Category: Old Donegal

 

Atlantic Technological University will be the name of the TU in the west and north-west.

The name was chosen following a number of consultations and surveys.

In a statement, Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris says the word “Atlantic” conveys power, strength, inspiration, creation, vast horizons – a distinctive geography, rich history and shared heritage.

Over 3,000 students, staff and external stakeholders were surveyed as part of the naming process, including public bodies, government agencies, professional bodies, community, alumni and schools’ guidance counsellors.

Following extensive consultation, a shortlist of names was produced and discussed with the Department and Minister Harris resulting in the chosen name – Atlantic Technological University.

The three institutes – GMIT, LYIT and IT Sligo – stretching from North Donegal to South Galway, will see their eight locations become ATU campuses from 1 April, 2022.

This means that students of the current three Institutes who graduate in this academic year and henceforth in the west and north west will do so with university qualifications.

 

Donegal’s Jodie Loughrey was among the goals as the Republic of Ireland Women’s U-16 team defeated Wales 4-1 in Newport yesterday.

The former Buncrana Hearts player, who now plays with the Donegal Ladies U-17 team, was captain of the Ireland team

Meanwhile Sean Patton of Finn Harps came on as a second half substitute as Republic of Ireland U-16s beat Norway 3-0

The match was the first of three friendly games taking place this week in Spain.

 

There are renewed calls for special attention to be paid to Letterkenny University Hospital to tackle overcrowding and cancellations.

It comes as North West Sinn Fein TDs met with the executive management team of the Saolta Hospital Group yesterday, where issues affecting the system were laid bare.

Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn is warning that the hospital is under severe pressure and strain from Covid and non-Covid care.

He says Letterkenny is constantly top of the table for the wrong reasons and its high time the Government intervene:

https://www.highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/padluh.mp3

 

Shoppers are set to spend less this Christmas as consumer confidence has taken a hit in November.

According to the KBC Bank Ireland consumer sentiment index only one in eight consumers plans to spend more this Christmas than last, while one in three expects to spend less.

Austin Hughes Chief economist with the bank says increased living costs and numbers of Covid cases are to blame:

https://www.highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/consumer8am.mp3

 

There are calls on the HSE to reinstate the pop-up Covid 19 testing facility in Inishowen as a matter of urgency.

It comes as latest figures show that the Covid incidence rate in North Inishowen is the second highest nationwide and the highest in Donegal.

The walk in testing centre on the peninsula ceased operations at the end of September with people having to go to Letterkenny to be tested.

Local Cllr Martin McDermott says in a lot of cases this simply isnt feasible and the facility must be reopened:

https://www.highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/mmcd.mp3

 

 

Gardai are holding a drop in evening in Lifford 

Garda Catherine Callaghan from Community Policing, Lifford will host the event at the Family Resource Centre Raphoe on Tuesday the 23rd of November between 6pm and 7pm.

Gardai are inviting people to drop by if you need some advice, information or need a form signed.

Sinn Fein’s health spokesperson is calling for an urgent plan to be put in place to address overcrowding and a surge of cancellations at hospitals within the Saolta Hospital Group.

It comes following a meeting between Deputy David Cullinane and the hospital group’s executive management team.

Numerous issues were discussed, among those, the pressure facing hospitals due to a lack of beds and staff. There’s said to be deficit of approximately 200 beds across hospitals within the group.

Deputy Cullinane says it’s evident all areas of the health system are facing crises:

https://www.highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/cullinan1pm.mp3

 

The Agriculture Minister has given reassurances that everything is being done to combat bird flu.

Confirmed H5N1 has been detected in a turkey flock in Monaghan with additional surveillance steps put in place.

It comes as a number of wild birds in Donegal were confirmed with the condition earlier this month.

Minister Charlie McConalogue is urging both farmers and the general public to be on the alert:

https://www.highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/charliebirdflu1pm.mp3

 

The Justice Minister will tell a Garda conference mandatory psychological support services should be widened in the force.

In a speech to the Garda Representative Association Helen McEntee will commit to working with the Garda Commissioner to provide extra mental health support services and training.

The Minister will say Gardaí deal with highly traumatic incidents in the course of their work and it’s vital they get the support they need.

Helen McEntee also plans to stress the importance of destigmatizing mental health issues.

 

Irish people want to see more restrictions put in place to stem the tide of Covid 19.

A new opinion poll by the Department of Health shows, for the first time since last January, the public are calling on government to take tough action.

With a daily average of 4,500 Covid cases a day in the last week, the survey clearly show the public are now as concerned as they were at the height of the January peak.

For the first time since then 49% of those surveyed believe Government reaction to the current Covid situation is insufficient, with 56% saying there should be more restrictions.

The research also shows that 57% of people are reducing the number of people they plan meeting between now and Christmas, while 45% have cancelled plans. Compliance with the Digital Covid Cert has increased by almost 10% to 85%.

This Public opinion tracking research has been conducted by Amarach research on behalf of the Department of Health since the start of the Pandemic.

It monitors whether the public are abiding by Health guidelines, the effect if people’s emotional wellbeing and their perception of risk.