Author name: oisinkelly

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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Council asks the public not to wash cars/ water lawns and take showers if possible

With the country on the verge of an official drought, Donegal County Council has asked the public not to use public water to wash cars or water their lawns. Overnight water restrictions are already in place in the Glenties and Stranorlar Electoral areas, but the council is warning that may have to be extended. The

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Doherty claims LGH waiting lists are being ignored in government intervention programme

Figures obtained by Sinn Fein show that 32% of all out patients on the waiting lists for Letterkenny General Hospital are waiting over 1 year for treatment. In total. In total 4,000 patients are currently waiting in excess of one year, with surgery, orthopaedic and ENT making up over 2,000 of these patients. Deputy Pearse

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Councillor shocked at lack of Donegal consultation over Maydown plant

An Inishowen councillor has said he is extremely concerned that north’s environment minister did not consult with Donegal County Council regarding the proposed gasification plant at Maydown. The plant which will be built across Lough Foyle in Maydown is just a few kilometres from the east coast of Inishowen. Councillor Jack Murray says he has

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Council water restrictions extended to the Glenties electoral area

Donegal County Council water restrictions have been extended to Glenties Electoral Area. Water restrictions remain in place in the Stranorlar Electoral Area between 11pm and 6am. The new restrictions apply to the Brinaleck Reservoir with water to be turned off from 11pm to 7am. Meanwhile In the Greencastle/Moville area in Inishowen  the Council is asking

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Senator O’Domhnaill says abortion would deprive future Special Olympics athletes of being born

Senator Brian O’Domhnaill has said allowing abortions in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities would be depriving future Special Olympics athletes of being born. Labour’s Aideen Hayden reacted by saying it was “incredibly low” to suggest there is any link between disability and fatal abnormalities. Senator O’Domhnaill made the comment as the Protection of Life During

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Oireachtas Committee:Social network bullying not soley responsible for teen suicides

A new report says there is no direct connection between online-bullying and suicide. Last year – Erin Gallagher in Ballybofey and Leitrim teenager Ciara Pugsley took their own lives after alleged cases of bullying on a social networking site. However the Oireachtas Communications Committee says research from the US indicates the issue is rarely the

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Donegal businessman says commercial rates will be made a local election issue

A Twin Town’s businesses man has rejected claims from Councillor Cora Harvey that a cut in rates can’t come from Donegal County Council. The Twin Town’s Chamber of Commerce wants a 25% cut in commercial rates to help struggling businesses, but Councillor Harvey says local services would lose investment if it came from the local

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Foyle MLA says the time is right for an All-Ireland Tourism Authority

Foyle MLA Meave McLaughlin is renewing calls for an All-Ireland Tourism Authority, saying that recent Northern Ireland Tourist Board figures would indicate the ‘Our Time, Our Place’ tourism strategy isn’t working. Ms Mc Laughlin says while a specific analysis of the strategy isn’t yet available, figures would indicate that that overseas tourism into Northern Ireland

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Harvey wants radical overhaul of rates legislation as chamber seeks 25% cut

A County Councillor has backed calls from the Twin Town’s Chamber of Commerce for a significant business rates cut but says in reality it can’t come from Donegal County Council. The Chamber of Commerce wants a 25% cut in commercial rated to help struggling businesses but Councillor Cora Harvey says local services would lose investment

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Mc Conalogue concerned at possible dilution of government broadband commitments

A Donegal TD says it’s very worrying that the government is considering diluting the Rural Broadband Plan. The plan initially envisaged connection speeds of 30 megabits per second being made available to every household in the country, but now Communications Minister Pat Rabbittee is indicating that may be a maximum rather than a miniumum target.

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Almost 10,000 euro allocated for upgrade of the Parish Hall in Kilcar

Tá fógartha ag Donnchadh Mac Fhionnlaoich T.D., an tAire Stáit sa Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta, go bhfuil deontas de €9,072 ceadaithe aige do Choiste Halla na Paróiste i gCill Charthaigh, Co Dhún na nGall chun cur ar a gcumas trealamh cistine agus ranga a cheannach. Ag fógairt an deontais seo, dúirt an tAire Stáit

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Jury fails to reach verdict in Donegal man’s defamation case against the Irish Times

A High Court jury has failed to reach a verdict in a defamation action brought by a Donegal over an article by Sunday Times columnist Brenda Power. The jury was discharged today after deliberations lasting almost eight hours resulted in no agreement. The case will be relisted for another hearing before a new High Court

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Husband of Lisa McGowan, who went missing over a week ago, makes another emotional appeal

The husband of a woman missing from her County Tyrone home for just over a week has made another emotional appeal for her to return. Eight days ago, Lisa McGowans husband Paddy returned to their home in Drumquin, after working in Dublin – but his wife was nowhere to be found. Police have been searching

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North Donegal MABS has longest waiting times and waiting list in the state

It’s emerged that the the North Donegal Money Advice Budgeting Service (MABS) has an average waiting time of 20 weeks, the longest in the country and five times the state average of four weeks. North Donegal MABS also has the highest number of number of people awaiting their first appointment at 160. In contrast, waiting

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