Author name: oisinkelly

A Donegal man whose family has been denied access to the Lost at Sea scheme despite a 2009 recommendation from the Ombudsman says he may return to the European Parliament to press his case. 35 years ago this week, Danny Byrne’s father Francis, brother James and three other crew members drowned when the Skifjord sank

It’s emerged that there will be no public parking spaces at the new Courthouse Building which is currently under construction in Letterkenny. The Letterkenny Post is reporting today that the Courts Service has said there will be plenty of car parking for staff, An Garda Siochana, the Prison Service and the judiciary. However, no public

The Full Capacity Protocol has been implemented at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, with significant delays being reported in the Emergency Department. According to the INMO, there were 36 people awaiting beds at the hospital this morning, 22 of them on Emergency Department trolleys. Yesterday, the figure was 25, 18 of them on trolleys. Once again,

A planning application has been lodged for the construction of an 80 bed unit on the site of the Sheil Hospital in Ballyshannon, which will see the Sheil Hospital merged with the Rock Nursing Home. The milestone is being welcomed by the HSE and the Sheil Hospital Trust, who say the existing units will continue

The European Commission is moving closer to issuing formal infringement proceedings against the State over its failure to deliver the long delayed Gweedore Sewerage Scheme. The Commission’s decision to progress the case was confirmed in a reply to a Dail Question tabled by Deputy Pearse Doherty this week. In a reply, the Government confirmed that

A local councillor is raising concerns on the issue of wild deer running across the road in front of motorists. In the area behind Errigal, a number of accidents have been reported which involved cars coming into contact with wild deer. Councillor Michael Mac Giolla Easbuig says these accidents come at a financial loss for

During a visit today to Glenveagh National Park, Minister for Regional Economic Development, Michael Ring announced €250,000 of capital funding for the year which is to be spent on works in an around the national park. The funding will be used as part of the upgrade of a waste water facility with €80,000 allocated for

An allocation of €67,500 of funding has been welcomed by Minister Joe McHugh today, as part of the €12M EMFF Funding for 7 Fisheries Local Action Groups. Minster for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed announced the funding with works due to be completed this year. €37,500 of the funding will be used to

There were 25 patients awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, 18 of them on trolleys in the Emergency Department. Nationally, the figure was 453 according to the INMO’s Trolley Watch, 371 people are on trolleys and 82 in overflow areas of wards. The highest figure has been recorded at University Hospital, Limerick, with

A local Councillor has welcomed the commencement of the long awaited Convoy Sewerage Scheme. Sinn Fein Councillor, Liam Doherty is urging both the local authority and Irish Water to ensure the prompt delivery of remedial drainage and sewerage works at local housing estates which it is planned will now be taken over by the authorities.

Police in Strabane have issued an appeal for a missing teenager. 17 year-old Tiarnan Gallen was last seen on Sunday in the Liskey Road area of Strabane. He is described as being approximately 173cm in height of a medium build, with dark hair. The teenager is believed to be wearing a black Mackenzie hoody with

  The ISPCA has welcomed the conviction of a Donegal farmer for animal cruelty offences following a joint operation involving the ISPCA and the Department of Agriculture. The case also led to a court order that the individual involved not keep any animals. Calling on members of the public to report any animal welfare concerns,

Around 300 representatives from North and South of the border are meeting this morning to discuss the impact of the UK’s Brexit vote. The forum was called by the Taoiseach – and will see figures from the worlds of politics, business and culture discuss their concerns about Britain’s impending exit from the European Union. A

A campaign is being launched in Derry this evening seeking the extension of the full concessionary Smart Travel Pass to all those who are not allowed to drive for medical reasons. Currently, many who cannot drive for medical reasons, such as people who are partially sighted, are only entitled to a half fare concession whereas

Civic leaders, businesses and officials from the North West will be embarking on their largest ever delegation to Boston, Massachusetts later this month. This delegation is being jointly led by the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr. Terence Slowey and the Mayor of Derry, Cllr. Hilary McClintock. It will include 17 businesses from across the

A  councillor is calling for action following a number of water outages in South Inishowen. There were four significant water outages in the area this year and ranged from 663 properties being without water for 26 hours in January to 2092 properties being without water for 2 hours in August. The figures were obtained by

Gardai are warning motorists to be careful at Carricknamanagh, between Killygordon and Stranorlar, where the road is partially blocked as a result of a fallen telephone pole. We understand a vehicle struck the pole, and Gardai say they are waiting for Eir to come and clear the road.

The first Board of Directors has been appointed for the Strabane Business Involvement District scheme. The BID initiative was backed by 95% of local businesses in April last. The scheme enables local business owners to take ownership of the decisions about how their funds will be invested in building a more prosperous and vibrant town

The Garda Representative Association is going to the Labour Court tomorrow afternoon. It’s the latest stage in efforts to resolve the Garda dispute, before more than 12-thousand members of the force take strike action this Friday. The GRA’s executive council last night rejected Government proposals for a deal. Meanwhile, the Garda Commissioner Noirin o’Sullivan has

A Donegal Deputy has accused the Government of not taking mental health seriously by failing again to commit enough resources to improve services. The Minister for Health Simon Harris initially said at budget time that €35m would be invested in mental health services next year but it was later stated that just €15m of the

The Donegal Fire Service were called to six Halloween bonfires. Yesterday, two fires were dealt with in Carndonagh with one each in Moville, Stranorlar and Letterkenny. There was also a call out on Sunday. Donegal’s Acting Chief Fire Officer is Joseph McTaggart. He says the fire services resources were being used up unnecessarily:

The Health Minister is being urged to ensure that more radiographers and radiologists are available at weekends and outside office hours at Letterkenny University Hospital. In answer to a Dail question, Deputy Pearse Doherty has received staff rotas and access hours for radiology services at the Hospital. The data reveals that no weekend MRI service

A Letterkenny Councillor is urging the public and particularly women to be extra careful following an alleged sexual assault just over a week ago. Gardai are probing claims that a man attacked a young woman after breaking into her apartment between 4 o’clock and 5 o’clock on the morning of Sunday the 23rd of October.

Letterkenny has been awarded five blooms at the International Communities in Bloom Awards Ceremony and Symposium in Canada. The international awards ceremony recognises communities which foster civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement. At a weekend function in Saskatchwen, the town received the International Community Involvement Award and short listed for the International

The recent cross-border controversy over trade and competition ‘post-Brexit’ is continuing. DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson has described the All Ireland Civic Forum proposed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny as ‘a talking shop’. The North’s First Minister Arlene Foster caused surprise at the weekend when she accused the Irish Government of trying to ‘poach’ investment and talk

The allocation of additional resource teachers has been welcomed in Donegal by Minister Joe McHugh. The news was announced by Richard Bruton, Minister for Education and Skills that 430 additional resource teachers were to be made available nationally with 12 posts announced for Donegal. Resource teachers enable students with special educational needs to remain in

Letterkenny has been awarded five blooms at the International Communities in Bloom Awards Ceremony and Symposium in Canada. The international awards ceremony recognises communities which foster civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national programme with focus on the promotion of green spaces in urban settings. On Saturday