Author name: oisinkelly

The Oireachtas Good Friday Agreement Implementation Committee has been told the completion of the long awaited A5-N2 expansion is vital for the development of the North West. Representatives of ICBAN, the Irish Central Border Region, addressed a meeting of the committee this morning to discuss its strategy for the development of the region for the

  Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh has been elected as the new Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District. The Fine Gael Councillor replaces Councillor Donal Coyle who in his final address as Cathaoirleach described the last 12 months as challenging in terms of Covid-19, Brexit and Mica. Councillor Kavanagh takes on the role for the second

Veteran Councillor Bernard McGuinness is the new Cathaoirleach of Inishowen Municipal District, with Cllr Nicholas Crossan serving as his deputy. Cllr McGuinness was nominated by Cllr Martin McDermott and seconded by Cllr Martin Farren under the power sharing agreement that operates in the chamber. Unsurprisingly, Cllr McGuinness said his to priority would be Mica, and

A self care programme has been launched to help Mica affected homeowners. Mica Self Care is being delivered through Insight Inishowen to provide a safety net for people affected by the crisis and as a place to go when things feel overwhelming. Ruth Garvey Williams is Chairperson of Insight Inishowen……….

The Seanad has heard that the scale of Mica and pyrite is shocking with a personal impact unimaginable. Calls for a commitment to 100% redress for affected homeowners was raised in the Chamber today by Donegal Senator Niall Blaney and Senators Lisa Chambers and Timmy Dooley. Senator Blaney highlighted a number of options to ensure

Donegal Doctor Denis McCauley says it is not a matter of if but of when the Delta variant becomes the dominant strain of Covid-19 in Ireland. The strain accounted for 20% of new covid cases in Ireland last week which Dr Tony Holohan says is concerning. Dr McCauley who is Chair of the IMO’s GP

A Donegal Garda Sergeant believes the conversation needs to start now to prepare for next year’s rally weekend. Hundreds of people travelled to Letterkenny last weekend to mark what would traditionally have been rally weekend which was cancelled due to the pandemic. People in and around the town were said to have been left intimidated

A number of Mica affected homeowners from Donegal have been chosen to form part of the Government’s new defective blocks working group. Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien committed to set up the group following a demonstration held in Dublin last week which saw thousands of homeowners take to the streets of Dublin calling for a 100%

A decision on a bail application made by a man accused of murdering Donegal woman, Danielle McLaughlin has been postponed. The 28 year old was found dead in Goa in March 2017. Vikat Bhagat is due to stand trial for the murder of Ms McLaughlin but has now applied to be released on bail, citing

Over 4,600 people have been driving with only a learner permit for at least 21 years. According to freedom of information figures, nearly 9,000 drivers have had one for over 16 years. Almost 2,500 learner drivers got penalty points last year, because they weren’t accompanied by a fully qualified driver. Brian Farrell, from the Road

The number of Covid patients in intensive care has fallen to its lowest level in over nine months. The figure dropped to 13 yesterday – the lowest since mid-September – compared to a peak of 221 in January. A total of 53 Covid patients are in hospitals across the country. Dr Alan Gaffney, the vice-president

Representatives of ICBAN, the Irish Central Border Region, will address a meeting of the Oireachtas Good Friday Agreement Implementation Committee this morning to discuss its strategy for the development of the region for the next seven years. ICBAN includes Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon; Fermanagh and Omagh; Mid Ulster and the counties of Cavan, Donegal,

A Donegal railway campaigner has called for planners to seriously consider extending the Atlantic Railway Corridor to Derry via Donegal. Brendan Flanagan, Secretary of the West Ulster Rail Initiative was speaking after the publication of a report by Dr John Bradley calling for the reopening of the Galway – Mayo rail link, which he says

The World Health Organisation says there’s a ‘real chance’ the Delta variant will become the dominant strain of Covid-19 in Ireland. It comes as the chief medical officer says there’s been a ‘concerning increase’ in cases of the strain here. About a fifth of infections in the past week involved this variant, which is more

A Donegal born senator says there needs to be a special time limited exemption to allow the sale of alcohol for consumption outdoors. It’s after Gardaí said drinking alcohol in areas which were set up to facilitate an ‘outdoor summer’ is not allowed. Justice Minister Heather Humphries says she’s spoken to the Garda Commissioner, and

A Donegal Deputy is calling for the right to retire at 65 to be restored. A Sinn Fein motion will come before the Dail tomorrow urging the Government to commit to restore the right to retire at 65 on full pension rate. Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn says people deserve to have the choice to retire or

170 primary and post-primary schools are to receive funding to improve their walking and cycling infrastructure. 5 schools in Donegal are to receive funding. They are; Deel College, Raphoe, Scoil Cholmcille, Newtowncunningham, Scoil Mhuire, Ramelton, St Baithin’s NS, St Johnston, St Eunan’s NS, Raphoe. It’s part of the government’s Safe Routes to School programme, which

People coming to Letterkenny to cause mayhem on the roads is unacceptable as it puts lives at risk. That’s according to Donegal’s Road Safety Officer who says no one was safe on the roads as hundreds travelled to the town on what would traditionally have been rally weekend. A number of arrests for dangerous driving