Author name: highlandnews

The Justice Minister has welcomed the apology of former Fine Gael leader Alan Dukes over comments he made about people from border counties. Mr Dukes suggested they were quicker to violence than other people during a documentary about businessman Sean Quinn. He said he apologises unreservedly for the comments which offended many people in those […]

A Defective Blocks Campaigner says the apparent breakdown in communication between Donegal County Council and Government is unacceptable with affected homeowners all the while living in uninhabitable properties. It comes as the Council told protesters outside the County House on Monday that they were awaiting the go-ahead from Central Government to fast track grants for

A Donegal business owner believes despite the county being viewed on a different level to other parts of the country that it does offer great potential. Claire McDonagh, a member of Letterkenny Chamber says the people of Donegal should not be punished and that it’s up to people residing in the county to stand up

The appearance of anti-Ukraine graffiti just outside Letterkenny has been condemned. A pro-Russian symbol has been spray painted on a sign in Kilmacrennan in recent days. It comes following similar acts of vandalism in Letterkenny last month. Councillor Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig who himself spray painted over the graffiti has hit out at those

A Donegal Deputy says comments made by the European Commission President around the Northern Ireland protocol were very “strong and helpful”. Ursula von der Leyen addressed the Houses of the Oireachtas yesterday to mark 50 years of Ireland’s membership of the European Union. She’s ‘confident’ a protocol deal can be reached if there is the

Post-mortem examinations are to be carried out today on the bodies of two men found in Co Monaghan. A 37-year-old from Co Armagh died after he was hit by a car at the Ballynacarry Bridge on the Castleblayney to Dundalk Road yesterday morning. Separately, a man in his 60s was discovered with stab wounds at

A first of its kind conference is taking place at the Donegal campus of the ATU next week. The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference will see representatives of industry and government support agencies explore how the North West can lead the way in innovation, technological development, entrepreneurship teaching and research and public-private co-creation to sustain and

Donegal County Council has backed calls for more research into the effects of the defective blocks crisis on the mental health of people in Donegal, with a particular focus on children. The issue was raised by Cllr Albert Doherty on foot of a conference in Letterkenny last month co-hosted by the Donegal ATU campus and

Brexit won’t be a barrier to reconciliation in Ireland, according to the European Commission president. Ursula von der Leyen has been addressing a joint sitting of the Dáil and Seanad to mark 50 years since Ireland joined the EU. The commission president said there would be no return to a hard border in Ireland –

  The Milford Reformed Presbyterian Church has gifted their former Church building to the Milford and District Resource Centre. Transfer of ownership of the property on the Kilmacrennan Road has been completed. While significant repairs are needed to bring the building into full use, Manager of Milford and District Resource Centre, Declan Meehan says it

Children and young people with special needs and disabilities are being failed in Ireland. Thats according to Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty who called on the government to do more to provide life changing services to children and young people. Responding Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said the government is committed to providing adequate services with the

A Letterkenny Councillor has welcomed plans for a major new town centre development as a gamechanger for the town. Plans have been submitted for the construction of six-storey and four-storey buildings that will include 154 student bedrooms and 13 apartments at a site close to the Station Roundabout. The plans include the demolition of Gleneany

The HSE is facing mounting pressure to deliver a Centre of Excellance for people with diabetes in Donegal. The Chair of the Regional Health Forum West says with the large number of people with Type 1 diabetes in the county, it warrants an enhancement of treatment services at Letterkenny University Hospital. It’s been confirmed that

A Cross Directorate Working Group needs to be established by Donegal County Council to examine the possibility of re-establishing a rail network in Donegal. The issue’s been raised this week by Cllr Niamh Kennedy, who says there is huge potential for movement in the context of the current emphasis on cross border and shared island

A new law designed to protect tips received by workers will come into effect today. The Payment of Wages (Tips and Gratuities) Act 2022 will see employees given legal rights over the payment of tips. The legislation will force employers to display their policy on mandatory charges and the distribution of cash and card tips.

The Government is being urged to ensure Dunkineely Health Centre services are restored. Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle has told the Dail that people are extremely worried about the future of the centre and the future of their town. He says he is awaiting a response from the HSE on the matter. Deputy Pringle told Taoiseach

Data from the Regional Development Monitor must be used to address regional deficits. That’s according to Ibec. The online interactive data platform will monitor a wide range of socioeconomic indicators across place making, climate action and economic development. It will then provide unique insights allowing Ibec to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of regions

There’s been a cautious welcome to the increase in the social housing income eligibility threshold for Donegal. Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien announced a €5,000 increase in the threshold for the county meaning those who are seeking social housing can now earn up to €30,000. The figure however, is still €10,000 behind other counties. Councillor Michael

A Donegal doctor is warning parents to become familiar with the symptoms of RSV as cases are on the rise. Last week saw the highest cases of Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) the country has ever recorded with newborn and small babies mostly affected. RSV is a common winter infection and symptoms often include a fever,

Residents in the Rossbracken area of Manorcunningham have been left without water once again. The residents have been plaqued with water supply problems caused by burst pipes over the past year. Irish Water are expected to fix the issue today however Cathaoirleach of Letterkenny-Milford Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly says a permanent solution is required. He says

The HSE says it will contact 113-thousand people whose details were accessed during last year’s cyber attack. The health service was targeted by major ransomware attack in May of last year. The HSE says 80 per cent of its IT systems were impacted. National Director of Operational Performance and Integration with the HSE, Joe Ryan,

A very high proportion of Irish households are now living in energy poverty. That’s the warning from the ESRI, which says it’s now become a key policy issue, in light of record inflation. However, people are missing out on financial supports because there’s no official definition for energy poverty in Ireland. Senior research officer with

Ireland’s first four-day week trial has been branded ‘a resounding success’. The 12 small to medium businesses that participated in the pilot have indicated they want to continue with the reduced working week in the long-term. It was co- as part of a global trial, co-led by Four-Day Week Ireland, Fórsa trade union and UCD.

In less than three weeks Tánaiste Leo Varadkar will take over from Micheál Martin as Taoiseach. There will be a reshuffle of Ministerial jobs at that time. Charlie McConalogue says he hasn’t heard rumours Fine Gael want to take back the Agriculture post:

It’s emerged the Housing Minister is awaiting correspondence from Donegal County Council with regards the provision of temporary accommodation for defective block homeowners whose properties are unlivable. Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle warned in the Dail that some homeowners cannot wait for a remediation scheme and that Government needs to act immediately. In responding to Deputy

Discussions are to take place between Donegal County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland on what measures can be taken to slow down traffic in towns on national roads. Cllr Paul Canning told this week’s meeting of council that any move to put down ramps on TII roads is being blocked. Officials said raised tables may

The Cathoirleach of Lifford and Stranolar MD believes the area is missing out on major cross border projects. Cllr Patrick McGowan says the area has a long land border with Northern Ireland, however, it is not included in projects such as the Shared Ireland initiative. The Lifford Stranorlar MD had previously been linked with Letterkenny