Ocean FM News Reports

A Sligo-Leitrim Minister has welcomed Government measures to help alleviate parts of the housing crisis. Staged payments are to be considered for the Croi Conaithe Vacant Homes Refurbishment Grant, which aims to make the scheme more accessible for people. While the easing of planning regulations in relation to modular housing beside existing homes is also to be examined. Independent Minister Maria...

More than 250 people attended a forestry owner meeting in Leitrim last night. The Irish Forestry Owners group held a meeting in Carrick-on-Shannon, where they addressed the devastating impacts that Storm Eowyn had on the sector. At least 10% of forestry is down in Leitrim, with thoughts this should be considered a national disaster. IFO Chairman, Derek McCabe, says legislation needs to be changed:

A Government Minister has commented on the need for bus services in Caltragh. Enhanced bus services has recently been launched in Sligo, with the new S3 bus route running hourly between Markievicz Road and Finisklin, seven days a week. However it had been argued by some that residents from the Caltragh, Crozon and Carroroe areas were being ignored. Minister of State at the Department of Rural and...

A school in Donegal Town is to officially move into a new building on Monday. Gaelscoil na gCeithre Máistrí’s move had been in the pipeline for a number of years, but the Department of Education ceased the project around two years ago. However local campaigns and protests fought the department into reversing the decision. Eoghan Ó Gráda, Principal of the school, says he can’t wait to see the child...

Customers in the north west are once again bearing the brunt of a price increase at the pumps. The latest AA survey of filling stations has found petrol rose by an average of 4 cent in the past month, up to around 1 euro 80 cent a litre. Diesel prices also rose by around 4 cent and now costs an average of 1 euro 77 a litre. CEO of Fuels For Ireland, Kevin McPartlan says this will add further press...

A Donegal TD has criticised the new government's approach to tackling the housing crisis. Recent figures showed that the government failed to hit 2024 housing targets by around 10,000 homes. With an ever-increasing demand on the market, it's feared that on the current trajectory, the situation may only worse. Speaking in the Dail today, Sinn Fein Deputy Pearse Doherty accused the government of bei...

It's emerged that some clothing banks in Leitrim are no longer available. Some residents went to the facilities around the County in recent days only to find that the banks were gone. The contractor to who had been providing the service is no longer doing so with a new one being sought. Cllr Brendan Barry says that hopefully the situation will be resolved soon:

The Justice Minister has come under fire for claims he made in relation to overcrowding in prisons.   In an interview on The Tonight Show on Virgin Media Television, Minister Jim O’Callaghan said that prisons should not be “clogged up” with non-violent offenders such as shoplifters and people with addiction issues.   Minister O’Callaghan says instead; he wants to ensure prisons are predo...

It's been claimed that there's a crisis emerging in Donegal over a lack of school places for children with additional needs. Several families in the county are said to be facing a major struggle over finding a place for their child. Speaking in the Dail last night, Deputy Doherty was heavily critical over the system in place. He urged Minister Norma Foley to intervene:

The Government has moved to clarify the rules around the cutting and removal of timber for forest owners in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal. Storm Eowyn caused untold damage, with landowners in the region now not only counting the cost but also questioning what the clearfell licence permits them to do with regards to a clean-up operation. A circular has now been issued, with forest owners advised to re...

ESB Networks are facing pressure to supply a direct local contact for Cllrs in Sligo and Leitrim ahead of the next severe weather event. It comes as there was some backlash locally in the aftermath of Storm Eowyn over a lack of clarity and information being provided over power outages. Fine Gael Cllr Enda Mc Gloin says he and other local representatives were left in a difficult situation where the...

A feasibility study is underway to determine the need for the establishment of a surgical hub in Sligo which would cater for patients in the north west. 120,418 outpatient appointments were recorded at Sligo University Hospital last year- an increase of over 27,000 on 2023 figures. It's thought that the hub would have far-reaching benefits for the region, including reducing waiting times for patie...

Ballymote will be targeted under the Town Centre First policy. The initiative aims to support the regeneration and redevelopment of rural towns and villages. Sligo County Council and ATU will be working together on the project, which will survey all aspects of the town, such as heritage sites, vacancies, footfall, and more. Local Fine Gael Cllr Gerard Mullaney says this will set out a blueprint fo...

