Author name: highlandnews

The government has been told a policy of positive discrimination in favour of the North West and West is vital if the widening income gap between the region and the rest of the state is to be addressed. In the Dail this morning, Sinn Fein’s Rural Development spokesperson Claire Kerrane called for a significant investment […]

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told the Dail the Department of Transport will look into the recent series of flight cancellations at Donegal Airport in Carrickfinn. Deputy Thomas Pringle told the Dail that a number of recent cancellations were explained away as ‘technical issues’ by the operator, but that he argued needs to be explained more

Serious safety concerns have been raised about the safety of school children in Burtonport, who are forced to walk along a busy main road due to the absence of a footpath. There have been repeated calls for a footpath to be developed on the route in Burtonport between the local school and community centre which

Police in Tyrone have launched an attempted murder investigation after an off-duty officer was shot just outside Omagh. The shooting happened at a sports complex on the Killyclogher Road. The senior off-duty PSNI officer was shot multiple times at a sports complex between Omagh and Killyclogher shortly before 8 o clock last night. It’s understood

The Carndonagh community have rallied behind the Carndonagh Traders Association after it fell victim to a scam at the end of last year. The association opened just before the pandemic and has gained great significance in the community through lockdown and beyond. A go fund me page and St. Patricks Day draw initiative have seen

A Donegal Deputy has hit out at the Housing Minister for being unable to meet the ‘shockingly low’ housing targets he sets. Deputy Thomas Pringle says the housing crisis has affected every single person in the country and contributing to cost of living. He says children are suffering greatly as a direct result of the

Donegal TD Joe McHugh says until the defective blocks scheme includes those who are financially vulnerable, he will keep his position outside of the parliamentary party. The TD stood down as Fine Gael Party whip last July after opposing the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Bill 2022. He says he does

The Donegal Road Safety Plan has been published. The Donegal Road Safety Working Group recently published the 2022-2030 plan which is designed to ensure a collaborative, coordinated and consistent approach to improving road safety. A ‘Vision Zero’ to achieve no road deaths or serious injuries on the roads by 2050 has been set out by

The Chair of the Buncrana Leisure Centre Committee is seeking clarification on proposals to submit an application for funding for a new facility under the Repowering Buncrana Project announced for the shorefront last year. Cllr Jack Murray recently announced he believes funding for the pool can be secured under the scheme, with work possibly starting later this

There is an opportunity to clamp down on the stealing of sheep. That’s according to Adrian Gallagher, head of the IFA Donegal branch. Speaking on the Nine ’til Noon Show this morning, Mr. Gallagher said that unless thieves are caught in the act, farmers are quite restricted. However, he added that the purchasing of a

Some people with disabilities are still waiting for the clarification as to when they will be able to make their own decisions. Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle raised the issue in the Dáil this morning with Disabilities Minister Roderic O’Gorman. Deputy Pringle told the Dail the Assisted Decision Making Act passed last year still hasn’t been

There are further calls for regional inequalities to be addressed with a focus on the North West. Such inequalities have been highlighted further following latest CSO figures which revealed that people in Donegal have the lowest disposable income in the country at just over €18,500. The Northern & Western Regional Assembly says the gap in

The Dail has heard an appeal for the Housing Minister to meet with Donegal County Council to allay the concerns of Councillors over redress for defective block homeowners. A cross-party delegation of Councillors travelled to Dublin yesterday to protest outside Leinster House in a stand for equality for defective block homeowners. Speaking in the Dail

Donegal hoteliers have welcomed the Government’s decision to extend the 9% tourism VAT rate and reform the energy support scheme for businesses. Paul Diver, Chair of the Donegal Irish Hotels Federation Branch, says the industry is sighing a breath of relief following yesterday’s announcement. He says while the proposed rate of 13.5% is unjustified, hoteliers

Donegal Senator Eileen Flynn is calling on the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to make a statement on the roll-out of the Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme to the traveler community. She says that many travelers have not received any energy credit to date due to their type of accommodation despite communications being

The Garda Representative Association say more needs to be done to protect members of the force. A male guard received medical treatment yesterday after he was surrounded by a group of youths and struck with a missile in Ballyfermot. Gardai say a number of patrol vehicles were also significantly damaged. GRA President is Donegal based

Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council have reaffirmed their strong commitment to progressing the Riverine Project. Elected members and senior officials from both Councils met this week after the development was approved by An Bord Pleanála. An application for funding through the upcoming Peace Plus process was discussed. West Tyrone MLA

It’s reported if a deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol isn’t announced by tomorrow, the timetable could slip into next week. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was unable to present a finished deal to cabinet this morning, with talks between the UK and the EU continuing. Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Doug Beattie, says

The government has signed off on a €1.3 billion cost of living package. There will be a €200 lump sum payment to welfare recipients and a €100 extra payment of child benefit. The reduced 9% VAT rate for hospitality is being kept until the end of August, with a warning it will be the last

Almost half of the members of Donegal County Council have travelled to Dublin today to demand equality for defective block homeowners. All Councillors were invited to gather outside the gates of Leinster House today at 12 noon in a bid to send a strong message to Government that affected homeowners deserve equal redress. It’s understood

The Electoral Commission has been told that Donegal should revert to two Dail constituencies, with the integrity of the county’s boundary maintained. The submission was made by Deputy Marc McSharry, who currently represents people from four different counties – South Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim and North Roscommon. Deputy McSharry says it would make much more sense

Appeals for information are being made into two incidents of violence occurring in the county this week. The first incident which seen a group of men fighting on the main Glencar road , and a video has circulating which is believed to be of the incident in question. A man has also been allegedly assaulted

A cross-party delegation of Donegal Councillors is travelling to Dublin this morning as part of a public protest outside Leinster House to demand equality for defective block homeowners. The Mica Action Group says 20 Councillors have responded to the call to send a strong message to Government that the ongoing delays in providing proper redress