Ocean FM News Reports

The European Commission's being urged to tackle the issue of vulture funds buying up properties across the EU. A special committee on the Housing Crisis has been meeting in the European Parliament in Brussels today. It's looking at what can be done to ensure citizens have access to affordable housing. Midland Northwest MEP Ciarian Mullooly says the Commission should take action:

There is a profound housing crisis in north Leitrim. That’s according to Independent Councillor Eddie Mitchell, who was speaking following confirmation that 81 families in the Manorhamilton MD are currently on the social housing waiting list. Cllr Mitchell believes that more needs to be done to assist those on the list. Cllr Mitchell says that there are also people locally who are on the cusp of h...

There are calls in Sligo to scrap the fee attached for a car history check. As it stands, people have to pay up to €15 to view the full history of each individual car, which is thought to cause an additional expense for buyers of second-hand cars. The check would include vital vehicle history data, such as mileage and write-off status. Ballymote-Tubbercurry Fine Gael Cllr Dara Mulvey says Ireland...

Disappointment has been expressed over the amount of Sligo applications rejected for humanitarian following the effects of Storm Eowyn. Some of those who have been denied are people who went without power for over two weeks. The scheme was set up in the aftermath of the storm, but is now facing calls to be reopened. Ballymote-Tubbercurry Fine Gael Cllr Gerard Mullaney is calling upon the Minister...

Questions are being asked over why management at ATU and the CEO of the Donegal Education and Training Board are both supporting the imminent move of the Donegal Education Centre to Letterkenny. Their support for the relocation was referred to by Junior Minister, Marion Harkin in her reply to a question in the Seanad last week from Senator Nessa Cosgrove. Meanwhile, there were reports of a removal...

There are renewed calls on both Irish Rail and the National Transport Authority to expand the Sligo timetable. It's thought that there's big demand for a morning and evening commuter train service Monday to Friday, between Longford & Sligo. Fianna Fail Cllr Paul Taylor is to raise the matter at the latest sitting of the Ballymote Tubbercurry MD later today. He feels that there are large number...

The Manorhamilton MD of Leitrim County Council are to write to the Minister of State for Mental Health, Mary Butler over concerns over the CAMHS service. Locally, the Children's Mental Health service currently doesn't have clinical lead, meaning a significant number of children who need help can't even get on a waiting list. Independent Councillor James Gilmartin says it's becoming a very serious...

It's been claimed that several people in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal are facing homelessness due to the absence of the tenant in situ scheme. The scheme allows local authorities buy a house from a landlord that is occupied by a tenant who is on HAP or who would normally be entitled to a Council house. It was shelved some time back and is set to be replaced with a new one. All the while, many people...

Paddy McGill brings you all the reaction and analysis from Sunday's concluding Allianz Football League Division 1 game in Castlebar, which Mayo won by 1-18 to 1-16. There's no league final for Donegal - but there's more prep time now for the Ulster Championship opener against Derry on April 6th. Contributions from Manus Boyle, Jim McGuinness, Mayo GAA journalist Edwin McGreal and Conor Breslin.

Father Chris Garrett has been appointed as administrator of Sligo’s cathedral parish.   Father Chris was ordained to the priesthood in 2023 and is a nephew of former Bishop of Elphin, Christopher Jones.   Born and raised in San Francisco, he makes the move from the parish of Castlerea in county Roscommon.   He replaces Father Declan Boyce in the role of administrator as he has been...

The requiem mass of Ruby Druce has heard memories of her kind nature and impact on others. Mrs Druce died on Thursday peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family. She celebrated her 109th birthday on New Year’s Eve in her hometown of Castlefinn, where she lived with her niece Carmel Harran and Carmel’s husband Martin. Ruby became Ireland’s oldest known resident since August last year. Speak...

Outpatient appointments will take place on weekday evenings and Saturdays, under new HSE plans. It follows an increase in hospital consultants working over the St. Patrick's Day bank holiday weekend, in a bid to reduce overcrowding. HSE boss Bernard Gloster wants staff across the health service to be rostered outside normal office hours by June, according to the Irish Independent. President of the...

