Author name: oisinkelly

The Community Involvement Scheme is to be reintroduced by Donegal County Council after its withdrawal four years ago. The Council will work with local community groups and landowners to avail of CIS funding from the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport for the restoration of local roads and cul de sacs, subject to approval and […]

Main Evening News, Sport and Obituaries Thursday 22nd February:

The Communications Minister has confirmed he will be signing off on legislation to reduce a levy fee by 50 percent for Independent Radio Stations next week. The move is seen in the industry as a major breakthrough in reforming Irish Broadcasting. The savings will allow stations to invest in more resources and training to evolve

The Cathaoirleach of the Inishowen Municipal District has made a submission to the bounbdaries commission aeeking to have Inishowen split into two, one North and one South, thereby keeping its nine councillors. It follows a ruling that no district should have more than seven councillors. At present, Inishowen has nine and Letterkenny has ten. There

The Dáil has backed a campaign for an extra payment of €200 per suckler cow to be made to beef farmers. The motion was moved by Donegal Deputy and Fianna Fail Agriculture Spopkesperson Charlie McConalogue, in support of the ongoing “Save Our Sucklers” campaign, with more than 30,000 farmers signing an open letter backed by

The Department for Infrastructure in the North has confirmed that work is due to begin on the Derry to Dungiven stretch of the A6 this coming Spring. The new 25.5km stretch of dual carriageway road will start at Drumahoe, bypassing Dungiven to connect to the M2 to Belfast. Government Chief Whip Minister Joe McHugh says

There are growing fears within Letterkenny University Hospital that if the overcrowding crisis is not addressed waiting lists for planned surgeries will continue to rise. A spokesperson for Saolta has confirmed that once the full capacity protocol is implemented, some measures taken include the admission of patients to extra beds on wards or the cancellation

There has been a slight rise in the number of people waiting on a bed this morning at Letterkenny University Hospital. According to the INMOs latest Trolley and Ward Watch Report there were 24 patients awaiting admission to the hospital, 14 of those were on trolleys in the hospital’s Emergency Department with a further 10

Police in Strabane are appealing for information following two separate burglaries of a commercial premises in the Longland Road area of Donemana. It is believed that sometime between midnight and 9:00am on Tuesday morning, entry was gained to the premises with a large sum of cash taken. Exactly one week before, entry was gained to

Irish Water says it remains committed to a €5.8 million upgrade of the Inishowen Regional Water Supply, as it is vital to ensure a secure water supply for the people of Greencastle. It follows the appointment of administrators to the Northern Irish company Lagan Construction, which was appointed maion contractor of the project last year. Irish

Gardai in Donegal are warning people to be vigilant after burglars from Cork were apprehended in the county. It’s understood that the gang were caught driving a stolen car in Donegal after carrying out two burglaries in the Fermoy area of Co. Cork earlier that day. Crime Prevention Officer Sgt Paul Wallace says this is

There are reports that the worst impacts of Brexit could be delayed for up to two years. A draft legal text seen by the Irish Independent shows that the UK will continue to operate under EU laws during a transition period from March 2019 to December 2020. It could mean more time to work out

It’s been claimed that the National Planning Framework published last Friday shows chronic under investment and imbalanced regional growth for Donegal. Speaking last evening in the Dail in delivering statements on Ireland 2040 Framework Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle said Donegal can expect to be forgotten for another generation as the Government is excluding the county

It’s believed that funding for the Local Improvement Scheme could increase to €10 million with an extra €2 million being made available by Government. Cathaoirleach of the Glenties Municipal Distrcit says during talks with Minister Sean Kyne he acknowledged the need for further investment in LIS and indicated more funding would be allocated. This follows concern

Higher Education institutions in the North West are being invited to submit revised proposals as part of a new €5.7m “Higher Education Access Fund”. The fund, announced by Ministers Richard Bruton and Mary Mitchell O’Connor will support students from underrepresented groups to access higher education and will be allocated to regional clusters of institutions to

The HSE has confirmed that the full capacity protocol was implemented a total of 242 times at Letterkenny University Hospital last year. Senator Padraig MacLochlainn says when the protocol was implemented it remained in place for a number of days, meaning for more or less the entirety of 2017, Letterkenny University Hospital was under immense

Detectives from the PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch are appealing for information on the first anniversary of the attempted murder of an off duty police officer in Derry. On 22nd February last year, an improvised explosive device was placed under the car of the police officers car outside his home in the Ardnalee area of Culmore.

