Ocean FM News Reports

The Donegal-based Minister for Agriculture has announced plans to ban the use of hand-held remote controlled shock collars on dogs and cats. Minister Charlie McConalogue confirmed this won't affect owners who already use one, but aims to protect future puppies. Similar moves have been made in other EU countries, as it is considered an animal welfare issue. Former Chairman of the IFA National Sheep...

It's Ulster final week - and Paddy McGill sets up Sunday's Ulster SFC final between Donegal and Armagh, in the company of two neutrals: Malachy O'Rourke and Kyle Coney.

Sticking to a hybrid working model could be beneficial to local and rural businesses. That's the view Fianna Fail Midlands North West Election candidate, Barry Cowen, who says local economies are reaping the benefits of people working from home. It's thought that restaurants and cafes in particular have noticed a particular increase in business between Mondays and Fridays. Speaking to Ocean FM New...

It remains to be seen when payments will be paid to all homeowners in Donegal to recover from costs incurred because of mica.   Earlier this year, it emerged that only 43 homeowners in the county had received full payment for remediation works for the first three years of the scheme.   While a number of banks have offered zero-interest loans.   The joint committee on Finance, Public...

The issue of depopulation in rural parishes was raised at the recent Leitrim County Council meeting. This is amid concerns that there is a discouragement towards one-off housing being developed in the area. There are fears that if the current trends continue, many towns and villages in the North West could become depleted of facilities and resources. Fine Gael Manorhamilton Cllr, Sean McDermott, s...

The chair of the Oireachtas committee investigating 'defective concrete blocks' in dwellings, says coverage needs to be extended to include the foundations of affected buildings.   The joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach - is meeting again this afternoon, to continue discussions about the difficulties faced by homeowners in Donegal, Mayo, Sligo and other c...

A new report supporting the development of a Sligo to Mayo rail link has the costs estimated at just under half a billion euros - €411.72m (This amounts to €5.5m per kilometre of restored track).   The report examines the current situation, explains why it’s lagging, and proposes how it can be revitalised and re-integrated.   It concludes that there is a strong case for completing the fi...

It's been claimed that more childcare providers across Sligo and Leitrim are under threat of closure.   More than 130 providers nationwide have closed their doors for good since March last year.   The Federation of Early Childhood Providers have launched a new publication asking the Government to boost funding and protect businesses from the cost of living crisis.   Aolish Gormley F...

An appeal by Donegal County Council to stop the construction of a holiday village in Ballintra has been overturned by An Bord Pleanala. Ten buildings, eight of which are already in place, have been earmarked for the development at Lower Main Street. The houses in the holiday village are to be used for commercial, short-term lets only. Mayor of Donegal Town, and local election candidate, Pauric Ken...

The chair of the Oireachtas committee investigating 'defective concrete blocks' in dwellings, says coverage needs to be extended to include the foundations of affected buildings.   The joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach - is meeting again this afternoon, to continue discussions about the difficulties faced by homeowners in Donegal, Mayo, Sligo and other c...

Any plans to roll out a transport police force must have a rural element.   That's according to Leitrim Sinn Fein Cllr Padraig Fallon who has been speaking as a meeting between SIPTU and the Junior Transport Minister takes place today to discuss the issue.   There have been a number of antisocial incidents on the Sligo-Dublin line in recent months.   Earlier this year, the union fou...

SIPTU is meeting the Junior Transport Minister today to discuss the potential for a transport police force.   Earlier this year, the union found 80 per cent of their members in the sector experienced abuse while at work.   There have been a number of antisocial incidents on the Connolly - Sligo line in recent months.   At the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis, the Tanaiste said the Government w...

A letter is to be sent to the Taoiseach and a number of relevant Ministers from Leitrim County Council over concerns relating to asylum seekers being housed in the County.   The letter is set to express dissatisfaction over the lack of communication on the placement of international protection applicants to locations in Leitrim.   The move comes as 30 people are now being housed at the A...

It's feared that a number of community and voluntary groups across the north west are having much-needed funding cut. Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle says steps must be taken to ensure organisations do not feel burdened in criticising the state. The Independent TD's comments follow a new report that found nearly two-fifths of participants say they feel their campaigning would be in vain should they...

The Taoiseach has come under fire over not publicising a trip to Sligo.   Simon Harris was in Sligo yesterday as part of the local and european campaign trail, while he also paid a visit to the Showgrounds.   However, local media were not informed of his visit nor were some local representatives.   Independent Cllr Marie Casserly has hit out at the Taoiseach saying that it would hav...

Members of the Dromahair Concerned Residents Group have had what's been described as a positive meeting with the Taoiseach.   Some members of the group met in an informal capacity with Simon Harris as part of his visit to Sligo and Leitrim yesterday.   Around 30 asylum seekers arrived to the former Abbey Manor Hotel on Thursday with more set to arrive this week.   Sligo Leitrim Inde...

There is a sense of skepticism following the extension of child benefits today. Parents of around 60 thousand over 18 year olds will become eligible for child benefit. The 140 euro benefit has been extended up to the 19th birthday of those still in full time education or who who have a disability. Anyone with kids who have turned 18 since May of last year can also now receive the payment again unt...

A driver was caught speeding every four minutes over the bank holiday weekend. A road safety campaign running this weekend also caught 169 people driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 71 people have died on the roads already this year, 15 more than the same time last year. The RSA say a multi-departmental approach is needed to tackle the issue, something that Sinn Fein Transport Spokesp...

Ireland had the second best April on record for wind power generation, with Donegal among the top 5 producers. Wind farms powered 32 per cent of Ireland's electricity last month, while the average wholesale electricity price was down 30 per cent. Kerry produced the most amount of wind energy followed by Cork, Tipperary, Galway and Donegal. Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland says we need to...

A Midlands-North West MEP has voiced their backing for the use of cash in Irish society going forward. A recent publication of the submissions made to the Government's National Payments Strategy consultation shows that public support for cash is strong. Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus highlighted that the use of cash must be protected in law, along with access to it. MEP MacManus said it's a fundamen...

Some Sligo and Leitrim farms are being forced into selling suckler cows, which could have a further impact in the future. The poor weather conditions so far in 2024 have resulted in fodder shortages, and is now forcing a portion of farmers to sell some of their stock. Leitrim Chair of the IFA, Liam Gilligan, highlighted the importance of suckler cows in the local economy. Mr Gilligan says that the...

The idea of having more civic areas in towns in the North West has been suggested. It is with the hopes of adopting the European city style of large plazas and an area for the public to gather. Sligo-Leitrim Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan mentioned the concept, after seeing the success at the recent official opening of Queen Maeve's Square in Sligo. Speaking to OceanFM news at the event, Deputy Feigha...

The residents of Dromahair have been thanked for their generosity as donations pile in for the new asylum seekers at Abbey Manor Hotel. Collections took place over the weekend for children's toys and clothing, along with clothing for women. Local election candidate, Bernie Linnane, put out the call for donations on Friday, and praised the “boxes and boxes” that have been handed over. Ms Linnane sa...

The ties between Sligo’s Spanish Armada tradition and the Spanish Government have been further underlined after a ceremony at the Spanish Embassy in Dublin.   Eddie O’Gorman, Chair of Spanish Armada Ireland was awarded the Cross of Naval Merit, a significant award that further underpins the work that Eddie and his team have done to promote the county’s rich Armada heritage.   Mr O’Gorman...

Backing for a wind farm off the west coast hasn't lost support despite the recent comments suggesting technology wasn't ready yet to face the challenges that the Atlantic weather can bring. Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan made the remark as he explained why the east and south coasts had been used for wind farms instead. However, Senator Lisa Chambers highlighted th...