Author name: highlandnews

The ISPCA has launched an emergency appeal for support because it says Ireland is swamped with unwanted dogs. Charity inspectors have taken in almost 700 dogs in the first quarter of 2023 alone. It says the four shelters in Wicklow, Donegal, Longford and Mallow have reached full capacity – and it’s renting space elsewhere. Denise

The Tánaiste is in Belfast today for meetings with the parties of Northern Ireland. It’s Michael Martin’s first visit since Sinn Féin secured the most seats in last month’s local council election. Andrew Muir from the Alliance Party was the first to meet with him today:

Councillor Martin Harley says more firefighters need to be employed. However, he believes there needs to be a change to employment terms and conditions. Councillor Harley says efforts must be made to make joining the fire service more attractive:

The Government’s failure to address the Retained Fire Service recruitment and retention crisis is putting the lives of firefighters and the public at risk. That’s according to Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn who is calling on the Government to immediately intervene. Members of the retained fire service commenced industrial action yesterday. SIPTU said the organisation will

There’s calls for a change in regulations governing septic tanks and water well grants. As it stands, to avail of the septic tank grant, it must have been registered by February 2013. Councillor Michéal Naughton says this leaves many at a disadvantage. He is calling on the relevant Ministers to overhaul the regulations to protect

A three year action plan to boost Ireland’s island communities is being launched today. The Minister for Rural and Community Development will outline 80 commitments to support employment, remote working and boost tourism. Minister Heather Humphreys will launch the national policy on Arranmore Island today. She says the ‘Our Living Islands” will improve a range

4,807 students are due to sit State exams in Donegal today. 2,066 pupils will sit the Leaving Cert, 170 Leaving Cert Applied and 2,571 students will face their Junior Cert in the county. Nationally, a record 135,000 pupils have registered to sit the exams. Both Junior and Leaving Certs will sit English papers from 9.30

A Donegal Deputy says the root causes of crime must be addressed. While welcoming legislation to make recruiting a child to commit a crime an offense, Deputy Thomas Pringle says the rise in the involvement of young people in crime is very concerning. Figures show 400 drug offences were committed by children and adolescents in

There is fears some day care centres in Donegal may close due to a lack of committee volunteers. The Donegal Local Development Company has launched a campaign in a bid to increase the numbers. Martin McDevitt is the Assistant Community Development Manager at the DLDC. He says the public aren’t aware that such facilities are

Letterkenny Community Childcare are kicking off fundraising efforts this Sunday in a bid to buy a new premises. Following the presentation of a number of cracks, testing was undertaken for defective concrete block. The results showed a compromise of 35%. Geraldine Burke, manager of the childcare facility says one crack is on a load bearing

Gardaí are seeking information regarding an alleged assault in Malin Head, near Banba’s Crown. It’s reported that the incident took place on Saturday morning last at around 10.45am when a man and a woman met a man, woman and two teenagers who had two dogs with them. The woman alleges she was assaulted by the

The arrest of a leading member of the Kinahan cartel is being heralded as “the beginning of the end” for the crime gang. Liam Byrne was detained in Majorca on Sunday after travelling from his base in Dubai. UK authorities are trying to extradite him to face charges there, after investigations involving Gardaí and a

On-call firefighters have been staging industrial action since the early hours of this morning. SIPTU says local authorities have failed to address the recruitment and retention crisis in the brigade. Firefighters won’t be attending training drills or testing their life saving equipment like breathing apparatus. Kevin McKinney, SIPTU Organiser says a meeting is taking place

The current stalemate over the stalled Stormont parliament will be discussed in Washington today. The Sinn Fein leader in the North, Michelle O’Neill, will tell US politicians the DUP no longer has the mandate to prevent the Assembly from functioning. Her visit comes ahead of a similar trip to the US capital this week by

A new campaign’s being launched today for those finding it difficult to repay their loans, credit cards or mortgages. The Banking and Payments Federation is joining forces with MABS to encourage anyone in difficulty because of the cost-of-living crisis, to speak to their lender. A new website, DealingWithDebt.ie, has information for anyone in trouble meeting

An Inishowen Councillor wants Malin, Carndongh and Culdaff to feature more on signage in the North. Councillor Albert Doherty says while signs are in place for those travelling via the A2 through Derry for Letterkenny, Buncrana and Moville, others areas of importance have been omitted. Councillor Doherty says Donegal County Council needs to be more

Relay for Life 2023 has come to a close. It’s expected that over €100,000 has been raised as a result of the event. Chairperson Robert O’Connor is stepping down after 12 years. He believes fresher ideas means only positive things moving forward:

A former hotelier in Donegal says recruiting staff in the hospitality sector will remain challenging unless the sector offers better terms and conditions to staff. It comes following a recent Fáilte Ireland report found restaurants across the country are struggling to find staff as the tourism industry bounces back from Covid. Former General Manager of

A charity that helps families bereaved by crashes says its door is always open. The reminder from Life After comes following the conclusion on the A5 public inquiry. The dual carriageway upgrade – which connects the north west to Donegal and Dublin – was first approved in 2007, but has been halted due to legal

The Irish Pharmacy Union says it’s rapidly losing faith in the Health Minister. It’s accusing Stephen Donnelly of leaving Ireland’s 1 thousand 900 pharmacies in the dark over future funding. The Minister is legally obliged to review the funding model by the end of this month. Interim Secretary General of the IPU, Derek Reilly says

Derry and Dublin have both been nominated in the 2023 World Travel Awards. They’ve made the shortlist for Europe’s Leading Festival & Event Destination. The capital has also been nominated for Leading City Break Destination, with Dublin’s Convention Centre in the running for Europe’s top conference centre. Outgoing Mayor of Derry, Sandra Duffy thinks the

A road in Ranafast was unable to be fully completed due to funding. An independent councillor expressed his disappointment when the road fell as what he described as ’85 yards short’ of the local community centre. Cllr. Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig says the cost to finish the road now be more costly than if