Author name: oisinkelly

British MPs have backed the government’s Brexit Withdrawal Bill – by a majority of 124. It’s the first step in Boris Johnson’s promise to take the UK out of the EU by the end of January. The agreement also limits the Brexit transition period to 11 months. MPs will be given time to scrutinise the

Over €1 million in funding has been approved by the Donegal Local Community Development Committee for 17 projects across the county under the LEADER Programme. The projects range from self-catering accommodation, supporting small SME’s, village development initiatives, water quality improvements, supporting family resource services and the development of new tourism facilities. Chair of the Donegal

The Friends of Lifford Hospital say they will take more direct action in 2020 to highlight what they believe is the imminent closure of the facility by stealth. Over the next two weeks, the two remaining long stay residents will be transferred, and last night, a public meeting in Lifford called for a concerted campaign

The DUP have been blamed for holding up a deal which would see the return of the Stormont Executive. Last night, Northern Ireland’s Secretary of State said he believes a deal could be reached imminently – but not all parties are on board. The DUP says it won’t be forced into a deal before Christmas

    A Donegal County Councillor hopes that efficient traffic management plans will be place for various road projects in Donegal next year but says it’s very much a case of no pain no gain. As part of a Government announcement yesterday, around 44 million euro was sanctioned to the local authority to carry out

  People are being advised to only go to Accident and Emergency Departments if necessary. The flu season is set to be worse than last year with eight people having died so far due to flu related illnesses. Both Donegal and Dublin are said to be the worst affected counties. The HSE is advising influenza

    Questions are being asked over funding for water upgrade works in Derryconnor. Irish water plan to carry out pipe replacement works in the area in 2020 but there’s concern that the funding for the works may have been sourced from another planned project in the west of the county. Cllr Michael Cholm MacGiolla

  The British Government has been accused of potentially undermining the peace process over proposals to give amnesty to British soldiers for their actions during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The SDLPs Colum Eastwood made the comments in what’s been described as a hard-hitting maiden speech in the House of Commons. Speaking from there last

  The Department of Children and Youth Affairs says 1,382 creches across the country have been offered quotes by Allianz – the last insurer left in the market. It’s urging creche owners to reassure parents they have cover for the New Year after a major insurer pulled out of the market. The government’s announced a

  A deal to restore the power sharing executive at Stormont could have been reached last night – but for the DUP. The Northern Ireland Secretary says he’s “deeply disappointed” that the party was the only one to hold out on a possible agreement. Stormont collapsed in January 2017, and since then, the Northern Ireland Assembly

Midlands North West MEP Mairead McGuinness says securing a future trade relationship with the UK will be “very very difficult”. But she says the UK has compromised in the past when it came to negotiating the Brexit Withdrawal agreement despite bullish statements about their red lines. The Fine Gael MEP was speaking in the European

The Leas Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council is urging people to examine the proposed new parking By-Laws for Sliabh Liag, and make their views known. Noon on Monday is the deadline for submissions. The draft By-Laws can be accessed HERE Cllr Niamh Kennedy says its’s an important issue for local people as well as for

Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle is asking if services are are being scaled down by the HSE as a money saving exercise. He was speaking after figuires supplied to him showed that the Seaview Respite Service in Mountcharles, which has been closed for most of 2019, cost €320,500 to operate this year, compared to almost €478,500

Serious concern has been raised over the impact weather warnings are having on local businesses. It’s claimed that last weekend’s yellow warning resulted in 20% of business being lost by hoteliers in Donegal with a significant number of bookings being cancelled. It follows questions about the consistency of warnings with Met Eireann facing backlash over

  The Manager of the Bluestacks Foundation says it’s embarrassing at this stage to be continuously shaking buckets to keep their service afloat. Wendy McCarron was reacting to a meeting between the Minister for Disabilities and Donegal Representatives yesterday evening in a bid to secure additional funding for both the Bluestacks Foundation and iCare. Both

  Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty’s bill on consumer insurance reform has officially passed all stages of the Oireachtas. The Consumer Insurance Contracts Bill was approved by the Dail last night, having passed through the Seanad last week. The Bill is expected to be signed into law by the President by the end 2019. The legislation

  There were 17 people awaiting in-patient beds at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the INMO. The number is up five on yesterday’s figure of 12. University Hospital Limerick was the most overcrowded with 63 people waiting there. Nationally, there were 424 people awaiting beds at hospitals across the country today.

  The Finance Minister says he hopes a 1,500 euro payment to childcare providers will reassure parents that creches will remain open next year. Yesterday the Children’s Minister announced the funding, after industry representatives raised serious concerns that some providers could shut. They say the recent withdrawal of one of two insurance providers has left

  The Transport Minister has told the Dail that while uncertainty over a start date for the A5 remains, the Irish Government’s funding commitment is steadfast. He was responding to Cavan-Monaghan Deputy Brendan Smith who told Minister Shane Ross that the inadequacy of infrastructure in border regions will exacerbate problems and economic challenges which will

  An Garda Siochána has overspent its overtime budget by 12.4 million euro this year. The total bill is 99.7 million euro so far in 2019, which is 14 percent over its allocated budget for overtime. According to the Garda Commissioner’s monthly report for December, it cost 11.5 million euro to employ officers during the

The Minister for Disabilities has committed to make strong representations to the HSE on behalf of iCare and the Bluestacks Special Needs Foundation in a bid to secure additional funding. At a meeting today with Minister Finian McGrath, Donegal Oireachtas members and the managers of both organisations, it was confirmed that core funding of €36,000