Author name: oisinkelly

The country’s telecoms providers are before the Public Accounts Committee today to discuss the controversial National Broadband Plan. The plan to bring high speed broadband to more than 500,000 homes and businesses has stalled, with just one bidder remaining. Chairman of the PAC has been critical of the Government’s handling of the project, and says […]

The Taoiseach has told the Dail that he’s not had any clear briefing about the implications of a no-deal Brexit for car insurance. It’s been suggested that people may need international green cards from their insurance companies if driving across the border after March 29th, but when questioned about the issue by Donegal Deputy Pearse

Donegal County Council is being urged to employ professionals to clean up the remaining asbestos at the Plaza site in Buncrana to allow Main Street reopen. It follows a fire 10 days ago which destroyed The Plaza and the adjoining Barr’s drapery shop. Inishowen Municipal District was told this week that air sampling results have

Donegal County Council is actively seeking to identify the owners of a number of houses in the Meadow Bank area of Letterkenny with a view towards purchasing them for social housing. Up to 14 dwellings in the estate are said to be in a state of disrepair with hopes locally that they could be bought

Major improvements at St Columba’s College in Stranorlar could be delivered within five years, after the school was accepted onto the “Adapt” programme. The programme fast tracks applications for school improvements, with Cllr Martin Harley, a member of the school’s board, saying this is a significant development, particularly as St Columba’s is celebrating its 50th

Minister Joe McHugh has confirmed today to Highland Radio that there may be delays in carrying out improvement works to Donegal’s community hospital developments. He says the delay should be no more than a few months. It comes as the Government diverts €100 million from a range of projects, including the A5 to cover the

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has again told the Dail the Minister for Health is out of his depth and not up to the job. It comes as it emerged earlier today that almost 80,000 women are waiting up to 27 weeks for smear test results. The main cause of the backlog is the extra number

  A senior Donegal County Council official has told the Inishowen Municipal District that the response to the floods of August 2017 is an ongoing process. Roads Director John Mc Laughlin was speaking after Donegal County Council won a Special Award at the weekend for it’s response to the floods. The award was presented by

Education Minister Joe Mc Hugh says there is no dilution in the government’s commitment of money to the A5. It follows confirmation in the Dail yesterday that the €27 million comitted by the Irish government for the project this year will be deferred. It follows a cabinet meeting to decide how a €100 million cost

  The Water and Environment section of Donegal County Council is being accused of hiding behind Irish Water while key issues in and around the Letterkenny area are not being addressed. Representatives from the Directorate have endeavoured to attend an upcoming workshop with local representatives to discuss infrastructure plans and programmes. Cllr Ciaran Brogan says

A Donegal Deputy has hit out at the Government after revelations yesterday that the Garda stations in Kerrykeel, Kilmacrennan and Rathmullan are to be wound down. It coincides with plans to redeploy staff from the three stations to district headquarters in Milford. Much concern was expressed locally on the issue with Deputy Charlie McConalogue taking

Donegal County Council is being urged to enter into discussions with the new owners of the preferred site for the Three School Campus in Buncrana. It’s reported that the sale of the old Fruit of the Loom premises has now been completed. Cllr Rena Donaghey, who is also a member of the Donegal ETB, says

  It’s been confirmed that an audit will take place of disabled parking spaces in Letterkenny. Donegal County Council is currently in the process of erecting additional signage in and around the town and once this is complete; the roads department is to carry out a review. It follows concern raised locally that some designated

EU regulations are making it increasingly more difficult for people to secure planning permission for developments in Inishowen. Cllr Paul Canning told a Municipal District meeting this week that environmental designations are contributing to the fact that up to 20% of applications on the peninsula last year were invalid. Cllr Canning says the problem is

Farmers are today lobbying TDs and Senators on the beef crisis. They say there are many factors involved, including poor prices, rising costs, the weakness of sterling and uncertainty surrounding Brexit. IFA President, Joe Healy, says compared to this time last year, farmers are finding it almost impossible to sell their stock.

Donegal County Council has pledged to continue carrying out minor repairs to Magheralask Road and will be in the running for potential inclusion in the 2020 programme. It follows claims that no major improvement works have been carried out on the route in 20 years. The road leads to a number of premises in the

The Donegal Islands Committee has proposed a pilot scheme for a ferry service to Donegal’s smaller islands be introduced for 2019. At today’s meeting of the Islands Committee much support was given to a motion to introduce a scheme part funded by Donegal County Council. It is anticipated it will initiated sooner rather than later

The Taoiseach has confirmed that 27 million euro earmarked for the A5 upgrade is being pulled this year. Works on the A5/N2 Road is jointly funded by the British and Irish Governments, and is the main link between Dublin and the North West. There was speculation funding for the project could be in doubt as

There are fears that the Irish government’s support for the upgrade of the A5 may be scaled back as the cabinet considers what projects will have to be put on hold to make up for cost over-runs at the National Children’s Hospital. 100 million euro has to be found by ministers because construction at the

Concern is growing at the potential impact of a re-alignment of resources in the Milford Garda District. There is concern in the area that the garda stations in Kerrykeel, Kilmacrennan and Rathmullan are to close. Garda Management deny that any station closures are to take place, but they do acknowledge some gardai are being re-allocated.

  There are urgent calls on Donegal County Council to carry out repair works on Magheralask Road. The road, situated in Glenswilly, is the gateway to a significant number of homes in the area however it’s been claimed that the route has not been extensively improved upon since 1999. Residents have now deemed the road

  Further concern has been raised that the overspend on the National Children’s Hospital could impact the future of HSE projects in the North West. Cyril Brennan of People Before Profit is seeking urgent clarity on what projects will be affected in Donegal. He has also hit out at Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher