Author name: oisinkelly

  Donegal’s five TDs should attend at least four Donegal County Council meetings a year, with a view towards creating a better form of communication on local issues between them and Councillors. The motion was brought forward at the most recent sitting of Donegal County Council by Councillor Ian McGarvey. He believes that this would pave […]

35 new jobs are on the cards in Derry after the Department of Finance at Stormont approved the business case for a new Niche Drinks distillery at Ebrington. It follows Derry City and Strabane District Councils’ decision this week to grant planning permission for the development, which means it can now go to construction. Foyle

  Emergency services are currently at the scene of a two car collision near Lurgybrack School in Letterkenny. It’s understood the crash happened at around 4.30 this evening. The road remains open but Gardai have advised motorists to approach the area from both directions with caution. There are no further details at this stage.

The National Ambulance Service has confirmed plans are currently in progress to establish an ambulance base in Buncrana. The absence of an ambulance base in the town has long been an issue in Inishowen with local groups and representatives calling for the move for some time. The new base has been described as a strategic

There were 20 patients awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, five of them on Emergency Department trollies and 15 in treatment rooms, ward chairs and overflow areas across the hospital. The overall figure is down from 28 yesterday. Nationally, the INMO gives the overall number waiting across the country today as 517, down

  Former Tory Islander hotel owner Patrick Doohan has this morning told the Supreme Court that he was there to clear his name of any wrongdoing. Doohan is appealing a High Court judgment that he demolished a house without the owner’s permission because it blocked his hotel’s view of the sea. In November The Supreme

At Least three Dutch Super-trawlers are back off the coast of Donegal with fears again of the potential damage to local fishermen’s gear such as lobster and crab pots. There is further frustration as the Irish fleet starts to tie up as they have their quota filled, the Dutch fleet of super-trawlers continuing to fish

The Killybegs Fishermens Organisation is again calling on Minister Michael Creed to scrap a controversial review on mackerel sharing, and concentrate instead on the potential impact of Brexit on fishing quotas. The KFO Chief Executive says Britian is already talking about increased access to fishing grounds after Brexit, and the organisation’s stance has now been

A Donegal County Councillor is calling on the Taoiseach not to visit the White House next month for the traditional shamrock presentation. The call comes in light of  President Donald Trump’s controversial ruling  barring travel to the US from seven predominately Muslim countries. Councillor Micheal Chlom Mac Giolla Easbuig has described the move as outrageous, and

A Donegal Councillor says the confusion and difficulties associated with the accommodation of refugees in Ballaghadreen, County Roscommon in December must not be replicated in Donegal. Cllr Albert Doherty says Donegal County Council should provide up to date information from the Department of Justice and Equality under the government’s “Irish Refugees Protection Programme “. Councillor

It’s been confirmed that a public consultation on the provision of home help services will begin in May. Latest figures suggest that while the number of low dependency people in nursing homes nationwide has increased, in Donegal, the amount of people being cared for at home is nearly twice the national average. Responding to questions

Calls have been made on the Government to address the Lost at Sea scheme. The call comes following a meeting in the European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions, at which the Byrne family from Donegal once again addressed their exclusion from the initiative. The scheme, which was set up in 2001 to compensate families for losses

  Health Minister Simon Harris has failed to turn up to a Dail debate on serious issues facing Letterkenny University Hospital.  Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty demanded that the Health Minister explain what action was taken to avoid the suspension of all new chemotherapy referrals at Letterkenny University Hospital. It follows last week’s confirmation that all

An EU initiative to reduce carbon emissions and meet energy efficiency targets has begun in the North West. ERNACT, which includes Donegal, Derry and Strabane is leading the CLEAN project, which is also being followed and assessed by groups in France, Italy, Finland, Spain, Romania, Greece, Slovenia and Sweden. €1.6 million in EU finds is

There were 28 patients awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, six of them on Emergency Department trollies and 22 in treatment rooms, ward chairs and overflow areas across the hospital. The overall figure is up five from 23 yesterday. On Monday morning, the number of people waiting was 35. Nationally, the INMO gives

  The Northern Ireland Transport Minister says construction on the A5 upgrade WILL begin this year. It follows earlier speculation that political instability at Stormont and upcoming election could put the project into question. However Minister Chris Hazzard has told West Tyrone MLA Declan Mc Aleer that the money is ringfenced, and the work will

Donegal County Council is to put in place a management plan which is hoped will change the controversial process of applying for aquaculture licenses. There have been a number of cases in West Donegal in recent years in which locals claim to not have been made aware of, or received late notice of, applications for the

A nurse who lost her job after taking €100 from a multiple sclerosis sufferer has been found guilty of professional misconduct. Mary Grace Dela Cruz Alegarme who works in the oncology department at Letterkenny University Hospital, made full admissions at the start of the hearing yesterday, including the fact that she took money from the

The Garda Commissioner has sought a report into the decline of Garda numbers in the Donegal Division. Its understood that Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan will evaluate the matter on a county wide basis, in consultation with senior Garda authorities. Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher is hopeful that this will pave the way in increasing the

Donegal County Council isleading calls for the Irish Coast Guard to be officially recognised as an emergency service. Councillor Martin McDermott this week received backing for his motion to have the Coast Guard recognised the same as the other main emergency services in this country. The motion will now also be passed to all other

  There are serious concerns over the future of the ferry service between Greencastle in Donegal and Magilligan in Derry after a call for tenders went unanswered. No tenders for the service, which has been running since 2002, were recieved when applications closed on January 25th. Councillor for the Causeway Coast and Glens Dermot Nicholl

Its been revealed that not a single council house resident has been evicted over the last ten years due to anti-social behaviour. The information was given to Councillor Jack Murray who says there are a small number of tenants making life a misery for others but the council is not taking action. He says the

There are serious concerns over the future of the ferry service between Greencastle in Donegal and Magilligan in Derry after a call for tenders went unanswered. No tenders for the service, which has been running since 2002, were received when applications closed on January 25th. Councillor for the Causeway Coast and Glens Dermot Nicholl says

A number of Donegal farmers have joined an Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association protest in Castlebar this afternoon, highlighting delays in processing GLAS payments. The payments had been promised before Christmas, but the Department of Agriculture says there are delays in some cases because of problems with documentation. Those delays, the minister says, are

It’s been confirmed that €100,000 is to be spent on a cancer research project based at Letterkenny University Hospital. The six month study will involve 120 participants, half of whom will be given special support and advice to improve their diet and activity levels. They will be compared to another 60 people who will receive

A nurse who lost her job after taking €100 from a multiple sclerosis sufferer is before a fitness to practice inquiry today. Mary Grace Dela Cruz Alegarme, who qualified as a nurse in 1999, is facing allegations of poor professional performance, professional misconduct and non-compliance with the nurses’ professional code of conduct. The inquiry is

It’s been revealed that the number of tourists visiting Fort Dunree in Inishowen rose significantly last year. When compared with 2015, there was an increase of almost 10 per cent visiting the historic landmark last year with a steady increase in numbers since 2013. Manager of Fort Dunree David Magee says there are a number of factors

The speed limit between the Dry Arch and Polestar Roundabouts in Letterkenny is to be reduced from 100 to 80 Kilometers per hour. The change of speed on the notorious accident blackspot was just one of a number of speed limit changes adopted at this weeks meeting of Donegal County Council. However councillors rejected a