Author name: oisinkelly

  There were 23 people awaiting admission to Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the latest figures from the INMO. 9 were on trolleys in the Emergency Department while a further 14 were on wards or on overflow areas. That’s up on yesterday’s figure of 18. Nationally, there were 473 people waiting to be […]

The Standards Commission has today published its investigation report about alleged contraventions of the Ethical Framework for the Local Government Service (Part 15 of the Local Government Act 2001) by Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill, a former member of Donegal County Council. The report follows an investigation hearing held on 9 May 2016. The Standards Commission

A 29 year old man is due in court in Derry today on drugs charges. The man was arrested in the Claudy area yesterday as part of an ongoing investigation into the supply of controlled drugs in the North West. The charges are two counts of being concerned in the supply of a class A

Planning objections to the proposed Wind Turbine at Gweedore Industrial Estate have been handed in to the Council offices in Dungloe. There have been a number of public meetings in relation to the proposal with a protest taking place outside Údarás na Gaeltachta ofices in Gaoth Dobhair last week. It’s understood that over 120 objections

Last year, there were 665 arrests nationwide for driving under the influence during last year’s campaign. Gardaí are also warning that they will be increasing the number of mandatory alcohol testing checkpoints around the county over the next six weeks. Road Safety Officer with Donegal County Council is Brian O’Donnell……..  

A Donegal Deputy has claimed that residents in isolated rural areas are set to lose out on funding for the upkeep of minor roads, following the recent announcement of CLAR funding. It’s understood that the Local Improvement Scheme has not been included for funding through the Clar programme, raising serious concern. Thousands of homeowners in

The Public Accounts Committee at Stormont is holding a special meeting later to consider calling on the North’s first minister to give evidence over the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme. Arlene Foster announced yesterday that MLAs would be recalled on Monday as she gives a full statement in the Assembly. The ex Northern Economy Minister has

  Police have arrested a man in the Claudy area today as part of an ongoing investigation into the supply of controlled drugs in the North West. The suspect, aged 29, has been taken to Coleraine Police Station for questioning. Detective Inspector Tom McClure, from Reactive and Organised Crime Branch, said: “Today’s arrest is the

  Gardai in Letterkenny have released a man who was arrested in connection with an alleged rape in the town in October last. The man was arrested yesterday following an intense investigation by Gardai which began following a report of a rape at an apartment complex in Letterkenny on 23rd October. The man in his

  The Shaun Doherty Show has been chosen as the recipient of a Special Recognition at this year’s Road Safety Authority (RSA) Leading Lights in Road Safety Awards. The award recognises the huge contribution the show has made in highlighting the issue of road safety in Donegal. Communications Manager with the Road Safety Authority Brian

There are calls for the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy following the agreement of 2017 quotas by the EU Council of Fisheries Minsters. The meeting ended in the early hours of this morning. The Killybegs Fishermens Organisation says the overall outcome of the Fisheries Council that finished at 2am this morning was positive, with

The Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness says she will now seek a re-election as a vice president of the European Parliament. Last night the Midlands North-West MEP lost the vote to become the EPP candidate for next year’s European Parliament presidential elections. Former EU Commissioner from Italy Antonio Tajani will run for the position. Ms

A local Councillor has spoken out following Irish Water’s announcement last week that the company is to take responsibility for the administration of Donegal business water accounts. The change will see responsibility for account administration for almost 8,000 existing business customers in Co Donegal move to Irish Water from the Local Authority. Councillor Seamus O’Domhnail

A Donegal Deputy has moved the Civil Law Missing Persons Bill 2016 in the Dáil. The Bill allows for the appointment of an interim manager of the property of a missing person. It’s undersood that between 7,000 and 8,000 people are reported missing every year in Ireland, almost 20 every day. Speaking in the Dail

Improvements to Diabetes services in Donegal are on the Health Minister radar. That’s according to The Donegal Branch of Diabetes Ireland who met with the Minister this week during his visit to Letterkenny Hospital. Currently, there are 666 adults with Type 1 diabetes and 4,353 adults with Type 2 diabetes attending Letterkenny Hospital. Paul Gillespie

Two men have appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court charged in connection with a drugs find that the PSNI have said is valued at between £200,000 to £300,000. The men cannot be identified after District Judge Barney McElholm granted an application for anonymity on the grounds that there is a generalised threat against people charged with

The review of the school transport scheme has been heavily criticised with a view that it doesn’t go far enough to address issues in Donegal. Concern has been raised by many parents in the county over their children’s inability to access the schools they wish because other schools are deemed to be closer. Donegal Senator Padraig

