Author name: highlandnews

The Minister for Local Government has issued a fresh appeal to Retained Firefighters to back Labour Court recommendations aimed at settling a long running dispute. SIPTU is recommending its members reject the proposals in a row over working conditions. Minister Darragh O’Brien insists they provide for a significant improvement to the work-life balance of retained

The Cathaoirleach of the Glenties Municipal District is urging people rather than sharing videos of criminal incidents online to contact Gardai in the first instance. There has been a steady increase in people sharing footage of fights online in recent years. Speaking on today’s Nine til Noon Show, Councillor Michael McClafferty fears the sharing of

Don’t click on links in text messages, never give away security details like passwords, and don’t respond to messages asking for personal information. That’s advice coming from the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland, as it reports an 8.8% rise in fraud and scams. Its research shows fraud losses reached nearly €85 million in 2022.

Wind and rain is likely to continue into the weekend. A status yellow warning is in place this afternoon, which impacts 25 counties. Rain is expected to ease by around 7pm, however will continue until midnight in Donegal. Matthew Martin, Meteorologist with Met Éireann says people should expect flooding in places:

The Chair of the Joint Policing Committee in Donegal says the campaign to ensure the county remains a stand alone garda division continues, and he remains hopeful the decision to merge Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim will be abandoned. Cllr Gerry McMonagle made the comments on today’s Nine til Noon Show as he addressed the need

A Donegal priest says a fact based sex education system is vitally important, and must have respect at its core. However, speaking on today’s Nine til Noon Show, Fr John Joe Duffy said parents should be given the right to opt out from the programme being taught in schools. The Friday Panel was discussing the new

A Donegal TD says homeowners affected by defective blocks must be included on the Implementation Steering Group which is to be established to work through issues as they arise in the new redress scheme. In a submission to an Oireachtas Housing Committee at which the defective blocks issue was discussed, Deputy Joe McHugh welcomed the

Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 1.9 per cent in 2022. The Environmental Protection Agency says the drop was driven by higher fuel prices, increased renewable energy, behavioural change and regulation. It also found agriculture emissions decreased by 1.2 percent, and residential emissions decreased by 12.7. Transport emissions increased by 6 per cent in 2022

The Tanaiste is being urged to provide assistance for Iceland workers. Letterkenny’s Iceland store was one of a number across the country to close its doors this week. Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle in the Dail, raised concerns that some workers are still awaiting outstanding pay. He says the treatment of workers is unacceptable:   The

HIQA says the vaccination for chicken pox can to be added to the childhood immunisation programme. The Heath and Information Authority have said the jab is safe and effective. 1 in 250 children are hospitalised per year as a result of the viral infection. Dr. Conor Teljeur says there’s two approaches that could be used,

A senior official in the Department of Housing has stressed the Defective Concrete Block Scheme is not a redress or compensation scheme, and is being provided voluntarily by government. Assistant General Secretary Feargal O’Coigligh, who heads up the department’s remediation programme, stressed the new scheme is a marked improvement on its predecessor………… On the need for further

Loganair has restarted it’s Donegal Glasgow service as part of Donegal Airport’s summer timetable. The flights will operate on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays during the summer months of July, August and September. So far the service has been received well by the public, with airport management saying it has already attracted a high level of

The Chair of the Mica Action Group has told an Oireachtas Committee that people will remain trapped in houses afflicted by defective blocks until government removes a number of roadblocks. Lisa Hone told the committee that the biggest myth is that this is a 100% scheme., saying the reality is that it is 100% “except

The mother of a boy who got cut on broken glass in an under 13s match is appealing for an end to the anti-social behaviour on the grounds. Denise Moore’s son, Jason, slid to keep the ball in play when he cut his arm and wrist on a broken bottle. As a result they spent

The Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage meeting to discuss the Defective Block Scheme regulations and review of I.S. 465 with stakeholders is continuing at Leinster House. In her opening address, Chairperson of MAG, Lisa Hone highlighted contradictions in governments actions and says she believes the efforts made for homeowners, correlates to their

Donegal TD Thomas Pringle calls for more investment into soccer clubs in rural areas, with an emphasis on improving access and inclusion. The Independent deputy told the Dail support is needed for clubs like St. Catherine’s in Killybegs, as there are too many teams relying on one pitch which is often waterlogged and closed under

Donegal County Council is to write to the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh to explore whether they can embark on a joint initiative to bring down the cost of ferry services between Belfast and Cairnryan and Larne and Stranraer. They issue was raised at Glenties Municipal District this week by Cllr Michael Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig, who

The Taoiseach’s hit back at criticism from the opposition over remarks he made about the housing crisis. He insists he is not blaming those who reject multiple offers of social housing for the problem. Leo Varadkar yesterday highlighted the issue as one of the reasons why the homeless figures remain high. In the Dáil, Donegal

Just 27 rooms at the National Children’s Hospital have been completed, out of a target of 3,000. The board of the hospital has told the Oireachtas Health Committee that the contractor for the build, BAM, has failed to provide a progress report since February. The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board has added BAM achieved 67

Deputy Thomas Pringle commented it’s important for the nation to consider what it wants from RTÉ moving forward. Speaking on this morning’s Nine ’til Noon show, he said the conversation needs to be kept a light. He added that he believes the root of the problem is the dual funding of the broadcaster from both

Bundoran RNLI responded to a call out on Sunday last when six stand-up paddleboarders got into difficulty off Rosnowlagh. The group consisted of two adults and four children. The Rescue 118 helicopter were also deployed. One of the six had managed to raise the alarm using their mobile phone which they had stored in a

Donegal TD and Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty claimed a change of government will be necessary to resolve the housing crisis. During his address Pearse Doherty emphasised rising figures excludes the hidden homeless who are relying on the goodwill of loved ones for a place to live. He told the Dáil that no county