Author name: highlandnews

A huge funding boost for Donegal’s islands has been widely welcomed. Over €2 million has been sanctioned for 14 road upgrade projects on Arranmore, Tory, Inisbofin and Gola island. It’s also been agreed that the roads will once the works are carried out be taken in charge of by Donegal County Council. Chair of Arranmore

Amnesty International is holding a vigil this week in Letterkenny in solidarity with Ukraine. People are gathering at Market Square on Thursday at 6pm. Colm Gorman is Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland:

2,646 families are currently on the housing waiting list in Donegal while 7,700 properties are lying vacant. Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn says the housing crisis in the county is having a knock on effect by forcing people into the private rental sector. He is calling on the Government to step in and provide the resources

Concern has been raised over plans to demolish a block of 16 apartments providing independent living in Dungloe. The properties were built 20 years ago by Cluid Housing in conjunction with the HSE however, it’s believed 10 of the flats have been lying vacant for over 10 years. The plans propose houses been built on

Donegal County Council has committed to looking at providing more parking at Bernard McGlinchey Town Park in Letterkenny. Many plans are afoot to enhance the amenity including a new adventure area and further development of the green area there. But the current car parking facilities have been deemed inadequate to cope with the expected rise

Over €2 million in funding has been announced for island road upgrades in Donegal. A total of 14 road projects are being funded on Arranmore, Tory, Inisbofin and Gola island. To date, roads on the islands have suffered neglect as they were not under the remit of Donegal County Council and therefore did not qualify

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris is designating Letterkenny Garda Station as a Gaeltacht serving station. It means that in time, if people want to issue complaints or queries through the medium of Irish they will be able to do so. Chief Superintendent Terry McGinn says over the next year or two, Gardai at the station will

A Donegal Deputy has told the Dail that the current waiting list for assessments of children with disabilities is nothing short of neglect. Deputy Thomas Pringle was speaking in the Dail last evening on a motion on assessment of needs for children with disabilities. He says the current system is broken with parents struggling to

There are calls on the Government to include a number of Inishowen areas in the Clar Programme. CLÁR-Funding provides funding for small-scale infrastructural projects in rural areas that have suffered the greatest levels of population decline. However while some rural districts are included in the initiative, a number of areas on the peninsula currently don’t

The Samaritans have launched a campaign to promote awareness of mental health in rural Ireland. Signs and information will appear on approximately 500 milk trucks and vehicles throughout the country from today. Samaritans Deputy Regional Director, Aileen Spitere, explains the importance of awareness of their helpline number:

Sinn Fein is calling for the price of fuel to be immediately reduced to €1.75 a litre. The government is due to meet this morning to bring in a cut to excise duty on petrol and diesel, resulting in a 15% to 20% reduction per litre. However, it’s feared any reduction could soon be cancelled

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

  There are calls for a train station at Dublin Airport, which would serve every city in Ireland. The Oireachtas transport committee has been discussing the All-Island Rail Review today. It has heard large parts of Ireland have no railway service at all – with calls for new lines between Limerick and Sligo, and Sligo

Calls for free public transport for the rest of the year, to address rising living costs, have been ruled out by the Transport Minister. But Eamon Ryan says a planned 20 per cent reduction in fares will begin to kick in from tomorrow. He was speaking after the government gave the green light to the

The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council says emergency measures need to be put in place to reduce the spiralling cost of fuel. Councillor Jack Murray says people are facing an emergency with some families unable to afford to heat their homes. He believes the Government needs to step in and reduce the amount of tax

There are calls for the OPW to assist in highlighting and promoting the Newmills Corn and Flax Mill with a view towards attracting more tourists. The Minister for the OPW previously said that the amenity would not be given any significant funding unless visitor numbers increase. Councillor Donal Mandy Kelly will urge Donegal County Council

Money and numerous high value items have been stolen from a business premises in Letterkenny. The property situated at the carpark area beside the station roundabout on the Pearse Road was targeted between 4:30am and 4:45am on Saturday morning. A man dressed in a black coat with the hood up, wearing a mask, dark bottoms

Gardaí are continuing to appeal for information after a woman died following a crash last week in Raphoe. At approximately 2.30pm on Wednesday afternoon, two vehicles collided on Guesthouse End Road. It’s believed one vehicle lost control and collided with a pedestrian. The woman, aged in her 50s, was seriously injured and taken to Letterkenny

Gardai have been praised for their actions following a dramatic chase on Rossnowlagh beach on Sunday. Video footage of an incident involving two motorcyclists speeding across the busy beach has been circulated widely on social media. One motorcyclist was eventually apprehended by gardai who gave chase on foot after the motorcyclist fell off his bike.

TD’s and Senators will today hear about the future of Ireland’s railway network and what must be done to improve it. The Oireachtas Transport Committee will hear submissions to the All-Island Rail Review later, including proposals for a Western Railway Corridor. People across the Island expressed ‘interest and enthusiasm’ in a recent public consultation about

Letterkenny and Milford Municipal District will be told today that a comprehensive resurfacing programme is needed along the length of Letterkenny’s High Road from the traffic lights at the junction with Main Street right up to the Hospital Roundabout. The issue is being raised by Cathaoirleach Jimmy Kavanagh who says there are a number of

People are being asked to challenge bias and stereotypes as part of this year’s International Women’s Day. This year’s theme, ‘Break the bias’, aims to tackle discrimination across society. Sonya Lennon, Entrepreneur and Founder of WorkEqual, says business leaders need to take responsibility for promoting a positive culture in workplaces:

It’s been claimed that some vehicles are speeding through Creeslough at a rapid rate leading to serious concerns over the safety of those, particularly pedestrians using the route. The road is home to a school, post office and housing estates with many residents complaining that they’re finding it increasingly difficult to cross the road. The

The Russian ambassador and his staff are no longer welcome in the country and should be asked to leave by the government immediately. The call was made as Oireachtas members prepare to hold a demonstration outside the embassy in Dublin later this morning Yesterday the embassy condemned what it called a “criminal act of insanity”,

The Minister for Agriculture will meet with the main farm organisations today to discuss the disruption to the sector as well as the current market situation due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. The meeting comes in light of a request by Charlie McConalogue to ask farmers to plant wheat, barley and other grains

More than 50,000 new residential units are expected to be built between now and the end of 2023 in Ireland. The supply of new homes could however be impacted due to constraints in the construction sector as a result of the continued impact of the pandemic and labour shortages. That’s according to the latest Housing