Author name: oisinkelly

  Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar visited the Department’s Maternity Benefit processing section in Buncrana during a scheduled constituency visit to Donegal today. The Minister paid tribute to staff who are working hard to tackle the current temporary backlog in applications for Maternity Benefit payments. “It was a pleasure to meet the staff and […]

  New protocols closing the loophole which saw some people avoiding penalty points will be in place for the 1st of June. Replying to Dail questions from Deputy Tommy Broughan, the Justice Minister said the law to allow this happen passed through the Seanad yesterday, and the bill has gone to the President to be

Irish Water has reiterated its request to consumers living in County Donegal to conserve and minimise water usage for the foreseeable future due to the unseasonably dry weather conditions resulting in historically low water levels for this time of year. Consumers connected from both the Lough Colm source which serves the Milford, Kerrykeel, Rathmullan, and

The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association says changes are needed to the dates on which agricultural burning can take place on uplands. At present, bird protection measures in the Heritage Bill mean burning can only take place before the end of February, while in Northern Ireland the cut off point is April 15th. INHFA

The Foreign Affairs Minister says he sees no “upside” for Ireland as a result of Brexit – labeling it a ‘proper mess’. Charlie Flanagan has described it as one of the greatest challenges facing Ireland since the independence of the State. He’s also told the BBC that while a united Ireland is more likely, now

A councillor in Carndonagh says it’s vital that a Business Watch initiative is started in the town as quickly as possible. Cllr Albert Doherty was speaking after Carolina’s Hair Salon on Chapel Street was targeted by thieves at 5 o’clock yesterday morning.   Urging anyone with information to contact the gardai, Cllr Doherty said this

A Councillor has questioned the quality and efficiency of some work being carried out by Irish Water in the Glenties Municipal District. Enda Bonner says much of the work seems to be taking longer than it should with holes being dug and left open for long periods and damage to property not being repaired. Councillor

A Donegal Deputy says the on-going delay in the publication of the Expert Panel report on the mica block issue in completely unacceptable. Thousands of homeowners in the county are thought to be affected by the issue with their homes effectively crumbling around them. They are eagerly awaiting its publication to determine if there are

More upgrade works are planned for Ballybofey and Stranorlar’s Main Street. This week, preparatory investigation works are taking place in the area, with Donegal County Council looking at the need for the road to be relaid, and Irish Water looking at proposals for a new sewerage line and other services. Local Cllr Patrick McGowan says

A hairdressers in Carndonagh has become the latest premises in the area to be targeted by criminals. Carolina’s hair salon on Chapel Street was targeted by thieves at 5am on Thursday morning. A sum of money was stolen with damage cauied in the process. Gardai including the Garda forensics team visited the premises on Thursday

Latest CSO figures from Census 2016 show Donegal with a total population of 159,192, almost 73% of whom live in rural areas and just over 27% living in urban areas. Letterkenny, with a population of 19,274, is the largest town in the county. The fastest growing town in percentage terms between 2011 and 2016 was

The public has just a few days to make their views known on a 35 kilometre underground power line planned to run through the middle of Donegal. Donegal County Council is considering a planning application from Cufgaze Limited which includes running at 110KV line from Cark, west of Drumkeen to Barnesmore Gap. The Finn Valley

Donegal County Council is being urged to lead out an investment plan for the Lisfannon Industrial Estate which one Councillor says could see the number of people employed there tripled. Councillor Jack Murray says at least two businesses that planned to locate at the park pulled out because of the lack of a proper broadband

  There were 8 people waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the latest trolley watch report. Figures show that there was 1 person on a trolley in its Emergency Department while a further 7 were waiting on wards. University Hospital Galway was the most overcrowded in the country today

The ESB has announced it is to upgrade the Clady power station in West Donegal, with €1.8 million euro set to be invested into the facility. The 4.2 MW Clady Hydroelectric generation station first came into operation in 1959, and has a current capacity of generating electricity for the equivalent of 3,000 houses. The improvement

IMPACT’s Local Government Division is holding its annual conference in Letterkenny at the moment,. with today the acceleration of public service pay recovery high on the agenda. This morning, the union’s national secretary Peter Nolan warned against ‘special deals’ for some groups, saying workers would not vote for an outcome that “gives with one hand

