Author name: oisinkelly

Cabinet Ministers will meet at 7pm this evening to consider moving border counties to level four restrictions. It comes after a four week circuit breaker lockdown was announced for Northern Ireland. It’s expected further restrictions will be placed on Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan. Independent TD for Donegal Thomas Pringle says he thinks the government should […]

The President of Letterkenny Chamber says local businesses are anxiously awaiting confirmation of what is to happen in Donegal in light of the Circuit Breaker lockdown announcement. This week, the chambers in Letterkenny and Derry met on the border in an effort to encourage people in the North West to take on board the public

A record number of Coronavirus cases have been recorded in the north in the last 24 hours. There were 1217 new cases of Covid 19 and four additional deaths. Meanwhile, a four week ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown will come into effect in Northern Ireland on Friday. The measures include an extended Halloween break for schools, which

Senior government officials met this morning to discuss moving Donegal, Cavan & Monaghan to level 4 restrictions. It’s likely that a full cabinet meeting will be called later after today’s Northern Ireland announcement. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says moving border counties to level 4 is under consideration……..

    The principal of Holy Cross School in Strabane says the first term of any school year is crucial and the latest lockdown will be seriously disruptive to children’s learning. Schools in the North are to shut for an extended Halloween break with the extra week deemed as a holiday. Students both sides of

  The Manager of a popular filling station in Lifford says the attitude by some Gardai at checkpoints is heavily impacting his business. Daly’s filling station is located not far from Lifford Bridge – a hotspot for rolling Garda checkpoints since Donegal was moved to level three restrictions. Many residents in nearby Strabane are patrons

  Northern Ireland has announced a four week lockdown with an extended Halloween break for schools to curb the spread of Covid-19. First Minister Arlene Foster has made the announcement in the last few minutes at a special sitting of the Assembly. As part of the measures, the hospitality sector will close except for takeaways,

  The government will make a decision later today on whether to impose tougher Covid-19 restrictions in Donegal and other border counties. Northern Ireland is to announce plans for a four-week lockdown this morning, with all pubs and restaurants expected to be closed and schools shutting for an extended 2-week Halloween break. A formal announcement

  There are fears over the long term impact Covid-19 will have on the likes of sporting voluntary and community groups in Donegal. The pandemic has significantly reduced local group’s ability to raise funds in the same capacity as pre-Covid levels with many struggling to provide their services as a result. These groups heavily rely

  There’s concern over delays in a number of road improvement works in Donegal. Information supplied by Donegal County Council shows that the majority of the delays are within the Lifford / Stranorlar Municipal District. Some of the projects have been stalled pending the installation of various works by Irish Water. Cllr Gerry Crawford is

  The Chief Medical Officer has warned Ireland is now dealing with ‘widespread’ community transmission of Covid-19. Dr Tony Holohan says it has become ‘a whole population issue’ and has appealed to every individual, family and workplace to act on public health advice. 811 new cases of the virus have been confirmed – spread across

  Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn says an increase in carbon tax will impact those who can least afford it. Carbon tax has been increased by 29% in Budget 2021 which means drivers will now pay just over 2 cent more per litre of petrol and 2 and a half cent more for a litre of

  Irish Water is being urged to extend the Letterkenny Town sewer out to Bonagee and Dromore next year. Work is already set to take place on the Two Lane road between the Dry Arch and Pole Star roundabouts in 2021. Cllr Gerry McMonagle told Letterkenny Municipal District feels that it would be sensible for

  Budget 2021 has been labelled a piecemeal budget. Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle claims the budget is another missed opportunity from Government and offers nothing that will make much of a difference to the majority of people. He says the budget is well short of what is needed:

An additional €20 million has been allocated to the Mica Redress Scheme in Budget 2021. Almost €40 million will be available under the scheme for affected homeowners next year with €19 million being carried over from this year’s budget. Minister Charlie McConalogue believes the Budget is one which takes account of where the country is

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty feels today’s budget has failed to meet the needs of the people. Speaking during statements on the budget, the Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson said Covid-19 and Brexit has resulted in a wave of uncertainty right across the country. He says today’s budget has failed to adequately address any of the challenges

  Every county bordering Northern Ireland now has a 14-day Covid-19 incidence rate of more than 100. It comes as the Stormont Executive holds an emergency meeting to discuss potential restrictions. Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan have the three highest 14-day incidence rates in the country, while Leitrim and Louth have a rate of more than

  Two influential figures in East Donegal are set to be commemorated with the renaming of buildings at the Old Army Barracks in Lifford. The buildings, known as The Prior School and McIntyre Building are to be renamed after Miss Eleanor Prior and Captain Kevin McIntyre respectively. Parts of the Old Army Barracks site have

  People are being urged to have a rethink when it comes to buying or using fireworks. Gardai say that fireworks and the associated noise can cause great distress to older people who have already suffered a great deal this year because of having to cocoon in their homes. The noise can also frighten family

  A Donegal Deputy believes that the Government has failed to recognise the emergency that exists in Gaeltachts. Addressing the Dáil, Deputy Thomas Pringle stated that the Official Languages Act of 2003, “hasn’t been fit for purpose for a long time”. There’s concern that a cross-party report, commissioned in 2018 with 20 recommendations has not

  A detailed paper, outlining the challenges that Donegal and the wider North West City region faces as a result of Brexit is currently being prepared by Donegal County Council. The document will reflect on the sectors which will be potentially impacted the most and will detail and argue for specific interventions by Government. This

  Serious concern has been raised again over difficulties facing the Donegal live entertainment industry with calls for extra support for the sector. The industry is said to have been decimated and one of the worst hit due to the Covid-19 crisis. The Council says it is actively engaging with the industry, ensuring that artists

  The Stormont executive will hold a special meeting this morning to consider bringing in new Covid-19 restrictions in Northern Ireland. Health officials have recommended a tighter lockdown for four to six weeks, after an average of 880 cases a day over the past week. Donegal Cavan and Monaghan may be moved to level 4

  A West Tyrone MLA has told the Stormont Assembly that a clear and transparent message is vital in tackling the spread of Covid-19. The 7 day incidence rate in Derry and Strabane, where further restrictions came into force last week, is currently the highest in the whole of the UK at 971 per 100,000