Author name: oisinkelly

A Donegal Deputy has urged the Government to speed up the process for people seeking asylum in Ireland. It’s emerged that someone seeking asylum in Ireland today would have to wait up to two years for a decision on their application with more than 5,000 people in direct provision awaiting a first decision. Minister of […]

The Taoiseach says new regulatory and insurance mechanisms will have to be established to address future building defects and issues. Speaking in the Dail last evening, Michael Martin said the state is addressing a number of issues, including Mica, Pyrite and issues which arose in some Dublin apartments relating to fire regulations. However, he warned

While frustration was expressed following the second meeting of the Defective Blocks Working Group yesterday, work is said to be ongoing to find solutions for affected homeowners as soon as possible. After the meeting, campaigner Paddy Diver who is one of the homeowner representatives on the working group hit out at what he said was

The Department of Education has granted funding to a Carrigart school to test for Mica. Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh has confirmed that emergency works have been approved for Scoil Eoin Baiste, Carrigart for Fabric Defects Testing costs for Mica. 5 schools in Donegal in total have applied to the Department of Education for emergency funding

Finance Minister Pascal Donohoe has confirmed that the LPT exemption for Mica homeowners will last six years. However, speaking during exchanges with Donegal Deputy and Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty at the Oireachtas Finance Committee, Minister Donohoe was unable to provide details of how homeowners could apply. He promised to get back to Deputy

Crunch talks aimed at facilitating the swift return of indoor dining will take place this afternoon. Hospitality representatives will meet senior government officials to finalise a plan, following exploratory talks earlier this week. Among the measures to be raised are covid passes, which would allow vaccinated or recovered people access indoor dining. Any agreement reached

The government is being accused of delaying the dredging of the harbour at Magheraroarty. In a question to Local Government Minister Darragh O’Brien, Deputy Thomas Pringle asked why Donegal County Council’s application for a Dredging and Beach Nourishment Licence had not been granted, even though the council lodged it in January. The reply, issued this

Large increases in COVID-19 figures in the Inishowen area and South Donegal as well as in Sligo have led the HSE to appeal for the public to exercise extra caution. Inishowen has seen an outbreak resulting in the establishment of an additional pop up, walk-in/no appointment necessary test centre being established for the next three

A Mica campaigner in Donegal has expressed frustration at what he says is a lack of progress being made by the Defective Blocks Working Group established by Minister Darragh O’Brien following last month’s demonstration in Dublin. Paddy Diver of 100% Redress No Less is one of the Donegal homeowner representatives on the working group, which

An Bord Pleanala has approved a Compulsory Purchase order for a site for the long awaited Three School Campus in Buncrana. The site, which is just over 10 acres in size, is opposite what is known locally as ‘The General’s Shop’ on the left of the Causeway Road as you leave Buncrana heading towards Carndonagh.

Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh has welcomed the Department of Education’s approval of the planned extension to Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair to move to construction phase. The project includes an extension to provide a new SEN and general classroom facilities and alterations and refurbishment to the existing school area together with associated external works. Deputy McHugh says

A managed reopening plan is urgently needed to ensure Ireland’s airline industry has a future, according to a Midlands North West MEP. It comes as work continues to restore the Donegal to Dublin regional route previously operated by Stobart Air. The tender process for an interim airline provider is ongoing and a formal announcement is

Donegal County Council is set to begin works on a junction in the Milford area, that has become notorious for a number of road traffic incidents in recent year. €30,000 was recently allocated for the works at the Church Road junction to begin, which will include the tightening of bends and the roads leading to

A special meeting of Donegal County Council will convene on Friday to discuss the ongoing concerns relating to Mica. The meeting was called by the new Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Councillor Jack Murray as an opportunity for Councillors to seek answers to questions raised by constituents and to voice their own concerns over the

The chief medical officer says the rising number of Covid-19 patients in hospital is a ’cause for concern’. The figure has risen by 38% over the past two weeks, and now stands at 54. 397 new cases were also reported yesterday. Latest figures show that the 5 day moving average of cases in Donegal is

The Test Centre Co-Ordinator for testing in Donegal is urging people in the north of the county to avail of a pop up centre opening in Buncrana today. The HSE has raised concerns over an increase in cases of the virus in Inishowen over the past week. The test centre is located at the Carpark

A regeneration strategy for Killybegs has been published. The Killybegs Regeneration Group in conjunction with Donegal County Council has finalised the strategy which is a roadmap of key priorities and actions for the sustainable regeneration of the town centre to 2040 and beyond. The project will see enhancements to the town centre urban realm to

  The North’s Deputy First Minister has described Boris Johnson’s plan to ease Covid-19 restrictions in England as “reckless”. Michelle O’Neill said there are no plans to end the use of face masks in Northern Ireland and she is “not prepared to go to the end of the line” with easing restrictions. The British Prime

The Tánaiste has said an increase to one or two thousand new cases of Covid-19 per day would not be a reason to panic. Cabinet Ministers were presented with updated forecasts from the Department of Health this morning. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said even a trebling of current ICU numbers, would see fewer than 50

Foyle MP and SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood has urged Taoiseach Micheál Martin to amend the Mica redress scheme to help Northern families whose second homes in the Republic have been affected by Mica. Mr Eastwood says his office has been inundated with calls from people in Derry who will not be able to avail of

Consumers are not benefiting from the reduction in personal injury claim payouts according to the Alliance for Insurance Reform. Payouts have reduced by an average of 50 percent since new guidelines were introduced in April. Cabinet Ministers are considering a report by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board this morning and will be given an update

A deputation of councillors from Derry and Donegal is to travel to Dublin to lobby on behalf of City of Derry Airport. The issue was raised at a recent North West Regional Development Group meeting by Derry and Strabane Cllr Sandra Duffy. She told the meeting it is absolutely vital that the Irish government meets

Garda investigations are continuing into a suspected arson attack at a garage in Glenties. A number of cars and a recovery truck were set alight. On today’s Community Garda Slot on the Nine til Noon Show, Garda Grainne Doherty made a fresh appeal for information………..  

Gaeltacht Minister Jack Chambers has been criticised for not meeting with Mna Tí during a recent visit to Donegal. Minister Chambers is coordinating the compensation package to be announced for Gaeltacht areas hit by the fact that for a second year, students will not be attending Irish colleges as a result of the Covid 19