Flights from Ireland West Airport to London Heathrow have returned to normal today after major disruption. 13-hundred flights, including a return flight to Ireland West were hit yesterday due to a substation blaze near the airport on Thursday night. Aer Lingus says its working hard to help passengers apply for refunds and change flights without a fee. Irish Times Consumer Affairs Correspondent Con...

Concern has been raised in the North West over the distance some trawlers are fishing from the coast. A ban was in place that prevented trawling from within 6 nautical miles of the coast, however that was overturned last year. Meanwhile it’s reported that a large number of aquatic life are being found dead on Irish shores. Grace Carr, Marine Advocacy Officer with the Irish Wildlife Trust, highligh...

There was strong support against the relocation of the Donegal Education Centre to Letterkenny at last night’s public meeting. A number of cross-party TDs and public representatives attended the meeting, following the lack of intervention from the Department of Education. The management committee of the education centre will be holding an AGM next week, where teachers from Donegal can have their v...

Third-level students in the north west are among those calling for immediate clarity from the Government on the future of student fees structures. The Higher Education Minister has hinted there will be no further cuts to the college contribution fee, after a number of once-off reductions in recent budgets. James Lawless has suggested the money would be better spent on accommodation or new courses....

It's feared that independent butchers will be among those hit hardest by soaring beef prices. Factory prices have reached an all-time high with farmers revelling in the prices. Beef is not the only meat impacted with prices of lamb also set reach considerable heights ahead of the busy Easter market. Peter Wynne owns For Pete's Steak butchers in Collooney. He says aren't because independent butcher...

A Donegal TD has called for the release of funds previously promised towards Children’s Disability Services. The issue was raised in the Dail to Tanaiste Simon Harris, who agreed that the funding needed to be provided quickly. However, accountability in relation to the situation is also being sought. Speaking to OceanFM News, Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty says he felt frustrated with the exchange:

Two flights have been impacted at Ireland West Airport Knock following the closure of Heathrow airport.   The airport has been shut for the day following a huge fire at a nearby electrical substation.   As a result, hundreds of flights have been cancelled, and 120 planes were diverted midair.   Donal Healy, Head of Marketing at Ireland West Airport, says there is still an opportunit...

Customers in the north west have been a stable month in terms of fuel prices. After a series of hikes in the price of both petrol and diesel since late last year, the price of a litre remained largely unchanged in March. The latest price survey by the AA found the average cost at the pumps was 1.80 a litre for petrol and 1.77 for diesel. However, the cost of charging your electric vehicle fell by...

A Sligo Councillor has moved to highlight some of the major differences that currently exist between DEIS and non-DEIS schools. Independent Councillor Marie Casserly has raised the issue on the back of calls for fee paying to be included in the free schools book scheme. The Sligo Drumcliff Councillor says that challenges facing Noon DEIS schools also need to be highlighted when it comes to any deb...

The effects potential US tariffs could have on a Leitrim distillery were raised in the Dail. US President Donald Trump has threatened a 200% tariff on alcohol products coming from Europe. The US accounts for 40% of the total exports for Irish whiskey. Sligo-Leitrim Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny says protections need to be put in place:

Leitrim U20 football selector James Glancy on the county's tumultuous week. Sligo Rugby Club savours back-to-back men's Connacht Senior Cup titles EJ Sligo All-Stars prepare for Saturday night's Super League quarter-final against holders Éanna. Donegal manager Jim McGuinness on what will - and won't - change for Sunday's trip to Mayo Plus - Creevy Activity Hub's Four Counties 100km Cycle Challenge...

An Endometriosis and storytelling event will be held this evening in Donegal. Endometriosis is a disease that effects one in ten women in Ireland at the moment, but it's thought to be widely misunderstood. It's being held at 5pm at the Villa Rose Hotel in Ballybofey, and aims to raise awareness and highlight the need for healthcare and support. Speaking to OceanFM News on her way to the meeting, S...

Questions have been raised locally over the latest commercial vacancy rate figures for Sligo. According to a report from GeoDirectory, Sligo has the highest commercial vacancy rate in Ireland at 20.6%, which is 6% higher than the national average. However, it’s been argued that the statistics might not be entirely accurate or representative of the situation within the county. Finbarr Filan, of Sli...