Category: Old Donegal

 

 

Donegal County Council has taken the decision not to increase commercial rates next year.

This is despite the local authority’s own depleted financial situation, according to the budget book for 2022.

The Council meet this Thursday to discuss the budget for the year ahead where they will hear the decision is based on the need to allow many businesses transition from a Covid era to normal trading.

However Councillors have also been warned that prices have risen straight across the board and that the next year will be challenging.

 

Hundreds of people gathered at Donegal border crossings on Saturday calling for the post-Brexit arrangements introduced for the North be protected.

The latest protests, organised by Border Communities Against Brexit come amid growing fears that Britain could trigger Article 16 of the protocol arrangement – a move which could see a return of a hard border in Ireland.

The protests took place at Lifford Bridge, Bridgend and other border crossings, highlighting people’s opposition to the threat.

Donegal Spokesperson Tom Murray says further protests could be on the cards:

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The Irish Passport Office is set double its staff to deal with the current backlog.

Its expecting to process 1.3 to 1.7 million new passport applications next year, as travel resumes and British people with ties to Ireland continue to apply.

Dublin TD Alan Farrell says a recruitment process is underway to help ease pressure on the service:

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The Stormont Executive is meeting later to decide whether or not to bring in tougher covid restrictions in Northern Ireland.

Health officials are recommending new measures come into force before Christmas.

They include tougher enforcement on mask wearing, and a new “scores on the doors” system that would rate businesses on their compliance with Covid health advice.

People in the North could also be told to work from home again – these people in Derry expressed mixed views on the proposal.

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Ireland could be heading for a Christmas tree shortage, due to recent mild weather and the Suez Canal blockage.

Fewer artificial trees are available this year due to supply chain issues, with prices jumping 50 percent on last year’s prices in some Irish outlets.

Meanwhile real trees bought too early are unlikely to last until the big day as the recent mild weather is causing them to shed their needles after around 10 days indoors.

 

Eir is setting up a dedicated phone line for people aged 65 and older.

It’s teaming up with Age Action and Age Friendly Ireland to provide the support service.

It’s backed by a team of care agents who’re specially trained to work with customers in the age group.

The line can be reached on 1800 252 252 and will be open from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.

 

605 school staff reported contracting Covid-19 in the first two weeks of November.

That’s according to a survey by the Irish National Teachers Organisation, which’s warning the primary school system’s ‘creaking at the seams’.

It’s calling for an immediate review of public health supports in schools.

INTO General Secretary John Boyle says school communities feel abandoned:

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A cabinet sub-committee will meet today to discuss whether to delay cuts to covid supports for hospitality businesses.

The industry is complaining of lost revenue due to restrictions, saying limiting open times to midnight will damage trading before Christmas.

The Vintners Federation’s calling for the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme to be maintained in its current form.

Chief Executive, Padraig Cribben, says the pub sector depends on the festive season:

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An expert says we’re in a ‘high risk period’ at the moment for bird flu.

It’s after the Department of Agriculture confirmed H5N1 has been detected in a turkey flock in County Monaghan.

Restriction zones are being set up around the area and additional movement control and surveillance steps will be put in place.

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

Head of the National Disease Control Centre, June Fanning says the strain of bird flu found is highly pathogenic:

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November 19, 2021; Manchester, New Hampshire; Demetrius Andrade and Jason Quigley during their bout at SNHU Arena in Manchester, NH. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.

Jason Quigley said he suffered a broken jaw during his WBO World Middleweight title fight on Friday night in New Hampshire.

The champion Demetrius Andrade had Quigley on the deck on three occasions as the referee stopped the fight 2 minutes and 24 seconds into the second round.

On a social media post on Sunday evening, Jason confirmed he suffered the jaw injury in the first round.

He added when he returns home he will look at what’s next for him.

“Firstly I would like to thank everybody for the amazing support I had for this fight it was unbelievable and something I will be forever grateful for

I want to apologize to everyone that I didn’t give you more excitement and wasn’t able to put up more of a fight believe me I wanted to, I’m hurting most because I didn’t get the chance to show my full worth and give it more

I suffered a broken jaw in the first round and now it’s time to head home get it sorted and healed. Then we look at what’s next

Congrats Demetrius Andrade on the victory and I hope you get those big fights you deserve

Thank you to my family my team and everybody that helped me along my journey to here, I had one of the best experiences of my life right up until the fight but that’s boxing it’s a brutal sport and maybe that’s why we love it. “