Ocean FM News Reports

Frustration has been expressed locally over the government’s approach to Marine Protected Areas. The legislation aims to protect, conserve and restore biodiversity in marine ecosystems by designating 30% of Ireland's by 2030. In recent days, a bottlenose dolphin, affectionately known as ‘Bawn’, has chosen to raise her young calf inshore, right along the north west coast. While the development...

The Government is being urged to row back on a decision to stall funding for over 60 social homes in Sligo. It emerged in recent weeks that the delivery of a planned 63-unit social housing scheme in Finisklin has been put on hold after the Department of Housing decided not to proceed over concerns about the cost of the project. It was one of six schemes nationwide, comprising 486 social housing un...

There are calls for the location all registered defibrillators to be provided on Google Maps. The lifesaving equipment is now available in the majority of towns and villages across the North West but can sometimes be stored in a place that may be unfamiliar with tourists or those visiting a particular area. Given how commonly used the app is for navigation and location-based services, Fine Gael Se...

Tributes are being paid to Sister Magdalene Moore, who has sadly passed away. Sister Moore, who was based in the Convent of Mercy in Ardeskin in Donegal Town, was instrumental the Solace Cancer Support Centre and was well-known among the local community for her charity work and helping others. Her Funeral takes place St. Patricks Church in Donegal Town on Thursday. Mayor of Donegal Town, Anna Gall...

Urgent clarity is being sought of the timeline for a surgical hub to be located in Sligo. As it stands, the Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeil stated that no final decision has been reached on the hub. It had originally been expected for Sligo, but there has since been an argument made that Letterkenny should be the preferred choice. Sligo Labour Senator Nessa Cosgrove says there's too much...

Further questions have been asked over whether Junior Minister Marian Harkin has been approached for clarity over the surgical hub controversy. Minister Harkin has claimed that a promise for the hub to be situated in Sligo was made as part of Government formation talks. The issue was raised in the Dail inside the last few minutes by Sinn Fein TDs Pearse Doherty and Padraig MacLochlainn who pushed...

99 point 8 per cent of public drinking water samples tested last year were compliant with EPA standards. A report from the environmental agency found the number of "at risk" supplies and long-term boil water notices both fell last year. It says almost all public water supplies are classified as safe to drink, while good progress has been made in the area of disinfection. Noel Byrne from the EPA sa...

Minister Jack Chambers says the health minister, Jennifer Carroll McNeill continues to engage with all those involved:

A Government, Donegal TD has clashed with the Ceann Comhairle on the floor of the Dáil. Fianna Fáil’s Pat “The Cope” Gallagher raised the issue of the proposed plans for surgical hub for Sligo and the lack there-of for one in Letterkenny. Just last week, Minister Marian Harkin confirmed that the decision to site the surgical hub in Sligo formed part of her negotiations during the Programme for Gov...

The Government Chief Whip has failed to clarify to whether there a political deal was made to put the proposed surgical hub in Sligo. It follows revelations made by Junior Minister Marian Harkin in recent days that a promise for the hub to be situated in Sligo was made as part of Government formation talks. In the Dail inside the last few minutes, Donegal Sinn Fein TD Padraig MacLochlainn asked fo...

Concern has been raised in the North West following the latest tourism figures from the CSO. Tourism numbers in May were down 10 per cent on the previous year - while the amount spent by those visitors dropped by 21 per cent. There are ongoing calls for the VAT rate to be cut to 9% for the hospitality sector as the tourism season is well and truly underway. Independent Manorhamilton Cllr James Gil...

Some long awaited safety measures on the N17 will not happen in the near future. A number of pedestrian crossings are said to be progressing in various villages along the route but key areas like Ballinacarrow and Achonry have been shelved for the time being. It's all said to be down to a lack of funding. Cllr Michael Clarke says they will be reapplying for safety schemes but says that ultimately...

