Author name: highlandnews

Household incomes are set to drop by an average of 2% under the incoming budget. The ESRI has found that measures introduced in Budget 2026 will impact low-income households the most, with losses of around 4.1%. It says the return to a 9 per cent VAT rate for hospitality could prove helpful for consumers, if […]

A Donegal councillor says he’d like to see more cross-border cooperation in the south of the county. Cllr Michael McMahon told a recent meeting of Donegal County Council that recent flood response works in Pettigo involved officials from both Donegal County Council and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council across the border. He said more should

The Dáil has been told that the government has broken promise after promise, and that’s evidenced in this week’s budget. Deputy Pearse Doherty said despite promises of tax cuts, there were no breaks for workers in this budget. Tánaiste Simon Harris hit back, saying the government has always made it clear that spending on public

An Oireachtas Committee has been told that HSE Wet and North West is one of the two worst performing regions in the country for ambulance response times. The national target is to respond to 75% of life threatening cardiac or respiratory calls, known as purple calls and 45% of life threatening illness or injury calls

Fianna Fail Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has stopped short of expressing faith in the leadership of party leader and Taoiseach Michael Martin. Mr Martin apologised to his parliamentary party at a five hour meeting last night for the debacle over the nomination of Jim Gavin as a presidential candidate, saying he can ‘sometimes get

Taoiseach Michael Martin has been accused of misleading people about the extent of the Defective Block Scheme. Speaking during the budget debate, Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn said the Taoiseach has promised 100% Redress through what would be a three million euro scheme, the biggest ever seen in the state. However, he said the lack of

Wastewater is still being released from many areas without adequate treatment – affecting water quality in rivers, lakes and along the coasts. The EPA has published a report on urban wastewater treatment, showing that last year, four towns and villages in Donegal were still pumping raw sewage into waterways. Work is underway in Ramelton and

The DUP has distanced itself from comments made by the son of one of the founders of the party, over being “open” to the potential of a united Ireland. Ian Paisley Junior, a former member of parliament for North Antrim, also emphasised his British identity as he took part in new podcast series, Borderland by

ATU is to hold a major conference in Donegal later this month mapping out how an initiative to boost digital education in the region is structured. The Shaping Our Digital Futures Conference on October 23rd will consider how best to use the resources of the North West Tertiary Education Cluster, incorporating ATU, Donegal ETB, Ulster

The Seanad has been told that the reputation of Glenveagh Castle as a tourist destination is suffering as a result of its closure to the public on Mondays and Fridays. Senator Manus Boyle raised the issue in the chamber this morning, and urged Minister Colm Brophy to lobby to see what can be done to

It’s been confirmed that Budget 2026 makes provision for improvements to the Mental Health service in Donegal. On today’s Nine til Noon Show, Government Chief Whip and Mental Health Minister Mary Butler confirmed that the budget allows for the appointment of a Crisis Resolution Team for Donegal, and the provision of a Solace Café. She

The Taoiseach will come under pressure when he meets with his Fianna Fail party later. Micheal Martin will face questions from his parliamentary party after Jim Gavin dropped out of the Presidential race. The Taoiseach has said he will have a frank and comprehensive discussion about the controversy. Fianna Fail Junior Minister Chris O’Sullivan is

A Dail Committee has been told that when it comes to discussions on fish quotas, fishers are often told they must accept cuts based on science, but the scientific evidence offered by the fishers themselves is all too often ignored. Aranmore Island based Jerry Early, Chair of the Irish Island sMarine Resource Organisation, told the

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland is congratulating all students receiving their Junior Cycle results today. Around 73 thousand students are getting results, the third year in a row the figure has exceeded 70 thousand. Over 2,600 students will receive their results in Donegal schools today. TUI President Anthony Quinn says students should be careful in

The first of the measures announced in the Budget are now in effect. Around 2 and a half cents has been added to the cost of a litre of petrol and diesel. While tobacco products have increased by 50 cents. Meanwhile, the Budget has been criticised for not progressing the Government promise to cap the

A Donegal Deputy criticized the Finance Minister’s poor choice of wording when making his budget announcement yesterday. Deputy Charles Ward says yesterday’s announcement will offer very little hope to homeowners in the heart of the defective concrete block scandal. The 100% Redress TD asked that the Concrete Levy be abolished for families rebuilding their homes

Yesterday’s budget commitment to the Derry-Dublin Airlink has been greatly welcomed, especially given the ongoing delays in progressing the long-sought-after A5 development, according to the City of Derry Airport. Included in the budget 2026 plan is €1 billion in funding for the Shared Island initiative, which includes the flight route linking two cities. Derry City

Gardai say there’s been a marked increase in the number of bogus investment adverts on social media sites. A 21% increase has been recorded in the last three months. They say over €66 million stolen through investment fraud in Ireland since January 2021. On today’s Nine til Noon Show, Donegal Divisional Crime Prevention Officer Fergus

The case of Arranmore teenager Muireann Kavanagh has been raised again at a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs. She hit the headlines in March of last year when it emerged that she was being forbidden from fishing for pollock by line because of concerns over dwindling stocks. The issue was

Gardaí in Letterkenny are investigating an incident in which a child was hit by a car in the car park at Century Cinemas in Letterkenny at the weekend. It happened at approximately 5.15 on Sunday evening. On today’s Nine til Noon Show, Sergeant Fergus McGroary made this appeal for information:

The Finance Minister says Budget 2026 is about ‘investment’ and balance. It’s expected a VAT rate cut for the hospitality sector, due to take effect in July, will be unveiled this afternoon. A ten euro rise in social welfare rates is also among the measures due to be announced. Speaking in the past few minutes,

The Government is being urged to enter into negotiations with the European Commission on an urgent financial aid package for the Irish fishing and seafood industry. Donegal TD and Sinn Fein Marine Spokesperson Padraig MacLochlainn says anticipated cuts of 70% to the mackerel quota, as well as severe cuts to the blue whiting and boarfish

Today marks the third anniversary of the Creeslough explosion, in which 10 people lost their lives. A  commemoration service will take place at 3pm this afternoon at the site of the tragedy. A file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions following a lengthy and ongoing garda investigation, bur the cause of the

Foyle MLA Padraig Delargy has called for a united approach to continue delivering investment and transformation in Derry. Addressing the Assembly, the Foyle MLA said positive political leadership had been crucial to achieving projects such as the A6 upgrade, the North West Cancer Centre and the ongoing expansion at Magee. He was speaking during an

Mortgage interest relief is to be extended for another year before being phased out in 2027. The move will benefit more than 60 thousand householders in tomorrow’s budget. A permanent extension to the basic income scheme for artists has also been agreed, as have VAT cuts for the hospitality sector, construction of new apartments, and

Latest figures show 3,000 people waiting autism assessments in the Western Health and Social Care Trust Area, just over 2,500 of them children. Answering questions from East Derry MLA Alan Robinson and West Tyrone MLAs Nicola Brogan and Daniel McCrossan, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt acknowledged the waiting times are too long, and the trust is