Ocean FM News Reports

A Donegal Councillor is calling for driving test waiting times to be addressed. The current waiting time stands at four months with many being left frustrated at the length. With driving tests centres currently operating five days a week, Independent Councillor Michael McClafferty says an increase of the service to seven days along with the employment of more tests would elevate some of the pressu...

The Government is being urged to implement targeted measures in a bid to eliminate deaths on the roads. Recent figures released by Parc show a higher risk for motorists who use secondary roads and there are calls for an examination into the issue. Sinn Fein's Transport Spokesperson and Sligo Leitrim TD Martin Kenny says there needs to be action by a number of bodies to curb this emerging trend. De...

Ireland's senior women's soccer team will make their World Cup debut later this morning. Their opening game against tournament co-hosts Australia kicks off at the Accor Stadium in Sydney at 11 o'clock Irish time. Two Donegal women, Amber Barrett and Ciara Grant are part of the squad. It's expected to be a sell-out crowd of over 80 thousand fans. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is wishing the team well :

A Donegal TD has said proposed new powers for An Garda Síochána need more oversight and that any changes in relation to the use of recording devices should be subject to public consultation. Deputy Thomas Pringle believes the Garda monitoring of vehicles with the use of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) monitors should require an order signed by a District Court judge, and for longer perio...

Daire Maguire has been remembered as a hard working family man at his funeral mass this morning. He and driver Gene McDonald were killed when their rally car crashed near Ballymote on Sunday afternoon during the Sligo Stages Rally. Mr. McDonald's funeral will take place tomorrow. Two separate investigations into the crash are ongoing. During the homily this morning, Father Saghar Sabir said Mr Mag...

Bus Eireann has come in for criticism over imminent price hikes to fares at a time when some of its services catering to the North West have been deemed unreliable. Bus Eireann says it's down to a rise in costs and the reviewed fares are due to come into effect at the end of the month. However, the company has come under fire in recent weeks again after its early morning service from Dublin to Don...

Guinness owner Diageo is to increase the price it charges for draught beer for the second time this year. The cost of a pint is to rise by 4 cent from August 14th. It's the second time this year Diageo has increased its prices, and says it's down to rising costs. Guinness, Carlsberg, Smithwicks, Harp, Rockshore and Hop House 13 are all set to be a little more expensive. The Vintners Federation of...

A Sligo councillor says it needs to be established if there will be changes in relation to how Irish coastguard search and rescue operations are ran locally after the contract for the provision of the service recently was awarded to a different company. Bristow Ltd were recently awarded the contract and whereas Sligo Strandhill Councillor Sinead Maguire fully supports the process which allows comp...

Sligo County Council is under pressure to carry out a business interruption survey with business owners in Strandhill over proposed works for the area. The enhancement works may lead to a reduction in car parking spaces at the shore front which has sparked major concern among the local business community there. The Council says while the promised survey has not yet taken place, it does intend to e...

Its been confirmed that two badly needed bus shelters will be finally established in north Sligo, four years after they were first approved. In 2019, Sligo County Council got the green light for the shelters in Grange and Cliffoney however they have yet to be put in place. However, it's understood that tenders have been accepted with renewed hopes that they will be installed by years end. Local Fi...

Concern has been raised once again over a bridge in north Sligo that been deemed too narrow for traffic. The bridge, located at River Walk in Drumcliffe, is said to be an ongoing health and safety issue for all road users in the area. There are renewed calls for action from Sligo County Council. Sinn Féin Councillor Thomas Healy is calling on the local authority to carry out a safety review and ha...

Uisce Eireann has been accused of holding the people of Donegal to ransom over red tape with planning regulations. Problems are said to be arising with a large number of planning applications where people are being refused because of what's been described as stringent rules by Uisce Eireann with regards to water connections. The utility is due to take over water services at Donegal County Council...

