Category: Old Donegal

A Donegal Deputy has hit out at the Government over what’s been described as a lack of action on rising fuel and electricity costs.

Households across the country are under increasing pressure over a sharp rise in energy bills with some reporting a 71% increase in the cost of oil alone.

There are calls for a specific scheme to be put in place to help people most in need by contributing towards the rising costs.

Speaking in the Dail Deputy Pearse Doherty says by the time the Government actually come up with a solution it’ll be summertime again:

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Responding, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar say a number of measures are being out in place to counteract the rise, and took swipe at Sinn Fein in the process:

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A Donegal TD this week spent over 10 minutes reading excerpts from the Brandon Report into the record of the Dail.

Deputy Thomas Pringle read the excerpts during a debate on amendments to the Health Insurance Bill..

Deputy Pringle says he did so to keep pressure on the HSE to publish the report.

At one point, he was interrupted by the Ceann Comhairle Sean O’Fearaighaill……

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The PSNI say detectives from the Terrorism Investigation Unit backed by local police conducted searches of two residential properties in the Cityside area of Derry today, as part of an ongoing investigation into violent dissident republican activity.

A number of items were seized and have been taken away for further examination.

No arrests have been reported.

Gardai say the death of a man in a house fire in Glendowan, Churchill last night is being treated as a tragic accident.

A man in his 90s was located deceased inside the property, he’s been named locally as John Harley.

Gardai say a file will now be prepared for the Coroner.

Letterkenny University Hospital had the country’s highest number of admitted patients awaiting beds this morning, with 52 in total, 13 of them on Emergency Department trolleys.

Sligo University Hospital had 30 patients awaiting beds, 16 of them in the EU, a North West total of 82, which represents 21% of the national total of 391.

A Master Plan is to be drawn up for Milford after the town was included in a new ‘Town Centre First Plans’ scheme announced this morning by Rural and Community Minister Heather Humphries.

€100,000 will be provided for the drawing up of a plan to tackle dereliction and revitalise the town centre, with the lead to be taken by Donegal County Council.

Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh says its an important initiative, and will add to the important work already taking place in the community……..

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More Census enumerators are being sought for Donegal, with organisers saying the number of applications is down on previous occasions.

Applications are open on census.ie until tomorrow evening.

Regional Supervisor Joan Gallagher says enumerators are needed right across the county, with particular shortages in Fanad and North Inishowen………….

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Applications can be made HERE

People over 50 can get a booster Covid-19 vaccine from today.

Third jabs will be offered by appointment, but people can also attend GPs, pharmacies and walk-in clinics, once it has been five months after a second dose.

Up to now, boosters had only been available to over 60s and people with underlying conditions.

A Donegal TD has told the Dail that the rights of fishers need to be protected when developing offshore wind.

Speaking during a debate on Offshore Wind Energy in the Dail, Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn said the fishing communities of Ireland have been let down in multiple ways in recent years.

He said if Offshore Wind is to be developed, it must be done in consultation with the sector, and in a way that doesn’t compromise their livelihoods…….

The UK’s proposing to make non-Irish EU citizens apply for a permit before crossing the border into Northern Ireland.

The proposed new law would come into force in 2025, and is to apply across the European Economic Area.

Yesterday MPs on the Northern Ireland committee in Westminster were told checks would not take place at border crossings.

The SDLP’s Claire Hanna says she has serious concerns about the proposal………..

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