Ocean FM News Reports

There's calls for a shop front improvement assistance scheme to be set up in Sligo. It's thought that the move would support owners of small independent businesses to upgrade their retail outlets. Cllr Dara Mulvey believes that such a scheme would not only raise the image of town centres but would also in turn lead to increased local and visitor footfall. He says other counties have a similar sche...

It's been confirmed that a specialist drug dog unit is to be established in Donegal. Chief Superintendent Aidan Glacken has stated that will be in place in the coming months along with a dog handler. The move was confirmed at the latest sitting of Donegal Joint Policing Committee. Councillor Michael McClafferty has been calling for such a service to be rolled out in the county for a number of year...

A leading GP believes the concept of free GP care is a good one and will lead to better outcomes. Six and seven-year-olds are now eligible for free GP care. However, Stranorlar-based GP Dr. Denis McCauley believes this and the planned roll out of the Doctor Visit card will make it more difficult for people to see their GP. Dr. McCauley who's a member of the GP Sub-Committee of the IMO thinks the s...

Thundery showers are on the cards over the coming days as the dry spell makes its exit. Temperatures could hit highs of 24 degrees today, with a few showers expected later. Met Éireann says some of these may turn heavy. Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather has the outlook over the coming days:

Leaving Cert students should take some time out today before another busy week in the exam hall. That’s the advice from Ireland’s youth website Spunout. Week two of the state exams start tomorrow morning with Maths paper 2 and Irish Paper 1 on the agenda. Ian Power CEO of Spunout says cramming is not a good idea:

The Government is being urged to make sure an evaluation on the impact of tax on sugar-sweetened drinks happens as soon as possible. Sinn Fein TD Ruairí Ó Murchú is making the call, saying this tax was introduced in 2018 and took in 32 million euro last year. The analysis of the tax by the Department of Health reportedly could lead to a new levy on some processed foods. Deputy Ó Murchú says the su...

As discussions continue into the proposed Nature Restoration Law and its possible impact, the Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) have called for a reassessment of the SAC and SPA land designations that forms part of the Natura 2000 network. The INHFA believe the experience of the law has been predominantly a negative one, that has seen the income potential from these lands curtailed i...

Contact will be made shortly with the people affected by a cyber-attack at the HSE. The breach happened while Ernest & Young was working with the health authority on a project to automate part of its recruitment process. It's likely information relating to 20 people involved has been accessed. Cyber Security Expert and Executive Chairman of Smarttech 247 Ronan Murphy says it's a worrying developme...

Exam students are being advised to take the weekend to recuperate before another week of work, according to a teacher. Over the last three days Leaving Cert students have been sitting English, Home Economics, Engineering, Geography and Maths. Monday will see students sitting Maths Paper 2 and Irish Paper 1. Luke Saunders is a teacher and founder of StudyClix.ie, he says students haven't had many s...

Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council Michael Clarke took a different view to Cllr Bree. He described todays meeting as 'positive'. He's been telling Ocean FM News that the allocation of funding is a decision for governement, and not just Minster Eamon Ryan

Minister's Chambers address to the Sligo County Councillors failed to alleviate the worries of all Sligo Councillors in relation to the future of the N17 Upgrade. Sligo Strandhill Independent Councillor Declan Bree was one of the 15 councillors that attended the meeting this morning. He says the meeting failed to offer any positive news, and that Minister Chambers did not contradict the comments o...

The Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers, says a final decision on the provision of funding for the N17 Knock to Collooney project won't be made until the end of the year. Minister Chambers met with Sligo County Council earlier this morning. Speaking to Ocean FM News, Minister Chambers said no final decision for funding on such projects have yet been decided.

Ours to Protect is a unique and exciting audio project - a collaboration of local and regional broadcasters from across the country who have come together to tackle climate change, champion climate action, and inform and educate audiences all over Ireland about how they can make a difference.

The Minister of State at the Department of Transport Environment, Climate and Communications Jack Chambers is expected to receive a grilling from Sligo Councillors this morning over the recent decision by the Minister Eamon Ryan to suspend funding for upgrade works on the N17 Knock to Collooney project. Minister Chambers is currently meeting with Sligo county councillors before holding talks with...

Work will begin today in Donegal Town at the site of the new Gael Scoil na gCeithre Maistri. The construction of a permanent building was due to have started a number of months ago but was held up  as part of a public expenditure review. A major local; campaign was launched which resulted in a protest being staged during a visit to the county by the Minister for Education Norma Foley. The school h...

There is growing speculation today that elected representatives from the North West could be headhunted to join a new a new political party to represent rural Ireland. Roscommon East Galway Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice is believed to be the driving force behind the formation of the proposed party. Deputy Fitzmaurice claims to be in discussion with up to 25 councillors from across the political spect...

Almost 309,000 euro has been announced in funding for more than 120 community groups in Sligo. The announcement was made by Junior Minister for Community Development, Intergration and Charities, Joe O'Brien at the launch of the County Sligo Local Economic and Community Plan. The 308,500 is to be shared between 126 groups in Sligo, with amounts allocated ranging from 750 euro to 6,000 euro for a nu...

The Minister for Agriculture Donegal TD Charlie McConalogue has ordered a national fodder survey. The move comes as drought conditions begin to impact on farms in the north west and throughout the country. Met Éireann has confirmed that such widespread and prolonged dry conditions have not been recorded since 2018, when farming suffered a severe drought and fodder crisis. The Irish Farmers Journal...

A Leitrim County Councillor has questioned the decision to award the freedom of Dublin to Greta Thunberg and Duncan Stewart. It's being reported that the climate change campaigners have been given the nod ahead of formal approval next week. It's the first time the honour will be bestowed on environmentalists. Kinlough based councillor, Justin Warnock previously claimed that there was too much pres...

As both the Leaving Cert and Junior Cert exams got underway today, there has been a mixed reaction to what appeared on the English papers. 'Between two worlds' and 'Life Lessons' were the themes for this year's Leaving Cert English Paper One, while at Junior Cert, a tricky question on the Roger McGough poem, "An Apology" appeared. Speaking to Ocean FM News, founder of StudyClix and former teacher...

Minister of State Joe O'Brien says the a new Economic and Community plan for Sligo will play a key role in the development of the county. The County Sligo Local Economic and Community Plan was launched within the last hour. The project, known as Sligo 2030 – One Voice One Vision, was launched by Junior Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development Joe O Brien. Speaking to...

A leading Leitrim County Council official says the €3 million investment is planned to re-develop a business campus for the north-west at the former MBNA offices in Carrick-On-Shannon will provide a significant boost for the North West Region. Leitrim County Council's Carrick Business Campus aims to capitalise on the large pool of financial services talent in the region with innovative step-up tra...

As industrial action continues today by retained fire fighters, calls have been made for Minister Darragh O'Brien to resolve the crisis which is putting the lives of firefighters and the public at risk. Donegal Sinn Féín TD Pádraig MacLochlainn says the core issues at the heart of the dispute is a recruitment and retention crisis, and that Minister O'Brien must act now to resolve the situation. Th...

Minister for Rural Development Heather Humphreys will on Arranmore Island in County Donegal today to provide the first update in 27 years to the country's national island policy will be published later. "Our Living Islands" aims to enhance life for islanders, and contains commitments around employment, healthcare and housing. Minister Humphreys says connectivity will be to the fore of this three-y...

A Donegal TD and Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine says it's unfortunate the focus for climate action falls so heavily on farmers. Charlie McConalogue says agriculture makes up such a large part of Ireland's emissions as the country isn't as industrialised as elsewhere. Almost 40 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in 2021 came from the agriculture sector. But Minister McConalogue says fa...