Ocean FM News Reports

Atlantic Technology University is among a number of third-level institutions that will see the introduction of courses for people with intellectual disabilities. The ATU Project WAVE (Working towards Academic and Vocational Equity) is a two-year project consisting of eight modules where you can exit after year one with a Certificate and Digital Badges as an alternative assessment. Students integra...

The chairperson of the Sligo branch of the Irish Farmers Association has outlined his hope that last week's protest and tractor cade will result in the Minister for Agriculture sitting up and take notice. The Sligo demonstration was one of several organised nationally in solidarity with farmers protesting across Europe. Farmers say that they are not being paid enough and they are being held back b...

Urgent clarity is being sought from BT over the future of its site in Enniskillen.   It follows reports that 300 jobs could be lost over potential moves by the BT Group to close the Enniskillen contact centre.   It's believed that employees were informed the centre could close later this year and were offered voluntary redundancy amid a review into the future of the site.   Local Si...

Ongoing negotiation between the HSE and the INMO over the new 80-bed community hospital in Ballyshannon has hit another stumbling block.   It is believed a vote took place on Thursday regarding what the INMO feel are unsafe planned staffing levels.   Nurses have previously said they want to ensure their patients are safe, and not exposed to the risk of compromised care due to unsafe staf...

Mary Cullen on her 15-year Irish 3000 metres indoor record which was finally eclipsed in France last Saturday. The Abbey School Donegal Town break new ground this weekend as they contest a first-ever Ulster Colleges MacLarnon Cup final. We’ll get a sense of what the occasion means from teacher and long-time GAA coach in the school, Pauric O’Donnell. And - if you’re a cycling fan in the north west,...

A one-way traffic system is to be introduced in Collooney on a trial basis. It's set to commence this September and will aim to alleviate congestion issues in the town centre. Temporary infrastructure will be put in place with the finer details of the project still to be finalised. Local Sinn Féin Cllr Thomas Healy says Collooney is getting increasingly difficult to navigate and is hopeful this wi...

A Donegal-based GP is reminding the public of the dangers of measles following the death of a man linked to the virus. The man in his 40s died in hospital in the Dublin and Midlands health region - it's believed he'd recently travelled to England. Eleven cases of measles were reported in Ireland between 2020 and 2023 - there were no deaths linked to the virus during that time. The Chief Medical Of...

Today's ERSI report on rent prices spells out clearly that the Government's housing policy is 'in tatters'.   That's according to Donegal TD Pearse Doherty who says there needs to be a blanket ban put on rent increases for new and existing tenants.   In the Dail this afternoon, Deputy Doherty says renters are being fleeced and accused Finance Minister Michael McGrath of standing on the s...

A major recreation and tourism development for north Leitrim has moved a step closer. A special meeting of the Manorhamilton Municipal District has approved the Glenfarne Woods Project. Located on the shores of Lough MacNean, Coillte and Leitrim County Council have collaborated on the project. The project will now go for funding under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. It is believed the...

The North West is to receive additional funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.   A €4.5 million national package for rural towns and village has been announced today.    Minister Heather Humphreys says extra funding for the North West is being provided in recognition of the specific challenges facing the region.   Under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, up to €50...

The local authority in Donegal has been called on to aid defective block homeowners during severe weather events.   During recent storms, many defective block homeowners were left living in fear.   The calls are coming from the 100% Redress Party who are calling on the council to compile a database of homeowners and provide a text service to advise them when a weather alert is in place a...

Tributes are being paid to the Former Taoiseach John Bruton who has died.   He was first elected to the Dail from the Meath constituency in 1969 and served as a TD for 35 years - stepping down in 2004.   In that time, he held many ministries - such as Finance - before becoming leader of Fine Gael in 1990.   He was elected as Taoiseach in 1994.   Dinny McGinley served as TD in t...

Cabinet is to discuss a new vaccination programme against measles - amid fears of a potential outbreak here.   Vaccination rates for MMR have fallen below 95 percent which is the recommended figure.   Around a fifth of men aged 18 or 19 are unvaccinated.   Donegal-based GP Dr Denis McCauley says a now-discredited study linking the vaccine to autism could have been the cause of that:

There are urgent calls for action on ongoing speeding issues in Ballinacarrow.   The Green Schools Committee at St. Lasarra's National School recently conducted a speed detection survey on the road outside the school which proved that some motorist continue to travel in excess of the 50km limit currently in place there. The speed of 179 vehicles was monitored at the drop-off time at the schoo...

Listen back to highlights from the inaugural Déjà Vu North West in Sligo on Saturday, April 27th, 2024.

ATU Sligo has been told to prepare plans for development of affordable student housing. It's part of a new scheme to improve access to accommodation for third level students. The Higher Education Minister says the aim is to ensure housing does not become a barrier to accessing degrees or training. Minister Simon Harris says it doesn't necessarily have to be new builds:

Donegal made it two wins from two in Division 2 of the Allianz Football League on Sunday with a hard-earned 0-13 to 0-12 win against Cavan at Kingspan Breffni. Paddy McGill brings you the reaction from Cavan town – with postmatch views and analysis from Mark & Ryan McHugh, St Naul’s Brian McCabe and Paul Fitzpatrick of the Anglo Celt newspaper.

Tensions boiled over in the Dáil over calls to abolish the TV licence. The issue was raised by Donegal Sinn Fein TD, Pearse Doherty, who claimed the licence fee should be scrapped and replaced by exchequer. Tánaiste Mícheal Martin took umbrage with this suggestion, and highlighted a number of times Sinn Fein had sued the media, saying that their actions would have a negative impact in the future....

Leitrim was found to have the highest amount of volunteers in the country, according to the latest Census.   In figures recently released by the CSO, 18% of Leitrim's population were volunteering in 2022.   Dublin was found to have the lowest when the Census was recorded in April 2022, with just 11%.   The Leitrim Volunteer Centre was only set up in April 2021, and its manager, Jose...

MSLETB have announced the addition of a new course to encourage businesses to promote the Irish language.     In conjunction with Gaelchultúr, the Certificate in Professional Irish caters for people who want a language qualification for career progression.     The course is the first of its kind to be rolled out in the country.     Speaking to Ocean FM News, Orla Swee...

The Government's apparent plans to revisit the Vat rate for the hospitality sector is too little too late for many closed local restaurants and cafes in the North West.   That's according to the Donegal Chair of the Irish Hotels Federation, Paul Diver who has been reacting to reports that a reduced VAT rate is now being considered to try to stem the tide of restaurant closures.   The hos...

Appeals are being made for road users to drive safely this Bank Holiday weekend. The Road Safety Authority have asked drivers to slow down, not drink and drive, and to put away their mobile phones. 18 people have lost their lives so far this year on Irish roads, with the latest incident coming this week in Carlow, when three young people were killed in a single car collision. Sinn Fein Transport S...

Dunkineely National School has been in the spotlight over road safety issues once again. Concerned locals have been venting their frustration on the issue, with one taking to social media to share a video of motorists breaking red lights outside the school on Thursday afternoon. There have been long-standing calls for various road safety measures to be put in place, with parents and students takin...

Emergency services in Sligo have been praised for their swift response to a woman who had entered the Garavogue River yesterday evening. Rescue 118 helicopter, the RNLI, Gardai, ambulance and fire service were all dispatched to the scene after the alarm was raised at around 6pm. The woman was quickly located, was rushed to a nearby ambulance and brought to Sligo University Hospital for further tre...

Fine Gael have announced their latest candidate to contest the upcoming selection convention in Sligo. Jim Beirne is a local business owner and farmer, and aims to contest a seat for Fine Gael in the Sligo Strandhill electorate area. Mr Beirne has been outlining what he hopes to bring to the table if selected.