Author name: highlandnews

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 […]

Almost one in three front line workers have yet to receive the €1,000 pandemic bonus. By July 8th, figures show over 68,000 had received their payment. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, said last month the delay was down to prolonged discussions between parties. Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív, says workers deserve to have their payment

The Agriculture Minister says AIB needs to reconsider and reverse its decision to convert 70 of its branches to cashless locations. Cash and cheque services are to be removed from six branches in Donegal. The Taoiseach is due to meet with executives next week, after appealing to the bank to reconsider its decision. Minister Charlie

Further concerns are being raised over a lack of student accomodation. Councillor Michael McClafferty says the housing crisis is severely impacting third level students who are unable to secure accomodation in many towns and cities across the country. In one case, a second year student from Donegal who stayed in hotels last year may be

The Central Bank says it expects banks to ensure services are accessible to vulnerable customers. It comes as AIB announced plans yesterday to convert 70 of its branches to cashless locations, six of them will be in Donegal. The Taoiseach is due to meet with executives next week, after appealing to the bank to reconsider

Today will see the opening of the Shore Front amenity on Arranmore Island. The development of the recreation, outdoor amenity and amphitheatre is part of the €4.1m Burtonport & Aranmore ‘Harbour to Island’ rural regeneration project. Minister Heather Humphreys will officiate the opening. Councillor Micheal Cholm Macgiollaeasbuig says it is a monumental day for West

The Irish Farmers Association is calling for certainty around how much farmers will need to reduce their emissions by. The Environment Minister says the agriculture sector will have to cut emissions by more than the 22% farmers want. It’s after a new report showed emissions increased by 4.7% between 2020 and 2021. President of the

As many as 100,000 apartments across the country could have defects and may not be up to fire safety standards. A report commissioned by The Construction Defects Alliance which is campaigning to get a proper remediation scheme in place for affected owners is expected to reveal, that in some cases the defects are of a

Plans for a new €3.5m visitors centre at Fanad Lighthouse have been welcomed as a great boost to the area. Local community group, Forbairt Fhanaha Teoranta, have launched plans for a 7,800 square foot centre that will include a cafe, a shop, a meeting room and an art/workshop space. An upgraded car park and a

There are plans for three new bus routes to be introduced in Donegal in an attempt to increase rural transport in the North West. The new bus routes include a route from Inishowen to Letterkenny, Greencastle to Buncrana and Glencolmcille, Ardara and Letterkenny. The bus routes are currently at the planning and design stage with

Dereliction is the theme of a special conference being held today by Letterkenny Tidy Towns and the Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Group. The ‘Derelict in Donegal and Beyond’ event will be opened by Junior Housing Minister Peter Burke, with a number of local, national and international speakers. Also today, the success of the Church Lane in

Speed van coverage has been extended to three South Donegal roads, two of which are sites of previous fatal collisions. The new safety camera zones will become operational next Tuesday at 6am, bringing the total number of safety camera zones nationwide to 1,373. The speed van will now cover Birchhill on the main road into

A Donegal Deputy says the suspension of visa-free travel is another bad move by Government. Last week the Government announced that it was to temporarily require refugees travelling to Ireland from safe European countries to hold visas. Deputy Thomas Pringle says it paints a false picture that refugees are abusing the system. He’s described it

The Foreign Affairs Minister is holding talks with Stormont parties in Belfast today. Simon Coveney’s meeting the UUP, Sinn Fein, the SDLP, and Alliance – but not the DUP because its leader Jeffrey Donaldson’s in London. The party’s still boycotting power-sharing over the Northern Ireland protocol – which is now a step closer to being

Swan Park will officially reopen today. A €2.3m restoration project has been completed after the popular amenity was extensively damaged by floods in August 2017. The reopening of the park was delayed to allow all works to be completed. Councillor Jack Murray says Swan Park has been restored to beyond its former glory:

The Junior Transport Minister says the introduction of a cabin baggage transfer corridor between Donegal Airport and Dublin Airport has been a huge success. Since last month, passenger flying from Donegal and then transferring on to another flight no longer have to go through security in Dublin, and can go straight from the plane to

New signs have been erected at Rathmullan beach following a dramatic rescue there last weekend. Ruairi Crealey saved the lives of three girls after they got into difficulty in the water. The new signs warn of no swimming within 30m of the slipway. The Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District has confirmed that an

Greenhouse gas emissions increased by 4.7% in 2021 compared to the previous year. Analysis from the Environmental Protection Agency found the energy industry sector as showing the biggest increase – up 17.6% in 2021. That’s driven by what it says is a tripling of coal and oil use in electricity generation. Transport emissions increased by

The Northern Ireland protocol bill has cleared the House of Commons. It means government plans to scrap parts of the post-Brexit deal with the EU are a step closer to becoming law. The DUP’s boycotting power-sharing at Stormont until its issues with the protocol are resolved. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood had this plea to the

Nearly 2 million home-help hours won’t be delivered this year, due to staff shortages. The HSE has budgeted for 24 million hours – but it says around 35,000 won’t be delivered every week in 2022. It comes as over 5,000 people are on waiting lists for home support. Sinn Fein’s health spokesman, David Cullinane, says

Two state of the art digital hubs are being officially opened in Donegal later today. Both the Carrigart Digital Hub and Gteic Hub in Gweedore are being opened later today by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD. The hubs include hot desk and shared space facilities for remote workers and eworkers in

A meeting is set to be held to discuss the potential of increasing the use of hydro energy in Donegal. The council is to meet with the owners of the Cathleen Hydro Electrical Plant in Ballyshannon to discuss how hydro energy could be used in the country. The meeting was suggested by cllr Marie Therese

The government is working on a number of measures to give taxpayers more take home pay. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar says they’ll be introduced in the upcoming budget. They include an increase in the minimum wage, and a reduction in income tax.  

The Minister for Health hopes a combined Covid and flu vaccine will be possible in the months ahead. Stephen Donnelly says he’s been in touch with NIAC about the prospect of the combined jab. It comes as a very significant flu season along with an upsurge in Covid cases is expected in the autumn. Minister

The European Union is asking member states to cut their gas consumption by 15 per cent. The president of the European Commission says a full cut off of Russian gas in the coming months is very likely. The supply of Russian gas to Europe is now less than a third of what it was this