Ocean FM News Reports

A Sligo councillor has welcomed the news that a new Dog Handling Unit will be based in the Sligo Leitrim Garda Division as soon as resources allow. Sligo Drumcliff Marie Casserly says she has received confirmation from Chief Superintendent Aidan Glacken that move will take place. The Garda dogs assist in searches for suspects of crimes and for evidence which may have been discarded. The dogs are a...

A Donegal TD has accused the Government of burying its head in the sand over a number of longstanding issues like health and housing. It comes as Cabinet has signed off on the Summer Economic Statement, one of the last major staging posts before the budget. Ministers will release the details later outlining how much money they expect to have to spend for next year. Bumper corporation tax receipts...

A Donegal TD is warning that the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Grant Scheme which commenced yesterday will fall well short of 100% redress for many impacted homeowners impacted by mica or pyrite. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O' Brien TD, has commenced the enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme . This scheme will provide financial support to a...

A Sligo councillor has welcomed the news that a new Dog Handling Unit will be based in the Sligo Leitrim Garda Division as soon as resources allow. Sligo Drumcliff Marie Casserly says she has received confirmation from Chief Superintendent Aidan Glacken that move will take place. The Garda dogs assist in searches for suspects of crimes and for evidence which may have been discarded. The dogs are a...

It's feared that farmers in the north west could be facing even more competition for agricultural land when it comes on the market. A trend is emerging across the region where Increasing numbers of so called 'business buyers' are outbidding farmers for land as they turn it into as a safe haven” to invest in. Entrepreneurs in their 40s and early 50s from a farming background, who have sold their bu...

This month's meeting of Sligo County Council hard calls for Iarnród Éireann to provide additional services to Sligo in order to offset the impending accommodation that is expected to be in place for students attending the ATU. Ballymote Tubbercurry Councillor, Dara Mulvey urged Iarnród Éireann to provide a morning train service from Connolly Station that would allow people to arrive in Sligo befor...

The discovery of the body at Slieve League is the latest development in an investigation that casts a dark shadow over the Killbegs and Sliabh League communities over the past week. Donegal Councillor Niamh Kennedy, speaking to Ocean FM inside the last hour says the local community has been left in shock with the events of last week. She says the discovery of the body will hopefully bring closure...

A Sligo Councillor has described the actions of Transport Minister Eamon Ryan where he issued a block on construction of ten vital roads as another example of the Green party leader ‘playing to his own audience’. It's being claimed this morning that the move is hampering connectivity between rural Ireland and urban centres. Following Minister Eamon Ryan's directive funding to Transport Infrastruct...

A Leitrim Councillor has expressed his disappointment that there still seems to be no major comprise between retained fire fighters and their employers, the local Authorities. Labour Court talks on the retained firefighter's dispute concluded last week with what were described as 'major divisions remaining between both sides'. Members of the retained fire service have suspended strike action, pend...

The CEO of the North West Simon Community has described an increase in figures in homelessness figures in the North West as “truly appalling.” The North West has seen an 85% increase in homelessness since May 2022 in figures published. Child homelessness has also increased by 26% increase in the same period. A Homeless Action Plan was approved by the Local Authorities in the region in March of thi...

The recent reductions in the price of milk will put many farmers out of business according to one representative group. A 10 cent drop in the price of Lidl and Aldi's own-brand milk products came into effect yesterday. Tesco and Supervalu say they'll introduce a 10 cent decrease tomorrow. Pat McCormack of the Irish Creamery Milk Supppliers' Association says these reductions and climate change dema...

The Leader of Aontú says the increase in road tolls amounts to highway robbery. Nine tolls upped their charges yesterday with new increases ranging from 10 to 30 cent per vehicle. They'd been due to rise at the start of the year in line with inflation, but this was delayed. Deputy Peadar Toibín says it's outrageous that motorists are facing these charges so soon after increases in excise duty for...

Three separate retailers have dropped their milk prices in a number of hours. Lidl announced a 10 cent drop in the price of its own-brand milk products this morning. Lidl says it will see a three million euro saving passed on to its shoppers. Aldi followed suit this afternoon, while Tesco announced it too will introduce a 10 cent decrease on Monday. Chairperson of the Irish Farmers' Association's...

A ban on smoking in designated outdoor eating and drinking areas go a "step too far", according to a Leitrim Councillor and publican. It comes ASH Ireland asked Galway County Council to add no smoking conditions to all new outdoor dining applications. The conditions would only apply to seating areas on public streets and not those on private property. Independent Councillor Felim Gurn says already...

The Agriculture Minister has been accused of gaslighting renters. The comments were made by Sinn Féin Housing Spokesperson Eoin O'Broin who also asked Donegal TD Charlie McConalogue how long does the Government need to solve the ongoing housing crisis. In the Dail, Deputy O'Broin also hit out at Minister McConalogue and Fianna Fail of propping up Fine Gael and that the sole responsibility for the...

The deadline for CAO change of mind applications is 5 o'clock this evening. Students can add, remove or change the order of their choices for third-level college places on the online app. So far 3 thousand 900 applicants have yet to enter any course choices, according to the Central Application Office. Head of Communications for the CAO, Eileen Keleghan, says it's important students are thorough:

Councillor Justin Warnock speaking to Ocean FM News following his election as Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council.

Sligo Councillor is calling for two day care centres in the west of the county to be restored to full services. Prior to the Covid pandemic, Easkey and Enniscrone Day Care Centres both operated four days a week. However, due to staff vacancies both centres currently only operate two days a week. Ballymote-Tubbercurry Municipal District Councillor Dara Mulvey, who is a member of the Regional Health...

Hundreds of homes and premises in parts of Sligo are facing water disruption today as a major burst water pipe in Ballisodare. It's understood that Homes and businesses in a large area including Ballisodare, Carraroe will be impacted. The leak is believed to have taken place close to the fisheries in Ballisodare. This is the latest in a long line of burst pipes in the area . Sligo Drumcliff Counci...

It’s expected that north Leitrim based Councillor Justin Warnock will be selected as the new Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council today. He succeeds  Ballinamore MD Councillor Ita Reynolds Flynn in the role. Carrigallen Councillor Paddy O' Rourke will be the new Leas  Cathaoirleach. Speaking to Ocean FM news Councillor Warnock says it’s a great honour for him to take up the role and the Fianna...

Gardai in Donegal yesterday evening carried out a number of searches at Teelin Pier near Sliabh Liag. The well-known tourist location has been closed all week as gardai carry out searches for a man they believe to missing. The road to Teelin Pier, which is about a kilometre away from Sliabh Liag was closed yesterday. It’s understood that the Garda Water Unit carried out searches at the pier yester...

Media Minister Catherine Martin has urged the Board of RTE to responsibly account for decisions taken which have damaged public trust in RTÉ. The chair of the RTÉ board has been described as a deer in headlights after management at the broadcaster appeared at the Oireachtas Media Committee yesterday Minister Martin speaking in Stradnhill today said she was shocked by the failure of governance that...

A Donegal Senator has called for in the Seanad this morning for a new Garda Station to be constructed in west Donegal in addition to standalone Garda Division established in the county. Senator Niall Blaney says the vast size of the county and the fact that Donegal has such an extensive border area Donegal urgently needs its own Garda Division. Senator Blaney says with the current investigation th...

The official opening of the National Surf Centre in Strandhill is getting underway this morning. Tourism Minister Catherine Martin and Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys are due to cut the ribbon with funding for the project coming from Fáilte Ireland, the Department of Rural and Community Development and Sligo County Council. Built at a cost of approximately €3m, the b...

The Minister for Rural and Community Development believes that the new surf centre in Sligo will have huge economic benefits for the region. The new centre officially opened this morning at Strandhill. Built at a cost of €3m it'll will provide local surf schools with a central base from which to operate. Speaking from the opening to our reporter Donal Ryan, Minister Heather Humphreys says Sligo ha...