Author name: highlandnews

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 […]

Members of the Retained Fire Service across the country have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action, up to and including strike action, in a dispute which they say stems from the failure of management to address a worsening recruitment and retention crisis. Discussions between representatives of the Local Government Management Agency and the National

The government’s failure to provide accommodation, is putting migrants’ lives at risk, according to Doras. The human rights’ group hopes new centres to accommodate homeless asylum seekers and refugees will help the situation, following a recent attack in Dublin. Tents were burned and violent protests took place in Dublin’s inner city over the weekend. CEO

A weekend cancer conference in Ballyshannon has been told that South Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim need a shared treatment arrangement similar to the one which sees radiotherapy patients from Letterkenny University Hospital go to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry. Conference Chair Tommy Gorman told the event that the South West Hospital in Enniskillen would be a

The Labour Leader is calling for a new economic forum with wellbeing at its centre. Ivana Bacik says Ireland’s economy needs to move away from using GDP as its only yardstick. It echoes comments from President Michael D Higgins who has called for an end to Ireland’s obsession with economic growth. Deputy Bacik also says

The number of medicines out-of-stock in Ireland remains high at 241. The latest Medicine Shortages Index shows shortages of 30 antibiotic medicines, and many eye drops including those used for allergies. It will have serious implications for patients who rely on medicines for their health and well-being. Irish Pharmacy Union spokesperson, Kathy Maher wants Health

A series of meetings will take place in the coming weeks to discuss the further expansion of flights between Donegal sand Glasgow. It’s been confirmed Loganair will operate a weekend service on Saturdays and Sundays between July and September. Cllr John Sheamais O’Fearraigh says that’s positive, but he believes there’s a need for a more

A Donegal man has tasked himself with quite the challenge over the coming week. Glenties native Ronan O Donnell will be climbing the top ten peaks in Ireland over the next five to six days. Ronan along with friends and fellow adrenaline junkies Marius Monaghan and Aiden Fitzgerald are trying to showcase the beauty of

The organiser of a cancer conference in Ballyshannon yesterday has stressed the importance of communication, particularly by men. ‘Let’s Talk About Cancer’ was the theme of the event, which included presentations from a number of high profile cancer survivors, Sligo based Consultant Martin Caldwell, and the Irish Cancer Society. Paul McLoone, who has himself had

The fleadh returns to Letterkenny this weekend pulling trad musicians together to perform. The packed schedule centres around ATU today with competitions drawing crowds. Speaking with Chairman Joe Gibson this morning, he says weather permitting street sessions are encouraged…

A Donegal TD says the government must make sure banks play their role in the Defective Blocks Redress Scheme. Deputy Thomas Pringle told the Dáil the Defective Block Homeowner Working Group has shown that as mortgage owners, the banks are equal shareholders in the problems faced by homeowners, and they need to be held to

A meeting of Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District heard the concerns for the safety of students attending St. Columba’s National School in Ballylast. Cllr. Gary Doherty has called for a speed survey to be staged outside the school. He says while there is a county-wide speed review to take place, a pro-active approach must be taken:

The Minister for Tourism and Hospitality says the Government will look at providing additional supports to help the sector. It’s after a leaked Government memo revealed earlier this week estimated the tourism sector could lose around 1 billion euro this year. Minister Catherine Martin says several options are being considered:

A Letterkenny Councillor raised a motion regarding the safety of children at Lurgybrack National School during pick up and drop off times. Cllr. Jimmy Kavanagh says the mechanics in place at the moment are ineffective leading to excessive speed on the road outside the school. According to Cllr. Kavanagh as a result of the unsafe

It’s been confirmed work will begin at the end of the month on a new school building for Gaelscoil na gCeithre Máistrí in Donegal Town. Works on the much-needed new school building were due to get underway earlier this year, when the Department of Public Expenditure called a halt to construction pending a review of

