Author name: oisinkelly

Due to technical issues with the phone lines at Letterkenny Garda Station, Gardai are advising if there is an emergency you are asked to call 999. Gardai apologise for any inconvenience caused and hope to have the phones lines back in full operation as soon as possible.

The delay in Maternity Benefit payments has been attributed to a high staff turnover in the Department of Social Protections, Buncrana office. The office on McCarter’s Road deals with processing maternity claims. There are currently nearly 3000 claims waiting to be processed with 1,300 of those women already on maternity leave. In a statement, the

Detectives in Derry are appealing for witnesses after a man in his 80s was threatened in his home by intruders wearing balaclavas. Detective Constable Richard Donnell said the aggravated burglary took place on Friday night last in the Coshquin area of the city between 10pm and 10:30pm. A man and woman both wearing balaclavas entered

Pieta House North West will open its doors in Letterkenny tomorrow morning, an announcement much welcomed by the local community. Pieta House has a vision of establishing a world where suicide, self-harm and stigma have been replaced by hope, self-care and acceptance. The centre will service the whole North West in providing help to those

Police investigating a road traffic collision on the Caw Roundabout in Derry on Tuesday 2 May are appealing for witnesses. The collision involving a motorcycle and a white Citreon C3 took place at around 3.15pm. The motorcyclist, a man aged in his 80s, was knocked off his bike and sustained a number of injuries including

The HSE has taken measures to protect its I.T. network amid a major cyber attack which is affecting up to 100 countries around the world. The “Wannacry” ransomware locks files and then demands payment to release them. Britain’s National Health Service, along with major companies in Spain, the US and Russia are coming under attack.

The ‘Secret Peacemaker,’ Brendan Duddy has died at the age of 82. The Derry businessman had been unwell following a stroke some years ago and was taken to hospital earlier this week with what is believed to be pneumonia. At the height of the conflict in Northern Ireland, Brendan Duddy acted as a go between

A Multi-Agency group have met at the Council offices in Derry to discuss on-going concerns and issues with anti-social behaviour caused by underage drinking across the City and District. In particular, local residents living in close proximity to St Columb’s Park have been concerned following reports of large numbers of young people gathering and consuming

It’s been confirmed that Carndonagh Gardai are currently in the process of setting up a Business Watch scheme for the town and surrounding area. The move follows a spate of break-ins in numerous premises there in recent months with Carolinas Hair and Make Up the latest target earlier this week. Local Councillor Albert Doherty has

A Donegal County Councillor has called for action following significant water outages in Stranorlar. It’s understood that Irish Water notified customers yesterday morning that the utility was working to repair one burst however there have been reports of another burst occuring in the area last night. Dunwiley, Greenfields, Backleas, Balnaglack and surrounding areas are said

  There are renewed calls on Donegal County Council to urgently introduce road traffic calming measures in two notorious speeding blackspots in the Stranorlar Municipal District. There has been on-going concern that motorists are driving too fast outside Dooish National School on the R252 Ballybofey to Cloghan road, and at St Safan’s National School near

  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