Category: Old Donegal

A public health expert says there should be a renewed message for people to wear masks in shops and on public transport.

The number of people in hospital with Covid has increased by nearly 60 per cent in the last two weeks.

More than 950 patients are being treated compared to just over 600 at the end of February.

Infectious diseases professor Jack Lambert says although masks are optional, they still play an important role:

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There are calls on both the Government and Donegal County Council to explore the use of holiday mobile homes to house both Mica families and Ukrainian refugees.

Many people affected by Mica will inevitably need to be relocated while their homes are being rebuilt or repaired.

Meanwhile a significant number of Ukrainian refugees will also be seeking shelter in Donegal in the coming weeks.

Local Cllr Johnny McGuinness says a strategic plan needs to be put in place and believes that this avenue should be considered:

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Donegal consumers spent the most money in pubs in February.

The county recorded the biggest increase in pub spending last month.

Nationally, over 1.6 million euro a day was spent in pubs during February.
A new AIB survey shows it’s an increase of 49% compared to the previous month – as hospitality restrictions eased.

However in Donegal, pub spending was up 60% on January.

The post Donegal records biggest increase in pub spending appeared first on Highland Radio – Latest Donegal News and Sport.

Donegal County Council is proposing a grant scheme be rolled out to increase the number of overnight parking facilities for caravan, camping, campervans and motorhomes in the county.

It follows a study of the sector which recommended a focus on the need to provide for additional overnight facilities.

The Council aims to as a result of the rollout of the scheme, avoid incidences of illegal parking and causing a nuisance to local communities and private land owners as well as ensuring visitor safety by providing safe overnight locations while also protecting the natural environment.

The scheme hopes to incentivise local businesses and community based groups in areas that are underserved while at the same time not impacting the displacement of existing businesses offering similar services.

Grants of between €5,000 and €20,000 are expected to be made available which will cover costs for signage, site markings, site improvements, ground works for new spaces, black and grey water disposal, and lighting.

Grants will only be made available for sites that can provide at least four additional spaces for overnight Caravans, Camping, Campervans or Motorhomes.

The scheme is expected to open for applications next month.

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The price of a litre of fuel at Irish petrol stations could hit 2 euro 60 by the end of next month according to the head of an Irish oil firm.

Petrol and diesel topped 2 euro recently prompting a cut in excise duty.

Paddy Comyn from the AA says prices have come down significantly in recent days across the country.

He says they could rise again but such a dramatic increase would depend on a number of factors;

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The Irish Red Cross is to start contacting some of those who’ve offered to take in Ukrainian refugees this week.

More than 20 thousand pledges of accomodation have been made to date.

Over 5,500 people have already arrived here after fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Lorcan Sirr, housing lecturer at TU Dublin, thinks holiday homes should be used to house refugees:

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Flat rent controls over long periods can reduce housing supply and increase prices.

That’s the warning from a senior member of the new Housing Commission.

Professor Michelle Norris says rent subsidies or grants for first-time buyers can also have “unintended consequences”.

Some opposition parties have called for measures such as rent freezes.

Professor Norris has told the Irish Independent flat rent controls over long periods of time “tend to drive down” private supply.

The post Long-term rent controls ‘may drive down supply of housing’ appeared first on Highland Radio – Latest Donegal News and Sport.

Health and Safety Authority inspectors will be conducting surprise quarry safety inspections over the next two weeks.

Inspectors will also check that safe work practices and proactive measures are in place to reduce the risk of serious or fatal injury.

Assistant Chief Executive Mark Cullen says it can be dangerous working in a quarry:

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There are further calls for the Donegal to Glasgow flight route to be reinstated.

Cllr Michael Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig is bringing a motion to this week’s meeting of the Glenties Municipal District Council, and he says it’s vital that the air link is renewed.

The status of the flight has been in doubt ever since Stobart Air stopped operating in June of last year – and while Scottish airline Logan Air had picked the route up briefly, there have been no commercial flights from Donegal Airport to Glasgow since October of last year.

Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig says this important flight must be reinstated:

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A series of workshops and an exhibition are coming to Derry next month, as part of the Loving Earth Project.

The events, supported by the Collaboration for Change project, aim to educate and inspire discussion around the environment and the climate crisis in creative ways.

The exhibition and workshops aim to make people question how the things they love, and their futures, could be impacted by a climate catastrophe – and in the workshops, people will have the opportunity to add their own tiles of artwork to the hundreds on display in the exhibition.

The Loving Earth exhibition was also voted one of the best cultural events at last year’s COP26 climate conference in Glasgow.

The exhibition gets underway on Tuesday the 5th of April, and will last until Saturday the 9th at The Playhouse in Derry.

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