Author name: oisinkelly

New Downings footpath would enhance area for tourists and locals – Cllr O’Donnell

Donegal County Council has agreed to carry out an assessment of a busy route in Downings with a view towards establishing a footpath between the Main Street and the pier. Councillor John O’Donnell has called on the local authority to create a safe corridor between both areas due to the surge in tourists flocking to […]

New Downings footpath would enhance area for tourists and locals – Cllr O’Donnell Read More »

Fishing communities will continue decline without new Common Fisheries Policy – Pringle

A Donegal TD has told the Dail that fishing in Burtonport has already been decimated, and there’s a real risk other ports will suffer the same fate. Speaking during the resumed second stage debate on the Sea Fisheries Bill, Deputy Pringle said the only way of guaranteeing a sustainable fishing industry in Ireland is a

Fishing communities will continue decline without new Common Fisheries Policy – Pringle Read More »

Revised Mica redress scheme to be finalised at start of October – Taoiseach

The Taoiseach says talks on the mica compensation scheme will be finished by the end of the month. Homeowners are meeting department officials today, with further talks with Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien in the coming days. Campaigners in Donegal and in other areas affected by mica want a 100 per cent redress scheme for those

Revised Mica redress scheme to be finalised at start of October – Taoiseach Read More »

Asymptomatic contact tracing to end in primary schools from Monday

Contact tracing is being stopped in primary schools and childcare facilities from Monday. It means the testing of asymptomatic close contacts in those settings will be discontinued, but the measures do not include special education facilities. Children who are under 13 and deemed close contacts in childcare settings will not have to restrict their movements

Asymptomatic contact tracing to end in primary schools from Monday Read More »

Government must end the scandal that has scarred a community – MacLochlainn

The Dail has heard that the human toll of the Mica ordeal has been heartbreaking and has driven people to emotional breakdown and financial ruin. Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLocahlainn rowed in behind criticism of the Tanaiste’s comments that taxpayers will be the ones effectively paying for a 100% redress scheme. Responding, Public Expenditure Minister McGrath

Government must end the scandal that has scarred a community – MacLochlainn Read More »

Pringle calls for further powers for local authorities over builds

A Donegal TD has called on the Government to give more authority on planning and oversight of construction of homes to local councils, to avoid a crisis like mica happening again. Deputy Thomas Pringle says that 100% redress alone is not enough for Mica homeowners – he says that local authorities such as councils should

Pringle calls for further powers for local authorities over builds Read More »

Business Matters Ep 60 – Gerry McKeever & Toni Forrester

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell speaks to Letterkenny barber, Gerry McKeever. Gerry has been self-employed since 1985 and has just published his first book, Benocracy – Democracy’s Last Chance. Ciaran also talks to Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce CEO, Toni Forrester, about an annual awards ceremony with a difference this year. Listen back here:

Business Matters Ep 60 – Gerry McKeever & Toni Forrester Read More »

LYIT vaccination clinic open to student and staff walk-ins next week

The vaccination clinic at Letterkenny Institute of Technology will open on a walk-in basis to students and staff of the college next week. It comes as the Government confirms eleven pop-up vaccination clinics are to be set up at colleges across the country next week. Students and staff will be offered a first or second

LYIT vaccination clinic open to student and staff walk-ins next week Read More »

Tanaiste clarifies he has not ruled out 100% Mica redress scheme

The Tanaiste has clarified that he is not ruling out a 100% Mica redress scheme. When questioned if 100% redress would be sanctioned for Mica affected homeowners yesterday, Leo Varadkar said the Government cannot lose sight of the fact that it is ultimately taxpayers who will foot the bill. The PRO Mica Action Group has

Tanaiste clarifies he has not ruled out 100% Mica redress scheme Read More »

Two men arrested this morning in connection with Lyra McKee murder

Two men have been arrested in Derry this morning in connection with the murder of Lyra McKee. Detectives investigating the murder of the 29 year old journalist in April 2019 in Derry arrested the men, aged 24 and 29, under the Terrorism Act. They have been taken to Musgrave’s Serious Crime Suite for questioning. Three

Two men arrested this morning in connection with Lyra McKee murder Read More »

Tanaiste agrees to urgent meeting to discuss Mica redress scheme comments

The Tanaiste has agreed to an urgent meeting with Fine Gael TDs in counties affected by defective block issues following comments from him yesterday around the Mica redress scheme. When questioned if 100% redress would be sanctioned for homeowners, Leo Varadkar said the Government cannot lose sight of the fact that it is ultimately taxpayers