Main Evening News, Sport and Obituaries Wednesday 21st February:

Police in the North are warning people in Derry to be vigilant following a report that a device had been left in the Grafton Street area of the city. Inspector Rosie Thompson says a search of the area has been carried out with nothing untoward found. She is advising that if anyone comes upon something

Gardai are investigating a robbery at the Railway Tavern and Firebox Grill in Fahan. The robbery took place in the early hours of Monday morning with thieves gaining access by forcing a door at the side of the property. Staff arrived to the premises on Monday and made the discovery. Two safes containing cash were

Junior Minister Jim Daly says it would make no sense to remove beds in community hospitals at a time when acute hospitals are under severe pressure. Speaking on the Nine ’til Noon Show, Minister Daly gave an assurance that the hospitals in Stranorlar, Ramlelton and Lifford would continue into the future. However, he would give

There were 16 people awaiting in patient beds at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, six of them on Emergency Department trolleys. That’s up five on yesterday’s figure. In Sligo, the figure was 15. Nationally, the INMO says there were 588 people awaiting admission at hospitals across the country this morning, the largest number, 55, at

An investigation is underway after an overnight fire destroyed one of Donegals most historic buildings. A number of fire appliances attended the scene at Donaghmore house in Castlefin last night and eventually brought the blaze under control however it’s understood that the building is completely gutted. The 10 bedroom Victorian country house is currently on

The IFA in Donegal is calling on the government to make funding to local authorities for greenways to be contingent on the development of a Code of Practice for engaging with landowners. In a detailed submission to the Transport Minister, the IFA says the level of engagement around the country has been haphazard, with problems

While the Junior Health Minister has pledged to work towards retaining existing services in three Donegal community hospitals, no firm commitment has been given to long term residential care provision at the facilities. Minister Daly attended a well-attended public meeting in Jacksons Hotel last night where clarity was sought on the future of Ramelton, Lifford

The Health Minister has been heavily criticised for failing to turn up to Dail debate last evening to discuss the future of services at Lifford, Ramelton and St Joseph’s Community Hospitals. The topic was selected for discussion and it had been anticipated that Minister Harris would be in a position to provide clarity surrounding the

Serious concern has been raised following news that Northern Irish company Lagan Construction has gone into administration and that the delivery of Irish Water’s Inishowen Regional Water Supply Scheme may be impacted. The company was appointed as contractor for the project last year with works due to be carried out on the Eddie Fullerton Dam

Motorists are being warned to take extra care on the roads this morning after sub-zero temperatures returned to some parts of the county overnight. The mercury dropped to minus 3 degrees in places, leading to frost and icy stretches. A status yellow low temperature warning from Met Eireann remains in place until 10 o’clock this

Quigley’s Point health centre is due to reopen at the end of next month after it was damaged during last Augusts flooding. The centre has been closed now for over 6 months with the flood damage resulting in the cancellation of the vital satellite GP service which has caused upheaval for those in the area

The Dunfanaghy Text alert is hosting its first A.G.M later tonight to mark is one year milestone since being first established. Guest speakers will be Vanessa Clarke from Muntir Na Tire Text Coordinator for the County and Sargent Paul Wallace crime prevention Officer while other members of An Garda Siochanna will also be in attendance.

Donegal Deputies Pat the Cope Gallagher and Pearse Doherty a short time ago in the Dail called again for clarity on the future services at Donegal’s three community hospitals, including long term residential care. Deputy Doherty told the Dail this evening of the public outrage since it was announced a decision had been taken to

Main Evening News, Sport and Obituaries Tuesday 20th February:

Police in Derry are investigating after a van stolen in Inishowen was involved in a collision at a roundabout on Heather Road in the city. Police in Derry say they received a report that a white transit van had been stolen from an address in Carndonagh at 5 o’clock last evening. At approximately 7:30pm, police

There are further calls for a full investigation to take place into claims where an ambulance took over an hour to attend a house just five minutes from Letterkenny University Hospital. The patient had died by the time the ambulance had arrived, with the family very unhappy with responses they’ve received from the National Ambulance

Further details are emerging of an incident in Strabane over the weekend in which a man was assaulted and falsely imprisoned in his own home Sometime between 10pm and 1am on Saturday night last, a number of persons entered the mans home in the Springhill Park area. Police have described what happened as a very

There were 11 people waiting on a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning. According to the INMOs latest Trolley and Ward Watch report, 9 patients were on trolleys in the hospitals Emergency Department with a further 2 waiting on wards. Nationally, there were 621 people awaiting admission to hospitals across the country today with