Author name: oisinkelly

Houses are affordable in just seven counties for a single worker on a typical salary, according to an analysis of date from the CSO, with the North West the region in which most of the counties are based. Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan, Longford, Mayo, and Roscommon are the counties in which a person on a […]

Efforts are underway to establish two additional Covid vaccination centres in Donegal. Buildings have been identified in Dungloe and Carndonagh which will run in tandem with the mass vaccination centre at LYIT. Paul Hooton, Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery at the Saolta Group with responsibility for the vaccination programme across the West and North

The HSE’s Chief Clinical Officer says he’s confident a positive outcome will be reached regarding the Johnson and Johnson vaccine and who it can be given to. The Health Service has asked for ‘flexibility’ to allow the vaccine to be administered to people under the age of 50. Larger volumes of the Johnson and Johnson

Sinn Fein Deputy Padraig MacLochalinn says it’s time for a fresh approach for the party in Derry. The entire leadership of the party in the city has been asked to stand aside following an investigation into the party’s election performance and governance. Foyle MLAs Martina Anderson and Karen Mullan have confirmed this week, that they

It’s now time to move on from the damage caused by the Chief Medical Officer’s statement last week. That’s according to Letterkenny Chamber President, Michael Margey who says the Donegal brand is strong and that message now more so than ever needs to be promoted. The impact of Dr Tony Holohan’s comments that Covid-19 was

A Donegal TD says there needs to be progress on the setting up of a working group to examine defective housing, saying after announcing the initiative in February, the government has missed all its deadlines. The group was to have been established by the end of April, with an initial report expected in July. However,

Ireland as a country has the fifth lowest incidence rate of Covid-19 in the EU. Only Finland, Malta, Portugal and Norway had lower rates over the past two weeks. The new data has been compiled by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

A Midlands North West MEP says small farmers are in line for increased payments under the new Common Agricultural Policy. EU countries are negotiating the new CAP budget, which will take effect in 2023. The Irish Farmers Journal says over 54,000 farmers with high entitlements face a ‘wipeout’ of their direct payments. But Midlands Northwest

The Chief Medical Officer says it’s time for people to be hopeful and to start planning for the summer. Dr Tony Holohan says he wants next week to be a ‘significant turning point’ in the pandemic, as restrictions ease. It comes as 393 new cases of Covid-19 and eight deaths were reported yesterday, 26 of

The National Museum of Ireland is urging people in Donegal with memories of boats and boat building in their community to submit their stories to an online archive of Irish heritage. As part of the Bealtaine Festival, the museum is collecting memories to accompany a new exhibition at the NMI – Country Life facility in

The HSE has asked the government for flexibility to use the Johnson and Johnson Covid vaccine in people aged under 50. It’s currently being used in those over 50 after advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee. The HSE has submitted an updated rollout plan to the Department of Health for how doses should be

Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle has moved a bill in the Dail today, calling for a referendum on lowering the voting age to 16. The Bill if passed would allow the amending of Article 16 of the Constitution to reduce the age eligibility of people to vote from 18 to 16. A report on the Convention

People are being urged to avail of the walk-in Covid test centre at Milford Mart. The centre was established as part of an enhanced response by the HSE to Covid-19 in Donegal but so far there has been a slow uptake of the testing centre. Anyone who is asymptomatic but thinks they may have been

The Deputy Chief Medical Officer has today been praising the efforts of people in Donegal in driving down the rate of Covid-19 in the community. There was a huge backlash after the Chief Medical Officer of Friday said non-compliance to public health guidelines in Donegal was resulting in dangerously high levels of the virus in

The Housing Minister has heard how Mica affected homeowners in Donegal feel let down with the current redress scheme. Concerns have once again be relayed in the Dail over the 10% contribution cost of the scheme that homeowners are being asked to pay which for some is running into hundreds of thousands of euro. Donegal

Comments from the Chief Medical Officer are still having a knock-on effect on businesses in Donegal. There was widespread anger among the business community in the county after Dr Tony Holohan said Covid-19 was circulating at dangerously high levels in Donegal which he says was down to non compliance of public health guidelines. The CEO

Further concern has been raised over the future of St Conal’s Hospital Day Centre in Letterkenny. It’s emerged that a man who was attending the centre for over 20 years has recently received correspondence stating that he was no longer under the care of the mental health team and the vital support he was receiving

British soldiers who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles are to be exempt from prosecution. Reports in the UK media suggest it is to be announced by Queen Elizabeth in a speech next week. It’s believed new legislation would create a statute of limitations on any alleged offences committed before the signing of the

Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle is bringing a bill before the Dail today, calling for a referendum on lowering the voting age to 16. The Bill if passed would allow the amending of Article 16 of the Constitution to reduce the age eligibility of people to vote from 18 to 16. A report on the Convention

The number of Covid-19 patients in public hospitals is at the lowest level in over seven months. It dropped to 122 last night, and it hasn’t been any lower since October 2nd. 37 Covid patients were in intensive care yesterday, the lowest this year. At Letterkenny University Hospital, the number of infectious cases remains static