Author name: highlandnews

The state has sold off the last of its stakes in Bank of Ireland, 11 years since it was bailed out. The state has now recovered almost 6.7 billion euro from the 4.7 billion euro bailout agreement, with the final shares selling for 6 euro 17 a piece. But Sinn Fein’s finance spokesperson, Donegal Deputy […]

  Books from Irish authors are being given away on trains and bus services today. It’s just one of the elements of this year’s Culture Night, with over 1,700 events are planned in towns and cities across the country, dozens of them in Donegal. Minister for Arts, Tourism and Culture Catherine Martin says they want

Donegal is a county where the attitude to alcohol is different. That’s according to Paula Leonard, of the Alcohol Forum of Ireland. In Donegal, 58% of students and 53% of adults admit to drinking hazardously, while 33% of parents think it is okay for their 15 year old to drink alcohol when they are present

TDs are to get a pay rise worth over €1000 a few days after the Budget next week. Deputies will be paid a 1% increase on October 1st, as part of the Building Momentum pay deal. It means the basic TD salary will go up to over €102,000. TDs could also get a lump sum

Donegal County Council has confirmed that it is taking action against those responsible for dumping at Killyclug Woods in Letterkenny. Dumping is an ongoing issue and has been for some time in the area. As part of the Council’s investigation, evidence of those responsible for the dumping was found. Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh has welcomed the

The Cathaoirleach of the Inishowen Municipal District has expressed his disappointment after yet another incident of fly tipping in the peninsula. What appears to be a large amount of commercial or industrial waste such as bedding was discovered dumped in Burt on Monday. The rubbish has since been removed by Donegal County Council. Councillor Paul

Over 2,600 Irish residents travelled to the North for private healthcare in the space of 18 months. According to freedom of information figures, this cost the HSE over €9 million. The Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme was introduced at the start of last year. It allows Irish residents to get private healthcare in the North,

Micheál Martin has hit out at the failures of the UN Security Council in his last UN address as Taoiseach. He’s said Ireland has been deeply frustrated at the Council’s failure to act on climate change after Russia vetoed a motion with support from 113 countries. Micheál Martin said it beggars belief that the UN

  Concerns have been raised about the dangerous situation arising at the junction on the Knockbrack/Convoy Road at the old Foundry. Cllr Donal Coyle raised the issue at the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District and asked for the Council to urgently look at the road which has no road markings and lacks visible signage. He says

A Donegal Deputy is calling on the local link bus service to be developed to provide an integrated and responsive rural transport system for Donegal. Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle has called on the local link service to be integrated with Bus Éireann and other services to provide an improved rural transport system. Deputy

A walking group in West Donegal has issued an appeal to whoever was responsible for the shooting, dismembering and dumping of a deer to come forward. The discovery was made in recent days on the Cloghan Beg walkway between Gweedore and the Rosses. The popular route is used regularly by children and Mary Coyle, manager

‘At some stage the penny might drop’. That’s what Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty told the Tanaiste as he urged him to prioritise renters. In the Dail this afternoon, Deputy Doherty renewed calls for a months rent rebate for those in rented accomodation. He says many targets continue to be missed while the cost of rent

The 2022 Donegal Connect initiative is being launched this afternoon as part of the Global Irish Festival Series. Donegal people around the world were urged to make the trip back home to celebrate the county’s unique culture, uncover shared histories and forge new and lasting connections. At the centre of the event will be the

Serious concerns are being raised over convicted offenders from outside Strabane potentially being housed at a new apartment development in the town. Ark Housing Association has previously stated that the housing on Main Street will not be used to ‘specially’ accommodate individuals with convictions of a minor or serious nature. Councillor Raymond Barr says discussions

The Cathaoirleach of the Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District says while Donegal County Council is a long way off tackling social housing shortages in the Twin Towns, strides are being made. A meeting was held last night to identify suitable future housing and economic development lands in Ballybofey and Stranorlar. The Council currently owns no lands

It has cost the HSE over €1 billion to provide free PCR tests for Covid to the public. Over 11.3 million tests have been carried out to date, within the public system. The total cost includes referral and swabbing fees, reading the results, and transport charges. Donegal GP Ciarán Ó Fearraigh says the tests have

The Labour Party is to unveil a €4 billion alternative budget today aimed at tackling the cost of living. The Party says its plan, which has been fully costed, aims to help financially-stretched families as the winter sets in. The package would address GP care, access to housing and energy poverty. Labour Leader Ivana Bacik

Workers in thirteen community organisations in Donegal are taking strike action today in a dispute over pay. The striking workers will hold a protest march and rally in Letterkenny at noon to highlight the fact they have not received a pay increase since 2008. The action is part of a broader campaign by unions in

The mayor of Derry City and Strabane has called on people to turn up and express their anger and frustration at Saturday’s cost of living demonstration. The cost of living demonstration which was organised by Cllr Sandra Duffy is being held in the Guildhall Square at 12pm this Saturday, 24 September to highlight the pressures

The Council has been urged to source funding of €120,000 to install long term flood relief measures to prevent ‘outrageous’ flooding in Glenswilly. During a recent period of heavy rain, flooding caused the Letterkenny to Fintown Road at Glenswilly school to be washed away. Cathaoirleach of Letterkenny Milford MD Cllr Donal Mandy Kelly raised the

A call has been made for a workshop on the supply of social housing to be held as a matter of urgency. At the recent Letterkenny Milford MD meeting, Cllr Kevin Bradley called for the workshop to be held to identify available social housing to help cope with the ongoing housing crisis. Responding to the

The Western Development Commission and Halo Business Angels Network have announced a special event in Donegal next month to match companies with potential investors. The event is taking place on October 13th in the Co-Lab centre at the ATU’s Letterkenny Campus. The commission says bringing different people together should raise the level of investment in

Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister believes there’s ‘a window of opportunity now’ to discuss the protocol. Michelle O’Neill also urged the new UK Secretary of State to ‘stop pandering to the DUP’ so they’ll return to the executive table. Yesterday, Ireland’s EU Commissioner Máiread McGuinness said now could be an ‘opportune moment’ to have fresh

The Environment Minister says the government’s plan will ensure people will be able to heat their homes this winter. The rising cost of energy was the main issue being raised in the Dáil this morning, with the government and opposition parties taking different approaches to addressing it. Sinn Fein has called for a cap on

A South Donegal Deputy has told the Education Minister that there are 6,000 people taking up spaces on school buses on the basis ‘they might need it and that ‘it would be nice to have it’ as opposed to those who do need it. Minister Norma Foley has appeared before the Oireachtas Education committee where

A local Councillor has raised concerns about the dire conditions of an 82-year-old man’s home in Rathmullan. Cllr Ian McGarvey explained some parts of the house which was purchased from the Council over 30 years ago is subsiding, and the roof is partly being held up by two Acro Jacks. The council says the house

The European Affairs Minister says the government is working to make sure essential climate measures do not negatively impact struggling families. It’s after an EU wide survey found 60 per cent of people here think plans to solve the energy crisis should be prioritised over meeting climate goals. The European Movement Ireland opinion poll found

The outgoing PRO of the Mica Action Group has said while he believes a new government will be necessary to deliver an acceptable Defective Blocks Scheme, he is not supporting any political party. Michael Doherty, who stepped down at the group’s AGM this week told Greg on today’s Nine til Noon Show that while Sinn