Author name: highlandnews

A second status yellow weather warning for low temperatures and ice will take effect nationwide this afternoon. Met Eireann’s warning of icy stretches from 4pm, leading to hazardous conditions – especially on untreated roads or paths. A separate, similar, warning is in place at the moment and expires at midday. Forecaster Michelle Dillon, says although […]

Planning permission has been granted by Donegal County Council for the development of a quarry in Raphoe. The development was given the go ahead in 2019 but following an appeal to An Bord Pleanála, the decision was overturned. Plans for the quarry were again submitted in May 2022 and approved last week. There is much

Just over a third of Irish electricity was generated by wind last year. In total 34 per cent of power came from wind farms, up four points on 2021 According to an analysis from energy consultants Baringa, it resulted in Irish consumers not having to pay 2 billion euro for gas last year. The exchequer

A retired vet says the development of a new school of veterinary medicine in Ireland is vital, but progress is slow. Gerard Roarty says there’s a shortage of vets, particularly in terms of vets to look after cattle, and that’s a shortage that is being felt particularly acutely in Donegal. He says there are questions

The cold spell is taking hold with a yellow ice warning in place for the country this morning, temperatures are below freezing in many parts of Donegal. A similar warning is in place in Derry, Tyrone and Fermanagh. There’ll be icy stretches at least until midday, causing hazardous driving conditions. While a winter weather advisory

A local councillor has called for bring banks to be reinstalled in Leitir, three years after they were removed. Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher says the banks wee moved from their previous location over three years ago and a new site has not yet been identified. She has called on the council to act quickly to

A Glenties Councillor has welcomed progress on a new housing development in Gweedore. Cllr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig says that the announcement that 29 housing units are to be completed in the Gweedore area in the next two years is good news – but says more must be done to stop people emigrating from

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris is to appear at today’s meeting of the Donegal Joint Policing Committee, to face questions over a new system of policing in the North West. The new system sees the Donegal Garda division being combined with the Sligo and Leitrim area to create one North West region, overseen by a single

Paschal Donohoe has apologised for failing to disclose work that was carried out for his campaign in the 2016 General Election. The Minister for Public Expenditure has submitted an amended financial statement to the Standards in Public Office Commission. It comes after a complaint against him was made to SIPO, alleging he failed to properly

A deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol will certainly be struck before the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, on April 10th. That’s according to a leading political commentator, after a week of talks between all sides. More talks will take place tomorrow between the British government and the European Commission vice-president, Maros Sefcovic.

The country’s set to be gripped by a cold snap over the coming days. A status yellow ice warning comes into effect from 6pm this evening, bringing freezing fog and icy stretches on the roads. That warning is set to stay in place until midday on Monday, but the arctic spell of weather is expected

A prominent Mica campaigner says that the money given to those who need to relocate as they’re getting their houses repaired needs to be directed to the most vulnerable. In a video posted to social media, Paddy Diver says that without a new plan in place to build modular homes for those affected by mica,

The government must come up with a solution to protect tenants as figures reveal that landlords are continuing to sell up. The call comes from Sinn Fein as figures from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland say that 4 in every 10 house sales in 2022 was a small landlord exiting the rental market in

A local Councillor says more needs to be done to deter dog fouling as only one fine issued in the past two years. Donegal County Council issued just one fine for dog fouling offences in 2021 and zero fines issued in the first ten months of 2022. Cllr Michael McClafferty says the county is now

A major €4million four-year cross-border research partnership has been launched to research and address imbalances across the North West Atlantic Innovation Corridor. The Atlantic Futures Project is a collaboration between Ulster University, University of Galway, Atlantic Technological University and University of Limerick for sustainable regional development to make a real impact on aspects of industry

A new permit scheme which will give non-EEA migrant fishers the same rights as EU crew members has been welcomed. The Department of Justice confirmed the new arrangements this week. This is positive news with the introduction of measures to protect migrant fishers and to grant them the full rights and entitlements under Employment legislation.

A local councillor says the Council does not have the man power to go out and check on what is happening in each Council house. It comes as Cllr Michael Choilm McGiolla Easbuig claimed some Council houses have been rented out, or even offered through Air B&B. Speaking on the Nine til Noon show this

Defective Block campaigners in Donegal have launched a campaign to identify vulnerable homeowners affected by Mica and other deleterious materials who may be in need of further support. The Mica Action Group is urging people in the community to help them identify vulnerable people, and ensure they are being represented. In a video posted on

The HSE says it’s concerned by the number of healthcare workers who’ve yet to receive their second Covid-19 booster. According to the latest data, three-quarters of staff across the country’s seven hospital groups haven’t yet gotten their second dose. While only 71 thousand of the 1.48 million people aged between 18 and 49 in Ireland

A Donegal Senator believes the UK Government will not progress with the Northern Ireland Protocol bill until the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill is passed. Senator Niall Blaney was in Belfast this week to meet with political and community groups as part of the Fianna Fáil committee on Northern Ireland and the Good