Author name: oisinkelly

  There are urgent calls for more drug and alcohol addiction facilities in Donegal with the amount of in-patient detox beds available in the county deemed inadequate. As of December 2020 there were 10 residential beds available at the White Oaks rehabilitation centre. But Cllr Gerry McMonagle is concerned that ten is insufficient to cope […]

  Rural TDs in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are revolting against the 5km exercise limit – insisting it must be lifted on April 5th. They expressed frustration at the lockdown measure during parliamentary party meetings last night. Speaking to his party, the Taoiseach acknowledged people are “fed up” but said the country’s progress remains

    The North’s Deputy First Minister says private developers will be offered the chance to buy land at the old Ebrington Army Base in Derry, on which there is planning permission for a second office block. Answering questions in the Assembly from Foyle MLA Martina Anderson, Michelle O’Neill said it’s hoped to invite expressions

  A Donegal TD has told the Dail that changes to family leave provisions are belated, but welcome. Deputy Thomas Pringle was speaking in support of the Family Leave Bill 2001, which replaces the term ‘adoptive mother’ with the term ‘adoptive parent’, paving the way for same sex couples to avail parental leave. Deputy Pringle

  It will be 2023 at the earliest when unemployment rates in Ireland drop to pre-pandemic levels. It’s one of the findings of the latest economic commentary from the ESRI, which predicts GDP to increase up by around 4 per cent this year. It’s predicting the economy will bounce back in the second half of

  The HSE has confirmed that negotiations are continuing with the Friends of JCM in Carndonagh with regards to the future use Milltown House, but the future of the hydrotherapy pool there remains uncertain. Councillor Albert Doherty asked the Regional Health Forum this week about Dunshenny House, which is being developed as a residential centre

There is unlikely to be a recovery in the numbers of international travellers arriving in Ireland until the second half of the year. That’s the view of Tourism Ireland, which has been looking at the impact the covid pandemic is having on Ireland’s tourism markets. CEO Niall Gibbons says the vaccination roll out is being

The Taoiseach has reaffirmed the government’s support for the North West Regional Strategy. Michael Martin was speaking following the publication of a report backing the creation of a Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor. Mr Martin told TDs that both cross border strategies are in line with what the Shared Ireland Initiative is intended to achieve…………..

    Ryanair says it expects people from the Republic to use flights from Northern Ireland to go on holiday this summer. The airline’s launching new routes from Britain to some European destinations – including 8 from Belfast – starting in May. And boss Michael O’Leary thinks people here might take advantage:

  A Donegal Senator says the Good Friday Agreement isn’t complete yet and more work is needed to resolve outstanding issues. It comes as The Good Friday Agreement Committee met yesterday as the discussion for a United Ireland continues. It has been suggested that discussions need to start on preparing for the possibility of a

  The HSE has confirmed that two Consultant Psychiatrists have been recruited for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service in Donegal, which will allow an extra team to be formed in the county. Cllr Ciaran Brogan was told at a Regional Health Forum meeting that the third team will service Inishowen, which is being

  Donegal County Council is to establish a year-round collection of waste paints at recycling centres. As part of the move, the Council is also set to introduce a paint reuse scheme. Previously, there been a service in place at recycling centres a couple of days a week but this has not been in operation

    A voucher scheme should be rolled out once the tourism industry has reopened in a bid to stimulate the sector, according to Sinn Fein. It’s proposing every adult should be given 200 euro, with 100 for every child which would be seen as an ‘investment’ into the tourism sector. The proposed scheme would

It’s anticipated that the number of home care hours to clients in Donegal will exceed one million this year. In 2020, a total of 784,040 home care hours were provided to clients in the county with the HSE confirming that additional funding has been allocated in 2021, which will allow for an increase in home

  The Health Minister says they’re examining easing restrictions on low-risk outdoor activities next month. NPHET will advise the government tomorrow on whether there can be any lifting of parts of the level 5 measures from April 5th. There’s been renewed question-marks over things like construction opening amid rising cases over the past few days.

  The North’s Infrastructure Minister has again stressed she is committed to the A5, and doesn’t believe she had any choice but to commission further enquiries which will delay the project even more. Nicola Mallon was speaking in the Assembly, after her SDLP colleague Daniel McCrossan defended her against Sinn Fein criticism, saying she had

  The HSE has acknowledged that there is a substantial waiting list for children needed to access Speech and Language services in Donegal, but says action is being taken to address it. Almost 500 children are currently awaiting assessment, 290 of them for over four months. Answering questions from Cllr Gerry McMonagle at a Regional

  The World Health Organisation says Ireland has been hit by the ‘serious surge’ of Covid-19 recently. The country’s five-day moving average has increased by 10 per cent over the past five days, and is now 538. There was a slight drop yesterday, with 371 new cases and 24 deaths announced – 27 of the

An Inishowen councillor has expressed disappointment after being told that there are no plans to develop a vaccination centre on the peninsula, particularly in light of its proximity to the border. Cllr Albert Doherty told a meeting of the HSE’s Regional Health Forum West that Inishowen should have a centre. Saolta CEO Tony Canavan said

Covid vaccine manufacturers are working to identify additional production sites in the EU, according to the European Medicines Agency. The EMA says if suitable sites are selected they can be approved for use in a matter of days. European leaders will consider an export ban on vaccines later this week, amid growing anger over the

  Gardai in Donegal will be clamping down on speeding motorists in the county later this week. National Slow Down day gets under from this Friday at 7am and will run for a 24 hour period until Saturday morning at 7am, The aim of “Slow Down day” is to remind drivers of the dangers of

  A residential area of Letterkenny has been the subject of a spate of vandalism in recent days. A number of properties sustained damage in Academy Court on the Oliver Plunkett Road in the town between the 15th of March and the 19th of March. In all incidents, numerous windows were smashed with investigations ongoing.

  There’s been a guarded welcome locally to a return of visiting in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. From yesterday, residents at long-term care facilities and nursing homes are now allowed two visits per week, on general compassionate grounds and once there’s a high level of vaccination in the facility. Since December, some visits

  The Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says the country’s fight against the spread of Covid-19 has “appeared to hit the floor”. The five day moving average of cases is now 580 – which is an increase of five percent in the past week. The Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn says people can have

  A booking portal for hotel quarantine is now available online. From 4am on Friday arrivals from 33 countries will have to pre-book into the system. A 12-night stay will cost 1,875 euro with meals to be provided. Taoiseach Micheál Martin says he expects more countries to be added to the list. Health Minister Stephen