Author name: highlandnews

A Donegal Deputy has pressed the Government to ensure that traveller families receive energy credits they missed out on last year. Deputy Thomas Pringle claims Traveller families did not receive the same energy credit paid out to hundreds of thousands across the country. He asked Minister of State Ossian Smyth to ensure Travellers are not […]

There are further calls for the extension of a busy footpath in Milford. It lies between the Mulroy Woods Hotel and Milford Retail Park. Donegal Aontu Representative Mary T Sweeney says the issue was raised within the council back in May and needs to be resolved as a matter of urgency:

Ahead of the first anniversary of the Creeslough explosion on Saturday, gardai have issued an update saying the victims, their families, friends and the Creeslough community are in their thoughts, at this time. Gardai say they continue to work from an incident room in Milford, with support from a number of Garda sectors. The investigation

  The Cathaoirleach of Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District says the OPW needs to do more in the short term to prevent flooding, particularly in the vicinity of Raphoe and Castlefinn. Cllr Liam Doherty raised the issue at a plenary meeting of the full council, saying that in the wake of flooding in July, some areas

There is hope that the trial for the rape and murder of a Buncrana woman in India may see completion in July next year. Vikat Bhagat has been charged with the murder of Danielle McLaughlin in Goa, India on March 13th 2017. He has been in custody since then. There has been numerous delays in

The first group of parents who undertook the ‘My Child My Vision’ programme celebrated a graduation event this week, the project aims to give parents the tools to support their children transition from primary to secondary level. Errigal College in Letterkenny, Deele College in Raphoe, Finn Valley College and Scoil Mhuire Primary School in Stranorlar

HIQA’s has been charged with carrying out a review into the use of unlicensed springs in three spinal surgeries in Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin. It will also review controls, oversight processes and governance on the use of surgical implants across Children’s Health Ireland. The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly says the review will

A Donegal Deputy says it is important victims of sexual offences feel supported and protected. Deputy Thomas Pringle was speaking in the Dail during statements on the Criminal Law Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking Bill 2023. He says however, gaps in the legislation remain. Deputy Pringle says a dedicated approach is needed to tackle child

The Government is being urged to intervene in a bid to avoid a scheduled strike by health and community workers. The Section 39, Section 56 and Section 10 organisations such as the Irish Wheelchair Association, Rehab, Family Resource Centres and homeless organisations are to engage in industrial action in a row over funding and recruitment

The health watchdog says a number of hospital emergency departments are failing to meet minimum care standards due to overcrowding. HIQA is appearing before the Oireachtas Health Committee this morning to discuss its annual report for 2022. It has also called for performance issues to be addressed, and for improvements to patient care. The most

The Chair of the Buncrana Leisure Centre Committee says the publication this week of a planning application for a new swimming pool development is to be welcomed, and she’s hoping funding will be available and a contractor appointed within a year. The intention is to seek funding for a new facility under the Repowering Buncrana

An Oireachtas Committee has been told the Western Development Commission has led to tens of millions of euro in investment across the West and North West over the past 26 years. During a Rural Development committee discussion on grants and bridging finance for community groups, WDC Chief Executive Allan Mulrooney outlined the history of the

A member of the Committee for the Restoration of Carndonagh Day Care Services has challenged the HSE’s assertion that the service cannot be restored because issues identified during an audit are beyond mitigation. The committee will host a public meeting  to discuss the issue in the Colgan Hall on Friday night at 7.30. Carndonagh has

Deputy Thomas Pringle also weighed in on the matter, highlighting the issue of children in Donegal being dropped off by Bus Eireann before school supervision can begin. The Donegal Deputy put the question to the Education Minister, stating he raised the matter with her multiple times over the last month and failed to receive a

We’re facing into a recession, and inflation is going to continue to impact on people in the months ahead. That’s the view of the ESRI in its latest quarterly assessment of the Irish economy. It’s warning the government not to cut taxes on budget day any more than is needed to keep wages in line

Another incident of illegal dumping in west Donegal has sparked calls for a public consultation into the waste management programme of Donegal County Council. Bags of recycling waste were left beside bins that reached full capacity in Gweedore. Speaking to Highland Radio, Cllr. Micheal Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig appealed to the public to take their

The RSA says we need to have discussions around the use of e-scooters before they are legalised for road use later this year. The Road Traffic and Roads Act, signed back in June, paved the way for the electric vehicles to get the green light for road use by the end of 2023. The Road

The Dail has heard how some parents in Donegal are being forced to give up work to ensure their children make it to school. It’s as the school transport crisis continues to impact many families. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty urged Education Minister Norma Foley to ensure measures are in place so children can avail of

There’s renewed calls for a minor injuries clinic to be established in Donegal. Councillor Gerry McMonagle who is a member of the Regional Health Forum says the inordinate amount of time people are being forced to wait at the Emergency Department at Letterkenny University Hospital more than warrants the delivery of such a facility. A

The Taoiseach has said a roster dispute between Gardaí and management of the force will be resolved. Rank and file Gardaí have withdrawn voluntary overtime services today, and will do so every Tuesday this month. Talks aimed at resolving the dispute will take place this week. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has appealed for

183 older people in Donegal are currently on Alone’s befriending waiting list. The older persons’ charity is launching its annual report today and says services are in demand more than ever right now. Over 22,000 were supported by the group in 2022, the largest number the organisation has helped in its 45 year history. Volunteer

The HSE’s Director of Public Health in the North West has acknowledged that what he termed ‘vaccine fatigue’ has led to a reduction in the number of children receiving the MMR and other childhood jabs. Dr Anthony Breslin was speaking on today’s Nine til Noon Show about the launch this week of the HSE’s Flu