Author name: highlandnews

Senior ministers are today considering approving legislation on the €2.7 billion Mica redress scheme. The defective building block plan was extended to affected homeowners in Clare and Limerick last week. It’ll cover up to 100% of the costs, subject to a cap of €420,000 and up to €161 per square foot. The Taoiseach has said […]

It’s emerged the new Lifford Hospital will be a 25 bed unit. It was confirmed earlier this month that the facility is to be built on a greenfield site in the town. The cost and timeframe for construction of the new hospital will not be released until after the plans have been considered, accepted and

It appears Irish waters are open ground for any navy to come in and carry out naval exercises. That’s according to the CEO of the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association, Brendan Byrne. It comes as a French naval exercise due to get underway this morning off the southwest coast of Ireland has withdrawn from

The rainbow flag is being flown at a number of Donegal County Council buildings this month for the first time. Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Councillor Jack Murray raised the flag yesterday at County House in Lifford and the Public Services Centre, Letterkenny for Pride month. It was on foot of a request by Councillor

HSE hospitals spent €13.6 million on private ambulance services last year. It’s an increase of 37 per cent on 2020, but the HSE says that was down to the Covid crisis. According to freedom of information figures, Lifeline Ambulance Service received €4.3 million in 2021 – the highest amount. Its chief executive, David Hall, says

Works on the Moville Community College extension project is expected to begin in the coming months. Confirmation has been granted by the Department of Education for the proposed work to progress to tender stage which will see the construction of a new build extension including a two classroom SNU base. Minister for Agriculture, Food and

  A 70 year old man with strong ties to Donegal is currently walking from Mizen to Malin to raise money for a cancer charity. Stewart Barbour, who owns a house at Lough Eske, is in the middle of walking 400 miles doing roughly 27 miles a day being looked after by strangers who give

Clean Coasts along with the National Parks and Wildlife Service are hosting a series of events and guided walks nationwide and in County Donegal to celebrate World Sand Dune Day this week. The events aim to celebrate the ecological impact Ireland’s natural sand dunes have in protecting coastal areas from flooding as well as the

A new Líonra office will open today in Letterkenny, coinciding with the official launch of the new national Gaelphobal campaign. The Gaelphobal campaign has been launched to encourage communities outside of Gaeltacht areas to get involved in promoting the Irish language in their areas. Foras na Gaeilge has invested over €4.1 million in language planning

A Donegal doctor believes we should focus on the booster campaign rather than mask wearing. It comes amid calls from the INMO to reintroduce mandatory facemask rules in certain settings. Dr Denis McCauley is the Chair of the Irish Medical Organisation’s GP Committee. He believes the country’s response to Covid-19 going forward shouldn’t prioritise mask

It’s emerged a man with Down Syndrome has had to remain in hospital as the supported accommodation he needs is not available in Donegal. The man in his 50s has been offered a place in a nursing home under the Fair Deal Scheme with a prerequisite that he secures a place in a training centre.

Rally weekend has been hailed as a success as gardai report a fall in arrests and less dangerous driving incidents compared to other years. 58 people were arrested in Letterkenny from Thursday evening until this morning, compared to 86 people arrested in 2019. Head of the Traffic Corps in Donegal, Inspector Seamus McGonigle says the

While welcoming the removal of the sliding scale element of the enhanced Mica redress scheme, the Mica Action Group says the SCSI rates are not good enough. The group is also calling for the €420,000 cap to be increased to €460,000 to reflect inflation. Mica homeowners will once again protest outside Leinster House tomorrow when

A Donegal County Councillor has raised concerns about Ireland’s military neutrality. It comes after a British Navy boat docked at a harbour in Cork last week. Councillor Michael Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig submitted a motion to the Glenties Municipal District Council, calling for a referendum on neutrality to be held to enshrine Ireland’s neutral position.

The Government will begin a series of meetings with stakeholder groups today to discuss Budget 2023. The meetings come ahead of the publication of the Summer Economic Statement and as pressure continues on the coalition to announce further supports to help with the cost of living ahead of Octobers Budget. The Taoiseach yesterday denied news

Irish MEP Sean Kelly will be in charge of drafting legislation to protect the EU in any UK breaches of the Northern Ireland Protocol. He’s been appointed lead author for the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee in drafting the legislation. He says the introduction of the Protocol bill in Westminster is clearly in breach of

The Taoiseach says the Government’s aim is to make ‘comprehensive’ changes in the budget this autumn to help with the cost of living. That’s despite newspaper reports today indicating a boost in social welfare and excise on fuel next month. Large protests took place in towns and cities across the country yesterday, calling for more

SIPTU’s calling for ‘meaningful engagement’ with the HSE over the decision to take away the long covid leave payment for nurses. The Special Leave with Pay Scheme is due to be axed from the 1st of July. Up to 200 nurses and healthcare workers are set to be affected. SIPTU Health Divisional Organiser Kevin Figgis

The Taoiseach says the UK’s legislation to rip up parts of the Northern Ireland protocol is ‘economic vandalism’ for the North. Micheal Martin has described the move from Boris Johnson’s government as ‘deeply concerning.’ The European Union is reportedly planning it’s own legislation to protect itself. Speaking to the BBC, Taoiseach Micheal Martin says the