Author name: oisinkelly

  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.  

Searches are due to continue tomorrow for missing Derry man Jack Glenn who has been missing now for 10 days. Foyle Search and Rescue have confirmed that they will resume searches tomorrow and the rest of the week. Foyle Search and Rescue were assisted in searches this weekend by family members, PSNI Boat Unit, Police

A Donegal Councillor is calling on Irish Water to ‘accelerate’ their remedial programme amid Greencastle residents’ concerns. For a period of time residents have been concerned about THM levels in their drinking water – chemicals formed by the reaction of naturally occurring dissolved organic material and chlorine which is used for disinfection in order to

The Government is facing a motion of no confidence after ongoing controversy surrounding Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe. Sinn Féin is to table the motion in the Dail on Wednesday, with a vote on Thursday. The minority Government arrangement requires Fianna Fáil to side with Fine Gael in any such motion. A new opinion poll today