Donegal Senator Pearse Doherty has accused the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan of neglecting her own constituency.

Senator Doherty says figures provided by her own department show that of the 1,740 site visits hosted by the IDA since 2003, only 41 were made to Donegal.

Last year, there were three, all of which were in Letterkenny.

Ms Coughlan has described  Senator Doherty’s statement as a most bizarre assertion.

In a statement issued today, she says Senator Doherty is electioneering, and that the IDA supports more than 1,600 jobs in 12 different companies across a range of sectors in County Donegal

Recieved from and expressing the views of  Donegal County Council

The water supply situation on 19th remains largely unchanged today 20th January. Whereas demand for water across the county is dropping, indicating a lessening of leakage and wastage losses, serious problems remain in some supply areas. The Lough Mourne supply, serving the Finn Valley area and East Donegal is most critical.
We particularly appeal to all water users 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.

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

Donegal Electoral Area
The overall water demand in the Donegal area remains very high. Supply to the Doorin, Creevin and Raneely areas of Mountharles will be shut down tonight at 9.30 p.m. tonight, 20th, and turned on again in the morning at 7.a.m. tomorrow 21st January 2010.

Glenties Electoral area
The overall water demand in the Glenties area remains very high, but is reducing. There are no plans to close reservoirs in the area tonight, 20th January 2010.

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.

Stranorlar Electoral Area
Consumption remained unsustainably high last night throughout the Lough Mourne supply area. As a result the council has no option but to continue the regime of nightime restrictions from 8.00 pm tp 8.00 am in order to ensure daytime supply. Reservoirs at the following locations will be closed overnight: at Argery, Gleneely, Kinletter, Ballinacor, Tievebrack, Coradooie, Lifford, Convoy and Raphoe while the supply pipelines to the Letterkenny Road Area of Stranorlar, Liscooley Area, Glenfin, Porthall and Cavan Hill areas will been turned off too.
We still have the ongoing problem of insufficient flow from NI Water into both our reservoir at Alt, Castlefinn and the Meenreagh/Tieveclogher area. The Alt reservoir will be turned off tonight also.

A water bowser has been placed at Calhame Crossroads, Liscooley, to provide an emergency drinking water supply for residents in that area, due to the prolonged outage affecting them.

Letterkenny Electoral Area
Supply to the Gartan Group Scheme will be turned off overnight 20th January due to excess demand / leakage. There is also leakage in the Aughnagaddy GWSS and suspected leakage in the Glenmaquin GWSS. Ongoing interruptions to supply in these areas can be expected.
There are no plans to restrict supply elsewhere in the Letterkenny Electoral Area tonight 20th 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.

Daily updates are also available from the council directly HERE

Northwest MEPJim Higgins says Europe has failed Haiti with its slow response after last weeks earthquake.

He says that the EU should have had people on the ground immediately after the quake struck so that a co-ordinated plan could have been put in place.

The comments come as a 6.1 magnitude aftershock hit this morning 60 kilometres from the capital Port-au-Prince.

Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Jim Higgins said that Europe did not act quickly enough.

Derry city and Glengesh in Donegal both feature in Lonely Planet’s Top Ten Irish attractions list.

In fifth place, Derry is praised for its ancient history, and terrific pubs in one of the island’s most fascinating cities.

In sixth place, the guide describes the Glengesh pass as a generous slice of alpine magic in the wilds of Donegal.

Tom Hall, the Travel Editor of the Lonely Planet Guide can be heard by clicking the link below:

The parent company of Arntz Bellting in Derry is being urged to accept an enhanced redundancy package proposed by the workforce

It was confirmed earlier this month that the factory is to close in March with the loss of 115 jobs.

Making the call Derry MLA Martina Anderson says Germany based Optibeltz should meet the staff’s demands given that it has received much government support and has a valuable asset in the site in Derry.

She also says the future of the site is of crucial importance for the North West, and given the recent development of Project Kelvin, the Arntz site is important for both Derry and Donegal.

Despite indications that the spread of the Winter Vomitting Bug at Letterkenny General had been contained  the hospital has now confirmed the norovirus has spread to other wards.

The hospital is again urging people to adhere to the ban on visiting at the hospital.

There are some exceptions but the hospital’s assistant Manager Paddy Rooney says they are being enforced strictly:

Over 20,000 airline passengers will have their travel plans disrupted this (Wednesday) afternoon due to a four-hour strike by air traffic controllers.

The stoppage between 2pm and 6pm will cause the cancellation of up to 150 flights at Cork, Dublin and Shannon. There is some disruption to flights in and out of the Northwest.

