Author name: oisinkelly

A Fine Gael TD has criticised Facebook for allowing anti-vaccination ‘propaganda’ to be aimed at parents. Kate O’Connell says they urgently need to address the issue as children’s lives are being put at risk. It comes as the latest figures show that cases of measles in Ireland last year increased by almost 250 percent, while

A Donegal woman has started a campaign after discovering she can’t get to college in Sligo because her local bus can’t accommodate her wheelchair. Bus Eireann has confirmed that Ballyshannon to Sligo is not a wheelchair-accessible route. Victoria Matthews says the problem is common in many rural parts of Ireland and she’s already collected nearly

A Donegal Deputy says he is alarmed at the lack of urgency by Minister Michael Creed in solving the calf export blockages and lairage capacity issues. Deputy Charlie McConalogue says given the crisis in the beef sector coupled with Brexit on the horizon and the large oversupply in the market currently, the Agriculture Minister should

It’s been claimed that the future of Lifford Community Hospital is still in limbo after the HSE refused yet again to commit to its long term future. At this week’s Regional Health Forum meeting, Cllr Gerry Crawford sought a commitment from the HSE that should future census figures demonstrate the viability of services there, would

Midlands Northwest MEP Matt Carthy is visiting Donegal today for a number of engagements. He will speak at Donegal Sinn Féin’s AGM this evening at 7.30pm in Dillion’s Hotel, Letterkenny. Prior to the AGM the Sinn Féin MEP will visit with many representatives of Donegal’s tourism and enterprise sector as well as social enterprise Spraoi

  Action needs to be taken to halt the surge in the number of measles cases in the country, according to Unicef Ireland. At least 21 cases of measles have been notified to the HSE since the beginning of 2019; seven cases are confirmed and the remainder are under investigation. Seven were linked to the

  The Government has confirmed that twenty extra Gardai are to be deployed to Donegal. It’s understood that there will be 15 new recruits and five experienced Gardai arriving to the county in the coming weeks. They will be distributed among the Milford, Letterkenny, Buncrana and Donegal Town districts. Former Mayor of Donegal, Noel McBride

  A new planning application has been submitted to Donegal County Council for a five-screen cinema in Donegal Town. The application for the 714 seater cinema has been submitted by WJ Dolan Construction. Planning for the development was previously refused but the rezoning of the land under the Seven Strategic Towns Local Area Plan has

  Donegal Connect will be launched today at Donegal Airport, Carrickfinn. The new initiative being rolled out is a 10 day event running from September 27th to October 6th which aims to strengthen links with Donegal people both locally and abroad and encourage them to connect again with the county. Donegal County Council’s Director of

  Concern has been raised over possible gaps in nursing and midwifery due to imminent retirements. At this weeks Regional Health Forum meeting the HSE was questioned on what strategy is in place to ensure adequate nursing and midwives personnel into the future. Councillor Gerry McMonagle says nurses themselves are concerned at possible gaps in

  Six historic towns across the country are set to receive one million euro in funding for heritage-led regeneration. It follows a joint initiative of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the Heritage Council. Letterkenny, Ballina, Boyle, Kilrush, Navan and Nenagh will split the million euro fund between them. Virgina Teehan –

The National Broadband Plan isn’t guaranteed to go ahead until the contracts are signed, according to the Taoiseach. Leo Varadkar has said it’s government policy that the programme should continue. The final tender for the contract to provide broadband to rural areas is being examined at the moment. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar couldn’t guarantee that it

The Dail has passed a motion calling for licence fee money to be used to support commercial radio. The Government says it plans to reduce the levy on radio stations by 50%. Speaking during today’s debate on the Fianna Fail motion, Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher says local radio has been vital in conveying

A Donegal Deputy believes the 23% VAT hike halt on health food supplements is a positive development. The Revenue Commissioners have suspended the imposition of Vat at 23% on food supplements until November while the Minister examines the policy surrounding the taxation. Deputy McConalogue says this will ease the anxieties of many who use these

A Donegal County Councillor is calling for an overhaul of the HSE’s recruitment process. Its after it emerged the radiographer serving community hospitals in Killybegs and Donegal Town has submitted their resignation leading to concern over the future of x-ray facilities at both community hospitals. The current recruitment process in place means the position cannot

  The owner of a house in the Manorcunningham area which was subject to an aggravated burglary says he can’t understand why his home was targeted. Two masked men, believed to be armed, gained entry to the premises at around 4.30pm yesterday afternoon and ransacked the house before making off with a sum of cash.

  Eugene Gallagher hopes to deliver for the elderly and people with disabilities when he is co-opted onto Donegal County Council next month. The Letterkenny man will replace Councillor Dessie Shiels who yesterday announced that he is resigning from the Council as of Friday. Mr Gallagher has been looking ahead to his new role:

Investigations are continuing after thieves targeted St Patrick’s Church in Killygordon and made off with a sum of cash. The robbery took place on Sunday evening last, the church has been subject to numerous break ins over the last year. In this latest incident, the thieves were disturbed by local priest Fr. Frankie Lynch. He

It’s been claimed that Donegal is woefully unprepared for the consequences of a potential no-deal Brexit. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has hit out at the Government over what he says is the failure to reference what additional supports, if any, will be made available to Donegal as part of its Brexit Legislation. He was speaking

Home and business owners in the Dunfanaghy area are being urged to attend tonight’s text alert AGM. It’s getting underway in the Ozanam Centre at 8pm and guest speakers include Donegal Crime Prevention Officer Sgt Paul Wallace and Vanessa Clarke, text coordinator for the county. Chairperson of the Dunfanaghy text alert scheme Michael McClafferty says