Author name: highlandnews

Ulster Bank is delaying its first closure date for customers to make sure social welfare recipients don’t lose payments. The first batch of account holders had a deadline of Saturday to close their accounts – but that’s been pushed back until November 4th. The bank says with the higher benefits announced in last week’s Budget,

The European Parliament has voted in favour of a universal charger. By 2024, all phones, cameras and devices must use a USB-C port. This is something that has been on the table for quite some time. We knew there was a push for a universal charger and for that port to be USB-C. If you’ve

HIQA has published reports following inspections of two centres for people with disabilities to monitor and review the arrangements the provider had put in place in relation to infection prevention and control. Of the two centres, Dreenan Ard Greine Court was found to be suibstantially compliant, while Cloghan was found to be non-compliant. Dreenan Ard

Police in Derry investigating an incident in the city centre on Sunday, 2nd October have charged two men. A 27-year-old man has been charged with disorderly behaviour, possessing an article with point or blade in a public place, theft, fraud by false representation, handling stolen goods and possession of articles for use in fraud. The

Gardaí are appealing for information about two incidents of criminal damage over the weekend. Windows at a church in St Johnston were damaged after stones were thrown at them, while the rear window of a bus was smashed in Letterkenny. Sometime between Friday night and Saturday afternoon, a number of stones were thrown at the

Planning permission has been granted for 35 housing units in Donegal Town. The development at Bluestack Drive, Drumroost West will consist of two detached bunaglows, four semi-detached bunaglows, 17 two storey houses and 12 apartments in three two storey blocks. Developer Shaun Doherty has been granted planning permission for 35 residential properties on the site

Major works are to get underway in Donegal Town this month to replace old water mains. It’s part of Irish Water’s National Leakage Reduction Programme. More than 860 metres of old water mains in Clareden Drive and Drumlaght will be replaced which Irish Watery says will significantly reduce bursts and provide a more reliable water

Cabinet Ministers are set to discuss how energy credit payments will be implemented this morning. It’s thought one payment will be made this side of Christmas, with the other two in the new year. While 10 billion euro in expenditure for the agriculture sector is also expected to be signed off. The introduction of three

There are reports of another incident of flooding in the vicinity of Glenswilly National School. After heavy rain overnight, a number of people have reported that the area is once again affected this morning. A yellow weather warning had been in place overnight but has now been lifted as of 5am this morning. The road

The Dáil will debate a motion this evening calling for the new concrete levy to be scrapped. The measures was introduced last week as part of budget 2023. The Government will oppose Sinn Féin’s motion calling for the concrete levy to be scrapped. The move was brought in as a 10 per cent charge on

The State Examinations Commission says it still can’t provide a date for this years Junior cert results. Over 70 thousand students sat the exams back in June, the first time they were held in-person since 2019 because of the covid pandemic. The results are usually issued in September, however the Irish Examiner reports the SEC

Donegal County Council has been told that Compulsory Purchase Order and Environmental Assessment documentation for the Ten T project in Donegal will be completed by the end of this year, but cannot be published until next year. In an update, members have been told that while the CPO and Environmental assessment documentation are due for

A status yellow rain warning has been issued for Donegal. Met Eireann is warning of heavy rainfall leading to localised flooding in parts. The warning comes into effect at 10pm and will remain in place until 5am tomorrow.

Almost 1,000 Ukrainian children enrolled in schools in Donegal last month. Figures from the Department of Education show 616 Ukrainian children are attending Primary School while 355 are in secondary school in the county. Nationally, almost 12,000 Ukrainian children are in education in Ireland – 7,400 of them in primary schools and almost 4,400 in

Phil Coulter is to be awarded Freedom of the City. The musician and songwriter will be conferred with the Freedom of Derry this Friday. The event will take place after a Special Meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council.

The HSE is currently undertaking a review of the staffing levels and skill mix at a residential unit in Carndonagh. A recent HIQA inspection carried out at the James Connolly Memorial Residential Unit found 8 of the 15 regulations assessed were compliant, 5 substantially compliant and two not compliant. As a result, Donegal Disability Management

Two men have been arrested and a large knife recovered by police in Derry investigating an incident in the city centre yesterday. At around 1.45pm, officers carrying out retail crime patrols were alerted to a report of attempted theft involving two men. At 4.50pm, two men matching the description of the two male suspects were

Investigations are underway in Derry after a car was set on fire in the early hours of this morning. The blaze in the Nicholson Square area of the city was reported at 2:45am. The fire also caused damage to two other vehicles and two homes in the area. Police say enquiries are ongoing to establish

CCTV cameras are to be installed at the homes of domestic abuse victims in Derry and Strabane. The PSNI says the cameras are being offered to victims deemed as being at high risk of attack to help them feel safer in their homes. In the 12 months to June, 2,388 domestic abuse crimes were recorded

The number of children homeless in the North West has more than doubled over the past year. Latest figures from the Department of housing show 22 children are in emergency accommodation. A total of 11 families are in need of housing in the region. There’s been a notable increase in the number of people homeless

The number of new cars registered in Donegal this year has increased by 6.09% compared to last year. 2,456 new 2022 cars have been registered between January and September in the county, compared to 2,315 during the same time period in 2021. Nationally, new car registrations for September were up 42.5% (6,340) when compared to

Repairs to a burst water main are ongoing in Letterkenny. People are advised there may be supply disruptions to Kirkstown, Letterkenny and surrounding areas. Works are scheduled to be complete by 3pm this afternoon.

Just 22% of 5 to 11 year olds were fully vaccinated against Covid in August, with the Donegal average less than half that at just under 9.5%. CSO figures show that once again, South Inishowen had the lowest rate of any electoral area in the country at 4%, followed by South Inishowen with 6%. 8%

Basking sharks officially have protected status in Irish waters. The plankton-eating species is threatened globally and faces a high risk of extinction. Typically reaching up to 8 metres in length, from today it’s illegal to hunt or fish the shark without a license.

Police in Northern Ireland say they receive over 100 coercive control reports a month. Controlling behaviour of a loved one has been a criminal offence since new legislation came into force in February of this year. The PSNI say they have arrested and charged more than 170 people with the offence which carries a penalty

Seán Mac Suibhne has been appointed as the new Principal of Coláiste Ailigh in Letterkenny. He takes over the role next Monday, October 10th from Micheál Ó Giobúin who is retiring from the post. Originally from Carraig Airt, Seán is a former student of Scoil Cholmcille, Duibhleann Riach and Milford Vocational School (now Mulroy College).

There are 48 hosts in Donegal in receipt of Accommodation Recognition Payment for housing Ukrainian refugees as number increased by over 500. Figures released by the CSO have revealed there are currently 3,740 Ukrainian refugees living in Donegal. The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) is a tax-free payment of €400 per month for each property used