Author name: highlandnews

The Finance Minister’s warned failure to deal with high inflation, will only lead to greater cost of living challenges in the future. It comes as European leaders meet in Brussels to discuss the economic outlook. Minister Paschal Donohoe says governments are trying to target those most impacted by rising prices without increasing inflation further:

Sinn Féin will bring a motion to the Dáil next week, calling for an emergency budget. Finance spokesman, Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has said people can’t afford to wait until October’s budget for more help. He says many people are at breaking point and claims the government is burying its head in the sand. Higher

An engineer has told the Oireachtas Committee on Housing that he believes some quarries, mainly in the south-east of the country, are knowingly producing unsatisfactory building materials. Aidan O’Connell is a consultant engineer at AOCA Engineering Consultants – he claimed at yesterday’s meeting regarding the new Defective Blocks bill that some quarries are doing “side

Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle has presented a bill to the Dail calling for the legal voting age to be reduced to 16. He presented the bill as a part of a debate on the issue last night, where it was revealed that currently Government did not support forwarding the bill past the second stage. According

A South Donegal TD has called for a better and more equal space for everyone ahead of the Dublin Pride Parade tomorrow – the main pride parade in Ireland. Speaking in the Dail, South Donegal Deputy Martin Kenny said he has seen a great advancement in the seven years since the marriage equality referendum. However,

A Donegal TD says it is scandalous that hundreds of children with special needs do not have an appropriate school place for September. Deputy Pearse Doherty spoke of Aaron who is a 12 year old boy with a dual diagnosis of autism and intellectual disability. He has recently graduated from a special school and has

The Union of Students in Ireland has described the date set to publish this year’s Leaving Cert results as “disappointing”. Leaving Cert results will be issued to students on September 2nd, which is three weeks later than usual. The delay is caused by a shortage of examiners, deferred exams as well as ensuring grades are

The Oireachtas Housing Committee has heard from mica affected homeowners today calling for 100 percent redress. Homeowner representatives from Donegal, Clare and Mayo as well as their chosen experts faced questioning from a number of Deputies and Senators regarding the currently proposed revised Defective Blocks Bill. PRO of the Mica Action Group Michael Doherty outlined

The PRO of the Mica Action Group has addressed the Oireachtas Committee on Housing this afternoon, as shortened pre-legislative scrutiny on the new defective blocks bill gets underway. Michael Doherty gave his opening statement to the committee this afternoon, as well as homeowner representatives from Clare and Mayo as they all made their arguments for

A Donegal coach operator is warning that if the cost of fuel continues to increase the customer will ultimately suffer. John McGinley owner of McGinley Coaches says up to now, they have been absorbing the cost increases but says it is not sustainable. Speaking to Greg Hughes today, Mr McGinley says despite the Government’s attempts

The Housing Minister has been challenged in the Dail over the exclusion of the replacement of foundations in the Enhanced Mica Redress Scheme. A review is underway by the National Standards Authority of Ireland which will pave the way for a decision on whether foundations will be included in the scheme. The issue was jointly

Letterkenny University Hospital is under increasing pressure due to Covid-19. 39 infectious cases are currently being dealt with at the hospital. Staff shortages due to an increase in staff testing positive for Covid-19 is also having a knock-on effect Speaking on today’s Nine til Noon Show, Sean Murphy, General Manager of Letterkenny University Hospital says

The Dail has been told that insurance costs continue to cripple people. Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty says a properly functioning insurance market is vital. Speaking during statements on insurance reform, Deputy Doherty says despite the number of claims falling by 25%, insurance costs are on the rise. He says all sectors

Ireland’s economy will continue to grow this year despite significant global challenges. In its quarterly economic commentary, the ESRI expects GDP growth of 6.8 percent. However it has revised down growth in the domestic economy to 4.4 percent, from 5 percent in the previous bulletin. The institute forecasts inflation to average 7.1 percent this year,

An Independent Senator has raised the issue of a lack of special education spaces for children with needs. Senator Eileen Flynn addressed Minister of State Josepha Madigan in the Seanad yesterday, urging her to give assurances that sufficient spaces for children with special educational needs would be provided. Senator Flynn says that the current system

A Donegal Deputy has called for a strong process for recording hate crimes and hate speech to be implemented in Ireland. Research shows that only 25 percent of crimes were reported to police in 2021, down from 43 percent in 2020, and those who reported expressed extremely low levels of satisfaction. Independent TD for Donegal,

A ceremonial restoring of the sod will take place on Mount Errigal tomorrow, to mark the latest developments in the Sustainable Access and Restoration Project on the mountain. The project will see the 3km path up the mountain upgraded after years of wear and tear, as well as a re-vegetation of ground that has been