Author name: highlandnews

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in Belfast this afternoon for talks on the restoration of power-sharing, amid souring tensions with the EU and suggestions that Westminster will act unilaterally to change the post Brexit protocol. Stormont Sinn Fein leader Michelle O’Neill, who is effectively first minister in-waiting, met the Taoiseach in Dublin this morning

Leaving Cert students are being urged not to panic about when they will receive their results. Concerns have been raised about possible delays due to a second sitting of the exams which will take place this year. This will be reserved for students who have had a bereavement, or are advised to stay at home

The Chair of Donegal County Council’s Mica Redress Committee says he believes the government will have no choice but to subject any future bill on Mica redress to pre-legislative scrutiny. Cllr Martin McDermott was speaking on today’s Nine til Noon Show as the Mica Action Group restated its belief that it is necessary. Last week,

Ukranian families are being given help in securing school places for their children. The Department of Education says REALT is supporting schools to meet their needs as they emerge. It’s confirmed 5,843 Ukrainian pupils are currently enrolled in education across the country.Of those, 259 are in Donegal, 176 of them in Primary Schools and 83

Boris Johnson’s travelling to Belfast today to try to persuade the DUP to enter power sharing government again. The British Prime Minister will be holding talks with party leaders, as concerns grow over the political deadlock at Stormont. In advance of his visit he’s written in the Belfast Telegraph suggesting that the EU and UK

National Volunteering week gets underway today and continues until next Saturday. A specific focus each day will highlight areas such as health, wellbeing and the environment. The week will see events take place across the country and will include special events honouring those who volunteered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. John Curran is Manager

A Letterkenny councillor says there needs to be a mechanism whereby some arrangement has to be reached which will allow Donegal County Council implement road safety measures in estates which are not yet in council control. At a recent Letterkenny Milford Municipal District meeting, Cllr Gerry McMonagle proposed that ramps be installed on the road

AA Ireland says it’s hard to predict when fuel will stabilise in price or come down. It says diesel in particular is likely to stay quite high into the short to medium term due to an EU ban on diesel from Russia. The national cost of diesel is around 1 euro 95 and in Dublin’s

A junior minister says it’s a ‘red herring’ to suggest the new National Maternity Hospital will have religious influence. Niall Collins expects the cabinet to sign off on the 800 million euro project on Tuesday, despite concerns from the public. Abortion rights groups have expressed concern that due to St Vincent’s Healthcare Group still owning

A lunar eclipse during which the moon will turn a deep blood red colour, will be visible in the early hours of tomorrow morning. Astronomy Ireland is inviting everyone to go outdoors and take a look at the skies from 3 am early on Monday morning to watch the phenomenon. David Moore of Astronomy Ireland

The Foreign Affairs Minister says he’s ‘deeply concerned’ about Ireland’s future partnership with the UK. It’s due to the row over the Northern Ireland Protocol, which has led to the collapse of power-sharing at Stormont yet again. The British government is threatening to remove parts of the protocol, to try to resolve Unionist concerns –

Diesel prices are likely to hit 2 euro per litre in the coming days, according to an Irish Independent survey. The surge in cost is expected to negate the government’s cut of 20 cent on petrol and 15 cent per litre of diesel. Average price of one litre in Ireland currently stands at 1 euro

Sinn Fein’s health spokesperson says the new National Maternity Hospital should be built on public land, in full public ownership. David Cullinane says that would be the best outcome not just for staff and patients but also for the taxpayer who’ll pay for the new hospital. It comes ahead of St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group appearing

The British government has been accused of engaging in “nothing more than a stunt” over the Northern Ireland Protocol. The comments by the Fine Gael spokesperson on European Affairs come as the British prime minister, Boris Johnson, will visit Northern Ireland on Monday to try to resolve the political crisis. The Stormont Assembly failed to

The Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District says the government would save money by making more funds available for small repair work, especially in relation to footpaths. Officials say the public light and footpath programme, which is co funded by Irish Public Bodies, is available for improvement works and upgrades to the existing footpath

“Supply is the answer” to Ireland’s housing crisis, according to the Taoiseach. It follows a recent report which showed rent prices continue to rise as well as supply becoming lowered. Rents in Donegal increased 22.7% to €857 according to the laste Daft.ie report. Micheal Martin’s confirmed over 24,600 homes are to be completed this year,

A high visibility road crossing pilot scheme is being rolled out in the Twin Towns this week. Ballybofey and Stranorlar were selected for the pilot scheme as both towns have been identified as high collision locations and having a history of pedestrian collisions. Two High Visibility Pedestrian Crossings have been established in Ballybofey and two

People in Buncrana are being urged to have their say on the future of the town, with a consultation event to take place on Monday week May 23rd in the Inishowen Gateway Hotel. Donegal County Council will outline plans for the development of the Shore Front, and discuss the Buncrana Local Area plan, while architects

Steps are being taken to restore blanket bog habitat in the northwest of the country. The Junior Minister for Heritage Malcolm Noonan has unveiled a 20.6 million euro Bog Conservation Project today. The project has 35 sites covering a total of more than 250,000 hectares along the Western seaboard from south Galway to north Donegal

The DUP says it won’t support the nomination a Speaker for the Northern Ireland Assembly as it meets for the first time since last week’s historic election result. In a Statement to The Belfast Newsletter, Jeffrey Donaldson says the party will keep its promise to the electorate and demand ‘decisive action’ on the Northern Ireland

The Dail has been told there’s an urgent need to address waiting lists and staffing issues at Letterkenny University Hospital. However, Deputy Thomas Pringle told the Dail his fear is that the hospital seems to be on the bottom of Saolta’s priority list, while Saolta is at the bottom of the government’s. He said the

A new website has been launched to promote the development of a digital transformation plan for the North West City Region. Developed by the ERNACT network, the website will facilitate information to interested parties about digital transformation, with an emphasis on the various initiatives and action plans in the cross-border area. Derry City and Strabane

The DUP leader has resigned his assembly seat today, saying he expects the UK government to act on the Brexit protocol ‘fairly soon’, with former MP and MLA Emma Little-Pengeley taking his seat. Tensions between Britain and the EU over the post Brexit deal have increased today. EU Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic insists the

A ‘Blanket of Hope’ was launched today, featuring hundreds of individual squares knitted and crocheted by people all over Donegal and further afield. The project, which was launched earlier this year was coordinated by the Letterkenny Youth and Family Service Knitting and Crochet Group, the Donegal Social Prescribing Network and Errigal College. The squares have

This Saturday marks Africa Day in Donegal. Donegal County Council and Donegal Intercultural Platform will jointly present an Africa Day celebration at the Regional Cultural Centre and An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny. Celebrations commence at 11am with a series of exhibitions, discussions and creative writing workshops. The day will also include a Family Fun Day and