Author name: highlandnews

Social housing list criteria raised at Council meeting

    Couples are being forced to pretend to be separated to stay on the social housing list. Cllr Jimmy Brogan says more flexibility is needed in the criteria for council housing, warning that people on minimum wage are being removed and effectively punished. Council officials say the Department is reviewing the Social Housing Income […]

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Durkan hits out at Executive over SEN Summer scheme debacle

The Assembly at Stormont was recalled this week to discuss a U-turn from Education Minister, Paul Givan, and Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, on the status of summer schemes for children with Special Educational Needs. An announcement last week confirmed that the schemes would not be taking place this year; however, this was quickly changed following

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Cllr calls for more council business to be conducted through Irish

Cllr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig has put forward a motion calling on Donegal County Council to promote the Irish language in its daily operations. The proposal aims to normalise Irish as a living working language within the organisation. It includes a plan to hold at least three full Council meetings each year through Irish,

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State will pay blister pack costs for vulnerable patients – MacNeill

  The State will pay the cost of ‘blister packs’ for vulnerable patients from the 1st of June. Other patients will face fees set by individual pharmacists for the service, but the practise is being encouraged as a ‘last resort’. It follows months of talks with the Irish Pharmacy Union, after changes initially planned for

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Uisce Eireann says water works in Letterkenny have been successfully completed

Uisce Éireann has confirmed that nighttime water main replacement works on Letterkenny’s Main Street have been successfully completed. The network upgrade was delivered in advance of Donegal County Council’s planned town centre regeneration project, in a bid to ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place and to avoid future disruption. ******************* Statement in full –

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Tanaiste hails EU mackerel deal saying ‘these are real jobs and real people’

  Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris TD has welcomed the agreement secured at European level on additional mackerel landings, worth an estimated €32 million to Ireland’s coastal and fishing communities. It follows discussions at an Agrifish meeting in Brussels, attended by Ministers Timmy Dooley and Martin Heydon. Donegal Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher

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Defence Forces say all Irish UNIFIL personnel are safe, and morale among them is high

  The UN Security Council is to hold an emergency session on the killing of three peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon. It comes as Israel expands it’s invasion of the region, with evacuation orders for six new villages. Minister for Defence Helen McEntee says Irish peacekeepers in the region are safe and accounted for but the

Defence Forces say all Irish UNIFIL personnel are safe, and morale among them is high Read More »

New tourism platform for Sliabh Liag launched

A new tourism platform aimed at helping visitors to Sliabh Liag has been launched. The platform, sliabhliagpeninsula.ie,  is designed to bring together accommodation booking, activities, food, and local attractions into one place. It also includes a Build Your Trip feature, which will give users the ability to craft their own itinerary. This is an attempt to

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PSO contract motion passes at Donegal County Council

The previous Donegal–Dublin PSO flight schedule has ended, with a new timetable now in place. It means the midday flight, used by many for essential same-day medical travel, is no longer available. Now, those travelling to the capital for treatment such as chemotherapy are faced with an approximately eight-hour round trip or the financial burden

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Cancer campaigner says people will protest in Dublin if flights issue isn’t resolved this week

The government is being warned if the previous Donegal Dublin flight schedule doesn’t get restored in the coming days, people will take to the streets of Dublin. The previous Donegal–Dublin PSO flight schedule has ended, with a new timetable now in place. It means the midday flight, used by many for essential same-day medical travel,

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Increase seen in the collection of commercial rates by Donegal County Council

Donegal County Council saw a 1% increase in the rates collected from businesses last year. 81% of commercial rates were collected, amounting to a net value of almost €39.5 million. In 2023 a new arrangement was made for the collection of commercial rates. Since then collections increased from 78% to 81%. The value of cash

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The Greg Hughes Show Monday 30/03/2026

  Welcome to today’s episode! We kick things off with our usual look at the morning’s newspaper headlines before diving into a packed show full of local stories, international news, and inspiring Donegal people. In Today’s Episode: Road Safety in St Johnston: Raymond McDaid returns to the show to discuss ongoing road safety concerns. Raymond

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40 admitted patients without beds at LUH as NW overcrowding remains high – INMO

567 admitted patients were awaiting beds in hospitals across the country this morning, 89 of them in the North West. INMO figures show there were 100 at University Hospital Limerick, the largest figure in the country. That was followed by Sligo with 49 and Letterkenny with 40. Letterkenny and Sligo regularly have between 15 and

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Campaign for safety measures in St Johnston highlighted again as car ends up in local garden

The campaign for new signage and speed ramps on the R236 into St Johnston has been highlighted following another collision at the spot where two young Derry men lost their lives last month. Local garage owner Raymond McDaid says he is called to clear vehicles from the ditch there at least once a month, and

