Author name: highlandnews

  The HSE was owed more than 40 million euro last year by patients who’d failed to pay their hospital bills. Almost 11.3 million euro was for in-patient hospital stays while 8.3 million was because of people not paying their 100 euro Emergency Department charge. The Irish Independent also reports that a further 183 million

Gardai in Buncrana and Donegal Town were conducting patrols and operating speed checks yesterday. They are reminding motorists to drive slowly and with care. Ensure that you are travelling within the legal speed limit at all times. Wear your seatbelt and ensure that your passengers are wearing theirs also. Do not use/hold a mobile phone

Donegal once again has the second lowest per-capita instance of Covid 19 in the state, with all seven Electoral Areas in Donegal returning incidence rates which are below the national average. Three of Donegal’s LEAs – North Inishowen, South Inishowen and Lifford Stranorlar are among the ten lowest rates in the country. These figures are

Gardai and police in the north are asking for the public’s help in finding a 23 year old man missing from Co. Westmeath. Charlie Whelehan has been missing from the Kinnegad area since last Sunday. It’s believed he may have travelled to the County Tyrone area, and may have access to a white coloured Vauxhall

Gardaí in Inishowen are urging people not to park in the bus stop at the diamond in Carndonagh, saying they will take action against anyone found doing so. In a social media post this evening, they say people have been doing so, and as a result, buses are having to double park on the main

People aged 65 years and over are now eligible for their second COVID-19 booster vaccine. Those with a weak immune system aged 12 and over can also get their second booster, when it is due. Those who are now due their second COVID-19 booster vaccine can: Book online now for appointments at HSE vaccination centres, Check with

3,035 new cases of Covid 19 have been reported this afternoon. Of those, 1,426 have been confirmed through positive PCR tests, while yesterday, 1,609 people registered positive antigen tests through the HSE portal. As of 8 o’clock this morning, there were 654 Covid 19 patients in hospital, 37 of them in ICU. Latest figures for

  There are major traffic delays being reported in and around Letterkenny this afternoon. The Ballyraine and Ramelton road areas are said to be particularly affected. Gardai have confirmed that the long tailbacks are the result of the planned works on the Four Lane project which were due to begin today. The work is taking

  Additional local bus services are being provided to support Ukrainian refugees in rural areas. Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan says work is underway to mobilise all available resources to strengthen existing public transport services. Additional stops, route modifications, and more services, are among the measures being taken to increase connectivity for those based outside

  The number of people in ICU with Covid is at it’s joint-lowest point since last August. There’s 37 in critical care with the virus, the same as March 11th, but to get a lower total you’ve to go back to August 11th 2021. There’s currently 654 patients with the virus in hospitals – however

A number of homes are currently without water in Buncrana. Irish Water is currently carrying out repair works at Trillick, Upper Gransha, Buncrana which may cause disruption to supply in the area. A traffic management plan will be in place for the duration of the works. Works are scheduled to take place until 1:30pm Irish

Belfast International Airport’s apologised after passengers faced long security queues early this morning. A number of disgruntled travellers took to social media to share photographs of the line – which appeared to stretch all the way to the front of the terminal building. The airport says it’s sorry to those who had to ‘wait longer

  42 percent of businesses say insurance costs are threatening their future. New research from the Alliance of Insurance Reform shows liability premiums have increased by 16 percent, despite changes to guidelines for personal injury awards last year. 9 out of 10 respondents to a survey from the Alliance believe the government isn’t doing enough

  Irish Water is set to carry out pipe replacement works in the Fanaghans area of Inver in the coming days. 300 metres of old water mains are to be replaced with new, modern pipes which Irish Water says, will reduce the number of bursts and water outages impacting customers. The works will also involve

  Donegal ETB and Údarás na Gaeltachta have signed a five-year memorandum of understanding. The aim is to develop a relationship whereby the two parties recognise each other as partner organisations which will is set to benefit both organisations, Donegal and the North-West region. It’s also set to build on a history of collaboration and

  A man who suffered head injuries in an assault in Sligo has died. The man who was aged in his late 30’s was attacked on Rockwood Parade in the town on Tuesday evening. He was initially treated at Sligo hospital but was then transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin where he was later pronounced

  Staff will be able to take legal challenges if their bosses refuse their request for reduced or flexible working hours. The new work-life balance laws were approved by Cabinet yesterday and will see parents and those caring for sick relatives given a legal right to request remote working or flexi-time. The Irish Independent reports

  A 22-year-old man charged with murdering two men in Sligo will appear in court again today. Yousef Palani is also accused of assaulting a third man. Mr Palani, with an address in Markievicz Heights in Sligo, appeared at a special sitting of Sligo District Court last Thursday. He was charged with the murders of

  A man is in a critical condition in hospital following a serious assault in Sligo town. The man in his late 30s was attacked in the Rockwood Parade area of Sligo town on Tuesday evening. He’s since been transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, where his condition is described as critical. Gardai are appealing

  Live events are to return this year to the Bealtaine Festival. The 25th annual festival commences on May 1st. The Bealtaine Festival, Ireland’s national celebration of the arts and creativity as we age, will be celebrated throughout the month of May in Donegal. This year’s theme is In(ter)dependence. The official launch will take place

  A extension project at Glenmaquin National School in Letterkenny is a step closer to reality. Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has confirmed that the project has received approval to move to construction stage. A new classroom and toilets will be delivered as part of the project under the Additional School

3,348 new cases of Covid19 have been confirmed today. There are 1,407 PCR-confirmed cases, while 1,941 people registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal. 706 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, which is down 44 on yesterday. 42 are in ICU, which is a decrease of 2.

A Donegal native has been announced as the new Vice President of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation. Dorothy McGinley, from Annagry currently teaches in Sion Mills Primary School. She has represented Derry, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Armagh and South Down, on the INTO Central Executive Committee since 2012 and has previously served as Branch Secretary/Treasurer for the

Donegal County Council in conjunction with GM Design has published a Regeneration Strategy and Action Plan for Ballyshannon Town Centre. It is a regeneration focused roadmap of key priorities and actions for the sustainable regeneration of Ballyshannon Town Centre to 2040 and beyond. The project is funded by Donegal County Council and is a result

The ‘obsession’ with the leaving certificate and the points race here is causing ‘fear and anxiety’ in our young people. That’s the view of the Minister for Higher Education who says there is still a snobbery in Ireland around third level education. Simon Harris says skilled trades and other careers have been devalued and he

  Eight archaeological monuments in County Donegal are set to benefit from over €300,000 in funding under the Community Monuments Fund. The Community Monuments Fund is an initiative by the National Monuments Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage in partnership with local authorities. Funding has been allocated to the Donegal GAP

The number of people in hospital with Covid-19 has more than halved in three weeks. Latest figures show 750 receiving treatment, compared to a recent peak of 1,624 in hospital on March 28th. Over the past seven days, the number of Covid patients in hospital has also dropped by 25 percent. The data shows that

  The next stage of works on the Four Lane Road Safety Improvement Scheme in Letterkenny are to commence tomorrow. Works have been ongoing on the main artery into the town over the past number of months. Road construction and surfacing works are to commence on the Four lanes project in Letterkenny tomorrow. The works

  Dublin Airport has issued new travel advice for passengers heading abroad. It’s now advising they arrive up to two and a half hours before departure for short-haul flights, and three and a half hours for long-haul. Anyone on a short-haul flight that’s due to take off after 8.30am shouldn’t arrive at the airport any