A recently elected Sligo Cllr has reiterated their big priority is the N17 road going forward.Cllr Barry Gallagher was appointed to the Ballymote/Tubbercurry council for the first time, and has stated that his fellow Cllrs are united over major improvements for the area.The issue of the N17 has been a long-standing issue in the area, with improvements being repeatedly put on ice.Cllr Gallagher says he wants to make South Sligo a better place to live for everyone:
A Donegal national school was used as an example in the Dáil for the need of further supports in primary education. Independent TD Thomas Pringle highlighted the situation with the Glebe national school in Donegal town, who are still waiting on a modular classroom, having applied for one in March 2023. There are currently 5 teachers to 4 classrooms, and 120 students enrolled for the next school year. Deputy Pringle says children are being taught in completely unsuitable conditions:
The reopening of the hydrotherapy pool in Cregg House has been raised on the floor of the Dáil.Earlier this week it emerged that a business case had made been by the HSE for the operation of the service.It's believed that the service aims to be in place two days a week which will require annual funding of just over €230,000.However, Sligo-Leitrim TD Martin Kenny says the while the facility remains closed, it has left to who wish to avail of it, in a precarious position.Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys acknowledged the Sinn Féin deputy's concerns.In her response, she says she will ask the Minister for State at the department of Health, Mary Butler to get back to him directly.
There are renewed calls on the ESB to revisit a decision to keep their transformers above ground on the Diamond in Donegal Town. The new look Diamond partially reopened this morning following an extensive regeneration project. It has new seating, paving, lighting and planting and a new community canopy and entertainment space for use by the community, businesses, individuals and other groups. Mayor of Donegal Town Pauric Kennedy says while it's a hugely positive developments for the town, the transformers are a bit of an eyesore:
RNLI volunteers in Donegal have been praised for their actions in a mammoth 12 hour rescue operation. Two competitors in a major sailing race were rescued in a dramatic overnight operation by Lough Swilly lifeboat crew in the early hours of yesterday morning. The yacht, had lost power and its sails had become tangled in the mast. Lough Swilly Press Officer Joe Joyce says that the weather conditions at the time were challenging:
There's a warning that more local music festivals will shut down without Government intervention. It's emerged that nine music festivals across the country have either been cancelled or not going ahead for this year. The call comes as thousands are set to descend on Taylor Swifts three sold out gigs at Dublin's Aviva Stadium this weekend. Speaking in the Dail, Donegal Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty says more needs to be done in supporting local festivals and that a working group must be set up:
Paddy McGill is joined by Glenswilly manager Gary McDaid and the Irish Sun's GAA correspondent (& Killybegs native) Jason Byrne to preview this weekend's four All-Ireland football quarter-finals.
The closure of the Chronic Pain Unit in Sligo University Hospital has been raised on the floor of the Dáil this afternoon.The unit is set to close tomorrow, following the departure of the two consultants working in the unit to other hospitals.It's understood that there are currently some 1,500 people on the waiting list.The issue was raised by Independent Sligo Leitrim TD, Marian Harkin, who asked for guarantees that the closure was only temporary.In response, Tánaiste Micheal Martin said SUH had to avail of the locum system to bridge the gap in the interim.
Questions of the delay to the availability of long-term beds in Ballyshannon Hospital have been raised.The hospital originally opened on a phased basis, with the intention of having 13 long-stay beds available for use by July.Donegal Sinn Fein Cllr Michael McMahon says answers need to be provided by the HSE immediately.Cllr McMahon highlighted how a patient’s family have to travel from Pettigo to Drumshanbo to visit them:
Creating two seperate Garda divisions in Donegal would be a huge mistake.That's the view of a former Garda Sergeant, who was reacting to the news that Donegal is to be divided in two come the autumn.Milford, Inishowen and Letterkenny's services will all operate from Letterkenny, with the rest operating from Ballyshannon, should the plans go ahead.Speaking to Ocean FM News, former Garda Christy Galligan says serious questions need to be answered.
