Author name: highlandnews

Docuseries about the dark side of ‘Barney’ to air in October

‘Barney the Dinosaur’ is the latest subject of a two part documentary by Peacock. I Love You, You Hate Me  investigates the dark side of the beloved children’s TV show. It dives into the intense hatred and backlash that the show was subject too. Peacock says in it’s synopsis “From Barney-bashing to frat parties to […]

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Tanaiste open to alternative ways of administering the Concrete Levy

The Tanaiste says he’s open to alternative solutions to the concrete levy. It’s after a number of government TDs criticised the measure, which was announced in the Budget earlier this week. The 10 percent levy on concrete blocks has yet to be legislated for, and Leo Varadkar said it was important they get it right.

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Garda

‘Substantial shortcomings’ found in handling of 999 calls

Several instances of ‘substantial shortcomings’ were discovered in a new report into the cancellation of thousands of 999 calls by Gardaí. The Policing Authority paper discovered several inconsistencies within the four regional control rooms, which led to the ‘potential for serious harm to victims’ who were calling the emergency number. This report by Derek Penman

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Clashes between Tanaiste and Deputy Doherty resume in Dail

Clashes between the Tanaiste and Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty have resumed just two weeks in to the new Dail term. Deputy Doherty told Leo Varadkar that lengthy waiting lists for children awaiting assessment by a disability team is worsening as 17,000 children await an appointment with 2,500 overdue an assessment of needs. He says children

Clashes between Tanaiste and Deputy Doherty resume in Dail Read More »

Police issue appeal after man assaulted in the city centre

Police in Derry are appealing for information and witnesses to the report of an assault in the city centre in which a man was seriously injured. The assault, which is reported to have occurred at around 11.15pm on Waterloo Street on Tuesday 20th September, was reported to police yesterday, Wednesday 28th September. It’s reported the

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GP card extension welcomed but long waiting lists will continue to cause problems

  A Mountcharles GP says the GP card extension will be useful to some people but long waiting lists for referrals will continue to delays medical care. People who earn the median household income of €46,000 or less will be eligible for a free GP card under a new Budget measure. However, Dr Maria Moy

GP card extension welcomed but long waiting lists will continue to cause problems Read More »

Frustration as no support for fishing industry in the budget

A Donegal TD has pleaded with the Agriculture, food and Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue to stand up for his community and provide emergency supports for the fishing industry. Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn said he could not get his head around why the budget did not include an emergency financial aid package to address the fuel

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Councillor fears revised valuations may threaten some Donegal businesses

Businesses across Donegal have begun receiving revised rate valuation packs from Donegal County Council this week, with one councillor saying he believes the vast majority of them are seeing their rates bill increase. Cllr Michael McClafferty says this is the first new valuation programme for 10 years, and coming at a time of increased pressure

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Anger as Student Centre plan is dropped by Maynooth University

Donegal students who had been contributing towards the development of a student centre at Maynooth University have been left outraged after the project was suddenly withdrawn. A €150 student levy was brought in seven years ago to build a student centre to be home to the Students’ Union and a hub for student activities. However,

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Relief for south Inishowen residents as problematic water supply fixed

Works are finally complete on a new main water supply in south Inishowen after outages plagued local residents for years. The final section of the new water main supplying Magherabeg and Inch Island has recently been completed by Irish Water. Issues with the water supply had been ongoing for years, and a petition had been

Relief for south Inishowen residents as problematic water supply fixed Read More »

Gardai Scam Warning, Highland Radio, News, Letterkenny, Donegal

Gardaí seize Dáil laptop during investigation into viewing of child abuse material online

A laptop owned by a man working for a TD has been seized by gardaí. The man – accused of viewing child abuse material – hasn’t been arrested to date, but the allegation is being investigated. The Irish Independent reports two Leinster House committees were asked to waive parliamentary privilege in order for gardaí to

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Bank of Ireland expected to be fined over 100 million euro today

Bank of Ireland’s expected to be fined over 100 million euro today, over the tracker mortgage scandal. The fine set to be imposed by the Central Bank. The issue has so far cost Bank of Ireland almost 330 million euro since 2016 in refunds and compensation, legal fees and administrative expenses. Kathryn Hannon from asset

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Price of fuel will remain high after war in Ukraine – Minister Conevey

The Foreign Affairs Minister is warning that even when the war in Ukraine ends, the price of fuel will still remain high. It comes ahead of a meeting of EU energy ministers this Friday, when members are expected to agree to a cap on energy profits and a solidarity tax on fossil fuel providers. Minister

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Major campaign to promote Donegal and Derry rolled out in Great Britain

A major tourism campaign to promote Donegal and Derry has been launched in Great Britain. The nine-week campaign with the tagline; ‘two unique places, one amazing holiday’, will reach at least 6.8 million people with digital ads in London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Shane Clarke, Tourism Ireland’s Director of Corporate Services and Policy

Major campaign to promote Donegal and Derry rolled out in Great Britain Read More »

TDs must speak out about Donegal broadband delays – McGowan

A Finn Valley based Councillor says it’s not acceptable that the National Broadband Plan will not be fully rolled out in Donegal until the end of 2025. Briefing members at a meeting this week, National Broadband Ireland executives said they were slightly ahead of schedule, with work practically complete around Letterkenny, and Creeslough the next

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NI Secretary says restoration of Executive is priority for both Governments

