Ocean FM News Reports

A legal advice charity has warned that gaps in the current civil legal aid system is leaving people exposed to serious consequences. The latest report by the Free Legal Advice Centres (says it is “gravely concerned” that around a quarter of people who rang its helpline could not get through when they had sought the body’s help. Free Legal Advice Centres representatives answered 13,556 calls in 202...

A legal advice charity has warned that gaps in the current civil legal aid system is leaving people exposed to serious consequences. The latest report by the Free Legal Advice Centres (says it is “gravely concerned” that around a quarter of people who rang its helpline could not get through when they had sought the body’s help. Free Legal Advice Centres representatives answered 13,556 calls in 202...

Bus Eireann is facing calls to 'get its act together' when it comes to the service its providing to the North West. It's after passengers were left stranded at Dublin Airport on Friday morning last after the service which would have brought them to Donegal was cancelled. It's the latest in a string of cancellations over the last few years. Bus Eireann apologised over the issue, stating it was down...

Volunteers are meeting around now to help in the search for a young man who is missing from Grange. 22-year-old David Slanina was last seen when he left his home at around 4:30pm on Saturday to go for a run in the locality. The alarm was raised after he failed to return home. The search has resumed this morning after being stood down at around 8.30 last night. Volunteers are also  meeting at 10am...

A Sligo-Leitrim TD is among those who will be aiming to increase awareness of major new biodiversity laws being considered by the EU at a public meeting in Galway. Sligo-Leitrim TD Marian Harkin along with Independent TDs Michael McNamara and Michael Fitzmaurice are hosting the event at the Shearwater Hotel in Ballinasloe at 1 o'clock on Sunday. MEPs and environment ministers from around Europe ar...

The European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets Union says the EU is working to clean up the Atlantic Ocean. Mairéad McGuinness says by the year 2030 the EU has pledged to “protect and restore the health of Oceans." The Galway Statement - a cooperation agreement between European, US and Canadian scientists has been in existence for the last ten years t...

As calls continue for the development of the Western Rail Corridor, the Minister for Transport has once again been called on to provide an update on the project. Mayo TD Alan Dillon says the corridor is one of the single most valuable pieces of infrastructure in the west of Ireland. The Fine Gael TD says the development of the line would of benefit a number of areas, including Sligo. In response,...

A status yellow wind warning continues to wreak havoc across the north west. Met Éireann’s warning came into effect from midnight and will at expire at 12pm. A tree has fallen at the Second Sea Road in Sligo. While in Donegal, a fallen tree is blocking Temples Corner. Large vehicles are asked to access Donegal Town via Drumlonagher Rounabout. Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather said the strong winds...

The Government will give the seemingly stalled N17 Knock to Collooney project careful consideration. It follows a meeting with Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr Gerard Mullaney and the Taoiseach earlier this week. 2.2 million euro is needed to get the project to the next stage with a substantial amount money already spent. Cathaoirleach Cllr Mullaney says he put the case to the Taoiseach...

Water safety forum meetings are taking place in Sligo today in the aftermath of a number of potentially serious events in Strandhill recently where swimmers had to be rescued from the water. Earlier this week the July meeting of Sligo County Council heard calls on the local Authority to review the decision not to have lifeguards on duty on certain beaches throughout the County. The motion tabled b...

It's thought that farmers can be left out of the proposed Nature Restoration Law. The law was proposed by the European Commission last year as part of its flagship Green Deal policy, however the likes of fisheries and agriculture committees have a number of issues with it. The law would require legally-binding recovery measures for at least 20% of EU land and 20% of sea by 2030, and all areas in n...

The Local Authority in Leitrim have been urged to contact the HSE, the Minister for Health, and The Dept. of Rural & Community Development with the view to securing funding to re-establish the Leitrim Community Car Scheme. The scheme was set up in 2022 and provided what was described an invaluable service for vulnerable and isolated people to hospital, doctors and clinic appointments. The scheme h...

