Author name: oisinkelly

The restrictions on movement which were meant to expire tomorrow, have been extended for 3 more weeks, until Tuesday May 5th. Garda checkpoints continued in Letterkenny throughout the night and are ongoing today. Gardai are asking people to stay at home if your journey is not essential. The Taoiseach’s urging people not to tell authorities […]

We’re being asked to do what we can to reduce social isolation and improve the wellbeing of disabled people in the long term. The onside project which covers Donegal and Derry is an ongoing programme that aims to support disabled people create community connections of their own choosing. Speaking about the true meaning of ‘social

Over thirty new homes have been approved by Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Planning Committee, as planners continue to progress with the processing of applications. Applications are still currently being accepted despite some limitations on service due to the ongoing Coronavirus emergency. Catherine Gaffney has more:

  The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Donegal has jumped to 145. It’s a rise of 20 on the previous  figure of 125. Meanwhile, Sinn Fein has accused the HSE of withholding information on the backlog of tests for the coronavirus. The party’s Finance Spokerson Pearse Doherty says the lack of information is

  25 further people have died after contracting Covid-19 in the Republic. The death toll across the country from the disease is now 288. 480 cases have been detected – with the total number of positive tests now standing at 7,054. Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan has more details on the people who have

    Restrictions to control the spread of the coronavirus have been extended for another three weeks. They were due to end on Sunday night, but will now expire after the May Bank Holiday weekend on May 5th. Announcing the decision the Taoiseach said the sacrifices to date were making a difference and the spread

  The Leaving Cert exams are being postponed until the last week of July or early August. The Junior cert exams have been cancelled, with students set to take school based tests early in the new school year. All schools will remain closed until further notice. Education Minister Joe McHugh says they will issue a

  A new one way system has been introduced at the Bernard McGlinchey Town Park in Letterkenny. Donegal County Council has been working on the system over the last few days to encourage social distancing. Walks around the facility which are used regularly by locals have been effectively cut in half and are now clearly

  The Education Minister is expected to announce when the State exams will take place after this morning’s meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team. It’s unlikely the Junior and Leaving Cert will take place on the expected start date of June 3rd and will be pushed back to to July, August or even

  From today, police in Northern Ireland will be stepping up patrols and enforcement measures – to help tackle Covid-19. Checkpoints will be set up across the region – and the PSNI will be stopping vehicles on the roads to ensure journeys are necessary. Chief Constable Simon Byrne says it’s similar to what’s happening in

  Northern Ireland authorities have confirmed abortions can now be carried out in the hospitals in the six counties. The region’s strict laws on pregnancy-terminations were scrapped last month, but there was concern the Stormont Assembly had not put the new legislation into practice. But the North’s Department of Health confirms medical professionals may now

  Nearly 5,300 children have not been allocated a social worker by Tusla – despite child protection and welfare concerns with Donegal having one of the longest lists in the country. Over 680 are deemed high priority cases. Areas of Dublin have the longest lists, followed by the midwest, Waterford/Wexford and then Donegal. Joseph Mooney,

  Netflix customers are being warned of a phishing scam that has been reported in recent days. An email claiming to be from the streaming service will say a customer must update their billing details or else lose their account. However, this has been identified has fake. Technology correspondent Jess Kelly says people should not

  The Health Minister says the current restrictions on travel, work and movement will remain in place for the next few weeks. Health officials will formally make a recommendation to the government today, as the current measures are due to end on Sunday. Yesterday, 28 more patients lost their lives because of the coronavirus, while

  Deaths of Covid-19 patients in care homes may not be included in officials figures in Northern Ireland. First Minister Arlene Foster says the region is still only registering coronavirus deaths in hospitals. The issue of deaths in care homes is due to be discussed at a Stormont executive meeting today. Meanwhile, Deputy First Minister

  A Donegal County Councillor has expressed disappointment after two minor projects for flood prevention works in the Twin Towns were rejected by an Bord Pleanala. One application was to seek money to remove vegetation from embankments of the River Finn and the other was to clear three black spots along the rivers course. Both

  In response to COVID-19, The Exchange Inishowen, Spraoi agus Spórt and Trinity Court have set up a temporary Food Bank to serve the peninsula. Supported by Inishowen Development Partnership, the three charities will collect donations of food and work with local voluntary groups to distribute parcels to people in need. A fourth centre is

  There are now 125 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Donegal. Five new cases were confirmed today by the Department of Health. Out of the 28 new deaths recorded today, two of them are in the north west. The Social Protection Minister’s defended the government’s approach to testing for coronovirus. It’s after concerns were raised

  An Inishowen man who was at deaths door after contracting Covid-19 has issued a warning to the public that if you don’t address symptoms early on it could ‘take you out’. Joe Whoriskey spent the last couple of weeks in hospital in Galway and then Letterkenny, with several of those days unconscious and on

  A number of Garda checkpoints across Donegal have revealed that a significant number of people are continuing to make unnecessary journeys. Gardai are continuing their mammoth operation today at various locations in the county and spot checks have indicated that people are travelling several towns from their home to do their weekly shop. As

  The Director of Water and Services at Donegal County Council says a decision to restrict access to a number of beaches is in a bid to save lives. Michael McGarvey says a number of problem areas were identified following an in-depth consultation with the Gardai. The beaches affected are; Kinnagoe, Lisfannon, Shrove, Rathmullan, Block

    A Donegal TD says it’s clear that restrictions on public movement to combat Covid-19 will need to be extended beyond next Monday. The death toll in Ireland from Covid-19 now stands at 235 while there currently 6,074 confirmed cases. Pearse Doherty says this coupled with case clusters in nursing homes and care settings

  A breast surgeon at Letterkenny University Hospital says that staff need more specific PPE equipment as a matter of urgency. Emergency surgery is still on-going at the hospital but surgeons currently don’t have full length, long sleeved waterproof gowns. Dr. Manvidas Vargalis says the PPE equipment that arrived from China to Letterkenny is for

  Councillors in Inishowen have made a passionate plea to the public to adhere to the Government restrictions in place ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. A letter, urging people to come together by staying apart and keeping within 2km of their home in the fight against Covid-19 has been signed by all nine

  A further 25 people have died from Covid19 in the Republic, while 365 new cases have been confirmed. 13 deaths located in the east, 8 in the north, 2 in the south and 2 in the west of the country. It brings the death toll here to 235. The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus now