Author name: highlandnews

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 […]

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

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

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

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

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

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

Over-75s waited an average of almost 10 hours at emergency departments in the first seven months of this year. According to freedom of information figures, the worst was over 16 hours in Mercy University Hospital in Cork. Across the country, over-75s waited over 24 hours on nearly 12,000 occasions between January and July. Donegal GP

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

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

A levy on concrete blocks, pouring concrete and some concrete products will be introduced, to help pay for the Defective Blocks  Redress Scheme. The levy will come into effect from April of next year, and will be applied at a rate of 10 per cent. Minister Pascal Donohue says it’ll raise 80 million euro a

Finance Minister, Paschal Donohoe says Budget 2023 is a ‘cost of living budget’. The Department of Finance estimates rate of inflation at 8.5% this year and 7% next year. Public debt amounts to €44,000 per person in Ireland, totaling €225bn. The cost of one off measures in the budget will be €4.1 billion while core

Letterkenny Gardaí are investigating after rocks were thrown through a window and an oil burner stolen at a house in Glencar. The incident occurred at Glencar Irish between Monday 19th at 3pm and Tuesday 20th of September at 10am. The rocks caused damage to other items in the house and the boiler was notice missing

Parents have been urged to warn youths about the seriousness of entering vacant properties as Gardaí investigate a burglary of a holiday home in Rathmullan. The house at Seaview Terrace, Main Street Rathmullan was burglared sometime between Thursday September 22nd and Sunday September 25. The owner of the property had been alerted that youths had

Gardaí are appealing for information after a house in Ballybofey was set on fire. The fire broke out at a vacant property in Sessiaghoneill last Sunday night at around 11pm. Extensive damage was caused to one room of the house. Inquiries are ongoing and Garda Grainne Doherty says they are investigating whether the fire was

Gardaí have renewed their appeal for information over missing man Cian Langelaan on the second anniversary of his disappearance. The last known sighting of Cian was on Sunday September 27th 2020 in the Hornhead area, Donegal. Cian, aged 27 at the time was reported missing from the Falcarragh area. Cian is 5 ft 8 inches

The owner of a holiday property in Moville which was badly damaged after what appears to have been a series of break-ins in recent weeks has appealed for information about what happened. Sam is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those behind the break ins at the old barracks

Donegal County Council is to ask the government to prioritise the Letterkenny campus of Atlantic Technological University when it comes to the provision of on campus accommodation. The council passed an emergency motion moved by Cllr Michael McBride at a plenary council meeting this week, in which he argued preferential treatment is not just desirable,

That’s according to a Donegal councillor, who is calling on Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe to ensure cash remains a key part of our day to day lives. A recent survey from the Dublin Mint Office found 88 per cent of believe using contactless card payments will leave behind a significant cohort of Irish people.

Derry City and Strabane District Council has unveiled a new heritage plan for the area. The strategy sets out how the District’s built heritage can be protected, promoted and sustainably developed over the next five years. The Heritage Plan is the first of its kind for the area. Councillor Keith Kerrigan says it’s about educating

A West Donegal councillor is again being asked to clarify claims that corruption is an issue at every level on Donegal County Council. The comment was made by Cllr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig during the course of the authority’s budget meeting last November. Cllr MacGiollaEasbug, who made his comments through Irish, later said there

Local Property Tax rates are set to remain unchanged in Donegal for the next two years, in accordance with the recommendation of officials. Donegal County Councillors voted today to retain the 15% increase agreed in 2019. The move was opposed by Sinn Fein and a number of independents, who pointed to what they termed the

The national broadband plan will cost around €128 million to be fully installed in Donegal, the second highest amount in the country. 33,000 premises in the county are expected to be connected to the plan which aims to provide high quality broadband to all areas. Letterkenny is now complete with around 3,000 premises ready to

The north and west of the country has been downgraded to a ‘lagging region’ by the European Commission. The area, which includes the counties Donegal, Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo, Monaghan, and Mayo, has been downgraded as it has been noted as being significantly poorer relative to the European average over recent years. The commission says

Concerns have been raised about refugees from other countries coming into Donegal under the Ukrainian refugee umbrella. Cllr Donal Coyle raised the issue at the latest JPC meeting, asking how many Ukrainian refugees are currently in the county, and how many refugees from other countries are currently here. He believes there may be a number