A former RTE employee believes that Ryan Tubridy will be back on air despite being at the centre of the ongoing payments scandal. It was confirmed yesterday that Ryan Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly will come before both the Oireachtas Media Committee AND the Public Accounts Committee next Tuesday. Meanwhile, RTE is also being called on to clarify if more of its presenters have car deals. It foll...

The Taoiseach once again has been called on to listen to homeowners affected by the defective block scheme. The Government has commenced the revised scheme for the victims of defective block scandal. Yesterday homeowners and representatives from counties affected by the scandal including Donegal appeared before the housing committee. Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty is calling on the Taoiseach and the...

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has signed the Statutory Order to allow St. Angela's College, Sligo to become part of the Atlantic Technological University (ATU). The incorporation will come into effect from the beginning of November. Minister Harris described the move as another landmark moment in the development of higher education in t...

A Donegal Sinn Fein TD says his party have yet to decide whether they will support a move by the Donegal branch of the Irish Hotels Federation to have the hospitality VAT kept at 9% The rate is due to increase to 13.5% and Paul Diver the chairperson of the Donegal branch of the Irish Hotels Federation had written to all LOCAL TD's to support their actions. Speaking to Ocean FM news Donegal Sinn Fe...

There are genuine fears that the Garda Commissioner will proceed with a new policing plan for the North West, despite the vast amount of concerns at a local level. Drew Harris was in Donegal in recent months where complaints were aired about staffing, response times, the provision of Garda services in rural areas, and the potential threat of more Garda station closures in the region. Despite liste...

It's emerged that Donegal Town has been omitted from additional Bus Eireann Expressway's wheelchair assessable stops on its Dublin to Donegal route. Earlier this week it was confirmed that six additional stops for wheelchair users have been added to route, including Ballyshannon, Enniskillen, Virginia, Cavan, Dublin Airport and At Bus Áras in Dublin City Centre. However, a lack of a bus stop and o...

It's emerged that a Leitrim teenager went home from Galway University Hospital with half a finger in recent times due to what's been described as shortcomings in surgical services in this area. The teenager, originally presented to NowDoc in Carrick - On - Shannon before being referred to Sligo University Hospital and then onto Galway. However after spending some time in Galway University Hospital...

A Donegal TD has asked for further clarity as to whether there will be resignations as a result of the RTE payments scandal. It comes as RTÉ barter account figures show the broadcaster spent almost 5,000 euro on flip flops for a summer party in 2016 among a wider 1.6 million euro hospitality spend. The fresh revelations also show that several barter accounts were in existence at RTE, despite the e...

Fianna Fáil Senator Lisa Chambers has confirmed she intends to run in the next general election. The current Leader of the Seanad served as a TD for Mayo for four years, before losing her seat in 2020. Senator Chambers says she would like to return to the Dáil:

A Ballymote Tubbercurry councillor has moved this morning to ease any fears that may exist after Sligo was not included in the recently announced enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant Scheme The scheme commenced earlier this week and will provide financial support to affected homeowners in counties Donegal, Mayo, Limerick and Clare whose dwelling had been damaged by the use of defective c...

There are calls for Sligo to stage a number of Westlife concerts. The band haven't played in their home county for many years and it's thought locally that efforts should be made in exploring the idea further. Sligo County Council says it is open to engaging with MCD promotions in a bid to see if a number of gigs can be arranged in the time ahead. Local Fine Gael Cllr Thomas Walsh is hopeful that...

A Leitrim Councillor is calling for the Rural Housing Guidelines to be published immediately. Cllr Sean McDermott made the calls at this week's meeting of Leitrim County Council. It was expected the guidelines should have been published last year. The Fine Gael Councillor says many young people are leaving rural Ireland because of the difficulties that exists when it comes to building in their rur...

A Sligo Leitrim TD is confident that sufficient consultation has taken place between the Government and GPs over the extension of free GP care. Yesterday, Cabinet approved plans to expand free GP care to include children aged six and seven, and average income earners. Children will be able to avail of the GP visit card from August 11th, while the first group of adults will be able to apply from Se...