Author name: oisinkelly

A Donegal Deputy claims schools who started book rental schemes are now being punished by the Government for taking the initiative in doing so. Fianna Fail says the Education Department’s new school book rental scheme will not be available to those schools that have established their own schemes. The party’s Education Spokesperson Charlie McConalogue says […]

A Police Ombudsman investigation has found failings on behalf of the PSNI in the case of a Lifford man who drowned after escaping from custody in 2011. David Colhoun’s remains were discovered in the River Finn last February, 10 months after he disappeared on May 22 2011. The 22-year-old had been arrested during a night

There are 412 Gardaí, 29 Garda Reserves and 28 civilian staff assigned to the Donegal Garda Division. The figures were announced in the Dail last evening by Junior Minister Dinny Mc Ginley, speaking on behalf of Justice Minister Alan Shatter. He was answering a question from Donegal North East Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue, who asked

The latest government statistics show that Strabane District Council has received the most complaints about noise in Northern Ireland. In the period between 2012 and 2013 – 204 complaints were made about the noise of pets, loud music, neighbours and even wind turbines. Just one person in Strabane was brought before the courts for a

A Donegal councillor is predicting that next week’s Budget Meeting will be an unprecedented farce which will have to be adjourned. Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher was speaking after the publication of the council’s proposed 2014 budget book, which anticipates spending of just over 138 million euro next year, with rents and commercial rates being frozen.

It is reported that the HSE plans to remove a Catholic Chapel and other rooms of prayer at Letterkenny General Hospital. According to today’s Donegal News – management are in discussions with church representatives to replace the chapel with an inter-denominational room. The paper reports that staff and visitors are concerned that the Catholic Chapel

The Minister for Finance says Ireland will still have to impose tough austerity measures even though the Troika are leaving. Michael Noonan says the Irish budget deficit remains too high and that more efforts are needed to bridge the gap between income and spending. He has admitted that not much will change next Monday when

What has been described as most intense meteor shower of the year will be visible tonight and into tomorrow. Friday 13  /Saturday 14 The Geminid shower is expected to be at its most spectacular from 4am until dawn on Saturday, if there are clear skies, and you will not need a telescope. Doctor Robert Massey

One club in the north-west has been able to breach a Garda crackdown on alcoholic drinks sales on Christmas night. Paris night-club in Bundoran was today given court permission to sell drinks from midnight on Christmas night until 2 a.m. on St Stephen’s Morning. Judge Kevin Kilrane gave permission “reluctantly” after owner Conor McEniff assured

The granting of planning permission for a two and three storey extension to the existing co-lab building at Letterkenny Institute of Technology has been appealed to An Bord Pleanala. The proposed development is part of the North West Regional Science Park. Letterkenyn Town Council had awarded conditional permission for the development but that has been

There are more problems for Ulster Bank customers this morning. The bank says it’s aware some people are having trouble with their accounts this morning – and it says it’s working to fix the problem. It also says no one will be left out of pocket as a result. It’s the latest in a series

Transport Minister Leo Varadker has sought a meeting with the Road Safety Organisation PARC after speaking with the group’s founder in Leinster House last evening. Inishowen based Susan Grey was attending the committee stage of the Road Safety Bill, when the minister approached her and asked for a meeting in the New Year. She told

The NRA has confirmed that Compulsory Purchase Orders will be published next year to progress works at the Blue Banks outside KIlmacrennan. The project is one of a number on the N56 which were presented at a meeting between a Donegal County Council deputation and the National Roads Authority in Dublin last evening. Speaking to

A Letterkenny Councillor wants Eircom to review how it distributes its phone books. Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh says that after the latest edition was circulated, many ended up littering estates around the town. He says books were left at unoccupied and derelict buildings and ended up being kicked around estates. He wants Eircom to distribute the

Talks will take place at the Labour Court tomorrow, aimed at resolving the dispute affecting Marks and Spencer branches here. A planned strike by 2,300 workers at Marks and Spencer has been called off today, pending the discussions. 15 of Ireland’s Marks and Spencer stores, including the Letterkenny branch, closed on Saturday 7th December as

A 100,000 grant has been announced for two youth projects in Donegal. Children and Youth Affairs Minister Frances Fitzgerasld announced the funding this afternoon for projects in Gortahork and Ballybofey. Junior Minister Dinny McGinley says it’s a significant allocation for two very important projects……….

A Donegal County Council delegation met with senior National Roads Authority figures in Dublin earlier today to discuss funding for the county’s roads network. A number of projects in the county were identified as funding priorities, with the all party delegation arguing that Donegal has been underfunded in recent years and needs more investment as

Paedophile Michael Ferry, who is serving 14 years for sex offences against schoolboys, won’t go jail for any longer after admitting a further 15 sex crimes today. The 58-year-old was sentenced to a further seven years to run concurrent. That means he won’t spend a day beyond late 2021 which is what his defence counsel

Gardai say they are very keen to locate a black Opel Corsa car taken from a family home in Ballyholey, Raphoe by knife point. Two Volvo cars collided in the Raphoe area last evening with the occupants of one of the vehicles fleeing the scene, it is thought the two youths later stole the Opel

One of two men jailed today for sex offences against a 13 year-old boy attempted to flee court during proceedings. He was one of two brothers in their early 20s who pleaded guilty to sex offences when they were 17 against a 13-year-old boy. The two, who cannot be identified to protect the identity of

