Author name: oisinkelly

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

The HSE CEO says unvaccinated people planning to travel abroad this summer need to carry out a “personal risk assessment”. The National Public Health Emergency Team says there should be no consideration to leave the country this summer for people who haven’t been fully vaccinated. However, the Government has signed up to the EU Digital

The INMO are calling on the Government and the HSE to tackle overcrowding in hospitals. An emergency meeting of the organisation’s Emergency Department Task Force is due to be held to discuss ongoing concerns over the levels of overcrowding being experienced by both patients and healthcare staff. The INMO’s North West Industrial Relations Officer, Neal

The government’s being urged to find a resolution after it emerged it’s illegal for pubs and restaurants to serve alcohol in many outdoors seating areas. Gardai say drinking alcohol in temporary outdoor locations isn’t allowed if they don’t have a licence. The force says these businesses can only sell food or drinks on a takeaway

The Cathaoirleach of Letterkenny and Milford Municipal District says there was a lot of positives in what happened around Letterkenny at the weekend. A large garda operation was mounted as huge crowds of mainly young people arrived or the weekend, many in modified cars. This would have been the weekend of the Donegal International Rally,