Author name: oisinkelly

  It’s been confirmed that work on a youth centre for Strabane town is to start at the end of the year. In the interim, a mobile unit is to be deployed to the town which will cater for young people until a permanent facility is constructed. West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan says Strabane has […]

  The Vice Chair of the Regional Health Forum West has questioned if capacity in private hospitals was being utilised fully amid the ongoing pandemic. In line with restrictions many procedures at Letterkenny University Hospital have been cancelled or curtailed over the past months which has resulted in lengthy waiting lists. Figures show that since

  The number of patients with Covid-19 in public hospitals has fallen below 600 for the first time since January 1st. While, according to latest HSE figures 10 people in ICU died after contracting the virus – the largest number in a 24-hour period since the start of the pandemic. It comes as 574 new

  More than half of voters say the government is ‘not doing a good job’ in dealing with the pandemic. According to an Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll, the rate now stands at 51 per cent – up 15 per cent since last autumn. Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Health Minister Stephen Donnelly also received poor ratings

  A Donegal Deputy has appealed to the Taoiseach and Tanaiste to ensure no stone is left unturned by Police in the North in the investigation into the death of Noah Donohoe. The 14 year old went missing in Belfast on 21st June 2020. His body was discovered in a storm drain 6 days later.

  A Stranorlar GP is warning that if vaccination targets are to be met, a lot the ‘red tape’ needs to be removed. A lot of the Covid-19 vaccines are set to be administered in mass vaccination centres, which in turn need to be adequately staffed. Those workers will need to be Garda vetted –

  Driver licences due to expire will be automatically extended due to the ongoing lockdown. Those whose licence is due to run out between March 1st and the end of May will have a new date of July, while licences which will expire between June and the end of August will have a new end

  A permanent ambulance base has been confirmed for Buncrana. After a long campaign, cover will be provided seven days a week from 10am – 7pm. The base will be located at the site of the current Buncrana Medical Centre on McCarter’s Road. Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn says it’s hoped that all will be up

    A new Primary Care Centre in Newtowncunningham is set to be complete by years end. The centre will house GP services augmented by other facilities, which will mean fewer people having to travel to the likes of Letterkenny or Derry. The aim is to have the facility fully functional at the beginning of

  The Donegal based Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation has been officially designated an EU Producer Organisation. The IIMRO is based on Arranmore Island and represents the interests of island fishers throughout the islands of Ireland The move is expected to be a significant boost to offshore communities. Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue says it will

  Less than half of people on the inpatient waiting list and day services at Letterkenny University Hospital opted to have their treatment in another location last year. Latest figures for 2020 show that out of 1,485 patients who were offered to have their treatment elsewhere, just 609 accepted the offer. Ann Cosgrove, Chief Operations

  The delivery of the City Deal will take a major step forward later as the Heads of Terms Agreement are due to be signed today. The move will pave the way to fund major projects for growth, investment and prosperity in the North West – the £250m deal is the single largest-ever Government investment

  Latest figures show 97 staff at Letterkenny University Hospital are currently off work because they have tested positive for Covid-19 or have been deemed a close contact. The highest proportion of staff affected is nursing staff with 47 currently absent from work. It’s been confirmed that since December last year, 17 extra nurses have

  The Tánaiste insists Covid-19 is ‘in retreat’ across Ireland and the country is on the right track. 575 new cases were confirmed here yesterday, along with 45 additional deaths. 15 of the new cases were in Donegal. And the number of Covid patients in public hospitals has fallen to 642 – the lowest in

  The Agriculture Minister says agriculture can continue to play a significant role in tackling climate change. Speaking in the Seanad in recent days, Minister Charlie McConalogue says farmers have so far, made huge efforts but that must too be made replicated by all sectors if Ireland is to reach its climate objectives. He say

Level Five lockdown has been extended until April 5th as the schools are set to reopen next week. Leaving cert students and the youngest four classes in primary school will return next Monday with others staggered later in March and into April. Childcare services will also return in phases starting on March 8th. The new

An additional 45 Covid related deaths have been reported this evening. 575 cases have also been confirmed, 15 of them in Donegal. 693 people are currently being treated in hospital for the virus, 150 of which are in ICU. Dr Denis McCauley, the chairman of the Irish Medical Organisation’s GP committee, says the country is

  Routine breast screening is resuming this week, as invites are being sent out to eligible women for screening appointments dated from March 8th. Breast screening restarted in October after it was paused due to COVID-19. However, BreastCheck has been operating a reduced service since the beginning of January, due to unprecedented levels of the

  The Government’s new plan for living with covid has been described as ‘a vague aspiration’. Level 5 restrictions will remain in place until at least early April but schools and creches will begin a phased reopening next week. Construction will also remain closed in March under the revised plan which is set to be

  It’s been revealed that there were more council homes delivered in Donegal in 2002 than in all of the last 11 years. In 2002, 560 council homes were built or acquired across Donegal while from 2010 to 2020 543 were either built or acquired. Figures also show that from the start of 2000 through

  Ulster Bank will be urged to postpone all branch closures until 2023. It will appear before the Oireachtas finance committee to explain why it’s leaving the Irish market on a phased basis after 160 years. The organisation announced the move on Friday, in a major blow to its 2,800 staff here. John O’Connell, from