Author name: highlandnews

Famines will become commonplace unless fertiliser issue is addressed – MEP Colm Markey

Food supply and security across the world is at risk unless measures are taken to reduce the price of fertilisers. The issue is set to go before the European Parliament today as farmers across the continent have seen costs jump threefold since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. The European Commission is being called […]

Famines will become commonplace unless fertiliser issue is addressed – MEP Colm Markey Read More »

Health service struggling to cope with demand – Donegal GP

Almost 110-thousand hospital appointments have been cancelled this year. According to Freedom of Information figures, it includes nearly 14-thousand at the Mater Hospital in Dublin. The HSE says there are many reasons why hospitals cancel appointments, such as a Covid surge, or a lack of beds. Donegal GP Ciarán Ó Fearraigh says the health service

Health service struggling to cope with demand – Donegal GP Read More »

Northern Ireland Protocol and Brexit talks to get underway today

Talks on the Northern Ireland Protocol and other Brexit related issues are set to get underway today. Negotiators from the EU and UK are expected to meet for the first time since February for technical talks. It comes after a thawing of relations between Ireland and Britain with Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney set to

Northern Ireland Protocol and Brexit talks to get underway today Read More »

Donegal ‘at the heart’ of motion calling for free, accessible public transport

A Donegal Deputy says the county is ‘at the heart’ of his call for free, accessible public transport. Deputy Thomas Pringle brought a motion before the Dail this week which he called ‘a social justice policy’, highlighting the lack of public transport in rural parts of the country. The Dail was told that people in

Donegal ‘at the heart’ of motion calling for free, accessible public transport Read More »

Taoiseach called on to intervene in Scoil Íosagain building saga

The Taoiseach has committed to raise the ongoing delays in the delivery of a new building for Scoil Íosagain in Buncrana with the Education Minister. It’s emerged that the planning permission for the development has now expired which will result in further set backs in terms of time and cost. The school is the largest

Taoiseach called on to intervene in Scoil Íosagain building saga Read More »

Council examining funding options to address flooding in Glenswilly

Donegal County Council has confirmed that it is examining all funding options to address flooding issues in Glenswilly. The area has been severely impacted during recent spells of heavy rain. Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District, Councillor Donal Mandy Kelly this week called for an emergency meeting to discuss the ongoing issue.

Council examining funding options to address flooding in Glenswilly Read More »

MEP calls for rules to be relaxed to allow Donegal airport develop

The Government needs to petition the European Commission to relax State-aid rules to help regional airports like Donegal and Knock to develop and expand. That’s the call from Midlands North West MEP Chris MacManus. He was speaking in the European Parliament where MEPs are voting this week on whether to keep some pandemic-era exceptions for

MEP calls for rules to be relaxed to allow Donegal airport develop Read More »

Altnagelvin ED in ‘dire straits’ – Consultant

An emergency medical consultant at Altnegelvin Hospital says the Emergency Department is in dire straits. Yesterday, 110 people were in the ED with 45 awaiting admission while 4 ambulances were backed up awaiting to offload patients. In a social media post, Emergency Medical Consultant, Sandy Nelson appealed to people to do anything to help ease

Altnagelvin ED in ‘dire straits’ – Consultant Read More »

Final cost of the new National Children’s Hospital may not be known for years

The final cost of the new National Children’s Hospital may not be known for years, according to the head of its development board. The majority of the 1.4 billion euro budget has already been spent and the final cost is expected to go beyond that. The project is running 17 months behind its original schedule

Final cost of the new National Children’s Hospital may not be known for years Read More »

Mica homeowner who is stuck in limbo appeals to Council to speed up scheme

A defective blocks homeowner who says it looks like her house is built with gravel and dust has appealed for the Council to speed up the scheme application process. Sharon from Inishowen says the bricks at her back door are crumbling, plaster is coming off the walls and every room has mold. Her son spent

Mica homeowner who is stuck in limbo appeals to Council to speed up scheme Read More »

Vandalism at Muff Greenway ‘senseless’ and disappointing

Vandalism at the new greenway in Muff has been branded as ‘an act of mindless wanton destruction.’ Eight bilingual signposts, which described the species of plants and trees planted along the route, were pulled from the ground and left damaged. The incident is believed to have occurred on Sunday night. The signposts had been put

Vandalism at Muff Greenway ‘senseless’ and disappointing Read More »

Lack of accountability over defective blocks scandal ‘shocking’ – Deputy MacLochlainn

A Donegal Deputy has hit out at the government for failing to hold anyone responsible for the concrete blocks scandal as he raised issued surrounding banks and quarries. Speaking in the Dail last night during a motion calling for the ten percent concrete levy to be scrapped, Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn says many quarries are

