A new body representing the Bed and Breakfast sector is predicting a more positive year in 2010, with a new marketting drive and grading system being introduced, and the economic outlook improving in key markets abroad.

Ballyshannon based B&B Ireland, which encompasses the old Town and Country Homes and Irish Farmhouse associations, says online bookings actually rose slightly last year, and indications are that advance bookings this month are well up on January 2009.

B&B Ireland Chairperson Margaret Cahill says with over 60% of B&B owners in the new organisation, they are well placed to rerspond to the market upturn.

Members of Donegal County Council have been furnished with legal advice suggesting it would be virtually impossible to force a vote of no confidence in the mayor.

In the letter, prepared at the behest of Mayor Brendan Byrne, the council’s solicitors say that his handling of the vote which saw this year’s budget passed in the chamber was correct, and he acted legally and within the council’s standing orders at all times.

The advice also says that such a vote could not be taken in the absense of the mayor, but if he were in the chamber, he would have to chair the meeting himself, and that in itself would create an extremely difficult situation.

Members of the other parties are questioning the content of the advice, and whether or not the mayor should have sought advice at the council’s expense.

The letter was circulated at a special meeting which is continuing in Lifford to discuss the various meetings leading up to the budget meeting in December.

Donegal County Council is meeting this morning to discuss the manner in which ther 2010 budget was decided, and the process leading up to December’s budget meeting.

What happened at meeting is well documented. While Fine Gael, Labour, Sinn Fein and the independents were meeting to thrash out proposals to reduce the comercical rate by 8.5%, Fianna Fail councillors adopted the budget in the chamber with a proposed 3% cut.

Today Fianna Fail is expected to justify that – a cross party corparate policy group was formed early last year, Fianna Fail will claim that this group agreed unamisouly to proposals that led to the draft budget.

The party claims that it is giving a factual and honest account in stating that Sinn Fein, Fine Gael, and the independents agreed only in December on measures that would see a 3% cut in commercial rates and that council officals will be available to confirm that.

Figures collated and publishjed by the Sunday Independent show that between December 1st 2008 and December 1st 2009, Donegal’s three senators claimed almost €123,000 in expenses between them.

Of the 60 members of Seanad Eireann, Fianna Fail Senator Cecilia Keavney was the highest claiming Donegal member, with expenses of just over €52,000, the 25th highest claimant in the Seanad. She sits on a number of bodies, including the Joint Committee on Education and Science, the Council of Europe, the Oireachtas Commission and the British Irish Interparliamentary Body.

Her party colleague Senator Brían O’Domhnaill claimed just over €38,000, and was ranked in 37th place. He is the Government Spokesperson for Lifelong Learning, Youth Work and School Transport, and also sits on the Education and Science committee.

Sinn Fein Senator Pearse Doherty was ranked in 43rd place with expenses of just over €31,000. He is his party’s Oireachtas spokesperson on Education, Transport and Regional Development.

There were victories in the opening series of matches of the Dr. Kenna Mc Cup for both Donegal and Tyrone over the weekend. Derry however suffered defeat in their first match of 2010.

On Saturday evening at Breffini Park John Joe Doherty’s Donegal side beat Cavan 0-11 to 0-9. Four debutants started with  Lee Mc Fadden in goals, James Keaney in the full back line, Edward Kelly at midfield and Gareth Concarr in the forward line as well as  recalls for Paddy Mc Daid, Neil Gallagher and Ross Wherity. Another interesting selection was Colm Mc Fadden at centre half forward.
Myles Gallagher speaking with Donegal Coach Michael Mc Geehan..
 

Tyrone beat St Mary’s College by 0-26 to 0-10 at Healy Park in Omagh. Mickey Harte’s side led by 0-14 to 0-2 at half-time, and had 12 different players on the scoresheet . Kyle Coney made a triumphant man of the match debut scoring five points.

Derry lost by a point to Antrim at Casement Park in Belfast. Owen Bradley scored seven points for the north west county but the goals by the Saffrons was the winning of the game in the end as they held on to snatch victory 3-7 to Derry’s 0-15.

A 17 years old man was been taken to Letterkenny General Hospital early today Sunday following a single vehicle accident near Gortahork.

It is understood the van the young man was driving overturned in the middle of the road at Keeldrum just before 4am.

His condition in hospital is
described as “satisfactory”.

The main N56 road from the Dunlewey junction to Gortahork was closed for a period and traffic was being diverted via the Errigal road.

Water Update – Saturday January 16th

As communicated to us by Donegal County Council -
Water supplies are showing signs of stabilising in most areas of the county continue though demand remains above normal. Problems continue to be experienced with outdoor service lines, services to field troughs and outbuildings and vacant properties.

We urge members of the public to check taps and service lines at home, in outbuildings and in fields, and in vacant premises. Where running water is found please close taps or valves in order to prevent more general water shortages.

Interruptions to water supplies are well down on the past week, though excess demand in some areas (leakage / running services) continues to cause problems for other customers.

The following is an update summary of the situation across the county by electoral area.

Donegal Electoral Area

Water supply to parts of Donegal Town was interrupted this morning due to a burst watermain. Repair works are ongoing and it is hoped to restore supply this afternoon.

