Category: Old Donegal

 

 

Every household in the country is set to have 100 euro knocked off their first energy bill of 2022.

The government is planning the move to ease the financial burden as a result of rising energy prices.

It will cover the first two months of the year, and will be deducted from the bill when it’s issued in March.

Political Editor with the Irish Examiner Danny McConnell says households won’t have to do anything to claim the discount:

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Consultancy firm EY predicts inflation will average 3.3 percent, and may be as high as 4.5 percent next year.

The level of price growth was 5.3 percent in November, the highest monthly rate since 2001.

Last month, the head of the Central Bank said supply “bottlenecks” in international shipping, energy markets and the labour market would ease in the new year.

But EY economist, Professor Neil Gibson, says the Irish economy may no longer be able to rely on the factors that once kept prices low.

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Sinn Fein has increased its lead over Fine Gael and Fianna Fail and has reached a record level of support, according to a new poll.

The latest Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI survey has the party up three points to 35 percent.

Fine Gael are down two points to 20 percent, Fianna Fail are on 20 percent – no change – while other parties sit on less than five percent support.

Satisfaction with the government has also fallen by three points to 43 percent.

Meanwhile the ratings of the party leaders see’s little change, with Micheál Martin up two to 43 percent; Leo Varadkar up two to 45 and Mary Lou McDonald up one to 44 percent.

 

A Fine Gael TD is backing calls for banks and other financial institutions to contribute towards the cost of the Mica Redress Scheme.

The enhanced scheme announced last week will cover 6,000 – 7,000 properties across Donegal and elsewhere.

However, it’s estimated that it will cost over two billion euro and rising.

Given the scale of the scheme, Deputy Richard Bruton believes that banks should foot some of the bill to alleviate the amount that’s going to cost the taxpayer:

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Passengers from Britain are being advised to take daily antigen tests for five days after arrival.

The new advice was issued late last night.

This new advice from government comes after it received an updated public health assessment on the Omicron variant.

There are now six cases here, after a further five were confirmed by health officials yesterday.

The government says any passenger arriving from Britain should take an antigen test on five consecutive days, beginning with the day of arrival and to self-isolate immediately.

Anyone who develops symptoms or has a positive antigen test will then be obliged to take a PCR test.

The government’s also urging people to consider their overall health, vaccine status and the spread of Omicron in other countries before deciding to travel.

It also says anyone who’s eligible for a booster vaccine should get it, if considering international travel soon.

 

An investigation has been launched after a number of holiday caravans were broken into in North Inishowen. 

The break’-ins happened at some stage between Wednesday and Thursday of this week in the Malin Head area.

It’s not yet known if anything was stolen.

Gardaí are appealing to anyone who has any information that might assist with their investigation to contact them at Buncrana Garda Station on 074- 9320540.

The Garda Confidential line may be reached on 1800 666 111.

 

A Donegal Deputy believes proposed UK immigration laws could have major consequences for the tourism sector in Donegal.

New proposed restrictions on cross border travel to Northern Ireland would see non-Irish EU citizens have to apply for online clearance to enter Northern Ireland.

Deputy Pearse Doherty raised the issue with Tanaiste Leo Varadkar in the Dail.

Deputy Doherty says the move would undermine the Good Friday Agreement and asked what action the Government is taking to say to the UK that this isn’t on.

Responding the Tánaiste says he isn’t surprised by the move:

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A Donegal County Councillor says a lot of money will be needed to revitalise Milford town centre.

Yesterday it was revealed that €100,000 will be provided for the drawing up of a master plan to tackle dereliction in Milford.

Six months ago, Cllr Liam Blaney moved a motion asking that Milford be prioritised in the next round of Rural Development funding.

Cllr Blaney says it’s imperative the local community be part of the plan going forward but says ultimately, the plan will needs millions of euro to get off the ground:

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Problems with public toilets in the Twin Towns are back under the spotlight.

Currently there are no purpose-built facilities in the town centre and it could be several years before there are.

A plan was put forward that business premises provide the service and Donegal County Council would give them a fee towards the running cost.

However there have been several complaints over the present scheme with people not knowing where the toilets are and when they’re open.

Local Cllr Patrick McGowan says the Council need to go back to the drawing board:

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Shane Blaney has signed a new contract with Sligo Rovers as the defender looks forward to a second season at The Showgrounds.

The 22-year-old Donegal ma’s was restricted by injury during 2021 but still made an important contribution to the Bit O’ Red in the third-place finish.

Blaney joined Rovers from Doncaster Rovers last January.