Author name: highlandnews

The Helping Hands project at the Family Resource Centre in Raphoe faces an uncertain future after a break in at its base at the weekend. Around €2,500 worth of equipment used in the maintenance of gardens was taken, including two lawnmowers, two hedge cutters, two blowers, two trimmers and a power washer. The items were […]

€10.4m million has been allocated to Donegal under the Leader programme for the next five years, the second highest allocation in the country after Cork. The money is used to support rural communities and enterprises, with Agriculture and Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue urging interested groups to apply for funding. He says the LEADER model has

Senator George Mitchell will virtually address the Oireachtas committee today on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement today. The special envoy to the north who was appointed by former US president Bill Clinton, is expected to comment on the current political impasse at Stormont. Jon Tonge, professor of politics at the University of Liverpool,

Around 400 thousand homeowners are poised to face higher monthly repayments. Yet another interest rate hike is expected when the governing council of the European Central Bank meets today. An increase of 0.75% is on the cards as the bank attempts to control inflation in the eurozone. It’ll be the third interest rate hike this

Hospital overcrowding this winter could be the worst ever seen. That’s according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation after 669 patients were left without beds on Tuesday. That figure was the highest number of patients waiting on trolleys in a single day in 2022. Of those, 51 were at Letterkenny University Hospital, the joint

There’s calls for a Remedial Works Programme to be set up to bring Mica affected social houses and others laying vacant back into use. People have been moved out of up to 20 council owned properties in the Letterkenny Milford Municipal which have been affected by defective blocks. Councillor Gerry McMonagle believes a process needs

Concerns have been raised over vacant roles in the Corporate Services Department of Donegal County Council. It is understood a number of staff have retired in recent times and while the local authority says efforts are being made to recruit for the roles, to date, they remain empty. Councillor Ciaran Brogan says the issue needs

The Taoiseach says he will consider a further deferral of the national rates revaluation process which is now underway. Donegal is one of the first counties in which the process is underway, with fears that this may mean some businesses will see their rates bill increase significantly in years to come. In the Dail, Fianna

The Mayor of Letterkenny Milford Municipal District says the process of reinvigorating Letterkenny’s Market Square could have been delayed if agreement hadn’t been reached this week on taxi spaces. The draft proposal saw all taxi spaces taken away from Market Square and outside the Market Centre, and moved down Main Street past the Courtyard Shopping

The Chairperson of the Mica Action Group says the Government is trying to divide the country over the mica redress scheme. Lisa Hone was the homeowner representative at today’s Oireachtas Committee meeting about the controversial concrete levy, which was introduced in Budget 2023 and intended to fund mica redress. She was joined by reps from

The head of the Construction Industry Federation says whatever actions are taken by government to recover the cost of the defective Blocks Scheme, the reality is that the bulk of the burden will ultinately fall on the taxpayer. Answering questions from Deputy Mick Barry, Tom Parlon acknowledged that there was no regulation in terms of

The Chairperson of the Mica Action Group has told an Oireachtas Committee that the proposed concrete levy is just adding “insult to injury” for Mica homeowners. Lisa Hone was speaking in front of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform this afternoon She says that taxpayers are being given the full blame

Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn has pleaded with Government to help Mica affected homeowners living in dangerous properties to help them urgently. It’s believed 500 homeowners are currently at stage one of the redress scheme. Deputy MacLochlainn says these homeowners are stuck and can’t get access to any financial supports despite continuing to live in properties

A Buncrana publican has given a cautious welcome to a new pilot scheme which aims to reinvigorate nightlife. Buncrana has been selected as one of 9 cities and towns across the country to take part in a pilot initiative to support the development of a vibrant and diverse night-time economy. The project follows announcements on

Donegal County Council is being urged to address the condition of a busy road outside Letterkenny as a matter of urgency. The Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District has described the state of the Crievesmith/ Old Town to Bomany road as ‘dire’. Councillor Donal Mandy Kelly says there has been huge investment in the

A Donegal Deputy says students from Donegal attending university in Northern Ireland are being discriminated against. Students travelling from the county to the likes of Galway will receive a 50% rebate as part of the Leap Card Scheme however, if travelling to the North no rebate is available. Deputy Joe McHugh believes a solution is

A Glenties Councillor has welcomed works that are set to begin today on the R259 road between Dungloe and Burtonport. The roadworks will see much-needed improvements to the road and footpath. The route will be closed to traffic between 8am and 5pm from today until Friday. Cllr Michael Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig says while the

The Dail has been told that recent figures published by the Donegal Rape Crisis Centre show the need for improved sexual and relationship education from primary school on. The centre returned the highest number of under 18s seeking help, with many of them reporting they had been physically and sexually assaulted by their peers. Deputy

A Business Investment event is taking place in Dublin this evening to promote the North West City Region as an area of investment . The event, which is being hosted by Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council, will see presentations from development agencies, third level institutions and companies who have already

The Tánaiste has accused Russia of weaponising refugees. Leo Varadkar warned Ukrainians considering fleeing to Ireland they can’t be guaranteed accommodation here – but claimed Ireland also won’t be turning away any new arrivals at the same time. He said the Government doesn’t know how many new accommodation places it may be able to secure

A group representing people who live with obesity, hope “shame and blame” around the disease will soon be gone. It follows the publication of new clinical guidelines by the HSE, that moves away from the idea it’s a ‘lifestyle illness’. Under the guidelines, obesity is considered a chronic disease that should be treated medically, and