Author name: highlandnews

People are being encouraged to donate today for Daffodil Day. Volunteers will take to the streets across the country selling daffodil pins to raise funds to help cancer patients. You can also donate online at www.daffodilday.ie. Over 9,000 people lose their lives to the illness each year, but there are 200,000 cancer survivors in Ireland. […]

A World Health Organisation expert is calling for Irish people to wear face-masks in confined places again – like shops, some hospitality venues and public transport. The mask mandate was dropped here nearly a month ago apart from healthcare settings, but Covid hospitalisations have more than doubled since then. 1,419 people were in public hospitals

Society is the problem, not people with a disability. That’s according to a Donegal Senator who told a Joint Committee on Independent and Adequate Standard of Living and Social Protection that the system is not working. Senator Eileen Flynn hit out at what she termed as inappropriate language over people with a disability being referred

Significant efforts are being made to tackle the pressures at Letterkenny University Hospital. Investment is being made to open 23 additional beds at the hospital in the coming weeks as well as 36 more nurses being employed. A meeting was held between the Saolta Healthcare Group and senior management of Letterkenny University Hospital during which

There were 43 people awaiting beds at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, 26 of them on Emergency Department trolleys. The figure was down 11 on yesterday, and down 18 on Tuesday’s record figure of 18. Today’s figures come as an infectious diseases expert says Irish Emergency Departments are “dangerously overcrowded”. There were 1,425 patients with

A new agreement will see all school secretaries transfer to a new pay-scale aligned with the public service clerical officer scale. The trade union Fórsa, which negotiated the deal, said it comes after a decades-long campaign for pay equity and significantly improves incomes and paid leave arrangements for low-paid secretaries. Many had been earning no

The St Vincent de Paul says it would like to see more targeted measures introduced to help those living in poverty. It comes as the government considers introducing a new income tax band, that would relieve financial pressure on middle-income workers. It could see a 30 percent income tax in place for those earning more

  There’s some positive news this week in terms of care provision in Inishowen. It’s been confirmed that respite services for adults with intellectual disabilities is due to resume at Riverwalk Respite House in the second quarter of this year in addition to residential accommodation being completed for those currently occupying the facility. Meanwhile, plans

  The Finance Minister is looking into new measures to ease the rising cost of living for middle income workers. Currently, those earning below 36,800 euro a year pay 20 percent income tax while those over that salary are taxed at 40 percent. The Tánaiste has asked Paschal Donohoe to consider introducing a 30 percent

  The Government is coming under further pressure to do all it can to avert industrial action by postmasters. An emergency meeting is to be held on Monday where they will consider balloting on industrial action. South Donegal Deputy Marian Harkin told Minister Michael McGrath in the Dail that they have reached a tipping point

  More than 60 percent of residential care settings are now dealing with Covid-19 outbreaks, according to the HSE’s Chief Clinical Officer. Colm Henry says high infection levels and rising hospitalisations are causing serious problems for the health system. Latest figures show almost 1,400 people being treated in public hospitals for the virus, up 50

A Donegal Deputy believes Ireland has a half hearted approach to military neutrality. Speaking during pre European Council Meeting statements in the Dail, Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn said it was clear that Ireland is neutral in words but not in practice. He believes the country has the opportunity to play a role in conflict resolution. But

85 per cent of consumers say they plan to cut back their spending this year. The KBC Bank Ireland consumer sentiment survey recorded a ten point drop this month as the war in Ukraine and inflation start to hit people’s pockets. It had been hoped that money would flow more freely in the economy following

  A Donegal TD has told the Dail it would be unforgivable if the government went ahead with a planned carbon tax increase in May. Speaking on increasing energy prices, Deputy Thomas Pringle said people are being pushed to the brink with no end in sight. Deputy Pringle said household energy bills are set to

The Foreign Affairs Minister says the Irish government has concerns over UK plans to bring in a visa waiver system. The changes would mean all non-Irish EU citizens living in the Republic need travel authorisation to cross the border. The UK’s Northern Ireland Secretary insists it won’t lead to border checks. Minister Simon Coveney says

