Author name: highlandnews

Voting has opened at polling stations across the North for the local government elections. Voters will choose 462 councillors across 11 councils, with counting taking place tomorrow and Saturday. The elections were delayed by a fortnight due to the coronation of Britain’s King Charles. The DUP was the largest party at the last local elections, […]

One nurse at Letterkenny University Hospital has claimed that staffing levels at the facility are unsafe and inhumane. Donegal Deputy Thomas relayed those concerns in the Dail while speaking on a motion on Targeted Investment in the Health Service. He says there appears to be a continuous scaling back of resources at Letterkenny University Hospital

Donegal’s Town Regeneration Officer has told members of the council’s Planning Strategic Policy Committee that she is pursuing a number of initiatives to tackle vacancy and dereliction across the county. Patricia McIntyre has taken up the post this week, with the appointment of a Vacant Homes Officer also imminent. She said she is carrying out

The Dail has been told there’s a need for a multi-annual plan to expand capacity and increase staffing at Letterkenny University Hospital. Donegal Pearse Doherty told TDs that figures released to Sinn Féin show more than 1,000 appointments were cancelled by LUH in the first four months of the year. He also pointed out Saolta

Calls are being made to see St. Eunan’s National School Raphoe have staffing implemented in order to facilitate an ASD class room. The school has a spare class room, a sensory room and sensory garden on the premises. Gerard is a parent at St. Eunan’s National School. His son, Jamie, was diagnosed with ASD in

Three people were arrested in Strabane yesterday on suspicion of fraud-related offences. It comes as part of an investigation being conducted by detectives from Serious Crime Branch. The two women, aged 42 and 23 years old, and a 23-year-old man have since been released on police bail to allow for further police enquiries.

** Warning: Graphic image below Cathaoirleach of Glenties Municipal District is again calling for the culling of deer. It comes after yet another deer was found deceased on the N56 this morning outside of Creeslough. Car parts were also found along the road as well as a calf that is believed to have been birthed

The HSE does not hold the interest of families and residents of Ard Greine Court in Ballybofey at the heart of their decisions, that’s according to Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle. Speaking in the Dail yesterday during a special topic surrounding the implementation of the recommendations of the Brandon report, Deputy Pringle asked the Minister of

A Donegal deputy is calling on Government to sanction the facilitation of an ASD room in a school in Raphoe. Deputy Pearse Doherty told the Dail yesterday that St. Eunan’s National School has already seen one student needing to travel to a different catchment area due to staffing issues, despite their siblings remaining at the

The Newmills Corn and Flax Mill, Letterkenny will open to visitors from the first of next month, and will remain open for six days a week until the end of September. Confirmation of the plan was received from OPW Minister Patrick O’Donovan by Donegal County Council last evening. Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh had lobbied the minister

The Dail has been told recent comments from Transport Minister Eamon Ryan have led to grave fears that the N17 will not receive the investment it needs over the next number of years. If that happens, South Donegal Deputy Marian Harkin warned, then people from all over the North West will be affected, particularly those

The Education Minister says she’s “hopeful” Leaving Cert students will know their results date before they sit their exams. Traditionally, results were released in mid-August, but last year they weren’t issued until the second of September, largely down to Covid delays. With just three weeks to go before the exams, thousands of students and third

The State’s watchdog for children’s rights says the Government’s housing policies are failing children. The Ombudsman for Children says child homelessness is the State’s biggest failure when it comes to children’s rights. The OCO (PR: Oh-See-Oh) is calling for a referendum on the right to housing to be held this year. Ombudsman for Children, Dr.

Fuel prices have fallen again. The latest price monitor from the AA shows petrol prices are on average 1 euro 57 cent per litre, down over one percent on April. Diesel prices fell by 2.6% percent in the month to an average of 1 euro 47 cent a litre. However Paddy Comyn, Head of Communications

Gardaí are investigating two recent acts of criminal damage that occurred in the area of Cois Locha, Dungloe. Damage was sustained during both incidents, but entry was not gained. Garda Gráinne Doherty is appealing for information:

Education is the sector from where most complaints were received from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office. Bullying, expulsion or suspension were among some of the most common issues complained about. 2022 proved to be the busiest year for complaints since the establishment of the Office. In its annual report for 2022, Tusla also came under

Donegal County Council is being urged to carry out repair works on a broken fence at a housing estate in Letterkenny which is said to be facilitating anti-social behaviour as well as posing serious safety issues. The boundary fence at Cashel Park Estate was previously in place to protect against a large drop into nearby

The Irish Farmers’ Association is calling on drivers of farm machinery and cars to be careful on the roads, as the silage-cutting season gets underway. There’s expected to be an increase in tractors and trailers on the roads, with the association asking farmers to be aware of traffic building up behind them. The IFA’s Farm

Defective block campaigners are set to present the issue which is impacting thousands across Donegal at the highest level of the EU Commission next month. The visit will mark an escalation of the EU campaign and will be an opportunity to appeal to the EU Commission directly to intervene to ensure those impacted are provided

There is no political ambition within the current Government to deliver a proper redress scheme for defective block homeowners. That’s according to the Chair of the Mica Action Group. Last week, campaigners met with Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien where 13 amendments to the revised scheme were put to them. Lisa Hone says it is just

The latest A5 public inquiry opens in Omagh today, with businesses and residents being urged to use the hearing to highlight their support for the project. West Tyrone MP Orflaith Begley says the proposed new A5 dual carriageway will help cut the number of deaths on one of Ireland’s most dangerous roads, as well as

Former Presidential candidate and entrepreuner Peter Casey says he has no doubt that a fire at a Buncrana property he is developing for use by Ukranian refugees was started deliberately. The building, a former residence for older people, was badly damaged in the blaze. Gardai say officially that the fire is still under investigation, but

More and more working families are struggling to get enough groceries to last the week. That’s according to a Donegal food bank. Food poverty has emerged as a daily issue for the Donegal Food Response Network. Sally Boyce works with Cloughaneely Food Bank and she says working families presenting in need is becoming more common