Author name: oisinkelly

  The Dail has heard calls for an emergency fund to be put in place to support farmers in the tillage area. Some Donegal farmers are amongst those who are facing ruin because they can’t harvest their crops due to recent poor weather. Hundreds of acres remain unharvested after 28 days of rainfall in Donegal […]

The Emergency Department at Letterkenny University Hospital is said to be very busy this (Wednesday) afternoon with significant numbers of patients awaiting admission to the hospital. The Full Capacity Protocol has been implemented with management saying that all efforts continue to be made to identify patients who are appropriate for discharge. Management at the hospital

Judge Paul Kelly said that he would consider a partial suspension of a custodial sentence if Mr Stewart entered into a bond with the court to dispose of all animals on his farm by 1st November 2016. The case resulted from visits made to Mr Stewart’s farm by ISPCA Inspector Kevin McGinley and Department of

Police in Derry says they are investigating trouble which flared following last night’s cup replay between Derry City and Dundalk. It is reported that a teenager suffered head injuries during trouble that followed Derry City’s 2-1 defeat to Dundalk in an FAI Cup semi-final replay at Brandywell Stadium. Police have confirmed they have received a

  It’s been revealed that the number of applications for Irish passports from people living in Britain has more than doubled since the UK voted to leave the European Union. New figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs show that in both August and September the number of GB applications rose by more than 100%.

  Serious concern has been raised after Gardai in Buncrana stopped a car earlier this morning with extremely defective tyres. The driver of the car was also not wearing a seat belt at the time Gardai made the discovery. Road Safety officer with Donegal County Council Brian O’Donnell says it defies belief that some motorists

  Calls have been made on the Health Minister to set an immediate date as to when the rheumatology services will be reinstated in Donegal. It’s understood that a third rheumatologist has been appointed to Letterkenny University Hospital and it was promised by Saolta that once that happened, a review of services would begin. Donegal

  A local road safety campaigner is calling on schools to provide larger school lockers in the hope more children will wear helmets when cycling to school. The initiative was officially announced in today’s Inish Times however it’s understood it will be raised with the Education Minister and the road safety authority in the coming

  A Donegal Deputy is calling on the Government to intervene and take action on the ongoing motor insurance crisis. Premiums are increasing by 50% to 80 % or more in some cases and placing pressure on motorists seeking to renew their annual premiums. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallgher believes the Government has made no

  It’s been confirmed that the current report by the expert panel investigating the mica block issue in Donegal will be completed by December. In January, Dennis McCarthy was appointed to chair the expert panel to investigate the defective blocks with the council conducting tests on homes in the county. The next formal meeting will

  Jeffrey Donaldson says he believes that a ‘soft’ border between the North and the Republic can exist after Brexit. Concern’s growing that the approach being taken by the UK government could result in a more formal barrier after March 2019. However the DUP MP predicted the cross-border ‘Civic Dialogue’ being planned by the Taoiseach

  Donegal County Council Housing officials have met with a number of the residents affected by the recent fire at Rosemount Letterkenny along with an official from the Department of Social Protection. Since the fire last Thursday, residents have been accommodated in Dilions Hotel. It was initially understood that that arrangement would end today however

  Midlands Northwest MEP Marian Harkin says the British Prime Minister’s hardline stance on Brexit is ‘shocking’ for Ireland. The Independent MEP was reacting to Theresa May’s comments on Brexit last weekend when she addressed delegates at her party’s conference. The new UK PM said that Britain wasn’t leaving the EU today only to give

  The Donegal Representative for the Irish Hotel’s Federation has described Sinn Fein’s proposals to scrap the 9% VAT rate on hotel beds and ridiculous and irresponsible. It was one of the measures announced yesterday by Deputy Pearse Doherty in Sinn Fein’s alternative budget. The party wants to get rid of the 9 percent VAT

A delighted man claimed a Lotto jackpot prize of €2,266,323 today at National Lottery offices in Dublin. He is the second winning ticketholder to come forward to claim Saturday’s €4.5 million jackpot.  Yesterday, a family syndicate of two from Kerry claimed their share. Today’s winner, who wishes to remain private, was visiting Donegal to attend

People are finding it difficult to access alternative accommodation after a fire at an apartment block in Letterkenny last week. A number of families and individuals have been forced out of their homes after the blaze in a carpark beneath an apartment block on Rosemount Lane. The local authority was accused of doing nothing to help those effected.

Sinn Féin’s proposing a billion euro in new taxes in its alternative budget. Three quarters of a billion euro would be raised by a new 7 percent tax rate on earnings over 100,000 euro and higher employers PRSI on such salaries. The party also says it would scrap the 9 percent VAT rate on hotel

    Calls have been made on the Government to consider investing in Donegal Childcare in the upcoming Budget. The latest report from Donegal County Childcare has revealed that the number of children lacking special educational needs support in the county has almost doubled over the past three years. It also shows an increase in

  A “Day of Action” is to be held to highlight the need for a new footpath outside a school in west Donegal. It has been claimed that numerous call were made in the past on the Council to replace a footpath outside Loch na Luír School however no progress has been made to date.

The HSE has acknowledged the findings of HIQA reports published today concerning intellectual disability centers in Donegal.   The reports on Drogheda & Drumboe units were on inspections carried out in April of this year and identify areas of concern including Safeguarding and Management. These areas are similar to those identified in reports published in

Almost 800 homes an businesses are without power this morning in Newtowncunningham. The ESB say are working on restoring power to the area, with a restoration time of 12.30 this afternoon. They are apologising for the loss of supply.

  The Health watchdog has issued another worrying report about a designated centre for people with disabilities in Donegal. This was the second inspection of the  Drumboe unit, a community house in Stranorlar. The findings of this inspection identified significant risks to the safety and welfare of residents in the centre. Inspectors identified serious allegations

  A local group campaigning for action in the Mary Boyle case is claiming that the majority of Donegal TDs and Councillors have shown their support by signing an online petition. Donegal Families for Justice is an online pressure group established in the wake of the coroner’s decision not to hold an inquest in relation to the

  Flybe is considering launching a new route from City of Derry airport to London Heathrow should plans for a third runway in London get the green light. The budget airline has revealed that it is considering 12 critical new routes including Derry. The news comes just weeks after Ryanair announced it was pulling its

    The Taoiseach is to bring a memo to cabinet this morning on Brexit. It’s after a clear timeline for Britain’s exit from the EU was announced. We now have an idea of when the clock will officially start ticking on the UKs exit – British Prime Minister Theresa May saying she wants to

  The Plight of Donegal’s Tillage farmers has been raised in Europe this week but there will be no help from the EU at least in the short term. MEP Mairead McGuinness raised the issue after a recent visit to Donegal to see first hand the current difficulties in the tillage sector particularly following recent

There is criticism of Donegal County Council for not providing emergency accommodation for up to 15 Polish families left homeless following a fire in Letterkenny last week. The families have been in hotel accommodation since the blaze at an underground carpark beneath an apartment block on Rosemount Lane but that arrangement ended this morning. Magda

  It’s been confirmed that Century Cinemas will open their new complex next month with the creation of 35 new jobs. Work began at the end of the summer on the new Backstage Bar & Grill and Century Play area in the former garage premise beside the cinema. It’s understood the Century Ice Rink which

  Police in Derry and Strabane have caught 14 people speeding during a road safety operation. A further seven drivers were issued with advice and warnings for various offences, including vehicle excise and defects. The road safety operation took place on Thursday across the Derry and Strabane district. District Commander Superintendent Mark McEwan said: “We