Author name: oisinkelly

A spokesperson for the Can’t Pay Won’t Pay in Donegal says their campaign is far from over, despite an announcement this week that the property tax will be deducted from peoples salary, pension or social welfare payments. And Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners Josephine Feehily said earlier this week an 8 per cent interest rate […]

A man who was involved in a high speed car chase through the streets of Derry before fleeing over the border admitted that it was ‘very bad driving’ when interviewed. Martin Stokes (20) of 35, Glendale Road in Derry admitted a series of driving offences that occurred on October 4 last. The court heard that

North West MEP Marian Harkin is calling on the government to guarantee 100% funding for any septic tank improvements that are orderd under the new inspection regime. The EPA confirmed this week that 1000 tanks would be inspected every year, 80 of them in Donegal. However, a non-registration campaign means less than 3/4 of the tanks

The government is to pay employers to take people off the dole. Under a new action plan for jobs, the State will pay one euro of every four euro it costs an employer to take a long term unemployed person off the live register. The measure is one of 333 actions to be implemented by

Plans by Illies Golden Gloves Boxing Club in Buncrana to build new facilities have hit a hurdle after a decision to grant permission for the development was appealed to An Bord Pleanala. The club hoped to demolition its current clubhouse on the site of the Old Illies school and erect a new single story building

The 24th Colmcille Winter School gets under way at the Colmcille Herritage Centre in Gartan tonight, with this years theme the survival of the euro. The school will also discuss the potential for the UK to withdraw from the EU, and what affect that would have on the Irish economy. The school will be opened

Dissident republicans have accused the PSNI of ‘double standards and sectarian policing’ after what they claim was a ‘peaceful and dignified’ white line protest was attacked by police officers. The 32 County Sovereignty Movement said that a protest organised outside a Derry school because PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggot was speaking there was attacked by

A Donegal County Councillor says  the Council needs to review it’s housing policy. Councillor Marie Therese Gallagher says that certain sections of society cannot get on the social housing list in Donegal. To get the social housing list for example, a single person must prove that they do not have suitable, alternative accommodation. Cllr Gallagher

A report into an industrial relations dispute at the North West Regional College in Derry highlights allegations of “a culture of fear” among staff. The report has called for widespread changes to rebuild trust between staff and management. The North West Regional College employs 852 staff at its campuses in Derry, Limavady and Strabane. The

The Taoiseach says plans by the revenue commissioners to take the property tax from people’s bank accounts, salaries or welfare would only be a last resort. Revenue Commissioner Josephine Feehily’s confirmed to an Oireachtas Committee the range of powers that can be used to ensure compliance with the tax. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty is Sinn

Donegal County Cllrs have agreed to send the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, County Manager and a member of the opposition to New York for St Patrick’s Day this year. Councillors voted unanimously (apart from Sinn Fein Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher and Independent Cllr John Campbell) that the trip should go ahead at the expense of the

   The new Property Tax will be deducted from salaries, bank accounts or social welfare payments if people don’t pay. The Revenue Commissioners is warning it has a range of legal powers to gather the charge – in the event of non compliance. A public information campaign on the levy will begin in March –

After another delayed day at Donegal County Council, in the end, it was great to finally see Councillors agree on something. Just after 730pm last night, Councillors voted unanimously (apart from Sinn Fein Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher and Independent Cllr John Campbell) that the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, an opposition Councillor from Fianna Fail and the

The home of an elderly couple in the centre of Derry has been damaged in an arson attack. Police are appealing for information following the attack at Bishops Street last night. They say at around 9pm, a petrol bomb was thrown which struck a property and set guttering on fire. Fire crews attended the scene

The Environment Minister is being accused of jeopardising future investment in Letterkenny and the surrounding areas. Donegal North East Deputy Charlie McConalogue says Phil Hogan’s decision to abandon the National Spatial Strategy will have serious consequences. Deputy McConalogue says while Phil Hogan is promising new structures, the fact is  the spatial strategy is being shelved with no

An inquest jury on a man who drowned in Glencolmcille today(Wed) urged a new law be introduced requiring divers to be professionally medically examined instead of conducting medical self-assessments. The jury recommended that independent medical examinations by professionals be introduced by diving clubs. They were returning a verdict at an inquest in Sligo on 41-year-old

