Author name: oisinkelly

Serious concern has been raised after drug paraphernalia was discovered at a children’s play park in Strabane. A local parent noticed the paraphernalia walking through Courtrai Park this morning. Both the police and the Council have been contacted regarding the matter. West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan says this an ongoing issue and one that needs

A Donegal councillor says elected members should have more say in the planning and location of Sewage Treatment Plants. Cllr Liam Blaney this week asked Donegal County Council to clariofy if it was planning a single plant to service Milford, Ramelton and Rathmullan as is now being proposed by Irish Water. He was told that

As Storm Callum is set to hit the North West later tonight a Donegal County Councillor says he has been reassured that the local authority has an effective contingency plan in place. An orange weather warning will be in place for all coastal counties from 10pm, and will be valid until tomorrow morning. Cllr John

The Government and the Garda Estates Management have been urged to prioritise the building of a new Garda Station in Carndonagh. The current station has been deemed unfit for purpose by Chief Superintendent Terry McGinn with concerns over health and safety and station security raised in the past. At a recent meeting of JPC Inishowen

  Winds of up to 130 kilometres per hour are set to batter the country later as Storm Callum makes landfall at around 10 o’clock. A Status Orange weather warning will come into effect for 13 counties Cork and Kerry will be the first areas to feel the effects of severe winds and heavy rain.

  Officials from Inland Fisheries are to be invited to a meeting of Letterkenny Municipal District to discuss the ongoing ban on Loop Fishing in the Swilly and Lennon rivers. Mayor Ian Mc Garvey raised the issue, saying licences should be allocated to fishermen, a call which was widely supported. Cllr Mc Garvey believes that

Main Evening News, Sport and Obituaries Wednesday October 10th:

After a boat sank on Lough Foyle yesterday, it’s been claimed that Oyster Fishermen on the lough are being put in danger because restrictions to their operations are forcing them out in bad weather. Liam O’Brien, one of the fishermen who operate on the lough, says an eight month fishery has now been squeezed into

The Government Chief Whip says Letterkenny University Hospital will be given the go-ahead to recruit staff for the 19 bed short stay ward which is currently inactive. The space is currently being used for administration, but Saolta says it can be quickly cleared if the funding to open the ward is forthcoming. It’s estimated it

Further progress is being made on the new Fintra Bridge with three design options presented at a workshop this week. When completed, it will link the South Donegal area to the Glencolmcille area and has been described as another vital infrastructural link for both residents and tourists alike. The proposed designs are currently being discussed

  The Justice Minister insists the increase in VAT in the hospitality sector will not ‘see the sky falling in’. Just after midnight, the Dail approved the measure announced in the budget yesterday. The rate will increase from 9 to 13.5 per cent on January 1st. A number of TD’s argued strongly against the move

  Members of the Psychiatric Nurses Association in the National Ambulance Service in Donegal are to commence industrial action today. Members of the PNA’s NASRA branch were balloted in August on the back off the HSE’s refusal to engage in negotiations with the union when representing the interests of their ambulance personnel members, and the

  Independent Deputy Thomas Pringle says Budget 2019 is evidence of how Donegal is disconnected from the rest of the country and has led to chronic underinvestment in the county. Speaking in the Dail last evening after the budget was delivered by the Finance Minister, Deputy Pringle criticised the Government for failing to tackle a number

  A Letterkenny councillor is urging officials to investigate a reported land dispute which may compromise a significant Social Housing project in the town. At this week’s Municipal District meeting, a 46 unit development at Kiltoy which is being built by Cluid was referenced. The development is reported to be at pre-construction stage, but Councillor

  A Letterkenny councillor is suggesting that an annual Jane Austen Festival might be a way of marking the author’s associations with the town in an imaginative and appropriate way. Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh successfully moved a motion calling for promotional literature to include reference to the fact that three of Jane Austen’s nieces are buried

  Councillors in Letterkenny have again expressed concern at the treatment of people in receipt of Housing Assistance Payments on the council’s Social Housing Waiting List. Figures presented this week showed a gross approved waiting list in the Municipal District of 1,504, but when 639 recipients of HAP are excluded, the nett list is 363.

The Government says it has included measures in this Budget to ensure Ireland is Brexit ready. This includes a two billion euro Rainy Day Fund and 300 million in funding for a future growth loan scheme for small businesses and the agri food sector. It also plans to increase staff across state agencies and key

Main Evening News, Sport and Obituaries Tuesday October 9th:

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has labelled Budget 2019, a ‘Budget for booming banks and vulture funds.’ Speaking in the Dail this afternoon, Deputy Doherty said the budget is a shameful attempt to tackle the homeless crisis and has failed to address the issues at the core of society, such as; the overcrowding crisis in the

The Finance Minister has confirmed in Budget 2019 that the 9% VAT rate is to increase to 13.5%. In Donegal in particular, there was concern Paschal Donohoe’s announcement would impact greatly on the hospitality sector with fears the increased VAT rate would have a knock-on effect on prices and employment. Local hotel manager, Councillor Micheal