Author name: oisinkelly

Talks to restore power sharing in the North have broken down over the Irish language. In a statement the DUP says that serious and significant gaps remain between the party and Sinn Fein and it will not agree to a free standing Irish language act. Arlene Foster has called on the British Government to set […]

Opposition TDs are calling for a Dáil vote on the new National Planning Framework. They’re accusing the Taoiseach of rushing the announcement to avoid having to be accountable to the Oireachtas. The plan, which will outline the development of the country up to 2040, is to be launched in Sligo on Friday. Labour leader Brendan

Letterkenny University Hospital is the third most overcrowded hospital in the country today. 43 people were waiting on a bed at the hospital, 30 patients on trolleys in the hospitals Emergency Department with a further 13 on wards or in overflow areas. Cork University Hospital is the most overcrowded in the country with 58 people

Residents of Tory Island are protesting outside the Dail today as part of their campaign for a new purpose built ferry to serve the island. The contract for the current service is due to cease on 1st April, to be replaced by the Queen of Aran,a vessel with which the residents are not happy because

The Minister with responsibilty for flooding says the refurbishment of homes and houses for local authority tenants is a matter for Donegal County Council. A statement’s been issued by Minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran following an outcry this week when tenants at an estate in Burnfoot were told their homes would not be refurbished this year,

The Charities Regulator has imposed intermediate sanctions on the Good and New Shop in Letterkenny. The Regulator issued the notice to the Good and New Shop following an on-site inspection by staff from the Regulator’s compliance and enforcement unit, which found that the charity is not in compliance with its legal obligation to keep proper

New measures are to be implemented to tackle serious safety concerns outside Ballyraine National School in Letterkenny. It follows a number of reported instances of motorists breaking the red light outside the school, leading to fears that a child will be seriously injured. The measures include additional signage and lining while also plans to eliminate

Bankers could be jailed for lying to the Central Bank under a new bill from Sinn Féin. It would see the law changed to allow prosecution of individual bankers, with a possible jail term of up to 5 years. At the moment individuals can’t be held to account and only the institutions may be sanctioned.

The Good and New Charity has responded to the intermediate sanctions imposed by the Charities Regulator. The regulator is calling for proper accounting procedures to be put in place, along with regular statements of income and expenditure, as well as assets and liabilities In a statement, a spokesperson for the Good and New Charity said

Serious concern has been raised over a busy junction on the main Letterkenny to Fintown road. The Council is to place ‘concealed entrance’ signage before the entrance to Magheralask after locals reported that it currently poses a health and safety risk for vehicles exiting onto the Letterkenny road. This is despite the local authority stating

A major jobs boost is on the way for the North West with the creation of 170 at O’Neills sportswear in Strabane. It’s after Derry & Strabane Councils planning committee approved plans for a new storage distribution and shop complex at the facility. A total of 600 people are already employed at the company. West

There are calls on the Council to make a section of parking adjacent to the new courthouse a “residents only” area. It follows concern raised by residents living on Orchard Row who are having difficulty parking their cars outside their properties with spaces in their private car park already taken up by people attending the

The Donegal Road Safety Working Group has launched a new campaign, encouraging drivers to use a mobile phone signal blocker pouch when driving in a bid to target phone use while driving. Donegal Road Safety Officer, Brian O’Donnell says research shows that mobile phone use by drivers, which is every bit as dangerous as drink

There are calls for Irish Water to progress plans for a wastewater treatment plant at Burtonport without delay. As part of the utility’s capital scheme a water treatment plant is planned for the area. However, Councillor Marie Therese Gallagher says there are ongoing concerns among locals which cannot be addressed unless Irish Water deliver. At the

Main Evening News Sport, and Obituaries Tuesday 13th February:

  Milford Gardai are urging motorists to avoid the Lough Salt Road, due to dangerous driving conditions, resulting from the recent bad weather. Meanwhile, in Derry, there has been a two vehicle crash on the Foyle Bridge which is blocking one lane city-bound.

