Ocean FM News Reports

The Government has been accused of making communities in the North West 'less safe' due to a major fall in Garda personnel.   The Dail has heard that there's less Gardai in Donegal now than there were in 2009.   Concern has also been expressed again over a large number of rural stations in the region closing over the last few years.   Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty was reacting to the ri...

There's disappointment after this month's Regional health Forum West meeting was cancelled at short notice.   The Forum, which takes place in Galway, allows councillors from a number a counties including Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal highlight a range local health issues.   However due to the ongoing Fórsa Industrial Action, the meeting was pulled last minute.   Local Fianna Councillor...

A Sligo Leitrim TD has expressed his disappointment that last night's meeting between the Concerned Residents Group in Dromahair and a community engagement team was not inclusive. Sligo Leitrim TD Martin Kenny along with Deputies Frank Feighan and Marian Harkin set up last nights meeting between the interested stake holders and the community team ahead of the possible arrival of refugees to the Ab...

The Garda Commissioner has admitted that some Gardaí from Sligo volunteered to go to Dublin to assist their colleagues to tackle the worst night of violence the Capital has ever seen.   Drew Harris is currently before the Oireachtas Justice Committee facing a grilling over how Gardai responded to the rioting and if there was a contingency plan to deal with escalating situation.   He ackn...

The financial treatment afforded to small to medium nursing homes in comparison with their larger counterparts has been raised on the floor of the Dáil.   Sligo-Leitrim TD Marian Harkin has highlighted the plight of private and voluntary facilities who currently receive over ?600 hundred less per resident per week those ran by the HSE.   There is increasing concern that many nursing home...

The Taoiseach says he is aware of what happened in Dromahair at the weekend.   It's after the Dail has heard that a potential public order incident in village on Friday night was narrowly avoided.   Rumours began circulating that buses carrying refugees were en route to Dromahair, which in turn sparked major concern among some residents.   155 refugees are due to be housed in the Ab...

This month's meeting of the Manorhamilton Municipal District has heard of safety concerns over a number of trees in Drumkeerin. It has been claimed some of the trees have grown to a dangerous height at Sheena and are now hanging close to a local primary school. In the past number of weeks, debris has covered both the road and footpath in the area. Local Sinn Féin Councillor Padraig Fallon says it'...

It's been confirmed that a badly needed bus shelter will be finally established in north Leitrim. Leitrim County Council has received got the green light for the shelter in Glenfarne. With an increase in the number of bus users, one Leitrim Councillor says it's a timely move. Fine Gael Councillor Seán McDermott says the infrastructure is vital to the local community.

The Leitrim Volunteer Centre has launched an appeal for upcoming work at the local nursing unit at Aras Breffni in Manorhamilton.   Volunteers will be required to undertake some painting to brighten up the area and they are also asking anyone with an interest in Art or a creative mind to complete some wall murals.   The work is getting underway on December 12th.   Niall Speak, Devel...

This weeks On the Beat slot focused on Christmas Safety campaign, the theft of alcohol from a store in Donegal Town, a hit and run incident and much more. Garda Paul White from Ballyshannon Garda Station joined Claire Ronan to discuss:

It's thought that a planned cycleway for south Donegal will be the first of its kind in the country.   The proposed development, measuring approximately 4.5km, will link Bundoran to Ballyshannon under the active travel scheme.   The new facility seeks to provide a safe, high quality infrastructure that is accessible, age friendly and maximises comfort to people of all ages and abilities....

A north Leitrim Councillor has confirmed that she has received abuse after attending an event in Dromahair last week which highlighted concerns local residents in relation to the arrival of refugees in the village.   Fianna Fail Councillor Mary Bohan was one of a number of elected representatives that attended the event on Wednesday last.   She says that over recent days she has received...

Budget 2024 for Sligo has been described as a mixed bag and a funding package that will not be able to fully service the county.   The Budget, passed yesterday, will see a total expenditure of €76.5 million for next year expenditure for 2024 - an increase of €2.8m on last year.   Roads and Transportation is set to get the pieces piece of the cake at just over 24m following by housing at...

