Author name: oisinkelly

  A Donegal Deputy says legal uncertainties still remain as it relates to revelations last week that the Department of Health has been building secret dossiers on children with autism. It comes as the Data Protection Commissioner has begun a statutory inquiry into the allegations. The office has acted on its own initiative to set

  The Health Minister says Ireland can have a “really good summer” if people continue to abide by restrictions for a few more weeks. However he warned that it would take very little to cause another surge in cases of Covid-19. It comes as public health officials urge people not to meet up over the

  A Foyle MLA has expressed concern for the future of the greenway project linking Derry and Muff after it emerged there’s been a delay in granting planning permission on the Derry side of the project. Martina Anderson has written to the Chief Executive of Derry City and Strabane District Council after the council’s planning

  Ramelton is set to benefit significantly from this year’s Built Heritage Investment Scheme. A number of projects have secured funding in the town under the scheme including The Bottling Store, Fort Stewart, Guildhall and a house on the Back Lane. A total of eleven projects across the county are to share €72,000 under the

  The Minister for Foreign Affairs believes the Governments Our Rural Future plan will have far-reaching benefits for rural Donegal. The plan launched earlier this week includes the development of rural areas and includes schemes to turn vacant properties into remote working hubs and to use pubs as community spaces. In total, it features 150

  The Education Minister has told her Fianna Fail colleagues the National Immunisation Advisory Committee needs to explain its decisions on the vaccine roll-out plan to people. Norma Foley was part of the meeting that signed off on the change to a system based on age on Tuesday. There’s been outrage at the change in

  Economic activity is expected to remain subdued in the first half of the year before gradually recovering in the second half of 2021. That’s according to the Central Bank’s latest quarterly bulletin. It’s forecasting the rate of unemployment will remain higher in 2022 than pre-pandemic levels. Director of Economics and Statistics, Mark Cassidy says some

  The Deputy Chief Medical Officer has appealed to anyone planning on meeting up with others against health advice this Easter, to do so outside. Two households aren’t allowed to meet up outside until April 12th. It comes as a further 411 new cases and 6 deaths were reported yesterday. 272 people with the disease

  The Minister with responsibility for the Office of Public Works has heard calls for flood defence works in Donegal to be progressed. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty at the Finance Committee, told Minister Patrick O’Donovan that flooding remains a very real problem and continues to pose a serious risk for homes and businesses across the

    The Donegal Local Development Company has acknowledged the publication of the Government’s Rural Development Strategy, welcoming the ambition of the policy announcement and its potential for Donegal. CEO Padraic Fingleton says Local Development Companies such as DLDC have been pillars of rural development for over 30 years, and are well placed to work

Donegal Deputy and Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue has defended the government’s decision to alter the vaccination priority protocols, saying it is based on scientific advice and designed to achieve the most effective programme possible. On today Nine til Noon Show with Greg Hughes, Minister Mc Conalogue also confirmed that once we enter the next phase

There’s been a major breakthrough in the ongoing development of the Fort George site in Derry with confirmation that part of it has been offered as a site for a new Health and Care Centre. The Department for Communities, which owns Fort George, announced that it has established an agreement with the Western Trust to

A row has broken out in the Dail with the Ceann Comhairle being accused of turning off the microphones of Sinn Fein Deputies. Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn claimed for the second week, the microphones of Sinn Fein deputies have been turned off after running over speaking time. The issue came to the fore today as

The President of Letterkenny Chamber says much more clarity is needed for businesses to enable them plan for reopening. The retail sector has yet to be given a definitive date for the resumption of their services with click and collect services not allowed to return until at least May. Michael Margey says business owners need

Cafes and restaurants will be able to get a grant of up to 4,000 euro to set up an outdoor dining space in time for Summer. A new 17 million euro scheme for developing outdoor dining capacity nationwide has been unveiled. Local Authorities will also be given funding of up to 200 thousand euro to

The Garda Representative Association is seeking a meeting with the National Immunisation Advisory Committee to discuss the fallout of the change to the rollout of the vaccination programme. Gardai, teachers and family carers believe they should be vaccinated as a priority. Vice President of the GRA, Brendan O’Connor says Gardai on the ground feel they

The Justice Minister says the goal is to rollout the vaccine in the most efficient way to allow the further easing of restrictions. The Government, has been criticised for a change in the vaccination programme which will now see vaccines issued on the basis of age alone after the over-70s and those with underlying conditions

Letterkenny Institute of technology has been recognised for its work in advancing gender equality in highter education. LYIT has been awared the Athena SWAN Bronze Institutional Award which also recognises the promotion of diversity and inclusion of staff and students. The award required LYIT to demonstrate an assessment of gender equality and develop a four

Agriculture and Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue is being asked to meet with Donegal County Council to discuss proposals for the development of Killybegs Harbour. A far reaching feasibility study carried out on the harbour found there is significant potential for growth, but to realise it would involve substantial investment. The issue was raised this week

The Government will be urged to give family carers more support when a motion comes before the Dail this morning. The Sinn Fein motion calls for more financial support for family carers, additional respite and for a change in the vaccine roll out to allow them be vaccinated as a priority. Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn

Funding for a third Special Education Needs Classroom has been secured for Rosses Community School in Dungloe, it’s in addition to accomodation works approved for the school in 2019. Deputy Joe McHugh says if the planning and tendering process goes well, work could start on the project before the end of the year. He’s welcomed

The number of people in public hospitals with Covid-19 has dropped to its lowest level in three months. 290 people are receiving treatment – a drop of 20 in the past 24 hours. 65 people are in intensive care, the lowest number since early January. It comes as 368 new cases and 14 deaths were

House prices in Donegal continue to rise according to the latest daft.ie survey. In the first three months of this year prices were 4% higher than a year previously. The average price of a home in the county is now €156,000, 37% above the lowest point. Nationally, the average house price is €233,000, 63% above

The government has defended changes to the vaccine roll-out that have been strongly criticised by sectors which believe they should be given priority. The new model will see people vaccinated based on age after the over-70s, medically vulnerable and those with underlying conditions have been taken care of. It means groups like gardaí, teachers and

Taoiseach Michael Martin has confirmed a phased easing of restrictions will begin on 12th April with a full return to in-school teaching, two households meeting outdoors and travel restrictions relaxed to enable travel within your own county or within 20km of your residence if crossing county boundaries. All residential construction projects will also recommence. From