Author name: oisinkelly

  The President of the European Parliament has warned that a no-deal Brexit could be a “catastrophe.” Downing Street has claimed the EU is making it “essentially impossible” for the UK to leave with an agreement. The Tanaiste meanwhile met with the EU’s Chief Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels yesterday evening. Simon Coveney says […]

Education Minister Joe McHugh says as much of the budget was focused on a no deal Brexit there was limited maneuver for an increase to the budget for education. He has however, announced that there will be an increase in positions for over 1000 SNAs and 600 extra teachers. A pilot book scheme is to

Funding for Mica affected homes in Donegal has been included in Budget 2020. The Government has announced €40 million in funding for the existing pyrite remediation scheme. Education Minister Joe McHugh says as the Pyrite scheme is nearing a close, much of that €40 million will be used to repair homes affected by the defective

Paschal Donohoe has announced a 1.2 billion euro budget package to prepare for a no-deal Brexit. It forms the major part of Budget 2020 along with carbon tax increases and a large jump in the health budget. There won’t be large tax cuts or welfare increases. The budget includes funding to protect businesses, agriculture and

  There’s been a 33% decrease in overnight respite services in Donegal. Figures obtained by Fianna Fail show nationally, 26,523 respite overnights for people with disabilities have been cut between 2015 and 2018. South Donegal Deputy Eamon Scanlon says the significant decrease in overnight respite services is extremely concerning. He is calling on the Government

  The importance of road safety and the dangers that exist on a daily basis on our roads is to be highlighted at this years Road Safety Roadshow which gets underway this morning. Over 2,5000 student from across Donegal will attend the show today and tomorrow. The annual event is hosted by Donegal County Council and

  Donegal County Council has confirmed that 50 private houses will be purchased for social housing this year. The Social Housing Investment Programme and the Council are said to be continuing to purchase houses in areas of need throughout the county. Cllr Paul Canning says while this is good progress by the local authority, there

  Major efforts are underway by Donegal County Council to tackle Climate change at a local level. As part of on-going plans, the Council has agreed to sign up to and deliver on the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan which includes a range of 30 pollinator-friendly actions to choose from. The issue was raised at the latest

It has been confirmed today that North West Busways will, through Local Link continue to operate their Moville to Letterkenny bus route on a short term basis. The operator was due to discontinue the route next Monday, however, until a permanent contractor is in place there will be no break in service. In addition, a

A section of Donegal County Council’s housing policy has been described as too rigid with calls for an immediate review. Aspiring homeowners in the county are said to be having problems when they seek to build an S.I. house on their land but are refused, because policy states that if social housing is available in

  IBEC says Government intervention will be like a life-support for some businesses if there’s a no-deal Brexit. It’s calling for State Aid support worth 1.5 billion euro over the next three years if a deal isn’t struck when the UK leaves the EU. IBEC wants the state to re-introduce an enhanced Enterprise Stabilisation Fund,

  There’s been further criticism over a decision by Donegal County Council to increase the Local Property Tax by 15%. Last week, Cllrs voted by a narrow margin to raise LPT by a maximum of 15% Donegal homeowners in 2020. However the move has been described as particularly wrong and unfair to the thousands of

It’s been claimed that latest figures from Irish Water on how many bursts which have occurred in Donegal so far this year are inaccurate. The data was requested by Cllr Gary Doherty who says the statistics simply don’t stack up when compared with the amount of instances he and other public representatives have reported over

  The Minister for the OPW has committed to visit the areas of Inishowen that were badly affected by the floods of August 2017. Donegal Deputy Charlie McConalogue, speaking in the Dail last week, called on Minister Kevin Boxer Moran to sanction funding for flood defence measures to be carried out along the Crana River

  The €20 million N56 Bluebanks road improvement scheme will officially open today. The 3.1km project from Coolboy to Kilmacrenan was carried out in tandem with Irish Water works to lay a new water main. As well as widening and realignment works, a Greenway has also established on both sides of the road. Cathaoirleach of

  A Donegal Deputy says Budget 2020 is a critical crossroads for Udaras na Gaeltachta. Ahead of the Budget, Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher says funding for the agency must be increased to meet present day challenges and targets. Udaras has had its Current and Capital budgets more than halved from €39.4 million over