Author name: oisinkelly

The unemployment rate in March, including those receiving the Pandemic Unemployment benefit was 16.5 per cent. The CSO has released its first set of official monthly unemployment figures since the crisis began. A third of those receiving some form of welfare support are aged 15 to 24, while the rate for those aged over 25 […]

  A major Garda operation along the Donegal border is continuing and has seen a significant number of cars being turned back under the new clampdown as part of Covid-19 restrictions. The checkpoints have been set up at a number of crossing points along the border as of yesterday and are on-going this morning. Gardai

  An Bord Pleanala has overturned a decision by Donegal County Council against plans for an amusement arcade in Letterkenny and has given the green light for the development. Mr Conor Carey lodged an appeal to change the use of the existing ground floor office on Lower Main Street into an amusement arcade after it

  State exams may now be held in late summer or autumn because of the coronavirus. The Irish Times says the government believes it’s unlikely the restrictions will be lifted in time for their usual June start date. Students have been urged to continue with their studies as senior officials in the Department of Education

  Donegal County Council is encouraging any business that has been affected by COVID-19 to check if they’re eligible for the SCBI “COVID-19 Working Capital Loan Scheme”. The scheme offers loans of up to €1.5m at reduced rates, with up to €500,000 unsecured to mitigate the impact of COVID19. The SBCI Covid-19 Working Capital Scheme

  Nearly half of all businesses in Ireland have laid off staff because of the coronavirus pandemic. According to a survey by Chambers Ireland, a fifth have let their entire staff go. 42 per cent of businesses have closed entirely, and most expect to be shut for three months. The survey took place throughout Ireland

    The number of confirmed cases of Covid- 19 in Donegal has risen again. There are now 120 confirmed cases in the county, a rise of six on yesterday’s figure of 114. Meanwhile, The National Public Health Emergency Team noted today’s guidance from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) that the

  Another five people have died in Northern Ireland from the Coronavirus. That brings the total number of deaths there to 78. 84 new positive cases were reported in the last 24 hours, which means there are 1,339 confirmed cases in the North.

  Donegal County Council has announced that access for vehicles to a number of beach car parks and beaches in the county has been restricted to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The local authority says they have taken the action in order to support public health guidance following observations and consultation with relevant authorities. The beaches

  Gardai in Donegal say that there is a concern that there may be a rise in the consumption of alcohol at home at this time and there is also concern about the impact this may have on the mental health of people and on their children. The Alcohol Forum has produced a resource “Don’t

  The Garda Commissioner says people who made it to their holiday homes must now remain there during the COVID19 restrictions. New powers that allow Gardaí to enforce coronavirus restrictions are now in effect. The Garda Commissioner Drew Harris says while public cooperation with the guidelines have to far been good, things are starting to

  The Donegal County Library is lending a hand in the fight against Covid-19. The library has let a local group borrow their 3D printer to make PPE face masks for frontline staff at Letterkenny University Hospital. It’s understood that work is already underway with the extra supplies expected to be delivered to the hospital

  Post offices will be closed on Saturday to give staff a break. An Post says it’s putting special measures in place for Easter Weekend, and post offices will be open until 1pm on Good Friday. Management says staff are due a well-earned break over the Easter bank holiday so they can resume services on

  Police have issued a warning after noticing an increase in the amount of vehicles and people moving around the Derry area in recent days. In a statement, police say that they are on patrol and urging people to adhere to the North’s Executive regulations. They are reminding everyone to only travel for essential journeys

  Gardai are today launching a major policing operation aimed at encouraging people not to travel over the upcoming Easter weekend. Patrols and checkpoints will be stepped up across the country. The Garda operation will focus on routes out of towns and cities and those towards weekend hot-spots like beaches and parks. There will be

  A search is ongoing for a stolen SUV after the keys were stolen from a holiday home in Falcarragh. Thieves broke into a property at Derryreel at some stage between 3pm last Thursday and 8.30am on Saturday morning. The front window of the house was broken and the key to the back door of

A further 36 Covid-19 deaths have been confirmed in the Republic, the single biggest number in one day, bringing the death toll to 210. 345 new cases have been confirmed, with the number of confirmed cases in the Republic now standing at 5,709. 114 cases have now been confirmed in Donegal, up 11 on yesterday’s

Donegal Libraries along with special guests will deliver storytelling sessions aimed at families to help reinforce the importance of reading at home. A part of the Right to Read programme, Spring into Storytime is a national initiative running across all libraries during April and May. Donegal Libraries along with special guests will deliver storytelling sessions

Another three people have died from Covid-19 in Northern Ireland. It brings to 73 the number of people who lost their lives to the virus north of the border. 97 new cases were reported, bringing the total number of reported cases to 1,255. Meanwhile, a Memorandum of Understanding has been formally agreed to underpin and

  The HSE says a total of 48 Covid-19 Community Testing Centres, two of them in Donegal, which are operating from 8am to 8pm seven days a week. The centre are at O’ Donnell Park in Letterkenny and the Lakeside Caravan and Camping Centre – Belleek Road – Ballyshannon. The HSE says the test centre

16 more people have died from Covid19 in the Republic, four of them in the North West. 370 new cases have been confirmed. It brings the death toll here to 174. The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 5,364. There are now 103 cases in Donegal North of the Border, seven more deaths

The annual 12th of July parades in the North have been cancelled this year. The Orange Order announced the move earlier today, saying the decision was because of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Grand Master, Edward Stevenson said the gathering of hundreds of thousands of Orangemen and women, bands and spectators, would not be responsible. Parades

Parents are being urged to know their children’s whereabouts after a number of cases of young people gathering at Council owned grass and artificial playing pitches at the weekend. All playing facilities are currently closed to the public to reduce the spread of the Covid 19 virus however groups of young people have gained access