Author name: oisinkelly

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

The Taoiseach insists the country remains ‘on track’ for the widespread easing of restrictions in the coming weeks. Nationwide travel will be allowed from next Monday, while all retail outlets can fully reopen seven days later. Micheál Martin also told his parliamentary party last night he wants to restore international travel as soon as it’s

A Donegal TD says following confirmation that the breakwater at Greencastle Harbour is to be completed, more investment will be needed to ensure the full potential of the area is realised. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, Sinn Féin’s Spokesperson on Fisheries and the Marine has praised the Greencastle Harbour Users Group and the local community for

At an online media briefing this afternoon, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn pointed out that yesterday, there were over 200 referrals by GPs of people for testing, a rise on previous days. He said that may be a factor of the bank holiday, and also an indication that more people are coming

Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle says the announcement of a Covid information line by gardai this week raises serious questions about the government’s attitude to Donegal. Questioning Taoiseach Michael Martin in the Dail this afternoon, he said he attended a weekend briefing for local Oireachtas members in light of comments on Friday last by the Chief

Money is to be provided to restart work on a breakwater at Greencastle Harbour. The stalled project saw work done between 2007 and 2011, and today, Agriculture and Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue confirmed that just under €12 million will be spent on completing the work, with 25% of the money coming from Donegal County Council,

A Covid outbreak at Letterkenny University Hospital’s Maternity Department has been brought under control. The General Manager of the hospital has confirmed that a number of staff and patients were affected by the outbreak. Sean Murphy says there has also been a decrease in the number of people with Covid-19 presenting at the hospital over

The North’s Health Minister is being urged to provide more vaccination appointments for the North West. Concerns have been raised by people in Strabane and the wider area who are struggling to secure an appointment for vaccination or who are being forced to travel as far as Belfast to receive the jab. Access to the

The Director of Public Health in the North West says there needs to be an acceptance that Covid-19 is in the community and preventative measures need to be taken. Dr Anthony Breslin says while the signs are good, there is still evidence of outbreaks of the virus within Donegal originating from social gatherings with one

38 people with Covid-19 were in ICU last night – the first time the figure has fallen below 40 in 2021. Across public hospitals there were 132 patients with the virus. 6 of them are being treated at Letterkenny University Hospital with 1 person in ICU with the virus. The national 14-day incidence rate has

The National Public Health Emergency Team has asked the HSE to look at the possibility of running mass vaccination centres on a 24-hour basis. However, the Executive says the vaccine programme is reliant on supply, and also people presenting for their jab – but will extend the roll-out as needed to keep up with supply.

There’s still uncertainty over whether Gaeltacht courses planned for this summer will go ahead or not. In a Parliamentary response received by Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty from Gaeltacht Minister, Catherine Martin there appears to be little clarity for Gaeltacht colleges or if compensation will be forthcoming should courses be cancelled. Deputy Doherty says another year

Two Sinn Fein MLAs have confirmed that they will not stand for the party in the next Assembly election. Foyle MLAs Martina Anderson and Karen Mullan have confirmed that they will stand down and not seek re-election next year. It comes after it emerged last week that the entire leadership of Sinn Fein in Derry

The five day moving average of new Covid-19 cases has increased by 8 percent in the past week. The figure was 437 last Tuesday but has increased to 470 this week. There has also been a 9 percent rise in the 14 day incidence rate over the same period, 134 cases per 100,000 people. 383