Author name: highlandnews

Education Minister Norma Foley has said she is in positive discussions with the Finance Minister in order to advance school projects. Minister Foley had visited Donegal today. A protest organised by the Parents Association of Gaelscoil na gCeithre Máistrí was staged at St. Mary’s National School, Stranorlar this afternoon in response to a number of […]

Protests are continuing at St. Mary’s National School, Stranolar, coinciding with the visit of Education Minister Normal Foley. One of the protestors is a parent who lives near Gaelscoil na gCeithre Máistrí. Derek McCallig says he expected diggers to turn up to the gaelscoil each Monday morning as works were due to commence in the

Protests have began at St. Mary’s National School, Stranorlar in response to the deferral of works at a number of long-awaited school building projects in the county. The Parents Association of Gaelscoil na gCeithre Máistrí have organised the gathering to coincide with Education Minister Norma Foley’s visit to the school. Staff had the opportunity to

The Chair of the International Fund for Ireland has said a visit to Donegal by US President Joe Biden cannot be ruled out. Visits to Mayo and Louth, where President Biden has family connections are being predicted, along with engagements in Dublin and Belfast. However, on today’s Nine til Noon, Paddy Harte told Greg Hughes

The Housing Minister says the eviction ban had to end to protect the rental market. Darragh O’Brien says the government has delivered almost 6,000 new social homes during the moratorium. The winter eviction ban will lapse at midnight tonight. Minister O’Brien insists supports are in place to protect tenants:

The solicitor leading a case on defective blocks through the Commercial Court says it is being fast tracked, and he anticipates a first hearing next year, with the case potentially concluded within 24 months. David Coleman of Coleman Legal says this is a very quick period for such a hearing. Over 1,400 people have already

A protest is taking place outside St Mary’s National School in Stranorlar this afternoon in response to the deferral of a number of long-awaited school building projects in Donegal. The Parents Association of Gaelscoil na gCeithre Máistrí have organised the gathering at 1pm to coincide with Education Minister Norma Foley’s visit to the school. Two

The importance of getting young people involved in politics is being stressed today, as a Donegal student was honoured for their contribution to the Oireachtas essay competition. Thomas Cannon was presented with a highly commended award by Senator Ronan Mullan. Leanne Healy was already awarded the Ulster Regional Award in Leinster House earlier this month.

A Donegal Deputy says the crisis in mental health services for children and young people in Ireland continues to deepen. Latest figures show 4,314 people across the country are waiting for a CAMHS appointment, up 88% from January 2020. Deputy Pearse Doherty called on Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to properly resource the service:

People in the Bridgend area are being invited to view the preferred option for the Bridgend Bypass. Following a number of public consultations, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Donegal County Council are hosting a public display of the Emerging Preferred Option for the N13 Bridgend to the County Boundary Route Improvement Project. The event will take

Donegal County Council is to liaise with Changemakers Donegal to secure Fairtrade Town status for more areas of Donegal. At a meeting this week, Cllr Jack Murray successfully moved a motion seeking support to have three towns in Inishowen – Buncrana. Ballyliffin and Clonmany designated as Fairtrade towns. He’s also secured a commitment from the

Donegal is set to host the 33rd environ conference. The conference is the Irish environmental researchers colloquium and will take place in the ATU campus from April 3rd to April 5th. The theme of this years event is “Evidence and Plans Towards Transitions to a Sustainable Future,” The event opens Monday evening with a public

Senator Ronan Mullan is today in the county to award Donegal student Thomas Cannon with a highly commended award following the Oireachtas Essay Competition. Leanne Healy was already awarded the Ulster Regional Award in Leinster house earlier this year. The Senator stresses the importance of getting young people thinking about and involved in politics..

