Author name: oisinkelly

Two Donegal TDs are to move a motion in the Dail today calling for an emergency response to the accelerating mental health crisis which has been described as a tsunami of huge problems. Last night, Deputies Padraig MacLochlainn and Pearse Doherty met with representatives of groups and organisations working to promote mental health in Donegal. […]

The US president says George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis could be a moment of significant change for race and policing in America. Joe Biden’s been speaking after former police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murder, by kneeling on the black man’s neck last May. Chauvin was convicted of all three charges – and

A minority of Irish people say they have confidence in the EU’s vaccine strategy. Just 45 per cent say they they think it’s been going well, while 48 percent think otherwise. The annual European Movement Ireland Red C poll showed that 48% of people in Ulster and Connaught have expressed confidence in the EU’s vaccine

Health officials will today consider new advice on the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine – and whether to use it in Ireland. The European Medicines Agency yesterday found there’s a possible link between the vaccine and very rare blood clots. But it says the benefits of the single-shot injection outweigh the risks. The National Immunisation

Ireland will have Covid-19 cases on a ‘constant’ basis for at least another two years, according to a WHO expert. The warning comes as the current situation here continues to improve. 172 Covid patients were in public hospitals last night – the lowest since October 8th – with 48 in intensive care. 390 new cases

John McLaughlin has been appointed as Chief Executive of Donegal County Council. A special council meeting last evening was told that Mr McLaughlin was recommended for appointment to the position following an open competitive selection process run by the Public Appointments Service. He has worked for Donegal County Council for twenty years in a number

A Donegal TD is urging Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue to ensure the immediate publication of the European Commission’s 2018 audit and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority administrative inquiry. Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn, Sinn Fein’s Spokesperson on Fisheries and the Marine says these have led to the end of a deregotion that allowed catches be transported from

A Donegal man has had a lucky escape after a shark capsized his kayak and dragged him under water. Graham Smith from Moville was out fishing for sharks off the coast of Inishowen when the porbeagle shark surfaced in pursuit of bait. He told today’s Nine til Noon Show that they are a very intelligent

Donegal based manufacturing firm, Houston Precision Engineering is to create 41 new jobs in Strabane with a £2m investment in the town. The company has purchased over three acres of land in Strabane Business Park to build a new factory, which will lead to the creation of the new engineering jobs. Martin Houston, Owner of Houston

The British Prime Minister says there won’t be a referendum on reuniting Ireland “for a very, very long time to come”. Boris Johnson made the comments in an interview with BBC’s Spotlight programme where he also said his Government is working on ‘sandpapering’ the Northern Ireland protocol. Speaking on his way into Cabinet, the Taoiseach

Investigations are continuing into a number of criminal damage incidents at Ballymacool Park in Letterkenny. Most recently, a fire which is believed to have been started deliberately broke out on Saturday evening at around 8:20pm, causing damage to fencing and surrounding vegetation. Meanwhile, between 4pm and 6pm on March 11th, damage was caused to the

A number of schools in Donegal have confirmed that they are currently dealing with cases of Covid-19 within the school community. The Royal and Prior School in Raphoe say they are dealing with cases of the virus in line with HSE guidelines. Meanwhile, a teacher has tested positive at Pobail Scoil Ghaoth Dobhair. As a

Funding has been ring fenced for the new Cleary Centre in Donegal Town but there are calls now for more progress on delivering the project. The HSE has confirmed that the capital budget for the project is €2.4m. The procurement of a design team will get underway this year with €100,000 of the €2.4m allocated

Additional resources are being sought to support cross border education in the North West region. The most recent meeting of the North West Regional Development Group received an update outlining the opportunities for mobility of students across Ulster University, North West Regional College, LYIT and Donegal ETB and the drive to ensure students continue their

A councillor in a Co Cavan border town says locals have always exercised common sense when the pandemic restrictions have differed between North and South. It follows reports of a surge in bookings for hair appointments from the Republic, with salons and barbers to reopen there on Friday. The Justice Minister’s confirmed there are no

The North’s Education Minister has acknowledged that students from a Post Primary School in Fermanagh which is closing may find their best option is to transfer across the border into schools in Donegal. St Mary’s School in Brollagh outside Belleek is to close, after numbers dropped to 67, a figure which Minister Peter Weir told

There’s been no advice on changing the interval period for the Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines, according to the Acting Chief Medical Officer. The Government is believed to be considering extending the gap between the first and second doses from four weeks to between six and eight. Some experts claim it would give the country

Ireland faces repaying up to 37 million euro worth of EU grant aid for not enforcing the same fisheries rules as the rest of the bloc. Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue is set to tell the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee that a penalty points system for trawler captains is now nine years overdue. And he believes Brussels

The Justice Minister’s confirmed people living close to the border are entitled to travel 20 kilometres from home to the North. It comes as hairdressers and barbers get set to open in Northern Ireland from Friday. A number of businesses says clients from the Republic have made appointments. Minister Helen McEntee says while no one

Irish hospitals have recorded the lowest number of Covid-19 patients on wards since October 9th last year. 179 people with the virus are receiving treatment this morning, which is 21 percent lower than last week. Overnight, there were 47 patients with the infectious disease in ICU. There’s expected to be a decision later this week

A Strabane Councillor believes someone will be seriously injured or worse unless anti social behaviour in the town is brought under control. It comes after a 17 year old girl was assaulted in ‘The Meadows’ area of the town on Friday night. A video has been circulating on social media depicting the incident, and showing

A West Donegal Councillor however, believes different design options should have been explored for the project in Burtonport. Councillor Micheal MacGiolla Easbuig feels the development was rushed through and more public consultation should have been carried out. The €2 million funding for Burtonport will go towards the construction of two new buildings, including a new