Author name: oisinkelly

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

Donegal County Council has confirmed that approval has been received from the National Parks and Wildlife Service to carry out urgent safety works at Maghergallon Beach in Gaoth Dobhair. Concern had been raised about the increase of fallen rock on the walkway accessing the beach and it’s hoped that this work will prevent more instances

The council Cathaoirleach, Terence Slowey says a visit to the county by the Housing Minister later this month is important in addressing the housing crisis in Donegal. Minister Simon Coveny arrives on Friday the 24th to discuss his housing policy, how it effects Donegal and how the social housing shortage in the county can be

  Emergency services are currently attending the scene of a two-vehicle crash just outside Strabane. The crash between a lorry and a car happened shortly before 2pm this afternoon on the road at the Prospect Bar corner on the Bellspark road. A lorry has overturned and it’s understood that the driver has been injured although

The Donegal County Council executive has been accused of being too focused on Brexit and links with Derry than current issues within the county. The comments were made at today’s Glenties area meeting where councillors refused to adopt a budget outlining spending by the council in the district. Councillor Seamus O’Domhnaill says the area has

There were 19 patients awaiting beds at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, seven of them on Emergency Department trolleys and 12 in overflow areas or on wards. Today’s figure is down significantly on yesterday’s, which saw 33 people awaiting admission in Letterkenny, the highest figure in the country. Nationally, there were 501 patients without beds

It’s been revealed that Donegal County Council has received 168 litter or waste management complaints to date this year, almost identical to last year’s figure of 165. The complaints were made from all over the county with the Council saying that every effort is being made to identify those responsible. Council Spokesperson Suzanne Bogan says

The coastguard was called in for a medevac from a Russian fishing vessel in the early hours of this morning. Helicopters from Sligo and Dublin attended the scene 180 miles northwest of Erris Head in County Mayo, where a crewman on board the vessel had become ill. The operation was coordinated from the coastguard station

Concern has been raised that abandoned caravans are delaying a major clean-up operation at a disused halting site in Strabane. It’s understood that while Derry and Strabane District Council has committed itself to the clearing of the site located at Greenbrae, it could be weeks before work gets underway. The halting site has deteriorated over

Gardai have denied claims that the drugs unit in Donegal is being disbanded. In a statement, priominent campaigner and former councillor PJ Blake had claimed that the unit, which was already working with limited resources, had been completely withdrawn in recent days. However, in a one line statement in response to queries from Highland Radio

There was one Donegal settlement noted in the latest list of tax defaulters which has been published by Revenue. Donal Murphy, a skipper with an address at Hawthorn Heights in Dukineely paid almost €329,000 in taxes and penalties. The settlement was in respect of underdeclaration of Income Tax.