Author name: oisinkelly

    The number of unfinished housing development or ghost estates in Donegal has decreased by almost 65% since 2010. The figures released today by Minister for Housing Paudie Coffey show the number of ghost estates in the county has fallen from 133 estates to 49 compared with this time 5 years ago. Nationally there

North West MEP Marian Harkin says blaming EU policies for flood damage is not constructive. Critics have said that the EU Habitats Directive prevented some dredging and draining of rivers, and thats’s contributed to some of the devastation seen in recent weeks. Ms Harkin says the European Commission does not want its legislation to get

  Detectives from Serious Crime Branch investigating the murder of Paul McCauley in Derry in 2006 have arrested a 25 year old man in the city. He has been taken to Strand Road police station for questioning. Detectives say today’s arrest brings the number of people who have been arrested since Paul died last June

  Donegal County Council have confirmed that a letter has been received by the Council’s Meetings Administrator from Councillor John O’Donnell. It’s believed this letter was received ahead of last Friday’s Special Meeting of Donegal County Council and was circulated to the elected members of Donegal County Council as requested by Cllr O’Donnell. The special

The High Court in Belfast has ruled that Northern Ireland’s strict abortion laws are incompatible with human rights legislation. The landmark ruling could pave the way for women in the North to access terminations in certain circumstances. It’s now up to the politicians at Stormont to change the law – but they aren’t legally obliged

The mutual recognition of driver disqualification between Ireland and the UK will be delayed until next year, because the new traffic bill has not yet passed. The issue was raised in the Dail this morning, with Deputy Tommy Broughan asking why legislation giviongh effect to a new agreement wasn’t put through the Dail as a

Ireland’s whitefish quota has increased by an average of ten per cent, with higher increases in certain species. Cod, sole and boarfish quotas have been reduced. The quota for prawns has increased by eight per cent. The deal was secured early this morning following two days of talks at the EU Fisheries Council in Brussels.

Donegal Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn says a long term pattern of under-resourcing at Letterkenny University Hospital has led to the situation where elective surgery is being scaled back to prevent a build up of trolleys in the Emergency Department. He says the fact that the situation has apparently been accepted by the higher echelons of management

Businesses in Donegal are being warned of a telephone scam which uses threats to family members to extort money. A number of business, particularly in East Donegal have already been targetted. The caller contacts a member of staff with a key role in the business with access the cash. They are told to follow specific

The High Court in Belfast has heard how a bomb discovered near a Derry hotel was to be smuggled inside before a PSNI recruitment event. Prosecutors claimed two men made a 225km road trip to leave explosives concealed in a fire extinguisher in undergrowth close to the venue. The alleged plan was to return later

A 51 year old woman arrested in Derry yesterday by detectives from Serious Crime Branch investigating a series of offences committed at the wake and subsequent funeral of Peggy O’Hara, has been released unconditionally in relation to this. However, police say she has been detained on breach of a money warrant.

It has been confirmed that Elective surgeries are to be scaled back for six weeks at Letterkenny University Hospital despite waiting lists of 15,500. The Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar has confirmed in the Dáil that the surgeries will be scaled back during January and early February. He was responding to Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

The Taoiseach’s ruled out a levy on householders to deal with those who’ve been unable to get flood insurance. Hundreds of homes and businesses have been unable to get insurance because of previous flood events. Today Fianna Fail’s Charlie McConalogue called for a system to be introduced similar to the UK flood insurance model: Amid

Contractors responsible for traffic works on the N15 Ballybofey to Donegal Town road are urging drivers to not jump the temporary traffic lights. Motorists doing so have been causing significant delays. There are also concerns over speed with claims that some motorists have been clocked travelling four times the speed limit through the works: Motorists

A 27 year old man who was arrested in Omagh this morning, Tuesday 15 December, by detectives from Serious Crime Branch investigating the murder of Paul McCauley, has been released on police bail pending further enquiries. He was taken to the town’s police station for questioning. Earlier, the officer leading the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector

It’s been confirmed that 180 enumerators are to be employed in Donegal for next year’s census, which will be taken up on April 24th. The contract will be for 10 weeks, with potential earnings of just under €2,500. The application process begins on January 5th, with anyone interested being urged to apply early.   Statement

The number of planning permissions granted in Donegal in the third quarter of this year was up by 12% on the previous year. There were a total of 202 permissions granted in Donegal between July and September, 62 of them for houses, 92 for extensions, alterations and conversions, and 48 for other purposes, including industrial

Almost €400,000 has been approved by government for the next phase of the development of visitor facilities at Malin Head. Minister Joe McHugh says the work will include drainage and resurfacing, road widening to accommodate passing bays, more car and bus parking and a new toilet block. He says following on from this, Fáilte Ireland

The head of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has denied that proposals agreed at the Workplace Relations Commission last night breach the Lansdowne Road Agreement. A deal was struck between INMO and HSE representatives at the WRC last night, to avoid planned strike action today. Letterkenny University Hospital was not part of today’s planned

A Donegal Deputy has joined calls on the Government to introduce a model similar to the UK flood insurance system to provide flood cover for homes and businesses devastated affected by floods The UK flood insurance system allows owners in flood risk areas to still insure their property and their possessions. The sytem allows insurers

A 53 year old man who was arrested yesterday by detectives investigating offences committed at the wake and funeral of Peggy O’Hara has been released unconditionally. His was the latest in a series of arrests in the city linked to the paramilitary display at the time of the funeral in July.

The High Court is due to begin hearing an application today for an injunction to stop Fine Gael from ratifying its election candidates for Sligo/Leitrim. The constituency also includes part of South Donegal. It’s part of a legal action brought by Deputy John Perry who believes there were serious and substantial irregularities in the selection

Police in Derry warning of crack down on bad parking in the City in the run up to Christmas. They are promising robust action to tackle traffic caused by badly parked vehicles that cause an obstruction in the city centre. Police say that while the responsibility for enforcing parking regulations lies primarily with the DRD,

There are calls on the Western Trust to take a last minute u-turn and drop their plan to close Gortin Day Care Home in west Tyrone. The Centre has been serving the community for almost 30 years providing entertainment, exercise and socialising for older people, but an announcement on its closure is expected shortly. The

The 2015 RSA Leading Light award in the Public Service Category has been awarded to the Donegal Road Safe Show. “The ‘Leading Lights in Road Safety’ Awards Ceremony in Farmleigh House is one of the most important events of the year, as the Road Safety Authority acknowledges those who have helped achieve safer roads. MC

Irish Water says it, along with Donegal County Council, have made significant progress dealing with recent disruption to the operation of Bundoran Water Treatment Plant. Supply in the area was disrupted due to a severe flooding incident last week when the plant was submerged in over half a metre of water as a result of

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty says the Gweedore Sewerage Scheme must proceed after the EU threatened legal action. The project was given the go ahead by the government in 2013, but last year, Irish Water announced the scheme was being pur back pending a review after it took over responsibiity for it. Previously, the Gweedore scheme