Lack of accountability over defective blocks scandal ‘shocking’ – Deputy MacLochlainn Read More »

Donegal Deputy claims he is inundated with calls over social housing concerns

A Donegal Deputy says he has been inundated with calls from people who are close to the income threshold for social housing who are concerned they are going to be kicked off the list. Deputy Thomas Pringle raised the issue in the Dail during a debate about the Housing for All plan which he claims

Donegal Deputy claims he is inundated with calls over social housing concerns Read More »

NI Policing Board board urged to reverse exclusion of social housing group from Castlederg sale

The North’s Policing Board is set to deciede tomorrow on a proposal to sell the former Castlederg PSNI station in a process which Sinn Fein alleges has excluded a social housing association. APEX have been working with Derry City and Strabane District Council to secure the property but it’s claimed the PSNI Asset Estates Branch

NI Policing Board board urged to reverse exclusion of social housing group from Castlederg sale Read More »

Over 33,000 people in Donegal still using toilet as a bin

More than 33,000 people living in Donegal continue to regularly flush wipes and other sanitary items down the toilet despite warnings. A recent survey as part of the Irish Water and Clean Coasts ‘Think Before You Flush’ campaign has revealed that those aged under 35 are twice as likely to dispose of ‘flushable’ wipes down

Over 33,000 people in Donegal still using toilet as a bin Read More »

Donegal Garda questions effectiveness of ASBO reform

Anti-social behaviour orders go hand in hand with increased community policing, according to the Justice Minister. She’s asked the Garda Commissioner to examine their effectiveness and how to improve the use of orders. The crackdown is in light of recent antisocial instances, including the car ramming incident in Cherry Orchard in Dublin last month. Brendan

Donegal Garda questions effectiveness of ASBO reform Read More »

Minister McConalogue hopes he remains Agriculture Minister after reshuffle

The Agriculture Minister says he hopes Micheál Martin will keep him in the job after December’s planned reshuffle. Cabinet this morning approved an almost 10 billion euro package of payments to farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy. While at the weekend Micheál Martin guaranteed Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien he’ll be kept in the job post

Minister McConalogue hopes he remains Agriculture Minister after reshuffle Read More »

DTP receives 3 year funding package to tackle education disadvantage

The Donegal Travellers Project has received a three year funding package to tackle education disadvantage. It is just one of four projects in Ireland to receive a share of the €1.25m Equity in Education Fund from Rethink Ireland. The aim of the funding is to enhance access to education for your people experiencing educational disadvantage

DTP receives 3 year funding package to tackle education disadvantage Read More »

Inadequate remuneration and continuing staffing crisis to dominate PDFORRA conference

Inadequate remuneration and the continuing staff crisis across the Irish defence forces are set to dominate the agenda of the PDFORRA conference. The three day conference is being held in Jackson’s Hotel in Ballybofey over the next three days with issues such as working conditions, recruitment and retention of members within the force are set

Inadequate remuneration and continuing staffing crisis to dominate PDFORRA conference Read More »

‘Executive should be back up and running immediately’ – Taoiseach

The Stormont Executive should be back up and running immediately, according to the Taoiseach. It follows similar comments from British prime minister Liz Truss yesterday. The Stormont elections were held in May, but the DUP is refusing to allow the assembly to function, due to the Northern Ireland protocol. UK and EU officials are due

‘Executive should be back up and running immediately’ – Taoiseach Read More »

HIQA assess infection control measures at two disability centres in Donegal

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

HIQA assess infection control measures at two disability centres in Donegal Read More »

Minister and HSE stress importance of Flu and Covid vaccines

The Health Minister says he expects this winter to be difficult, given the perfect storm of flu and Covid. It comes as the number of patients with the virus has increased, with 409 people being treated in acute hospitals. Stephen Donnelly says the most important thing people can do to help hospitals, is get vaccinated………….

Minister and HSE stress importance of Flu and Covid vaccines Read More »

Gardai investigating two incidents of criminal damage over the weekend

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

Gardai investigating two incidents of criminal damage over the weekend Read More »

Mayor seeks emergency meeting to discuss Glenswilly flooding, saying he has the answer

  A Glenswilly resident says a permanent solution must be found following another incident of heavy flooding in the vicinity of Glenswilly National School. After heavy rain overnight, the area is once again affected this morning with one section of the road covered in water and residents stuck in their homes. Theresa lives beside the

Mayor seeks emergency meeting to discuss Glenswilly flooding, saying he has the answer Read More »