A the Donegal Airport flight RE 207 Dublin to Donegal and flight RE 206 Donegal to Dublin have been cancelled.

While at the City of Derry Airport delays are expected on the RE 287 Dublin to Derry and the RE 288 Derry to Dublin flights.

Those due to or from Derry should check HERE while those intending to travel to or from Donegal Airport should first check HERE

The trial has opened at the Central Criminal Court of a Donegal man accused of raping a 15-year-old girl two years ago.

The 23-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to rape, anal rape and defilement of the girl on a date in February 2008.

He cannot be named for legal reasons.

The now 17-year-old complainant told Mr Conor Devally SC, prosecuting, that on the night of the alleged incident she and two friends went to school grounds to drink vodka, which had earlier been bought for them by an older person.
She said they sat on a bench and she drank two cupfuls of vodka and coke. She said later that night a male arrived at the school in a car driven by the accused to meet one of her friends. She said they chatted and then the three girls got into the back seat of the car.

She said when the male passenger who had come to meet her friend got out of the car to chat, the accused asked her to get into the front seat and when the other male returned he got into the back seat with her two friends.

She said she shared a kiss with the accused in the front seat at one point during the evening.

The complainant said the male in the back then asked her friend to get out of the car with him and she was left alone with the accused. She said the accused drove on down the road for a time before stopping.

She said the accused jumped over to her side of the car and reclined the seat using the “nozzle” with one hand while keeping the other hand on her seat belt. She said he was rubbing her body and she called him a “weirdo” and told him to get off her.

She said he started to bite her neck and tried to kiss her but she put her head back. She said he then pulled down her tracksuit bottoms and she continued to try and push him away.

She claimed he then raped her, telling Mr Devally “it was pure agony” and later said it felt as if the alleged incident lasted for “years.”

She said afterwards he went back to his side of the car and she pulled up her trousers and “it was as if nothing had happened.”

She said they then drove back to where her friend and the other male were waiting and she estimated they had been away for about 15 or 20 minutes. She said the other two got back into the car and the accused drove them back into the town where she went into a hotel toilet and had a conversation with her friend.

She said she was “torn up and crying” and went to her cousin’s house with her friend.

She agreed that she had told her sister her allegations were “lies” and said this was because she was ashamed.

Donegal County Council says it is concerned that main water supply servicing the Finn Valley area is not recovering.

While the water supply situation across the county is generally improving, the situiation at Lough Mourne is still critical.

Even with water switched off for 12 hours a day, demand is running at 410 cubic metres per hour, well above the 360 cubic metres per hour that can be produced.

Senior Engineer Peadar McGrory says the public’s help is essential.

Donegal County Council Water Supply Update – 19th January 2010

Whereas demand for water across the county is dropping, indicating a lessening of leakage and wastage losses, serious problems remain in some supply areas. The Lough Mourne supply, serving the Finn Valley area and East Donegal is most critical.
We appeal to all water users 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.

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

Donegal Electoral Area
The overall water demand in the Donegal area remains very high. Supply to the Doorin, Creevin and Raneely areas of Mountharles will be shut down tonight at 9.30 p.m. tonight, 19th, and turned on again in the morning at 7.a.m. tomorrow 20th January 2010.

Glenties Electoral area
The overall water demand in the Glenties area remains very high, but is reducing. There are no plans to close reservoirs in the area tonight, 19th January 2010.

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.

Stranorlar Electoral Area
Consumption remained unsustainably high last night throughout the Lough Mourne supply area. As a result the council has no option but to continue the regime of nightime restrictions from 8.00 pm tp 8.00 am in order to ensure daytime supply. Reservoirs at the following locations will be closed overnight: at Argery, Gleneely, Kinletter, Ballinacor, Tievebrack, Coradooie, Lifford, Convoy and Raphoe while the supply pipelines to the Letterkenny Road Area of Stranorlar, Liscooley Area, Glenfin, Porthall and Cavan Hill areas will been turned off too.
We still have the ongoing problem of insufficient flow from NI Water into both our reservoir at Alt, Castlefinn and the Meenreagh/Tieveclogher area. The Alt reservoir will be turned off tonight also.

Letterkenny Electoral Area
Supply to the Gartan Group Scheme will be turned off overnight 19th January due to excess demand / leakage. There is also leakage in the Aughnagaddy GWSS and suspected leakage in the Glenmaquin GWSS. Ongoing interruptions to supply in these areas can be expected.
There are no plans to restrict supply elsewhere in the Letterkenny Electoral Area tonight 19th 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.