Author name: oisinkelly

  The use of Digital Covid Certs may be extended beyond next week amid rising case numbers. NPHET has advised Government cases are increasing and health officials are seeing worrying trends. Ministers have suggested the planned full reopening of society on October 22nd may now be more limited. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said they’ll make

In the Dail chamber this afternoon, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said the HSE and Saolta have been working to improve the situation since the publication last year of the Price Report, which identified several failings. He was responding to Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn, who said the fact that HIQA found some of the issues identified in the

The contents of this morning’s HIQA report into issues with Gynaecology Services at Letterkenny University Hospital are being digested by patients, staff and management. On this morning’s Nine til Noon Show, HIQA’s Director of Healthcare Regulation said the review found the hospital had taken steps to address issues which had been previously identified. However, Sean

There are further calls on Donegal County Council to step in in a bid to save St Connell’s Museum and Heritage Centre in Glenties from becoming a victim of the pandemic. The museum was forced to close due to Covid and has since been under significant financial strain. The Council is being urged to financially

Donegal County Council has been warned it needs to have its finger very much on the pulse to ensure high quality materials are being produced at quarries within the county. Councillor Albert Doherty says assurances need to be given that defects in materials linked to the mica scandal are no longer being used. He’s also

The DUP says the fresh EU proposals on the protocol “fall far short” – but are “a starting point”. The party wants the trading arrangement to be binned and replaced with a new one. But Stormont’s Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill says that can’t happen:

The planned easing of restrictions on October 22nd may need to be ‘tempered’ to protect the hospital system, according to a member of NPHET. The 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 has increased by 12 per cent over the past week, while there are 390 patients in hospital with the virus. NPHET will meet on Monday

The Government must think bigger than carbon tax to tackle climate change. That’s according to Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle who believes the move disproportionately affects the county. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe this week described carbon taxation as the single most effective climate policy – a statement Deputy Pringle has labelled complete and utter nonsense. Speaking

Plans are afoot to enhance the visitor experience at the Shorefront in Buncrana. A funding application has been submitted by Donegal County Council to Government and if successful, it would pave the way for a major regeneration project in the town. While there are many amenities in Buncrana, it’s thought they are somewhat disconnected. Local

Over 20,000 Covid-19 vaccines have been donated by the people of Donegal to some of the world’s least developed countries. As part of UNICEF’s ‘Get a Vaccine, Give a Vaccine’ campaign, two million vaccines have been donated from across Ireland. So far, the campaign has raised over €5 million from individuals and companies in Ireland

Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon is in Strabane for a series of meetings with residents affected by flooding. This morning, she announced £500,000 to progress a flood alleviation scheme in the Ballycolman Estate, parts of which have been plagued with flooding related issues for a number of years. Engineers have carried out a detailed study of

  The government will ‘kill the live entertainment industry’ if capacity restrictions remain past October 22nd, according to a musician. The Tanaiste Leo Varadkar says some restrictions might have to stay in place due to concerning hospital and ICU numbers. NPHET will meet next week and will make its recommendations to the government. Aslan guitarist

  GPs will struggle to offer same-day appointments or allow new patients to join their client list, due to changes in the budget. That’s according to the Irish Medical Organisation, which has concerns over the Government’s decision to provide free GP care for 6 and 7 year old’s. Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath also said

A Donegal man has been banned from keeping dogs for five years. Michael Boyce of 43 Rosemount Cottages, Kilmacrennan on Monday at Letterkenny District Court was also fined €250 after pleading guilty. Following a tip-off the ISPCA visited the property in January 2020 where they found the dog, an eight month old female mixed breed,

  The Tanaiste says some restrictions may remain after next week’s anticipated change to Covid regulations. Most Covid 19 rules are to be relaxed on Friday the 22nd of October, while the vaccine cert for restaurants and pubs is set to be removed. Leo Varadkar says while he wants a full reopening, it all depends

There are urgent calls on Donegal County Council to identify appropriate sites for the disposal of rubble from demolished Mica homes. Hundreds of mica affected homeowners are facing demolition but there questions are to where this material can be dumped when the time comes. It could be an added bill coupled with the reconstruction of

A new play park has officially opened in Killea today. The project is a collaboration between PEACE IV programme and Donegal County Council and includes the development of a new car park also. Local Councillor Paul Canning it’s a very much welcomed enhancement to the local area:

There’s a warning that illegal dumping has not gone away in Inishowen and elsewhere and the matter remains unresolved. It has led to calls for more facilities to be in place to encourage people to dispose of their rubbish properly. A seven day recycling centre in Carndonagh is currently not available. Local Cllr Albert Doherty

  GPs will struggle to offer same-day appointments or allow new patients to join their client list, due to changes in the budget. That’s according to the Irish Medical Organisation, which has concerns over the Government’s decision to provide free GP care for 6 and 7 year old’s. Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath also said

There’s huge disappointment in the hospitality sector locally that the 9% VAT rate will not be extended beyond next summer. As part of Budget 2022, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe confirmed the reduced VAT rate of 9% for the hospitality sector will expire at end of August 2022 as planned. The Irish Hotels Federation called on

The Letterkenny Milford Municipal District has been told that discussions are ongoing between Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the contactor with regards the ongoing four lane works in Letterkenny. TII has acknowledged that there are concerns regarding the current temporary traffic management arrangement, particularly in respect to the temporary lining, and also previous lining which is

The Government is being urged to clarify the full extent of their budget allocation for Mica Redress next year. The call follows confirmation that an additional €20 million will be allocated to the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme for next year. Announcing the Budget yesterday, Minister Michael McGrath gave no commitment on the issue other

The EU will today set out its plan aimed at resolving a row with the UK over the Northern Ireland protocol. The measure, set up to avoid a hard border, has meant a trade barrier down the Irish Sea, and has angered unionists in the north. In a speech yesterday, British Brexit minister David Frost

The Garda Representative Association has welcomed the announcement of an extra 800 new Garda recruits in the budget. More than €2 billion in expenditure has been allocated for the Gardai, which will include an increase of €10.5 million for operational expenditure. The Vice President of the GRA Brendan O’Connor says the news is positive, but

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has said it would have been too risky to increase spending in the budget beyond €4.7 billion. That’s despite the Department of Finance saying the economy is recovering faster than expended, partly fueled by the spending of built up savings. Opposition parties have said the Government should have gone beyond yesterday’s