Author name: highlandnews

Surveillance and planning key to tackling future pandemics

Infection and disease surveillance, immunisation and advance preparedness planning will be critical to mitigate any future pandemic. That’s a warning from the Government, which has published its National Risk Assessment, setting out 25 potential economic, geopolitical, social, environmental, and technological risks facing the country. The British Government also released its own report today, saying there’s

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GRA pressing ahead with no confidence in Commissioner Drew Harris ballot

The Garda Representative Association has confirmed it’s to press ahead with a no confidence ballot in the Garda Commissioner. The GRA and Commissioner Drew Harris’ team met this morning for talks on his intention to revert to the pre-covid roster in November. The association says while certain issues such as resources, recruitment and suspensions were

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Donegal Local Sports Partnership receives €30,000 in funding

The Donegal Local Sports Partnership is to benefit from a €2.5 million investment under Phase two of the Sports Energy Support Scheme. €30,000 has been allocated to the Donegal Local Sports Partnership. The funding provides support to over 1,900 clubs, community-led sports facilities, National Facilities and Major Stadiums in Ireland nationally, to meet the rising

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HIQA publishes reports on four care home inspections in Donegal

HIQA have published reports following unannounced inspections at four care facilities in Donegal. Aras Ghoath Dobhair was found to have nine non-compliances, while St. Eunan’s Nursing Home in Letterkenny had four. Meanwhile, Habour Lights Nursing Home in Killybegs and Ramelton Community Hospital had none. Aras Ghoath Dobhair had 40 residents when the inspection was carried

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Rising prices for energy in Ireland are ‘scandalous’ – Deputy Doherty

A Donegal deputy has accused the Irish government of ‘sleeping at the wheel’ and ‘sitting on it’s hands’ when it comes to tackling the rising cost of energy in Ireland. The comments are in response to figures published by Eurostat and the CSO showing while prices decreased around Europe, that was not the case here.

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Drew Harris to meet GRA following announcement of no confidence vote

The Garda Commissioner’s set to meet the leadership of the GRA today. The body which represents rank and file Gardai announced last week that it will ballot its members on a motion of no confidence in Drew Harris. Relations deteriorated after the Commissioner announced a return to pre-covid era rosters, which members of the force

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Saolta urge people to stay safe over the August Bank Holiday weekend

Health services in the North West are urging people to stay safe this bank holiday weekend, and know where to get help if they need it. Saolta says COVID-19 is circulating in the community, and health and emergency services across the North West are anticipating a busy weekend. They say many local pharmacies will be

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DCSDC hoping to meet statutory agencies later this month to discuss Castlederg flooding

Derry City and Strabane District Council is hoping to have meetings this month with statutory agencies to discuss flooding in Castlederg. On the same night that Raphoe and Castlefinn in Donegal was hit by severe floods, Castlederg was also affected, and at a meeting of council last week, Derg area Councillor Ruari McHugh asked that

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Ballyshannon Historic Towns Initiative Project shortlisted for national planning award

    The Ballyshannon Historic Towns Initiative Project has been shortlisted for a prestigious planning award. The Irish Planning Institute has shortlisted 39 entries for this year’s all island Irish Planning Awards ceremony, which is returning next month for the first time since 2020. Donegal County Council has been shortlisted in the Urban Regeneration and

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Funeral arrangements announced for teenager who died in Monaghan collision

The funeral arrangements have been announced for one of the teenagers who died on the way to the Largy College school prom in Monaghan on Monday evening. Kiea McCann’s funeral Mass takes place tomorrow. It’s in the Sacred Heart Chapel in Clones at two o’clock with burial afterwards in Mount St. Oliver Cemetery. She is

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Two men hospitalised following alleged assault in Letterkenny

Investigations are ongoing after two men were hospitalised following an alleged assault last night at an address on Mainstreet, Letterkenny. Gardaí say one man in his 20s has been detained. A man in his 40s and another man aged in his 20s attended Letterkenny University Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. The scene was preserved for

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Boil Water Notice still in place for Lettermacaward Public Water Supply

A boil water notice remains in place for around 2,266 due to operational difficulties at the Lettermacaward Water Treatment Plant. Uisce Eireann are reminding those in the affected areas to continue to boil their water before drinking it. They say works are ongoing to resolve the issue as quickly and as safely as possible. Read

