Author name: highlandnews

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

Tributes have been paid to the Fire Service after a fire at Killahoey beach in Dunfanaghy was brought under control this afternoon. Fire brigade units from Falcarragh and Letterkenny were helped by local farmers. It’s believed the fire may have started from a campfire. Cllr Michael McClafferty says if the fire had happened during the

The Assembly has been told the future of the Echo Echo Theatre Company is in doubt following the withdrawal of funding. The company, which is based on the city’s walls, has not received anything from the Arts Council’s latest Annual Funding Programme. Calling for funding to be restored, Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin urged Minister Gordon

There are further calls for Gardai to be stationed full-time in rural villages in Donegal. Councillor Pauric McGarvey says an increase in thefts and anti-social behaviour in rural parts of the county warrants additional resources being deployed. With a new policing model set to be rolled out in Donegal over the coming months, he says

Midlands North West MEP Ciaran Mullooly says the European Commission’s decision to streamline the inspection process  under the Common Agriculture Policy payments is significant, and addresses many of the concerns that farmers had been expressing about the process. In particular, he says farmers whose total CAP payment is €2,500 or less will now be exempt

Another Status Orange Fire Danger Notice for gorse, heather, dried grasses, and other vegetation has been issued for County Donegal, with the warning effective until midday on this coming Monday, May 19th. Landowners and the public are being urged to take all necessary precautions to prevent wildfires, and to report any unattended fires without delay.