Author name: oisinkelly

The quick actions of the occupants of a house in Meenanillar, Derrybeg that caught fire after lightning struck the property last night, have been praised. The Gweedore fire brigade were at the scene last night within 10 minutes after the alarm was raised at about 11:55pm. Some damage was caused to the detached dormer after

Main Evening News, Sport and Obituaries Thursday 15th February:

The Taoiseach has again refused to engage in the debate over the reopening of the Short Stay Ward at Letterkenny University Hospital. Leo Varadkar was responding to a question tabled by Donegal Deputy Charlie McConalogue who has continued to challenge the Governments failure to approve the €1.8 million funding request to reopen the short stay

A Government Minister’s described illegal dumping as a national scandal. Drones, CCTV and undercover surveillance are to be used to clamp down on litter black-spots across the country. €2 million is to be spent this year targeting those responsible, up from €1.25 million last year. In 2017, Donegal County Council received almost €69,000 for 21

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland says a pilot programme involving the use of hybrid and electric vehicles to transport renal dialysis patients to Letterkenny University Hospital has the capacity to be very significant. Currently, renal dialysis patients from Letterkenny University Hospital are transported on a daily basis to attend their essential appointments by hackney

It’s been claimed that the Donegal ambulance service has been thrown into disarray over severe staff shortages with current ambulance crews said to be at breaking point. In one case, it’s reported that an ambulance was called to a house just five minutes from Letterkenny University Hospital and took over an hour to get there

  Derry Councillor Sandra Duffy says a recent spate of break-ins and attempted burglaries in the Galliagh area is a cause of concern. She says she has met with police in recent days regarding the issue of burglaries, and said police have assured her that action is being taken and arrests have been made. Cllr

There were 39 people waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the INMO. 26 people were waiting on trolleys in its Emergency Department while a further 13 were waiting on wards. University Hospital Limerick was the most overcrowded today with 55 people waiting there. Nationally, there were 528 people waiting

There are renewed calls for Government intervention in the on-going controversy over the proposed new Tory Island ferry service. The calls come after yesterday’s protest outside the gates of Leinster House which was organised by members of the Tory island co-operative in opposition to the plans. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty says there’s growing anger over

  The Housing Minister envisages that the Government will be in a position to clarify whether or not there will be a redress scheme for Mica affected homeowners by next month. Minister Damien English was quizzed in the Dail this week by Donegal Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue who requested an update on the matter. It’s

Fianna Fáil’s claiming there are still serious doubts about whether the National Broadband Plan can be delivered. The tendering process for the massive project has been left with just one bidder, after Eir pulled out. Officials from the Department of Communications will face questions on the tendering process at an Oireachtas committee hearing later. Fianna

A Midlands North West MEP says commitments, not words are needed from a Cabinet meeting in Sligo on Friday where the National Planning Framework will be published. MEP Marian Harkin says, successive Governments have failed to provide a safe route from Dublin to the North West which has had grave human outcomes as well as

Serious concern has been expressed over the absence of a Community Intervention Team in Donegal. Senator Padraig MacLochlainn has revealed that no such service has been implemented in the county since the initiative was announced almost 8 years ago as a Government intervention. The service is a vital resource in freeing hospital beds, facilitating early discharge

A new pilot project has been launched to transport renal dialysis patients to and from Letterkenny University Hospital. Taxi drivers in Letterkenny will be taking part in the project in conjunction with the HSE and Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland which will involve the use of hybrid and electric cars to transfer the patients to

The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has issued a statement following a protest held outside the Dail today as part of a campaign for a new purpose built ferry to serve Tory island. The Department says it has long recognised that Tory Island is unique among the country’s offshore islands. The contract for

Main Evening News, Sport and Obituaries Wednesday 14th February:

The senior Garda officer in Cork has said an investigation into a 40% rise in house burglaries in Cork shows that on one occasion, a car involved in burglaries in Cork was tracked to both Dublin and Donegal on the same day. Chief Superintendent Barry Mc Polin was speaking to the Evening Echo newspaper. The

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