Author name: highlandnews

  A Donegal Minister who has come under fire for his support for the government’s defective block scheme says he does not fear for his political future, despite the prospect of mica campaigners forming a political party. TD Charlie McConalogue has supported the government’s handling of the defective block scheme and he is happy that

Fresh fears have arisen for cardiac services at Letterkenny University Hospital. Donegal Td Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has called for government assurances on the retention of cardiac services at Letterkenny University Hospital, after Deputy Marc McSharry confirmed that he had recieved assurances that sligo hospital would retain their cardiac services. The call has been sparked by

Two indigenous businesses are seeking to expand and set up manufacturing bases at Strabane Business Park. Castlederg-based Omega Crushing and Screening has lodged plans for a new 60,000 sq ft factory on the site while company Fabplus has submitted planning seeking to develop a new facility on 6.5 acres of the Invest NI site. Sinn

A hospital consultant’s warning restrictions may need to be reintroduced this autumn if covid infections continue to rise. The number of cases in public hospitals has crossed the 1,000 mark for the second time this week at 1,035. Roughly three in four of those receiving treatment are over the age of 65. Consultant, Bill Tormey,

The Government comfortably won a confidence motion yesterday evening. The backing of a number of Independent TDs ensured the coalition won by a margin of 19. 85 TDs voted in favour of the Government – including 6 Independent TDs. Speaking in the Dail, Donegal TD Pearse Doherty said the government is out of touch and

Concerns have been raised about the sudden arrival of up to 30 men getting out of a bus and going into two private houses in Letterkenny. Cllr Gerry McMonagle raised the issue at today’s meeting of Letterkenny Milford Municipal District. He says he received calls from concerned residents, who witnessed a bus with around 30

New research has shown that solar panels alone could produce up to 29 percent of all household electricity required in County Donegal, if every house that was suitable for panels installed them The research, carried out by University College Cork on behalf of the Irish Solar Energy Association, says that 44,000 homes in Donegal have

Ramping up military spending is “beggars belief” in the middle of a housing and cost of living crisis. That’s according to People Before Profit, as the government plans to increase defence spending from 1.1 billion euro to 1.5 billion by 2028. Representative body RACO has welcomed the increase, but adds there is little for their

The Taoiseach says he expects regulations on turf to be announced at the end of this week. It’s understood the public will still be allowed sell turf to friends and neighbours, in a climbdown on previous plans. However Ministers today denied the final announcement on turf was delayed to get through the no-confidence motion first.

Garda Grainne Doherty speaking to Donal Kavanagh on today’s Nine til Noon Show……….

Gardaí in Buncrana are investigating after a substantial sum of money was stolen from a house in the Ludden area of Buncrana. The burglary occurred on Thursday July 7 between the hours of 7.30am and 7.45pm. It is believed that entry may have been gained to the property through an unsecured rear window. A substantial

Gardaí in Carndonagh are investigating a road traffic collision that occurred on the Moville Road, Carndonagh (approx. 1 KM from Carndonagh town) in the early hours of Sunday July 10 at approx 3.40am. A man was crossing the road when  he was struck by a dark coloured car. The car did not remain at the

Sinn Féin Housing Spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin was in Donegal yesterday for a number of meetings to discuss housing needs in the county. He met with the North West Simon Community, and visited the Cathedral Quarter project in Letterkenny. He met with senior housing officials of Donegal County Council, and also visited a number of

The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council says it nay not be possible to hold face to face council meetings without a garda presence. It’s after a special meeting of council was abandoned last evening after a series of adjournments, with gardai called to investigate reports that Cllr Gary Doherty’s mobile phone was forcibly taken from

The special council meeting to discuss the report into five houses in Buncrana has been adjourned until next Monday. The meeting was adjourned five times due to a number of disruptions. We understand Gardai have been called on foot of a claim that a phone belonging to Cllr Gary Doherty has been taken by another

A Donegal GP says we should continue to prioritise the over 65s and immuno-compromised for second Covid-19 boosters. It comes as the number of Covid infected patients in Irish hospitals passed 1,000 today for the first time since April. Latest figures for Letterkenny University Hospital show 61 patients with Covid, one of them in ICU.

Donegal County Council has been told that there is no evidence of corruption in the its purchase of five houses at An Crannla in Buncrana, some of which were found to have deleterious materials in their blocks. Auditors BDO, who were commissioned by the council to carry out an independent review, presented their report last

A former Mayor of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District says Donegal County Council must do more to tackle dereliction, particularly as some unused buildings in the county are becoming increasingly unsafe. Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh says there have been numerous discussions about the issue, and it’s now time for action. Cllr Kavanagh says legislation gives the

The consultation into the provision of CCTV cameras in the Twin Towns ends this week, with a final consultation event on Thursday at the BASE Enterprise Centre in Stranorlar. Its proposed to locate six cameras at six strategic locations in Ballybofey and Stranorlar. Cllr Patrick McGowan says those locations are not written in stone, and

Independent TDs are setting out their stalls ahead of a vote of no confidence in the Government this week. Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh and South Donegal Deputy Marc McSharry are among those expected to vote in support of the government, despite both resigning the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail whips respectively. Donegal Independent Deputy Thomas

Sinn Fein is calling for a full inquiry into the state’s handling of covid. It’s after the Business Post received new leaked recordings showing over-spending by the HSE on PPE. It’s revealed the HSE decided to spend 770 million euro on Personal Protective Equipment, even though it was only allowed spend 205 million euro. Sinn

A fifth of children in Europe are living in income poverty. Social Justice Ireland’s new report shows that amounts to almost 15.8 million children at risk of poverty in the EU. It’s also found 6.9 million children are severely materially deprived and childhood poverty has long-lasting effects on their lives. Michelle Murphy is a Research