Author name: highlandnews

Health Minister urged to clarify Dr Holohan’s new role

Sinn Fein’s calling on the Health Minister to clarify the situation surrounding Dr. Tony Holohan’s new role. The Chief Medical Officer’s moving to Trinity College Dublin later this year, but his €187,000 salary will continue to be paid by the Department of Health. It has been described by the university as an “open-ended secondment” – […]

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‘Episode of Father Ted wouldn’t compare to Killybegs situation’ – Deputy MacLochlainn

A Donegal Deputy has compared the situation at Killybegs Harbour to an episode of Father Ted. The port has been subject of much debate over the last week due to a number of vessels turning away over European catch weighing rules. Yesterday it emerged that one of the vessels travelled to Derry for its catch

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Calls on hospitality sector to look abroad for staff

  The Restaurants Association of Ireland says the hospitality sector should be looking abroad for the solution to staff shortages. There’s an estimated 40,000 vacancies in the hospitality sector, according to Failte Ireland. The Joint Committee on Tourism has heard the conditions for granting permits to potential workers are unrealistic and damage the industry. CEO

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LIS funding nowhere near enough what is needed for Donegal – Cllr MacGiolla Easbuig

The latest tranche of Local Improvement Scheme funding is nowhere near enough of what is needed for Donegal. That’s according to Councillor Micheal Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig. The Department announced just over €716,000 in LIS funding yesterday for upgrade works on rural roads and laneways. It’s the third highest allocation in the country. However, Cllr MacGiolla

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40,000 vacancies across Ireland’s hospitality sector

The number of people in hotel employment dropped by almost 60% during the pandemic, according to the Hotels Federation. It’ll tell today’s Oireachtas Tourism Committee 65,000 were employed in 2019, but that dropped to just under 27,000 by April last year. Failte Ireland will tell TD’s and Senators there’s 40,000 job vacancies across the hospitality

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Many factors blamed for looming retention crisis in An Garda Siochana

Poor conditions, pensions, equipment and excessive administration are being blamed for a looming retention crisis in An Garda Siochana. It comes as nearly a quarter of Gardai who left the job in 2021 resigned rather than retired. So far this year, 25 Gardai have walked away from their posts sparking concerns about the level of

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Donegal doctor expresses concern over hospital waiting lists

The HSE’s warning its waiting list targets may not be met this year, due to the recent hospital situation. A 350-million euro plan was recently announced, which would reduce them by 18 per cent by December. But the HSE says the recent rise in emergency department attendances, and the number of Covid patients in hospital,

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Council urged to consider building log cabins and modular homes

There are calls on Donegal County Council to pave the way for the construction of log cabins and modular homes in various parts of the county. It’s understood that the current County Development Plan does not permit such dwellings to be built.. It’s thought that the move would alleviate the housing crisis due to a

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Have your say on draft Dungloe Regeneration Strategy & Action Plan

Donegal County Council’s Regeneration & Development Team in collaboration with GM Design has announced the opening of public consultation to hear the views of the community on the Draft Dungloe Regeneration Strategy & Action Plan. The draft plan will be on public display from today Tuesday 5th April until Tuesday 2nd May 2022 and the

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Garda

Gardai investigating criminal damage incident in Donegal Town

Gardai are appealing for information relating to a criminal damage incident in Donegal Town. On Wednesday last at around 3:40am, residents of a house in Millrace Crescent were wakened by a loud bang. They subsequently discovered that the front sitting room window and glass in the front door had been smashed. Gardai are appealing to

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€5m scheme launched for cross-border Local Authority Partnerships

The government is inviting applications from cross-border Local Authority Partnerships for the new Shared Island Local Authority Development Funding Scheme. The €5m scheme is being funded through the Government’s Shared Island Fund, and will support the development of new joint investment projects. Minister Charlie McConalogue says this is a timely announcement, coming after the Taoiseach’s

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Council urged to forge closer links with Strabane and Derg Council wards

Donegal County Council is being urged to forge closer links between the Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District and the Strabane and Derg Wards of Derry City and Strabane District Council. The call has come from Cllr Gary Doherty, who says even though a large part of the MD border County Tyrone, there are no councillors from

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Minister McConalogue hopes new Fishery Control Plan will be in place in weeks

Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue says he hopes to see a new Fishery Control Plan in place within the coming weeks. Minister McConalogue was commenting on last week’s controversy after a Danish vessel left Killybegs after refusing an SFPA request that its catch be weighed at the pier. MInister McConalogue says after an audit last year,

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Andrew McGinley further calls for changes to Mental Health Act

A Donegal man, whose three children were killed by their mother, says they’d still be alive if the Mental Health Act was changed. It comes ahead of a discussion on proposed changes to the legislation at an Oireachtas committee today. Andrew McGinley’s wife, Deirdre Morley, was found not guilty of murdering their children in Co

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