Author name: oisinkelly

  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

  Britain’s Brexit Minister’s provided a legal text to the European Commission for a new protocol governing trade between Britain and Northern Ireland. David Frost has been outlining the UK’s key demands in dealing with the deadlock over the controversial measure. He says the role of the European Court of Justice needs to be addressed:

  The Budget announcement won’t be enough to tackle the waiting list crisis, according to the Irish Medical Organisation. 250 million euro has been allocated to the issue, as part of a 20 billion euro health package. But Stranorlar based Dr Denis McCauley, from the IMO, says it’s not enough, as over 900,000 people are

  A Donegal Deputy has described Budget 2022 as a ‘con job’. The Government has described the Budget as an investment in our future as it attempts to tackle the rising cost of living. Free GP care is being made available for children aged 6 and 7. The price of cigarettes and fossil fuels has

  Donegal County Council is being urged to enter into discussions with homeowners whose houses are set to be demolished to make way for the three Ten-T road projects which are set to go ahead. Clkr Donal Coyle says between the Letterkenny Relief Road, Lifford Manorcunningham Road and the Twin Towns By Pass, in the

Britain’s Brexit Minister David Frost will make a speech today in which he’s expected to demand the European Court of Justice be removed from its role as overseer of the protocol. It comes on the eve of a key EU initiative to ease issues. Donegal Senator Niall Blaney is Fianna Fail Seanad Spokesperson on Northern

Gardai are warning people to be vigilant after a number of attempts were made to steal home heating oil in the Letterkenny area. A resident at The Pines, Churchill reported to Gardai that an attempt had been made to steal oil from their tank between 7.30pm on Monday October 4th and 9.15am the following morning.

A pyrite homeowner in South Donegal hopes fellow affected homeowners can be united in forcing changes to the Defective Blocks Redress Scheme. Derek McBrearty plans to access the redress scheme as his home has been condemned. He believes the amount of pyrite in Donegal is being underestimated and it’s important his voice is not lost

The Director of Public Health in the North West is urging people to get the flu vaccine, saying because there was no flu in the area last year, people are more susceptible to it now, particularly as there is more social interaction, and people are spending more time indoors. Dr Anthony Breslin says as of

Donegal County Council is being asked to speed up preparations for the review of the County Development Plan, so a new plan can be put in place as a matter of urgency. Councillor Marie Therese Gallagher successfully moved a motion that the new plan be prioritised, especially in the context of access on to the

65 gardai have been suspended since the beginning of last year, according to the Justice Minister. Heather Humphreys says 41 were placed off duty in 2020, and 24 in the first nine months of this year. The numbers have increased sharply in recent years – with only 21 suspensions in all of 2019. Sinn Féin’s

The British government will today call for ‘significant’ changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol during a speech in Lisbon. Brexit Minister David Frost will say the European Court of Justice should no longer have an oversight role over the agreement. The EU’s latest proposals for dealing with problems with the Irish Sea border are due

Donegal County Council is examining the possibility of putting on an outdoor concert as part of Love Donegal Day next year. It was proposed by Cllr Gary Doherty, who says that following the huge success of #LoveDonegal day on social media over the last number of years, a live event to run alongside the social

The HSE says the demand for Covid-19 tests has increased by up to 11% in the space of a week. About 100,000 tests have been taken in the past seven days – with high demand in Waterford, Carlow, Cork city and north Dublin. The five-day moving average of new cases has risen by 34 per