Ocean FM News Reports

Leaving Cert students across the North West have been analysing their results this morning. Thousands of pupils in the region got their results earlier today and for many, it was the first time they'd sat a State exam, after their Junior Cert was cancelled during the pandemic. Students are being urged not to get wrapped up in the "national obsession" with points. These students from St. Mary's Col...

People are being encouraged to have their say on plans for a new cycleway between Bundoran and Ballyshannon.   The substantial project is being funded by the Active Travel Scheme and it's hoped that once completed, it will inspire people to cycle and walk between both towns.   A public information evening has already taken place in relation to the project and its now progressing closer t...

Thousands of students across Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal are due to get their Leaving Certificate results later this morning.   They'll be made available online at 10am.   Students are being urged not to get wrapped up in the "national obsession" with points.   Further Education Minister Simon Harris has called on students who may be disappointed later to access supports.   Simo...

A Leitrim Councillor is backing calls for the hospitality VAT rate to be kept at 9% in the upcoming budget.   The rate is due to increase to 13.5% and North Leitrim publican Felim Gurn has once again expressed his frustration.   With numbers significantly down in the North West and hidden costs, many of those in hospitality are "hanging on."   Cathaoirleach of the Manorhamilton Muni...

The future of Donegal's Dáil constituency will be confirmed next week.   There has been debate on what do to with the constituency in recent times, with suggestions made to split it into two constituencies with three seats each.   As it stands, a single constituency cannot have more than five seats available to be contested.   Previously, parts of Donegal, namely Bundoran, Ballyshan...

There's a warning that electricity bills will remain high unless Ireland speeds up the rollout of offshore wind production. That's according to Midlands North West MEP Colm Markey who was reacting to new figures, which reveal that electricity prices here are the highest in Europe Consumers here are paying €900 a year more compared with the EU average. MEP Markey says offshore wind energy is the on...

Local elected representatives have today expressed their disappointment with the fact that no fines were issued in the North West last year for dog fouling.   The NCBI confirmed that the Local Authorities in Sligo Leitrim and Donegal were among 18 across the country that issued no fines for the offence.   Nationally just 82 fines were handed out in 2022.     Sligo Strandhill Co...

The future of Donegal's Dáil constituency will be confirmed next week.   There has been debate on what do to with the constituency in recent times, with suggestions made to split it into two constituencies with three seats each.   As it stands, a single constituency cannot have more than five seats available to be contested.   Previously, parts of Donegal, namely Bundoran, Ballyshan...

A Donegal TD says reports that only two Naval ships are being left in operation to patrol the waters around Ireland is worrying for our fishing fleet and cruise ships visiting Ireland. Crew shortages have led to the other two vessels being withdrawn from service, meaning Ireland will have the least number of Naval ships available since the 1970's. The Irish Times reports it's likely to cause conce...

A Leitrim based secondary school vice principal l is warning that the choice of subjects available to students in the new academic year could be impacted by the shortage of teachers.   The warning comes as calls are being made on the Department of Education to immediately announce it'll give teachers full-time jobs before the October cut-off.   The Teachers' Union of Ireland also wants t...

  The NCBI has called into question the lack of action taken by County Council officials when it comes to the issuing of fines for dog-fouling.   It’s emerged that no fines were issued by the local Authorities in Sligo, Leitrim or Donegal for dog-fouling last year.   The three counties are among 18 across the country that issued no fines for the offence.   Nationally just 82 fi...

Tough decisions will have to be made by people in the coming months due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. That's according to People Before Profit Councillor Gino O'Boyle, who is warning that people are facing further price hikes on electricity, gas and mortgages. Some providers have increased electricity prices while gas and fuel prices continue to rise along with The Central Bank increasing...