Tanaiste agrees to urgent meeting to discuss Mica redress scheme comments Read More »

Donegal TD tells Dail Government has learned nothing from penalty points for fishermen

A Donegal TD has told the Dail the government learned nothing from the debacle over penalty points for fishermen. Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn, Sinn Fein’s Spokesperson on the Marine was speaking during a Second Stage debate Sea Fisheries Bill 2021. The previous Dail accepted a motion from then Donegal Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher and annulled

Donegal TD tells Dail Government has learned nothing from penalty points for fishermen Read More »

Government committed to investment in North West and West

The Dail has been told that the government is committed to investment in the West and North West, and will positively discriminate in favour of the region when making funding decisions. Tanaiste and Enterprise Minister Leo Varadkar gave the commitment in answer to questions from Galway TD Sean Canney. Deputy Canney said recent EU descriptions

Government committed to investment in North West and West Read More »

Cross border campaign launched in bid to secure lighting for Killea

A Cross Border campaign has been launched for the development of lighting and a footpath from Nixon’s Corner to Killea Village. The campaign is being led by Derry based Sinn Féin Councillor Patricia Logue and Cllr Terry Crossan, her party colleague in Donegal. Cllr Logue says this is one of the busiest cross border arterial

Cross border campaign launched in bid to secure lighting for Killea Read More »

Biden tells Prime Minister he doesn’t want ‘closed border again’ in Ireland

The US president says he doesn’t want to see a ‘closed border again’ on the island of Ireland, due to the post-Brexit row. Joe Biden made the comments during a meeting with British prime minister, Boris Johnson, in the White House yesterday. He says he doesn’t want Brexit to damage the peace-process here. Mr Biden

Biden tells Prime Minister he doesn’t want ‘closed border again’ in Ireland Read More »

Mica scheme cannot ignore taxpayers’ interests – Varadkar

The Tanaiste says the government is looking for an equitable scheme to address issues of mica, but says they cannot lose sight of the fact that ultimately it is taxpayers who will foot the bill. Leo Varadkar’s comments come after Donegal County Council’s Mica Redress Committee endorsed the position paper presented by the Donegal representatives

Mica scheme cannot ignore taxpayers’ interests – Varadkar Read More »

Darren Nash takes the place of Myles Sweeney on Donegal Sports Star committee

The Donegal Sports Star Awards committee held their AGM on Monday evening in the Mount Errigal Hotel. Chairperson Grace Boyle reflected on the challenging year that 2020 had been for everyone and that included the Sports Star Committee who had to make the difficult decision to move to a Virtual Awards format for the first

Darren Nash takes the place of Myles Sweeney on Donegal Sports Star committee Read More »

Donegal woman in Kabul says they are adjusting to new reality

A Donegal woman in Afghanistan says people are adjusting to a new reality there. The Taliban took control of the country last month and are now implementing their own regime. Under that, girls have been banned from secondary schools with high schools ordered to open only for boys. Mary Ellen McGroarty from Mountcharles is a

Donegal woman in Kabul says they are adjusting to new reality Read More »

€250,000 sanctioned for WiSAR research lab at LYIT

€250,000 in funding has been announced for the WiSAR research lab at Letterkenny Institute of Technology. The announcement made by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar will see a significant investment for the LYIT Department of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering research facility. The funding will enable the lab acquire a state of the art, 90GHz Anechoic Chamber; a

€250,000 sanctioned for WiSAR research lab at LYIT Read More »

Garda

Gardai reissue appeal for information following fatal Quigley’s Point crash

Gardai have reissued an appeal for information in relation to a fatal crash at Quigley’s Point, Muff last week. A man in his 80s, the sole occupant of his vehicle died following the two car collision at around 5:30pm on Thursday evening last at Greenbank. The driver and passenger of the other vehicle, two men

Gardai reissue appeal for information following fatal Quigley’s Point crash Read More »

Landlords need incentives to bring properties back on the market – Peter Casey

A former presidential election candidate believes an incentive needs to be given to landlords to renovate and rent vacant properties in a bid to tackle the housing crisis in Ireland. Multi-national businessman, Peter Casey says at present there is no motivation for owners of vacant buildings to bring their property back onto the market and

Landlords need incentives to bring properties back on the market – Peter Casey Read More »