Author name: oisinkelly

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

The funeral mass of Cllr Bernard McGuinness has heard that the most important things to him were family of friends. The congregation was told of how he found peace and comfort in the garden. Representatives of Donegal County Council and fellow Councillors were in attendance along with Captain Myles Gallagher representing the Tanaiste. Cllr McGuinness,

A Strabane Councillor has condemned the actions of those responsible for setting a car on fire in the town last night. The car was parked adjacent to the Asda roundabout in the town and is believed to have been set on fire shortly after 10:30pm last night. This is the second such incident in the

Donegal County Council has written to Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien to seek a special allocation for Emergency Housing provision, particularly in rural areas of the county. The issue was raised at a meeting by Cllr John Sheamais O’Fearraigh, but subsequent council meetings were cancelled, and the issue hasn’t been discussed again by members. Cllr O’Fearraigh

A Donegal wedding band is looking forward to taking to the stage again following yesterday’s announcement that live music can return at weddings. Weddings are still only allowed a maximum of 100 guests, but dancing is no longer banned. Colm Cavanagh of The Cavanagh Bros Band says it’s been a long 18 months. But he