Author name: oisinkelly

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

Police in Derry are appealing for information after several cars were brolen into and had items stolen from them in the Hazelbank, Grangemore Park and Ard Grange areas of the city today. Between 4:30am and 6:00am this morning, damage was caused to up to 10 vehicles. A 20 year man has since been arrested and

The International Fund for Ireland has announced funding of £2.6 million for 10 community groups in Northern Ireland and eight in the Southern border counties. Two projects in Donegal are being supported, with almost €187,000 going to the Donegal Sports Partnership and almost €169,000 to the Lifford / Clonleigh Resource Centre. In Tyrone, there is

A teenage girl has been rescued by the Coastguard in County Derry after getting trapped at the base of a 100 ft cliff at Castlerock. She was walking along the coast with another girl and two boys last evening when a rapid tide came in. The three others managed to swim to safety, but she

There are calls for a special committee to be set up to voice concerns on behalf of the Donegal fishing industry. The move follows the UKs decision to withdraw from the London Fisheries Convention. The motion was passed at the latest sitting of Donegal County Council and will now be brought to the attention of

Donegal County Council has been urged to support startup and existing businesses along the Wild Atlantic Way. It’s hoped that the move, in conjunction with the Department of Tourism, would generate employment and make local projects more sustainable. Cllr. Gerry Crawford says there is huge potential in rural parts of Donegal but businesses need help

There’s a warning that some council owned land in Donegal could contain ticks known to cause Lyme Disease. The disease infects the blood, and can present symptoms such as headaches, seizures, facial paralysis and fatigue.     A deputation of The Donegal Lyme Disease Support Group say that the disease has now reached epidemic levels

Over £30 million in funding has been withdrawn from the A5 by the North’s Department of Infrastructure. West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan says he’s received confirmation from the department’s Permanent Secretary that only £10 million will be made available for 2017/2018 a drop from a planned allocation of £40 million over that period. Up to

Serious concern has been raised over approved construction work on one of Letterkennys busiest routes. A safety improvement scheme between the Dry Arch and Polestar roundabouts approaching the town has been approved by Councillors today however Cllr. Paul Canning has described the plans as premature. Cllr Canning says while the plans will enhance the town

The RNLI are joining forces with the GAA in South Donegal as part of their ‘Respect the Water’ campaign. The RNLI say sporting communities can play a major role in preventing deaths from drowning. This comes after a weekend of incidents, one which saw a 6 year old child washed out to sea on a