The streetscape of Sligo has been 'destroyed' with chewing gum. That's according to Fianna Fail Rosaleen O'Grady who's calling for an increase in removal and clean-up operations by Sligo County Council. Wine Street has been deemed as an area in need of particular attention. The Council says that periodic cleaning does take place but that the budget is not available to extend such works. Cllr O'Gra...

Post-mortem examinations on the bodies of the two men killed in the Sligo Rally crash have taken place and two separate investigations are continuing. 35 year old Gene McDonald, and 46 year old Daire Maguire died instantly when their car crashed into a wall during the Sligo stages event on Sunday . Motorsport Ireland and Gardaí are conducting investigations into the tragedy. Aontu Councillor for C...

There are calls to turn the Gate Lodge in Sligo cemetery into a memorial centre. It's thought that the centre would provide valuable information on older graves within the cemetery and a map of where people are buried. Sligo County Council has confirmed that funding has been sought to carry out some conservation works on the building while plans are also afoot to extend Sligo cemetery itself. Loca...

It's thought that the growing population of Kinlough warrants the need for Primary Care centre to be established there. Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, Justin Warnock used this month's Manorhamilton MD meeting of the local authority to repeat his calls for such a facility that he claims would ease the pressure on the A&E at Sligo University Hospital. The facility would also provide nursin...

There are genuine fears in Drumshanbo that some homes and businesses may be hit by flooding due to storm drains being blocked in the town. It's understood that some of the drains are not being cleaned out frequently enough, leading to concern that they won't be able to cope in the event of heavy rainfall.   It has led to pressure on Leitrim County Council to carry out a major clean-up operation. L...

There's further warnings that a return of the 13.5% VAT rate will be a major blow for the hospitality industry in the North West. There's concern for the potential closure of the both hospitality and hairdressing businesses unless the 9 per cent VAT rate is continued. Insolvency rates in the hospitality sector have increased by over 200 percent. There have been a number of extensions to the reduce...

Frustration is said to be growing among the community of Teelin over slow progress on getting some badly needed facilities in and around the pier. While it's a busy area, catering to both local and tourists, there's concern that the current car park needs some attention while there is only one portable toilet available. The road down to the pier is also said to be too narrow to accommodate motoris...

The National Transport Authority has been accused of being “reluctant” when it comes to considering proposed changes to local bus services in Sligo. While there are enhancements geared for a number of routes in the town, it’s thought some minor tweaking to others would make a huge difference to areas which are currently not covered. For example, Fianna Fáil Cllr Tom MacSharry believes that the S1...

Three Donegal TDs met with members of Donegal County Council this morning to discuss the National Policy which restricts access on the N56. Councillor Michael McClafferty, the Cathaoirleach of Glenties Municipal District, says young people are emigrating from west Donegal because they can't obtain permission to build close to home. He's urging TDs to raise the matter in the Dáil. Speaking to Ocean...

Gaeltacht waiting lists in many areas, including Donegal, are growing because of a surge of interest in those who want to speak Irish. Many students are left without spaces this year, with most courses from September to Christmas fully booked. Mná Tí and Fir Tí have left the system after Covid-19, with more leaving to retire. Others are concerned over the cost of providing accommodation, safety re...

A Sligo Leitirm TD says there are number of vital projects in the north west that must be included in the upcoming Strategic Rail Review' which will be published by the end of the month. Deputy Martin Kenny was speaking ahead of the first ever 'All-Island Strategic Rail Review' being made public. The publication is likely to outline the recommended and assessed rail-lines which could be re-opened...

A Motorsport Ireland spokesperson has paid tribute to the two competitors that died following an accident in the 2023 Sligo Stages Rally. Art McCarrick says the events of yesterday have stunned the motorsport community in Ireland. He has extended his sympathy to the families and friends of the men that lost their lives. It’s understood both were experienced competitors with over 15 and 20 years of...

Sligo County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Gerard Mullaney is a councillor in the Ballymote Tubbercurry Municipal District. He’s been telling Ocean FM news that the tragic events of yesterday has sent shock waves through the entire county of Sligo and beyond