Author name: highlandnews

The Conservative leadership race is underway once again – just six weeks after Liz Truss was given the job. Commons leader Penny Mordaunt’s the first MP to announce she’s vying to become the next British Prime Minister, following Thursday’s dramatic resignation. It’s understood at least 50 Tories want a Boris Johnson comeback – while Rishi

A Strabane Councillor is urging Derry City and Strabane District Council to express an interest in taking over the former Strabane Academy School on the Liskey Road. Cllr Jason Barr says it is now nearly three and a half years since the site became vacant, and it has taken 13 months for the Education Authority

The Society of St Vincent de Paul is urging the government and electricity suppliers to agree a suite of measures that protects people from disconnection this winter, particularly in the case of people using pre-pay meters. SVP says many people it assists prefer pre-pay gas and electricity as it gives them more control over their

The extension project for Moville Community College has received approval to proceed to construction under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme. The project will consist of a new build extension to the current school including a SEN base. Minister Charlie McConalogue says this is tremendous news for the school community and will improve the offering and

The Tánaiste says he’s confident a deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol can be sorted early next year even with the instability in the British Government. The Tory favourites are trying to secure the backing of 100 MPs to keep them in the race. Penny Mordaunt has become the first to declare with Rishi Sunak

The Government Chief Whip today paid tribute to all those who responded to the Creeslough tragedy today, saying that at the worst of times for Donegal, the people showed  their best. Minister Jack Chambers, who serves as Junior Minister for Sport and the Gaeltacht was speaking at opening the Donegal GAA Centre in Convoy today…………..

The state can’t guarantee it will be able to provide accommodation for asylum seekers and Ukrainian refugees. That’s according to the Minister for Integration Roderic O’ Gorman. It comes after the Citywest transit hub reached capacity and won’t accept new arrivals. Officials from the department met the Ukrainian embassy to discuss the issue. Housing Minister

The Minister of State for Sport and the Gaeltacht is in the county today visiting a number of sporting facilities after awarding €5.5m to organisations throughout the county last month. This afternoon, Fianna Fáil TD Jack Chambers will officially open the Donegal GAA Centre in Convoy. He will also visit the sporting facilities at ATU

Councillor Ian McGarvey says during his time on Donegal County Council he always put others first and before his own intentions. Councillor McGarvey, Ireland’s oldest Councillor this week informed the local authority of his intention to retire as a Councillor in the near future. His nephew Pauric McGarvey has been proposed as his successor. Councillor

The Chair of Donegal Action for Cancer Care says no one has been listening to pleas for more resources for health care in Donegal since 2017. Betty Holmes says key services continue to be removed from Letterkenny University Hospital, effectively turning it into a community hospital. The Health Minister has failed to visit Letterkenny University

The state needs to appeal to holiday home owners to house the growing number of Ukrainian refugees. That’s according to Sinn Féin’s Justice Spokesperson, who says a contract needs to be put in place. Ireland has welcomed and housed over 58,000 refugees from Ukraine and other countries so far this year. South Donegal Deputy Martin

The #BuyDonegal campaign returns next month in 2022, showcasing the very best of Donegal business and urging people to choose local products and services while Christmas shopping. The initiative runs from November 11th up to Christmas Eve December, with weekly deals and special on the dedicated website buydonegal.com Steven Perry from Donegal County Council’s Economic

Enviornment Minister Eamon Ryan has told the Dail that increased government funding is being made available and that will be the key to addressing the outstanding issues highlighted this week by the EPA. Minister Ryan was responding to Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty, who said there are unacceptable delays in having these problematic schemes dealt with.

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern says there could be a border poll this decade. He’s previously said the 30th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in 2028 could be a good time for a unity referendum. Bertie Ahern still thinks that could be done………  

Britain’s Prime Minister has announced her resignation, telling a press conference at Downing Street that a successor will be in place within a week. Liz Truss has faced growing pressure among her own Conservative MPs to stand down, following weeks of economic and political turmoil. After just 44 days in office, she becomes the UK’s

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Designate says she believes another Assembly election is on the cards. Michelle O’Neill says the internal difficulties of the Conservative Party in London are hampering efforts to find resolution to issues around the Northern Ireland Protocol. The north’s caretaker ministers will lose their powers in 8 days time if there’s no

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has again lobbied the Government to implement a ban on energy disconnections this winter. He told Minister Eamon Ryan that hundreds of thousands of households across the country have been abandoned. Deputy Doherty says despite Minister Ryan recognising that this winter will be severe. He says people on pre-paid metres are

The Chair of Donegal County Council’s Mica Redress Committee says efforts need to revolve now around making the redress scheme work for as many people as possible. The revised Mica redress scheme is expected to be up and running by February. Councillor Martin McDermott says its important that something is done for those living in

Graffiti that’s appeared in Portrush about James Nesbitt is being treated as a hate crime. The message threatening the Cold Feet star was on a wall in Portrush. The actor recently spoke at an event in Dublin organised by a campaign group advocating for a united Ireland. Local MLA Cara Hunter says the graffiti does

There is still time for people to join a group legal action against Irish Water in relation to leaks in copper pipes from the Gortahork Falcarragh treatment plant. 60 people have to date, joined the legal actions with some proceedings already issued. Independent testing has been carried out and it was confirmed that the manner

A new scheme is being launched today to attract more people into organic farming. 256 million euro is being made available as part of the Common Agricultural Plan. Dry stock farmers could qualify for yearly payments of up to 300 euro per hectare. Junior Agriculture Minister Pippa Hackett says the financial incentives to go organic

The nursing home sector is facing its worst ever crisis, according to an Independent TD. 16 private nursing homes have closed so far this year and 450 beds are gone. The cost of living crisis is being partly blamed for the problems in the sector. South Donegal Deputy, Marian Harkin, says the Fair Deal programme