Author name: highlandnews

Local authorities met just 18% of their targets for own-build social housing accommodation between 2022 and 2024, with Donegal being the worst performing in Ireland. The figures come as Housing Minister James Browne will tell Cabinet this morning of plans for a new league table to track social housing delivery by local councils. Across the

A West Tyrone MLA is urging everyone to work together to ensure the development of the A5 goes ahead. Declan McAleer says joint-up thinking is needed to overcome the latest stumbling block in the delivery of the long-awaited infrastructure project. Last week, the High Court ruled in favour of a legal challenge brought against the

A County Donegal woman’s been reliving the moment she performed on stage with Alanis Morissette in front of thousands of fans. Gráinne Gillespie was chosen from the crowd to join the Canadian-American star on stage at Malahide Castle in Dublin last night. She sang a verse and chorus of the classic song ‘ Ironic’. Grainne

Councillor Paul Canning has been elected as the new Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council. He takes over the role from Councillor Niamh Kennedy. Councillor Canning was proposed as the new Cathaoirleach by Councillor Martin McDermott and seconded by Councillor Fionán Bradley. Tributes were paid to the outgoing Cathaoirleach for the work she carried out,  and

  Plans by government to reverse the reduction in student fees are being criticised. They were cut by €1,000 last year, but Higher Education Minister James Lawless has indicated he plans to reverse that move, saying the measure was only brought in as a specific response to the cost of living crisis. On today’s Nine til

Regulations have been signed by the Justice Minister this morning paving the way for the formation of Local Community Safety Partnerships in each council area. Minister Jim O’Callaghan says the Safety Partnerships will include a broader range of members than the Joint Policing Committees they’re replacing, with mandatory members will include local councillors, local authority

The number of long-term beds in care homes will need to increase by at least 61 per cent by 2040. The latest ESRI report projects more than 53 thousand beds will be needed in 15 years time to cope with an aging population. One in eight beds in residential care homes are used for short-term

There have been calls for theatre schedules to be looked at in Letterkenny University Hospital. Speaking at a Regional Health Forum meeting last week, Cllr Ciaran Brogan said theatre hours should be extended into weekends to make space. Cllr Brogan says medical professionals want more time in the theatre and people in Donegal don’t want

Local medical professionals campaigning for a surgical hub at Letterkenny University Hospital have expressed serious concern following confirmation from Minister Marian Harkin that her lobbying efforts secured the hub for Sligo. On Friday, Minister Harkin confirmed with Greg Hughes on the Nine til Noon Show that the decision formed part of her negotiations during the

UK Police are reviewing footage from Kneecap and Bob Vylan’s performances at Glastonbury. It’s after new outrage over comments they made about the conflict in Gaza at the festival yesterday. The Israeli embassy says it’s ‘deeply disturbed’ at what it called ‘inflammatory and hateful rhetoric’. In a statement, Glastonbury bosses added that they were ‘appalled’

Details of this years MacGill Summer School have been released. The event takes place in Glenties from the 17th to the 19th of July, exploring the theme ‘A Fractured World’. Announcing this year’s theme, the school’s organisers say the key question is with a potential trade war with the U.S. on the horizon, and conflict around

There were clashes in the Dail this week after it emerged that Culture Minister Patrick O’Donovan instituted a ‘first-come, first-served’ approach to funding under the Grassroots Music Venue Scheme, without applicants being made aware of it. Deputy Pearse Doherty told the Dail that the one Donegal applicant, The Social in Gweedore ran over 80 eligible

  On today’s Nine til Noon Show, Junior Minister Marian Harkin confirmed that the location of a surgical hub in Sligo was an element of the post-election negotiations that she was involved in. She was one of a group of Independents led by Michael Lowry, and told Greg Hughes that one of the items included

South Donegal, Sligo /Leitrim TD Marian Harkin has revealed she was part of a group of independents that pushed for Sligo University Hospital to be used as the main surgical hub. Speaking to Greg Hughes on the Nine til Noon Show this morning, Minister Harkin says in the HSE’s business plan it was always described

Letterkenny University Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry achieved a compliance rate of just under 67% during inspections last according to the Mental Health Commission’s Annual Report for 2024. There were 14 non-compliances identified, including issues with the suitability of the premises, risk management, and individualised care planning. Professor Jim Lucey is the Inspector of Mental Health

The contract for the commencement of construction of a new library and an IT and education building at ATU’s Letterkenny campus has been signed. The Letterkenny project, which will cost in the region of €25 million, is one five new buildings across multiple campuses which are being delivered by Public Private Partnership. The new build

Donegal County Council has launched Phase Two of Buncrana’s Night-Time Economy Grant Scheme. After the first round of funding in October of last year, the scheme is inviting businesses, community groups, artists, musicians, performers and individuals to bring fresh ideas forward for Buncrana’s night-time offering, one of nine towns across the country where the model