The newly elected Deputy for the Donegal South West Constituency says he will not be earning any more money now that he is an elected TD.

Sinn Fein’s Pearse Doherty will move from sitting in the Seanad to the Dail following his landslide victory during the by-election on Friday.

A TD’s salary is €92,672. However, Senator Doherty says there is a wage structure within Sinn Fein which means that every Minister, TD and Senator will all be paid the same-as per the average industrial wage.

His take home pay will still remain at €29,000 but he can avail of legitimate expenses such as travel.

Speaking to Greg Hughes on today’s Shaun Doherty Show, Deputy Pearse Doherty says the remainder of the money will be put back into the party or the constituency office………..

Donegal County Council says the vital service provided by An Post in rural areas must be maintained.

Last month, the Communications Workers Union last month warned against changes which could affect An Post’s ability to provide the universal service obligation, which ensures that everywhere in the Republic, rural or urban, receives the same level of postal services, once a day, five days a week.

It’s expected that An Post will lose the equivalent of 1,375 full-time staff members by the end of 2012, on top of 412 positions which went last year..

The issue was raised in Lifford today by Cllr Mick Quinn, who says the priceless social service provided by An Post must be protected……….

Gritting lorries servicing dangerously-icy roads have been attacked by youths in Derry on Sunday.

The window of one vehicle was smashed and the Roads Service was not able to treat a number of roads in the Creggan and Gobnascale areas.

Elsewhere, the service said it had deployed snow ploughs “to most areas and followed up with repeated salting”.

SDLP Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey, says it’s lucky no-one was killed.

City of Derry and Donegal airports are opened now this morning.

The London Stansted to Derry flight had to be diverted to Belfast this morning because of the freezing weather conditions.

There is likely to be ongoing flight disruption due to poor weather conditions at City of Derry, passengers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest information.

Meanwhile, this mornings flight from Donegal airport was cancelled, but the afternoon flight is due to depart on schedule.

Highland Radio has been notified of the following school closures as at 7:30pm, Sunday November 28th

Primary & Secondary Schools

ACRES NATIONAL SCHOOL BURTONPORT
AIRHILL NATIONAL SCHOOL RAMELTON
ANNAGRY NATIONAL SCHOOL
BALLINMORE VOCATIONAL SCHOOL

BALLYRAINE NATIONAL SCHOOL

CARNDONAGH COMMUNITY SCHOOL

COLAISTE AILIGH LETTERKENNY
CONVOY JOINT NATIONAL SCHOOL
CRANA COLLEGE
CRANFORD NATIONAL SCHOOL
CRANN OG BUI LOUGHROSS POINT ARDARA
CROAGHROSS NATIONAL SCHOOL, PORTSALON
DERRYCONNER NATIONAL SCHOOL
DRUMKEEN NATIONAL SCHOOL
DRUMOGHILL NATIONAL SCHOOL
EARIGAIL COLLEGE, LETTERKENNY
GAEL SCOIL IN GLENCAR
GLASAN NATIONAL SCHOOL, CREESLOUGH
GLENMAQUINN NATIONAL SCHOOL
GLENSWILLY NAT SCHOOL
GREENCASTLE NATIONAL SCHOOL
ILLISTRIN MONTESSORI SCHOOL
KEADUE NATIONAL SCHOOL
LAKEVIEW MONTESSORI SCHOOL, RAMELTON
LETTERKENNY COMMUNITY SCHOOL
LETTERKENNY EDUCATE TOGEATHER NATIONAL SCHOOL
LITTLE ANGELS SCHOOL, LETTERKENNY


LORETTO COMMUNITY SCHOOL MILFORD
LORETTO CONVENT, LETTERKENNY
LUINNEACH SCHOOL, GWEEDORE
MAGHERABEG NATIONAL SCHOOL, MANORC….
MAGHEROARTY NATIONAL SCHOOL
MOVILLE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
MULROY COLLEGE, MILFORD
NIAMH BREIGE NATIONAL SCHOOL IN MUFF
PCC, FALCARRAGH
RAY NATIONAL SCHOOL, MANORCUNNINGHAM
SCOIL BHRIDE, LETTERMACAWARD
SCOIL COLMCILLE (BOYS SCHOOL) LETTERKENNY
SCOIL COLMCILLE KERRYKEEL
SCOIL COLMCILLE NATIONAL SCHOOL IN FINTOWN-
SCOIL COLMCILLE, DEVLINREAGH, CARRIGART
SCOIL COLMCILLE, NEWTOWNC….
SCOIL CONAL NATIONAL SCHOOL BUNBEG
SCOIL EOGHAIN (SOUNDS LIKE OWEN) MOVILLE
SCOIL LINBHIOSA IN CARRIGANS
SCOIL MHUIRE CASHEL, FANAD
SCOIL MHUIRE CREESLOUGH (UNTIL WEDNESDAY)
SCOIL MHUIRE DERRYBEG
SCOIL MHUIRE GAN SMAL (GIRLS SCHOOL) LETTERKENNY
SCOIL MHUIRE RAMELTON
SCOIL MHUIRE SECONDARY SCHOOL BUNCRANA
SCOIL NIAMH BREEDE DOWNINGS
SCOIL NIAMH FIACHRA IN ILLISTRIN
SCOIL NIAMH FINAN IN WHITECASTLE
SCOIL OWEN BASTA CARRIGART (CLOSED ON TUESDAY)
ST AENGUS’S, BRIDGEND
ST BERNADETTES SPECIAL SCHOOL LETTERKENNY
ST BRIDGETS SCHOOL B
ST COLMCILLES NATIONAL SCHOOL DRUMMIN BALLYARR
ST COLUMS, MOVILLE
ST CRONAS NATIONAL SCHOOL DUNGLOE
ST EUNANS COLLEGE,LETTERKENNY
ST EUNANS NATIONAL SCHOOL RAPHOE
ST GARVINS NAT SCHOOL, DRUMHALLA
ST JOSEPHS NATIONAL SCHOOL RATHDONNELL
ST JOSEPHS NATIONAL SCHOOL RATHMULLAN
ST PATRICK’S SCHOOL, DOAGHBEG
STRAMORE NATIONAL SCHOOL, GLENDOAN
TAMNEY NATIONAL SCHOOL
TEEVOG NATIONAL SCHOOL IN CLOUGHIN
THE ROSSES COMMUNITY SCHOOL IN DUNGLOE
TIERNASLIGO NATIONAL SCHOOL, CLONMANY
TOOBAN NATIONAL SCHOOL
WELSHTOWN NATIONAL SCHOOL
WOOD SCHOOL ARDARA
WOODLANDS NATIONAL SCHOOL
MOVILLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ST PATRICKS BOYS SCHOOL CARNDONAGH

