Author name: oisinkelly

The North’s First Minister says restrictions placed on Derry and Strabane is by no means a lockdown. The area has witnessed a significant spike in Covid-19 cases in the past couple of weeks with the incidence rate per 100,000, one of the highest in the UK, at 322.6. The Executive confirmed last evening that new […]

Derry and Strabane has been placed under new restrictions. The North’s First Minister Arlene Foster confirmed the move this evening following a spike in cases in the area. No indoor gatherings are permitted with exceptions for weddings and funerals. Hospitality businesses will only be allowed to operate a takeaway, delivery service or outdoor dining. Outdoor

People in counties with Level 3 restrictions or higher will not be allowed to visit nursing homes, unless on compassionate or critical grounds. It’s part of new advice from the HPSC, which will allow residents to leave the premises for a social drive if the county is in Level 1. Outdoor and window visiting will

A Donegal Senator is calling on Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to respond to a petition calling for the removal of restrictions which pregnant women say are denying them vital support. In particular, the petition says fathers or partners should have the right to be present with a woman at her ante natal scans and appointments,

It’s hoped a 34 unit Social Housing project in Castlefinn will be completed by the end of 2022. The Habinteg Housing Association has been given the go ahead to move to stage two of the project, which will allow it access funding and proceed to planning. The site was purchased by the association in 2016,

The European Commission has launched legal proceedings against the UK over its plans to breach the withdrawal agreement. British MPs voted in favour of the internal markets bill which breaks international law and now has been passed onto the House of Lords for approval. The legislation proposes free trade across the UK – however it

  Fishing representative bodies are set to go back to court after a Sinn Fein attempt to overturn a statutory instrument introducing penalty points was defeated in the Dail last night. The motion, introduced by Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn, was defeated by 78 votes to 61. Agriculture and Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue, who previously supported

There are fears the temporary closure of Bank of Ireland in Bunbeg, Gweedore will become permanent. The bank announced the closure of the branch along with branches in Bundoran and Glenties this week, to facilitate what they say is the redeployment of statt to ensure continuity of services at its Letterkenny branch amid a number

New restrictions are likely to be introduced in Northern Ireland today, after a big spike in Covid-19 cases. A record 424 cases were detected yesterday, and nearly 2,000 in the past week. The Stormont executive’s meeting today to discuss new restrictions – after Health Minister Robin Swann said they are needed. Anne Speed, the lead

Senator Elisha McCallion has sought clarity on the Irish Government’s commitment to delivery on a number of projects set out in the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ Agreement. Senator McCallion told the Seanad this week that there cannot be another false dawn for the people of the North West. She pressed the Government to state its

A senior member of the National Public Health Emergency Team says we must make a long term commitment to social distancing. Hospital numbers had reached 130 yesterday evening, seven of them in Letterkenny University Hospital. That’s up from two earlier in the week, with none of them in intensive care. Chair of NPHET’s Covid modelling

The Education Minister has apologised for a mistake in the Leaving Cert system that will impact the grades of 6,500 students. A mistake in one line of code in predictive grades meant 7,200 lower grades were given, while a small number of students were given higher grades. They will not be downgraded – while texts

Two errors have been found in the calculated grades process for the Leaving Cert. The mistakes may result in some students having their results upgraded and independent external evaluators are being brought in. It’s understood the mistakes may impact on a large number of students who got their results this year. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has

The Irish Deer Commission is warning that a delay in issuing deer culling licences is threatening farm and forestry communities in Donegal. Nationally, the National Parks and Wildlife Service says over 41,000 deer were culled by over 5,500 licensed deer hunters in the 12 months to the end of February last year. 1,260 of those

A Donegal councillor says the government must do more to support people applying for house adaptation grants, particularly in terms of the need for matching funding. At its meeting this week, councillors approved adjustments to the amounts the council will provide in match funding, with increases of between €500 and €1,000 approved for a number

  The Derry doctor who chairs the British Medical Association’s GP Committee in Northern Ireland says complacency is the reason for the high levels of Covid 19 infection in the North West. Dr Tom Black says the main source of infections in Derry, Strabane and Donegal at present is family homes, indicating that people are

The North’s First Minister has confirmed that she will look into Covid-19 contact tracing for cross border workers. Concerns were raised by Foyle MLA Martina Anderson in the Assembly this week over a cross border protocol which the PHA in the North said was in operation. However, its emerged that a number of medical professionals

The Health Minister and the acting chief medical officer will appear before the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee this morning. Stephen Donnelly and Dr Ronan Glynn will face questions on the state’s plan for living with the virus. Professor Philip Nolan and Dr Cillian de Gascun, who are senior members of NPHET, will join the meeting via

There’s a warning that Ireland’s network of post offices face ‘unrestrained closures’ over the next six to eight months if the state doesn’t step in. A new report by Grant Thornton, commissioned by the Irish Postmasters Union, has found there’s a 17 million euro hole in finances every year. The IPU says the network’s now