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DCC to put pressure on housing minister to reconsider rejection of modular homes as a DCB alternative

Donegal County Council has agreed to draft a letter, to be signed by the Chief Executive, Director of Housing and all councillors, urging Housing Minister James Brown to reverse his decision to reject funding for modular homes in Donegal during the remediation of social housing. Cllr Brian Carr said that, given the scale of the

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Ní Murchú warns of ‘panic and confusion’ over new short term letting rules

New short-term letting rules, affecting platforms like Airbnb, are set to begin in just eight weeks – but there’s still confusion over planning permission. The scheme will assign each property a unique number for platforms like Airbnb and booking.com, aimed at improving transparency. However, Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú is calling for planning permission

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Mental Health Minister expresses concerns over CAMHS delays in letter to HSE

A quarter of children on waiting lists for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services were waiting over nine months to be seen last year. Delays in the system in Donegal have been highlighted by public representatives and concerned parents for years, and now new correspondence seen by the Irish Times reveals the Mental Health Minister

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PSNI says ‘Kids Court’ at Artigarvan PS was a success

The PSNI in Tyrone says a scheme to tackle speeding outside schools has been a major success. The Kid’s Court was set up at Artigarvan Primary School, about five kilometres outside Strabane. Motorists who were caught speeding were given the option of penalty points, or being questioned about their driving habits by the ‘Kids’ Court’,

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Labour TD warns against progressing with ‘beds in sheds’ proposal

Labour is urging the Government to rule out allowing landlords to rent out modular units in back gardens. The party’s housing spokesperson warns “beds in sheds” is not a solution to the housing crisis. Homeowners would be allowed build modular units of up to 45 square metres in their back garden, and potentially earn 14

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Go Visit Inishowen launch 2026 Visitor Map Guide

Go Visit Inishowen has re-launched their popular Visitor Map Guide. The 2026 version is being distributed to airports and visitor centres. The guide includes a list of the majority of the tourism offerings across the region including attractions, accommodation, tour guides, arts and crafts, travel and activities, as well as eating and drinking. All these

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Government making changes to allow modular homes in back gardens without planning permission

Modular homes in back gardens could boost rental supply, but experts warn they may strain utilities and infrastructure. The Government is preparing changes to allow modular units in back gardens without needing planning permission, as long as they’re under 45 square metres. Homeowners could earn up to 14 thousand euro tax-free by leasing them, however

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DUP leader says police warnings about lack of resources to tackle violence against women ‘cannot be ignored’

The leader of the DUP says police warnings about a lack of resources to tackle violence against women “cannot be ignored”. Gavin Robinson has been speaking after two recent killings and a major conviction in the North. On Friday night, people gathered for a vigil at the Guildhall in Derry, hours after a man appeared

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Primary and secondary school students ‘overloaded’ with information – Oireachtas Committee on Education

Primary and secondary school students are being “overloaded” with information, according the Oireachtas Committee on Education. It’s pushing for Ireland to move towards the Finnish model of schooling, where students have less subjects, shorter school days and more frequent breaks. Primary students here currently cover 12 subjects and spend around six hours in school. Fianna

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Multiple drivers caught travelling in excess of 100km/hr speed limit in Donegal

Multiple drivers in Donegal have been caught travelling in excess of a 100km/hr speed limit today. One motorist was clocked speeding at 152km/hr, while another was caught at 138km/hr. Letterkenny Roads Policing Unit have issued Fixed Charge Penalty Notices as a result. They are urging motorists to reduce speed and save lives.

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Car seized from driver with no licence or insurance by Ballybofey Gardaí

A vehicle has been seized by Gardaí in Ballybofey after the driver was found to have no licence or insurance. The discovery was made while they were on patrol on Friday evening. Court proceedings will now follow. Gardaí are reminding people to never drive unless you are “legally permitted to do so”.

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New community-focused website launched to support women across Donegal

A new community-focused website has been launched to support women across Donegal. Donegal Women’s Centre say the launch marks a significant step in their mission to ensure that information, support and community are always a click away. The new website provides a clear, accessible hub for women, families, community organisations, employers, health professionals, and anyone

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Investigations continuing after man’s body discovered at Dublin home

Investigations are continuing following the discovery of a man’s body in Dublin. He was found unresponsive at a home in the Cookstown area of Tallaght shortly after 1 p.m. yesterday. His remains have been taken to Dublin City Mortuary for a post-mortem exam. Gardaí say the results will determine the course of their investigation.

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Concerns of LUH’s new surgical hub becoming an overflow raised

Concerns have been raised over Letterkenny University Hospital’s new surgical hub being used as an overflow for the main hospital. Cllr Gary Doherty asked for specific safeguards at meeting of the HSE’s Regional Health Forum this week. The HSE say that the new hub will be self-contained with a physical barrier to the main hospital.

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