A Sligo-Leitrim TD has raised the issue of home care in the Dail today. There are major concerns across the country over the lack of staffing in the healthcare sector. As a result, it’s thought that many elderly and vulnerable people are not being attended to correctly due to huge demand. Fine Gael Deputy Frank Feighan has called for the increased recruitment of home help:

The North West has come in under the national average following the publication of housing figures. According to the latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings report, in Q4 of 2024, the residential vacancy rate of Leitrim was 11.8%, Donegal was 9%, and Sligo was 8.2%, which is far below the national average of 3.8%. While in derelict sites, Sligo had a rate of 5.6%, Donegal had 11.6% and Leitrim h...

A Donegal TD has voiced his displeasure over the Ceann Comhairle’s handling of the Taoiseach remarks to Sinn Féin leader, Mary Lou McDonald.   Taoiseach Mícheál Martin told the chamber last Wednesday that Deputy McDonald was “ag insint bréaga” which translates to “is telling lies”   Ceann Comhairle Verona preceded today’s Dáil sitting with confirmation that she is referring all correspon...

It's hoped that a crack down on Airbnbs and other short-term rentals will go some way to addressing the housing crisis in the north west. The Irish Independent are reporting that under the proposed laws, landlords who use properties for short stays will have to register or face being fined up to €5,000. While short-term letting websites could be fined up to €5,000 if they do not remove adverts of...

A protest will be taking place in Donegal Town over the relocation of the Donegal Education Centre to Letterkenny. The Save Donegal Education Centre Committee have announced they’re latest attempt to block the move, following a public meeting last week. While local Oireachtas members are to meet shortly with Education Minister Helen McEntee to seek a resolution. Glebe National School Principal, an...

One of those behind the online weekend video of a group of people walking around the WaterWorld water park in Bundoran has outlined the reasons for doing so.   The video, which was posted to Facebook and Tiktok sees three men explore WaterWorld and even using one of its slides.   The amenity is temporarily closed for refurbishment works.   Belfast-based Jamie Robinson, who posted th...

Ann Higgins says it's an honour to be co opted onto Sligo County Council. The Labour party locally held a selection convention last evening, following the recent election of Nessa Cosgrove to the Seanad. Ann Higgins was subsequently selected to represent the Labour Party on Sligo County Council for the next four years.  Speaking to Ocean FM news the Sligo's newest Cllr says shes delighted to...

A Garda investigation is underway into weekend a break-in at Waterworld Bundoran.   It's after a video circulated on social media in which a group of people can be seen walking around the water park.   It's now emerged that the incident happened on Sunday night.   The amenity is temporarily closed for refurbishment works.   Manager of Waterworld Aine Temple has been speaking to...

A report over the high residential vacancy rate in Leitrim has been brought into question. The data, released by GeoDirectory today shows that Leitrim has the highest vacancy rate in the country at 11.6%. Leitrim also recorded one of the lowest levels of construction activity nationwide in quarter 4 of 2024. But Sinn Fein Cllr Padraig Fallon believes that other factors locally may not be taken int...

Financial assistance is being sought for local farmers impacted by recent storms. A number were left without power and water for almost three weeks as Storm Éowyn ripped through the north west. Despite the State's Humanitarian Assistance Scheme being available to provide support to people living in properties directly affected the storm, it does not cover agricultural losses. Local Fianna Fáil Cou...

Local TDs will be meeting with Education Minister Helen McEntee this week in relation to the relocation of the Donegal Education Centre. Plans are currently in place to move the centre to Letterkenny, with accessibility being cited as a key reason behind the decision. However a meeting was held last Thursday in Donegal Town, to protest the move. Local Independent Cllr Jimmy Brogan says there's hug...

There are calls for a pedestrian crossing to be installed outside the community centre in Coolaney. The proposed location is considered dangerous in its current state, with a busy main road, junction and multiple housing estates based in the area. With disability access works to be carried out at the centre, there are hopes that a crossing could also be included. Sligo Fine Gael Cllr Dara Mulvey s...