The ESB has come under fire over a major weekend power outage in the region.   Areas around west and south Sligo were worst impacted with hundreds of homes and businesses without power for much of yesterday.   The ESB say that a breakdown at a local substation was the cause of the outage.   But local Independent Cllr Michael Clarke says that excuse doesn't wash in this day and age a...

Work has begun this morning at the junction on Barrack Road in Collooney. Roadworks were originally carried out some months ago to narrow the junction. However, this led to significant delays for traffic, as buses and lorries were not able to complete the turn. A review was carried out by Sligo County Council, and work has begun today to restore the junction to how it was originally. A review has...

Fine Gael members have selected the party’s candidates for the upcoming local elections in the Manorhamilton Municipal District.   Caitríona Bergin and Kevin Comiskey were selected by local party members at Sunday night’s convention at the Bee Park Community Centre and will be put forward on the Fine Gael ticket.   The elections are due to be held in June of next year.   Caitríona B...

Thousands of premises are currently without water in south Donegal.   The burst to the main line is impacting most of Bundoran and parts of Ballyshannon.   The supply may not be fully restored to all homes and businesses until 6pm.   Local Sinn Fein Cllr Michael McMahon says it's unfortunate but crews are working hard to fix the burst:

Cllrs in Sligo have passed the Budget for the year ahead.   The funding will be spent on the likes of housing, roads and major tourism projects in the County in 2024.   Roads and transportation is set to get the biggest share in money at just over 24m.   The total budget is €76.5 million and Fine Gael Cllr Thomas Walsh say a lot of positive things will happen in the year ahead as a...

With an increase in the number of users at Our Lady's Hospital in Manorhamilton, one local Councillor is calling for signage to be provided at the facility.   Users are coming from neighbouring counties to avail of additional services at the facility.   However, many have been led to different locations throughout the town due to the lack of appropriate signage.   Fine Gael Councill...

Calls have been made for government agencies to carry out assessment on drainage from a river in North Leitrim. Inadequate drainage Diffagher River from Lisacoghill back to Belhavel is causing fields to be flooded, resulting in distress to farmers. It's thought that it is 30 years since work was carried out in the area. Sinn Féin Councillor Padraig Fallon says farmers are willing to co-operate wit...

This week's meeting of the Manorhamilton Municipal District has heard renewed calls for a slipway at Spencer Harbour. Efforts by a local community group to develop a tourism location to secure funding have previously been quashed. Local Councillor Mary Bohan says the creation of a slipway would allow for local residents to launch small boats at the harbour. The Fianna Fáil Councillor says it's tim...

The north Leitrim Palestinian Solidarity Group held a vigil at Main Street, Manorhamilton on Friday evening.   Organisers say It's one of a growing number of protests and events being organised throughout the country to show solidarity with the people of Gaza and Palestine.   They have called on the Irish government to use its influence, at EU level, to call for a continuation of the cur...

The President of the GRA says it's high time An Garda Siochana was properly resourced following last night's rioting the Capital.   Seven vehicles were set on fire - including three buses, three Garda cars and a Luas tram.   Eight other Garda cars were damaged, as was a fire truck - while 13 buildings in the city centre were damaged.   The riots evolved from a protest - which Garda...

Assurances have been asked for in the Dáil to make sure houses affected by defective blocks are mortgageable. The issue was raised by Independent Donegal TD, Thomas Pringle. As it stands, homes across Donegal and other areas where defective blocks are prevalent are not deemed to be mortgageable, something that has not been addressed in the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme. Speaking...

There are further calls to reinstate to two gravediggers to Sligo cemetery.   The two men, employed by Sligo County County Council, were suspended in August with full pay.   Questions are now being asked as to why the matter has not yet been resolved, with claims that the Council is losing money as a result.   There's also concern that following their suspension, parts of the cemete...