Author name: highlandnews

The Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister says he hopes negotiations between the EU and UK, over the Northern Ireland protocol, will be successful but the issues are challenging. Micheál Martin says it is ‘no bad thing’ there is ‘quiet’ around the discussions, and both sides need to be given space to continue negotiations. Mr Martin,

  The Mayor of Letterkenny Milford Municipal District has warned that if funding is not secured soon for works at Meenaroy Bridge, the long term cost to Donegal County Council and the state will be huge. Cllr Donal Mandy Kelly says it’s getting to the point where traffic lights may be needed to enforce a

Some Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services are inefficient and unsafe. A new report by the Inspector of Mental Health Service shows CAMHS teams are significantly below the recommended staffing levels. Children and young people have been “lost” to follow-up care, with no planning, discharge or transition to adult services when they turned 18, or

The National Parks and Wildlife Service is calling on people living in rural areas to stop using Carbofuran after a white-tailed eagle was found dead near Lough Ramor in County Cavan. It says the use of such poison could kill other animals such as cows, dogs, cats and foxes. The White-tailed Eagle became extinct in

An Inishowen Councillor is calling for incentives for gardai to live in the communities they serve. Councillor Nicholas Crossan told the Donegal Joint Policing Committee that people no longer know their local guard, and he believes trust would be enhanced if gardai were living and working in the one area. Councillor Crossan says it’s time

A prominent health campaigner says the people of Donegal continue to be victims of geography. DACC Chair Betty Holmes told a crowd of several hundred people during a Day of Action outside Letterkenny University Hospital at the weekend that the Dublin Galway line continues to dominate health policy. Ms Holmes says pressure is needed both

A Glenties Councillor says more has to be done to deter illegal dumping, after an incident where a large amount of rubbish and rubble was dumped in the Doochary area. Cllr Micheal Cholim Mac Giolla Easbuig says that while the person who dumped the waste is responsible for their own actions, more must be done

Prospective homeowners are in for a shock as house prices in certain areas could be set to rise by as much as ten percent. That’s according to a new report out today in the Sunday Times Property Price Guide. In Donegal, price rises in Letterkenny are in the middle of the pack, expected to be

A Donegal deputy says resources must be focused towards the health service in Donegal. It follows a protest at Letterkenny University Hospital that heard calls for more investment, and more support for the hospital staff. Speaking at yesterday’s demonstration, Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn says the government must recognise the need that exists in Donegal, and

The Government is being urged to build more modular housing for refugees. It’s after reports that many hotel currently housing refugees are to evict them to bring in visitors as the tourist season ramps up. South Donegal TD Marian Harkin believes homeowners could accommodate greater numbers of Ukrainian refugees – and she’s also welcomed construction

A Hospital Action Committee is to be formed in Donegal on foot of a Day of Action which is just ending at Letterkenny University Hospital. The gathering just above the hospital this afternoon heard calls for more investment, and more support for the hospital staff. Organiser Mary T Sweeney says it’s important that the people

There’s calls for more CCTV to be put in place at ports and harbours in Donegal to target smuggling. Councillor Niamh Kennedy believes an enhancement of security along the coast in the form of CCTV cameras would also help in cracking down on thefts. She says it would enhance policing in the county:

The Government is being accused of deliberately discriminating against people in rural Ireland who own houses with building defects. The Rural Independent Group of TDs say the Government is looking after property owners in Dublin, but is not treating people outside the capital with the same respect. The group says the Mica redress scheme in

Donegal County Council’s Road Service is to examine flooding in Manorcunningham, particularly in the vicinity of Abbey Villas. The issue was raised at a Letterkenny Milford Municipal District meeting this week by Cllr Gerry McMonagle, who says gardens regularly get flooded, and access was recently affected when a doctor was called to a house there.

The HSE has been meeting with elected representatives and members of the Regional Health Forum in light of concerns about the out of hours GP service in Donegal and Leitrim. At present, it’s operated by NoWDOC, but Carlow based company ‘Caredoc’ is in discussions with the HSE with a view towards taking the service over.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the leader of Britain’s Labour Party Keir Starmer have expressed hope that progress can be made on the Northern Ireland Protocol. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told Mr Starmer the Irish economy is still benefiting from growth – but inflation is impacting people and business. Kier Starmer was also briefed about a new