Author name: oisinkelly

The number of Covid-19 patients in public hospitals has fallen to its lowest level since December 29th. It dropped to 427 last night – compared to 1,239 on the same day last month. There are 105 patients in intensive care with the virus, continuing a fall from the peak of 221 in January. Another 462

It emerged today that around 200 GP surgeries still haven’t received any jabs to vaccine the over 85s by the end of the week. Donegal GP Dr Denis McCauley believes the target will be met, but says some issues are starting to surface…………

The Health Minister says he will ask the HSE to review the decision to locate one vaccination centre in Donegal, while Kerry has two and Cork five. The issue was raised in the Dail this afternoon by Deputy Padraig MacLochlinn, who also asked MInister Stephen Donnelly to address delays in getting vaccines to certain areas,

  Over 100,000 euro has been secured for minor flood relief works in Ballybofey. Donegal County Council has approved the money to install manhole sumps as an interim measure to prevent flooding in the Twin Towns. An application has been submitted to An Bord Pleanala for the works to be carried out. Local Cllr Patrick

Northern Ireland’s first minister says she’s not concerned about potential violence, after loyalist groups withdrew their support for the Good Friday Agreement. Paramilitary organisations have written to the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson about concerns over Brexit arrangements – with checks on goods going across the Irish Sea. DUP leader and First Minister Arlene Foster

  The Tánaiste has accused a Donegal TD of being ‘shallow and playing politics’ with family carers. It’s after the issue of where family carers feature on the list for the vaccination programme was raised in the Dail by Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty. Deputy Doherty says this cohort currently fall into the general population for

  While the Covid vaccination programme is set to get underway at Millbrae surgery in Carndonagh tomorrow, concern remains over consistency in supply. The HSE says that nationally a ‘relatively small number’ of GP practices are experiencing issues with their vaccine supplies. The HSE also maintains it’s is on target to administer the first dose

  A Donegal Deputy is calling on the Government to put extensions in place with county council incremental purchase offers. It’s thought that the impact of Covid on employment may cause house sales to fall through. Deputy Thomas Pringle was addressing the Dáil today on the Land Development Agency Bill 2021. He says there’s a

‘Drive through vaccines’ have begun in Letterkenny with over 100 people over the age of 80 getting the jab in the comfort of their car yesterday. The operation got underway yesterday morning at the facility set up in McGinleys multi-storey car park on Pearse Road and included three doctors and five vaccinators. The innovative facility

  A Donegal councillor has hit out at the government over its commitment to the ongoing retrofitting programme for social housing. Speaking after a meeting of the Housing Strategic Policy Committee, Cllr Gerry Mc Monagle says he’s very disappointed with the latest grant received from Department of Housing. He says in recent years, the council

  The country’s 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 has gone below 200 for the first time since Christmas, while the number of people with the disease in hospital continues to fall. Donegal’s incidence rate is just slightly below the national average at 199.1. Latest figures show that there are 14 confirmed cases at Letterkenny University

  The Health Minister will be asked in the Dail today to fast track the vaccination of pharmacy staff before pharmacies become vaccination centres. The Irish Pharmacy Union says its members are ready to play their part in the programme, but can only do so when their staff are vaccinated themselves. Donegal Pharmacist Tom Murray

  Finance Minister Pascal Donohoe has pledged to examine a number of issues which have arisen in respect of the Mica Redress Scheme, but did not comment on a call for banks to make a contribution to the costs being incurred by householders. During last night’s banking debate in the Dail, Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn

The CEO of Spraoi Agus Sport in Carndonagh says she is very hopeful that an application for a development in the town centre will breathe new life into the area. The €8 million application has been made under the Rural Regeneration Fund in partnership with Donegal County Council. Helen Nolan was speaking on Highland Radio’s

The Taoiseach says arrangements are being made to ensure that people who can’t leave their homes are vaccinated. Michael Martin was responding to Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle, who told the Dail this afternoon that there are people not getting vaccinated because they cannot get to the centres. Deputy Pringle stressed this is an issue which

  A Donegal Deputy is urging the Housing Minister to ‘drop the arrogance’ and scrap the Government’s affordable housing strategy. The shared equity scheme would see the Government taking on a stake of up to 30% in a house where purchasers can’t afford the full mortgage. The issue is being debated in the Dail this

  The HSE says any instances where the rollout of the vaccination programme is not adhered to will be investigated. It’s follows claims that a relative of a HSE employee made a round trip of more than 100km to receive a Covid-19 vaccination in Letterkenny. It’s further alleged that the person was neither on the

  Anti-lockdown protests will be the focus of a meeting between Garda representatives and the force’s Commissioner later. Violent scenes in Dublin last weekend left three Gardaí injured and led to 24 arrests, with one man currently in custody in connection to a firework attack on officers. A second protest is planned for Cork City

  A Donegal based senator has challenged the education minister to do more to tackle the digital divide in education. Speaking during a meeting of the Oireachtas Education Committee, Independent Senator Eileen Flynn told Minister Norma Foley that many students don’t have access to the technology they need at home to keep up. Senator Flynn

  A public health Professor says Northern Ireland’s plan to re-open schools fully is ‘very peculiar.’ Gabriel Scally has blasted the roadmap to exiting lockdown for not containing target levels of infection to trigger each phase. The 5 step system was agreed by Stormont Executive members yesterday. However Dr Scally says the fact that restaurants

  Rural TDs are calling on the government to reopen places of worship in time for Easter. The Rural Independent Group will raise the issue in the Dáil later, claiming Ireland is an “outlier” when compared to other European countries. Under Level 5 restrictions, places of worship are only open for private prayer and services

  The Deputy Chief Medical Officer says Ireland’s continuing to make good progress in the fight against Covid-19. Yesterday the country recorded its lowest daily number of cases since mid-December, at 359 – 24 of them in Donegal. Dr. Ronan Glynn says the figure’s very welcome but the rise in global cases in the past

  Finance Minister Pascal Donohoe is being challenged to do more for Donegal homeowners affected by Mica. Donegal Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn says the evidence across Donegal in recent months is that this grant scheme falls far short of the real financial assistance that the affected families need to make their homes safe. He says

Over €1.75 million has been confirmed for Housing Adaptation Grants in Donegal. The fund, which supports home adaptations for older people, those with a disability, and people with mobility issues, will see just over €1.4 million from the government, with €350.000 being provided by Donegal County Council. Local Cllr Patrick Mc Gowan says it’s a