A Letterkenny Councillor is welcoming news that the Cairn-Trentagh water scheme has been placed back on the Uisce Éireann capital programme. Works are due to commence in the final quarter of this year. It follows chronic issues of water outages and burst pipes. Cllr. Michael McBride says it will help the people of the area,

  A former Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon at Letterkenny University Hospital has today questioned the political emphasis on cross border health cooperation, saying in the aftermath of Brexit, he does not believe that is the answer to Letterkenny University Hospital’s problems. On today’s Nine til Noon Show, Dr Peter O’Rourke said the hospital is not receiving

A warning has been issued to rural businesses in Donegal over the presence of Organised Crime Groups operating in the area. Owners of shops and filling stations, particularly are advised that the groups will conduct surveillance and will likely have visited the premises ahead of carrying out the attack. The perpetrators are believed to be

Wheelchair users in South Donegal have been left to use the road due to poor and inaccessible footpath conditions. Cllr Barry Sweeney raised the accessibility and safety concerns in the meeting of Donegal Municipal District. He says due to budgeting and resources restraints, footpaths tend to be less of a priority. He says this must

Donegal County Council is asking that more time be given for farmers on the outskirts of larger towns to check the zoning of their lands. It’s after members expressed concern that because of the zoning of their lands, some farmers may find themselves liable for the Residential Zoned Land Tax, even though they have no

The chairperson of the Mica Action Group says the amendments to the Defective Concrete Block scheme are disappointing but not surprising. Over 350 submissions were made to Government regarding the revised scheme. Just 13 amendments were put to campaigners during a meeting with Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien yesterday. Lisa Hone says the Government continues to

A Letterkenny Councillor is calling for funding to be sought to repair and widen Carrygawley Bridge. Speaking in the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District Meeting, Cllr. Donal Coyle highlighted safety concerns with the bridge which crosses a very deep ravine. He added the traffic that uses this narrow bridge has grown significantly due on going works

The Dail has heard call for penalty free downsizing to be included in the enhanced redress scheme for defective block homeowners. Members of the Mica Action Group met with Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien yesterday for a briefing on the revised scheme which is expected to be published in the coming weeks. Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh

Glenties Municipal District has been told there is a cluster of houses between Dungloe and Doochary where a Group Water Scheme was promised several years ago, but nothing has been done. Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher told an MD meeting this week that the water getting in to the homes at present is so bad it

Donegal County Council’s Director of Planning says decisions taken this week on the new Letterkenny Development Plans will shape the way the town grows for the next ten to twenty years. After a public consultation in January and February, the draft plan came back to members yesterday with 70 proposed amendments from the Chief Executive.

Overnight trips from the Republic to Northern Ireland reached record levels in 2022. The CSO says the numbers topped one million for the first time, with huge increases also evident for spend. Republic of Ireland visitors splashed out more than £233m, up 65% on the £142m spent three years earlier. David Roberts, Tourism NI Interim

The Taoiseach has not ruled out co-funding for the A5. In responding to Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn in the Dail who called for the Irish Government to reinstate its monetary commitment to the project, Leo Varadkar acknowledged the importance of the Western Transport Corridor project in terms of road safety and connectivity for the North

A Donegal Deputy says there needs to be an increase in development in rural towns and villages. Deputy Thomas Pringle, speaking during a motion on planning and rural housing says the current housing crisis is being exacerbated by the current planning system. He says a review of policy is vital for the development of rural

Much-needed water rehabilitation works are set to be carried out in the Finn Valley this year. The area has been plagued with a range of issues affecting water supply from Lough Mourne with residents frequently left without water. Cathaoirleach of the Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District, Councillor Patrick McGowan says the works will be significantly improve

The Taoiseach is being urged to ensure youth services in Donegal can keep providing for communities. Since the pandemic, securing an adequate number of volunteers to run services and transport for children attending have been significantly affected. Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle believes Ukrainian refugees could play a part in securing the operation of youth services: