Author name: oisinkelly

  The General Manager of Letterkenny University Hospital says it’s hoped that a new emergency unit will be ready for patients by the end of next week. Extensive work is continuing on the new 38 bed Covid-19 unit at the hospital with over 80 construction workers on site around the clock to ensure it’s finished

  Micheál Martin is edging towards becoming the next Taoiseach with Leo Varadkar prepared to allow the Fianna Fáil leader to serve the first term in the office. According to the Irish Independent, Leo Varadkar will allow Mr Martin the first term in the office if the two parties agree to rotate the office of

  Donegal’s newest ‘Meals on Wheels’ service has just been announced as the spirit of community continues to thrive across Donegal. ‘Castlefinn Covid Meals on Wheels’ was born this week following an online get together of local volunteers from sporting and charity organisations. The scheme was established as a result of the on-going Covid-19 crisis

  Up to 3,000 people in Northern Ireland could die from coronavirus in the space of 20 weeks. That’s the warning issued by the North’s Department of Health. There are now 689 confirmed cases of the virus in the six counties, after 103 new cases and two deaths were recorded yesterday. First Minister Arlene Foster

  Donegal County Council says it hopes to be in a position to open up the Mica redress scheme for applications in the coming weeks. Cathaoirleach of the Inishowen Municipal District Martin Mcdermott says while it’s not possible to say what impact the Coronavirus crisis will have on the scheme, he’s been reassured that government

The air service linking Donegal and Dublin is being scaled back to one flight a day in each direction. An airport spokesperson confirmed this afternoon that following discussions with Stobart Air and the Department of Transport it was decided to continue flights, with the airport operating in compliance with HSE guidelines. The airport says as

The CEO of the Saolta Hospital Group is confident that LUH has the capacity to deal with the worst of the Coronavirus pandemic, which is predicted to come between the 6th and 20th of April. Tony Canavan visited the hospital today for discussions with staff and management. He told Highland Radio News that the hospital

The Chief Fire Officer in Donegal says most wildfires are caused by carelessness on the part of members of the public. Joseph McTaggart says it’s more important now than ever before that people are careful, so the fire service isn’t overwhelmed. Mr McTaggart says in the case of last year’s fires in West Donegal, the

The Bishop of Raphoe says the availability of priests is being severely restricted by the Coronavirus pandemic. It follows confirmation that from now on, requiem masses in the diocese will be said in private, with no more than 10 family members then going to the graveyard. Bishop Alan Mc Guckian told Greg Hughes on today’s

The health watchdog HIQA is to carry out a risk-assessment to see which nursing homes need more help to deal with Covid-19. Health Minister Simon Harris says a number of measures are to be taken to deal the outbreaks in nursing homes…………….

Gardai paid a speed camera operator 26 million euro more than it got through its fines in the space of three years. Between 2017 and 2019, the gardai paid GoSafe 44 million euro. But the revenue generated in fines from its detections was 18.1 million euro. An Garda Siochana says the main purpose of these

After a nine year absence, former Donegal Deputy Niall Blaney is on his way back to Leinster House. He was elected to the Agriculture Panel of the Seanad last night on the 15th count. Outgoing Donegal Senator Brian O’Domhnaill last his seat, having been eliminated on the 13th count. Senator Blaney had placed ninth out

The Minister for Agriculture is being urged to bring forward the balancing payment for GLAS participants as a means of addressing cash flow difficulties farmers are experiencing. Donegal Deputy Charlie McConalogue, the Fianna Fail Agriculture Spokesperson, says the payment was to be issued to approximately 48,000 farmers in May. However, he says given the national

An agreement for greater cooperation to tackle the spread of Covid 19 across the island of Ireland has been reached. The Chief Medical Officers in the Republic and North are to sign a memo of understanding for a more joined up approach. It follows a conference call between the Tanaiste, Northern Secretary and First and

ALONE, the organisation that supports older people, received more than 1,100 calls to their COVID-19 helpline for older people on Saturday following the introduction of the cocooning measures, and is adding further staff members to answer phone calls to meet the increasing demand. The organisation has welcomed the introduction of practical support phone lines for

The Donegal Domestic Violence Service is asking tourist accommodation providers to consider making vacant properties available to the service for emergency cases. Manager Dr Maria Hainsworth says the restrictions on movement implemented as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic are putting further pressure on people at risk, and in many instances, people who would seek

Gardaí have renewed their appeal for information about a burglary that occurred at a home in The Glebe, Rossgier, Lifford in the early hours of last Friday morning. A car was taken outside the house, and later burnt out. Sergeant Charlene Anderson says the incident happened shortly after midnight…………

Tougher travel restrictions into and on the island of Ireland will be discussed when the National Public Health Emergency Team meets this morning. A further 295 cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed yesterday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 2,910, while eight more people have died. 36 cases are now confirmed in Donegal. Modelling

There are more than 5,100 kilometres of asbestos water pipes in the country, with Donegal identified as one of a number of counties to have significant amounts of pipes built from asbestos cement. According to details released under the Freedom of Information Act, these old pipes are located in every county in Ireland. In total,

An agreement has been reached that will allow marts to open on a limited basis to facilitate farmers who need to sell stock. Last week, the government announced a blanket shutdown of marts as part of its response to Covid-19, but Mart Managers of Ireland say they’ve managed to reach an agreement with the Department

A leading doctor claims there could be more deaths from coronavirus in the North than in the Republic because of testing differences. Professor Gabriel Scally claims it’s absurd a person in Donegal has to self-isolate for 14 days if they show symptoms of the virus – but only for seven days if they’re in Tyrone.

A Donegal TD says regulations regarding cross border workers must be changed to ensure that all workers on the island who have paid their taxes and social insurance qualify for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn says at present, the payment is being denied to workers who are resident in the North

The validity of drivers’ licences and NCT certs will be extended after testing facilities were closed. Existing documents will remain valid for those who cannot get their tests done in the coming weeks. Assistant Secretary at the Department of the Taoiseach Liz Canavan says they’re finalising details for those who have had tests cancelled……….

A Donegal TD says it’s vital that the Dail continues to sit throughout Covid-19 crisis, including this week, and over the Easter period. Deputy Pearse Doherty says at a time when everything is being asked of frontline health staff and other workers in essential roles, it is incomprehensible that political accountability and scrutiny would take