Author name: highlandnews

The Tánaiste has claimed that today is the beginning of the end of the Covid pandemic. As of this morning there’s no requirement for social distancing, restrictions on hospitality have lifted and there are no caps on gatherings in the home. Live events can go ahead at full capacity, with Minister Catherine Martin confirming there […]

A Donegal Deputy is calling for the compulsory purchase of the site for the new National Maternity Hospital site as soon as possible. There are questions as to why the State would invest €800 million of public money into the new hospital and not establish ownership. Despite a motion being brought forward to the Dail

Residential property prices in Donegal rose by 12% last year, one of the higher rises in the country according to an analysis carried out by the Irish Independent. The paper says prices will continue to rise in 2022, particularly in Letterkenny as LYIT attains technological university status. However, according to Residential Property Editor Mark Keenan,

A South Donegal Deputy is pushing for guarantees from government that the Rescue 118 Search and Rescue helicopter will continue to be based at Sligo Airport. Currently there are four SAR bases, Sligo, Shannon, Waterford and Dublin, but a new pre-tender document published by the Government recently states that it requires “at least three bases”

“There is a lot to do, but today is a good day” The words of Taoiseach Michael Martin this evening as he confirmed the lifting of most restrictions from 6am tomorrow morning. The requirement for social distancing will be scrapped along with all restrictions on the hospitality sector. Attendance caps at indoor and outdoor events

The Housing Executive is being urged to come up with a plan for the future of the former Travellers site on Derry’s Letterkenny Road. Foyle MLA Padraig Delargy says the site has been lying derelict for a number of years, and it’s become a scar on one of the main arterial routes into the city.

The vast majority of Covid restrictions will end at 6am tomorrow morning under plans gone to the Cabinet this afternoon. Taoiseach Michael Martin is expected to confirm at 6 o’clock this evening that the curfew on hospitality will be scrapped, capacity limits at live events and sports fixtures will end, and social distancing will non

A site has been identified for the provision of a new bottle bank in Carndonagh. While there is a recycling centre in the town, it does not operate on a 23 hour a day basis, and there are no facilities for recycling bottles, cans and other materials outside of opening hours. Cllr Albert Doherty has

  It’s widely anticipated that Culdaff businessman, Johnny McGuinness will replace his late father Bernard as Councillor for the North Inishowen area. Mr McGuinness has already been nominated by the Culdaff and Malin Fine Gael branches, and he is expected to be ratified by the party at a virtual convention to be held on Thursday

  A Donegal Deputy is calling for flooding mitigation measures planned for Donegal Town to be urgently progressed. The area is susceptible to numerous types of flooding over the years with many businesses and residents frequently impacted. A major flood relief scheme for the town has been identified with the project currently at preliminary stage.

  There are fears that it could be late summer before there’s any significant progress on the Mica Redress Scheme. The news will come as a hammer blow to the many affected homeowners who had been expecting the scheme to get off the ground in the coming weeks. Cllr Martin McDermott attended yesterday’s meeting with

The phased easing of restrictions in Northern Ireland begins at midday today. The requirement for table service in hospitality will be removed, and the cap of six per table will be scrapped. Any number of households can meet indoors, and nightclubs can reopen next Wednesday. Donegal man Declan Jordan runs Rosie Joe’s bar and nightclub

  Andrew McGinley is suing the HSE, St Patrick’s Hospital in Dublin and a consultant psychiatrist over the care of his wife. Deirdre Morley killed their three children in Co Dublin two years ago, but was found not guilty of their murder by reason of insanity. Mr McGinley lodged the High Court action on Wednesday

An Inishowen Councillor is urging the Education Minister to instruct her department to begin discussions with the owners of the land earmarked for the Three School Campus in Buncrana. The site was identified last year, with the department saying it would proceed by way of a Compulsory Purchase Order. In December, a formal Notice to

The Irish Second Level Students Union is describing a meeting with the Education Minister as a ‘really positive discussion.’ Norma Foley met stakeholders last night, on planning the format for this year’s Leaving Cert – no decision was made, with further talks in the coming days. The Irish Second Level Students Union is calling for

The Dail has been told that failings in the regulation of the construction sector led to the Mica disaster in Donegal and elsewhere, and also the the Pyrite crisis in the east of the country. Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn was speaking during a debate on the proposed Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill. Deputy MacLochlainn

The Brandon Report has been discussed in the Dail during Topical Issues, with the recent publication of inspection reports by HIQA one of the issues raised. Minister of State Anne Rabbitte said while the HSE had published the executive summary of the Brandon Report in December, it did so on the last day the Dail

Nightclubs will reopen in Northern Ireland next Wednesday. The Stormont Executive has also agreed dancing and indoor standing events can resume on that date. There will also be no need for vaccine passports in bars, restaurants and hotels – but they will still be needed in nightclubs. Other restrictions will ease tomorrow at 12 noon,

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has told the Dail that updated Mica Redress legislation will be published before Easter. The issue was raised by Deputy Thomas Pringle, who said the ongoing delays are “completely unacceptable”. He called for the legislation to be published immediately, and also for the scrapping of the controversial sliding scale…………

The curfew on the hospitality sector could be eased as early as next week under plans being considered by NPHET. Health officials are meeting to give the go ahead to a phased easing of restrictions over the next few weeks. Recommendations will go to Government this evening ahead of a Cabinet meeting tomorrow. Noel Cunningham

  People are being further encouraged to take part in the first ever Outdoor Recreation Strategy for Donegal. The Strategy launched this week aims to gather the public views by a series of online consultation workshops. It’ll examine how outdoor recreation can be sustainably developed and managed over the next 5 years, while preserving the

  GPs, Gardai and retail workers are calling for the pandemic bonus to be extended to them. The scheme will cover frontline healthcare workers with a one thousand euro payment to recognise their efforts. The government says it would be hard to know where to draw the line if more workers are eligible. Brendan O’Connor,

  Work on a new pathway leading to the Great Fanad Arch is nearing completion ahead of the summer period. The project is being carried out by Donegal County Council and the pathway follows an alternative route to reach the shoreline at the Arch. Once finished, it’s anticipated that the new walkway will have huge

Saolta is under pressure to find an urgent solution to fill an upcoming vacancy in at the Breast Clinic at Letterkenny University Hospital. Serious concern has been raised that when the current consultant radiologist retires in the coming weeks, some of the services at the clinic could be moved to Galway. It’s understood that a

  The Stormont Executive meets later to consider lifting restrictions in Northern Ireland. Easing measures on hospitality, including reopening nightclubs will be looked at. While the possible removal of Covid certs will also be considered – a measure that’s backed by the DUP. Manager of the Newtown Inn in Limavady in Derry, Thomas Logue, says

  The Dail has heard calls for a debate on the publication of the Brandon report. The report, involves over 100 cases of abuse perpetrated on intellectually disabled adults in Ard Greine and the Sean O’Hare Unit in Stranorlar. On Monday Attorney General, Paul Gallagher advised against the full publication of the report due to

  Fully-remote job vacancies have plateaued, according to IrishJobs.ie. The 4% year-on-year growth contrasts with the 86% increase in job vacancies generally. IrishJobs.ie say that the plateau may reflect employers’ value of traditional office environments. General Manager Orla Moran believes businesses are yet to gauge the overall impact of staff working from home:

  The death of Ashing Murphy has burrowed it’s way into the marrow of our bones. That’s according to South Donegal Deputy Marian Harkin who was speaking in the Dail last evening during statements on violence against women. Justice Minister Helen McEntee has announced that a new bill to create criminal offences around stalking will

  A 24 hour work stoppage by Fórsa members at the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority continues to affect operations at Killybegs harbour this morning. Union members commenced a 24 hour work stoppage at midnight in response to what Fórsa says is a decision by SFPA management to implement and impose 47 recommendations from an independent

The Justice Minister has said a new bill to create new criminal offences around stalking will be published by Easter. Helen McEntee told the Dáil it will update the law to include offences around impersonating someone and bringing all modern forms of communication under stalking laws. The Dáil has been hearing statements on violence against