Author name: highlandnews

  A €7 million support scheme for pig farmers has been announced by Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue. The scheme has been described as an urgent short-term response to the challenges currently facing the sector. A maximum payment of €20,000 will be available for farmers. Minister Charlie McConalogue hopes the funding will in some way help

  The Dail has heard that Mica homeowners were fearful of what they would wake up to in the midst of adverse weather conditions that battered Donegal over the past week. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty pressed Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath on when homeowners would see the enhanced redress scheme rolled out.

There were nearly 7,600 reports of assaults on HSE staff last year. Over 5,800 were physical, while 41 were sexual and nearly 1,700 were verbal. According to freedom of information figures, almost half of the victims were nurses. Phil Ni Sheaghdha from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, says it’s a very serious problem.

  The Taoiseach has ruled out the idea of deferring a planned rise in the carbon tax. He was speaking as the Dáil debated a motion from Sinn Féin last night calling for the planned rises this year to be deferred. Micheál Martin has warned fuel costs are likely to increase again as a result

The Dail will later hear calls for the introduction of a mini budget to address the rising cost of living. The Rural Independent Group, which’s bringing the motion, says the issue’s now a national emergency that requires comprehensive action. Among the measures being demanded are a 20 euro increase to social welfare payments, a 50

A Donegal Deputy has called on the Government to publish the report on post office offline services. Deputy Thomas Pringle told the Dail that following a meeting with postmasters in Donegal, that they are waiting anxiously for the publication of the interdepartmental group report. He says postmasters are feeling disregarded by Government: Minister for Public

  Donegal County Council is to seek additional funding for a special programme to drain and clean water tables along the county’s roads. The issue was raised by Cllr Donal Coyle, who said the council should also liaise with Transport Infrastructure Ireland regarding roads under the remit of T.I.I. Officials say there is already substantial

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has accused Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty of being ‘duplicitous’. There were heated exchanges in the Dail this afternoon after the Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson once again called on the Government to tackle the rising costs of living. Deputy Doherty told the Government that ‘talk is cheap’:   Minister

The Children’s Rights Alliance has warned that immediate action is needed to tackle family homelessness. The group has today published it’s Report Card awarding the Government an E grade over child homelessness. Latest figures from the Department of Housing show that in the North West, 7 families were homeless in December. 10 of them children.

The Health Minister says the HSE needs to be pushed out of its comfort zone in order to tackle hospital waiting lists. A 350 million euro plan to reduce hospital waiting lists will be published later this week. Currently, almost 18 thousand people have been waiting for an inpatient procedure for more than 12 months,

Meanwhile, Gardaí are appealing for information in relation to the theft of a 10 foot Hudson builder’s trailer that was stolen from a house in Sessiagh Park, Castlefin on Thursday last. Garda Grainne Doherty says they have CCTV footage, but are appealing for more help………

The Irish Cancer Society’s Head of Research says two projects being supported at Letterkenny University Hospital will have long term benefits for people being treated for cancer, and also those whose treatment has finished. Dr Robert O’Connor was speaking ahead of a public conference in Letterkenny this weekend being organised by Donegal Relay for Life

Three cars have been taken from a commercial garage in Ballyraine, Letterkenny during an overnight break in, with a garda investigation now underway. One of them was later found crashed across the border. On the Community Garda Slot on today’s Nine til Noon Show, Garda Grainne Doherty issued this appeal for information……….. Garda appeal in

Donegal County Council is to look at establishing a helpline for people whose homes are affected by Mica, as well as advice centres in three of the county’s five municipal districts. An emergency motion signed by a representative cross party group of 12 members was moved at yesterday’s reconvened council meeting by Cllr Gary Doherty.

The quality of drinking water in private supplies is not as good as it should be, with E. coli found in 1 in 20 private water supplies. No supplies in Donegal were affected. Meanwhile Trihalomethane failures were identified in 22 supplies, one of them, Townawilly, in Donegal. The report also shows that over one quarter

The North West and West has been hit by the strongest rent inflation in 15 years. Average rents in the region increased by almost 20% year on year. Donegal experienced one of the highest increases, with average rents jumping by an unprecedented 24.3%. In early December, Daft.ie listed just 63 homes to rent in Donegal,

The government will face fresh calls to scrap its planned carbon tax hikes in the Dail later. The cost of home heating fuels is set to rise from May, while transport fuels will go up in price from October. The government says the increases are needed to deal with climate change, and there are no

A decision on the Letterkenny Development Plan has been deferred until the March meeting. During what was a lengthy debate, members of the Letterkenny MD claimed officials had not been listening to their priorities. At one point, Cllr Patrick McGowan suggested other areas are suffering because planners are focussed on Letterkenny. Cllr John O’Donnell says

Donegal County Council hopes to put proposed Variations to the County Development Plan in respect of a Wind Energy Policy Framework out to public consultation by May. The council had already proposed that turbines not be allowed in areas visible from Glenveagh National Park, and this week, Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher proposed a number other.

The chair of Donegal County Council’s Mica Redress Committee says the weekend’s storms in Donegal are a stark reminder of the perilous conditions in which some people are living. Cllr Martin McDermott says some people in North Inishowen stayed up all night, and in some cases, houses affected by Mica were damaged. Calling for the

  A Mica homeowner has described the last few days as an absolute nightmare. Three storms inside a week is said to have left Sharon and her family frightened to live in their Mica affected home. The family is still unsure as to how and if the recent weather events have damaged their house further.

  Thousands of homes and businesses are still without power in Donegal this afternoon, as ESB crews continue to tackle the large number of faults due to Storm Franklin. There were roughly four thousand customers without power south of the county while around five thousand homes and businesses are still without power in north Donegal.

  The Director of Emergency Services at Donegal County Council says that Storm Franklin has had a huge impact on Donegal. It’s the third storm to hit the country inside a week. The Council is continuing a clean-up operation right across the county this morning following a substantial amount of fallen trees and debris. Garry

Johnny McGuinness has been formally co-opted onto Donegal County Council. The co-option was proposed by Martin Harley, seconded by Jimmy Kavanagh. Newly elected Cllr McGuinness told the council he is honoured and humbled to replace his late father Bernard. He also praised the council for its support after Bernard’s death:

ESB crews are continuing to carry out repair works as a significant number of Donegal homes and businesses remain without power due to Storm Franklin. Milford, Rossgeir and Convoy are among the worst affected areas. Brian Tapely is from the ESB:

  The Minister for the OPW has agreed to meet with Donegal County Councillors to discuss a number of planned flood relief projects for Donegal. It’s after the OPW was heavily criticised in recent weeks by a number of Councillors over refusing to attend meetings. Local representatives had been concerned that important projects are effectively

  The Government’s announcing a number of new initiatives to support remote working. The Government’s already re-purposed buildings like old train stations and cinemas into remote working hubs. A new mobile app is being launched today to allow people to book work spaces in their local hubs, while a new 5 million euro fund will

  The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council says he is confident that today’s delayed meeting of the council will go ahead as planned at the third attempt. The meeting was originally scheduled for the 31st of January – but numerous disruptions paused both meetings, meaning that none of the planned business could be discussed. Cllr

  A local Councillor says that the issue of a floating water pipe leading to Gola Island is “ridiculous”, after a boat struck the pipe over the weekend. It’s believed a ferry struck the exposed water pipe on Saturday, which stretches for several hundred metres on the surface of the water. No injuries or substantial