Author name: highlandnews

Serious questions raised over timelines of Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme applications

The Chair of Donegal County Council’s Defective Concrete Block Redress Committee has hit out at the local authority and the Department over the slow pace at which defective block homes are being remediated. The Council is waiting the go ahead from the Department to carry out works on 60 social homes for almost two years

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Pistol, ammunition and explosive devices recovered in Derry

Police have confirmed that the items recovered during a security alert in Derry on Friday are understood to include six improvised explosive devices, ammunition and a machine pistol. A search of a house was carried out in the Stewarts Terrace area of Rosemount. As policing operation continued into Friday evening, police came under attack once

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Over 30% of children and adolescents referred to CAMHS refused access in CHO1 in 2023

Over half of the children and young people referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services are refused access in certain parts of the country. An analysis by the Irish Independent shows around 4,000 of the referrals to CAMHS last year were not accepted by the HSE, with the refusal figure increasing by 10 per

Over 30% of children and adolescents referred to CAMHS refused access in CHO1 in 2023 Read More »

Ulster GAA confirms Rory Gallagher has been ‘temporarily debarred’

Ulster GAA has confirmed that former Donegal and Derry manager Rory Gallagher has been temporarily debarred. It comes after a report in the Sunday World which claimed he had been coaching at the Corduff Club in Monaghan. He stepped down as Derry manager in May following allegations of domestic abuse made by Mr Gallagher’s estranged

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Farmers to protest at Fianna Fail ‘think-in’ today in frustration over cut to nitrates limit

Farmers will protest at the Fianna Fail ‘think-in’ in County Tipperary this morning in frustration over the cut to the nitrates limit. The Irish Farmers’ Association is also angry about the Agriculture Minister’s plan to delay payments to farmers in 2023. Today’s demonstration will be outside the Horse and Jockey Hotel and it will also

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Taoiseach to announce €1 billion in funding for NI

The Taoiseach is visiting Belfast today to announce over €1 billion in funding for Northern Ireland. PEACEPLUS is a new EU programme to build reconciliation and greater prosperity across the North and the border counties. Leo Varadkar will meet European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic to discuss the EU’s commitment to peace and reconciliation, and

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Education Minister considering introduction of road safety classes

Road safety classes may soon be on the curriculum for Leaving Cert students. The Education Minister is considering the move after the recent spate of road deaths involving young people, including the summer tragedies in Monaghan and Clonmel. According to the Irish Times, Norma Foley has written to the Road Safety Authority looking to explore

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Applications now open nationwide for GP visit cards from today

Today marks the opening of applications for GP visit cards across the country. The Minister for Health has announced that over 200,000 people are newly eligible for free GP care from today. Donegal Dr Denis McCauley says that pressures on General Practice will be higher due to people attending surgeries more regularly:

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KFO challenges marine minister regarding proposed marine SACs

The Chief Executive of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation says the Agriculture and Marine Minister doesn’t seem to know what’s happening with a proposal to designate two Special Areas of Conservation off the Irish coast. One of them is off the North West coast, with the potential to impact on the local fishery. The KFO has

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Driver suspected of travelling under the influence arrested by Gardaí

Gardaí from Letterkenny Roads Policing Unit responded to a call last night in relation to a driver who was suspected to be driving while under the influence. They observed the vehicle in question in the Letterkenny area but the driver failed to stop when signalled to do so by Gardaí. The vehicle was driven onwards

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Update – Arrest of man who attempted to escape police custody

A man who attempted to flee police custody in Belfast yesterday has been arrested. The 26-year-old absconded from police in the Falls Road area yesterday afternoon. He was arrested at an address in West Belfast this morning on suspicion of a number of offences including burglary, theft, assault on police and obstructing police. He remains

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Five new public access defibrillators installed in Donegal

The Newtowncunningham Community First Responders have announced the successful installation of five new public access defibrillators. These are located at the following locations : – Harkins Gala St. Johnston – Doherty’s Café, Bridgend – Halfway Stores, Tooban – Callaghan’s Gala, Burt – McElhinneys XL Stores, Manorcunningham Defibrillator Maintenance Officer Paul Rooney says that the these

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Arrest in Derry as part of ongoing terrorism investigation

Detectives from the Police Service’s Terrorism Investigation Unit carried out searches in the Columbcille Court area of Derry yesterday as part of an ongoing terrorism investigation. A 43 year old man was arrested under the Terrorism Act and has been taken into custody for questioning. Detectives have also been granted an extension by a court

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Donegal escapes status yellow thunderstorm warning

Donegal is among the three counties to escape this week’s thunderstorms. A status yellow thunderstorm warning is currently underway for all counties, except Mayo, Sligo and Donegal. Met Eireann is warning of the possibility of frequent lightning and spot flooding. Alan O’Reilly, from Carlow Weather, says hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean are causing forecasters headaches.

Donegal escapes status yellow thunderstorm warning Read More »

Letterkenny Dyslexia Association Workshop to return next week

The Letterkenny Dyslexia Association Workshop will return next Monday the 18th September after its summer break. The aim of the workshop is to provide effective literacy teaching in a motivating and systematic way. Odhrán McGowan from the Letterkenny Dyslexia Association says that it is a learning preference as opposed to a difficulty.

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Minister deems upcoming childcare closures unwarranted

The Children’s Minister says upcoming childcare closures this month aren’t ‘warranted’. Creches will be closing for three days, calling for more funding to avoid having to increase their fees by “at least” 25 to 30 per cent. The Federation of Early Childhood Providers says many small and medium sized creches are running at a huge

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Water Safety Ireland urges public to watch out for potential dangers when swimming

As the hot weather is set to continue over the weekend and thousands of sun worshipers are expected to head to the beach people are being warned about the potential dangers when swimming. Water Safety Ireland is urging the public to use common sense and watch out for potential dangers if swimming or participating in

Water Safety Ireland urges public to watch out for potential dangers when swimming Read More »

Calls for emergency building to repair building defects

Sinn Fein says a failure to provide funding for defective homes is adding to the frustration of home owners across the country. The party’s spokesperson on Housing says Minister Darragh O’Brien must release emergency funding to repair building defects, without delay. Eoin Ó Broin says homeowners were told at the beginning of the year that

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Pearse Doherty, Finance, Donegal, Letterkenny, Sinn Fein

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty calls for temporary relief to increasing costs after mortgage interest hikes

Donegal Deputy and Sinn Féin Finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty has called for the introduction of temporary relief after mortgage interest costs increase by 51%. He says that the planned price hikes for petrol and diesel in October should not go ahead, adding that people can’t afford these hikes in the middle of a cost of

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty calls for temporary relief to increasing costs after mortgage interest hikes Read More »

Emerald Airlines pilots back new agreement

Emerald Airlines pilots which operates Aer Lingus’ regional route between Donegal and Dublin have backed a new industrial relations agreement after a ballot. The agreement follows a series of negotiations between Forsa trade union and Emerald Airlines, following the suspension of a work-to-rule and a planned one-day stoppage in response to the airlines refusal to

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Calls for beach wheelchairs to be provided on all Donegal beaches

There’s calls for the provision of beach wheelchairs to be expanded to all beaches in Donegal. Councillor Johnny McGuinness says the introduction of the wheelchairs to some beaches means those who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to experience the beach can no do so. He says such a resource ensures inclusivity for all:

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Further calls for Clar to be extended to other parts of Inishowen

Minister Heather Humphreys and Minister Charlies McConalogue are being further lobbied to extend Clar funding to additional areas in Inishowen. Donegal County Council is to write to Minister Humphreys on the matter. Councillor Albert Doherty has renewed his calls for other rural parts of the peninsula to be afforded the same access to funding. He

Further calls for Clar to be extended to other parts of Inishowen Read More »

ATU signs HEA’s Race Equality Anti-Racism Principles

The Atlantic Technological University has made a further commitment in combating racism in higher education. The ATU has formally signed the Higher Education Authority Race Equality Anti-Racism Principles for Higher Education Institutions. The Principles document set out by the HEA was signed on behalf of ATU by its President, Dr. Orla Flynn, as part of

ATU signs HEA’s Race Equality Anti-Racism Principles Read More »

