Author name: highlandnews

The Junior Transport Minister has pledged to listen to any applications from Donegal County Council for extra roads funding, but stopped short of making any commitments about projects such as the Bonagee Link and the Twin Towns By-Pass. Hildegarde Naughton said annual allocations will continue for major roads projects, but also stressed that more funding […]

Plans are to be drawn up for a special commemoration in Stranorlar next year to mark the 100th anniversary of the Drumboe martyrs. On March 14th 1923, four Republicans, Charles Daly, Daniel Enright, Sean Larkin and Timothy O’ Sullivan were shot by Free State soldiers in retaliation for the death of a National Army soldier

A local councillor has called for a rebate or reduced rates similar to what was rolled out during the Covid Pandemic for businesses who are struggling to cope with rising costs. Speaking at yesterday’s meeting of Lifford Stranolar Municipal District, Cllr Martin Harley said many businesses are not going to survive the winter without support.

A boost in funding for the night-time sector has been described as ‘crumbs from the table’, after it emerged this week that the long-promised basic income for the arts has again been delayed. An extra 1.4 million euro is being made available to support off-peak entertainment in venues across the country. Donegal musician Matt McGranaghan

A public consultation on a new €3.5m visitor centre at Fanad Lighthouse is being held today. The 7,800 square foot centre includes a cafe, shop, meeting room and an art/workshop space as well as an upgraded car park and a play area. Plans will be on view at Fanavolty Hall today from 4pm to 8pm.

There’s fears someone will be seriously injured or worse unless works are carried out on a bridge in the Meenbanad area of West Donegal. There have been a number of crashes at Bunawillian Bridge with calls from locals for remedial works to be completed and the bridge to be widened and signage erected. Councillor Micheal

There’s calls for a review of coercive control legislation. The manager of the Donegal Domestic Violence Centre believes there needs to be an overhaul due to the amount and high level of complexity of cases coming forward. Yesterday, Garda Paul Moody was jailed for coercively controlling his ex-girlfriend. From 2017 to 2020, he bombarded her

Coalition Party leaders have failed to break the deadlock over how much Ireland should reduce carbon emissions from agriculture by the end of the decade. Talks ended without agreement last night, its unclear whether a deal can be reached in the short term. Its expected the talks will resume this morning ahead of the Cabinet

Over 15,000 people have been continuously on jobseeker’s allowance for at least 10 years. According to the Department of Social Protection, they include more than 4,000 in Dublin. Cork, Donegal, Galway, Louth and Wexford all have at least 700 each. Brid O’Brien, from the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, says extra support is needed

A leading lawyer in Mauritius claims a ‘hefty’ cash reward is needed to try to solve Michaela McAreavey’s murder. The Tyrone school teacher was killed while on honeymoon on the holiday island in 2011. No one has ever been convicted of the 27-year-old’s murder – after two hotel workers were cleared 10 years ago. Former

Initial work has commenced on the new state of the art €12.5m Fort Dunree visitor experience. The initial design team meeting took place at the site on Wednesday last. The project is due to be developed over the next 18 months, with construction expected to commence late next year, early 2024. Joan Crawford, Manager Wild

Recent statistics have revealed that almost 70% of land in the Derry City and Strabane district is covered by mining concessions. These concessions give private companies the rights to extract minerals from public lands, or carry out exploration of the area. Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin has written to the Economy Minister to express deep concern

A former Emergency Department Consultant at Letterkenny University Hospital says if everyone heeds the message from road safety campaign launch that took place yesterday at the ATU campus in Letterkenny, lives will be saved and injuries prevented in Donegal. Gerry Lane, who previously fronted an RSA TV campaign, says for every road death, there are

Fines for drivers who speed or use a mobile phone are set to double. Junior Transport Minister Hildegarde Naughton announced the plans at the launch of the RSA and An Garda Síochána’s mid-summer road safety appeal at the ATU Letterkenny. The fine for speeding is set to increase to €160 while motorists will now have

There’s fears another flooding event could devastate Inishowen. Flash flooding on Saturday last caused significant damage to roads and bridges in the East of the peninsula. Councillor Martin McDermott says the weekends events is evidence of the result of unfulfilled promises made after the unprecedented flooding in 2017. He says an urgent multi-agency response is

Over 1,400 people have so far joined forces with Coleman Legal in a High Court case being taken by defective block homeowners. Coleman Legal, who is representing homeowners has to date, issued over 750 WRITS and is expected to exceed 1,000 later this week. The action aims to make up a shortfall for homeowners who

An appeal has been issued to motorists to be vigilant after a number of car thefts in Donegal. It’s after a grey Renault Megane with a partial registration of ’01 DL’ was stolen from a property in the Dunwiley area sometime between 10pm on Friday night and 9am on Saturday. The vehicle was later recovered.

Concern has been raised over the level of medical care being provided on Tory Island. The nurse stationed on the island has been on annual leave since Thursday. Residents were without medical provision for a week at Easter also. A number of people had to be transferred to Letterkenny University Hospital on Saturday after becoming

There’s calls for immediate action to mitigate against a recurrence of flooding in Strabane. Damage was caused to homes and businesses across the town, many in areas previously affected, in particular, the Ballycolman Estate where short term flood alleviation works have been approved but have yet to be carried out. Councillor Michaela Boyle says urgent

Barnardos is calling on the government to use the Budget to provide relief for parents who are struggling with back to school costs. The charity’s Back To School survey for 2022 has found the basic cost of sending a child to school remains substantial across primary and secondary level. The average cost of the basics

A second Dáil Chamber could be on the cards. It’s one of the suggestions being made, so politics can become more ‘family friendly’. Under the proposals, Oireachtas business would be held in both chambers at the same time, so proceedings could finish earlier in the evening. But Fine Gael Senator Jerry Buttimer isn’t sure it’s

A Midlands-North-West MEP has criticised the recent debate around carbon emissions, saying much of it is focused on ideologies rather than science. Fine Gael’s Colm Markey was speaking as Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue continues intensive discussions with cabinet colleagues on sectoral emissions ceilings. It’s suggested that farm emissions should be cut by between 22% and

No final agreement has been reached on carbon emissions cuts for the agriculture sector after today’s cabinet subcommittee meeting. However a spokesperson for the Environment Minister Eamon Ryan described the meeting as constructive and that it was still expected all sectoral ceilings will be approved by the end of this week. Professor Barry McMullin is

SIPTU’s accused the government of failing to conclude an acceptable review of pay provisions, in the current public service agreement. Preparations are under way to ballot public service members on industrial action, over the issue. Unions are looking for pay increases to deal with the rise in the cost of living. Deputy general secretary of