Author name: oisinkelly

  Over 3% of primary school children in Donegal have tested positive for Covid-19 over the last fortnight. A snapshot survey from the INTO has revealed than an average 3.2% of their pupils tested positive for the virus between 1st – 16th November. The survey also found that 605 teachers were covid-positive over the same

  A Donegal Minister says a lot of good progress has been made with regards to the Mica Redress Scheme over the last few weeks. Engagement across Government Departments is continuing with a memo expected to be brought before the Cabinet soon. Minister Charlie McConalogue is confident that the scheme will serve all affected homeowners.

  People interested in having a rail network in Donegal are being encouraged to attend a special meeting on the topic this weekend. The West Ulster Rail Initiative is organising the meeting to gauge support for rail in the county with a view towards submitting a report to the inter-governmental review of all-island rail. It’s

  Hundreds of people gathered at Donegal border crossings on Saturday calling for the post-Brexit arrangements introduced for the North be protected. The latest protests, organised by Border Communities Against Brexit come amid growing fears that Britain could trigger Article 16 of the protocol arrangement – a move which could see a return of a

  The Irish Passport Office is set double its staff to deal with the current backlog. Its expecting to process 1.3 to 1.7 million new passport applications next year, as travel resumes and British people with ties to Ireland continue to apply. Dublin TD Alan Farrell says a recruitment process is underway to help ease

  The Stormont Executive is meeting later to decide whether or not to bring in tougher covid restrictions in Northern Ireland. Health officials are recommending new measures come into force before Christmas. They include tougher enforcement on mask wearing, and a new “scores on the doors” system that would rate businesses on their compliance with

  An expert says we’re in a ‘high risk period’ at the moment for bird flu. It’s after the Department of Agriculture confirmed H5N1 has been detected in a turkey flock in County Monaghan. Restriction zones are being set up around the area and additional movement control and surveillance steps will be put in place.

  605 school staff reported contracting Covid-19 in the first two weeks of November. That’s according to a survey by the Irish National Teachers Organisation, which’s warning the primary school system’s ‘creaking at the seams’. It’s calling for an immediate review of public health supports in schools. INTO General Secretary John Boyle says school communities

  A cabinet sub-committee will meet today to discuss whether to delay cuts to covid supports for hospitality businesses. The industry is complaining of lost revenue due to restrictions, saying limiting open times to midnight will damage trading before Christmas. The Vintners Federation’s calling for the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme to be maintained in its

Farmers have travelled to Dublin today to voice their concerns over climate targets. The Irish Farmers Association led a tractor convoy, which arrived at Merrion Square within the last hour. The IFA says it’s unhappy with the targets set out in the government’s climate action plan. But Donegal Deputy and Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue, believes

The government will tomorrow discuss restoring Covid supports for the hospitality sector. Representatives from the hospitality sector are pushing for a delay in the reduction of the wage subsidy scheme, which will be lowered from December 1st. A midnight closing time for bars, restaurants and nightclubs was introduced last week. Restaurants Association CEO Adrian Cummins,

A member of the National Public Health Emergency Team says the group does not want to advise the government to introduce another lockdown. But Director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory, Dr Cillian de Gascun, says the high transmissibility of the Delta variant means that basic public health measures will have less impact than they

  A Donegal Senator believes the Irish Government has a role to play in helping people, particularly North of the border, to understand the issues around the Northern Ireland protocol and the effects of it. Senator Niall Blaney was speaking in the Seanad this week after a delegation recently met with representatives of Unionist parties

Several protests are taking place along the border today, over concerns that Britain will revoke Article 16 of the Brexit withdrawal agreement – a move that would have serious consequences for the future of the Northern Ireland Protocol. Border Communities Against Brexit will hold the demonstrations at the Lifford Bridge in County Donegal, as well