Call for Rural Social Scheme jobs to be filled
Almost 60% of the Rural Social Scheme posts have not been filled. 500 additional places for the RSS was allocated in Budget 2017, however, only 201 of these have been filled. The Rural Social Scheme is open to low income farmers and fishermen/fisherwomen who avail of certain social welfare payments.…
Leas-Ceann Comhairle says TDs making phone calls in the Dail not a major issue
The Donegal TD who is leas-cathaoirleach of the Dail says he does not believe the use of mobile phones by deputies in the chamber to make and receive calls is a major issue. Fianna Fail Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher was responding to a query from Ocean FM News following…
Donegal TD condemns failure to deal with rights of parttime, seasonal workers
A Donegal TD has hit out at the government over what he claims is its ‘complete failure’ to deal with the needs and rights of seasonal and part-time workers. Fianna Fail Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher says thousands of such workers on an annual basis find it impossible to obtain…
Minister’s decision on fishing quotas welcomed
There has been a broad welcome in the north west, and particularly in Donegal, for a decision by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine to reject a request from fishermen in the south of Ireland for all of an additional mackerel quota to go to them. The Killybegs Fishermen’s…
Call for more staff to deal with backlog of payments for children with disabilities
A Donegal TD has called on the Department of Social Protection to provide more staff in order to deal with a back-log of domiciliary care payments. These are monthly payments for a child under the age of 16 with a severe disability who requires ongoing care. Fianna Fail Deputy Pat…
VAT increase ‘could lead to job losses’
A Donegal TD has warned that any increase in the VAT rate for the hospitality sector could lead to job losses in the region. A document prepared for Finance Minister Pascal Donohue last week, called for the 9 percent rate to be scrapped in favour of a return to the…
New heart monitoring equipment for Letterkenny hospital
The government has signed off on €50,000 worth of funding to provide new heart monitoring equipment for Letterkenny University Hospital. No cardiac rehab services had been available to outpatients at the hospital since the end of May because of breakages to the equipment, while a reduced service was only available…