Author name: highlandnews

Marian Harkin, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, has heard of the extreme demand for dental hygienist course places. As it stands, only two courses are available at Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork. Donegal Senator Manus Boyle addressed the Minister in the Seanad yesterday, alongside Senator Gareth Scahill Senator Boyle suggested that

Chief Whip Mary Butler has told the Dail the Programme for Government is open and transparent. She was responding to Donegal TD and Sinn Fein whip Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn, who was calling for a special Dail debate on an interview given by Michael Lowry to a Sunday newspaper, during which he outlined the access he

Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has been elected Vice Chair of the new Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs. He says the Committee has been formed at a critical time and has a huge role to play. Deputy Gallagher says massive challenges remain with Brexit continuing to have a negative impact on the

Gardaí have warned that there has been increase in the number of reports of quads being driven by children and youths in West Donegal, in recent months. They say in a number of incidents, the quads are being driven in an erratic and dangerous manner. Parents particularly, are being urged to never allow a child

Gardaí in Donegal have described as worrying the fact that 18 people have been arrested in the county over the past week for driving under the influence. 13 motorists were arrested for drink driving and 5 for drug driving. Garda Shaun Sweeney says, despite repeated appeals to never drive while under the influence, the message

Carndonagh Day Care Centre has officially reopened today. There has been a lengthy campaign to reopen the facility following its closure during the pandemic. The centre was reopened on a trial basis, providing services for older people two days a week. Frank Morrisson, Head of Older Person Services with the HSE confirmed on today’s Nine

The Tanaiste admits children are waiting too long for an assessment of needs. 15 thousand children are currently waiting over six months for an assessment. That figure could rise to 25 thousand by the end of the year according to the HSE. Autism campaigner Cara Darmody is beginning a 50 hour protest outside the Dail

A Letterkenny Councillor says the number of vacant houses in Letterkenny is unacceptable when families in the town are receiving eviction notices. Cllr Tomas Sean Devine says Donegal County Council must write to the Department of Housing for emergency funding to purchase such homes to relieve the housing pressures faced locally. He says housing demand

The official opening of the new EY office in the Ebrington Plaza in Derry will take place later this morning. The company is one of the ‘big four’ accounting firms across the world. The opening ceremony was attended by Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. The EY Northern Ireland

The Minister for Rural and Community Development has come under fire for putting Inishowen on the long finger concerning accessing the CLAR programme. The initiative is a targeted investment programme for rural areas that aims to provide funding for small infrastructural projects in areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation. The Inishowen Municipal District

Britain’s agreed on what’s being described as a ‘landmark’ deal with the EU. The two sides announced details of the agreement at the first summit of its kind in London since Brexit. It will see European fishing access to UK waters for another 12 years, while barriers to food and drink trade are being reduced.

A South West Donegal councillor says it’s disheartening after a group of volunteers found a large amount of rubbish dumped in forestry between Ardaghey and Ardara at the weekend. Cllr Michael Boyle is part of a group that has been carrying out an annual clean-up on the 15 km stretch for the past number of

Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien has agreed to meet with senior officials from City of Derry Airport in June to discuss the restoration of a Derry to Dublin air service. Confirmation of the meeting cam following a meeting between Minister O’Brien and Junior Sports Minister Charlie McConalogue. Minister McConalogue says Department of Transport officials have commenced

The Education Minister has promised to look into the need for a new building for Scoil Mhuire in Milford. Minister Helen McEntee was responding to Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn in the Dail. He told the Minister a new school is desperately needed, as the current building is in a serious state of deterioration with children

The European Union and the UK are expected to announce a deal today. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is hosting EU leaders at a summit London, as part of efforts to “reset” relations. An agreement is reportedly granting the UK access to a major defence fund – while a “reciprocal” visa programme for people aged

There’s serious concern over the failure of Sláintecare to tackle the future of nursing home care. Nursing Homes Ireland is warning of disappearing promises and no priority for nursing homes in health policy. It says the plan published last week offers no clear vision for long-term residential care. Nursing Homes Ireland Chief Executive, Tadhg Daly

A West Donegal councillor has suggested having farmers on standby in the case of gorse fires to help the fire services. It’s after a fire broke out at Killahoey beach in Dunfanaghy on Saturday afternoon. Local farmers assisted fire services by carrying water in slurry tanks. Cllr Michael McClafferty says the move would be beneficial

  A local councillor is calling for clarity on what plans are being prepared for Magheraroarty. Last year, Donegal County Council agreed to install a modular toilet facility and look at other works that could be done in the area. When questioned about progress on the issue, officials told Cllr Dennis McGee, who is from

48,000 people claiming the Jobseeker’s Allowance have been doing so for a year or more. A quarter of them are in Dublin, according to figures released to the chair of the Oireachtas Social Protection Committee, John Paul O’Shea. Cork has the next highest figure, followed by Donegal, Galway and Louth. The Fine Gael TD says