Category: Old Donegal

 

The Taoiseach says the Housing Minister is adamant in terms of the role of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland in the Mica Redress Scheme.

Concern has been expressed that the per square foot rate to be paid under the revised Scheme will be set by the Housing Minister and his officials, rather than independently.

The issue was raised in the Dail this afternoon by Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn:

https://www.highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/padmicascale5pm.mp3

Responding, Taoiseach Michael Martin says the Government want to do right by homeowners and comprehensively assist them:

https://www.highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/martinmicadail3pm.mp3

 

The Department of Education is advising that schools across the country open tomorrow as usual.

The Department has thanked school communities, staff, students and parents, as well as the emergency services for their support during Storm Barra.

Schools in red and orange alert counties have been closed for the past two days.

 

 

30 thousand homes and businesses are still without power due to Storm Barra.

In Donegal, areas in Letterkenny, Carndonagh, Derrybeg, Killybegs, Ballyshannon and Bundoran are currently experiencing outages.

The storm is gradually clearing towards the UK but there are strong winds in many areas.

Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim are under a status yellow alert until 6pm.

A similar alert for Dublin, Louth, Meath, Wicklow and Mayo runs until 4pm

Bonagee United have been handed a home draw in the last 16 of the FAI Intermediate Cup while Cockhill Celtic will head for Dublin.

Everton FC of the Munster Senior League will come to the Dry Arch Park to face the Ulster Senior League leaders Bonagee on the weekend of the 23rd January.

Cockhill are once again on the road with Gavin Cullen’s men set to meet Liffey Wanderers of the Leinster Senior League.

Trainer Ricky Hatton and Brett McGinty

Brett McGinty has withdrawn from his scheduled fight at the National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace, London this Friday.

The Donegal middlweight was due to take to the ring for his 5th professional bout but a shoulder injury picked up in training means he’ll have to wait to next year before returning to action.

Since joining the pro ranks McGinty has won all four of his fights to date.

Brett confirmed the news on a social media post earlier today:

“Absolutely gutted to say I’ve had to pull out of my fight on Friday due to a shoulder injury. It’s been a very difficult decision to make at this late stage of camp but on the advice of my coaches it’s the right one to make for the benefit of my career going forward.

Thanks to everyone who has supported me and to everyone who has travelled over to England to support me during the year.
A massive thanks to my sponsors for their support throughout the year.
-Carebeds
-The Bentley bar
-Lynch’s flowers

In time I will reflect on what has been a very positive first 12 months as a pro boxer, having had 4 fights with 4 good wins, with improvements made in each one. A fifth fight just before the end of the year would’ve been great, but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be. I will rest and recover now and enjoy Christmas at home, and I look forward to a bigger and better 2022

HIQA has published reports on two Community Nursing Units in Donegal – Ramelton and Dungloe.

There were a number of non-compliances identified in Ramelton. The centre in Dungloe recorded no non-compliances.

In the case of unit in Ramelton, which had 22 residents at the time of the inspection in July, a number of issues were identified with the premises.

Single bedrooms were small and there was not enough room in some bedrooms for the safe manoeuvring of large items of equipment such as hoists and electric wheelchairs. In a number of single rooms there was not
enough space for a comfortable chair beside the bed without blocking access either to a wardrobe or the wash hand basin.

Non-compliances were also found in the areas of Staffing, Governance and Management, Fire Precautions, Residents Rights and Pharmaceutical Services.

In the case of the Dungloe unit, which had 15 residents at the time of the inspection in September, no non-compliances were reported.

The reports can be read here –

https://www.hiqa.ie/reports-and-publications/inspection-reports

On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell is joined by the founder and CEO of Junk Kouture, Troy Armour.

Junk Kouture is a television fashion competition for secondary school students where participants design, create and model fashion made from recycled items.

Troy set up his first business – a technology company – in 1996, and while he’s also been involved in a number of other commercial interests, almost all of his time, effort and energy is being channelled into Junk Kouture which he is planning to turn into a global enterprise.

Junk Kouture raised €860,000 in seed funding earlier this year at a valuation of €10.6 million, and a successful crowdfunding campaign would bring its total funding to €1.27 million.

Listen back here:

https://www.highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Business-matters-12th-Dec.mp3

There were 50 admitted patients awaiting beds at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, seven of them on Emergency Department trolleys. The figure is down nine on yesterday.

At Sligo University Hospital, there were 35 people awaiting beds, 21 of them in the ED.

The combined North West total of 85 is again higher than Limerick, which recorded the state’s highest figure this morning.

The INMO figures show the national figure is 469.

The North West 10k has confirmed that three charities will benefit from next year’s charity run and walk event which will take place on the Bank Holiday Monday, 2nd of May. The committee had previously agreed that the No Barriers Foundation and the Donegal Diabetes Parents Support Group would be beneficiaries and have now added Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Ireland Donegal Branch. The three charities will work together on a range of fundraising initiatives ahead of the 25th anniversary of the North West 10k. That will be all done in accordance with Government guidelines in relation to the pandemic.

After two years without a live event, Chairperson Neil Martin is hoping that the 2022 race and walk can have the big crowds back again to mark a big milestone in the organisation’s history. It all started in 1997 and to date €833,000 have been raised for over 30 charities. “First of all I want to thank the organisations that applied to be charities for our 2022 event and the committee wish those that were not successful on this occasion, well for the future. The Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Ireland Donegal Branch have been selected and they will work with the other two charities the No Barriers Foundation and the Donegal Diabetes Parents Support Group who were chosen in 2020 when Covid-19 came and that meant we could not host a live event that year. Hopefully now in the New Year there will be opportunities for them to organise fundraisers along the way that will supplement proceeds that will come from the race and walk itself. All those initiatives will be subject to the Government pandemic guidelines” Mr Martin said.

The North West 10k has moved to a new date and time in 2022. It takes place on the Bank Holiday Monday on May 2nd with an earlier start of 11 am. The committee is already working on ways to mark the 25th anniversary with lots of nostalgia set to feature in the build-up to the special milestone.

Pics – Declan Kerr

Storm Barra Update – Road Closures

Following the impact of Storm Barra, Donegal County Council wish to advise of the following temporary road closures due to fallen trees etc

Donegal Municipal District

R267 just past the Abbey Vocational School.
L-1835-5 at Garvagh, near Lough Eske
L-1835 – at Friary, Lough Eske
L-1965-1 – Shore road Lougheske on route to Harvey’s Point
L-6615-1 – Clarcam

Stranorlar Municipal District

 

R236 at St Johnston – Diversions are in place.

Fallen trees will be removed as soon as possible when it is safe to do so.

Letterkennny/Milford Municipal District

 

The Harry Blaney Bridge will remain closed until the Orange Level warning is lifted, and closed to HGV vehicles in the event that a yellow warning is in place.

During the duration of the storm conditions, Donegal County Council are urging road users to minimise their journeys and be aware of road conditions if travelling, particularly in relation to flooding and debris on the road.  Should you need to travel, extreme care should be exercised mindful of the conditions.  Please be aware of the potential of fallen trees, branches, electricity wires, debris on the roads and walk-ways and flooding in certain areas.

Donegal County Council can be contacted during normal business hours on 074 91 53900 and in the event of an out-of-hours emergency the Council’s Road Service can be contacted on 074 91 72288.  For emergencies requiring the assistance of the Fire Service call 999 or 112.

You can keep up to date on conditions by signing up for free alerts to your phone by registering at www.mapalerter.com/donegal or by following Donegal County Council on Facebook or on Twitter @DonegalCouncil.