Author name: oisinkelly

Deputy Charlie McConalogue has welcomed confirmation from Irish water that water mains improvement works will be carried out at Cloontagh, Clonmany. The Fianna Fáil TD described this as an ongoing problem in the area and has been the source of much frustration among local residents and businesses. Confirmation was received from Irish Water that the […]

Donegal, Derry and Tyrone are amongst the counties to benefit after it was confirmed that two major European funds will start released cash soon, despite Brexit. It has been confirmed that “letters of offer” for the PEACE IV and INTERREG VA programmes will begin being issued from next week. Most of the money in both

Donegal County Council’s Road Safety officer has urged motorists to watch out for children this Halloween weekend. Drivers are being reminded to exercise additional caution while on the roads and particularly when driving through housing estates with children out trick or treating. Brian O’Donnell is also asking motorists to ensure their dipped headlights are on

Northern Ireland’s High Court has dismissed the first legal challenge to Britain’s EU leave vote. A cross-party group of politicians argues it would be illegal to take the country out of the European Union against its wishes. But a judge ruled there is no legal issue with the UK government triggering exit negotiations. S-D-L-P leader

The National Bravery awards are being presented in Farmleigh in Dublin this (Friday) afternoon. Buncrana hero Davitt Walsh and one of the survivors of the Carrickmines fire John Connors are some of the recipients. Various acts of bravery from across the country are being recognised.  

420 people were waiting on beds at hospitals across the country this morning, 16 of them in Letterkenny University Hospital. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says 314 people are on trolley’s while a further 106 are in overflow areas of wards. In Letterkenny, 10 of the 16 patients waiting this morning were on trolleys

The government has launched a funding package to support schools in Gaeltacht areas who pledge to carry out Junior and Senior Infant classes completely in Irish, even if the children don’t speak the language at home. The Irish Language Immersion Scheme, which was launched in Conemarra today, was first mooted while Donegal TD Joe Mc

EU leaders are hoping to sign off on the EU-Canada trade agreement following a breakthrough in a deadlock that had threatened its future. Yesterday the Belgian Prime Minister confirmed that all five regional parliaments in Belgium had finally agreed to the deal. The Walloon regional parliament initially rejected the accord, but a compromise was reached

The State Examinations Commission has promised to overhaul the Reasonable Accommodations at Certificate Examinations, or RACE scheme following a number of complaints about the scheme last year. RACE is intended to help students with special needs, providing supports such as large print papers, readers and computers on which to do exams. In many cases, individual

A driver was arrested following a fatal road traffic collision on the Glenhead Road in Limavady last night. A male pedestrian, aged in his 40’s, died following the collision involving a Renault car shortly before 6.15pm. The 41 year old male driver of the car, who was arrested as part of the investigation, was later

Letterkenny is one of the international finalists in the Communities in Bloom competition, the results of which are being announced in Regina, Saskatchewan in Canada this weekend. The Letterkenny Tidy Towns Committee is represented at the ceremony, with adjudicators from Canada and Holland visiting the town over the summer. Omagh is also one of the

A Derry man who hijacked a car in the city and eventually crashed in Donegal has been jailed for three years at Derry Crown Court. 25 year old Kevin Doherty, whose address was given as c/o HMP Magilligan admitted hijacking and dangerous driving on July 5 2013. The court heard that on that date a

Fianna Fáil Agriculture Spokesperson Charlie McConalogue has said that he is shocked at the likely €377m underspend in GLAS payments. According to new figures received by Deputy McConalogue, only €11.5m was spent on GLAS in 2015, with the average annual payment to date of €4,600. The GLAS scheme aims to encourage farmers to promote biodiversity,

An advert has appeared looking for workers for a new Oyster Farm in West Donegal. The advert appears in the same name as the person behind a controversial application for an Oyster Farm on Cruit Strand. The advert suggests successful applicants would begin work early next year. The advertiser, Benedetta Cazzamali is seeking 5 or

The long-awaited sewerage system in Gleann Cholm Cille is getting underway after a 40 year wait, but there are concerns locally it is facing cutbacks. The local parish council says indications are the area to be serviced by the system has been reduced by at least 30%, and they’re seeking clarification from Donegal County Council

The alleged flaws in the EU-Canada free trade deal should be dealt with according to Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy. The Midlands North-West MEP has welcomed the postponement of the official signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement known as CETA, echoing a statement earlier this week from Independent MEP Marian Harkin. The Canadian

500 schools will remain shut this morning as secondary teachers go on strike, 11 of them in Donegal. The ASTI union wants equal pay for recently qualified staff, who’re getting less than their colleagues hired before the crash. Today is just the first of 7 days of industrial action planned for this side of Christmas.

