Ocean FM News Reports

The construction of almost a thousand new prison spaces is being fast-tracked by the government. The Justice Minister is presenting the plan to Cabinet today, as the overcrowding crisis in jails worsens. Jim O'Callaghan will inform ministers that the Irish Prison Service can deliver 150 additional spaces at Castlerea, 180 at the Midlands Prison and 150 at Mountjoy — all 12 months ahead of schedule...

A number of Electric Vehicle charging ports are to be installed across the Ocean FM franchise area. The announcement by the Department of Transport is part of an allocation of almost €8 million to support grants for recharging infrastructure with chargers set to be in place by the end of this year. The announcement is part of a wider plan to build a reliable recharging network across the country,...

There’s been a stark warning that the delayed balancing payments under the ACRES scheme could come “too little, too late”. Over 200 farmers in the north west are still awaiting their 2023 balancing payment under the scheme. 122 are awaiting in Donegal while 70 and 40 is the figure in Sligo and Leitrim respectively. While 520 still have been left without payment for 2024 locally. The Irish Natura a...

The North West Hospice will be running their Sunflower Days fundraiser on Thursday and Friday this week. During the campaign, all money raised in Sligo, Leitrim, South Donegal and West Cavan will go directly back into the local hospice. Volunteers will be out on the streets across the region as they aim to promote awareness of the service and the work they do. Olive McTague, Charity Manager of the...

The Health and Safety Authority are holding inspections at Killybegs as they aim to reduce the high fatality rate in the fishing sector. The inspection campaign aims to focus on helping fishermen to prepare for the 'harsh and dangerous' conditions at sea. From 2015 to 2024, there were 24 fatal incidents in the fishing sector, making it the most dangerous sector to work in, in Ireland. Ger Hartnett...

It's emerged that there are around 100 homes in Donegal recently finished but not occupied. It follows what's been described as a productive meeting between Donegal County Councillors and housing developers in recent days. There is now said to be renewed hopes that housing development will be fast tracked in Donegal. Donegal Fianna Fail Cllr Michael Naughton says a lot of was learned during the me...

  There are renewed calls for the reopening of the rail line between Sligo and Galway.   It’s widely thought the opening up the western rail corridor would have far-reaching benefits for this region freight and passengers also being able to the take the train to Ireland West Airport.   However, the project to reopen the line between Athenry and Claremorris was not included as a prio...

The North West and West of Ireland have the largest amount of claims made to the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme in the wake of Storm Eowyn. Thousands of homes, farms and businesses throughout counties Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal were left without power for an extended period of time as damaging gusts wreaked havoc across the region. In new figures provided by the Department of Social Protection to...

Thousands of students across Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal will begin their Leaving Cert, Junior Cert and LCA exams this morning. Nationally, around 4 million examination papers will be handed out at more than 15 thousand exam centres over the next three weeks. As is tradition, the exams will start off with English Paper One while Religion and Applied Maths bring the exam season to a close on 24th Ju...

The EPA says all areas of our economy, society and environment are at risk of climate change in the near future. The agency has released the first 'National Climate Change Risk Assessment report' to offer advice on how to make the country more climate resilient. Urgent action is also needed within five years over the threat of disruption and damage to buildings and transport infrastructure due to...

Inspectors from the Health and Safety Authority will be at key sea fishing ports this week, as part of a national inspection campaign. Among those include Killybegs. According to the BIM Labour Force Analysis of the Irish fishing fleet, the sea fishing sector in Ireland has a workforce of almost 2,700 people directly employed and a registered fleet of just under 2,000 vessels. Twenty four people w...

There were over 9,000 claims made across the North West to the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme following Storm Eowyn. In new figures provided by the Department of Social Protection to 7LÁ, there were over 4,000 applications in Leitrim, over 3,000 in Sligo, and over 1,000 in Donegal. Nationally there was 93,007 applications registered in respect of 75,733 people totalling almost €12.8 million in fun...