A Councillor is calling for a health and safety audit on a local housing estate expressing fear that someone could be seriously injured or worse if action isn’t taken. Councillor Gerry McMonagle has outlined a series of concerns relating to Carraig Craoibh including collapsing retaining walls, dangerous unprotected drops and holes in the roads that

Letterkenny’s Mayor is calling for a crackdown on dog owners who allow the pets to litter the streets following an increase in incidents. Councillor James Pat McDaid says a small number of dog owners aren’t cleaning up after their pets causing discomfort for walkers and runners across the town. He was more enforcement and extra

Councillors in the Inishowen and Letterkenny Municipal Districts are welcoming confirmation that the Lough Swilly ferry service is to resume next month. The service, which links Rathmullan and Buncrana will take to the water next month, and run until September. Councillors have been told funding has been found to allow the service operate for the

There are calls on the Government to clarify what oversight they have had in relation to the recent spate of gorse fires across Donegal and elsewhere in the country. It’s after local fire and rescue teams were stretched to the limit in dealing with the large number of fires across the county in the past

The government remains adamant that flood defence work will not be carried out in four areas of Donegal because the work would cost more than the anticipated damage. Last week it emerged that flood defence schemes planned for almost 30 towns across the the country would not go ahead at all after the OPW deemed

A Councillor is demanding a meeting with the Marine Minister to demand central government funding be released to address coastal erosion in Donegal. Councillor Seamus O’Domhnail says the problem is widespread but highlighted the Cloughaneely area where he claims people’s land and homes are under threat due to coastal erosion. The Councillor says the Minister

A speeding reduction to 60 kmph is part of a scheme being proposed for the Port Road in Letterkenny between the Polestar Roundabout and the Clanree Hotel Roundabout. The new scheme is currently open to public consultation and would involve the construction of new improved footpaths, cycle lanes and a number of pedestrian crossings. The

  There were 10 people waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the INMO. Figures show that there were 3 waiting on trolleys in the Emergency Department while a further 7 were waiting on wards. University Hospital Limerick was the most overcrowded today with 32 people waiting there. Nationally there

The Taoiseach is being asked to intervene after it emerged the Fair Deal office at St Joseph’s Hospital in Stranorlar is to be closed, and its functions transferred to Tullamore. The issue was raised in the Dail by Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher, who says the move is part of a centralisation process announced by

A GoFundme page set up to save the Donegal Donkey Sanctuary in Raphoe has almost raised its 35 thousand euro target in less than 24 hours.  You can still support HERE Yesterday we revealed how the sanctuary could be forced to close due what’s been described as a financial crisis. The sanctuary which is the

There are calls for a pilot project to tackle, what has been described as, the major problem of Japanese Knotweed in Dungloe. The invasive plant is widespread in some areas of the town and has begun entering the foundations of some homes with fears it could spread further. Donegal County Council is currently spending tens

The Chairperson of the Letterkenny Municipal District is demanding a meeting with the communications regulator to highlight the deficiencies in the broadband service in the area. Councillor James Pat McDaid says you don’t have to go far outside the centre of Letterkenny before broadband coverage becomes poor or non existent. He wants a meeting with

Irish Water will be submitting a planning application to Donegal County Council in the coming weeks for upgrade works at Kilmacrenan Wastewater Treatment Plant. If granted, the project will involve the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant which will allow the existing plant, which is operating above its capacity, to be decommissioned. The new

The Newtowncunningham Community Playgroup has moved to a new custom made facility. The playgroup had previously brought the new building up to roof level, but due to a lack of funding the project was halted for 10 months. They since secured funding from the 2015 Capital grant which enabled them to complete the new facility. Manager

It’s been revealed that over 3,000 farmers are still waiting on their 2016 GLAS payments with claims that the on-going delays are threatening farms in the North West. Out of those farmers, there are 383 across Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim who have been approved for funding but who have still not been paid. A previous

Meanwhile, the North West Cancer Centre at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry has been officially opened by Britain’s Prince Charles, with more than 390 Donegal patients set to be treated at the centre each year. Minister Joe McHugh attended the opening and says the focus now will be on having some of the services located at Letterkenny

It’s emerged that Altnagelvin Hospital has become involved in the discussion about the appointment of a second breast surgeon at Letterkenny University Hospital. Junior Minister Joe McHugh says there’s been “significant progress” following discussions with Saolta Group representatives, the Department of Health and Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry. He says a second consultant who has worked