Ocean FM News Reports

Taxi drivers say they are being driven from the industry as they can’t afford to keep their cars on the road. A recent NTA study found that there are 19,500 licensed taxis in Ireland, down from almost 22,000 a decade ago. There are over 400 licenced taxi drivers in counties Sligo, Leitrim, and Donegal according to figures. In Donegal, there are 280 licensed taxi drivers, down from over 400 10 year...

The Donegal-based President of the Garda Representative Association has called for a fairer process when it comes to overtime for Gardaí.     The association is counting votes today after a ballot of no confidence in Commissioner Drew Harris.   Members are frustrated over a number of issues, including as rosters, recruitment and retention.   It's the first time a ballot like th...

Local buisnesses have been encouraged to have their say in the layout of the greenway between Sligo and Enniskillen.   A survey was launched last week with the view to shaping the economic future of the proposed greenway.   The route will pass through counties Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan and Fermanagh, and will open up opportunities for businesses along the proposed path.   Speaking to Oc...

A Donegal Sinn Fein TD hasn't ruled out his party entering a coalition with Fianna Fail.   Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn was reacting to comments made yesterday by the Tánaiste Michael Martin who accused the media of cheerleading for Sinn Féin ahead of the next election.   Following the boundary review, many commentators believe the numbers after the next general election dictate a Sinn Fé...

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.   There are currently over 3 thousand 500 council homes lying empty across the country.   That's despite there being over 95 thousand people on local a...

Anything that would help make our roads safer is worthwhile.   That's according to Sinn Feins Transport Spokesperson and Sligo Leitrim TD who was reacting to report that secondary school students may soon be taught about road safety.   Following a series of road tragedies involving young people it's understood the Education Minister wants senior cycle students to cover the topic in schoo...

With the current accommodation crisis, many third-level students are being denied the opportunity of driving to college in locations such as Sligo due to the difficulty in securing driving tests in Leitrim. Leitrim Councillor Brendan Barry has called on the Ministers Eamon Ryan and Jack Chambers and the Road Safety Authority to deal with the long waiting time for driving tests in the county. The c...

The amount of people waiting on trolleys in the North West at this time of year is deeply concerning.   That's according to Donegal Independent TD Thomas Pringle, who was reacting to figures today which show that 80 people were awaiting admission to Sligo and Letterkenny University Hospitals collectively this morning.   Sligo was the second most overcrowded hospital in Ireland today with...

Donegal TD and Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has come under fire once again. Farmers will protest at the Fianna Fáil ‘think-in’ in County Tipperary on Monday morning frustration over the cut to the nitrates limit. The Irish Farmers’ Association have also expressed their frustrations about the Agriculture Minister plans to delay payments to farmers in 2023. IFA President Tim Cullinan...

A Donegal doctor has said the “boat has sailed” on same-day GP services. The comments come as the Minister for Health has today announced up to 215,000 are now eligible for GP visit card applications. Today's announcement sees it expanded to people aged between 8 and 69 on a means tested basis. The means test assessment considers a persons or family's circumstances, income, and expenses. Dr Denis...

A Local TD says if the indications on the building of a new Garda Headquarters are accurate, then a greater number of Gardaí could be allocated to the region as well as specialist divisions such as the Armed Response Unit. On Friday, Deputy Frank Feighan expressed the views that 'we are now closer than ever to seeing new Garda Headquarters being constructed in Sligo.' His Sligo-Leitrim constituenc...

A Sligo Leitrim TD says it’s time the government looked at more than figures when it comes to establishing which Hospitals are close to breaking point in this country.   The latest INMO trolley watch figures has placed Sligo University Hospital as the second most over- crowded in the country today.   44 people were reported to be waiting a bed earlier this morning in Sligo with 25 people...

The president of the Students union in Sligo has expressed his disappointment with the confirmation that Benbulben Court or Milligan Court will not be returning as Purpose built student built accommodation for the current academic year.   Jeremiah Egberongbe says it’s a devastating blow for students attending the ATU.   Although it was announced a number of months ago that the building w...

