Author name: highlandnews

In the North, the SDLP’s promising to deliver a “new kind of politics” – after announcing plans to form an official opposition. It comes ahead of tomorrow’s Assembly recall – in which another attempt will be made to nominate a Stormont Assembly speaker. The devolved institutions still aren’t functioning properly because of a DUP protest

Being unable to participate in college life is detrimental to students wellbeing, according to the Union of Students in Ireland. It’s after the Trinity College provost told the MacGill Summer School at the weekend that university life is being ‘eroded’ as a result of the housing crisis. Many students are facing a battle to secure

Strabane and Derry was hit badly by flooding on Saturday night. Many homes and businesses were flooded in Strabane town centre while in Derry a number of roads were impassable with six people having to be rescued across the city and district. Hayley Devine’s father’s home was destroyed by flooding last August in the Ballycolman

Approval has been granted by Donegal County Council to progress the Lifford to Castlefinn Greenway. The development is part of the North West Greenway initiative. Three crossings will be included on the route at Lifford, Ballylast School and Castlefinn. Cathaoirleach of the Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District, Councillor Patrick McGowan says the Greenway facilitates welcomed direct

HELPLINE NUMBER – 0818 607 080 Clean-up operations are continuing across the North West today after flash flooding at the weekend caused  significant damage. Roads and bridges in East Inishowen were worst affected in Donegal, while in Derry and Strabane, six people had to be rescued with many areas affected by flooding. Cllr Martin Farren

The PRO of the Mica Action Group believes the President has missed an opportunity to exercise his power and make a difference for Mica homeowners. The Defective Concrete Blocks Bill was officially signed into law by President Michael D Higgins over the weekend. Michael Doherty says the lack of action from the President is disappointing:

The public are being asked on World Drowning Prevention Day today, to heed water safety advice. Junior Minister for Transport Hildegarde Naughton says too many people have suffered from the personal tragedy of lives lost from drowning accidents. She’s teamed up with the Irish Coastguard in asking people to stay safe on the water –

Irish hauliers are calling on the French and Irish Governments to help get our produce through to EU markets. It’s after 30 Irish trucks were caught up in a costly gridlock at Britain’s Port of Dover at the weekend. President of the Irish Road Haulage Association Eugene Drennan says delays like that cost time, money

Parts of the North West are still recovering from flash flooding which hit on Saturday night. In Inishowen, damage was caused to roads and bridges while a bridge parapet also collapsed. A number of people had to be rescued from their homes in Derry due to the high water levels while many parts of Strabane

A second Covid-19 booster vaccine will be rolled out this Autumn for 50 to 64 year-olds and healthcare workers. NIAC’s also recommended a second booster for pregnant women and 12 to 49 year-olds with an underlying medical condition. There’ll be a first booster jab for 5-11 year olds who are immunocompromised, and those aged 65

The Minister for Agriculture has described talks around carbon reduction targets as ‘productive’. Negotiations between Minister Charlie McConalogue, and the Environment Minister, Eamon Ryan, are ongoing as the government tries to finalise its emission targets. The Climate Action Plan sets out targets of between 22 and 30 percent for the agriculture sector. Minister Ryan, wants

New laws to help prosecute illegal dumping are due to come into force in the autumn. The new rules will allow local authorities to use CCTV footage as evidence to convict someone of illegal dumping. A new code of practice is being put together, under the Circular Economy Act which was signed into law by

Concerns have been raised among farming communities as TB herd incidence rate has reached the highest level since 2019. The number of affected cattle removed in the last 12 months in the North now sits at 14632. This is an increase of 1425 in the same period last year. Ulster Farmers Union Animal Health and

An organisation which supports elderly people has called on the government to increase benefits or some pensioners will go hungry this winter. ALONE is urging the Government to implement changes for older people in Budget 2023, primarily a minimum €20 increase of €20 to the State Pension for this year and 2024. They have also

Lough Swilly RNLI are warning people to be careful where you park this weekend while visiting Buncrana pier and Ned’s Point. The popular attractions are also the lifeboats launching area and it is essential that the RNLI can access the area quickly in the case of an emergency. The public are being urged to be

AIB’s decision to scrap plans to make 70 branches cashless, six of them in Donegal has been branded as a real victory for people power. The bank announced the u-turn earlier today following public backlash over the move, which was widely condemned. In a statement, the bank says it recognises ‘the customer and public unease

  Hoteliers have insisted they are not the long term solution for housing refugees. It comes as the government has made an appeal for hotel owners to take in more Ukrainian refugees amid an influx of arrivals. The Irish Hotels Federation estimates around 8 per cent of beds nationally are contracted to the government. Hotel

The ‘Derelict in Donegal and Beyond’ conference, being run by Letterkenny Tidy Towns and the Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Group is now underway. Events are also taking place to mark the Church Lane’s success in the Historic Towns Initiative. Gerard McCormick of Letterkenny Tidy Towns and Donnan Harvey of the Cathedral Quarter Group have been speaking

The Junior Housing Minister has pledged that the terms of the new Defective Blocks Scheme will be changed if the technical evidence suggests that needs to happen. Speaking in Letterkenny this morning, Minister Peter Burke said the government’s priority is to get the scheme up and running. Once that happens, he said, issues such as

A urgent meeting is being sought with the Health Minister to discuss a serious lack of resources for type 1 diabetics in Donegal. Currently, there is no endocrinologist in the North West to care for patients – over 150 of whom in Donegal are children. Paul Gillespie, PRO of the Donegal Diabetes Association is calling

A senior executive at TSC in Letterkenny says the company wants to establish itself as one of the top IT companies in the country. Speaking on Highland Radio’s ‘Business Matters’ podcast, Strategic Initiatives Director Gerard Grant said the Donegal operation will be a key element of that process. He was one of the team of