Donegal County Council has confirmed that the sale of a house in the Parkhill area of Ballyshannon was not completed before it was subsequently destroyed in a suspected arson attack. The Parkhill property, which was due to be purchased for social housing purposes to house a family of travelers in the town, has been the

Police in Derry are appealing for information following an assault and car hijacking in the Waterside area on Saturday last, 17th February. At around 8 o’clock last Saturday morning, a 47 year old woman parked her car in the Fountain Hill area of Derry. As she got out, a man approached her and threatened her

Donegal County Cllr Brendan Byrne has confirmed that he will not being going forward with defamation proceedings against Cllr Terence Slowey. Cllr Byrne said that documents that were sent to Cllr Slowey and the County Manager Seamus Neely, claiming to be from former County Manger, Michael McLoones solicitor were actually sent in error. And the

More than one in three children live in poverty in Strabane and Derry. The figures revealed in the UK wide Campaign to End Child Poverty, Child Poverty Map were released by children’s charity Barnardo’s. According to the official UK government definition child poverty means a family of two adults and two children with an income

Today’s reconvened meeting of Donegal County Council finally got underway shortly after 12  noon today, after members spent the morning in private session to discuss a matter related to the minutes of a meeting last year. However, a short time later, the meeting adjourned for lunch. A large contingent of local and national media had

The Derry based software firm 8over8 is to create over 30 jobs as part of a 2.7 million pounds expansion. The company, which supports the energy and oil industries, is based in the Science Park at the Magee campus of the University of Ulster. Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey says there’s a very talented and skilled

It’s emerged that Donegal will have the third highest number of septic tank inspections from this summer.   The Environmental Protection Agency says tanks in Donegal, Galway, Cork and Kerry will be prioritised because groundwater in those counties is most at risk of pollution. The EPA says 30 local authority inspectors will examine 1,000 tanks across

Passengers using Donegal Airport will soon be able to buy an inclusive ticket from Donegal to London. British Airways has confirmed a codeshare agreement with Loganair that will link Donegal Airport to London Heathrow via a connection in Dublin.   Loganair will operate the route from Donegal to Dublin, with passengers then transfering to British

The number of Irish MEPs looks set to be reduced from 12 to 11, following a vote today by the Constitutional Affairs Committee in Europe, to reduce the number of Irish MEP seats. A total of 15 seats are to be cut from member states to comply with the Lisbon Treaty. Northwest MEP Pat the

Gardaí have said there has been a highly visible policing presence in Galway today, with hundreds of students expected to converge on the city centre for “Donegal Day”. The event does not have the backing of either third level institution in the city or the students’ unions at NUI Galway and GMIT. Gardai have confirmed

The Director of An Grianan Theatre in Letterkenny has confirmed there is an issue with the theatre’s roof which has resulted in leaks to the administrative office and one dressing room, but is stressing there is no health and safety issue at present. Concerns had been expressed that the facility might have to close, but

A Castlederg Councillor has called for more to be done to address the issue of anti-social behaviour following the latest incident in which a number of cars were damaged in Young Crescent area. Several cars were damaged in a car park in the early hours of Sunday morning. Councillor Derek Hussey is seeking a meeting

The HSE has confirmed that visiting restrictions remain in place at St Joseph’s, Hospital, Stranorlar due to a number of suspected cases of the winter vomiting bug. The restrictions will remain in place until the situation is resolved, and the HSE says all appropriate infection control measures are being taken. In meantime, people are being

A Buncrana Town Councillor has called for every effort to be made to secure the public ownership of the Swan Park area of the town before the council is disbanded. Swan Park is very popular with visitors, families, fishermen and is used by locals for walking and relaxation. Councillor Nicholas Crossan says that while the

Donegal County Council says the response to the Donegal Diaspora website launched last week has been very positive, with hits from as far away as Vietnam and Nepal. The council’s Director of Community Services says there have been severasl thousand hits on the website, while a large number of comments on the linked Facebook page

Police in Derry have warned they’ll be clamping down on businesses that have illegal gaming machines on their premises. The warning follows a number of complaints from members of the public regarding gaming machines in the City. In a statement today, Police in Derry say gaming machines are not permitted in fast food outlets, video

The first meeting for Team Captains for Relay for Life Donegal teams is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 5th March at 8pm in Mount Errigal Hotel. At the meeting, team t-shirts and information packs will be distributed with a priority given to teams registered in advance. There are over 50 teams registered but we