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All angles must be covered for Donegal housing – Cllr. Albert Doherty

An Inishowen councillor has questioned if Donegal County Council has taken all measures to break what he has described a housing logjam in Donegal. Cllr. Albert Doherty says a cohesive and comprehensive housing remediation programme is needed for council housing stock affected by defective concrete blocks. While it was confirmed a pilot social housing remediation

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25% of secondary school parents had to borrow money to cover back to school costs

A quarter of secondary school parents say they’ve had to take out a loan or borrow from friends in order to meet back to school costs this year. Research from Barnardos shows the average cost of sending a fourth class pupil to school is 320 euro, rising to 972 euro for a student entering secondary

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Senior investigating officer appointed for Monaghan collision

A senior investigating officer has been appointed to examine the circumstances of the road crash in Monaghan on Monday night, in which two teenage girls were killed. 17-year-old Kiea McCann and 16-year-old Dlava Mohamed were on their way to the school debs of Largy College, when the car they were being driven in crashed on

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Over €40,000 announced for cross border arts initiatives in Derry and Tyrone

A number of initiatives in Derry and Tyrone have received from Arts and Culture Minister Catherine Martin under the Co-operation with Northern Ireland Scheme Grant Scheme. Just over €187,000 has been announced to support cultural projects with significant cross-border elements. Minister Martin says the grants are intended to support mall self-contained projects which seek to

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Glenveagh accreditation should boost visitor numbers from Donegal – McClafferty

The Cathaoirleach of Glenties Municipal District says improvements at Glenveagh Castle should lead to an increase in the number of visitors from within the county, as well as visitors from outside. Glenveagh has been awarded interim accreditation under the Heritage Council’s Museum Standards Programme, and as part of that process, it will be launching new

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Rents charged for apartments ‘extraordinary’ – Taoiseach

The Taoiseach has said the rents being charged for apartments in Ireland are “extraordinary”. Leo Varadkar says he believes the way to address the rental trap is to provide more supply and increase home ownership rates. Ireland has one of the biggest age divides when it comes to home ownership of any country in Europe,

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New Defective Blocks Scheme is for purpose – McConalogue

Minister Charlie McConalogue says he believes Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien will visit Donegal shortly for discussions on the revised Defective Concrete Block scheme. He was speaking after he met with officials for discussions on how applicants are being transitioned into the new scheme. Minister McConalogue told Highland Radio News he believes the revised scheme is

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Further appeals for man who was hospitalised following weekend Ardara assault

Gardaí are making a further appeal following a serious assault on man in Ardara on Saturday night last. It happened on Main Street around 10 o’clock. The victim, a man in his 20’s, was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital for treatment for non life threatening injuries. Anyone who has camera footage, including dash-cam footage and

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Water outage notices in North and South of the county

Residents and business are warned of repair works that may cause water supply disruptions. Works are to take place until 3pm this afternoon impacting Portnablagh, Woodhill, Sessiagh, Sandhill and surrounding areas. Meanwhile in South Donegal a burst watermain may cause outages in Killybegs, Bruckless and surrounding areas. Those works are taking place until 7pm this

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8,344 people in Donegal served by ‘at risk’ water supplies in 2022

Efforts to remove lead from Ireland’s drinking water supply network are far too slow – according to the EPA. Three of Donegal’s water systems remain on the remedial action list, meaning they are among Ireland’s ‘at risk supplies’ The EPA’s latest report shows the quality of drinking water is extremely high, but almost half a

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MAG writing to Donegal’s TDs asking if they believe the new DCB scheme will work

The Mica Action Group has written to all of Donegal’s TDs, senators and councillors asking each of them to state unequivocally whether or not they believe the enhanced defective concrete block scheme will meet the needs of homeowners. Last week, the group wrote to Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien asking him to come to Donegal to

MAG writing to Donegal’s TDs asking if they believe the new DCB scheme will work Read More »

Youth groups urged to apply for PEACEPLUS funding

Youth groups and other bodies in the North West are being urged to apply for funding under the PEACEPLUS Youth Programme. Over €47 million is available for projects across five schemes, with Thursday week, August 10th, the deadline for the Youth Programme. It is particularly designed to encourage young people to form positive relationships with

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