Author name: highlandnews

Donegal County Council is being urged to explore the idea of using some of its vacant buildings as hubs. It’s understood that there are empty units in a number of areas across the county and its thought that they could be used by people working remotely. Cllr Ciaran Brogan is looking for a more detailed

The Agriculture Minister is urging communities to be vigilant as Garda investigations continue into three separate attacks on older people in their homes. An appeal for witnesses has been launched after two elderly people were threatened at knife point in Gurranabraher in Cork city shortly after 7.30 yesterday morning. The intruder left the scene with

  A Donegal TD says the HSE must put better workforce planning procedures in place to ensure continuity of services when staff are on leave. Deputy Thomas Pringle says in many cases where leave is being taken, the HSE often does not have a suitable replacement lined up, even if the leave has been flagged

A local councillor is calling on Donegal County Council to invest in re-locating the bus shelter serving Manorcunningham. Cllr Kevin Bradley brought the issue to last week’s meeting of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District – but currently, Donegal County Council says there is no funding available to carry out the works required. The shelter is

It’s been claimed that teachers and parents are fearful for children’s lives outside the gates of a Letterkenny school. Speeding motorists, inadequate signage and a flat roundabout are all said to be contributing factors to the concerns outside Letterkenny Educate Together in the Kiltoy area of the town. Donegal County Council has pledged to carry

Women’s Aid is urging people to spot the signs of online abuse in relationships. The charity is launching its ‘Too Into You Campaign’ on social media, aimed at young women aged 18 to 25. A study by Women’s Aid, shows 3 in 5 young people have experienced, or know someone who’s been abused in an

Sinn Fein remains the most popular political party in the country according to a new poll. The Sunday Times has the opposition group on 34 percent, nine points clear of Fianna Fail on 25. Fine Gael is the third largest with 20 percent which has fallen by 2 since the last poll. Sunday Times Political

Gardai are carrying out a number of searches in Co. Sligo today as part of the investigation into an aggravated burglary at the home of Tom Niland. The 73-year-old remains on life support in hospital after being viciously attacked by three masked men in his home in Skreen on January 18th. Gardai say they’re following

A Donegal Deputy is set to lead the first in-person agri-food trade mission from Ireland since the start of the pandemic. Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue will lead a delegation of several companies and Bord Bia over the next five days to the the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Last year, agri-food exports to the

A leading economist claims the government was limited in the actions it could take to curb rising energy prices. Last week’s announcement included a doubling of the energy credit due next month to 200 euro, and a fuel allowance lump sum of 125 euro. However opposition parties criticised the measures as not going far enough.

A Sinn Fein TD claims the Government plan to tackle the rising cost of living has come ‘far too little and too late’. Steps announced on Thursday include a 20 per cent cut in transport fares from April and the energy credit is to increase to 200 euro. But Louise O’Reilly says a number of

The Dail has heard that many Donegal people are finding it increasingly difficult to be able to buy or rent a home. It was revealed this week that Donegal recorded the highest rise in rents in the country in the latest Daft.ie report. The large scale of Mica affected homes in the county is also

It is hoped that an area in Letterkenny will be catered by the town bus service in the near future. Currently, Oldtown and surrounding areas are not currently serviced by the bus and in many cases, it’s understood that some elderly people have had to use taxis to get into the town centre. Donegal County

  Listen back to the main evening news, sport, nuacht and obituaries for Friday February 11th: 

British and EU negotiators are meeting in London today to try to resolve their row over the Northern Ireland Protocol. It’s the latest meeting between the UK’s foreign secretary, Liz Truss, and European Commission vice-president, Maros Sefcovic. It comes after the DUP triggered the collapse of the Stormont Executive by pulling the First Minister from

The Finance Minister’s denying that a cut to the Universal Social Charge would have been a better way to help people with higher livings costs. The Government announced a package of measures last night including a 200 energy credit, a 20% cut to public transport fares and an extra 125 euro payment for those in

There are calls for additional staff to be put in place in the Housing Maintenance Section in the Letterkenny Milford area. It’s in response to what’s been described as an ever increasing demand in the workload. Cllr Donal Coyle says in particular, Council owned dwellings in the Manorcunningham area are not being given enough attention

The members of the first governing body of the new Atlantic Technological University which will open its doors on April 1st have been announced today by Higher Education Minister Simon Harris. It follows the granting of Technological University status to a consortium comprising Letterkenny, Galway-Mayo, and Sligo Institutes of Technology. Leitrim Barrister Maura McNally has

The Dail has heard that the families involved in the Brandon Report want it published. Deputy Thomas Pringle was speaking as part of statements on the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022 which would pave the way for a transfer of some responsibilities to a different Minister. Deputy Pringle raised concerns once again over the HSE’s

The Marine Minister has clashed in the Dail with Sinn Fein’s Fisheries and Marine spokesperson, Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochalinn. Deputy MacLochlainn raised the issue of access around Rockall being blocked for Irish fishermen. He told the Dail that it has resulted in a loss of over €7 million to the sector last year. Deputy MacLochlainn

A South Donegal Deputy says he’s ‘hugely’ concerned over the spate of burglaries in the North West. The Tanaiste Leo Varadkar’s promised to raise the issue of an armed support unit for Sligo with the Justice Minister. It comes as 73 year-old Tom Niland is fighting for his life after he was attacked in Skreen,

    Listen back to the main evening news, sport, farming news and obituaries for Thursday February 10th here:

    The Dail’s heard claims there were 200 homes burgled and trashed in the space of two months last year, between Donegal and north Galway. The government is being urged to respond to concerns of rural homeowners after a spate of aggravated burglaries. 73 year old Tom Niland is fighting for his life after

  The Dail has been told that the publication this week of the Terms of Reference for the forthcoming report of the Society of Chartered Surveyors in Ireland is causing serious concerns in Donegal. The SCSI’s figures will determine payments to homeowners under the Defective Blocks Scheme, but Deputy Pearse Doherty told Tanaiste Leo Varadkar

People in rural areas are being urged to become more proactive in reporting suspicious activity, given recent high-profile attacks on older people. Gardaí are said to be concerned about organised burglary gangs targetting vulnerable pensioners in their homes. A 72 year-old man was attacked during a break-in at his house in Celbridge, Co. Kildare earlier

A senior Failte Ireland official says there are challenges facing the tourism sector in Donegal, but the industry is meeting them head on. Joan Crawford, the Wild Atlantic Way Programme Manager in Donegal, believes the ‘From Survival To Recovery’ Plan launched by Failte Ireland this week will pay dividends in Donegal and the North West.

There are further calls for a new layout for what’s been described as a dangerous crossroads in Letterkenny. The Killyclug-Killylastin crossroads has been the scene of a number of crashes in recent years, including a three-car collision a few weeks ago. Donegal County Council is finalising improvement works at the junction while funding has also

Rent increases in Donegal, particularly in the north of the county, are now at crisis level for families. That’s according to Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn who has been responding to figures contained in the latest Daft.ie report which shows that the cost of rent in the county has increased 24% over the past year. Deputy

The government will announce a package of measures to tackle rising household costs later today. A Cabinet sub-committee’s meeting to consider further measures to help deal with inflation. The 100 euro energy credit is likely to be doubled, while an extension to the fuel allowance season’s also being considered. Meanwhile, Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty is

The Office of Public Works has come under fire over claims that it is snubbing Donegal County Council. It’s understood that the OPW has effectively refused to attend Council meetings to speak with local representatives over progressing a number of key flood relief projects for the Letterkenny and Milford areas. The Council is to write