Author name: highlandnews

Number in need of social housing could be twice Government estimates – Report

The number of households in need of social housing could be twice the figure estimated by Government. The Irish Times says that a report from the Parliamentary Budget Office says that removing those in receipt of the Housing Assistance Payment from waiting lists is potentially masking and distorting the true extent of those in need […]

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Covid grade adjustments for next year’s Leaving Cert not ruled out

Covid-related adjustments aren’t being ruled out for next year’s leaving certs. This year’s students will benefit from built-in grade inflation and a second sitting of the exams in July because of disruption to their education, but there’s concern that the class of 2023 will also have been impacted by school closures during covid lockdowns. Education

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Second report in “Brandon” case raises concerns of potential new abuse allegations

There are concerns that further allegations of sexual abuse could emerge from a follow-up investigation into abuse at the Ard Greine Court complex at Stranorlar. The “Brandon Report” was released in December of last year, and outlined 108 incidents of serious assault carried out by a resident between 2003 and 2016 at Ard Greine Court

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Government considering additional measures to help with cost of living

The cost of childcare, third level education and hospital charges could all be reduced to help with the rising cost of living. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has requested several departments draw up proposals to be looked at by government during budget talks. Among the measures being considered are increased universal childcare subsidies for all parents, and

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Progress being made on Dromore National School extension

Donegal Deputy Charlie McConalogue says that further progress has been made on the extension project at the Dromore National School in Killygordon. The extension, consisting of an additional SEN classroom and two SET rooms, has been given approval to approve to the construction phase of the project. Minister McConalogue said: “This confirmation is fantastic news

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Research project on impact of tourism on Donegal islands welcomed

A new research project to explore the impact of tourism on island communities in Donegal will begin next week. Utilising the European Tourism Indicator System, researchers from the Atlantic Technology University (ATU) will collaborate with island communities to explore the impact of tourism on the local communities, economy and environment. On Monday, researchers will travel

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Health Minister confirms first case of Monkeypox in Republic of Ireland

The first case of monkeypox has been identified in the Republic. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says it was detected by health authorities yesterday. It comes as the first case of the mild illness on the island was confirmed in the north on Thursday. Minister Donnelly says vaccines are on the way to help fight the

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Pringle slams “parody” Passport office

A Donegal Deputy has criticised the Government’s handling of passport services, as many people are facing long delays in getting their passport applications processed. Thomas Pringle says that employees in his constituency office often have a hard time getting through to the Passport Office, even through the dedicated Oireachtas line. Deputy Pringle also likened the

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Siel Bleu launches Ireland’s first fitness challenge for older people

Donegal seniors are being called on to join Ireland’s first-ever dedicated fitness challenge for older people which launched today. Led and facilitated by Siel Bleu Ireland, a not-for-profit social enterprise which provides life-enhancing exercise programmes to older people across the country, the ’30 Days to Better Ways’ campaign was launched with assistance from GAA legend

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Suspected drug driver arrested on outskirts of Letterkenny

Gardaí from the Letterkenny Roads Policing Unit say they’ve arrested a driver  on suspicion of drug driving. Last night, a concerned member of the public contacted Gardaí in relation to the manner and speed at which a car was being driven on the outskirts of Letterkenny town. Letterkenny Roads Policing Unit responded to the call

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Up to €400,000 a year to be given to local councils to purchase derelict houses

Local authorities across rural Ireland will be given funding to purchase vacant and derelict sites to repurpose as community spaces. Up to 400 thousand euro will be available per local authority each year. The funding aims to revitalise rural towns and villages so they become attractive, vibrant places for people to live and work. Irish

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Mica Action Group anticipates new scheme will be published on Tuesday week

The Mica Action Group says it now anticipates that the revised Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme will be published on Tuesday week June 7th. With that in mind, the group has now written to Deputy Steven Matthews, Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing urging him to push for pre-legislative scrutiny of the forthcoming bill. The

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HSE publishes Capital Plan for 2022 with €23 million earmarked for Donegal

€23 million is to be spent in Donegal under the HSE’s Capital plan for 2022. Minister Charlie McConalogue says the plan will enable the HSE to progress important projects in the county this year. They include initial works a number of projects announced earlier this week, including new community hospitals in Letterkenny and Ballyshannon, and

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JCM building in Carndonagh must be retained for community use – Doherty

The HSE has been pressed on future plans for the James Connolly Memorial residential unit in Carndonagh. It’s after a recent HIQA report highlighted a number of issues at the facility. The Assistant Chief Officer of CHO Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo confirmed that the future of the centre has yet to be determined.