Brand Donegal was showcased at the annual Boston Saint Patrick’s Day breakfast last Sunday. With a long standing relationship and historical ties between Boston and Donegal the Boston trip led the way for a cultural and economic mission of Donegal County Council delegates and businesses. Another focus of the visit was to highlight what Donegal

An alternative care pathway is to be introduced at Letterkenny University Hospital this year in a bid to address current issues resulting in ambulances becoming backed up at the hospital. The CEO of the Saolta University Health Care Group confirmed in response to Chair of the Regional Health Forum West, Councillor Gerry McMonagle that ‘Pathfinder’

  A surgeon at Letterkenny University Hospital believes that the completion of a recent project conducted at the hospital will have many benefits for patients. Various recommendations have been identified as a result of the ‘Emergency Surgical Outcome Advancement Project’ which aims to improve outcomes and ultimately save lives. Breast Surgeon at Letterkenny University Hospital

There were 54 people awaiting beds at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, 37 of them on Emergency Department trolleys. That’s down seven on yesterday’s total of 61, which was the highest figure recorded since the INMO’s Trolley Watch survey began. Today’s figure is the second highest in the state. Nationally, 654 patients were awaiting beds

  There are fears that an ancient boat discovered at Lifford Bridge may be lost forever if it’s not preserved sooner rather than later. It’s believed that the 16 foot long log boat dates back to the Iron Age and was found by members of the Lifford Strabane Anglers Association. Over 20 similar vessels have

The Association of Irish Local Government is holding its Annual Training Conference in Buncrana over the next two days, with Local Government and Planning Minister Peter Burke opening the event this evening. The event, at the Inishowen Gateway Hotel will look at a number of issues, including the Town Centre First initiative, from which a

  It’s thought post offices should take responsibly to check and validate passports. It’s in a bid to provide more services in the post office network while it’s also thought it would alleviate the huge backlog in passport applications. There’s a similar system in place in Northern Ireland. South Donegal Deputy Marc MacSharry believes people

  The Finance Minister says no matter what the Government do in a bid to counteract the rising cost of living, it’ll never be good enough for the opposition. Minister Pascal Donohoe was reacting to a Sinn Fein motion on rising energy costs which was brought forward to the Dail yesterday evening. The party says

  Ireland is set to witness inflation not seen since 1984 according to the ESRI’s latest Quarterly Economic Survey. Inflation could hit 8 and a half percent by the summer before averaging out at 6 point 7 per cent across the year . Connor O’Toole of the ESRI’s Economic Think Tank says the Russian invasion

  A visit by the Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District to Rudolstadt has facilitated the further strengthening of links between the German town and Letterkenny. Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh led a delegation from Letterkenny who attended a series of meetings and St Patrick’s Day events in Rudolstadt. Letterkenny and Rudolstadt signed an official Town

  A South Donegal Deputy believes a more coordinated approach from Government is needed in facilitating Ukrainian refugees arriving into Ireland. Deputy Marian Harkin believes a designated Minister needs to be put in place to oversee Ireland’s response at local, regional and national level. Speaking in the Dail, Deputy Harkin says there is an urgent

  There’s further calls on the Government to address overcrowding at Letterkenny University Hospital. Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle in the Dail yesterday, lobbied the Tanaiste to act to ease the pressure on healthcare workers, given the significant increase in the number of infectious cases of Covid-19 being dealt with at the hospital. Deputy Pringle backed

Almost 200 complaints were made to the consumer watchdog about increases in the price of petrol and diesel in the past two weeks. It’s after the excise duty on a litre of petrol was reduced by 20 cents, and diesel by 15 cents, due to the market impact of the war in Ukraine. The Competition

Only 20 per cent of 5 to 11 year olds are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. The HSE says this compares to almost 75 per cent of 12 to 15 year olds – and 89 per cent of 16 and 17 year olds. Registration opened for the youngest age-group in early January. Donegal Dr Denis McCauley,