Author name: oisinkelly

  The security alert in the Farm Hill area of Derry has now ended. The army bomb disposal team examined a suspicious object discovered in the area and have declared it to be a hoax. Farm Hill has now reopened to traffic and all residents have been allowed to return to their homes.

  There were 16 people awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning – 4 on trolleys and 12 in wards or overflow areas. It’s just one down on yesterday’s figure of 17. According to the latest figures from the INMO there were 404 people waiting for a bed in hospitals across the country this

Enterprise Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor says she doesn’t believe there’s a need for special committee to deal with job creation in the North West. Minister O’Connor told the Dail that regarding Brexit, the main concern will be to ensure a frictionless border with minimum inconvenience for the thousands of cross border workers in the region.

An All-Ireland tree planting initiative gets underway this weekend, with the aim of planting a million trees. Among the groups taking part are the Buncrana Tidy Towns Initiative and Wild Inishowen, who will be planting trees from 10am tomorrow morning at Dunree Fort. One Million Trees in One Day is an initiative which aims to

The Department of Environment has confirmed that the investigation into the issue of defective MICA blocks in counties Donegal and Mayo has been completed. Thousands of homes are thought to be affected by the blocks which can crumble and crack and leave homes uninhabitable. The MICA action groups says delays in the investigation have been

HIQA has today published a Donegal foster care report for Tusla with one significant risk identified in relation to staffing However, the report also highlights a good service in Donegal in which sound practice was evident in a number of areas. At the time of the inspection there were 200 children in care in the

It has emerged that plans for a 124 metre-high wind turbine on the Gaeltacht business park will not be progressed. Lir Energy Ltd had applied to Donegal County Council to erect the turbine at the Údarás na Gaeltachta-owned site in Gaoth Dobhair, but there was strong local opposition. The plans were rejected by the Council

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty is welcoming confirmation that Letterkenny University Hospital’s Oncology Department is once again accepting new chemotherapy referrals. However, the Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson has said that despite locum cover having been secured for the next four weeks, the service will not be continual as the temporary oncologist will only be available for

The OPW has confirmed that a survey is to be carried out this year in relation to coastal erosion on Carrickfinn beach. In the interim Donegal County Council is carrying various works to halt the effects of erosion there. They are also inviting the public to a practical training workshop on February the 24th will

A Donegal Road Safety Group says it has been told that roadside testing for drug driving will begin by Easter. Mary Clinton of A-Ceart says she has been told that senior gardai are currently going under training on how to use the testing devices. Mary Clinton says this is a positive development……………..

It’s been revealed that almost one in four beds have been closed across Donegal’s network of Community Hospitals since 2006. The figures were released to Donegal Senator Padraig MacLochlainn from the Health Minister in response to parliamentary questions. Overall bed numbers are down in Donegal from 490 to 377 in the same period. Senator MacLochlainn

    It’s been confirmed that a Locum Oncologist has been appointed to Letterkenny University Hospital with immediate effect. Locum cover was to be put in place on March 6th however it’s emerged that interim cover began on Monday past. It follows news earlier this week that to date, 51 chemotherapy patients from Donegal have

A Donegal Deputy believes that a new bill will put insurance consumers in a better position against insurance companies who refuse to pay out. Deputy Pearse Doherty has brought forward the Consumer Insurance Contracts Bill which he says will update insurance contract law with a view to empower consumers. The Bill is to be debated

  A major cross border operation has resulted in almost €24,000 worth of herbal cannabis being seized in Donegal. It follows further searched carried out by police after two men were arrested and the seizure of suspected herbal cannabis and cocaine with an estimated street value of approximately £160,000 in the Duncrue Street area of Belfast

    The Grandfather of missing Jack Glenn says the tragedy has united the community of Derry like nothing he has ever seen before. Searches are continuing for the missing 23 year old who went into the River Foyle a week ago today. Hundreds of people have been volunteering in a major search operation with

The Garda Representative Association says there are specific challenges facing Donegal which do not affect other divisions. Brendan O’Connor, the association’s Donegal spokesperson says with the Atlantic on one side and Northern Ireland on the other, Garda management in Donegal can not call in support from other divisions as easily as other counties. Mr O’Connor

The Health Minister’s warned H-S-E managers they have to do more to tackle waiting lists. Simon Harris has told the Dáil he’ll have an action plan from the H-S-E by the end of the month and another one to tackle those waiting for scoliosis operations. During the Debate in the Dail, Deputy Gerry Adams gave

Donegal County Council has agreed to purchase two large trailer mounted pumps to deploy on a first call basis to any area under treat of flooding . The initiative, which will cost €150,000 is being paid for by the council, with Cllr Patrick McGowan saying it’s a cost which should be met by the government.

Irish Water is to extend the Glencolmcille Sewage Scheme to include the beach at Dooey and the Father Mc Dyer centre, including the popular folk village in the area. Concern had been raised locally that being excluded from the initial scheme posed a very real pollution risk, and would also stymie planned development in the

The mother of a Derry man killed in Co. Donegal five years ago has called on his killers to search their conscience. 24 year old Andrew Allen was shot dead in front of his partner at a house outside Buncrana on the 9th of February, 2012. Gardaí have said they believe up to 12 people

More than a quarter of Three’s mobile phone mast sites in Donegal need to be upgraded. The company’s revelation follows a query submitted Minister Joe McHugh last week over poor phone coverage in the county. The company has pointed the finger at its predecessor 02 which was bought over by Three some years ago. Minister

Derry City and Strabane District Council is to increase rates by 2.76 per cent for the 2017/18 financial year. The Council say that it will drive growth and investment in the City and Region and will see continued improvements to the delivery of high quality services to citizens right across the entire Council area. In

  Emergency services are currently attending the scene of a two car collision on the Donegal/ Derry border just outside Killea. The crash happened Letterkenny to Derry road just after 3.50 this afternoon. It’s understood that one car went on fire however no serious injuries have been reported. While the road remains open, motorists have

  A £1 Million project which will see the construction of a pitch and play park at Shaw Court in Ballymagroarty in Derry has been given the green light. This project is one of four across the Council area including Brandywell, Ballyarnett and Kilfennan which will be delivered in two phases. Work will begin shortly

  Gardai have renewed their appeal for information on the murder of Andrew Allen in Buncrana in 2012.  He was murdered in his home in 26 Links View Park Buncrana. Co. Donegal in front of his partner five years ago tomorrow. Gardai believe that a number of people were involved in planning this murder and

There were 21 patients awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, nine of them on Emergency Department trolleys and 12 in treatment rooms, ward chairs and overflow areas across the hospital. That’s up slightly on yesterday’s figure of 18. Nationally, the INMO says there were 539 patients waiting on trolleys at hospitals around the

The Office of Public Works is to begin work on a Conservation Management Plan for the Grianan of Aileach site in Burt. It follows a meeting at the site yesterday involving the OPW, Donegal County Council members and officials, Bord Failte and a number of community groups. Cllr Jack Murray says it was a positive

Questions are being asked as to why parents weren’t immediately contacted following a serious altercation at Holy Cross College in Strabane yesterday. It’s understood the incident happened in the schools canteen yesterday afternoon involving a large number of students. Police were called to the scene and arrested once male, but have since released him into

The campaign to have the N4 Sligo to Dublin Road upgraded is being brought to Dublin today. The Revive Northwest group is marching on the Dail this afternoon demanding that the entire stretch be upgraded to motorway status. It’s currently undergoing a partial upgrade but the group says further improving the infrastructure will create jobs and boost