Author name: oisinkelly

  A woman who tragically lost her family in a drowning accident in Donegal last year, hopes a new community centre will go some way to thanking people for their support in the last 12 months. Geraldine Mullan’s husband John as well as their two children, Tomas and Amelia, died after their car entered the

  Nurses say they are becoming increasingly unsafe in overcrowded hospitals that are suffering from a lack of airflow and ventilation. 217 covid patients are now in hospital, which is four times higher than this day last month. 31 people are in ICU with the virus, but there were 381 patients awaiting beds this morning

The President of LYIT has outlined the restrictions that third-level students there will face when they return to in-person education next month. The return of students will feature a full return to lecture halls and classrooms for the first time during the pandemic. Speaking to Greg Hughes on today’s Nine til Noon Show, LYIT President

Almost 9,000 people received a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine at walk-in centres over the weekend. HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid says two thirds of those who showed up hadn’t previously registered for a vaccine. The first vaccines for those aged 12 to 15 are expected to be administered this weekend, with the portal

A leading health expert has said that in a pandemic teachers do not have the “absolute right to privacy” when it comes to vaccination status. His comments come as the Department of Education confirmed yesterday that unvaccinated teachers will be allowed to teach children in person, while principals cannot ask their staff to declare their

A Sinn Fein TD says the confusion created by the Government’s lack of clarity over outdoor dining guidelines is entirely of its own making. Failte Ireland asked the Government for clarity on the rules in the weeks before a controversial event at the Merrion Hotel in Dublin – but didn’t get it. The Taoiseach’s noted

A consultant in infectious diseases expects more people to end up in hospital with Covid-19 in the coming weeks, with a knock-on effect for the rest of the healthcare system. His comments come after virus case numbers were above 1,800 for the second day in a row, with 1,837 new cases detected yesterday. 208 patients

InterTradeIreland says companies on both sides of the border are firmly in recovery mode, as Covid-19 restrictions begin to ease. The agency’s latest quarterly report indicates a return to economic momentum, saying three quarters of all businesses are now operational, while over half of SMEs in the tourism and leisure sectors have re-opened their doors.

A Derry City and Strabane Councillor says the Department for Infrastructure must prioritise the high incidence of flooding in Strabane, and take action to ensure that scenes seen at the weekend at Pearse Gardens, Ballycolman, Koram Square, Bridge Street and parts of Lisnafin are not repeated. Cllr Michaela Boyle says the floods were caused in

An immunology expert says Covid-19 vaccines for secondary school students needs to be prioritised as schools get ready to reopen. Registration for 12 to 15 year olds will be available online from next Thursday, subject to parental consent. Walk-in vaccination clinics are running again this weekend, for anyone over the age of 16 who has

The Tanaiste’s position has been ‘fatally undermined’ by the Merrion Hotel controversy, according to Sinn Fein. Leo Varadkar yesterday said he regrets going to Katherine Zappone’s event in the Dublin venue, but denies it broke regulations. Failte Ireland has updated its guidelines to say 200 people can go to an outdoor party, after clarification from

Clean Coasts is asking beachgoers not to bring glass with them to the beach. It says by doing this they’ll remove a severe injury risk and will protect the country’s coastline from litter. Almost 90 percent of its social media followers in a survey said the presence of glass would put them off going back

The chief medical officer is strongly encouraging people to attend walk-in Covid vaccination centres this weekend. Over 40 are operating across the country today and tomorrow, and all except one are for first doses only. The Letterkenny Vaccination Centre will operate as a walk-in facility tomorrow from 8:30am to 4:30pm. At least 30,000 people went

The Department of Housing has stopped short of committing to a widening of the income thresholds or inclusion on social housing lists, as sought in a motion passed by the Glenties Municipal District. Responding to the motion, Minister Darragh O’Brien’s private secretary said supports should be directed to those most in need, and while a