Author name: highlandnews

The Implementation Plan for the National Housing Strategy for Disabled People has been broadly welcomed. It places an emphasis on people with disabilities being able to live independently. The plan also focuses on inclusion within communities, while ensuring their needs are met. Claire Feeney, Director of Services and Inclusion with the Housing Agency, says the […]

Donegal County Council has been criticised for the lack of progress on a recycling centre on Tory Island which was started five years ago. The facility remains unfinished and has resulted in recycling waste being left lying on the island as a waste collector has refused to engage with the facility until the works are

The official launch of the Earagail Arts Festival takes place today. This year’s festival, running from July 8th to July 23rd features an expanded programme of events. The annual event will see activities taking place on the Gaeltacht islands off West Donegal to the East coast of the county and Inishowen. Speaking ahead of this

A Donegal Deputy has told the Dail that people cannot afford for the housing crisis to worsen. The Central Bank has forecast that Government will miss its housing targets up until 2025. Deputy Pearse Doherty says the bleak forecast is deeply concerning. He pressed Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath to admit the Government’s housing plan

Planning is underway to provide additional student accommodations for TU’s, including Atlantic Technological University. The universities in question have been given eight weeks to indicate how much accommodation would be needed in the regions. Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris says it is a significant milestone in the development of State supported policy on student

The outgoing Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council has said every effort will be made to minimise disruption as a result of the closure of Portsalon Pier next month for improvement works which are set to last until October. A meeting on the pier heard opposition to the closure, with a number of businesses saying they

  One of the bereaved Creeslough families has questioned the council’s plans, saying they don’t believe that anything should be done until there is clarity on what is to happen to the site of the explosion in October of last year. On today’s Nine til Noon Show, Hugh Harper, who lost his daughter Leona in

The Tánaiste has responded angrily to protesters at the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy. Micheál Martin was opening the event which looks at the country’s foreign, security, and defence policies. But as he began speaking, protesters heckled him, chanted anti-war slogans and unfurled a banner. As they were escorted out of the lecture hall

Tomorrow night, June 23rd, is St. John’s Eve, which traditionally was a night when fires were lit at sunset, and had to be watched and tended until early morning. The bonfire tradition remains strong in parts of Donegal, with Donegal County Council particularly anxious that people do not waste materials such as mattresses, tyres, and

The Chair of Donegal County Council’s Creeslough Working Group is urging people to attend a public consultation at Massinass Hall today as work continues on two projects. Director of Services Liam Ward says the open event between 2pm and 8pm will update people on progress with the village plan, which has already been the subject

The Dail has been told that the West and North West is being used as a picturesque region in which to launch plans, but is being ignored when it comes to their implementation. Sligo Leitrim and South Donegal Deputy Marc MacSharry hit out at Transport Minister Eamon Ryan, who recently indicated to a meeting of

The Government is being urged to allow women undergoing cancer treatment defer their maternity leave. A campaign called “Leave our Leave” is being launched by the Irish Cancer Society today. It says legislation in its current form affects up to 60 women every year, and it has been described as “unfair”. At present, men can

Despite being the 6th largest hospital in Ireland, Letterkenny University Hospital is not given a fair allocation of resources. That’s according to Donegal Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn. He addressed the Taoiseach yesterday, to question if Government will support the plan launched by the hospitals management. In his response Leo Varadkar said while he has not

Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle is calling on the Irish Government to engage in proper consultations with communities prior to the arrival of refugees.While speaking in Strasbourg for the plenary session of the Council of Europe, he says simple acts should be included in the draft resolution on the integration of migrants and refugees: benefits for

A safeguarding expert from overseas is to be appointed to help the government in improving care standards at nursing homes. It’s after an unpublished report suggested a sexual assault at a HSE-run facility in 2020 was not a once-off. A healthcare assistant was jailed for 11 years for the rape of resident known only as

The Minister for Justice says laws to support the Special Criminal Court will be renewed next week. It’s despite a review which recommended changes to Ireland’s counter-terrorism laws. The report, which examined the Offences Against the State Acts, found the laws should be repealed and replaced. Justice Minister Helen McEntee says although the findings of

The government has cleared the way for three new vet schools as part of a package of 1300 new college places each year in healthcare, pharmacy and veterinary courses. The ATU is one of three colleges identified as the location for a vet school, with much of its work to be based at the ATU’s

Slaintecare has committed to fund an extension to a first of its kind virtual ward for people with COPD in Donegal. The Community Virtual Ward supports individuals in their own homes and has been recognised at European level for offering services as an alternate pathway to hospital based COPD care The scheme was rolled out

The Dail has been told that bureaucracy is costing schools thousands of euro because they are not being supported when they take in children from asylum seeker and refugee families. Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn told the Dail this morning that schools are being penalised for nurturing and supporting children. He raised the example of Sessiaghoneill National

The Cathaoirleach of the Glenties Municipal District fears there’s the potential for criminals to exploit the lack of Garda resources in Donegal. The need for more garda vehicles and personnel for the county has long been a cause for concern and has been raised with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Councillor Michael McClafferty says Donegal cannot

The Government is being warned not to overspend in this year’s Budget. Ireland’s economy is projected to grow by 3 point 7 per cent this year – more than previously expected. The Central Bank’s quarterly bulletin also shows unemployment is now below 4 per cent – the first time since 2004. Director of Economics and

Mental health services are at breaking point across the country due to lack of staff and burnout. SIPTU says it’s imperative staffing is dealt with as a matter of urgency to prevent people leaving the sector. The trade union says staffing issues are particularly acute in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. SIPTU’s John

The Tanaiste says the British Government and the DUP are continuing to work through issues which are preventing a return to the Stormont Assembly. The institutions collapsed in January 2017 when the two biggest parties – the DUP and Sinn Féin – clashed over a green energy scandal. Since then, several attempts to broker a

The new Cathaoirleach of the Donegal Municipal District says he wants to see more cooperation between MDs for the good of the whole county. Independent Cllr Tom Conaghan says his first duty will always be to his own area, but it’s important that members look beyond their own patch and always seek to ensure that

Those wishing to climb Errigal Mountain are asked not to do so from the 5th to the 7th of July. This is due to works to take place involving an overhead waste removal. It’s apart of an on going project to put paths down to protect the mountain from erosion caused by footfall. Josephine Kelly,