Author name: highlandnews

Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd was in the North West today where he met with residents and business owners affected by flooding at the weekend. The Minister visited homes and business in Drumahoe and Eglinton and other parts of Derry city and Strabane where at least 30- 40 homes are known to have internally flooded, with up

Gardaí from the Roads Policing Unit in Buncrana have detected a number of road traffic offences today while out patrol. A Fixed Charge Penalty Notice was issued for the offence of holding/using a mobile phone while driving and another was issued for the offence of not wearing a seatbelt. Three vehicles were detected travelling in

Motorists are advised that the Melmount Road in Sion Mills is currently closed following a road traffic collision between the junctions with Bells Park Road and Seein Road. Local diversions are in place. Motorists are asked to avoid the area and seek an alternative route.

Gardaí in Buncrana are investigating a criminal damage incident in the Pairc na hAluine area. A resident returned to their property to discover that sometime between July 11th and 16th the glass back door to the property had been smashed in. No entry was gained to the property. Gardai are appealing to residents in the

The average rent in Donegal for new tenancies has increased by 18%. According to the Residential Tenancies Board’s latest Rent Index, the average rent in the county in the first quarter of this year was €764, up from €646 during the same period last year. The figure is up 5% when compared to figures from

Gardai are seeking three people after a car they were travelling in crashed into a tree in the Magherabeg area of Burnfoot on Sunday afternoon last. A grey VW Golf, with a partial registration of ‘YNZ’ is believed to have been travelling from Burnfoot towards the Causeway, Inch Island when it struck a tree at

A man remains in hospital following an assault in Castlefinn. The man was assaulted in the Long Brae area at around midnight on Sunday last. He was transferred to hospital by ambulance for treatment to injuries sustained. Gardai say his injuries are not believed to be life threatening. They are appealing to anyone who has

An emergency payment scheme is being made available for homeowners in Derry and Strabane whose homes were damaged by Saturday evening’s floods. People are being urged to immediately contact Derry City and Strabane District Council to register their property to avail of the Department for Communities Emergency Payment scheme. Up to £1,000 is being made

Plans for the regeneration of Carrick are underway. Coiste Forbartha na Carrige along with Donegal County Council and Paul Doherty Architects in Donegal Town, are in the process of preparing the plan for the village and surrounding area. Two public surveys are to be carried out to help identify what aspects of Carrick and it’s

Up to 15,500 more hospital staff may be needed in the next 13 years. An ESRI workforce requirements report foresees the need for additional workers, due to population increases. It estimates that staff increases in the region of 12,500, to 15,000 would be needed. It includes up to 3,200 more medical staff 8,800 more nursing

61 new speed cameras will go live this morning as Gardai and the Road Safety Authority encourage drivers to lower their speed. The cameras are spread around 23 counties with the majority on regional and national routes. Three are being rolled out in South Donegal, at Birchhill, Drumbeagh and Carrickboy. It comes after 5 people

Tributes from across the political divide have been paid to David Trimble. The tributes were led by the Taoiseach Michael Martin who said he played a pivotal role during negotiations around the Good Friday Agreement. Figures from the political world both here and in the UK have been remembering one of the men were key

Police have issued a warning of criminals using clever technology to steal cars following a spate of keyless car thefts across the North. Over the last 11 months, 35 cars have been stolen using technology that is allowing these thieves to steal vehicles by redirecting wireless signals from key fobs. Detectives believe, due to the

Donegal was struck by a mini 0.9 magnitude earthquake overnight. The earthquake occurred 12km northeast of Letterkenny, approximately 1 km beneath Lough Swilly at around 2.35am, according to Irish National Seismic Network. Earthquakes with magnitudes up to M2.5 are commonly detected in Donegal; the most recent earthquake detected in this region was Magnitude of 0.6

The HSE has confirmed that a suspected bomb threat at Scally Place, Letterkenny. Co. Donegal this afternoon was a hoax. Scally Place offers a number of HSE services and also includes a medical practice. The building was evacuated as a precaution earlier this afternoon, with a large garda presence at the scene. The HSE would

Businesses have been evacuated at Scally Place, Letterkenny due to an ongoing incident on the Justice Walsh Road. It is believed there is an ongoing bomb scare and alarm was raised in the past half hour. Scally McDaid Roarty Medical Practice staff and patients have confirmed they have been evacuated. A spokesperson for An Garda

Grocery inflation in Ireland has hit 7.7 per cent – the highest level in 14 years. That’s according to market researcher Kantar. Take-home grocery sales fell by over 3 per cent in the 12 weeks leading up to mid-July. Consumers are attempting to cut costs by turning to generic brands, and reducing the frequency of

Donegal will host a major European Youth Conference at the end of next month. The event at the ATU Donegal Campus in Letterkenny will bring together over 100 young people, politicians and civil activists to discuss how to shape a more democratic and sustainable Europe. The Assembly of European Regions Summer Academy will take place

Funding has been approved for a new gteic digital hub on Tory Island. Údarás na Gaeltachta approved the monies at it’s monthly board meeting for the development adjacent to the island’s Community Centre. The project is being developed by the island’s Community Co-operative and will offer shared workspace available also as a community space and

A group of Fine Gael TDs and Senators say farmers cannot continue to be blamed for the country’s carbon emissions. TDs John Paul Phelan, David Stanton, Charlie Flanagan and Paul Kehoe, and Senators John Cummins and Garret Ahearn, have issued a statement as government continues talks on carbon emission reductions this week. They say ‘finger

A status yellow thunderstorm warning is in place this evening for seven counties, including County Donegal. The warning is in place here, as well as in Monaghan, Leitrim, Sligo, Louth and Meath. It’s expected to lead to heavy rainfall which may cause spot flooding. The alert is in place until 8 o’clock tonight. Meanwhile in

A yellow weather warning for rain has been issued for Northern Ireland this afternoon, after flash flooding impacted several parts of Derry and Strabane last night. The Met Office say that there will be heavy showers and longer spells of rain today, with some thunderstorms. They advise that it’s likely to cause additional travel disruption

Police in Derry say that a fifteenth man has been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation following a parade in the city on Monday the 18th of April. A 28 year-old man was arrested under the Terrorism Act yesterday. He has since been released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service. Of the

Police in Strabane say they have charged a 46-year-old woman, after it’s alleged she tried to drunkenly drive off in an ambulance. The incident occurred in the Bridge Terrace area of Strabane yesterday. Police have charged her with being in charge with excess alcohol in breath, and taking a motor vehicle without authority. She is