Author name: highlandnews

A South Donegal Deputy says he’s ‘hugely’ concerned over the spate of burglaries in the North West. The Tanaiste Leo Varadkar’s promised to raise the issue of an armed support unit for Sligo with the Justice Minister. It comes as 73 year-old Tom Niland is fighting for his life after he was attacked in Skreen,

    Listen back to the main evening news, sport, farming news and obituaries for Thursday February 10th here:

    The Dail’s heard claims there were 200 homes burgled and trashed in the space of two months last year, between Donegal and north Galway. The government is being urged to respond to concerns of rural homeowners after a spate of aggravated burglaries. 73 year old Tom Niland is fighting for his life after

  The Dail has been told that the publication this week of the Terms of Reference for the forthcoming report of the Society of Chartered Surveyors in Ireland is causing serious concerns in Donegal. The SCSI’s figures will determine payments to homeowners under the Defective Blocks Scheme, but Deputy Pearse Doherty told Tanaiste Leo Varadkar

People in rural areas are being urged to become more proactive in reporting suspicious activity, given recent high-profile attacks on older people. Gardaí are said to be concerned about organised burglary gangs targetting vulnerable pensioners in their homes. A 72 year-old man was attacked during a break-in at his house in Celbridge, Co. Kildare earlier

A senior Failte Ireland official says there are challenges facing the tourism sector in Donegal, but the industry is meeting them head on. Joan Crawford, the Wild Atlantic Way Programme Manager in Donegal, believes the ‘From Survival To Recovery’ Plan launched by Failte Ireland this week will pay dividends in Donegal and the North West.

There are further calls for a new layout for what’s been described as a dangerous crossroads in Letterkenny. The Killyclug-Killylastin crossroads has been the scene of a number of crashes in recent years, including a three-car collision a few weeks ago. Donegal County Council is finalising improvement works at the junction while funding has also

Rent increases in Donegal, particularly in the north of the county, are now at crisis level for families. That’s according to Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn who has been responding to figures contained in the latest Daft.ie report which shows that the cost of rent in the county has increased 24% over the past year. Deputy

The government will announce a package of measures to tackle rising household costs later today. A Cabinet sub-committee’s meeting to consider further measures to help deal with inflation. The 100 euro energy credit is likely to be doubled, while an extension to the fuel allowance season’s also being considered. Meanwhile, Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty is

The Office of Public Works has come under fire over claims that it is snubbing Donegal County Council. It’s understood that the OPW has effectively refused to attend Council meetings to speak with local representatives over progressing a number of key flood relief projects for the Letterkenny and Milford areas. The Council is to write

The current state of the road surface between the Dry Arch and Polestar roundabouts in Letterkenny has been described as a recipe for disaster. Work is ongoing on the four lane project however there’s concern over the current condition of the route with claims that it’s no longer safe for road users. Donegal County Council

A Midlands North West MEP says the EU must do more to promote health, particularly in terms of research in eradicating cancer and other serious illnesses. Colm Markey has welcomed the findings of the latest Eurobarometer survey, which shows that Irish people have the most positive view of the European Parliament of any state in

  Listen back to the main evening news, sport and obituaries for Wednesday February 9th:

A senior detective says new developments in technology and DNA are being used in the ongoing investigation into the murder of Andrew Allen outside Buncrana 10 years ago today. The 24 year old was shot dead in front of his partner at his home at Links View Park, Lisfannon on February 9th, 2012. A car

  The Taoiseach says it’s the Government objective to provide adequate resources to Letterkenny University Hospital. Michael Martin was responding to concerns over what has been described as a scaling back of services at the hospital. In the Dail, Deputy Thomas Pringle made particular reference to the backlog in eye appointments and treatment at Letterkenny

Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle has supported a People Before Profit motion to increase the minimum wage to €15. Speaking in the Dail earlier today, Deputy Pringle said the minimum wage must meet the rate of inflation. He referenced comments made earlier this week by Junior Minister Sean Flemming who said people should ‘shop around’. Deputy

British MPs are warning delays at the border could increase if issues with post-Brexit checks on goods and vehicles aren’t solved. A report by the UK’s Public Accounts Committee says leaving the EU has so far only resulted in costs and delays for businesses. It says there’ll be continued disruption if the British government don’t

It might not be the end of the road for Donegal Town’s St Patrick’s Day Parade. It was feared this year’s parade may be cancelled after just 6 people turned up to a meeting on Monday evening to discuss plans for the celebrations to mark the occasion. However, a second meeting is now being held

It’s time to get back to face to face meetings at Municipal District level. That’s the view of Cllr John O’Donnell after the latest sitting of the Letterkenny Milford MD was held online yesterday. Cllr O’Donnell says when dealing with projects it’s important for Councillors to be around the table to be able to discuss

The Chairperson of the Donegal Green Party believes the new insulation and retrofit scheme announced by Government yesterday will be practical for homeowners and help in cutting the cost of home heating. Up to half the cost of a full retrofit will be covered in the Home Energy Upgrade scheme, with 80% of some smaller

Agriculture and Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue will travel to Canada as a St Patrick’s Day visit. 32 Ministers and Junior Ministers will be jetting off to destinations like New Zealand, South America and the US this year after a hiatus caused by the covid pandemic. Taoiseach Micheal Martin will also visit London and then Washington

It’s been claimed that some road markings in Letterkenny have deteriorated so badly that it’s impacting on those doing their driving test. A number of junctions in the town are said to be affected where the lineage has worn away leaving motorists confused and in some cases people being penalised during their driving tests. Cllr

Retail Excellence says some businesses won’t survive if the minimum wage is increased to 15 euro an hour. A private members motion is due before the Dail this morning, calling for the minimum wage to rise from 10-euro-50. People Before Profit, who are proposing the motion, says low paid workers are struggling to survive due

Rents in Donegal continue to rise with a lack of availability in rental properties the main factor. The latest report from Daft.ie has revealed that rents in Donegal were on average 24.3% higher in the final quarter of 2021 than a year previously. The average listed rent in the county is now €826, up 70%

  Listen back to the main evening news, sport and obituaries for Tuesday February 8th:

The Taoiseach has said it’s dishonest to suggest carbon taxes are behind the severe rise in the cost of fuel. Opposition TDs have called on the Government not to go ahead with a carbon tax increase in May and to introduce a mini-budget to deal with the cost of living. A cabinet sub-committee is due

Locals in County Sligo, where a man was savagely beaten in a burglary, say they live in fear and are terrorised. They are concerned those responsible for the attack in Skreen in January remain at large. 73 year old Thomas Niland is critically ill in hospital after what his family describe as a brutal and