Derry’s urban regeneration company, Ilex, has confirmed plans to build a cross-border regional science park.

It would be based at two sites: the former army base at Fort George in Derry and at Letterkenny Institute of Technology.

Ilex said the venture could create up to 280 high-paid technology jobs, 100 hundred of those based in Letterkenny.

Director of Regeneration with Ilex, Gerard McCleave, said that the Science Park could create jobs long into the future in the Northwest…….

A snap poll of Highland Radio News facebook users shows that the majority are in favour of an outright ban on smoking in cars.

Today it’s emerged the Government is considering plans to completely ban the habit in cars.

It would be a step further than the original idea of making it illegal for drivers to light up when a child under 16 is present in their vehicle.

Of those that took part in the the Highland Radio News Poll those in favour of a ban outnumbered those against by 2 to 1.

Donegal Senator Brian O’Domhnaill has clashed with Environment MInister Phil Hogan over proposalsd top increase the amount of money charged at landfill sites.

During as debate on the Environment Bill, Senator O’Domhnaill said sharp increases in landfill levies double household waste collection in Donegal to ass much as €800 per year.

He said this will lead to people refusing to pay waste collectors, and choose to get rid of their own waste instead………….

Responding, Minister Hogan said that EU directives mean that the amount gioing to landfill must be reduced, and the best way to do that is to make it more worthwhile to reuse and recycle.

Minister Hogan told the Seanad that at present, it is cheaper to send waste to landfill, and that is not sustainable.

He says behaviour has to be changed…………..

Donegal South-West Deputy Thomas Pringle has condemned the introduction of the ‘Household Charge’ as a tax too far and an unfair burden on our already heavily taxed working people.

It was announced by the Government yesterday that householders face fines of ten euro a month – and will be unable to sell their home – if they don’t pay the Government’s new 100 euro a year household charge.

The charge is an interim measure – put in place until water charges and a property tax can be rolled out in a couple of years time.

Deputy Pringle is urging people to oppose the tax, which he says will rise when water charges come in….

A judge has revealed how he received angry letters from the public because he did not jail a man who took part in a number of armed robberies in West Donegal.

Judge John O’Hagan sentenced Tadhg McKelvey to a total of 17 years in prison for various charges including attempted robbery and carrying a firearm with criminal intent.

However he replaced the concurrent jail sentence with an order that McKelvey do 240 hours community service.

McKelvey was part of a three man gang which terrorised and robbed businesses in West Donegal during 2009 using a knife and a gun.

Judge John O’Hagan revealed yesterday how he received a backlash from the public because he chose not to impose a custodial sentence on McKelvey.

He revealed the case evoked quite an outcry when McKelvey was given a suspended sentence. The Judge said that people wrote letters to him personally expressing their displeasure.

The second member of the gang, 21-year-old Paul McEleney, appeared before Judge O’Hagan at Letterkenny Circuit Court yesterday also charged in connection with the robberies.

McEleney, of Middle Dora, Bunbeg, pleaded guilty to his part in the robberies of Gallagher’s Topaz Service station in Derrybeg on February 7th, 2009, McDevitt’s Service Station in Dungloe on February 13th and the Templecrone Co-op in Annagry on February 26th.

The court heard how McEleney had played an active part in the robberies but had suffered from a dependence on drink and drugs.

Since the robberies however, he had turned his life around and was fully supported by his parents.

Judge O’Hagan sentenced McEleney to four years on each of the three attempted robbery charges and five years for carrying a firearm with criminal intent with all sentences to run concurrently.

However he suspended the sentence for five years and ordered McEleney to keep the peace for that time.

A judge has described dangerous driving as “a disease’ amongst young people in Co Donegal.

Judge John O’Hagan said he does not see such driving in any part of the country where he travels.

Judge O’Hagan was speaking during the case of Stephen McLaughlin, 24, of Ballyare, Killygordan who was charged with dangerous driving.

Letterkenny Circuit Court heard McLaughlin and another man were spotted racing at speeds of up to 180kph at Lisnaree on April 8th, 2010.

Judge John O’Hagan said he sees the evidence of this type of thing every night when he isgoing back to my hotel  – doughnuts on the road – it is plain for the eyes to see.

It doesn’t happen anywhere else but in my circuit, he said, it seems to be a disease that young people get into cars and put everybody in danger.”

Garda Marcus O’Dowd told the court that he had to pull his patrol car off the side of the road as the racing cars were going so fast.

Gardai chased the cars, reaching speeds of up to 180kph but the cars drove out of sight and were only caught when they pulled into a petrol station.

Judge O’Hagan disqualified McLaughlin from driving for two years, fined him €5,000 and sentenced him to six months in prison – suspending it for two years.

Households are facing a 100 euro charge from next year.

The Cabinet approved the new levy earlier today.

However around 100,000 low income homes are likely to be given a waiver.

The charge is an interim measure put in place until water charges and a property tax can be rolled out in a couple of years time.

Political Correspondent Paraic Gallagher says everyone will be affected.

“It is a blanket charge of 100 euro per household – and you’ll pay that whether you own a mansion in Dublin 4, a cottage in Donegal” he said.

“It’s the owner who pays the charge so if you’re a renter, you can expect your landlord to be passing it on to you”.

“Very low income households – and the government probably will estimate this at around 100,00 of the 1.8 million in the country – they’ll get a waiver so they won’t have to pay the charge” he added.

Donegal will train tonight (Tuesday) ahead of this Saturday’s All Ireland Q’final against Kildare. The county, who go to Croke Park as Ulster Champions have had injury concerns in recent weeks. Last week Dermot Molloy was rated as a huge doubt for the clash with the Lilly Whites after picking up knee injury during a club U21 Championship game.

Donegal Manager Jim Mc Guinness says the situation is improving. 

A date for the hearing of a High Court action against Donegal County Council over a recent co-option will be set on Thursday

Solicitor Dessie Sheils has been granted a judicial review in the High Court over the co-option of Michael McBride to replace Senator Jimmy Harte.

Dessie Sheils, who unsuccessfully contested the recent General Election as an indepedent, argues that the council seat should have been filled by a non-party candidate as Senator Harte was a independent when he was elected.

The Labour Party insists that Councillor McBride was not a member of any party when he was co-opted in May of this year.

Yesterday Councillors formally gave the county manager the Ok to defend the action.

In a statement released to Highland Radio news Mr Shiels says he is very suprosed that Donegal County Council has agreed for public monies to be spent making a defence of the proceedings.

He says he is suprised that no councillor has publicly commented on the situation.

Mr Sheils has called on County Councillors to now personally agree to indemnify Donegal County Council and the electorate against any legal fees, costs and witness expenses which may be incurred by Donegal County Council in the High Court Proceedings.

He says if Councillors have collectively agreed to defend serious High Court proceedings on a matter of electoral law and democracy, then they should also now assume collective personal responsibility for any legal costs incurred by Donegal County Council

Gardai are investigating an arson attack on a Nigerian families home in the Ard Na Ri area of Letterkenny.

It’s believed the attack may of been racially motivated.

At around 7 o clock last night a garden shed was set alight.

Family friend, Sean McClafferty, says the it’s not the first time the familes home has been attacked….