Author name: oisinkelly

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

  The Education Minister has confirmed that a decision on additional accomodation at Finn Valley College, Stranorlar will be made shortly. An application for additional classrooms at the school which would include an ASD Unit has already been submitted to the Minister’s Department. Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher is urging Minister Joe McHugh to

  Agri-food is Donegal’s largest industry sector. That’s according to the Western Development Commission’s latest report analysing employment data for Industry in the Western Region. The report also shows a 50% decline in total employment in Industry in the county over the past two decades while there has been a 7% growth in Energy employment

  Its emerged that the Donegal Animal Hospital in Letterkenny is charging €500 for an out-of-hours farm visit. If a farmer was to bring an animal to the hospital the fee would be €200. The practice joined corporate company Independent Vetcare in January which the IFA says has caused such a hike in call out

Update: Irish Water has confirmed that Farrans Construction will return to the Annagry site next week, Wednesday March 6th to complete the project. *** Irish Water has confirmed that network improvement works in Annagry have been temporarily suspended. The utility says due to circumstances beyond their control they will be demobilising from the site this

Commercial radio bosses are to grill TDs this evening on their inaction when it comes to protecting the future of broadcasting. The government promised three years ago to abolish the tax on independent radio stations that’s used to fund the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. No action has been taken yet – and the government is

The Dáil is today debating the new laws needed to protect Ireland if the UK crashes out of Europe. Government sources say they think a no deal scenario is less likely after changes to strategy in the UK. Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle speaking during the debate told the Dail that the bill has arrived too

One million green card forms have been issued to motor insurance companies throughout Ireland as the industry ramps up preparations for a no-deal Brexit. In such a scenario drivers will be required to have a green card to show they have valid insurance in the UK. Anyone who plans on driving to the North or

Three people have been rescued after their fishing boat suffered engine failure off Inishmurray last night. During a routine training exercise Bundoran RNLI received a call for help at about 8:30pm to assist the 30ft vessel. After a number of hours the vessel was eventually safely towed to Mullaghmore. Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager is

  A Donegal County Councillor is calling for further clarity as to how cross border services will be protected post- Brexit. The Government has indicated that its bill of potential Brexit laws would ensure that cross border cooperation in health would continue in the event of a no deal however concern still remains that this

  People in Donegal who are looking to buy vehicles in the north or the UK are being warned that new regulations could hamper the process. The Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency has stopping issuing certificates of permanent export since the New Year making it near impossible to legally import vehicles into Donegal and the

  People living in Donegal and the border region are at a greater risk of poverty. New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that 25.7pc of residents living in Donegal, Cavan, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo were struggling financially in 2017. This is in sharp contrast to those living in Dublin and the midwest, who

Its expected the Short Stay Ward at Letterkenny University Hospital will reopen next month. It was announced previously that 10 beds on the ward would reopen in December last however it was claimed the recruitment of nurses led to it being delayed. At yesterday’s Regional Health Forum meeting it was confirmed to Councillor Gerry McMonagle

  Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy says a draft Mica redress scheme will be presented to the cabinet very shortly. He was responding to Dail questions from Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue about the delay in publishing the scheme which was promised in October’s budget, and has been under discussion for several years. Deputy Mc Conalogue told

  16 Gaeltacht primary schools across the country are to benefit from a special STEM programme. An Chruinne a special education programme in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is to be rolled out in 4 schools in Donegal to encourage an interest in STEM subjects amongst pupils. Michael Heaney, Chief Executive of Údarás na Gaeltachta

Consumers are more worried about their financial situation and the potential impact of a no deal Brexit. A new Bank of Ireland survey shows consumer confidence dropped last month. Businesses, meanwhile, are concerned that housing and broadband infrastructure across the country isn’t good enough . 57 per cent of firms in Connacht and Ulster also

A senior Failte Ireland official is urging people to promote Donegal’s beaches more. It’s after TripAdvisor published its annual list of Ireland’s best beaches, with Kerry featuring prominently, but no beaches included from Donegal. Donegal Wild Atlantic Way Manager Joan Crawford the lack of beaches in Donegal is hugely disappointing, particularly given the county’s record