Letterkenny General hospital is reporting a small number of confirmed cases of H1N1 virus and is urging the public with flu like symptoms to contact there GP before attending the hospital.

In order to assist staff in the hospital in maintaining the best possible infection control measures people are advised not visit the hospital unless absolutely necessary.

Meanwhile the HSE Public Health Specialist Dr Anthony Breslin is urging those in at risk groups to ensure they get the swine flu vaccination:
 

The body of a  woman has been found at the scene of a house fire in Carndonagh.

Carndonagh Fire Brigade were alerted to the fire at the Bungalow at around 11 o’clock this morning.

It is understood the woman was in her 50′s and living alone.

Gardai have launched an investigation into the matter – and technical examinations of the scene are underway.

The office of the State Pathologist has also been notified.

Two of the victims of Monday’s horrific crash in Co Monaghan will be laid to rest today.

Roisin Connolly and her unborn child along with friends Paul Carroll and Glen Curtis were killed in the three car collision on the N2 near Carrickmacross.

Hundreds of people turned out for the removal of Roisin and her daughter Catherine in Fanad in Co Donegal last night – where the 39-year-old was originally from.

They’ll be laid to rest following mass this afternoon at St. Mary’s Church in Fanavolty.

27-year-old Glen Curtis from Nobber in Co Meath was buried yesterday while his close friend Paul Carroll of Kingscourt in Co Meath will be buried today after 11 o’clock mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Kingscourt.

Donegal County Council says it is its intention that all business in the hospitality sector across the county will have a water supply tonight.

There are no plans for water restrictions to be put in place this evening.

Last night large parts of all of Donegal’s electoral areas were effected by  up to 14 hour restrictions as Donegal County Council continues to manage limited supplies.

Senior Engineer with the council, Joe Peoples, is urging to public to use water sparingly:

The families of those killed and wounded on Bloody Sunday have said next month’s anniversary march will be a public thank you to the people of Derry.

It will be the first march since the Saville Report found the dead and wounded innocent.

Some relatives have said it will be the last ever commemoration march.

It is thought the march will be held on the last Sunday in January.

Michael McKinney whose brother was murdered on Bloody Sunday, says the march will bring out mixed emotions:
 

This is the latest bulletin from Donegal County Council, including details of restrictions to water supplies tonight.

GLENTIES ELECTORAL AREA

Water supplies will be restricted in the following areas from 6:00pm until 8:00am

The Rosses

Gweedore

Leittermacaward Area

Ardara Area

Gortahork

Falcarragh

Creeslough

Dunfanaghey

DONEGAL ELECTORAL AREA

Water supplies will be restricted in the following areas from 6:00pm until 8:00am

Ballyshannon

Bundoran

Ballintra

Rossnowlagh

Frosses Mountcharles

STRANORLAR ELECTORAL AREA

Water supplies will be restricted in the following areas from 6:00pm until 8:00am

Convoy
Castlefin
Raphoe
Lifford
Ballinacor
Tievebrack
Gleneely

Ballybofey and Stranorlar – supply will also be turned off to the Twin Towns from midnight until 8.00am each night

INISHOWEN ELECTORAL AREA

Water supplies will be restricted in the following areas from 8:00pm until 8:00am

Three Glens

There may be interruptions in the Quigley’s Point / Iskaheen areas where demand remains very high.
Water Service staff continue to check locally for losses. That said there is presently no planned restrictions to
supplies in that area overnight.

LETTERKENNY ELECTORAL AREA

Water supplies will be restricted in the following areas

South Letterkenny Area from  8:00pm until 8:00am

including Rahan, Ballyboe, Scibley, Lismonaghan, Correnagh, Rockhill, Newmills and Conwall

The following areas of Letterkenny from  8:00pm until 8:00am

Glencar Road, Pearse Road, Canal Road, Neil T. Blaney Road and Glenmaquinn

The following areas of Letterkenny Town from midnight until 8:00am

Letterkenny Town Centre

Lower Main Street

Ballyraine Area from midnight until 8:00am

including Sylvan Park, Ashlawn, Ballyraine Park, Orchard Grove, Thorndale, Magherannan
Heights and Elmwood Downs

