Ocean FM News Reports

A Leitrim Councillor has warned that rising construction prices will prevent many people from building and renovating properties.Councillor Padraig Fallon made the comments while reacting to the latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report which stated that Leitrim has the highest residential vacancy rate in the Country.The Sinn Fein Councillor says ever increasing construction costs are deter...

Farmers in the North West have reacted angrily to the fact that those not registered for VAT have had a reduction in their "flat-rate addition" compensation when selling animals at marts.A number of local Marts have also criticized the move.The rate has been reduced from 5.1% in 2025 to 4.5% this year.It means non-VAT registered farmers in Ireland will receive less VAT compensation on their sales,...

Construction on a new playground and outdoor gym in Sligo Town has begun this week.The work will see Mitchell Curley Park gain a calisthenics gym as well as the renovation and expansion of the exisitng playground in the park.The funding for the works was announced in October under the Housing Finance Agency's Social Investment Fund.Sligo Borough Councillor Fergal Nealon says it's good news for the...

Despite an announcement expected in the coming days of new ambulance crew and staff for the local region, a Donegal councillor has again raised the urgent need for additional ambulances and crews to be provided for south Donegal. Sinn Féin's Noel Jordan is warning that the likely allocation which will be announced this week is far from what is required to properly service the area. 

A Palestine Solidarity public meeting will take place in Sligo this evening.  Poet Sarah Clancy, who participated in the recent Gaza Flotilla and Eoghan McNeill, co-founder and editor of The Ditch are amongst the guest speakers for this evening's event. The meeting, organised by the Sligo Palestine Solidarity Committee, will be held in the Glasshouse Hotel at 8pm. Former Sinn M...

A member of the Regional Health Forum West has urged people to go to hospital if they are extremely unwell despite the overcrowding in North West hospitals.Today's figures have confirmed that there are 57 people waiting on a bed in Letterkenny and 55 in Sligo.The numbers in the local emergency departments are 16 in Letterkenny and 33 in Sligo.The local figures account for over 16% of Wednesday's n...

The Local Authority in Sligo has recently commenced an Active Travel Scheme within the speed limits of Grange Village along the N15. This project is currently in the early stages of development and is intended to identify locations where existing walking and cycling facilities need to be improved.Feedback received during the consultation will be used to identify key constraints and opportunities a...

A Sligo/Leitrim Junior Minister has labelled the latest SEAI Grants as a positive step to tackle rising costs.The move was announced yesterday evening with a total package of just under 560 million euro.The grants will allow for people to retrofit their homes to make them more energy efficient and in turn more sustainable.Speaking to Ocean FM News, Minister Marian Harkin says it's now possible to...

A public consultation is due to get underway this evening around the future layout of Ballyshannon.The consultation is scheduled to run from 4pm until 8pm in the library in the town.It's set to discuss key problems like housing, road layouts and utility needs.Local Councillor Michael McMahon says it's imperative that people have their say:

A Sligo Councillor has called on the government to implement the promised changes to the Criminal Law and Civil Law Bill as soon as possible.These changes will see homosexuality convictions handed out before 1993 abolished.Last week Justice Minister said he will amend legislation.The Labour Party have been to the fore in calling for these changes, Sligo based Councillor Ann Higgins says the histor...

Housing adaptation grants remain an issue in the North West despite funding being allocation towards the scheme.That's according to Ballymote/Tubbercurry Councillor Liam Brennan, who put forward a motion on the topic in the January meeting of Sligo County Council.His Fianna Fail colleague Eamon Scanlon raised the issue in the Dail last week with the Deputy describing the situation as critical.Spea...

A Donegal TD has accused the Government of cooking the books when it comes to hospital waiting times.It comes as the Health Minister will bring a new action plan to Cabinet aimed at reducing waiting times.Jennifer Carroll MacNeill will set out 36 actions to reduce the amount of time patients are spending on waiting lists.Her Department says weighted average wait time for patients almost halved in...

Uncertainty remains for a number of elderly Enniscrone residents who are facing eviction.Six households are being told they must move out by June 5th.The residents, some of who are in their 80s and with major health issues, are living in a wider estate for independent living with a nursing home located in the centre of it.The homes - part of an estate named Sonas Retirement Village - were previous...

A former North West local election candidate says the incident over the weekend in where a female Councillor in Meath was allegedly spat at a and racially abused will discourage women and those who have moved here from entering politicsGardai were notified after an elected councillor reported she was spat at and racially abused in Co Meath last Friday.Caitriona Bergin contested the last local elec...

A Sligo Leitrim TD has urged all farmers to double their efforts when it comes to preventing the spread of Bluetongue,Officials from the Department of Agriculture are meeting today to discuss the first outbreak of bluetongue in the Republic of Ireland.The virus was confirmed in a cattle herd in Co Wexford at the weekend.The Department of Agriculture says it increased its testing and surveillance f...

Met Eireann has come in for criticism over the latest weather alerts for the North West.A yellow wind warning is currently in place for Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal until 11pm tonight however it's thought that an orange level alert should have been issued instead.Several routes are impacted by fallen trees across the region this morning while there were thousands of power outages - areas of Colloone...

A Leitrim Councillor is calling for every support to be given to demands by the ESB for a 55 Metre cutback area from power lines to be established in forestry plantations.At present the requirement is for a 20 metre corridor which was introduced following severe and damaging storms last year.ESB officials informed Councillors in Leitrim at a meeting yesterday that 30-40% of damages to their infras...

A former election candidate for the Green Party says the current election for the position of party Deputy Leader is a missed opportunity to connect with rural areas.The positions is to be voted on by members with nominations for the role closing today.The role is expected to be contested between Louth councillor Marianne Butler and Dublin City councillor Hazel Chu.Leslie O Hora, the party's South...

The Irish Farmers' Association will protest outside Bord Bia headquarters today. They claim the position of Chairman Larry Murrin, is untenable. Dawn Farm Foods of which Murrin is CEO, has confirmed that Brazilian beef accounted for 1% of its beef supply in 2025. Various farm organisations and Sinn Féin have called for Larry Murrin to resign.However, the Minister for Agriculture, Fo...

Pharmacies across the North West are being urged to sign up for the Common Conditions Service.The scheme allows for pharmacists to treat numerous conditions without the need for the patient to enter hospitals or GP care.Pharmacists can now issue prescriptions for the treatment of these conditions under the scheme.President of the Irish Pharmacy Union and Donegal native Tom Murray says it will reli...

There are calls on Donegal County Council to immediately delete all of its official accounts on X.The local authority is also being urged to cease any future official use of the platform, and issue a public statement to outline same.Formally known as Twitter, the platform developed the AI chatbot Grok, which has caused major concern for local authorities and regulators due to its potential to mani...

There are further calls for a comprehensive, long-term solution for coastal erosion in Strandhill.It comes following confirmation in recent days that some emergency works are to take place in the area later this year.However, there is concern locally that the works do not go far enough.The community is said to be still without a clear timeline for when meaningful, long-term protection will actuall...

Sligo Leitrim TD calls on Agriculture Minister to remove Bord Bia Chair

The Donegal GAA podcast returns for a new season - and it's a winning start for Donegal with a 1-20 0-20 victory against Dublin in their opening Division 1 league game.It's their first win over Dublin at Croke Park in the league since 1994.Contributions from Martin McHugh, Jim McGuinness, Caolan McGonagle (on his 100th Donegal appearance), along with journalists Alan Foley and Frank Craig.

HSA launches farm inspection campaign in North West