Author name: oisinkelly

  The National Public Health Emergency Team says it has no intention to recommend the easing of any level 5 restrictions earlier than planned. Non-essential retail should be reopened sooner than December according to an Independent TD. NPHET doesn’t anticipate recommending any level 5 restrictions being relaxed before December. Independent TD Marian Harkin says the […]

  There are calls on Donegal County Council to engage with Collite with a view towards making forestry more user friendly. Since March, many of the forests in the Letterkenny and Milford areas have grown in popularity but it’s thought more can be done in terms of improving pathways and facilities. Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny

  People in the North are being asked to redouble their efforts to curb the spread of Covid 19. The Northern Ireland Executive met last yesterday to discuss a plan to implement the phased lifting of restrictions from November 13th, but no decisions were taken. First Minister Arlene Foster says while there are some welcome

  The Chief Medical Officer says the full six weeks of level 5 restrictions will be necessary. A review is to be carried out at four weeks but NPHET is warning it doesn’t anticipate recommending any restrictions being eased before December. The 14 day incidence rate is now estimated to be 202 per 100 thousand

  Plans by Donegal ETB to erect permanent gates and fencing in the grounds of Gartan Outdoor Centre have been criticised by Donegal County Councillor, Ciaran Brogan. In a statement last evening, the ETB said it has long term plans to enhance recreational amenities, but there are safety issues that must be addressed. Cllr Brogan

  It’s emerged that breast check services have not resumed in Letterkenny. That’s despite assurances given that the unit outside the Public Services Centre on Neil T.Blaney Road would reopen on Tuesday 27th October after being temporarily halted due to the pandemic. DACC spokesperson Betty Holmes says following discussions, it was confirmed to her that

  Serious concern has been raised over what’s been described as a Covid-19 cluster in Letterkenny University Hospital. It’s been claimed that both staff and patients have been impacted. It comes as the latest figures from the HSE reflect a jump in those being treated for Covid-19 at the hospital with 19 confirmed cases now

    A Donegal TD has told the Dail a pregnant woman in Direct Provision in Donegal was denied transport to a hospital appointment that she needed to attend. Urging Taoiseach Michael Martin to announce a timeline for ending direct provision, Independent Deputy Thomas Pringle said the Donegal story is just one of a number

    30 new Covid-19 outbreaks were identified at schools over the past week – while there are 125 open clusters in the settings. Households is still the largest spreader of the disease according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre with over 3,000 open clusters. It comes as 444 new infections were reported in the

The Northern Ireland Executive will meet later to review the four-week circuit breaker lockdown. The Covid-19 restrictions are due to end on November 13th. However case numbers remain high, with almost 4,500 recorded in the past seven days. The hospital system is also operating at near full capacity, with just 20 ICU beds available. Anne

  The 12th annual Golden Bridges Conference and Awards ceremony will be held virtually this year, with an online event being run from Derry’s Guildhall on November 20th. The programme promotes partnerships between Ireland Northwest and Boston, Massachusetts, and is coordinated by Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council. For the past

The Foreign Affairs Minister says time is running out for a Brexit deal to be done but he still believes it’s possible. The EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier is briefing national ambassadors today on the latest on talks on a trade deal. He’s spent the past two weeks with his British counterpart trying to figure

    The Principal of Crana College has described the projected three year timeframe for the proposed Three School Campus as ‘best case scenario’. Principal Kevin Cooley says while he has no concerns merging into a three school campus along with Colaiste Cineal Eoghain and Gaelscoil Bun Chrannach, he is stressing the need for each

  There’s further concern over conditions in schools as the cold snap looms on the horizon. Under current Department Covid-19 guidelines, windows and doors in schools must be kept open at all times to allow adequate ventilation. However many parents are said to be worried for their children’s health coming into the winter and having

  A Consultant at Letterkenny University Hospital believes that a new report will pave the way for improvements and new pathways in emergency surgeries. The report focusing upon research carried out at Letterkenny University Hospital as part of the Emergency Surgery Outcomes Advancement Project has been officially launched today. ESOAP forms part of the €8.6m

The Health Minister has given reassurances that Letterkenny University Hospital is not being ‘short-changed’ when it comes to budget allocations. Minister Stephen Donnelly was responding to concerns raised by Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn in the Dail last night, who said that the hospital is experiencing ‘funding discrimination’. Letterkenny University Hospital had the sixth highest number

  The Infrastructure Minister in the North is being urged to work with the Irish Government to develop the railway network along the Western corridor. The Minister had recently announced her intention to progress a feasibility study for high speed rail between Derry, Belfast, Dublin, Cork and Limerick as committed to in a ‘New Decade,

  The former head of the HSE says hairdressers should be allowed reopen during Level 5. Tony O’Brien says they are among the businesses which have shown they can operated safely during the pandemic. 322 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded yesterday, the lowest daily figure in more than five weeks. Mr O’Brien believes hairdressers