Author name: oisinkelly

Derry councillor says people who removed Peace Bridge lifebelts are endangering lives

It’s emerged that a number of life belts have been removed from the Peace Bridge in Derry. The life belts were cut from their bays and thrown into the water. Local Cllr Kevin Campbell was Mayor f Derry until last month, and has described this as mindless vandalism which is putting lives at risk. He’s

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Ahead of a cross party meeting,Taoiseach urged to committ to A5 project

An all party delegation from the North West cross border region will meet with the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny in Dublin this afternoon to discuss future funding of the A5 Donegal to Dublin dual carriageway project. At a recent meeting, officials in Northern Ireland reaffirmed a commitment to the project and now there are calls on

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Power restored to 1500 homes and businesses which were left without electricity

Power has been restored to the 1500 hundred homes and businesses in Buncrana who lost their electricity this morning. The outage affecting the Ballymagarry area and was first reported at 11.30 this morning. The ESB initially said s power was not likely to be returned before 3.30pm but the problem was resolved by lunchtime.

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Councillors give backing to Taoiseach calls for a cross border cycle way

Donegal County Council has agreed to support and promote a Cross Border ‘Greenway’. In June the Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil that a Derry/Donegal cross-border greenway cycle project would bring thousands of visitors to the northwest every week and should be persued. The issue was raised by Fine Gael Councillor Noel McBride this week,

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Association has held 11,200 former offenders with social integration

The Irish Association for the Social Integration of Offenders says it has assisted more than 11,200 former offenders since 2000. In IASIO annual report for 2012 which will be published later today the group says it has helped former offenders to gain education, training, employment and resettlement since each of the services began. 10 percent

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Donegal based Soldier’s death in Dublin fall described as a ‘tragic accident’

The military police and gardai have launched an investigation after the death of a Donegal based soldier at a barracks in Dublin. 32-year-old Private Patrick ‘Paddy’ Conlon fell from a height in McKee Barracks, in the early hours of this morning – in what’s described as a tragic accident. Private Conlon was based in the

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Inishowen’s new Superintendent says he has the resources to tackle border crime

Inishowen’s new Superintendent has told a meeting of local public representatives that he is confident he has the resources available to hit to tackle border crime. That is according to Councillor Jack Murray who was amongst those who met with Superintendent Andy Archibald this week following a recent spate of burglaries and robberies along the

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Search continues for man on the run following huge Ballyshannon cannabis find

A man remains on the run this morning  after gardai found 290,000 euro worth of cannabis plants. The man fled a shed at Higginsstown, Ballyshannon, when drugs squad detectives seized 350 cannabis plants. A coastguard helicopter with a Garda aboard joined the search for the fleeing man. Gardai sealed off the shed where the plants

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Letterkenny General Overcrowding – HSE asks people to avoid the emergency dept. except in emergency

Overcrowding at Letterkenny General Hospital has led the HSE to ask the public not to attend the emergency department unless completely necessary. Figures from INMO show this morning that there were 3 people being treated or awaiting treatment on trolley. A total of 16 were listed as additional patients, on beds, trolleys or chairs, on inpatient

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Revenue say LPT compliance in Donegal is 84%, the lowest in the country

The Revenue Commissioners say 89% of eligible homeowners have already paid their property tax, with 175 million euro already collected, over 4 million of it in Donegal. As was the case with the Household Charge, Donegal has the lowest compliance rate in the country. Under the self assessment model implemented by Revenue, just over 5

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70 year-old West Donegal to face trial in October charged with sex offences against boys

A 70-year-old man charged with a series of sex offences against boys in west Donegal is to stand trial in October. Garda Ciaran Cassidy told Glenties District Court today(Wed) that he had served the book of evidence on the man. The 70-year-old is charged with offences dating back to 1984. He was accused of six

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Strabane District Council to carry out a water safety study following Newtownstewart drowning tragedy

Strabane District Council is to commission a river safety study in the area of Newtownstewart where a man drowned at the weekend. 34 year old James Kincaid drowned close to the Vaughan’s Holm playing grounds in Newtownstewart, and local councillor Derek Hussey says the tragedy raises questions about access to lifesaving equipment in and around

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Hospital Manager says Letterkenny General will thrive in West/Northwest Hospital group

The manager of Letterkenny General Hospital says he believes the hospital’s inclusion in the new West/North West Hospital Group will be beneficial for the hospital, and ensure it is properly resourced. Speaking after the announcement of a new Endoscopy Unit for the hospital this week, Sean Murphy says Letterkenny General is the one of the

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Council budget process ‘a farce’ as 3.3 million euro in cuts to services are proposed

Donegal County Council’s marathon budget discussion in December and January have been described as a farce after it emerged that an adjustment of up to 3.3 million euro is being sought by council management. The County Manager is seeking to make the cuts to address a significant disimprovement in the council’s revenue deficit which is

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Parts of Letterkenny housing estate without water as Electric Ireland cuts power

Some residents of the Foxhills housing estate in Letterkenny are without water this morning following a decision by electric Ireland to cut power to a pumping station due to an unpaid bill. The company has been issuing warning letters for almost two years but the bill has remained unpaid by either residents or the developer

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4.4 million euro announced for development of Letterkenny General Endoscopy Unit

The government has sanctioned €4.4m to develop a new Endoscopy Unit at Letterkenny General Hospital. Welcoming the announcement, Deputy Joe McHugh said that construction of the unit will start this year, and the unit should be operational by early 2016. €3.2m will go towards building and enabling works, with the remainder of the money going

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Council streamlines process for taking over problematic housing estates

Donegal County Council has adopted a new policy for taking over housing estates. The council’s policy had to be revised due a high profile Court Case this year which ruled that Donegal County Council immediately to take over responsibility for public areas and services in two new housing estates following a legal dispute with the

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Donegal County Council takes on 67 through JobBridge – none get a job with the council

Donegal County Council is being asked to withdraw from the controversial  JobBridge scheme. Councillor Jack Murray made the call after it emerged that of the 67 people the council has taken on through the scheme, none have gone on to get a job with the council. Councillor Murray says this proves the scheme is ineffective

Donegal County Council takes on 67 through JobBridge – none get a job with the council Read More »

Audit of Donegal County Council accounts identifies six areas of concern

A government audit of Donegal County Council has identified six main areas of concern. They include concern over the council’s financial standing and it’s deviation from purchasing and tendering processes. Responding to the report, council management says that in most cases the concerns have been or are being addressed. Greg Hughes reports………..

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Donegal man admits hit and run charges after mother and child are injured on Benone Beach

A Donegal man has appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court today charged in connection with a hit and run on Benone Beach yesterday which left a 4-year-old child and her mother in hospital. 30 year old Paul John Doherty of Ballynahone, Fahan faced a total of seven charges in connection with the incident which left the

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Donegal County Council asked to support US Immigration reform campaign

Donegal County Council is being asked to pass an emergency motion today backing the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform. The immigration reform bill is currently before the House of Representatives in the US. The Lobby says every politician in Ireland needs to make representations in an effort to get it passed. The Lobby’s Donegal Spokesperson

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Joe McHugh to impress on Taosieach importance of progressing Donegal’s A5 linkages

Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh is to meet with the Taoiseach later this week to impress on him the importance of upgrading the Letterkenny to Strabane road as part of the A5 project. The A5, which is delayed because of planning issues, was discussed at a recent meeting in Belfast during which officials on both sides

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