Ocean FM News Reports

A Community activist in Leitrim expressed his concern that efforts to address the unique challenges associated with planning permission in the County is slipping down the list of priorities for County Councillors. Sean McDermott served as a County Councillor in the Manor MD up until the 2024 Local elections last June. He says that with the construction of one-off housing virtually non-existent man...

The N17 has been labelled not fit for purpose following the latest road incident that occurred this morning. The two-vehicle collision between a car and a van happened on the stretch between Curry and Tubbercurry shortly after 9am. The road has now fully reopened and no injuries were reported. Sligo Fianna Fail Cllr Barry Gallagher says upgrade works must be done before something fatal happens:

Fine Gael Cllr Fergal Nealon is a resident in the area and agrees that the works need to happen sooner rather than later:

There could be severe weather alerts issued for the North West as Storm Eowyn tracks towards Ireland. Met Eireann currently has a weather advisory in place until Saturday, with very windy conditions expected. The worst of the storm is expected to hit this region on Friday morning. Kenneth Conlon from the Donegal Weather Channel says while it's still early days, he feels this could be an extreme we...

There are renewed calls for upgrade works on the Top Road in Strandhill. The area is said to be lacking in the likes of traffic calming measures and continuous footpaths which has led to serious ongoing health and safety concerns. Sligo County Council has indicated that there isn't any funding available to carry out any such works. But Sinn Fein Cllr Arthur Gibbons is warning that someone will be...

Sligo County Council has commissioned a new food and drink strategy to support the development and promotion of Sligo's Food and Drink Offering. It is hoped that the backing will keep people in the jobs already in that industry, while also creating more. The plan aims to provide more stability to what the county can offer in relation to hospitality. Cllr Marie Casserly says the strategy highlights...

There's shock and concern in North Leitrim over the level of maintenance being carried out on the upkeep of social housing in the County.   Independent Councillor Felim Gurn says maintenance is a huge issue and that there is currently a period of 3-4 months in turning stock around from once it becomes vacant until a new tenant can be put in place.   The Manorhamilton based Councillor exp...

A Donegal teacher has raised concerns that the programme for government is failing to tackle the teacher shortage crisis.   The government has laid out plans on how the education sector will be addressed over the next five years.   It's also been highlighted that the aim to reduce student-teacher ratios in primary schools is not moving quickly enough.   Padraig Curley, Vice Presiden...

After numerous delays, it finally looks like the S3 bus will be back on the road at the beginning of next month.   The route will cater to areas such as Finisklin estate, First Sea Road and accommodate a number of other estates.   Beginning on February 2nd, the service will run every hour up until 7pm from John Street to Finisklin. From 7pm, the S1 and S3 will amalgamate and continue unt...

A Donegal GP has questions over government aspirations for the healthcare sector over the next few years. The HSE Service Plan for 2025 outlined that there aims to be an additional 300 beds introduced, in comparison to the programme for government aiming for 4,000 over the course of their term. There is also concern within the Irish Medical Organisation that there will effectively be a recruitment...

Any move to close any fire station in south Donegal should be opposed in every way possible. That's according to Independent Cllr Jimmy Brogan, who has been reacting to developments that a meeting to discuss the future of both Bundoran and Ballyshannon stations is set to take place this week. It's rumoured that a decision will result in only one station serving the entire area, with questions also...

There are urgent calls for the installation of traffic calming measures on the entrance to Manorhamilton on the N16 from the Sligo side. Councillor James Gilmartin is warning that there is 'serious concern' being expressed by members of the public. The Independent Councillor called on the Council to address the situation immediately as the speed of some vehicles is alarming:  

There are calls for consultation in any potential move to turn The Yeats Country Hotel in Rosses Point into a direct provision centre to be stopped.  There’s ongoing speculation that the hotel could be bought for that purpose, after going on the market in November.  Hopes among the Rosses Point community, are now dashed as they had been anticipating that the hotel may be returned to tour...

