Ocean FM News Reports

Sinn Féin has selected the party's two candidates for the upcoming local elections in the Sligo-Strandhill Municipal District.   Sitting Councillor Arthur Gibbons and long-time party member Pauline Donnelly were selected by party members and have been put forward on the Sinn Féin ticket.   The elections are due to be held in June of next year.   Councillor Arthur Gibbons says he is...

A Sligo medical expert is warning of the severe consequences if a ceasefire is not agreed in Gaza. Another vote will take place this morning on a UN resolution calling for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza. It was supposed to take place yesterday, but has been rescheduled for later this morning. Further work is taking place on the wording of the resolution to try and get America's support. Dr. Mike Ryan...

The number of people in need of emergency accommodation in the North West has doubled over the past two years.   So far this year, 227 households comprising 266 adults and 207 children sought support from the North West Simon Community, while Social Housing was provided to 23 Adults and 13 Children.   The organisation is appealing to the local community this holiday season, to help raise...

A Leitrim Councillor has sharply criticised the decision to send asylum seekers to the Abbey Manor Hotel despite Leitrim County Council having planning concerns over the facility. Fianna Fail Councillor Mary Bohan was reacting to the decision which was relayed to the local concerned citizens group by a Community Engagement Team at a meeting yesterday evening. Speaking to Ocean FM News, Cllr Bohan...

A Local election candidate has hit out at some of the objectives contained within the proposed Ballymote Town Plan which is out for public consultation at present. Keith Henry says that although there are many positive proposals in the plan he fails to see how teh construction of wider footpaths will benefit the town. The plan proposes to widen the footpaths at the Loftus Hall and at the junction...

A Fermanagh MLA is pleading with all politicians in the North to do all they can to insure that power-sharing in Northern Ireland could be revived in early 2024. Northern Ireland's Secretary of State will meet Stormont's main political parties again later today with Final details being discussed around the UK Government's 2.5 billon pounds offer for an incoming Stormont Executive. The DUP have how...

A local TD has moved this morning to ease concerns in Ballyshannon in relation to reports of a large number of male refugees arriving in the town.   There were angry scenes at a public meeting on Thursday night which was called to discuss the issue.   It was announced last week that 90 male asylum seekers would be accommodated at Cavangarden Bed and Breakfast, located just off the N15. &...

A Donegal Senator has backed the government's decision not to force drivers over the age of 70 to re-sit the driving test. Previously, it was reported that those over 70 would have to supply a medical report confirming their fitness to drive, unless they have an identified or specified illness or are required to do so by law. Senator Niall Blaney says that the road safety issues in the country are...

Warnings are being issued that the local tourism and hospitality sector cannot continue to lose beds asylum seekers and refugees. The comments from Leitrim Councillor, Felim Gurn, come as a new report from Failte Ireland claims that 'displaced bed stock' could be costing tourism as much as a billion euro. The number of tourist beds locally being used to accommodate refugees varies from 14 per cent...

 Farmers are being urged to ensure they are tending to more than their land and livestock this Christmas by a Midlands- North West MEP. Ahead of the Christmas period, Maria Walsh has appealed to farmers to take care of themselves and their neighbouring farmers over the holidays. She has also acknowledged that Christmas can be difficult for many people. Speaking to Ocean FM, MEP Walsh has this...

Donegal County Council will seek a number of meetings in the New Year after work began on a new housing development in Bundoran. The sod was turned on the site earlier this week, and the council will have a number of meetings regarding roads, planning and design, as well as discussions with Irish Water. 42 new houses will be built as part of the development in Drumacrin, which will be the first ma...

Local members and supporters of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign will hold a vigil outside Sligo's General Post Office this afternoon. The vigil is due to commence at 3.00.p.m. It's one of a number of events being organised throughout the country to show solidarity with the people of Gaza and Palestine. Speaking to Ocean FM News, local Councillor Gino O'Boyle is demanding justice for the...

A small number of Gardaí will be sent to the North West after passing out of Templemore today. Of the 151 graduates passing out today, only 8 are being sent to the North Western Region. 115 will be sent to Dublin, with 20 staying in the Eastern Region, and the other remaining 8 going to the Southern Region. Sligo Leitrim TD Martin Kenny, who was formerly Sinn Féin's Justice Spokesperson, says the...

There's a positive update for the residents of the Ransboro/Kilmacowen area of Strandhill in Sligo in relation to ongoing issues being experienced with the water supply in the region. Currently there is regular interruption to supply in this area is due to failing mains infrastructure between Carraroe National School and Grange East Reservoir. Uisce Éireann say they have approved this main for rep...

Irish Rail has been described as currently being "in disarray". There have been a number of incidents on the Sligo-Dublin line in the last number of weeks, with two arrests made in the last two weeks on different services. This has led to significant delays. Questions have also been asked about the speed of the trains, as it currently takes around three hours to get from Sligo to Dublin. Sinn Féin...

A review of the fuel allowance system needs to be carried out sooner rather than later. That's the view of Leitrim Sinn Fein Councillor Padraig Fallon, who says a number of people are currently appealing the process after being refused the allowance. In one instance, one applicant was denied their fuel allowance for not meeting the criteria, despite their total income equalling what they'd receive...

The Dáil has heard how the sight of ambulances backed up at Letterkenny university Hospital while their crews, and patients wait for space inside the facility is becoming an all too familiar sight.   Donegal Deputies Pearse Doherty and Pádraig Mac Lochlainn raised the plight of the hospital with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney who was taking Leaders questions...

A Sligo Leitrim TD has called for immediate supports and interim funding to be established for businesses impacted by the recent tornado that hit Leitrim Village.   Deputy Marian Harkin made the calls in the Dáil adding that many businesses and homes could be under insured as a result of the current high costs of insurance premiums.   The Independent Deputy says it's vital that it's vita...

The absence of a representative from the Irish Deer Commission in the newly established Irish Deer Management Strategy Group has been criticised by a local eletion candiate. It's hoped that recommendations published last week from the group will lead to a reduced number of deer in the north west region. The report includes a summary of the responses to a Public Consultation process and a complete...

Enhanced public transport services are on the way between Ballinamore and Sligo. The local link service has confirmed that a connection to the towns will be provided 6 times per day each way Monday to Saturday on the Route 572. There will also be an additional evening service on Friday and Saturday and three daily return services on Sunday. Sligo-Drumcliffe Municipal Councillor Thomas Walsh says i...

Concerns have been raised in the Dáil regarding the overcrowding and a number of other issues at Letterkenny University Hospital.   So far this week, there have been over 140 patients waiting for a bed at the facility.   Both GPs and consultants previously flagged major issues of concern at the Emergency Department and other areas in the hospital.   While Health Minister Stephen Don...

Calls are being made on the Local Authority to consider reforming the N16/A4 Cross Border Lobby Group which was originally formed in 2008. This group was operating for approximately 5 years. It's understood tha the Fermanagh/Omagh Council are also keen to reform the cross border lobby group. Manorhamilton MD Councillors Sean McDermott and Felin Gurn both tabled motions on the issue at this week's...

Concerns have been allayed regarding the bottle banks in Donegal Town.     Resurfacing works are taking place, which meant those who used the service have had to travel to Laghey to use the bottle banks.     It’s understood there was confusion as to whether the facility would be returning to Donegal Town.      Cllr Tom Conaghan admitted that although there was co...

The north west region looks set to benefit from additional bus services.   The 458 route from Ballina to Enniskillen looks to finally be enhanced.   This will see an increase to the daily service to eight round trips from Monday to Sunday.   The route will offer an earlier departure time from Sligo at 6.40am and a later departure at 12.23am.   The improved service will offer pa...

The situation which led to 57 people waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital yesterday has been described as 'unacceptable' by a local TD.   Sinn Féin Deputy Pearse Doherty was reacting to yesterday's figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation which resulted in Letterkenny being the second most overcrowded hospital.   The Donegal TD warned that the hospital, pat...