Author name: oisinkelly

  The Donegal Vintners Association is warning that there must be reduction in the social distancing guidelines from two metres to one for pubs to be viable when they eventually reopen. The World Health Organisation has advised that keeping your distance one metre apart from another is sufficient going forward however Ireland is, for now,

  Families may be able to visit their loved ones in nursing homes sooner than initially planned. Currently visitors are not permitted until the end of June. The National Public Health Emergency Team says its conscious of the negative impact the ban on visiting is having on the mental health of residents. Dr Tony Holohan

  A special online meeting, targeting businesses in Donegal is taking place this week. The event is being hosted by Donegal Sinn Fein and aims to help businesses in the tourism, hospitality and retail sector towards a recovery after this crisis and the supports needed to do that. The online Q&A is getting underway tomorrow

    There’s further concern over more illegal dumping cases in Donegal. The latest discovery was made on a side road at Dundrain, Inishowen and included large items such as garden furniture, electrical equipment and numerous bags of household rubbish. Donegal County Council has since carried out a clean-up operation in the area. Local Cllr

  Ireland’s debt could return to near record levels due to Covid-19. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council says it could reach 160 per cent of gross national income – up from 99 per cent in 2019. In its latest financial assessment, it also warns it could take up to three and a half years for

  Charity services are at risk of collapse over the coming months, according to a body that represents the sector. The Wheel says many are facing an unprecedented social and economic crisis after Covid-19. A recent survey by the Charities Regulator has found more than half say they’ll be unable to continue providing services for

  A West Tyrone MLA says the current Covid-19 crisis underscores the critical need for a Universal Basic Income to provide security in the face of wider economic insecurity. Daniel McCrossan says the Department for Communities must develop a robust support action plan following a 90% increase in unemployment North of the border. Mr McCrossan

Irish Water say the resumption of projects in Letterkenny this week will be slowed down slightly because of the need to adapt working practices to meet government and HSE guidelines. Work is underway again on plans to upgrade and replace drinking water mains in a number of areas, as well as improving the wastewater network.

Gardai in Donegal have confirmed that crime figures are down since lockdown began. However, offences are continuing across the division with more arrests made this week for the likes of drink and drug driving, possession of drugs and public order. Gardai say that the rate of burglaries is down and while this is a good

Donegal TD Pearse Doherty doesn’t know if he would have joined the IRA during the Troubles had he been old enough. The Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson says he hopes he would have had the courage to stand up for his community against the British Army if he was living in Derry during the 1970’s. Over

  There’s further concern over the livelihood of private bus operators in Donegal. Many operators in the county say that they face an uncertain future with fears that some may not be able to resume services in the aftermath of Covid-19. The Government is being called upon to intervene and subsidise operators as a matter

  Daniel O’Donnell says gardai gave him a letter to allow him to travel to nursing homes around Donegal to entertain residents. Cocooners in community hospitals across the county have been treated to surprise concerts in their gardens during the lockdown. Daniel says the idea came to him one day:

  Almost 200 thousand euro has been allocated to construct a long-awaited slipway at Leenon Pier in Urris, Clonmany. The funding has been sanctioned under the Department of the Marine with Donegal County Council providing match funding of 25%. There has been on-going concern among local fishermen that they are currently unable to tie up

  Beaches across Donegal have scored well in the latest EPA report with most of the bathing waters in the county either ranked as excellent or good. Lisfannon beach has been upgraded from sufficient to good in the latest report while Portarthur in Derrybeg has seen a slight decline in water quality, going from good

  A Donegal TD is calling for a change in the process SUSI grants are assessed this year. Due to a major change in financial circumstances for many, it’s thought that applicants should be assessed on their income this year. The normal procedure does not allow this year to be taken into consideration until last

The chief executive of Nursing Homes Ireland is expected to say the failure of the so-called surge to materialise was among the reasons patients were discharged to homes from hospital without testing for Covid-19. Tadhg Daly is among those who will face a grilling from the Covid-19 Committee today in the wake of the devastating

  St Columba’s National School has been given the go ahead to proceed with a special new autism unit. The school’s Board of Management has been meeting to discuss how it will proceed, with up to five pupils from the area in need of such a facility from this coming September. Local Councillor Michael Mc

  The MP for West Tyrone is seeking an urgent meeting with Stormont Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon to discuss the A5. It’s after the minister indicated that construction on the upgrade of the route, which was to have begun this year, A5 will not start until next Spring because of a £242m shortfall in funding.

    A Donegal TD is calling for an immediate review into the fleet tie-up scheme and supports to be delivered to the fishing sector. The voluntary fleet tie-up scheme, announced some weeks ago by the Minister, has been widely rejected by stakeholders in the fishing industry and has been described by some as not

  Work has officially begun on the long-awaited extension at Glenswilly National School. Contractors are on site today to start redeveloping the school and building five new classrooms. The extension was given the green light in September last year and will also include a new general purpose room and three special education rooms and other

  A Donegal dentist has hit out at both the HSE and the Government for failing to supply PPE equipment to them. Despite efforts to effectively be in a position to get back up and running, on-going delays has resulted in High Road Dental in Letterkenny securing PPE equipment from suppliers in Derry instead. Adrian

  Serious concern has been raised over a reported influx of people to beaches around the county over the weekend. Despite a decision taken by Donegal County Council to effectively close beaches to the public at the end of March; large crowds reportedly flocked to a number of beaches yesterday. There are further claims that

  Plans for the development of the green area at the Bernard McGlinchey Town Park in Letterkenny are due before Donegal County Council today. If given the green light, the plans include the development of an Urban Adventures Sports Project which will include an all-weather play area and an outdoor covered stage with tiered seating

  Glenveagh National Park is set to receive the first two electric buses in Ireland. A contract has been signed with commercial vehicle distributor Harris Group to supply two electric buses to the popular amenity. The project is co-funded by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Failte Ireland and the Department of Rural