Author name: highlandnews

An innovation and digital hub has been officially opened in Dungloe by Junior Gaeltacht Minister Jack Chambers. gteic@ Na Rosa is one 27 hubs which will be open in Gaeltacht areas by the middle of this year. The new hub has gigabyte broadband capability, as as well as meeting and video conferencing facilities, telephone kiosks, […]

  Potholes and poor roads are being blamed for high failure rates at some NCT centres. A third of centres across the country have more cars fail than pass on their first go. In the centre in Derrybeg here in Donegal – 10 per cent of vehicles failed for “dangerous faults”, more than twice the

A major boost is on the way for West Donegal in the form of 60 new jobs. The former Ostán Glenveigh in Gaoth Dobhair is due to undergo a major renovation and will become known as ‘The Social’. Works will see the development of boutique accommodation, restaurants, cocktail bars, live music venues, function rooms and

  Households are being advised to use their dishwasher and washing machine at night, to curb energy costs. The Government is looking at the possibility of introducing “time of day pricing”, which would see the cost per unit reduced at certain times. It comes after Electric Ireland became the latest company to announce a price

High energy prices may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for fishermen. That’s according to Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn who told the Dail that the fishing industry was in the midst of a crisis long before energy price hikes. He pressed the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue to follow

It’s emerged 60 workers were sent home from Killybegs port yesterday after a Danish vessel was unable to land its catch. The CEO of the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association says there is genuine shock and annoyance in the port after the ship was forced to withdraw due to a rule introduced in recent

The Taoiseach says he will pursue school transport issues that are facing children affected by Mica. Some families have had to live elsewhere as their Mica homes are either unfit to live in or being fixed. Speaking in the Dail, Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle says Education Minister committed to scheme flexibility but Bus Eireann are

This Sunday is the 26th Census Day since 1841. Forms have been out for delivery since March, and are due back on or before May 6th. It gives the government vital information about the population, to help plan for the future. Political Analyst, Odran Flynn, says this census is likely to see the number of

  New signs have gone up in Letterkenny and Killybegs reflecting the fact that the Atlantic Technological University has now officially been constituted. The ATU’s governing body is meeting in Letterkenny this morning to ratify the appointment of Dr Orla Flynn as the university’s first president, with a formal launch of the ATU to take

People Before Profit is backing the INMO’s call for the government to help curb the spread of covid 19 in hospitals. It’s after the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation revealed the number of people on trolleys reached 11,001 in March, the highest on record. It was a record high for Letterkenny University Hospital also with

The Taoiseach will address a peace-building event in Derry this evening – a week after a security alert at a similar event in Belfast. It led to Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney being rushed off stage during his speech last Friday. The UVF says it’s ‘actively planning’ to target senior Irish politicians visiting the region,

Listen back to the main evening news, sport, farming news &  obituaries for Thursday March 31st: 

  Low and middle income earners are bearing the brunt of the spiralling cost of living. That’s according to Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty, who has been questioning the Government’s response to the rise in energy prices once again in the Dail this afternoon. Deputy Doherty commented that two thirds of homes in the North West

  A return to mandatory mask wearing is not on the cards, according to the Health Minister. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has suggested the return of mask wearing wouldn’t slow the current spread of Covid-19. Nurses and doctors have called for some restrictions to be re-introduced to deal with the spread of Covid. But Health Minister

The fire service last night battled for over 5 hours to bring a gorse fire under control in Inishowen. The blaze broke out between Greencastle and Shroove. Three fire engines from across the county were in attendance. Local Councillor Martin Farren has reiterated the warning from Donegal County Council for people to be extra cautious

Concern has been raised over a leaking sewer in Milford. Effluent has been seeping from the sewer for a long number of years due to the breaking down of sewerage treatment system serving the Grey Rock estate. Councillor Liam Blaney says efforts have been ongoing to address the issue for far too long. He says

The President of Letterkenny Institute of Technology says he believes the term ‘Atlantic Technological University’ will soon become part of the normal parlance of the region. Paul Hannigan was speaking on what is effectively his last day in the post. From tomorrow, LYIT will cease to exist, and it will become the Letterkenny and Killybegs

A Donegal Deputy is to lead a delegation to the Ukrainian border next week on a fact-finding mission. Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh, who is Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on European affairs will meet with refugees during the visits to Romania and Moldova. He and a group of colleagues on the committee have already met

A major conference will take place in West Donegal this weekend. Hundreds of delegates will travel to Dungloe to attend the Ógra Fhianna Fáil National Youth Conference. It coincides with a visit to the county by Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Policy, local elections and the prospect of a United Ireland are to dominate discussions at the

A Donegal Deputy believes Ireland can remain neutral in a very active way. Deputy Thomas Pringle was speaking in the Dail during statements on the Government’s response to the situation in Ukraine. Meanwhile, around 600 people a day are arriving here, with 75% of them seeking accommodation from the State. Deputy Pringle says the focus

The number of patients who left emergency departments without finishing their treatment increased by 66% last year. There were nearly 76,000 in 2021 – compared to less than 46,000 the previous year. The HSE says many people go to EDs when they should be choosing other options, like GPs and pharmacies. But Stephen McMahon, from

Brexit-related checks on goods going from Ireland and the rest of the EU to Britain are set to be delayed for a fourth time. They’re due to begin on July 1st, but the UK government is considering postponing them again. But British businesses continue to face extra obstacles as they export their goods to the

Emergency powers introduced to slow the spread of Covid-19 will expire at midnight. The Health Act has given the Health Minister the power to restrict travel, prevent gatherings and close premises for the past two years. The lapsing legislation would also be needed for a mandate on mask wearing to be reintroduced, something the government

The Taoiseach has committed to speaking with both the Health Minister and the HSE over issues facing Letterkenny University Hospital. Michael Martin was responding to further concerns raised in the Dail by Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn over the health crisis facing the hospital and the wider Donegal area. Deputy MacLochlainn pleaded with the Taoiseach to