Author name: oisinkelly

Non-essential retail in NI set to reopen for click & collect

All non-essential retail outlets in Northern Ireland will be able to open for click-and-collect services from April 12th. Small outdoor gatherings in gardens will also be allowed from April 1st, along with some outdoor sports activity. All children will return to school on a phased basis over the next month, under plans agreed at Stormont […]

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TD calls on government to respond to Irish Postmasters Union demands

A Donegal TD says it’s vital that the government respond immediately to Irish Postmasters Union demands for a Public Service Obligation to ensure the survival of the post office network, particularly in rural Ireland. Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn was speaking after the IPU’s General Secretary warned a Dail committee yesterday that if a PSO or some

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Business Matters Ep 35 – Neil Ferry, Noreen Harding & Donna McDade

In the first of a two-part series featuring small and micro Donegal gaeltacht enterprises that have benefitted from Udaras Na Gaeltachta’s Trading Online Initiatives, Ciaran O’Donnell speaks to Neil Ferry, owner of Donegal Copper Craft in Meenacladdy, and Noreen Harding from the family-run Pixalili company in Downings. And in the first of our new Backing

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Donegal survivors of Mother & Baby Homes urged to take part in investigation

  Victims and survivors of Mother and Baby Homes who are based in Donegal are being encouraged to come forward to establish terms of reference for a fully independent investigation in Northern Ireland. The report into homes published in the New Year found a large number of women were sent to Donegal to these institutions.

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Dismay as A5 improvement scheme faces further delays

The A5 improvement scheme has been delayed again after Infrastructure Minister Nicola Mallon said today further public consultation will be necessary to ensure it progresses. Sinn Fein have criticised the delay, but the SDLP says it’s a necessary evil to ensure the scheme progresses. It follows publication today of the Planning Appeals Commission report into

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Some Donegal children waiting over a year for mental health services

  There are renewed calls on both the Government and the HSE to address waiting lists for child and adolescent mental health services. Latest figures show that more than 140 children in Donegal were waiting for first assessment earlier this year, some of them waiting more than year. Deputy Thomas Pringle believes resources must be

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EU to provide share of 1bn to Ireland for farmers & fishing fleet

  Ireland’s agricultural and fishing communities are to receive some of the special one billion euro EU fund to be given to Ireland. The five billion euro fund has been established to assist countries adversely affected by the British exit from the European Union. Tim Hayes is from the European Commission office in Dublin. He

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Portal for Leaving Cert decision closes this evening

  Leaving Cert students have until this evening to register for the exam or calculated grades. The candidate portal is due to close at 6pm. All students must register online, enter their subjects and levels, and confirm how they wish to be assessed. Guidance counsellor, Roisin O’Donohoe, says students should consider choosing both options:

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Council invites applications for new Covid grant scheme

Donegal County Council has opened applications for the Small Business Assistance Scheme for Covid, which will see businesses qualify for up to €8,000 in special payments to help them stay afloat. The closing date for the opening round of applications is 21st April. Under the scheme, eligible businesses will receive a payment of €4,000 for

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Taoiseach hopes AstraZeneca suspension is temporary

The Taoiseach’s described the deferral of the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine here as an unwelcome pause but it’s important to take heed of advice and take a cautious approach. Meanwhile, Italy, Germany and France are the latest countries to temporarily suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. It’s over concerns about a small number

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‘Disappointment’ over setback in vaccine rollout at local practice

  A local GP has expressed frustration and disappointment over a delay in vaccine supply to his practice. Ark Medical Centre was given less than 24 hours’ notice that the practice wasn’t getting as many of the Pfizer vaccine as they were hoping for. Doctors and staff had expected to be giving 75-80 year olds

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LEADER funding boost set to benefit Donegal communities

  Donegal communities and businesses are set to benefit from an increased allocation of €70 million through the LEADER programme for the period 2021 and 2022. Following EU support, an extra €50 million is being added to the initial funding of €20 million announced by Minister Humphreys in December 2020. Through the LEADER programme, over

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Move to suspend use of AstraZeneca vaccine was ‘right call’

  A Donegal GP says a move to temporarily suspend the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine was the right call. The doctors leading Ireland’s vaccine drive say the suspension is just “precautionary” as the European Medicines Agency investigates reports of blood clots. AstraZeneca says there’s no evidence its vaccine is the cause. 30,000 people won’t

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Fears for unrest on St. Patrick’s Day after scenes in Milford

    The Vice President of the Garda Representative Association says Gardai are growing increasingly concerned over some people potentially socialising on St. Patrick’s Day following weekend scenes in Milford. Two men have been charged and a teenager arrested after three Gardai were assaulted in a house in Milford on Saturday afternoon. Two Gardai were hospitalised

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Covid incidence rate falls to 150 for first time since before Christmas

  The country’s incidence rate of Covid-19 has fallen to 150 for the first time since before Christmas. 384 new cases of the virus were identified yesterday, while no deaths were recorded for the first time in 2021. 11 of the new cases were in Donegal while there were three people with Covid-19 being treated

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30,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to remain in storage this week

  30-thousand doses of AstraZeneca vaccines will remain in storage this week, while the European medicines regulator investigates a cluster of serious blood clot events in Norway. The pharma company says there’s no evidence its product is the cause — and that such conditions have actually occurred at a lower rate among some 17 million

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