Author name: highlandnews

Latest figures show people in Dublin have the highest disposable incomes in the state, while people in Donegal have the fourth lowest. Preliminary CSO statistics for 2020 show disposable income in Dublin was €27,913 compared to a national average of €23,615. The lowest regional disposable income was €18,378, recorded in the Midlands, while the Border […]

The government should be providing more cash to pig farmers in “dire” need. That’s according to a Midlands North West MEP. According to the Irish Farmers Association, other European countries have used post-pandemic funding to increase aid to their farmers. The IFA says farmers are facing “spiralling costs” which are outside their control. MEP, Chris

  The Director of Emergency Services at Donegal County Council is urging people to be on the alert on foot of severe weather warnings issued by Met Éireann. Storm Dudley will bring long spells of rain, spot flooding and very strong winds over the next 24 hours. A Status Yellow Wind Warning is in effect

Regulations mandating facemasks to be worn in shops, public transport and schools are expected to be dropped. NPHET will meet tomorrow, and is expected to replace the rules with guidance urging people to continue wearing face coverings. Stranorlar based Dr Denis McAuley chairs the Irish Medical Organisation’s GP Committee – He believes this would be

  Serious concern has been raised over what’s been described as a lack of Gardai to deal with antisocial behaviour in Carndonagh. It’s understood that there were several incidents in the town over the weekend and Gardai from elsewhere had to be called in to deal with the situation. Cllr Albert Doherty says he has

The St. Patrick’s Day parade 2022 in Donegal Town has been given the ‘green’ light. The festivities were thrown into doubt in recent weeks after a poor turnout at an initial planning meeting – just six people attended, three of which were from the same family. However there was a much bigger attendance at a

  Farmers say they’ll hold a further meeting with Dunnes Stores on food prices in the next week. The retailer’s currently considering proposals put forward yesterday by farmers, who’re concerned at rising production costs. President of the Irish Farmers Association, Tim Cullinan, believes their asks are reasonable:

  Sinn Fein’s Finance Spokesperson is calling for an end to tax advantages gifted to investment funds. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty moved a motion on the matter in the Dail last evening with an aim of protecting renters and homebuyers. The motion also calls on the Government to bring forward measures to empower local authorities

  The Sinn Fein leader has described the latest developments as it relates to HSE management in the North West as disturbing. It’s after the Health Watchdog noted “a very serious incident” regarding the online behaviour of a resident at one residential disability centre in the region which is believed to relate to a resident

  Irish Water has come under fire yet again over what’s been described as a lack of engagement with Donegal County Council. Despite numerous invitations for Irish Water to attend Council meetings, the utility rarely sends a representative to discuss the various concerns of the day. Cllr Donal Kelly says there are a number of

  A review into the future of GP services will get under way this year, according to the Health Minister. Stephen Donnelly says the government committed to it in 2019, but it was delayed due to the Covid pandemic. The Irish College of GPs is warning 2,000 doctors need to be recruited over the next

People in the North West deserve better from health services. That’s according to Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty who was reacting to concerns raised by HIQA over the HSE’s fitness as a registered provider of centres for people with disabilities in the region. Concern was expressed by HIQA about the HSE’s management of its services in

The Taoiseach has been told that people cannot afford to wait until the Budget for additional measures to tackle the cost of living. Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald has accused Michael Martin of showing no urgency and ‘dithering’ when it comes to addressing the issue. The party says the package announced by Government last

Offshore renewable energy production must be deployed more rapidly if the EU is to meet its climate neutral goals over the next thirty years. That’s a key finding of a European Parliament report which MEPs are voting on today. According to the report, the cost of developing offshore wind energy has fallen dramatically over the

  The latest meeting of Donegal County Council’s Fisheries Committee has heard there is a shortage of young people entering the fishing fleet. Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue, who attended the online meeting agreed, saying it’s a rewarding life, but a hard life. Arranmore native Jerry Early told the meeting there is concern among the local

Work has started to restore the ‘Sweet Factory’ playground at the Bernard McGlinchey Town Park in Letterkenny. The area has been closed for some time because it had been deemed unsafe for use. Funding had been earmarked to upgrade the facility, but there were delays with the delivery of necessary equipment. It’s hoped the work

Junior Health Minister Ann Rabbitte is promising a review of the HSE’s management of residential disability centres in Donegal and the North West. It’s after the HSE’s fitness as a provider of such centres in the region was questioned by HIQA, The concern was expressed two months after the partial publication of the Brandon Report

All remaining legal Covid-19 restrictions will be lifted in Northern Ireland from today. Last evening, Health Minister Robin Swann announced the measures, including the wearing face masks in public places, are being replaced by guidance. It means Covid passes are also no longer required in nightclubs, but rules on testing and isolating remain. Declan Jordan

The controversial sliding scale element of the government’s revised mica redress scheme is set to be removed. Last November the state agreed an updated scheme to pay up to 420,000 euro to rebuild or repair thousands of homes, mainly in Donegal. Rebuilding costs were capped, with a sliding scale built in to the draft regulations.

Sinn Fein’s spokesperson on Fisheries and the Marine has reiterated his call for supertrawlers to be banned from Irish and EU waters. It comes after the supertrawler ‘FV Margiris’ was spotted off the North West and West coast in recent days. Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn is calling on the Marine Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister

Donegal County Council is being urged to install safety measures at whats been branded a ‘deathtrap’ in Letterkenny, and to involve local residents and businesses in the process. There’s said to be ongoing speeding issues at Oldtown with residents and business owners continually voicing concerns. The Council says it will explore short term measures, as

Former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson, is launching a programme to mark the 100th anniversary of the Seanad today. The theme of the centenary celebrations is ‘Minority Voices, Major Changes’. The Seanad aims to represent people on the margins of society, including ethnic minorities. Donegal based Senator Eileen Flynn became the first Traveller to get

The North’s Health Minister has announced that all remaining Covid-19 restrictions in Northern Ireland are to be lifted. Stormont ministers earlier gave their “unanimous support” to Minister Robin Swann to ease Covid restrictions. He’s confirmed that he will be making an order tomorrow to revoke the remaining rules. Sinn Fein’s Stormont leader Michelle O’Neill says

The trial of a man accused of the rape and murder of Danielle McLaughlin is to be heard in a new fast-track special court. The murder of the 28 year old from Buncrana is expected to be the first case heard in the new court which will be operational within months. The trial of Vikat

There’s a question of faith in the process, that’s according to the PRO of the Mica Action Group. It comes as it’s reported that the controversial sliding scale element of the enhanced Mica Redress scheme is set to be replaced by another model proposed by the SCSI. The alternative model will cost 8 different house

The Tanaiste says he would like to see issues around the Northern Ireland Brexit protocol resolved before May’s Assembly elections in the North. Engagement between the UK and EU is continuing in a bid to break the deadlock over the Brexit arrangement. Speaking at an informal meeting of EU Trade Ministers in France, Leo Varadkar

Fáilte Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta have formed a strategic partnership aimed at making the Gaeltacht experience appealing, accessible and relevant to visitors. They’ve signed a Memorandum of Understanding which will see the two organisations will work together across a number of priority areas. Daithi Gallagher is Failte Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way Manager with responsibility

Video footage of a tidal surge at the Stone Jug near Buncrana has been posted on the Lough Swilly RNLI Facebook Page. This is the second time this has happened recently and there have been similar incidents along the north coast. The surge was the result of 16 metre waves off the coast, caused by