Ocean FM News Reports

It’s hoped that those affected by fishing incidents in the North West will be better cared for going forward.   The Merchant Shipping Bill aims to pave the way for a unit within the Department of Transport to be known as the Marine Accident Investigation Unit.   It would provide for the investigation and the reporting of marine accidents.   Speaking in the Seanad, Fine Gael Senator...

Support has been given in Sligo to the fast-tracking and passing of a Bereaved Partners Bill that will be put through the Dáil. It is also sought that the Bill includes all cohabiting partners, with or without children, and provides backdated payments to eligible families. A ruling in favour of the Bill took place in the Supreme court previously and now pressure is being placed on Government to in...

A Donegal TD has labelled the Taoiseach’s recent comments on the defective block scheme as completely disingenuous.   100% Redress Party Charles Ward TD was highlighting the lack of completed houses as a result of the scheme.   69 homes have been completed since 2022.   Speaking in the Dail this afternoon, Deputy Ward says the government have failed impacted families:

The speaking rights row in the Dail is set to rumble on this week, with one Donegal TD calling on the Taoiseach to 'step up'. The Government proposal would see regional TDs and Government backbenchers getting to put questions to the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste in a new speaking slot. A vote on the Governments proposed changes will not go to ahead tomorrow as had been expected. Due to St Patrick's D...

Fine Gael Senator Manus Boyle is to be appointed Seanad Spokesperson for Fisheries and the Marine. Issues affecting the local fishing community and further afield is something that Senator Boyle has been raising continuously since his election to the Seanad and during his time on Donegal County Council. The Senator has already held a number of key meetings with various stakeholders and TDs. Speaki...

The Tanaiste says we need a secure energy supply in order to keep the lights on and the heat going.   Cabinet is today set to approve plans for a State-led liquefied natural gas terminal.   Its not clear where the floating facility would be located, but it would serve as an emergency gas reserve in the event international supplies were compromised.   The move has been stronlgy oppos...

The March meeting of Leitrim County Council has heard that the level of housing stock in the County is at crisis point.   The Local Authority have been requested to urgently contact the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to see if additional income levels for Social Housing can be provided.   The calls were made by Drumkeerin Councillor Padraig Fallon who says the amoun...

Fine Gael Senator Manus Boyle is to be appointed Seanad Spokesperson for Fisheries and the Marine. Issues affecting the local fishing community and further afield is something that Senator Boyle has been raising continuously since his election to the Seanad and during his time on Donegal County Council. The Senator has already held a number of key meetings with various stakeholders and TDs. Speaki...

Calls have been made for Sligo County Council to set up a Vacant Home Matchmaker scheme. Through this, owners who are looking to sell their vacant home, would be set up with people looking to buy and develop a vacant dwelling. It's a scheme already in use with Mayo County Council. Fine Gael Cllr Dara Mulvey says it would be a win-win for everyone:

The Education Minister has yet to give her verdict over the Donegal Education Centre debacle.   Minister Helen McEntee had pledged to investigate the process behind the plans to move the centre from Donegal Town to Letterkenny.   Meanwhile, plans to hold a public demonstration are also still in the works.   Local Independent Cllr Jimmy Brogan says it was hoped that Minister McEntee...

A Leitrim Councillor is urging the three government TD’S in the Sligo Leitrim constituency to voice their opposition to moves which would see the state provide 300 million euro in funding towards the construction of terminal that what will store fracked Gas.   Cabinet is expected to approve the establishment of a strategic gas reserve this morning.   Manorhamilton MD Councillor Eddie Mit...

There are calls in Sligo for a direct line to be set up between ESB representatives and local Cllrs. In the aftermath of Storm Eowyn, there were mass power outages across the north west regions, with many left without electricity for weeks. One of the issues highlighted with the outages, was the lack of communication over when fixes may happen. Fianna Fáil Cllr Edel McSharry says the direct line c...

The level of Council housing stock in Leitrim is said to be at crisis point. Leitrim County Council is set to write to the Department of Housing as well as the Taoiseach and Tanaiste, calling for an increase to the income levels for social housing. Sinn Fein Cllr Padraig Fallon believes that ideally, these limits need to double. Cllr Fallon says coupled with this, more housing stock is urgently re...

The family of Danielle McLaughlin are seeking an Irish inquest into her murder. Vikat Bhagat was found guilty of raping and murdering the 28-year-old Donegal woman and was sentenced to life in jail in Goa last month. The case took right years to conclude but Danielle's family feel that there are still so many unanswered questions. Her mother Andrea Brannigan has been speaking to Ocean FM news, and...

The family of Danielle McLaughlin are seeking an Irish inquest into her murder. Vikat Bhagat was found guilty of raping and murdering the 28-year-old Donegal woman and was sentenced to life in jail in Goa last month. The case took right years to conclude but Danielle's family feel that there are still so many unanswered questions. Her mother Andrea Brannigan has been speaking to Ocean FM news, and...

There are calls for small businesses in Leitrim who were impacted by the recent storm to be afforded a rates rebate. Many in the County went weeks without power and water. Cllr Enda Stenson says he has had numerous enquiries from businesses people, requesting a rebate. He feels that it should be considered as these businesses suffered significant losses:

A new festival and events strategy has been laid out for Sligo. The initiative aims to encourage the growth of current events, and the founding of new ones. It will run over the course of 4 years until 2029 with boosting tourism a key aim. Fine Gael Cllr Thomas Walsh believes that it will be a huge positive for Sligo:

The family of Danielle McLaughlin are seeking an Irish inquest into her murder. Vikat Bhagat was found guilty of raping and murdering the 28-year-old Donegal woman and was sentenced to life in jail in Goa last month. The case took right years to conclude but Danielle's family feel that there are still so many unanswered questions. Her mother Andrea Brannigan has been speaking to Ocean FM news, and...

The family of Danielle McLaughlin are seeking an Irish inquest into her murder. Vikat Bhagat was found guilty of raping and murdering the 28-year-old Donegal woman and was sentenced to life in jail in Goa last month. The case took right years to conclude but Danielle's family feel that there are still so many unanswered questions. Her mother Andrea Brannigan has been speaking to Ocean FM news, and...

The funeral of one of the two young victims of a crash in west Donegal at the weekend is to take place on Thursday. Teenager Shaun McClafferty and Jamie Diver, who was in his 20s, were both killed when a car they were travelling in collided with the gable wall of a house just outside Gortahork on Friday night. Two other passengers in the car were also seriously injured. One of those young men has...

A Leitrim Councillor says careful consideration would need to be given before any changes could be made to the Irish Trespassing Laws.   Recently calls have been made for Ireland to scrap trespassing laws so that Travellers and Roma people can access "culturally appropriate" accommodation.   The government have already said that they are not going to review laws that criminalise Travelle...

It's been confirmed that the funeral of one of the two young victims of a weekend crash in west Donegal is to take place on Thursday. Teenager Shaun McClafferty and Jamie Diver, who was in his 20s, were both killed when a car they were travelling in collided with the gable wall of a house just outside Gortahork on Friday night. Two other passengers were also seriously injured. Speaking to Ocean FM...

Michael Daly and Pauric McShea describe Sunday's dramatic finish to Donegal's Division 1 league game with holders Derry at Fr Tierney Park, on a poignant weekend for Ballyshannon following the passing of Aodh Ruadh GAA Club's long-standing President Owen Roe O'Neill. He's remembered by Donegal manager Jim McGuinness.

A Sligo Cllr says something has to be done soon to combat the housing crisis.   Recent homelessness figures show that there was an increase in people accessing emergency accommodation across the North West in January when compared to December.   People Before Profit Cllr Gino O’Boyle suggested that there might have to be a mass protests in response to the situation.   Cllr O’Boyle s...

An act of vandalism has been carried out at a site in Sligo. A new public bench has been attacked and badly damaged in Cartron. Last year a walkway and benches had been developed in the area to accommodate the large footfall that passes through. Local Sinn Fein Cllr Arthur Gibbons has called for witnesses and says action must be taken against those responsible: