Author name: highlandnews

The Disabilities Minister’s calling on the HSE to publish the full Brandon report, despite new advice from the Attorney General. It’s understood Paul Gallagher has advised against full publication due to the potential of prejudicing any HR disciplinary actions. A summary published last month detailed how a resident at the HSE-run Ard Greine Complex and […]

  A final decision on the format for this year’s Leaving Cert will be made next week, according to a junior minister. A survey of students found over two thirds want a combination of accredited grades or the option of sitting the exams. At present, the Leaving Cert is due to return to the old

  The funeral of murdered school teacher Ashling Murphy is taking place in Co Offaly this morning. It’s being held in Mountbolus at 11 o’clock – when schools across Ireland will also hold a minute’s silence. The 23-year-old was killed while running along the Grand Canal, near Tullamore, last Wednesday afternoon. Micheál Cunningham’s 22-year-old daughter,

  243 gardai were injured after being assaulted on duty last year. According to freedom of information figures, it’s a 9 per cent increase on 2020. 22 of last year’s attacks led to bone fractures or dislocations, and 15 gardai got open wounds. Dave Conroy, from the Garda Representative Association, says some of the assaults

The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council says a new website launched to promote arts and culture in the North West is proof that Donegal, Derry and Tyrone are stronger when they work together. Cllr Jack Murray was speaking after the launch of happydaysnw.com, a website primarily aimed at engaging more families with arts and culture.

A further 11,139 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed. It’s the lowest daily number of cases reported in almost three weeks. 6,329 cases were detected by PCR tests, and 4,810 were positive antigen tests registered on the HSE portal. There are 1,006 Covid patients in hospital, 97 of them in ICU. The Tánaiste has said

The British Government’s been accused of interfering in the North’s assembly elections, due to be held in May. It emerged over the weekend there are plans for the return of the dual mandate That would allow MPs to also hold seats in the Stormont Assembly. The move is opposed by every party except the DUP.

People in the North West are being reminded that the deadline to participate in the All-Ireland Rail Strategy consultation is looming. The Strategy is a north-south initiative launched last year by Irish Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and NI Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon. The review is designed to consider how and where rail should be improved,

Almost 290 jobs were created in the Donegal Gaeltacht last year. In total, 286 positions were created on the ground by Donegal companies in 2021 however, when job losses are taken into consideration, there was a net gain of 136 jobs. Nationally, 825 new full-time jobs were created in Gaeltacht companies in 2021, the highest

  The Tánaiste says he intends to bring in five new workers’ rights including an extra bank holiday. It comes as the Local Enterprise Office network recorded a net increase of almost 3,000 jobs last year. In Donegal, 262 jobs were created with a net increase of 103 It followed a year of  job losses

  Donegal County Council is being urged to explore the idea of installing infrastructure on Donegal’s popular beaches which would aid people with a disability access the water. The enclosed ramp is specifically designed to allow those using a wheelchair or who have other disabilities to enjoy the sea safely and comfortably. The Council is

It’s emerged that more homeowners affected by Mica are considering converting their garage as a living space while they await the long awaited redress scheme to be finalised. Pressure on the rental market is a contributing factor with only one property said to be currently available to rent in Inishowen. A number of other measures

A south Donegal Deputy has criticised suggestions that covid restrictions here will be lifted on a phased basis. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has said the aim is to have all restrictions lifted by the end of this year, but it shouldn’t be done at a ‘risky or reckless pace’. However Independent TD and Deputy Marc MacSharry

Gardai are hoping to question a suspect in the murder of Ashling Murphy, as early as today. A person of interest in the killing of the 23 year old school teacher, is understood to still be receiving hospital treatment for a number of injuries and will need to be assessed before he can be questioned.

  There have been calls for a number of bridges to be repaired as a matter of urgency, on the road between Glenswilly to Meenaroy, after noticeable damage, as well as a number of collisions are said to have occurred on them. Local Councillor Donal “Mandy” Kelly says that there are several bridges with issues

  Local Enterprise Offices around the country supported the creation of over 7-thousand 4-hundred new jobs last year. The service supports a total of 35-thousand jobs across 7-thousand small businesses around the country. The Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Leo Varadkar, will launch the network’s annual employment results at an online event this morning. Paraic

  A Letterkenny Councillor says that more needs to be done to address infrastructure issues at the Lower Main Street in Letterkenny. Cllr Kevin Bradley raised the issue at a recent Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District meeting, where he called for a pedestrian crossing as well as traffic lights to be installed at a junction next to

The entire cabinet is to be provided with armed Garda body guards and luxury cars, following a security review by the Gardai. The Irish Mail on Sunday reports that all 15 Government Ministers will be protected by two armed Garda protection officers who are trained in the use of firearms and in high speed driving.

  The Minister for Justice says society has come together to say gender based violence is not acceptable. Helen McEntee was speaking in the wake of Ashling Murphy’s death, she was killed while out jogging on Wednesday. The schoolteacher and musician’s death has sparked a murder investigation, and also an outpouring of grief from the

A new study on house prices claims that the pandemic has led to a higher demand for larger homes outside Dublin. The Sunday Times Property Price Guide predicts an average increase of 7.6 percent for counties outside of the capital over the coming year – including a 10 percent rise in house prices for County

Donegal County Council is to write to the new Atlantic Technological University once it is formed to seek assurances that ensure there is a place on its board for a council member. The issue was raised at a Letterkenny Milford Municipal District Meeting this week by Cllr Michael Mc Bride, who said continuity will be

The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council says the local community in Buncrana has been “devastated”, after the death of a man in the town last night. Gardaí say the body of a man in his fifties was discovered in “unexplained circumstances” in the Knockalla Drive area of Buncrana yesterday evening at approximately 7:30pm. It’s understood

The Taoiseach says the 8pm closing time for hospitality businesses could be scrapped. The curfew has been in place for weeks in an effort to slow the spread of the Omicron variant. While cases surged over Christmas, officials are hopeful the peak of the wave has now passed. Micheal Martin says the issue will be

A Donegal Deputy says he has no confidence that the HSE will act on the Brandon report into sexual abuse at Ard Gréine Court, Stranorlar. It’s after a recent HIQA inspection reported stated that the inspector observed a resident engaging in inappropriate sexual behaviour, which was not responded to by agency staff supporting them. Deputy