Author name: oisinkelly

People in Donegal are being urged to keep up their guard, play their part and work with families and communities to stop the spread of Covid-19. A joint statement issued by the North West Major Emergency Management Interagency Group, says while the incidence rate of the virus has dropped very slightly in recent weeks, its […]

The Minister of State for European Affairs says the bones of a draft Brexit trade agreement are there in most areas, but fisheries and some other issues remain a stumbling block. Thomas Byrne was speaking as British and EU negotiators resume their talks in London, with less than four weeks to go until the transition

The Tanaiste has confirmed that he has raised the issue of delayed diagnosis in the gynaecology department of Letterkenny University Hospital with the Health Minister. A report into Gynaecology Services at the hospital was published earlier this year and it revealed that the service provided to some patients was unsatisfactory with 38 women in the

Hotels, restaurants, cafes and pubs that serve food can re-open their doors today as Covid-19 restrictions continue to be eased. Indoor dining will be allowed – however with extra measures and only pubs with a kitchen on-site can welcome back customers. People are being advised to pre-book a table for a meal. Adrian Cummins of

The Dail has been told that the government should mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities by ratifying the optional protocol in the UN Declaration that was signed by the last government. In the Dail this afternoon, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said the government will do so, once it’s able to fil;fill the commitments. The issue

Student nurses and midwives say they can’t pay their bills with gratitude. It’s after Government TDs voted against a People Before Profit motion calling for them to be paid the same rate as healthcare assistants. That’s 14 euro an hour, which students did receive in the first wave of the pandemic. However, a motion that

Officials from the North’s Department of Infrastructure are to visit the Foyle Road area of Derry to assess the flood risk in the area. It’s after local MLA Karen Mullan told the assembly this week that the road has flooded nine times in the past two years, in an area where more houses are due

The Foreign Affairs Minister says it’s no secret that both sides are running out of time in the Brexit talks. EU and British officials are trying to hammer out a trade deal ahead of the end of the transition period on the 31st of December. Simon Coveney is travelling to Paris today to discuss Brexit

A senior official at the Department of Rural and Community Development has told Oireachtas members that the Broadband Connection Points being rolled out in some areas of Donegal were developed as a stopgap to bring some service to remote areas, ahead of the implementation of the National Broadband Plan. Dr Stjohn O’Connor, who heads up

The government’s confirmed state grant aid of more than 3 million euro for regional airports. Kerry Airport, Ireland West Airport in Knock, and Donegal International Airports will all benefit from the money which is aimed at safety and security services. €1.35m of the money will go to Ireland West Airport, while €580,000 has been allocated

Heavy hail, sleet and possibly some snow showers are expected in Co. Donegal today. Met Eireann has a status yellow snow and ice warning in place for the county until midnight tonight. Drivers are being warned there may be reduced visibility on the roads. Forecaster Alan O’Reilly says temperature drops will become noticeable this morning……….

The chief medical officer insists there’s no room for complacency, despite Ireland having the lowest 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 in the EU. The country reached that level after 270 new cases were reported yesterday, along with five deaths. However, there were 38 new cases in Donegal, and the 14 day incidence rate in the

There are calls on Minister Charlie McConalogue to act now to protect the herring stock in Donegal. Councillor Terry Crossan says the overturning of a decision prohibiting larger fishing vessels into inshore waters has resulted in an industry on its knees. He raised the issue at the latest sitting of Donegal County Council and claims

A 12-year-old girl with serious mental health problems for three months has failed to get specialist psychiatric care. She got a referral to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service eight weeks ago, but still hasn’t got an appointment. It’s one of the cases the Irish College of GPs will highlight at today’s Oireachtas mental

West Tyrone’s newest MLA has been appointed to the NI Assembly’s Education Committee. Nicola Brogan says she will work hard to ensure rural schools are kept high on the agenda and are properly supported. One project she committed to focus on is Omagh’ Strule Campus……..  

The Taoiseach says preparations are proceeding ‘at pace’ for the rollout of a Covid 19 vaccine here. It’s after the UK became the first country to approve the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine for widespread use. The first vaccinations will take place in Britain next week with elderly people being prioritised. But Ireland will have to wait a

The Finance Minister is being urged to meet with banks to discuss their obligations to assist Mica affected homeowners in Donegal availing on the Redress Scheme. Donegal Deputies Padraig MacLochlainn and Pearse Doherty have written to the Minister in a bid to improve cooperation between property owners and the banks. As part of the scheme,

The Donegal Intercultural Platform has announced it will establish a “Welcomes Committee” to help coordinate support efforts and social opportunities for the asylum seekers who will move into accommodation on the Port Road in Letterkenny early next year. The platform has been in contact with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to

The manager of Letterkenny University Hospital says initial results from the mass testing of staff are promising, but it is far too early to be complacent about the future. The hospital has had one of the highest Covid-19 admittance rates in the country in recent weeks, there are currently 38 patients with Covid-19 being cared

A number of Donegal TDs will be backing a Solidarity / People Befopre Profit motion in the Dail tonight to have student nurses on placement paid for the work they are doing. In March students nurses were drafted onto the front line, with promises from then Health Minister Simon Harris that they would be paid.

Today is Missing Persons Day, and gardai in Donegal are renewing their appeal for information about Cian Langelaan, who has been missing the end of September. The last confirmed sighting of Cian was in the Hornhead area, and gardai appealing to everyone to keep an eye out for him as they go about their daily

A Donegal businessman has told the Oireachtas Enterprise Committee that there is still a risk of checkpoints being established on the border as a result of the UK’s Internal Markets Bill. Pharmacist Tom Murray, a member of Border Communities Against Brexit told the committee this morning that there is still a disconnect at a local

The need for further development of tourism in East Donegal has been highlighted once again. Councillor Patrick McGowan told Donegal County Council this week that over the years the tourism offering in East Donegal has been ignored. The Council’s Director of Economic Development, Garry Martin has confirmed that going forward, a focus will be placed

Senior officials from both sides of the border will meet today to discuss collaborative regional growth projects, Covid-19 and Brexit. The North West Strategic Growth Partnership which is jointly led by Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council will receive an update on ongoing collaborative work being carried out by both councils

The government’s cancelling plans to raise the state pension age beyond 66 for now. Regulations which would have raised it to 67 next year and 68 in 2028 will be repealed in a social welfare bill next week. The Commission on the Pension Age will continue to deliberate on what the pension age should be.

Business owners fear having to spend Christmas filling out forms and recalculating their prices if Brexit trade talks break down. Negotiations are continuing in London today with less than a month to go before tariffs kick in automatically on New Year’s Eve. The Oireachtas Enterprise committee is meeting today to discuss preparations. Donegal Pharmacist Tom