Author name: oisinkelly

Calls have been made for the Financial Services Minister to speed up the establishment of the insurance claims register to identify fraudulent claims. Insurance company CFM are proposing a more transparent register be put in place to identify ‘professional insurance claimants’. Figures reveal that in 2015, 269 motor, employer and public liability awards were made

A preliminary hearing into the Buncrana pier tragedy in which five people died has been adjourned. Sean McGrotty, his two young sons, their grandmother and her daughter all died in the tragedy last year while four-month-old Rionaghac-Ann survived after being pulled from the car by a passer-by. Today’s proceedings have been adjourned until September 27th.

The government is being urged to consider the latest Census figures when allocating home helps for people aged over 65. The data released yesterday shows that the number of older people with a disability has increased by twenty thousand in the last five years. Naomi Feely from Age Action says the ageing population must be

The new Taoiseach will sit down with the DUP and Sinn Féin today on the future of the Stormont assembly. It’s the first time Leo Varadkar will meet the two parties after being officially elected Taoiseach this week. The deadline for a Stormont deal is June 29th, with Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire warning last

A local councillor has expressed frustration at the ongoing delay in securing funding to restore and preserve the Old Abbey in Kilmacrennan. The site hit the headlines some time ago when it emerged people whose loved ones were buried in the graveyard at the site were told they could not visit because the area is

Five years on from the murder of Donegal man Seamus Doherty, his family are again calling for a public enquiry into the Garda investigation of the crime. Mr Doherty was murdered at his home in Churchill on June 17th, 2012 – earlier this year the prosecution of a man accused of his murder was halted

A preliminary hearing into the Buncrana Pier Tragedy is due to get underway in Donegal today. No formal inquest into the deaths of five family members has been set yet. Sean McGrotty, his two young sons, their grandmother and her daughter all died in the tragedy last year. Their jeep rolled into Lough Swilly in

A Donegal Deputy says figures published today by the CSO show Donegal has been scarred by years of austerity. Unemployment stands at 18% in the County compared to 12.9% Statewide- nearly 50% higher. The figures show there are more carers, more disabled people in Donegal and a lower level of overall health than the average.

Irish Water has released a statement reminding people on the Fintown Public Water Supply that a boil notice remains in place. It is after the discovery of cryptosporidium in treated water though there has been no reported illness from the parasite. It is almost 2 weeks since the boil notice was put in place but

Gardai are warning of a major crack down on motoring offences over the weekend of the Donegal International Rally. Motorists who break the law are being warned that they will be arrested and taken to court. Inspector Michael Harrison says those who take part in the rally and its true supporters are law abiding but

Latest figures from Census 2016 show an unemployment rate of 18% in Donegal, 5% above the national average. Labour force participation in the county is 4% lower than the national average, while there is a slightly higher proportion of unpaid carers. In April 2016, there were 71,182 persons in the labour force in County Donegal,

It’s emerged that 37 Donegal patients have received radiotherapy at the new centre in Altnagelvin Hospital, with management there saying things are progressing according to plan. In a letter to DACC Chair Betty Holmes, management say to date the Altnagelvin facility has received 37 referrals for patients from Donegal, 17 for prostate radiotherapy and 20

There were 24 patients awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, nine of them on Emergency Department trolleys. That’s down five on yesterday’s figure. Nationally, the latest INMO figures show there were 380 people awaiting in-patient beds at hospitals across the country this morning, with Limerick and Cork the most overcrowded with 41 and

West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan says education providers are being placed under immense budgetary pressure and has called on all political parties to commit to restoring power sharing as crisis in school budgets becomes critical. He says a number of primary and post-primary school principals are now making their concerns very clear in West Tyrone

A Donegal councillor says the Department of the Marine, Inland Fisheries Ireland and other agencies should be invited to a special council meeting to discuss how best to develop marine based industries. Cllr Ian Mc Garvey says there is huge untapped potential, particularly in the Fanad pensinsula, and what is needed for local people to

Donegal Deputy Joe Mc Hugh says his promotion to the role of Chief Whip is a huge challenge which he is relishing. He has also been given special responsibility for the Gaeltacht and the Irish language, which he has welcomed. Deputy Mc Hugh is now responsible for the co-ordination of Government business in the Dáil.

One of the newly elected Sinn Fein MPs in Northern Ireland says he and his six colleagues will today seek speaking and voting rights in the Dail Barry Mc Elduff and his colleagues are travelling to Dublin today to formally take up their places on the Good Friday Implementation Committee. However, Mr Mc Elduff told

MEPs in Strasbourg have backed proposals to bring an end to the gender pension gap that exists in the European Union. Ideas include providing credits for maternity, paternity or parental leave and to those who leave their job to care for the sick and elderly. Independent MEP for this area Marian Harkin says women have

Following his appointment as Chief Whip last night, Donegal Deputy Joe Mc Hugh said he is confident that this Government with Leo Varadkar at the helm will help him in his efforts to secure more for the people o Donegal. Deputy McHugh has been given special responsibility for the Gaeltacht as part of his appointment.

  The Government has been accused of pursuing an anti-Donegal policy with its national rural funding programme Pat the Cope Gallagher made the comments as it emerged that Donegal recieved just 1% of the national allocation of CLAR funding under the Safety Measures and Play Area Programme CLAR targets funding to areas of population decline

Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh is the government’s Chief Whip following Wednesday cabinet reshuffle by the new Taoiseach. Leo Varadkar confirmed that the former Diaspora Minster will also be Minster of State at the Department of Culture with responsibility for  Gaeilge, Gaeltacht and the islands. Regina Doherty, Eoghan Murphy and Michael Ring have been given full

Deputy Thomas Pringle has said that the people of Donegal should not be fooled by Leo Varadkar’s notion of a ‘Republic of Opportunity’ as this will only serve those already privileged. Leo Varadkar became the new Taoiseach today after receiving his seal of office from the President. But Thomas Pringle claims that Donegal will not

Cllr Gerry Mc Monagle has this afternoon become Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council. He was appointed to the position at this afternoon’s Council AGM at County House in Lifford. He replaces Fine Gael’s Terence Slowey in the top chair. Sinn Fein Councillor Noel Jordan is leas Cathoirleach Cathaoirleach McMonagle has been outlining his priorities to

The Donegal Road Safety Working Group have issued a road safety appeal ahead of the Donegal International Rally. People attending the rally this weekend are being urged to pay heed to the speed limits and drive with care. Young men in particular, who follow the sport, are urged not imitate what they see during the

Leo Varadkar’s been voted by the Dáil as Ireland’s 14th Taoiseach – 10 years to the day after being elected a TD. He’s now Taoiseach elect until he collects his seal of office and warrant of appointment at the Arás in the next few minutes. He’ll return to Government Buildings this afternoon, speak to British