Author name: oisinkelly

The Dail has passed a motion calling for action on the fodder crisis by 86 votes to 50. It had already been passed in the Seanad. The motion, moved by Donegal Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue, calls on the Government to immediately bring forward a hardship fund, a meal voucher scheme, low-cost loans as well as

  The Housing Minister has set Donegal County Council a target of securing 441 new social housing units by the end of 2021, 147 of them in 2018. In the current year, the minister expects the council to build 104 houses, purchase 23 and lease 20. Under the government targets, a further 134 people will

A Midlands North West ME is asking if Ireland is one of a number of EU member states blocking attempts ensure corporate tax transparency for multinational companies in Europe. Matt Carthy claims a public Country-by-Country Reporting Directive has been blocked for over two years by several member states. It would require companies to declare publicly

The Communications Minister has been accused of refusing to publicly release information about a proposed INM takeover. Denis Naughten is under fire for telling the Dáil he couldn’t discuss details of a potential buyout of Celtic Media – despite meeting with an Independent News and Media rep about the issue. It’s alleged during that meeting

An Bord Pleanala has again deferred a decision on the use of concrete blocks to restrict access to the Great Pollet Arch. A submission had been made by the local arch committee in Fanad, claiming that the closing of a turnstile leading to the iconic landmark is in breach of planning regulations. Councillor Liam Blaney

An Post says it’s agreed with the Postmasters’ Union that there will be no compulsory closure of offices. It comes as the mail provider reports an 8.4 million euro operating profit for last year, compared to a 12.4 million loss in 2016. This was due in part to the sale of a sorting office, a

Senator Padraig MacLochlainn has told the Seanad that hard lessons from the current fodder crisis must be learned by Government. During Private Members’ Business last evening, Senator MacLochlainn was speaking on the back of a Fianna Fail motion, calling for more support for farmers amid the fodder shortage. He told Minister Creed that it is

Presidents and Governing Body Chairpersons from the Connacht Ulster Alliance consortium seeking technological university status met yesterday with Minister for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor. Representatives from consortiums across Ireland met with the Minister to be briefed on the legislative provisions and practical processes involved in the ongoing process. Among those briefed by Minister Mitchell O’Connor

A new IBEC survey shows Brexit has failed to lessen firms’ support for Ireland’s EU membership. The business group says the EU must be focused on ongoing positive reform, but tax and labour market policies must be up to individual member states. IBEC Chief Executive Danny McCoy says it’s found companies are upbeat about the

The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation is to meet with the Taoiseach today in Dublin regarding Brexit. Irish producer organisations and processors will present an industry perspective on the potential challenges Breixt poses to their livelihood to Leo Varadkar, the Tánaister and Minister Micheal Creed. KFO CEO Sean O’Donoghue says while there was a positive outcome from

Main Evening News, Sport and Obituaries Wednesday 18th April:

An Inishowen councillor says action must be taken to restore Lisfannon Beach’s Blue Flag status. Cllr Rena Donaghey says the flag was lost last year, because the water quality was marginally under ‘excellent’ status, and of the six beaches nationally that lost the designation, Lisfannon is the only one still recognised as being safe to

The Taoiseach has said the government would support a Papal visit to Northern Ireland when Pope Francis comes to Dublin in August for the World Meeting of Families. Leo Varadkar was asking Dail questions from a number of TDs, including Cavan Monaghan Deputy Brendan Smith, who asked if the government was actively encouraging Pope Francis

Minister Finian McGrath has announced a funding allocation for a new Cleary Centre building in Donegal Town. The centre was deemed no longer fit-for-purpose in 2014 with services relocated to the Victor Building Complex, to provide short-term accommodation for staff and service users of the centre. Following a campaign to have a new centre built

A public meeting has heard various proposals to counteract traffic congestion and address parking problems in Killybegs. A large number of people turned out for the meeting, which was held last night in the town and a number of options to improve the various issues were discussed. Local Cllr Niamh Kennedy says the proposals will

A Midlands North West MEP believes the Irish border issue must be resolved by the summer. Members of the European Parliament have received an update on Brexit negotiations from the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier today in Strasbourg. Barnier warned that a solution to the Irish border issue must be found, otherwise there will be

A proposal to repair two sections of road in the Churchill area has been deemed ineligible by Donegal County Council. It had been hoped that the section at Drumacavney and a series of bad bends at Keelogues could be repaired by moving funding from another road that had been included in the Councils roads programme.

Country music fans are expected in big numbers in the Monaghan village of Oram later to pay tribute to Big Tom, who died yesterday at the age of 81. The veteran music star will lie in repose in the local community centre from midday today. His funeral takes place in the village on Friday. Big

After one of the worst winters in 36 years – a mini heatwave is on the way. Dublin’s forecast to be the warmest part of the country – with temperatures almost 20 degrees higher than they were this time last month. The warm spell is being caused by an area of hot air that’s pushing

The government’s been accused of a ‘woeful’ response to the fodder crisis. The claim was made by Fianna Fáil, as the party tabled a motion last night calling for greater supports for the farming community. The party wants initiatives like low interest loans to tide farmers over, and the speeding up of farming scheme payments.

The government is being urged to consider a cross border centre for the long term treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. The call comes from Senator Padraig Mac Lochlainn, who says that recent questions to the Health Minister has confirmed that Donegal and the North West have no long term or medical detox facilities at

Two Donegal projects are included in the latest allocation from the International Fund for Ireland, which sees an investment of €4.1m award to 16 community projects in Northern Ireland and the southern border counties. Almost €200,000 has been allocated to a peacebuilding initiative in Newtowncunningham, while almost €320,000 goes to Donegal Youth Service for a cross

Country music singer ‘Big Tom’ has died at the age of 81. Tom McBride was born in County Monaghan and is best known for hits including Four Country Roads, Back To Castleblayney and The Old Rustic Bridge. The Mainliners frontman became the first person to be inducted into Ireland’s Country Music Hall Of Fame in

It’s been confirmed that some preparatory work has already been carried out regarding a proposed river walk along the River Swilly. Donegal County Council has met with the OPW to discuss some issues while discussions have also taken place with a local community group who have expressed an interest in seeking funding from LEADER with