There's currently no plans to provide a local link along the N17 from south Sligo into Sligo Town. It had been hoped locally that the service would be rolled out in the area. In a statement the NTA say that services along the N17 into Sligo are currently provided by Bus Éireann Expressway route 64 and Bus Feda route 964, both on a commercial basis. It's thought that introducing a local link along...

It's thought that housing targets in County Leitrim should be higher. It comes as new figures show that Leitrim reached 98% of its overall housing target between 2022 and 2024. Out of 82 social homes due to be built, 80 were completed. But local Cllr Padraig Fallon believes that the targets are too low in the first place and that the local authority in Leitrim could build more, if the funding was...

The Defective Concrete Block Crisis, objectors and Irish Water have all been blamed for the lack of delivery of social housing in Donegal. New figures show that Donegal delivered just 46% of its overall housing target figure between 2022-2024. Overall, it's the worst performing local authority. Sligo met 55% of its target over the same period. Newly elected Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council...

There's a further warning that a decision to hike up fees will hit Sligo students hard. It comes just weeks after moves to end protections for student renters were also announced. The Government is insisting that this year's budget will still help students and their families regardless. But Sligo Leitrim Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny says students are already facing multiple issues and this latest rev...

A County Donegal woman's been reliving the moment she performed on stage with Alanis Morissette in front of thousands of fans. Gráinne Gillespie was chosen from the crowd to join the Canadian-American star on stage at Malahide Castle in Dublin last night. She sang a verse and chorus of the classic song ' Ironic'. Grainne says everyone backstage was very supportive.

A Sligo-Leitrim TD has backed calls for a smoking ban on a number of public spaces. The Irish Heart Foundation has asked the government to follow in the steps of France where they have now prohibited smoking in areas such as beaches and parks. Ireland was the first country to ban smoking indoors back in 2004. Fine Gael Deputy Frank Feighan says he will support any initiative that aims to save live...

Parts of County Leitrim could be left without a GP in the future. New research published by the Department of Health shows pinpoints areas with the highest proportion of GPs “at risk of retirement with no viable replacement”. Practices with a single GP make up half of services deemed to be “at risk”. Single-GP practices are said to be more concentrated the likes of Leitrim and areas in West Donega...

A Donegal TD is accusing the government of breaking more promises, as student fees are to increase in September. Over the last three budgets, a cut of a thousand euro was applied to the contribution fee for students. It was initially a temporary measure, but was made solid in the recent Programme for Government.   Over recent days however, there have been numerous reports that the fees would...

Vacant houses in Sligo need to be used to combat the worsening levels of homelessness in the North West.   That's according to local Cllr Gino O'Boyle.   He made the calls following the latest homeless report from the department of housing.   The report showed that there was an increase last month in both adults and families accessing emergency accommodation when compared to April....

There are renewed calls for better home help services in the North West. It comes in the wake of a new ESRI report, which shows a projected need to increase the amount of long-term beds in care homes. Nationally, its estimated 47 to 53 thousand beds will be needed to match the demand of an aging population But Independent Cllr Marie Casserly believes that there also needs to be a big focus on enha...

Calls are being made on the Local Authority in Leitrim not to grant any occasional or one-off casual trading licences in Drumshanbo for business competing against existing rate paying businesses in the town during the weeks of the An Tostal and Joe Mooney Summer School Festivals.       The Calls have come from local Councillor Enda Mc Gloin, who says it is vital that Leitrim Council...

Serious concern has been raised over confirmation from a Sligo-Leitrim TD that her lobbying efforts has secured much-needed surgical hub for Sligo. On Friday, Minister Marian Harkin confirmed that the decision to site the surgical hub in Sligo formed part of her negotiations during the Programme for Government. What has been described as ‘a constructive meeting’ previously place between the Minist...

The Taoiseach has defended the decision in which a number of social homes were pulled in Sligo. Almost 3 thousand social homes across the country, which includes a site in Sligo will be delayed in their roll out, due to value for money concerns. The Journal.ie are reporting that a stalled housing project of almost 500 social homes, which included sites in Sligo, Kildare and Wicklow twice passed go...