Author name: oisinkelly

    Serious concern has been raised over a lack of progress on accessing funding for special life jackets for fishermen in Donegal. The life jackets are fitted with an emergency beacon, operating when somebody falls overboard by sending out a signal, alerting the coast guard to their location. The technology has been described as […]

Around 1 in 5 personal injury claims reported to two of the biggest insurance companies are believed to be fraudulent. Aviva and AIG have both been appearing before an Oireachtas committee to discuss the rising cost of insurance. Zurich have also been asked why they only reported 4% of suspected fake claims they received in

A Donegal County Councillor has hit out over what he claims is a lack of action from Government to address water issues in West Donegal. It’s after yet another significant water outage today which is said to be affecting the Cloughaneely and Gaoth Dobhair areas. Irish Water says crews have been tasked to the scene

It’s been claimed that people have to die to allow others access home help hours. There are further calls on the Government to address the crisis as part of Budget 2020 after recent figures show that there was a 40% increase in those approved but unable to access hours in Donegal over a three month

  The Government has failed to give a definitive timeline as to when the rest of the beds on the short stay ward at Letterkenny University Hospital will reopen. As part of last year’s Budget, a commitment was given then to reopen all 20 beds however so far ten have reopened on the ward with

  Some 114 cattle have been stolen from farms across Donegal over the last 10 years. According to official Department of Agriculture records over 2,220 cattle have been stolen nationally over the same period. Using a conservative estimate of €500/head, these animals were worth €1.11m to farmers. The Department figures show that less than 4%

  Donegal County Council has confirmed that a review of Pay and Display Car Parking Charges has begun and Councillors will be updated shortly on the matter. The review is proposed to consider existing tariffs and also consider the feasibility of expanding of Pay and Display coverage to areas currently not included. It follows calls

  Trade Union Fórsa has welcomed a u-turn by Education Minister Joe McHugh in response to industrial action by school secretaries. The Department of Education had been refusing to go to talks at the Workplace Relations Commission. Local Spokesperson and school secretary Kathleen O’Doherty is welcoming the breakthrough. However she says it’s important that something

Storm Lorenzo is expected to bring winds of up to 130 kilometres an hour to some western coastal counties later. Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick are forecast to be worst affected, with a status orange warning in effect in those areas from this evening. A Status Yellow warning for wind and rain will

The HSE recruitment embargo is said to be affecting nearly every area of Letterkenny University Hospital. Management at the hospital have not disclosed the exact number of vacancies but it’s thought to be ‘substantial’. Donegal County Council is to write to the Health Minister on the issue, calling on him to lift the embargo so

  Its emerged that an elderly woman in the Lifford Stranorlar area has had to travel to a neighbouring town on a number of occasions to shower due to a backlog in Housing Adaptation Grants assessments. The lengthy waiting list was raised by Councillor Patrick McGowan back in July when it was revealed that people

  The Health Minister is to be challenged in the Seanad later this morning in relation to the reopening of the Short Stay Ward at Letterkenny University Hospital. Following the Budget last year, it was announced that the 20 beds in the ward would be reopened. However, to date, only 10 have reopened, just have

The Taoiseach has confirmed his commitment to the A5. Earlier this year, €27 million in funding from the Irish Government earmarked for the project was pulled with Leo Varadkar blaming the political impasse in the North for his decision. The project is jointly-funded by the British and Irish Governments and work is expected to begin

    Donegal is set to escape the worst of Hurricane Lorenzo.  Three weather warnings have been issued by Met Eireann ahead of the arrival of the storm. A status orange wind warning is in place for Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick. A status yellow wind warning is in place for the rest

  The British Prime Minister’s preparing to reveal his final Brexit deal offer. Boris Johnson will send his proposals to Brussels after his party conference speech in Manchester later. Reports today indicate they’ll suggest two borders for four years to replace the backstop. That would be a regulatory border between Britain and the North down

  Work is said to be progressing in eliminating the overwhelming odour emanating from An Grianan Estate in Burt. It’s understood that various trials are currently being carried out with a view towards reducing the odour-causing constituents such as ammonia from the digestate. There was a major public outcry during the summer over the smell

  Both the Minister for Justice and the Courts Service are being urged to fast track a structural survey of Carndonagh courthouse. The courthouse has been closed since March due to health and safety concerns with services now housed in Buncrana. It had been hoped locally that court sittings would be restored to Carndonagh in

  We’ll find out later what’s in store when Hurricane Lorenzo hits Ireland. It continues to travel north-eastwards across the Atlantic, with Met Eireann due to give an update on the situation this morning. Crisis management teams were put on standby last night, following a meeting of The National Emergency Co-Ordination Group. High seas, strong

  The Cathaoirleach of the Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District has proposed Donegal County Council hold a briefing on the rollout of 5G in the county. Its emerged that planning permission is not needed for the installation of a 5G antenna but is needed for the erection of a mast. Councillor Frank McBrearty says there are concerns

    There are calls for a change in the law with regards the removal of housing tenants engaging in antisocial behaviour. This week’s meeting of the Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District heard of a case in which a long term tenant requested to be relocated after a new tenant to the area caused disruption –

IBEC is calling for clear commitments that infrastructural projects in the North West will be progressed quickly. Speaking after a meeting with political representatives in the region, IBEC’s North West Regional Director Terry Mc Namara said local business leaders are concerned at the slow pace of progress under the Ireland 2040 plan. He says extra

  The International Council for Exploration of the Sea has recommended a 19.7% increase in Mackerel quota for 2020. Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has welcomed the announcement following advice in May which suggested a 20% increase in the Total Allowable Catch for 2019. Deputy Gallagher says as the recommendation in May was not