Leitrim County Council is to contact the Minister for Education calling on the State Examinations Commission to introduce stand-alone additional time for students with Dyslexia and other learning difficulties while sitting examinations. Manorhamilton Independent Councillor James Gilmartin recently raised the issue at a meeting of the Local Authorit…

There are calls in Sligo to prohibit the use of counselling and therapy notes in gender-based violence cases. This is with the intention of protecting survivors' rights to confidentiality and ensuring their private records won't be used against them. It is thought that the reveal of such information could deter people from seeking critical mental h…

The Sinn Fein Chief Whip says the recent actions of the US President provides clear evidence why his party has taken the decision not to attend the White House for the St Patrick’s Day Celebrations. US President Donald Trump has hailed the impact of the Irish in America days ahead of the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin's visit to the White House. Donald …

Questions have been raised in the Dáil why a leather pistol holster worn by the Detective Garda, Colm Horkan on the night he was murdered was never examined as part of the inquest into his death. On the 17 June 2020, Detective Horkan was murdered with his own official Garda firearm following an engagement with Stephen Silver who has since been conv…

A man and woman have been handed life sentences for the murder of a man in Co Donegal, who was thrown off the top of Sliabh Liag after being beaten with a rock. Alan Vial, of Drumanoo, Killybegs; and Nikita Burns of Carrick, Co Donegal, denied murdering Robert Wilkin in June 2023, with both blaming the other for killing him. However, after over eig…

A protest over the delay in passing the Occupied Territories Bill is taking place in Sligo this weekend. It's being organised by the Sligo Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, starting at 12 noon tomorrow, gathering on Connaughton Road before making its way through the town. The controversial legislation aims to ban trade in goods produced by Israel in…

A lack of charging points has been pointed out as one of the reasons as to a low uptake of electric vehicles in Leitrim. According to the latest figures of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, there have only been 16 new EVs registered in Leitrim across January and February of this year, which is the lowest in Ireland. Leitrim is one of only tw…

Farmers in the North West who suffered storm damage can finally get some compensation. A special grant has become available for the next three weeks and will deal specifically with storm-related damage on farms. Only certain items will be covered under the scheme and applications will be accepted from now until March 28th. Fianna Fail Cllr Edel McS…

The Government has been accused of washing its hands of people in North Leitrim left without basic services since Storm Eowyn. Many elderly and vulnerable residents have been without a landline and broadband for six weeks now. It means house alarms are not working with those affected now said to be living in a heightened state of fear. Sligo Leitri…

Acknowledging someones difficulty in paying household bills is like a wee pat on the head. Thats according to Donegal TD Pearse Doherty, who has been reacting to comments from Finance Minister Pascal Donohoe, who is ruling out any more once off credits to help people pay their energy bills. Gas prices remain 90 per cent higher and electricity charg…

Sligo Rovers manager John Russell reflects on Monday night's memorable win over Shamrock Rovers - and Friday night's trip to Turners Cross. It’s All-Ireland final week for St Claire’s Comprehensive School in Manorhamilton. It’s the opening night of the European Indoor Athletics - Former Olympian Breege Connolly takes us through the Ireland team. An…

It's emerged that a significant number of people in North Leitrim are still without a landline, six weeks on from Storm Eowyn. Some of those impacted are understood to be elderly and vulnerable with phone alarms also out of action as a result. The issue was raised by Sligo Leitrim Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny who says that the present situation is tot…

A Leitrim Councillor is taking Uisce Eireann to task over their policy which is resulting in only customers that contact the body directly over service issues receive compensation. Impacted Customers that request a local Councillor or TD to act on their behalf are omitted from receiving any compensation payments. As a result it’s feared that thousa…

Further concern has been raised over small private forestry owners in Sligo and Leitrim who are facing large financial losses following Storm Eowyn. Many forests were destroyed, and with owners only being able to sell the wood based on weight, their income could be affected as the wood is said to be losing value lying on the forest floor. It’s hope…

It's another dark day for a parish in west Donegal as the second victim from a weekend crash has been laid to rest. Teenager Shaun McClafferty, along with his friend Jamie Diver were both killed when a car they were travelling in collided with the gable wall of a house just outside Gortahork, shortly before 9.30pm on Friday night. The late Mr McCla…

The OPW Minister is under pressure to get flood relief measures for Killybegs over the line. The Bridge Street area of the town was devastated by flood water in November of last year, the latest in a string of similar incidents in the area. It has been confirmed that a pilot scheme, being delivered by Donegal County Council is underway. It'll chara…

A Donegal Independent Councillor is warning that any cuts to Fire services resources could threaten the safety of the general public. The Donegal Firefighters are calling on elected public representatives to intervene immediately and for management to engage in meaningful discussions with unions. They claim a decision taken by senior management has…

The Government is being urged to review a funding allocation for a proposed community centre in Sligo. Three community organisations, who are working in Cranmore, are hoping to be housed under the one roof. As part of a wider regeneration project, a community centre had been earmarked for the area however, with building costs rising, more money is …

The waiting lists for occupational therapy in Donegal have been branded a disgrace. It’s after new data shows that a total of 476 people are on the waiting list across the county. The figures also show that 316 patients in Donegal have been on the waiting list for more than one year. The issue is said to centre on staffing levels, with 11 vacancies…

It’s feared that thousands of people are missing out on compensation from Uisce Eireann by complaining to their public representatives rather than the company itself. Many households across the North West were left without water in the aftermath of recent storms and there was significant disruption due to burst pipes at the beginning of the year as…

A serious lack of bus shelters across Sligo has been highlighted by members of the county council. With the development of the S3 bus service in Sligo town and the increase of local links routes, it's thought that shelters not keeping up with demand. The majority of bus stops being introduced in the county are represented by a single pole with a ti…

Action has been requested to restore the roof at Sligo's Sean Mac Diarmada Train Station. The roof has faced deterioration over recent years, with many seeing it as posing potential safety and structural issues. Work is being sought for the building due to its popularity in footfall, as well as its cultural significance. Independent Sligo Cllr Mari…

Minister of State Marian Harkin praised the efforts of all those involved:

The late Jamie Diver has been remembered as a perfectionist who was always willing to help others. The young man died in a weekend crash alongside his friend, teenager Shaun McClafferty near Gortahork in west Donegal on Friday night last. His funeral Mass took place today - Shaun Mc Clafferty's funeral takes place tomorrow. Two others are remain in…

Speed is being urged on the development of the greenway that runs from Collooney to Enniskillen. If completed in within the next four years, it will have taken up to 16 years, which is deemed too slow for such progress. Independent Sligo Cllr Michael Clarke highlighted that the greenway could connect up to the blueway in Enniskillen, and would prov…

Almost €3m has been allocated for Greenways in Sligo and Leitrim. The funding will be used for the development of walking and cycling facilities. Locally, the Sligo Greenway will now further progress under this programme alongside a further funding boost for the SLNCR from Sligo to Enniskillen. The Barnesmore Gap Greenway in south Donegal is also s…

Traffic calming measures on sections of the N15 in North Sligo may be on the cards. There's said to be major speeding issues along the stretch, with people finding it near impossible to access the main road from the various adjoining junctions. It's said to be particularly prevalent at the entrances to Henrys Restaurant and the drive through coffee…

A Leitrim County Councillor claims if a similar level of damage that was done throughout Leitrim during storm Eowyn took place in Kerry, Junior Michael Healy-Rae would have been on the scene immediately. Cllr Gary Prior has once again extend an invitation to the under pressure Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry, to visit Leitrim and…

Questions are being asked over the ongoing absence of the Sligo Joint Policing Committee. A decision was made last year to abolish Joint Policing Committees and replace them with new community safety partnerships. It had been hoped that the new partnership in Sligo would be formed following the June 20204 local elections, but this has not happened …

It’s hoped that those affected by fishing incidents in the North West will be better cared for going forward. The Merchant Shipping Bill aims to pave the way for a unit within the Department of Transport to be known as the Marine Accident Investigation Unit. It would provide for the investigation and the reporting of marine accidents. Speaking in t…

Support has been given in Sligo to the fast-tracking and passing of a Bereaved Partners Bill that will be put through the Dáil. It is also sought that the Bill includes all cohabiting partners, with or without children, and provides backdated payments to eligible families. A ruling in favour of the Bill took place in the Supreme court previously an…

A Donegal TD has labelled the Taoiseach’s recent comments on the defective block scheme as completely disingenuous. 100% Redress Party Charles Ward TD was highlighting the lack of completed houses as a result of the scheme. 69 homes have been completed since 2022. Speaking in the Dail this afternoon, Deputy Ward says the government have failed impa…

The speaking rights row in the Dail is set to rumble on this week, with one Donegal TD calling on the Taoiseach to 'step up'. The Government proposal would see regional TDs and Government backbenchers getting to put questions to the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste in a new speaking slot. A vote on the Governments proposed changes will not go to ahead to…

Fine Gael Senator Manus Boyle is to be appointed Seanad Spokesperson for Fisheries and the Marine. Issues affecting the local fishing community and further afield is something that Senator Boyle has been raising continuously since his election to the Seanad and during his time on Donegal County Council. The Senator has already held a number of key …

The Tanaiste says we need a secure energy supply in order to keep the lights on and the heat going. Cabinet is today set to approve plans for a State-led liquefied natural gas terminal. Its not clear where the floating facility would be located, but it would serve as an emergency gas reserve in the event international supplies were compromised. The…

The March meeting of Leitrim County Council has heard that the level of housing stock in the County is at crisis point. The Local Authority have been requested to urgently contact the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to see if additional income levels for Social Housing can be provided. The calls were made by Drumkeerin Councill…

Calls have been made for Sligo County Council to set up a Vacant Home Matchmaker scheme. Through this, owners who are looking to sell their vacant home, would be set up with people looking to buy and develop a vacant dwelling. It's a scheme already in use with Mayo County Council. Fine Gael Cllr Dara Mulvey says it would be a win-win for everyone:…

The Education Minister has yet to give her verdict over the Donegal Education Centre debacle. Minister Helen McEntee had pledged to investigate the process behind the plans to move the centre from Donegal Town to Letterkenny. Meanwhile, plans to hold a public demonstration are also still in the works. Local Independent Cllr Jimmy Brogan says it was…

A Leitrim Councillor is urging the three government TD’S in the Sligo Leitrim constituency to voice their opposition to moves which would see the state provide 300 million euro in funding towards the construction of terminal that what will store fracked Gas. Cabinet is expected to approve the establishment of a strategic gas reserve this morning. M…

There are calls in Sligo for a direct line to be set up between ESB representatives and local Cllrs. In the aftermath of Storm Eowyn, there were mass power outages across the north west regions, with many left without electricity for weeks. One of the issues highlighted with the outages, was the lack of communication over when fixes may happen. Fia…

The family of Danielle McLaughlin are seeking an Irish inquest into her murder. Vikat Bhagat was found guilty of raping and murdering the 28-year-old Donegal woman and was sentenced to life in jail in Goa last month. The case took right years to conclude but Danielle's family feel that there are still so many unanswered questions. Her mother Andrea…

A new festival and events strategy has been laid out for Sligo. The initiative aims to encourage the growth of current events, and the founding of new ones. It will run over the course of 4 years until 2029 with boosting tourism a key aim. Fine Gael Cllr Thomas Walsh believes that it will be a huge positive for Sligo:…

The level of Council housing stock in Leitrim is said to be at crisis point. Leitrim County Council is set to write to the Department of Housing as well as the Taoiseach and Tanaiste, calling for an increase to the income levels for social housing. Sinn Fein Cllr Padraig Fallon believes that ideally, these limits need to double. Cllr Fallon says co…

There are calls for small businesses in Leitrim who were impacted by the recent storm to be afforded a rates rebate. Many in the County went weeks without power and water. Cllr Enda Stenson says he has had numerous enquiries from businesses people, requesting a rebate. He feels that it should be considered as these businesses suffered significant l…

It's been confirmed that the funeral of one of the two young victims of a weekend crash in west Donegal is to take place on Thursday. Teenager Shaun McClafferty and Jamie Diver, who was in his 20s, were both killed when a car they were travelling in collided with the gable wall of a house just outside Gortahork on Friday night. Two other passengers…

A Leitrim Councillor says careful consideration would need to be given before any changes could be made to the Irish Trespassing Laws. Recently calls have been made for Ireland to scrap trespassing laws so that Travellers and Roma people can access "culturally appropriate" accommodation. The government have already said that they are not going to r…