A Councillor says he is suprised and dissaponted to learn that the government has refused funding for a shuttle bus service to improve the safety of children attending the new college in the twin towns.

The Department of Education refused funding for the provision of 3 feeder buses to transport students from the official drop-off point at Mart Road, Stranorlar to the new Finn Valley College at Drumboe Lower.

It is estimated the service would cost  €10,000 per annum.

Councillor Patrick McGowen says the decision is unfair:

A report into child sex abuse in the Raphoe Diocese has been delayed, and will not now be released until October.

It was hoped the report would be published at some point this month.

The church-run National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church has spent months on a review of all allegations made against priests in the Diocese.

NBSCCC Chairman Ian Elliott, who is carrying out the investigation, has now asked for more information from church authorities.

It’s understood Mr Elliott has contacted the Church in Donegal seeking further information and this has created the delay.

The report will not be released until October at the earliest.

A spokesman for the Board said said it could not comment on any aspect of the report  until it was published.

When the report is finalised it will be forwarded to the Bishop of Raphoe Dr Phillip Boyce, who will decide when to make it public.

Raphoe if the sixth of Ireland’s 26 dioceses to have an audit into alleged sex abuse by priests carried out.

Uncertainty still remains around staff at the Omagh meats plant, although staff have been told they should have work for the rest of this week.

Trade Unionists had warned over 200 workers could be laid off from today because of ongoing industrial action.

According to the union, the management has told workers they can no longer guarantee work for them at the factory.

Gareth Scott of Unite said even though staff may have work for the rest of the week, theres still a lot of uncertainty for workers at the factory….

Calls have been made for the launch of an independent inquiry into an alleged “conflict of interest” involving a member of An Bord Pleanala in an ongoing row over the Carnagarve Sewerage scheme in Moville.

Donegal North-East Deputy Padraig McLaughlin says an independent review should take place regarding the role of An Bord Pleanala Director, Conall Boland.

Deputy McLaughlin says that Mr Bolland, who granted permission for sewerage treatment works on the edge of Lough Foyle, was a former Director of a firm involved in the project.

And Deputy McLaughlin says this must be looked at…

The Government is being urged to avoid the use of “megaphone diplomacy” when it comes to the issue of the confessional.

In the wake of the Cloyne report on the handling of clerical child abuse allegations, the Justice Minister Alan Shatter is calling for legislation to make it mandatory to report crimes – regardless of any internal rules of a religion.

This would mean what is said in confession would not remain private.

Broadcaster and rector of the monastery in Enniskillen Father Brian d’Arcy says the Minister should avoid making laws to govern the confessional box – because child abuse is rarely admitted or reported during confession:

A Letterkenny businessman is calling for action to rejuvenate the Church Lane area of the town. Kevin Keeney, who has run Bakersville for 20 years says the area is becoming more run down every year, and is now at risk of becoming a slum.

He’s urging the Town Council to take action now………..

Cllr JIm  Lynch has been a long time advocate of rejuvenating Church Lane as part of a wider programme to promote the Cathedral Quarter.

He says it’s time to revisit the debate in the council chamber, particularly as the authority has responsibility to combat dereliction.

He says there must be a new focus on the area……….

A public meeting will take place in Raphoe tonight to discuss the ongoing deterioration of a section of the Raphoe Castlefinn Road.

Residents say there are now over 100 potholes on the stretch of road between Magherahan and Shanagh, and despite regular promises from the council, work to complete improvements to the road has not been done.

Tonight’s meeting has been arranged by Kathleen Neilis:

Letterkenny has lost its status as a litter-free town.

The latest survey from the Irish Business Against Litter has rated the town as moderatley littered.

Letterkenny came in joint 38th out of the 53 town surveyed.

The two most littered area in the town were at Larkins Lane and the waste ground beside Centuary Cinema.

Chairman of IBAL, Dr Tom Cavanagh questioned whether there was a cutback in services in the town….

One of the three men charged in relation  to the eleven suspected arson attacks in the Buncrana area in recent weeks was brought before a special sitting of Carrick-on-Shannon Court on Friday.

He was remanded in custody in Castlerea Prison.

The other two men charged were released on bail to appear before Buncrana District Court on September 8.

Charges were brought under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act for posession of petrol bombs and under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

A total of seven males were arrested in the past week after, those arrested range in the age from 17 to 24 years old.

While those charged have not been named, Gardai confirmed they were all from the Buncrana area

Donegal motorists are being warned to be on full alert for the deer on our roads.

The Irish Deer Alliance says that deer breeding is at its peak in the months of September and October.

There are an estimated 2,000 deer in Donegal with a further 300 within the boundaries within Glenveagh National Park.

Chairman of the Irish Deer Alliance, Liam Nolan, said drivers should mindful at this time of year of deer on the roads….