Ocean FM News Reports

A Sligo-Leitrim TD has called in into the question the timing of a decision to increase toll charges. Drivers across the country can expect to pay more for their tolls from next month. In an announcement yesterday tolls on nine roads including the M50 will increase by between 10 and 30 cents. Dublin's Port Tunnel will be unaffected by the rise. Sinn Féin's spokesperson on Transport Martin Kenny sa...

The County Sligo Local Economic and Community Plan will be launched later on this morning. The project know as Sligo 2030 - One Voice One Vision will be launched by Junior Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development Joe O Brien. Today's launch will take place in the Council at City Hall and will commence at 11 am Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services at Sligo County Counc...

A local councillor and a member of the Regional Health Forum West has sharply criticised HSE chiefs for failing to adequately plan for the large influx of people into the north west over the Bank Holiday Weekend. With major festivals in Ballyshannon, Sligo, Carrick-on-Shannon and Drumcora thousands descended on the local region. Other popular tourist locations also reported large numbers of visito...

Leaving Certificate students are being advised to check their timetables ahead of tomorrow's exams. They begin tomorrow morning with English Paper One and Home Economics for Leaving Certificate, and English and Religion for Junior Certificate. For this year's sixth years its the first time they'll sit state exams, as their junior certificate was cancelled during the Covid pandemic. Guidance Counse...

A Donegal TD is warning that young people are being recruited into criminal activity right across the country and not just in large towns and cities. Thomas Pringle is calling for the root causes of crime must be addressed The Independent Deputy, has welcomed legislation to make recruiting a child to commit a crime an offense. It’s emerged that Four hundred drug offences were committed by children...

A Donegal TD is warning that young people are being recruited into criminal activity right across the country and not just in large towns and cities. Thomas Pringle is calling for the root causes of crime must be addressed The Independent Deputy, has welcomed legislation to make recruiting a child to commit a crime an offense. It’s emerged that Four hundred drug offences were committed by children...

A Donegal Councillor says the weekend Rory Gallagher music festival has provided a valuable boost to the local economy in Ballyshannon. The 2023 running of the event attracted another large audience from here at home and overseas. There were no public order offences to report from over the weekend and Ballyshannon based Fine Gael Councillor Barry Sweeney says the festival was a huge success and th...

t's thought that Ballymote and the surrounding area is need of extra signage. There's said to be a lack of name plaques in the town, leading to concern that the issue may make it difficult for tourists to navigate. While Sligo County Council has said there are no funding avenues to be explored this year, it could be something that the local Tidy Towns could pursue. Local Cllr Dara Mulvey says bigg...

Leitrim Councillor says the timing of industrial action by SIPTU Water Services members working with the Local Authority at the same time as state examinations are about to get underway is unfortunate. Water Services personnel are threating industrial action over a number of issues. Water Services Staff will withdraw their labour and place pickets for 48 hours, commencing at midnight. Manorhamilto...

There's a call for the hospitality industry to make itself more attractive to encourage greater numbers to work in the sector. A recent Fáilte Ireland report has found restaurants across the country are struggling to find staff, as the tourism industry bounces back from Covid. Former General Manager of Harvey's Point in Donegal, Noel Cunningham says the hospitality sector must ensure potential sta...

Leaving Cert students are being encouraged to focus on getting good rest and nourishment over the next two days. That's the recommendation from a leading guidance counsellor. English Paper 1 kicks off the exam cycle this coming Wednesday morning at 9.30. Education Columnist with the Irish Times, Brian Mooney has this advice:

There's a renewed call on the government to introduce a wealth tax on the very highest earners. It follows a Business Post/Red C poll, which found the majority of voters want the Universal Social Charge scrapped before the next general election. to scrap the USC. People Before Profit wants higher earners to be taxed instead. The party's TD Richard Boyd Barrett says the USC should be long gone:

Leitrim is one of seven counties that are set to have mental health services rolled out in its primary schools. The pilot scheme, which will also be trialled in Cavan, Monaghan, Laois, Mayo, Longford and Tipperary, was announced by Minister for Education, Norma Foley, and will begin in September 2023. The new programme is designed to recognise the impact of COVID-19 on primary school-aged children...

