Author name: highlandnews

It’s emerged that more than 50% of funding allocated to Donegal last year for walking and cycling infrastructure was not spent. The Green Party Donegal Chair says we need to do better and need to start seeing faster progress. Over €5.5m has been allocated to Donegal for Active Travel Infrastructure this year. However, Michael White […]

A large scale illegal dump has been uncovered in the Falcarragh area. 28 tonne of household, construction, demolition and agricultural waste was recently removed from the site. The clean up cost Donegal County Council €12,000. Councillor Michael McClafferty, Leas Cathaoirleach of the Glenties Municipal District says the money spent could have been better spent on

Ballybofey continues to have the highest commercial vacancy rate in the country at 30%. As a whole, the county has the third highest commercial vacancy rate nationally following an increase to 17%. According to GeoDirectory, the commercial vacancy rate in Donegal has increased 0.4% when compared to June 2021. The county has the highest vacancy

A Carndonagh councillor is welcoming the promise of a more visible garda presence in the town, but says the focus must be on the need for a new and modern Garda Station to serve the area. Cllr Albert Doherty was speaking after he and other North Inishowen representatives met with Gardai, including two newly appointed

What’s been described as a new eco-friendly treatment to help eliminate Japanese Knotweed has been developed in Donegal, and is being trialled in a special project in Inishowen. KPM Soils, based in Carndonagh, have developed what they say is an environmentally safe solution through composting called Knotweed Novel Organic Treatment, or KNOT for short. They

The Regional Independents Group is calling for increases to social welfare payments and loans to support people to retrofit their homes. The group of nine independent TDs is meeting the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure this afternoon, ahead of the budget announcement next month. They’re calling for zero per cent interest loans to improve

Ukrainian Independence Day parades and rallies are taking place across the country today, including in Letterkenny. Gatherings are banned in the country itself, for fear of Russian rocket strikes targeting large groups. Independence Day usually marks the breakaway from the Soviet Union, but today also marks 6 months since the current war started. Ukrainians in

A Donegal Traveller has labelled a shortfall in the drawing down of funds for traveller accommodation as structural and institutional racism. David Friel says its a result of bodies such as County Councils not having policies and provisions in place to provide safe accomodation for travellers. Donegal Senator Eileen Flynn has called for a new

A march to the Dail is being held next month in a bid to what a Donegal Deputy says is to force Government action on the cost of living crisis. Deputy Thomas Pringle believes the protest will send a strong message to those in power. The march, organised by the Cost of Living Coalition will

The Cathaoirleach of the Glenties Municipal District says he is shocked and dismayed that the vandalising of signposts in Donegal is being supported by a fellow Councillor. On Monday it emerged that English place names on road signs had been spray painted over, leaving only the Irish visible. Councillor Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig continues

112 gardai are currently suspended from duty, due to allegations of wrongdoing. Three have been suspended for over six years. According to freedom of information figures, one garda has been suspended for between eight and 10 years. Barrister and Fine Gael senator, Barry Ward, says these cases should be finalised quicker:

Work on the ‘Interim Flood Alleviation Scheme’ at the bottom of the Ballycolman Estate in Strabane is set to begin today. The scheme is designed to considerably reduce the risk of in-house flooding to properties in the area which have previously been impacted by severe flooding. The work is scheduled to last approximately 6 weeks

More and more people are finding they need financial support from charities for the first time in their lives. That’s according to St Vincent De Paul who say they have received over 110 thousand requests for help since January. Wholesale electricity prices are up 86 per cent year on year, which is leading to increases

The Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority is urging motorists and other road users to be extra careful in the vicinity of schools as children prepare for the new academic year. Sam Wade was speaking after the launch of a new Back to School Initiative by the RSA and An Garda Siochana, with two

A Midlands North West MEP says addressing the mental health of people in Ireland and across Europe ‘isn’t about lip service’ but is a life and death situation. Maria Walsh who authored the European Parliament’s first report around mental health earlier this summer believes mental health should be top of the agenda. It comes following

A woman has been left shaken after a cement block was thrown through the window of her home in Carndonagh. The incident occurred on Saturday at around 4:30am in the Millbrae Meadows area. The woman was at home on her own at the time. Garda Niall Maguire is appealing to anyone with information to contact

A Donegal father has hit out at a lack of support and a fit for purpose system for children with additional needs. John Joe McGinley, founder of autismdad.ie says he has two sons who are on the autism spectrum and have gone almost two years without support. Webinars are said to be replacing in person

The Family of County Donegal man Michael Leonard is calling on the Irish Government to seek answers from British authorities about his controversial death in 1973. New files obtained from the Military records office in London have revealed that the 24-year old cattle dealer was murdered by the RUC. The Family, from Pettigo, are seeking

Some students who have the points for third level subjects may not be able to take up their studies because of the accommodation crisis. That’s the bleak warning from the Union of Students which says the accommodation crisis is preventing some individuals from undertaking degree courses. Ross Boyd is Vice President of campaigns with the

Two NCT Centres in Donegal have some of the lowest pass rates nationally. The centre in Derrybeg has the lowest pass rate in the country at just under 39% while Letterkenny has a rate of 45.6%. NCT centres in Dublin, Limerick and Laois have the highest pass rates. Dave Humphreys is the road test editor

Buncrana has been designated a ‘Think Before You Flush’ town by Irish Water and the Clean Coasts initiative. The campaign highlights the implications of flushing unsuitable items like wipes down the toilet on both the environment and the waste water systems themselves. As part of the campaign, information and resources have been sent to B&Bs,