Author name: oisinkelly

An East Derry MLA is calling for harmonisation of postal charges across the island of Ireland. John Dallat says the differential in postal charges is ‘astronomical’, because the Royal Mail treats the Republic as a foreign country and imposes international charges for cards, letters and parcels. He says a card can be sent from Coleraine

Strabane-based Fabplus is planning to more than double its workforce and turnover with support from Invest Northern Ireland, as part of a £7 million investment. The investment is part of a three year expansion plan to increase the firms market share in the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain, and gain a foothold in mainland

The latest Western Development Commission report has revealed that 68% of residents in Donegal work within the county, an increase of over 2000 compared to 2011. An analysis of figures from Census 2016 show that 6% of residents work across the border. While 97% of employees in Donegal are resident in the county. Deirdre Frost,

Gardai in Letterkenny have today arrested a driver after testing positive for cannabis. The motorist also failed to have a driving licence or insurance. Meanwhile, Letterkenny Traffic Corp yesterday seized a motorised bike after the operator was discovered with no helmet, insurance or licence.

A 27-year-old man faces trial on five sex-linked offences, including the exploitation of a child . A book of evidence was served on the man today at Dungloe District Court. The man, who cannot be named is accused of exploiting a child, a girl whose age wasn’t given in court, on December 29 and 30,

  There were 23 people awaiting in-patient admission at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, nine more than yesterday. of those, 10 were waiting in the hospital’s Emergency Department. According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, there were 479 people awaiting admission at hospitals across the country this morning, 61 of them in Limerick.

An assessment of Donegal County Council’s environmental performance last year shows that when all areas are examined, the authority reached reached ‘target’ level. Thje EPA says this indicates good performance generally, and is considered to represent the standard to be reached. However, the council was below the national average assessment reached for last year which

Gaeltacht Minister Joe Mc Hugh has issued a comprehensive response to claims that contrary to his assertion that money had been sanctioned for a new ferry to serve Tory Island and a new breakwater for Magheraroarty Pier, there’s no money on the table for either project. Deputy Pearse Doherty says he’s been told by Minister

Fianna Fail’s marine Spokesperson is calling on Minister Michael Creed to ensure that EU commission quota cut proposals do not succeed at this year’s council of fisheries ministers meeting. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher says it is essential to the fishing industry that proposed cuts for certain key stocks are reversed, with a potential loss

It has been claimed that contrary to a previous announcement, no funding is available from Central Government to commission a new ferry for Tory Island. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty says the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has confirmed to him there is no funding on the table for a new vessel. In September,

An RTE Investigates programme has revealed that over 50% of dangerous driving cases in part of South Donegal were struck out in court last year. The RTE Investigates – Law and Disorder programme broadcast last evening showed that nationally, 48% of drink driving offence cases resulted in a conviction before the District Court in 2016.

The overall cost of flood repair work carried out to date across the Derry City and Strabane District Council area stands at £2.5million, with the total cost estimated to reach £11 million. More than 200 roads in the North were closed or impacted as a result of the flash flooding that hit the North West

Main Evening News, Sport and Obituaries Monday 11th December

Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Serious Crime Branch are continuing to appeal for information about Donegal woman Lu Na McKinney who died during a boating holiday with her family in Fermanagh this year. Mrs McKinney’s husband, 41 year old, Stephen McKinney with an address at Flax Fields, Convoy has been charged with

A cash reward is being offered for information in connection to a robbery at a filling station in Omagh. It is believed that a man entered McCullagh’s Centra, Dromore Road last evening at approximately 7:15pm, threatening a member of staff with a hammer. The man made off in the direction of Culmore Park with a

Gardai are appealing for witnesses following an armed robbery at a bookmakers in Raphoe on Friday night last. It is reported that at around 9:30pm two men wearing dark clothing entered the premises on Irish Street carrying what is believed to be a handgun. The men threatened staff and demanded money. Gardai believe the intruders

There were 14 people waiting on beds at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning. According to the INMO, 9 people were on beds in the hospital’s Emergency Department with a further 5 on wards. Nationally, there were 526 people waiting admission to hospitals across the country today with University Hospital Limerick the most overcrowded.

