Author name: oisinkelly

The Health Minister says he’s now thinking about reversing course, to once again require contact tracing among classmates of schoolchildren who’ve contracted Covid-19. The HSE suspended investigations in primary schools in September, shortly before the phased reopening of workplaces began. As under-12s were not eligible to be vaccinated, if they were considered close contacts they […]

A leading immunologist says Ireland would be back in lockdown now if it wasn’t for our high Covid-19 vaccination rate. The high levels of infection seen over the past few days have continued – with 3,685 further people testing positive for the virus yesterday. It’s the fifth day in a row the official tally has

The Department of Health has confirmed a further 3,685 cases of Covid-19 in the Republic of Ireland today. It’s also confirmed that the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 is continuing to fall. Figures released today show there are now 444 people being treated in hospital for the virus, a fall of

Anybody who owns a property must file a Local Property Tax return with Revenue before Wednesday evening. The deadline, which was originally due to come tomorrow, has been extended until the middle of the week. Revenue’s admitted the process is causing some stress among people who aren’t used to dealing with the system regularly. Pat

A leading medical professor says a new anti-viral drug – in combination with vaccines – could lead to the end of the Covid 19 pandemic in Ireland by next Spring. Paul Moynagh’s comments follow the announcement by Pfizer that it’s new drug Paxlovid cuts the risk of hospitalisation or death by 89 percent in vulnerable

The Minister for Health is asking people to pull back on their social contacts. Stephen Donnelly says we’re now at a pre-pandemic level of social contact, which is driving a certain amount of cases. His comments come as 3,903 new cases of Covid-19 were announced yesterday, with 425 people in hospital last night – 76

The Tánaiste says he is hopeful a pill to treat Covid could soon be cleared for use in Ireland. The UK yesterday became the first country in the world to approve the use of Molnupiravir, which has been developed by US pharmaceutical company Merck. In clinical trials, the drug cut the risk of being hospitalised

  Buy Donegal has officially kicked off today to showcase the best of Donegal business. The campaign provides an opportunity for businesses across the county to highlight their products and services and to encourage people to buy them. The campaign, now in its second year, runs until December 31st 2021. Director of Services at Donegal

  A Donegal Pharmacist says there is frustration among the pharmacy community over not being able to utilise their daily Covid-19 vaccine supply for booster shots. This week it emerged that one pharmacist in the county disposed of 24 leftover vaccines as they are prohibited to administer them as a booster. Local Pharmacist Margret O’Doherty

  People are being reminded that pop-up vaccination clinics are getting underway in three Donegal Towns today. The centres will be available in the Colgan Hall in Carndonagh, The Gateway Hotel in Buncrana and the St. Mary’s parish Hall in Stranorlar. The clinics are open from 12 noon today and are also running tomorrow and

  Options for apprenticeships and further education will be included in the CAO portal for the first time today. It goes live at 12 noon, when students can check out cao-dot-ie forward slash options. The full range of third level options will be available to apply for through a central portal. Minister of State for

  Ireland continues to have the highest Covid vaccination rate in the European Union. Over 92 per cent of adults are fully vaccinated, which is just ahead of Malta and Portugal. Bulgaria has the lowest rate, at 26 per cent – while the EU average is less than 76 per cent. Donegal GP Ciarán Ó

  Sinn Féin is the most popular party in Northern Ireland – but is less than 3 per cent ahead of the DUP. 23.5 per cent of voters will back Mary Lou McDonald’s party in the next Assembly election, which will be held before next May. According to a University of Liverpool poll, 20.6 per

  The Agriculture Minister says ‘significantly’ more jobs will be created in the farming sector in the next nine years – despite a dramatic fall in emissions. The Climate Action Plan calls for agriculture to cut emissions by 22 to 30 per cent by 2030. The agri-food sector employs over 164,000 people, which makes up

  There are renewed calls for the cliff rescue service at the Bunbeg Coast Guard Station to be restored as a matter of urgency. While the Bunbeg Coast Guard had been providing the service it had been removed a number of years ago due to budget cutbacks. Cllr Michael Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig says that due

  A Donegal Deputy is calling on the Government to expand the SUSI student grant scheme, to help more people attending college whose families earn some the lowest incomes in the country. Deputy Thomas Pringle says that eligibility for a SUSI “top-up” grant should be expanded to all those attending third level education that currently