Playschools

CHURCHILL COMMUNITY CHILDCARE
COCKHILL COMMUNITY PLAYSCHOOL
MILFORD COMMUNITY PLAYGROUP
BALLAGHDERG PRESCHOOL CLOSED UNTIL WEDNESDAY
DUNFANAGHY PLAYHOUSE
CRAOIBHIN COMMUNITY CENTRE TERMON
LETTERKENNY COMMUNITY CHILDCARE WILL NOT OPEN UNTIL 9.15AM
QUIGLEYS POINT COMMUNITY PLAYGROUP
NAIONRA PLAYSCHOOL, DEVLINREAGH
MAGIC ROUNDABOUT PLAYSCHOOL, PORT ROAD LETTERKENY

Other Closures:

GLENTIES DAY CARE CENTRE
LETTERKENNY AND MILFORD ADULT EDUCATION CENTRES AND CRECHES

A number of schools in the North are also closed;

In Derry, Oakgrove Integrated College, Immaculate Conception College, St Peter’s Secondary School, St Cecilia’s College and St Joseph’s Boys’ School are all closed.

Newbuildings Primary School, Listress Primary School and Belmont House Special School are also shut.

In Tyrone, Bready Jubilee Primary School, Gortin Primary School, St Patrick’s Primary School, Gortin, and Knockavoe School in Strabane are closed due to the weather.

Thanks to listeners John Casey,Kathleen McMenamin, Aisling McHugh, Michelle Diver,Mary Laverty, Annemarie Wilson, Adrienne Randals, Derek Martin,Paddy O’Connor Aine Friel, Sinéad,  Danny McGinley, Catherine Forde,  Brendan Martin Breda, Dee Gallagher Gareth Doherty, Annmarie MacIntyre  and photographers John Rafferty Eoin McGarvey and Georgina Havlin,

Two men have escaped an alleged abduction attempt – when the car they were in crashed in Derry.

The men – aged 19 and 23 – claim they were in a house in the Circular Road area when four men – two armed with guns – entered just before 10.30 last night.

They said they were forced into a black Renault Megane and driven away.

The car later crashed near the Altnagelvin hospital and the men were able to get away.

They were treated in the hospital for injuries that were not life threatening.

Some wintry showers at first will die out early tonight (Sunday) and it will be bitterly cold with widespread severe frost and icy patches. Lows of 0 to -6 Celsius in light winds.

Monday will be another extremely cold day with frost and any fog slow to clear. Mostly dry and bright with sunny spells. Highs of zero to 3 Celsius in a light to moderate northeasterly breeze.

Freezing temperatures are being recorded around the Donegal following further  snowfalls last night.

Temperatures have fallen as low as -7C in some parts with many roads across the county very icy.

Road users and pedestrians have been urged to take extra care and to make journeys only when necessary.

Donegal County Council has undertook a programme if gritting on many of the county’s roads, however motorists are advised to presume or roads are in a dangerous condition.

A list of roads which are treated by the council can be found HERE

if you have any pictures of the weather conditions email greghughes@highlandradio.com and we will post a selection on the website

Labour party leader Eamon Gilmore has congratulated Cllr. Frank McBrearty on his ‘ very encouraging performance in the Donegal South West By Election’.

He said Frank has more than trebled the Labour Party share of the vote over the general election in a constituency where the Labour Party has not been traditionally strong. In 2007 we did not have a single councillor in the County and got less than 3% of the vote in Donegal South West.

Now we (Labour) have three County Councillors and a candidate in a position to fight for a seat in the general election.

Deputy Gilmore added ‘The most significant aspect of this election is the collapse in support for Fianna Fail which has seen its vote fall from 50% to just over 20%.  If this pattern were to be repeated in a general election, Fianna Fail would face political wipe-out.’