Author name: oisinkelly

The Taoiseach says there’s no threat to his plans for tax cuts as a result of Brexit. Enda Kenny says the economy will still grow next year – and that Ireland can afford to continue cutting USC. A cut to the lowest two rates of the charge – worth around a euro a day to […]

A Derry man with 213 previous convictions has escaped jail for being disorderly in Altnagelvin Hospital because he has to go back there for an operation next week. 54 year old Patrick Farren, of Stoneburn Place in the city appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court charged with being disorderly in the hospital and assaulting police on

  Catholic residents of Tory island have had their prayers answered when it was confirmed they would have a priest to celebrate Christmas Mass. Fr Kieran Creagh had spent more than four years living on Tory Island, nine miles off the coast of Donegal, but was reassigned in September. Since Fr Kieran Creagh was reasigned,

  Donegal Airport has received the smallest allocation in the latest funding announcement by the Department of Transport.  Nearly €3 million euro in support funding has been granted for four regional airports – including Donegal –  for projects and activities in the areas of safety and security. However Donegal Airport received the smallest allocation of just

  Over 230 people are on trolleys at hospitals across the country. 8 people were without a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning – 3 on trolleys in the Emergency Department and a further 5 on wards or overflow areas. According to the INMO – University Hospital Limerick and Cork University Hospital are the

A Donegal County Councillor has claimed that farmers in Donegal who have been approved and are awaiting payment from the GLAS scheme are facing further stumbling blocks. It’s understood that when farmers ring the help line to query the stage of their payment, they are told by an automated service to make contact via email.

  Retailers in Letterkenny and the surrounding area are reporting a last minute surge in Christmas trade. Britian’s decision to leave the EU and the consequent drop in the value of sterling was an initial concern this year with many traders fearing people from Donegal would travel across the border to shop. However it’s understood

The Road Safety Authority is asking road users to exercise caution while using the roads tomorrow, as Met Éireann have issued an Orange wind warning for western coastal regions. Donegal, Mayo and Galway expected to be worst affected with gusts of up to 120 km/h expected. The RSA is asking road users to check local

It’s hoped that the latest success by Donegal Film Office will promote tourism in the county even further. Donegal Film Office has been awarded Best Local Film Authority in the 2016 Entertainment Awards hosted by TMT News. The company, which is part of Donegal County Council, has been operating since 2003. Aideen Doherty, Manager of

  Four angling development projects in Donegal have been awarded €36,400 collectively in funding to improve angling access in the area. The projects are some of 50 angling development projects across the country which will receive support from Inland Fisheries Ireland to the value of €500,000 in total as part of its Capital Works Fund.

  It’s been confirmed that planning permission for the proposed refurbishment of Buncrana Community Leisure Centre has been secured and Design Team Consultants have been appointed. In a statement, Donegal County Council says that Draft Contract Documents have been submitted for the approval of the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport before going to tender.

  Nearly 2000 homes and businesses are without power in the Glenties area this evening. The ESB has confirmed that it is currently working to restore power to the area with an estimated restoration time of 8.15pm this evening. They are apologising for the loss of supply and are working to restore power as quickly

Met Eireann has issued a status orange warning for wind for coastal regions and high ground in County Donegal. The forecaster has also issued the warning for counties Galway and Mayo and is predicting very strong winds and severe gusts of up to 120km/h in places. The warning is in place from now until 6pm

  It’s been confirmed that the Antenatal Clinic is to be restored in Dungloe Community Hospital in January. The service has been temporarily closed for almost two years with patients availing of the service in Letterkenny. Serious concern had been raised locally during that time as to if the clinic would ever be reinstated. Donegal

Six hospital wards in Derry are now closed due to the norovirus also known as the winter vomiting bug. Admissions to Altnagelvin hospitals surgery, care of the elderly and urology wards have been suspended while intake to the city’s Waterside hospital has also been put on hold. It’s understood that control measures have been put

The ESB has confirmed that just over 200 customers in Donegal have meters which may have potentially caused them to be overcharged. The ESB says all affected customers have been written to, and all will have their meters tested and replaced in the coming months. In the event of any discrepencies being detected, the customers

There were 10 patients awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, five of them on Emergency Department trolleys. That’s down from 27 patients without beds yesterday, a crisis which saw the Full Capacity Protocopl being implemented at the hospital once again yesterday afternoon.

