Author name: oisinkelly

A new pilot scheme to provide for Leaving Cert students who suffer bereavement during exam periods has been announced by Education Minister Joe McHugh. The scheme will allow bereaved students to sit alternative papers in July if required. It comes after student Rhona Butler spoke out after losing her mother to cancer during her Leaving […]

Over 500 ambulance personnel are on 24 hour strike action today over trade-union representation rights, with 40% of those based in the North West. The National Ambulance Service Representative Association, a branch of the Psychiatric Nurses Association, are demanding their right to be represented by the PNA. The HSE currently does not recognise the PNA

Water Safety Ireland is asking parents to be vigilant with children around water. It says a new moon on Monday will bring high tides and strong currents, and warns that while the air temperatures are warm, the waters around Ireland have not warmed up sufficiently for prolonged swims. Lifeguards start patrolling beaches this weekend. Roger

A Donegal Deputy has criticised the Fine Gael and the Independent Alliance’s track record on rural development while in Government together. Independant TD Thomas Pringle spoke out in the Dail this week and urged the Government to properly examine ways to open up towns and villages to more people. Deputy Pringle said rural Ireland has

  It’s hoped work will begin shortly on a new community led project to replace the derelict Meenan Square complex in Derry. Foyle MLA Karen Mullan says she’s hopeful work on the project will progress after meeting with a number of bodies involved in the site, including the owners Westland Holdings. She says new owners

Main Evening News, Sport and Obituaries Thursday May 30th:

There are calls for an emergency meeting of Letterkenny Municipal District to discuss traffic congestion in Letterkenny as a result of road works. Cllr Michael Mc Bride has formally sought the meeting, saying what’s happening at the moment cannot be sustained. Works are taking place at a number of locations, and in the past number

An independent body is needed to review pay and staff relations in the Irish Defence Forces, according to a senior commander. Commandant Conor King, the general secretary of the officers’ representative association – RACO – says the government has failed to introduce a coherent retention policy. Commandant King is due to appear before the joint

A West Donegal Councillor fears delays in progressing a major roads project in Dungloe could impact this years Mary from Dungloe Festival. The €1.2 million resurfacing project from the Gweedore Road to the Glenties Road was due to commence a number of weeks ago but to date works have yet to commence. Local Councillor Micheal

A planning application notice to redevelop the former Adria Factory site in Strabane has been put forward. The plans include the development of 160 social housing units comprising of houses and apartments as well as a creche and other community facilities. The site has been subject to much attention over the past number of years

Fáilte Ireland is to invest €150million in the development of major new attractions, with “Immersive Heritage and Culture” the initial focus of the programme. CEO Paul Kelly says it’s part of the ‘Platforms for Growth’ initiative, which he believes will transform the tourism landscape across the country. Failte Ireland says it has identified a number

Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle has told the Dail that the failure to make housing a right under the constitution is at the root of the housing crisis that exists at the moment. Backing a Private Members Motion seeking to restrict the impact on vulture funds on the market, Deputy Pringle said the constitutional situation in

An Inishowen Councillor has again moved to reassure people in the north of the peninsula that swimming lessons will be offered at Malin Head pier this year. There were concerns locally that lessons would be compromised after No Swimming signs were erected at the pier by Donegal County Council as part of a county wide

The full report into why it took so long to secure Air Corps support to fight recent wildfires in Donegal has been published. It concludes that helicopter support was deployed as quickly as possible in the current circumstances, but the capability of the Air Corps is diminished with the loss of experienced personnel. Every effort

  An investigation is continuing into a house fire at the Diamond in Raphoe. Firefighters have combated the blaze which broke out earlier this morning however considerable damage is said to have been caused to the property as a result of the blaze. The area has been sealed off with Gardai expected to carry out

A South Donegal TD says it’s unfair that people in the North West with hospital procedures booked in Galway can have them cancelled without notice. In the Dail, Deputy Eamon Scanlon told Minister Heather Humphries that people can find themselves facing considerable expense, not to mention the impact on their health. Minister Humphries promised that

  Parts of Falcarragh and the surrounding area will be without water for much of the morning due to yet another suspected pipe burst. Irish Water has been notified with a crew tasked to the scene. Newly elected Cllr Michael McClafferty says the situation is totally unacceptable:

  91 percent of people who have recently relocated to the northwest would recommend the move. That’s according to a new study by recruitment firm Collins McNicholas. Almost half of those surveyed said they now travel to work in ten minutes or less, while two thirds said their disposable income had increased. Antoinette O’Flaherty is