The overall water demand in the Donegal area remains very high, but is reducing. There are no plans to close reservoirs in the Donegal Electoral area tonight, 16th January 2010.

Stranorlar Electoral Area
Demand for water throughout the Lough Mourne supply area remains excessive, and beyond the supply capacity. Trends indicate that this demand is from a large number of individual services throughout the supply area. The council has no option but to continue the regime of nightime restrictions in order to ensure daytime supply.

Tievebrack, Ballinacorr, Gleneely (Castlefinn), Lifford, Rosgier, Cavan Hill, Porthall, Convoy, Raphoe, Twin towns (Letterkenny Road area) and Drumkeen will all have supply closed from 8.00 pm to 8.00 am. The Corradoie / Liscooley area is also vulnerable to interruptions due to excess demand.

The cross-border supply at Alt may experience interruptions later today and tonight again (16th) due to supply limitations.

There has been a burst watermain on the supply to Meenreagh / Tieveclogher area, leaving the reservoir empty. Repairs are ongoing. It is hoped to recommission the main later today, to replenish the reservoir tonight, 16th January, so that supply to the area is restored for tomorrow 17th.

Glenties Electoral area
Demand in the Gortahork / Falcarragh supply area and in the Rosses Regional supply area has reduced, though continuing at levels well above normal. There are no plans to close reservoirs in these areas tonight, 16th January 2010.

Problems continue in the Ardara supply area, particularly Killybegs road and Loughrous Point, Ardara. As a result areas at high level are experiencing interruptions in supply. Ardara Reservoir will be closed tonight from 8.00pm to 8.00am with interruptions in supply on Narin Road, Killybegs Road and Loughrous Point. Water conservation / leak detection works are continuing in Brackey and Glengesh today and interruptions to supply may be experienced.

Inishowen Electoral area
Supply in the Inishowen area generally has stabilised, though demand remains high. Reservoir closures are not planned tonight. Supply problems persist at Gleneely village, where supply to parts of the village are affected.

Letterkenny Electoral Area
Ramelton / Ballylinn. Supply to parts of the Aghnagaddy Group Scheme at Muirfield and Breaghy were turned off overnight last night (15th) due to excess demand in those areas. This regime will be repeated tonight (16th) and tomorrow noght (17th). The situation will be reviewed in the coming week. Consumers in these areas are urged to check for leaks on their supplies. These problems have negatively impacted on supply to the Ballylinn area of Ramelton served by Killycreen reservoir and to some consumers on the Letterkenny – Ramelton Road.

Supply to the Gartan Group Scheme was turned off overnight last night (15th) due to excess demand in those areas. This regime will be repeated tonight (16th) and tomorrow noght (17th). The situation will be reviewed in the coming week.

There are no plans to restrict supply elsewhere in the Letterkenny Electoral Area tonight 16th January 2010, though demand generally remains high. The appeal to members of the public to conserve water and to check for leakage / wastage applies.

Water Services Staff are actively engaged in efforts to restore and maintain supply in all areas.

Once again, we urge the public to check taps and service lines at home, in outbuildings and in fields, and in vacant premises. Where running water is found please close taps or valves in order to prevent more general water shortages. Thank you for your co-operation in this effort.

Water should be returning to most homes and business across Donegal following the latest round of reservoir closures by Donegal County Council.

Supply was restricted in parts of the  Donegal, Stranorlar, Glenties and Letterkenny electoral areas overnight.

Supply was switched on agian at eight this morning but will take some time to reach all properties on the supply network.

Other areas are experiencing ongoing water supply difficulties and the council has again said it is working hard to address the issues.

Full details are available from Donegal County Council  HERE

There was great success for Donegal students at the BT Young Scientist of the Year Awards held during the week.

Deírbhile Ní Chathail, Aoife Nic Uait and Sean Cassey of Colaiste Ailigh picked up an award in the Junior catagory in the Biological and Ecological section.

Aisling Nic Fhionnghaile also from Colaiste Ailigh, entering in the Senior Individual section won an award for her presentation in the Social and Behavioural Sciences category.  .

Henrik Bruesecke of St Columba’s Comprehensive School collected two awards for his investigation into the effect of voltage and clock frequency on the performance of different processors.

Ryan Gillespie and Éimhín Bonner of Rosses Community School was ‘highly commended’ for an investigation of voter preferences at election time in the Social and Behavioural Sciences category.

Also ‘highly commended’  in the Biological and Ecological catagory were Rio  Carlin and Niamh      Carlin Rosanio from Magh Ena College in Ballyshannon.

An 18 year old Cork student has picked up the BT Young Scientist of the Year Award.

Richard O’Shea from Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal in Blarney won with his project on a biomass fired cooking stove for developing countries.

The Regional Game Council in Donegal has confirmed that a ban on the shooting of certain wild birds remaions in place, and will be reviewed again on Wednesday next.

The temporary ban was brought in during the cold snap, and was to have been lifted yesterday, but it has been left in place for another five days.

Donegal delegate Joe Mc Brearty is Secretary of the National Association of Regional Game Councils