Ocean FM News Reports

A Sligo-Leitrim TD has highlighted the importance that every child with special educational needs has a school place in their locality. There is currently a huge demand on school places for children with additional needs across the North West. Instances have been highlighted where parents are having to travel up to 80km, where children in Cavan are attending schools in Leitrim or Longford. Sinn Fe...

Locals are mourning the deaths of two young people in a crash in County Donegal. A teenage driver died when their car crashed into the gable wall of a house at Baltoney at around half 9 on Friday night.   They've been locally named as Jamie Diver and Shaun McClafferty. A back seat passenger in his 20s was also killed, while two other passengers in their 20s and teens have received seriou...

An annual Potato Day will be held in Leitrim on Sunday. The Organic Centre in Rossinver is hosting the event, which is open from 12pm-4pm and is free to go into. There will be an onsite market of craft and food, and also demonstrations from crafters including willow weaving to hand spinning. Among just some of the activities are potato themed talks and tours, alpacas will be on site, and live musi...

A Sligo Leitrim TD has called for an exemption to be granted to farmers and landowners to cut trees and hedges. This would apply in the instance where there is a threat posed to safety, the ESB network or communications network. Following the effects of Storm Eowyn, thousands across the North West were left without power due to trees falling into and disrupting power lines. Sinn Fein Deputy Martin...

The need for emergency accommodation at a Sligo school has been raised on the floor of the Seanad. An extension for Grange Post Primary School has been sought since 2021, and it has been confirmed an application is progressing as student numbers increase. Sligo Senator Nessa Cosgrove was seeking a response from the Minister of Education, and directed the issue to Minister of State at the Departmen...

The amount of motorists' detected speeding on the N17 has been described as alarming. It comes as more than 1,800 fixed charge notices issued to drivers caught speeding in County Mayo are being revoked. It's after the camera on the N17 in County Mayo was found to not be certified. GoSafe has given reissuances that they have implemented enhanced safeguards within our quality assurance processes. Bu...

A Sligo Leitrim TD says the evidence provided by reports that confirm the numbers of tourists visiting Ireland is on the decline should be justification alone for politicians using the St Patrick’s Day celebrations to promote the country internationally.     Figures from the Central Statistics Office show the number of tourists visiting Ireland fell sharply in January, down 25% compared...

One condition of the land sold to ATU Sligo is that a portion of it be dedicated to student accommodation. 16 acres of land has been purchased from Sligo County Council and is situated near the campus in Ballinode. It’s understood that depending on the development, there is the potential for 300, 600 or 900 beds. Sligo Fine Gael Cllr Thomas Walsh says it’s a huge win for everyone involved:

A Sligo based member of the Forsa Union’s National Executive says their union will be closely monitoring Monday’s Workplace Relations Commission hearing in relation to concerns being raised by Healthcare workers in Section 39 organisations before deciding on whether to take Industrial action   Members of SIPTU, have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a dispute over pay.     S...

Calls have been made for a feasibility study into the Claremorris to Sligo rail link by a North West MEP. This comes as the European Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development visited Connacht to see projects seeking funding. In terms of the Western Rail Corridor, there is support to extend the line from Athenry into Claremorris, although more is being sought to connect the North West. Indepen...

The HSE is under fire over the lengthy delay in recruiting two consultants to Sligo's Chronic Pain Clinic. The service at Sligo University Hospital was thrown into disarray in June of last year, after the two consultants both moved to new roles in other hospitals. The latest update from the HSE this week is that recruitment is actively ongoing.  Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr Dec...

Serious concern has been raised once again over the level of notices to quit being issued across the North West.   In one local case, a mother with four young children was handed the notice in recent weeks.   While the local authority is willing to buy the property, but a scheme previously allowing that to happen was pulled by the Government some time back.   Her story was raised in...

Tanaiste Simon Harris has been labelled “disingenuous” by a Leitrim Cllr in relation to his comments on LNG terminals. Speaking in the Dáil this afternoon, the Tanaiste says the Government is considering LNG as an “insurance policy”, as the country is heavily dependent on the United Kingdom for the resource. However Independent Manorhamilton Cllr Eddie Mitchell disagrees with the stance and wants...

