Author name: highlandnews

There’s calls for urgent clarity from the Housing Minister as its emerged defective block homeowners who rebuild their properties will be unable to sell of remortgage them. CEO of the Banking and Payments Federation, Brian Hayes confirmed this week that mortgages can only be issued on homes built to current building standards. The issue has

The deadline for submissions on the All Island Rail Review is midnight tonight. The review published this summer proposes a rail link between Letterkenny and Derry. However, Steve Bradley, Chair of Into the West -a rail campaign for counties Donegal, Derry, Tyrone and Fermanagh says while there are indeed some welcome recommendations, there remain a

A Donegal Senator says people in the county have no other option but to drive because of the lack of public transport. Senator Eileen Flynn has called for more investment in public transport during statements in the Seanad on road safety. She says tougher sanctions are needed to crackdown on drivers driving under the influence.

Restaurants across the country are in crisis and in some cases are facing closure. The warning comes from the Restaurants Association of Ireland, which is calling on the government for a permanent reduction in the VAT rate to 9% in this year’s budget. Paul Lenehan President of the Association says the sector is in real

A Donegal County Councillor has issued a stark warning over the county’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. Councillor Gerry McMonagle says he doesn’t know how much longer families in need of the service can continue. So far this year, over 30% of young people in Donegal referred to CAMHS have been refused access. There

Additional safety concerns around schools are coming to the fore. Safety around schools in Donegal has been thrown into the spotlight in recent times after a number of near misses involving pupils. There were previous calls for footpaths to be put in place at schools in rural parts of the county however, the issue of

Action by Gardai to crackdown of the theft of Japanese imported vehicles in Letterkenny has been welcomed. Gardai have confirmed that as of September 22nd, five people were arrested in connection with the theft of 16 such vehicles. A warning was previously issued that the theft of Japanese imported vehicles was becoming a weekly occurrence

Donegal County Council has been told that they are on target to achieve ambitious environmental targets by 2030. In a report to members at the authority’s September meeting, officials said the target is to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 51%, and increase energy efficiency by 50%. They said both these targets are realistic, and initiatives

The Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Bill is too little too late. That’s according to Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle. Speaking in the Dail today, he says the country appears to be going backwards in its efforts to tackle sexual and gender-based violence. Deputy Pringle says with a two fold increase in sexual assaults against

Sinn Fein’s Vice President Michelle O’Neill is convinced patience is running out with the DUP’s blockade of Stormont. With the assembly in flux since March 2022, the first Minister Designate says there’s no reason for Jeffery Donaldson’s party to continue its boycott, with parts of the Windsor Framework coming into effect this weekend. Michelle O’Neill

The Justice Minister has been accused of being “hands-off” in the dispute between the Garda Commissioner and rank-and-file members. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has called for Helen McEntee to intervene after delegates of the Garda Representative Association announced it would strike on November 10th. They will also opt out of over time every Tuesday in

Gardai are being urged to monitor the operation of traffic lights on the Four Lane route in Letterkenny once they become operational. Work on the project is nearing completion, with lights erected at a number of points between the roundabouts, and on the Polestar Roundabout itself. Councillor Donal Coyle says its vital the traffic lights

There are calls for immediate action to ensure the safety of children attending Scoil Eoin Baiste at Umlagh in Carrigart. A public meeting was held over a year ago after which a petition gathered and a motion raised through the Council calling for traffic calming measures. However, no progress has been made since. Now, locals

Radical reform is now the only viable option for the Irish health system. That’s the warning from the Irish Medical Organisation as it releases its pre-budget submission. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is already under pressure for budget overruns, despite continued pressure on services. IMO President Dr. John Cannon says Ireland has less beds in the

It’s been claimed we’re returning to the days of drivers in Donegal filling up their cars in Northern Ireland. South Donegal TD Marian Harkin says some filling stations in the border region face closure, as drivers take their business elsewhere due to the high cost of fuel. The Government is being called on to introduce

Donegal County Council has been told that a forum’s been established through the Local Community Development Committee with a view to co-ordinating public transport services in the county with the needs of the public, business and education. The first scoping meeting of this forum took place this month with representatives from DLDC, ATU, ETB, HSE,

The three days of action campaign by childcare providers and families highlighting what has been described as the “dire state” of the industry in Ireland comes to a close today. According to the Federation of Early Childhood Providers, 97 childcare providers across the country have closed since March due to inadequate Government funding, excessive regulation

The continuing crisis among CDNTs in Donegal is resulting in children regressing. The issue was a hot topic at the latest Regional Health Forum meeting. It has been confirmed that contingency plans are in place to manage the impact of the current vacancies within the sector. Councillor Gerry Crawford however, says children who are being

Rank and file Gardaí have voted to withdraw from voluntary overtime throughout October. The GRA has been holding a special conference in Kilkenny following a no confidence vote in Commissioner Drew Harris in a dispute over rosters. GRA President, Donegal based garda, Brendan O’Connor has been speaking in the past few minutes:

With an 80% increase in homelessness in the North West since 2021, a Donegal Deputy has called for the Eviction Ban to be reinstated. Deputy Thomas Pringle says the passage of the Eviction Ban Bill must be accelerated. He says its vital tenants are given proper security. Deputy Pringle told the Dail that the lack

Gardaí estimate €157 million worth of drugs were found aboard a cargo ship off the south coast. It’s the largest drugs seizure in the history of the State. The cocaine has been removed from the MV Matthew, which was detained at gunpoint by Army Rangers. Gardaí say about 25 people were on board, but cannot

Healthcare staff in a number of community and voluntary agencies will embark on indefinite strike action next month in a row over pay. Up to 5,000 staff are expected to take part across the country from October 17th. Members of Forsa, Siptu and the INMO are taking part in the action. Mary McGrenra works with

The Seanad has been told that the government is awaiting legal advice on whether it should take a case in Europe against the UK government’s Legacy Bill which passed into law last week. Minister of State Sean Fleming said it’s an issue the government is taking very seriously. The issue was raised by Senator Niall

The relationship between the Garda Representative Association and Commissioner Drew Harris has been described as irreparable. The GRA has formally requested that the date for changing rosters of the 6th of November be removed or deferred during a meeting yesterday. However, speaking ahead of the Special Delegates Conference taking place in Kilkenny today, Association President

The Northern and Western Regional Assembly is calling for a Citizens Assembly to be set up to examine how greater levels of regional autonomy can be delivered in Ireland. According to the NWRA, a policy of positive discrimination would result in rebalancing what’s been a legacy of underinvestment in new infrastructure projects for Donegal, Sligo,

The Dail has been told that rising fuel prices hit people in Donegal harder than in many other counties. A vote will take place in the Dail tonight on a Sinn Fein motion calling for rises in fuel prices to be deferred. Temporary reductions in excise duties are ending, and as a result, prices at