Author name: oisinkelly

  It’s been revealed that thirty families of refugees are expected to resettle in Donegal by the end of 2018, with the first 12 families arriving in May this year. The Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration has been engaging with Donegal County Council with a view to facilitating the resettlement of families under

  It’s been confirmed that contracts for the construction of Cockhill Bridge have been signed with work due to start within weeks. The overall €3 million project will see the construction of the new bridge on the outskirts of Buncrana as well as new approach roads to the crossing. Wills Brothers Civil Engineering Contractors have

  The father of missing Jack Glenn has urged the people of the North West not to forget about his son. The 23 year old entered the River Foyle two weeks ago tomorrow, sparking a major search effort by emergency services and the wider Derry community. Last week Jacks Grandfather Jack Snr. spoke of how

  The European Commission is taking Ireland to court over its failure to ensure urban waste water is being properly dealt with. It says the necessary steps aren’t being taken to prevent serious risks to human health and the environment. Under EU law, towns and cities are required to collect and treat waste water. 38

The Geological Survey of Ireland is preparing for the next phase of the ‘Tellus’ project, which will see a low flying plane using specialist equipment to collect geophysical and geochemical data on rocks, soil and water on the ground in Donegal. The geological mapping project has now been completed in parts of the West, with

    Ibec North West has published a report calling for economic growth to be shared equally across the country. The ‘Doing Business Locally’ document is aimed at local policy and business leaders in Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim, and outlines a number of economic indicators which show the depth of the inequalites and challenges facing

The solicitor representing a second Garda whistleblower says his client was ‘treated as a pariah’ after complaining about the force. Donegal based Garda Keith Harrison claims a Tusla file was also compiled on him and wants to be included in State investigations. His solicitor Trevor Collins says the trouble started in 2009 after he arrested

  A vigil will take place outside Letterkenny University Hospital tomorrow evening to protest at what organisers say is the impact of hospital cutbacks on patients and their families. The ‘Still Waiting Health Campaign’ claims lives are being lost as a result of lengthy waiting lists, and the group is demanding more investment in health

There were heated scenes at yesterday’s Letterkenny municipal district meeting with one councillor questioning why they have meetings at all. On the agenda was the issue of traffic congestion in Letterkenny at peak times particularly in the mountain top area. Councillor John O’Donnell says he’s very frustrated at the lack of progress on the issue

Councillors in Inishowen are to seek a meeting with their counterparts in the Causeway Coast and Glens Council to discuss funding for the Greencastle to Magilligan ferry service. Concern has been raised over the future of the service, after no responses were received recently after the service went out to tender. It’s understood that on

  Donegal County Councillors are demanding answers from the Education Minister as to why some schools in Donegal have been excluded from the latest DEIS programme. The DEIS programme is intended to improve literacy and numeracy, boost school completion rates, and help more pupils go on to further and higher education. The issue was raised

The Full Capacity Protocol has been implemented at Letterkenny University Hospital today with high numbers continuing to await admission to its Emergency Department. It comes as there were 21 patients awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning. The Full Capacity Protocol has been implemented and all efforts continue to be made to identify patients

An MEP is calling for Super Trawlers to be subject to inspection by independent observers for periods of three months at a time. MEP Liadh Ni Riada says the current inspection system is inadequate and that it’s impossible for the Irish coast guards to properly monitor what damage Super Trawlers may be doing around Irish

There were 21 patients awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, nine of them on Emergency Department trolleys, up one on yesterday’s figure. Nationally, there were 445 patients without beds across the country this morning.

