Author name: highlandnews

Concrete Block Levy will be halved, but kept in place for longer

The concrete block levy will be cut to 5 per cent and its introduction has been delayed. Finance Minister Pascal Donohoe’s confirmed it will now take effect from the first of September next year. The money raised by the levy is designed to contribute towards meeting the cost of the Mica redress scheme. There had […]

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Special council meeting underway to mark Creeslough tragedy

A special meeting of Donegal County Council is underway to mark the Creeslough tragedy. Opening the meeting, Cathaoirleach Cllr Liam Blaney said they gathered with a heavy heart. He said the council is deeply endebted to the emergency services who worked tirelessly through the night, the council’s own staff, including the fire service. He paid

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Leo Varadkar puzzles the nation with his meal prep Instagram story

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar took to Instagram to praise his partner Matthew for taking care of the meal prep for the week. However, the content of his fridge has left the people of Ireland scratching their heads. Image: Instagram Twitter flooded with comments from users wondering why none of the lunchboxes have lids or coverings  and

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Over €1.1m raised for Cresslough in Red Cross fund

Over €1.1 million has been raised to date in the Creeslough Community Support Fund. The fund was initiated almost immediately in response to the Creeslough tragedy by the Irish Red Cross in cooperation with An Post and Applegreen. Emergency distribution of funds has commenced in the village. Liam O’Dwyer, Secretary General of the Irish Red

Over €1.1m raised for Cresslough in Red Cross fund Read More »

Major defective blocks conference in Letterkenny next month

An international conference on the science and societal impacts of defective concrete blocks is being held next month in Letterkenny. The event will be co-hosted by the ATU, Ulster University and Midlands North West MEP Luke Ming Flanagan on November 15th at the ATU’s campus in Letterkenny. The conference will see leading international experts in

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A Candlelight Autumnal Serenade in aid of Doochery village defib fund

Following an acute emergency during the summer of 2022 it was discovered that the Doochary Village Defibulator was not working and in fact had been recalled by the manufacture years earlier. Since that time Cumann Forbartha – Na Dúchoraidh, Doochary-Tidy Towns has been actively fundraising to acquire a new defib, a box to house it

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CIF believes levies to fund redress scheme should be aimed at manufacturers

The Construction Industry Federation says building levies to fund the Mica redress scheme should be aimed at manufacturers. Cabinet ministers are due to discuss changes to a proposed 10% levy on concrete announced in Budget 2023. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has re-iterated this morning it will be going ahead despite pressure from backbenchers to change

CIF believes levies to fund redress scheme should be aimed at manufacturers Read More »

€40m for Summer Programme for children with special needs

€40 million is to be provided for the Summer Programme initiative to assist children with special needs. 45,000 children took part in the programme this year in over 1,000 schools across the country. The Department of Education says it’s hopeful all schools will run a programme for children who need additional learning support. Minister of

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More focus to be put on walking, cycling infrastructure in Letterkenny

There is set to be a focus on allocating more road space to pedestrians and cyclists in Letterkenny under new plans revealed by the Department of Transport. Under the Government’s Pathfinder Programme, initiatives are being put in place to encourage the use of more sustainable transport methods in the town. According to Transport Minister Eamon

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Special Council meeting to acknowledge Creeslough tragedy takes place todau

A special meeting of Donegal County Council takes place today to acknowledge the Creeslough tragedy. It’s the first meeting of the Council since the tragedy that took ten lives unfolded. Leas-Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Michael Naughton says this meeting is being held to express condolences to those who lost loved ones, and to discuss

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Limited eviction ban to be discussed this evening

A time limited ban on evictions will be discussed by Government party leaders this evening. The Attorney General has examined options around reintroducing the ban which was in force during the Covid pandemic. Ministers want to know if it will stand up to constitutional challenge outside of an international pandemic. Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien says

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BTS record label confirm band members will enlist to South Korean military

  BigHit have released a statement on Twitter this morning confirming that members of renowned K-POP band BTS are going to ‘fulfil their military service’. Conscription laws in South Korea states that all able-bodied men aged 18-35 must complete a minimum of 18 months of service to the army, navy or air force. This ends

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Progress being made on Fort Dunree upgrade project

Progress on the delivery of the major Fort Dunree Upgrade project continues. The Design Team has been appointed and preliminary design has commenced. The design phase of the Fort Dunree Upgrade project will continue until December with the detailed design phase starting in January 2023. Planning permission for the development is expected to be submitted

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‘Housing Minister cannot walk away from those in dangerous homes’ – MacLochlainn

A Donegal Deputy is warning the Housing Minister that he cannot walk away from families in Donegal living in dangerous Mica affected properties. Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn has received a response from Minister Darragh O’Brien in which he doesn’t agree to task the Housing Agency and Donegal County Council to assist families in providing temporary alternative

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Mica Redress Scheme is ‘paralysed’ – MAG Chairperson

The Mica Redress Scheme is ‘paralysed’. That’s according to the new Chairperson of the Mica Action Group. In a social media post, Lisa Hone says affected homeowners are at this stage collateral damage as the lack of progress on proper redress continues. The Mica Action Group has this morning written to Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien.

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Deputy hits out as possibility of people footing bill for retrofitting

It is ‘unbelievable’ householders will have to foot the bill themselves and wait to be re-reimbursed for retro fits. That’s according to Michael Fitzmaurice after it was reported the rules are to change and people will have to pay the whole bill and wait for money back. The average household could have to pay up

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Eighteenth annual DCSDC Recycling Week gets underway today

This week is Derry City and Strabane District Council’s eighteenth annual Recycle Week as they are encouraging everyone to be more responsible with their rubbish. This year’s campaign focuses on three main areas – on the difference recycling can make, making sure the contents of your bins is correct, and clearing up recycling confusion. During

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Watch: Paul Melaugh reflects on the Donegal Junior Football Championship final

Letterkenny Gaels avenged their defeat in last years Donegal Junior Football Championship to claim the title this year round. 0-12 to 0-10 was how it finished with Ronan Frain scoring three points in a Man of the Match performance. Letterkenny Gaels joint manager Paul Melaugh gave his thoughts to Diarmaid Doherty. Carndonagh’s Padraig Doherty told

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Reaction: Letterkenny Gaels win Donegal Junior Football Championship

Letterkenny Gaels claimed their first ever adult title on Sunday afternoon when they beat Carndonagh 0-12 to 0-10 in O’Donnell Park. At half time the Gaels trailed seven point to four but a strong second half showing saw them claim the two point victory. After the game, Tom Comack spoke with Man of the Match

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