Ocean FM News Reports

A Leitrim Councillor has questioned the length of time it takes for work to be carried out on houses under the Housing Adaptation Grants for both council and privately owned houses. Cllr Brendan Barry says there are cases of people that need to have their homes modified having to wait long periods of time for the work to be carried out. The Sinn Féin Councillor with hospital beds and housing alrea...

Gardaí have been given the go ahead to purchase bodycams after a Cabinet decision this week. The law governing their use will be passed by July, however access to facial recognition technology has been delayed. GRA President and Donegal President Brendan O'Connor told North West Today that we way behind when compared to other countries:

A Donegal Sinn Féin TD has called on the Minister for Finance to intervene to ensure that mortgage holder loans are not being held by vulture funds and assist with mortgage arears. Deputy Pearse Doherty says interventions have previously taken place in other sectors such as hospitality and energy costs for businesses. Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Doherty says the Finance Minister, Michael McGrath...

This week saw four teenagers rescued from the water at Strandhill. It's the latest in a string of near tragedies in the area. Roger Sweeney, Deputy CEO of Water Safety Ireland says there's an onus on everyone not to swim there and swimmers should not be relying on surfers to rescue them:

On this week's Friday Panel we were joined by Fianna Fail Cllr Donal Gilroy and local businessman Blaine Gaffney. Among the topics discussed was the latest scandal to hit RTE, what should be done to curb swimming at Strandhill and should there be more facilities for campervans in the North West:

Warnings have been issued to people not to burn general waste and tyres tonight during the Bonfire celebrations June 23rd, (St. John's Eve), is traditionally the night when Bonfires are lit at sunset. The bonfire tradition is still popular in many parts of the North West with Black Smoke covering the skies of Sligo Leitrim and Donegal. Local Authorities however are asking that people do not burn w...

Seven agricultural shows in Donegal have been allocated funding announced by Rural Development Minister Heather Humphreys. In total, €60,025 has been allocated to Donegal shows. €10,700 has been allocated to The Clonmany Show. The Ardara Show, Ballyshannon Annual Show, Finn Valley Show, Glencolmcille Agriculture Show and Inishowen Agricultural Show will each receive €8,525 while the Meeancross Sho...

A Donegal TD has claimed that hardly a week goes by where 'horror stories' don't emerge from the Emergency Department at Letterkenny University Hospital. The conditions at the facility have been once again branded as 'unacceptable' on the floor of the Dail. It comes as the General Manager of the hospital has this week unveiled new plans for the hospital in response to a damning report by HIQA. Sin...

Ours to Protect is a new weekly slot focussed on climate action which is funded by Coimisiún na Meán. Every Thursday we're trying to look at different aspects of climate change and to highlight things that people can do locally for Climate Action. Last week we spoke about the power of simply planting a tree. This week we are asking people to continue No Mow May and go for a Slow Mow Summer, cuttin...

A Sligo Leitrim TD says increasing the cost of tolls in line with inflation doesn't make sense. Toll rates will increase from July 1st across the motorway network including on the M50, M1, M4, M7 and M8. The maximum rate they can be raised by is in line with the consumer price index, pegged at 8-point-6 per cent between August 2021 and 2022. The Sinn Fein Spokesperson on Transport is Martin Kenny....

Tragedy was avoided at Strandhill yet again as a number of teenagers rescued from the water yesterday. Local Cllr Sinead Maguire thinks now is the time of exploring the idea of deploying lifeguard to the beach there as the no swimming signage, she feels, is not enough:

Roscommon mother Claire Colum joined us on the programme this morning. Her daughter Kate Molly passed away at the end of March following complications resulting from Strep A. Claire wanted to highlight to other parents the symptoms and warning signs:

Ahead of their gig in The Sligo Park Hotel on June 30th, our very own Shane Smyth caught up with Darren Holden from The High Kings.

