Author name: highlandnews

There’s been a positive step forward for homeowners living in uninhabitable defective block affected properties. It was confirmed last night that storage and accommodation grants will be made available next week for those properties that are no longer safe to live in. €15,000 will be available for alternative accommodation while €5,000 has been set aside

Power cuts at this time of the year are not an option. That’s the view of Mayo TD Michael Ring in reaction to higher than usual demand on the grid due to the cold weather. The Tanaiste says it’s extremely unlikely there’ll be blackouts despite concern about energy supply. Deputy Ring says Leo Varadkar can

A Donegal deputy has welcomed the news that legislation that would hold insurers to account and lower premiums is set to proceed to Committee Stage. The legislation would require the insurance industry to provide information to the Central Bank outlining how the cost of claims have reduced as a result of the new Personal Injuries

The country is currently under a status yellow low temperature and ice warning which’ll continue until midday today. Met Éireann is warning drivers of hazardous conditions. Meanwhile, a yellow warning for snow and ice is in place until midday on Saturday for Donegal. Alan O’Reilly from Carlow Weather says conditions are poor out there this

Concerns have been raised about the condition of one of the busiest roads in Inishowen. The slab road leads from Bunfoot to the main Derry to Letterkenny Road and recently the Council has been encouraging people to travel via Bridgend and avoid the road. However, Cllr Jack Murray says the road remains one of the

Failte Ireland will today launch a Destination Experience Plan for the Inishowen Peninsula, laying out how it hopes to grow tourism in the area over the next three to five years. It comes as significant funding was announced this week under the Shared Island initiative for the linking of the Causeway Coastal route in counties

Ireland is no longer dealing with a housing crisis but a social crisis. That’s according to Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty who told the Tanaiste that the lack of housing is impacting recruitment in a number of sectors including healthcare and education. In responding to Deputy Doherty, Leo Varadkar says the Government accepts that Ireland is

The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine has been told that the quota discussions which will take place in Brussels at the weekend are almost meaningless because there still hasn’t been a deal on with the UK government post Brexit, and that puts the Irish fleet in an impossible position. That’s according to

Concerns have been raised over the discolouration of water in Burtonport. Residents in the area have been subjected to discoloured water in the taps for a number of weeks now. The matter has been reported to Irish Water who says they are investigating it. Councillor Micheal Choilm MacGiolla Easbuig says investment in water infrastructure is

Defective block campaigners and homeowners have scrapped plans to protest in Carndonagh today after Donegal County Council closed the Public Services Centre there. Campaigners intended to occupy the centre as part of there renewed campaign to highlight the pressures they are facing, particularly in the case of those whose homes are now unsafe. Campaigner Paddy

The Chair of the Mica Action Group says there appears to be a willingness from the Housing Minister to resolve a number of issues for defective block homeowners, however no assurances have been given. Minister Darragh O’Brien and the Department of Housing met with the campaign group yesterday as well as Donegal County Council. The

The Marine Minister claims the vast majority of Irish fishing stocks were fished at unsustainable levels and over-fished. Minister Charlie McConalogue was speaking last evening during a meeting of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn raised concerns about the declining seafood sector in Ireland and said statistics show the

There is an urgent need to reform the Mental Health Act, 2001 to protect the rights of people receiving mental health treatment and care in hospital. That’s according to the Mental Health Commission, which is appearing before an Oireachtas committee today. The organisation says broader regulation of mental health services is needed. John Farrelly, chief

Met Éireann is warning drivers of hazardous conditions as a status yellow ice warning remains in place. Black ice is possible on roads, as well as freezing rain, and even some snow showers later this afternoon. The current weather warning remains in place until midday. Siobhan Ryan, Meteorologist with Met Éireann says conditions are poor

Defective block campaigners are holding another protest today with plans to occupy Carndonagh Public Service Centre. The gathering which gets underway at midday follows a meeting between the Mica Action Group and the Department of Housing yesterday. No comittment was given to release the grant aid for emergency accomodation for families whose homes are uninhabitable.

A former Garda Sergeant believes Donegal should stand alone as a policing division. A recent meeting of the JPC, the members heard that the new suggested policing model has not yet been nailed down or confirmed. Former Sergeant and member of Donegal County Council’s Joint Policing Committee believes Donegal is in a unique position due

A Donegal deputy has urged the Government to take steps to support recruiting and retaining teachers as he claims Ireland is no country for young people. Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, said Government must address obstacles to people considering entering the teaching profession in the face of serious recruitment issues. Addressing the Dáil yesterday,

MLAs in the North have failed to restore a power-sharing government again. The Assembly met for the fifth time today to try to find a breakthrough. However, the DUP had already indicated efforts would not be successful. Members failed to elect a speaker and therefore the Assembly cannot function. The DUP’s Gordon Lyons slammed Sinn

    13 Donegal piers and harbours have been granted €5.6m in the latest tranche of the Brexit Adjustment fund which was announced this afternoon. Funding has also been confirmed fopr a number of ongoing projects, including nearly €15m for the ongoing breakwater project in Greencastle. Minister Charlie McConalogue says the new projects announced today

An open letter has been sent to Donegal TDs on behalf of Donegal hoteliers, seeking support for tourism recovery and the retention of the 9% VAT rate. The letter, issued by Niall Coffey, a member of the Donegal Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation in a bid to highlight the growing economic challenges facing the

Donegal Action for Cancer Care says it’s a disgrace that the North West is being excluded from a new Government plan to deal with the backlog of planned operations. The cabinet’s been discussing the creation of five new surgical hubs across the country today, to be located in Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Dublin. On

A meeting is to take place on Monday to discuss concerns of the legitimacy of beggars in Letterkenny. It has been claimed that people are being bused into the town and illegally begging. The Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District has called for representatives of the HSE, An Garda Siochana, the North West Simon

It’s emerged that there are a total of 40 families in Inishowen in need of residential placement. Councillor Albert Doherty spoke at the Regional Health Forum West of a family living in Clonmany whose daughter is currently receiving residential support in Co Carlow. A recent meeting was told that no consideration would be given to

The government is being urged to promote a national campaign to welcome refugees and inform them of their rights. The call came in the Seanad last evening from Senator Eileen Flynn, who says there have been some ugl;y scenes on the streets which need to be countered. She also expressed concern that what she termed

A fifth attempt will be made later to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland. MLAs will gather at midday to try and elect a new Speaker of the Stormont Assembly. It’s being prompted by the cost of living crisis and delays in homeowners receiving a 600 pounds energy credit. The DUP is refusing to facilitate power-sharing