Author name: oisinkelly

The Taoiseach says he understands hospitality sector staff are devastated by the most recent round of restrictions. Under the new rules bars and restaurants must close by 8pm each night, but that doesn’t include takeaways or delivery services. Indoor events cannot take place after 8pm and are limited to 50 percent capacity to a maximum

The announcement that pubs and restaurants will close at 8pm from Monday is a killer blow to the entertainment sector according to Donegal musician Matt McGranaghan. The Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland says banks are now repossessing homes owned by musicians due to a massive drop in income since March of last year. MEAI

  The Dail has heard calls for extra supports for hospitals in the North West. South Donegal Deputy Marian Harkin highlighted the high levels of overcrowding at Letterkenny and Sligo University Hospitals. According to figures from the INMO up to yesterday, a total of 247 people were on a trolley at Letterkenny University Hospital. Deputy

The Tánaiste has warned the number of new Covid cases in the coming weeks will break all records. A new 8pm curfew on hospitality comes into effect from Monday along with caps on attendance at indoor and outdoor activities. There will be an exemption for weddings which will be capped at 100 attendees; and further

A new 8pm closing time has been imposed on the hospitality sector in a bid to curb the spread of the Omicron variant. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has warned the number of new Covid cases and hospitalisations is likely to surpass anything seen before in the coming weeks. Indoor gatherings won’t be allowed after 8pm –

Many students across Donegal and further afield have been left facing uncertainty as it’s emerged the latest SUSI Grant payment due today has not been received by students. Earlier, in a social media post, SUSI confirmed that scheduled payments were to be issued to Higher Education and PLC students today. However, as a result of

€2.5 million has been allocated to Greenways across Donegal. The funding from Transport Infrastructure Ireland will assist in progressing a number of projects right across the county and will see an expansion of cross-border Greenways also. Included in the allocation is €50,000 for initial works on a greenway at Barnesmore Gap and €800,000 to continue

An enhanced accessible toilet and changing facility is to be developed in Letterkenny, after Donegal County Council secured a €75,000 allocation under the Disability Participation and Awareness Programme, with the bulk of the money going towards a ‘Changing Places’ unit. The unit will serve people with complex needs. Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh is Mayor of the

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