Author name: highlandnews

A South Donegal Deputy is calling on the Department of Finance to investigate whether cars are being “unjustly seized” by customs for non-payment of VRT. Deputy Marian Harkin believes there is a discrepancy between the number of warnings issued compared to the number of vehicles impounded. Currently, customs officers have the power to seize a

Investigations are underway into a spate of burglaries in Lifford and Inishowen over the weekend. A property in Lifford was broken into on Friday night while on Saturday night, a property in Newtowncunningham and Bridgend was targeted along with two houses in Burt. Gardai say they are following a line of inquiry and at this

The Foreign Affairs Minister says he understands calls for him to expel the Russian Ambassador from Ireland. There have been demands for Yuri Filatov to be expelled after he made repeated denials that Russia was poised to invade Ukraine. A petition was initiated by members of the Fianna Fail parliamentary party demanding that the Russian

The Housing Minister is due to receive the SCSI’s construction rates proposal today which will determine rebuild costs for Mica homeowners. Details of the proposal is expected to be made public today. The body was requested to devise a new costing model after much backlash from the controversial sliding scale element that was included in

An East Donegal cycling group has called for major safety improvements to be made on the Ballybofey to Donegal Town road. Over the weekend Finn Wheeler Cycling Club launched a campaign for a hard shoulder to be added to a 750 metre stretch, known as McGrory’s Brae. This campaign was initiated after a near fatal

The Tanaiste says today marks another milestone in our pathway out of the pandemic. People no longer have to wear facemasks in shops, public transport or in schools. Leo Varadkar says it’s especially significant for anyone working in a customer facing role. Retail Ireland Director, Arnold Dillon says the lifting of the facemask requirement in

Concerns have been raised regarding the designation of up to 40 acres within Letterkenny town as wetlands and floodplains, under a prospective new town plan. The designation would prevent building on lands between the Port Road and the Neil T. Blaney Road – despite numerous developments taking place in that area in recent years. Councillor

  Ireland’s expected to expel some but not all Russian diplomats as part of the next round of EU sanctions against Russia. EU Foreign Affairs Ministers are meeting this evening to discuss harsher measures. Simon Coveney says Ireland plans to ban all Russian aircraft from Irish airspace, and will encourage other EU countries to do

There was a three-fold increase in confirmed cases of flu last week. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre says 113 were recorded – compared to only 37 the previous week. 17 percent of last week’s cases were among hospital inpatients, and their median age was 65. Donegal GP Ciarán Ó Fearraigh says the increase in cases

The country’s newest airline is up and running in County Donegal this morning. Emerald Airlines is starting flights today between Donegal and Dublin airports, with a contract for the route that will last for the next three years. Junior Transport Minister Hildegarde Naughton says Emerald Airlines will be providing important options for passengers:

An extensive list of Mica homeowners’ questions has been sent to Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien. The 13 page document raises questions on issues which the Mica Action Group believe have not yet been addressed or require greater clarity, including; the sliding scale element, the inclusion of foundations in the scheme, a Defective Concrete Block Scheme

A Donegal Deputy claims the Finance Minister’s inaction despite repeated warnings has excluded citizens with disabilities from financial support. Deputy Pearse Doherty has criticised the Minister for ignoring repeated warnings from the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal that citizens with severe and permanent disabilities were being unfairly excluded from a financial support scheme that

A Donegal County Councillor is confident that the money allocated to Newtowncunningham today will lead to big things for the village. €100,000 has been allocated to Newtowncunningham under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, with the intended project providing for a dedicated outdoor space for young people. However some of the money will also be

A big crowd demonstrated at the PSNI headquarters in East Belfast earlier as the mother of Noah Donohoe made fresh calls for more information on files relating to his death. The 14-year-old was found dead in a storm drain in North Belfast in June 2020 – 6 days after he went missing. Assistant Chief Constable

  The Bishop of Raphoe has described the violence in Ukraine as diabolical. It’s understood Russian troops have now reached the streets of Kyiv as civilians are warned to stay at home. Missile strikes have continued since the early hours of this morning and gunfire can be heard in the governmental district. A special rosary

  A message in a bottle launched into the Atlantic 13 years ago has made it all the way to Donegal. Mairead Gallagher and her friend made the discovery while walking on Magheraroarty beach this morning. The pair stumbled upon a plastic bottle and upon closer examination discovered a handwritten note inside it. It’s the

  It’s been claimed that Letterkenny University Hospital is the worst funded hospital in Ireland. It was revealed this week that more than 1,200 diabetic patients are currently awaiting review appointments at the hospital. Paul Gillespie from Donegal Diabetes Association believes that one of the main problems is mismanagement by the HSE. He says Sligo

  Almost €400,000 has been allocated to Donegal under the latest round of the Town and village renewal Scheme. Churchill, Moville and Newtowncunnigham are all set to benefit while money has also been allocated to a County-wide project to develop a Relocation Marketing Campaign. The funding will go towards enhancing various amenities in the villages

  The Equality Minister says the Government’s working to deliver its commitment to end Direct Provision by the end of 2024. Roderic O’Gorman says they’re in the process of purchasing a significant number of units of housing across the country. He says over the course of this year people who are currently in direct provision

Hospital waiting lists will be cut by almost 20 per cent by the end of the year under new government targets. It’s expected around 1.5 million people will be added to waiting lists this year because of Covid backlogs. The new 350 million euro plan aims to ensure 1.7 million people are treated and removed

  It’s hoped that sporting facilities in Strabane will be upgraded in the near future. A motion was passed at the latest sitting of Derry City and Strabane District Council calling for floodlights to be installed at the Arena Pitch in Melvin Sport Complex and for the transfer of the land at Lisnafin playing pitches

The Chair of Donegal County Council’s Mica Redress Committee has warned that homeowners cannot be held to ransom. A special council meeting was held yesterday to discuss the issue which is affecting thousands of people in Donegal. The CEO of Donegal County Council, John McLaughlin confirmed that just 5 affected properties have so far been

  The Dail has heard that high house prices in Donegal and a failure by Government to address derelict and vacant properties is forcing people into homelessness and to flee the county. That’s according to Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn who was speaking last evening during statements on the Town Centre First Policy. He says it’s

  The CEO of Donegal County Council has confirmed that the acquisition of five Mica affected properties in Buncrana is being reviewed by an external company. At yesterday’s special meeting of Donegal County Council it was agreed that the context for the decision to purchase the five homes in An Crannla Estate would be made

  An ambitious plan to radically reduce hospital waiting lists will be launched this morning. The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan will be unveiled by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and senior health officials. Over 700,000 people are waiting for an inpatient or outpatient procedure – with over 166,000 waiting over 18 months. Stephen McMahon, from

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue has described Mica as an issue of our lifetime and a daily trauma for affected families. He was present at a special Mica meeting of Donegal County Council today. It’s been confirmed that regulations concerning engineering fees and emergency works is being signed today. Minister McConalogue says Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien

A marine biologist with the Irish Whale and Dolphin has expressed concern after parts of the jaw and teeth were removed from the bodies of two sperm whales which washed up on beaches in Donegal last week. One of the female whales washed up in Maghery, the other in Malin Head. Sean O’Callaghan says souvenir

The Housing Minister has confirmed that some of the regulations contained in the enhanced Mica Redress Scheme will be signed this evening. The CEO of Donegal County Council, John McLaughlin told a special meeting this afternoon that Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien gave assurances at a housing summit held in Dublin yesterday that the regulations around

The local area plan for Buncrana has been given the go ahead to progress further. The plan is to move forward in tandem with Bundoran and the Twin Towns. Cllr Rena Donaghey says it’ll mean the plan will be fast tracked by a year paving the way for lands to be zoned for housing construction.