Author name: oisinkelly

Concern has been raised over what’s been described as on-going sewerage slick at Dungloe Bay. A number of people noticed the slick in the water in recent days and questions are now being asked over the danger it poses from a health and safety perspective. It’s understood that residents have requested a meeting with Irish […]

  There were eleven people waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the INMO. Figures show that there were nine people on trolleys in its Emergency Department while a further two were waiting on wards. University Hospital Kerry was the most overcrowded this morning with 50 people waiting there. Nationally

The IFA Donegal Grain Representative is warning farmers that they only have less than a month to submit their applications for the new Crop Loss Scheme. Farmers who suffered losses in the 2016 harvest will be able to access up to €10,500 in support under the new scheme which was announced earlier this week. The

It’s been confirmed that upgrade works to connect the Churchill water scheme to the Goaldrum Letterkenny water supply will be completed by the end of August. Homeowners in Glenswilly, Churchill and Gartan have been raising concerns over an inadequate supply for some time, with reports of severe water discolouration in some areas. Irish Water says

  The Minister for Foreign Affairs has called on the EU to move the country’s border into the Irish Sea. The Times Ireland Edition reports the suggestion has ratcheted up tensions between Ireland and the UK. Senior British Officials are said to be concerned about efforts by Simon Coveney and new Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to

  Donegal County Council has agreed to establish an implementation plan for the Irish Open 2018 in Ballyliffen. The plan will be in co-operation with Ballyliffen Golf Club, local Gardai and other relevant bodies in preparation for the prestigious event. Cllr. Bernard Mc Guinness says there is an endless list of issues in the county

Figures released by Donegal County Council show a significant drop in the number of emergency call outs for the fire brigade since the fee was increased. The bill for fire call outs doubled from 100 to 200 euro in 2011 and the data reflects a year on year decrease in the number of calls made

A Donegal County Councillor is calling for the new bin charges to be abolished. The Council say that they are currently waiting direction from the Department of Environment on the implementation of the new changes with a view to promoting an awareness and information campaign for the public later in the year. Cllr. John Seamus

Police in Derry are appealing for information following a report of an assault in the Galliagh area of the city in the early hours of Sunday, 9 July. Police received a report on Monday, 10 July that a male, aged in his 20s, had been assaulted and sustained facial injuries as a result. Police are

Highland Radio remains the country’s most listened to radio station, with almost 60% of the North Donegal radio market, according to JNLR figures provided by Ipsos MRBI. The stations market share has risen by 3% ove the past 12 months. The survey, which covers the period from July 2016 to June 2017 shows HIghland Radio

  The number of families living in Donegal has decreased by 220 according to figures from the Central Statistics Office. The CSO has just released its latest publication of the eleven Census 2016 profile reports. Here are the other highlights: Census 2016 recorded a total of 41,134 families in County Donegal, a slight fall of

Altnagelvin  Hospital in Derry hopes to restoptre all services by early next week. It comes as 25 beds remain closed and some elective surgery is still suspended following the outbreak of a vomitting bug at the hospital. Visiting restrictions are also in place. The situation there is being exacerbated by staff shortages. Dr Dermot Hughes

There’s been a rise in the number of patients awaiting admission to Letterkenny University Hospital, with 17 people in need of in-patient beds this morning, 10 of them on Emergency Department trolleys. For the past number of days, the figure has been less than five, but today has seen a sharp increase. Nationlly, the INMO

The fishing fleet in the North West is to retain its share of the national mackerel quota. Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Michael Creed has rejected a bid to have 100% of the additional 2017 quota allocated to the south and south west. Instead, existing sharing arrangements will continue, with 87% of the increase go to

25 beds have been closed and elective surgery suspended at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry following the outbreak of a vomitting bug at the hospital. It’s reported the situation there is being exacerbated by staff shortages. Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan says the crisis is down to a number of problems, some of which are beyond

A West Donegal councillor says policies which could be very detrimental to rural communities could be enshrined  in the Draft County Development Plan because  people are not engaging with it. The draft plan, which provides a development framework for Donegal is currently in its public consultation phase with the deadline extended to September 1st. Cllr. Seamus

Donegal County Council has agreed to set up an urgent meeting with the TII and other relevant bodies to discuss funding for three key road projects in the county. The Ballybofey and Stranorlar by-pass, the Lifford to Letterkenny New Realignment and the Letterkenny New National Primary Link Road have been at a standstill for some years

It’s been confirmed that Glenveagh National Park has recruited new staff while contracts have also been extended for other workers. The move follows a record number of visiting Glenveagh last year. Figures also show that 20,000 more people visited the castle in the first six months of this year compared with the same period last

It’s emerged that part of the roof covering the former Emergency Department at Letterkenny University Hospital collapsed at the weekend. It’s understood that debris from the roof fell onto a busy walkway adjacent to the building below. Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr. Gerry McMonagle is seeking urgent answers from the HSE and Management at

  A total 13 seafood enterprises are to share over 3 million in grants with three of those projects in Donegal. The Foyle Fishermen’s Co-operative is to receive more than €1.2 million in funding – the biggest allocation in the country. The funding was announced today by Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Michael

  Donegal Senator Padraig Mac Lochlainn is welcoming the prospect of a meeting between education leaders and Minister Richard Bruton to discuss the long awaited three school campus in Buncrana. The meeting was suggested today by Deputy Joe mc Hugh, who says there is progress being made on securing a site for the development. Senator

The Caithaoirleach of Donegal County Council has hit out at young people after a gas cylinder was placed on a bonfire and set alight in the Glencar / Killylastin area of Letterkenny last night. The cylinder exploded, and while there were no injuries, Cllr Gerry Mc Monagle says shards from the cylinder spread over a

It’s been confirmed that, as expected, the Rhatigan report into the future of the three Community Hospitals in Donegal – St Joseph’s, Lifford and Ramelton, is recommending investment in two of the three. The report calls for an injection of €3.5 million for St Joseph’s Stranorlar and an investment of €2.1 million for Ramelton. Deputy

A farm organisation is accusing the government of allowing multi-national companies effectively colonise huge tracts of land in counties like Donegal and Leitrim for forestry, because it believes that will help the state meet climate targets. The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association claims future carbon credits are the main driving forces behind a forestry

Donegal County Council has been asked to explore funding opportunities from Europe to complete the transformation of the Letterkenny to Burtonport railway into a greenway. It’s understood that although funding had been secured in the past to carry out some work, more is needed to see the project finished. Donegal County Council say that they

An Inishowen Councillor is calling on the HSE to change its protocols so that every time an emergency call is made for an ambulance to attend a road collision, the fire brigade is called out at the same time. The motion was put forward at the latest sitting of Donegal County Council but the Councils

  The Government is being urged to take action to incentivise growth and increase investment in Donegal. It’s after figures from Census 2016 revealed that the county has a higher unemployment rate than the state average. Following the latest sitting of the local authority, it has been agreed to pursue the issue and details will

Government Chief Whip Joe Mc Hugh says he’s asked Education Minister Richard Bruton to meet with education leaders in Buncrana and Donegal to assess progress on the campus. He welcomes the fact that a decision on a site has now been taken and talks on technical details are now taking place between Donegal County Council

Irish Water is due to begin repair works to a burst water main in the North East today. A specially engineered section of pipe has been manufactured in Belfast – however the utility’s warning it could be the weekend before supply is fully restored to 50,000 homes in Louth and Meath. However the utility is