Author name: oisinkelly

The Mayor of the Letterkenny/ Milford Municipal District is calling for the Winter Maintenance Programme to be updated. Councillor Donal Coyle, has called for a workshop to be held in order to highlight additional routes that he believes should be added to the gritting programme. Speaking in the Council Chamber he says as a recently

Northern Ireland’s First Minister says she can argue for a United Kingdom “every day of the week”. It’s after a survey found more than half of voters in the North want a referendum on a united Ireland in the next five years. The research, commissioned by the Sunday Times, shows 47 percent want to remain

The Minister for European Affairs says it’s too early to say if Ireland will be able to meet its vaccination targets by the end of March. It’s after AstraZeneca said deliveries of its soon-to-be-approved jab will be 60 percent less than planned in the next two months due to a production glitch. The President of

Motorists are being urged to take care on the roads throughout the day due to snow and ice. The conditions, currently affecting much of the north and north-west, will to impact the entire country later. A nationwide Status Yellow alert takes effect from 6pm and remain until midday tomorrow, with falls of hail, sleet and

People travelling into Ireland could be held in quarantine for at least five days if they don’t present a negative Covid-19 test upon arrival. The Taoiseach has told the Irish Independent that hotels, including Citywest in Dublin, could be used as quarantine centres. The new restriction’s expected to be announced next week, along with a

The Taoiseach has said the government’s priority is getting children with special educational needs back to school. Micheál Martin has refused to be drawn on whether he thinks a full reopening of schools can happen as planned on February 1st. Level five restrictions will be extended until likely the end of February and reviewed every

Property values in Donegal are up 9%. Nationally, property values rose by 3% across Ireland over the last year, despite the effect of the pandemic. That’s according to the Irish Independent’s “How much is your house worth” report, which surveyed estate agents in every part of the country. Mark Keenan, the newspaper’s property editor, says

Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle says unless there is political will, a fisheries task force won’t help to fight for the Irish fishing industry. Minister Charlie McConalogue has announced that a task force will be set up to address issues within the fishing industry. Speaking at this week’s Oireachtas Committee on Brexit and it’s impact on

Plans are in motion to upgrade the Sweet Factory play area and lighting in the Bernard McGlinchey Town Park. Local Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh raised concerns in the Council Chamber this week that the park has been left without a play area after it was closed for safety reasons. Donegal County Council has confirmed that tenders

A Midlands North West MEP says the Western Rail Corridor should be a priority as the EU revises its transport funding programme. MEPs debated the Trans-European Transport Network this week. Chris MacManus says projects included in the plan receive 85 per cent of EU funding, meaning the cost for the Irish Government would be small.

The Agriculture Minister will establish a taskforce to address issues in the fisheries industry. Fishing organisations say Ireland got a bad deal following Brexit, claiming there is no fairness from Europe. Fishing organisations say the issues they’re facing regarding reduced quotas and income needs to be dealt with now. Sean O’Donoghue from Killybegs Fisherman’s Organisation:

  A Donegal Deputy believes that both the Education Minister and Minister of State for Special Education should resign. Children with special needs were supposed to return to school on Thursday, but this was delayed as the Department and unions couldn’t reach an agreement. Education Minister Norma Foley is to brief the cabinet on the

A Stranorlar GP says while the level of Covid-19 in the community is improving, it’s dropping from an exceptionally high rate. Dr. Denis McCauley says the tide of the significant third wave has peaked; but its impact is still very prevalent in Letterkenny University Hospital and in other healthcare settings. Dr McCauley, who’s also chair

    Northern Ireland’s First Minister has defended the extension of its fourth lockdown saying the war against Covid-19 isn’t won. The restrictions which were imposed on St Stephen’s Day will now run until at least March 5th. A review of the measures will take place on February 18th. Arlene Foster says people in the

  The Transport Minister says the open border with Northern Ireland is the main reason the Government will not consider mandatory quarantine for people arriving into the country. It comes as the European Union says Non-essential domestic and international travel should be “strongly discouraged”. It is proposing a more coordinated approach to travel restrictions across

  Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has relayed concerns to the Education Minister over the impact the decision not to reopen schools and special education settings is having on those affected in Donegal. He has also criticised the Government’s lack of contingency planning and over what he claims as a lack of engagement with concerns raised

  The Higher Education Minister’s urging all sides to ‘dig deep’ to find a solution to get special schools reopened. He says engagement is taking place ‘in good faith’ between unions and the Department of Education. He believes a lot of progress was made during the week. Minister Simon Harris says the Education Minister Norma

  Motorists are being urged to take extra care this morning due to overnight frosty conditions. All primary routes have been gritted this morning however people are being advised to assume no road is ice free. Meanwhile, Ireland is set for a bitterly cold weekend with temperatures set to plummet to minus 4 in parts

  A Senior Road Engineer at Donegal County Council has committed to exploring how problems at various junctions along the main Letterkenny to Kilmacrennan road can be solved. Residents who live there are said to be finding it extremely difficult to stop when approaching the main road on frosty mornings with some of the minor

  The Chief Medical Officer says it’s hoped schools can reopen as soon as possible – but has warned the levels of Covid-19 are nowhere near where they need to be. A further 51 deaths linked to the virus were confirmed last night with 2,608 new cases – 135 of the new cases were in

  A number of new jobs are on the way to Donegal as part of plans to improve walking and cycling routes. In total, 248 new jobs are being created by local authorities across the country. Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and Junior Minister Hildegarde Naughton say it will make them safer and more accessible. These

  A Donegal Deputy has told the Marine Minister that fishermen have been shafted. Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn claims up to 400 fishing jobs are at risk in Donegal on the back of the Brexit deal reached for fisheries. Under the terms of the agreement, EU boats will have to reduce the quantity of fish caught

  Donegal County Council is being urged to engage with community representatives in the Oldtown area of Letterkenny with a view towards enhancing facilities in the area. Councillor Ciaran Brogan has praised the work of the local community there but believes intervention from the Council is dealing with concerns raised in the area would be

Northern Ireland’s lockdown will be extended for a month – until the 5th March. Health Minister Robin Swann proposed the step to help drive down case numbers – and they’ve been approved by Stormont ministers. The restrictions will be subject to review on or before the 18th of February. First Minister Arlene Foster says the

A South Donegal TD has warned an indefinite lockdown is on the cards unless Ireland can secure more doses of vaccine. Marc MacSharry has urged his government colleagues to break with the EU purchase system and try to get more doses directly from the companies involved. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said the government plans

There are calls for a pedestrian walking route from Conwal graveyard in Letterkenny to be extended to Newmills Corn and Flax Mill. Local Councillor Donal Mandy Kelly says the absence of a designated walking route has forced users of the popular road to use the hard shoulder instead which has given rise to safety concerns.

121,900 people have now received their first dose of the covid-19 vaccine. It equates to more than 2% of the population, with residents in 589 long term care facilities set to get their first dose by Sunday. The Health Minister says everyone in the country should be offered a vaccination by September. HSE CEO Paul