New Astro football pitches could be in the pipeline for Sligo. It follows calls for more such training grounds to be established in the town to help ease pressure on local sports clubs. Sligo County Council is set to explore the idea further, subject to funding. Local People before Profit Cllr Gino O'Boyle says there's a big increase in those participating in football locally, and this would help...

A Leitrim vet has issued a reminder for the looming deadline to register XL Bully dogs. All XL Bully owners have to acquire a certificate of exemption for their pet before February 1st. Latest figures from December show around 235 certificates have been issued nationwide, which is far below the expected number. Leitrim Veterinary Officer, James Madden, says owners are running the risk of losing th...

Farmers in the North West will be boosted by the new government aiming to increase sheep and suckler payments. The programme for government was published last week, and it outlined how the farming sector would be supported over the next five years. There are fears that the suckler industry won't be sustainable long term if the current decline continues. Sligo IFA Chair Michael O'Dowd says the indu...

The threat of closure of a number of fire stations in south Donegal remains a live issue.   Calls have previously been made for stations in Ballyshannon, Bundoran and Glencolmcille to be retained and refurbished with each said to be falling into a serious state of disrepair.   A debate over the retention of the stations has rumbled on for over 40 years and no decision has yet been made....

Construction work on the long awaited Tubbercurry Primary Care Centre could commence as early as October or November of this year.   Sligo Leitrim Fianna Fáil Deputy, Eamon Scanlon says he has received correspondence from the department of Health that has confirmed development in a recent correspondence.   With stage two of the project having now been completed and it's expected that onc...

It's being said Irish farmers are in need of urgent EU funding to fight against animal disease. Since 2023, Ireland has seen a rise of almost 6 per cent in bovine TB nationwide. Three cases of avian influenza were also detected in wild birds in Northern Ireland yesterday. Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh says increased EU funding is essential to assist farming families in planning for a crisis.  

Polling of Fianna Fáil members is expected to conclude in the next hour on the upcoming programme for Government. A special Ard Fheis is being held in Dublin by the party, which has seen protestors outside calling for the Occupied Territories Bill to be enacted. Meanwhile, the issue of speaking time for Independent TDs supporting the government still rumbles on. Outgoing Agriculture Minister, Done...

Renewed calls have been made for a train service to arrive at Sligo train station prior to 9am. Passenger numbers on the Dublin to Sligo line are said to have increased by 8% over the last year. Following complaints surrounding changes last year, commuter trains in Dublin returned to their old timetable. However, it's thought that the lack of an early morning service to Sligo is still preventing a...

Plans to allow Regional Independent TDs who aren't ministers to speak from the opposition are being slammed. Sinn Fein is describing the move as "outrageous, unprecedented" and says it "cannot accept it." It would mean Michael Lowry, Danny Healy-Rae, Gllian Toole and Barry Heneghan would be allowed speak from the opposition benches. Sinn Fein Chief Whip Padraig Mac Lochlainn says you can't have it...

Senior Government Ministers Paschal Donohoe, Helen McEntee and Peter Burke were among those who attended a Fine Gael meeting in Sligo yesterday afternoon to discuss the new Programme for Government. Fine Gael members from throughout the West and North West region were there to vote on acceptance of the Programme, after the conclusion of Government formation talks with Fianna Fail and Ind...

The Sligo Chamber of Commerce has called on the new Government to prioritise infrastructure delivery. The Chamber welcomed the proposed programme for Government while urging decisive action from the ruling parties and supporting Independent TDs. Key commitments have been outlined in relation to dedicated supports for the North West region. Aidan Doyle, Sligo Chamber CEO, says road and rail connect...

Clarity is being sought over the process of erecting swim shelters in donegal. It was previously announced that funding would be made available for such shelters in areas including Rossnowlagh, Bundoran, Mountcharles and Killybegs. However there have been no updates on the situation since, with many swim groups having worked on applications. Independent Cllr Niamh Kennedy says the government need...