Author name: highlandnews

News, Sport, Farm News and Obituaries on Thursday March 2nd………..

The Chair of the HSE’s Regional Health Forum has welcomed indications from the HSE that they intend to bring all buildings on the St Conal’s Campus in Letterkenny back into use, including the original 1901 building, which is now in a state of dereliction. Cllr Gerry McMonagle had asked the meeting what the HSE’s long

The Agriculture Minister says gorse burning is acceptable but only when it’s done appropriately. The practice is banned from March 1st to September 1st to protect wildlife. But firefighters in Cork and Kerry have been tackling large fires in those counties throughout February. Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue says it is acceptable when done right:

Businesses in the north are hopeful the new Windsor Framework will mean frictionless trade between Britain and Northern Ireland. Announcing the new Brexit deal on Monday, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak said it removes any sense of an Irish Sea border. The green and red lanes are designed to cut paperwork at ports. Selina Horshi

The Transport Minister has again acknowledged the impact the absence of a rail network in Donegal has had on the county. In responding to Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív in the Dail today, Minister Eamon Ryan says the county has suffered for decades because of a lack of infrastructure. A strategic rail review is currently at

The Health Minister has commended the work of emergency services for their response to the fire at Wexford General Hospital yesterday. The majority of the 220 patients have now been evacuated from the hospital, with 41 still onsite. Plans are still being worked out by Health Officials, but it has been confirmed that the hospital’s

The Agriculture Minister says Government will consider taxing the two state owned energy providers if prices don’t fall. Reports today suggest ESB-Electric Ireland and Bord Gais could face a ‘special dividend’ – used by the state to offset high bills for consumers. The Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, told the Dail yesterday he expects householders to see

Around 1,900 AIB customers who have experienced difficulties repaying their loans have had their debt written down by over 90% as part of final settlements. The bank is before the Oireachtas Finance Committee today, in the wake of the agreement reached with former Kilkenny hurler DJ Carey. Jim O’Keeffe, managing director of retail banking at

A Donegal councillor says the HSE must consider whether a special package of incentives is necessary to attract people to work in Inishowen. When he asked a series of questions about respite services in North Inishowen at a meeting of the HSE Regional Health Forum, Cllr Albert Doherty progress is possible at Riverwalk House, but

The Taoiseach has told the Dail that issues around engineering costs being faced by families moving through the Defective Block Redress Scheme are being considered by the Housing Minister. Leo Varadkar was responding to Donegal TD Thomas Pringle, who told the Dail a Donegal family has seen less than 70 per cent cost recovery after

Nearly 5,000 farmers from across Donegal will benefit from the new ACRES scheme, according to Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue. He says ACRES proved to be a huge success among farmers across the country with over 46,000 applications being made for 30,000 initial places. Minister McConalogue confirmed today that places have been secured for all applicants.

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP challenged the British Prime Minister in the House of Commons today in relation to maximising the benefits of dual market access. Mr. Eastwood highlighted importance in investing in infrastructure and higher education. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak echoed the sentiments, saying he can commit to such investment in order to best

Ambulance delays in Donegal are back in the spotlight. Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle has told the Dail that the ambulance service is in crisis, similar to the rest of the health care system. He’s called for at least three additional ambulances and crews to be delivered to Donegal. Deputy Pringle says there are simply not

There’s fears over the future of the Lettermacaward Health Centre. A public meeting is to be held this week to address the temporary closure of the centre. The meeting will get underway on Saturday at 8pm in St Brigid’s Hall. Councillor Michéal Choilm MacGiolla Easbuig says the area cannot afford to lose this vital service:

An Inishowen Councillor says he will keep the pressure on to ensure the full reopening of Carndonagh Community Hospital as soon as possible. A number of beds at the facility were closed following a HIQA inspection. Inspectors raised concerns over fire safety and highlighted issues with the premises as well as the decoration of the

A group of 4 women from Inishowen have formed The Redress Focus Groups to deal with issues they face as defective block homeowners. The groups have established 15 focus groups in relation to 15 major issues. A meeting is taking place tomorrow evening at 7pm in An Grianan Hotel, Burt to showcase progress made by

Road Hauliers – who’ve been driven to despair since Brexit – say they still see “lots of problems” ahead despite the new Windsor Framework. The deal would replace the Northern Ireland Protocol with green and red lanes for goods coming into the North. The head of the Road Haulage Association, Eugene Drennan, is welcoming the

Donegal Sheep farmers are at their wits ends. That’s according to Deputy Marian Harkin. In the Dáil yesterday she expressed the need of a aid package and a sheep forum to support these farmers. Minister Martin Heydon responded saying processes have been put in place to open more market opportunities for Irish sheep farmers.

The Chair of the HSE’s Regional Health Forum says he’s satisfied with answers he was given about the future of the NoWDOC service at a meeting this week. Officials confirmed they do plan to move the clinical element of the service into the Community Hub on the Kilmacrennan Road opposite Letterkenny University Hospital. However, they

The Dail has been told that Housing Minister Darragh intends coming to Donegal to meet with residents affected by defective blocks. Responding to questions from Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn, Junior Housing Minister Kieran O’Donnell said regulations governing the revised scheme are now with the councils, and he expects progress very shortly. Deputy MacLochlainn asked if the

The Chair of the Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District says there must be flexibility in the way Uisce Eireann and its contractors deal with traffic when work gets underway on the Ballybofey Stranorlar Waste Water Scheme later this month. An online meeting is taking place involving the contractors and local business representatives. Cllr Patrick McGowan says

Rishi Sunak’s in Northern Ireland to sell his new Brexit deal – which he says he’s ‘over the moon’ with. The British Prime Minister says the so-called Windsor Framework will ensure what’s on the shelves in shops in Great Britain will also be available in the North. He believes he’s done enough to address concerns