A worse-case scenario Brexit deal could cost the Irish economy 18 billion euro. That’s according to an independent report commissioned by the government which was considered by the cabinet this morning. It stated Brexit will have a negative impact on Ireland in all scenarios, even with a soft exit. However the report was done under

A Glenties Municipal District Councillor has called for a meeting with Donegal County Council’s Housing Section to address the housing shortage within the area. Councillor Seamus O’Domhnaill says while it is welcome houses are being acquired in the municipal area, it is not enough, and more houses need to be built. Councillor O’Domhnaill says it

There needs to be a significant increase in investment for local and regional roads, according to Fianna Fáil. The Dáil will debate a motion later calling for a much larger budget for roads maintenance around the country. It comes ahead of the publication of the National Planning Framework on Friday which will outline the government’s

The prospect of the Supreme Court sitting in Donegal has been raised by Chief Justice Mr Frank Clarke. Speaking at the opening of the new courthouse in Letterkenny last evening, the Chief Justice remarked that when a new courthouse in Limerick opens in three weeks time, the Supreme Court will hold a sitting there shortly

A Letterkenny resident, who is facing a human trafficking charge under brand new legislation, had his case put back to November, at Sligo Circuit Court today. 40-year-old Sorin Cirpaci, Fortwell Court, Letterkenny is charged with trafficking Mr Gheorgha Bogdan in a period from May 28 to September 9 2015 at a car wash on Pearse

A new aircraft is being bought for the Donegal Dublin air service, after Stobart Air’s contract to operate the Public Service Obligation route on behalf of Aer Lingus Regionalwas renewed until 2022. The airline says it’s investing over €7million in the new plane. More than 33,000 passengers used the service to Donegal in 2017, with

There were 34 people awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, 21 of them on Emergency Department trolleys. That’s down just three on yesterday’s figure. Nationally, the INMO says there were 582 people waiting for in patient beds around the country, the largest number, 49, at University Hospital Limerick.

Residents in Clonmany are calling for further studies to be carried out to investigate a suspected increase in cancer rates in the area. The calls follows concern that a so-called ‘cancer cluster’ has developed in the town land of Cloontagh with between 20-30 homes having at least one or more people with the disease. Local

It’s been claimed that a dying 92 year old man was left waiting on a trolley at Letterkenny University Hospital for 24 hours last month. According to today’s Irish Daily Mail, the man was eventually admitted to a ward at the hospital and has since died. The HSE is investigating the circumstances surrounding how the

  There are fears that an elderly person will be seriously injured if necessary drainage works are not carried out at a Letterkenny housing estate. Significant amounts of water are regularly running off the green area at Muckish Avenue in the town and lying directly outside people’s homes. Cathaorileach of Donegal County Council Cllr. Gerry

It’s been claimed that Brexit is having an effect on the rental market in Donegal. In the latest Daft.ie report, rent has increased by 3.9% in the last quarter of 2017, compared to the same period in 2016 with the average rent in the county now €599. Ronan Lyons, Assistant Professor of Economics at Trinity

49,000 homeowners in Donegal could be eligible for home energy grants. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has introduced an increase in grants as well as additional funding to enable homeowners make their homes more energy efficient. The grants cover one third of the total cost of the works, ranging from €300 for attic insulation

A Donegal Deputy is calling on the Government to urgently address issues facing 7 schools in the County. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has said Central Government has completley failed to address the needs of the schools in Donegal some of which are overcrowded and require new buildings. During a Dail debate, Deputy Gallagher told

Main Evening News, Sport and Obituaries Monday 12th February:

The Taoiseach says he and the British Prime Minister have held constructive talks on restoring power sharing in Northern Ireland. Leo Varadkar has tweeted a photo of their meeting in Belfast – which also covered Brexit. He says they’re meeting leaders of the Northern Irish parties next. New Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald will