Author name: highlandnews

A Donegal Senator has warned the Taoiseach that conversations in Northern Ireland cannot be one-sided and highlighted the need for more engagement with the unionist community. Senator Niall Blaney speaking during the latest sitting of the Good Friday Agreement committee raised the need for constructive outreach between communities in the North. In response to the

The Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District is urging the Council to carry out a review of how small repair works on footpaths are dealt with. It comes as latest figures show claims totalling €364,000 for trips and falls was paid out by the Council in the final quarter of last year. There are

Minister Anne Rabbitte has called for an independent review of adult safeguarding in long-term residential care settings in Donegal. A report published by HIQA last week following inspections at 18 HSE-run centres in the county found major issues around governance and oversight. Concerns were also raised over the HSE’s ability at a national level to

The EU’s just announced details of a complete ban on Russian oil imports. European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen has told the European Parliament in Strasbourg the proposed ban will be rolled out in a way that will minimise the collateral damage to the EU and its partners around the globe. She told MEPs

There’s further calls for unused and derelict properties in Donegal to be brought into use to tackle homelessness. Councillor Micheal Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig claims homelessness has forced some people in the West of the county to sleep on the streets, in cars or couch surf. With extensive housing waiting lists, he says houses laying empty,

The Health Minister says the decision to delay sign-off on the new National Maternity Hospital is to address people’s “very genuine concerns” about the project. The relocation from Holles St. to the St Vincent’s campus has been the subject of controversy due to suggestions of possible religious interference in the delivery of services. Cabinet will

Nearly 1,300 children have been waiting over a year for an assessment with a speech and language therapist. 577 are in south Tipperary, Carlow/Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford. In total, nearly 11,600 children are waiting for an initial assessment, according to freedom of information files. Galway GP Martin Daly says delays have a big impact:

The Agriculture Minister says people must be able to continue to supply their neighbours and family with turf. The government is considering banning the commercial sale of the fuel later this year. But the plans from Environment Minister, Eamon Ryan, are strongly opposed by some Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil TDs. Minister Charlie McConalogue says

The government is spending up to €24 million on preparing for a possible flu pandemic. Ministers have backed a deal that will give Ireland access to 1.8 million extra vaccines. The initial cost is €5 million – and the full €24 million will only be spent if a flu pandemic is declared. Donegal doctor Denis

Nurses say hospital overcrowding has led to an increase in violence and threats towards them. Victims will give their personal experiences at the INMO’s annual conference in Sligo, which begins today. There were over 3,700 attacks on nurses in the HSE last year. Phil Ni Sheaghdha, the general secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives

Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle is hoping to secure a Dail debate on the latest HIQA report on disability services in Donegal. The report, published last Friday, found ‘poor oversight and governance’ of disability services at a local, regional and national level, following inspections at 18 HSE-run centres for people with disabilities in Donegal. Deputy Pringle

The Agriculture Minister is urging farmers to grow as much silage as possible over the coming months – to prevent a fodder crisis later this year. Charlie McConalogue has been updating his cabinet colleagues on a scheme to incentivise farmers. It would see livestock farmers get 100 euro per hectare for sowing fodder – and

The Taoiseach has called for an apology after a mocked up video of a nuclear strike off Donegal was broadcast on Russian state TV. The video suggested the underwater strike would create a Tsunami which would submerge Ireland and the UK. The video has been condemned across government, with ministers describing it as ‘disturbing’ and

Gardaí were out in force in Donegal over the Bank Holiday weekend conducting checkpoints and speed checks. In recent days, Donegal Town Roads Policing Unit received a report of alleged dangerous driving and as part of their investigation, a car was stopped and it subsequently emerged that the driver was an unaccompanied learner. The car

A mocked up video, broadcast on Russian television, of a nuclear strike destroying Ireland, has been described as shocking by the Environment minister. In it, a known associate of Vladimir Putin also falsely claims that Boris Johnson has threatened nuclear action on Russia. The video depicts the nuclear weapon being detonated off the coast of

The government is due to approve increased funding for third level education. However, it’s not thought that a reduction in the 3-thousand euro college registration fee will be cut immediately. The Minister for Higher Education is bringing a memo to cabinet later, which would see grant reforms to allow part-time students access funding. President of

An investigation has been launched following the theft and burning of a vehicle in Carndonagh. A white Volkswagen Tiguan was stolen from a house sometime between 8:30pm on Sunday and 2am yesterday morning. The jeep was later located on fire. Garda Sean Sweeney is appealing to anyone with information, particularly dash cam footage to contact

A substantial amount of jewellery has been stolen from a business premises in Letterkenny. Between 5pm on Friday night last and 9:15pm on Saturday night, a window to the rear of the building on the Port Road was smashed and entry gained. Garda Sean Sweeney is urging anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity

A campaign is ongoing in a bid to make Changing Places Toilet Facilities mandatory in public buildings. In Donegal there are no registered Changing Places toilets and only 17 nationwide. A public consultation is currently underway by the Department of Housing with a view towards altering building regulations to make such amenities mandatory in public

Russian State television has broadcast mocked up clips of a nuclear attack in which Ireland is destroyed by a device supposedly being detonated off the coast of Donegal. According to the Irish Times, the broadcast on Russia-1 was presented by a close associate of Vladimir Putin and falsely claims that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson

A man has died following a fatal crash near Buncrana last night. The collision, involving two vehicles occurred on the Mountain Road between Buncrana and Carndonagh in the area of Meenaward at around 10:50pm. The driver of one vehicle, a male in his 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene. His body has been taken

The European Union’s warning its members that giving in to Russia’s demands to pay for gas in roubles, would breach existing sanctions. Ministers met in Brussels yesterday to discuss Moscow’s decision last week to cut supplies to Bulgaria and Poland. Energy giant Gazprom claims it was because they’d failed to pay their bills in the

Healthcare workers in the community sector are to protest today for better pay and conditions. SIPTU, Forsa and the INMO have organised the march in Dublin to highlight the need for better pay and respect for the staff who work in organisations like the Rehab group, Pieta House, Local Employment Services and the Irish Wheelchair

A Donegal County Councillor is calling for policies to be included in the new County Development Plan to cater for the needs of people with Autism. Councillor Paul Canning is proposing sensory gardens and secure areas be developed within housing estates across Donegal as well as sensory rooms in public buildings. The County Development Plan

It’s emerged that less than half of women offered an initial BreastCheck appointment are attending. The figures from BreastCheck which show a 42% uptake of appointments by women has led to serious concerns being raised by Donegal Action for Cancer Care. The service is being extended in Letterkenny over the coming two months during which

Temperatures in their mid to late teens are expected around the country this week. Met Éireann forecasts plenty of cloudy weather as the week goes on. It follows a fairly gloomy Bank Holiday weekend for most areas. Mark Bowe, Meteorologist with Met Éireann, says some parts of the country will get wet weather this week:

Swan Park is to reopen this summer following a €2.3 million restoration project. The amenity was extensively damaged by flooding in 2017 with works ongoing since to restore the park to its former glory. Works are now almost complete and the park is set to reopen to the public next month. Local Councillor Rena Donaghey

Sinn Fein’s leader in the North Michelle O’Neill has defended her party reaching out to a dissident republican group to discuss how to achieve a border poll. Yesterday the Sunday Times reported chairperson Declan Kearney made contact with Saoradh in 2020 in an attempt to reach a “co-operation agreement”. During a UTV debate ahead of