The Northern Ireland Secretary says restoring the powersharing institutions at Stormont is a priority for both the British and Irish governments. Speaking after a meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney, Chris Heaton-Harris said he believes the ‘mood music’ is positive around reforming the executive before he has to call an election next month. Mr

NI Secretary says restoration of Executive is priority for both Governments Read More »

‘Lack of effective building control problem with defective controversy’ – Canney

An Independent TD believes the core problem of the defective block controversy is the lack of effective building control. Deputy Sean Canney told the Taoiseach in the Dail today that without regulations in place, defective blocks are going to continue to cost the Government billions. He was critical of the new concrete levy introduced in

‘Lack of effective building control problem with defective controversy’ – Canney Read More »

Hillsborough meeting focused on rebuilding a partnership – Coveney

The Foreign affairs Minister has been meting the Northern Secretary in Hillsborough this afternoon a bid to improve British Irish relations. Simon Coveney said his meeting with Chris Heaton-Harris focused on ‘rebuilding a partnership’ between the two governments. The ministers said they discussed the Northern Ireland Protocol, legacy proposals and how to re-establish the Stormont

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Elective procedures postponed today at LUH as ED under ‘significant pressure’

Elective procedures have been cancelled at Letterkenny University Hospital today due to significant pressures rising from high attendances and long waiting times. Saolta has confirmed the Emergency Department is under significant pressure today as Yesterday 160 people attended the Emergency Department. The high number of people attending who need to be admitted for ongoing treatment

Elective procedures postponed today at LUH as ED under ‘significant pressure’ Read More »

Call for security upgrades at LUH as Gardai called 21 times in eight months

Gardai were called to Letterkenny University Hospital a total of 21 times during an eight month period this year. Councillor Albert Doherty says the force responding to the calls from hospital security between January 1st and September 12th is 21 times too much. It’s lead to calls for security upgrades to be implemented at the

Call for security upgrades at LUH as Gardai called 21 times in eight months Read More »

Waiting times at ED discussion must go beyond hospital – Cllr Brogan

Over 35-thousand people waited over 24 hours in emergency departments in the first seven months of this year. It includes nearly 12-thousand people over the age of 75, according to freedom of information figures. The number of patients on trolleys in Letterkenny University Hospital’s Emergency Department increased almost 45% last month. Figures show there were

Waiting times at ED discussion must go beyond hospital – Cllr Brogan Read More »

Letterkenny farmer banned from keeping animals after cruelty conviction

A 74 year old Letterkenny farmer has been fined, and banned from keeping animals for ten years after being convicted of a number of animal cruelty offences. At Letterkenny District Court this week, sentence was passed on Leslie Stewart of The Thorn, Letterkenny. He had entered guilty pleas to 16 of 30 charges at a

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Tanaiste frustrated at lack of defective block prosecutions

The Tánaiste says he’s frustrated there have been no prosecutions of people involved in making defective blocks. It comes after the government introduced a 10 per cent levy on concrete in yesterday’s budget. The 80 million euro raised will partly be used to fund the Defective Blocks remediation scheme. Enterprise Minister Leo Varadkar says he

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Housing Minister expects concrete measure to become an annual levy

The Housing Minister says he believes the concrete products levy announced yesterday to part fund the Defective Blocks Redress Scheme will become an annual levy. Minister Darragh O’Brien says the details are now being drawn up for the implementation of the measure, which is due to come into effect in the second quarter of next

Housing Minister expects concrete measure to become an annual levy Read More »

Budget failed to help struggling households – Deputy Pringle

A Donegal deputy believes the budget has failed to help middle income families who are facing into a difficult winter. Deputy Thomas Pringle believes the government missed the chance to provide targeted measures to assist those who really need it by instead using a blanket approach. He says the budget provided middle income households with

Budget failed to help struggling households – Deputy Pringle Read More »

Foreign Affairs Minister to meet Northern Secretary today

The Foreign Affairs Minister will meet Britain’s Northern Secretary in Hillsborough in Co Down this morning – to discuss the North’s political crisis. Simon Coveney says restoring power sharing at Stormont, and respecting the results of May’s election, is top of his agenda. Chris Heston-Harris was appointed two weeks ago by Liz Truss and is

Foreign Affairs Minister to meet Northern Secretary today Read More »

Patients on trolleys at LUH ED increased almost 45% last month

The number of patients on trolleys in Letterkenny University Hospital’s Emergency Department increased almost 45% last month. Figures show there were 136 people without a bed at the hospital during August. During the same period last year, 61 patients were on a trolley. In response to a question from Councillor Ciaran Brogan at yesterday’s Regional

Patients on trolleys at LUH ED increased almost 45% last month Read More »

Calls safety works on N15 as it records third highest number of fatal crashes

There’s calls for safety works to be carried out on the N15 Road after it recorded the third highest number of fatal crashes in the country. 13 fatal collisions occurred on the Lifford to Sligo road between January 1st 2017 and September 14th 2022. Cathaoirleach of Lifford Stranolar Municipal District Councillor Patrick McGowan believes the

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Council must do more to acquire houses – McGarvey

A Donegal councillor is questioning the urgency with which Donegal County Council is acquiring social housing stock. Cllr Ian McGarvey was told by officials this week that the council has identified 47 priority sites, with the potential to construct between 1100 and 1500 houses. This programme, they pointed out, can be supplemented by the turnkey

Council must do more to acquire houses – McGarvey Read More »