Author name: oisinkelly

  Sinn Féin is to challenge the ministers for Public Expenditure and Social Protection to immediately pay the emergency Pandemic Unemployment Payment available to people employed in the Republic, and living in Northern Ireland. The party says the Irish government claimed EU regulations meant they could not make the payment available to workers who live […]

No new Covid-19 deaths have been reported in the Republic of Ireland today, leaving the death toll at 1,746. However, 32 more cases have been reported here, the highest number in a month, bringing the total to 25,670. None of the new cases were in Donegal,where the number of confirmed cases is still 468. Kingston

Donegal County Council has agreed that the location for a Municipal burial ground will be considered as part of the Letterkenny area plan. The Councils Water and Environment Directorate is to further examine potential sites. If a number of options arise, they will then be presented to Cllrs for consideration in terms of including such

  Ireland’s oldest councillor believes keeping active and abstaining from alcohol and smoking has enabled him to reach his latest milestone. Donegal County Councillor Ian McGarvey is 90 years young today. The Independent Cllr was first elected as a public representative in 2004 at the age of 73. Celebrations are planned for the Cllr in

  There are further calls for a communal burial ground to be established in Letterkenny. Despite several potential sites being looked at over the years, there’s said to be little movement on such a facility for the town. Donegal County Council is being asked to consider providing a Municipal burial ground as part of the

  Businesses, which are struggling because of the Covid-19 pandemic, may be able to apply for loans to help them stay afloat. The Government’s given the go ahead for a two billion euro financial support plan, which if passed by the Oireachtas, would give thousands of SMEs access to low cost loans. 80 percent will

  The government has refused to rule out a cut to the pandemic unemployment payment. The current 350 euro payment is due to expire on August 10th. However, Ministers have said they don’t want a cliff edge situation for people where it ceases to exist. But Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath wouldn’t say whether the

  The full reopening of pubs, and how to limit the number of tourists travelling into this country, will be discussed by public health officials later. The National Public Health Emergency Team meets this morning, with all licensed premises due to be allowed reopen next Monday, under Phase 4. No new Covid-19 deaths have been

It’s been confirmed that a Bluefin Tuna tagging scheme which operated on a pilot basis last year is to operate again in 2020. There is no provision for the sporting or commercial catching of Bluefin tuna in Ireland, but 22 charter angling vessels are being licenced to participate in the special Catch and Release tagging

The number of people claiming the Pandemic Unemployment Payment in Donegal has fallen by 50% in just over two months, according to figures published by the government. 11,400 people will receive the payment in Donegal today, compared to 22,700 in the first week of May. 14,700 people receive the payment in Donegal today, 3,300 fewer

The Travelling community is still trying to find its place in Irish society, but will continue striving to find its voice. That’s according to Senator Eileen Flynn, the first Traveller Woman to take a seat in the Seanad. The Ardara based senator has launched this years Traveller Pride Week, celebrating the community’s diversity and pride.

A Donegal Inspector says it is very worrying that driving under the influence detections have increased rather than decreased as was expected as a result of less traffic on the roads over the past number of months. 9 people across the county were arrested for driving under the influence over the weekend, 6 for drink

Former Mayor of Buncrana, Lee Tedstone who travelled from America on Friday believes concerns around tourists arriving into Ireland over the weekend are justified. Lee had been living in Texas for a number of years but has relocated back home. Speaking on the Nine til Noon Show this morning, he says efforts to contain the

Animals in Need Donegal say they are bracing themselves for an increase in demand for their service. Due to Covid-19 restrictions a number of veterinary services were temporarily suspended including neutering which its feared will lead to an increase in the number of unwanted animals. On Friday, four kittens were found abandoned in a cardboard

The government should consider jailing tourists who don’t quarantine for two weeks, according to an infectious disease expert. It follows reports over the weekend some US visitors were failing to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival. Direct flights to Ireland resumed from several US cities in recent days, despite the country continuing to record high

The first Irish Traveller elected to the Seanad will launch Traveller Pride Week today. Donegal Senator Eileen Flynn says she has spent her whole life fighting “racism and inequality” People are being invited to take part in today’s events online, which is aimed at building solidarity and celebrating the role of travellers in Irish life.

The Health Minister wants travel companies and airlines to make it clear to tourists there’s an expectation they isolate for 14 days when they arrive to Ireland. There have been reports over the weekend of visitors not quarantining when they come on holiday. There’s a mandatory self-locator form for visitors to tell officials where they

The Cathaoirleach of the Inishowen Municipal District has hit out as its emerged Carndonagh Garda station has been omitted from the Garda Building and Refurbishment Programme. The station was deemed not fit for purpose by Chief Superintendent Terry McGinn in 2018 with concerns over health and safety and station security raised in the past. Donegal

The Health Minister says everyone coming into the country must self-isolate, with no exceptions. It comes following reports on social media of tourists entering the country and not staying in quarantine for two weeks. It is mandatory for people to fill in a self-locator form at airports letting officials know where they plan to stay

The HSE’s new Contact Tracing App has detected its first cases on Covid-19. As of today, the app has been downloaded by over 1 million 180 thousand people. The HSE say a number of patients that have tested positive for coronavirus uploaded their details to the app. Its contact tracing team have spoken to people

A Donegal TD has called on the new Government to provide the necessary funding to complete the breakwater for Greencastle Harbour. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has been informed that the Department of the Marine provided almost €9 million in funding from 2006 to 2011 for the rock breakwater, which is not yet complete. Combined with