Donegal pedigree sheep farmer Dwayne Shiels has been named as the 2023 FBD Young Farmer of the Year. Mr. Shiels, a lecturer in agricultural sciences at Atlantic Technological University, Donegal, was also named a category award winner for Land Mobility at an awards ceremony in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Sligo on Tuesday evening. A native of Letterkenny, Mr. Shiels has completed a PhD with Teagasc o...

A Sligo Publican is warning that there is every likelihood that more rural pubs will close in the north west unless more support is provided to struggling publicans New figures show that almost 2 thousand pubs have closed across the country since 2005. A report from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland shows a continuing decline in the number of pubs, especially in rural areas. 114 pubs shut down...

There are further calls on management within the National Car Test service to explain their decision to move to a cashless, pre-pay model of payment in the coming months. The NCT made the announcement earlier this week and has sparked confusion and anger in among the general public. It says it's for the "safety and convenience" of its customers. Sligo-Leitrim TD and Sinn Féin's Transport Spokesper...

The workings of a new contract for the Irish Coast Guard Service and Rescue Aviation Service are set to be monitored closely to ensure that it delivers for the North West. The new contract between the Department of Transport and Bristow Ireland Limited will last for ten years with pledges that the service will be enhanced and expanded. Under the new contract, Bristow Ireland Limited will operate s...

The Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council is warning that the increasing level of criminal acts involving tourists visiting these shores has the potential to damage Ireland's reputation as popular visitor's destination. Recent serious attacks on US and English Tourists in the Dublin has led to serious injury in some instances. It's also been confirmed that there has been an increase in the numbe...

New evidence has been uncovered in relation to the killing of Donegal man Michael Leonard over 50 years ago. The 24 year old was shot at the border between Pettigo and Belleek in May of 1973 as he was attempting to make his way home to Donegal. The Leonard family has been tirelessly campaigning for a fresh inquest into his killing. Now, new documents have revealed that the General Officer Commandi...

367 children are currently on a waiting list for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service in the CHO1 area, which includes counties Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal. In figures published by the Irish Independent, over 4,300 young people are on CAMHS waiting lists nationally. It is estimated that the current wait time for a psychologist in Sligo-Leitrim currently is up to 18 months. Cathaoirleach of th...

The Donegal based President of the GRA say Gardai are caught up with too much admin work instead of being out on the beat. President of the Garda Representative Association, Brendan O'Connor, says there are not enough members in the force to allow officers complete admin duties. He is calling for a return to basic policing:

Retained firefighters are still waiting on the official document from the Workplace Relations Commission regarding their demands for better pay and conditions. News broke last week that the firefighter's strikes were to be postponed following negotiations that ran into the early hours of Thursday morning. Among the proposals offered were small increases on guaranteed pay. SIPTU are still waiting t...

The Donegal based Pesidnet of the GRA say Gardai are caught up with too much admin work instead of being out on the beat. It comes as figures from the Irish Tourist Assistance Service shows a rise in the number of tourists needing help dealing with crime. It helped 782 people so far this year, compared to 721 for all of 2019. President of the Garda Representative Association, Brendan O'Connor, wan...

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris is being urged to reconsider building a new Garda station in Sligo town. In 2018, a site was purchased in Caltragh with a view towards building a new station, however those plans were shelved indefinitely, after a decision was made to upgrade the existing building on Pearse road. However it's now thought that following confirmation that the Sligo/Leitrim Garda Divisi...

The Housing Minister is being urged to commit to a plan of action to treat rural roads this winter. The call comes as a result of a number of Local Link operators being unable to run their services due to icy road conditions. The Sinn Fein Transport Spokesperson and Sligo Leitrim TD Martin Kenny says it's a serious issue every year and results in people being left stranded and effectively cutting...

The opportunity to reunite Donegal for the next general election should not be missed in order for the county to prosper. That's the warning from a Bundoran Councillor ahead of the publication of the review of Dáil constituencies which will strongly recommend that 'the breaching of county boundaries' should be avoided. Currently Donegal is split with the South Donegal area included in the Sligo Le...