Author name: highlandnews

The failure to build council houses in Donegal over the past number of years is the root cause of the accommodation crisis that is now hitting the county. That’s according to Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn who says the government must immediately agree a comprehensive and large scale building programme to improve the county’s social housing […]

The Russian Ambassador to Ireland has been summoned to attend the Department of Foreign Affairs today. Minister Simon Coveney made the call yesterday after it emerged Russia had issued a travel ban against 52 Irish politicians, including the Taoiseach and Tanaiste. The full list of names hasn’t been published, but Ambassador Yuri Filatov will be

A lot more research is required to investigate the impact of defective products on house foundations and the effectiveness of outer or inner leaf remediation works. Thats according to Dr Andreas Leeman, Group Leader Concrete Techonology Emba who has been carrying out research into the defective blocks scandal in Donegal. The foundations are currently not

It’s emerged refugees being housed in Donegal have effectively been locked out of accessing GP care. It’s believed no PPS number was supplied to refugees living in Ballybofey, Carndonagh and Buncrana who instead are being forced to access care through the hospital or ambulance service. Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle asked for the Minister for Children,

House prices are up 10.8% in the year to September. Latest figures from the CSO show the rate of increase has slowed from 11.9% in the 12 months to August. Prices in Dublin went up by 9.4%, with an 11.9% increase for the rest of the country. That was mirrored in the border region, with

A consultant at Letterkenny University Hospital says the health service is robbing Peter to pay Paul. Dr Ken Mulpeter says plans to move towards a more community based health service will ultimately cost more money and leave hospitals with even more staff shortages. While welcoming the the new plan, Dr Mulpeter told today’s Nine til

A Donegal Deputy has proposed the A5 and TEN T road projects be delivered in tandem. Deputy Joe McHugh has told the Dail that this could be a game changer and would facilitate Donegal becoming a serious net contributor to the Irish economy. It’s been confirmed that the A5 public enquiry is expected to be

An Inishowen Councillor has warned that unless immediate action is taken to repair a road in Culdaff, someone is going to be seriously injured or worse. Councillor Johnny McGuinness says the Moss Road has been subsiding for years and is in such a state now that the road is effectively suspended with nothing supporting it.

A senior psychology lecturer believes people who are impacted by the defective blocks crisis are facing serious trauma. Speaking at this week’s defective block conference in Letterkenny, Dr Karen Kirby of Ulster University outlined the findings of a study of the impact of the defective blocks scandal on homeowners. Dr Kirby says the research has

A Donegal Deputy has told the Dail that the fire service needs to be given what they deserve once and for all. Speaking on a motion calling for measures to address a recruitment and retention crisis in the Retained Fire Service, Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn says a fit for purpose service is needed and one that

A West Donegal councillor says it’s more important now than ever before that people support local businesses and stay in the county to shop. Cllr John Sheamais O’Fearraigh says in particular, it’s vital that people support the ‘Buy Donegal’ campaign that was launched last Friday and remains in place until Christmas Eve. He’s also urging

A campaigner from Connecticut says the defective block scandal could have been avoided if tests were carried out at quarries. Speaking at a conference on defective blocks in Letterkenny last evening, Debbie MacCoy, State of Connecticut Lead Advocate said she believes Ireland could have avoided the defective blocks scandal if there were tests conducted on

A secondary school teacher says students are not accepting college places as they are concerned about the financial implications to their mica affected families. Angeline Ruddy is a teacher at Moville Community College and is also a mica homeowner. She was speaking at and ATU – Ulster University conference on Defective Blocks, which is underway

The Foreign Affairs Minister believes a deal on the Brexit protocol could be reached by the end of the year. Talks between the EU and the UK resumed in October for the first time in seven months. DUP opposition to the protocol has led to political stalemate at Stormont, with no power-sharing executive in place.

A Donegal garage owner says he is seeing cars being damaged by wild deer on a daily basis. There have been several collisions, including one incident involving an ambulance in recent weeks. There are now calls for a cull of the deer population in the west of the county. Noel McFadden has a garage in

A representative of the Housing Minister has confirmed that modular homes are not being considered as a solution to the housing crisis created by defective concrete blocks. John O’Connor says he expects funding for alternative accommodation for homeowners whose properties have been deemed uninhabitable to be available in a number of weeks. Repeated calls have

Gardai have reissued an appeal for information following a fatal crash in Letterkenny last week. Shortly before midnight on Wednesday last, two cars collided on the Ramelton Road. A female passenger who was a front seat passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. Two men were taken to Letterkenny University Hospital for serious injuries sustained.

A quantity of gold jewellery has been stolen during a break in in Carrigans. Its believed entry was gained through an unlocked door to a house on the Main Street on Friday last between 7pm and 9pm. Garda Sergeant Charlene Anderson has more information:  

A special workshop is to be held next week to investigate claims fraud beggars are being bused into Letterkenny. The Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District last week raised serious concerns over reports those purporting to be beggars are intimidating people. The workshop next week will involve Donegal County Council, Gardai, St Vincent De

Donegal County Council is being urged to install more dog fouling bins in Letterkenny. It comes as concerns have been raised over dog poop bags rather than being disposed of appropriately are being thrown over a hedge or left hanging on trees. 150,000 free poop scoop bags were provided by the Council this year as

Air, water, waste and noise aren’t being inspected properly, according to the EPA. The Environmental Protection Agency’s latest report looks at the environmental performances of local authorities in 2021. It found over 200,000 inspections were carried out across the country last year, while almost 81,000 complaints were received by local authorities. Donegal County Council was

Donegal TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn is urging all parties to support a Sinn Fein motion calling for measures to address a recruitment and retention crisis in the Retained Fire Service. Deputy MacLochlainn says the service is not fit for purpose, with fire fighters voting for industrial action and 60% saying they want to leave. A

Councillors in the Glenties Electoral Area are seeking a meeting with senior council officials ahead of next week’s budget meeting to discuss what they say is a major deficit in investment in the area. The issue was raised by Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher, who says a number of initiatives which would benefit West Donegal are

A three day research event to examine Mica and other deliterious materials in concrete blocks gets underway today with a conference at the ATU Donegal campus in Letterkenny. A number of leading international experts from Canada, the USA, Switzerland and Norway will speak about their own research, and meet with local engineers, officials and homeowners.