Author name: highlandnews

Hopes for Vacant Homes Officer in Donegal in coming weeks

It’s hoped that a Vacant Homes Officer will be in place in Donegal County Council in the coming weeks as effort are redoubled to identify and bring vacant and derelict homes back into use. Cllr Gerry McMonagle says then members recently received a briefing on the amount of dereliction in Letterkenny, he and his colleagues […]

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46 years since the disappearance of 6 y/o Mary Boyle

The twin-sister of missing child Mary Boyle is issuing a new appeal for information, on the 46th anniversary of her disappearance. The six-year-old vanished from her grandmother’s home in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, on March 18th, 1977. Her twin-sister, Ann Doherty, wants the state to order a murder investigation and inquest. She says she still wants

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DCC working towards developing a Water Sports building in Downings

Donegal County Council says plans for new water sports facilities in Downings are progressing, with a decision expected soon on a possible location. Cllr John O’Donnell this week asked when work will start on the new water sport facilities in Downings, and also sought clarification on where they are to be located. He was told

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36 year old man arrested in Strabane in connection with a serious assault

A 36 year old man has been arrested in Strabane today in connection with the serious assault of another man in the town on Sunday evening last. It’s reported that a man in his thirties had been assaulted inside a property in St Colman’s Drive on Sunday. He sustained facial injuries during the attack. He

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Day services to return to Donegal and Killybegs Community Hospitals

Day Care Services for older people are set to resume at both Donegal and Killybegs Community Hospitals in the coming weeks. From April 3rd, services will be provided from one to five days, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. Services provided in Day Care will include personal care provision such assistance with showering /bathing

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Prof. Dunlop explains new defective concrete block research paper

A research paper published yesterday claims Mica is not the primary cause of the failure of defective concrete blocks in Donegal. Prof. Paul Dunlop, one of five who worked on the paper, is an affected home owner in the county. He explained the internal sulphate attack process on this mornings Nine til’ Noon show, which

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Saolta CEO urges people not to attend ED unless it’s necessary

The CEO of the Saolta group is urging people to avoid Emergency Departments if possible over the holiday weekend to ensure that people experiencing genuine emergencies can get the treatment they need. On today’s Nine til Noon, Tony Canavan said Letterkenny University Hospital’s Emergency Department has been extremely busy, with record figures this week. He

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Foundations are being used to avoid the definition of a rebuild – Dep McHugh

Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh says he believes regulations are being used to attack the defective concrete blocks redress scheme. Talking on the Nine ’til Noon show this morning, Deputy McHugh said he is not asking affected home owners to downsize and he thinks officials are using housing foundations as a way to avoid a technical

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Path improvements and provision of toilets planned for scenic Buncrana walk

  It’s hoped that substantial works will take place shortly in Buncrana on the shore walk to Fr. Hegartys Grave. Donegal County Council is seeking €80,000 from the Community Recognition Fund to be spent on resurfacing and drainage works, as well as the provision of accessible toilets. The money was sought by the Buncrana Tidy

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Heaton Harris says DUP can’t be rushed into a Windsor Framework decision

The DUP shouldn’t be bounced into making a decision on the Windsor Framework, according to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Chris Heaton Harris has said despite meetings with the US President this week, time and space is important. The DUP say they have a number of issues with the framework which may require

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McClafferty renews call for deer cull after Annagry collision

  It’s emerged a person was injured following a collision with a deer in Annagry in recent days. It’s the latest in a number of incidents in West Donegal involving deer running out in front of vehicles, leading to repeated calls from Councillor Michael McClafferty for a deer cull. A national consultation has been carried

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Council moving to acquire Pearse Road site for Letterkenny Transport Hub

The importance of selecting the right site for the location of the proposed new Transport Hub in Letterkenny has been highlighted by the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District. The issue was raised by Cllr Michael McBride, who said Donegal County Council should host a workshop to discuss the possible location, with the emphasis on a site at

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Woman arrested in connection with Omagh shooting is released without charge

A woman, arrested in connection to the shooting of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell in Omagh has been released without charge. It was the eleventh arrest in relation to the attack last month. The 34 year old was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and assisting offenders. Ten men, ranging in age

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‘Tourism needs to be sustainable, managed and limited’ – Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig

A West Donegal Councillor believes tourism needs to be sustainable, managed and limited for the benefit of all. Councillor Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig says while he welcomes a focus on tourism in the West of the county, property prices, homelessness, the Irish language and the environment are being negatively impacted. He says efforts must

