Author name: oisinkelly

The cabinet sub-committee on COVID is expected to meet tomorrow afternoon, with government sources saying they don’t believe the decision can be delayed beyond the weekend. NPHET has recommended moving the entire country to a level five lockdown for six weeks. Taoiseach Micheál Martin says it’s being given very serious consideration, but the full social

Downing Street says trade talks with the European Union “are over”, after the British Prime Minister told businesses to prepare to breakaway with no deal in place. Boris Johnson says there needs to be a “fundamental” change of position from the EU – accusing leaders of making “unacceptable” demands. He wants a deal similar to

The HSE says there are no plans to establish a Covid -19 Test Centre on the Inishowen Peninsula. Cllr Albert Doherty, the Cathaoirleach of the Inishowen Municipal District had made the call for a centre this week, but in its response, the HSE says there is sufficient capacity in Letterkenny, while the pop-up centre in

  Bus Eireann say at the moment school buses will run as they are. Under Level 4 restrictions Bus Éireann and Expressway services in Donegal will operate at a capacity of 25% in line with Level 4 Government restrictions. People are being encouraged to only use the services if their journey is essential. Brian Connolly,

This year’s MacGill Summer School will be moving online as a result of the current pandemic. Covid-19, the social and economic fallout of it, Education, Brexit and the US Presidential Elections will dominate the conversation at the 40th annual summer school which begins next Thursday. The Taoiseach, Professor Sam McConkey, Congressman Brendan Boyle and former

There will be extra garda checkpoints across the country this weekend. A new High Visibility Nationwide Policing Plan came into effect at 7am this morning and will run until midnight on Sunday. There will more checkpoints and patrols particularly at public parks and popular attractions. Officers will also be encouraging people to practice public health

  A Fianna Fail Councillor says the retail sector in Donegal deserved more time to allow them prepare to close under Level Four. Most businesses had been planning for a busy few months, ordering extra stock ahead of the Christmas period. However with just under 24 hours’ notice, they were told they had to shut

  The Education Minister says if the country goes to level 5 she would seek public health advice in relation to schools remaining open. NPHET advised the Department of Health on Wednesday that schools are not amplifying the case numbers. Minister Norma Foley says schools continue to be a safe place to be:

  Household visits are banned nationwide as new Covid-19 restrictions came into effect overnight. While Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan are now under level 4 restrictions, meaning shops that sell non-essential items are not allowed to open for four weeks. In addition, no more than six people from two households can meet outdoors. It comes as

  The HSE spent nearly 4.5 million euro on private ambulances in the first six months of this year. According to freedom of information figures, Letterkenny University Hospital’s bill was the highest, at 629,000 euro. Private ambulance providers are used for non-urgent cases when the National Ambulance Service isn’t available. Lifeline Ambulance Service got over

A four-week lockdown in Northern Ireland begins at 6 o’clock this evening. Pubs and restaurants will be forced to close, apart from for takeaways and deliveries. Schools and colleges will shut for two weeks, but retail shops will remain open – unlike in Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan. Donegal GP Denis McCauley says people are likely

  Donegal County Council has confirmed a junction in Milford is being prioritised for an application for emergency funding. Cllr Liam Blaney told Letterkenny Municipal District that the crossroads, which is close to the Old Technical school, has been the scene of several accidents, the most recent on the first if this month. He called

  The Mayor of Letterkenny Municipal District says Donegal County Council should begin working on plans for greenways on both sides of the Swilly. Cllr Donal Coyle says work should start now on the development of greenways to link up with similar facilities which are already at the planning stage. He acknowledges it’s an ambitious

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has told the Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement that supporting North-South transport links is a very practical expression of cross border cooperation. He said the government remains committed to the A5 upgrade, and is also committed to other infrastructural projects. Minister Coveney also acknowledged that

EU leaders will get an update on EU UK trade talks at a summit in Brussels, which is getting underway. Today is the deadline set by the British Prime Minister to reach a deal. However some European leaders believe agreement can still be reached with Britain on a future trading relationship. Speaking as he arrived

  With thousands of people in Donegal set to lose their jobs again from midnight tonight, the issue of the amount currently paid through the Pandemic Unemployment Payment has been raised in the Dail this afternoon. The rate of the payment was reduced from 350 euro almost a month ago, falling to €300 for workers

  The General Manager of Letterkenny University Hospital says they are seeing a steady increase of Covid patients at the hospital and measures are being taken to ensure that ICU is adequately staffed and operational. Escalation plans have been implemented at the hospital and in order to sustain that, staff will be have to be

  A Donegal GP says the Living with Covid plan is about trying to control people’s behaviour and he has been seeing worrying trends developing in the county in terms of some not adhering to guidelines. Dr Paul Armstrong who is also the Clinical Lead of the Covid Hub centre in Letterkenny says the reality

  A leading health expert says if Covid-19 affected animals instead of people, we would undoubtedly be dealing with it on an all-island basis. Dr Gabriel Scally is rowing in behind calls for a singular approach by both Governments to respond to the crisis. Yesterday saw a record daily number of over 2,300 confirmed cases

  Cllr Nicholas Crossan feels the decision to move Donegal to Level Four was the right one. Twenty nine new confirmed cases were recorded in Donegal yesterday with the county reporting slightly lower numbers in recent days when compared with weeks previous. But Cllr Crossan says we still have a long way to go to

  A Government Minister says while the number of positive Covid-19 cases in Donegal appears to be stabilising, the rate of infection is still high and so a decision was taken to move to level 4. Donegal has been on Level three for over two weeks now and there’s concern that the county wasn’t given

  A Donegal Deputy says the retail sector in Donegal must be protected as the county moves to Level Four. Retail is to remain open in Northern Ireland while non-essential retail is to shut here under the new restrictions. Speaking in the Dail last night, Deputy Joe McHugh says people had started shopping for Christmas,

  A Government Minister says banning household visits could be a ‘gamechanger’ in curbing the spread of Covid 19. A nationwide ban on visiting people’s homes is coming into place from midnight with exceptions for things like childcare. Level four restrictions will also come into effect for Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan, meaning all non-essential retail