A new study entitled ‘An economic vision for the Sligo to Enniskillen Greenway’ has highlighted the proposed greenway’s potential to support rural development, sustainable tourism, and local enterprise along the route. The survey provides a practical framework for how local authorities, businesses, and communities might plan for and respond to the potential opportunities from the project. The stud...

Leaving Cert Exam advice has been issued to students across the North West today. The state exams begin with English Paper One tomorrow morning. More than 66 thousand students nationwide will sit the state exams over the coming weeks. Vice Principal of Sligo Grammar School, Jimmy Staunton, highlighted some last minute tips for local students to take into their exams:

People in the North West are being warned to ensure that their passport is in date. It comes as a number of people in the region have reportedly discovered that their passport expired just as they were about to go on holidays. The turnaround time at the passport office has also increased due to the time of year. Independent Cllr Jimmy Brogan says it's an issue than can easily be avoided:

Over 5,000 motorists were convicted of motoring offences at courts in the north west from 2010 until 2023. Figures were provided by Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan to Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly show counties Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal each recorded some of the highest in the country. The RSA have previously launched campaigns on road safety and highlighted the increasing number of drink a...

Today is the final day for people to have their on the SLNCR Greenway. It's the third public consultation as part of the project with the emerging preferred corridor is up for consideration. The greenway is set to run through Sligo, Leitrim and parts of Northern Ireland. Fine Gael Cllr Thomas Walsh says that the public consultation is crucial in forming an important part of advancing the design pr...

171 Donegal Doctors are demanding an urgent meeting with the Health Minister over the exclusion of Letterkenny from the Surgical Hub plan for the North West. A business case has been submitted by the HSE for the hub to be located in Sligo, with a greenfield site also identified as a potential location for the facility. Now a campaign has been launched in Donegal, including senior doctors from Lett...

A HSE decision to identify a site in Sligo as the sole preferred option for a new surgical hub in the North West has been described as "flawed, unjustified, and deeply damaging". It comes as more than 170 doctors based in Donegal have sent a joint letter to the Minister for Health demanding an urgent meeting over the HSE's plans to overlook Letterkenny as the location for a planned surgical hub in...

Gardai have re-issued their road safety appeal ahead of the conclusion of the June Bank Holiday weekend. A woman in her 70s after the car she was driving was involved in a collision with a van at Bunlin Bridge in county Donegal on Friday. That brings the total number of fatalities on Irish roads so far this year to 67. Gardaí caught 650 drivers speeding on Sunday and arrested 48 people for intoxic...

Donegal have their first win of the All-Ireland series: 3-26 to 1-13 winners against Cavan on Sunday. Paddy McGill reviews the day's events, with contributions from Martin McHugh, Peter Campbell (Donegal Democrat), Donegal boss Jim McGuinness & Paul Fitzpatrick (Anglo Celt newspaper).

It has been confirmed that the reopening of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Sligo has been pushed back further. The cathedral originally closed at the beginning of January to facilitate much needed repair works. Liturgies for the duration of the closure are being celebrated in Nazareth Chapel. It was hoped that works, which include the cleaning and repainting of interior walls and su...

Those looking to take part in water-based activities in the north west are being reminded to take care and prioritise safety this Bank Holiday weekend. The Irish Coast Guard, RNLI and Water Safety Ireland have issued the warning, as people are expected to visit beaches, lakes, and rivers. It comes following a 10% increase in drownings so far this year, compared to the same period last year. With t...

Bundoran RNLI have issued a water safety appeal for the North West over the bank holiday weekend. This warning is issued following a 10% increase in drownings so far this year, compared to the same period last year. They are urging everyone to be mindful of the dangers, plan ahead, and follow the appropriate safety guidelines for their activity. Fin Mullen, Water Safety Education Manager of Bundor...

A new Garda Station for Tubbercurry is said to be imminent. The Office of Public Works has confirmed to Fianna Fail TD Eamon Scanlon that refurbishment works at a state-owned building will accommodate a new Garda Station building for Tubbercurry. It'll be fully refurbished right next door to the current one. The current station dates back to 1960 and is now said to be completely unfit for purpose....