There's major concern that the budget for mental health services across Sligo and Leitrim is too low. New figures show that the 2024 allocation to Sligo Leitrim Mental Health Services was almost €32 million. But Independent Manorhamilton Cllr Felim Gurn says while that sounds good on paper, he believes that that falls far short of what's really needed locally. He says mental health is possibly the...

The Sinn Fein Chip has accused the Taoiseach and Tánaiste of engaging in Donal Trump style politics by forcing through moves which will secure extra Dáil speaking time for the Regional Independents.     Opposition leaders will meet today to decide a collective response to the government's latest attempts to secure extra Dáil speaking time for the Regional Independents.   The Dáil re...

It's been confirmed that ATU Sligo is set to purchase an additional 16 acres of land. The substantial land bank is located close to the campus in Ballinode and is currently owned by Sligo County Council. It's not yet known what the land will be used for, although it's anticipated that it could be a mix of an extension of the campus itself along with much needed student accommodation. Minister of S...

  The Breast screening mobile unit is set to return to Sligo Town later this year.   The unit has not been situated in Sligo since March 2023 but had been operating in Tubbercurry and Carrick-On-Shannon since then.   The HSE has confirmed that plans are afoot to move the unit to Sligo town during the second half of 2025.    Fianna Fail Cllr Edel MacSharry says while it's g...

Living in Donegal shouldn't be the health risk that it currently is. That's according to 100% Redress Party and Donegal TD Charles Ward, who was speaking following revelations this week that Letterkenny University Hospital has the worst cancer treatment wait times in the west and north west. Only 31 percent of newly diagnosed cancer patients at Letterkenny begin their cancer treatment within the r...

A former local election candidate in Leitrim has questioned the rationale and logic behind moves to reduce the payment for homeowners who provide accommodation to people fleeing the Ukraine.     It's thought that there are just over 15,000 hosts providing housing to around 36,000 Ukrainians.   Those supplying accommodation are receiving monthly payments of €800.   €239 million...

The Governments response to the aftermath of Storm Eowyn in the North West has been described as a shambles.   For over a month now, there's been heavy criticism over what's been described as major shortcomings to the overall supports that were offered by Government in the weeks following the storm.   Speaking in the Seanad, Labour Senator Nessa Cosgrove claimed that those living in Slig...

There are now two Community Paramedics in Sligo serving the Sligo/Leitrim area.   It means there are five personnel in total covering Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal.   These paramedics aim to bridge primary care and emergency care by assessing each patient and treating them in their home.   Ultimately, it could have a positive impact on the long wait times in the emergency departments o...

A North Leitrim takeaway has won The Champion Chip Award for Connacht. Harvey’s Diner in Manorhamilton received the accolade at the recent Irish Takeaway Awards that took place in Sligo. This is the takeaway’s second award in its two years in business, having won the bronze award for Milkshake of the Year previously. Caroline Harvey, Manager of Havey’s Diner, thanked the staff for their hard work...

County Leitrim recorded the lowest number of Approved Housing Body tenancies and private tenancies in the country Quarter 4 of 2024. According to new figures published by the Residential Tenancies Board show that there were 127 AHB tenancies in the county in Q4 while just under 1,200 private tenancies were recorded. The county also saw the highest growth in average rent for new tenancies at 25% wi...

The Tánaiste has acknowledged that the State has to be better prepared for future adverse weather events. Many homes in the North West were left without power for weeks following Storm Eowyn, The Dail has heard this afternoon that the Governments response to the storm may have been greater, had the full impact been felt in the east of the country. Tánaiste Simon Harris feels that aspects of the re...

The Taoiseach's been accused of behaving like a child in the Dail. It's after Micheal Martin clashed with Sinn Fein's Pearse Doherty in the chamber. Rowdy scenes prompted Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy to intervene: