Author name: highlandnews

The Garda Representative Association has voted no confidence in the Garda Commissioner. Of the 10 thousand 800 members, 84 per cent used their vote, and 98 point 7 per cent voted “no” when asked if they have confidence in Drew Harris. It’s the first time in the 100 years of An Garda Síochána that the […]

Finn Harps is launching a fresh fundraising drive to allow work to recommence on the new Community Stadium in Stranorlar, which the club will use in the future. The project has received backing from Donegal Council,. the FAI and the government, but rising costs mean it now carries a price tag of €7.3 million, leaving

EY is creating a thousand new jobs in Northern Ireland over the next five years, including the creation of a new North West hub in Derry. The announcement has been made at a major investment summit in Belfast. More than 100 global investors and businesses are in the city for the event, which is essentially

It was confirmed last night that Relay for Life Donegal raised just over €137,500 this year in support of the Irish Cancer Society. Last night also saw long time Chair Robert O’Connor step down, with Seamus Devine taking the helm. Mr O’Connor was honoured the a Gordy Klatt Award, named after the founder of Relay

A Lifford based councillor says it’s clear that Lifford Common is set to become a hugely important part of the town’s growth and development. The area has already been identified as the potential site for a new community hospital, and this week, a meeting of the Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District was told that plans to build 60 social

A significant number of job announcements are expected in the North over the coming two days, with a number of them coming to Derry and Tyrone . Over 100 businesses and investors are gathering for a major two-day conference hosted by the British Department for Business and Trade, the Northern Ireland Office and the business

A planned hike in fuel prices from the end of October may not go ahead. Finance Minister Michael McGrath has indicated the government is reviewing its plans, as international fuel prices rise. The end of October is due to see an 8 cent a litre rise in the cost of petrol and 6 cent added

The Garda Representative Association is counting votes today after a ballot of no confidence in Commissioner Drew Harris. Members are frustrated over a number of issues, including rosters, recruitment and retention. It’s the first time a ballot like this has been taken in the organisation, with the results to be publicly revealed tomorrow morning. GRA

Taxi drivers say they are being driven from the industry as they can’t afford to keep their cars on the road. A recent NTA study found that there are 19,500 licensed taxis in Ireland, down from almost 22,000 a decade ago. In Donegal, there are 280 licenced taxi drivers, down from over 400 10 years

Gardai are appealing to dog owners in Donegal to keep their dogs on a lease when out in public after a number of recent attacks. A woman was knocked to the ground by a dog while out for a walk in the Moville area recently. The dog scratched her and she had to receive a

Gardaí have issued a fresh appeal for information after a woman was seriously injured when a car struck an outdoor seating area in Donegal Town on Wednesday last. The incident occurred at a licenced premises on Tirchonaill Street at 7:50pm. The woman in her 60s was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital for treatment to serious

The Cathaoirleach of the Glenties Municipal District is appealing to people to wear life jackets when engaging in water activities. It’s emerged that a group of five kayakers which included a young child were out on the water in Dunfanaghy Bay at the weekend without life jackets. Councillor Michael McClafferty fears there could have been

Minister Charlie McConalogue has sought a meeting of Donegal County Council’s Defective Concrete Block Redress Committee as homeowners remain in limbo awaiting approval for remediation works under the revised grant scheme. Minister McConalogue has admitted that the approval process for transitioning homeowners onto the new scheme has been too slow. The Council are currently transferring

The Tánaiste says a timeline can’t be put on the prospect of a United Ireland. It comes after the Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton Harris criticised the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for saying Ireland would be united in his lifetime. Mr Heaton Harris described the comments as unhelpful with the Stormont Executive still collapsed. Tánaiste and

The outcome of a public consultation on parking charges in Buncrana is due to be delivered on October 2nd. There was significant backlash to plans to scrap 30 mins free parking on the Main Street with businesses starting a petition which garnered hundreds of signatures. Councillor Jack Murray is confident the proposal to abolish the

€1.5 billion in funding will be required in Budget 2024 to provide quality care for older people and people with disabilities. The Home Care Coalition is calling for a clear commitment to increase both the number of hours of support, and funding for the service next month. The Coalition, which is made up of 23

A Lifford based councillor says it’s clear that Lifford Common is set to become a hugely important part of the town’s growth and development. The area has already been identified as the potential site for a new community hospital, and this week, a meeting of the Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District was told that plans to build 60 social

The Cathaoirleach of Doneqal County Council says there should be a mechanism for local authorities to ask An Bord Pleanala for progress reports on stalled housing applications. Cllr Martin Harley was speaking at a meeting of Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District. He said at a time when there is a housing crisis both locally and nationally,

The HSE has overrun its budget by about 600 million euro to the end of July. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly confirmed the figures saying actions have been put in place in a bid to suppress further spending. The overrun will likely complicate negotiations around the budget for the health sector. Minister Donnelly says staffing costs

There are currently over 3 thousand 500 council homes lying empty across the country. That’s despite there being over 95 thousand people on local authority housing waiting lists. The latest figures also show almost 13 thousand people are living in emergency accommodation. In Donegal, there are 171 vacancies, and a waiting list of 2,868. The

Assurances have been given that works to deliver new water infrastructure to parts of Letterkenny are on track. A face to face meeting with Uisce Eireann in Lifford in recent days has been described as positive during which it was confirmed that 2.6km of mains infrastructure is to be installed in Raymoghy and Rossbracken. The

Local authority staff are engaging in industrial action, indefinitely from today. Employees, who are represented by the Forsa trade union, are refusing to carry out engagements with politicians. The union is calling for better pay and conditions for staff who they say are working above their pay grade. Richy Carrothers, Forsa’s Head of Local Government

A Donegal Senator says Europe is very important to Donegal. Senator Niall Blaney in recent days, confirmed his intention to run as one of Fianna Fail’s candidates for the Midlands North West constituency in next year’s European Parliament elections. His party colleague, Senator Lisa Chambers has also announced her intention to contest the upcoming elections.

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