Author name: oisinkelly

The Chair of Donegal County Council’s Irish Language Committee has criticised the Government’s recent move to remove fluency in Irish as a requirement for someone to become a member of An Garda Siochana. Glenties Councillor Michael Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig says that the decision has not come as a shock to the Irish language speaking

An Inishowen Councillor says that people are unable to get planning permission on the outskirts of Buncrana because the local Development Plan has not been updated. Cllr Rena Donaghey says the refusals are because of provisions in the old town plan, which expired in 2020. She says members want to change the plan, but cannot

The victims of sexual abuse at a Donegal care home could take legal action against the HSE, seeking substantial damages. That’s the view of a leading solicitor, after 18 residents with intellectual disabilities were abused over a 13-year period. A review has found staff and management had ‘full knowledge’ of the incidents, which were carried

NPHET has recommended pubs and restaurants close at 5pm as soon as possible, as the Omicron variant spreads here. They’ve also called for indoor and outdoor events to be capped at a maximum of 50 per cent capacity. But they haven’t recommended the early closure of schools for Christmas, or further limits on household visits.

The Omicron variant now accounts for 27 per cent of all new Covid cases, according to the Health Minister. It’s a significant jump from last week when the variant made up just one percent of infections. NPHET is meeting this evening to discuss whether any new restrictions are needed over Christmas to combat the spread

The HSE has apologised to residents and their families for failings in care at the Ard Greine Complex and Sean O’Hare Unit in Stranorlar. The apology comes after the Executive Summary of the Brandon Report was released today, detailing how a resident at the facility carried out over 100 instances of sexual assault and sexual

HSE Mental Health Services have launched an initiative in Donegal to allow service users tell their stories in a way that will allow their experiences to be registered and changes made where necessary. Rather than launch a survey, they are using careopinion.ie, a platform that allows users and their families tell their story and receive

The Executive Summary of a report detailing sexual abuse at a HSE-run centre in Stranorlar has been published. The Brandon report outlines 108 incidents of serious assault carried out by a resident between 2003 and 2016 at Ard Greine Court and the Sean O’Hare Unit. The National Independent Review Panel found at least 18 intellectually

A local councillor says that the Government must provide extra resources to Donegal County Council, in order to plan for the “Tsunami” of additional houses that will require construction because of Mica. Inishowen councillor Albert Doherty is also the vice-chairman of Donegal County Council’s Mica Redress Committee – and he says that new figures shown

Garda recruits will no longer need to be proficient in both Irish and English to be eligible to join the force. It’s part of a new strategy to remove barriers that may be preventing minority communities from joining the Gardaí. 800 new officers will join the force next year and the Justice Minister is encouraging

Donegal County Council is to erect temporary signage at the Clar Corner on the Moville to Derry road in a bid to curb the number of collisions that have happened in that area. Cllr Martin Farren raised the issue at the latest Inishowen Municipal District Council Meeting, saying that while funding has been secured for

The Ombudsman says Ireland’s in breach of a UN convention on human rights over its failure to provide people with a disability adequate access to public transport. Peter Tyndall will tell an Oireactas Committee today it’s a huge barrier for people to lead an independent life and must be addressed. He says accessibility to public

The Executive Summary of a report detailing sexual abuse at a HSE-run centre in Stranorlar will be published today. The Brandon report outlines 108 incidents of serious assault carried out by a resident between 2003 and 2016 at St Joseph’s Hospital in Stranorlar. The National Independent Review Panel found at least 18 intellectually disabled residents

Patients are being urged to stay away from their GP for the next month, unless they have an urgent problem. It’s to allow them to double the amount of Covid boosters they do every week, under an accelerated programme. The GPs vaccinating their own patients will be allowed flexibility to give boosters to people from

NPHET is expected to recommend further restrictions on social mixing over Christmas when it meets this morning. They’ll consider whether new limits are needed on household visits – and further cuts to the hospitality sector. New rules on social contacts are also expected, with the Omicron variant accounting for 13 per cent of Covid cases

Restrictions on international travel could be eased this week which measures on socialising are set to be tightened. NPHET will meet tomorrow to discuss what restrictions need to be in place over Christmas. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said travel restrictions won’t work as the Omicron variant is already in Ireland. But he expects NPHET to

A Donegal Restaurateur says mixed messaging from government is having a major impact on the industry. Jo Daly, the Co-owner of the Quay Restaurant in Donegal Town, and President of the Donegal Women in Business Network made the comment on Highland Radio’s Business Matters this week. Last Thursday, for the first time in its 21

A Sligo based Donegal native who served as president of the INMO from 2018 to 2020 says intervention is needed to solve the crisis in Health Care, particularly in Emergency Departments. On today’s Nine til Noon Show, Martina Harkin Kelly said there is a dehumanisation taking place in the health service, and that is something

The General Manager of Letterkenny University Hospital says they are experiencing significant bed pressure across the facility. Over 800 additional patients passed through the hospital last month compared to November 2020. Sean Murphy says the hospital has been operating at full capacity for the past three months. He told today’s Nine til Noon that all

Donegal County Council is being urged to put further pressure on the Health Minister and the National Ambulance Service with a view towards a review being carried out of the current operational model being used by the emergency service. Councillor Gerry McMonagle who is also Vice Chair of the Regional Health Forum West has repeatedly

The Agriculture Minister says personal responsibility is vital in the run up to Christmas. The Chief Medical Officer did not recommend any new restrictions when he met with Government party leaders last night. Public health officials will continue to monitor the spread of the Omnicron variant while the booster campaign is accelerated. Minister Charlie McConalogue

More than €100 million has been allocated to the country’s airports as part of a Covid support package. Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Ireland West, Kerry and Donegal have been given €108 million in funding in order to provide support during the Covid pandemic. €600,000 has been sanctioned for Donegal Airport. The Minister of State at the

The executive summary of a report into prolonged sexual abuse of intellectually disabled residents at a disability centre in Donegal is to be published tomorrow. Up to now the HSE had refused to publish the report into the abuse at the Ard Greine and the Sean O’Hare Unit in Stranorlar. It details how a former

Kristine Reynolds has been announced as the new President of Letterkenny Chamber. She has become the second female president in the history of the Chamber. Ms Reynolds, of Reynolds & Associates who recently served as Vice President and has been a Chamber member since 2017, takes over the chain from outgoing President Michael Margey. She

Irish Water’s failure to improve treatment plants has left many water supplies vulnerable and poses a risk to the health of a large portion of the population. That’s according to the Environmental Protection Agency, which says 46 water supplies, serving one million people, are vulnerable and require significant work. In its latest report on drinking

The National Broadband Plan will miss its revised target by 25,000 homes and businesses this year. Under a new schedule to address Covid-related delays, 60,000 were due to be connected by December 31st. That’s down from the initial target of 115,000. Junior Minister Ossian Smyth says even the revised figure won’t be reached:

An Inishowen Councillor has written to the local Garda Superintendent seeking additional resources to be deployed in Carndonagh in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area which culminated in a blaze breaking out at a derelict house on Monday afternoon. Gardai believe the blaze at the empty property on Bridge Street was started