A 25 year old man has been arrested in connection with the death of a man in County Derry. A house at Silverthorn Avenue in Coleraine has been sealed off following the incident yesterday afternoon. Forensic teams are trying to piece together the circumstances surrounding the death. The deceased was a local man – aged

The Killybegs Fishermens Organisation says the overall outcome of the Fisheries Council that finished at 2am this morning was positive, with significant increases in three pelagic stocks. The mackerel quota is up 14%, blue whiting up 85% and Atlanto Scandia herring up 104%. There were also increases in a number of important whitefish species but

  Star Wars and Game of Thrones were huge boosts to tourism in Ireland this year. The franchises both film in Ireland and their on-screen success has led to more people visiting the country. Tourism Ireland says 10.5 million people have visited Ireland this year, an 11 per cent increase on last year. Its CEO

  Diaspora Minister Joe McHugh says the Government is acutely conscious of the importance of the issue of immigration reform in the United States and its impact on Irish people living illegally in the US. The Donegal Deputy was speaking in the Seanad to update this house in relation to the plan for advancing the

Over 540 patients are on trolleys at hospitals across the country, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. 28 people were without a bed a Letterkenny University Hospital this morning – up from 22 yesterday. University hospitals in Cork and Galway are the worst affected – with 48 people waiting for admission to beds.

The Donegal based group “Our Children’s Voice”, which represents the families of children with terminal and life limiting illnesses says it had a very productive meeting with Minister Simon Harris during his time at Letterkenny University Hospital yesterday. The group raised three key issues, the need for outreach clinics in Donegal to reduce the need

Gardai say they will continue to crack down on prostitution in Letterkenny and are asking the public to pass on any information they may have about brothels. Detective Inspector Pat O’Donnell was speaking following the latest raid on a brothel in Letterkenny on Monday as part of a targeted operation on the sex trade here.

The group coordinating the campaign to retain three community hospitals in Donegal says it’s cautiously optimistic after meeting with Health Minister Simon Harris last evening. The group says Minister Harris agreed with them that it would not sense to close facilities in Lifford, Ramelton and Stranorlar to facilitate the building of a new hospital in

There are more water woes for many people living in Inishowen today. There have been outages across south Inishowen with the area from Bridgend to Muff particularly effected. It is understood that another burst on the main line from the Eddie Fullerton Dam is to blame. There have already been at least four significant water

A special Oireachtas Committee will today begin the process of considering how water is to be paid for into the future. The committee’s membership includes Independent Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle. It will consider the suggestion from an expert group that most households would NOT have to pay – and that only wasteful homes would face

  Health Minister Simon Harris has committed to three annual meetings with Donegal Action for Cancer Care. Minister Harris was visiting Letterkenny University Hospital yesterday to open the Health Academy there and met with DACC and other action groups in the county. During the meeting concerns were raised at the delay of appointing a key

A Donegal road safety group is backing a warning by Gardai about motorists who drink and or use drugs behind the wheel in the county. Last week it was revealed by Inspector Micheal Harrison that the amount of drink/drug driving arrests in Donegal has risen significantly – particularly in the Letterkenny district. A-CEART founder Mary

A Donegal County Councillor believes action must be taken to address safety concens on the N15 at Killygordon before a serious collision occurs there. The call comes in the aftermath of a road traffic collsion in the village on Friday past, the third in a matter of weeks. Cllr Gary Doherty has written to Donegal

A judge acknowledged a motorist’s “frustration” with slow drivers when he dismissed charges of driving without reasonable consideration for other road users. Judge Kevin Kilrane dismissed two charges of the same offence within 10 minutes on the N15 between Barnesmore Gap and Donegal town against Francis Lawne last February 18. The judge was told of

The family of a missing Donegal man are growing increasingly concerned for his welfare. Mark Fields from Stranorlar was last seen almost a week ago and he has been reported as missing to Letterkenny Gardai. The family of Mark Fields have issued an appeal in a bid to trace his whereabouts. The 56 year old

The Health Minister has defended the government’s record on investment at Letterkenny University Hospital and has predicted the over-crowding crisis will ease. The INMO says that today there were 22 people on trolleys awaiting admission at the hospital this morning but Minister Simon Harris said that his information is that the figure was 10. Minister

  A Donegal Deputy has once again urged the Government to utilise bed space at St. Joseph’s and other community hospitals in the county to alleviate the overcrowding crisis at Letterkenny University Hospital. The call comes following Health Minister Simon Harris’ visit to LUH this afternoon. Deputy Charlie McConalogue was speaking to Head of News