Category: Old Donegal

6,338 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed this afternoon.

3,473 are PCR-confirmed cases while 2,865 people registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal yesterday.

Case numbers for the weekend have also been released this afternoon, which stand at 7,923 for Saturday and 5,925 for Sunday.

As of 8am this morning, 634 Covid patients were in hospital, 53 in ICU.

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Booster vaccines have been approved for children aged between 12 and 15.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has accepted a recommendation from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee.

This age-group will be offered a Covid booster six months after their second jab.

The same gap will apply between a Covid infection and a third dose.

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Johnny McGuinness has been formally co-opted onto Donegal County Council.

The co-option was proposed by Martin Harley, seconded by Jimmy Kavanagh.

Newly elected Cllr McGuinness told the council he is honoured and humbled to replace his late father Bernard.

He also praised the council for its support after Bernard’s death:

https://highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Johnnymcg1pm.mp3

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The Health Watchdog has published inspection reports on five facilities in Donegal.

A number of non-compliances have been identified in some of the centres.

At the Ballyshannon Community Nursing Unit, there were non-compliances recorded in the areas of registration, governance and management, premises and fire precautions.

At Donegal Community Hospital, non-compliances were identified in staffing, as well as governance and management.

At Falcarragh Community Hospital, non-compliances were recorded in in the areas of governance and management, personal possessions, premises, fire precautions and residents’ rights.

At Hillcrest Nursing Home in Letterkenny, non-compliances were identified in the areas of registration, staffing, training and staff development, records, governance and management, persons in charge, infection control, fire precautions, assessment and care plans, health care and residents’ rights.

No non-compliances were recorded at Larissa Lodge Nursing Home in Letterkenny.

In instances where issues have been identified, compliance plans have been produced by HIQA, with inspectors and management at the centres identifying timelines in which the issues can be resolved.

All the reports can be read in full at www.hiqa.ie

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The Director of Emergency Services at Donegal County Council says that Storm Franklin has had a huge impact on Donegal.

It’s the third storm to hit the country inside a week.

The Council is continuing a clean-up operation right across the county this morning following a substantial amount of fallen trees and debris.

Garry Martin says each weather event has been slightly different and it has been a challenging time for teams on the ground:

https://highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/garry1pm-2.mp3

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Donegal County Council has been told that investigations are ongoing into claims of corruption made by two councillors in November.

The issue was raised at the reconvened January meeting, which is underway at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny.

Cllr Frank McBrearty, whose interventions caused earlier meetings to be abandoned, is not present at the meeting this afternoon.

At the council’s November meeting, Cllrs Frank McBrearty and Michael Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig both raised questions about the actions of some members and staff, in a discussion during which the word corruption was used.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Jack Murray and CEO John McLaughlin both asked the two councillors to present evidence by the end of January. When asked by Cllr Gary Doherty if evidence had been submitted, Cllr Murray said all he had received was a number of Freedom of Information requests from one of the councillors, accompanied by handwritten notes.

He said he had passed those on to gardai.

The Chief Executive said at the time, he had asked an independent external body to come in and review the files, particularly in relation to the purchase of five houses in Buncrana, about which a number of questions have been raised.

Mr McLaughlin said he has seen no evidence of corruption, and both he and Cllr Murray said they would make no further comment, and allow investigations take their course.

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A Mica homeowner has described the last few days as an absolute nightmare.

Three storms inside a week is said to have left Sharon and her family frightened to live in their Mica affected home.

The family is still unsure as to how and if the recent weather events have damaged their house further.

An emotional Sharon spoke on today’s Nine Till Noon Show and says she and other affected people should not have to live this way:

https://highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/micastorm1pm.mp3

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Thousands of homes and businesses are still without power in Donegal this afternoon, as ESB crews continue to tackle the large number of faults due to Storm Franklin.

There were roughly four thousand customers without power south of the county while around five thousand homes and businesses are still without power in north Donegal.

Brian Tapely is from the ESB he says while crews are doing their best, there will be small number of customers still without power overnight.

https://highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ESBDonega1pm-2.mp3

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ESB crews are continuing to carry out repair works as a significant number of Donegal homes and businesses remain without power due to Storm Franklin.

Milford, Rossgeir and Convoy are among the worst affected areas.

Brian Tapely is from the ESB:

https://highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/weather9am.mp3

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The Minister for the OPW has agreed to meet with Donegal County Councillors to discuss a number of planned flood relief projects for Donegal.

It’s after the OPW was heavily criticised in recent weeks by a number of Councillors over refusing to attend meetings.

Local representatives had been concerned that important projects are effectively at a standstill until there is proper engagement with the OPW.

Minister Patrick O’Donovan was in Donegal last week on other matters but promised he would meet with Cllrs in due course.

Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny MD Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh says it’s vital that that happens:

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