Ocean FM News Reports

It's been claimed that there are a number of bogus waste collectors operating in North Leitrim.   The fraudsters are reportedly advertising waste collection services on social media, with many local residents taking them up on their offer, not knowing that they're illicit.   The illegal operators call to the homeowner, collect the waste and are said to be disposing it in an unauthorised...

A measles' vaccine catch-up programme will be rolled out following a second confirmed case here.   On Wednesday, the HSE was notified that a person in the West of Ireland had contracted the disease.   They are now finalising plans for the broader rollout of the MMR vaccine in response to the rise in the UK and Europe.   Monaghan GP Ilona Duffy says the new confirmed case makes vacci...

A Sligo Leitrim TD has sought clarity in the Dáil on when applications will be available for projects to draw down funding under the large scale Sports Infrastructure fund.   Deputy Frank Feighan raised the matter under a topical Issues debate in the Dáil.   He discussed Rovers plans which include a large-scale development plan to develop their facilities in Sligo.   The Fine Gael T...

Five months out from the Paris Olympics, Sligo boxer Dean Clancy - and his dad & coach Jason -sit down to chat with Ocean FM Sport about the fighter's preparations and aspirations.

The issue of new drugs being available to patients was raised in the Dáil today. Donegal Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty highlighted that even though life-saving drugs are being produced in Ireland, Irish patients are among the last to get access to them in Europe. Deputy Doherty also noted how Irish healthcare is in a “two-tier system”, with private patients having such drugs available to them before...

There's pressure on the Department of Finance to do more for struggling businesses in the North West.   It's estimated that local businesses have been experiencing a 30% rise in running costs with claims that some are using their personal savings just to keep the doors open.   The hospitality sector in particular is said to be suffering, due to the VAT rate being raised back up to 13.5%...

2024 is set to be the worst year on record for the pelagic processing sector in Ireland according to one leading Donegal fishing official. The claims come as the sector recorded the lowest levels of fishing landings in quarter one of this year. This in turn, has serious knock-on consequences for coastal communities such as Killybegs, who depend on the factories for seasonal employment. Brendan Byr...

An investigation is continuing into an overnight burglary at a housing development which is currently under construction in Ballisodare. Thieves broke into the site in the early hours of this morning and made off with mass amounts of equipment, a tipper truck, tools and electrical goods. Anyone with information is being urged to contact Sligo Garda Station. Local Fine Gael Thomas Walsh says there'...

There have been further calls made in the Seanad for the regional economic imbalance to be addressed. This is in light of a recent report which stated that Sligo has the highest commercial vacancy rate of any county in Ireland, at 20.5% at the end of 2023. It is a growing concern in the West, as Galway, Roscommon, Mayo and Donegal are also among the highest vacancies. Fianna Fáil Senator Lisa Cham...

Serious concern has been raised over the impact the HSE moratorium on recruitment is having on Sligo University Hospital.   It comes as the INMO has called for an end to the moratorium, with a warning that Nurses and Midwives are now bearing the brunt of public disappointment for the state of the health service.   They're also said to be working in extremely challenging environments whic...

The Minister of State for Enterprise says now is the time to make up for lost investment in border counties such as Donegal and Leitrim. Speaking at the Cross-Border Trade and Economic Conference yesterday, Neale Richmond urged politicians to focus on rebuilding an all-island economy. Minister Richmond claimed at today's event that when companies look to Northern Ireland for investment, they are n...

This week, Ronan Flanagan is out of the warm studio and attends the Sligo branch IFA's "Enough is Enough" protest outside the offices of Sligo County Council.   While John Lynch is in Kinlough to talk to farmers in north Leitrim as they signal their discontent at the local authority's monthly meeting there.   The ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign centres around the fact that farmers are angry...

It's been confirmed that a much-needed pipeline in Sligo is set to be replaced by the end of April. The line from Carraroe to Ballisodare including Jinks' Cross stretches five kilometres and has been prone to numerous bursts. The scheme has now been completed and Irish Water have confirmed, the new pipeline will be installed this year. Councillor Thomas Healy says that there's been an ongoing issu...

A local election candidate in Leitrim has expressed concern with the number of suicides that have been recorded recently the north of the county.   Fine Gael local Election Caitriona Bergin says seven people have died by suicide in her local electoral area in recent months.   She is proposing a Collaborative Effort to Address Suicide Crisis in North Leitrim and South Donegal.   Ms B...

The Government has been told to wake up and smell the coffee when it comes to a lack of affordable housing in the North West.   Its estimated that a person or couple living in the likes of Donegal would have to earn a combined €87,000 per year to afford a new 3 bed room semi-detached home in the county.   It has resulted in many people effectively locked out of the market.   Speakin...

There have been calls to increase numbers in the road policing unit.   It's believed the number of Gardaí assigned to the roads policing unit in Sligo has decreased in the last number of years, with little progress made to address the issue.   38 people have been killed in crashes so far this year, an increase of 4 on this time last year.   Independent Sligo Councillor Marie Casserl...

There are many households across Sligo and Leitrim that are affected by 'decommissioned' septic tanks.   That's according to Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan, who says many people in rural parts of the region have been effectively cut off due to a lack of grant funding available.   Speaking in the Dail, Deputy Feighan says while these people have funding applications ready to apply for grants...

A local election candidate in Leitrim has expressed concern with the number of suicides that have been recorded recently the north of the county.   Fine Gael local Election Caitriona Bergin says 7 people have died by suicide in her local electoral area in recent months.   The first time local election candidate is proposing a Collaborative Effort to Address Suicide Crisis in North Leitri...

Junior cycle students are to get free school books from September.     The Education Minister announced the measure this afternoon, which includes free materials like calculators and copies.     68 million euro is being provided which will benefit 212-thousand pupils.     It remains whether or not this will be extended further in the next budget.     Local e...

Coola Post Primary School in Sligo are celebrating an All-Ireland soccer title following Friday's 1-0 win over Coláiste Mhuire from Askeaton (Limerick) in the FAI Schoolgirls Junior 'B' National Cup final in Athlone. Aoibhin Doherty, who's a first-year student, scored the match-winning goal in the opening half. Coola PPS team coach Eamonn Bruen spoke to Ocean FM Sport's Austin O'Callaghan followin...

It remains to be seen whether or not the hydrotherapy pool at Cregg House will reopen. The facility has been closed since the pandemic and had been widely used by people with Cerebral Palsy and other disabilities. While there is a hydrotherapy pool in Manorhamilton, it's said to be fully booked. Local Fine Gael Councillor Thomas Walsh says the issue is having a serious impact on those affected:

A Donegal TD has exerted pressure on the Media Minister to make herself available for questioning over the latest developments in the crisis at RTE.   There are ongoing calls for Minister Catherine Martin to address the Dáil over claims by the former chair that she took a "hands off approach."   Siún Ní Raghallaigh claimed the minister "enforced" her departure from the board and tried to...

Uisce Éireann have been called on to halt their planned extraordinary hike in water charges, reputed to be in the region of 29 percent,     Leitrim Councillor Paddy O’ Rourke says that along with an equally extraordinary hike in standing charges, the impact will fall heavy on farmers with multiple connections.     The Fianna Fáil Councillor says farmers are making great efforts...

It' been confirmed that the long-awaited school building at the Gaelscoil na gCeithre Máistrí in Donegal Town will be up and running for the upcoming school year.   Work on the new building finally got underway less than a year ago following a few false dawns.   Pupils and staff had been operating out of deteriorating prefabs for 24 years.   An open day is taking place on Friday the...

The mental health of children and young people is said to be at “breaking point.” That's according to one Sligo Councillor who is calling on the government to tackle ever-increasing waiting lists for services such as CAMHS. It's understood that parents in the north west have been waiting for a first appointment with CAMHS for a number of months. Sinn Féin Councillor Arthur Gibbons says the governm...