Author name: oisinkelly

The Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland says it has huge concerns about a Leaving Cert with predictive grades but it is supporting the plan. The union’s recommending its members engage with calculated grades for students but it still has concerns about possible legal issues. The Teachers Union of Ireland have also stated their initial […]

There were no new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Donegal yesterday, the first time since testing began. The number of people who have tested positive for the virus in the county still stand at 469. Meanwhile, GPs have seen a doubling of people they’re sending for Covid-19 testing in the past week. It’s after the

Irish Rural Link has welcomed the COVID-19 support package of €40 million for Community and Voluntary Organisations, Charities and Social Enterprises. Many of organisations and charities in Donegal have seen a drop in any earned income they generate as a result of having to close certain parts of their services such as charity shops, rental

A Donegal TD is urging the Government to provide protection to workers providing childcare to frontline healthcare staff during the Covid-19 pandemic. This comes as Allianz, an insurance provider in the childcare sector, has said this week it will not provide cover for Covid-19 related claims for workers who take part in the State-sponsored scheme

  27 more people have lost their lives in the Republic after getting Covid-19. It brings the death toll to 1,429. 156 new cases have been detected in the past 24 hours, with the total standing at 22,541 confirmed cases in this country. Dr Tony Holohan has details on those who have died:

  It’s been claimed that Letterkenny University Hospital testing capacity is not being utilised. It’s understood that the hospital had been processing approximately 300-400 samples per day at the beginning of April, with a 12-hour to 24-hour turnaround. Now, the laboratory in Letterkenny University Hospital is reportedly only processing samples from patients and staff from

  The Licensed Vintners Association says it is alarming and concerning to hear that there is very little prospect of pubs reopening in June. They are now calling for an urgent meeting with the government to discuss the future of the industry following the comments by the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan. Earlier this

  It’s emerged that the Donegal fire service attended ten separate wild or gorse fires across the county on Wednesday alone. Some of the fires required a large amount of personnel in order to bring them under control, putting extra pressure on the fire service locally. With the dry spell set to continue for the

  Low-income farmers received nearly 69 million euro under the social-welfare scheme ‘Farm Assist’ last year. Nearly 6,000 people received the payment, which is capped at 203 euro a week. More than 1,000 were in Donegal, and there were also high numbers in Mayo, Galway, Kerry, Cork and Monaghan. Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice says farmers

  The planned medical school at Magee campus in Derry has moved a step closer with the project to be taken forward by the Executive Office. The latest move means that the project now needs final sign off by Michelle O’Neill and First Minister Arlene Foster who have both publicly committed to delivering it. The

  A Donegal TD is calling for immediate action to prevent a surge in cancer fatalities in Donegal in the coming months and years. It’s after figures released to Fianna Fail show that the number of people being referred by GPs to Rapid Access Clinics has fallen by more than 50%. Due to the pandemic,

Cabinet ministers are set to approve an alternative plan for the Leaving Cert exams this morning. It’s understood the examinations will be cancelled and replaced with a system of predictive grades. It’s expected an official announcement will be made this afternoon. Labour’s education spokesman, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, is raising concerns about the legality of predictive

  The Tanaiste has acknowledged that the fishing industry is crucial to Donegal and that an extension to Brexit talks is needed to secure a viable deal for the sector. The CEO of the Killybegs fishermen’s organisation has recently described ending 2020 without a deal with Britain as an unmitigated disaster. Meanwhile, EU negotiators feel

  The HSE is urging people across Donegal that if they need psychiatric assessment should attend as usual at the Emergency Department at Letterkenny University Hospital. Patients will be seen at the on call facility by Non Consultant Hospital Doctors and Specialist Nurses. Psychiatric assessment hubs have also been set up across the county for

  There are calls on Pieta House to urgently clarify its position on reports of major cuts to services at its Letterkenny facility. It’s understood that almost all staff at Pieta House North West have been put on notice while therapists have been told not to arrange any more appointments after June. The centre, which

  There are calls for Covid-19 welfare payments to remain in place until at least Christmas time. Sinn Féin says the payments will still be needed in December by up to a quarter of a million people who have been impacted by the coronavirus. It comes as the Finance Minister indicated that the schemes cannot

  Some homes in Letterkenny had to be evacuated in the early hours of this morning after a fire broke out close to a large gas tank. The blaze happened at the back of a business premises at Oldtown. The area was sealed off and emergency services remain at the scene this morning. No injuries

  Firefighters have been praised for battling an overnight gorse fire at Knockalla. The alarm was raised at around 11pm with the blaze eventually brought under control late last night however there are reports that it’s still smouldering this morning. An investigation to determine the cause of the fire has been launched and anyone with information

  The nine members of Inishowen Municipal District will meet via Zoom next week to discuss a number of issues with officials. The agenda will, include progress to date with the Mica Redress Scheme, the status of the campaign to rebuild the leisure centre in Buncrana, and the Buncrana Three School Campus project. Cllr Jack

  The country isn’t at the point yet where Covid-19 restrictions could be lifted on May 18th. That’s according to the chief medical officer, after latest figures show 1,375 people with the virus have died, while over 22,200 have been infected. The total number of confirmed cases in Donegal now stands at 467. A relaxing

  Gardaí have been told they will not be given priority Covid-19 testing, according to the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors. The AGSI says it’s deeply disappointed at the decision after management told the Policy Authority on April 20th that there would be priority testing. The AGSI represents almost 2,500 mid-ranking gardaí and its

  Northern Ireland’s set to announce a phased lifting of its restrictions today. The Stormont Assembly has held several meetings this week to discuss a gradual removal of the measures. And Finance Minister Conor Murphy says another meeting will be held today, before an announcement is made:

  Donegal County Council’s Road Safety Officer is urging people not to let their commitment to road safety slip. Brian O’Donnell says there are more people on the roads now after the slight easing of restrictions earlier this week, but there is anecdotal evidence from gardai that speeding has been on the increase, as have