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Free higher education courses available to Donegal people

Thousands of free and subsidised higher education places will be available to people in Donegal, as part of the 2022 Springboard+ and Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 1 initiatives. While a total of over 390 places across 16 courses have been allocated to ATU Donegal under both initiatives, 40% of all the courses nationwide will run entirely

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Pringle says apprenticeships are the key to employment in Donegal

A Donegal TD says the government must look at how apprenticeships are funded in a bid to grow the programme Deputy Thomas Pringle told the Dail that changes may be needed in order to develop an apprentice programme that provides for the education and qualification needs of many of our young people. Deputy Pringle said

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Work is progressing on a subvention scheme for rural post offices – Varadkar

The Tanaiste says work is continuing on a subvention scheme to support small post offices which are in danger of closure because the postmaster is considering retiring or leaving. Leo Varadkar was responding to Dail questions about the recommendations of a Grant Thornton report, and when those recommendations would be implemented. Mr Varadkar didn’t address

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Donegal volunteers awarded by Concern Worldwide

Inishowen teacher Patsy Toland was one of four Donegal people honoured at the annual Concern Volunteer Awards for supporting the humanitarian organisation. The former secondary school teacher and principal, who spent 17 years working with Self Help Africa, was awarded for his help adjudicating in the all-island Concern Debates school competition. Other Donegal awardees included

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Prosecution of man with €2 worth of cannabis sparks call for legalisation

The prosecution of a Letterkenny man for possessing €2 worth of Cannabis has been branded simply ludicrous. The man who was caught with a single joint worth €2 was ordered to make a €200 charitable donation after appearing at Letterkenny District Court. Speaking on the Nine to Noon Show today People before Profit TD Gino

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Calls for Junior Minister for Passports to be appointed

A Fine Gael senator is calling for a Junior Minister for Passports to be appointed to deal with the current backlog. Martin Conway says the situation has become a “national emergency”. There are 195,000 applications currently in the system. At the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party meeting last night, one TD is understood to have called

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Work progressing to enhance delivery and governance of services at LUH

Work is ongoing to enhance the delivery and governance of services at Letterkenny University Hospital and the Saolta University Health Care Group. It follows findings and recommendations from a number of external reviews of hospital services including the HIQA Targeted Assurance Review. Last year the Saolta Health Care Group engaged with a NHS team on

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Meeting to discuss LUH angiogram service to be held next week

A member of the Regional Health Forum hopes a meeting next week will allay concerns over the removal of the angiogram service from Letterkenny University Hospital. The Saolta Health Care Group has agreed to meet members of the Regional Health Forum and Oireachtas members to discuss the critical service. Councillor Ciaran Brogan, a number of

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Calls for revised Mica redress legislation to be revealed

The Housing Minister has once again been asked to deliver a proper 100 percent mica redress scheme. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty put pressure on Minister Darragh O’Brien in the Dail yesterday to release the revised Mica legislation, which has been long awaited by homeowners representatives disappointed with revisions made to the scheme last year. Deputy

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€90,000 awarded for fisheries conservation in Donegal

Funding of €90,000 has been announced for fisheries conservation in Donegal. Funding to the value of €60,000 has been awarded under the Salmon and Sea Trout Rehabilitation, Conservation and Protection Fund for the planning stage for fish passage improvements and fish counter upgrade on the Dungloe River, Altcrin. A further €30,000 was awarded under the

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Irish language legislation in North to be introduced by UK Govt today

The UK Government will introduce long-awaited legislation today to protect the Irish Language in the North. It was part of the 2020 deal that resolved the then-power-sharing collapse at Stormont. Padraig O’Tierney from the Irish language rights group An Dream Dearg says they want to make sure the British government lives up to its commitments:

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Man arrested in connection with Caomhin Cassidy death released

A man arrested yesterday in connection with the death of Caoimhin Cassidy in Derry has been released unconditionally. The 31-year-old was arrested by detectives investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of the 18-year-old on Saturday June 1st 2019. Police say the investigation into the death of Caoimhin Cassidy whose body was found inside a burning

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