Author name: oisinkelly

The Department of Education’s due to resume talks with the ASTI today in a bid to avert a major closure of schools. It’s feared over 400 secondary schools will close indefinitely from Monday if the row over pay isn’t resolved this weekend. The ASTI says its members will report for teaching duties – but won’t […]

International business standards certification will be crucial in a post Brexit environment. Minister of State with responsibility for Employment and Small Business Pat Breen is warning Irish companies to operate to the highest quality standards after Britain leaves the European Union. Irish firms are advised to prepare in order to remain competitive on an global

Hospital waiting lists reached a new record high of over half a million people last month. It’s an increase of 27-thousand since May – when Simon Harris became Minister for Health. Figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund show 439-thousand are outpatients, with more than 80-thousand waiting for over a year. But 88 per cent

The main Letterkenny to Lifford Road has now been reopened following a single vehicle collision earlier this morning. Emergency services attended the scene shortly after half past 7. Two people were in the car when it over turned but it is believed that their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

There are calls for the border region in Donegal to be officially recognised in the County Development Plan. The calls is from Councillor Patrick McGowan who wants similar recognition for those living along the border as those in the Gaeltacht area or on Donegal’s islands. The Councillor says it is a unique way of life

Sinn Féin Councillor Kevin Campbell has condemned those behind tampering with lifebelts on the Peacebridge in Derry . Foyle Search and Rescue said this week that lifebelts have been removed and tampered with on the Peace Bridge on a number of occasions over recent weeks. Cllr Campbell, who choose Foyle Search and Rescue as his

The Head of the Ulster Unionist Party’s urging the British Prime Minister to keep the border between the north and republic invisible. Mike Nesbitt’s been addressing an audience in Dublin today on how he see’s this island dealing with BREXIT. It’s after Theresa May promised to appeal a court ruling that she must allow parliament

A County Councillor has been critical of the Transport Minister Shane Ross after he said he would not provide any funding for City of Derry Airport. It was in response to a Council motion calling for government support for the airport which was moved by Cllr Jack Murray and received unanimous backing from Donegal County

Five towns in Donegal are to share 380 thousand euro under the 2016 Town and Village Renewal Scheme. 76 thousand each goes to Carndonagh, Ballyshannon, Ballybofey & Stranorlar, Ramelton and Dungloe. The money will be spent on improving the appearance and public amenities in the town and village centres. The funding is being allocated to

There’s been a marked improvement in the Emergency Department of Letterkenny University Hospital today compared with the situation yesterday morning. Yesterday, management implemented the Full Capacity Protocol at the hospital after it merged there were 36 people awaiting beds at the hospital, 22 of them on Emergency Department trolleys. Severe delays were reported in the

Gardaí are on duty as usual today after calling off their planned strike. Officers agreed to defer their action while they consider a new pay deal worth around 36-hundred Euro each. The deal put forward by the Labour Court late last night also suggested new terms for annual leave and rent allowance to help with

NI Water says it will take immediate action to address a problem with raw sewage in the Creggan area of Derry following heavy rainfall last evening. Councillor Kevin Campbell says he contacted NI Water after receiving reports from residents of raw sewage at the junction of Aranmore Ave and Linsfort Drive. Cllr Campbell says the

  Letterkenny Institute of Technology is one of six across the country facing serious financial challenges, according to a report published by the Higher Education Authority . The report concludes that Letterkenny IT, along with Cork, Dundalk, Galway – Mayo, Tralee and Waterford, faces “immediate sustainability challenges”. The report finds funding is a major concern

The Agriculture and Fisheries Minister has confirmed a Bluefin Tuna ‘tag and release’ Research Programme is to be funded in the North West. That’s been welcomed by Independent TD Thomas Pringle, who’s been pursuing this issue for over a year. Deputy Pringle says a similar research programme is already underway in the waters off the

The North’s Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard met yesterday with senior local government officials in the North to reaffirm his commitment to deliver the A5 Western Transport Corridor, with plans to engage with the Irish Government to ensure that they are key partners in the development. Minister Hazzard said the A5 will provide a high quality

[message_box title=”MESSAGE TITLE” color=”red”]ADD_CONTENT_HERE[/message_box] Local Councillor Sean McEniff remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital in Spain this evening. The Councillor was due on Thursday morning at the resumption of the special sitting of Ballyshannon District Court. However, the court  was told that Councillor McEniff would not be in court as he was

A High Court ruling earlier today means the British Parliament must vote on whether the UK can start the process of leaving the European Union. The British Government this morning lost its case that it has power under the royal prerogative to trigger Article 50 without putting it to MPs. The government is now expected

It is believed that Councillor Sean McEniff is in an induced coma in intensive care in a Spanish hospital. It was reported today by The Donegal Democrat that the Councillor was due this morning at the resumption of the special sitting of Ballyshannon District Court. Councillor Florence McNulty was charged with assaulting garda Helen Munnelly

The courts service says people should assume their court date stands for tomorrow unless a local notice says otherwise. All cases in the Four Courts and the Criminal Courts of Justice will go ahead as normal. Around the country, the courts service says various local arrangements are being made, but if the strike goes ahead

The first Garda strike in the history of the state will go ahead tomorrow. The GRA – which represents 10,500 rank and file gardai – says it will not postpone its industrial action, but it’s asked colleagues in almost 20 units to report for duty to maintain a skeletal staff. Emergency Response units, airport police

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,