Author name: highlandnews

Leaving Cert students urged to take time out ahead of another exam week

Leaving Cert students should take some time out today before another busy week in the exam hall. That’s the advice from Ireland’s youth website Spunout. Week two of the state exams start tomorrow morning with Maths paper 2 and Irish Paper 1 on the agenda. Ian Power CEO of Spunout says cramming is not a

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Women of Honour renewing call for tribunal into bullying and sexual abuse allegations

The Women of Honour group is renewing its call for a tribunal to investigate allegations of bullying and sexual abuse in the Defence Forces. The group has today set out its terms of reference for such an inquiry, and will meet both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste tomorrow. The Women of Honour have long-campaigned for allegations

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Minister English will not be investigated by SIPO

People Before Profit’s Paul Murphy says the failure of the State’s ethics watchdog to investigate Damien English will further erode public trust in politics. The Standards in Public Office Commission has concluded that the former Junior Minister complied with the Ethics in Public Office Act in his annual declarations – despite admitting that he lied

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Calls for greater transparency over HSE budget overruns

There are calls for greater transparency over budget overruns in the HSE. It comes amid revelations that spending on health is already in trouble for 2023 – with a senior HSE executive resigning after his concerns apparently fell on deaf ears. It’s now believed there’s a two-billion euro budget deficit for the year ahead. Social

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Donegal Fire Service launch campaign to mark Fire Safety Week

The Donegal Fire Service has launched a campaign to mark Fire Safety Week. In a series of social media videos members of the local service have been highlighting how to minimise the risk of the fire at home. It includes keeping stove doors closed, getting chimneys cleaned annually, not overloading plug sockets and not leaving

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Wave and Wind Energy Researchers to travel to Donegal next week

Wave and Wind Energy Researchers are due to visit Donegal next week. They’re travelling to Malin Head where people are being invited to attend where discussions will take place on a new offshore wind turbine design and wave energy. On Thursday, researchers from UCC’s Environmental Research Institute and from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland

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Arranmore RNLI launched in response to reports of missing kayakers

Arranmore RNLI responded to two reports of missing kayakers in Donegal yesterday. The lifeboat crew were first launched just before 10.45am yesterday morning to reports of a missing kayaker off Glen Head coast. Just minutes into the launch the crew were informed that the kayaker had been found and were then tasked to the Portnoo

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Garry Jennings and Rory Kennedy preview Donegal International Rally 2023

The Irish Tarmac Rally Championship is perfectly poised heading to its biggest event of the year, round five, the Donegal International Rally. International, Modified, Historic, and Junior categories have been at their unpredictable best and each are all to play for with three rounds remaining. Several crews have staked a strong claim on the coveted

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All systems for as more than 1,000 get set for Strabane Lifford Half Marathon

More than 1,000 people will take part in Sunday’s Strabane Lifford Half Marathon. It’s the eighth running of the popular event which is being hosted by Derry City and Strabane District Council in partnership with Lifford Strabane Athletics club. The race begins Strabane at Meetinghouse Street at 9.30 am and goes through the town and

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Romanian woman in court accused of processing proceeds of crime at banks in Donegal and Dublin

A 34 year old Romanian woman has been remanded in custody, on money laundering charges, after being arrested last night at Dublin Airport. Diana Maria Popovici, currently of no fixed abode, but with a previous address at Timbermills, Artane, in Dublin, appeared at Dublin District Court today, accused of possessing the proceeds of crime at

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Contact to be made shortly with those affected by HSE cyber-attack

Contact will be made shortly with the people affected by a cyber-attack at the HSE. The breach happened while EY was working with the health authority on a project to automate part of its recruitment process. It’s likely information relating to 20 people involved has been accessed. Cyber Security Expert and Executive Chairman of Smarttech

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Car seized after motorist attempted to avoid checkpoint in Donegal

A car has been seized after the driver attempted to avoid a checkpoint in Donegal. Gardaí from Letterkenny Roads Policing Unit were conducting multi agency checkpoints yesterday at various locations alongside Revenue & Customs and the RSA. One driver was observed turning back from a checkpoint but they were subsequently intercepted. It emerged that the

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Possible water supply disruptions for Donegal Town and surrounding areas

Repairs to a burst water main may cause supply disruptions to Heneys, Altilow, Killymard, Donegal Town and surrounding areas. Works are scheduled to take place until 7pm this evening. It is recommended that an allowance of 2-3 hours after the estimated restoration time is made for supplies to fully return.

