Author name: oisinkelly

  The HSE says hospitals are coping with the current levels of Covid-19, but remain under significant pressure. It comes as latest figures show another new record number of Covid patients at Letterkenny University Hospital. As of last night, there were 120 patients with the virus being treated on site at the hospital with six […]

  Plans to reopen special schools and classes this week have been thrown into doubt. The Irish National Teachers Organisation last night called on the Department to “reconsider” Thursday’s planned return. It says teachers “grave safety concerns” have not been adequately addressed. Further discussions among stakeholders are expected today. Adam Harris, CEO of autism charity

  Leaving Cert Students are suffering ‘drastic effects’ like stress and a dip in motivation due to uncertainty about the exams. The Irish Secondary School Students Union say a decision is needed on the Leaving Cert soon. Education Minister Norma Foley says she would prefer the written exams to go ahead, but has acknowledged ‘differing

  There are calls on the North’s Health Minister to address what has been described as a ‘postcode  lottery’ in terms of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout. A number of GPs in Tyrone have been expressing concern over the unequal and unfair distribution of the vaccine. West Tyrone MP Órfhlaith Begley says she has written to Minister

  The Cross Border Workers Coalition is calling for the cross-border tax legislation to be changed to accommodate new remote working practices. It’s after the Tanaiste announced new legislation is on the way which will give employees the right to request remote working on a permanent basis after the Covid-19 pandemic. THE CBWC has long

There has been a further 2,121 new Covid-19 cases and 8 additional deaths. 34 cases have been confirmed in Donegal where the 14 day incidence rate currently stands at 1373.8 cases per 100,000 people. There are now 1,975 people in hospital with the virus and 200 people in ICU. Meanwhile NPHET says there has been

A Donegal Pharmacist says pharmacy staff must be prioritised in the vaccine roll out. Pharmacists will be expected to administer the vaccine once the roll out gets underway in earnest but there’s concern locally that they themselves may not be vaccinated prior to that. Tom Murray, a pharmacist based in Ramelton says pharmacy staff have

  The Marine Minister has confirmed that Donegal will have four designated ports for international vessels in two weeks’ time. From February 1st , fishermen with UK registered vessels will be permitted to land their catch in Killybegs, Greencastle, Burtonport and Rathmullan. As a result of the initial Brexit deal, Killybegs has been the only

  A Donegal Deputy has rowed in behind calls on the Government to designate more third-country ports in Donegal as matter of urgency to facilitate Irish fishermen who operate UK-registered vessels. Deputy Thomas Pringle believes that Donegal alone needs at least seven ports to ensure the safety and livelihoods of local fishermen. At present, Killybegs

  A member of the National Public Health Emergency Team believes not enough is being done to stop the spread of Covid-19, and there is too much movement nationwide. It comes as the the Chief Medical Officer has once again appealed to employers to allow staff work from home if they can. There have been

  Irish Water has come under fire again over no immediate plans for a total upgrade to the water supply in South Inishowen. It’s after yet another burst in the area of the ‘Slablands’ yesterday which left a significant number of homes and businesses without water for much of the day. It’s understood that in

  The conservation management plan for Grianan of Aileach has been published with renewed hopes that minor improvements can now be made around the site. The iconic landmark in south Inishowen has been a popular tourist attraction but its thought subtle work could be done like installing extra signage to make it more user friendly.

  Unmonitored self-isolation for people arriving into Ireland is undermining efforts of stopping the spread of Covid-19, according to Sinn Féin. The party is calling for a legally binding quarantine system, with Garda checks and fines. It’s Transport spokesperson Darren O’Rourke says Ireland could import an even more infectious strain over the next couple of

  An infectious diseases specialist says a single bad outbreak of Covid-19 at a nursing home could put the hospital system over the edge. 2,944 more people have tested positive for the virus, and thirteen more patients have died 112 of the new cases were in Donegal. 1,928 people are now being treated in hospital

  A local community health forum has issued a ‘thank you’ to it’s volunteers and local business that helped with their outreach project. Finn Valley Health Forum created and delivered over 100 care packages to various members of the elderly community. 50 packs were delivered in October to St.Joseph’s Hospital in Stranorlar and 35 to

Sinn Fein’s calling on the Education Minister to urgently engage with workers’ unions to ensure the reopening of special education. The party’s education spokesperson, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, says press releases are getting in the way of discussion and agreement. The Department’s statement said special schools would reopen on Thursday, but the union, Forsa, says no

It will not be confirmed until Tuesday whether special needs children can return to school next week. The Department of Education wrote to principals last night to tell them to prepare for these schools to reopen on Thursday. It would allow 20,000 children in primary and special schools to go back to class ten days’

An intensive care consultant at University Hospital Limerick says hundreds of staff are out due to Covid-19 reasons. There are 141 patients with the virus in UHL – making it the second worst hit hospital in the country – and there’s only two critical care beds available in the facility. Cork University Hospital has the

It’s emerged Irish mortgage holders are paying the highest interest rates in the whole of the EU. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty claims Irish people are paying €60,000 more in mortgage interest rates than any other European country. Figures from the Central Bank show the average mortgage interest rate for Irish borrowers in November was 2.79%,

A West Tyrone MP has welcomed a Supreme Court ruling which will force insurance companies pay small businesses for loss of earnings as a result of Covid-19. The significant ruling could see over £1 billion being paid out to tens of thousands of small businesses across Northern Ireland and Britain. Órfhlaith Begley who has described

A Donegal bus escort says while they want to see children with special needs return to school, serious safety concerns remain. The number on the school bus, no ventilation and no PPE are all said to be major issues. Disability and carers organisations will meet Department of Education officials to discuss plans for classes to

  There are calls for programmes to be put in place for children with additional needs following reports of major regression for some children while schools have been closed. The Education Minister announced yesterday that special needs students at primary level will be able to return to the classroom next Thursday. However, Donegal Deputy Thomas

  The Taoiseach says efforts are ongoing in a bid to solve the Brexit fall out issue affecting fishermen. For the last 14 days, fishermen in Donegal and the North have been prevented from landing their produce in their usual piers and harbours because their boat is registered Northern Ireland. They are only permitted to

  The Education Minister says the reopening of schools in February will depend on the general public’s behavior over the coming weeks. Norma Foley says considerable planning has gone into running this year’s Leaving Cert, with papers being adjusted to give students more choice. It comes as some students have expressed concern about how much

  The Tánaiste says he wants to fast-track the National Broadband Plan by up to two years. The aim is part of the country’s first National Remote Work Strategy, which also reveals employees will have a legal right to ask to work remotely by September. The 3 billion euro National Broadband Plan is due to