Anyone going to a beach, lake or river this bank holiday should go where there are lifeguards in attendance. That's the warning from Water Safety Ireland, amid a lifeguard shortage across the country at popular swimming destinations. Sligo County council has previously reported significant recruitment shortfalls leading to quieter beaches going unsupervised. Deputy CEO Roger Sweeney, says much lik...

The government is being urged to stop the rise of smoking and vaping rates among young people. The Tobacco 21 Alliance is calling for an increase in the legal age of sale of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21. Speaking to Ocean FM News, Tobacco 21 Alliance spokesperson and Chair of ASH Ireland, Council of the Irish Heart Foundation, Dr Emmet O'Brien said Ireland must lead...

Roscommon-Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice believes there's a need for a rural party in Ireland. According to the Irish Daily Mail, Government backbenchers are concerned the Green Party agenda will drive their voters to support a new planned rural party. They're worried the Greens are having too much influence in the Coalition, which could damage their chances in the next election. Deputy Michael Fit...

Gardaí and emergency services attend the scene as a fire broke out at a mobile chip van near Ballyshannon town roundabout on Friday evening. The town is currently hosting the Rory Gallagher International Festival weekend. The town's main roundabout at the Allingham Bridge was immediately closed as Gardai, the fire service and ambulances arrived at the scene, with immediate traffic diversions being...

North West farm families are being urged to avail of the benefits of SUSI education grants. With the 2023 deadlines fast approaching, IFA Farm Family & Social Affairs Chairperson Alice Doyle says SUSI educations grants could of be benefit to those entering third-level education. Speaking to Ocean FM, Alice Doyle believes the grant is an excellent opportunity for families to send their children to...

Gardaí have called on drivers to make sure it's a safe weekend for everyone this Bank Holiday. 78 people have died on the roads so far this year. An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority have issued an appeal for caution over the coming days. Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing, Paula Hilman, says serious crashes often happen suddenly:

The Coast Guard, RNLI and Water Safety Ireland are asking people to be careful in the water this weekend. With tempratures rising to 24 degrees, water tempratures are still cold. The Coast Guard is advising people to always have a way of calling for help and to stay within reach at all times. Gerard O' Flynn Irish Coast Guard Operations Manager says people need to plan before going into the water.

People in North Sligo are being asked to use water sparingly ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend. With temperatures set to soar, the water supply in North Sligo is critically low as the rivers are drying up in the heat. Councillor Donal Gilroy has asked people to be vigilant when using their water supply this weekend.

It's expected that Over 20,000 passengers are expected to pass through Ireland West Airport over the June bank holiday weekend with passenger numbers to be up by almost 20% when compared to the same period last year and 10% higher than in June 2019. Over 120 flights are expected to arrive and depart over the coming days with flights to and from 20 international destinations. Donal Healy is Head of...

A local elected representative claims the lack of a skilled workforce and major anomalies around the planning process are contributing factors to vast amounts of funding that the Department of Housing has failed to spend. More than €380 million was returned to the exchequer by the Department over the last four years. The news was confirmed to the Public Accounts Committee with a total of €246 mill...

The Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister says justice needs to be done for the family of Donegal man Private Seán Rooney. A military tribunal in Lebanon has accused five men of killing the UN peacekeeper during an attack on his convoy. It's alleged the men have links to the Hezbollah group. Tánaiste Micheál Martin welcomed progress in the investigation:

A Donegal GP has given a cautious welcome to plans for extra GP places. It's after the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly anticipates that the numbers of an intake are to rise by a third by 2024. He says he's committed to increasing the country's medical workforce. Minister Donnelly says it offers more training places to doctors who want to specialise as General Practitioners. But Dr Denis McCauley,...