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Donegal native appointed new president of The Institute of Directors in Ireland

A Donegal native has been appointed as the new president of The Institute of Directors in Ireland. The leading membership body for directors and business leaders made the announcement at their AGM. John Reynolds, Chairman of Cairn Homes plc, is taking over from Imelda Reynolds, who has held the position for the last two years.

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Man sentenced in Derry following investigation into improper use of electronic communications

A man was sentenced in Derry today following an investigation into improper use of electronic communications. Appearing before Londonderry Magistrates’ Court, the 29 year old received 4 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 3 years. As well as his suspended sentence, Ronald McElwee also had a restraining order imposed under The Protection from Harassment Northern Ireland Order

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Planning granted for construction of 122 new dwellings in Donegal in first quarter of 2023

Planning permission was granted for the construction of 122 new dwellings in Donegal in the first quarter of this year. According to latest figures from the Central Statistics Office, 119 new house units and 52 apartments got the go ahead. Planning permission was also given to 70 extensions, 31 building alterations and conversions and 81

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Cllr McBride proposes vote of no confidence in Housing Minister

A Donegal County Councillor has proposed a vote of no confidence in Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien. It’s in response to a lack of correspondence from the Minister to calls to meet with Councillors to discuss the defective block crisis in Donegal including the provision of modular homes for affected homeowners. Councillor Michael McBride who is

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2,000 people still living in large mental health institutions in Ireland

2,000 people are living in large mental health institutions, despite pledges in the 1980s to close congregated settings. The Inspector of Mental Health Services found some residents are sharing rooms, toilets and dining facilities. The Mental Health Commission is warning the HSE it’ll take action and de-register public mental health centres if compliance with regulations

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An Cailín Ciúin picks up two awards at Celtic Media festival in Donegal

An Cailín Ciúin is celebrating winning two gongs at the Celtic Media festival in Donegal. It’s won the ‘Spirit of the Festival’ and Torc for ‘Single Drama’ awards at this year’s event in An Clochán Liath. It already scooped a nomination for an Oscar earlier this year and won 8 IFTAs in 2022.

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Department of Education urging parents to secure children’s school bus places as soon as possible

The Department of Education is urging parents to secure their children’s school bus places as soon as possible. The deadline for payments for the next academic year is midnight tonight. It can be done through Bus Eireann’s online family portal. There was controversy over a lack of school bus places last year. But the company’s

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Malin Head Coast Guard assist in removal of sick child from Inishturk

The Malin Head Coast Guard was part of a medical evacuation from Inishturk North of the County Mayo coast this week. At around 9 o’clock on Wednesday night, Malin Head Coast Guard called Clifden RNLI to the island to assist in the removal of a sick child. The Irish Coast Guard’s Sligo-based helicopter Rescue 118

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Glenties Cathaoirleach believes lives could have been saved if more cycle and walkways were in place

The Cathaoirleach of the Glenties Municipal District believes if there were more cycle and walkways in place in Donegal, lives could have been saved. Councillor Micheal McClafferty has raised serious health and safety concerns over the lack of infrastructure in some towns and villages in the county. He is calling on Donegal County Council and

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Banks facing further pressure to help defective block homeowners

Banks are being lobbied further to bring forward credible proposals to assist homeowners with defective blocks. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty says many families are facing significant funding shortfalls with the scheme being put forward by Government. The Insurance Redress Focus Group is to come before the Finance Committee in the coming weeks to outline the

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Late night pharmacy openings and long weekends under theft

Late-night pharmacy openings and long weekend opening hours are under threat due to financial pressures. The Irish Pharmacy Union says community pharmacies have had a pay freeze for the last 15 years and this is having an impact on the viability of some pharmacies outside of certain hours One in ten pharmacies are loss making,

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Council says public safety is priority during retained firefighters industrial action

Donegal County Council say their priority during the ongoing industrial action by retained firefighters is to ensure public safety. Retained firefighters have taken the decision to engage in industrial action over the failure by Council’s across the country to address the recruitment and retention crisis. The Council is advising householders to ensure they have working

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