Author name: highlandnews

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 […]

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

The Northern Ireland Assembly’s sitting for the first time in a fortnight, with the aim of electing some of the top positions. Sinn Fein called for a recall of the Assembly, which will meet at noon. The DUP – now the second largest party in Stormont behind Sinn Fein – has refused to support any

Gardaí say that missing teenager Kyle Donnelly has been found safe and well. In a statement An Garda Síochána said that they would like to thank the public and the media for their assistance with this matter, and that no further action is required.

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

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

Almost 200 homes in Donegal are without power this afternoon due to power outages. According to the ESB, 120 homes in the Rossgeir and Lifford areas are without power this afternoon, with a fix currently expected for 2 o’clock this Sunday afternoon. Another outage in the Donegal Town area has left 67 customers without electricity

Irish Water say water supplies in Magherabeg and Inch Island will be disrupted today as result of repairs to a burst water main. They say the works are scheduled to take place until 7pm this evening, with Irish Water also warning it may take 2-3 hours after that time for water supply to return for

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

An Orange Fire Danger Notice has been issued by the Department of Agriculture for this weekend in County Donegal. The order is in place until midday on Monday, May the 30th, for areas where hazardous fuels such as gorse, heather, dried grasses, and other vegetation exist. Donegal County Council are appealing to landowners and members

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

€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

Police are appealing for information and witnesses following a report of an assault on a man in his 70s in Derry yesterday. Police believe one man was involved in the assault. Officers received a report shortly after 7pm that a man, aged in his early 70s, had been assaulted on the Strand Road. The man

Medical Scientists have accepted a Labour Court recommendation to return to the Workplace Relations Commission. The MLSA has suspend next week’s industrial action to allow for WRC talks. The talks aim to resolve long-standing recruitment and retention issues in the sector.

Northern Ireland has identified its first case of monkeypox. No cases of the virus have yet to be identified in the Republic of Ireland. The Director of Public Health HSE North West, Dr Anthony Breslin earlier this week confirmed that work is underway to control the spread of monkeypox in Ireland.

More than 3 in every 5 people in the North believe a United Ireland is more likely after Brexit. A new study by Queen’s and Ulster Universities found 26 percent of people identify as nationalist, up 7 percent in 2020. There’s also been a sharp rise in unionists saying Brexit has made them less in

The search is on for Ireland’s newest millionaire. There was one winner of last night’s Lotto jackpot worth 3.6 million euro. The location where the lucky ticket was sold is yet to be revealed.

170,000 homes across the country are at risk from a cancer-causing radioactive gas, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The watchdog has today published a new map of areas impacted by radon – the first update in two decades. Most areas of Donegal have less than 5% of radon levels however, there are a small

More new jobs are on the way for the North West. Derry, along with Skibbereen and Dublin is set to benefit from new eCommerce jobs. eDesk which provides eCommerce services to business is adding 150 new jobs. The roles will come on stream over the next 18 months in the areas of customer support, sales

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

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

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