There were 11 water supplies in Donegal on the EPA’s Remedial Action List at the end of last year, compared to 33 at the start of the year. The figures are contained in the EPA’s report on Drinking Water Quality in 2015. There’s a particular focus in the report on THMs, disinfection by-products that can

Junior Minister Joe Mc Hugh says money may have to be found to boost the tourism potential of Donegal’s islands. Speaking after it was announced last evening that the helicopter service to Tory Island is being enhanced, Minister Mc Hugh said the importance of Donegal’s islands to the Wild Atlantic Way cannot be forgotten. He

It’s emerged that some children in Donegal are facing waits of more than 15 months to receive an appointment with a Psychiatrist. In answer to a Dail question, Deputy Pearse Doherty has been told that there are currently 129 minors waiting for an appointment with Donegal Mental Health Services Psychiatrists, eight of whom have been

The North’s Lord Chief Justice is being asked to consider moving some High Court sittings to Derry. During questions to Justice Minister Claire Sugden at Stormont, Foyle MLA Eamonn McCann said were the court to sit in Derry it would be more convenient for defendants. litigants and lawyers. The People before Profit representative says the

New figures show that Highland Radio has cemented its position as Ireland’s number one listened to local radio station. Highland Radio also retains it’s position as the station with the country’s highest market share, a key indicator for advertisers. The JNLR / MRBI figures published this evening cover the period from October 2015 to the

Police in Derry are appealing for information following a burglary and fire that occurred at a premises in the Glenfada Park area of the city. Sometime between 5pm last evening and 8.25am on Wednesday 26 October, the building was broken into and fire was set beside some electrical equipment. The fire burnt itself out. Investigations

Over 400 people were waiting on hospital beds across the country this morning, 12 of the at Letterkenny University Hospital.. Figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation this morning showed 313 people on trollies and a further 96 in overflow areas of wards. Of the 12 awaiting beds in Letterkenny this morning, 11 were

The helicopter service for Toraigh Island has been expanded, and from today, will run as a weekly service rather than a fortnightly one. It follows discussions between Junior Minister Sean Kyne, the HSE and Irish Helicopters. Junior Minister Joe Mc Hugh says this is a significant boost for the island, and something the community on

Northern Ireland’s Department of Health has today published their 2016 regional report on health inequalities. Health outcomes are generally worse in the most deprived when compared with the least deprived areas. The report found that overall life expectancy from birth has continued to improve. The report revealed that life expectancy at birth has continued to

It has been announced that €20,000 of funding will be made available to implement plans for Letterkenny to become a Gaeltacht Service Town. Speaking earlier to Highland Radio News, Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh confirmed the funding and said that a meeting held last night, was a chance for people to bring forward their ideas and vision

Strabane, Limavady and Magherafelt are to retain their courthouses. Last year, the then Justice Minister David Ford indicated six courthouses would close across Northern Ireland, but last evening, it was confirmed by his successor Claire Sugden that would not now be the case. It’s the second time the Strabane Courthouse has been reprieved in four

Projects in Derry and Tyrone will benefit from an additional £25million funding allocation announced this week as part of the Executive’s first step stimulus package. The funding, which is intended to stimulate and support infrastructure development, was confirmed during the October Monitoring round, with an emphasis on road maintenance and public transport. In a statement,

Claims that the transport infrastructure of the North West has been neglected by successive governments will be raised during a special debate in the Seanad next month. Senator Padraig Mac Lochlainn has secured a debate for Wednesday November 16th, three weeks from today, which must be attended by Minister Shane Ross. Senator Mac Lochlainn says

The government has been accused of misleading the Dáil over its controversial scheme for first-time buyers. The claim comes from Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty – who is querying the role of the Central Bank in how the scheme was designed. Michael Noonan told the Dáil on Budget Day that he had engaged with the Central

Midlands North West MEP Marian Harkin says she would not vote for the current EU-Canada trade. The CETA deal was to have been signed this week, but has been delayed because the Walloon Regional Parliament in Belgium has is blocking the Belgian prime minister from signing. Marian Harkin says she is opposed to an element