Author name: oisinkelly

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

  The Tánaiste has accused Sinn Fein of reheating an old political controversy and that the party’s Dail time would be better used by airing other issues. The release of internal Department of Health emails has shone the light again on last year’s controversy involving Leo Varadkar the leaking of a GP contract to his

  The Health Minister has said his plan is for everyone to be offered a COVID vaccine by September. Stephen Donnelly told the Dáil Ireland is due to get 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the first quarter of the year. EU leaders will meet by video conference later to discuss a target of

  There are claims that fishermen will continue to face perilous conditions and long journeys to newly designated ports in Donegal. Earlier this week, the Marine Minister confirmed that the county would have a total of four ports of UK registered vessels from Monday week. But local priest Fr. John Joe Duffy, who has a

  Questions are being asked to why the Saint Columbcille Village is being excluded from the initial vaccine roll out. The residential facility in Inishowen which includes a high support unit, caters mainly to people over the age of 65. Staff in the setting are solely made up for caregivers with no nurses on site

  The Taoiseach has been urged to commit to the finalisation and implementation of the wind energy guideline review, and the publication of the Mulcahy report – a report into planning irregularities in Donegal. Both reports have been outstanding for a number of years. Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle highlighted the impact the peat landslide at

  A South Donegal Deputy says the North West and Border region will be worst affected by Brexit and therefore should receive the largest share of the Brexit Adjustment Fund of €1 billion. According to 2020 employment figures, the North West lost 2.9% of Enterprise Ireland supported jobs – the largest decrease nationwide. This compares

  Talks between teacher unions and the Department on the return of special education will resume later. It’s after the Department abandoned today’s planned reopening, following objections from the INTO and Forsa on safety grounds. Meanwhile disability advocacy groups are demanding a meeting with the Taoiseach to arrange a package of supports for affected children

  The traffic lights on the Justice Walsh Road in Letterkenny have been described as the most frustrating in the whole of the town. It’s reported that there are significant delays on the route as the lights change for a mere couple of seconds, letting only a small number of vehicles pass through. A motion

  Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has told the Dail that the courage of Mother and Baby Home survivors must now be met with immediate action. Speaking during statements on the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, Deputy Doherty says proper redress for all those impacted, dedicated counselling and support services

Serious concern has been raised over a lack of safety measures on part of the new stretch of the N56 Kilmacrennan Road. The Letterkenny Milford Municipal District meeting has heard that there have been a number of incidents involving vehicles sliding out from the Cashelgay and Coolboy junction into oncoming traffic due to icy road

Joe Biden has been sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. The ceremony took place in a quieter Washington where spectators have been replaced by a sea of flags. Kamala Harris has been sworn in as the first female, first black, and first South Asian vice president. Lady Gaga performed The Star-Spangled