Author name: highlandnews

Exchanges between the Tanaiste and Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty reached new levels today. Heated dialogue between the pair have become the norm in recent times over the cost of living crisis. However, when responding to Deputy Doherty in the Dail today who told Leo Varadkar that people are continuing to struggle with the cost of

There could be thousands of more homes impacted by mica defective blocks throughout the country. It’s estimated 7,000 homes are impacted, mostly in Donegal. The rough cost of the mica redress scheme announced by the Government this week is 2.7 billion, and it has been extended to homeowners in Clare and Limerick. However, Josephine and

A Donegal TD says it’s vital that the voting age be lowered so that young people’s voices are heard in the climate debate. Deputy Thomas Pringle is bringing a bill forward next week on lowering the voting age to 16. He says the voices of young people must be part of the climate debate, as

An engineer again has raised concerns with the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme, saying he doesn’t believe the enhanced scheme agreed this week will adequately address the problem. Dr Ambrose McCloskey says there is still not enough information about the exact nature of block degradation, and previous recommendations that there be more research have not been

Donegal County Council is being asked to consider allocating its vacant houses through a choice based letting model, which would involve advertising vacant properties and inviting people to register an interest. The change was suggested by Cllr Michael McBride, who suggested it could speed up the letting process. Officials told him that while choice based

Parts of the country will see a mini heatwave before the weekend, but it will largely bypass Donegal. Temperatures will reach up to 22 degrees in parts of the country this afternoon, rising to almost 25 degrees tomorrow. However, the weekend will see cooler temperatures and more unsettled weather. Alan O’Reilly from Carlow Weather says

More Irish household are experiencing fuel poverty than ever before. An ESRI study found 29% are struggling because of soaring energy costs, up from the previous high of 23% back in 1995. Inflation between January and April means households are now paying an extra € 21.27 per week on energy, that rises to € 38.63

Letterkenny Milford Municipal District has been told that keeping traffic moving and the town open will be priorities for gardai over the rally weekend. Cllr Gerry McMonagle, chair of the Joint Policing Committee, told the meeting that very productive discussions have taken place between the council, gardai, Letterkenny Chamber and the rally organisers. He said

Donegal County Council has confirmed that it has no responsibility for the completion of Tory Island Seawall. The seawall on Tory island was started a number of years ago, but was never finished due to a lack of funding. At a recent Glenties Municipal District meeting, it was stated that the council has liaised with

Close to one in ten remote workers have relocated within Ireland since the pandemic began. Research by the Western Development Commission and NUIG shows Cork and Galway are the most popular places to move to, 4% of people relocated to Donegal. Meanwhile 16% said they’d like to leave Ireland entirely. Policy Analyst with the Commission

Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle is calling on the government publish the data on the number of children with additional needs who are without an appropriate school place for September. A survey, carried out by the group ‘As I am’ showed at least 267 children are in that position, a number of them in Donegal .

  Donegal County Council is to carry out a review of vacancy and dereliction across the county, with the possibility potential Compulsory Purchase Orders and other measures to promote regeneration and provide housing options. The review will draw on a high-level examination of vacancy in the region that was recently published by the Northern and

The new Cathaoirleach of the Donegal Municipal District says the housing crisis in the county is becoming very worrying, particularly with the number of young people who do not have somewhere to live. Cllr Niamh Kennedy was elected to the chair, with Cllr Tom Conaghan as her deputy. Cllr Kennedy says it’ll be a challenging

The new Mayor of Letterkenny Milford Municipal District says reducing housing waiting lists, the cost of living, Mica and spiralling costs in the agriculture sector will be on his agenda over the coming year. Councillor Donal Mandy Kelly was elected unanimously last evening, with Councillor Ciaran Brogan elected Deputy Mayor. Councillor Kelly says he wants

A Donegal County Councillor is calling for all meetings, including committee meetings to be streamed live. Councillor Micheal Cholm MacGiollaEasbuig believes the public deserve an insight into all council business. He says the pandemic proved that the streaming of meetings can be facilitated. Councillor MacGiollaEasbuig says it would be an important step……….

There have been calls for a traffic management plan to be put in place in Dungloe. Cllr Mary Therese Gallagher says at times, people are unable to get out of their homes as entrances are being blocked by motorists. She says it’s vital for the future development of the town that the ongoing issue is

The Mica Action Group says as it stands, the enhanced Mica redress scheme approved by Cabinet yesterday does not meet their needs. Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien says he is satisfied that the enhanced scheme will represent a significant step forward in having a fit for purpose grant scheme which will help homeowners rebuild their homes

Councillor Donal Mandy Kelly has been elected the new Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District. The Fianna Fail Councillor takes over the role for the first time from outgoing Cathaoirleach Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh. Councillor Ciaran Brogan has been announced as Deputy Mayor. Councillor Kelly says reducing housing waiting lists, the cost of living, Mica

President Michael D Higgins says housing in Ireland is no longer a crisis, it’s a disaster. He was speaking at the opening of a centre for homeless young adults in County Kildare. Latest Government figures show there are more than 10,000 people in homeless accommodation nationally, which doesn’t include refugees or asylum seekers. Michael D

The Dail today heard further calls for the bill to be granted pre-legislative scrutiny. Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn told Micheal Martin that with many false dawns for affected homeowners, they deserve scrutiny of the legislation:   In responding, Taoiseach Michael Martin however, did not agree to pre-legislative scrutiny but instead said it’s time to get

Concerns have been raised that Donegal is heading into a major crisis as contracts with hotels and B&Bs housing Ukrainian refugees are due to expire. A number of accommodation facilities across the county have opened their doors to house refugees in the wake of the Ukrainian war. Cllr Michael McClafferty says it is important a