A number of angling organisations in Donegal are to share €336,000 in funding. Ten organisations in total will receive grants as part of the National Strategy for Angling Development and Salmon Conservation initiative. In welcoming the announcement Government Chief Whip Minister Joe McHugh says: “All the projects are aimed at ensuring that Donegal’s fish stocks

There’s been another attempted break in at a service station, this time in Glenswilly. Thieves attempted to break into Mc Fadden’s in Glenswilly overnight, but it’s reported they were disturbed and escaped empty handed. Gardai have not issued any formal statements, but it’s understood the investigation is looking at links to previous burglaries at similar

HIQA has published the results of the Patient Experience Survey, carried out in May of this year. Overall, patients’ ratings of their experiences at Letterkenny University Hospital were slightly below the national average. 82% of patients at Letterkenny had a ‘very good’ or ‘good’ experience, compared with 84% nationally. In relation to their admission to

Buncrana is to get a Digital Innovation Hub at the former urban council offices in the town as part of a national initiative announced this morning by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Minister Joe McHugh has compared the hub to the Co-Lab centre at Lettterkenny Institute of Technology. The application came from Donegal County Council, with support

The Justice Minister and Acting Garda Commissioner are again being urged to intervene to increase Garda Numbers in the Donegal Division, with 384 in the county at present.. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher says the present government has allowed Garda numbers in county to fall to what he calls “new low and alarming levels”. Last

The following schools have confirmed they are closed this morning –   Ballyraine National School, Letterkenny Woodlands National School, Letterkenny Educate Together, Letterkenny St Eunan’s National School, Raphoe Lurgybrack NS, Letterkenny Sessiaghoneill NS, Ballybofey

Two men, aged 26 and 28, will appear at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court this morning after shots were fired in the centre of Garvagh at round 3 o’clock yesterday morning. The 26-year-old man has been charged with offences including attempted murder, carrying a firearm in a public place and discharging a firearm in a public place.

Plans to build a new Primary Care Centre in Dunfanaghy will proceed next month, according to Minister Joe Mc Hugh. The planning, design and construciton of the new centre is expected to take two years, during which the existing Primary care centre in the area will continue to operate, with some improvement works planned. Mnister

There’s a low temperature warning in place across the country – and road users are being urged to take extreme care. Caution is being urged across the North West this morning, with many untreated surfaces in a treacherous condition. Gardai are reporting particular problems on side roads between Letterkenny and Ramelton, while problems are being

Discrimination, verbal and physical abuse and pay of less than € 3 an hour are just some of the things migrants working in the Irish fishing industry are facing. A new report from the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland also shows 40 per cent of the fishermen interviewed don’t feel safe at work. A government taskforce

Transport NI are to take forward work to install a pedestrian safety handrail at the corner of Bridge Street and Main Street in Strabane. The announcement has been welcomed by Sinn Fein MLA Michaela Boyle, who has said the area has become a well-known pedestrian accident blackspot since being paved recently. The proposed safety rail

Police in Derry are appealing for witnesses following a shooting in Garvagh at around 3am. A man was injured following reports of three shots being fired in the Main Street area of the town. A 46 year old man was operated on after being wounded in the leg and was treated for injuries to his

The Minister for Finance believes phase 2 of Brexit negotiations will prove vital for the economic future of Ireland. Discussions will now centre around trade, after a settlement was reached late on Thursday night between the UK and EU. The deal gurarentees no border between the North and Republic, which the Taoiseach described as “rock

Donegal is among the counties issued with an ongoing orange weather warning for snow and ice from Met Eireann. Many areas across the province were badly hit by the wintery conditions yesterday, which resulted in school closures and widespread traffic disruption. Met Eireann says: “Significant falls of snow are expected Saturday night and into Sunday.

Police are currently in attendance at a security alert in the Balbane Pass area of Derry, following the discovery of a suspicious object in the area. It’s reported that Balbane Pass and Rinmore Drive have been closed to traffic.