Author name: highlandnews

The Health Minister says he hopes a group of children with Cystic Fibrosis, at least one of whom is from Donegal, will shortly have access to a potentially life-changing drug. Five year old Tristan Friel’s parents say they were initially told he would be allowed access to the drug Kaftrio, but a few weeks ago

Ireland is significantly off course for reaching its emission reduction targets. A new EPA report shows that even if Ireland were to stick with every planned climate policy, the state would only cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 28 percent by 2030. This would meet an EU target but falls significantly short of the 51%

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has told the Taoiseach in the Dail to sit down as he is embarrassing himself. Deputy Doherty lobbied Micheal Martin during what has become a weekly feature in Dail proceedings to introduce further measures to tackle the rising cost of living. To which the Taoiseach says would not be done for

Parents of children with disabilities attending Scoil Mhuire in Buncrana are said to be left in limbo over where their children will be housed in the future. It was previously believed that pupils, who are currently based at the Lakehouse campus would be returned to the main Convent campus, to an ASD classroom. However, parents

Culture night could be set to extend to Culture weekend. The seventeenth edition of Culture Night will take place on Friday September 23rd but the Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh believes the popular event should be expanded to a weekend. He recently asked Donegal County Council to ask the department

Just a day after the Taoiseach warned of of further fuel price hikes, petrol has gone above the €2 a litre mark. It follows the decision by EU leaders to cut the amount of Russian oil coming into the bloc by 90%. Forecourts across the country are now charging up to €2 and 8 cent

Ferry services are resuming today in Inishowen. The Lough Foyle ferry service linking Greencastle and Magilligan and the Swilly ferry service connecting Buncrana and Rathmullan are fully operational as of today. Both services will operate 7 days a week, offering a number of crossings each day. Cathaoirleach of the Inishowen Municipal District, Councillor Nicholas Crossan

The Sinn Fein leadership are in Brussels today for talks with the EU on the Northern Ireland protocol. Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O’Neill will meet with European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic and other senior officials. The DUP’s refusing to enter power-sharing in north until changes are made to the post-Brexit trade agreement, something

The operator of Dublin Airport is to publish its plan to tackle long delays for passengers today. The DAA will appear before the Oireachtas Transport Committee, and outline how queues, similar to last weekend, will be avoided. More than 1,400 people missed flights after staffing issues at security resulted in long lines forming outside terminals.

A Donegal TD has claimed that the HSE has not only failed vulnerable people and their families in Donegal, it has also failed frontline staff and left them abandoned. Deputy Thomas Pringle was questioning Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath in the Dail after further concerns were raised at the weekend that more allegations of sexual

The government is being asked to ensure that Clones doesn’t lose the Ulster Final when the redevelopment of Casement Park in Belfast has been completed. It’s been suggested that the Belfast venue may become the new home of the Ulster Final when it opens, but Cavan Monaghan TD Niamh Smyth is suggesting that the model

A Donegal councillor says there has been no commitment yet that the Garda Dog Unit will be deployed to Donegal over rally weekend, but he has been assured there will be extra garda manpower in the county. It has also been confirmed that the air support unit will be based in Letterkenny over the weekend.

The Minister for Agriculture and the Marine Charlie McConalogue has defended his track record on fisheries quotas while in office following criticism from a fisheries delegation visiting Brussels today. Some of those from the delegation have argued that the Minister has let down the Irish fishing industry in quota negotiations with the EU. However, Minister

An Irish fisheries delegation is in Brussels today, asking for Ireland to be allocated a fairer share of the European Union’s fish quotas. The delegation consists of politicians as well as fisheries representatives and workers. At present, Ireland is only allowed to catch 15 percent of the fish in its exclusive economic zone. Gerard Kelly

The Taoiseach has warned fuel prices will likely increase after a new EU ban on Russian oil. The European Council agreed an import ban which will in effect cut the amount of Russian oil coming into the bloc by 90 per cent. Some imports will be temporarily allowed for countries who are highly dependent on

Calls have been made to allow a group of children with Cystic Fibrosis to be allowed access to a potentially life-changing drug. Anja Friel’s 5 year old son Tristan has the rare disease, and says that initially they were promised that Tristan would be allowed access to the drug Kaftrio. However, Tristan and 34 other

A senior Government Minister says there is no justification for the delays seen recently at Dublin airport. The Government’s demanded a plan from the DAA by this morning to ensure there is no repeat of the scenes witnessed on Sunday when 1,000 people missed their flights and thousands of passengers were forced to queue for

European Union leaders have reached a compromise to impose an embargo on all Russian oil brought in by sea – which EU leaders say consists of 90 percent of all oil imports from Russia. EU members spent hours struggling to resolve their differences over the ban, with Hungary its main opponent. The deal will cut

Campaigners from the traveller will gather outside the Dail later to demand a government action plan to tackle high rates of mental health illness and suicide in the community. The Traveller Mental Health Network, which’s organising the protest, says it expects hundreds to attend. Studies show the suicide rate among travellers is seven times higher

Donegal Action for Cancer Care says it has received confirmation that the second Breast Surgeon post at Letterkenny University Hospital has now been made permanent post. The incumbent took up the positon in 2017, but it emerged at the time that the position was offered on a locum basis, and DACC Chair Betty Holmes says

There have been calls for a dedicated housing section to be immediately set up to expedite social and afford house building. At this week’s meeting of Donegal County Council meeting, Cllr Patrick McGowan called for a section to be set up in main towns throughout the county to speed up building. He also called for