There are genuine fears that the Glenboy / Glenfarne group water scheme will cease to exist if Uisce Eireann don't take charge of it. 440 premises are currently being serviced by the scheme and there's concern if it's not taken over, the taps in people's homes could run dry in a worst case scenario. In its latest update, the utility says that there are no current plans to take over the scheme due...

The Children's Minister has confirmed that engagements between Government Departments and other relevant stakeholders over the major student accommodation debacle in Sligo are ongoing. It emerged in recent weeks that Milligan Court and Benbulben Court in the town - two apartment complexes which traditionally houses students - are to no longer do so. It's thought that up to 500 students are now lef...

Fresh warnings are being issued today in relation to the dangers of swimming at Strandhill beach Members of the Sligo Bay RNLI volunteer crew responded yesterday to reports of a number swimmers at the location yesterday. The Coast Guard deployed a lifeboat to launch at 2.28pm to reports of four swimmers in difficulty off the beach in Strandhill. On arrival at the scene the Coast Guard advised the...

A number of projects in Leitrim have been allocated funding in the Community Support Fund announced by Minister Heather Humphreys. The fund supports groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their energy bills, as well as with improvements to their facilities. In total over €260,000 in funding will be made available for 144 projects in Leitrim. Among the recipients are An Tóstal Festival i...

A Sligo Councillor is calling on the local authority write to the HSE and the Minister for Health to provide for a GP service on the grounds of Sligo University Hospital. Each day, patients are experiencing lengthy waiting times at the hospital. Councillor Marie Casserly believes the introduction of a GP service would alleviate the stress on hospital staff.

The new Cathaoirleach of the Manorhamilton Municipal District has identified creating tourism accommodation and the roll out of the rural link transport services in north Leitrim as his two main targets for the year ahead. Independent Councillor Felim Gurn succeeded Fine Gael Councillor Frank Dolan in the position earlier this week. Speaking to Ocean FM News, the Manorhamilton-based publican says...

Independent Councillor Tom Conaghan has been elected Cathaoirleach of the Donegal Municipal District. Cllr Conaghan, who served as Leas Cathaoirleach of the District for the past year will now take over the role from Cllr Niamh Kennedy. Independent Cllr Conaghan was elected as Cathaoirleach at Tuesday's meeting of the Donegal Municipal District. Speaking to Ocean FM News, the newly elected Cathaoi...

Medication shortages are said to be worsening -  how the situation is affecting some pharmacies in the North West? Donegal Pharmacist and Chairperson of the IPU Tom Murray says while its isn't at crisis level, the problem will get worse before it gets better: 

Former Mayor of Limerick City, Councillor Daniel Butler, is calling for regulation and enforcement of e-bikes, saying some are going "well beyond" 25 kilometres an hour. He has written to the Departments of Justice and Transport to highlight the issue, saying that some of the behaviours are dangerous: He told North West Today that the sale of e bikes and scooters needs to be regulated: 

There has been a considerable rise in the number seeking treatment for cocaine use in recent years according to a new report. A Health Research Board (HRB) report into drug treatment demand has found that 12,009 cases* were treated for problem drug use in 2022. Almost four in ten of those cases were never treated before. Cocaine was the most common drug reported, accounting for one in three cases....

Sligo-Leitrim TD Marc Mac Sharry has questioned the government's commitment to the upgrade of the N17 National Primary Route. The Independent Deputy was due to raise the matter with Transport Minister Eamon Ryan, however, he wasn't present. Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Mac Sharry believes that just because the planned upgrade is in the National Development Plan, it means nothing. Fianna Fáil Deput...

A Sligo-Leitrim TD has asked the Taoiseach to ensure that the government fulfils its promise that public transport will be prioritised for people will be delivered. Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Martin Kenny said that 6 passengers in Boyle on Monday night waiting Expressway's 23 bus to Dublin Airport. Deputy Kenny, Sinn Féin's spokesperson on transport also called for the provision of the S3 bus se...