An Bord Pleanala has given the green light to the North-South electricity Interconnector. It published its decision, with conditions attached, on its website this morning. Hundreds of objections had been lodged against the massive project, which also went through a public hearing lasting nearly three months. The Interconnector would allow electricity to flow between the

An Post has confirmed that postal services in Dunlewey are to be retained. It’s understood that the company has committed to the introduction of a dedicated ‘Post Point Plus’ facility which will be transferred to an existing business in the village. The future of postal services in the village was brought into question when the

A special plaque has been unveiled in Killybegs to remember all those who have been lost at sea. It comes as fundraising efforts made locally in recent days raised almost €5,000 for LAST the “Lost At Sea Tragedies” initiative founded by Noel Mc Donagh from Dunmore East, who travelled to Killybegs  for the launch. The

As part of National High Viz Day, The Donegal Road Safety Group is reminding all road-users how important it is to be seen by wearing high visibility material when out walking, cycling or motorcycling. To date this year 182 people have died on Irish roads – 32 more than this time last year. Vulnerable road

  The Full Capacity Protocol has been implemented at Letterkenny University Hospital this evening with significant numbers continuing to await admission to its Emergency Department. It comes as 27 patients were without a bed at the hospital this morning, 10 of them on Emergency Department trolleys. All efforts continue to be made to identify patients

  Five wards in Altnagelvin hospital have been closed after what has been described as the worst outbreak of the norovirus in almost 30 years. Admissions to the hospitals surgery care of the elderly and urology wards have been suspended until further notice while two other wards are being closely monitored. It’s understood that the

  The High Court in Belfast has ruled that some evidence connected to the Omagh bombing is to be heard in secret. The Government had requested a “closed material procedure” for a judge to examine whether public disclosure of information would be damaging to national security. The BBC is reporting that after viewing a sample

Donegal County Childcare is reporting a positive response to their new supports for Children with Special Needs. Under the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) which was set up in June, a range of  new information supports for parents and childcare providers have become available. The developments include an AIM resource library and two new training

The number of patients awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital rose sharply again today, with 27 patients without a bed at the hospital this morning, 10 of them on Emergency Department trolleys. The remaining 17 were on chairs and in overflow areas of wards. That compares to eight yesterday, four of whom were in the

The government spent €12,800 on transport when Prince Charles and his wife Camilla visited Donegal in May. The visit of the royals also incurred a €1,400 photography bill, while just over €1,100 was spent on catering. The figures, published by the Department of Foreign Affairs, do not include the amount spent on security operations or

Two men have been detained following the seizure of an estimated €3,000 worth of cocaine from a house in the Drumcannon area of Killygordon area last night. The men, believed to be in their 30s, are being questioned at Letterkenny Garda Station The seizure comes as the latest CSO analysis of crime in the Donegal

There was a significant fall in crime recorded in Donegal in the 3rd quarter of this year when compared to the same period last year. However, as has been hightlighted, there was a significant increase in drink driving offences as well as dangerous and negligent acts and a small increase in drugs offences. The CSO

The Mica Action Group says it is disappointed to learn the report from the independent panel set up earlier in the year to investigate the issue of defective blocks will be delayed until early next year. The Department of Environment says that due to a more rigorous investigation and a more extensive nature of the

Northern Ireland’s First Minister has survived a motion of no confidence, over her handling of the Renewable Heat Initiative controversy. However a majority of politicians in Stormont voted in FAVOUR of Arlene Foster to step aside and allow an investigation into the affair. The motion only fell because it did not get the support from

MEPs in the European Parliament are currently assessing the implications of Brexit in their various specialist areas. Northwest MEP Marian Harkin is on the Brexit sub-committee of the Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee. She says the impact of Brexit on workers travelling North and South of the border is of particular concern to her………….