 77% increase in reports of investment fraud this year, with almost 70% of victims aged over 40. Gardaí say, from January to September, €18.6 euro had been stolen from victims, up

A group has been formed in Donegal Town on the back of calls for a new traffic management plan to be stopped. A one way system has been introduced in the town which has resulted in a high volume of traffic being forced into the Diamond area. There’s calls for the plan to be revised.

It’s hoped progress will be made for all Irish citizens in Gaza over the coming days. The Táinaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin arrived in Cairo overnight. It’s thought that between 20 to 30 of the Irish citizens there will be able to make the crossing into Egypt today. Agriculture Minister Charlie McConologue says

A Letterkenny Councillor says there has been somewhat of a ‘frenzy’ around the introduction of traffic lights on the Polestar roundabout in Letterkenny. Commissioning works have been carried out on the newly installed lights and improvements have been noted, particularly on the Ramelton Road which was proving problematic. Donegal County Council says works are also

Schools are starting to drop subjects and limit enrolments because they don’t have enough teachers. A survey from the Teachers Union of Ireland carried out in September and October found 64% of schools have teacher vacancies. 77% have not had a single applicant for roles they have advertised in the last 6 months. General Secretary

The Education Minister is being urged to take action to end what’s been described as the unfair treatment of school transport bus escorts. Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn told the Dail that these workers escort children with special needs and disabilities to and from school every day on the bus, but their pay and conditions do

ICTU’s Public Services Committee will meet within the next 24 hours to respond to an invitation to talks on a new pay deal. Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe’s inviting unions to talks, facilitated by the Workplace Relations Commission. The current public sector pay deal, Building Momentum, is due to expire at the end of the

It’s projected it will take 8 years to deliver the TEN-T project which includes the much sought-after Bonagee Link. The project which is currently at the statutory process stage, is set to come before Cabinet in the new year. Councillor Donal Coyle believes the Bonagee Link will alleviate much of the traffic congestion in and

The number of homes eligible for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is being doubled. Cabinet ministers agreed to the move today, which will raise the target to 4 thousand homes to be delivered by 2025. In addition, the Local Government Home Loan Scheme has been extended to include derelict buildings. Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien says

It’s emerged 14 people have been arrested in Donegal over the course of the last week for driving under the influence. 8 motorists were arrests for drink driving and 6 for drug driving offences. Garda Claire Rafferty is continuing to appeal to drivers to never get behind the wheel of a vehicle while under the

With the Christmas shopping season underway, Gardai are urging retailers to adopt and promote shoplifting crime prevention measures. Crime Prevention Officer, Sergeanet Paul Wallace is available for business owners to provide assistance. Garda Claire Rafferty meanwhile, has this advice for shoppers:

Clean ups are continuing in West Donegal which bore the brunt of Storm Debi as it hit the county yesterday. Flash floods in Annagry saw cars destroyed while people were left trapped in their homes in Falcarragh. Many roads have been washed away in parts also. Councillor Micheal Choilm MacGiolla Easbuig says money needs to

The Irish Nurses’ and Midwives’ Organisation plans to engage with their members shortly about the potential for industrial action. The nursing union say the HSE’s wider recruitment freeze has “blindsided” them, and is warning it could lead to more nurses and midwives leaving their jobs and the country. HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster told senior

Sinn Fein has reiterated its commitment to seek and deliver 100% redress for defective concrete block homeowners. A motion was brought before the party’s Ard Fheis by the Buncrana cumann calling for Sinn Fein to deliver full redress for affected homeowners if in Government. Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn says the Enhanced Defective Concrete Block Grant

Local councils are being urged to carry out spot checks of peoples bins, and prosecute those who aren’t properly separating their waste. The Environmental Protection Agency says local authorities aren’t doing enough to improve air or water quality, or make people properly segregate their household waste. A lack of enforcement on fixing failed septic tanks

RTE will be significantly slimmed down following the news the broadcaster is to shed 400 jobs over the next two years. Its expected to cost RTE in the region of 40 Million Euro. The news comes as staff get the opportunity to examine the broadcasters new strategic plan today. In a separate development The Public

It’s reported that text alert schemes in Donegal are to be co-ordinated from a central base in Galway, a change which one local councillor says has been introduced without any consultation with local groups. Cllr Patrick McGowan says there need to be a meeting of all the local groups to discuss the potential impact of

A Letterkenny based councillor says the adoption this week of the Draft Letterkenny Plan and Local Transport Plan sends a very clear message to potential investors that the town and its environs are very much open for businesses. Cllr Ciaran Brogan says the adoption marks the end of a process of compromise and creativity, during

Donegal County Council planners are preparing to implement the draft Letterkenny Plan and Local Transport Plan, both of which were adopted at a special meeting today. Today’s meeting was chaired by Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr Gerry McMonagle a representative of the Letterkenny Milford MD. He says it’s been a long and sometimes difficult process, but today’s

A number of residents in a housing estate in Dunfanaghy are effectively trapped in their homes this afternoon as a result of flooding, Cllr  Michael Mc Clafferty is Cathaoirleach of the Glenties Municipal District. He says the issues in Dunfanaghy and elsewhere in Donegal show the need for a concerted look at flood prevention policies

Donegal County Council has approved the draft Letterkenny Plan and Local Transport Plan, with the provisions of the two documents set to govern development in Letterkenny and its environs over the next six to ten years. One area covered under the plan has been identified as being potentially at risk of flooding. However, in light

A public meeting to discuss the need to address regional imbalance and reverse rural decline is taking place in Glenties this evening. Midlands North West MEP Chris MacManus, who is hosting the event along with Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty says it is clear from many reports through the years that the region is in need

Enforcement is an issue as people continue to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Donegal. That’s according to the Chair of Donegal’s Joint Policing Committee who has been speaking out after four motorists were caught drink or drug driving in the county in one night alone over the weekend. Councillor Gerry McMonagle

Donegal is being hit by the tail end of Storm Debi this morning. There’s reports of flooding in Buncrana and in the Dunlewy area of West Donegal while other parts of the county are experiencing high levels of surface water on the roads. Gardai in Donegal are urging motorists to slow down and allow extra

There’s calls for Donegal County Council to ensure all Tidy Town s groups in the county are evenly supported. Following the success of Donegal in this year’s competition, Councillor Patrick McGowan says a fair share of assistance needs to be delivered to all small towns also. He says it is not only financial assistance that