Author name: oisinkelly

The amount of debt owed in overpaid benefits has reached nearly €500 million, according to a new government report. The Department of Social Protection’s most recent figures show debt totalling €482.5 million involving 174 thousand people. The Irish Examiner says the report, signed off by then Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar, indicates a rise of […]

Members of the Defence Forces who died serving the State will be remembered at a ceremonial ‘Changing of the Guard’ later. The event at the National Memorial in Merrion Square in Dublin is the second of six taking place at the memorial. Each ceremony will be conducted by two different Units of the Defence Forces

A Co Monaghan Senator has said that there is no time for talking and funding must be allocated for works on the N2 in Co Louth following a fatal road traffic collision in which three Donegal women lost their lives. Yesterday, 69 year old Margret McGonigle of Castlereagh Bruckless, her daughter Mairead Mundy of Ballyloughan

MP Chloe Smith this week travelled to Strabane to meet with some businesses in the area amid ongoing Brexit negotiations. The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Northern Ireland visited O’Neills Sportswear and met with other businesses and elected representatives to gather their perspectives on Brexit. Among those in attendance was MP Barry McElduff, he

Foyle MLA, Raymond McCartney is calling on people to attend tomorrows march in Derry for Tony Taylor. There have been claims that Mr.Taylor was returned to Maghaberry Prison without having been charged, questioned or allowed legal representation. Sinn Fein Party members believe that his detention is a violation of fundamental human rights. Raymond Mc Cartney

Emergency services are currently attending the scene of a crash just outside Letterkenny. The crash happened earlier this afternoon in the town land of Knockbrack. Gardai say that the Glenmaquin road is currently closed but is expected to re-open in the next hour once the incident has been dealt with and debris cleared. It’s understood

The three Donegal women who died following a road traffic crash in County Louth have been named as Margret McGonigle of Castlereagh Bruckless who was 69, her daughter Mairead Mundy of Ballyloughan Bruckless and Rachel Battles also of Ballyloughan Bruckless both in their 30s. Gardai in County Louth say it will be at least late

Calls have been made on the Council to consider the use of drone technology to assist with life guarding operations on Donegal beaches. The move would allow lifeguards to deploy drones on a first response basis to monitor those who may get into difficulty in the water. The call comes following a successful similar such

Gardai in County Louth say it will be at least late this evening before the N2 reopens between Ardee and Aclint Bridge following this morning’s three vehicle road tragedy in which three women from Donegal lost their lives. The three women who were killed were all travelling together, they were a 39 year old who

  A cross border investigation is underway following an attempted aggravated burglary at a residential property in the Glenabbey Street area of Derry in the early hours of this morning. Three masked males attempted to force entry to the property at approximately 12.30am. It is believed one of the males had a suspected firearm. No

  Donegal County Council is being asked to provide an annual breakdown of the revenue brought in by fire call outs in the county over the last ten years. There’s been a significant reduction in call outs with concern being expressed that fear of receiving bills is causing people not to contact the fire service.

The Government has announced that improvement works are to be carried out at three schools in Donegal. Minister Joe McHugh was informed of the details by the Education Minister today. The schools – in Doochary, Fintra and Killybegs and Arranmore – will be informed about details of the improvement works shortly. Scoil Naisiunta Fhionntra is

A Donegal councillor is calling for a study into coastal erosion in North Inishowen to be speeded up in light of Ballyliffin being awarded the Irish Open next year. Last year, the Office of Public Works granted 76,000 euro for a Coastal Erosion Study at Lagg and Ballyliffin beaches, after concerns were raised about a

The three women who lost their lives in a collision on the N2 in County Louth were from Donegal. Gardaí say the three vehicle collision occurred south of Aclint Bridge, Ardee, just before 1 o’clock this morning. The three women to lose their lives were a 39 year old driver and two female passengers aged

Searches will continue off the Mayo coast again today for the bodies of missing Rescue 116 crewmen Paul Ormsby and Ciaran Smith. All week, Garda dive teams have been working with a specially adapted Donegal based trawler to map the sea floor where the Coast Guard helicopter crashed last March. Nothing has been found as

