Author name: oisinkelly

The Tánaiste is being urged to do what’s in his gift to prevent a Donegal company from renewing its exploration licence to continuing working in the year ahead. It’s been claimed that the company, based in Inishowen, continued to explore for led deposits throughout lockdown, with the issue raised in the Dail this week by

Concern has been raised over the erosion of copper pipes in households in West Donegal. The issue is said to be confined to the Cloughaneely area which one local councillor says is a result of a chemical contained in the water in the local treatment plant. It’s believed there is no threat to health. Councillor

This week, the HSE has commenced the roll out of covid-19 vaccination to people under 65 yrs of age with a disability in the CHO 1 area, which encompasses Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan Monaghan and Sligo Vaccinations took place in Sligo, Inishowen, and Castleblayney. Statement in full – Vaccination Roll out to under 65 year olds

A Lifford Stranorlar area councillor wants representatives from Broadband Infrastructure Ireland to come to a Municipal District meeting and outline when broadband will be rolled out throughout the Finn Valley. Cllr Patrick McGowan says there is a growing demand for better services with home schooling and the high volume of people working from home, and

A GP practice in County Donegal is encouraging people to go across the border to get a Covid vaccine if they can. The Millbrae surgery in Carndonagh had been due to receive a batch of vaccines this week, but the HSE now says there will not be a further delivery until the end of the

The Finance Minister is expected to bring forward legislation which would give the Central Bank additional powers to bring about more accountability for the likes of insurers finance. In the Dail, Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty made the comparison of a Donegal woman who was sent to prison for not paying her TV license while in

There are renewed calls for a bigger focus on east Donegal tourism. It’s thought that the Lifford/Stranorlar Municipal District is at a big disadvantage as it’s the only electoral area with no coastline and therefore, doesn’t have the same tourism opportunities as other areas. A tourism fund set up by Donegal County Council in November

An €18.1 million Urban Regeneration Project has been confirmed for Letterkenny. The project is set to include a revamp of the Market Square and Cathedral Quarter area to include a new tourism centre as well as renewal works on Lower Main Street and the revival of the Old Courthouse into an enterprise centre and a

The Government has been criticised once again for the slow rollout of the National Broadband Plan in Donegal. Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle told Minister Eamon Ryan this week that the county cannot remain ‘the forgotten county’ in broadband rollout. Latest figures reveal that just 4,042 of 178,000 premises in Donegal have been surveyed as part

Today marks one years since Covid-19 restrictions were imposed. Today marks one years since Covid-19 restrictions were imposed. At the time of the announcement the country had recorded 70 cases of Covid-19, while one death had been reported to the Department of Health. The then-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar made the announcement from Washington DC:

Checks on agricultural products headed from Ireland to Britain won’t kick in until Autumn. Goods of animal and plant origin were supposed to be inspected on their way into port as part of the post-Brexit trade deal. UK Minister Michael Gove says firms need more time to prepare for the changes. Lisa Chambers, Fianna Fáil’s

There are renewed calls on the Government to prioritise the North West in terms of counteracting the effects of Covid and Brexit. It’s widely thought that the region is particularly exposed to the impacts of both with Ibec advising that investment in the tourism and hospitality sector is imperative in the years ahead. The groups

The commitment of the Office of Public Works to Letterkenny is being questioned, with the local Municipal District hearing a call this week for an urgent meeting with OPW officials to discuss their plans for the town. The issue was raised by Councillor Ciaran Brogan, who says members were given commitments over a year ago

Ireland is expected to get 600,000 doses of the Johnson and Johnson Covid-19 vaccine between April and June. The one-shot dose can be stored in regular fridges, which is expected to make its roll-out easier. It was approved by the European Medicines Agency yesterday. Public health expert Professor Gabriel Scally describes how effective he thinks

Nursing home visits will resume from March 22nd. Under new guidelines they’ll be allowed receive two visits every week, under compassionate grounds. The new advice will apply to nursing homes where there’s high vaccine coverage. HSE clinical lead for infection control, Professor Martin Cormican describes how “compassionate grounds” visits will work:

  It’s been confirmed that scheduling for pharmacy staff in Donegal to get their Covid-19 vaccines will begin tomorrow. The news from the HSE puts an end to big concern locally among pharmacists and their staff locally that while their counterparts in other counties got the jab, there was no timeline for Donegal. Staff will

  The European Commission has authorised the use of Johnson and Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine across the EU. It’s after the European Medicines Agency approved its use for people from 18 years of age. The one shot vaccine will become the fourth to be approved in Ireland, and there is an advance purchase agreement for 2.2

    A Midlands North West MEP has criticised what he sees as a lack of investment by the government in rural Ireland. The European Parliament is discussing a long term vision for rural areas in a debate this afternoon. The EU has now allocated more than €1 billion in regional funding to Ireland for

SIPTU says their members working in councils across the country are open to negotiations after it was announced they are prepared to strike if they are forcibly transferred to Irish Water. Crucial talks with the government, Irish Water and Trade Unions will take place in the coming weeks. SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division Organiser,

A Donegal Deputy has called on the Taoiseach to expand the remit and autonomy of credit unions. It comes following the decision by Ulster Bank to close 5 of its branches in Donegal and Bank of Ireland withdrawing from 5 towns in the county. Deputy Thomas Pringle believes this is an opportunity for Credit Unions

A reported rise in racist incidents in Derry and Strabane has been described as ‘deeply disturbing’. The district recorded the biggest increase in racist incidents in the North last year, as well as the second-largest increase in racist crimes. Of the 47 racist hate crimes recorded in the Derry and Strabane policing area last year,

An Inishowen councillor says it’s time the RNLI Lifeboat Station was moved to Buncrana Pier. Cllr Rena Donaghey told a meeting of the Inishowen Municipal District this week that its vital funding is secured for a proposed refurbishment of the pier. As part of the proposals previously put forward by herself, she says it would

Donegal County Council has pledged to examine two roads in the vicinity of Kilmacrennan to determine if they can be added to future improvement and maintenance programmes. Cllr Michael McBride told the Letterkenny and Milford Municipal District this week that the Legnahorey Road should be included on the next roads programme. He’s also seeking a

An ambitious EU plan to engage citizens around the bloc to shape its future is underway. The presidents of the European Commission, Parliament and Council signed a joint declaration on the Conference on the Future of Europe. Its aim is to enable citizens to participate in reshaping EU policies and institutions. Those behind the initiative