Author name: highlandnews

A Donegal teacher has backed calls for education reform, saying it’s time to consider a two tier system after the Junior Cycle. Joseph MacBride, co-author of the Leaving Cert Politics textbook ‘Power and the People’, says there are many students who talents and interests do not lie in the area of academia, and their needs […]

Donegal ETB CEO Anne McHugh says it’s vital that if students feel that they would like to look again at their choices, they should seek advice from the wide range of sources that are available to them. She says this includes family, friends, guidance counsellors and their own research. In a statement this morning, Ms

The Government’s being urged to scrap plans to increase excise on fuel next week. Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín says the state is jacking up the price of petrol and diesel for the second time in just a few months. The Government argues prices are returning to normal after it temporarily reduced excise duties as a

Around 60,000 students are due to get their Leaving Certificate results later this morning. In Donegal, over 2,200 second level students sat the exam, with a number of adults and other students, also sitting the exams, most under the guidance of the local ETB. They’ll be made available online at 10am. Students are being urged

Property owners in Donegal are being urged to avail of vacant property improvement grants. A €50,000 Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is available to refurbish a property if you are turning it into your permanent home or rental property and up to €70,000 if it is deemed derelict. Currently, 300 applications are with Donegal County Council

32% of workers in Ireland have witnessed discrimination at work while 20% have personally experienced it. That’s according to a data collected by Matrix Recruitment. Pay inequality, age and gender discrimination were most prominent according to results. Breda Dooley is a spokesperson at Matrix Recruitment. She says it’s important for victims to take the proper

A delegation of American politicians has arrived at Stormont – to meet with business leaders and politicians. The visit to the North comes at a time when power-sharing has been out of action for 18 months. Wisconsin State Assembly Speaker, Robin Vos, is co-chair of the America Irish State Legislators Caucus.…….

It’s emerged there are only two vessels currently available to patrol Irish territorial waters. There are concerns at how two ships can monitor fisheries, underwater cables, and conduct drug interceptions. In 2016, the navy had eight ships, but it was forced to cut the number due to personnel shortages. The naval headcount has fallen below

A Derry mother whose daughter died in February with the drug Pregabalin in her system is calling for harsher sentences for drug dealers, and urging young people to be careful. Pauline Duddy’s daughter Jasmine had been receiving treatment at Gransha Hospital, but in February, she was found unresponsive in a house in Galliagh. Earlier this

Funding of €1.5 million has been allocated for a project in Burtonport, €1.2 million for a project in Bunbeg, €900,000 for a project in Portaleen, Glengad and €4 million for a project in Rathmullan. However, in each case, Donegal County Council says while the work must be completed by November in order for the finding

The mother of two disabled you adult children is calling for a kerb to be lowered at outside the Blue Ceadars housing estate in Ballybofey. Siobhan Lund says she and her family are forced to walk along a busy road because they cannot get on the pavement. Mrs. Lund’s son uses a motorised wheelchair and

Making the 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector a permanent measure is crucial to saving 300,000 jobs across Ireland. That’s the warning from business group Ibec, as the tax is due to rise again to 13.5% next week. The government’s ruled out keeping the lower 9 per cent rate which has already been extended

It’s been a gloomy month for consumer sentiment. The latest Credit Union index shows the mood dropped in August – for the first time in five months – to 62 .2%. Rising interest rates, inflation and job lay-offs are being blamed. However, economist Austin Hughes says people are still spending money, but they’re not enjoying

An extra €3.5 million in government funding is going towards drugs and inclusion health services. €330,000 is set to be delivered to CHO1 which covers Donegal, Sligo/Leitrim/West Cavan and Cavan/Monaghan. Community Healthcare Organisations throughout the country will share the funding. Priority will be given to services with an increased demand that had not received additional

A Midlands-North-West MEP believes energy prices will continue to rise if action is not taken to see the development of offshore windfarms. According to the Household Energy Price Index, Irish consumers are paying €900 more per year compared with the EU average. MEP Colm Markey says a lack of competition is a contributing factor to

The owners of O’Doherty’s Keep in Buncrana have been left with no other option but to put in up for sale. The family have already invested €150,000 in the building and have made efforts to secure funding as well as representations to Government bodies to take over responsibility for the building which have to date,

Motorists have been left frustrated facing multiple sets of traffic lights within a 6km route in East Donegal. Between Lifford and Liscooley, one set of temporary traffic lights are in place to facilitate Uisce Eireann works while three additional sets are in operation as works to construct a Greenway from Lifford are carried out. This

The number of pubs in Ireland has fallen by more than one fifth since 2005. Latest figures show 108 pubs closed last year, with an average of 152 pubs closing each year since 2019. In Donegal, 33 pubs closed within the past year while 119 pubs shut their doors in the county since 2005. Tony

A dispute has emerged between the organisers of last weekend’s Ironman in Cork and triathlon’s governing body. Two competitors died during the swimming race in Youghal on Sunday morning. Triathlon Ireland says its officials did not sanction the race because of adverse conditions – however, the organisers – Ironman Ireland – say that was not

People in Buncrana are being urged to come out and have their say on the proposal to remove half hour free parking on the Main Street. The move has been met with much opposition among the business community with one local business launching a petition asking Donegal County Council to review the decision. A drop

NCTS is being urged to rethink their move to a cashless, pre-payment system. There’s been much outrage following the decision which the company says has been made due to a high volume of no shows. For customers who do not use online services they can pre-pay by bank draft or postal order. Sinn Fein’s Transport

A Foyle MLA has pressed for specific interventions with the NI Department for Economy for the North West under the new Place 10X strategy. MLA Sinéad McLaughlin has welcomed the strategy, following many years of lobbying. She says Derry and the North West have been chronically over looked in terms of economic strategy for Northern

The NCT operator is facing a backlash after announcing it will no longer accept cash payments. All appointments must be paid for in advance online or by postal order. NCT Ireland says the change will come into effect at test centres in the coming months. However, Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle is questioning the legality of