Author name: highlandnews

Sinn Féin Housing Spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin was in Donegal yesterday for a number of meetings to discuss housing needs in the county. He met with the North West Simon Community, and visited the Cathedral Quarter project in Letterkenny. He met with senior housing officials of Donegal County Council, and also visited a number of

The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council says it nay not be possible to hold face to face council meetings without a garda presence. It’s after a special meeting of council was abandoned last evening after a series of adjournments, with gardai called to investigate reports that Cllr Gary Doherty’s mobile phone was forcibly taken from

The special council meeting to discuss the report into five houses in Buncrana has been adjourned until next Monday. The meeting was adjourned five times due to a number of disruptions. We understand Gardai have been called on foot of a claim that a phone belonging to Cllr Gary Doherty has been taken by another

A Donegal GP says we should continue to prioritise the over 65s and immuno-compromised for second Covid-19 boosters. It comes as the number of Covid infected patients in Irish hospitals passed 1,000 today for the first time since April. Latest figures for Letterkenny University Hospital show 61 patients with Covid, one of them in ICU.

Donegal County Council has been told that there is no evidence of corruption in the its purchase of five houses at An Crannla in Buncrana, some of which were found to have deleterious materials in their blocks. Auditors BDO, who were commissioned by the council to carry out an independent review, presented their report last

A former Mayor of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District says Donegal County Council must do more to tackle dereliction, particularly as some unused buildings in the county are becoming increasingly unsafe. Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh says there have been numerous discussions about the issue, and it’s now time for action. Cllr Kavanagh says legislation gives the

The consultation into the provision of CCTV cameras in the Twin Towns ends this week, with a final consultation event on Thursday at the BASE Enterprise Centre in Stranorlar. Its proposed to locate six cameras at six strategic locations in Ballybofey and Stranorlar. Cllr Patrick McGowan says those locations are not written in stone, and

Independent TDs are setting out their stalls ahead of a vote of no confidence in the Government this week. Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh and South Donegal Deputy Marc McSharry are among those expected to vote in support of the government, despite both resigning the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail whips respectively. Donegal Independent Deputy Thomas

Sinn Fein is calling for a full inquiry into the state’s handling of covid. It’s after the Business Post received new leaked recordings showing over-spending by the HSE on PPE. It’s revealed the HSE decided to spend 770 million euro on Personal Protective Equipment, even though it was only allowed spend 205 million euro. Sinn

A fifth of children in Europe are living in income poverty. Social Justice Ireland’s new report shows that amounts to almost 15.8 million children at risk of poverty in the EU. It’s also found 6.9 million children are severely materially deprived and childhood poverty has long-lasting effects on their lives. Michelle Murphy is a Research

Concerns have been raised after 50 students were told last week that their student accommodation booking in Letterkenny would be cancelled for the upcoming year. It’s understood Walnut Grove returned deposits to students, stating that due to upcoming refurbishment works they could no longer house them. Some students affected pre-booked the accommodation as far back

Irish businesses who rely heavily on energy need to prepare for the worst in the months ahead. That’s according to Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe who says gas rationing could very well become a reality in the months ahead. Tomorrow the Nordstream 1 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany is set to close for ten

A new report shows a stark decline in the availability of affordable properties to rent with a Housing Assistance Payment or “HAP”. Across all areas surveyed by the Simon Communities of Ireland – only 657 properties were available to rent, at any price, over the dates surveyed. They also discovered that there were only two

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald is insisting the current Government has run out of road. The party leader has again confirmed they’re pressing ahead with a no-confidence vote in the coalition on Tuesday – after Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh lost the whip by voting against the Government on new mica legislation. Some in Government

There are calls for investigations into planning allegations to be fast-tracked. It follows the sudden resignation of the deputy chair of An Bord Pleanala, Paul Hyde, after controversy over a number of planning decisions. Mr Hyde, originally an architect based in Cork, has denied any conflict of interest. Labour Party spokesperson on housing, Rebecca Moynihan

There are calls for Aer Lingus to appear before the Oireachtas Transport Committee, amidst a slew of cancelled flights. Fine Gael Senator Jerry Buttimer wants the airline’s Chief Executive and senior management to appear in Leinster House after thousands of passengers have been left stranded The airline cancelled more than 100 flights last week alone,

The former Strabane Academy School on the Liskey Road in Strabane has been damaged in a fire which is believed to have been started deliberately. Local councillor Michaela Boyle says the former school buildings have been the target of acts of vandalism and arson in the past, but the damage sustained in this arson attack

A number of independent TDs are planning to back a no-confidence motion in the government. It will take place in the Dail on Tuesday. Galway/Roscommon Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice sits on the Independent Group with Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle, who will be backing the motion. Deputy Fitzmaurice says he does not believe this government is

A number of Orange Order parades are taking place today ahead of the 12th of July. One is being held in Rossknowlagh in Donegal, with eleven more taking place across the North. The Orange Order is also preparing for bonfire night on the 11th – one is being constructed in Larne which is almost 200

The Taoiseach says he welcomes the opportunity a no confidence vote will give the government to focus on its achievements. Sinn Fein’s tabling a motion of no confidence in the government, which will be brought before the Dail on Tuesday. The Rural Independent Group, along with the Labour Party and People Before Profit, will support

  The government’s considering banning the sale of turf online. Draft proposals on restricting the selling of turf will be brought to the Taoiseach and Tánaiste by Green party leader Eamon Ryan next week. One of the planned measures would see a ban on ads being placed on websites, social media and in newspapers. Independent

A community worker in the Milford area has said he is interested in becoming involved in politics, but not with an established party. Declan Meehan, manager of the Milford & District Resource Centre is a regular commentator, and wa speaking on this morning’s nine to noon show. He recently met with Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, leading

Over 5,200 people have been waiting over five years for hospital treatment. According to freedom of information figures, they’re looking for an outpatient, inpatient or day-case appointment. Galway University Hospitals is worst affected – with nearly 800 people waiting over five years. Donegal GP Ciaran Ó Fearraigh says long delays can have serious consequences…………….