Author name: highlandnews

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

Former US President Bill Clinton believes victims groups need to be consulted about the British Government’s decision to set up an inquiry into the Omagh bombing. Earlier this month, the UK government announced a statutory inquiry would be held into the ‘preventability’ of the atrocity, that killed 29 people and unborn twins, and injured hundreds

The intervention by the The EU’s Chief Brexit negotiator could be crucial in sealing a deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol. The British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Maros Sefcovic agreed to hold a face-to-face meeting in the coming days after a phone discussion yesterday. Downing Street insists a final deal has not been struck

A Letterkenny councillor says it’s vital that increased public funding for the town is matched by private investment. Cllr Ciaran Brogan was speaking after it was confirmed that Letterkenny has been included in the next round of urban development funding, with an emphasis on tackling dereliction. He says progress on developments at the old ESB

The Into the West Rail campaign has joined a consortium of groups from across the island to demand the publication of the All-Island Rail Review report. The ongoing absence of an Executive at Stormont means there is no Infrastructure Minister there to approve it for public release, and as a result, the nine groups say

Poor housing is harming children’s health and wellbeing. New ESRI research shows the longer children are exposed to inadequate housing from birth to age 9, the more harm they go through. Dr. Helen Russel, Research Professor of the ESRI said on this morning Nine til’ Noon show that it’s a problem of poverty:

The Mayor of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District has written to the Health Minister calling for the provision of a GP for the Health Centre in Churchill. The centre is a satellite of the Ark Medical Centre in Letterkenny, and before the Covid 19 pandemic, a GP from the centre travelled to Churchill on a

The British Prime Minister wants to get the Northern Ireland Protocol over the line. That’s according to Senator Niall Blaney. He said on this morning’s Nine ’til Noon show that people shouldn’t underestimate the pressure on Rishi Sunak from former Prime Minister Boris Johnston and that if the DUP has 6 out of their 7

The newly formed Letterkenny Hospital Action Committee says campaigning for a minor injuries unit in the region will be a key element of its activities. The committee says the introduction of such a unit would help cut overcrowding at the hospital’s Emergency Department. The committee formed following a demonstration outside the hospital last month. Jade

Donegal County Council is planning to hire a Velocity Patcher to assist with the repair of the roads in the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District for a period of 3 weeks in April or May. The issue was raised recently by Cllr Gerry McMonagle, who urged the council to buy the machine outright. He says it’s a