The HSE is being urged to fully utilise the community radiology diagnostic services in Carndonagh. Councillor Albert Doherty believes additional staff and the service operating on a 5 day a week basis would be hugely beneficial to people in Inishowen. The service at Carndonagh Community Hospital is currently operating two days a week, processing approximately

Government is throwing people to the wolves. That’s what Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty told the Tanaiste during a further attack on the decision to end the eviction ban on Saturday. In response, Micheal Martin said Deputy Doherty’s party was exploiting the housing crisis. During the heated exchanges, the Ceann Comhairle had to intervene between the

Funding of €17 million has been announced for Ireland’s regional airports. €586,600 of that has been allocated to Donegal Airport. Junior Minister Jack Chambers – who has special responsibility for aviation – has defended the government’s allocation, in terms of aviation’s impact on the environment. He says investment in regional hubs is essential for the

The Housing Minister has assured a Donegal mother who has been searching for a home for her and her family for five years that he will be engaging with Donegal County Council on the matter. Emma travelled to the Dail yesterday with her daughter where Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle raised her case. She has been

An Inishowen woman is calling for a public inquiry into maritime safety. It’s after Donna Marie Keenan’s father and cousin died when their boat was hit by a freak wave off Malin Head on July 17th 2018. Donna Marie’s husband was the sole survivor. They spent more than five hours in the water before rescue

Defective block campaigner Paddy Diver says ‘frustration is boiling to a different level’ as homeowners continue to await the implementation of the revised redress scheme. He claims representations being made on behalf of affected homeowners is simply a vote catching exercise. Paddy has repeated his call for a national housing agency to be put in

Over €28m in Commercial Rates was collected by Donegal County Council last year. That is well below the €43m worth of commercial rates deemed collectable. At the beginning of 2022, €14.6m of commercial rates arrears were carried over from the pervious year. The total value of rates bills issued during 2022 was €37,293,000. However, €4.7m

The stigma around people who self-harm can impact their ability to rent a home or find a job, according to new research. Of almost 800 people surveyed by the Samaritans, 77% said they would offer help to someone who self-harmed. However, more than half said they would not rent an apartment to someone who self-harmed,

The Education Minister has been told that the decision to refer almost 60 school projects for review by the Department of Public Expenditure is causing deep concern in Donegal, where a number of long awaited projects have been delayed even further. Minister Norma Foley is due to visit Donegal tomorrow for a number of engagements,

A West Donegal councillor says the county has the potential to become a national leader in the provision of services for disabled people. Cllr Michael Choilm MacGiolla Easbuig was speaking after a meeting of the council’s Disabilities Committee this week, at which they were told a tender for the promised Changing Places facility in Letterkenny

Donegal County Council has supported a call for separate fire stations to be retained in Ballyshannon and Bundoran, and called for both stations to be upgraded. The call has come from Cllr Barry Sweeney, who told members he does not accept the view of officials that an amalgamated option is the best way forward. As

The European Parliament is marking the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/ Good Friday Agreement. Today’s plenary session began with a special ceremony in Brussels. European Parliament president, Roberta Metsola opened the session this afternoon……..

A Senior Trip Advisor Executive will be one of the main speakers at for Donegal County Council’s annual Tourism Conference tomorrow morning. Over 100 tourism providers in the county have already registered for the conference, which takes place tomorrow morning in Letterkenny’s Mount Errigal Hotel, with further delegate registration available in the morning. The theme

A Buncrana Councillor says the demolition of a semi-detached property in the town affected by defective blocks is an example of penny pinching by the Housing Department. Councillor Jack Murray was reacting to a picture published in the Inishowen Independent which shows how one semi-detached property was demolished while the adjoining property which is also

Irish MEPs have put political differences aside to commemorate the Good Friday Agreement. The European Parliament is marking the upcoming 25th anniversary with events this afternoon. Midlands North West MEP Chris MacManus is co-hosting the Brussels event alongside the Greens, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. He says the Good Friday Agreement is rightly lauded in

The Dail has heard that a Donegal mother has been searching for five years to find a home for her and her four children. Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle was speaking during Labour’s confidence motion in the Dail today during which he expressed his lack of confidence. He highlighted the ongoing housing pressures facing people in