Author name: oisinkelly

Allegations of suspected social welfare fraud have risen to an average of 500 per week, according to the Social Protection Minister. Regina Doherty says around 5000 complaints have been received in the past two months – a 50% rise on the same period last year. It follows an anti-fraud campaign launched in April by her

A 50 year-old man has been jailed for 12 months and ordered to pay £5000 in compensation after defrauding his fiancée and her family out of thousands of pounds. Matt Jaeger of Albany Street Lane, Edinburgh pleaded guilty to eight charges of fraud by false representation at Derry Magistrates Court. Jaeger who has been on

A Donegal Deputy is calling on the Agriculture Minister Michael Creed to ensure that an emergency crisis aid fund for tillage farmers is established as soon as possible. Many farmers, particularly in Donegal had their crop destroyed last year due to unseasonable weather with most still counting the cost ever since. Earlier this week it

Questions are being asked over the level of health and safety measures being implemented during broadband upgrade works in West Donegal. It’s been claimed that a number of residents are concerned in relation to man holes being left open and unattended. It’s feared that should a tourist or someone unfamiliar with the area be travelling

A warning has been issued to farmers in Donegal following the theft of a number of sheep in the east of the county. Two seperate incidents have been reported in recent days – one in the Raphoe area at some stage last weekend. It’s understood that in the other case, the stolen sheep were recovered

Almost two million euro has been announced in funding for Ireland’s regional airports. Minister Shane Ross says the 1.94 million will go towards safety and security projects at Ireland West Airport Knock, Waterford and Kerry. Donegal Airport receives €22,500, substantially lower than others. However, with further grants to be announced later this year, Deputy Pat

  There were 13 people waiting admission to Letterkenny University Hospital this morning. According to the INMO there were six waiting on trolleys while a further seven were waiting on wards. University Hospital Limerick was the most overcrowded in the country today with 41 people waiting there. Nationally, there were 280 people waiting for a

The Cathaiorleach of Donegal County Council says there are questions to be asked about the HSE’s confirmation that further fire proofing works are needed at the new Emergency Department and Medical Bloc at Letterkenny University Hospital. It’s been confirmed that a phased series of closures and restrictions will be needed to allow the works take

The number of planning permissions granted for new dwellings in Donegal in the first quarter of the year was double the figure for the first three months of 2016. CSO figures released this morning show 88 new dwellings given permission between January and March this year, compared to 44 in the same period last year.

The North FLAG, Fisheries Local Action Group, Strategy Fund is being formally launched at the Maritime Museum in Greencastle today. The fund will deliver €468,000 in investment across 31 distinctive marine projects for the region. The launch, which cooincides with the two day Laurentic Festival was told that the initiative is designed to support and

It’s been confirmed that a suspect device found at Cornshell Fields in Derry last night was a viable explosive device Local councillor Sandra Duffy says the actions of those involved in leaving this device are to be “condemned outright”. She says Cornshell Fields is an area with a very high young population, with a lot

The new bloc at Letterkenny University Hospital  is now facing ward closures over fire safety concerns. The HSE has confirmed the emergency department and medical bloc at the hospital needs fireproofing works, despite the fact that it has a modern fire alarm detection system and significant fire protection measures. However, the HSE is stressing there is

As Border Communities Against Brexit prepare to mark the first anniversary of the Brexit vote with a demonstration at Stormont, EU leaders are continuing a two-day summit in Brussels today. Last night, British Prime Minister Theresa May sought to allay the fears of EU citizens living in the UK, saying any EU citizen in the

Derry City and Strabane District Council has launched a consultation process ahead of the preparation of a regional arts and culture strategy for the next five years. The Co-Design group comprising of local representatives from a range of arts and culture disciplines held its first meeting last week and will host a series of workshops

Thousands of people in South Inishowen are once again without water this morning after what’s been described as a major burst in Fahan. Cllr Jack Murray, Cathaiorleach of the Inishowen Municipal District says he’s already been in contact with Irish Water, and will be making it clear that the ongoing pattern of disruption in the

Donegal County Council and Failte Ireland are advising the public that road surfacing works will take place at Ardmalin, Malin Head next week. The works are being carried out as part of the Malin Head Access and Amenity Improvement Project and as a result, access to the road will be limited. In the interest of health &

The Irish government says it’s calling for special status for the North after Brexit – the first time it’s done so. Up to now the government was reluctant to seek special status because it could have knock-on effects for other regions in Europe. But foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney says it’s now something Ireland will

  Three people have appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court facing money laundering and drug charges following a major cross border police investigation into ‘an organised crime gang’ that saw raids across the North and in Donegal. Husband and wife Patrick O’Connor (47) and Misha O’Connor (35) of Stoneypath in Derry faced a total of 26

Leo Varadkar’s been accused of scrapping a pledge to maintain an open border with the North after Brexit. The claim comes as the Taoiseach arrives for his first summit of EU leaders where Britain’s departure will be the main talking point. Mr Varadkar claimed during the Fine Gael leadership contest that he would strive to

The numbers awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital have almost doubled today, with 21 patients awaiting in-patient beds, 12 of them on Emergency Department trolleys. That’s an overall increase of 10 from yesterday’s figure Nationally. there were 304 patients awaiting admission at hospitals across the country this morning according to the INMO, with two hospitals,

The Environmental Protection Agency has launched a new website and app for people seeking information about the safety and cleanliness of beaches. The new service provides information about the quality of the water and any restrictions at 190 seasides and lakes around the country. Beaches.ie also shows when the tide is in, and provides information

The Donegal Mountain Rescue Team has rescued a number of walkers who becamse stuck on steep terrain on Muckish Mountain last evening. After receiving the call, the rescue team dispatched rescue dogs who located the walkers. They were then safely lowered from the crag. DMRT says low cloud and bad ground made for a challenging

Homeowners in Donegal who have been affected by Mica are being urged to attend a specially organised event next week. The “Defective Blocks Report Information Evening” has been arranged by the Mica Action Group with a view to tease out the latest expert panel report and discuss any queries or concerns people may have. The

Fianna Fáil is calling on the new Minister for Rural and Community Affairs, Michael Ring, to address under-spending in his department. The total amount spent at the end of May this year on rural and regional projects was two point six million euro – while the party claims there’s been no expenditure to date on

A Donegal Senator has again called on the government to put arrangements in place to allow firefighters act as first responders for the National Ambulance Service. While fire-fighters are already trained by the NAS in lifesaving skills, they do not have the power to assist in emergencies first-hand. Senator Padraig MacLochlainn says firefighters believe there

The newly elected Taoiseach has confirmed that he has not yet read the recently published expert panel report into the Mica block issue. Leo Varadkar was speaking in the Dail last evening when asked by Donegal Deputy Charlie McConalogue if and when a redress scheme is to be initiated. The report, published last week, details

The Donegal Mountain Rescue Team are currently assisting walkers stuck on steep terrain on Muckish Mountain. The alarm was raised before 6pm this evening. It’s understood that a search dog has located the walkers with the area now being assessed in order to rescue the walkers.

  A speed awareness campaign has been launched in Liscooley to remind motorists of the village’s 50kph speed limit. The event was co-ordinated by the DRSWG, An Gardai Siochana and with the support of local residents and children from Donaghmore NS. The aim of the event was to highlight to all road users just how

  The Killybegs Coastguards were called out to Fintra beach last night to rescue two kayakers. The alarm was raised after two girls had been out for over an hour but failed to return to shore. They were located and escorted back to shore by the Killybegs Coastguard. Neither of them were wearing a life