Plans for centre for Ukrainian refugees in South Donegal on hold

Plans for a centre for Ukrainian refugees in South Donegal have been put on hold. The Department of Housing has deemed the former Ringfort Inn, Bruckless unsuitable to provide temporary accommodation for Ukrainian refugees. Earlier this week, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has confirmed that the former Ringfort Inn had been

Plans for centre for Ukrainian refugees in South Donegal on hold Read More »

Killybegs Coast Guard writes special radar message for team member getting married

Killybegs Coast Guard has written a special message on its radar for a member who is getting married tomorrow. In a post on Facebook, the unit wished their member Eoghan and fiancé Breda “a lifetime of love, health and happiness.” It’s joined by a radar image which shows an E and B connected by a

Killybegs Coast Guard writes special radar message for team member getting married Read More »

Three people arrested in Derry after guns, hand grenades and ammunition seized

Three people were arrested following the disorder yesterday. The Terrorism Investigation Unit carried out three searches as part of an intelligence led terrorist operation in Derry. £2,000 in cash was seized along with two handguns, two military hand grenades, over 50 rounds of ammunition and over a kilogram of plastic explosives. The two men and

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16 police officers injured during disorder in Derry yesterday

The PSNI has confirmed 16 officers were injured after rioting broke out in Derry yesterday. Police were carrying out searches in the Creggan area of the city, as part of a terrorisim investigation, at the time. It’s thought children as young as 8 were involved in the disorder. Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton:

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McConalogue invites farm groups to talks as Donegal businessman questions the future of family farms

The Agriculture Minister says his door is always open to farming groups, who want to discuss issues affecting the industry. It follows a large picket outside the Department of Agriculture yesterday, where a meeting was scheduled to take place to discuss new nitrogen limits. Four of the five farm groups invited to the meeting by

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NBI reports more progress in Donegal

National Broadband Ireland have announced that engineering survey works for almost 1,200 Donegal premises in the Ballyshannon deployment area are now completed. This includes the rural communities of Bundoran, Woodvale and Cliff. There are approximately 33,000 premises in the Donegal Intervention Area, including homes, farms, commercial businesses, and schools, with NBI reporting significant progress. In

NBI reports more progress in Donegal Read More »

Siptu warn of potential disputes if cost of living crisis isn’t addressed

Industrial disputes will increase in the coming months, if the Government doesn’t offset the rising cost of living. SIPTU says the Coalition must take steps to increase real wages for its workers, as inflation reached 6.3% this week. Energy, fuel and social welfare are areas identified by the Union, where the State could intercede. SIPTU’s

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SCSI questions wisdom of imposing the Defective Concrete Levy during the current crisis

The government’s being warned the taxation of construction materials is counterproductive during the current accommodation crisis. The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland is opposing the 5% Defective Concrete Products Levy, saying it hinders development at a time when construction costs are soaring. It was introduced following the publication of a redress scheme for those impacted

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Young people in involved in Creggan disturbances are putting their futures in jeapordy – Eastwood

SDLP Leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood has called for an end to disorder in the Creggan area of Derry after police were attacked during a search operation last evening. They were attacked with petrol bombs, rocks, masonry and other objects. A quantity of cash, a gun and number of suspected pipe bombs and ammunition

Young people in involved in Creggan disturbances are putting their futures in jeapordy – Eastwood Read More »

IFA wrong to boycott nitrates meeting – Healy Rae

Farm leaders are being told they were ‘wrong not to attend’ yesterday’s meeting with the Agriculture Minister. The Irish Farmers’ Association was meant to talk to Charlie McConalogue about new changes to nitrogen limits for dairy farmers,  but boycotted the meeting instead. It held a picket with four other groups outside the Department of Agriculture,

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Buncrana businesses forced to shut doors due to lack of water works warning

Uisce Eireann has been criticised for failing to inform a significant number of Buncrana businesses prior to planned works which forced them to close their doors. Councillor Rena Donaghey says it is totally unacceptable that business owners were not informed of the works and were left without water for four hours. She has called on

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Minister McConalogue pledges new fund to attract more young people into fishing

Agriculture and Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue has pledged to invest money from the new Maritime Fund into an initiative to attract more young people into the fishing industry. He was speaking at an online meeting of Donegal County Council’s Fisheries Committee, which was told there have been only 20 new entrants into the sector this

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