Author name: oisinkelly

One of the country’s largest insurers has said it is investigating “organised rings” of people staging car crashes in Donegal and Galway with potential claims of more than €3m in just two counties. Axa Insurance is investigating 19 accidents suspected of having been staged in Donegal and a further 36 allegedly staged accidents in Co

The Council is being urged to take the lead in developing a ‘Blueway’ kayaking trail between the islands off Donegal’s west coast. Blueways have been a huge success in Cork and others areas and set out recreational water trail for kayaking, canoeing, and other small vessels. Councillor Micheal Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig has proposed a

Further calls have been made on both the Minister for Health and the HSE to urgently approve a number of key Consultant and nursing posts to support diabetes services provided at both Letterkenny and Sligo University Hospitals. It follows confirmation from the HSE that approval has yet to be granted for the recruitment of a

There are demands on Donegal County Council to explain the delay in providing public toilets and changing facilities in Rathmullan. Despite commitments being given that the facilities would be in place this year, its now expected to be 2018 before they are provided. Councillor Liam Blaney says he has constantly been given conflicting information on

People in Donegal have been asked to participate in a special protest, marking the 40th anniversary of Mary Boyle’s disappearance. Mary was last seen alive in the afternoon of March 18th, 1977 in Cashelard, Co Donegal. The protest is taking place Monday March 20th in Dublin and will assemble at the Garda Ombudsman’s office at

A Donegal Deputy has labelled the Government’s handling of the recent DEIS programme as chaotic and shambolic. The comments come following reports that the Department of Education’s designation of some schools was inaccurate due to the data used. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has called on the Government to immediately fund a further round of

Irish Water has been urged to ensure that all of its disused reservoir and pump station do no present a danger to the public. Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh raised the issue highlighting concerns over one disused reservoir in his area that could be a danger to adults or children swimming in the summer months. Its one

  The border arrangement with Northern Ireland could be destroyed by Brexit, according to Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister. Jean Asselborn met with Minister Charlie Flanagan earlier and is being brought to see the border this afternoon. He said the border issue for Ireland will be a key one during the Brexit negotiations. Minister Asselborn said the

Concern remains at the future of the MABS service as an Oireachtas committee continues to consider a proposal to abolish the 51 local MABS companies, and replace them with 8 regional companies. The Citizens Information Board, which is responsible for the administration of MABS services, says the change is necessary to streamline the service and

  According to the latest trolley watch report there were 24 people waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning. The figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show that 7 were on trolleys in its Emergency Department while a further 17 were waiting on wards. It’s up one on yesterday’s figure

Eir, the company responsible for the country’s broadband infrastructure, is being urged to explain why there is such poor coverage in west Donegal and when a service will be provided in areas where it is lacking. The company has revealed a schedule of work for the next year to provide super fast broadband in a

The new carpark on Letterkenny’s High Road is to be named after the late Councillor Tadgh Culbert. Mr Culbert was first elected to the council in 1985 and passed away as a sitting Councillor in 2013. The new carpark is located in the place of the old Fire Station. The honour was proposed by Councillor

A Donegal Deputy has claimed that China’s ban on the importation of live brown crabs from Ireland is having a devastating impact on the livelihoods of Donegal crab fishermen. The ban was imposed by China over a year ago and while France and Britain have had it lifted, Deputy Pringle says Ireland has not made

The Department of Health has introduced legislation to ensure that all children who currently receive a Domiciliary Care Allowance payment are eligible for a medical card. Leas Ceann Comhairle Pat the Cope Gallagher was in the chair when the legislation was introduced this week. He says at present, there are almost 10,000 DCA recipients who

The foul odour from the sewage system Kilmacrennan is so bad that in some cases children have had to be moved out of their family homes at night while in other cases doors have been sealed with tape to keep the smell out. The issues was raised again this week by Councillor Michael McBride who

There are calls for a review of the traffic management plan being used at the ongoing road works at Ballyraine in Letterkenny. There are regularly long delays in the area with the current automated traffic light system which is causing jams through out the town at busy times. Solution offered include the works being carried

Two million euro worth of anabolic steroids and other drugs have been seized in Donegal. In a joint operation by Gardaí, Revenue and the Health Products Regulatory Authority a total 60,000 vials were found following a number of searches in the county this morning (Thursday). Other medicines, including human growth hormone and products for erectile

A man in his 70s has died in a house fire in Fintown. Emergency services were alerted to the fire shortly before 2pm this afternoon in the town land of Cloghan. Both the Glenties and Dungloe fire units attended the blaze at the single story detached house. A man was taken from the house and

  Donegal County Council has been called upon to carry out an investigation in to the prominent smell of Diesel/oil coming from the River Swilly in Letterkenny. It follows concerns raised by residents crossing the Oldtown Bridge in the town. Local Councillor Gerry McMonagle says while this may be a once off incident there are

    Two people – one a juvenile – have appeared in court in Buncrana today following a number of incidents in the Cockhill area of the town on Monday. It’s believed that the incidents are linked to what’s been described locally as an on-going dispute. An initial report of a house being attacked was

  The Donegal Irish Farmers Association has welcomed a new €26M fund for tillage farmers, for some of which Donegal farmers will be able to apply. The money can be used for investment include Minimum Disturbance Tillage Equipment, Sprayers, Rain Water Harvesting, Grain Storage and Grain dryers. Donegal IFA Chairperson Michael Chance says this is

  Detectives are appealing for information in relation to a number of burglaries and thefts in Co Tyrone and Co Derry that they believe could be connected. They are very interested to talk to three to four males who have been seen in the area in a southern-registered, black Audi car. They believe they could

  There were 23 people waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the latest figures from the INMO. 11 people were on trolleys in its Emergency Department while a further 12 were on wards. The figure is up slightly on yesterdays figure of 19. Cork University Hospital was the most

Northern Irland MEP Martina Anderson says there is an awareness in the European institutions that Brexit would be a disaster for Ireland. She has been leading a delegation of representatives of Border Communities Against Brexit to discuss Brexit with key players in the European Parliament and Commission, including a meeting this morning with Michel Barnier,

The average agricultural land price in Donegal last year was €7,724 per acre, €1,000 less than the national average. According to the Irish Farmers Journal’s annual Agricultural Land Price report, Donegal prices ranged from a high of €17,900 per acre to a low of €4,000 per acre. There were 28 farms placed on sale in

A Donegal Deputy has claimed that while the cost of motor tax has risen significantly, investment is not being made in key local and regional road projects. It comes as new figures reveal a 10% increase in the amount of tax paid by motorists between 2015 and 2016. Deputy Charlie McConalogue says drivers in Donegal

A Glenties area Councillor has expressed doubts about how effective the planned Gweedore Sewerage Scheme will be. The scheme was delayed for a number of years as Irish Water sought an “innovative sewage collection system” as it was deemed a traditional sewerage scheme would not suit the area. There was a generally positive response to

Three major housing projects have been given the green light for Derry City. Members of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Planning Committee, have given their approval to full planning permission for the erection of 85 new dwellings at Tullyally. The development consists of a mixture of two-storey detached and semi-detached dwellings and townhouses with

Rockhill house just outside Letterkenny is to re-open later this year as a Wedding and Special Events venue. The estate had been used as an army barracks but was vacated in 2009. For the last year, Rockhill’s new owners, the Molloy Family, have been working on renovating property to its former glory with the house