The National Broadband Plan will miss its revised target by 25,000 homes and businesses this year.
Under a new schedule to address Covid-related delays, 60,000 were due to be connected by December 31st.
That’s down from the initial target of 115,000.
Junior Minister Ossian Smyth says even the revised figure won’t be reached:
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An Inishowen Councillor has written to the local Garda Superintendent seeking additional resources to be deployed in Carndonagh in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour in the area which culminated in a blaze breaking out at a derelict house on Monday afternoon.
Gardai believe the blaze at the empty property on Bridge Street was started deliberately.
Cllr Albert Doherty says that local residents have been calling on Gardaí to clamp down on anti-social behaviour in the town for some time ahead of this latest incident.
He says that both a heightened community Garda presence, as well as more facilities for young people in Carndonagh are required:
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It’s emerged that over 600 houses are needed to house those currently on the social housing waiting list in the Inishowen Municipal District.
Latest figures also show that of the 612 houses needed, 260 are required in Buncrana alone.
Last month, 30% of council houses offered to people waiting on a house were rejected.
Councillor Nicholas Crossan is warning that if people continue to refuse the houses offered to them, by the time they reach the top of the list again, there may not be any houses left due to the strain on the housing system:
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Finn Harps have announced the re-signing of Mark Anthony McGinley for 2022.
McGinley produced another fine season between the sticks in 2021, appearing 33 times for the club. The local man has been a key player since returning to Ballybofey three years ago, earning himself club Player of the Season honours in both 2019 and 2020.
Mark Anthony told Finnharps.ie: “We’ve tried to kick on bit by bit since I rejoined the club in 2019 and hopefully we can keep that going now into the next year. It’ll be a tough division again with Shelbourne and UCD coming up but we definitely showed that we’re capable of mixing it with anyone last season so I’m excited to get back now in January.”
A total of 3,887 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed this evening in the Republic of Ireland – with nearly one in every seven of those new cases being the Omicron variant.
The chief medical officer says about 14 per cent are Omicron – or nearly 550 cases.
That’s a 14 times increase on this day last week – and Dr Tony Holohan expects a further sharp increase in the coming days.
Current figures also show that 493 people are in hospitals with the virus here, of which 109 are in ICU.
The main evening news, sport and obituary notices on Tuesday December 14th….
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The 2022 Higher Education Championship draws were made this afternoon and the LYIT and last years Sigerson Cup beaten finalists IT Carlow are set to do battle again.
The LYIT lost at the semi final stage in last years competition to Carlow who would then suffer defeat to DCU in the final.
The champions from Dublin have been drawn with Maynooth University in the opening round while Sligo IT will play University Limerick.
Two draws took place today, in the initial draw LYIT were pulled out against DCU but with one of the teams not included in the pot, the draw had to be done a second time.
The opening games will be played the week of the 10th January with the losers in those ties getting a second chance through the qualifier system.
The Sigerson Cup will be played over consecutive weeks up to the final on the 16th/17th February.
Mona Mc Sharry has been outlining her goals for the World Short Course Championships in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic finalist is part of an 11 athlete Irish team.
Mc Sharry says she is looking forward to racing again:
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The Ballyshannon Marlins swimmer says her Olympic experience will benefit her for the rest of her career.
She says her achievement in Tokyo has changed her outlook:
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Saolta have announced that the walk-in vaccination centre in Letterkenny will have extended opening hours this Tuesday evening, as the booster vaccine drive continues to ramp up.
The Letterkenny Vaccination Centre, located at the Letterkenny Business Park in Ballyraine, will remain open until 7pm this evening.
Boosters will be made available for anyone aged between 50 and 69, as well as any healthcare workers, who have had 90 days since their second dose.
First doses are also available for anyone aged 12 or above who has not received a vaccine yet, or for second doses at least 21 days after your first dose.
Gardai are investigating a burglary at a primary school on Convent Road in Letterkenny.
Gardai say padlocks were broken on a number of temporary containers on the school grounds between 2pm on Saturday afternoon last and 7:30am yesterday morning.
Those responsible made off with an orange Stihl leaf blower, 8 lengths of copper and a Honda generator.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Gardai in Letterkenny.