Aughnagaddy Group Scheme Ramelton from  8:00pm until 8:00am

including Moorfield, Breaghy and Carnisk Areas

East Ramelton from 8:00pm until 8:00am
including supply area from Killycrean reservoir

SEVERE WEATHER PERIOD – Water Conservation Appeal

Donegal County Council are recording significant increases in demand on a number of water supplies throughout the county during the current cold weather conditions – particularly during the thaw period. We suspect the increased demand for water arises from

• taps left running
• burst mains which have not yet been located
• leakage in private properties

The Water Service in Donegal wishes to appeal to the public to help us eliminate such wastage. This will help save water stored in reservoirs and avoid further shortages throughout the county

With the experience from the widespread disruption last winter we are highlighting the following areas in particular where the public can help eliminate wastage of the public water supply:

Running taps – please avoid leaving taps running. This is counter productive and will run down available water in storage

Burst mains / leakage – any suspected leaks on watermains or wastage should be reported to the County Council.

Vacant properties – please continue to check vacant properties where internal plumbing may be damaged by freezing conditions. Ideally the water supply to vacant buildings should be turned off and systems drained of all water, e.g. where members of the public who are going on holiday during the coming months, we would recommend that they turn off the water supply to their premises and drain all water out of the system before leaving the property.

Farming Community – we ask that you check all field connections and turn off leaking drinking troughs. This has proven to be a serious problem in rural areas in recent years. We also ask for your assistance in checking for burst pipes in farm buildings and burst hoses laying over ground. Essentially anywhere on the farm that water may be lost

Caravan Parks – another area that is often remote where plumbing may be exposed and water losses can be slow to appear, we appeal to all caravan park owners to turn off the water supply to eliminate wastage.

Once again the co-operation of every community is required if we are to avert widespread shortages in water supplies

Donegal County Councils Director of Water has admitted that the authority’s Emergency Phone line for people affected by the water crisis needs to be looked at.

Since the thaw began at the weekend, thousands of pipes are believed to have burst across the county, many of which have not been detected. Donegal County Council is continuing to implement widespread restrictions at night in a bid to preserve supplies, with details available at highlandradio.com and the council’s own website www.donegalcoco.ie.

People without supplies at all, or with bursts or other problems to report are being urged to contact the council’s emergency line at 074 91 72399. However, Highland Radio has been receriving numerous calls reporting that the line is not being answered.

The councils Director of Water, Joe Peoples, told Frank Galligan on todays Shaun Doherty Show, that the current phone system needs to be reviewed:

One of Donegal’s landmark hotels is to close with the loss of 20 jobs.

Gleneany House Hotel in Letterkenny, which was a 25 bedroom family-run hotel, has been open for the past 20 years.

Increased competition and a down-turn in the economy has been blamed for the hotel’s closure.

President of the Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce Patrick McGinley said the hotel closure was another blow for the town:

Deputy Niall Blaney has emerged as the highest claimant of Dail expenses over the past three years since December 1st 2007.

In stark contrast Deputy Joe McHugh is placed at number 75 on the list.

Deputy Niall Blaney claimed €212,112 over the past three years, while Deputy Joe McHugh claimed €151,900 over the same period.

In the past year alone Deputy Blaney claimed €65,193 while McHughs expenses were €45,254.

Deputy Dinny McGinley is placed at number 4 on the list with expenses running to €205,430 and in the past year he claimed €77,531.

Tanaiste Mary Coughlan’s expenses for the three year period run to €51,936 and she’s placed at number 148 on the list of 165 deputies. She claimed €16,444 in the past twelve months.

Former Deputy, Jim McDaid, who resigned his seat last month is number 39 with a three year expense total of €181,689 and he claimed €56,036 in his final ten months as a TD.

Papers released under the 30 year rule show John Hume suggested that the Irish government “put Margaret Thatcher straight” on the crisis in the North.

In 1980, the SDLP leader gave a scathing analysis of the then British Prime Minister saying her approach to the North was simplistic.

He suggested Taoiseach Charlie Haughey put her straight on the history of the region.

SDLP Minister Alex Atwood says important lessons can be learned from these records: