Ocean FM News Reports

Serious safety concerns have been raised over yet another junction along the N17.   The junction where the Bunnacranagh road and Curry Village road meet is said to be treacherous with a couple near misses in recent times.   The issue is to be added to what has already been described as a lengthy list with regards to problems at various points on the route.   Local Cllr Martin Connol...

Gaeltacht areas such as those in Donegal could benefit from a new scheme which is being launched today.   The new Irish Language and Gaeltacht Growth Plan aims to create 9 thousand jobs by the end of the decade.   Over 130 Irish Language organisations have backed the initiative which is being launched at the Mansion House today.   Conradh na Gaeilge are one of those groups backing t...

Some of the money collected in Local Property Task locally could be used to fund minor infrastructure projects in the wider south and west Sligo area.   A number of villages in the area are said to be starved from funding for the likes of footpaths, bus shelters and general upkeep.   It's because they don't qualify for funding due to constraints with criteria under the Active Travel Sche...

The Donegal based president of the GRA says they have been warning that a proposed new Garda roster is not fit for purpose.   The Garda Representative Association says an internal report backs what they've been saying about new rosters.   A confidential internal Garda report from 2019 found that the new roster the Garda Commissioner plans to introduce will not work   It will see gar...

Gaeltacht areas such as those in Donegal could benefit from a new scheme which is being launched today.   The new Irish Language and Gaeltacht Growth Plan aims to create 9 thousand jobs by the end of the decade.   Over 130 Irish Language organisations have backed the initiative which is being launched at the Mansion House today.   Conradh na Gaeilge are one of those groups backing t...

There are hopes that some derelict houses in Sligo could be purchased for some much needed social housing.   The houses on Holborn Street have been lying vacant for over a decade and are situated close to other social housing units in the town.   People before Profit Cllr Gino O'Boyle says there's no reason why these dwellings can't be purchased and refurbished.   He's confident tha...

Ahead of the new Dáil term getting underway tomorrow a Donegal TD has urged the government to support proposals looking to introduce temporary mortgage interest relief for struggling homeowners.     Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance, Pearse Doherty TD, says the government cannot continue to sit on their hands while homeowners see their annual mortgage repayments increase by thousands of...

It's been claimed that a road in Strandhill has been 'forgotten about'. The top road in the village is home to numerous business and homes however the road surface is said to be falling apart while the lack of a footpath along the route is also reportedly leaving it hazardous for pedestrians. It's understood that there have been several false dawns as it relates to much needed works there. Local S...

Motorists are being urged to be on high alert as a weather warning for the North West comes into effect for 5pm this evening.   A rain alert for Connacht Donegal, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, and Tipperary expires at six in the morning.   While a status yellow wind warning has been issued for Kerry and West Galway, and ends at five o'clock in the morning.   Met Eireann says...

It's been claimed that the state of some of the signage in County Sligo is damaging for tourism.   A build-up of dirt and overgrowth has resulted in some of the signage, particularly the larger signs which are higher up, is said to be causing problems locally.   Sligo County Council has pledged to arrange cleaning when required.   But Local Fine Gael Cllr Dara Mulvey believes that t...

Officials at Sligo County Council are under pressure to make specific funding applications for upgrade works on a number of regional roads in west Sligo.   While some works are planned in the area, it's thought that the current budget doesn't stretch far enough to carry out a sufficient job.   Local Fianna Fail Cllr Paul Taylor says the patch up jobs are only a band aid solution and the...

The Minister for Agriculture has been accused of dragging his heels on a new Vet School for the West of Ireland.   The path was made clear by the Government for a new Veterinary Medicine programme to be delivered from ATU Donegal in conjunction with ATU Mountbellew in Galway in June, however the provision of the course has not been announced yet.   With the demand for places on Vet cours...

The level of upkeep at the old graveyard at Sligo cemetery has been branded ‘embarrassing’. Overgrowth and a general lack of attention to the amenity has led to urgent calls for money to be ringfenced for consistent maintenance works. Fianna Fáil Councillor Tom MacSharry believes that at minimum, a sufficient grass cutting programme should be implemented there. Councillor MacSharry, who visited th...

There are urgent calls for a full investigation into concerns raised about the water at St John's Point beach in south Donegal. It's been reported that people swimming there have been suffering from itchy skin while local fishermen have claimed that there has been a significant reduction in sea life. Both a discolouration and a strong smell have been noted in the water. Local Independent Councillo...

The Cathaoirleach of the Local Authority in Sligo says every effort is being made to address capacity issues with local link buses traveling from Ballymore to Sligo.   There has been an unprecedented demand for the service this morning with the reopening of the ATU in Sligo this week.     Councillor Gerard Mullaney says he has received reports that as many as 11 students looking to...

The former CEO of Leitrim County Council has urged those working in the tourism and hospitality sector to do all they can to exceed the expectations of visitors so as to help the industry overcome the challenges that is currently faces.   Lar Power tenure as CEO of the Local Authority in Leitrim ended on Friday last.   The Wexford native will now take over as CEO of Kilkenny County Counc...

There's major disappointment across the North West following comments made by the Taoiseach over the hospitality VAT rate.   At Fine Gaels think-in on Friday, Leo Varadkar seemed to rule out a return of the 9% VAT rate for the sector.   The comments have come as a major blow to those in hospitality as they face into a uncertain winter in the midst of a cost of living crisis as it effecti...

With concern continuing to be grow over traffic in Collooney, a petition has been launched for a proposed new one-way traffic section in the town.   A public consultation has previously taken place in relation to the issue.   Applications for funding the scheme have been so far unsuccessful in 2020 and 2021 but has been allocated for footpaths on Barrack Street and for connecting Colloon...

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has called for the HSE to come to this week’s Emergency Department Taskforce meeting with renewed and workable solutions to reducing overcrowding which in turn will have a positive impact on patient safety.   The call comes on World Patient Safety Day.   Over 5,210 patients, including 100 children, have been without a bed in Irish hospitals...

Proposed new bye-laws for the Shannon catchment area which, reduce mooring times from 5 to 3 days and imposes a tax on all business operating on the Shannon could be very counter-productive for the local tourism sector.   That's the warning being issued by Leitrim Councillor Enda McGloin who says that there is nothing to suggest that such moves could be extended to other parts of the north we...

The installation of a footpath outside an unfinished housing development in Sligo could see it finally completed. Almost 20 houses located at Farranacandy on the Calry Road have been left idle for several years, however one Sligo Councillor believes the provision of a footpath by the local authority could see construction completed. In recent days, it has been confirmed a contractor has been appoi...

The current state of the route from Rockfield and Belleek has been branded as an accident waiting to happen.   The road is home to Rockfield National School and it's understood that while many residents would like to walk their children to school, it's too dangerous to do so.   There are urgent calls on both Donegal County Council and the TII to carry out some works along the route. &nbs...

There are calls for the deployment of lifeguards to local beaches to be kept under constant review. It follows the hot spell in recent weeks where many took to the beaches to enjoy the good weather. While the summer schedule had technically ended, flexibility allowed lifeguards be on duty. Local Fine Gael Cllr Barry Sweeney say it's important that with a change to the seasons now, measures be put...

Calls are being made for more transparency regarding the number of vacant council houses in the North West. It emerged earlier this week that there were 216 empty council homes in the north west at the end of the first six months of this year. Sligo had 25, Leitrim had 20 while Donegal accounted for one of the highest rates outside of the large population centres at 171. Meanwhile, there are 1,663...

It is hoped that the Midlands North West region will be allocated Ireland's extra seat in the European Parliament. It was announced yesterday that Ireland will receive an extra seat, along with a number of other countries. This means the amount of seats in the European Parliament will now increase from 705 to 720. Speaking to Ocean FM News, MEP for the Midlands North West, Colm Markey feels that t...