The executive of Donegal County Council has been accused of focusing too much on investment in the east of the county at the expense of the West. Councillor Seamus O’Domhnaill was speaking in the context of investment in walking and cycle ways but says the East/West divide is evident across the board. Speaking at a

Junior Minister Joe Mc Hugh says he wants to see more expansion of shared health services in the North West. Minister Mc Hugh was speaking last evening after a tour of new cross border radiotherapy facilities at Altnagelvin Hospital last evening. Health Ministers Simon Harris and Michelle O’Neill joined cancer care campaigners, Minister McHugh and

The ICSA says it is unacceptable that almost 1,000 farmers in Donegal are still awaiting payments they are entitled to. Over 600 farmers in the county are still waiting for their GLAS payment with a further 330 waiting on their AEOS payments. The Association says the delay in payments from the government, which is being

White line demonstations take place at Lifford Bridge and Bridgend this Saturday morning at 10am, organised by Border Communities Against Brexit. The group says it is angered at the lack of any thought or understanding in Westminster and Dublin on how a hard Brexit will affect the Border Communities of Ireland. Spokesperson Tom Murray is

A number schools in Donegal have been included the the latest DEIS programme but there is criticism of the department of Education as some schools have been left out. The DEIS programme sets out new targets to improve literacy and numeracy, improve school completion rates, and to improve progression to further and higher education. One

The latest report from daft.ie shows that rents in Donegal were on average 11.5% higher in the final three months of 2016 than a year previously. The average advertised rent is now €576, up 19% from its lowest point. Rents rose nationwide by an average of 13.5% in the year to December 2016 – that’s

A public meeting takes place this Friday to discuss the decline of Salmon stocks in the Owenea river. Commercial fishermen and anglers are coming together to discuss how best to revive stocks on the river, they also want a greater say in the management of the waterway. Spokesperson Liam Whyte is inviting all interested parties

More than 9 million euro in capital funding for arts and culture centres across the country has been allocated by the Arts Minister. Heather Humphreys made the announcement today as part of the Creative Ireland programme, with four projects in Donegal included. €450,000 is being invested in four projects in Donegal, with almost half the

Donegal County Council is seeking tenders for the development of a Visitor Management Plan for Malin Head. Recently, it was announced that toilet and car parking spaces are to be developed, with further development planned to enhance the tourism potential of the site. HoDonegal County Council is seeking tenders for the development of a Visitor

A renewed appeal has been made for information about the murder of Strabane man Andrew Burns, who was murdered in the car park at Donneyloop Church on February 12th, 2008, nine years ago yesterday. He was 27 at the time. One man is in prison for his part of Mr Burns’ murder, but gardai and

The Chief Executive of Donegal County Council says there is scope for up to 15,000 more people to be employed in Donegal by 2030, despite the risks posed by Brexit. Seamus Neeley says the council’s decision to develop partnerships with Derry City and Strabane District Council and other bodies has been a success, and a

Fianna Fail will abstain in this week’s motion of no confidence in the government, the text of which will be published this morning by Sinn Féin. The decision comes as Fianna Fail leader Michael Martin prepares to meet with Sergeant Maurice Mc Cabe today. Confirnming that Fianna Fail will abstain in the vote, Fianna Fáil

More schools are set to be included in the DEIS  scheme. It helps schools at a high level of disadvantage through measures like lower pupil-teacher ratios and extra funding. The Education Minister will announce an overhaul of the scheme which will change how schools are selected today. It’s reported those already in the programme will

More than €2.7 million in funding has been announced for 21 new local authority homes in Stranorlar. The funding has been approved by the Government under the Local Authority Housing Construction Programme. The turnkey development will be consist of 18, 3 bedroom homes and 3 additional 4 bedroom homes. Minister Joe McHugh says it is

Gardai are investigating the death of a man in his 50s from Northern Ireland who apparently came off his motorcycle during an off road event near Cranford at the weekend. The man, who was part of a group of five, was found unconscious by colleagues at around 1.45pm on Saturday. He was lying beside his

PARC Road Safety Group was presented with a highly-commended award for their information booklet ‘Finding Your Way’ at the National Adult Literacy Agency Plain English Awards 2016. The booklet is a guide for families of victims of road traffic collisions on how to deal with court procedures and other occurences following road traffic collisions.