Author name: oisinkelly

Stamp duty relief has been retained for farmers. The tax remains at the low rate of 1 percent to allow intergenerational farmers to benefit from the relief: Donegal IFA Chairman Micheal Chance has been giving his reaction:

The government has delivered modest income tax cuts and marked increases in spending on health and housing in Budget 2018. It’s a first budget for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Finance Minister Pascal Donohoe and sees those at work and on welfare better off to the tune of about 5 euro per week. Government Chief Whip

  Government Chief Whip and Donegal Minister Joe McHugh says he is pleased that the reconstruction of bridges and roads destroyed in the freak storm in north Donegal in August is to be paid for by Government. “A commitment from Government to support Donegal County Council financially is included in today’s Budget,” said Minister McHugh.

Sinn Fein’s Finance Spokesperson says at the centre of the budget is a lie. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty says it’s a lie that you can fix the health service and the housing crisis while at the same time cutting people’s taxes. He says that the government doesn’t get it:

  The council says work is being done in Letterkenny to reduce the potential of any future floods in the town. Councillor Gerry McMonagle raised the issue at today’s Letterkenny municipal district meeting calling on the local authority to clean all drains in estates which are blocked with leaves and other debris. Councillor McMonagle was

Cllr. Micheal Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig has been elected Chairperson of Donegal County Council Island’s Committee. He was elected earlier today at the latest sitting of the Islands AGM and replaces Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher who held the role for the year previous. Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig says it’s a huge honour and has been outlining

  The Finance Minister says the economy will grow by 4.3 percent this year and 3.5 percent next year. Outlining budget 2018 in the Dail, Paschal Donohoe says that unemployment is to fall to 5.7% in 2018. You can scroll down for more key points: BUDGET 2018 TOTAL The budget will amount to € 60.9

The Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross has confirmd that the first tranche of funding has been paid to businesses and community groups who qualified for funding under the government scheme announced after the August 22nd floods in Inishowen. As well as the government funding administered by the Red Cross nationally, the local Donegal

  There were 20 people awaiting in-patient beds at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the INMO, three of them on Emergency Department trollies. That’s down on yesterday’s total of 31. Cork University Hospital was the most overcrowded in the country this morning, with 47 people waiting there. Nationally, there were 514 people waiting

Phone company Eircom has been fined €10,500 after it admitted overcharging a number of customers including one in County Donegal Eircom Ltd, trading as Eir, pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to offences under the Communications Regulation Act 2002. The prosecution was in connection with complaints by five people who went industry watchdog ComReg after

HIQA says Letterkenny University Hospital must improve the way medication is handled following an unannounced inspection in August. The inspection team found that the hospital’s Drugs and Therapeutics Committee had been suspended over a sustained period of time, and that had led to a potentially dangerous lack of leadership and governance. The hospital also acknowledged

The Taoiseach and Finance Minister have pledged that today’s Budget will include a focus on investment in public services and infrastructure. Increases in some social welfare payments, a cut in the USC, the retention of the Help to Buy scheme and changes in income tax bands are among the measures expected to be announced by

  A senior garda who referred whistle-blower, Garda Keith Harrison to the Garda Ombudsman over a domestic dispute complaint has told the Charleton Tribunal that she has no malice towards the officer. In October 2013 Marissa Simms, the partner of garda Harrison, made a statement to gardaí allegeing that she had received threats from Garda

Over 3000 young people from across Donegal, Derry and Tyrone are expected to attend the Road Safe Show this week at Aura Centre, Letterkenny. The hard-hitting show, hosted by Donegal County Council in association with the Donegal Road Safety Working Group aims to educate young people on the consequences of poor driving behaviour on Irish

World Mental Health Day is being marked today with people being encouraged to talk openly about their mental wellbeing. A number of events are taking place across Donegal and further afield encouraging more communication. Suicide and self-harm charity Pieta House has launched the “Time to Talk” campaign, on foot of rersearh suggesting that nearly half

The Northern Ireland Secretary says some progress has been made on language and culture issues in power sharing talks at Stormont. But in an update to Britain’s Parliament, James Brokenshire has confirmed “clear differences” remain between the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Féin. The parties have been engaged in talks aimed at restoring the Northern Ireland

There is widespread condemnation in Greencastle, Co Tyrone, after a statue of Our Lady was desecrated. It’s believed that on Saturday night last, an individual or group of individuals targeted the religious statue, brandishing it with red paint and graffic langauge. West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan, says the statue was a place where the local

A Ramelton-born scientist is to be honoured for his contribution to Irish communities abroad. Donegal Nobel Prize winner Professor Bill Campbell is to receive the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad 2017. He is due to be bestowed the honour later this year by President Michael D Higgins in recognition of his impact

Members of the Irish-speaking community from Donegal met with local representatives this week to voice their concerns around Irish language and Gaeltacht funding at Clinic Na Gaeilge in Dublin. Local representatives from across Ireland travelled to the capital in a bid to secure funding of €5.3 million for the plan in Budget 2018. The ten-hour

Works to repair damage caused by coastal erosion has begun today in West Donegal. €80,000 in funding was secured to carry out reinforcement works at Curransport. Councillor Micheal Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig has welcomed the commencement of the works. However, he says coastal erosion is an issue affecting many roads along Donegal’s Coast and the Government

  The mother of the schoolgirl who was stuck by a car in St. Johnston this morning says she initially thought the worst had happened. It’s understood that the girl was on the way to get the school bus when the incident occurred. She was taken to hospital for treatment but has since been released.

Donegal County Council is being asked to consider the installation of a traffic light system on approach to the Polestar Roundabout in Letterkenny. The council has been urged to take measures to reduce traffic congestion on the roundabout. Councillor Dessie Sheils is to raise the topic at tomorrow’s meeting of Letterkenny Municipal District. He says

  There were 31 people waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the INMO. 18 people were waiting on trolleys in its Emergency Department while a further 13 were waiting on wards. South Tipperary Hospital was the most overcrowded this morning with 40 people waiting there. Nationally, there were 473

  Gardai are appealing for information following a collision in St.Johnston this morning. Meanwhile witnesses have been asked to come forward over a separate crash which occured yesterday just outside St.Johnston. This morning’s crash, involving one car and a pedestrian happened just before 8.30. It’s believed that a school girl was crossing the road in

  Further talks between local Garda management and community stakeholders are to take place over policing services and Garda resources in the Finn Valley. It follows concern raised locally about policing levels and station opening hours after the area was amongst the targets of recent break-ins throughout Donegal. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty believes these fresh

  Members of the Irish-speaking community from Donegal met with local representatives this week to voice their concerns around Irish language and Gaeltacht funding. Clinic Na Gaeilge came to Kildare Street in Dublin with local representatives from across Ireland calling on TDs to support the Irish Language and Gaeltacht Investment Plan. The ten-hour clinic saw

The Minister for Education is being urged to put a firm deadline in place for ongoing negotiations over securing a site for the new three school campus in Buncrana. The planned campus would cater for Crana College, Gaelscoil Bhun Cranncha and Coláiste Chineal Eoghain but has been in the pipeline for over a decade. While a

  With the Budget just about 24 hours away the latest leaks suggest that we could see a rise in stamp duty. The increase would apply to commercial properties only, but could be as high as 5 percent. The rate which currently stands at 2 percent raise’s more than 250 million Euro for the State

There are further calls for community hospitals in Donegal to be extended. It follows reports of a significant increase in those waiting to access services, particularly in the Inishowen area. Local Cllr Martin McDermott says the move would also alleviate on-going pressures faced by Letterkenny University Hospital. He believes it’s the only viable solution:  

Labour Leader Brendan Howlin says we’re ‘galloping towards a train wreck’ if we don’t have a clear view of the issues affecting us after Brexit. His comments come as pressure intensifies on the government to immediately publish details of a leaked internal Revenue report about the potential impact for the border. Deputy Howlin says he

  An Inishowen Cllr is calling for a review of figures submitted to the Council for repair costs following August’s floods. While current costings stand in excess of 15 million euro, there are now fears that the bill could rise even more, owing to more instances of damage being discovered. Local Cllr Albert Doherty says

  Strabane based food manufacturer, Dragon Brand Foods is investing over half a million in jobs, innovation and a new factory with the support of Invest Northern Ireland. The company is due to begin construction on its new factory at Strabane Business Park as part of its plans to grow its business. Invest NI has