Author name: oisinkelly

A family home in Newtowncunningham has been defaced in a sectarian attack. The family who have been living in the area for 17 years are said to have been left devastated after sectarian slogans were discovered painted on the boundary wall of the home on Monday morning. Gardai have been notified of the incident. Councillor […]

A South Donegal Deputy has heavily criticised the Chief Medical Officer’s outrage at people gathering outdoors last weekend. Deputy Marc MacSharry says people are simply doing what they were told, having ‘an outdoor summer’. He says that there is a level of paranoia and scaremongering that doesn’t correlate with the number of Covid cases in

The General Manager of Letterkenny University Hospital says the normal level of patient treatments and consultations is expected to return in the next few weeks. A limited resumption of services at the hospital was announced yesterday following the HSE’s cyber attack. Up to 30,000 appointments have been cancelled at hospitals within the Saolta Hospital Group

The Vice President of the GRA has hit out as its emerged no unmarked Garda car is available for use by the drug unit in Donegal. Brendan O’Connor says the drug unit in the county has made significant seizures of drugs. Latest figures show drug driving detections nationally have now exceeded drink driving. Mr O’Connor

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee has advised reducing the gap between doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. It has recommended 8 week intervals instead of the current 12 weeks. The advice could see thousands of people who’ve had a first dose fully vaccinated sooner. The recommendation, to the Chief Medical Officer, has gone to the HSE

A Donegal Deputy has appealed to the Public Expenditure Minister to sanction a 100% Mica Redress Scheme. Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn called on Minister Michael McGrath to work hand in hand with his colleagues to do what’s right for those affected by Mica in Donegal and Mayo. Deputy MacLochlainn told the Dail that the current scheme

Donegal Action for Cancer Care has met with the Health Minister to discuss the need for an action plan to tackle major waiting lists post Covid. Stephen Donnelly has confirmed that a second breast check unit is being considered for Donegal to address the backlog of patients currently awaiting an appointment. He also said waiting

The HSE’s warning people to expect ‘significant interruption’ to health services again next week. It says the situation has improved a little, with some IT systems working again after the ransomware attack. Letterkenny University Hospital has announced a limited resumption of services. Up to 30,000 appointments have been cancelled in seven hospitals in the North

A local property tax exemption for homeowners affected by mica and pyrite “doesn’t scratch the surface” of what’s needed to resolve issues with the government’s redress scheme, according to the Mica Action Group. Yesterday it was announced that people eligible for its defective block grant scheme will have the tax waived temporarily. PRO of the

Thousands of people are returning to work today as hotels and B&B’s reopen. Guesthouses and self-catering accommodation can also reopen, as part of the further easing of restrictions. Paul Diver, Chair of the Donegal branch of the Irish Hotels Federation and owner of the Sandhouse Hotel says bookings are looking healthy for July and August.

A Mica homeowner says the power of the people on the ground is stronger than those in power. Affected homeowners are travelling to Dublin for a demonstration outside the Convention Centre, to highlight calls for a 100% redress scheme. Paddy Diver says on June 15th he will be hand delivering a letter to the Taoiseach:

A Donegal County Councillor has written to the leaders of opposition parties urging them to table a motion in the Dail calling for a 100% Mica redress scheme. Councillor Frank McBrearty is urging TDs to also put pressure on the Government to remove a cap of the total amount of funding a homeowner can claim

A Donegal Deputy has called for an overhaul of the Disabled Drivers Scheme and Primary Medical Certificate qualification assessment criteria. Deputy Thomas Pringle told the Dail that the current scheme has resulted in many people with disabilities losing out on mobility supports. No review process for the scheme is in place and people have to

The Chair of the Joint Policing Committee is calling on Gardai to step up their patrols in the Gartan, Beechwood and Ard Colmcille areas of Letterkenny. It comes following a recent spate of fires at Gartan field and on the site of a vacant house in Ard Colmcille. Councillor Gerry McMonagle says people in the

Local Property Tax is to be waived for Mica affected homeowners. It was agreed at a Cabinet meeting yesterday that Mica homeowners would be exempt from LPT in line with a similar decision made for pyrite homes. Minister Paschal Donohoe is expected to make an official announcement later today with the legislation set to be

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has told the Dail that the Government’s strategy is to cross it’s fingers and hope the insurance industry will do the right thing and cut premiums in line with Personal Injuries Guidelines. He brought his Judicial Council Amendment Bill to its second stage during Private Members Business last evening which would

The chief medical officer says the country will remain ‘vulnerable’ in June and July because a large amount of the population won’t be vaccinated. Dr Tony Holohan says no assurances can be given that the level of Covid-19 will remain similar to recent weeks. In a letter to the Health Minister, he expressed concern about

The Government needs to step up and take responsibility for failing its citizens by putting in place inadequate remedial measures for Mica affected homeowners. That’s according to Midlands North West MEP Luke Ming Flanagan who has voiced his support for a 100% redress scheme. He says an off the shelf proven mechanism to address the

Hotels and B&Bs can welcome back guests for the first time in more than 5 months from today. Guesthouses and self-catering accommodation can also reopen, as part of the government’s planned easing of restrictions. The Irish Hotels Federation says today’s reopening will result in more than 30,000 staff returning to work over summer. Restaurants and

Gardai in Donegal are warning people to remain on high alert as scams continue to do the rounds in the county. The latest scams being reported relate to a supposed parcel delivery and refunds of social welfare payments. People are reminded to never disclose personal details over the phone or online. Sergeant Charlene Anderson says

A Donegal Deputy continues to call for mother and baby home burial grounds to be protected in county development plans. It comes after An Bord Pleanála refused planning for 179 apartments on a portion of the former Bessborough mother and baby home grounds in Cork. Deputy Thomas Pringle says the designation of mother and baby

The last PUP payments will be made on February 8th next year. The government’s confirmed that the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be phased out, starting in September. As part of the National Economic Recovery Plan, the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme is being extended until December 31st this year. The 9 per cent VAT rate for