Author name: oisinkelly

Donegal County Council is being urged to prepare a response to the National Transport Authority public consultation on Connecting Ireland. The consultation is proposing a series of new public transport routes as well as improving some existing routes. As Donegal is solely dependent on roads, its thought that there should be positive discrimination towards the […]

Children in third class and above have to wear masks in school from today onwards. New Department of Education guidelines state a medical cert’s required for an exemption, and those without evidence will be refused entry. The government’s also calling for less indoor socialising among under-12s for the next two weeks, after a sharp increase

The PRO of the Mica Action Group believes the new Mica Redress scheme has the potential to deliver a lot but some amendments are needed. 7,500 affected homes will be fixed under the revised €2.2 billion scheme and will be tackled on a ‘worst, first’ basis. However, there is concern that a ‘sliding scale’ of

Cuts to the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme take effect today – despite the recent announcements of more restrictions. Many employers will get almost 150 euro less per week to help pay the wages of each staff member. There were subsidies of up to 350 euro a week – but they’re now capped at 203 euro.

Agriculture Minister and Donegal TD Charlie McConalogue says he’s been speaking to members of the Mica Action Group this afternoon, and they’re now digesting the details of the scheme. He told Highland Radio News this evening that he believes the revised scheme addresses the issues with what came before………..

Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn, Sinn Fein’s Chief Whip told the Dail this afternoon that Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien needs to come before TDs top answer questions about the revised Mica redress scheme. He says the Taoiseach failed to answer questions about the scheme today……….

Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle has clashed with Taoiseach Michael Martin over the details of the revised Defective Blocks Redress Scheme. Earlier, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien acknowledged that the rebuilding cap of €420,000 and €145 per sq. ft for the first 1,000 sq. ft will fall short for some. However, in the Dail this afternoon, Deputy

  The Taoiseach says Sinn Fein could have got involved in working towards an enhanced Mica Redress Scheme but didn’t. It’s understood that a written request was made two months ago after the working group report was published to invite submissions from the opposition on how the scheme could be improved further. However Sinn Fein

The PRO of the Mica Action Group while welcoming today’s scheme which has come before Cabinet, says there is still work to be done. Farm and commercial buildings and community centres are not believed to have been included in today’s announcement. In a social media post, Michael Doherty says there are outstanding issues but affected

A green Victorian Cast iron post box has been stolen from a pole in Fintown. The item was taken at some point between Friday morning and yesterday afternoon. Anyone with information about the post box or who may come across such an item for sale is asked to contact gardai in Ballyshannon on 071-9858530. On

The Taoiseach says everyone, including children, will be asked not to socialise as much as planned over the next two weeks. Public health officials are warning there’s a high incidence of Covid-19 among 5 to 11 year olds and their parents. New guidelines are also being considered that would see children from third class up

A Donegal man has become the first member of the Irish Travelling community in the North West to graduate with a Masters degree. David Friel recently graduated with a Masters degree in Social Care and Social Justice from IT Sligo. He says while it was a momentous occasion it is a reminder also of travellers

Ministers are due to sign off on a new Mica redress scheme today. Cabinet are meeting to discuss the scheme which involves a rebuilding cap of €420,000 and an increased cap of €150 per square foot. Homeowners with two properties, one being a principal residence, the other a rental property, will now be able to

It’s thought the Donegal Fire Service could step in as first responders in some 999 calls. Fire personnel are already trained to administer first aid and use defibrillators when an emergency arises. A motion is to be brought forward at the adjourned sitting of Donegal County Council by Cllr Michael McClafferty. However in response the

The Policing Authority will today hear an update from the Garda Commissioner on the mass cancellation of 999 calls. During the summer, it emerged emergency calls were being cancelled by operators since 2019. However, it subsequently emerged the problem was continuing despite additional staff training and changes to call and dispatch technology. Chair of the

There has been a lot of ‘constructive feedback’ as it relates to the Donegal Caravan, Camping and Camper van study. The study, commissioned earlier this year set out to assess such facilities in the county and to determine where and if additional sites could be established. A range of submissions from various sectors, groups and

A revised Mica redress scheme will be brought before Cabinet this morning. The scheme will cover 100% of the costs of rebuilding work up to a cap of €420,000. Reports also suggest a cap of €138 per square-foot, which the Mica Action Group yesterday said they will not support as it falls short of the

  A number of local representatives have raised concern over the Donegal County Development Plan. The new draft Plan was before the latest sitting of Donegal County Council today where members debated a proposed variation in respect of a Wind Energy Policy Framework. Some Councillors expressed reservations about the variation with guarantees sought that communities

  A leading mica campaigner says homeowners will take to the streets of Dublin again, if 100 per cent redress isn’t delivered by government. Paddy Diver has slammed a draft Cabinet memo, which would see people receive a maximum of 420,000 euro to rebuild their home, with second properties not included. He says many people

Almost half a million euro in funding has been granted for Greenways and mountain trails in Donegal. €200,000 has been granted to continue the Muckish Greenway along the Letterkenny to Burtonport railway line while €270,000 is being invested in the upgrade of the Slieve League mountain trail. In welcoming the news, Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh