Author name: highlandnews

A campaign has been launched today seeking investment to tackle a serious shortage of nurse specialists in neurology in Sligo University Hospital. The Neurological Alliance of Ireland says increasing the number of nurse specialists in neurology will reduce waiting lists, free up hospital resources and deliver real improvements for neurology patients. The NAI says Sligo

There are calls for a dedicated planning team for Letterkenny. It’s thought the town has suffered since the town council was abolished some years ago. Plans are already afoot for Letterkenny to become a city by 2040. Cllr Gerry McMonagle say if the Council is serious about developing the town, then it would be a

Students will sit the traditional Leaving Cert this summer – with greater choice than usual. Education Minister Norma Foley will bring this proposal to cabinet this morning. Students had been calling for a combination of written exams and accredited grades – similar to the past two years. Solidarity TD Mick Barry believes the traditional leaving

A new national digital strategy will be brought to cabinet today. The strategy, “Harnessing Digital”, aims to give all Irish households and businesses access to a Gigabit network by 2028, and to ensure all populated areas of Ireland are covered by 5G network by 2030. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Recovery and Investment hopes the

  The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council has described a series of adjournments at the latest sitting of the Council as unfortunate. The monthly meeting Donegal County Council has been suspended until next Monday. It follows the taking of a recorded vote which saw Councillor Frank McBrearty suspended from all Council Municipal District and Committee

It’s proposed an immediate 10 year moratorium on further military exercises taking place in Irish waters be introduced. It’s after Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney confirmed over the weekend that Russia is moving its drills outside of Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The Irish South and West Fishermen’s Producers Organisation and the Irish Fish Processors and

The Agriculture Minister says legislation to appoint a food regulator will be introduced before the end of March. Farmers have been calling for government to move quickly on the appointment, with many unhappy at how costs and profits are shared along the food supply chain. Protests against the sale of low-cost chicken took place outside

The Vice President of the GRA says the use of drugs dogs in Donegal would greatly assist in cracking down on the circulation of drugs. The benefits of using a drug dog was highlighted after €3.1m worth of cocaine was uncovered at Dublin Port over the weekend. There are currently no drugs dogs available to

There have been calls to extend the Castlefin to Carrigans greenway, in order to connect it with Derry city. The Castlefin-Carrigans greenway was granted funding for construction in 2020, and local Cllr Paul Canning believes some of that funding should be used to extend the greenway to the border into Northern Ireland just outside Carrigans.

There’s further calls for a Hybrid Leaving Cert to be rolled out for students this year. Councillor Micheàl Naughton is taking a motion to Council today requesting that the local authority engage with Education Minister Norma Foley in support for a hybrid leaving cert for the class of 2022. He believes a hybrid option needs

The commencement of long-awaited works to install speed ramps in Manorcunningham has been welcomed. There’s been numerous calls for such traffic calming measures to be installed to curb the speed at which motorists travel through the village. Councillor Donal Coyle says the ramps will ensure safety for all residents:

It’s anticipated that Mica homeowners will be reimbursed for costs incurred by testing for the presence of Mica in the coming weeks. The Mica Action Group met with Donegal County Council and Housing Department officials last week and it was confirmed that regulations to release the funding will be approved by mid-February and will then

The issue of derelict housing in County Donegal is one of the topics up for discussion at today’s meeting of Donegal County Council. A motion being brought forward by Inishowen Councillor Albert Doherty is calling on the council to make every effort to identify and refurbish derelict buildings and houses in a bid to create

Farmers will meet Lidl tomorrow to discuss the below-cost selling of food. The Irish Farmers Association says its members are angry over the supermarket offering a 1.9kg chicken for 3 euro 49, which it describes as ‘totally unsustainable’. Following farmers protests in Cavan and Monaghan last week, they want the cost pressures they’re under recognised.

Employers are being urged to adopt a cautious approach to the return to the workplace under new government advise published today. The latest guidance for businesses recommends a gradual process, consultation with unions and supports for nervous staff. It’s also urging companies to continue to have infection prevention controls in place. Meanwhile there are calls

A Donegal Councillor has raised issues with Donegal County Council’s planning process, after long-awaited funding for a bridge in Bunbeg was granted last week. Michael Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig says that while it’s great news that €130,000 has been granted for the works – he has questioned why so much money is required for the

Roughly 44,000 people won’t be able to travel overseas from next week under new EU travel rules which are set to take effect from the 1st of Feburary. Anyone who has not received a booster dose of a Covid-19 vaccine will see their EU covid cert for travel expire after 9 months. The Sunday Times

The Taoiseach says there should be no amnesties for killings that took place during the Troubles. Speaking at a memorial event to mark the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, Micheal Martin said the law must apply equally to everyone. Today marks 50 years since 14 peaceful protesters were killed by British soldiers in Derry in 1972,

The British Foreign Secretary’s refused to rule out triggering Article 16 if there’s no progress on Brexit talks with the EU. Liz Truss says there’s a “deal to be done” on rules governing trade in Northern Ireland, and hopes there’ll be “significant progress” in negotiations regarding the Northern Ireland Protocol by the end of next

A moment’s silence has been held today in Derry, as part of a ceremony remembering the victims of Bloody Sunday on its 50th anniversary. British soldiers opened fire on a civil rights march in city, killing 14 unarmed protesters. The victims’ names were read out as part of the memorial service, which also saw the

Sinn Fein’s Justice spokesperson says that Bloody Sunday was “one of the most seismic events in world history”. Those comments come as events to mark the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday are taking place in Derry across this weekend, to commemorate the 13 people that were shot dead by British soldiers at a civil rights

  Events to mark the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday are taking place in Derry this weekend. The former leader of Britain’s Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, will give a lecture there today – and Taoiseach Micheál Martin will attend an event tomorrow morning. It’s to commemorate 13 people being shot dead by British soldiers at

A vaccines expert believes the country’s ‘in a very good place’ regarding Covid-19. UCC Professor Liam Fanning is hopeful the numbers will decrease even further in March by the time we get to St. Patrick’s Day. Yesterday 9,591 new Covid cases were recorded, as the number of people in intensive care has dropped to 69

The Donegal Centre for Independent Living has launched a strategic plan for the next three years. The launch event was told the centre remains focused on supporting and empowering people with disabilities in Donegal to actively participate as equal citizens in society. Among the priorities in the plan are an extension to the existing building,