Author name: oisinkelly

2018 was a mixed year for house prices across the country. That’s according to the Irish Independent, which has published its annual list of property prices. According to the study, prices in Kilkenny increased the most over the 12 months, up 22 percent. At the other end of the scale, prices were down 5 percent […]

A date is yet to be confirmed as to when the renaming of the carpark at the Old Mart in Letterkenny will take place. It has already been agreed that the car park will be renamed the ‘Hugh Duffy Carpark’, after a well-known member of the community who passed away in 2014. Mr. Duffy was

There are calls for Donegal’s Winter Gritting Programme to be extended to include two routes in South West Donegal. Independent Local Election Candidate Liam Whyte is urging Donegal County Council to include the Ardara to Ardaghey and Portnoo to Ardara Road routes in their 2019 programme. He says due to the ongoing road works in

Concern has been raised that the ongoing delays in the publication of the review on social housing is affecting hundreds of families across the entire North West region. South Donegal Deputy Eamon Scanlon says the current criteria is unrealistic. As it stands, people are failing to qualify for social housing as they earn above the

There are no plans to introduce paper and cardboard recycling facilities at bring bank sites in Donegal. It follows illegal dumping issues at a number of sites in the county, with some individuals discarding boxes after emptying the glass into the banks. Donegal County Council says that the idea had been trialed by other local

  Councillors in Letterkenny and Inishowen are considering adopting measures which would allow gaming machines operate legally in in both municipal districts. It follows the seizure of an extensive amount of gaming machines right across the county. In December, a deputation from the Irish Amusement Trades Association told councillors in Inishowen that 80% of all

  Donegal County Council is to explore the idea of installing tracking devices on life rings in various parts of the county. It follows a number of instances, particularly in the Letterkenny area, where the lifesaving equipment was either removed or vandalised in recent months. It’s thought that the innovative technology would not only alert

Donegal County Council is being urged to build more social accomodation in the Inishowen peninsula, with Cllr Bernard Mc Guinness saying rural schools and other services are being threatened because people are not being allowed to build one off houses. Cllr Mc Guinness says restrictions on individual building projects are more stringent than ever before,

The DUP leader says she’s had a “useful” meeting with the British Prime Minister. Theresa May’s been holding talks with other parties to try to find a way forward on Brexit. Labour says it won’t take part unless Mrs May takes leaving without a deal off the table. The DUP’s Arlene Foster says the border

Almost 1000 litter and waste complaints were received by Donegal County Council last year. During the period January 1st to November 31st 2018, just over 392 tonnes of waste was collected across the county by 3 Mobile Litter Units. 975 litter and waste complaints were received by the Council while a total of 95 litter

The government has been accused of medical apartheid for not offering a catch up vaccination for meningitis B. A vaccine against it has been offered to children under a year old since October 2016 – but children born before that haven’t been protected against the B strain. Minister for Health Simon Harris has so far

The redevelopment of the old Thornhill College site in the Culmore area of Derry is set to proceed after the signing this week of a Section 76 legal agreement. That clears the way for plans to develop a retirement village on the site to proceed. The development will include a 65 bed nursing home facility

A TD for South Donegal believes nurses and midwives should receive the same treatment as Gardai in their row over pay a number of years back. Deputy Eamon Scanlon says nurses’ morale is at an all-time low ahead of a planned strike for January 30th. He says the 1,754 drop in staff nurses since 2008

  Donegal County Council has endeavored to identify a suitable site to facilitate a new soccer pitch in the Glencar area of Letterkenny. Due to hectic schedules of other local clubs, Glencar Celtic currently have to travel to Rathmullan to train because other facilities nearby are occupied. The local authority says that a new pitch

  People who have been through the legal system twelve years ago or more are being warned to check with their solicitor if their file is still intact. It’s been claimed that due to the recent data protection rules, a file that has had no activity can be disposed of or shredded after that timeframe.

Motorists who travel to Northern Ireland and Britain may in future have to present Green Cards to prove they have valid motor insurance. The measure is being rolled out by the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) as a contingency plan in the event of a no deal Brexit. Currently, all motorists travelling with an

  Almost €300,000 has been allocated to Donegal under the Sports Capital Programme. The applications were from 2018 and were previously deemed invalid but have subsequently been validated in recent days. Applications for the 2019 rounds are still being assessed. Among the major allocations include €95,400 for astro development at Cappry Rovers while Drumkeen United

Concern has been raised over shortcomings in relation to the CCTV system serving the Letterkenny area. Numerous black spots in the town have been highlighted while some of the current equipment has been deemed insufficient, with footage only recording on a 24 loop. A funding application is being prepared by the Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce

Senior council officials have been told there’s growing frustration in North Donegal that a long awaited coastal erosion survey in the vicinity of Lagg and Ballyliffin has not yet happened. At an Inishowen Municipal District meeting, Councillor Martin Mc Dermott said funding for the survey was announced in 2016, and consultants were appointed in June

The government must do more to address a shortage of apprentices in Donegal, according to Cllr Liam Doherty, who is tabling a motion calling for more investment in the apprenticeship system. The Finn Valley based Councillor was commenting following the publication of figures this week which show 590 people taking part in newly developed apprenticeship