Author name: oisinkelly

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

An investigation has been launched into an incident in the Market Square area of Letterkenny on Friday last. The incident involved a group of girls and it’s reported that a physical altercation took place between 4pm and 5pm. Sergeant Charlene Anderson says CCTV footage of the area is being reviewed:

Mica has been labelled a national emergency. The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council says it is the biggest issue to ever face the people of Donegal. Yesterday’s meeting of Donegal County Council was dedicated to the defective block issue which is affecting thousands of homeowners in the county. All County Councillors have agreed to campaign

352 applications have been received by Donegal County Council under the Mica Redress Scheme to date. Of those applications, 183 have been approved, a third of which are for the demolition of homes. The Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme opened for applications in June last year. Chair of the Council’s Mica Redress Committee, Councillor Martin

Funding has been announced for the refurbishment of Ballyliffin playground. It’s under a €6 million fund announced by government to encourage children and families to get outside and play as restrictions ease over the coming months. The ‘Summer of Play’ initiative will see grants, supports and information resources rolled out for childcare facilities and local

The number of patients going to GPs with symptoms of Covid-19 is at its lowest level in nearly a year. It comes as 378 new cases were confirmed yesterday – with the five-day moving average standing at 424. 98 patients are in hospital with the virus, with 35 in intensive care. Dr Shane McKeogh runs

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty is bringing legislation before the Dail today which if passed would force insurance companies to pass any savings onto customers. The Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill 2021 would require the insurance industry to provide information to the Central Bank outlining how the cost of claims has reduced as a result of the

Main Evening News, Sport and Obituaries Monday May 31st:

The General Manager of Letterkenny University Hospital says significant progress has been made in recovering from the cyber attack on the HSE but not to a stage were full service can resume. Impacts are still being felt in many areas of the hospital including the laboratory department which Sean Murphy says is a major concern

  A Donegal Senator has rowed back on comments he previously made regarding the Mica Redress Scheme. On Friday, Senator Niall Blaney said he disagreed that a 100% redress scheme should be sanctioned and that such a scheme wouldn’t address all the issues facing affected homeowners from the current 90 – 10 format. His comments

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue says he will continue to be the Donegal voice at the cabinet table for affected homeowners. Issues arising from the Mica Redress Scheme have come to the fore in recent times with Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien coming under pressure to sanction a 100% redress scheme. In a post on social media

Mica is set to dominate today’s meeting of Donegal County Council. Five motions will come before the sitting of full council including calls for a 100% redress scheme and for the local authority to acknowledge the frustration, anger and heartbreak of the affected homeowners. The campaign by homeowners affected by the defective block issue has

Postmasters are threatening to ballot members on a work stoppage in June, if the Government doesn’t give them a financial boost. The Irish Postmasters Union’s warning that the state needs to act urgently to maintain the Post Office Network. It says post offices across the country need financial intervention within weeks or the Network will

A Donegal Deputy has hit out at the lack of progress in commissioning a new purpose built ferry for Tory Island. A commitment was given three years ago after a campaign by those on Tory Island that a new ferry would be delivered. The Minister for Rural and Community Development now says a new breakwater

There are calls for smart technology to be used to monitor life ring buoys in Donegal. Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh is proposing Donegal County Council consider the initiative which would alert someone as soon as a ring buoy is missing from its holder. It comes following reports in recent times of the life saving equipment going

The European Commission Vice President says the bloc’s committed to finding the “best solution” for Northern Ireland regarding the Brexit protocol. It follows claims from DUP leader Edwin Poots that the North’s being used as a “plaything” to punish the UK for Brexit. He says having checks on goods arriving into the North from Britain’s

The Donegal IFA say the government and local authorities must act immediately to resolve the Mica block issue in the county. The County Chairman believes the government and local authorities must now step up with a scheme that covers 100% of the redress cost on all homes and farm buildings. He added they should also

A Donegal TD has called on the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue to appear before the Dáil to explain his stance on CAP negotiations. CAP negotiations that were expected to conclude this week, ended without agreement between the European parliament and the blocks agriculture ministers. Donegal is one of the counties set to benefit the

People are being urged to take care in the sun today as the UV index will be moderate to high. Temperatures are set to reach 22 degrees in places this afternoon. It with be cooler along coastal areas and some showers may develop over the northern half of the country. Alan O’Reilly of Carlow Weather

Four people have been arrested in Dublin city centre after large crowds gathered on the streets overnight. Gardai say the arrests for public order offences were made on South William Street. They say officers from the Public Order Unit and the Dog Unit dispersed the crowd from the area, along with crowds in Temple Bar