Author name: highlandnews

Junior Transport Minister Jack Chambers has launched a public consultation to inform a Mid-term Review of the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025. This Programme supports Ireland’s smallest airports, and among its initiatives is the Public Service Obligation air services between Donegal and Dublin. Meanwhile, the government is being urged to support the resumption of an air

Donegal County Council has been told that by laws need to be introduced at piers and harbours in Inishowen which are set to become much busier on foot of changes introduced a week ago by Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue. He announced that Bungee, Glengad and Malin were being designated as EU entry ports for Northern

Nurses say they might have to strike later this year, as they cannot face another winter of overcrowding. A motion on safe staffing passed unanimously at the INMO’s annual conference in Kerry earlier. If significant improvements aren’t made, all members of the nurses’ union will be balloted this coming September. Sarah Maher, an ED nurse

RTE’s decision to broadcast the Coronation of Britain’s King Charles’ has provoked a mixed reaction. People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy claims the event is a ‘very obvious attempt’ to rehabilitate the monarchy. He believes the broadcaster shouldn’t provide four hours of coverage on Saturday. However, Donegal Commentator and Harvey’s Point Hotel Ambassador Noel Cunningham,

A Donegal based senator says a taxi driver refused to drop her home because she lived in a halting site. Eileen Flynn was raising issues on racism in Ireland and is the only member of the travelling community represented in the Oireachtas. Senator Flynn said she called the Gardaí saying the driver was committing a

The European Central Bank is increasing interest rates by a quarter of one per cent. It’s the seventh increase in a year and will impact tracker mortgages immediately. Announcing the move, the ECB says inflation has remained too high for too long. President of the ECB, Christine Lagarde, has indicated there could be further interest

The HSE will move away from the ‘winter plan’ format and create a new system to deal with year-round problems facing emergency departments. Its Chief Executive says a new strategy will take effect from June, which aims to ‘consistently’ respond to issues with urgent care. 447 people were waiting for a bed in the country’s

It’s expected interest rates will be raised by a quarter of one percent this afternoon. The European Central Bank is to announce the measure as it continues to battle with high inflation. Anyone on a tracker mortgage will see an immediate increase in their rates, while some variable rate holders could be impacted later in

The British Prime Minister is being urged to invoke powers to immediately grant planning permission for the A5. Following a series of tragedies on the route, most recently, claiming the lives of three family members last week, Donegal Senator Niall Blaney has written to Rishi Sunak imploring on him to give the go ahead for

A Donegal pharmacist doesn’t agree with concerns being raised over the use of codeine. Margaret O’Doherty of Raphoe Pharmacy says while it is an addictive medication, not everyone who takes it is an addict. There are ongoing discussions which could see codeine banned. Ms O’Doherty says it is very worrying for people who have been

The INMO’s Industrial Relations Officer for the North West, Neal Donohoe says while there has been an increase in recruitment at Letterkenny University Hospital, staff are still struggling to deal with the high attendances at the hospital. He says 60 additional nurses are required in the medical, surgical and emergency departments currently. Mr Donohoe says

A woman has been waiting for almost 18 hours now in the Emergency Department at Letterkenny University Hospital to be treated. Mary, presented at the ED at around 5:40pm yesterday evening with a suspected clot. Speaking on the Nine til Noon Show from the Emergency Department at the hospital, she says has still not been

The Cathaoirleach of the Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District says the closure of the Castlefinn Credit Union is a huge blow. The Ballybofey & Stranorlar Credit Union announced that the service in Castlefinn would cease to operate on July 2nd due to the termination of its tenancy at the premises. Efforts are being made to secure

A West Donegal Councillor believes footage of illegal dumpers should be posted on social media as a deterrent. It’s after rubbish including a chair, a strimmer and a children’s push trike were discovered discarded close to Muckish Grotto. Councillor Michael McClafferty previously called for CCTV cameras to be installed at fly tipping hot spots. He

It’s claimed people with disabilities have been locked-down in their homes for the last 10 years. The Regional Group of TDs is bringing forward a Dáil motion today, calling on the government to improve disability transport schemes. They say a number of supports and grants have been withdrawn or closed to new applicants since 2013.

Over 850 new nursing posts are being created. The Health Minister has announced a 25 million euro investment to boost staffing levels in the country’s acute hospitals. It comes on day two of the Irish Nurses’ and Midwives’ Organisation’s annual conference – which Stephen Donnelly is due to address tomorrow. Labour’s Health Spokesperson, Duncan Smith

The Dail has been told that a decade after evidence began to emerge of defective blocks in Donegal, it’s unbelievable that some quarries still haven’t been audited and inspected. Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn was speaking during a debate on the second stage of the Construction Safety Licencing Bill, which concludes provision for inspection of quarries and training

  A public meeting will take place in Killygordon tomorrow evening to discuss the future development of the area. The event will at the Oaktree Community Centre will include the provision of feedback on the various grants and funding obtained to date and how they will benefit the community directly. There will also be an

Donegal County Council’s Housing Committee has been told that the authority must look at acquiring some larger properties to meet the need that exists in the county. The call came from Cllr Gerry McMonagle who told members that there are many larger families on the council’s housing list who will not be catered for under

Letterkenny is the most popular destination for Airbnb bookings by travellers from the Republic of Ireland this year. Bundoran features at number 10. The top 5 destinations were Letterkenny, Inishmore, Rosslare, Dingle and Schull. Spain, Italy and the US top the international list for Irish travellers is year. There are three destinations in Spain in

Fórsa claims people working in councils are overworked following an exodus of staff over the past few years. The trade union says around 10,000 people have left their jobs at local authorities since the financial crisis. It adds that understaffed departments is leading to staff working above their grade while being paid less. Richy Carrothers

  The Moville Tidy Towns group has launched a major initiative to combat dog fouling in the area. Signage has been erected around the town reminding dog owners of their responsibilities, and lanyards and special waste bag holders will be distributed to dog walkers in the coming weeks. It follows a spate of thefts of

The manager of the Donegal Domestic Violence Centre believes there needs to be an overhaul of the current court structure. It comes as a report from the Department of Justice and National Women’s Council, found the Irish legal system is traumatizing and revictimizing those who’ve suffered domestic abuse. It also found some victims feel belittled,

A West Donegal Councillor believes people should register on the social housing waiting list as soon as they turn 18. Councillor Micheal Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig says with the lengthy waiting lists facing people in need of housing, the sooner a person is on the waiting list, the more of a chance they stand. He

Donegal County Council is being urged to keep the pressure on to ensure the flood relief schemes announced yesterday are delivered as soon as possible. Minister for the OPW Patrick O’Donovan confirmed that a new pilot delivery model for flood relief schemes in Letterkenny and Donegal Town is to commence shortly. Councillor Noel Jordan says

There are calls for Revenue to change its policy on using the rent tax credit to pay off tax bills. It’s emerged some renters have had their €500 payment withheld – in order to pay off liabilities accrued as a result of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme in 2020. Revenue says it can claim any

The number of text and investment scams, targeting older people, is soaring. The Banking and Payments Federation says it’s the reason behind its FraudSMART awareness event, taking place in Dún Laoghaire in Dublin later this morning. Older people are invited to go along to learn more about how to spot and defend themselves against fraudsters.

Sinn Féin is calling on the government to impose a three-month price cap on energy. In a motion coming before the Dáil later, the party will also call for the Environment Minister’s new windfall tax on the super-profits of companies to be back-dated to the price peak in 2022. Sinn Féin’s Environment Spokesperson, Darren O’Rourke

Nurses are demanding urgent action on hospital overcrowding. Latest figures from the INMO show just over 10,000 patients, including 297 children, were admitted to hospital without a bed last month. Yesterday there were over 700 patients left on trolleys. Members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation will gather in Killarney today for the union’s

As meetings to discuss the draft County Development Plan take place at all five of the county’s municipal districts over the coming days, a North Inishowen councillor has again repeated his belief that water from the Eddie Fullerton Dam should not be sent to other areas of the county until the peninsula’s needs are met

The OPW is being urged to work with Donegal County Council to boost the number of people visiting the Newmills Corn and Flax Mill on the outskirts of Letterkenny. Local Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh raised the issue with OPW Minister Patrick O’Donovan and his officials while they were in Donegal yesterday. After meeting them at a

OPW Minister Patrick O’Donovan today performed  the official opening of the new outdoor classroom at the Glebe House and Gallery in Gartan. The special guests were pupils from Gartan NS. He described the structure as is an excellent example of the OPW’s Biodiversity Action Strategy in action, showing how biodiversity awareness can inform the management

Nursing Homes Ireland says the level of discrimination in Donegal in the State’s funding of nursing homes is escalating. It comes as latest figures show an 85% difference in the funding of HSE and private/ voluntary nursing homes in Donegal. The average fee payable for a HSE run nursing home resident is €831 more than