Ocean FM News Reports

The latest homeless statistics for Donegal are said to be not a true reflection of the extent of the crisis.   The figures show that there's currently 56 families in the county availing of homeless supports from Donegal County Council.   Local Independent Cllr Niamh Kennedy feels that a range of issues are creating the perfect storm.   Cllr Kennedy says while there are number of sch...

Tillage Farmers are facing one of the toughest years on record after above average rainfall continues to have a serious impact on their livelihoods.   After almost a year of high rainfall, farmers are calling on the government to introduce a package of measures to help them get through challenging times.   The IFA President Francie Gorman says the government has to step up with support:...

All Sligo Leitrim TDs are being urged to row in behind Nazareth House in Sligo amid major funding concerns.   It was revealed in recent days that over 16 million euro, which was pledged by the HSE to complete works on a new building there, is now understood to be in doubt.   It means that the project, which has full planning permission and is at detailed design stage, has been shelved. &...

Community and sports clubs in Sligo are being encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to secure CLÁR funding,   The CLÁR Programme has earmarked almost €8.7 million for 2024, dedicated to elevating community and sports facilities across Ireland, with a spotlight on rejuvenating demographically challenged areas.   Eligible projects in Sligo can receive grants up to €50,000, facili...

There are calls for the Sligo - Connolly train line to be prioritized in any move to establish a dedicated transport police unit.   It's understood that the Government feels that such a unit is now necessary and that it would deal specifically with anti-social behaviour.   There have been several concerning incidents on the Sligo line in recent months - the latest only last week when a r...

A Fianna Fail Senator believes asylum seekers and refugees who commit serious crimes should be deported.   Lisa Chambers, who is contesting the Midlands-North West constituency in the European Elections, made the remarks at the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis this morning.   Candidates faced questions about the EU Migration Pact, which was passed at the European Parliament earlier this week. &nbsp...

A number of new bus shelters are on the way to Bundoran.   While there are two shelters currently in the town, it's thought that more are needed.   The project still has a few stages to go through.   Cllr Michael McMahon hopes they will be in place by the end of the year:

Serious concern has been raised over coastal erosion in south Donegal.   Storm Kathleen is said to have caused extensive damage on a number of sea walls and piers in the area.   Some of the residents are now worried over the impact this may have on their homes if the infrastructure isn't repaired.   Local Independent Cllr Niamh Kennedy says assessments will be carried out.   Si...

It's been claimed that there's currently no childcare spaces available in either Manorhamilton or Dromahair. Providers locally are said to be completely overwhelmed while parents are reportedly at crisis point, with some having to give up work as a result of the issue. A range of challenges are facing the childcare sector, including overhead costs and overregulation. Local Independent Cllr Felim G...

A cautious welcome has been given in Sligo to plans for the creation of extra school bus places.   More children are due to be eligible for the scheme, as distance criteria is to be reduced for secondary schools.   Nationally, 100-thousand additional places will be created over the next six years.   Sligo and the wider North West region has had serious problems with a lack of such s...

The need for staged payments for housing grants in the North West was highlighted in the Dáil on Thursday. Sligo-Leitrim Independent TD Marian Harkin spoke about the issue during questions for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien. The Croí Cónaithe scheme was one of the projects set up to help ease the struggles of the ongoing housing crisis. Deputy Harkin says...

There were exactly zero local authority affordable purchase homes made available in Sligo last year. This news comes following the publication of the social and affordable housing figures for 2023, where the government’s failure to meet their own housing targets was highlighted. The government planned to deliver 9,100 new build homes, but instead 8,110 new build homes were delivered by Local Autho...

The issue of young people working in the fishing industry was raised in the European Parliament yesterday, with a Donegal girl used as an example. Midlands North West MEP Chris MacManus spoke about Muireann Kavanagh, a fourteen year old student from Arranmore, who wishes to have a future in the fishing industry. MEP MacManus highlighted that EU rep tape and regulations are preventing her from fish...