A Donegal County Council delegation will meet with senior National Roads Authority figures in Dublin this morning to discuss funding for the county’s roads network. A number of projects in the county have been identified as funding priorities. For 2013 almost €19 million was initially allocated to local and regional road improvements in Donegal with

There are renewed calls for a reduction in the speed limit on the approach road into Letterkenny between the Dry Arch and Polestar roundabouts. The current limit is 100 kmph but Councillor Dessie Larkin is calling for it to be reduced. There have also been calls for a barrier to be erected in the middle

A Donegal County Councillor has called on the Council to explore the idea of tidal and wave power generated electricity in Donegal. Tidal and wave energy is a form of hydropower that converts the energy of tides into useful forms of power – mainly electricity. Cllr Noel McBride says that Donegal’s coastline has huge potential,

The latest Tax Defaulters list published by the Revenue Commissioners shows six settlements from Donegal, totalling just under half a million euro. Nationally, the Revenue Commissioners collected over 27 million euro in settlements between July and September from 88 people. In the largest of six settlements reached in Donegal, courier Aidan Caddye of Massreagh, Kilmacrennan

The Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) is insisting it came to an agreement with the Health Service Executive (HSE) in 2009 to allow for the top-up of some salaries. Bosses at the CRC are appearing before the Dáil Public Accounts Committee over the top-ups scandal. Brian Conlon, who resigned as Chief Executive this week is not

A missing Convoy man, last seen in London in the 1970’s has been officially declared dead just short of his 87th birthday on Christmas Eve. Peter Edward Gallagher, better known to the family who last saw him 60 years ago as Eamonn, was declared officially dead by Judge John O’Hagan at Donegal Circuit Court. His

The share of household income from welfare payments has risen by 50 percent since 2004. That is according to a new report from the ESRI, which emphasises the importance of social welfare in reducing poverty. The increase of about 100 euro per family is largely down to unemployment and salary cuts. Herwig Immervoll of the

The European Parliament is recommending a ban on all fishing activities in areas with vulnerable marine ecosystems identified by the European Commission. Yesterday the European Parliament voted on a draft EU regulation on fishing deep-sea stocks in the north-east Atlantic. A small majority of MEPS voted against a ban on bottom trawling. However the MEPs

A prosecution against one of the largest trawlers in the world – the Dutch-owned Annelies Ilena – was adjourned at Donegal Circuit Court today. The Master of the super-trawler, 57 year old Gerrit Plug, is accused of breaches of EU fishing regulations off Tory Island last month. The vessel is free to continue fishing on

  A Jobbridge entry advertising three petrol pump attendant jobs in Donegal has been taken down.   Sweeney’s Spar Express at Ballyraine in Letterkenny had been seeking three people to take up the nine-month contracts, with the advert saying the successful candidates would get training in how to put petrol and diesel into cars.  

A Donegal County Cllr has hit out at the latest Jobbridge positions advertised in Co Donegal – three petrol pump attendant jobs. Sweeney’s Spar Express at Ballyraine in Letterkenny wants three people to take up the nine-month contracts. An advert on the Jobbridge website says the successful candidates will get training in how to put

Japanese IT company Fujitsu has announced 192 new jobs in Derry as part of a £12m investment. The jobs will include posts in administration, finance and human resources. There will be 177 full-time positions and 15 business apprenticeships. It is anticipated that recruitment will begin in the new year. Managing Director of Fujitsu Northern Ireland,

Gardai have said that a man is lucky to be alive today after he tried to apprehend robbers outside a wakehouse in County Donegal last night. A man was at the wake of his friend James McDaid in Elaghbeg, Burnfoot last night. While tin at the wakehouse, he was told that two men were trying

The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church is to publish its audits of eight church entities today. It will also look at the response by Christian Brothers to allegations of child sexual abuse in day schools over the past 38 years. The audit reports are the fourth instalment made by the Irish

A Donegal County Councillor has said that Irish Water must meet with Cllrs within the next fortnight. Irish Water will takeover water services from local authorities on January 1st. The Councils Director of Environmental Services gave a presentation yesterday outlining the takeover. Cllr Ciaran Brogan said he still has huge concerns surrounding the takeover:

The sentencing of two women who pleaded guilty to trying to smuggle cocaine out of Peru in August has been postponed. Michaela McCollum, from Dungannon, County Tyrone, and Melissa Reid, from Lenzie near Glasgow, both 20, admitted trying to smuggle cocaine worth £1.5m. Prosecutors demanded more information on the gang the women said had coerced

Donegal County Council has been branded a ‘circus’ by a number of members of the public who attended yesterdays Council meeting. Council meetings are open for the public to attend, although this rarely happens. But up to 10 people packed the public gallery yesterday. Highland Radio News spoke to a number of them after the

The Mayor of Donegal Cllr. Ian McGarvey and the County Manager Seamus Neely have today signed the Donegal County Council Book of Condolence in memory of Mr. Nelson Mandela. The books of condolence will be available for signing at all Public Service Centres and at the County House in Lifford from 9am to 5.00pm Monday

Letterkenny Hospital says it is experiencing an increase in the number of patients with diarrhoeaand vomiting. The hospital says that as it is usual for norovirus or winter vomiting bug to circulate in the community at this time of year, visitors to Letterkenny Hospital are being asked to follow advice issued by the hospital. People