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Appeal issued to help protect hospitals and patients over Bank Holiday weekend

Health officials in the Northwest are appealing to people to consider all care options before attending Emergency Departments over the Bank Holiday weekend. It’s in a bid to protect hospitals and patients in need of urgent and emergency care. In a statement, Letterkenny University Hospital says it regrets that patients will face significant delays due

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Eleventh person arrested in connection with attempted murder of DCI John Caldwell

An eleventh arrest has been made in relation to the attempted murder of police officer John Caldwell in Omagh. A 34 year old woman was taken into custody today, on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and assisting offenders, following the search of a property in the Omagh area. The detective chief inspector was

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Major research paper finds Mica not primary cause of concrete block crisis in Donegal

A major research paper published today claims Mica is not the primary cause of the failure of defective concrete blocks in Donegal. Four properties in Inishowen built between 2001 and 2004 were investigated as part of the research project. Microstructural and chemical analysis combined with thermodynamic modelling was carried out on four homes affected by

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Donegal parents raise concerns about €10 carpark cap at new National Children’s Hospital

A Donegal parent has raised concerns over the proposed €10 carpark fee cap set to be introduced at the new National Children’s Hospital. A private contractor is set to take over the carpark when the hospital opens next year.Aaron Daly, whose child has been attending Crumlin hospital for the past 17 years, told today’s Nine

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Prospect Bar outside Strabane to be demolished to allow for road realignment

Works begin next week to address a major accident black sport outside Strabane. The Roads Service has confirmed that work to demolish the Prospect Bar between Sion Mills and Clady will begin next week as the first phase of a major road safety re-alignment scheme at the Bellspark Road / Orchard Road junction. West Tyrone MLA

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Congressman Boyle says he’ll campaign to get President Biden to Donegal

Congressman Brendan Boyle says he will advocate to President Biden to visit Donegal in the upcoming presidential visit to Ireland. When speaking on RTE Radio 1 Drivetime, the Congressman said “The only campaigning I’ll be doing while I’m there is trying to get him to go up to Donegal and meet with my aunts in

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Inishowen fishers concerned at impact of potential offshore wind development

Fishers in Inishowen and North Donegal are calling for an emergency plan for the sector before any work is done to develop an offshore windfarm off the North West coast. Haven Offshore Array has begun preliminary consultations, ahead of a project to investigate the feasibility of an offshore installation, involving both static and floating turbines.

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Creeslough Community Initiative awarded €500,000

€500,000 has been announced by the Minister for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien, for the Creeslough Together Initiative. The initiative will help support the recovery and sustained growth of the Creeslough community, with a focus on Community Development and Trauma Informed Community work. It is set to be delivered over a three year period

Creeslough Community Initiative awarded €500,000 Read More »

HIQA finds five non-compliances in Lifford Accommodation

The Lifford Accommodation was inspected by HIQA on November 2022. It was first noted that the centre had taken proactive steps to identify service improvement issues but had fallen short in delivering. The results of the report showed 5 non-compliances in the areas of capacity and capability, quality and safety. These included an oversight in

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Ramelton awarded €40,000 under 2023 Historic Towns Initiative

Ramelton is set to receive €40,000 under the 2023 Historic Towns Initiative. It is one of 11 historic towns nationally to received part of the €1.3million funding. The funding will help to provide jobs through heritage-led regeneration, aid the rebuilding of local economies, and address vacancy with heritage as the consistent focal point.  

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Over €70 million invested in cross border health initiatives under CAWT

Over €70m in EU funding has been invested in health and social care projects in the border region since the establishment of the Co-operation and Working Together partnership. This year marks the 30th anniversary of CAWT with more than 100,000 patients and clients benefitting from projects to date and more than 40,000 people receiving training.

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Friends of the Earth criticises government policy on energy poverty

An environmental protection charity says the Government’s policy on energy poverty is “lacking in scale and ambition.” A report by Friends of the Earth found the number of Irish families unable to heat their homes more than doubled in the last year. It also says grants for retrofitting remain skewed, and leaves many groups and

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DCC looking at possibility of purchasing houses where tenants face eviction

Donegal County Council is looking at the possibility of purchasing houses in which tenants are facing eviction. The issue was raised at a Letterkenny Milford Municipal District meeting by Cllr Gerry McMonagle, who said policy up to now is to seek vacant possession, and not purchase homes in which people are still living. Officials confirmed

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