Author name: oisinkelly

Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh has welcomed a commitment from the Department of Education that it is to increase resources for dedicated school teams in each HSE area across the country to assist schools where a Covid-19 case is identified. Deputy McHugh in the Dail last evening, relayed concerns from school principals in Donegal over difficulties

The Taoiseach and Health Minister were only made aware last night that the HSE is asking some people to carry out their own contact tracing. A spokesperson for Stephen Donnelly says the decision was made by the HSE for ‘operational reasons’, adding that it was a temporary measure. Thousands of positive cases from last weekend

  The future of the post office network has been heavily debated in the Dail this afternoon. A large number of TDs from right across the country raised concerns over the viability of the network and what the Government could be doing in terms of enhancing services to ensure its survival. There are on-going fears

  A Donegal Deputy has slammed the Housing Minister for a U-turn on what he had termed ‘bonkers’ co-living plans in opposition last year. Co-living developments see bedrooms, often the size of a disabled parking space, built for single people with shared kitchen and living spaces. Deputy Thomas Pringle addressed the Dáil last night to

  Donegal County Council is to undertake a study of caravan facilities in a bid to address various challenges currently being experienced. It follows concern that some of the beaches and other scenic areas in the county were not able to cope with the huge volume of tourists this year. It has led to calls

  A Donegal Deputy is urging the Government to ‘hold the line’ as it relates to the fisheries sector in the Brexit negotiations. It’s thought that the sector is under the biggest threat in terms of the on-going talks and the increasingly likelihood of a no deal Brexit. Speaking in the Dail, Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn

The Donegal GRA representative says Gardai in the county will only fine people as a last resort. Fines of up to 2,500 are to be imposed on people who hold a house party in contravention of Covid 19 restrictions. New laws being drafted by government provide for a 1,000 euro fine for a first offence

  Up to 180,000 jobs have been lost in Ireland’s tourism sector this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. An Oireachtas committee will later hear the industry’s also facing a revenue shortfall of 5 billion euro and the prospect of further difficulty well into 2021. The Tourism Recovery Taskforce will present details of a new

  Donegal County Council is being urged to look at a number of estates in Letterkenny where water supplies are affected by problems with pumping stations. Cllr Gerry McMonagle was speaking after he was told the pumping station at the top of Foxhills is to be recommissioned in the coming days after a number of

  Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe will meet with the heads of Ulster Bank later to discuss an ongoing review of its Irish operations. Last month the bank’s owner, NatWest, confirmed a ‘strategic review’ is underway in the Republic, following reports it’s considering winding down. Ulster Bank employs 3,000 people on the island of Ireland –

The Chief Medical Officer believes fines will work in improving compliance with level 5 restrictions. Gardaí are to be given the power to fine people for attending house parties, not wearing masks in certain settings or for going further than 5km from home. It comes as 13 additional deaths and 1,269 new cases have been

A GP says the first covid lockdown was inevitable, the second unfortunate and if there’s a third it will be unforgivable. Dr Maitiu O’Tuathail says the inability to contact trace is [proving a major issue, and that must be addressed. He says we need to dramatically expand the contact tracing system. and include cross border

New fines are being brought in for people holding house parties as part of tougher coronavirus laws. The cabinet’s agreed to bring in a system of graduated penalties for those breaking the rules. It’s expected people not wearing face masks in shops, or breaking the 5 kilometre travel limit, could also be fined under new

  A leading public health specialist in Donegal says while he empathises with local businesses and people having to move to Level 5, it is the actions of some that have led us to this point. House parties, family gatherings and the number of people exceeding the amount advised at certain events are all said

  One of the big concerns for Donegal and other border counties is that restrictions in the north do not match those in the Republic. Retail remains open in Northern Ireland and their current restrictions are due to expire in mid-November while the lockdown here is due to last until December 1st. It has led

  As Donegal braces itself to move to level 5 tomorrow night, people are being urged to continue to shop local during the six week lockdown. Many businesses had been preparing for a normally hectic few months in the run up to Christmas, ordering extra stock and investing in what would have been a busy

  A Donegal Minister says the decision to move to Level 5 wasn’t taken lightly but it is a decision that’s in the best interest of the country. Minister Charlie McConalogue has too defended the Government’s approach not to move to the highest level of restrictions two weeks ago, stating it as a reasonable move

  A Donegal Deputy is demanding answers from Government over its decision not to follow advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team to move to level 5 restrictions a fortnight ago. NEPHT initially advised moving the entire country to Level 5 for at least a three week period but instead it was decided at

  The second lockdown is going to cost the state around 1.2 billion euro in increased social welfare payments alone. There’s been a restoration of the higher, 350 euro a week rate of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for those who earned more than 400 a week before losing their jobs. Six weeks of level five

  The Teachers’ Union of Ireland want rapid testing as they are to stay open in Level 5. Education Minister Norma Foley says there’s clear evidence that schools are safe for students, teachers and other staff. But the TUI says there’s serious uncertainty about the definitions used for close contacts in schools. Its president Martin

  Around 150,000 people are expected to lose their jobs when level five restrictions kick in from midnight tomorrow. Ireland has become the first European country to enter a second lockdown with all non-essential retail to close. However, some measures are more lenient than level five was planned – with schools to stay open, 25

  Donegal County Council is being urged to buy four houses in Churchill which have been lying unfinished since they were built a number of years ago. The houses are adjacent to The Pines, an estate which has had a problem with running sewage for over two years, and on which action was promised in