Author name: highlandnews

  The Finance Minister says no matter what the Government do in a bid to counteract the rising cost of living, it’ll never be good enough for the opposition. Minister Pascal Donohoe was reacting to a Sinn Fein motion on rising energy costs which was brought forward to the Dail yesterday evening. The party says […]

  Ireland is set to witness inflation not seen since 1984 according to the ESRI’s latest Quarterly Economic Survey. Inflation could hit 8 and a half percent by the summer before averaging out at 6 point 7 per cent across the year . Connor O’Toole of the ESRI’s Economic Think Tank says the Russian invasion

  A visit by the Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District to Rudolstadt has facilitated the further strengthening of links between the German town and Letterkenny. Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh led a delegation from Letterkenny who attended a series of meetings and St Patrick’s Day events in Rudolstadt. Letterkenny and Rudolstadt signed an official Town

  A South Donegal Deputy believes a more coordinated approach from Government is needed in facilitating Ukrainian refugees arriving into Ireland. Deputy Marian Harkin believes a designated Minister needs to be put in place to oversee Ireland’s response at local, regional and national level. Speaking in the Dail, Deputy Harkin says there is an urgent

  There’s further calls on the Government to address overcrowding at Letterkenny University Hospital. Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle in the Dail yesterday, lobbied the Tanaiste to act to ease the pressure on healthcare workers, given the significant increase in the number of infectious cases of Covid-19 being dealt with at the hospital. Deputy Pringle backed

Almost 200 complaints were made to the consumer watchdog about increases in the price of petrol and diesel in the past two weeks. It’s after the excise duty on a litre of petrol was reduced by 20 cents, and diesel by 15 cents, due to the market impact of the war in Ukraine. The Competition

Only 20 per cent of 5 to 11 year olds are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. The HSE says this compares to almost 75 per cent of 12 to 15 year olds – and 89 per cent of 16 and 17 year olds. Registration opened for the youngest age-group in early January. Donegal Dr Denis McCauley,

It’s emerged that a 77 year old man who was taken in a serious condition to Letterkenny University Hospital on Sunday waited in an ambulance for over 9 hours. The issue was raised in the Dail this afternoon by Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn. It comes following a number of incidents in recent weeks where ambulances

A Letterkenny woman has been disqualified from keeping animals for five years. At Letterkenny District Court yesterday, defence solicitor for Ms Chrissie McGinley of Glenwood Park, Letterkenny entered a guilty plea on her behalf to an offence under section 12(1)(a) of the Animal Health and Welfare Act (AHWA) 2013. It’s after a male Siberian Husky

Gardai are trying to trace the driver of a white BMW car that was seen driving dangerously on the night of March 7th last. The car was observed in a number of areas between Letterkenny and Lifford, and Sgt Eunan Walshe says they’re trying to piece together a more comprehensive picture of the vehicles movements………

Donegal County Council is being asked to designate Ballybofey and Stranorlar for a pilot project on dealing with derelict projects. A new government scheme has been announced, with Cllr McGowan saying he believes the council should apply, particularly as Geodirectory has identified the area as having the highest level of dereliction in the country. Cllr

There are calls for more protection for emergency services personnel after a paramedic was assaulted in Letterkenny yesterday morning. Gardaí attended the scene of the assault on Kinnear Lane at approximately 9am. One paramedic was treated in hospital after the incident, but has since been discharged. The man aged in his 20s was arrested, and

Gardai in Letterkenny are investigating two assaults, one on a woman in the Beechwood area of the town in the early hours of St Patrick’s morning, the other on a man in Raphoe on St Patrick’s night. On the Community Garda Slot on today’s Nine til Noon Show, Sgt Eunan Walshe issued this appeal for

A growing reluctance to test for Covid-19 is contributing to rising infection rates, according to a rural GP. Dr. Illona Duffy says 60 percent of patients at her clinic say they’ve had Covid in the past few weeks. However official daily figures have remained stagnant over the period at between 12 and 14 thousand, suggesting

Postmasters have called an emergency meeting to discuss whether to take industrial action. It’s due to changes An Post plans to make to postal order and foreign exchange services. The Irish Postmasters Union says this would involve extra work for their members – for no extra pay. Ahead of next Monday’s meeting about industrial action,

A 12 million euro scheme to encourage tillage farmers to grow more crops will go before cabinet today. It’s due to the war in Ukraine, which has had an impact on agriculture and supply chains. Farmers will get 400 euro for each additional hectare of grain grown this year. Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue says the

Donegal County Council has issued a warning to dog owners to keep them under control during lambing season. Much concern has been raised in recent weeks particularly in West Donegal over dogs straying into fields and causing distress to sheep with farmers threatening to take matters into their own hands. The local authority is asking

The Finance Minister says the government won’t be able to fully protect people from the rising cost of living. The ESRI is now expecting prices to increase by up to 7 per cent this year – and another 5% next year. It says the government may have to do more to insulate households from the

Ukranian refugees have begun arriving in Donegal, with several expected in Letterkenny in the coming days where they will be based in McGettigans Hotel. Over 100 have already arrived in Bundoran, where they are settling in. On today’s Nine til Noon Show, local Cllr Michael McMahon said a lot of work has gone in to

The number of Covid patients in hospitals has increased by 25 percent in the past week. There’s 1,308 people with the virus today – the highest in more than 13 months. Latest figures for Letterkenny University Hospital show 83 infected patients, one of them in intensive care. Nationally, latest figures show 49 people in ICUs.

A Dublin based senator says it’s time to start a conversation about a Derry-Dublin rail route. Senator Marie Sherlock, a frequent visitor to Donegal, says while she supports long term plans for the expansion of the A5 and also supports the idea of a rail link from Letterkenny to Dublin, she believes with express trains

Almost half of children with Down Syndrome have had no vital early intervention services in the past year, according to a new report. Down Syndrome Ireland also says 40 per cent had no communication from the HSE in the last 12 months. Almost one third of survey respondents received zero speech and language therapy sessions,

The Tree Council of Ireland is emphasizing the importance of trees in Ireland’s sustainable future. National Tree Week takes place this week, with a number of events taking place around Donegal. This year’s theme is ‘More Forests for a Greener Future’, which aims to raise awareness of the many benefits of forests and the important