Author name: oisinkelly

A Donegal County Councillor is urging people to make submissions on what they want to see in the National Planning Framework Document. The new framework will incorporate a 20 year strategy for planning and investment, with tomorrow week is the deadline for submissions under the consultation process which was launched earlier this year. Councillor Paul […]

  Talks at Stormont appear to have hit their first stumbling block. A Sinn Féin meeting with the British Secretary of State was cut short this evening over funds for legacy inquests. The parties have three weeks to form a Government or risk a return to direct rule. The party’s leader in Northern Ireland Michelle

A Health Information and Quality Authority inspection has found a residential service in Donegal for people with disabilities non-compliant on a range of inspection themes. The Railway View & Finnside Centre, which is run by the Health Service Executive, was criticised over its fire alarm system and fall prevention measures. HIQA noted some improvements in

    Two people have appeared in court in Letterkenny today following a number of incidents in the Cockhill area of Buncrana last evening. A man has been charged and remanded on continual bail to appear at Buncrana court later this week subject to a number of conditions that were sought by the state and

  Irish Water is investing over €820,000 in a water mains project which the company says, will ensure a clean and secure water supply for the 591 people served by the Rathmullan Water Supply. This supply is on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Remedial Action List for high levels of THMs. These works are being undertaken

A public meeting takes place in Ballyshannon to discuss what people fear may be a scaling down of fire services in the area. At present, both Ballyshannon and Bundoran each have a fire station, but it’s feared one of them may be closed. Now, a group of local community activists has called a meeting for

The Irish Postmasters’ Union is seeking the implementation of the Kerr Report to save the post office network, despite the fact that it recommends some post office closures. According to the Irish Independent, the unpublished report, overseen by businessman Bobby Kerr, outlines a range of proposals, including the shutting of 80 outlets. Breid Gallagher is

Politicians are meeting again today at Stormont as they try to form a new Government. However the two main parties are at loggerheads as Arlene Foster refuses to step aside as DUP leader. Sinn Fein’s vowed not to re-enter any agreement with her as first minister. Foyle MP Mark Durkan hopes they can put their

Two people are due in court today following a number of incidents in the Cockhill area of Buncrana last evening. An initial report of a house being attacked was received by gardai at 4.30 yesterday afternoon, and a number of other incidents developed, including attacks on two houses, one of which it’s understood involved an

It’s reported some of the country’s post offices could be facing closure as An Post looks to save money. According to the Irish Independent, an unpublished report, overseen by businessman Bobby Kerr, outlines a range of proposals, including the shutting of 80 outlets. There are currently 13 hundred post offices around the country, and the

New figures from the Road Safety Authority show that people in Donegal have to wait up to 6 months before they can sit their driving test. The wait for practical driving test now stands at 23 weeks at test centres in Letterkenny and Buncrana, while drivers face a 17 week wait to take a test

The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government has been accused of dragging his heels for failing to progress plans for reforming the Commercial Rates. The Department had given a commitment to take steps to make the current system more fairer and equitable for all those who currently pay Commercial Rates. Donegal Deputy Pat

  Talks aimed at resuming power-sharing in Northern Ireland are taking place today. The DUP and Sinn Féin have three weeks to form an executive after last week’s elections – or there’ll be direct rule from Westminster. Sinn Féin is so far insisting DUP leader Arlene Foster can’t be involved until the Cash-for-Ash controversy is

  Latest figures show that there were 21 people waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning. 9 were on trolleys in its emergency department while a further 12 were on wards or on overflow areas. According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation – University Hospital Galway is the most overcrowded with

  Gardai in Donegal are appealing to home and business owners to be vigilant about forensically aware criminals operating in the county. It’s understood that members of an organised gang have been linked to a series of burglaries most notably in the Manorcunningham area. The criminals are taking their shoes off before entering a premise

  The Health Minister Simon Harris has agreed to a follow-up meeting with Donegal Action for Cancer Care. The meeting has been confirmed for this day week at 2.30 and key topics will include cancer services and other key issues facing Letterkenny University Hospital. Department of Health officials along with members of Saolta will also

  It’s been claimed that Brexit could pave the way for a significant increase in shipping traffic to Donegal. The possibility of utilising Donegal harbours like Greencastle or Buncrana to directly import cargoes by ships as opposed to using neighbouring harbours in Northern Ireland has been suggested as a positive consequence of the UK leaving

  Residents in the Gortahork area are calling on Donegal County Council to address on-going storm water and drainage issues there. It’s understood that after heavy falls of rain, the main access road at Derryconnor becomes severely flooded with residents finding it near impossible to drive through significant depths of water. Concern has been raised

Calls have been made on Donegal County Council to stand over their commitment to provide new fire stations for both Ballyshannon and Bundoran. The Leas Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Councillor Barry O’Neill has revealed funding has been secured for only one station. He is now calling on the council to commit to the Capital

  Political parties in the North will meet today to begin talks on re-establishing a power-sharing executive. A new Assembly must be formed within three weeks or voters will have to go back to the polls. Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland James Brokenshire are to meet the parties

  Unions and management at Bus Éireann will be hoping to resolve their dispute with talks getting underway today. The NBRU and SIPTU will sit down with representatives from the company at the Workplace Relations Commission at 10.30 this morning. The NBRU announced a ‘4’ Point Plan in advance of the discussions on the Bus

Gardaí are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a 49 year old man who is missing from Grange in Sligo Kenneth McGowan was last seen in the Drumcliff area at approximately 1.15am on Sunday the 12th February. He is described as 5ft 11 inches in height and approximately 11 stone, with brown hair and a

It’s hoped a ballot of nurses and midwives – on whether to accept or reject a new deal on staff recruitment and retention – will be completed before the end of March. 30,000 members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation had been due to begin a work-to-rule on Tuesday. However after mammoth talks the

It has been announced that Donegal’s seafood processing and aquaculture sectors is to benefit from more than €750,000 of funding. 5 companies within the county will receive the funding from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Operational Programme which is intended to help companies develop and increase the value of their products. Comhlucht Iascaireacht Fanad

The Irish and British governments have called on the DUP, Sinn Féin and the other northern parties to start talks immediately on re-establishing the power-sharing executive. All sides have just three weeks to form a new government or face a fresh poll. The Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan spoke earlier to the leaders of all