Questions are being asked over grants being given to those wishing to open camper-van sites in south Donegal. Donegal County Council introduced the grants some years back as a means towards tacking the issue of camper vans parking in undesignated areas in the county. It's understood that planning for such a site is being finalised near Donegal Town but the person behind the plans is still waiting...

The latest directive from Garda Commissioner Drew Harris for roads policing has been branded a 'gimmick'.   All uniformed Gardaí will now have to do 30 minutes of road safety policing per shift.   The new move from the Commissioner has come amid an increasing number of road deaths.   So far this year, 63 people have died in collisions on the roads - two of them in Sligo.   Form...

It's been claimed that some residents in Ballyshannon are abandoning their cars for two weeks at a time at a local car park.   The Market Yard car park is quite close to the bus stop with claims that some are leaving their cars there while they go on holidays.   The issue is said to be causing frustration among business owners as valuable space are being taken up.   Local Fine Gael...

It's hoped that west Sligo gets its fair share of this year's community recognition fund. The fund aims to improve facilities in local communities who are hosting refugees from Ukraine and other countries. The Sligo-Drumcliffe area is currently housing the largest number of refugees in County Sligo. But Fianna Fáil Cllr Paul Taylor says the number in an area shouldn't matter and that it's importan...

A block of apartments in Tubbercurry have been deemed inadequate for the residents who live there. Sofia House was previously a convent but had been converted into apartments some years ago. However, the likes of windows and doors said to be not up to standard, with residents reportedly cold and using a lot of their income for heating. Sligo County Council has committed to carrying out an inspecti...

Disappointment has been expressed as the All Ireland Strategic Rail Review was not published yesterday as planned. The document was scheduled to be released on Thursday, but there was no sign of the plans being announced. It's unclear at the moment why. The document was set to give the go-ahead to a number of rail infrastructure projects, however no new lines were expected for Sligo. Local Indepen...

The North West has been overlooked by the Government's new cost rental plan. 547 new affordable cost rental homes have been given the green light at the cost of 100 million Euro. The new homes - across five counties - will be provided at rents a minimum of 25 per cent below market rates. The counties in question are Laois, Kildare, Kilkenny, Cork and Dublin, with nothing allocated for the North We...

Action to digitize Ireland's conveyencing system has been described as premature. A major new report from The Legal Services Regulatory Authority has been examining ways to speed up the process and make it more transparent. The legal process of transferring ownership is needed when properties are bought and sold. Senior Counsel solicitor, and former President of the Law Society of Ireland, Michele...

Sligo is said to have reaped the rewards from the success of Wild Atlantic Way   New figures released today show that the Wild Atlantic Way is worth three billion euro a year.   The route runs from Donegal, through Connacht to Kerry, and was first marketed 10 years ago.   Failte Ireland estimates 35,000 jobs have been supported by the tourism attraction.   Fáilte Ireland also r...

Donegal TD Pearse Doherty and Tánaiste Micheál Martin were at loggerheads in the Dail today. The issue of cancer rates in Ireland was approached, with the Sinn Fein TD citing statistics that cancer surgeries are being cancelled due to hospitals being overwhelmed, and the proportion of people dying from cancer is still significantly higher than other EU states. The Tánaiste accused Deputy Doherty o...

It looks like Sligo is going to get an outdoor skate park.   A suitable site has been identified in Cleveragh with the project set to go to detail design stage by next year.   The call for such an amenity for the town was first made over three years ago.   Local Fine Gael Cllr Thomas Walsh says while it's taken some time to get to this stage, it's positive that progress is finally b...

A move that was set to house 22 refugees in a B&B in Killybegs has been put on hold after compliance issues were detected in the building.   The owner must now liaise with the Department of International Protection to meet the requirements in order to receive approval.   Donegal Independent Cllr Niamh Kennedy highlighted there are different rules regarding the housing of Ukrainian fa...