The Saolta Hospital Group has confirmed additional staff is being sought for Letterkenny University Hospital. In the past number of days, a Short Stay Ward at the hospital closed and its functions were located to another newly vacated area. Now, Saolta says it wants additional staff to allow the former short stay ward reopen to

Figures released show that 85 dogs were euthanized in Donegal last year. – 99 less that in 2015. Figures from the Department of the Environment show that 288 strays entered the dog pound in Donegal last year, 260 dogs were surrendered while none were seized. Of those in the pound, 72 were reclaimed, 55 were

Two people have appeared in court after a substantial amount of drugs were uncovered during planned raid at a house in Letterkenny. The search was conducted by local Gardai at a property in the Glenoughty Close area of the town last night. Gardai estimate that over 7 and half thousand euro worth of cannabis herb

  Another sighting of a giant harmful jellyfish off the Donegal coast has sparked major concern. The Lion’s Mane jellyfish was spotted from a small boat of the North West coast in recent days while another one was discovered on a beach in West Donegal earlier this month. The jellyfish has been known to sting

18 fish were discovered dead after an illegal fishing net was seized from the River Foyle. 17 salmon and 1 sea trout found were found dead after the net was retrieved yesterday by Loughs Agency Fishery Officers. The Loughs Agency says they would encourage the public to promptly report illegal fishing to them.

62% of households in Donegal have broadband connections, according to figures published today by the CSO. Just over 58,300 households were registered in the county. Of the 58,305 households registered in Donegal during Census 2016, the majority, 25,875, were based in owner occupied premises without a mortgage, while 16,335 were based in owner occupied premises

A Donegal County Councillor is warning that Irish Waters latest plans will cause even more traffic disruption in Letterkenny. It’s understood that the utility has decided to extend the Letterkenny supply from the Eddie Fullerton Dam in Inishowen by laying the necessary piping via the dual-carriageway outside Letterkenny and on to Carnamuggagh at the Mountain

6 people were awaiting admission to Letterkenny University Hospital this morning. According to the INMO 5 people were on trolleys in the Emergency Department with a further 1 on a ward. University Hospital Limerick was the most overcrowded with 34 people waiting admission.

Concern has been raised in Derry following a rise in burglaries and distraction robberies. It’s understood that there have been a number of such incidents in the Bogside area recently. Foyle MLA Karen Mullan is appealing to residents to be extra vigiliant and report any suspicious activity to the police. She says police are already

Two people have been arrested after a planned raid on a premise in Letterkenny overnight. It’s understood that a substantial amount of drugs were uncovered during the raid. The search was conducted by Letterkenny Gardai yesterday evening at a house in the Glenoughty Close area of the town. Gardai say that 7 and a half

A Donegal Deputy says the HSE and Saolta should introduce a Phototherapy service at Letterkenny University Hospital to facilitate people in Donegal who are being treated for psoriasis. Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue was speaking as he reiterated his call for the reinstatement of dermatology clinics at the hospital. The outreach clinic was temporarily suspended in

A Donegal County Councillor has given a cautious welcome to the Housing Minister’s commitment to progress to the next stage of the MICA resolution process. Yesterday Minister Damien English was in Donegal to meet with the MICA Action Group, local elected representatives and homeowners affected by the defective block issue. He committed  himself to implementing

The Donegal County Coroner has said that he will be contacting the council to ask them to review the safety and signage at Tullan Strand, Bundoran following the inquest into the death of a soldier at the beach. The journal.ie reports that Dr Denis McCauley made his remarks at the inquest into the death of

Ireland’s ban on selling alcohol on Good Friday is set to be abolished in time for next Easter. It’s after the Seanad today unanimously passed a bill which would totally remove the current ban on Good Friday alcohol sales. The bill passed only after the Government made amendments to ensure the ban would be scrapped

The Chair of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland says it’s not her job to assess the position of the Garda Commissioner.  Noirin O’Sullivan has been under pressure after a PAC report criticised her delay in telling the State auditors about financial irregularities at Templemore. During a speech at the MacGill Summer

The Housing Minister has today committed to progress to the next stage of the MICA resolution. While not able to commit to a redress scheme Minister Damien English has confirmed that recommendations 1 and 2 of the expert panels report will be implemented before the end of the year. During the meeting with the MICA Action