Author name: oisinkelly

  The Oireachtas Justice Committee will question Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, on his proposed organisational changes in the force later today. The Commissioner wants to reduce the number of Garda divisions from 28 to 19 to free up officers for more frontline duties. The Donegal Garda Division is to merge with Sligo and Leitrim as

  The Chief Executive of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation has issued a stark warning that failure to achieve an orderly Brexit will result in chaos and conflict at sea. There are major fears that should Irish and other EU fleets be denied access to UK waters there will be flash points all across Europe including

  The Dail has heard that community-led projects in Donegal are under a constant threat of closure due to inadequate funding from Government. At the first Leaders’ Questions after the summer recess, Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle spoke of the struggles for Lifeline Inishowen, iCare and the Bluestacks Special Needs Foundation to keep their services operating

  The Fianna Fail Agriculture Spokesperson has called for conditions agreed at last weekend’s beef talks to be implemented as a matter of urgency. Speaking in the Dail last evening, Donegal Deputy Charlie McConalogue urged Agriculture Minister Michael Creed to promptly set up the taskforce to address the issue of transparency in the beef sector.

  New research from the ESRI has found that older people in hospital remain there for a shorter time if their local area has a better supply of home care and residential services. This is the first research of its kind since the government launched it’s ten year Sláintecare strategy. The Minister for Health has

Main Evening News, Sport and Obituaries Tuesday September 17th:

Sinn Féin’s vice-president says her party ‘stands ready and waiting’ to work with the DUP to restore the Stormont Assembly. There has been no devolved government in the North since power-sharing collapsed in January 2017. During the summer, talks were under way between Sinn Féin and the DUP to try to get it back up

A Donegal County Councillor is calling on Irish Water to once and for all, solve the ongoing disruption to the water supply in the Ballindrait area. People in the area have been experiencing issues with the water supply for the past number of years and in the last week alone there have been 5 bursts

Gardaí are seeking information in relation to a burglary in Letterkenny. The incident happened on Tuesday evening last between 8.30pm and 9pm at Glendale Manor in Letterkenny. Entry was gained to the apartment through a side door that was forced open and a small sum of cash was stolen from the property. Garda Grainne Doherty

  An investigation is continuing into the theft of a caravan that occurred Sunday September 6th at 6am at Ballyness, Falcarragh. The caravan was parked at the side of a house that was under renovation. It has been established that the caravan was towed away by a Blue Passat the same morning and crossed the

  There are calls for further speed studies to be carried out at Manorcunningham as a matter of urgency. There’s said to be major health and safety concerns over the high speed some motorists are travelling through the Main Street of the village. Donegal County Council has already carried out surveys in Manor and identified

  A sudden economic shock could put the future of over 78-thousand beef and sheep farms into doubt. That’s according to the Central Bank, which says low incomes and a reliance on direct payments mean they’re at a greater risk than their dairy counterparts. It’s warning that around one third of all farms at the

  The average cost of rebuilding a home rose by 6 percent nationally over the past 12 months. The latest guide from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland shows the increase was most notable in Limerick, Cork and Galway at 8 percent, while Dublin saw a more moderate increase of 5 percent. Donegal however bucks

    Serious concern has been raised over a burn on the beach at Magherawarden in Portsalon. It’s understood that despite efforts from Donegal County Council to redirect the stream, it has since taken a route of its own; resulting in land being flooded with fears now that homes may fall victim of the situation

  There’s concern that if the government does not increase investment in school bus services in the upcoming 2020 Budget, then they may have to dedicate more money to new school buildings instead. Its anticipated that an increase in the budget would address the lack of availability of concessionary school bus tickets, an issue that

  The Government is again being urged to ensure roads on Donegal’s islands are granted the same level of funding as those on the mainland. Labour spokesperson for the Glenties Municipal District, Seamus Rodgers claims island roads such as those in Aranmore should receive regular maintenance, as they are frequented by large goods and service

  A new report says a record 14-hundred people are homeless in rural Ireland. The Peter McVerry Trust is launching its findings at the National Ploughing Championships in Carlow later this morning. Francis Doherty, from the organisation, says very specific measures to tackle rural homelessness are also highlighted in the report:

There are renewed calls for a review of speed limits in Muff after another collision last week. Cllr Terry Crossan says there transition from 100 kilometres an hour, to 60 and then to 50 on the Quigley’s Point side of Muff is very short, and that is a cause for concern. There have already been

  It’s emerged that over 100 dead animals are waiting to be collected from farms across Donegal. The issue is said to centre on an ongoing dispute between the Department of Agriculture and local knackery operators. Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher is to ask the Agriculture Minister what interim measures he has taken to

A significant investment is to be unveiled by Aurivo today in its milk processing facility in Killygordon. The opening is a key component of Aurivo’s Engage 2022 strategic growth plan. Education Minister Joe McHugh is attending today’s event. He says that the investment is a clear indication of the company’s commitment to Donegal and it

  More needs to be done to streamline the planning application system in Inishowen, according to the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council. Speaking at a recent Municipal District Meeting, Cllr Nicholas Crossan says applications from the peninsula have the lowest chance of success, compared to other areas in Donegal. He says it’s clear from his

  Major safety concerns over Windyhall Road in Letterkenny have been brought to the fore again. Due to numerous road works currently underway in the town, the narrow road is said to have become a popular route for motorists seeking to escape the traffic backlog. However, the road, which has already been hailed as hazardous

  The Donegal GRA spokesperson says it is bordering on scandal the fact that the fleet of vehicles available to Gardai in Donegal is to be reduced. 13 of the 50 available vehicles which are either at end of life or nearing end of life are to be made redundant. Brendan O’Connor says they have

    Donegal Senator Padraig MacLochlainn has launched a billboard campaign for the reopening of beds at Letterkenny University Hospital ahead of Budget 2020. Following the budget last year, a commitment was given by Government to reopen the short stay ward at the hospital and to recruit the necessary staff to facilitate it. However, Senator

  The Irish Unity debate is back in the news after a weekend opinion poll showed UK voters would widely support a referendum on the Northern Ireland border. The BMG survey for The London Independent found more than half of those polled supported putting Irish unity to the people, while 19 percent were against. Sinn