The National Outdoor Recreation got underway in Sligo today, with the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD announcing the expansion of the Mountain Access Project.The scheme aims to encourage landowners, particularly in mountain areas, to open up their land to recreational use.Minister Humphreys was then moving on to Leitrim, for the official opening of Tullaghan Access to the Sea project.Speaking to OceanFM News, Minister Humphreys says the conference is about getting the key players together:
It's expected that plans for the Tubbercurry Primary Care Centre will move to the next stage this year.Currently, the development is at the detailed design phase with the project set to go to tender in Quarter 3 of this year.A number of services are set to be available at the centre including public health nursing, occupational therapy and speech and language.Local Councillor Dara Mulvey says it's vital there are facilities in place to meet the ever-growing demand.
The Minister for Agriculture has met with representatives from the Irish Fishing Industry to discuss 2025 fishing opportunity negotiations.Donegal TD Charlie McConalogue met with the representatives earlier this week, ahead of fishing policies being renegotiated this autumn.It's understood that the meeting was productive, with a view to streamlining Ireland's stance on a number of issues.Minister McConalogue says that it's important for Ireland to have a united view on these matters.
It remains to be seen when several farmers in the north west will receive their full ACRES payment.A public meeting in Drumshanbo earlier this week heard the frustration of farmers over the shortcomings.Many farmers have been left out of pocket with some even being told they must pay back €1,200 of the €5,000 they received in February.Former IFA Sheep Committee Chairperson and Leitrim farmer Kevin Comiskey, says a number of factors have led to these delays.
Surprise has been expressed locally over the increased crime rate in the North West from the first four months of this year.Recent figures from the CSO showed theft increased by 18%, robbery and extortion by 16%, and fraud by 15%, when compared to the same period of 2023.Ballymote-Tubbercurry Independent Cllr Michael Clarke wasn't expecting the noticeable rise following recent increased Garda presence in rural areas.Cllr Clarke says the crime rate is fuelled by the drug problem in Ireland.
Hospitality businesses the length and breadth of the North West will be negatively impacted if the Aer Lingus dispute isn't resolved.Hoteliers are already experiencing a low level of cancellations after the first day of industrial actions by pilots in their dispute over pay.IALPA's agreed to attend talks with Aer Lingus later today following a request from the company.Local Hotelier and Donegal County Councillor Michael Naughton says the action has been described as hugely disruptive for Irish tourism in the height of the summer season.
The late RTÉ journalist and Sligo native Tommie Gorman is said to have had a crucial role in paving the way towards the Peace Process. Mr Gorman died yesterday at the age of 68. He was the Northern Editor for RTÉ News from 2001 until his retirement in 2021. Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has been speaking to Ocean FM news this afternoon. He says Tommie Gorman 'built little bridges' between Sinn Fein and the DUP which was ultimately pivotal in those initial talks taking place:
The Government has been accused of being soft with large energy companies at the expense of ordinary working people. It comes as Sinn Fein has this week launched a 5-point plan to address Ireland's run-away electricity costs. The party claims that the plan will result in a stronger, more effective windfall tax which tackles profits when they were at their peak. Speaking in the Dail, Donegal Sinn Fein TD Padraig MacLochlainn claimed that the Government was intentionally backing companies:
More than 200 people gathered in a protest in Manorhamilton is solidarity with Natasha O'Brien.It is one of a number ogranised across the country after solider Cathal Crotty, was last week, given a suspended prison sentence following a vicious attack on Ms O'Brien.Ms O'Brien has criticised the sentence saying there was “no true regard given to the seriousness” of Mr Crotty's actions on the night of the attack.Speaking at Tuesday evening's protest at the Market Square, Aisling Kerrigan of DVAS praised Natasha O'Brien's actions in speaking out and encouraged the public to come together on the issue of abuse:
There are calls for improvements to be made to apprenticeship programmes in Donegal. In some cases, apprentices in Donegal have to travel to Cork to complete part of their course. Speaking in the Dail, Independent TD Thomas Pringle says that people should be able to access all aspects of their training locally. Deputy Pringle feels that it would have far-reaching benefits: