Author name: highlandnews

Leo Varadkar will be named Taoiseach for a second time later today, as the position rotates between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. Micheál Martin has formally resigned his position, as he met with President Michael D Higgins earlier, before a vote of the Dáil is set to elect Leo Varadkar later today. In the afternoon

Donegal ETB has raised concerns over how the cost of living crisis is impacting schools. Members of the Oireachtas, including Donegal politicians met with representatives from Donegal ETB at a special briefing event in Buswells Hotel in Dublin last week The event focused on how the cost-of-living crisis is impacting the education sector, and in

Overnight restrictions have been put in place for customers on the Lough Mourne Water Supply. In recent days Irish Water has seen a noticeable increase in water usage on the network. In order to facilitate the replenishment of reservoirs and ensure a daytime supply, overnight restrictions are required from 10pm to 7am until further notice.

A Letterkenny Councillor believes modular homes are a ‘viable solution’ to the  needs of defective block homeowners. At a special council meeting yesterday, Chief Executive John McLaughlin told members the local authority cannot build modular homes for people in need of accommodation while rebuilding or repairing their homes. Cllr Gerry McMonagle says he believes the

The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council says today’s meeting highlighted the Council’s role in the defective block scheme and the limitations they face from government. A special meeting of Donegal County Council was held earleir today to discuss the defective blocks issue and the role of the Council within the scheme was clearly outlined. Cathaoirleach

A local councillor has raised concerns about the newly installed Crolly Water Treatment Plant following operational and mechanical issues at the plant yesterday. A Boil Water Notice for customers supplied by Rosses Regional Public Water Supply was issued yesterday following issues at Crolly Water Treatment Plant caused by the freezing weather conditions. The notice is

A special meeting of Donegal County Council has heard that progress on the release of emergency accommodation funding may be made today. The department has provided Donegal County Council with an update which says a letter is set to arrive today to allow the release of emergency funds worth €15,000 for accommodation and €5,000 for

Highland Radio understands that discussions have been taking place on the possibility of Caredoc taking over the NoWDoc service in Donegal. Under the proposals, the NowDoc call centre and triage will no longer be based in Letterkenny and will instead operate out of Carlow. There are concerns that local geographical knowledge will impact the delivery

Donegal TD Joe McHugh says he doesn’t believe his decision to vote confidence in Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien contradicts his decision earlier this year to vote against the Defective Blocks legislation and leave the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party. Speaking to Greg Hughes on today’s Nine til Noon Show, Deputy McHugh said he believes there can

A Defence Forces Captain says the loss of Private Séan Rooney, a native of Newtowncunningham is felt very strongly throughout the force. The armoured vehicle in which the 23 year old was travelling in came under attack on Wednesday night near Beirut. Another soldier was injured and remains in a serious conditions. Three separate investigations

A Donegal Deputy believes there should be no income limit for being on the social housing list as many families who earn 60 thousand euro a year will never be able to buy a house. Speaking during a debate on the social housing threshold, Deputy Thomas Pringle says he is contacted regularly by families who

A motorist has been arrested in Letterkenny after being caught drink driving at almost 2.5 times the legal limit. Letterkenny Roads Policing Unit were on patrol when they arrested the driver on suspicion of drink driving in the early hours of this morning. Gardai say the roads were in a treacherous condition at the time.

Tributes continue to be paid to Private Séan Rooney. St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny say they are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of their former pupil. Séan attended the school for three years. The school has offered its deepest sympathies to friends and family of the 23 year old at this difficult time.

Parts of the country have been hit by severe frost and ice this morning. An Orange Low Temperature / Ice warning is in place for 16 counties which will last until midday. Met Eireann says patches of freezing fog will lead to dangerous driving conditions, with a yellow alert for the whole country. Alan O’Reilly

A rise in covid 19 is expected and is ‘no surprise’. Cases of the virus have jumped by a fifth on a fortnight ago, with 550 new cases detected in the past week. The HSE is urging people to get their Covid booster vaccine before Christmas. Irish Medical Organisation GP Sub Committee Chair, Donegal doctor

A series of investigations are underway following the death of a young Donegal soldier serving with the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, a second soldier was seriously wounded. 23 year old Private Seán Rooney, who was a native of Newtowncunningham and stationed in Dundalk, died after two armoured vehicles carrying members of 121st Infantry Battalion

The British Prime Minister is making his first visit to Northern Ireland since taking power. Rishi Sunak met with the main political parties last night to discuss the continued stalemate over the return of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Power sharing has been blocked since the elections last summer because the DUP wants movement on the

A Donegal Deputy has called on the government to provide mortgage relief to struggling household following the fourth rise in interest rates since the summer. The latest increase by European Central Bank, of zero-point-five percentage points, will put further pressure on homeowners already dealing with rising energy prices and grocery bills. It also pledged further

Ahead of the 50th anniversary of the bombings in Pettigo, Belturbet and Clones the Dail has been told that for years the response to the tragedy has been silence. An renewed appeal for information was made by Gardai in October. However, no one has ever been held to account. Two teenagers were killed in the

A Donegal TD has told the Dail that another attempt will be made to bring forward amendments to the Defective Blocks Redress Bill which were in July because there was not enough time to debate them. Speaking during a debate on the report of the Working Group into Defective Apartments and other residences, Deputy Padraig

A minutes silence has been held in the Dail this afternoon in memory of Private Seán Rooney, a native of Donegal who was killed in Lebanon. The 23 year old from Newtowncunningham whose home unit was the 27 Infantry Battalion in Dundalk was travelling in an Armoured Utility Vehicle on the way to Beirut when

HIQA’s Director of Health told Highland Radio News today that the National Inpatient Experience Survey ensures that the voice of patients is heard by those who can implement change and improve healthcare in Ireland. Rachel Flynn is the survey’s Programme Director, and says the intention is that the observations made in the survey are acted

The Donegal Mountain Rescue Team is appealing to motorists to heed road signes put in place by Gardai. It’s after the service was called out last evening to assist people who became stranded on Lough Salt as a result of adverse weather conditions. ‘Road Blocked’ signs had been put in place by Gardai however, Donegal

The army’s Chief of Staff says the convoy attacked last night in Lebanon included two Irish soldiers who were heading back home to attend family funerals. Seán Clancy says the death of one of the soldiers in the attack on an armoured vehicle, has left a ‘deep wound’ within the Defence Forces. The soldier was