Author name: oisinkelly

  Assurances have been given that funding for Buncrana Leisure Centre has been set aside in Donegal County Councils Capital Budget. The capital budget is due to be adopted on Monday and includes the necessary monies to progress the project. Initial plans were to refurbish the current facility which has been closed to the public […]

  There are calls for all pubs to reopen when Covid 19 restrictions begin to ease next week. The Vintners Federation of Ireland feels it’s safer for people to socialise in controlled settings as opposed to their homes. It’s believed pubs that serve food will be allowed reopen in a few weeks but wet pubs

  A Donegal Deputy has accused the Tánaiste of being ‘out of touch’ with people living in border communities. It’s after it emerged that the Government is strongly considering advising people not to travel to the north from next week because of the different level of Covid 19 infection rates and restrictions. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar

  The government is strongly considering telling people not to travel to Northern Ireland from next week, due to the region’s Covid-19 crisis. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar told his party colleagues last night the measure may be introduced, but no final decision has been made. The cabinet sub-committee on Covid-19 will meet this evening to finalise

  There are 46 users of disability services in Inishowen registered as being in need of respite services, but only one bed available at the Riverwalk facility in Carndonagh. At this week’s meeting of the Regional Health Forum West, Cllr Albert Doherty said its incumbent on the HSE and the government to address this situation

  A planning application for new security features at Gartan Estate has been withdrawn. The application, lodged by Donegal ETB sought to erect gates and a fence around parts of the Gartan Outdoor Education and Training Centre. The proposal had sparked major concern among the local community who use the amenity regularly. Cllr Michael McBride

The CEO of Eir says her comments about their call centre in Sligo has nothing to do with staff. Minister Frank Feighan had called on Eir to clarify comments by Carolan Lennon blaming Sligo for poor performance in dealing with customer calls and complaints. Ms Lennon told the Oireachtas Communications Committee today that it was

There needs to be an end to the Brexit process ‘very soon’, according to the Finance Minister. The EU and the UK are still trying to iron out a future relationship agreement, but the President of the European Commission says there are some issues still to be decided. Last night, US President-elect Joe Biden warned

  The Tanaiste has confirmed shops and hairdressers will be the first to reopen when we exit Level 5, saying it’ll be ‘haircuts and shopping before nights out’. NPHET has been meeting to consider its recommendations and a formal announcement from the Government is expected on Friday evening. Leo Varadkar says they will reopen places

Donegal County Council has adopted its budget for 2021 at the first time of asking, with a majority supporting its ratification. Members are now looking to the future, as the council navigates the twin challenges of Covid 19 and Brexit. Cllr Marie Terese Gallagher says while she supports the budget, there are some issues she

Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle has voiced his support for the Irish greyhound industry to be defunded. Deputy Pringle was speaking on a Private Members Bill brought forward by the Social Democrats calling for the end of State funding for the greyhound industry. He told the Dail that the funding sanctioned for the industry could be

The Garda Representative Association say legislation to protect Gardai from abuse on social media should be introduced in Ireland. Politicians in France are debating a new law that would criminalise any social media videos identifying police officers. Donegal GRA Representative, Brendan O’Connor acknowledges that they are in a public role but says abuse of Gardai

The Tanaiste says the Government wants people to have as normal a Christmas, as is safely possible. Senior Ministers are now considering allowing three households to gather for Christmas. NPHET is meeting this morning to make its recommendation on easing Level 5 restrictions. Leo Varadkar says he want people to be able to meet their

There are calls for an investigation into how Covid-19 is spreading in Letterkenny University Hospital. The call comes from Councillor Gerry McMonagle, member of the Regional Health Forum West who has been speaking as its emerged staff in the medical records department at the hospital are isolating following an outbreak of the virus and as

A West Donegal councillor says the government is failing the students and parents of Pobail Scoil Gaoith Dobhair because of the failure to facilitate social distancing on school buses. Cllr Michael Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig says while many school buses are at 50% capacity as recommended and required, buses serving Gweedore are full, and that’s not

A state watchdog’s warning the future of Ireland’s environment is ‘not optimistic’ unless urgent action is taken. The Environmental Protection Agency says some bird species are under threat, and air quality doesn’t meet WHO standards in some urban areas. It says littering remains a big problem, and the number of very clean rivers in Ireland

The committee that decides what the Dáil debates looks set to be wound up after a blazing row over the appointment of Supreme Court Judge Seamus Woulfe. All seven opposition groups and parties walked off the Business committee yesterday after the government refused to schedule a debate on the issue. It marks a significant breakdown

The US President-elect says the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic must be kept open regardless of what happens with Brexit. He’s previously warned a breach of the Good Friday Agreement would threaten the prospect of a future US-UK trade deal. Joe Biden has told reporters in Delaware he’s already discussed the issue with

NPHET will meet this morning to consider whether the country should exit Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions next week. The meeting is taking place a day earlier than usual, with Cabinet set to consider its recommendations ahead of an announcement tomorrow or Friday. It’s expected Ireland will move to a modified level 3 next week with

Planning Permission has been granted for the new Community Nursing Unit to be built in Letterkenny on the Kilmacrennan Road, close to the St Conal’s Hospital campus. It’s envisaged the 110 bed unit will be open in 2023, with a mix of long stay, short stay, rehabilitation and dementia care being provided. It;s also been

The government has been accused of engaging in guesswork to re-open the country by not having proper data to inform decisions on COVID restrictions. Cabinet met this morning to discuss easing level five with further meetings and an announcement planned for Thursday or Friday. It’s expected retail will be allowed to open next week but

  Gardai in Donegal are once again appealing to the public to reduce non-essential travel as checkpoints continue across the county. Sgt Eunan Walsh has acknowledged that ‘the goal posts may need to change next week’ if retail reopens here and remains shut in the north. Despite the current lockdown, Garda are reporting large volumes

  There are further calls for a proposal to erect gates and fencing on the grounds of Gartan Outdoor Centre to be shelved. It’s emerged that a road in Gartan where it’s planned to have permanent gates erected is Council owned and therefore against the law to block the public route. It’s also thought that

A senior Government Minister says that it’s his belief that Donegal will move out of Level 5 with the rest of the country next week. The national 14 day incidence rate is estimated to be 108 cases per 100 thousand; however both Donegal and Louth have rates of over 200. The slow decline of the

  Drainage works are underway on the site of the NCT Centre in Carndonagh with hopes to have tests fully operational by the end of the week. It was revealed on Highland Radio last week that flooding problems at the centre were resulting in only part of the NCT tests being conducted in Carndonagh, with