Author name: highlandnews

There has been a record number of applications for the Bus Eireann school transport scheme this year. 130,000 people have applied since the government waived the 500 euro fee as part of the government’s cost of living measures. 44,299 families have applied for the first time, meaning some of those most in need of the […]

People along the coast of Donegal are being urged to apply for a share of a €3.5 million fund. €25 million has been allocated nationally to Fisheries Local Action Groups through BIM to counter the adverse economic and social consequences of Brexit. Grants  for those wishing to upskill or undertake training of 50%, up to

The Chair of the Green Party in Donegal says politicians cannot take their electorate for granted, and the only way to effect change is to persuade people that it’s needed. During a discussion on today’s Nine til Noon Show, Michael White said there are very few safe seats in Ireland, and that means politicians always

Over half a million illegal medicines were seized at airports, ports and mail sorting centres in the first six months of the year. The Health Products Regulatory Authority says sedatives were the most commonly seized medicines, followed by steroids and treatments for erectile dysfunction. Grainne Power is the Director of Compliance with the HPRA –

The EU is being urged to stop playing the British government’s game when it comes to the Northern Ireland protocol, and hold firm on the importance of keeping it in place. The Border Communities Against Brexit organisation has been responding to speculation that if elected Tory leader and Prime Minister, one of Liz Truss’s first

The level of new mortgage lending has declined again. Latest figures from the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland shows just over 5 thousand mortgages were approved in July, with first time buyers accounting for 45.2 per cent of those. However BPFI CEO Brian Hayes says the number of approvals is falling………..

Agri-food firms can apply for the second call of a Brexit response scheme worth 100 million euro. The Government’s providing up to 30 million euro to companies engaged in the processing and marketing of primary meat and dairy products. Junior Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon says the aim is to help them recover from Brexit………. Government

A Letterkenny councillor says as evening traffic jams once again become a commonplace occurrence in the town, there should be a comprehensive public consultation on the issue. Cllr Gerry McMonagle says frustration is bubbling over once again, and maybe it’s now time for the council to take over one of the empty commercial premises on

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe have welcomed new figures showing record employment levels. The CSO has revealed over 205 thousand jobs were created in the year to June, bringing the employment rate to an all-time high of 73.5 per cent. The largest increase was in food and accommodation, but the hospitality sector

Donegal County Council’s Road Safety Officer says all road users have a responsibility to look after their own safety, but more importantly, to also consider the safety of others. Brian O’Donnell says it’s all too easy for people to stress their own right of way, and allow frustration get the better of them. He says

Serious safety concerns have been raised over anti-social behaviour at the ambulance station in Castlederg. Incidents in buildings adjacent to the site are said to have escalated in recent weeks. The delivery of the life-saving service is now being impacted with the decision taken not to deploy solo responders. West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan has

The Tánaiste and the Taoiseach’s judgement on Robert Troy has been ‘appalling’. That’s the view of a member of the Oireachtas oversight committee, Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn. Junior Minister Robert Troy stepped down last night, in wake of the controversy surrounding his failure to fully declare his property interests in the Dáil register. Deputy Mac

A Wallaby that was missing in Tyrone since Monday has been found. The animal escaped from the Glenpark Estate near Omagh. Winnie the Wallaby was located last night after being detected on a night vision camera, close to where she went missing. Richard Beattie of Glenpark Estate says it was quite the task catching her:

It’s emerged that more than 50% of funding allocated to Donegal last year for walking and cycling infrastructure was not spent. The Green Party Donegal Chair says we need to do better and need to start seeing faster progress. Over €5.5m has been allocated to Donegal for Active Travel Infrastructure this year. However, Michael White

A large scale illegal dump has been uncovered in the Falcarragh area. 28 tonne of household, construction, demolition and agricultural waste was recently removed from the site. The clean up cost Donegal County Council €12,000. Councillor Michael McClafferty, Leas Cathaoirleach of the Glenties Municipal District says the money spent could have been better spent on

Ballybofey continues to have the highest commercial vacancy rate in the country at 30%. As a whole, the county has the third highest commercial vacancy rate nationally following an increase to 17%. According to GeoDirectory, the commercial vacancy rate in Donegal has increased 0.4% when compared to June 2021. The county has the highest vacancy

A Carndonagh councillor is welcoming the promise of a more visible garda presence in the town, but says the focus must be on the need for a new and modern Garda Station to serve the area. Cllr Albert Doherty was speaking after he and other North Inishowen representatives met with Gardai, including two newly appointed

What’s been described as a new eco-friendly treatment to help eliminate Japanese Knotweed has been developed in Donegal, and is being trialled in a special project in Inishowen. KPM Soils, based in Carndonagh, have developed what they say is an environmentally safe solution through composting called Knotweed Novel Organic Treatment, or KNOT for short. They

The Regional Independents Group is calling for increases to social welfare payments and loans to support people to retrofit their homes. The group of nine independent TDs is meeting the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure this afternoon, ahead of the budget announcement next month. They’re calling for zero per cent interest loans to improve

Ukrainian Independence Day parades and rallies are taking place across the country today, including in Letterkenny. Gatherings are banned in the country itself, for fear of Russian rocket strikes targeting large groups. Independence Day usually marks the breakaway from the Soviet Union, but today also marks 6 months since the current war started. Ukrainians in

A Donegal Traveller has labelled a shortfall in the drawing down of funds for traveller accommodation as structural and institutional racism. David Friel says its a result of bodies such as County Councils not having policies and provisions in place to provide safe accomodation for travellers. Donegal Senator Eileen Flynn has called for a new

A march to the Dail is being held next month in a bid to what a Donegal Deputy says is to force Government action on the cost of living crisis. Deputy Thomas Pringle believes the protest will send a strong message to those in power. The march, organised by the Cost of Living Coalition will

The Cathaoirleach of the Glenties Municipal District says he is shocked and dismayed that the vandalising of signposts in Donegal is being supported by a fellow Councillor. On Monday it emerged that English place names on road signs had been spray painted over, leaving only the Irish visible. Councillor Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig continues

112 gardai are currently suspended from duty, due to allegations of wrongdoing. Three have been suspended for over six years. According to freedom of information figures, one garda has been suspended for between eight and 10 years. Barrister and Fine Gael senator, Barry Ward, says these cases should be finalised quicker: