Author name: oisinkelly

New analysis from the INMO shows over 11,000 babies have been born in Ireland’s hospitals since the arrival of COVID-19 in late February. Based on 2018 figures, the busiest maternity service in Ireland is Rotunda with just over 8,500 births. Letterkenny University Hospital is 10th on the list with just over 1,700 births in 2018. […]

An Inishowen councillor says fly tipping is rampant, and remains a major issue under lockdown. After highlighting recent illegal dumping in the Lough Inn and Glengannon areas recently, Cllr Albert Doherty says he was alerted to three other areas in North Inishowen where people hold turbary rights and came across the materials when they went

A leading Health and Safety consultant in the North West says Irish employers are obligated to make Covid-19 updates to their health and safety policies. Employers are being urged to update safety measures, risk assessments and safety statements to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 as some employees prepare to return to work. Workers will gradually

16 more people have died from Covid-19 in the Republic, bringing the death toll to 1,319. A total of 21,772 people have tested positive for the virus, after 266 new cases were confirmed yesterday. There were four new cases confirmed in Donegal yesterday, bringing the county’s total to 465. The HSE is stressing the importance

The Taoiseach’s announced that the Government’s promised 18 million euro as part of global efforts to defeat the coronavirus. Heads of state have been joining a live-streamed round-robin to announce their countries’ contributions to the Global Vaccine Alliance, GAVI. Today’s announcement brings the total that Ireland has already committed to combat Covid-19 to 78 million

Inclusion Ireland is welcoming new guidelines for doctors treating people with disabilities during the pandemic. There were fears if covid-19 had overwhelmed intensive care units, life-saving treatment would have to be rationed. Inclusion Ireland says the new rules give clarity to medics and will reassure people with disabilities that they will get equal treatment if

Publicans want to reopen their bars six weeks earlier than scheduled in the government’s pandemic plan. Trade groups have offered up a “radical” plan that would limit the number of people on the premises, ban live music, and make pubs table service only. They hope to convince public health authorities to let them get back

Detectives in Derry are appealing for information following the report of a serious assault at Carlisle Road yesterday evening. The assault was reported to have occurred at the lower end of Carlisle Road close to the roundabout at around 4.50pm on Sunday afternoon. It was reported that a man, in his 30’s, was punched and

The government will review its supports for workers impacted by Covid-19 over the next few weeks. The Finance Minister says the programmes will be updated to reflect the changing economic and public health circumstances. Thousands of people and businesses are currently availing of the unemployment payment and wage subsidy schemes. Pascal Donohoe says it’s important

The HSE has apologised to the family of a person who died from Covid 19, after they were given the wrong body by a hospital mortuary. The incident happened at Mullingar Regional Hospital last weekend and an internal review’s been launched. The Ireland East Hospital Group says a mistake led to the wrong remains being

Detectives are investigating a series of creeper style burglaries in the Trench Road area of Derry on Saturday morning. Car keys were stolen from a property and a silver Land Rover Freelander was taken during the incident. The vehicle was recovered a short time later in Donegal by Gardai. Stephen Murphy reports: Police are appealing

A man in Inishowen has been charged after producing a knife, spitting at Gardai and telling them he had coronavirus. Adrian Harmon reports:

The government still plans for the Leaving Cert to go ahead in late July. That’s despite saying schools won’t re-open until September or October. However, the government has suggested classes for Leaving Cert students could happen if social distancing measures can be observed. Fianna Fáil’s calling for the Leaving Cert to be called off, and

  The Lough Swilly lifeboat operations manager is renewing calls for people not to use the sea for exercise or recreation this weekend. Both the RNLI and the Coast Guard are concerned that as the restrictions continue, some may become complacent and be tempted to take to the water or visit coastal areas. There have

  A Donegal TD has urged the Agriculture Minister to give further consideration to marts reopening as part of the easing of restrictions on Tuesday. Marts are waiting anxiously for news of when they can reopen on a limited basis with managers saying that movement of stock is proving challenging with online sales and buyer-matching

  People in Donegal are being urged to continue to look out for the vulnerable and older people within their communities. It’s after Alone raised concerns this week over an increase in the number of calls they were receiving from older people regarding mental health issues stemming from loneliness. Since it launched in March, Alones

  The Taoiseach has confirmed a two week extension of the current restrictions from May 5th. They will be extended now until May 18th. The government has also increased the distance in which people can exercise from 2 to 5 kilometres. People who have been cocooning will be allowed to leave their homes from Tuesday.

  The Clonmany Festival has been cancelled. The weeklong event had been entering its 53rd year and usually attracts thousands of people to the Inishowen village every August. However, following a committee meeting this week and new restrictions on social gatherings, it was decided to cancel the festival until 2021. In a statement, the Committee

  Gardai in Donegal have confirmed that ‘worrying trends’ are developing at checkpoints across the county. Drug and drink driving detections are up significantly on 2019 despite a decrease in traffic on the roads. However, road deaths in Donegal are down slightly when compared with the same period last year. Gardai have also been allocated

  Businesses who breach social distancing rules could be closed down under new plans being considered by the Government. Inspections will be carried out by the Health and Safety Authority. Guidelines on how businesses can implement social distancing are being finalised. CEO of the Restaurants Association Adrian Cummins says the regulations must be practical for

  A Donegal TD is calling on Revenue to defer today’s increase in the Carbon Tax. The move, which was announced in the budget last October, will see increased carbon tax on home-heating oil, gas, coal and briquettes. It’s expected that the cost of an average households annual gas bill will go up by around

  A Donegal TD has described the response to the crisis within the beef sector during the pandemic as insufficient on a number of levels. Beef farmers are said to be losing up to 250 euro a head in the current climate with the entire outlet for beef through restaurants, cafes and bars now closed.

  Ryanair’s planning to cut up to 3-thousand jobs because of the “unprecedented” coronavirus pandemic. The airline says it expects it to take at least two years to get passenger demand and pricing back to the levels seen last year. In a statement, the airline says it expects to operate less than 1 per cent

  The Justice Minister says efforts will be made to make sure people don’t cross the border over the long weekend. Minister Charlie Flanagan had a phone call last night with the North’s Justice Minister, Naomi Long on the need for co-operation between the gardaí and the PSNI. He said they both recognised the compliance

Tourism in Donegal and other rural areas is likely to take longer to recover from the coronavirus pandemic than in urban places. A report by EY Ireland says a larger amount of jobs are directly dependent on tourism in rural locations, such as 13 per cent in Donegal and 18 per cent in Kerry. Simon

    The Taoiseach will announce later whether any Covid-19 restrictions can be lifted from next Tuesday. The National Public Health Emergency Team meets this morning, and will issue advice to the government, which will then be discussed by Cabinet. The death toll from the virus has risen to 1,232, after a further 43 people

The Taoiseach has stated that cooperation between An Garda Siochana and the PSNI and not a change in the law is needed when it comes to concerns over a loophole in Covid-19 laws. A gap in the legislation means day-trippers from Northern Ireland do not have to abide by movement restrictions here. But speaking in

  The biggest agricultural show in Donegal is the latest casualty in cancellations. The Clonmany Agricultural Show, which is usually held at the beginning of August, attracts thousands of visitors from Ireland and the UK every year. The event had been entering its 53rd year but due to the social gathering restrictions has been cancelled