Author name: oisinkelly

  Gardai in Donegal and elsewhere have begun wearing masks this week in situations where they cannot maintain social distancing. The majority of Gardai will be wearing the masks in patrol cars, shops or in someone’s home from now on. But they haven’t been deemed necessary for open air policing, such as foot or bike

  A petition, opposing plans for an asphalt plant in Burnfoot has been launched. Plans have been submitted to Donegal County Council in February for the plant to be developed behind a large quarry at the foot of Scalp Mountain. Some residents in the area have serious health and safety concern regarding the proposals and

  House prices could fall by 5 per cent due to the pandemic, according to a leading expert. It comes after the Construction Industry Federation warned Covid-19 safety measures could add 5 to 10 per cent to the cost of a house While KBC bank says prices could fall by up to 20 per cent.

  The owner of a bus company in Donegal says there is major concern within in the industry as to how public transport will be feasible into the future. A typical coach would normally carry up to 50 passengers from Donegal to Dublin but now under social distancing guidelines, will only be permitted to transport

  The government needs to consider slowly reopening schools, according to a member of the World Health Organisation. There are now over 24,200 confirmed cases of coronavirus here and 1,561 people have died. There are currently 477 confirmed cases in Donegal. Children aren’t expected back at school until September because of the pandemic. But Dr

  There’s been an increase in the littering of disposable gloves and wipes across the county. Donegal County Council says people are discarding their rubbish on the likes of footpaths, in car-parks, at bring banks and along hedges in rural areas. With phase one of easing restrictions now well underway, local Cllr Paul Canning says

  The Data Protection Commissioner’s in discussions with the HSE over its release of workers Covid-19 test results to employers. Yesterday it confirmed the practice had been taking place in ‘exceptional’ circumstances for public health reasons. However, it now says it’s reconsidering the move following criticism – the Chief Medical Officer described it as a

    Ibec has launched a major new campaign to support the North West’s recovery and future growth in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Reboot and Reimagine campaign proposes a €15 billion reboot plan for the first 100 days of a new Government and an increase of €25 billion in the lifetime of the

  An Inishowen Cllr says there’s been a big increase in joy riding incidents on the peninsula. Gardai are aware of the issue and are monitoring the routes in question. It’s understood that not all the culprits are from north of the border. Cllr Terry Crossan says the force is under enough pressure with the

    The emergency phase of COVID-19 may be with us for months or years according to the head of the Department of Health. Jim Breslin has said the virus will be an ever-present danger for the foreseeable future. The Dáil’s new COVID-19 committee is holding a series of sessions today. Secretary General of the

  The Foundation Dean of the school of medicine at Magee College in Derry hasn’t ruled out the possibility of medical students coming to Donegal for placement in the years ahead. The Magee Medical School has officially been given the green light with the first intake of 70 students expected in September. The Northern Ireland

The Communications Officer for the North West Greenway project says cycling directly from Inishowen into Derry City Centre would be unheard of – until now. Yesterday it was announced that a planning application has been lodged which would see the construction of a new shared 62-metre long cycle and footbridge between Donegal and Derry. It’s

  A Donegal County Councillor is calling for the powers that be to come up with a creative way in tackling the backlog in driving tests. Tests have been suspended indefinitely since April with over 27,500 learner drivers nationwide now left in limbo. The Transport Minister may further extend the validity period for expired learner

  The Magee Medical School in Derry has officially been given the green light. The Northern Ireland Executive has agreed to establish the graduate entry medical school with the first intake of 70 students expected in September. Foyle MLA Karen Mullan has been welcoming the news. She says, not only will the Medical School positively

  There are calls for a cross-party agreement to end the exclusion of women returning from maternity leave from the Wage Subsidy Scheme. Currently, women returning from maternity leave are excluded on the grounds that, despite being employees, they were not on their employer’s payroll on February 29th. Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn says the Finance

  The chief medical officer and the HSE chief executive will appear before a special Oireachtas Covid-19 committee later, to answer questions over their handling of the crisis so far. It comes as last night’s Department of Health figures show the lowest daily death toll increase since March 27th. 1,547 people have so far lost

Some churches in Northern Ireland will reopen for private prayer today. Some services will also be allowed, as long as those attending don’t get out of their cars. It’s after the Stormont Assembly relaxed more of the Covid-19 restrictions yesterday. First Minister Arlene Foster says it was important to allow churches reopen.

Chambers of Commerce in Donegal say as more businesses begin to open, today has been about learning and addressing issues around how to keep staff and customers safe. Leah Fairman of the Ballybofey-Stranorlar Chamber of Commerce says the experience there has been similar to other towns – There is a sense of excitement, but also

  Ards Forest car park has reopened to the public today as part of the slight easing of Covid-19 restrictions. Coillte’s forest parks will also be free of charge to all those who live within 5km of them. Social distancing measures will be put in place to protect public health and wellbeing and Coillte are

A Donegal restaurant owner says the measures in which they will be allowed to reopen later in the summer will not be unsustainable financially. There are major fears locally that when restaurants are permitted to open their doors again; the majority will be working at a loss. Paddy Mac, proprietor of Mad Hatters Tea Room

  The Donegal Crime Prevention Officer is warning that while phase one of the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions is underway in earnest, Gardai will be continuing their extensive operations. Mammoth checkpoints are on-going across the county while Gardai are also to closely monitor how people are complying with the slight easing of restrictions. Meanwhile the

  A former Garda Sergeant in Donegal mental health problems among Gardai will not go away without proper intervention and counselling. It comes as recent figures show that 13 Gardai have taken their own lives over the past three years. Meanwhile at least 68 officers have had to take sickness absence every year due to