Author name: highlandnews

Northern Ireland Water insists there’s no risk to supplies despite toxic algae overtaking Lough Neagh. Footage shows an almost-luminous colour in the lake, with a deadly form of bacteria killing fish, birds, and even dogs. It’s mostly caused by farming discharge, and sewage. Gary McErlain’s family has fished in the waters for generations – and […]

The cost of living supports in the budget will be smaller than last year. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed the support level will drop as the rate of inflation has eased. There also won’t be a return of the reduced VAT rate for the hospitality sector. The Taoiseach says people shouldn’t expect the level of different

The Social Protection Minister says auto-enrolment pensions should be in place by the middle of next year. Heather Humphreys plans to bring forward legislation in this upcoming Dáil term to give effect to the plans. They will see some 750-thousand people currently without a pension automatically entered into one which both the employer and the

  14 groups and 200 volunteers are set to join the Big Beach Clean this weekend in County Donegal, helping to remove marine litter. The Clean Coasts initiative is part of the International Coastal Cleanup organised by the Ocean Conservancy, and happens in several countries at the end of the bathing season. Alena Kunkel is

The Taoiseach has agreed to write to the European Agriculture Commissioner to discuss the issue of the nitrates derogation. Leo Varadkar will invite the commissioner to visit Ireland. That’s despite Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue earlier ruling out any re-negotiation when he appeared before the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee earlier today. He told members Irish farmers must

Recent vandalism on Arranmore Island has been condemned. Significant damage was caused to lighting at the island’s foreshore amenity, in recent days. Comharchumann Arranmore says there were further attempts to break industrial lighting in the area. The organisation has warned that if the vandalism continues, there will be no other option but to permanently remove

A Moroccan barber who has been living in Letterkenny for over 20 years has launched a fundraising campaign to raise vital money to help in the wake of an earthquake which has caused much devastation in Morocco. Said Ben Salem is hosting a fundraising day at Future Style Barbers, Letterkenny on Sunday between 1pm-6pm. All

Legislation around roadside drug testing is set to change. It’s currently mandatory for gardaí to conduct a test for drink driving after serious road collisions, but not drug-driving. Junior Transport Minister Jack Chambers says he’s asked officials in the Department of Transport to progress work which would allow Gardaí to carry out the test. Fine

The Taoiseach has warned of the dangers of Sinn Fein taking power in government saying it would not be good for the economy. Speaking ahead of the Fine Gael think-in in Limerick this morning Leo Varadkar said jobs and housing would suffer with Sinn Fein at the helm Leo Varadkar said under Sinn Fein the

The 100% Redress Party has been approved by the Electoral Commission to contest the next local and general elections. It is the party’s intention to field candidates in Donegal and contest next year’s local elections. The decision made by the Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission, Mr. Art O’Leary, as Ireland’s Registrar of Political Parties,

Minister Charlie McConalogue will appear before the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee this morning to face questions on the nitrates derogation. The derogation determines the amount of manure that is spread per hectare on land. Ireland currently has a derogation until 2026 however plans are underway to reduce the level from 250 kilogrammes per hectare to 220

A major investment event takes place in Donegal today. The ‘2023 Shark Tank’ investor conference in Rathmullan will see small scale-up companies pitch their ideas to larger US Corporations in return for investment. The winning pitch will receive 100,000 Euro. Organiser of the event, Kevin Sexton of Alpha Innovation, says the event will assist the

The Chair of Donegal County Council’s Defective Concrete Block Committee has proposed updates on the progress of the enhanced grant scheme be issued on a monthly basis. There have been calls for better communication on the transition of homeowner applications from the previous scheme onto the new one. The Council’s Director of Housing, Corporate &

An engineer attached to the Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District is working to improve access for people with disabilities in the Twin Towns, but members have been told there needs to be a plan in place to ensure government funding is available for a proper improvement programme. Proposing the move this week, Cllr Patrick McGowan said

The fashion and lifestyle retailer Carraig Donn has confirmed it is to open a store in Buncrana on October 20th, with the initial creation of between 10 and 15 jobs. It will be based at the former Topline Department Store on Main Street, which ceased trading late last year. Carraig Donn say final contracts have

The Garda Commissioner says he is committed to his job and has no interest in applying for the role of Chief Constable of the PSNI. Drew Harris was speaking at the re-opening of a garda station in Rathcormac County Cork this afternoon, following yesterday’s overwhelming vote of no confidence by members of the Garda Representative

A former senior PSNI officer has been appointed to a new Troubles legacy body. The UK government’s controversial Legacy Bill is due to be signed into law soon – after which Peter Sheridan will take up the role of Commissioner for Investigations and oversee hundreds of unresolved Troubles cases. He served in both the RUC

Councillor Martin Farren has hit out at Minister Charlie McConalogue on the back of a statement he issued earlier this week. Minister McConalogue said the transitioning of the applications onto the enhanced scheme is too slow. Councillor Farren says he was angered by the Minister’s comments which appear to throw Donegal County Council and Councillors

A man rescued after being thrown from his kayak in a cave near Owey Island says he feels immensely grateful to everyone who helped him. A major search and rescue operation was launched on Sunday involving the RNLI, fire service, ambulance service, gardai and local boats. Malachy Doyle, managed to position himself on a ledge

Immediate action needs to be taken to install traffic calming measures at a number of points on the main Derry to Buncrana Road. That’s the view of Councillor Jack Murray who says the area of Church Brae in Fahan has become an accident blackspot. Meanwhile, he’s calling for works to be carried out to facilitate

Donegal County Council is being urged to carry out urgent repairs on a bridge in Liscooley as local residents live in fear their homes could be flooded if there were to be a repeat of the flooding seen in East Donegal in July. There’s serious safety concerns over the Magheraboy Bridge that it could be

The markets are betting that hard pressed mortgage holders will face another interest rate increase today. The European Central Bank will meet later to consider if it will increase the rate to borrowers for the tenth time. Those on tracker rates will be first to feel the pain if the ECB agrees to a quarter

The RTÉ Trade Union Group said it had no prior knowledge about the recruitment freeze announced by the RTE Director General . The union said it was unacceptable adding that workers were given assurances by Kevin Bakhurst that he would engage with staff and trade unions in relation to efforts to rebuild trust with the

There’s calls for the tourism potential of Donegal to be explored outside of the North West City Region. The number of visitors to Inishowen particularly this summer was significantly down on previous years with many businesses feeling the economic impact. While welcoming the promotion of the County under the banner of the North West City

Donegal County Council has been warned that someone is going to be seriously injured or worse unless action is taken to repair the jetty in Lifford. Councillor Gary Doherty says the jetty is a serious safety hazard due to the poor state of repair it is in and that the local authority needs to take