Ocean FM News Reports

A Sligo Councillor is calling on the Local Authority to establish a maintenance fund to ensure that playgrounds in the Sligo Strandhill Municipal District are maintained all year round.     The calls from Councillor Tom MacSharry, come after serious concern has been raised over such facilities situated at Mitchell Curley Park and Doorly Park.    Sligo County Council has had to...

Today is the final day that the Red Dress project will be at City Hall in Sligo. The dress has been worked on by 380 people over 14 years from 51 countries, making it a Guinness World Record for largest embroidery project. The project provides a platform for individuals, particularly women, and communities around the world, many of whom are vulnerable and/or live in poverty, to tell their stories...

Chair of the Sligo PeacePlus Partnership, Cllr Donal Gilroy praised the combined efforts on the project:

A PEACEPLUS initiative has been launched in Sligo today. The programme is aimed at cross border counties and encourages a prosperous and connected society between them. Millions have been allocated towards various projects to improve relations on the island of Ireland. Minister of State Dara Calleary says it’s important to continue a message of peace in Irish society:

A series of follow-up meetings between clinicians and HSE management are to be scheduled to ensure progress on upgrades to the Orthopaedic Theatre at Sligo University Hospital. This week it was revealed that the entire roof will be replaced at the theatre later this year after numerous leaks. The meetings will also aim to support the restoration of a full range of elective orthopaedic surgeries. J...

Another story has emerged over ambulance response times in Donegal.   This week, a young boy with profound disabilities took seriously ill in the south west area of the county.   His mother dialled 999 and the ambulance took an hour and a half to reach their home.   It follows another incident in recent weeks where an elderly man had to wait several hours for an ambulance after suff...

There's a call for learner drivers to be allowed drive a car unaccompanied. It comes following revelations that a Donegal woman and native Irish speaker is being forced out of the Gaeltacht as she can't take up employment due to not having a driving license. The waiting list for tests is said to be growing all the time, with people currently waiting around 6 months on average. The current wait tim...

There's disappointment in Donegal Town over a lack of progress in upgrading the public toilets. Funding has already been granted for the work and it had been hoped that it would be done by now. There's ongoing concern that the facilities in their current state are not up standard. Fianna Fail Cllr Michael Naughton is confident that despite the delays, work will start soon:

Serious concern has been raised over traders setting up their stalls on the Diamond in Killybegs and 'selling junk'. The traders, not believed to be from the town, arrive to the area at weekends and its said to be damaging other nearby businesses. Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council and local Cllr Niamh Kennedy has questioned if they are legally allowed to carry out this practice. She says it'...

The Taoiseach has confirmed that he will look into getting a serious incident report in relation to the murder of Jimmy Loughlin in Sligo in 2018. Speaking in the Dail yesterday, the distress of the victim’s family was highlighted by Deputy Martin Kenny as he expressed their desire for a report from the HSE. The gardai had previously contacted the HSE over the danger the killer posed when he had s...

There are hopes columbariums will be installed across Sligo cemeteries in the near future. Columbariums provide a space for urns containing cremated remains to reside, along with a memorial plaque. Many cemeteries are operating at capacity and with vacant plots coming at a premium, further alternatives are being sought for the deceased. Ballymote-Tubbercurry Fianna Fail Cllr Barry Gallagher says f...

It's emerged that there are no plans to delay GAEC2. Farmers across the north west have previously voiced their concerns over the proposals. Under new rules, any land that is recorded as being over 50% peatland, will be considered as 100% peatland. This has caused confusion over how people can legally farm their land, due to particular restrictions around peatland. Local Labour Senator Nessa Cosgr...

The current state of the Orthopaedic Surgical Theatre at Sligo University Hospital could lead to a loss of the service in the future. That’s according to a local Cllr who has huge concerns over the staff who may not want to continue working in such conditions. The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll McNeill, had confirmed last night in the Dail that a new roof will be developed at the theatre la...

The ASTI General Secretary, Kieran Christie says their members have genuine concern over the new Leaving cert reform proposals.   Speaking to OceanFM News Mr Christie says members are aware of the potential penalties if they fail to accept the proposals.     He says they welcome reform but have concerns that introducing them in the new school year will lead to problems.   The A...

A Leitrim Councillor says there is no need to hit the panic button just yet in relation to the possible overflow of sewage from septic tanks entering into water supplies in the county.   Cllr James Gilmartin was responding to the contents of an EPA report that claims that Leitrim is one of the Counties with the highest failure rates when it comes Septic Tank inspections.   The big local...

Questions are being asked over a long awaited business case over the future of two fire stations in south Donegal. The viability of both Bundoran and Ballyshannon fire stations has been an issue which has rumbled on for decades. In recent months, it had been expected that it would finally come to a head with a business case, recommending the retention of both stations being made to the Department...

It's emerged that funding for potential safety measures outside Dunkineely National School won't be sanctioned until 2026. The revelations come as options for what could be installed there are still being assessed - over two years on from a serious near miss between children and a lorry. The school is located along a national primary route meaning that there are certain constraints over what traff...

It’s been confirmed that Rescue 118 will maintain a 24/7 service. A decision was previously made in February to postpone the new operating system at its Strandhill base following safety concerns about the timing of the transition between two different contractors. Bristow Ireland was awarded the ten-year contract in 2023, replacing the previous operator CHC Ireland. While The Department of Transpo...

The Housing Minister is under pressure to reflect and act following his recent visit to Donegal. Minister James Browne was in the county earlier this week and met with those affected by the defective concrete block crisis. Speaking in the Dail last night, 100% Redress Party TD Charles Ward says the occasion should spark a desire in the Minister to provide a better scheme than the one that's curren...

The rise in camper van culture needs to be embraced. That's according to Independent Cllr Jimmy Brogan amid renewed concern over the high level of vehicles parked at scenic spots in south Donegal. The issue is said to be particularly prevalent at the pier in Donegal Town again this year, with further calls for lands locally to be earmarked for the provision of campsites. Cllr Brogan believes that...

The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll McNeill has provided confirmation in the Dáil that the roof in the Orthopaedic Surgical Theatre at Sligo University Hospital will be replaced with a new roof later this year.   Minister McNeill confirmed the news in a Dáil exchange with local TD Martin Kenny last night.      The theatre was closed and surgery cancelled for eight days be...

Sinn Fein Cllr Michael McMahon says he is heartened by the support of his fellow colleagues and the local community in the wake of an anti-immigration protest descending on his home at the weekend.   It's claimed that some protestors terrorised the McMahon family during the course of Saturday’s incident.   Yesterday, members of the Donegal MD united in solidarity to condemn the incident,...

A new report from the EPA claims that Leitrim is one of the Counties with the highest failure rates when it comes Septic Tank inspections.   75 per cent of the tanks inspected failed.   It’s one of a number of counties where between 70-97per cent of inspected tanks failed.   The failure rate in Sligo stood at 54 per cent while in Donegal was slightly lower at 51 per cent.   Acr...

Pay, the cost of living and working conditions are set to top the agenda of two conferences being held by the Forsa trade union in Donegal.    The Organisation represents 30 thousand health and welfare workers.   10,000 local government and services workers will also be represented at the event which will run for two days.   Media relations director with Forsa Niall Shanahan sa...

Changes to notice requirements at Sligo train station has taken effect from today. This means people with a disability who require assistance will need to inform Irish Rail one hour before travelling, instead of 12. The changes take effect at 15 stations nationwide including Dublin Connolly and Galway. Jane Cregan, of Irish Rail, explains the improvements in accessibility this will provide for pas...