Author name: highlandnews

The Education Minister says she’s “hopeful” Leaving Cert students will know their results date before they sit their exams. Traditionally, results were released in mid-August, but last year they weren’t issued until the second of September, largely down to Covid delays. With just three weeks to go before the exams, thousands of students and third

The State’s watchdog for children’s rights says the Government’s housing policies are failing children. The Ombudsman for Children says child homelessness is the State’s biggest failure when it comes to children’s rights. The OCO (PR: Oh-See-Oh) is calling for a referendum on the right to housing to be held this year. Ombudsman for Children, Dr.

Fuel prices have fallen again. The latest price monitor from the AA shows petrol prices are on average 1 euro 57 cent per litre, down over one percent on April. Diesel prices fell by 2.6% percent in the month to an average of 1 euro 47 cent a litre. However Paddy Comyn, Head of Communications

Gardaí are investigating two recent acts of criminal damage that occurred in the area of Cois Locha, Dungloe. Damage was sustained during both incidents, but entry was not gained. Garda Gráinne Doherty is appealing for information:

Education is the sector from where most complaints were received from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office. Bullying, expulsion or suspension were among some of the most common issues complained about. 2022 proved to be the busiest year for complaints since the establishment of the Office. In its annual report for 2022, Tusla also came under

Donegal County Council is being urged to carry out repair works on a broken fence at a housing estate in Letterkenny which is said to be facilitating anti-social behaviour as well as posing serious safety issues. The boundary fence at Cashel Park Estate was previously in place to protect against a large drop into nearby

The Irish Farmers’ Association is calling on drivers of farm machinery and cars to be careful on the roads, as the silage-cutting season gets underway. There’s expected to be an increase in tractors and trailers on the roads, with the association asking farmers to be aware of traffic building up behind them. The IFA’s Farm

Defective block campaigners are set to present the issue which is impacting thousands across Donegal at the highest level of the EU Commission next month. The visit will mark an escalation of the EU campaign and will be an opportunity to appeal to the EU Commission directly to intervene to ensure those impacted are provided

There is no political ambition within the current Government to deliver a proper redress scheme for defective block homeowners. That’s according to the Chair of the Mica Action Group. Last week, campaigners met with Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien where 13 amendments to the revised scheme were put to them. Lisa Hone says it is just

The latest A5 public inquiry opens in Omagh today, with businesses and residents being urged to use the hearing to highlight their support for the project. West Tyrone MP Orflaith Begley says the proposed new A5 dual carriageway will help cut the number of deaths on one of Ireland’s most dangerous roads, as well as

Former Presidential candidate and entrepreuner Peter Casey says he has no doubt that a fire at a Buncrana property he is developing for use by Ukranian refugees was started deliberately. The building, a former residence for older people, was badly damaged in the blaze. Gardai say officially that the fire is still under investigation, but

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