Author name: oisinkelly

The latest round of HIQA reports includes two inspections into Donegal care facilities, at Lifford Community Hospital and Buncrana Community Hospital. While Buncrana Community Hospital was found to be compliant or substantially compliant in all areas of inspection, a series of non-compliances were reported at Lifford Community Hospital, including the failure not to carry out

A book of condolences has opened in Derry in memory of Pat Hume. It was unveiled by the Mayor of Derry Alderman Graham Warke in the Guildhall, with a facility available to siogn the book online. Meanwhile, the Bishop of Derry, Donal McKeown, has also been paying tribute, saying Pat Hume exemplified the history of

Restricted visiting in Residential Long Term Care facilities in Inishowen is being eased on a phased basis. Restrictions had been implemented due to the ongoing high levels of COVID-19 in the peninsula, and the potential high risk to residents, service users and staff. The HSE says decisions regarding visiting levels in facilities will continue to

Minister Charlie McConalogue has defended the Government’s new “Housing For All” policy, that was launched yesterday. The programme promises that 330,000 homes will be built between now and 2030 – but has received widespread criticism from opposition parties who claim that the commitment to only allocate around a third of the houses built to social

The Green Party’s Donegal representative has criticised a recent proposal from former Minister for Transport Shane Ross, that suggested that those under 30 should be banned from driving at night, in order to combat the number of fatalities on the country’s roads. Michael White says that the only good thing about Ross’s proposal, is that

  The leader of the SDLP has described Pat Hume as a gracious woman, who was a rock of strength for the people of Derry. Pat, who was married to Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume, passed away yesterday at the age of 83. The First and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland have also

New figures have shown that Ireland’s rate of Covid-19 is now the highest in the European Union. Ireland’s 14-day incidence rate of the virus is currently 521 cases per 100,000 people, and yesterday the Department of Health confirmed a further 1,751 new cases – with 343 patients currently in hospital with the virus, and 59

The Government has come under fire over it’s new ‘Housing for All’ policy, which was announced yesterday. It promises to deliver a total of 330,000 thousand homes – but has been criticised for only including 10 thousand social homes every year to 2030, which will make up less than a third of the total homes

Over 61,000 students will receive their Leaving Cert Results later this morning. The class of 2021 had the opportunity of receiving accredited grades, sitting the exam or both. Provisional results will be available from 10am this morning at https://www.examinations.ie/. Education Minister Norma Foley says this year’s students have missed so much in class education due to

The Government has officially unveiled its Housing For All plan, which promises to deliver 300 thousand homes by 2030. 20 billion euro will be spent implementing the first 5 years of the plan. It will see the introduction of the shared equity scheme and will eliminate penalties associated with the fair deal scheme. But, it

A Derry City and Strabane District Councillor is calling on a crackdown on the illegal sale of fireworks, following a number of incidents in Creggan as well as other parts of Derry City. Sinn Féin’s Emma McGinley says that in one particular recent incident, a firework was thrown into a shop which subsequently then hit

The Government remains under pressure over the Katherine Zappone controversy. The issue is back in the spotlight after the Foreign Affairs Minister said he deleted his text messages about the defunct UN appointment as he’s been hacked before. While the Tanaiste has published his text exchanges and apologised for not doing it sooner after journalists

An Afghan man living in Derry fears his sister has been abducted from Kabul. Muhammad Kharotai moved to the city in 2011 – after his father was murdered by the Taliban. He says police told him about his sister yesterday. Foyle MP Colum Eastwood is appealing for those in power to help:

Serious concerns have been raised over the future of the ambulance base in Lifford. The ambulance base has been temporarily relocated to Stranorlar to facilitate ongoing works at Lifford Hospital. However, the fear is that the National Ambulance Service will make the move permanent. Cathaoirleach of the Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District and member of the

Gardai believe a fire at a house in Ramelton earlier this week was started maliciously. The property at Drumherrive was extensively damaged by the blaze which is believed to have been started shortly after 10 o’clock on Tuesday night. Investigations are ongoing. Detective Inspector Pat O’Donnell is continuing to appeal to anyone with information to

The Director of Public Health in the North West says anti-vaccine campaigns may be responsible for a low covid vaccine uptake in Donegal. The Irish Independent yesterday revealed that Donegal has the second lowest vaccine uptake in the country at 83%, almost 10% below the national average. Dr Anthony Breslin told today’s Nine til Noon

The Cross Border Workers’ Coalition says if the government is committed to the “blended working” model proposed by Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, then the double taxation faced by workers living in the Republic but working in the North must be addressed. They say the government is actively encouraging a mix of office and home working, but

The Health Minister has announced people with weakened immune systems will be offered an additional dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee says people with compromised immune systems should get an additional dose of an mRNA jab, regardless of what vaccine they originally received. The third dose will be offered to qualifying

The Government is due to announce a new multi-billion euro housing plan later today. The ‘Housing for All’ programme will replace ‘Rebuilding Ireland’ which was launched back in 2016. It’s reported the new strategy will see local authorities given greater ability to purchase land for social and affordable housing. Dr Lorcan Sirr, Senior Lecturer in

157 people were hospitalised after being stabbed with a knife last year. According to freedom of information figures, that includes 136 males and 21 females. Nearly 500 people needed hospital care as a result of knife-assaults between 2018 and 2020. Sinn Féin’s justice spokesperson and South Donegal Deputy, Martin Kenny, says stabbings are a huge