Junior Gaeltacht Minister Dinny Mc Ginley says he’ll be seeking clarification from the Department of the Environment about the immediate future of the Donegal to Dublin air service after it emerged there will be a delay in the introduc tion of a new Public Service Obligation/

The current PSO expires on July 31st, but according to the Department of Transport, new contracts will not be in place until the end of the year.

The department has confirmed that the continuation of the PSO contracts will be curtailed to Donegal and Kerry and that the specifications for the two services are being finalised at present.

However, Kerry, where the PSO expired in October, has already lost two of it’s three Dublin flights, and there are questions over what will happen here.

Minister Dinny Mc Ginley says he’ll be seeking clarification………….

Tyrone 4-26 v 1 -8 Longford.

Tyrone booked their place in the Division Four final with a huge 27 points winning margin over Longford at Healy Park. Justin Kelly led the way with a 2-9 tally as the Red Hands ran riot, completing their five game programme with four wins and a draw. Tyrone will meet South Down in the League decider next month.

Ladies NFL Div1.
Donegal 3-15 v 2-16 Kildare

Donegal rallied in the final ten minutes to come from nine points down to win by two scores in Letterkenny on Sunday. The victory was Donegal’s fifth in six games in the Division. The county had already booked their place in the league semi finals after their previous win over Mayo. The goal scorers on Sunday were Elish Ward, Yvonne Mc Monagle and Geraldine Mc Laughlin.

Donegal Manager Eamon O Boyle speaking with Aidan O’Donnell.
 

Donegal corner back Paddy Mc Grath is doubtful for this coming Sunday’s National Football League game with Antrim in Ballyshannon. The Ardara man went over on his ankle during Friday night’s county training session. A sprained ankle is reported to be the extent of the injury and even with intensive treatment this week, McGrath is rated doubtful for the penultimate game of the Division 2 campaign.

A campaign has been launched by the Eye Department at Letterkenny General Hospital to raise money for a specialist machine whic h can take photographs of the inside of the eye, and help diagnose cataracts, macular degeneration and other conditions.

Under the banner SOS – Save or Sight, the department is seeking to buy the €50,000 machine. The HSE says if €25,000 can be raised locally, then it will provide the rest. As part of a major fund raising effort, the project is one of the two chosen charities for this week’s North West 10K.

Community Eye Doctor Joanne Kearney says the machine will mean people no linger have to be referred to Sligo for diagnosis…………

Police say the device planted near the courthouse on Bishop Street in Derry, was a substantial and viable bomb.

Dozens of elderly residents were moved from a nearby sheltered housing development during the alert, which began at quarter to seven last night.

A number of controlled explosions were carried out on the device.

Traffic and access restrictions remain in place, it’s hoped they can be further eased this afternoon.

PSNI District Commander Stephen Martin says the car bomb contained 50 kilos of home-made explosives, packed into a beer keg.

He’s blaming dissident Republicans and says it’s fortunate there was no loss of life………..

Foyle MLA Martina Anderson says those behind the incident have nothing to offer the city.

The Sinn Fein representitive says for the vast majority of people in Derry, the focus will be back on building for the future as soon as the debris is cleared but the dissidents will still be stuck in the past……….

The CEO of Letterkenny Chamber says the government must act to broaden the discretionary revenue raising streams open to local councils.

Toni Forrester was speaking after members of Letterkenny Chamber attended a briefing with County Manager Seamus Neely and Town Clerk Paddy Doherty, with a focus on council budgets.

Toni Forrester says it was a very beneficial discussion, and Seamus Neely is a maqn with whom they can do business. However, she says issues of how local government is funded must be addressed…………

The mayor has written to every Donegal County Councillor advising them of what behavior will or will not be acceptable in to the future.

Mayor Cora Harvey took the action after recent meetings were dogged by controversy due to rows amongst members.

Greg Hughes reports………..

In what is thought to be a first for a county council in the history of the state, the top two position in Donegal County Council are now filled by women.

Today, Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher was named as Deputy Mayor of Donegal.

She replaces her Sinn Fein party colleague Padraig Mac Lochlainn following his election to the Dail.

Cllr Gallagher says it’s a challenge that she’s ready for……….

A security alert is continuing in the Bishops Street area of Derry after a suspicious vehicle was left in a car park close to the courthouse.

Residents have been evacuated from nearby sheltered housing, and a controlled explosion was carried out  last night.

It had been hoped that traffic restrictions would be eased in the Diamond and Bishops Street area within the next hour, but it’s feared diversions will remain in place for the next few hours.

Shortly after half past six last night, a telephone call was received warning of a bomb in a car in the car park opposite the courthouse.

At around 7 o’clock, dozens of elderly residents were moved from the Alexander House Sheltered Housing Development, just yards away from the courthouse.

Bomb disposal experts examined the car, and a controlled explosion was been carried out at around 9 o’clock.

Court hearings which were to have taken place this morning have been moved to other courts across the region. Jurors scheduled to attend the court today should attend tomorrow instead.

The incident has been roundly condemned, with SDLP Assembly member Pat Ramsey saying the residents were “distressed, angry and frustrated”………….