A Sligo Leitrim TD has expressed the view that we are now closer than ever to seeing new Garda Headquarters being constructed in Sligo. Sligo Leitrim Deputy Frank Feighan says that progress has been made this week on the issue. The Sligo based TD claims the Minister with responsibility for the OPW, Patrick O'Donovan and the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee are seeking a review of the decision no...

There is hope that the Mill Building in Ballisodare can eventually be used for housing. The building has been lying derelict for a number of years, and the CEO of Sligo County Council has said that it cannot be demolished as the developers will not get planning permission for the site again. A structural survey is due to be carried out by the department of Housing using a bond of up to €250,000&nb...

The Agriculture Minister has set up an Agriculture Water Quality Stakeholders Group to improve water quality. Charlie McConalogue says it is now crystal clear the EU Commission will not re-visit Ireland's current derogation decision. Following his meeting with the ICMSA yesterday, he says there has not been sufficient improvement in water quality. He says Ireland is one of only three member states...

Donegal Senator Niall Blaney has confirmed he will be running in the next European Parliament elections. He has stated his intention to run as one of Fianna Fáil's candidates for the Midlands-North West region. Earlier this week, Mayo-based Senator and fellow Fianna Fáil member, Lisa Chambers, also announced that she will be contesting next year's European elections, despite Fianna Fáil currently...

With the spiralling costs of new house builds, Sligo County Council has been asked to consider the acceptability of timber log cabin dwellings in rural areas of the county. Some prospective home builders have received quotations of over €450,000 or more. Ballymote-Tubbercurry Municipal District Councillor Dara Mulvey believes there must be occasions where wooden homes can be incorporated into the...

The recent decision to remove poured concrete used for precast products from the Defective Concrete Products Levy has been met with criticism. The announcement was made yesterday by Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath, who said he will be bringing ammendments to the levy forward in the Finance Bill. The levy was brought in to secure supports from the construction sector for the Mica Redress Sche...

A local Councillor says the new rates waver scheme may in time help address the high vacancy rate that currently exists in the north west.   One in Five commercial properties continue to remain empty in Sligo.   The figures were confirmed in new Geodirectory report which was published this morning.    Sligo was the county with the highest commercial vacancy rate, while the figu...

Sligo consulting engineering business, Jennings O'Donovan, has been taken over by UK located RSK Group.   Financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.   The company was founded in 1950, and employs 100 people   It provides renewable energy, water supply, wastewater treatment and other planning and environmental services to customers including utilities, developers, local a...

A North West IFA official has backed his organisation’s decision not attend the meeting for farm groups called by the Minister for Agriculture, Donegal TD Charlie McConalogue.   The meeting was called to discuss new EU nitrogen limits which could see cuts to cattle and sheep numbers.    The Irish Farmers Association are picketing outside today’s meeting.   The moves announced y...

The IFA says it will not attend the meeting for farm organisations called by the Minister for Agriculture, Donegal TD Charlie McConalogue this morning.   It was due to be held to discuss new EU nitrogen limits which could see cuts to dairy herds, instead the Irish Farmers Association says it will picket outside.   The move announced yesterday by the European Commission will affect around...

One in Five commercial properties continue to remain empty in Sligo.   That’s according to a new Geodirectory report which shows the amount of vacant commercial properties around the country rose by 0.2 per cent to 14.1 per cent, the highest level on record since 2013.       The number of empty shops and offices nationwide is the highest it’s been in a decade.     The...

Agriculture Minister defends the decision to plant   The Agriculture Minister is defending the government's target to plant 8 thousand hectares of trees this year.   Figures show only 170 hectares have been approved for planting so far this year.   It means the government's target is thousands short.   Minister for Agriculture and Donegal TD Charlie McConolgue is standing by th...