Author name: highlandnews

Rural communities with populations of under 500 people are to be exempt from new laws banning the sale and distribution of turf. After a clash with his Government colleagues on the issue, the Environment Minister has said that the ban due to come into force on September 1st will focus on commercial and retail activities.

The Environment Minister says money raised by the carbon tax will help support people most at risk of fuel poverty. Eamon Ryan’s also defended draft regulations ending the sale and distribution of turf today, saying people won’t be arrested for using it in their homes. The Green Party leader says people will still be allowed

Irish Water have warned of disruptions to supply in the Inishowen area this afternoon. Repairs to a burst water main are taking place, with outages in Inishowen, Carndonagh, Ballyliffin and the surrounding areas. Irish Water say repairs will be completed by 3 o’clock this afternoon.

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue has announced agreement has been reached with the United States Department of Agriculture on a veterinary health certificate, for the export of Irish sheepmeat to the US. The Donegal deputy is leading a major agri-food trade mission to North America this weekend. He said the new agreement allows Irish sheep meat

The Department of Agriculture has issued an orange fire notice warning for County Donegal over this weekend. The warning is in effect for all areas where hazardous fuels such as gorse, heather, dried grasses, and other vegetation exist, and will last until midday, Monday the 25th of April. Donegal County Council are appealing to landowners

Irish Water say that disruption to water supply in parts of west Donegal are set to continue today. Repairs to a burst water main are affecting supply in Crolly, Ranafast, Annagry, Loughanure and the surrounding areas. Irish Water say repairs will be completed by 6pm this Saturday evening, and for any affected customers to allow

  Donegal County Council has announced an initial public consultation on plans to upgrade the N56 on the Termon side of Kilmacrennan. The proposed scheme is approximately 1.2km in length, and is located north of Kilmacrennan, between the townlands of Doonwell and Drumbrick. It’s also proposed that the existing cycle facility will be extended south

2,778 new cases of Covid 19 have been reported this afternoon. Of those, 1,171 have been confirmed through positive PCR tests, while yesterday, 1,607 people registered positive antigen tests through the HSE portal. As of 8 o’clock this morning, there were 599 Covid 19 patients in hospital, 39 of them in ICU. Latest figures for

There’s been a major increase in the number of commencement notices for new homes issued to Donegal County Council. The government says nationally, there’s been a significant rise in the number of new homes being started, and this is being reflected in Donegal. Up to the end of last month, 101 commencement notices were received

The Ombudsman for Children is to visit Donegal next week. Dr Niall Muldoon will be highlighting the rights of children and the work of the Ombudsman for Children’s Office during his regional trip to the county and islands. The Ombudsman for Children, Dr. Niall Muldoon, will visit a number of schools in Donegal and Árainn

  The HSE was owed more than 40 million euro last year by patients who’d failed to pay their hospital bills. Almost 11.3 million euro was for in-patient hospital stays while 8.3 million was because of people not paying their 100 euro Emergency Department charge. The Irish Independent also reports that a further 183 million

Gardai in Buncrana and Donegal Town were conducting patrols and operating speed checks yesterday. They are reminding motorists to drive slowly and with care. Ensure that you are travelling within the legal speed limit at all times. Wear your seatbelt and ensure that your passengers are wearing theirs also. Do not use/hold a mobile phone

Donegal once again has the second lowest per-capita instance of Covid 19 in the state, with all seven Electoral Areas in Donegal returning incidence rates which are below the national average. Three of Donegal’s LEAs – North Inishowen, South Inishowen and Lifford Stranorlar are among the ten lowest rates in the country. These figures are

Gardai and police in the north are asking for the public’s help in finding a 23 year old man missing from Co. Westmeath. Charlie Whelehan has been missing from the Kinnegad area since last Sunday. It’s believed he may have travelled to the County Tyrone area, and may have access to a white coloured Vauxhall

Gardaí in Inishowen are urging people not to park in the bus stop at the diamond in Carndonagh, saying they will take action against anyone found doing so. In a social media post this evening, they say people have been doing so, and as a result, buses are having to double park on the main

People aged 65 years and over are now eligible for their second COVID-19 booster vaccine. Those with a weak immune system aged 12 and over can also get their second booster, when it is due. Those who are now due their second COVID-19 booster vaccine can: Book online now for appointments at HSE vaccination centres, Check with

3,035 new cases of Covid 19 have been reported this afternoon. Of those, 1,426 have been confirmed through positive PCR tests, while yesterday, 1,609 people registered positive antigen tests through the HSE portal. As of 8 o’clock this morning, there were 654 Covid 19 patients in hospital, 37 of them in ICU. Latest figures for

  There are major traffic delays being reported in and around Letterkenny this afternoon. The Ballyraine and Ramelton road areas are said to be particularly affected. Gardai have confirmed that the long tailbacks are the result of the planned works on the Four Lane project which were due to begin today. The work is taking

  Additional local bus services are being provided to support Ukrainian refugees in rural areas. Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan says work is underway to mobilise all available resources to strengthen existing public transport services. Additional stops, route modifications, and more services, are among the measures being taken to increase connectivity for those based outside

  The number of people in ICU with Covid is at it’s joint-lowest point since last August. There’s 37 in critical care with the virus, the same as March 11th, but to get a lower total you’ve to go back to August 11th 2021. There’s currently 654 patients with the virus in hospitals – however

A number of homes are currently without water in Buncrana. Irish Water is currently carrying out repair works at Trillick, Upper Gransha, Buncrana which may cause disruption to supply in the area. A traffic management plan will be in place for the duration of the works. Works are scheduled to take place until 1:30pm Irish

Belfast International Airport’s apologised after passengers faced long security queues early this morning. A number of disgruntled travellers took to social media to share photographs of the line – which appeared to stretch all the way to the front of the terminal building. The airport says it’s sorry to those who had to ‘wait longer

  42 percent of businesses say insurance costs are threatening their future. New research from the Alliance of Insurance Reform shows liability premiums have increased by 16 percent, despite changes to guidelines for personal injury awards last year. 9 out of 10 respondents to a survey from the Alliance believe the government isn’t doing enough

  Irish Water is set to carry out pipe replacement works in the Fanaghans area of Inver in the coming days. 300 metres of old water mains are to be replaced with new, modern pipes which Irish Water says, will reduce the number of bursts and water outages impacting customers. The works will also involve

  Donegal ETB and Údarás na Gaeltachta have signed a five-year memorandum of understanding. The aim is to develop a relationship whereby the two parties recognise each other as partner organisations which will is set to benefit both organisations, Donegal and the North-West region. It’s also set to build on a history of collaboration and

  A man who suffered head injuries in an assault in Sligo has died. The man who was aged in his late 30’s was attacked on Rockwood Parade in the town on Tuesday evening. He was initially treated at Sligo hospital but was then transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin where he was later pronounced

  Staff will be able to take legal challenges if their bosses refuse their request for reduced or flexible working hours. The new work-life balance laws were approved by Cabinet yesterday and will see parents and those caring for sick relatives given a legal right to request remote working or flexi-time. The Irish Independent reports

  A 22-year-old man charged with murdering two men in Sligo will appear in court again today. Yousef Palani is also accused of assaulting a third man. Mr Palani, with an address in Markievicz Heights in Sligo, appeared at a special sitting of Sligo District Court last Thursday. He was charged with the murders of