Author name: oisinkelly

Almost €40,000 announced for Donegal social enterprise projects

A number of social enterprise projects in Donegal are to receive almost for €40,000 in funding. Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys has announced €680,000 in funding is being made available for 50 organisations under a new initiative designed to raise awareness of the positive role played by Social Enterprises. Bundoran Community Development […]

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Swilly Seals ASC celebrating recent success at the National Finals of the Community Games.

Members of Swilly Seals ASC recently participated in the National Finals of the Community Games held in the University of Limerick Sport’s Campus. Thirteen members of the club were selected following success in the county finals to represent Donegal and the communities of Letterkenny, Milford, Glenswilly-Churchill and Gaoth Dobhair. The finals in Limerick were a

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Events planned for NW to mark 1500th anniversary of Colmcille’s birth

A number of events have been planned across the North West to mark the 1500th anniversary of Colmcille’s birth on December 7th. Marking the historic year, Donegal County Council and Derry City & Strabane District Council, are coordinating a full line-up for ‘Colmcille 1500,’ to celebrate the anniversary of the patron saint. Celebrations for Colmcille

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Minister McConalogue stands over belief that 100% Mica redress will be delivered

Much debate continues to surround the controversial sliding scale element of the enhanced Mica Redress Scheme. Yesterday in the Dail, in response to Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar confirmed that Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien is considering the sliding scale. The current cap of €145 per square foot for the first 1,000 foot will

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12 new housing posts approved for Council

The Housing Minister has approved 12 new posts for Donegal County Council’s housing delivery team which will assist in delivering their social housing targets. More than 200 posts have been approved nationwide and include engineers, quantity surveyors, architects and administrative roles. Minister O’Brien says the new posts, ensures that Donegal County Council have the capacity

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‘Parents should be allowed decide if their child wears a mask’ – Mary T Sweeney

Donegal Aontu representative Mary T Sweeney believes parents should be allowed to decide whether their child wears a mask to school or not. Under new regulations children aged 9 and up must wear a mask in schools, shops and on public transport. An exemption may be granted if a medical cert is presented. Speaking on

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Plans for apartments at former shirt factory given green light

Plans for a new apartment building occupying the former Tillie and Henderson site in Derry have been given the green light this week. The new development, which will be located at the cityside end of the Craigavon Bridge overlooking the River Foyle, will comprise of 131 modern apartments, and the development will also feature a

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Ireland generating ‘significantly’ more rubbish – EPA

Ireland risks missing key EU targets because the country is generating “significantly” more rubbish and recycling less and less of it, according to a new Environmental Protection Agency report. It says 3.1 million tonnes of municipal waste was created in 2019 – a 6% rise, making Ireland’s rubbish pile the biggest it has been since

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Scheme approved for undocumented migrants to regularise status

A scheme will open next month to allow undocumented migrants in Ireland to regularise their status here. While there are no totally reliable figures the Department of Justice estimated there are around 17,000 undocumented in Ireland, including 3,000 children. The scheme will open in January for people who’ve been here for four years without permission,

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New restrictions considering household visits and indoor hospitality

Household visits and indoor hospitality will be targeted as part of new restrictions to tackle the spread of Covid-19. It’s understood NPHET has recommended limiting household mixing – allowing one household gather with three others – until mid-February. Opening hour limits and rules around table sittings and multiple bookings at pubs and restaurants are also

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Minister wants to avoid tougher restrictions in North

  Stormont’s Health Minister says he wants to avoid bringing back tougher covid restrictions. This week has seen the introduction of vaccine passports, and a tightening of rules for international travel. The Northern Ireland Executive’s expected to discuss the new Omicron variant when it meets today. Here’s Health Minister Robin Swann:

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Minister ‘considering’ controversial sliding scale in Mica Scheme

  The Tanaiste has confirmed that the Housing Minister is ‘considering’ the controversial sliding scale issue in the enhanced Mica Redress scheme. There has been much outrage to the sliding scale element of the scheme which could result in homeowners still having to pay out tens of thousands of euro to fix their homes. The

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DUP MP writes to Taoiseach over exclusion of holiday homes from redress scheme

DUP MP Gregory Campbell has written to Taoiseach Micheal Martin over concerns around the exclusion of Northern Irish holiday home owners from the Mica redress scheme. The revised scheme announced this week does not offer redress for holiday homes while rental properties will only be covered if they were registered with the RTB by November

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Concern raised over delay to dredging at Magheroarty Pier

Concern has been raised over delays to dredging at Magheroarty Pier. A foreshore licence application was submitted by Donegal County Council in January to commence dredging but to date, the go ahead has not been given. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage say the application is currently pending. Councillor Micheal Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig

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Public health accused of walking away from primary schools

The General Secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation has accused public health of walking away from primary schools at the end of September. John Boyle says as a result, Covid-19 has spiraled out of control in schools. Latest figures show 6,077 primary school students tested positive for the virus last week alone. Speaking on

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Minister McConalogue ‘hopeful’ another lockdown can be avoided

The Agriculture Minister says he’s “hopeful” the Republic of Ireland can avoid another lockdown. It comes as NPHET meet today to consider recommending new restrictions, after the first case of the Omicron variant in the Republic of Ireland was identified yesterday. Minister Charlie McConlogue is confident the country can continue under the restrictions currently in

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Taoiseach lobbied to tackle hospital overcrowding in North West

A south Donegal Deputy is calling on the Taoiseach to take immediate action on hospital overcrowding in the North West. Deputy Marian Harkin says the region is coming out on top time and time again when it comes to overcrowding. Yesterday there were almost 80 people awaiting admission at both Letterkenny and Sligo University Hospitals,

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Government under fire for abandoning plans to subsidise antigen tests

The Government is under fire yet again over abandoning plans to subsidise antigen tests. The decision was based on retailers reducing prices, resulting in the removal of the need for the government to intervene. The issue was raised in the Dail by Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty; he claimed that the price for some antigen tests

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