Author name: highlandnews

Thousands of extra acute hospital beds are needed to deal with overcrowding. That’s the view of Dr Fergal Hickey, a consultant in emergency medicine at Sligo University Hospital, who says the trolley crisis will ‘deteriorate’ in the coming months. The HSE has warned that it is expecting a difficult winter in the health service. Dr

The Tánaiste has suggested Northern Ireland would keep a separate parliament, courts, police and health service under a United Ireland. Leo Varadkar was speaking at the Ireland’s Future conference at the Three Arena yesterday which saw speakers discuss what reunification might look like. Fianna Fáil TD Jim O’Callaghan also said the north may keep a

A new opinion poll today shows that Sinn Fein have maintained their lead at the top, with 37 percent support – a record for the party. The party now has a 16 percent lead over Fine Gael and a 20 point lead over Fianna Fail. The Ireland Thinks/Sunday Independent poll also revealed that 51 percent

The Taoiseach says there are legal difficulties stopping the Government from reintroducing an eviction ban this winter. It follows another month of record homelessness figures in the Republic of Ireland with over 10,800 people accessing emergency accommodation as of the latest figures. Despite that Micheál Martin says they don’t plan to bring back an eviction

Sinn Féin is calling for a winter ban on evictions, due to the number of people homeless. Figures released yesterday show over 10,800 people accessed emergency accommodation last month. Dublin accounts for around 70 per cent of all people experiencing homelessness in Ireland. Sinn Féin’s housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin says the housing minister needs

The Assistant Garda Commissioner for the North West region has been told that a new Garda station for Carndonagh needs to be a priority. Carndonagh Garda Station has been clsoed for some time as it was deemed not fit for purpose. Councillor Albert Doherty has written to the Assistant Commissioner Michael Mc Elgunn to ensure

A call has been made for a dedicated sporting weekend to be held in the county to encourage Ukrainian refugees to become more involved in their communities. Former Sergeant and member of Donegal County Council’s Joint Policing Committee James Trearty has suggested that sports clubs across the county should hold an event for Ukrainian refugees

EU Energy Ministers have agreed on a windfall tax on the profits of energy companies. Ireland is expected to benefit by around two billion euro from the bloc-wide fund. The Government has opted to follow the EU model as it will allow them to tap into profits of big companies across the continent who don’t

Two women claimed to have seen an an apparition of Saint Padre Pio, in Limerick City. The women were involved in organising an anniversary mass at St Saviour’s Church, last Friday for the saint. They claim to have seen a bright shape in a photograph that changed colour, and evolved into a figure of St

The Irish National Teachers Organisation have voted to accept a public sector pay deal. Last month the Government reached agreement with unions that would see public sector workers recieve a 6.5% pay increase over two years. The INTO, which is Irelands largest teaching union, say 80% of members who voted, were in favour of the

A Donegal Deputy says it appears the Department is willing to go along with what appears to be people capitalising on the housing of Ukrainian refugees. Concerns have been raised across the country over where those fleeing the war in Ukraine are being housed and the conditions of such properties. Deputy Thomas Pringle says such

  One of the last Town Councillors in Letterkenny has died. Jim Lynch spent over 30 years as a member of Letterkenny Town Council, and its predecessor, Letterkenny Urban District Council. He was a long time environmental campaigner, calling for measures such as a river walk along the River Swilly Jim Lynch was one of

Threatening Ireland with legal action over turf cutting is a “step in the wrong direction”, according to one independent TD. The European Commission said unless action is taken to half the cutting of peat within Special Areas of Conservation, the state could be brought before the European Court of Justice. It noted Ireland’s efforts so

A Donegal priest is urging Donegal County Council to outline, in a very clear and visible way, how money raised through the Local Property Tax is spent. This week, the council voted to retain LPT at current levels, a decision which has led to some debate. Supporters say the LPT has not increased, opponents say

The Housing Minister says the state is using every legal avenue available to go after those responsible for defective building blocks. The government introduced a 10% levy on concrete in Tuesday’s Budget to help fund the mica and pyrite remediation scheme. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar earlier this week said he’s frustrated there have been no prosecutions

A Donegal Deputy has sought assurances from the Education Minister that a contingency plan is in place to offset financial difficulties which may face schools next year. A large increase in direct funding for schools was announced in Budget 2023. Deputy Joe McHugh, himself a former Education Minister, says while the additional money is to

The government’s being accused of trying to turn people against Mica homeowners as opposition grows to the new levy on concrete products announced in the Budget to fund the Defective Blocks Redress Schemes. Campaigner Paddy Diver says while the state is determining how to raise money, there’s no urgency from government to help people who

A member of the Regional Health Forum West says the pandemic has played its part in Cashel na Cor not returning to full capacity. Day services at the centre in Buncrana is currently operating on a limited basis. The HSE has said recruitment of a manager for the facility has been challenging. Councillor Albert Doherty